Apparatus for tipping intermodal containers

Abstract

An intermodal container tipping apparatus includes an upper support structure configured to be releasably mounted to a container transfer device, such as a reach stacker or crane, and a second support structure configured to be releasably mounted to an intermodal container. The lower supports structure includes at least one arcuate beam. The at least one arcuate beam attaches the lower support structure to the upper support structure. Movement of the at least one arcuate beam relative to the upper support structure causes tipping of the lower support structure and any load attached thereto while substantially maintaining a relative position of the center of gravity of the load.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An intermodal container tipping apparatus, comprising:
 an upper support frame configured to be releasably mounted to an intermodal container transfer device;   a lower support frame configured to be releasably coupled to the top of an intermodal container and movably coupled to the upper support frame;   at east one arcuate beam having first and second ends fixedly coupled to and substantially longitudinally spanning said lower support frame, said at least one arcuate beam interposed between said upper support frame and said lower support frame, said at least one arcuate beam and said lower support frame suspended from said upper support frame, and said at least one arcuate beam defining an upper arcuate surface and a substantially parallel lower arcuate surface;   a drive system coupled to said upper support frame and connected to said at least one arcuate structure for selectively moving said at least one arcuate beam relative to said upper support frame along a length of said at least one arcuate beam in either direction whereby movement of said at least one arcuate beam relative to said upper support frame causes rotation of said Rawer support frame relative to said upper support frame about a central axis of rotation of said at least one arcuate beam from at least a first position in which said lower support frame is substantially parallel to said upper support frame to a second position in which said lower support frame has been rotated by lowering a first longitudinal end of the lower support frame while simultaneously raising a second longitudinal end of the lower support frame to orient said lower support frame at an acute angle relative to said upper support frame for longitudinally tipping the intermodal container attached to said lower support frame a degree sufficient to cause dumping of the contents contained within the intermodal container from the intermodal container while maintaining lateral stability of the intermodal container.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one lower idle roller rotatably coupled to said upper support frame, the at least one lower arcuate surface of said at least one arcuate beam being tangentially supported by said at least one lower roller and movable relative thereto upon rotation of said at least one lower roller and at least one upper idle roller rotatably coupled to said upper support frame and tangentially engaging with said at least one upper arcuate surface to maintain said at least one arcuate beam between said at least one lower idle roller and said at least one upper idle roller. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one lower idle roller and said at least one upper idle roller comprising at least one of a plurality of lower idle rollers and a plurality of upper idle rollers, said at least one arcuate structure being tangentially movable relative to said at least one upper idle roller and said at least one lower idle roller: 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein said at least one arcuate beam comprises a pair of laterally spaced and substantially parallel arcuate beams. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein said drive system comprises one of a gear and rack assembly comprising a rack of gear teeth attached to said upper arcuate surface of said at least one arcuate beam, a drive gear engaging the rack of gear teeth to move the at least one arcuate beam relative to the upper support frame and at least one elongate laterally flexible member having a first free end fixedly coupled proximate the first end of the at least one arcuate beam and having a portion thereof positioned on said upper arcuate surface, the at least one elongate laterally flexible structure coupled to a drive mechanism for pulling said at least one elongate laterally flexible structure to cause movement of said at least one arcuate member relative to said upper support frame. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one elongate laterally flexible structure comprises a first and a second elongate laterally flexible structure, the first free end of the first elongate laterally flexible structure coupled proximate the first end of the at least one arcuate beam and a first free end of the second elongate laterally flexible structure coupled proximate the second end of the at least one arcuate beam. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein said at least one elongate laterally flexible structure comprises a chain. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , further comprising a first and a second linear actuator coupled to said first support frame, a second free end of said first elongate laterally flexible structure coupled to said upper support frame and a second free end of said second elongate laterally flexible structure coupled to said upper support frame. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein said first and second linear actuators are configured for actuating a respective one of said first and second elongate laterally flexible structures thereby controlling the movement of said at least one arcuate beam relative to said upper support frame. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one upper idle roller spans across said upper surface of said at least one arcuate beam. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said at least one lower idle roller spans across said lower surface of said at least one arcuate beam. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a first set of twist locks for releasably coupling said upper support frame to the intermodal container transfer device and a second set of twist locks coupled to said lower support frame for releasably mounting said lower support frame to the intermodal container. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , further including a power supply and control system coupled to said upper support frame for operating the movement of said lower support frame relative to said upper support frame independently of the intermodal container transfer device, 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein each of the first and second linear actuators include a freely rotating member at one end thereof engaging a respective one of said first and second elongate laterally flexible structure along a length thereof whereby extension of one of said first and second linear actuators causes the respective one of said first and second elongate laterally flexible members to rotate said at least one arcuate beam. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36 , wherein said freely rotating member comprises a sprocket and said first and second elongate laterally flexible structures each comprise a chain that engages with a respective one of said sprocket.