AU2013325017B2

AU2013325017B2 - Hard open top container

Info

Publication number: AU2013325017B2
Application number: AU2013325017A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Guoquan Lv
Original assignee: China International Marine Containers Group Co Ltd; Nantong CIMC Special Transportation Equipment Manufacture Co Ltd; CIMC Containers Holding Co Ltd
Current assignee: China International Marine Containers Group Co Ltd; Nantong CIMC Special Transportation Equipment Manufacture Co Ltd; CIMC Containers Holding Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-09-25
Filing date: 2013-06-26
Publication date: 2016-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-26
Also published as: BR112015006103A2; CA2885764C; ZA201501894B; CN202807566U; DE112013004671T5; CA2885764A1; AU2013325017A1; DE112013004671B4; RU2602768C1; WO2014048148A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a hard open top container, comprising a container body (1), a top cover (2), and a top cover lock (3) on the top cover, wherein the top cover is provided with fork grooves (4) with which the top cover can be opened by a forklift truck; a hub structure (5) linked with the top cover lock is provided on the top cover near the fork grooves, and the automatic unlocking or locking of the top cover lock can be achieved by means of fork teeth of the forklift truck being inserted into or exited from the fork grooves. The hub structure comprises a T-shaped piece (51) for controlling the unlocking of the top cover lock, and an operational lever (52) driven by the fork teeth to drive the T-shaped piece to rotate. The T-shaped piece is mounted onto the top cover by a hub shaft (53). The top cover lock comprises a lock base (31) fixed to the container body, a lock head (32) mounted onto the top cover with the head portion thereof being insertable into the lock base, a lock bar (33) for pulling the lock head and making the lock head disengage from the lock base, and a spring (34) for pushing the lock head and making the lock head insert into the lock base. The hard open top container is able to achieve automatic operation by means of providing a hub structure onto the top cover.

Description

HARD OPEN TOP CONTAINER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure generally relates to a hard open top container, in particular, to a container with an openable top cover on the top thereof, typically to an openable structure of the top cover of the container.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] A prior art hard open top container is shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The container includes a container body 1, an openable top cover 2 provided on the top of the container body 1, and a top cover lock 3 between the top cover 2 and the container body 1. The top cover 2 is provided with fork grooves 4 for matching with forks of a forklift truck. By unlocking the top cover lock 3 as desired, the top cover 2 is opened from or locked to the container body 1. Cargos may be conveyed by a crane from the top of the container body 1 with the opened top cover 2 and positioned in the container body 1 accurately when they are loaded. Fleavier cargos may be also placed in the container easily. And during the transportation, the opening manner or sealing manner of the container body 1 may be selected as desired to satisfy the special requirements for different cargos.

[0003] At present, as for opening the top cover 2 of the hard open top container, generally, the top cover lock 3 between the top cover 2 and the container body 1 is firstly unlocked manually, and then the top cover 2 can be opened with the fork grooves 4 provided thereon by the forklift truck. Since opening of the top cover 2 is operated manually, it wastes labour force, and also presents a security risk.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the invention to overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the above disadvantages, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

SUMMARY

[0004a] The present invention provides a hard open top container, comprising a container body, a top cover, a top cover lock at a junction position of the container body and the top cover; the top cover being provided with fork grooves with which the top cover can be opened by a forklift truck, wherein a pivot structure linked with the top cover lock is provided near the fork groove on the top cover, and an automatic unlocking or locking of the top cover lock can be achieved by a fork tooth of the forklift truck being inserting into or removed from the fork groove by means of the pivot structure, wherein the pivot structure comprises a T-shaped piece for controlling the unlocking of the top cover lock, and an operating lever driven by the fork tooth to rotate the T-shaped piece, and the T-shaped piece is mounted on the top cover by a pivot shaft.

[0004b] A technical problem to be solved by this disclosure is to provide a hard open top container provided with a pivot structure on a top cover thereof, and the pivot structure is enabled to automatically unlock or lock a top cover lock to overcome disadvantages in the container in prior art.

[0005] The disclosure provides a technical solution aimed at the above technical problem below: a hard open top container comprises a container body, a top cover, and a top cover lock on the top cover, characterized in that the top cover is provided with a fork groove with which the top cover can be opened by a forklift truck; a pivot structure linked with the top cover lock is provided near fork groove on the top cover, and an automatic unlocking or locking of the top cover lock can be achieved by means of a fork tooth of a forklift truck being inserted into or removed from the fork groove.

[0006] In an embodiment, the pivot structure comprises a T-shaped piece for controlling the unlocking of the top cover lock, and an operating lever driven by the fork tooth to rotate the T-shaped piece; and the T-shaped piece is mounted on the top cover by a pivot shaft.

[0007] In an embodiment, the top cover lock comprises a lock base fixed to the container body, a lock head enabling to insert into the lock base and mounted on the top cover, a lock bar for pulling the lock head to disengage from the lock base, and a spring for pushing the lock head to insert into the lock base.

[0008] In an embodiment, a notch, in which the operating lever swings, is provided on one side of the fork groove.

[0009] Furthermore, the top cover lock further comprises front and rear brackets fixed to the top cover and used for installing the lock head.

[0010] Furthermore, the lock head is provided with a limit step, which is in contact with the front bracket to limit the depth of the lock head inserting into the lock base; the spring is sleeved on the lock head, has a front end positioned on the limit step and a rear end positioned on the rear bracket.

[0011] As compared with the existing container in prior art, the technical solutions of the disclosure has following advantages: [0012] The top cover lock can be automatically unlocked by the fork teeth of the forklift truck, so that the automatic opening of the top cover can be achieved; and the container body is opened by forking the top cover upward, so that the automatic operation can be achieved.

[0013] The top cover lock is provided with a spring, so that the lock head may automatically return and automatically locked with the lock base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The contents shown in the companying drawings of the description and the reference signs in the drawings will be depicted briefly.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a top view of a container in prior art; [0016] Fig. 2 is a sectional view along line A-A of a top cover of the container as shown in Fig. 1; [0017] Fig. 3 is a top view of the top cover lock in a locking state of the hard open top container according to the disclosure; [0018] Fig. 4 is a front view of the top cover lock in the locking state of the hard open top container according to the disclosure; [0019] Fig. 5 is a top view of the top cover lock in an unlocking state of the hard open top container according to the disclosure; [0020] Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line B-B of the top cover of the container as shown in Fig. 3.

[0021] Wherein, the reference signs are described as follows: [0022] 1 container, 2 top cover, 3 top cover lock, 31 lock base, 32 lock head, 33 lock bar, 34 spring, 35 front bracket, 36 rear bracket, 37 limit step, 4 fork grooves, 5 pivot structure, 51 T-shaped piece, 52 operating lever, 53 pivot shaft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Detailed descriptions of the preferable embodiments of the disclosure are provided in conjunction with the companying drawings in order to further explain the principle and structure of the disclosure.

[0024] The disclosure provides a hard open top container, in which at least one pivot structure 5 linked with a top cover lock 3 is located near a fork groove 4 on a top cover 2 of the container. The automatic unlocking of the top cover lock 3 can be achieved by inserting fork teeth of a forklift truck into fork grooves 4. When the fork teeth of the forklift truck are removed from the fork grooves 4, the automatic locking of the top cover lock 3 can be achieved. This may avoid manual operation and improve automation and efficiency.

[0025] Fig. 3 is a top view of a top cover lock in a locking state of the hard open top container according to an embodiment of the disclosure; Fig. 4 is a front view of the top cover having a top cover lock in the locking state according to the embodiment; Fig. 5 is a top view of the top cover lock in an unlocking state according to the embodiment; Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line B-B of the top cover of the container as shown in Fig. 3.

[0026] The disclosure provides a hard open top container with the following principle: the pivot structure 5 linked with the top cover lock 3 is provided near the fork groove 4 on the top cover 2 of the container, and can be pushed by a fork tooth of the forklift truck to control the unlocking of the top cover lock 3. The top cover lock 3 has a lock base 31 fixedly connected to a container body 1. A lock head 32 of the top cover lock 3 is mounted on the top cover 2, and matches with the lock base 31 so as to lock the top cover 2. A lock bar 33 of the top cover lock 3 has one end connected with the lock head 32 and the other end connected with the pivot structure 5. A T-shaped piece 51 of the pivot structure 5 is fixed with an operating lever 52 extending into the corresponding fork groove. When the fork tooth of the forklift truck is inserted into the fork groove 4, the operating lever 52 on the pivot structure 5 is driven by the fork tooth to drive the T-shaped piece 51 to rotate, so that the lock head 32 of the top cover lock 3 linked with the pivot structure 5 is apart from the lock base 31, and the top cover lock 3 is unlocked.

[0027] In addition, the lock head 32 may also be provided with a spring 33 for driving the lock head 32 to insert into the lock base 31. When the fork tooth exists from the fork groove 4, the operating lever 52 automatically returns to the fork groove 4 by the restoring force of the spring 34. At the same time, the lock head 32 can automatically restore to the position for matching with the lock base 31, so that the automatic locking of the top cover lock 3 can be achieved.

[0028] The specific embodiments of the hard open top container according to the disclosure are illustrated as shown in the accompanying drawings. The top cover 2 is provided with the top cover lock 3 for locking the top cover 2 to the container body 1, and also provided with the fork grooves 4. At least one pivot structure 5 connected to the lock bar 33 of the top cover lock 3 is provided near the fork groove 4. The top cover lock 3 has the lock base 31 fixedly connected to the container body 1, and the lock head 32 of the top cover lock 3 is mounted on the top cover 2. The lock head 32 has a tail end connected with one end of the lock bar 33. The other end of the lock bar 33 is connected with a short arm of the T-shaped piece 51 of the pivot structure 5. The operating lever 52 of the pivot structure 5 is fixed to the T-shaped rod 51, so as to form a vertical portion of the T-shaped piece 51. A through hole is provided in the middle portion of the T-shaped piece 51, so that the T-shaped piece may be mounted on the top cover 2 by a pivot shaft. A notch, in which the operating lever 52 swings, is opened on one side of the fork groove 4. When the T-shaped piece 51 rotates around the pivot shaft 53, the operating lever 52 swings inside and outside the notch of the fork groove 4.

[0029] When the top cover lock 3 is in the locking state, the head part of the lock head 32 is inserted into the lock hole of the lock base 31. The lock bar 33 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container, and the operating lever 52 is parallel to the longitudinal direction of the container. The operating lever 52 is inserted into the middle portion of the fork groove 4 through the notch of the fork groove 4. When the fork tooth of the forklift truck is inserted into the fork groove 4 to drive the operating lever 52 to swing toward the outside of the notch of the fork groove 4, the T-shaped piece 51 is driven to rotate around the pivot shaft 53, the short arm of the T-shaped piece 51 pulls the lock head 32 out by the lock bar 33 to disengage from the lock base 31, so that the automatic unlocking of the top cover lock 3 can be achieved.

[0030] As shown in the figures, two pivot structures 5 are provided near the fork grooves 4 of the top cover 2 of the container, and four top cover locks 3 are mounted onto the top cover 2. So there are four lock bars 33, wherein every two lock bars 33 have one end connected with one pivot structure 5, so that every two top cover locks 3 are linked with one pivot structure 5.

[0031] Referring to Fig. 6, the lock head 32 is sleeved with a spring 34 to be automatically returned. The top cover lock 3 further includes a front bracket 35 for supporting the front section of the lock head 32 and a rear bracket 36 for supporting the rear section of the lock head 32. The lock head 32 is provided with a limit step 37, which may contact with the front bracket 35 to limit the depth of the lock head 32 inserting into the lock base 31. The spring 34 is sleeved on the rod of the lock head 32, and has a front end positioned by the limit step 37 and a rear end positioned by the rear bracket 36.

[0032] When the fork teeth of the forklift truck are removed from the fork grooves 4, the fork teeth will not contact with the operating levers 52 any more, and the elastic force of the spring 34 acts between the limit step 37 on the front end of the spring 34 and the rear bracket 36 on the rear end of the spring 34. Driven by the elastic force of the spring 34, the head part of the lock head 32 is inserted into the lock hole of the lock base 31, so that the top cover lock 3 may automatically restore the locking state. The lock head 32 pulls the head rod 33 connected with the tail end thereof, and the lock bar 33 pulls the short arm of the T-shaped piece 51, so that T-shaped piece 51 is reverted to drive the operating lever 52 to automatically return into the fork groove 4.

[0033] The disclosure provides a hard open top container, in which the top cover lock 3 may be automatically opened by the fork tooth of the forklift truck, and the fork tooth may open the container body 1 by forking the top cover 2 up; the top cover lock 3 is provided with the spring 34 to automatically return the lock head 32 so that automatic locking of the lock base 31 and thereby the automatic operation are achieved.

[0034] The above contents are only the preferable embodiments of the disclosure but not serve to limit the technical solutions of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art intent to make corresponding variation or modification within the main concept and spirit of the disclosure. Thereby, the extent sought for protection by the disclosure should be determined by the extent of protection of claims.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A hard open top container, comprising a container body, a top cover, a top cover lock at a junction position of the container body and the top cover; the top cover being provided with fork grooves with which the top cover can be opened by a forklift truck, wherein a pivot structure linked with the top cover lock is provided near the fork groove on the top cover, and an automatic unlocking or locking of the top cover lock can be achieved by a fork tooth of the forklift truck being inserting into or removed from the fork groove by means of the pivot structure, wherein the pivot structure comprises a T-shaped piece for controlling the unlocking of the top cover lock, and an operating lever driven by the fork tooth to rotate the T-shaped piece, and the T-shaped piece is mounted on the top cover by a pivot shaft.
2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the top cover lock comprises a lock base fixed to the contain body, and a lock head mounted on the top cover and enabling to insert into the lock base, a lock bar for pulling the lock head to disengage from the lock base, and a spring for pushing the lock head to insert into the lock base.
3. The container according to claim 2, wherein a notch, in which the operating lever swings, is provided on one side of the fork groove.
4. The container according to claim 2, wherein the top cover lock further comprises front and rear brackets fixed to the top cover and used for installing the lock head.
5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the lock head is provided with a limit step in contact with the front bracket to limit the depth of the lock head inserting into the lock base.
6. The container according to claim 4, wherein the spring is sleeved on the lock head, and has a front end positioned by the limit step and a rear end positioned by the rear bracket.