WO2011089308A1

WO2011089308A1 - Retaining arrangement within handling of load platforms

Info

Publication number: WO2011089308A1
Application number: PCT/FI2011/050009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tatu Miikkulainen; Vesa MERILÄINEN
Original assignee: TTS LIFTEC Oy
Current assignee: TTS LIFTEC Oy
Priority date: 2010-01-22
Filing date: 2011-01-11
Publication date: 2011-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-22
Also published as: FI20105056A0

Abstract

The invention relates to a retaining arrangement within handling of load platforms, whereby a transport platform (2a), such as an essentially built-in lifting transportation rear part with respect to a pulling device (2), a lifting transportation carriage to be coupled separately with a pulling device (2) or like, and that is to be used for handling of load platforms (1), such as RoRo, terminal, industrial cassettes and/or the like, is provided with a retaining arrangement in order to prevent unlimited movement of a load platform (1), to be handled at any given time, on a support surface of the transport platform in its longitudinal direction (s). A lower stem structure (R) of the load platforms (1) consists of end beams (Rl) and intermediate beams (R2), the beams being crosswise (p) with respect to the longitudinal direction (s) of the load platform, and the intermediate beams being a distance apart from the end beams and/or from each other in the longitudinal direction. The retaining arrangement comprises a movement limitation assembly (Y) in the transport platform (2a), the assembly functioning by external power.

Description

Retaining arrangement within handling of load platforms

The invention relates to a retaining arrangement within handling of load platforms, whereby a transport platform, such as an essentially built-in lifting transportation rear part with respect to a pulling device, a lifting transportation carriage to be coupled separately with a pulling device or like, and that is to be used for handling of load platforms, such as RoRo, terminal, industrial cassettes and/or the like, is provided with a retaining arrangement in order to prevent unlimited movement of a load platform, to be handled at any given time, on a support surface of the transport platform in its longitudinal direction. A lower stem structure of the load platforms consists of end beams and intermediate beams, the beams being crosswise with respect to the longitudinal direction of the load platform, and the intermediate beams being a distance apart from the end beams and/or from each other in the longitudinal direction.

In the purpose described above e.g. in ports or industrial environments it is nowadays known to use pulling devices, either being equipped e.g. according to figure 1 with a built-in lifting transportation rear part and being steerable manually or automatically, like so called AGV (Automatic Guided Vehicle ) -devices , or devices to be coupled according to figure 2 with separate lifting transportation carriages by a so called fifth wheel arrangement. These kinds of lifting transportation devices have typically hydrostatically operated actuators for the lifting of load existing on the lifting transportation rear part or carriage. The actuators being used typically comprise actuator organs in connection with wheel assemblies of the lifting transportation rear part or carriage and/or e.g. on the principle shown in figure 2 in connection with an articulation assembly in the fifth wheel arrangement of a separate pulling device, such as hydraulic cylinder arrangements in order to change a ground clearance of the lifting transportation rear part or carriage.

The load platforms being used usually in this context for their part have so called lower tunnels, in which the lifting transportation rear part or carriage can be driven when being lowered. The height of the tunnel in the load platform depends on the type of the cassette being used at any given time, whereby the tunnel height of cassettes being used particularly in maritime operations is minimized. In figure 4 is shown as an example a typical load platform, the dimensions of which vary depending of its operational purpose typically within the following limits:

- LI: 2133 mm - 2700 mm,

- L2: 2359 mm - 3000 mm,

- a: 50° - 60° and

- h: 703 mm - 1000 mm.

When handling load platforms, such as RoRo, terminal or industrial cassettes in practice, they are transferred very often on a transport platform, being in connection with a pulling device or being provided therein in a built-in manner, so that movement of the load platform to be handled at any given time, on the support surface of the transport platform is not prevented in the transport platform's longitudinal direction. In practice particularly on rather steep ramps, whereby the inclination may be even 12 - 20 %, it is, however, always possible that the load platform starts to move on the support surface of the transport platform, which risk is emphasized particularly under cold circumstances due to ice or packed snow.

Nowadays there have been efforts to get the above risk eliminated first of all by using one or more stationary mechanical stoppers in the transport platform of the pulling device, the stoppers projecting from the upper surface of the transport platform typically about 20 - 50 mm. The meaning of the stopper/stoppers in question is to get positioned against a back edge of a lower end beam or one of the intermediate beams of the load platform or in connection therewith, when the load platform is lowered on the transport platform, so that the load platform can not move in an unlimited manner axially on top of the transport platform.

According to figure 3, lower structures of the load platforms being used nowadays differ, however, significantly from each other, so that first of all the structures and dimensions of the end beams and on the other hands also placements and heights of the intermediate beams vary very much. Furthermore in some load platforms flat tie bars are used running along the longitudinal direction of the transport platform, the bars connecting the end beams and/or the intermediate beams with each other by lower edges thereof. Due to the above, when using the type of stationary stoppers in a transport platform as described above, there is in practice such a consequence that, when using a wrong type of load platform on a transport platform, a stopper gets placed under an end beam, an intermediate beam and/or a flat tie bar, so that there occurs distortion of structures by virtue of the heavy mass of the load platform (typically 70 - max. 120 tons) . Thus, when using this kind of retaining arrangements, one must always separately check, whether the load platform to be handled at any given time is applicable for use with a transport platform equipped with the retaining arrangement. When using mutually unsuitable transport platforms and load platforms with each other, damages will be caused for both of the above, which leads to a need for service and maintenance. When the mutual movement clearance between a transport platform and a load platform or a lower tunnel of a cassette is significantly small, typically some ten millimeters, the type of stationary retaining arrangements described above cause problems particularly when the protrusion of the retaining projections is > 20 mm, when the transport platform is driven underneath the cassette or when it is removed from under the cassette. Furthermore the position of the stationary stoppers with respect to the lower crosswise beams of a cassette existing on top of a transport platform, may be in practice too big, so that in case a cassette starts to glide on the support surface, the stoppers are not any more able to stop movement of the cassette due to its high kinetic energy .

In the above purpose, transport platforms have on the other hand also been coated from all over by friction increasing coatings, such as paint coatings including grains of sand. This kind of a coating gets very expensive, particularly due to the massiveness of the load platform, because it needs to be performed as a separate operation by using significantly expensive coating materials. One further disadvantage is the fact that this kind of a stationary coating wears out over time so that the desired friction effect does not exist any more. Wearing out of this kind of a friction coating in certain points is particularly powerful particularly when using load platforms, on the bottom surface of the lower steam structure of which there is a longitudinal flat tie bar projecting therefrom or several of the same side by side. It is an aim of the retaining arrangement according to the present invention to achieve a decisive improvement in the problems described above, so that an essential improvement with respect to the level of prior art is achieved. In order to carry out this aim, the retaining arrangement according to the invention is mainly characterized by that the retaining arrangement comprises a movement limitation assembly in the transport platform, the assembly functioning by external power.

As the most important advantages of the retaining arrangement according to the invention may be mentioned simplicity and both technical and economical efficiency of the same particularly thanks to the fact that all kinds of load platforms that are commonly used can be used in connection with all kinds of transport platforms without a risk for structural damages. A crucial advantage of the invention is thus furthermore the fact that when using all kinds of load platform/transport platform-combinations, it is possible to make sure that a load platform that is handled at any given time will remain in place on the transport platform, so that the load platform will not move even on the steepest ramps in a way that there would be caused a risk of the load platform dropping down from the transport platform. The retaining arrangement according to the invention, thanks to its movement limitation assembly functioning by external power, needs a very minimized amount of service and maintenance. Furthermore, by providing the movement limitation assembly with heating, its functioning can be made sure also under cold circumstances without a risk of its parts to get frozen.

Other advantageous embodiments of the retaining arrangement according to the invention have been presented in the dependent claims related thereto.

In the following description the invention is illustrated in detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which in figure 1

is shown an advantageous use of the retaining arrangement according to the invention, in figure 2

is shown an alternative use of the retaining arrangement according to the invention in a lower position of the transport platform and when the same is lifted, in figure 3

are shown bottom views of ends of lower steam structures of some most commonly used load platforms, in figure 4

is shown one typical load platform as a perspective view, in figure 5

is shown advantageous embodiment of the retaining arrangement according to the invention in its stand-by position and operating position, and in figure 6

is shown as a perspective view an alternative embodiment of the retaining arrangement according to the invention in its stand by position and operating position.

The invention relates to a retaining arrangement within handling of load platforms, whereby a transport platform 2a such as an essentially built-in lifting transportation rear part with respect to a pulling device 2, a lifting transportation carriage to be coupled separately with a pulling device 2 or like, and that is to be used for handling of load platforms 1, such as RoRo, terminal, industrial cassettes and/or the like, is provided with a retaining arrangement in order to prevent unlimited movement of a load platform 1, to be handled at any given time, on a support surface of the transport platform in its longitudinal direction s. A lower stem structure R of the load platforms 1 consists of end beams Rl and intermediate beams R2, the beams being crosswise p with respect to the longitudinal direction s of the load platform, and the intermediate beams being a distance apart from the end beams and/or from each other in the longitudinal direction. The retaining arrangement comprises a movement limitation assembly Y in the transport platform 2a, the assembly functioning by external power .

As an advantageous embodiment, the movement limitation assembly Y of the retaining arrangement according to the invention comprises on the principle, manifesting itself e.g. in figures 5 and 6, one or more mechanically, pressure medium and/or electrically operated actuators Yl and one or more retaining pieces Y2 that are moveable by influence of the actuators from a stand-by position II below an upper surface 2a of the transport platform above the upper surface of the transport platform 2a, in a longitudinal direction s toward a crosswise end beam or an intermediate beam Rl, R2 of the load platform 1.

An actuator Yl belonging to the movement limitation assembly Y according to the invention, shown particularly in figure 5, is fastened by its first end turnably NO, such as jointedly, in a frame of the transport platform 2a and by its second end to an auxiliary frame Y3, such as a rotation axle or like, with which the retaining piece Y2 is coupled turnably, such as jointedly Nl. On the other hand as an alternative or complementing embodiment of the retaining arrangement described above, particularly with reference to the implementation shown in figure 6, an actuator Yl belonging to the movement limitation assembly Y is fastened by its first end turnably NO, such as jointedly, in a frame of the transport platform and by its second end moveably, such as jointedly N2, with a swing arm Y4, being coupled with the frame of the transport platform turnably, such as jointedly N3, whereby with the free end of the swing arm there is coupled furthermore turnably, such as jointedly N4, a retaining piece Y2. As an advantageous embodiment of the retaining arrangement according to the invention, it is also applicable to be used in connection with load platforms 1, at least a part of which comprise a flat tie bar T or several of the same side by side in a crosswise direction p, the bar/bars binding the end beams Rl and/or the intermediate beams R2 from below in the longitudinal direction s. E.g. when using two retaining pieces Y2 side by side, the distance between the same in the crosswise direction must be adequate, so that a flat tie bar T that will get positioned at the same point does not get placed in connection therewith as both of the retaining pieces Y2. This can also be carried out so that there are at least 3-4 pieces of retaining pieces side by side with shorter mutual distances.

As a further advantageous embodiment, the retaining pieces Y2 existing side by side in the crosswise direction p comprise retaining surfaces Y2 ' that exist at essentially differing points with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction s. In this way it is possible to minimize the longitudinal s transfer movement achieved by the actuator Yl. As a further advantageous embodiment of the retaining arrangement, its movement limitation assemby Y comprises guiding means Y5 in order to move the retaining piece Y2 essentially horizontally in the longitudinal direction s. Particularly in the embodiment shown in figure 5, the guiding means Y5 mentioned above comprise a guide e.g. on opposite sides of the retaining piece/pieces Y2, which has a horizontal guide surface in order to guide the retaining piece Y2, being connected to a rotation axle, to move horizontally s, and in addition to the above a guide surface, directed downward in an obligue angle, in order to guide the retaining piece Y2 into a standby position II as shown in the uppermost view in figure 5. In the embodiment according to figure 6, this has been carried out by a mechanical and/or pressure medium operated guide Y5 that connects each swing arm Y4 and retaining piece Y2.

Furthermore with reference to the embodiment shown in figure 5, the movement limitation assembly Y comprises mechanical and/or pressure medium operated yielding means Y6 in order to enable yielding of a free end of a retaining piece Y2, being coupled e.g. by a spring operated manner with a rotation axle Y3, downward by a power influence directed thereto from above. Particularly in a situation according to figure 5, where a longitudinal flat tie bar T gets placed in an operating area of the retaining arrangement, the yielding means Y6 enable yielding downward of the tip of the retaining piece Y2 that hits the same spot as the flat tie bar, in which case one retaining piece Y2 or several of the same side by side will, however, still remain in the operating position I above the transport platform 2a, thus preventing moving of the transport platform. The corresponding operation takes place also in the embodiment according to figure 6 by guides/yielding means Y5, Y6, being carried out with applicable structures.

Furthermore as an advantageous embodiment of the retaining arrangement, it comprises a monitoring assembly in order to make sure a position of one or more retaining pieces' Y2 retaining surface Y2¹ above the upper surface of the transport platform 2a, when the transport platform 2a is loaded with a load platform 1 (in the appended drawings these kinds of implementations have not, however, been presented in detail) .

Furthermore as an advantageous embodiment, the protrusion from the upper surface of the transport platform 2a of a retaining surface Y2 ' of a retaining piece Y2 belonging to the movement limitation assembly is in an operating position I between 20 - 60 mm.

It is clear that the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown or described above, but instead it can be modified within the scope of the ground idea of the invention according to the load and transport platforms being used at any given time. So, it is first of all clear that the retaining arrangement according to the invention can be exploited in connection with transport platforms of work machines, being meant for handling of products to be manufactured e.g. in environments concerning e.g. steel, paper or concrete industry. On the other hand, it is also possible to exploit transport platforms deviating from the ones in the appended drawings, in which increasing of the ground clearance of the rear part of the transport platform is carried out e.g. by lifting mechanisms in connection with the wheel arrangements and/or by a holding joint between the pulling device and the transport platform or else e.g. by a lift assembly being coupled with the frame of the lifting transportation device, which moves the support surface existing on the lifting transport rear part in a direction of height with respect to the body e.g. on the principle shown in figure 2. Furthermore on grounds of the alternative implementations shown e.g. in figures 5 and 6, either one of the same can be complemented by actuators and mechanisms operating on mutually corresponding principles.

Claims

Claims :

1. Retaining arrangement within handling of load platforms, whereby a transport platform (2a) , such as an essentially built-in lifting transportation rear part with respect to a pulling device (2), a lifting transportation carriage to be coupled separately with a pulling device (2) or like, and that is to be used for handling of load platforms (1), such as RoRo, terminal, industrial cassettes and/or the like, is provided with a retaining arrangement in order to prevent unlimited movement of a load platform (1) , to be handled at any given time, on a support surface of the transport platform in its longitudinal direction (s) , and whereby a lower stem structure (R) of the load platforms (1) consists of end beams . (Rl) and intermediate beams (R2) , the beams being crosswise (p) with respect to the longitudinal direction (s) of the load platform, and the intermediate beams being a distance apart from the end beams and/or from each other in the longitudinal direction, characterized in that the retaining arrangement comprises a movement limitation assembly (Y) in the transport platform (2a) , the assembly functioning by external power.

2. Retaining arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement limitation assembly (Y) consists one or more mechanically, pressure medium and/or electrically operated actuators (Yl) and one or more retaining pieces (Y2) that are moveable by influence of the actuators above an upper surface of the transport platform (2a) , in a longitudinal direction (s) toward a crosswise end beam or an intermediate beam (Rl, R2) of the load platform (1) .

3. Retaining arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an actuator (Yl) belonging to the movement limitation assembly (Y) is fastened by its first end turnably (NO) , such as jointedly, in a frame of the transport platform (2a) and by its second end to an auxiliary frame (Y3) , such as a rotation axle or like, with which the retaining piece (Y2) is coupled turnably, such as jointedly (Nl) .

4. Retaining arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an actuator (Yl) belonging to the movement limitation assembly (Y) is fastened by its first end turnably (NO), such as jointedly, in a frame of the transport platform and by its second end moveably, such as jointedly (N2), with a swing arm (Y4), being coupled with the frame of the transport platform turnably, such as jointedly (N3) , whereby with the free end of the swing arm there is coupled furthermore turnably, such as jointedly (N4), a retaining piece (Y2) .

5. Retaining arrangement according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, while using load platforms (1), at least a part of which comprise a flat tie bar (T) or several of the same side by side in a crosswise direction (p) , the bar/bars binding the end beams (Rl) and/or .the intermediate beams (R2) from below in the longitudinal direction (s) , characterized in that the movement limitation assembly (Y) is provided with two or more retaining pieces (Y2), being in the crosswise direction (p) a distance (e) apart from each other.

6. Retaining arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining pieces (Y2) existing side by side in the crosswise direction comprise retaining surfaces (Y2) that exist at essentially differing points with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction (s) .

7. Retaining arrangement according to any of the preceding claim 1-6, characterized in that its movement limitation assemby (Y) comprises guiding means (Y5) in order to move the retaining piece (Y2) essentially horizontally in the longitudinal direction (s).

8. Retaining arrangement according to any of the preceding claim 1-7, characterized in that the movement limitation assembly (Y) comprises mechanical and/or pressure medium operated yielding means (Y6) in order to enable yielding of the retaining piece (Y2) downward by a power influence directed thereto from above.

9. Retaining arrangement according to any of the preceding claim 1-8, characterized in that the retaining arrangement comprises a monitoring assembly in order to make sure a position of one or more retaining pieces' (Y2) retaining surface (Y2¹) above the upper surface of the transport platform (2a) , when the transport platform (2a) is loaded with a load platform (1) .

10. Retaining arrangement according to any of the preceding claim 1-9, characterized in that a protrusion from the upper surface of the transport platform (2a) of a retaining surface (Y2 ' ) of a retaining piece (Y2) belonging to the movement limitation assembly is in an operating position (I) between 20 - 60 mm.