e-rover - automatic clutch system for RTGs

Rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTGs) are mobile container gantry cranes that are used in ports. They are able to move between container aisles. As a rule, these RTGs are diesel-powered. However, in order to save energy costs and protect the environment, developments in recent years have increasingly favoured electrically powered vehicles, which are connected to an energy supply system as soon as they are in a lane.

igus® has developed the e-rover system to enable automatic coupling and uncoupling to the energy chain system and to ensure secure energy supply and data transmission - also via fibre optic cable. The system couples quickly to the gantry crane via a telescopic arm that can be extended and retracted, thus ensuring uninterrupted data transmission. The coupling process takes around one minute and there are no restrictions on the travelling speed of the RTG.

Structure of the e-rover coupling system

The e-rover basically consists of three parts:

• A lifting unit with telescopic arm, coupling unit and connector on the RTG
• A special floating moving end with barbs for mechanical attachment of the coupling and the mating connector
• e-rover station with trolley (station wagon) for coupling and uncoupling the RTG