US 2017/0015531 A1Published application

Straddle carriers

AssigneeRSF Enterprises (Aust) Pty Ltd

InventorTommy Schults

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Abstract

A straddle carrier is operable to lift and convey a shipping container. The straddle carrier has a plurality of wheeled structures between weight-bearing portions and the ground. Each wheeled structure has two or more wheels. Each of the wheels is turnable (i.e. steerable) relative to the wheeled structure to which it is connected. Each wheeled structure is also pivotable (by at least by at least 90° in a horizontal plane) relative to the weight-bearing portion which it supports. Consequently, the wheeled structures can be oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move forward, to steer by turning (steering) one or more wheels, or to move perpendicular to the straddle carrier's forward direction.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A straddle carrier which is operable to lift, convey and set down a shipping container, the straddle carrier having a first direction being a direction which is parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container when the container is supported by the straddle carrier and a second direction being a direction which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container when the container is supported by the straddle carrier, the straddle carrier also having:

a plurality of weight-bearing portions which bear the weight of the shipping container when the container is supported above the ground by the straddle carrier;
and
a plurality of wheeled structures between the weight-bearing portions and the ground, one wheeled structure supporting each weight-bearing portion above the ground, wherein
each wheeled structure has two or more wheels, the wheels on each wheeled structure being connected to the wheeled structure at locations that are spaced apart from each other, at least, relative to a lengthwise axis of the wheeled structure;
each of the wheels is turnable relative to the wheeled structure to which it is connected;
and
each wheeled structure is pivotable relative to the weight-bearing portion which it supports;
wherein
the wheeled structures can be oriented with their lengthwise axes parallel to the straddle carrier's first direction and with their wheels oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move in or parallel to the straddle carrier's first direction, including whilst conveying a shipping container, albeit also with the ability to steer by turning one or more wheels;
and
the wheeled structures can also be oriented with their lengthwise axes parallel to the straddle carrier's second direction and with the wheels oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move in or parallel to the straddle carrier's second direction, including whilst conveying a shipping container, albeit also with the ability to steer by turning one or more wheels,
and the straddle carrier can
set down a container and then move away from the set down container, or approach or move over an already set down container, in or parallel to the first direction, and
set down a container and then move away from the set down container, or approach or move over an already set down container, in or parallel to the second direction.

11 more elements

a plurality of wheeled structures, wherein
each wheeled structure has two or more wheels, the wheels on each wheeled structure being connected to the wheeled structure at locations that are spaced apart from each other, at least, relative to a lengthwise axis of the wheeled structure;
each of the wheels is turnable relative to the wheeled structure to which it is connected;
and
each wheeled structure is pivotable such that;
the wheeled structures can be oriented with their lengthwise axes parallel to the straddle carrier's first direction and with their wheels oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move in or parallel to the straddle carrier's first direction, including whilst conveying a shipping container, albeit also with the ability to steer by turning one or more wheels;
and
the wheeled structures can also be oriented with their lengthwise axes parallel to the straddle carrier's second direction and with the wheels oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move in or parallel to the straddle carrier's second direction, including whilst conveying a shipping container, albeit also with the ability to steer by turning one or more wheels,
whereby the straddle carrier can
set down a container and then move away from the set down container, or approach or move over an already set down container, in or parallel to the first direction, and
set down a container and then move away from the set down container, or approach or move over an already set down container, in or parallel to the second direction.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

a plurality of weight-bearing portions which bear the weight of the shipping container when the container is supported above the ground by the straddle carrier;
and
a plurality of wheeled structures between the weight-bearing portions and the ground, one wheeled structure supporting each weight-bearing portion above the ground, wherein
each wheeled structure has two or more wheels, the wheels on each wheeled structure being connected to the wheeled structure at locations that are spaced apart from each other, at least, relative to a lengthwise axis of the wheeled structure;
each of the wheels is turnable relative to the wheeled structure to which it is connected;
and
each wheeled structure is pivotable relative to the weight-bearing portion which it supports;
wherein
the wheeled structures can be oriented with their lengthwise axes parallel to the straddle carrier's first direction and with their wheels oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move in or parallel to the straddle carrier's first direction, including whilst conveying a shipping container, albeit also with the ability to steer by turning one or more wheels;
and
the wheeled structures can also be oriented with their lengthwise axes parallel to the straddle carrier's second direction and with the wheels oriented so as to enable the straddle carrier to move in or parallel to the straddle carrier's second direction, including whilst conveying a shipping container, albeit also with the ability to steer by turning one or more wheels,
and the straddle carrier can
set down a container and then move away from the set down container, or approach or move over an already set down container, in or parallel to the first direction, and
set down a container and then move away from the set down container, or approach or move over an already set down container, in or parallel to the second direction.

11 more elements