Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
DEVICE FOR MDVIM~ LARGE DBJEC~S
The invention relates to a device for moving and/or
arranging :Large objects, e.g. con-tainers, or vehicles by
rollers or roller conveyors.
It is well-known that the loading of railway or public
vehicles is not up to the modern -technologies, or to the
development pace of the vehicles.
The transport of goads shifted to public roads during the
last 30 years, while the quantity and tan of goods/km
transported by railway decline year by year. The
proportion of transport of goods by carrion including semi-
trailer containers increases year by year. The advantages
of public transport of goods represent short time of
delivery, less damage during door to door delivery and
transport without reloading.
On the other hand, drawbacks of the public transport of
goods are the higher cost of energy and live labour,
increased environment pollution, higher costs and greater
administration, as well as the more difficult loading,
adequate maintenance and development of public roads for
reliable transportation.
Comparison of the advantages and drawbacks leads to the
conclusion that the initial advantages have recently lost
much of their attraction. The reason for this is that the
constantly increasing traffic entails slowing down the
transportation. This is especially true to the
international carnion and container transport, since the
time of frontier crossings increases year by year. The
costs and Ioad of the public roads are also on the
increase.
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The advantages of shipping goods by rail could be improved
again by solving the problem of loading and container
maneuvering.
Tt is common knowledge that the category of trans-
containers or big containers includes 'the containers
without carriage according to the international standards.
Drawback of the presently known transcontainer transport
system is that the technical requisites are of
intermittent operation entailing high Loss of capacity due
to the idle return movement. I.e. the cranes are suitable
mainly for lifting, their operation for long distance
horizontal movement is expensive and difficult. The
technical solution of lifting - conveying vehicles is
complicated, consequently both the cost of investment and
operation is high. -
Further drawback of the currently known and used
transcontainer transport systems is that the technical
equipment provided far moving the containers does not
conform flexibly to the volume of the containers to be
moved, the technical equipment in places of light traffic
has to be similar to the one used in places of heavy
traffic approaching the capacity limit of the requisites
employed. Further problem is th at the presently used
requisites da not allow automatizatian of handling the
various container-loaders, reloaders and terminals.
For the time being, the simplified system of loading,
maneuvering and reloading is as follows: "active" packed
goods, or vehicles move on "passive" path (road, paved
space, loading surface, etc). Their operation may be self-
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powered (trolley, cars, wheel-mounted containers, ete), or
externally powered (mobile cranes, frame cranes, etc).
Lifting from "passive " path characteristic to the
operation (generally with eccentric lifting) is conveyance
by lifting.
However, even the most modern systems are incapable of
eliminating the idle runs and recording the existing
position of the moved units.
The matter of parking in big cities raises similar
problems. The construction of garages, parking stations
lags behind the increasing number o.f cars. Due to the high
cost of construction; demand for large space and difficult
operation, the' number'of parking stations is insufficient.
As a result of the high costs, the parking fee is also
high.
The parking stations built to date were constructed with
traditional building units (steel structure, concrete,
brick, etc). Ramps, communication roads requiring large
space serve for driving in and out of cars, and for
communication between the levels. Moving between and
within the levels is done by the car itself. This is
rather difficult, for the maneuvering requires lame space
and specially trained driver. Due to the exhaust gases,
high capacity ventilation and strict fire protection
regulation are imperative.
Further drawback of the traditional parking stations is
'that they can accomodate a small number of cars only,
compared with the large dimensions, because of the space
required for communication roads and turns. For these
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reasons, they are not suited -to solve the parking problems
of big cities.
The object of the present invention is to provide an
apparatus ar system, whereby large objects, e.g.
containers, vehicles can be moved or maneuvered with the
aid of rollers or roller conveyors, and in addition,
moving, maneuvering of the containers, vehicles, etc in a
much smaller space is simpler and quicker than in the
traditional solutions, but it enables at the same time the
automatic tracking and recording of the objects moved in
the system from the moment of entry to exit, with the aid
of computer system.
According to the present invention rollers are arranged in
rectangular blocks, so that the rollers in the individual
blocks are parallel with each other, and are at an angle
to those in -the adjacent blocks, and each block is
vertically movable.
At least a certain part of the rollers in the blocks is
driven. The driven rollers may be provided with
independent or common drive, e.g. chain drive.
Generally the blocks are arranged side by side, and the
rollers in it are at right angle to each other, In given
case, especially when small and light pieces e.g. cars
have to be moved, it would be advisable to push the blocks
- containing the rollers arranged in different directions
- into each other, i.e. the rollers of different direction
are arranged next to each other, but those of identical
direction are provided with common drive and are jointly
lifted or lowered. The blocks are generally provided with
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guiding and/or buffer elements for the more accurate
guiding of the objects to be moved.
Tf the apparatus is a shunting yard, it contains road side
loading space, railway loading and storage space.
According to an advantageus embodiment exclusively roller
conveyors parallel with the ramp are arranged on the
periphery of public and/or railway loading spaces. At
least a certain part can be pushed out at right angle to
the ramp as to have the objects transferred to the
vehicles not provided with roller conveyors. Tn given
case, the roller conveyors are arranged below the blocks
on the ramp pushed out and arranged to be adjustable in
vertical position.
The system according to the invewtion is provided with
supplementary, inlet and outlet roller conveyors arranged
on the ramp or vehicle platform. Mobile independent roller
conveyors can also be used to be placed on the ramp~or
vehicle for the time of loading. These loading roller
conveyors are provided with flat, easily sliding lower
pallet.
Flat loading pallets are also used when the lower surface
of the objects, e.g. containers to be moved is not flat.
In the case, the object to be moved is fixed on the
loading pallets in order to move them with the roller
conveyor.
Obviously the apparatus according to the invention has to
be provided with computer control, or goodstracking and/or
recording system, whereby the exact position of the ob-
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jects moved in the system can always be established, and
the objects are automatically moved to the intended
position.
The invention is described mare in detail by way of
examples with the aid of drawing, in which:
Figure 1: Top view of the equipment according to
the invention assembled as shunting
yard,
Figure 2: Direction of progress on rollers in each
block of the equipment,
Figure 3: Section of a block of the equipment,
Figure 4: Perspective view of the equipment shown
in Figure I,
Figure 5: Top view of another embodiment of the
equipment according to the invention,
Figure 5: Side view of the vehicle adapted to the
equipment according to the invention,
Figure 7: Top view of the vehicle's platform shown
in Figure 6,
Figure 8: Side view of a railway car used with the
equipment according to the invention,
Figure 9: Top view of the railway car shown in
Figure 8,
Figure IO: Front view of the railway car shown in
Figure 9,
Figure ll: Side view of a supplementary loading
pallet and container of the equipment
according to the invention,
Figure l2: Front view of the roller loading pallet
used for the equipment,
Figure 13: Side view of the roller pallet shown
in Figure 12,
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Figure 14: Schematic top view of two blocks pushed
into each other.
Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the equipment according to
the invention, formed as shunting yard, or container
sorter. The area consists of public road loading space l,
railway loading space 2, shunting space 3 and storage
space 4. Lifting mechanism is arranged in the shunting
area 3 to put the containers on top of each other if
necessary.
The whole area is composed of rollers 6 arranged in blocks
5. As shown in Figure 2, the rollers 6 in each block 5 are
parallel with each other and the rollers in the adjacent
blocks 5 have perpendicular centreline. Accordingly, the
objects to be moved on rollers 6 in blocks 5 can be moved
in the direction of arrows shown in Fugure 2.
In order to make the moving possible, each block 5 can be
vertically dis~Iaced and provided with drive. Thus, if~an
object in the blocks shown in Figure 2 is to be moved up,
the upper block and those containing the rollers moving in
the same direction are lifted out of the level of the
system, and then the object above the blocks will rest
only on the rollers of the given direction, and upon
movement of the rollers it will move at right angle to the
axis of the rollers.
If moving in the other direction, the former blocks are
lowered to their original position, and the blocks
containing the perpendicular rollers are lifted. In this
case, the objects will rest on these rollers and move at
right angle to the axis of 'the rollers.
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Part of the section of block 5 is shown in Fig. 3. The
rollers 6 are arranged in frame elements 7 so that the
shafts 8 fit into the slots ~ between the frame elements
7. -thus, the rollers 6 can be lifted or lowered
hydraulically or pneumatically at -the same time. The
rollers 6 are driven by chain drive 10. In lifted position
of the rollers 6, the lower flat plate 11 of the object
can be moved in the direction of arrows shown in the
draw9.ng.
The blocks are provided with guiding and/or buffer
elements along their perimeter, which can be lifted out of
the plane of blocks and ensure guiding and stopping of the
objects.
Fig. 4 illustrates the perspective view of the container
sorter similar to the one shown in Fig. 1. Here, each
block 5 is shown in detail together with -the rollers 6
arranged in the same direction. The motor vehicles 12
stand in to one side and the freight cars I3 to the other
side of the loading space of the shunting area 3. As shown
in the drawing, the containers 14 pass from the motor
vehicles I2 to the public loading space 1 with the aid of
roller conveyor 15. The roller conveyors 15 are mounted an
the platform of motor vehicle 12.
The containers 14 pass from the public loading space I to
the shunting area 3 travelling from there continuously
rearranged according to the requirements towards the
railway loading space 2, then in appropriate sequence to
the freight cars I3. The freight cars 13 are provided
suitably with the same roller conveyors as the motor
vehicles 12.
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Top view of another arrangement of the rollers is shown in
Fig. 5. This illustrates a container reloader, where the
lower roller conveyor 16 is the loading part of the inward
containers, and the upper roller conveyor 17 is the
loading part of the outward containers. A certain part of
both roller conveyors 15 and 16 is formed as turning unit
18 and 19 from blocks of rollers 6 arranged at about 45°
to each other. Further roller conveyor 20 is arranged
between the turning units 1B and 19.
The containers arriving from the vehicle to the roller
conveyor 16 on one side are loaded on the roller conveyor
16, then transferred with the aid of turning unit 18 and
roller conveyor 20 to the turning unit 19, from where they
get again to the second roller conveyor 17 and loaded on
the arriving vehicle.
Figs. 6 to 10 show vehicles provided with roller conveyors
fitting to the equipment according to the invention.
The container transport vehicle 21 shown in Figs. 6 and 7
has a platform 22 with roller conveyor 28 for taking up
the container 14. The rollers 6 forming -the roller
conveyors 28 are lined up by pairs in two lines running
next to each other. The rollers 6 are driven and they can
be lifted out of the upper plane of platform 22 with
spacing X. Corner fixing points are in the corners of
platform 22, whereby the containers 14 can be fixed on
platform 22.
Container 14 can be moved longitudinally on the
rectangular platform 22 on rollers 6 lifted out of the
former one's plane with the aid of roller conveyors 23.
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Thus, for transportation, the container 14 is put on
platform 22 with the driven roller conveyors 23, then
following the return of rollers 6, the container I4
resting on platform 22 is fixed at the corner fixing
points and forwarded to its place of destination. The
container 14 arriving at its placf: of destination is
released from the platform 22, the rol."ler conveyors 23 are
brought to operation, as a result of which -the container
14 moves longitudinally outward from the vehicle.
The freight car 24 shown in Fugs 8 to 10 is provided with
similar roller conveyors 25. Here, however, the roller
conveyors 25 are arranged crosswise instead of
longitudinally. They .function as the one presented in the
former drawing.
In view of the fact, that the lower plate of the
containers is not always flat, in certain cases it is
advisable to support the containers with pallet provided
with lower flat plate. '
Figs 11 and 12 show the schematic drawing of a container
14 marked with dashed lines, situated on pallet 26.
Similar corner elements 28 are fitted in the four corners
of pallet 26 adjoining the corner elements 27 of container
14. Top view of the pallet 26 concurs with the horizontal
projection of the standardized container 14. By the corner
elements 28 an top of each other, each container 14 and
pallet 26 can be releasably fixed to each other. The
pallet 26 can be made of any material suited to the
purpose, e.g. metal, wood, plastic or their combination,
and it is a fundamental criterion that its lower surface
is flat enabling its movement with the releasably fixed
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container 14 on it along the roller path. In respect of
the present invention not only the completely homogeneous
flat surface, but for example the lower side of a
framework constituting bars arranged in a cornmon plane by
their lower surface must also be regarded as flat surface
movable on a roller path. Such framework can be formed
even by parallel bars running only in one direction, but
also by network consisting of perpendicular bars.
The container 14 and the adjoining pallet 26 represent a
unit in the whole process of the container moving and
transporting systern of goods, vehich - if necessary - can
be used as general purpose flat container. The size system
of the pallets 26 is the same as that of the
transcontainers. The corner elements are standard, whereby
the pallets can be connected either to each other or to
the containers and transport vehicle, and they are
suitable for lifting as well.
The bottom of the containers can be formed - e.g. with
reinforcing shell - as to have the lower surface to be
flat, since movement of the containers on the roller path
is ensured this way too.
The flat pallet may be assembled with module elements and
parts separately fitted to the container°s framework, thus
filing in the gap between the flat surface and framework.
In this case, the pallet a.s an accessory of the container,
it becomes its monobuilt element.
Obviously, -the apparatus according to the invention can be
optimally utilized, if the freight cars, motor vehicles
and railway stations are equipped with such uniform
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solutions. Since this - especially at the initial time -
is not realizable, or its mounting on vehicles is not
recommended far reasons of safe operation, it is advisable
to use supplementary units replacing -the above described
roller conveyors.
Figs 13 and 1G. present such roller pallet. In essence,
independent movable roller pallets are used instead of
roller conveyors fixed and permanently mounted on the
platform of vehicle or freight car. In -this case, it is
advisable to mount beams on the platforms of vehicles
carrying the containers during transportation. The roller
pallets are fitted between the beams performing the task
of roller conveyors presented in Figs 6 to 10.
Ths roller pallets 29 shown in Figs 13 and 14 consist of
base 30 and rollers- 31. The lower plate of the bases 3Q is
flat, or flat covered. surface, and the roller conveyors
formed by rollers 31 can be lifted or lowered. Thus, by
lifting the roller conveyors of the roller pallets pushed
under the vehicle-carried container, the container can be ,
rolled off the vehicle platform, then -the whole pallet is
lifted off the vehicle. The same roller pallets can be
built into the perimeters of the loading spaces, which -
as mentioned before - in given case are provided with
roller conveyors at right angle to the ramp's edge. Part
of these roller conveyors can be pushed out as such roller
pallet at right angle to the ramp to the platform of the
vehicles standing at the ramp. According to another
feasible version, the taller pallet can be built into
perimeter of the container maneuvering area or ramp, so
that automatically extending from it, it rests on 'the
vehicle platform and performs the above described tasks,
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then it is automatically withdrawn below the ramp or
loading area.
The examples shown above clearly demonstrate 'that the
system according to the invention is more effective
cornpared to -the traditional solutions. The most important
advantages are the following:
While in the present forms of the traditional loading,
maneuvering and reloading, the goods move on passive path
(road, paved space, loading surface, etc) with the aid of
trolleys, cars, cranes, etc, now with the solution
according to the invention active path is used eliminating
partly the moving mechanisms used for rearrangement, and
partly fundamentally reducing the space required for
rearrangement, since it demands hardly any or no vacant
space at all, at the same time it allows perfect
automatization,, as well as computer-aided tracking,
recording, indication and control of the goods.
When railway is used, by.building in roller bay between
the underframe of the freight car and waggon body, it is
possible to lift off the waggon body with the cargo from
the carriage. This way, the off-time of the carriage and
underframe is shortened, i.e. utilization of the expensive
carriage is improved. The problem of loading and unloading
of the freight car becomes simpler. In case of replaceable
waggon body the problem of unloading on open track is
simplified.
Maneuvering the cars is simplified by building shunting
space consisting of roller bays, instead of the presently
used hump yards. The area required by the roller shunting
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space is much smaller than that of 'the presently used hump
yard.
The new mechanism can be widely used - in the same system
- and together with the currently used loading
technologies. The high loading capacity is automated if
required, its programmed embodiment is extremely quick,
with further modern technology it saves live labour and
area.
A special advantage of the apparatus according to the
invention is that the containers to be loaded on the whole
train can be collected on the periphery of the loading
space and pushed at once to the train standing to the '
ramp. In given case, the loading space can be formed on
both sides of the rail-track, when the loading takes place
on both sides for example by pushing 'the already assembled
container-line from one side into the train and with the
same manipulation the containers on the train are pushed
out to the other side.
The energy required for moving the goods is little, thus
the loading is cheap. Naturally, it can be used not only
far vehicles and machines, but for smaller unit-cargos as
well.
The system according to the invention can be easily
adapted to the container moving intensity and technology
of the various handling places. The simple and quick
container handling facility reduces the turning tirne of
the containers and container 'transport vehicles and
improves -their utilization: Parallelism of the various
container moving elements results in high transport
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capacity.
The system offers excellent possibility for autamatization
of 'the various container moving processes. The container
transport vehicles can also be used for transport tanks of
general purpose, thus 'their degree of utilization might be
maximal.
Further advantage of the systqm is that its technical
requisites and equipment are simple, their operation is
economic, energy- and live labour-saving, moreover
flexibly connectable in various combinations to the
existing container transport systems, and changing over
gradually to the new system is free from problems. The
system according to the invention may considerably
facilitate the extensive use and propagation of the very
rational con~tainer~ transport of goods and maneuvering the
containers - conforming to the international standards -
on the roller path. With proper combination of the
vehicles and track s or track elements according to the
invention, systems flexibly complying with the existing
technological demands can be developed, v~hich enable the
longitudinal and crosswise handling, lifting, turning
around the vertical axis; collision-free stacking and
assorting of the containers.
It stands to reason that the system can be combined also
with conventional traditional container moving aids as
well (crane, turntable; sliding platforms, etc). The
roller paths and transport vehicles according to the
invention can be used for moving - besides containers -
other cargos, e.g. goods packed in boxes, tanks, etc. The
invention is not restricted to the above detailed
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solutions, but it can be realized in several other ways
within the protective circle defined by the claim points.
For example, parking house can be built with the aid of
the equipment according to the invention, where the motor
vehicles are moved with elevators provided with roller
pallets to the different floors to be arranged practically
without vacant place, or optionally with the aid of a few
number of vacant places, and they can be automatically
moved to the elevator at any time.
Equipment based on the invention's principle can be simi-
larly produced for arranging goods in department stores,
post office, etc.
If the objects to be moved are relatively small and not
too heavy, instead~of reducing the size of the blocks, it
is possible to arrange the blocks - co.ntaining rollers of
different directions - within each other. This is shown in
Fig. 14, where the rollers of different directions are
arranged consecutively in chessboard pattern, so that the
rollers of the sane direction are moved, or lifted and
lowered together. This way, practically two blocks are
arranged in overlapping position.
The invention is nat limited to the examples and can be
produced in many ways within the scope claimed in the
following claims.
