DE102018133358A1 - Coupling piece for connecting two stacked containers together - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling piece (10) for connecting two containers stacked one above the other, in particular on board ships, with a first coupling projection (11), which is designed to engage and pre-lock in a corner fitting of a first container, and a second coupling projection (12 ), which has a shaft (14) and, seen in the longitudinal direction of the containers, a locking lug (15) arranged laterally on the shaft (14) with a shoulder (16) falling away from the shaft (14). In order to further improve the safety of coupling pieces, the coupling piece (10) according to the invention is characterized in that the angle (γ; α, β) of the sloping shoulder (16) to a horizontal plane (20) away from the shaft (14) becomes smaller.

Description

The invention relates to a coupling piece for connecting two containers stacked one above the other, in particular on board ships, with a first coupling projection, which is designed for engagement and pre-locking in a corner fitting of a first container, and a second coupling projection, which has a shaft and one in the longitudinal direction seen the container laterally arranged on the shaft locking lug with a shoulder sloping away from the shaft.

Such a coupling piece is from among others EP 1 534 612 B1 but also that EP 1 784 348 B1 or the EP 2 892 828 B1 known, which originate from the applicant. Specifically, it is a so-called fully automatic twist lock (Fully Automatic Twistlock - FAT), which locks a first container fully automatically with a second container when the first container is loaded onto a ship and set down on the second container, and also unlocks again fully automatically when the first container is unloaded (unloaded) and a crane lifts it from the second container.

Such coupling pieces serve to connect containers transported as a stack of containers to one another on deck (on the hatch cover) of a ship. The containers in the lowest layer and sometimes also with the help of lashing bridges containers in higher layers are additionally secured with lashing rods. Often, however, the coupling pieces are the only safeguards in higher-level containers against loss during shipping.

When the containers are stowed (loading), the stevedore on the quay first inserts and locks a coupling piece with its first (upper) coupling projection into the four lower corner fittings of a container to be loaded. Now the container is hoisted by a crane (container bridge) on the deck of the ship and placed there on an already stowed container. The second (lower) coupling projections thread into the four upper corner fittings of the already stowed container. In the now stacked state of the containers, the second coupling projections engage in the upper corner fittings of the already stowed, now lower container and in this way secure the new, stowed, now upper container against being lost during sea transport. This state is referred to as a coupled state in the context of the present disclosure.

During sea transport, lifting forces only arise on one long side of the container due to rolling movements of the ship, while compressive forces arise on the other long side. These pressure forces prevent the upper container from moving horizontally, so that the two coupling pieces on the other long side, on which the lifting forces act, cannot unlock. When the upper container is unloaded (deleted), it is lifted again with a crane. Now tensile forces develop on both long sides of the container, i.e. on all four coupling pieces. As a result, the lower (second) coupling projection can now disengage from the upper corner fitting of the lower container if the oblique shoulder of the locking lug abuts the edge of the elongated hole in this corner fitting. Because of the sloping shoulder, a horizontal force component is created, which presses the coupling piece into a position in which it can be threaded out of the corner fitting. This is in the EP 1 534 612 B1 described in more detail.

In the prior art, the upper shoulder ramps outwards at a certain angle. As a result, the horizontal force component on the shoulder and thus the coupling piece is the same across the entire depth of the locking lug. There is also a certain vertical play of the lower coupling projection in the associated corner fitting, which must be minimized. The coupling piece designed according to the state of the art cited here has proven to be reliable in years of practice. Nevertheless, it is important to further improve their security.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the problem of further improving the security of the coupling pieces mentioned at the outset.

To solve this problem, the coupling piece according to the invention is characterized in that the angle of the sloping shoulder to a horizontal plane becomes smaller away from the shaft.

If the upper container is deleted, the upper shoulder first hits the edge of the slot with its steeper angles. This initiates the unlocking of the coupling piece. If the coupling piece now slides in a direction opposite to the direction in which the locking nose points, the horizontal force component on the upper shoulder becomes smaller. However, this does not strengthen because the unlocking movement has already been initiated. When the ship is rolling in the sea, on the other hand, the flatter angle of the upper shoulder on the locking lug comes into play if the upper container and with it the coupling piece moves slightly horizontally due to the tolerances permitted. The flatter angle then causes a small horizontal force component due to the lifting forces. At the same time, the vertical play is reduced due to the flatter angle. The risk of unwanted Intervention is further minimized and consequently the security of the coupling piece is increased.

The angle of the upper shoulder can change continuously. Any contour is conceivable, for example a parabolic or elliptical contour. The shoulder preferably has the contour of a circular arc section. This contour is particularly easy to manufacture. The ratio of a depth of the nose to a radius of the circular arc section should be 1: 1.5 to 1: 3, in particular 1: 2.25. This ensures that there is still a slightly sloping angle at the tip of the locking lug and that the upper shoulder does not run out horizontally.

As an alternative to the continuously changing angle, the angle can also change in one or more steps. For manufacturing reasons, only one step with only one kink between the angles is preferred. A step with a first angle on the side facing the shaft and with a second angle on the side facing away from the shaft should be provided, the first angle being 20 ° to 40 °, in particular 30 °, and the second angle being 20 ° to 10 °, in particular 15 °. The first angle is preferably twice the size of the second angle.

• 1 ein erstes Ausführungsbespiel eines Kuppelstücks mit den Erfindungsmerkmalen in Vorderansicht, und
• 2 ein weiteres Ausführungsbespiel eines Kuppelstücks mit den Erfindungsmerkmalen in Vorderansicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. The drawing shows:

• 1 a first embodiment of a coupling piece with the features of the invention in front view, and
• 2nd a further embodiment of a coupling piece with the inventive features in a front view.

In the 1 and 2nd is an embodiment of a coupling piece 10th with the features of the invention, namely a so-called fully automatic twistlock (FAT). In both execution examples, the dome pieces show 10th each have a first coupling projection 11 and a second coupling protrusion 12th on, each starting from a stop plate 13 extend away from this. The stop plate 13 is shown in the present case as a pronounced flange, but can also be reduced to a bead which only engages in a groove which is formed by chamfering the elongated holes of container corner fittings (not shown) when they lie directly on top of one another.

When loading containers onto a ship, the container is first lifted by a crane on the quay and then one coupling piece each 10th inserted in the four lower corner fittings of the container. The first coupling projection is inserted through an elongated hole on the underside of the respective corner fitting. This coupling projection 11 is also used as an upper coupling projection in accordance with its usual orientation 11 designated. There are various suitable configurations of the first coupling projection 11 known. So the first coupling projection 11 similar to that in the EP 1 784 348 B1 shown upper coupling projection and how it is inserted into the lower corner fitting of the container and pre-locked there.

• Beim Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß 1 fällt die Schulter 16 von Schaft 14 aus gesehen zunächst mit einem steileren Winkel α ab und gehet dann über eine Knick 17 ein einen flacheren Winkel β über. Die Schulter 16 weist also vom Schaft 14 aus gesehen zunächst einen steileren Schulterabschnitt 18 auf und einen durch den Knick 17 abgegrenzten flacheren Schulterabschnitt 19 auf. Dabei ist im Rahmen der vorliegenden Offenbarung mit „steiler“ gemeint, dass der Winkel α des steileren Schulterabschnitts zu einer Horizontalen 20 größer als der Winkel β des flacheren Schulterabschnitts 19 zu der Horizontalen 20 ist (α > β). „Flacher“ meint umgekehrt β < α.

Now the container is hoisted by the crane on board the ship and placed there on an already loaded container. The lower coupling protrusion 12th each dome 10th An upper corner fitting of the already loaded container is threaded into the associated elongated hole and locks there automatically as in the EP 1 534 612 B1 described. For this purpose, the second coupling projection 12th (also lower coupling projection 12th called) one to the stop plate 12th molded shaft 14 and one seen laterally on the shaft of the container 14 molded locking lug 15 on, reference. The locking lug 15 points one outwards, i.e. from the shaft 14 sloping upper shoulder 16 on. In this respect, they correspond specifically to the 1 and 2nd shown second coupling projections 12th of the dome pieces 10th the lower coupling projection of the coupling piece after the EP 2 892 828 B1 . The upper shoulder 16 is however designed according to the invention in a special way:

• In the embodiment according to 1 falls the shoulder 16 of shaft 14 seen from first with a steeper angle α off and then go over a kink 17th a flatter angle β over. The shoulder 16 therefore points from the shaft 14 seen from first a steeper shoulder section 18th on and one by the kink 17th delimited flatter shoulder section 19th on. In the context of the present disclosure, “steeper” means that the angle α the steeper shoulder section to a horizontal 20 larger than the angle β of the flatter shoulder section 19th to the horizontal 20 is (α> β). Conversely, "flatter" means β <α.

The first angle α can generally between 20 ° and 40 ° and the second angle β be between 10 ° and 15 ° to a horizontal. The first angle is particularly advantageous α about twice as large as the second angle β (α ≈ 2β). In the specific embodiment shown, the first angle is α = 30 ° and the second angle β = 15 ° to the horizontal 20 .

In the context of the present disclosure, “horizontal” means a level that changes extends parallel to the level, which is defined by the two stacked containers as your parting level, and in which the stop plate is also 13 extends, as far as, as shown in the present embodiment, a stop plate is provided.

In the embodiment according to 2nd the angle of the shoulder changes 16 continuously. The upper shoulder follows 16 the contour of an arc section with a radius R . Depending on the depth t the locking lug 15 is the radius R 1: 1.5 to 1: 3 times the depth t . The depth t the locking lug is the horizontal dimension of the locking lug 15 from a front wall facing the locking lug 21 of the shaft 14 to the outer tip 22 the locking lug 15 .

By the size ratio of the radius given above R to the depth t ensures that the shoulder 16 to the top 22 the locking lug 15 always with a certain angle other than "zero" γ to the horizontal (γ ≠ 0 °). In the embodiment specifically shown, the radius is R = 30 mm at a depth t = 16 mm. The angle γ is 10 ° (γ = 10 °).

When the container is deleted (unloaded), the coupling piece unlocks 10th again fully automatic, as in the EP 1 784 348 B1 described when the container is raised again by a crane. Lifting forces on the coupling pieces arise at all four corners of the container to be deleted 10th . These cause the shoulder 16 bumps against an inner edge on the elongated hole of the associated corner fitting. Through the sloping shoulder 16 Due to the vertical force, a horizontal force component is created, which is the coupling piece 10th in a direction opposite to the direction in which the locking tab 16 shows, presses, as in the EP 1 784 348 B1 described. Because the shoulder 16 initially falls at a steeper angle, the horizontal force component is initially larger. This favors the start of the unlocking process. The horizontal force component then becomes due to the flattening of the shoulder 16 stepwise ( 1 ) or continuously ( 2nd ) smaller. However, this does not harm the unlocking process, since the unlocking process has already been initiated.

During sea transport, lifting forces only arise on one long side of the container due to rolling movements of the ship, while compressive forces arise on the other long side. These compressive forces prevent the upper container from moving horizontally, leaving the two coupling pieces 10th on the other long side, on which the lifting forces act, cannot unlock. Here comes the flatter angle of the shoulder 16 on the locking tab 15 to be carried if the upper container and with it the coupling piece 10th shifted slightly horizontally due to permitted tolerances. The flatter angle then causes a small horizontal force component due to the lifting forces. The risk of unwanted disengagement is further minimized.

Reference list

10th

Coupling piece

11

upper coupling projection

12th

lower coupling protrusion

13

Stop plate

14

shaft

15

Locking lug

16

shoulder

17th

Kink

18th

steeper shoulder section

19th

flatter shoulder section

20

horizontal

21st

Front wall

22

top

α

angle

β

angle

γ

angle

t

depth

R

radius

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• EP 1534612 B1 [0002, 0005, 0015]
• EP 1784348 B1 [0002, 0014, 0020]
• EP 2892828 B1 [0002, 0015]

Claims (7)

Coupling piece (10) for connecting two containers stacked one above the other, in particular on board ships, with a first coupling projection (11), which is designed to engage and lock into a corner fitting of a first container, and a second coupling projection (12), which one Shaft (14) and a locking lug (15) arranged laterally on the shaft (14), seen in the longitudinal direction of the containers, with a shoulder (16) falling away from the shaft (14), characterized in that the angle (γ; α, β ) of the sloping shoulder (16) to a horizontal plane (20) from the shaft (14) away smaller. Dome piece after Claim 1 , characterized in that the angle (γ) changes continuously. Dome piece after Claim 2 , characterized in that the shoulder (16) has the contour of a circular arc section. Dome piece after Claim 3 , characterized in that the ratio of a depth (t) of the nose to a radius (R) of the circular arc section is 1: 1.5 to 1: 3, in particular 1: 2.25. Dome piece after Claim 1 , characterized in that the angle (α, β) changes in one or more steps. Dome piece after Claim 5 , characterized in that the angle changes in one step with a first angle (α) on the side facing the shaft (14) and a second angle (γ) on the side facing away from the shaft (14), the first angle ( α) 20 ° to 40 °, in particular 30 °, and the second angle (β) 20 ° to 10 °, in particular 15 °. Dome piece after Claim 6 , characterized in that the first angle (α) is twice as large again the second angle (β).

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