Pivotal gangway having container spotting system
An apparatus comprising a gangway having a proximal end and a distal end. A cage assembly is connected to the distal end of the gangway. The apparatus further comprises a container spotting system including a camera mounted such that its field of view will show a hatch cover of a container when the hatch cover is in a predetermined location. Video electronics are in electrical communication with the camera. The container spotting system further includes a display device in electrical communication with the video electronics, the display device being operative to show at least a selected portion of the field of view of the camera. The camera may comprise an outdoor dome camera mounted to an underside of the gangway.
1. Apparatus comprising:
a gangway having a proximal end and a distal end, said gangway being pivotal between a stowed position and a working position;
a cage assembly connected to the distal end of the gangway; and
a container spotting system including:
a camera mounted such that its field of view will show a hatch cover of a container when the hatch cover is in a predetermined location to be within an enclosed area of the cage assembly after the cage assembly is in the working position;
video electronics in electrical communication with said camera; and
a display device in electrical communication with said video electronics, said display device operative to show at least a selected portion of the field of view of the camera.
2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said camera is mounted to an underside of said gangway.
3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said camera comprises an outdoor dome camera.
4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said display device comprises a flat screen display mounted at an elevated location.
5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said display device is mounted at the upper end of a column.
6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said display device is housed in a weather-resistant enclosure.
7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 , further comprising target indicia on a screen of said display device or a transparent environmental cover adjacent to the screen.
8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said target indicia is formed as an “X”.
9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said cage assembly includes a rail structure defining an opening in said proximal side, aligned with said gangway, so that a worker can access an area enclosed by said rail structure.
10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said camera senses light in the visible spectrum.
11. Apparatus comprising:
a gangway having a proximal end and a distal end, said gangway being pivotal between a stowed position and a working position; and
a container spotting system including:
a camera mounted to an underside of said gangway and oriented such that its field of view will show when the container is in a predetermined location such that a selected portion of the container will be within an enclosed area of the cage assembly after the cage assembly is in the working position;
video electronics in electrical communication with said camera; and
a display device in electrical communication with said video electronics, said display device operative to show at least a selected portion of the field of view of the camera.
12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said camera comprises an outdoor dome camera.
13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said display device comprises a flat screen display mounted at an elevated location.
14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said display device is mounted at the upper end of a column.
15. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , wherein said display device is housed in a weather-resistant enclosure.
16. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13 , further comprising target indicia on a screen of said display device or a transparent environmental cover adjacent to the screen.
17. Apparatus as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said target indicia is formed as an “X”.
18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said camera senses light in the visible spectrum.
19. Apparatus comprising:
a cage assembly having a rail structure defining an enclosed area in which a worker can stand;
a support structure to which said cage assembly is connected via a mechanism that raises and lowers the cage assembly; and
a container spotting system including:
a camera oriented such that its field of view will show when the container is in a predetermined location such that a selected portion of the container will be within an enclosed area of the cage assembly after the cage assembly is lowered;
video electronics in electrical communication with said camera; and
a display device in electrical communication with said video electronics, said display device operative to show at least a selected portion of the field of view of the camera.
20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said mechanism that raises and lowers the cage assembly comprises a pivotal gangway.