Trolley system, apparatus and method

{
  "publication_number": "US11834282B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Trolley system, apparatus and method",
  "abstract": "An example embodiment of the system, device and method of the present disclosure can provide for moving containers in and out of a service bay using a mechanized platform or trolley. In one example, a station can include a service bay and two lifting bays on opposite sides of the service bay. In one example, a trolley can ride on the tracks between the lifting bays. The trolley can hold two containers positioned side-by-side. In one example, a technician can work on a container placed under the service bay. At the same time, another container placed on the trolley in the lifting bay can be hauled away using a lift truck. The technician can instruct the trolley to move away the container under the service bay and replace it with another container located on the trolley.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system comprising: a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay; a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay; a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container; and a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley; wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay; and wherein: (1) the service bay includes an access ramp and a roof; or (2) a side of the trolley is about twice a width of the service bay and wherein a length of the set of tracks is about three times a width of the service bay; or (3) both (1) and (2).",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the service bay includes a stationary platform.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein in the first mode of operation, the first container is under the service bay, and in the second mode of operation, the second container is under the service bay.",
    "4. The system of claim 2, wherein in the first mode of operation, the first container is accessible through the stationary platform, and in the second mode of operation, the second container accessible through the stationary platform.",
    "5. A system comprising: a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay; a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay; a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container; and a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley; wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay; wherein the control unit is configured to receive data from a sensor, and activate the motor for the trolley using the data; and wherein: (1) the data includes a weight or a weight change of a container under service; or (2) the data includes a signal indicating that a door of a container has been closed; or (3) the data includes a signal indicating that a technician has not worked on a container for more than a threshold time; or (4) any combination of (1), (2), and (3).",
    "6. A system comprising: a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay; a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay; a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container; and a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley; wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay; wherein the control unit is configured to run a machine learning model.",
    "7. The system of claim 6, wherein the machine learning model is trained using data including past performance of a technician.",
    "8. The system of claim 6, wherein the machine learning model is configured to predict when a service being performed on at least one of the first container and the second container is going to conclude.",
    "9. The system of claim 8, wherein the machine learning model is configured to contact a lift truck for delivering a container to the trolley.",
    "10. The system of claim 8, wherein the machine learning model is configured to contact a lift truck for removing at least one of a first container and the second container from the trolley.",
    "11. A system comprising: a station comprising a service bay, a first lifting bay, and a second lifting bay; a set of tracks connecting the first lifting bay to the service bay and the second lifting bay; a trolley configured to slide on the set of tracks and receive a first container and a second container; and a control unit for activating a motor of the trolley; wherein in a first mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the first lifting bay, and in a second mode of operation, the trolley is configured to be in the service bay and the second lifting bay; wherein: (1) wherein at least one of the first container and the second container is an intermodal container, a tank, or a combination thereof, or (2) a lift truck is configured to place or remove at least one of the first container and the second container on the trolley; or (3) both (1) and (2).",
    "12. A method for facilitating container movement within a system comprising: employing one or more trolleys to facilitate movement of two or more containers wherein the one or more trolleys is configured to slide on a set of tracks between a lifting bay and service bay; and configuring the system such that a first of the two or more containers is subjected to a service step while a second of the two or more containers is subjected to a movement step; wherein at least one of the first container and the second container is an intermodal container, a tank, or a combination thereof.",
    "13. The method of claim 12 wherein the service step comprises cleaning.",
    "14. The method of claim 12 wherein the tracks comprise one or more rails."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "An intermodal container (also known as a shipping container, a cargo container, a freight container, an ISO or non-ISO container, and/or other container or other object to hold and/or transport something in need of being held or transported) is a large standardized shipping box or container, designed and built for intermodal freight transport. This means that these containers can be used across different modes of transport, e.g., from ship to rail to truck, without unloading and reloading their cargo. Intermodal containers are primarily used to store and transport materials and products efficiently and securely in, e.g., the global containerized intermodal freight transport system.\n\nIntermodal containers exist in many types and a number of standardized sizes. There are broadly 6 types of intermodal containers: Dry Freight, Insulated, Open-top, Flat Rack, Refrigerated, and Tank. The most common, general-purpose containers, carry all types of cargo without any particular specifications. Most of the global container fleet are “dry freight” or “general purpose” containers. These containers are durable, closed rectangular boxes, made of rust-retardant Corten steel; almost all 8 feet (2.44 m) wide, and of either 20 or 40 feet (6.10 or 12.19 m) standard length. The worldwide standard heights are 8 feet 6 inches (2.59 m) and 9 feet 6 inches (2.90 m).\n\nContainers, e.g., intermodal shipping containers or ISO containers, can be used for transporting materials and products in the global containerized freight transport system. Once a container has been emptied of its cargo, the next destination can, e.g., be a container depot.",
  "cpc": [
    "B65G 63/004",
    "B65G 2203/0258",
    "B65G 2203/042",
    "B65G 63/025",
    "B65G 65/005"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B65G 63/00",
    "B65G 65/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Stolt Nielsen Usa Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Julio Cuellar",
    "Dan Shelton"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2022-09-12",
  "publication_date": "2023-12-05",
  "grant_date": "2023-12-05",
  "priority_date": "2022-09-12",
  "application_number": "US-202217943010-A",
  "family_id": "88979971",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US20020060127A1",
    "US20030072642A1",
    "FR2944267A1",
    "US20140070473A1",
    "US20160178127A1"
  ]
}