# US 9,751,739 B2 · Side lift spreader > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,739 B2 - Document ID: US9751739B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/094,420 - Filed: 2016-04-08 - Published: 2016-08-04 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-20 - Assignees: Elme Spreader AB - Applicants: Elme Spreader AB - Inventors: Gösta Karlsson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751739B2 ## CPC - B66F 9/16: inclinable relative to mast - B66C 1/101: {for containers (B66C1/223 and B66C1/663 take precedence)} - B66F 9/186: {Container lifting frames} - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) ## Abstract A side lift spreader (1) for handling empty containers (6), and a method for adjusting a main frame (10) of an inverted side lift spreader. The inverted side lift spreader (1) comprises a main carriage (8) which is connectable to a lifting device (2) to be movable along a front side (39) of a mast (4) of the lifting device (2), the main frame (10) being carried by and sideways movable with respect to the main carriage (8), and main frame guiding means (27) for guiding a movement of the main frame (10) with respect to the main carriage (8). The main frame guiding means (27) comprises at least two links (30, 31, 32, 33), one first portion (52, 56, 60, 64) of each link (30, 31, 32, 33) being connected to the main frame (10) and one second portion (54, 58, 62, 66) of each link (30, 31, 32, 33) being connected to the main carriage (8). The second portions (54, 58, 62, 66) of the links (30, 31, 32, 33) are arranged at the main carriage (8) at respective points of attachment (76, 78, 80, 82) which are located, in use of the spreader (1), at an opposite side (84) of the mast (4) compared to the front side (39). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A side lift spreader comprising: a main carriage configured to be movable along a mast of a lifting device; a main frame operably connected to the main carriage; and a first container holding beam extending from the main frame, wherein at least a first container support is positioned on the first container holding beam below at least a first container locking device, the a first container locking device is configured to be connectable to a container at a side of the container when the side of the container abuts the first container support, and at least a first tilt cylinder is configured to move the first container support with respect to the main carriage such that an angle between a vertical portion of the main carriage and a plane defined by the side of the container is adjustable. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The side lift spreader according to claim 1, wherein the first container locking device comprises a first lifting hook connected to the first container holding beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The side lift spreader according to claim 1, wherein the first container support is positioned on a lower end of the first container holding beam and arranged to abut a lower portion of the side of the container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The side lift spreader according to claim 1, further comprising a second container holding beam extending from the main frame, wherein at least a second container support is positioned on the second container holding beam. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The side lift spreader according to claim 4, wherein at least a second tilt cylinder is configured to move the second container support with respect to the main carriage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The side lift spreader according to claim 5, wherein the first container holding beam and the second container holding beam are positioned at respective horizontal ends of the main frame and extend vertically downward from the main frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The side lift spreader according to claim 1, wherein the first tilt cylinder is positioned at the lower end portion of the first container holding beam with the first container support. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The side lift spreader according to claim 1, wherein the first tilt cylinder being configured to move the first container support with respect to the main carriage comprises the first tilt cylinder being configured to tilt the container about an axis that is parallel to the side of the container that abuts the first container support. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The side lift spreader according to claim 1, wherein the main frame comprises a first horizontal beam and a second horizontal beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The side lift spreader according to claim 9, wherein the first container holding beam is arranged at an end of at least one of the first or second horizontal beams. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The side lift spreader according to claim 9, wherein the first container holding beam is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the end of at least one of the first or second horizontal beams. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The side lift spreader according to claim 9, wherein the first container locking device is positioned on the first container holding beam below each of the first and second horizontal beams. ### Claim 13 A method for using a side lift spreader, the method comprising: arranging a container to abut at least a first container support, wherein the first container support is operably connected to a lower end portion of a first container holding beam that extends from a main frame of the side lift spreader; moving the container substantially vertically using the side lift spreader, wherein a main carriage of the side lift spreader is moved along a mast of a lifting device and the main carriage is operably connected to the main frame; tilting the container using at least a first tilt cylinder operably connected to the first container support such that an angle between a side of the container that abuts the first container support and the mast of the lifting device is increased or decreased. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising locking the container to the first container holding beam using a first lifting hook connected to the first container holding beam. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the first container support abut a lower portion of a container. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein a second container holding beam extends from the main frame, and at least a second container support is operably connected to a lower end portion of the second container holding beam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein at least a second tilt cylinder is also used to tilt the container along with the first tilt cylinder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the first container holding beam and the second container holding beam are positioned at respective horizontal ends of the main frame and extend vertically downward from the respective horizontal ends of the main frame. ### Claim 19 A side lift spreader comprising: a main carriage configured to be movable along a mast of a lifting device; a main frame operably connected to the main carriage; and a first container holding beam extending from the main frame, wherein at least a first container support is positioned on the first container holding beam below at least a first container locking device, and at least a first tilt cylinder is configured to move the first container support with respect to the main carriage such that a distance between the first container support and the mast is adjustable while a container is being supported by at least the first container support. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The side lift spreader according to claim 19, further comprising a second container holding beam, wherein at least a second container support is positioned on the second container holding beam below at least a second container locking device, and at least a second tilt cylinder is configured to move the second container support with respect to the main carriage such that a distance between the second container support and the mast is adjustable.