Abstract:
An intermodal vehicle hauler, particularly, for the storage and transport of automotive vehicles such as passenger automobiles and the like. The vehicle hauler is generally rectangular in shape and is comprised of a pair of side walls, a roof and a floor, which are all made of a reinforced plastic composite materials. In a preferred embodiment, the side walls and even the roof may also be formed in a manner so that they are light translucent thereby enabling some light exposure to the interior of the vehicle hauler to facilitate loading and unloading of automotive vehicles.
Abstract:
An apparatus for storing four vehicles inside a maritime container using a platform (20) with locking mechanisms (40) for suspending it at a pre-determined distance from the floor of the container. Jack assemblies (60) are used to lower or raise the platform depending on the characteristics of the vehicle being loaded. Leaking fluid pans (32) are cooperatively and removably mounted to the platform (20) in order to prevent any damage to the vehicles on the lower level. The platform assembly (20) extends the entire span of the container where it is housed with the two parallel structural lateral members (24 and 24') kept in a spaced apart relationship by girder members (25) and spacer members (26). The vehicles are tied down during transportation to minimize movement.
Abstract:
A storage system, in particular a multi-story car park, comprises a displaceable lift (10) resembling a tower and transport pallets (8) with a guide rail on their lower side. The pallets (8) are gripped by the transfer device (47) forming part of the lift (10), which transfers them from the roller rails (20) of the lift (10) to stationary roller rails (7) of the parking places.
Abstract:
A method for transferring articles from a conveyor to a rack or magazine. The articles are gripped one at a time by a gripping device and are moved from the conveyor while being brought to a correct position of alignment in relation to the rack, whereafter the article is placed in the rack. In accordance with the invention the article transfer is effected in at least two transfer stations which work in parallel and which are arranged one after the other along the conveyor path, each transfer station including an industrial robot. A plurality of racks are moved sequentially along a path which extends through all transfer stations. Only a given part of each rack is filled in each transfer station, such that the rack will be completely filled subsequent to passing through all the transfer stations.
Abstract:
A closed multi-purpose product container suitable for heavy duty transportation of commodity products by railroad flat cars, freight ships and land motor truck power trailer has a full top opening hinged flat rigid lid, as well as the conventional opening rear flat rigid door. The closed hinged flat rigid lid transportation container (CLC) has structural welded seams securing the two long flat rigid side walls, a flat rigid bottom wall, and a front flat rigid end wall, so as to safely carry high density lump loads such as lump coal, powdered and granular chemicals, grains and other solid loads, with secure transportation and freedom from external and internal contamination, when the flat rigid rear door is closed and sealed. Welded triangular strength reinforcement trusses, multiple V-shaped strength stiffening pleats and half round truss means may be equivalently, typically formed in and on the side walls, top lid, rear door and bottom wall of the CLC. Typically, a CLC can have 20 to 40 ft. length, and 8 to 10 foot high by 8 ft. wide, or have other selected dimensions, and can have structurally reinforcement to carry typical loads up to 100 tons or more. The rectangular transportation containers (CLC) can have in combination sealed bladders of neoprene, or other suitable flexible impermeable plastics conformingly disposed inside the CLC. The bladders can provide transportation for fluids, or further seal and control the purity of granular solid commodity products. Paired auto chassis wheel supporting ramps can be simply and securely disposed in the CLC by integral attachments, each ramp securely clamping and holding a single auto chassis at a predisposed angular disposition to the bottom wall of the CLC. Up to six or seven autos, or the like, can be slantingly and securely held in a CLC without shipping damage, the autos secured on the ramps being disposed in the CLC through the top hinged lid or the rear door.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus to enhance intermodal containers for transport of vehicles wherein multiple longitudinal rails on container walls support movable and removable transverse cargo pallets having foot members which are articulatably connected to the pallets are disclosed. Cargo, preferably an automobile fixed to front and rear pallets is loaded by inserting each pallet's feet onto appropriate rail(s) at door opening, then sliding to stowage spot, the rail selection determining height and tilt. Stowage of any mix of automobiles in intermodal containers is optimized by double-decking, half-decking, double half-decking, mirror-imaging, and envelope intervention. On back haul, pallets serve other cargo as restraints, hangers, pallets, or dunnage deck supports, or they are stowed out of the way. Method and apparatus permit automated load planning and container stuffing, and make containerized shipment of large volumes of automobiles cost competitive with current methods.
Abstract:
A frameless shipping container adapted to be mounted on a railroad flatcar for preventing vandalism and accidental damage to a plurality of heavy articles, such as vehicles, that are separately supported by the container in vertical stacked relationship. The container is completely enclosed except for one end which is open to receive the articles. The container includes a pair of inwardly directed article engaging and supporting torsion beams which serve the double function of supporting the associated articles in tiers and acting as torsion members which evenly distribute torsional forces and minimize wracking of the containers. The vertical weight supporting side walls and end wall are fabricated from a plurality of sheet metal panels each having a channel formed therein. The sheet stock for each of the panels are identically dimensioned and differ only after the channels have been formed therein in that certain panels have one narrow flanges directed outwardly whereas other panels have their narrow flanges directed inwardly, and certain of the panels have fork lift receiving openings therein.
Abstract:
Provided an automatic feeding device for automotive wheel hub, comprising a separable material rack having material rack units capable of being stacked in turn, a first roller table for conveying the separable material rack containing the wheel hub to a second roller table, and a material rack separating device having a support frame and material rack inserting and taking devices; the second roller table, under which a lifting platform is mounted, is located at a first end of lower part of the material rack inserting and taking device; the material rack inserting and taking device splitting the separable material rack into units, and placing to a third roller table being arranged at a second end of the lower part thereof; a manipulator, for grasping and placing the wheel hub from the material rack unit to a fourth roller table being on a second side thereof.
Abstract:
A pick-and-place system includes a rigid elongate strongback, configured to be supported by a robotic arm of a robotic device. In addition, the pick-and-place system includes a plurality of actuator-clamp assemblies, mountable in spaced relation to each other on the strongback. Each actuator-clamp assembly includes one or more jaw assemblies, each configured to clamp onto a localized segment of a workpiece. Each actuator-clamp assembly also includes a multi-axis actuator, configured to couple the one or more jaw assemblies to the strongback and adjust an orientation of the localized segment prior to placement of the workpiece onto a mating structure.