DE202012103348U1 - Coupling piece for coupling two containers stacked one above the other, in particular on board ships - Google Patents

Abstract

Coupling piece for coupling two containers stacked one above the other, in particular on board ships, with an upper coupling projection (10) engaging in a lower corner fitting of the upper container and a lower coupling projection (11) engaging in an upper corner fitting of the lower container, which has a lengthwise direction the container seen laterally arranged coupling lug (22) and a vertical rear wall (21) arranged on the side of the lower coupling projection (11) facing away from the coupling lug (22), such that the distance (b) of a free edge (25) of the Coupling nose (22) to the rear wall (21) is less than or equal to the width of an upper elongated hole in the upper corner fitting, characterized in that the lower coupling projection (11) in the rear wall (21) is groove-like over the entire length of the lower coupling projection (11 ) extending recess (26).

Description

The invention relates to a coupling piece for coupling two stacked containers with each other, in particular on board ships, engaging in a lower corner fitting of the upper container upper coupling projection and engaging in an upper corner fitting of the lower container lower coupling projection, which in the longitudinal direction of the container Seen laterally arranged coupling nose and a remote from the coupling nose side of the lower coupling projection arranged vertical rear wall, such that the distance of a free edge of the coupling nose to the rear wall is less than or equal to the width of an upper slot in the upper corner fitting.

Such a coupling piece is from the DE 102 38 895 A1 known.

Since containers have prevailed for the transport of goods because of the possible with them fast cargo handling, is constantly working to improve the lashing of containers on board ships. In addition to safety issues, work has also been underway to accelerate the handling of containers at ports to reduce the time spent on ships. This concerns in particular the containers transported on deck of ships. These were initially secured with manual twist locks, which had to be manually operated both during loading of the ship with the containers and during unloading. Not only was this time consuming, but the stevedores were also required to be on deck of the ship during container loading, forcing them to be under suspended loads. In addition, the surface of the container, which had to be committed by the Stauern, in very bad weather conditions very smooth. Therefore, this is associated with significant dangers for the stevedores, so it was banned in the 90s that stevedores while loading the ship with containers in the Bay area, which is currently being loaded.

A first step to increase the safety of the stevedores and to accelerate the container handling in the ports were semiautomatic twistlocks (Semi Automatic Twistlock - SAT). Semiautomatic twistlocks automatically lock when the upper container is placed on the lower container so that the stacked containers are firmly coupled together. However, to clear the containers, the semi-automatic twistlocks must be manually opened by the stevedores. This is very safe for the stevedores because, once the ship is in port, they can open all the twistlocks of the containers to be unloaded and then leave the ship before the containers are hoisted off the shelf. The stevedores no longer need to be under suspended loads. The manual uncoupling of the twistlocks is still very time consuming.

By the aforementioned DE 102 38 895 A1 A fully automatic Twistlock (Fully Automatic Twistlock - FAT) was created, which automatically disengages both when depositing the upper container on the lower container as well as automatically decoupling it when deleting the container. The congestion staff is now only required to insert the fully automatic twist locks on the quay in the lower corner fittings of the upper container before the container is hoisted on board the ship, or to remove the twist locks after the container has been lifted from the ship again on the quayside ,

That the fully automatic twistlock after the DE 102 38 895 A1 The containers stacked on top of each other during sea transport are safely coupled to their laterally arranged coupling nose. This fully automatic twist lock is based on the finding that ramming movements of the ship hardly result in vertical accelerations to the container, so that hardly or no lift-off forces act on the containers here. While rolling the ship, significant vertical accelerations occur. But then act between two stacked containers on one longitudinal side pressure forces (pressure side), while on the other longitudinal side tensile forces (tension side) act. Due to the design of the fully automatic twist lock, the twistlocks arranged on the pressure side prevent the two stacked containers from slipping horizontally against one another. This ensures that the coupling lugs can not decouple the arranged on the tension side twistlocks. However, if the upper container is lifted by a crane in the harbor, all four twistlocks have a tensile force, which means they can be uncoupled.

Nevertheless, it is feared that in certain stowage areas, for example in a front or rear bay, under certain conditions, it can happen that on all four twistlocks tensile forces occur and it could therefore come to an unwanted uncoupling. To avoid this, fully automatic twistlocks with two opposing coupling lugs have been proposed ( DE 20 2004 017 252 U1 ). 3 This document shows such a fully automatic twistlock in which the two coupling lugs are arranged at different heights. This leads to a "Z" during both coupling and uncoupling. Movement ", which is perceived as disadvantageous, since it can lead to a hooking / jamming during loading and unloading.

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the problem of further developing the coupling piece mentioned above in such a way that it reliably couples two containers stacked on top of each other, even in the case of pure tensile forces, and prevents "Z movements" during coupling and uncoupling.

To solve this problem, the coupling piece according to the invention is characterized in that the lower coupling projection in the rear wall has a groove extending over the entire length of the lower coupling projection recess.

The dome piece according to the invention is thus essentially like a fully automatic twistlock after DE 102 38 895 A1 educated. However, it is provided in the rear wall of the twistlock a groove-like recess. As a result, there is no longer a "Z movement" when connecting and disconnecting. If the coupling nose slides on the tension side despite all precautions from the associated corner fitting, so get free behind the edge of the upper slot this corner fitting, the upper container slides horizontally on the lower container in a direction opposite to the direction in which the coupling nose is set, ie in the direction of the recess. As a result, the edge of the upper slot opposite the coupling nose engages with the recess, so that the coupling piece is not completely decoupled. The upper container remains coupled to the lower container. The coupling piece according to the invention thus has certain emergency running properties.

Through the recess is formed on the side facing away from the coupling nose another nose. This nose should have a sloping outward shoulder. This avoids that hooked the lower coupling projection on the slot of the corner fitting, if the edge of the slot should accidentally engage during the discharge of the container in the recess. For this purpose, the sloping shoulder need not be as flat as an oblique shoulder of the coupling nose. The angle of the shoulder to a rear wall of the lower coupling projection can therefore be greater than the angle of the shoulder of the coupling nose to a front wall. For manufacturing reasons, it is particularly preferred if the shoulder of the nose is aligned with an inner surface of a recessed grip in the lower coupling projection. The dome pieces are usually made of cast steel and the flush shoulder, the mold is simplified.

On a side opposite the nose, ie on a side facing the upper coupling projection side, the recess is bounded by a further development of the invention by an insertion bevel. Should the recess in the manner described above come to fruition or the edge of the slot when coupling the coupling piece with the upper corner fitting lower container accidentally get into the recess (which may occur due to wind pressure or a pendulum of the container on the crane) is Insertion bevel ensures that the coupling piece (again) reaches its coupled position.

The invention will now be described with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing shows:

1 a coupling piece with the features of the invention in front view, and

2 the coupling piece according to 1 in side view.

The coupling piece shown has an upper coupling projection 10 and a lower coupling protrusion 11 on. Between the coupling protrusions 10 . 11 is a stop plate 12 arranged, which simultaneously forms a parting plane between two stacked containers (not shown). The underside of the stop plate 12 is located on the top of the upper corner fitting of the lower container, while the bottom of the lower corner fitting of the upper container on top of the stop plate 12 stands. However, it is also provided according to the invention, the stop plate 12 in ansich known manner only form as a wedge-like projecting bead, which then engages in a groove formed from chamfers on the slots of the corner fittings, so that the corner fittings of the container are directly on top of each other.

The upper coupling projection 10 points above the stop plate 12 a shaft 13 on, in turn, on his the stop plate 12 opposite side a head 14 wearing. As in 1 it is easy to see, is the head 14 on both sides over the shaft 13 over, so forms locking tabs 15 and 16 ,

The lower coupling projection 11 also closes with a shaft 17 to the stop plate 12 at. The shaft 17 has a perpendicular to the stop plate on one side 12 running front wall 18 on. At the front wall 18 opposite side, the shaft 17 an insertion bevel 19 on, at their stop plate 12 facing end into a chamfer 20 passes. This chamfer 20 Corresponds with a chamfer on the slot of the Corner fitting and is located on coupled coupling piece on this chamfer. The chamfer 20 could therefore also as part of the stop plate 12 be understood, especially if the stop plate 12 , as stated above, is formed only as a bead.

The insertion bevel 19 go to her the stop plate 12 opposite end arcuately in a back wall 21 over, which also perpendicular to the stop plate 12 is arranged.

The lower coupling projection 11 also has a coupling nose 22 on which of the back wall 21 opposite. The coupling nose 22 is arranged laterally relative to a longitudinal axis of the two containers to be coupled together. At its top, the coupling nose 22 an obliquely sloping shoulder 23 on. Furthermore, at the bottom of the coupling nose 22 a Einführkegel 24 arranged. The width b of the coupling nose 22 , so a distance from a free edge 25 the coupling nose 22 to the back wall 21 , is at most as wide as the width of the slot, in which the lower coupling projection 11 intervenes.

In that regard, at least the lower coupling projection corresponds 11 still essentially the fully automatic twistlock after the DE 102 38 895 A1 , Unlike the fully automatic twistlock after the DE 102 38 895 A1 has the coupling piece according to the present embodiment, a groove-like recess 26 in the back wall 21 on. The recess 26 extends over the entire length of the lower coupling projection 11 or the back wall 21 and has a parallel to the rear wall 21 ongoing reason 27 on. At her the upper coupling projection 10 or the stop plate 12 facing side is the groove 26 through an insertion bevel 28 and at its the insertion bevel 28 opposite, ie from the upper coupling projection 10 or the stop plate 12 opposite side, by a sloping shoulder 29 limited. The groove 26 So has the shape of a trapezoid, with the angle of the insertion 28 on the one hand and the oblique shoulder 29 on the other hand, opposite the back wall 21 do not need to be equal. Rather, it is in 1 good to recognize that the insertion bevel 28 steeper, namely an angle of about 135 °, than the oblique shoulder 29 which makes an angle α ₂₉ of about 110 ° to the rear wall 21 having.

Furthermore, the oblique shoulder 29 not as steep as the sloping shoulder 23 the coupling nose 22 , In the present embodiment, the alignment of the recess 26 limiting sloping shoulder 29 to a lower inner surface 30 a recessed grip 31 , what a 1 is shown as a hidden edge with a dashed line. In general, it can be said that an angle α _{23 of} the oblique shoulder 23 the coupling nose 22 to the vertical, ie to the front wall 18 , greater than or equal to the angle α ₂₉ of the recess 26 limiting sloping shoulder 29 to the back wall 21 is.

Through the recess 26 in the lower coupling projection 11 is another nose 32 formed, the top of which is the recess 26 limiting sloping shoulder 29 forms. With this other nose 32 If necessary, the hitch piece can be hacked behind an edge on the upper slot of the associated corner fitting.

The locking projections 15 . 16 Of the head 14 of the upper coupling projection 10 lower, the stop plate 12 facing bearing surfaces 33 respectively. 34 on. The bearing surface 34 the locking projection 16 , which is above the locking nose 22 is arranged, is closer to the top of the stop plate 12 (Dividing plane between the stacked containers), ie deeper, arranged as the support surface 33 the opposite locking projection 15 ,

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Upper coupling projection

11

lower coupling projection

12

stop plate

13

shaft

14

head

15

locking projection

16

locking projection

17

shaft

18

front wall

19

chamfer

20

chamfer

21

rear wall

22

coupling nose

23

Oblique (the locking nose 22 )

24

lead-in chamfer

25

edge

26

recess

27

reason

28

chamfer

29

Sloping (the recess 26 )

30

inner surfaces

31

grip

32

another nose

33

bearing surface

34

bearing surface

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely 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.

Cited patent literature

• DE 10238895 A1 [0002, 0005, 0006, 0010, 0021, 0021]
• DE 202004017252 U1 [0007]

Claims (5)

Coupling piece for coupling two stacked containers with each other, in particular on board ships, with an engaging in a lower corner fitting of the upper container upper coupling projection ( 10 ) and engaging in an upper corner fitting of the lower container lower coupling projection ( 11 ), which seen in the longitudinal direction of the container laterally arranged coupling nose ( 22 ) and one on the coupling nose ( 22 ) facing away from the lower coupling projection ( 11 ), vertical rear wall ( 21 ), such that the distance (b) of a free edge ( 25 ) the coupling nose ( 22 ) to the back wall ( 21 ) is less than or equal to the width of an upper slot in the upper corner fitting, characterized in that the lower coupling projection ( 11 ) in the back wall ( 21 ) a groove-like over the entire length of the lower coupling projection ( 11 ) extending recess ( 26 ) having. Coupling piece according to claim 1, characterized in that on a the upper coupling projection ( 10 ) facing away from the recess ( 26 ) another nose ( 32 ), which has an upper sloping outwardly sloping shoulder ( 29 ) having. Coupling projection according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle (α ₂₉ ) of the shoulder ( 29 ) the nose ( 32 ) to the back wall ( 21 ) greater than or equal to an angle (α ₂₃ ) of a sloping upper shoulder ( 23 ) the coupling nose ( 22 ) to a front wall ( 18 ) of the lower coupling projection ( 11 ). Coupling piece according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the shoulder ( 29 ) the nose ( 32 ) with an inner surface ( 30 ) of a recessed grip ( 31 ) in the lower coupling projection ( 11 ) flees. Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the recess ( 26 ) on an upper coupling projection ( 11 ) facing side by an insertion bevel ( 28 ) is limited.

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