For a long time, traditional break bulk terminal cargo transportation has primarily been based on bulk in and bulk out. This brings numerous problems: bulk in and bulk out cause pollution to the port and surrounding environment; due to cargo being susceptible to water damage and other reasons, port terminal loading and unloading operations are greatly affected by weather; there is a high loss of cargo during loading and unloading; bulk cargo loading is prone to overloading; it is not conducive to the promotion and popularization of information technology and intelligent work.
To reduce environmental pollution, improve the efficiency of break bulk loading and transportation, and reduce losses and transportation costs. With the continuous expansion of the range of containerizable goods, grains, ores, steel, agricultural and sideline products can all be transported in containers. Using Bulk Shipping Containers to transport bulk materials shortens the turnaround time compared to bulk transportation. The shortening of turnaround time brings buyers shorter order cycles, greatly reducing inventory, lowering production costs, and enhancing product competitiveness.
Based on the placement method of Bulk Shipping Containers, Bulk Shipping Containers are currently mainly using two methods: horizontal loading containers (flat loading), and tilted or vertical loading containers (vertical loading). The vertical loading method involves the container tilting process, which needs to address the height difference problem when the container is upright. The current solutions include lifting the Bulk Shipping Container above the ground to solve the height difference issue or lowering the container below ground level to reduce the height difference.
Currently, the main types of container tilting platforms adopted by major terminals are fixed and towable platforms.
Fixed Container Tilting Platform:
There are two types of fixed tilting platforms for lifting 20' and 40' Bulk Shipping Containers. The 20' container tilting angles are generally designed to be between 70° and 90°.
For safety reasons and structural stress considerations, the 40' container is mostly designed to stay below 35°.
Towable Bulk Shipping Container Tilting Platform:
The towable container tilting platform can be towed using standard tractors. Compared to fixed tilting platforms, this method offers better flexibility in transportation and operation mode.
does not occupy fixed sites and can flexibly arrange work locations. It can be equipped with engine or external power options, suitable for small inland cargo owners and temporary operations, as well as for frequent short-distance transport activities at ports. Disadvantages of the tilting platform method include: (1) requires container lifting equipment to collaborate within the area; (2) the height of the container exceeds 6m when upright, requiring an increased height for the incoming bulk material.
Setting a Bulk Shipping Container pit on the ground, using fixed gantry cranes to lift, move horizontally, and then tilt the container from the trailer into the pit for loading.
A port-developed fixed multi-functional dry bulk container facility also belongs to this category. It includes functionalities such as steel structure, hydraulic station, lift and push-pull mechanism, and electrical control equipment, capable of performing platform loading, empty container tilting, and loaded container lifting operations.
This method avoids the need for specialized container lifting equipment like front cranes, resulting in relatively lower one-time investment costs. The requirements for bulk loading equipment are low, allowing for the use of short belt conveyors and loaders for loading. However, its disadvantages are also quite apparent: (1) The operation site and equipment are fixed, requiring bulk materials to be transported to a fixed location, thus offering less flexibility; (2) Rain protection and drainage issues for the container pit are numerous; (3) Fixed cranes experience high single-point loads, often resulting in overload operations in practical applications.
