The invention relates to a hoisting frame, specifically for hoisting containers, comprising a longi¬ tudinally adjustable beam having a plurality of outer pickup elements arranged at its ends and inner pickup ele- ments arranged near its center.

Such a hoisting frame is generally known, and may be used for hoisting two containers placed with their end faces adjacent one another. A problem which occurs here is that the positioning of the two containers adja- cent one another is not always constant, and that therefo¬ re the spacing of the containers often varies. Thus in practice it is often not possible to pick up two contai¬ ners at the same time with a single hoisting frame, so that it is then necessary to shorten the hoisting frame again for subsequently picking up the containers individu¬ ally. This of course leads to a serious loss of time.

This problem occurs especially when transferring containers between shore and ship. For onshore containers will usually be stacked with a virtually constant spacing of no more than approximately 80 millimeters, whereas the stacking of containers on a ship depends on the specific structure of the ship, and will therefore vary from ship to ship. This is due to the requirement that the contai¬ ners on a ship should be well stowed. This has for its result that during loading or unloading a container ship it is often impossible to handle two containers at the same time, so that such loading or unloading takes relati¬ vely much - literally valuable - time.

The invention therefore aims to provide a hois- ting frame with which the above-mentioned drawbacks are obviated. According to the invention, this is accomplished in that at least the inner pickup elements are connected to the beam moveable in longitudinal direction. In this

way the hoisting frame may be easilly adapted to vari¬ ations in spacing between containers onshore and onboard a ship.

Since a container must normally be picked up by two inner and two outer pickup elements, the inner pick up elements are preferably moveable along the beam in pairs. A structurally simple and robust embodiment of the hois¬ ting frame is obtained when the inner pickup elements are each arranged in pairs on a saddle placed transversely on the beam and slideable therealong.

Although in principle the containers may form a shape and force defining connection between the inner and outer pickup elements, advantageously the outer pickup elements are connectable to the corresponding inner pickup elements and concurrently moveable therewith. In this way the container is not additionally stressed during movement of the pickup elements. Preferably the beam comprises a central part and at least two arms carrying the outer pickup elements and being moveable in longitudinal direc- tion relative to the central part, each saddle being arranged to be releasably fixed to a corresponding arm. Thus a simple mechanical coupling is formed between the inner and outer pickup elements.

Preferably the hoisting frame comprises control- lable means for moving each arm and the saddle connected thereto relative to the central part. These moving means might be formed by means for adjusting the length of the beam for use with one or two containers which are already present in the hoisting frame, but they preferably compri- se at least one hydraulic cilinder arranged between the central beam part and the saddle.

The invention also relates to a method for transporting containers using the hoisting frame described above. The known manner of transporting containers compri- ses picking up at least two adjacent containers at a first location, lifting the containers and moving them through the air to a second location, and lowering the containers

at the second location, and is characterized according to the present invention, in that at least one of the contai¬ ners is moved in longitudinal direction relative to the hoisting frame between lifting and lowering thereof. Preferably the spacing of the containers is changed be¬ tween lifting and lowering thereof. In this way containers which are stacked with a certain spacing at a first loca¬ tion, for instance onshore, may easily be picked up and transported to a second location, for instance onboard a ship, where they may be stacked with a different spacing. It is thus possible to pick up and transport containers which should be stacked with different spacings at diffe¬ rent locations at least two at a time, whereby the trans¬ port capacity is greatly increased. Advantageously the movement of the containers is asymmetrical relative to a center point of the hoisting frame. In this way an excentric loading of the hoisting frame and therefore of the crane carrying the hoisting frame, for instance in case one of the two containers is fully loaded and the other one is totally empty, may be prevented. Thus no special requirements are necessary for cranes with which containers may be handled two at a time.

The invention is now illustrated by way of an example, with reference being made to the annexed drawing, in which: fig. 1 is a top view of a hoisting frame accor¬ ding to the invention in its initial position for picking up two containers arranged at the nominal spacing, fig. 2 is a side view of the hoisting frame of fig. 1, fig. 3 is a top view of the hoisting frame of figs. 1 and 2 in an extended state for picking up contai¬ ners of which the spacing deviates from the nominal value, fig. 4 is a side view of the hoisting frame in the position as illustrated in fig. 3, fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the hoisting frame taken along the line V-V in fig. 2, and

fig. 6 is a view corresponding to fig. 5 of the hoisting frame in its position of rest, in which the pickup elements are retracted.

A hoisting frame 1, a so-called "twinlift" is adapted for handling various sizes of containers 2. Thus the hoisting frame 1 may handle containers having length¬ wise dimensions of 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, 48 and 53 feet during single-acting operation, while two 20 feet contai¬ ners may be handled at the same time in double-acting or "twinlift" operation. For handling the various sizes of containers the hoisting frame 1 is adjustable in longitu¬ dinal direction, and is formed by a central beam part 3 and two arms 4 slideably arranged in the central part 3. At the ends of the arms 4 outer pickup elements 5, so- called "twistlocks" are arranged. Furthermore inner pickup elements 6 are arranged on the central part 3 of the beam, also in the shape of so-called "twistlocks". The inner pickup elements 6 are retractable, since they are only needing during "twinlift" operations. To this end the pickup elements 6 are arranged in cradles 7 that are slideably arranged on the central part 3 of the hoisting frame 1.

In order to be able to pick up pairs of contai¬ ners 2 placed with various spacing during "twinlift" operations of the hoisting frame 1, the inner pickup elements 6 are arranged in pairs on a saddle 8 placed transversely over the central beam part 3 and slideable therealong. Each saddle 8 may for instance be slideable over a length of 725 millimeters, so that spacings up to 1,45 meter may be bridged. Each saddle 8 further comprises an outrigger 9 through which it may be releasably fixed to the corresponding sliding arm 4. To this end the outrigger 9 in the illustrated example is provided with a locking pin 10 which engages the arm 4. In this manner the nominal distance of 20 feet between the outer pickup elements 5 and the inner pickup elements β is fixed. Other ways of locking, for instance by means of a hydraulic lock are of

course conceivable. It is even envisaged that locking the saddle 8 and the arm 4 relative to one another may be dispensed with, since the container 2 suspended therefrom forms a force and shape defining connection between these two parts.

When the saddle 8 is thus fixed to the arm 4, the assembly of arm and saddle may be moved in longitudi¬ nal direction of the hoisting frame 1. This could be performed by means of the drive for telescopically exten- ding or retracting the arms 4, but preferable a separate double acting drive cilinder 11 is used, having one end 13 fixed to the outrigger 9 and its other end 14 to the central beam part 3.

In this way two 20 feet containers 2 may be handled in each position of the arms 4, with the position of the arms 4 being adapted to the mutual position of the containers to be picked up. Movement of the arms 4 is possible both in unloaded and loaded condition, even when the containers 2 carried by the hoisting frame 1 are themselves loaded. By using cilinders 11 for the movement, this may furthermore be performed steplessly. Each cilin¬ der 11 also acts as safeguard against unintentional move¬ ment of the arm 4, for instance when this is unexpectedly subject to a horizontal force due to a collision or the like. The containers 2 are thus prevented from breaking loose from the hoisting frame 1.

The movement of the inner and outer pickup elements 5, 6 by moving the arms 4 and the saddles 8 may take place synchronously on both sides of the hoisting frame 1, for instance as a result of a mechanical, hydrau¬ lic or electrical coupling of the driving means, but it is also possible that the pickup elements 5, 6 on one side of the hoisting frame 1 are moved independently of the pickup elements on the other side of the hoisting frame l. In this way one of the containers 2 might for instance be moved, while the other container remains stationary. This leads to the containers 2 being asymmetrically suspended

form the hoisting frame 1. It is even possible to move both containers 2 in the same direction, whether or not they are coupled to each other. In this way a strongly excentric loading of the hoisting frame 1, for instance when one of the containers is completely loaded and the other container is totally empty, may be prevented. This is important since a strongly excentric loading of the hoisting frame leads to a corresponding excentric loading of a crane carrying the hoisting frame, which for instance in case of a riding crane might result in a number of its wheels being lifted from the ground, and in the most extreme case might lead to toppling of the crane. Due to the possibility of moving the containers relative to the hoisting frame in principle any crane may be used for similtaneously handling two containers.

Instead of the movement of the pickup elements by means of hydraulic cilinders, belt drives and other drive mechanisms and controlled by electronic control sys¬ tems as described above, it is of cours also conceivable to perform this movement by hand. This may be useful when only sporadically will a container have to be moved in longitudinal direction of the hoisting frame, in which case the additional investment for the controllable moving means will probably not be justified. For controlling the movements of the various parts of the hoisting frame standard control lines present between a crane and a hoisting frame are advantageously used. In any case there are lines for telescopically lengthening or shortening the hoisting frame, since each hoisting frame offers this possibility, whereas for a conventional double acting hoisting frame there will further be control lines for retracting and extending the pickup elements. By appropriately connecting the control of the additional mechanisms for longitudinally moving and/or locking the pickup elements with those of the moving mechanisms present on a conventional hoisting frame, the standard control lines may suffice, whereby the

hoisting frame according to the invention may easily be exchanged for conventional hoisting frames.

Since the arms 4 will generally be driven simul¬ taneously by means of for instance a belt drive, two indi- cators for each cilinder 11 are sufficient for automati¬ cally determining six fixed positions, including the fully extended final position. Furthermore each desired position may be determined by means of encoders. It is further possible to switch from single acting to "twinlift" opera- tion through a single remote switch, for instance from the cabin of the crane, and to change the programmed dimensi¬ ons in the direction of width.

In this way the hoisting frame according co the invention allows the spacing of two containers that are to be picked up or one already picked up thereby to be ste- plessly adjusted. For controlling this the wiring already present on such a hoisting frame may be used. Furthermore, the nominal distance of the "twistlocks" is always main¬ tained in such hoisting frame, while the picked up contai- ners remain fully locked in each position of the frame.