Container Spreader-Bar Activities.

Commercial spreader bars were evaluated for lifting 20-foot intermodal shipping containers weighing 20 long tons. Requirements include use by cranes and helicopters for logistics over-the-shore operations, at inland distribution points, and for container retrograde. Commercial spreader bars have unsuitable features, so three prototypes were developed. All prototypes use twist locks for coupling to containers. Two prototypes have side and end guides, and the other has retractable corner guides for alignment to the container. One prototype has a lightened steel frame developed in-house by USAMERDC and uses a hydraulic twist-lock system developed under contract. An electrically operated, steel frame spreader bar was developed under contract. An aluminum frame spreader bar was developed in-house, using mechanical twist locks operated by a fifth center leg of the hoist sling. Modified author abstract