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Portable hydraulic lift for unloading shipping containers on trailers?

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mechengr12

Mechanical
Apr 30, 2014
33
I work at a plant and we are needed to unload a powder product that is loaded in shipping containers like you see on cargo ships. They are brought to us on trailers. We already have a hydraulic dump station that we gravity feed the powder out, but we have more product than we can unload through one station. Can anyone provide any companies or websites with some sort of lift that would tilt the container and trailer upright (approx. 45 deg angle) that could be used for this type of unloading. I am having difficulty finding any site or company that offers a rental on this type of equipment.

 
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I'd be a little surprised if the trailer manufacturers would agree to a 45 degree lift, for example the breathers in the diff might not tolerate that.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
 
Lifting by 45deg is a dangerous task. The container is rarely bolted on to the trailer, it could slip easily.

I'm just one step away from being rich, all I need now is money.
( read somewhere on the internet)
 
I think you'll find that containers are not intended to be tilted and are only designed to be flat loaded and lifted. Especially if partly full they could easily buckle, bend or break if lifted in a non horizontal manner.

How is the powder loaded?

What do you mean by a "hydraulic dump station"

Some pictures would be nice to see, but it would seem some sort of pneumatic unloading system would need to be used.

My motto: Learn something new every day

Also: There's usually a good reason why everyone does it that way
 
Found these guys on the web: Link

Looks like they use a combination of lifting the containers using a special trailer and a pump.
 
I should apologise, my example of why a trailer shouldn't be ramped at 45 degrees assumed a powered axle, not very likely. I'd have thunk a couple of gantries/hoists and hooks onto the container would be the cheapest permanent solution.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376
 
In the original post it clearly states that we already use a system and I am not sure why everyone kept posting it is not possible. This type of unloading is used around the world. The power of gravity. Thank you MintJulep and hendersdc
 
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