EP3747801A1

EP3747801A1 - Device for the auxiliary operation of locking elements between shipping containers

Info

Publication number: EP3747801A1
Application number: EP20020255.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicholas William O'Connell; Brian Douglas Perrett
Original assignee: Tec Container SA
Current assignee: Tec Container SA
Priority date: 2019-06-04
Filing date: 2020-06-01
Publication date: 2020-12-09
Also published as: ES2797998B2; ES2797998A1

Abstract

Locking devices commonly used to stabilize shipping containers may, over time, become inoperative, and to date, there are no specific tools for unlocking them. The invention consists of a device that is inserted into the mortising (part of the container's locking mechanism) through one of its elongated slots (3) so that, after insertion, this body (4) is rotated to be locked. Thus, an axial rod (9) intended to be hit externally with a hammer or something of the kind is revealed. At the opposite end, this pushes a plate (5) acting as a lever that is joined to said body (4) through a pivot axis (10) so that its pivoting produces the turn and release of the locking element.

Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION

This invention is a device for the auxiliary operation of elements for locking shipping containers together, and its purpose is to allow these devices to be put into their unlocked position when they cannot be unlocked on their own.
The object of the invention is to offer a device that allows this unlocking to be carried out comfortably, quickly, and safely.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is well known, for transporting shipping containers by sea, these containers are stacked together, creating stacks of several layers that must be stabilized to keep from overturning.
As such, at their corners, the containers have mortising with holes in three different planes for the insertion of locking elements, known as twistlocks. These locking parts have a cable that, when pulled it against the tension of a spring, results in the locking triggers being rotated, releasing the containers.
However, with the passage of time, blows, environmental factors, etc., these devices may become inoperative in terms of unlocking, whether due to the traction cable breaking, the accumulation of dirt, etc. This forces stevedores to improvise ways to try to unlock these parts, which are often ineffective. This requires the unloading process to stop, resulting in the enormous economic costs that this entails.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The device for the auxiliary operation of locking elements between shipping containers described here satisfactorily addresses the problem described based on a simple, yet effective, solution.
To do this, the invention enables operating the locking element between containers directly, simply, and precisely: it is intended to be inserted in one of the free holes in the mortising at the container's corner, acting as a lever that rotates that locking element until it can be released.
More specifically, the invention consists of a body that is designed to be inserted into the vertical slot of the container's mortising, with an equally elongated vertical configuration so that its intermediate zone has a perimeter rabbet corresponding to the width of the mortising's wall. Once this body is inserted, it allows 90º rotation so that it is perfectly stabilized.
In its interior, this body features an axially movable rod connected to a plate, which acts as a toggle lever at one end. This is designed to come into contact with the locking element to be unlocked. This plate articulates with this main body at a certain distance from the rod's point of application, creating torque that is applied to the locking element to rotate and, thus, unlock it.
At the opposite end from the plate acting as a lever, the rod will have a cylindrical body joined to it that threads into the main body of the device by turning a wingnut, screwdriver, etc. That way, the positioning of this rod can be adjusted and locked, as can the plate, to facilitate operation of the device.
In conclusion, it must be noted that the body of the device may include a magnet or be magnetic itself to be stabilized quickly, comfortably, and easily.
This produces a very simple, yet very effective and safe, accessory of a small size that any stevedore can carry in their pocket, and it can be applied without wasting hardly any time on unlocking containers when conventional methods do not work.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description ahead, and to facilitate a better understanding of the invention's features, per an ideal model of its practical implementation, a set of drawings is included. These constitute an integral part of this description, and they show the following, for purposes including but not limited to illustration:

Figure 1.- Here is shown a cross-section view of two containers in perspective at the level of the locking mechanisms. On it appears a device made according to the object of this invention, which is to be inserted in the upper mortising of these two.
Figure 2.- This displays a view similar to that of figure 1, but here, the device appears in an initial insertion phase.
Figure 3.- A view similar to that in Figure 2 is shown, but the device, once inserted, is rotated 90º.
Figure 4.- A view similar to that of Figure 2 is shown, but the device is activated. It can be seen how using the device causes the rotation and release of the anchoring element.
Figure 5.- A detail of the set from Figure 4 is shown from another point of view.
Figure 6.- A longitudinal view of the device at hand is shown in perspective.
Figure 7.- Finally, a view similar to that of Figure 6 is shown, but with the device in the activated position with its plate acting as a lever.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In the figures outlined, it can be seen how the invention is designed to operate a locking mechanism that involves two locking elements (1) between two containers (2), which have at their corners mortising with elongated slots (3) aligned with three orthogonal planes, such that the locking elements (1) turn once inserted in the corresponding slots, so as to prevent misalignment between containers.
In accordance with the invention, the device is planned to take the form of a body (4) with a cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the elongated slots (3) whose middle area will feature a perimeter rabbet (6) with a height corresponding to the width of the elongated slots (3) so that this body, once inserted into the corresponding groove, can be rotated 90º, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the rabbet's side walls (7) establishing the device's means of stabilization when activated.
The body (4) has a through-hole through which a rod (9) can be inserted. The rod's anterior extremity pushes a plate (5) acting as a lever, which articulates with that body (4) through a pivot axis (10).
This plate (5) acting as a lever will be designed according to the appearance of the locking element (1) to be adapted to its surface so that when the rod (9) is moved axially, the plate will cause the rotation and release of that locking element (1).
To this end, the rod (9) is then planned to be closed off in a cylindrical body (8) joined to said rod and threaded. It will thread into the device's main body by turning a wingnut, lever, screwdriver, etc. That way, the positioning of this rod can be adjusted and locked, as can the plate, in the position deemed appropriate.

Claims

st.- Device for the auxiliary operation of locking elements between shipping containers, characterized by a cross-section body (4) corresponding to the cross-section of the elongated slots (3) in the mortising that determine the means of locking containers together at their corners. The middle area of this body (4) has a perimeter rabbet (6) of a height corresponding to the width of these elongated slots (3) to enable their 90º rotation after insertion. The body (4) has a through-hole, through which a rod (9) may pass. The rod's anterior extremity offers a means to push a plate (5) as a lever, which is joined to that body (4) by a pivot axis (10). The configuration of this plate (5) corresponds to the design of the locking element (1) to move angularly.
nd.- Device for the auxiliary operation of locking elements between shipping containers, according to claim 1, wherein the rod (9) is then closed in a cylindrical body (8) joined to said rod and threaded. It threads into the main body of the device as a means of stabilizing the rod (9) in the position deemed appropriate.
rd.- Device for the auxiliary operation of locking elements between shipping containers, according to claim 1, wherein the device's body (4) may include at least one magnet or be magnetic itself.