EP2834169A1

EP2834169A1 - Coupling member for interconnecting two containers stacked one above the other

Info

Publication number: EP2834169A1
Application number: EP13726096.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Bederke
Original assignee: SEC Ships Equipment Centre Bremen GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: SEC Ships Equipment Centre Bremen GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2012-04-05
Filing date: 2013-04-04
Publication date: 2015-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2033-04-04
Also published as: CY1119823T1; CN104395205A; DK2834169T3; US20150052708A1; US9346615B2; DE202012101261U1; EP2834169B1; WO2013149617A1; KR101657863B1; KR20150094505A; CN104395205B

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling member for interconnecting two containers (33, 34) stacked one above the other, particularly on board ships, having a first coupling projection (21) that can be hooked into a corner fitting (32) of one container (33) and pre-locked there, and a second coupling projection (22) that can be coupled to a corner fitting (35) of the other container (34), and having an actuating member (39) by means of which the second coupling projection (22) can be switched between an automatic position, in which the containers (33, 34) lock and unlock fully automatically during loading and unloading, and a second position, in which the containers (33, 34) must be manually unlocked by an operator during unloading, wherein the second coupling projection (22) is moved under pre-tension into the automatic position or the second position and can be moved to the respective other position by means of the actuating member (39), counter to the pre-tensioning force. The invention addresses the problem of developing a coupling member of the kind specified above such that it can be used both in fully automatic operation and in semi-automatic operation. In order to solve said problem, the coupling member according to the invention is characterised in that the second position of the second coupling projection (22) is a semi-automatic position, in which the containers (33, 34) lock fully automatically during loading, and in that the second coupling projection (22) can be locked in the other position by locking the actuating member (39), and can be moved to the automatic position or semi-automatic position, respectively, counter to a second pre-tensioning force.

Description

description

COUPLING PIECES TO ASSEMBLE CONNECT TWO STACKED CONTAINERS TOGETHER

Technical area

The present invention relates to a coupling piece for interconnecting two stacked containers, in particular on board ships, with a first coupling projection which can be suspended in a corner fitting of a container and there vorverriegelbar, and a second coupling projection, with a corner fitting the other container is detachable, and one

Actuator, by which the second coupling projection between an automatic position in which fully automatically lock and unlock the container during loading and unloading, and a second position in which the container during

Unloading manually by an operator must be unlocked, is switchable, wherein the second coupling projection is biased in the automatic position or the second position and switchable by the actuator against the biasing force in the other position.

State of the art

Such a coupling piece is known from DE 20 2009 013 140 Ul.

Since the applicant of the present utility model so-called fully automatic coupling pieces, which are based on DE 102 38 895 AI introduced into practice, such fully automatic dome pieces enjoy increasing popularity in the market. The particular advantage of fully automatic dome pieces is that they automatically lock when shipping a container, for example, on a lake going ship but unlike semiautomatic unloaded when unloading the container again fully automatic. Thus, even when unloading the container no manual unlocking of the coupling piece by the congestion staff longer required. Nevertheless, these fully automatic dome pieces are able to safely connect two stacked containers in the sea state during the voyage.

In addition, empties containers are often also in "tandem" loaded and unloaded one above the other, which is also referred to as "vertical tandem lift" (VTL). In this case, two stacked containers, which are interconnected by the coupling pieces, loaded simultaneously by lifting the upper container or discharged. This is of course not possible with fully automatic dome pieces.

There is therefore a need for dome pieces that can be used both semi-automatically and fully automatically and can switch between the two modes of operation as needed. Semiautomatic means that the dome pieces automatically lock (automatically) during loading of the containers, while unloading (deletion), however, must be unlocked manually by the congestion staff. Whenever no loading and unloading in the "tandem lift" is desired or a comparatively quiet crossing is expected, these coupling pieces should be usable in the fully automatic function. However, if a loading and unloading "tandem lift" is desired or very heavy sea is expected during the crossing, these coupling pieces should be usable in the semi-automatic function.

By EP 2 007 656 Bl or EP 2 233 408 AI dome pieces have become known, which can be switched between a fully automatic function and a fully manual function. When loading and unloading containers, these coupling pieces are usually in the fully automatic function. If the upper container placed on the lower container, the dome pieces can be completely switched manually in a second position in which no fully automatic unlocking is possible. Now two stacked empty containers can be loaded or unloaded in a tandem lift. Also, the dome pieces can be placed in a so-called safety position after loading the container in this way. For this, the dome pieces must be manually switched by the congestion staff both during loading and unloading the container. These coupling pieces can therefore only switch between a fully manual position and a fully automatic position and therefore do not fulfill the aforementioned requirement.

The coupling piece according to the input mentioned DE 20 2009 013 140 Ul should meet the above requirement, so should be switchable between a Semiautomatikstellung and a Vollautomatikstellung. For this purpose, the coupling piece has a locking member which prevents in Semiautomatikstellung that the lower coupling projection can slide out of the upper slot in the corner fitting of the lower container out. The locking member must therefore be unlocked manually, so that the upper container can be detached from the lower container.

The locking member of the coupling piece is biased in the direction of the automatic position and can by means of a control cable in a second position in which the coupling piece is to act as a semi-automatic coupling piece, so an automatic locking with the container allows but can only be unlocked manually be switched. Exact study of the Scriptures shows, however, that this coupling piece is also switchable only between an automatic position and a fully manual position, since the locking member is positively secured in the second position against displacement in the direction of the automatic position.

Presentation of the invention

Proceeding from this, the invention is based on the problem of developing a coupling piece of the type mentioned in such a way that it can be used both in fully automatic operation and in semi-automatic operation, that is switchable between an automatic position and a Semiautomatikstellung.

To solve this problem, the coupling piece according to the invention is characterized in that the second position of the second coupling projection is a Semiautomatikstellung in which lock the container when loading fully automatic, and that the second coupling projection by locking the actuator in the other position and lockable is movable against a second biasing force in the direction of the automatic position or the Semiautomatikstellung.

As well as the coupling piece according to DE 20 2009 013 140 Ul, the coupling piece according to the invention is preferably in a basic position in the automatic position in which it operates as a fully automatic coupling piece. Alternatively, it is also possible that the basic position corresponds to the Semiautomatikstellung and the coupling piece is switched by the actuator in the automatic position. By means of the actuator, the congestion staff, the lower coupling projection in each other position, preferably in the Semiautomatikstellung switch over. In this position, the actuator can be locked. From the second position out of the lower coupling projection can be against a second

Move biasing force in the direction of the other position. Now, if an upper container placed on a lower container, the second coupling projection moves against the second biasing force due to the downward movement of the upper container towards the other position (preferably the

Automatic mode). Once the second coupling projection is completely immersed in the slot of the associated corner fitting, the second snaps

Coupling projection due to the second biasing force automatically back to the second position (Semiautomatikstellung) back. If the second position is the semi-automatic position, the second coupling projection is now with this

Corner fitting coupled so that it can be manually unlocked again only by means of the actuator. In the semiautomatic position, the coupling piece according to the invention thus functions like a conventional semi-automatic twistlock. The inventive coupling piece can thus be used both as a fully automatic coupling piece and as a semi-automatic coupling piece.

It does not matter in which orientation the coupling piece is used, so whether the first coupling projection is first pre-locked in the upper corner fitting of the lower container or in the lower corner fitting upper container. Due to existing safety regulations, however, it is generally the case that initially the first coupling projection is inserted into the lower corner fitting of the upper container and pre-locked there. After all four lower corner fittings of the upper container are equipped with dome pieces, this container is placed on a container already stored on board a ship. The first coupling projection is therefore often referred to as the upper coupling projection, while the second coupling projection is referred to as the lower coupling projection. Only if a container of the lowest position is stowed directly on a hatch, for example, of the ship, which would also be possible with the coupling pieces according to the invention, the dome pieces are practically used in practice almost head first in the welded to the ship foundations and then the container of the lowest Situation on the ship loaded.

After a constructive development of the invention, the actuator is locked to a locking means in the Semiautomatikstellung. This locking means is movably mounted and biased in the direction of the semi-automatic position of the second coupling projection. This results in a particularly simple structural design, since the actuating member can be locked on a turn movable and biased towards the Semiautomatikstellung locking means. This succeeds in a structurally particularly simple manner when the locking means is displaceably mounted.

Furthermore, a simple structural design can be achieved in that the second coupling projection rotatably mounted in a housing and between the automatic position and the Semiautomatikstellung is rotatable. As a result, the second coupling projection, when it is in the Semiautomatikstellung, automatically rotate in the direction of the automatic position relative to the housing and then snaps back into the Semiautomatikstellung as soon as it is fully inserted into the associated corner fitting. It is particularly advantageous if the locking means is mounted on the housing.

Brief description of the drawings

Further developments of the invention relate to structural embodiments of the invention and are described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing show: 1 is a coupling piece with the features of the invention in front view in automatic position,

2 shows the coupling piece according to FIG. 1 in a side view, partly in section II-II, FIG.

3, the coupling piece of FIG. 1 in cross section in the plane III - III,

4 shows the coupling piece according to FIG. 1 in front view in semi-automatic position, FIG.

5 shows the coupling piece according to FIG. 4 in a side view, partly in section analogous to FIG. 2, FIG.

6 shows the coupling piece according to FIG. 4 in cross-section analogous to FIG. 3, FIG.

1 in front view in Semiautomatikstellung with zurückgedrehtem towards the automatic position second coupling projection,

FIG. 8 shows the coupling piece according to FIG. 7 in a side view, partly in section analogous to FIG. 2, FIG.

FIG. 9 shows the coupling piece according to FIG. 7 in cross section analogous to FIG. 3, FIG.

4 in front view, hung in a lower corner fitting of an upper container,

Fig. 11, the coupling piece of FIG. 7 with partially located in the upper slot of the lower container second coupling projection, and

Fig. 12, the coupling piece of FIG. 4 in the fully locked state.

Way (s) for carrying out the invention

The illustrated embodiment of a coupling piece according to the invention

20 has a first, namely upper coupling projection 21 and a second, namely lower coupling projection 22. The upper coupling projection 21 and the lower coupling projection 22 are connected to each other via a common shaft 23. The coupling projections 21, 22 can in any suitable manner be connected to the shaft 23. In the present case, the coupling projections 21, 22 and the shaft 23 are integrally formed with each other, namely as one-piece cast steel or forgings.

The shaft 23 is rotatably mounted in a housing 24. The housing 24 is formed from two housing shells 25, 26, which are screwed together by means of screws 27. The housing shells 25, 26 are in turn formed as one-piece cast steel or forgings. Screwed to the housing 24, the housing shells 25, 26 together form a stop plate 28, a projection 29 extending from the stop plate 28 upwardly toward the upper coupling projection 21 and a projection 30 extending downwardly from the stop plate 28 to the lower coupling projection 22. The contour of the upper projection 29 corresponds to a slot 31 of a lower corner fitting 32 of an upper container 33 (see Fig. 10) such that the housing 24 can not rotate relative to the lower corner fitting 32.

In the present case, the stopper plate 28 is formed as a pronounced flange which rests with stacked containers 33, 34 between the corner beats 32, 35 and keeps them at a distance (see FIG. 12). But there are also known coupling pieces in which the stop plate 28 is formed only as a bead which engages in chamfers on the slots 31, 36 of the corner fittings 32, 35, so that the corner fittings 32, 35 are directly adjacent to each other. The actual function of the stop plate 28 is to prevent the coupling piece from slipping into the lower corner fitting 32 of the upper container 33 if the crane operator should place the coupling piece next to the slot 31.

The shaft 23 has a radially projecting stop pin 37. The stop pin 37 is arranged approximately in the plane of the stop plate 28, in which a recess 38 in the housing 24 is arranged. Within the recess 38, the stop pin 37 and thus the entire shaft 23 with the coupling projections 21, 22 rotate within a certain angular range about the longitudinal axis of the shaft 23. Furthermore, a cable 39 acts on the shaft 23 eccentric. For this purpose, the cable 39 could attack directly on the stop pin 37. In the present case, however, a separate receptacle 40 is provided for the cable 39. In a conventional manner, a thickening 41 engages behind the receptacle 40 at one end of the cable 39.

A part of the cable 39, namely the same of the thickening 41 facing portion is arranged in a compression spring 42. The compression spring 42 is supported on the one hand on the receptacle 40 and on the other hand on an end face 43 from. The cable 39 is then guided in the area of the end surface 43 through a bore 45 farther out. At the opposite end of the thickening 41 of the cable 39 is a Handle 46 is arranged on the cable 39. At this end, the cable 39 is guided by a locking means, namely a locking slide 47. The locking slide 47 is slidably disposed in a further recess 48. The recess 48 has for this purpose two opposing guides 49 (see Fig. 3). Within the recess 48, a further compression spring 50 is arranged, which in turn surrounds the cable 39 and on the one hand on the locking slide 47 and on the other hand within a blind bore 51 on the housing 24 crashes.

The cable 39 is still formed with a further thickening, namely a Arretierverdickung 52, which is arranged in the present case within the recess 48. The Arretierverdickung 52 is firmly connected to the cable 39. It is spaced a predetermined distance from the handle 46, which depends on the angle at which the shaft 23 is to rotate within the housing 24 when the cable 39 is actuated. The cable 39 with its handle 46 and its thickenings 41 and 52 thus forms an actuator for the coupling piece 20th

The dome piece 20 described so far now works as follows:

In Figs. 1 to 3, the coupling piece 20 is shown in its automatic position. This position also forms the basic position of the coupling piece 20, in which it is in dissolved Arretiermittel. Due to the tension of the spring 42, the stop pin 37 abuts against a stop 53 (FIG. 3) which at the same time limits the recess 38. The compression spring 42 thus biases the coupling piece in the direction of its automatic position. The compression spring 50 pushes the locking slide 47 in the illustration of FIG. 3 completely to the left in its farthest from the blind bore 51 position. In this automatic position, the coupling piece 20 operates as a fully automatic coupling piece, as described in DE 102 38 895 AI, to which reference is hereby made. A detailed description of this procedure can therefore be omitted here.

By pulling the handle 46, the coupling piece 20 is switched to its Semiautomatikstellung shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. By means of the handle 46, the cable 39 is pulled out so far that the Arretierverdickung 42 comes free behind the locking slide 47. In this case, the shaft 23 and with it the coupling projections 21 and 22 rotated in the illustration of FIG. 6 by a predetermined angle, in the present case by about 60 °, clockwise and the compression spring 42 is tensioned. The operator now pulls the handle 46 down into the illustration shown in solid lines in FIG. 5, or alternatively upwards in the position shown by dashed lines. By releasing the handle 46, the locking thickening 52 comes into engagement with the locking slide 47, as shown in Fig. 5. Since the compression spring 50 is stronger than the compression spring 42 of the locking slide 47 remains in its very left, shown in Fig. 6 position. As can be seen well in Fig. 4, the lower coupling projection 22 is in the illustration of FIG. 4 on the left and right over (shoulders 54 and 55).

When stowing containers, the coupling piece 20 is first in the lower

Corner fitting 32 of an upper container 33 used. For this purpose, the congestion staff initially twisted the upper coupling projection 21 by about 90 ° so that the upper coupling projection 21 corresponds approximately to the upper projection 29, so that the upper coupling projection 21 can be inserted through the slot 31 in the corner fitting 32 , The congestion staff can twist the upper coupling projection 21 either by pulling on the handle 46 or grasping the lower coupling projection 22 and twisting it. By releasing the upper coupling projection 21 is rotated due to the spring force of the compression spring 42 back into the position shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The coupling piece 20 is now pre-locked in the corner fitting 32 (FIG. 10). After in this way in each of the four corner fittings 32 of the upper container 33 each have a coupling piece 20 was used, hoists the crane operator the upper container 33 on the ship and sets him on a lower container 34 from. In this case, the crane operator brings each of the lower coupling projection 22 in coincidence with a slot 36 at the upper corner fittings 35 of the lower container 34 and threads each of the lower coupling projection 22 in the associated slot 36 a.

By further lowering the upper container 33, the lower coupling projections 22 are inserted into the slots 36. Due to their particular contour, the lower coupling projections 22 thereby rotate back in the direction of the automatic position, as shown in FIG. 11. This position is also shown in Figs. 7 to 9. As can be seen well in FIG. 9, the pressure spring 42 relaxes while the pressure spring 50 is tensioned. In this case, the locking slide 47 is moved to the right all the way to the blind bore 51 zoom. The compression spring 50 thus biases the locking slide 47 and thus the coupling piece 20 in the direction of the semiautomatic position.

By further lowering of the upper container 33, the lower coupling projection 22 is inserted deeper into the corner fitting 35 until it finally comes free under the slot 36. Due to the tension of the spring 50, the lower coupling projection 22 is now again rotated back into the semi-automatic position (FIG. 12). In this case, the compression spring 42 is tensioned again. As can be clearly seen in FIG. 12, the oblong hole 36 engages in the shoulders 34 and 35 on both sides, so that automatic unlocking, as in the automatic position, is no longer possible. Since the upper coupling projection 21 always together with the lower

Clutch projection 22 is twisted, it must be ensured in the design of the upper coupling projection 21 that he always engages securely behind the slot 31 at the lower corner fitting 32 of the upper container 33 in each position between the Semiautomatikstellung and the automatic position. As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 11, the upper coupling projection 21 with the shaft 23 forms the shape of a T. As a result of the coupling projections 21, 22 with the shaft 23 moving from the automatic position to the semi-automatic position by approx. Be rotated 60 °, it is always ensured that the upper coupling projection 21, the slot 31 engages behind the lower corner fitting 32 of the upper container 33. But any other measure that ensures this is suitable and is within the scope of the present invention.

Alternatively to the embodiment shown, in which the upper coupling projection 21 is fixedly connected to the shaft 23 and thus always rotates together with the shaft 23 and the lower coupling projection 22, the upper coupling projection can also be independent of the shaft, for example, firmly on Housing attached or be rotatable turned on.

Due to the bias of the compression spring 42, the lower coupling projection 21 now rotates back to the automatic position and the dome piece 20 can, like the well-known fully automatic coupling piece to unlock the dome piece 20 on the handle 46 and releases the Arretierverdickung 52 from the locking slide 47 according to DE 102 38 895 AI unlock when the upper container 33 is lifted by a crane.

Thus, the lower coupling projection 22 is twisted when threading into the slot 36 of the upper corner fitting 35 from the Semiautomatikstellung in the direction of the automatic position, the coupling projection 22, as already indicated above, designed with a special contour. Like the dome piece after the

DE 102 38 895 AI, the coupling piece 20 on the lower coupling projection 22 on a laterally projecting locking lug 56. On the locking nose 56 opposite (back) side of the lower coupling projection is provided with an approximately vertical rear wall 57. Incidentally, the lower coupling projection 22 extends below the locking lug 56 like an inverted pyramid. Below the locking lug 56, the lower coupling projection 22 is thus provided with a bevel 58 which is opposite the rear wall 57 and slopes downwards. The two side edges 59 and 60 are inclined towards each other. This contour causes the lower

Coupling projection 22, and of course with him the shaft 23 and the upper coupling projection 21, when threading into the slot 36 of the upper corner fitting 35 of the lower container 34 is rotated solely by lowering the upper container 33 to the lower container 34.

In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating member (cable 39, etc.) and the locking slide 48 and the compression springs 42 and 50 are arranged in the stop plate 28. The distance between the corner fittings 32 and 35 due to the stopper plate 28 at the same time ensures that the congestion staff can take the handle 46. When coupling pieces with a stop plate 28, which is not designed as a pronounced flange, but as a simple, engaging in chamfers of the slots 31, 36 bead, the corner fittings 32, 35, as mentioned above, directly on each other. In this case, the actuator is to be arranged so that it can be gripped by the congestion staff through one of the openings provided in side walls of the corner fittings. Preferably, for this purpose, the opening is selected, which is arranged on the front side of the container, since the opening located in the other side wall is not accessible when a plurality of containers are tightly stacked next to each other.

Above, the coupling piece 20 has been described so that the compression spring 42 biases the lower coupling projection 22 and thus the coupling piece 20 in the automatic position. The automatic position thus forms the basic position. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the Semiautomatikstellung is the basic position, the compression spring 42 thus biases the coupling piece in the Semiautomatikstellung. The coupling piece is then switched by the actuator in the automatic position and locked in the manner described above in this position. This can be done by the lower coupling projection to the for the

Switching the coupling piece provided rotational angle of the shaft relative to the orientation shown in the drawing to the upper coupling projection against the direction of rotation for switching, in the case shown in the plan view (from the upper to lower coupling projection) counterclockwise, is arranged twisted, or the traction cable 39 is placed the other way around the shaft 39 and the stop for the stop pin is moved accordingly to the other side of the stop pin.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown and the modifications specifically described, but that various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, instead of the compression springs 42 and 50 also other elastic elements may be used and they need not surround the cable 39 also.

List of reference numbers:

20 dome piece Coupling projection Coupling projection shaft

casing

Housing shell Housing shell screw

Stop plate approach

approach

Long hole

Corner fitting container

Container

Corner fitting slot

Stop pin recess cable pull admission

Thickening compression spring end face

drilling

handle

Lock carriage recess guide

Compression spring Blind hole Arretierverdickung stop

shoulder

Locking nose rear wall inclined

, 60 side walls

Claims

claims

Coupling piece for interconnecting two stacked

Container (33, 34), in particular on board ships, with

a first coupling projection (21) which can be suspended in a corner fitting (32) of the one container (33) and pre-locked there,

and a second coupling projection (22) which is coupled with a corner fitting (35) of the other container (34), and

an actuating member (39), by which the second coupling projection (22) between a automatic position in which the container (33, 34) fully automatically locked and unlock during loading and unloading, and a second position in which the container (33, 34) must be manually unlocked by an operator during unloading, switchable,

wherein the second coupling projection (22) is biased into the automatic position or the second position and is switchable by the actuating member (39) against the biasing force in the respective other position,

characterized,

the second position of the second coupling projection (22) is a semi-automatic position in which the containers (33, 34) lock fully automatically during loading, and

in that the second coupling projection (22) can be locked in the other position by locking the actuating member (39) and can be moved against a second biasing force in the direction of the automatic position or semi-automatic position.

Coupling piece according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Actuator (39) on a locking means (47) in the Semiautomatikstellung lockable, which is movably mounted and in the direction of the

Semiautomatikstellung the second coupling projection (22) is biased.

Coupling piece according to claim 2, characterized in that the locking means (47) is displaceably mounted.

Coupling piece according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second coupling projection (22) rotatably mounted on a housing (24) and rotatable between the automatic position and the Semiautomatikstellung.

Coupling piece according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking means (47) on the housing (24) is mounted.