Gripping and carrying device for moving a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11975932-B2
Application number	US-202217683727-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 1, 2022
Priority date	Mar 31, 2021
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A gripping and carrying device for moving a container having a longitudinal axis and a transversal axis where in the device comprises a substantially L-shaped frame extending along the longitudinal axis and connected onto a mobile crane, the frame having a distal end provided with at least one hooking device configured to engage onto at least one complementary hooking device provided on the container and a proximal end provided with a grabbing and gripping deck having grab handles rotationally mounted onto the deck and a gripping device translationally mounted onto the deck, mobile between a releasing position wherein the gripping device are disengaged from the container and a gripping position wherein the gripping device are configured to engage into the container.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A gripping and carrying device for moving a container comprising:
a longitudinal axis, and
a transversal axis,
wherein the device comprises:
a substantially L-shaped frame extending along the longitudinal axis and configured to be connected onto a mobile crane, the frame having a distal end provided with at least one hooking means configured to engage onto at least one complementary hooking means provided on the container and a proximal end provided with a grabbing and gripping deck having:
grab handles rotationally mounted onto the deck, the grab handles being mobile between a first position and a second position, and
a gripping device translationally mounted onto the deck, mobile between a releasing position wherein the gripping device are disengaged from the container and a gripping position wherein the gripping device are configured to engage into the container,
the grab handles and the gripping device being operatively connected within the deck so that a rotation of the grab handles from the first position to the second position causes a translation of the gripping device from the releasing position to the gripping position.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the grab handles each comprise a parallelogram structure comprising:
a grabbing rod, and
two parallel connecting rods connecting the grabbing rod to the deck via four rotatory spring linkage maintaining the grab handle in a third position,
wherein the grabbing rod is parallel to the deck and allows the grab handle to move to a fourth position where the grabbing rod rotates with respect to the longitudinal axis while remaining parallel to the deck.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the grab handles are operatively connected to the gripping device by one or more of a group including electric actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, connecting rods, and cables.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the grab handles are operatively connected to the gripping device by one or more of a group including electric actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, connecting rods, and cables.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the grab handles rotate from the first position to the 10 second position with an angle between 0 and 100° with respect to the transversal axis.

6. The device of claim 2 , wherein the grab handles rotate with an angle between 0 and 160° with respect to the transversal axis.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises telescopic means along the longitudinal axis of the gripping and carrying device.

8. The device of claim 7 , wherein the grab handles each comprise a parallelogram structure comprising:
a grabbing rod, and
two parallel connecting rods connecting the grabbing rod to the deck via four rotatory spring linkage maintaining the grab handle in a third position,
wherein the grabbing rod is parallel to the deck and allows the grab handle to move to a fourth position where the grabbing rod rotates with respect to the longitudinal axis while remaining parallel to the deck.

9. The device of claim 7 , wherein the grab handles are operatively connected to the gripping device by one or more of a group including electric actuators, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic actuators, connecting rods, and cables.

10. The device of claim 7 , wherein the grab handles rotate from the first position to the second position with an angle between 0 and 100° with respect to the transversal axis.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the grab handles comprises an operating interface.

12. A container configured to cooperate with the gripping and carrying device of claim 1 , the container comprising grooves configured to receive the gripping device.

13. The container of claim 12 , comprising:
an upper wall,
a lower wall, and
lateral walls,
wherein the lateral walls comprise the grooves.

14. The container of claim 13 , wherein the upper wall of the container is inclined.

15. The container of claim 12 , wherein the container comprises at least a complementary hooking device configured to be engaged into the at least one hooking device of the frame.

16. The container of claim 15 , wherein the at least one complementary hooking device is located on the container upper wall.

17. A system for moving a container comprising the gripping and carrying device of claim 1 and a container configured to cooperate with the gripping and carrying device, the container comprising grooves configured to receive the gripping device.

18. A vehicle comprising a mobile crane and the gripping and carrying device of claim 1 , the gripping and carrying device being linked to the mobile crane through an electrical harness.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 , wherein the vehicle comprises a trailer configured to receive the container.

Assignees

• Volvo Truck Corp

Inventors

• Ballarin Paolo
• Courtens Fabrice

Classifications

• B66C1/22

  Rigid members, e.g. L-shaped members, with parts engaging the under surface of the loads; Crane hooks · CPC title

• B65G7/12 Primary

  Load carriers, e.g. hooks, slings, harness, gloves, modified for load carrying · CPC title

• B66C1/12 Primary

  Slings comprising chains, wires, ropes, or bands; Nets (article side grippers suspended by ropes or chains from crane hooks B66C1/42) · CPC title

• B66C1/42 Primary

  Gripping members engaging only the external or internal surfaces of the articles (for handling or stripping castings or ingots during manufacture B22D29/00) · CPC title

• B66C23/44

  Jib-cranes adapted for attachment to standard vehicles, e.g. agricultural tractors · CPC title