Sidelifter

A Sidelifter is a specialised truck or semi-trailer used to hoist and transport ISO standard containers over longer distances. The sidelifter loads and unloads containers via a pair of hydraulic powered cranes mounted at each end of the vehicle chassis. the cranes are designed to lift containers from the ground, from other vehicles including rolling stock and directly from stacks on docks or aboard container ships. A standard sidelifter is also able to stack two containers.

History

The sidelifter was invented during the 1960s by Klaus Transport-systeme GmbH of Germany, and further developed by HammarMaskin in Sweden and Steelbro in New Zealand. It has since become a commonly used vehicle in intermodal facilities worldwide. The principal alternative to the costly machinery of the sidelifter is the use of swap body containers, which are too light to be stacked but can be unloaded from a truck by means of foldable legs.

Design

Sidelifters generally have the following attributes:

* Lifting cranes (sometimes called Crane Modules). The hydraulically powered cranes lift the container (from the ground, loading dock, another vehicle, train wagon or from the top of another container placed on the ground or other location) on and off the chassis. These cranes are placed on top of the sidelifter chassis and they are normally able to travel along the chassis being shifted by hydraulic cylinders or hydraulic motors in order to load varying container lengths.
* A power source. While typically the cranes are powered by a trailer mounted internal-combustion diesel engine engine, the cranes are sometimes powered via a PTO from the truck tractor.
* Stabilizing legs. These are fitted with hydraulic legs which are necessary to permit the lifting of up to 40 tonne loads without rolling the vehicle. These may be adjustable to assist operation on unlevel ground and facilitate greater safety margins and load limits when stacking containers.
* Chains, which are attached from the cranes to the corner castings at the base of the container(s) during lifting operations. There is a special linking device that when placed between two 20ft containers allows the user to lock two 20’ (1 TEU) containers together allowing the containerlifter to lift them as if they were a 40’ container.
* The tractor/cab, which pulls the trailer, and in some cases supplies power to the PTO.This tractor/cab always supplies the compressed air for the wheels' brake of the sidelifter.
* The chassis, which bears the weight of the container when loaded, as well as supports the cranes.
* The remote control, a device with joysticks & buttons typically attached via a lead or radio signal and that allows the operator to walk around the container and view the unit from various angles during operation.

Sidelifter machines are designed to lift up to a maximum of 40 tonnes though smaller machines exist.

In addition to controlling the raising and lowering of the cranes, the operator can sometimes tilt the chassis using the stabilising legs which provides a limited ability to operate on non-level ground.

Some sidelifters have a telescopic chassis, sometimes called trombone chassis, allowing the unit to expand and contract in order to accommodate 20', 40' or even 45' containers. These Trombone units are specially suited for small secondary roads where cornering is quite difficult with 40 ft trailers.

afety

A sidelifter is rated for loads at a specified maximum weight and length. This information is located on a nameplate provided by the manufacturer, and loads must not exceed these specifications. Sidelifter units have been known to overturn, especially when lifting heavy weights or operating on uneven ground.