Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
TITLE
ELEVATING CAGE APPARATUS WITH
ALTERNATIVE POWERED OR MANUAL INPUT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to elevating cages used in
conjunction
with shipping containers. In particular, example embodiments of the present
invention provide
elevating cages that are selectively actuatable with either a powered motor or
a manual input
using a shared gear assembly.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] An elevating cage apparatus includes a support structure and a
cage structure, or
carriage, that moves vertically with respect to the support structure. The
carriage includes a
railing structure that typically corresponds to the periphery of the top of a
shipping container
such as a trailer or railcar. The railing structure thus defines an enclosed
working area above the
container for loading, unloading, or the like. To provide access to a top of
the shipping
container, the carriage is raised above the height of the shipping container
so that the container
may be positioned beneath the carriage. Once the container is in position, the
carriage is lowered
down to a height at which the top portion of the container is accessible.
[0003] Such elevating cages generally use powered motors that receive
power from a
power grid to raise and lower the carriage. In the event of a power failure,
the carriage may be
unmovable from an elevated position until power returns to the motor.
Similarly, the carriage
may be unmovable from an elevated position if the motor fails.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Some example embodiments enable the provision of a novel elevating
cage
apparatus. According to one aspect of the invention, the elevating cage
apparatus includes a
support structure (e.g., a support frame). A carriage is raisable and
lowerable with respect to the
support structure. The carriage is configured to be alternatively raised and
lowered by a motor
and/or a manual actuation mechanism using a shared gear assembly.
[0005] A further aspect of the present invention provides an elevating
cage apparatus for
use in conjunction with a shipping container. The apparatus comprises a
support structure and a
carriage coupled to the support structure so that the carriage is movable
vertically with respect to
the support structure when the support structure is in an upright position. A
first drive
mechanism and a second drive mechanism are each operative to raise and lower
the carriage.
Preferably, a shared gear assembly is provided to which the first drive
mechanism and the second
drive mechanism are operatively connected to raise and lower the carriage.
[0006] According to some exemplary embodiments, the shared gear assembly
comprises
a gear box having a first input and a second input, the first input and the
second input operative
to drive a shared output. The first drive mechanism may comprise a first
driver (e.g., an electric
motor or a pneumatic motor) in operative engagement with the first input of
the gear box. The
second drive mechanism may comprise a second driver (e.g., a manual actuation
mechanism or a
battery-powered auxiliary electric motor) in operative engagement with the
second input of the
gear box. The shared gear assembly may preferably include a worm drive or
otherwise be
configured to act as a brake to hold the carriage in place.
[0007] Generally, the carriage will be configured to move vertically
along tracks
extending vertically along the support structure. For example, the carriage
may move along the
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tracks via a plurality of wheeled assemblies. In such embodiments, the
carriage may extend
from the support structure in a cantilevered configuration. At least one
counterweight may be
provided that is configured to offset weight of the carriage.
[0008] According to a further aspect, the present invention provides an
elevating cage
apparatus comprising a support structure and a carriage coupled to the support
structure so that
the carriage is movable vertically with respect to the support structure when
the support structure
is disposed in an upright position. A gear assembly is also provided, having
an output shaft
operatively coupled to the carriage so that rotation of the output shaft in
one direction raises the
carriage with respect to the support structure and rotation of the output
shaft in an opposite
direction lowers the carriage with respect to the support structure. A first
input shaft is in
rotationally driving engagement with the output shaft through the gear
assembly and a second
input shaft is in rotationally driving engagement with the output shaft
through the gear assembly.
A first driver is in rotationally driving engagement with the first input
shaft. A second driver is
in rotationally driving engagement with the second input shaft.
[0009] A still further aspect of the present invention provides an
elevating cage apparatus
for use in conjunction with a shipping container. The apparatus comprises a
support structure
and a carriage coupled to the support structure so that the carriage is
movable vertically with
respect to the support structure when the support structure is in an upright
position. The carriage
defines a railing structure about a periphery thereof. A shared gear assembly
is provided having
a first input shaft, a second input shaft, and a shared output shaft, the
first input shaft and the
second input shaft each being operative to rotate the shared output shaft. A
powered motor is in
operative engagement with the first input shaft of the gear assembly. A manual
actuation
mechanism is in operative engagement with the second input shaft of the gear
assembly.
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[0010] Other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from the
discussion below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including
the best mode
thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the
specification, which makes
reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0012] Figure 1 is an isometric view of an elevating cage apparatus in
accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention in position with respect to a truck-
trailer container;
[0013] Figure 2 is a rear isometric view of an elevating cage apparatus
in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] Figure 3 is an enlarged rear isometric view of a portion of the
elevating cage
apparatus as in Figure 2;
[0015] Figure 4 is an enlarged front isometric view of the portion of the
elevating cage
apparatus shown in Figure 3;
[0016] Figure 5 is a front isometric view of an elevating cage apparatus
as in Figure 2;
[0017] Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a counterweight and a portion of
an attached
chain for use with the elevating cage apparatus as in Figure 2;
[0018] Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a hand crank and
associated hardware
for use with the elevating cage apparatus as in Figure 2;
[0019] Figure 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating a drive shaft, a
coupling, and a portion
of a frame of the elevating cage apparatus as in Figure 2;
[0020] Figure 9 is a fragmentary view of an attachment between a lifting
chain and an
elevating carriage for the elevating cage apparatus as in Figure 2;
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[0021] Figure 10 is an isometric view of a gear box that may be used with
the elevating
cage apparatus as in Figure 2;
[0022] Figure 11 is an isometric view of an electric motor that may be
used with the
elevating cage apparatus as in Figure 2; and
[0023] Figure 12 is a perspective view of an exemplary worm and gear
drive that may be
incorporated into the gear box of Figure 10.
[0024] Repeat use of reference characters in the present specification
and drawings is
intended to represent same or analogous features or elements of the invention
according to the
disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Some example embodiments now will be described more fully
hereinafter with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all example
embodiments are
shown. Indeed, the examples described and pictured herein should not be
construed as being
limiting as to the scope, applicability, or configuration of the present
disclosure. As used herein,
"operable coupling" should be understood to relate to direct or indirect
connection that, in either
case, enables functional interconnection of components that are operably
coupled to each other.
[0026] As used herein, terms referring to a direction or a position
relative to the
orientation of an elevating cage, such as but not limited to "vertical,"
"horizontal," "above," or
"below," refer to directions and relative positions with respect to the
elevating cage's orientation
in its normal intended operation, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
[0027] Further, the term "or" as used in this disclosure and the appended
claims is
intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or." That is,
unless specified
otherwise, or clear from the context, the phrase "X employs A or B" is
intended to mean any of
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the natural inclusive permutations. That is, the phrase "X employs A or B" is
satisfied by any of
the following instances: X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B.
In addition,
the articles "a" and "an" as used in this specification and the appended
claims should generally
be construed to mean "one or more" unless specified otherwise or clear from
the context to be
directed to a singular form. Throughout the specification and claims, the
following terms take at
least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context dictates
otherwise. The
meanings identified below do not necessarily limit the terms, but merely
provide illustrative
examples for the terms. The meaning of "a," "an," and "the" may include plural
references, and
the meaning of "in" may include "in" and "on." The phrase "in one embodiment,"
as used herein
does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may.
[0028] Figures 1, 2, and 5 illustrate an example embodiment of an
elevating cage
apparatus 100 including a support structure (e.g., a frame). The support
structure includes a pair
of hollow vertical columns 102 spaced apart from one another as shown. The
bottom ends of
columns 102 are fixed with respect to the earth and a cross support member 104
extends between
the upper ends of columns 102. Columns 102 are typically attached to a
suitable foundation
using anchor bolts, which may be precast into the foundation or embedded into
existing concrete
in accordance with generally accepted engineering practices.
[0029] Referring now particularly to Figures 2 and 5, a cantilevered side
support rail 106
extends horizontally forward from each column 102. Side support rails 106 each
include a top
member 106a, a bottom member 106b, and a plurality of structural support
members extending
therebetween. An outboard rail 110 extends between, and attaches to, distal
ends of side rails
106 (with respect to columns 102). A pair of inboard rails 112 extend
horizontally from
respective side support rails 106 nearer columns 102. This provides a carriage
having a
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generally rectangular cage 114 defined by cantilevered support rails 106 on
its sides, outboard
rail 110 on a front perimeter, inboard rails 112 on a rear perimeter, and
optionally a platform at a
bottom (e.g., formed by a plurality of flip-up panels). Rails 112 and rail 110
each include one or
more cross-members that define portions of the cage's perimeter.
[0030] A lower beam extends between inboard rails 112, thus defining
along with rails
112 an opening 116 that provides a worker access to the working area of the
cage. In an
embodiment, the carriage further includes a door (not shown) hinged to one
side of opening 116
so that the door selectively closes off the opening. As shown in Figure 1, one
end of a pivotal
gangway may typically be attached at opening 116 so that a worker can walk
across to the
working area of cage 114 when it is positioned for access to the container C.
[0031] A rail 118 extends along an outside of the cage in the
longitudinal direction of the
outboard rail and connects via struts extending at about 45 degrees with
respect to horizontal
from vertical support members of outboard rail 110. A similar rail 120 runs
longitudinally along
an outside of each of inboard rails 112.
[0032] Cantilevered support rails 106 are movable vertically along
columns 102. In the
illustrated embodiment, a pair of tracks 130 extend along the length of the
sides of the respective
columns 102. Rails 106 roll along tracks 130 via roller carriage assemblies
132. In an
embodiment, roller carriage assemblies 132 include two opposing wheels on each
side of tracks
130 (i.e., front and rear sides of the tracks with respect to the front and
rear of the elevating
cage). In the illustrated embodiment, each cantilevered support rail 106
travels along tracks 130
via four roller carriage assemblies, one at a top and one at a bottom of
support rail 106 for each
track 130.
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[0033] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an example embodiment of the mechanisms
for
operating elevating cage apparatus 100. A powered motor 202 (see also Figure
11) operatively
couples to a gear box 204 (see also Figure 10). The motor may be electric,
hydraulic, or
pneumatic and, in an embodiment, is configured to deliver about one
horsepower. In this
example embodiment, gear box 204 comprises a double input, single output worm
gear box, e.g.,
having a right-angle output. In an embodiment, gear box 204 may have any
suitable gear ratio
such as a gear ratio of 400:1.
[0034] As should be understood, a worm drive serves at least two
purposes. First, as the
motor drives the worm, the gear box converts a low torque, high speed input
into a high torque,
low speed output. Therefore, the gear box is particularly suitable in this
application of slowly
and effectively raising and lowering the carriage. In an embodiment, for
example, the motor
raises and lowers the cage at a rate of about two inches per minute. A
counterweight, discussed
below, reduces the motor torque requirements to lift the carriage. Second,
because of the
inherent design of the worm drive (i.e., due to the lead angle, the pressure
angle, and the
coefficient of friction), the direction of transmission is effectively not
reversible. That is, a load
on the output of the gear box will not cause the gears to rotate. Therefore,
the weight of the
carriage cannot cause the carriage to move. Instead, the carriage is moved by
driving an input of
the gear box (i.e., via the motor or, as described below, a suitable manual
actuation mechanism
typically including some form of hand crank). In other words, the worm drive
acts as a parking
brake, holding the elevating cage assembly in place when the worm drive is not
actively being
driven at an input.
[0035] A double input, single output gear box has two input shafts, each
in driving
engagement via the internal gears with the same output shaft. The dual input
provides the
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=
capability for multiple configurations and can be beneficial when spatially
arranging the drive
input with respect to the output. For example, it may sometimes be preferred
to have the input
and output on opposite sides of the gear box, while it may be beneficial in
other applications to
have the input and output on the same side. The provision of alternate inputs
(which may be
separate shafts or opposite ends of the same shaft) allows the system designer
flexibility in
locating the gear box within the system structure.
[0036] In the elevating cage of the illustrated embodiment, however, each
input is
operably connected to a separate drive mechanism. In particular, one input is
operably
connected to the motor 202 and the other input is operably coupled to a hand
crank 206 (Figures
2 and 7), where the motor and the hand crank are used alternatively to each
other. Thus, the
output shaft can be driven either by the motor or the hand crank. When the
motor drives the gear
box, the input shaft connected to the hand crank rotates, as does the output
shaft. Thus, hand
crank 206 may be contained in a box (e.g., small cage), and the box may be
opened or removed
in circumstances where the hand crank 206 is needed (e.g., in the case of a
power outage that
disables the motor). In one example embodiment, hand crank 206 may be in the
form of a wheel
having a diameter of about sixteen inches.
[0037] As shown in Figure 3, a belt or chain 208 transfers torque
provided by the hand
crank to a sprocket 210 that, in turn, transfers the torque to a larger
sprocket 212 via an
interconnecting drive shaft 214. That is, both sprocket 210 and 212 are keyed
to drive shaft 214
so that rotation of sprocket 210 causes corresponding rotation of sprocket
212. In turn, sprocket
212 transfers its torque via a chain 215 to a sprocket 216 that is smaller
than sprocket 212, and
sprocket 216 drives the second input to the gear box opposite the motor input.
It should be
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understood that the relative sizes of the coupled sprockets cause the input
torque of the hand
crank to be geared down to a lower torque with a higher speed at the second
gear box input.
[0038] Gear box 204 has an output shaft that outputs its torque to a
drive shaft 220 via a
coupling 222. Drive shaft 220 rotates in bearings within bearing housings 224
mounted to cross
member 104. Further, drive shaft 220 is keyed to a sprocket 226 that drives a
chain 228. A first
end of chain 228 attaches to the carriage of cage 114 so that rotation of
sprocket 226 raises and
lowers the carriage. A first counterweight 218 (Figures 2 and 6) hangs from a
second end of
chain 228, opposite the first end, and is suspended within a volume defined by
an interior of
hollow column 102, thereby offsetting the load of the carriage. An idler
sprocket 230 is located
between sprocket 226 and the counterweight to direct the path of chain 228.
[0039] A coupling 232 couples drive shaft 220 to a drive shaft 234 (see
also Figure 8),
which drives a similar system on an opposite side of the elevating cage. As
one skilled in the art
will understand, a sprocket receiving torque from drive shaft 234 pulls a
chain that lifts a far side
of the carriage. An opposite end of that chain similarly attaches to a second
counterweight 218
that is suspended within corresponding column 102. In an embodiment, the
combined weights of
the first and second counterweights 218 is substantially the same as the
weight of the carriage. A
pair of housings (not shown) may be disposed at the upper ends of each column
102 to cover
various drive components (e.g., bearings, sprockets, chains, belts, and drive
shafts).
[0040] In an embodiment, motor 202 is operable by a remote control (not
shown) which
is in electrical communication with the motor. For example, depression of a
first button on the
remote control causes the motor to rotate in a first direction, thereby
raising the carriage, and
depression of a second button on the remote control causes the motor to rotate
in a second
direction, opposite the first direction, thereby lowering the carriage. In an
embodiment, the
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remote control further includes an emergency stop button that, when depressed,
decouples the
power source from the motor, thereby stopping the carriage in place. The
remote control may be
located, for example, near the end of the gangway that is opposite to opening
116.
[0041] Figure 12 illustrates an example of a worm drive mechanism 240
that may be
used in gear box 204. The respective ends of the worm shaft 242 correspond to
inputs of the
gear box 204 which, when rotated, causes rotation of a ring gear 244. The ring
gear 244 is keyed
(as at 246) to a shaft which in some embodiments can directly be the output
shaft of the gear box
204. In the illustrated embodiment, however, that shaft serves as the input to
a right angle
transmission which facilitates the mounting of gear box 204. The output of the
right angle
transmission in such embodiments serves as the output shaft of gear box 204.
[0042] It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel
elevating cage
apparatus. While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are
described above, it
should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications
and variations can be
made in the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit
thereof. For example,
while the illustrated embodiment includes a motor and a hand crank as the
actuation means, other
known power sources may be used, such as, for example, a high horsepower
battery tool, or
auxiliary electric motor. Accordingly, it should be understood that the
elements of one
embodiment may be combined with another embodiment to create a still further
embodiment. It
is intended that the present invention cover such modifications and variations
as come within the
scope and spirit of the present disclosure, the appended claims, and their
equivalents.
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