WO1997026150A1

WO1997026150A1 - Transport system particularly for transport of containers and corresponding units

Info

Publication number: WO1997026150A1
Application number: PCT/FI1997/000004
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pekka JÄRVINEN
Original assignee: Marita Järvinen Oy
Priority date: 1996-01-18
Filing date: 1997-01-08
Publication date: 1997-07-24
Also published as: FI102363B1; FI102363B; FI960240A0; FI960240A

Abstract

A transport system particularly for loading containers (10, 10') or corresponding units from ground transport vehicles or quays and for transporting them in dock areas as desired, e.g. to stock areas. As part of the system is employed a transporting device (1) provided with a cab (8) with controls, whose load-bearing transport wheels (3), of which wheels part or all may be steering and/or driving wheels, are attached to a load-bearing frame (2) accommodating an engine, transmissions and possibly counterweights to stabilize the device, and on which frame (2) bears a lifting boom (5) provided with a container gripping member (7) with which lifting boom the containers (10, 10') are lifted into a proper position on top of the frame (2). At the loading stage a minimum of two containers are lifted with the lifting boom into a position on top of each other on the frame (2), of which containers the downmost one or ones are borne by the frame (2) and the rest by other containers being transported.

Description

TRANSPORT SYSTEM PARTICULARLY FOR TRANSPORT OF CONTAINERS AND CORRESPONDING UNITS

The present invention relates to a transport system and the devices used therein, particularly in the handling and transport of containers in ports The transporting devices incorporated in the system, each provided with its respective power unit, load-bearing and steerable wheels and thereto connected appropriate transmission, and a manned cab contain means for loading and unloading more than one container onto and off the transporting device and for transporting the containers as desired in a dock area.

The transport of containers between docks and stocks in harbours based on man- manoeuvred transporting devices is conventionally carried out by means of different self-loading straddle carriers, fork lifts and reach stackers and with the aid of tugmasters As a main rule, it is not possible to load more than one container per transporting device for transportation purposes Prior art methods and means designed for transport of more than one container are based on utilization of such facilities external to the transporting device as cranes for loading and unloading of transporting devices. The devices used in these methods are based e.g. on special trailers pulled by tugmasters, which trailers at the points of departure and destinations of transporting operations are loaded and unloaded by container cranes and stock cranes. So-called side-loaders also have become known which are usually based on lifting devices coupled to trailers of lorries, by which devices a single container is loaded into a symmetric position on top of the trailer. Side-loaders provided with forks are also used which are counted among special trucks and which usually are not capable of other operations than handling of empty containers designed to be handled by means of forks

Prior art self-loading container transport devices suffer from the disadvantage of being limited to transporting not more than one single container For example straddle carriers whose unloaded weight generally vanes from 60 to 70 tons, are capable of transporting a working load of 20 to 40 tons in the form of one 20ft or 40ft container The limited capacity is reflected in ports in the form of extended turnaround periods for ships and/or costly investments in machinery caused by the range of equipment required, and in high operating costs of the equipment The drawbacks of the prior art methods capable of transporting more than one container include the heavy work loads of the relatively few quayside and stock cranes and the resultant waiting times in loading and unloading the transporting devices.

The objective of this invention is to create a new kind of transport system which, together with the devices applicable therein, allows the elimination of the most substantial ones among the drawbacks described above. The system according to this invention is characterized by the features disclosed in the characterizing part of patent claim 1.

o The following can be considered the greatest advantages of the invention

- two or more containers, depending on their size, may be transported at the same time,

- the transporting devices transporting two or more containers are of independently loading and unloading type,

15 - the transporting devices can, where needed, drive to either direction with the same manoeuvrability,

- the total weights of the transporting devices in their loaded mode do not exceed the total weights of currently used combinations,

- containers may be taken from and left in the immediate vicinity of other containers, 0 and

- containers may be taken from behind or be left behind another container.

In the following the invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings in which

-> *.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a transporting device according to the invention, loaded with two containers,

Figure 2 shows the same as Fig. 1 but from above,

30

Figure 3 shows a top of view of the transporting device of Fig. 1 at a stage where one of the containers has been loaded and a second one is being approached with the purpose of gripping it,

Figure 4 shows the same as Fig 3 but at a stage where the second container is being turned onto the transporting device, Figure 5 shows the constructional principle of the loading equipment of the transporting devices according to Figs. 6 to 8 seen from the end of the transporting devices,

Figure 6 shows an end view of another transporting device according to the invention,

Figure 7 shows the same as Fig. 6 but as a top view,

Figure 8 shows a sectional view of a variation of the transporting device provided with a side-loading equipment shown in Figs. 6 to 7,

Figure 9 shows a side view of another transporting device according to the invention at a stage where the container is being lifted,

Figure 10 shows the same as Fig. 9 but from above and at a stage where the container is being turned,

Figure 11 shows as a side view the principle of and a sectional view of the boom turning mechanism of the transporting device according to Figs. 9 to 10,

Figure 12 shows the same as Fig. 11 but as an end view

Figure 13 shows an end view of a detail at the end of the telescopic boom of the transporting device according to Figs. 9 to 10.

All transporting devices 1-1'" according to the invention applicable in the system according to the invention are characterized by the following features:

- the transporting devices 1-1'" are based on heavy steel frames 2-2"' realized by prior art methods, which frames have been suitably dimensioned for each separate transporting device 1-1'" depicted in the figures,

- to the frames 2-2'" are in a conventional manner connected load-bearing, preferably solid-rubber wheels 3 of prior art construction, of which there may be the number presented in the drawings or some other appropriate number, and of which wheels all or in each separate case the appropriately chosen ones are driving wheels and/or steering ones,

- the frames 2-2'" accomodate a power unit and preferably one or more combustion engines, from which the driving force is by a prior art transmission, e.g. mechanically and/or by hydraulic means, transmitted to the wheels 3 and to other parts of the equipment to be described below; these are not shown in the drawings,

- the frames 2-2"' may, where distribution of weight so requires, be provided with suitable counterweights 4,4' on that side of the frame 2-2" or at those ends of the frame 2'" which with respect to the centerline of the transporting device concerned are opposite the outermost working position of a container gripping member 7,7' of prior art construction,

- the control of all operations of the transporting devices 1-1'" is arranged to take place by using prior art technique from a cab 8-8'" which accommodates prior art controls and a pivot seat,

- access to the cabs 8-8'" is arranged in a conventional manner, either by means of a service ladder or based on controlling of movements from the cab 8'",

- the container gripping member 7 of prior art basic construction, provided with twistlocks, is of adjustable type and fits to the handling of containers 10,10' of all known standardised dimensions, e.g. 40ft and 20ft; in addition the container gripping member 7,7' is in a conventional manner articulated with telescopic booms 5', 5" and with gripping member arms 6,6' to effect the easiest possible locking,

- the frames 2-2" comprise appropriate, conventional guides and safety catches for securing the position of the containers 10,10' to be placed on top of them, of which containers only such as are of equal length are loaded one on another; these are not shown in the drawings,

- the transporting devices 1-1'" are fitted with necessary, appropriate driving and warning lights and other signalling means not shown in the drawings.

The transporting device 1 according to the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 consists of the frame 2 and other parts connected with it as described above and of the vertical telescopic boom 5 placed on one side and substantially on the centerline of the frame 2 in accordance with the drawings, the extreme lengths of the said boom being chosen so that it is possible by means of the container gripping member 7, coupled in a conventional manner through the gripping member arm 6 to the boom's upper part, to grip a container 10,10' laying on the ground alongside the transporting device 1 and place it on top of a second container laying on top of the frame 2 in a manner to be described in more detail below. The telescopic boom 5 is realized in a conventional manner so as to be steerably tumable on the frame 2 e.g. by means of a chain gear which in a conventional manner bears on an outermost body tube 9 of the telescopic boom 5 pillowed in a conventional manner in the frame 2. This prevents the turning of the other tubes of the telescopic boom 5 in an in itself known manner. The said telescopic boom 5 may be made, besides round tubes, also of rectangular hollow section tubes of which the outermost one is through a round prior art auxiliary construction pillowed in the frame 2 Hereby mere constructional means prevent the turning of the other tubes To an innermost tube 11 is fixedly attached the gripping member arm 6, which, depending on the modification, may also be of telescopic structure To the said gripping member arm is in a known manner fixed the container gripping member 7 The cab 8 is positioned on rails 12 so mounted on the frame 2 as to be desirably movable From the cab 8, by using e g hydraulic traction and a pinion rack/gear combination, the cab may be moved from one end of the frame 2 to the other and be locked in a conventional manner into positions shown in the drawings One of the extreme positions of the cab 8 is shown by a dotted line The cab 8 may also be realized in a conventional manner so as to be stationary and/or vertically adjustable The frame 2 is provided with a suitable counterweight 4 on the side opposite the telescopic boom 5, the weight of which counterweight serves to compensate for the tipping force against the transporting device 1 caused by the handling of the container

In the loading process the transporting device 1 is with the container gripping member 7 lying on the frame 2 driven to a position parallel with and alongside the first container 10 to be loaded and at an appropriate distance from the container 10 By adjusting the telescopic boom 5 from the cab 8 the container gripping member 7 is lifted slightly above the container 10 to be loaded whereafter the telescopic boom 5 is turned 180 degrees The container gripping member 7 is adjusted to be of equal length with the container 10 The transporting device 1 is driven somewhat forwards or rearwards to ensure the proper position of the container gripping member in relation to the container 10 The container gripping member 7 is lowered by adjusting the telescopic boom 5 until it bears on the gripping points of the container 10 and locked in a conventional manner After this the container 10 is by adjusting the telescopic boom 5 lifted slightly upwards and turned back 180 degrees and lowered onto the frame 2 into a travelling position Then the lockings of the container gripping member 7 are released from the container 10 and the same operation is repeated with a second container 10 When both containers 10 have been loaded, the cab 8 is adjusted to lie at the end of the transporting device 1 pointing to the direction of the desired destination and the transport operation is carried out in a desired manner

Gripping and locking the container 10,10' can be facilitated substantially by realizing the gripping member arm 6 as having a telescopic structure In this case the steering of the transporting device 1 to a position alongside the container 10 10' does not require nearly as high precision. Minor adjustments of the position of the container gripping member 7 can be effected by means of conventional adjusting means attached to the gripping member.

Container handling may be further facilitated by realizing the wheels 3 as having a prior art transmission, an articulation and technical steering means permitting 360- degree rotation. This makes it possible to drive the transporting device 1 , like reach stackers, in accordance with Figs. 3 and 4 against the container 10, 10'. By means of an appropriately chosen telescopic structure of the gripping member arm 6 and the appropriately chosen counterweight 4, the transporting device 1 is capable of pushing the gripping member 7 over the first container 10 and gripping the second container 10 lying at the same height or higher.

By means of the transporting device 1 it is also possible to unload and load ground transport vehicles, such as trains and motor vehicles, in container traffic by using the technique described above. The maximum height of the telescopic boom 5 determines the container transport capacity of the transporting device 1. With loaded containers, owing to the total weights, two containers one on another is currently the maximum dictated by the practice, whereas the advantages offered by the possibility to transport empty containers in and grip them from a position where there are three of them one on another speak in favour of the said property, which from the technical point of view is a realistic possibility with the present transporting device by the technique described.

The transporting device 1' according to the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 consists of the boom support plates 13 fixed e.g. by welding as shown in the figures transversely to the respective ends of the frame 2', having in their respective upper parts a conventional articulation 14, in which the telescopic booms 5' are pillowed so as to be turnable. The operation of the both telescopic booms 5' positioned at the respective peripheral ends of the frame 2' is synchronized in a conventional manner with respect to longitudinal adjustment as well as turning. Attached to the other ends of the telescopic booms 5' there are, as shown in the drawings, the in respect of twistlocks longitudinally adjustable container gripping members 7' of known construction. On the side of the frame 2', opposite the container gripping member 7', is placed the appropriately dimensioned counterweight 4' to stabilize the transporting device 1 during the handling of containers. The cab 8' is located on the side of the frame 2' opposite the loadable containers 10,10' of the frame 2', with its position adjustable in the longitudinal direction of the transporting device 1 ' through the rails 12'. The cab 8' may also be realized in a conventional manner as having a stationary and/or vertically adjustable position.

Figure 5 shows the turning mechanism of the telescopic booms 5', which mechanism is based on a hydraulic cylinder 16 articulated at its one end to an arm 15 which is attached to the outermost casing of the telescopic boom 5', which cylinder at its other end is through an articulation 17 coupled to the frame 2'. By adjusting the length of the hydraulic cylinder 16, the telescopic boom 5' is turned about the articulation 14 connected to the boom support plates. The constructions described are located between the boom support plates. The vertical position and distance from the transporting device V of the container gripping member 7' is affected by both longitudinal and vertical adjustment of the telescopic boom 5', the said adjustments being controlled from the cab 8'. The dimensions and articulation with the boom support plates 13 of the telescopic boom 5' are so chosen as to make it possible to grip by the container gripping member 7' attached to the boom the second container 10 laying on top of the first container 10 resting on the frame 2' and move it onto the ground alongside the transporting device 1'. In the course of the transport the telescopic booms 5' are turned upwards and retracted in a manner required by the loading operation so as not to extend beyond the edges of the frame 2' of the transporting device 1 '.

The transporting device 1' is loaded by driving it into such a position alongside the loadable container 10 in which the container gripping member 7' can by adjusting the telescopic booms 5' be lowered into a proper position on the said container 10 and locked into it. After this, further by appropriately adjusting the telescopic booms 5' from the cab 8', the container 10 is lifted on top ofthe frame 2' into the position shown in the drawings. The lockings of the container gripping member T are released and the transporting device 1' is driven into a loading position alongside the following container 10 to be loaded and the steps described above are repeated. After the loading process, the cab 8', if it is of transportable model, is adjusted to lie at that end of the frame 2' which points to the direction of the planned transporting operation.

By choosing the extreme measures of the telescopic boom 5' appropriately it is possible to load, with the transporting device lying on top of the frame 2', two equal containers 10 or 10', of which one is behind the other, from the same position of the vehicle. The transporting device 1 ' according to the invention may also be provided with wheels allowing 360-degree rotation described above in connection with the transporting device 1. Hereby the same benefits are gained as were described above in connection with the transporting device 1.

By dimensioning the frame 2' appropriately and by choosing such a prior art gripping member in which the location of the twistlocks can be adjusted asymmetrically to serve as the container gripping member 7' a total of four 20ft containers 10' can be loaded by the transporting device 1' according to the invention into a position with two on top of each other on the frame 2'

Figure 8 shows the transporting device 1" according to the invention on the frame of which it is possible to load a total of four empty 40ft containers, eight empty 20ft containers, into a position with two on top of each other or, correspondingly, 2/4 pieces of loaded containers into one layer. This is effected by utilizing a previously known transverse carrier 18 mounted on the frame 2". The containers are first loaded by using the transporting device 1" in the manner described above into a side position marked by dotted lines either in one or two layers and then moved by the carrier to the other side whereupon the loading on process on the original side is continued. The frame 2" of the transporting device 1" is broader and longer than the frame 1' of the transporting device 1 ' as a result of the placement of the cab 8" into a stationary position, effected e.g. so that the cab is through a support 27 supported to the boom support plates 13". The cab 8" may also be realized in a conventional manner vertically adjustably.

Figures 9 and 10 show the transporting device 1'" according to the invention consisting of the frame 2'" with the equipment described earlier and the appropriate counterweight 4'" at each end of the frame and with other equipment to be described in the following. To one side of the frame 2'", preferably in the centerline position shown in the drawings, is e.g. by welding attached a heavy articulation bearer 19 in which is through an articulation 20 pillowed a desirably turnable telescopic boom 5'". To the telescopic boom 5'" is in an in itself known manner coupled the cab 8'" that in a conventional manner retains its vertical position irrespective of the position of the boom, from which cab all the operations of the transporting device 1 '" are controlled. To the outermost end of the telescopic boom 5'" is in a manner shown in the drawings, substantially transversely attached the gripping member arm 6' and to the end of the arm shown in Fig. 6 is in a conventional manner coupled the container gripping member 7. The said coupling contains the turning mechanism of the prior art container gripping member 7. The container gripping member 7 is, in a manner shown in the drawings, mounted asymmetrically on the telescopic boom 5'". The asymmetricalness is as shown in Fig. 13 chosen so that when a container 10 coupled to the container gripping member 7 is through a prior art articulation 21 turned into a position in line with the longitudinal axis of the transporting device 1'", a suitable distance 'm' is left between the container 10 and an outermost telescopic tube 22 of the telescopic boom 5'", which distance allows a sufficient clearance between the telescopic boom 5'" with the turning mechanism and the container 10. The asymmetric mounting between the container gripping member 7 and the telescopic boom 5'" naturally stresses the boom construction in the form of torsion, but as the transporting device 1'" , unlike e.g. prior art reach stackers, is not driven with the container being borne by the telescopic boom, it is possible to compensate for the above described additional safety requirements caused by the dynamic loads of the reach stackers by taking the said torsion into account, and consequently arrive at nearly corresponding boom constructions.

The telescopic boom 5'" is preferably so dimensioned as to enable lowering by the boom, being in its shortest mode, of the container 10 so as to be borne by the frame 2'" as shown in the drawings and that in its longest mode the boom can be used to coupling the container gripping member 7 to the first container 10 lying behind the second container 10. The said construction can also be dimensioned so as to enable the handling of stacked containers 10 also from a suitable background position. The telescopic boom 5'" is tumable from the centerline of the frame 2'" to either side of the moving wagon 1'". This turning operation and the related lifting operations can be carried out e.g. by utilizing articulated constructions attachable to the telescopic boom 5'" and connected appropriately to the frame 2"'and appropriately steerable cross-mounted hydraulic cylinders driving said constructions, not shown in the drawings.

Another driving mechanism of the telescopic boom 5'" is shown in Figs. 11 and 12, in which

- the telescopic boom 5"' is in a manner shown in the drawings mounted between guiding support plates 23 of appropriately designed plate bunch chains 24 welded at their lower part to the frame 2'",

- the part of the support plates 23 extending above the frame 2'" has the form of a semi-circle with a radius of R with the centre of the articulation 20 as its mid-point,

- friction between the support plates 23 and the chains 24 is minimized appropriately e.g. by means of chain rolls and lubrication, - inside the frame 2'" and appropriately bearing on it are in a conventional manner positioned two driving wheels 25 which are e.g. hydraulically driven and which serve to pull the chains 24 to the desired direction,

- the chains 24 are connected to the telescopic boom 5'" through links 26. The chain traction described above enables the turning from the cab 8'" of the telescopic boom 5'" as desired from a position on the deck plane of one side to the corresponding position on the other side. During the turning operation the cab 8'" also moves from one side to another, retaining however all the time its vertical position. Loading by the transporting device 1'" is carried out by driving the device, while it is being controlled from the cab 8, perpendicularly against the container 10 to be loaded. During the approaching drive the container gripping member 7 is by adjusting the telescopic boom 5'" and the container gripping member lifted slightly above the container 10 to be gripped and turned to a position parallel with the container. The container gripping member 7 is by adjusting the inclination and length of the telescopic boom 5'" lowered onto the container 10 and locked into its position. The container 10 is lifted slightly upwards from its base and the container gripping member 7 with the container 10 is by adjusting the articulation 21 turned anticlockwise in the manner shown in Fig. 10 so as to lie parallel with the longitudinal axis of the transporting device 1"'. By adjusting the inclination and length of the telescopic boom 5'" the container 10 is lowered into a travelling position on top of the frame 2'" as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The operation is repeated with the second container 10 which is lowered onto the container loaded first. The container gripping member 7 can be left in its locked position on top of the last loaded container 10 during the transport. The leaving of the container gripping member in this position locks the containers into position during the transportation. When the transporting device 1'" is driven whilst unloaded (empty), the telescopic boom 5'" with the container gripping member 7 is adjusted to lie in such a position on the transporting device 1'" as not to project beyond the extreme dimensions of the frame 2'".

The cab 8'" of the transporting device 1'" can also be realized as utilizing the earlier described rail system in which case the cab 8'" is not connected to the telescopic boom 5'" but is positioned so as to be longitudinally adjustably movable on the side of the frame 2'" which is opposite to the containers. In this case the cab 8'" can always be adjusted to lie at that end of the transporting device 1 '" which points to the direction where the transport will be started. The solution described above and illustrated by drawings in connection with the other transporting devices 1 ,1' according to the invention is not shown in the drawings relating to the presentation of the present transporting device 1'". The above presented transporting devices 1-1'" and the system utilizing the same have substantial advantages over prior art facilities. These include e.g. the following:

- in unloading a ship the quayside crane may place the containers 10,10' on the

5 quay so as to be almost in engagement with each other, and, unlike with straddle carriers, e.g. no distance of roughly 1.5 m between the containers is needed,

- containers 10,10' can be take from behind or be left behind another container 10,10', which is not possible with conventional straddle carriers,

- as an exception from the current practice, self-loading transporting devices are l o capable of transporting a minimum of two containers 10, 10' at the same time and substantial savings can thereby be gained in driving distances and driving times,

- the devices are capable of moving 2 to 8 empty containers 10,10' at one time whereas the corresponding figure for prior art devices is only one.

15 The transporting devices 1-1 '" according to the invention are based on utilization of prior art engines, transmissions and controls, wheels and carriers in a new kind of functional connection and combined with new boom modifications.

The continuing strong growth of container traffic and hectic container transport 20 activity between the quay and port stocks call for improvements at all stages of container transport. The simultaneous transport of two or more containers produces essential improvements in efficiency in these functions. With the transporting devices according to the invention, the weights of prior art transporting devices, known from straddle carriers, will not be exceeded even when two containers are 25 being transported because the load is not borne by the lifting devices in the course of the transport. Compared to straddle carriers, the transporting devices according to the invention suffer from the disadvantage that stock areas can only be served from their edges. This disadvantage will, however, over time become irrelevant as growth in container population will call for more compact stocks, that is: the absence of the 30 present driving lanes of about 1.5 m between the containers, and this will lead to that portal cranes or the so-called "gantry cranes' will become more common as stock machinery.

The transporting devices according to the invention serve excellently also in 35 unloading and loading ground transport vehicles, i.e. motor vehicles and trains, because the operations of unloading and loading of these are to a large extent identical with taking a container or leaving it on the top of another container. In any case it should be understood that it is not wished to limit the invention to cover the above described embodiments only, but that numerous variations are possible within the framework of the inventive idea as defined by the patent claims to be presented in the following.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A transport system, particularly for loading containers (10,10') or other corresponding units from ground transport vehicles, quays or other places where necessary and for transporting these as desired, which transport system employs as part of the system a with a cab (8-8'") with controls provided transporting device (1- 1'") whose load-bearing transport wheels (3), of which some or all may be steering and/or driving wheels, are attached to a load-bearing frame (2-2'") which accommodates an engine, transmissions and possibly counterweights (4-4'") to stabilize the device, and on which frame (2-2'") bears a lifting boom (5-5'") provided with a container gripping member (7), by which boom the containers (10,10') are lifted into a proper position on top of the frame (2-2'"), characterized in that at the loading stage a minimum of two containers (10,10') are lifted by the lifting boom (5- 5'") one upon another on top of the frame (2-2'"), and that of the said containers the downmost one or ones are borne by the frame (2'") and the rest by other containers being transported, and that thereafter the containers (10,10') are with the aid of the transporting device transported as desired and after the transport operation unloaded in a reverse order compared to the one used in the loading process.

2. A system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the container (10,10') is loaded onto the transporting device (1,1'") by lifting it at the first stage by the lifting boom (5,5'") appropriately upwards clear of its base and then turning it in the horizontal plane to lie parallel with the frame (2,2'") of the transporting device (1 ,1'") and then lowering the container (10,10') so as to be borne by the frame (2,2'") or by another container (10,10') for the time taken by the transport.

3. A system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the containers (10,10') are loaded onto the transporting device so as to be borne by the frame (2', 2") or another container (10,10') from the side of the transporting device (1',1").

4. A system according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that after the loading of the containers (10,10') onto the transporting device (1 ,1',1'") the cab (8, 8', 8'") is moved to the end of the transporting device determined by the driving direction to permit maximum visibility.

5. A transporting device (1) applicable in the transport system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transporting device (1) comprises a to an itself known frame (2) attachable substantially vertically and longitudinally adjustable boom construction (5) capable of rotating around, to the upper part of which boom construction is attached the in itself known container gripping member (7), by which, by adjusting the boom construction, the containers (10,10') lying outside the frame (2) are gripped and further by adjusting the boom construction (5) the said containers, being still carried by said container gripping member, are lifted upwards clear of their base and are moved so as to be borne by the frame (2) or a second container (10,10') lying on the frame for being transported.

6. A transporting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the vertical boom construction (5) is at its upper end provided with a longitudinally adjustable and relative to the first boom construction substantially perpendicular second boom construction (6) to which is connected the in itself known container gripping member

(7).

7. A transporting device (1 ") applicable in the transport system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the frame (2") comprises a transverse carrier (18) by which the loaded container (10,10') or containers (10,10') loaded in lie one upon another are moved to the other side in the cross direction of the transport device (1 ") to enable the loading of other containers (10,10') in their earlier place.

8. A transporting device (1'") applicable in the system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the in itself known container gripping member (7) is articulated with the end part of the lifting boom (5'") substantially at a point (21) on the side of the boom^'s axis of symmetry.

9. A transporting device (1'") applicable in the system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the transporting device (1'") comprises a longitudinally adjustable lifting boom (5'") which is tumable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the transporting device so as to enable the loading of the transporting device (1'") from either of its peripheral ends. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau on 07 May 1997 (07.05.97) ; original claims 1 -9 replaced by amended claims 1 -6 (2 pages) ]

1 A transport system, particularly for loading containers (10,10') or other corresponding units from ground transport vehicles, quays or other places where necessary and for transporting these as desired, which transport system employs as part of the system a transporting device (1 '"), provided with a cab (8'") with controls, whose load-bearing transport wheels (3), of which some or all may be steering and/or driving wheels, are attached to a load-bearing frame (2'") which accommodates an engine, transmissions and possibly counterweights (4'") to stabilize the device, and on which frame bears a lifting boom (5'") provided with a container gripping member (7) with which boom the containers (10,10') are lifted into a proper position on top of the frame (2'"), characterized in that at the loading stage a minimum of two containers (10,10') are lifted on top of each other on top of the frame (2'") with the in an in itself known manner longitudinally adjustable lifting boom (5'") mounted in the cross direction substantially into an asymmetric position, and that of the said containers the downmost one or ones are borne by the frame (2'") and the rest by other containers being transported, and that thereafter the containers (10,10') are with the aid of the transporting device transported as desired and after the transport operation unloaded in a reverse order compared to the one used in the loading process.

2. A system according to patent claim 1 , characterized in that the container (10,10') is loaded onto the transporting device (1 , 1 '") by lifting it at the first stage with the lifting boom (5,5'") appropriately upwards clear of its base and then turning it in the horizontal plane to lie parallel with the frame (2,2'") of the transporting device (1 ,1 '") and then lowering the container (10,10') so as to be borne by the frame (2,2'") or by another container (10,10') for the time taken by the transport

3 A system according to patent claim 1 , characterized in that the containers (10,10') are loaded onto the transporting device so as to be borne by the frame

(2', 2") or another container (10,10') from either end of the transporting device (1 '")

4 A system according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that as the containers (10,10') are being loaded onto the transporting device (1 "') and as they are being unloaded the cab (8'") moves as being coupled to the lifting boom (5'")

5 A transporting device (1 '") applicable in the transport system according to claim 1 , which device is provided with the longitudinally adjustable lifting boom (5'" ) l

characterized in that the boom (5'") is located in a relative to the cross-direction of the transporting device (1'") substantially asymmetric but relative to the longitudinal direction preferably symmetric position in the frame (2'") of the transporting device (1 '") and that the in itself known container gripping member (7) connected to the lifting boom (5'") is coupled to the boom substantially asymmetrically.

6. A transporting device (1 '") according to claim 5, characterized in that the container gripping member performing container handling functions at one end of the transporting device (1'") is moved to the opposite end of the transporting device (1 '") to perform corresponding tasks by first turning the container gripping member (7) to lie substantially parallel with the frame (2'") and then turning the lifting boom (5'") about an articulation point (20) to the other end of the transporting device (1 '")