AU657739B2 - Remotely operated release system for a hook - Google Patents

Description

Ip.- 1- 57 73

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLE TE SPE CIrICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

P/0/00l1 Regulation 3.2 00 090 0 Name of Applicant: NZ STEVEDORING COMPANY LIMITED Actual Inventor(s): Brian Frank WALTERS Address for service in Australia: r C 4 C I 9C 4 4608 1040 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Qantas House 2 Railway Parade Camberwell Victoria 3124 Australia Attorney CodG CD Invention Title: REMOTELY OPE RATE D RELEASE SYSTEM FOR A HOOK

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004~00 0 9 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Our Ref: #10603 JRG:WB 03-l4nzs

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U5o4 0104 9 2, This invention relates to a remotely operated release system for lifting hook.

In particular, but not exclusively, this invention relates to release systems for use in loading cargo, such as logs. Reference throughout this specification shall be made to the use of the present invention with respect to logs, however it should be appreciated that the present invention also has applications outside of this field.

The loading of logs into cargo holds is a hazardous and labour intensive 0oooe 10 task. Currently, logs are delivered to ships side and two men place log (3 S0 oo .o o sling wires around the load of logs. A crane or derrick lifts the load of logs into the cargo hold, or on the deck of the vessel and into the correct stowage .ot: area. The wires that form the log sling hang from a spreader bar and are connected by hooks. These hooks are manually released by two men positioned within the hold who climb on top of the log load to access the O hooks. The crane then pulls the released slings clear of the load and returns the empty slings to the wharf and the method is repeated. Often 0" the weight of the log load is in the order of 20 tonnes or more.

This method of operation is very dangerous to the men working in the hold S"00":*20 of the vessel. There is the obvious danger of being in a hold while 20 tonnes or more of logs are being swung around by a crane. Another danger is that once the hooks are released, the wire connected to the hooks can snake viciously perhaps catching the men. A further danger is that once the logs are released from the sling they could roll while the men are still on top of the logs or in the vicinity of same.

c 1 -i Another problem with the current system is that it is labour intensive as it requires two men present in the hold for each loading.

It is an object of the present invention to address the above problems.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descript on which is given by way of example only.

STATEMENT DEFINING THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of loading cargo characterised by the steps of: a) attaching cargo to a cargo lifting device with a hook capable to be released by remote release means, and b) moving the cargo by the cargo lifting device, and c) releasing the hook using the remote release means wherein the remote release means includes a piston which may release the cargo as a result of the piston I pressing against a surface.

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15 According to an alternative aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for use in lifting cargo, said apparatus comprising a support member, a hook shaped member pivotally attached to the support member and a release member, the arrangement and construction being such that the release member can hold the hook shaped member in a substantially upright position with respect to the support member wherein upon release of the release member, the hook shaped member is free to pivot away from the support member, the apparatus characterised in that release means for releasing the release member includes a piston and that the action of lowering the apparatus to a surface causes the piston to press against the surface and move in a direction causing release of the release V t JRGID10603SPC 16 January 199S rr_ i GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THTE INVENTIN The term remote shall in the context of this specification refer to any means that does not require manual input from personnel within the cargo area.

Having a hook which is releasable by remote means enables cargo to be transferred to a hold in a ship without the necessity of men being within that hold. This has a number of advantages. With no men in the hold, there is no danger of injury from the swinging load within the hold, rolling logs and other cargo or snaking wires. Furthermore, using a 000004 10 remote control system ls iless labour intensive than having two men in the 0 0 0 o0 oon hold as somebody such as the deck man who is already required for the Oo o loading procedure can also operate the remote release system.

0 0 In one embodiment, the remote release means may be a rope which is attached to the release means on the hook. In other embodiments, the 15 remote release means may be radio controlled, a piston, air activated or by 00 0 00 ~some other means other than manually releasing the hooks.

0 0 00 0 o oc In one embodiment, the support member may be a high tensile plate. In aoo some embodiments the plate may be angled to ensure that the centre of the hook member attached to the plate is aligned vertically with the crane.

20 This ensures that the load when attached to the hook member is vertically J aligned with the crane, placing less strain on the crane and ensuring safer lifting.

The hook member may be pivotally mounted near the base of the support member so that upon release from the support member it may swing away therefrom allowing wires passed around the hook member to slide off 3 4/ 4 same. In a preferred embodiment, there may be two hooks attached to the support member. It is envisaged of course that any number of hooks may be used according to the appropriateness of the situation.

The release member may come in a variety of forms. In one embodiment the release member may be a bar with struts that may be pivotally mounted to the support member. The bar may in one embodiment fit over the tip of the hook member. The tip of the book member may be shaped to accommodate the bar so the bar can fit snugly against same.

The shape of the hook member may be such that when a load is on same, the tip of the hook member is held against the bar through the torsional strain produced by the load on the hook. When the load is no longer on the hook, for instance when the logs have been placed on the floor of the hold, the tip of the hook no longer strains against the bar. It is therefore a simple matter to lift the bar upwards away from the tip of the hook by means of a cable attached to the bar. Releasing the hook in this manner enables the hook to swing downwards with respect to the support member and the wires on the hook to slide off. In one embodiment, the cable attached to the bar may be operated by a person standing on the deck. In other embodiments the cable may be operated by the crane operator.

In some embodiments there may be additional retraining means on the bar, for instance a return spring may be used to hold the bar against the support system.

3 In an important feature of the present invention, the release rmeans includes a piston.

The piston may be attached to the front of the support member so that when the cargo lifting apparatus lowers the cargo against a surface (either the hold or other 9 E cargo), the piston is moved by the action S7 G:ID:#10603.SPC 16 Januy 199 _1 of the cargo against it. This movement of the piston can be used to move the release member thus releasing the hook or hooks. It can be seen that this embodiment is particularly useful as it can serve to automatically open the hooks when the cargo lifting apparatus has been lowered to the surface on which the cargo is required to be deposited. As with all remote release means discussed, the piston may be used on its own or in combination with other remote release means, perhaps a rope.

In an alternative embodiment, the remote release means may be radio controlled. The actual release means may be activated by a number of mechanisms, perhaps a latching solenoid, compressed gas or other means.

I o SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION o WITH RESPECT TO DRAWINGS 0 Aspects of the present invention will now be discussed by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: is a diagrammatic side view of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and 1 9 0 0 Figure 2: is a diagrammatic plan view of a bar in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and o Figure 3: is a diagrammatic side view of apparatus in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4: is a diagrammatic rear view of thq support plate and hook illustrated in Figure 3, and Figure 5: is a diagrammatic front view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention which uses a piston.

Figure 1 illustrates one possible configuration of a hook, generally indicated by arrow 1, for use in the present invention. The hook 1 has a pivot point 2 by which it is attached to the support member 3 (see Figure 3).

Strength is imparted to the hook 1 by way of a strengthening wear strip 4 which is positioned along the inside of the hook part of the hook 1. The tip of the hook 1 has an indent 6 which is complementary to the shape of the bar 7 (see Figure It is believed that the configuration of the hook 1 .OO 10 shown in Figure 1 is a configuration which gives the desired qualities of 0 0 os ostrength, although of course other configurations may be used.

o 0 o 0 0 Odo Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the release means generally indicated by 0 o0oo0 arrow 7. The release means comprises a bar 8 and two struts 9 which are o 0 pivotally connected at points 10 to flanges 11 extending fromn the support member 3.

°o Figure 3 illustrates more clearly the arrangement of the release means 7, the hook member 1 and the support member 3. The support member 3 is "o angled so that the centre 12 of the hook 1 is directly aligned with the crane wires 13 attached to the support member 1. The tip 5 of the hook 1 is held .oO S 20 in position by the release means 7 and is almost flush with the top of the struts 9. The bar 8 of the release means 7 is flush against the indent 6 of the hook member 1.

A return spring 14 is attached to the support member 3 and to the bar 8, providing additional means by which the bar is held against the indent 6.

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9- 1 A cable 15 is attached to the bar 8 and is threaded through an eye 16 on the support member 3.

Figure 4 is a rear view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3. Attachment to the ship's crane of the support plate 3 is by way of a large dee shackle of sufficient strength to have a safe working load of 30 tonnes. The positioning of the re]ease means 7 is shown in. dotted lines. This embodiment has two hooks 1 which are restrained by the single release means 7. The central positioning of the return spring 14 can also be more clearly seen along with the wires 17 which form part of the sling.

S"o 0 10 Figure 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present invention whereby a piston 20 is used to push upwards the release bar 7. The piston 0a 20 extends beyond the bottom of the support plate 3 and the base 21 of the 0s 04 S hooks 1. Upon lowering the support plate 3 onto a surface (such as cargo) pushes the piston 20 is pushed upwards with respect to support plate 3.

The piston acts against the release bar 7 lifting it from the hooks 1 and S, enabling the hooks to pivot downwards releasing the wires 17 and hence unloading the cargo.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be 20 made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The claims form part of the disclosure of this specification.

Claims (11)

1. Apparatus for use in lifting cargo, said apparatus comprising a support member, a hook shaped member pivotally attached to the support member and a release member, the arrangement and construction being such that the release member can hold the hook shaped member in a substantially upright position with respect to the support riember wherein upon release of the release member, the hook shaped member is free to pivot away from the support member, the apparatus characterised in that release means for releasing the release member includes a piston and that the action of lowering the apparatus to a surface causes the piston to press against the surface and move in a direction causing release of the release member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the release member is a bar.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the release means includes a rope either directly or indirectly attached to the release member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the release means includes a radio receiver so that the release means can be activated by radio control.

Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the release means includes an apparatus which is operated by compressed air.

6. A method of loading cargo characterised by th steps of: a) attaching cargo to a cargo lifting device with a hook capable to be 20 released by remote release; means, and b) moving the cargo by the cargo lifting device, and c) releasing the hook using the remote release means wherein the remote release means includes a piston.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the remote release means includes 25 a rope.

8. A method as claimed in either of claim 6 or claim 7 wherein the remote release means is operated by radio control.

9. A method as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the remote release means is activated by compressed gas.

10. Apparatus substantially ,as herein described with reference to and as illustrated f 4 *000 0 0 00 0 04 000 0 000 a o 0 0 0 00 o do 00 0 000 0 0 *0400 00 000000 o o oe6 «*0 a o 0 0 0 o 0 0 a 0000 0 f JRI f t t .D:#1O60,SPC 16 lanuary 1995 i 9 by the accompanying drawings. support

11. A method substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated r and a by the accompanying drawings. release on with DATED: 16 January 1995 Ie hook iparatus CARTER SMITH BEADLE a piston Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: to press NZ STEVEDORING COMPANY LIMITED lember. ,r. Smeans means control. means 4 I e to be remote acludes "1 remote release istrated SJanuary 1995 16 January 1995 UJ- ABSTRACT A method of and apparatus for loading cargo is provided whsrein cargo is attached to a cargo lifting device including a hook shaped member and a release member which can hold the hook in a substantially upright position with respect to a support member Upon release of the release member which may be effected by remote release means including a piston the hook shaped member is free to pivot away from the support member to unload the cargo. 0 0 o 0 0 O 000 7 0 0 r C