EP2834169B1 - Coupling member for interconnecting two containers stacked one above the other - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling piece for interconnecting two stacked containers, in particular on board ships, with a first coupling projection for hanging and Vorverriegeln in a corner fitting of a container, and a second coupling projection, for coupling with a corner fitting of the other container an actuating member, by which the second coupling projection between an automatic position, for fully automatic locking and unlocking of the container during loading and unloading, and a second position, for manually unlocking the container during unloading by an operator, is switchable, a locking means on which the actuating means can be locked, and a first spring, which biases the second coupling projection in the automatic position or the second position, so that the second coupling projection by the actuator against the biasing force of the first spring in the other position s is chaltbar.

Such a coupling piece is from the EP 2 007 656 B1 known.

Since the applicant so-called fully automatic dome pieces, which on the DE 102 38 895 A1 based, has entered 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.

Another fully automatic coupling piece is by the EP 2 269 920 A1 proposed. This coupling piece has two by a common, rotatably mounted in a housing axis coupling projection, which bias by a first spring in a locking position. In this locking position, the coupling projections connect two stacked containers with each other when they engage in each corner fitting of this container. By a pull rope, the upper coupling projection can be brought into a Vorverriegelungsposition in which it can be hooked into the lower corner fitting of the upper container. In this case, the attached at the free end of the pull rope handle is irritated in a mouthpiece, which is movably mounted within limits and biased by a second spring.

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

There is therefore a need for coupling pieces that can be used both semi-automatically and fully automatically and can be switched 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 the EP 2 007 656 B1 or the EP 2 233 408 A1 Dome pieces have become known, ranging between a fully automatic function and a complete 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, in this way after loading the container, the dome pieces are placed in a so-called safety position. 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 dome piece named after the entrance DE 20 2009 013 140 U1 should meet the above requirement, so should be switchable between a Semiautomatikstellung and a fully automatic position. 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.

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

To solve this problem, the coupling piece according to the invention according to claim 1, characterized in that the second position of the second coupling projection is a Semiautomatikstellung for fully automatically locking the container during loading, and that the actuator is locked in the automatic position or Semiautomatikstellung on the locking means, which movably mounted and biased towards the Semiautomatikstellung of the second coupling projection by a second spring, so that the second coupling projection by locking the actuator to the locking means in the other position locked and against the biasing force of the second spring in the direction of the automatic position or the Semiautomatikstellung is movable.

Like the dome piece after the DE 20 2009 013 140 U1 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, the lower coupling projection can be moved against a second 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 position). As soon as the second coupling projection is completely immersed in the oblong hole of the associated corner fitting, the second coupling projection automatically snaps back into the second position (semi-automatic position) due to the second biasing force. If the second position is the semi-automatic position, the second coupling projection is now coupled with this corner fitting so that it can be manually re-engaged only by means of the actuating element can be unlocked. In the semiautomatic position, the coupling piece according to the invention thus functions like a conventional semi-automatic twistlock. The dome piece according to the invention can thus be used both as a fully automatic dome piece and as a semi-automatic dome piece.

It does not matter in which orientation the coupling piece is used, that is, 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 locking means is slidably mounted.

Furthermore, a simple structural design can be achieved in that the second coupling projection is rotatably mounted in a housing and can be rotated between the automatic position and the semi-automatic position. 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.

• Fig. 1 ein Kuppelstück mit den Erfindungsmerkmalen in Vorderansicht in Automatikstellung,
• Fig. 2 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht, teilweise geschnitten in der Ebene II - II,
• Fig. 3 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 1 im Querschnitt in der Ebene III - III,
• Fig. 4 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 1 in Vorderansicht in Semiautomatikstel¬lung,
• Fig. 5 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 4 in Seitenansicht, teilweise geschnitten ana¬log Fig. 2,
• Fig. 6 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 4 im Querschnitt analog Fig. 3,
• Fig. 7 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 1 in Vorderansicht in Semiautomatikstel¬lung bei in Richtung auf die Automatikstellung zurückgedrehtem zwei¬tem Kupplungsvorsprung,
• Fig. 8 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 7 in Seitenansicht, teilweise geschnitten ana¬log Fig. 2,
• Fig. 9 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 7 im Querschnitt analog Fig. 3,
• Fig. 10 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 4 in Vorderansicht, eingehängt in einen unte¬ren Eckbeschlag eines oberen Containers,
• Fig. 11 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 7 mit teilweise im oberen Langloch des unte¬ren Containers befindlichem zweiten Kupplungsvorsprung, und
• Fig. 12 das Kuppelstück gemäß Fig. 4 im vollständig verriegelten Zustand.

Further developments of the invention relate to constructive Aus¬ge¬staltungen of the invention and are described below with reference to a dar¬gestellt in the drawing embodiment. In the drawing show:

• Fig. 1 a coupling piece with the features of the invention in front view in automatic position,
• Fig. 2 the coupling piece according to Fig. 1 in side view, partially cut in the plane II - II,
• Fig. 3 the coupling piece according to Fig. 1 in cross section in the plane III - III,
• Fig. 4 the coupling piece according to Fig. 1 in front view in Semiautomatikstel¬lung,
• Fig. 5 the coupling piece according to Fig. 4 in side view, partially cut ana¬log Fig. 2 .
• Fig. 6 the coupling piece according to Fig. 4 in cross section analog Fig. 3 .
• Fig. 7 the coupling piece according to Fig. 1 in front view in Semiautomatikstel¬lung in the direction of the automatic position turned back zwei¬tem coupling projection,
• Fig. 8 the coupling piece according to Fig. 7 in side view, partially cut ana¬log Fig. 2 .
• Fig. 9 the coupling piece according to Fig. 7 in cross section analog Fig. 3 .
• Fig. 10 the coupling piece according to Fig. 4 in front view, suspended in an unte¬ren corner fitting of an upper container,
• Fig. 11 the coupling piece according to Fig. 7 with partially in the upper slot of the unte¬ren container befindlichem second coupling projection, and
• Fig. 12 the coupling piece according to Fig. 4 in fully locked condition.

The illustrated embodiment of a coupling piece 20 according to the invention 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 be connected to the shaft 23 in any suitable manner. In the present case, the coupling projections 21, 22 and the shaft 23 are integrally formed with each other, namely as one-piece Stahl¬guss- or forgings.

The shaft 23 is rotatably supported 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 Gehäusescha¬len 25, 26 together form a stop plate 28, extending from the stop plate 28 up to the upper coupling projection 21 toward lug 29 and extending from the stop plate 28 down to the lower coupling projection 22 towards approach 30. 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 stop plate 28 aus¬gebildet as a pronounced flange which rests with stacked containers 33, 34 between the Eckschlä¬gen 32, 35 and keeps them at a distance (see Fig. 12 ). But they are too Kuppel¬stücken known 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 lie directly on each other. The actual function of the stopper plate 28 is to prevent the coupling piece from slipping into the lower corner stop 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 Kupplungs¬ 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 manner known per se, a thickening 41 engages behind the receptacle 40 at one end of the cable pull 39.

A part of the cable 39, namely the thickening 41 facing portion thereof is in a first spring 42, a compression spring 42, respectively. 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 further outward in the region of the end surface 43 through a bore 45. At the opposite end of the thickening 41 of the cable 39, a handle 46 is arranged on the cable 39. At this end, the cable 39 is guided by a Arre¬tiermittel, namely a locking slide 47. The locking slide 47 is arranged ver¬schieblich in a further recess 48. The recess 48 has for this purpose two opposing guides 49 (see Fig. 3 ). In¬nehalb the recess 48, a second spring 50, a compression spring 50, arranged which in turn surrounds the cable 39 and on the one hand on the locking carriage 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 Arretierver¬ thick 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 Verdi¬ ckungen 41 and 52 thus forms an actuator for the coupling piece 20th

• In den Fig. 1 bis 3 ist das Kuppelstück 20 in seiner Automatikstellung gezeigt. Diese Stellung bildet gleichzeitig die Grundstellung des Kuppelstücks 20, in welcher es sich bei gelöstem Arretiermittel befindet. Aufgrund der Verspannung der Feder 42 stößt der Anschlagzapfen 37 an einen Anschlag 53 (Fig. 3), der gleichzeitig die Ausneh¬mung 38 begrenzt. Die Druckfeder 42 spannt das Kuppelstück also in Richtung auf seine Au¬tomatikstellung vor. Die Druckfeder 50 drückt den Arretierschlitten 47 in der Darstel¬lung gemäß Fig. 3 ganz nach links in seine von der Sackbohrung 51 entfernteste Posi¬tion. In dieser Automatikstellung arbeitet das Kuppelstück 20 als ein vollautomati¬sches Kuppelstück, wie es in der DE 102 38 895 A1 beschrieben ist, auf die hiermit verwiesen wird. Eine detaillierte Beschreibung dieser Arbeitsweise kann deshalb an dieser Stelle unterbleiben.

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

• In the Fig. 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. Fig. 3 ), which limits the recess 38 at the same time. The compression spring 42 thus biases the coupling piece in the direction of its automatic position. The compression spring 50 presses the locking slide 47 in the illustration Fig. 3 completely to the left in its farthest from the blind bore 51 Posi¬tion. In this automatic position, the coupling piece 20 works as a fully automatic coupling piece, as in the DE 102 38 895 A1 is described, 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 in his in the 4 to 6 shown Semiautomatikstellung switched. By means of the handle 46, the cable 39 is pulled out so far that the Arretierverdickung 52 behind the Arretier¬ carriage 47 comes free. In this case, the shaft 23 and with it the Kupplungs¬ projections 21 and 22 rotated in the illustration according to 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 into the in Fig. 5 solid shown illustration down or alternatively in the position shown in phantom upwards. By releasing the handle 46, the locking thickening 52 comes into engagement with the locking slide 47, as in Fig. 5 shown.

Since the compression spring 50 is stronger than the compression spring 42 of Arretiersehlit¬ten 47 remains in its very left, in Fig. 6 shown position. How good in Fig. 4 can be seen, is the lower coupling projection 22 in the illustration according to Fig. 4 left and right over (shoulders 54 and 55).

When stowing containers, the coupling piece 20 is first inserted into the lower corner fitting 32 of an upper container 33. 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 either rotate the upper coupling projection 21 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 in the Fig. 1 to 3 shown position. The coupling piece 20 is now pre-locked in the Eckbeschlschlag 32 ( Fig. 10 ). After in this way in each of the four Eckbe-blows 32 of the upper container 33 each have a coupling piece 20 was used, hoists the Kran¬fahrer the upper container 33 on the ship and sets him on a unte¬ren Contai¬ner 34 from. The crane operator brings each of the lower coupling projection 22 into coincidence with a slot 36 on the upper corner fittings 35 of the lower Contai¬ners 34 and threads each of the lower coupling projection 22 in the zuge¬hörige slot 36 a.

By further lowering the upper container 33, the lower coupling projections 22 are inserted into the slots 36. Due to their special contour, the lower coupling projections 22 rotate back in the direction of the automatic position, as in FIG Fig. 11 is shown. This position is also in the Fig. 7 to 9 shown. How good in Fig. 9 can be seen, it relaxes the compression spring 42 while the compression 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 tensions the Arresting carriage 47 and thus the coupling piece 20 so in the direction of the semi-automatic position.

By further lowering of the upper container 33 of the lower Kupplungs¬ 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 rotated back into the Semiautomatikstellung ( Fig. 12 ). In this case, the compression spring 42 is tensioned again. As in FIG. 12 good to be recognized, engages in the shoulders 34 and 35, the slot 36 on both sides, so that an automatic unlocking as in the automatic position is no longer possible.

Since the upper coupling projection 21 always rotates together with the lower coupling projection 22, care must be taken in the design of the upper coupling projection 21 that it always in each position between the Semiautomatikstel¬lung and the automatic position the slot 31 at the lower corner fitting 32nd of the upper container 33 securely engages behind. As in Fig. 1 . 4 . 7 and 11 can be seen, the upper coupling projection 21 with the shaft 23 forms the shape of a T. Because the coupling projections 21, 22 are rotated by the shaft 23 from the automatic position to the semi-automatic position by approximately 60 °, it is always ensured that 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.

As an alternative to the exemplary embodiment shown, in which the upper coupling projection 21 is firmly 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 fixed be gebtei on the housing or be rotatable turned on.

To unlock the coupling piece 20 pulls the jam staff on the handle 46 and releases the Arretierverdickung 52 from the locking slide 47. Due to the bias of the compression spring 42 of the lower coupling projection 21 now rotates back into the Automatic position and the dome piece 20 can, like the well-known fully automatic coupling piece after the DE 102 38 895 A1 unlock when the upper container 33 is lifted by a crane.

In order for the lower coupling projection 22, when being threaded into the oblong hole 36 of the upper corner fitting 35, to be rotated out of the semiautomatic position in the direction of the automatic position, the coupling projection 22 is designed with a special contour, as already indicated above. Like the dome piece after the DE 102 38 895 A1 , The coupling piece 20 on the lower coupling projection 22 on a laterally projecting locking lug 56. On the locking nose 56 gege¬nüberliegenden (rear) 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 latching lug 56, the lower coupling projection 22 is therefore 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 Kon¬tured be¬wirkt that the lower coupling projection 22, and of course 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 alone by lowering the upper container 33 twisted on the lower container 34.

In the embodiment shown, 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 grasp the handle 46. In coupling pieces with a stop plate 28, which is not executed 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 actuating member is to be arranged so that it can be gripped by one of the openings, which are provided in side walls of the corner fittings, by the Stauper¬sonal. Preferably, this is the opening selected, which is arranged on the front side of the container, since the befindli¬che in the other side wall opening is not accessible when several containers are gesta¬ peeled closely 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 Kuppel¬stück is then switched by the actuator in the automatic position and locked in the manner described above in this position. This can take place in that the lower coupling projection around the rotation angle of the shaft provided for switching the coupling piece with respect 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 seen to the lower coupling projection in an anti-clockwise direction, is arranged twisted, or the traction cable 39 is placed around the shaft 39 the other way round and the stop for the stop pin is laid correspondingly on 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 illustrated embodiment and the specific modifications 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, other elastic elements may also be used, and these need not surround the cable 39 either.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

20

coupling piece

21

coupling projection

22

coupling projection

23

wave

24

casing

25

shell

26

shell

27

screw

28

stop plate

29

approach

30

approach

31

Long hole

32

Patch fitting

33

Container

34

Container

35

Patch fitting

36

Long hole

37

stop pin

38

recess

39

cable

40

admission

41

thickening

42

compression spring

43

end face

45

drilling

46

handle

47

Arretierschlitten

48

recess

49

guide

50

compression spring

51

blind hole

52

Arretierverdickung

53

attack

54

shoulder

55

shoulder

56

locking tab

57

rear wall

58

slope

59

Side wall

60

Side wall

Claims (4)

1. Coupling member for joining together two containers (33, 34) stacked above each other, in particular on-board ships, with
   a first coupling projection (21) for hooking into and pre-locking in a corner fitting (32) of a container (33),
   and a second coupling projection (22) for coupling with a comer fitting (35) of the other container (34),
   an actuating organ (39) by means of which the second coupling projection (2) can be switched between an automatic position for locking and unlocking the container (33, 34) fully automatically during loading and unloading, and a second position for unlocking the container (33, 34) manually by an operator during unloading, and a locking means (47) at which the actuating organ (39) can be locked on, and a first spring (42) which pre-tensions the second coupling projection (22) in the automatic position or the second position so that the second coupling projection can be switched by the actuating organ (39) into the respective other position against the pre-tensioning force of the first spring (42),
   characterized
   in that the second position of the second coupling projection (22) is a semiautomatic position for locking the containers (33, 34) fully automatically during loading, and in that the actuating organ (39) can be locked on the locking means (47) in the automatic position or semiautomatic position which is mounted so as to move and is pre-tensioned by a second spring (50) in the direction toward the semiautomatic position of the second coupling projection (22), so that the second coupling projection (22) can be locked in the respective other position by locking the actuating organ (39) at the locking means (47) and can be moved against the pre-tensioning force of the second spring (50) in the direction toward the automatic position or semiautomatic position.
2. Coupling member according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (47) is mounted in a displaceable manner.
3. Coupling member according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second coupling projection (22) is mounted so as to rotate on a housing (24) and is rotatable between the automatic position and the semiautomatic position.
4. Coupling member according to Claim 3, characterized in that the locking means (47) is mounted on the housing (24).

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