FI123300B - Coupling means - Google Patents

Abstract

Coupling means (1) for rods (2) to be used for lashing and supporting containers, more particularly containers (9,13,21,22) to be transported on ships, such as cargo ships, which coupling means (1) comprises at least two locking heads (A,B), which locking heads comprise end parts (4,5), and which end parts comprise at least one support surface (6,7) for achieving a lashing function and supporting function, and which end parts can be fitted inside the holes (10, 12) that are on the corners (9 ',13 ' ) or in the corner pieces of containers, for lashing and supporting the containers, and in which coupling means at least two locking heads (A,B) are fitted with a hinge (8) to a rod (2) such that they can be turned around the hinge (8) to the extent of the desired angle, for selecting the locking head (A or B) to be used, and in that the essentially orthogonal distance (? ', ? ' ) of the support surfaces (6,7) from the center line of the rod is different when either the locking head (A) or (B) is used.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a coupling member, particularly used in connection with rods used to lock and support containers carried on cargo ships, and which coupling member is attached to the end of said rods.

Various solutions are known in the art from the coupling members (locking heads) of the bars used to lock and support the containers. For example, EP1424277 discloses a solution for a coupling member, which coupling member is a locking head that can be fitted to openings of various sizes, which openings are located in corner corners 15 of the container. In the solution according to the publication, a slot at the end of the rod is provided with a single locking head which can move within said slot.

Further, DE3525322 discloses a solution in which two fixed locking heads adapted to holes of different sizes are fitted to the bar 20.

DE3501109 discloses a locking bar having a locking head at both ends.

25 There are weaknesses in prior art solutions. One disadvantage of prior art solutions is that when the rods are crossed to secure the containers, the joints at the locking head have a longitudinal adjustment in the elongated hole point so that one of the rods is further away from the container, and said hole also weakens the locking head and, on the other hand, places restrictions on the alignment of the bars

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Brief Description of the Invention 1 35 00 The coupling member according to the invention is characterized by what is mentioned in the characterizing part of independent claim 1.

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Further, the coupling member according to the invention is also characterized by what is stated in the appended claims 2-6.

The present solution according to the invention has some significant advantages over known solutions. The coupling member according to the present invention has the advantage that by using it, the distance of the bar from the container can be adjusted by using a different locking head (at different corners), thereby preventing the bars from colliding with each other, which is highly undesirable.

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Compared with the known solution in the solution of the invention, the distance of the upper end of the bar from the container angle to which the support bar is attached remains optimum regardless of user and loading situation, unlike the known longhole model where the support bar shaft pin 15 slides freely at random.

The solution according to the invention is also very durable and robust in structure, as well as simple and very easy to use.

20 Brief Description of the Figures

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings 1a-3, in which; Figures 1a-1c show prior art solutions for coupling members.

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Figure 2a-2c illustrates a coupling member according to the invention in different ways

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Fig. 3 illustrates a solution according to the invention the use of sun to secure and support containers.

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m m m ^ 35 Detailed Description of the Invention

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Fig. 1a is a perspective view of a prior art solution in which an elongate 3 hole of the pivot point at the locking head is provided with a longitudinal adjustment to allow one of the rods to be farther away from the container in the locking situation, as shown.

Fig. Ib, respectively, shows the solution shown in Fig. 1a, seen from the side 5, and shows a hole (slot) in the locking head into which the rod is arranged so that it can move in the hole.

Similarly, in Fig. 1e a known solution is shown in which the locking head is curved in shape and has a slot-like hole in which the rod 10 is movably fitted.

Fig. 2a is a side elevational view of the solution according to the invention, showing at least two locking ends A, B in the coupling member 1, with locking ends having end portions 4,5 and further end portions having support surfaces 6,7 for providing locking and support function.

The end portions are adjustable within the holes 10,12 in the corners of the containers (see Fig. 3) for locking and supporting the containers, whereby the bearing surfaces 6,7 are in contact with the inner surfaces of the holes (not shown). According to what is shown in Figure 2a, two locking heads A, B is arranged to pivot 8 to the rotatable shaft 2 (or the end portion of the rod), so that the locking heads are pivotable in accordance with the direction indicated by arrow a desired angle of the rod from, the selection of the lock-25 head used in the A or B. Figure 2a illustrates a situation in which the locking head A is used for the locking and supporting function.

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δ In the locking situation using locking head A, locking head A

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the horizontal distance A 'of the surface 6 from the joint 8 (or the center line of the bar drawn through the joint, indicated by dotted lines) is then greater than the horizontal distance B' of the support surface 7 of the second locking head B from the same joint 8 B 'is shown in Figure 2b.

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Similarly, if the locking-support 35 B is used for the locking and supporting function, as shown in Fig. 2c (or 2b), then the horizontal distance of the supporting surface 7 from the joint 8 (or i.e. the center line drawn through the joint 8) is B '.

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Fig. 2a shows a support surface indicated by reference numeral 18, which rests on the container surface as shown in Fig. 3, and correspondingly, when a locking head B is used for locking and supporting, the corresponding support surface resting on the container surface is designated reference numeral 5 17.

The end portions 4,5 may have curved end surfaces 14,15, but the end surfaces may also be flat. Between the end portions A, B, there may be rounding 20. In Fig. 2a, the reference numerals 16 and 19 indicate the surfaces at the angles 18 and 17 of the bearing surface 10.

3 illustrates a locking situation in which the lower containers 21,22 (with corner pieces 21 'and 22' on which the upper containers 1 and 13 rest) are locked / supported by 15 rods 2 at the ends of which the solution according to the invention is coupled. means 3. As shown in the figure, the engaging member 3 rests on the corner 9 'of the container 9 from the surface 18, and the locking member 5 of the engaging member is contained within the hole 10. Similarly, the container 13 has a locking head 4 fitted in the si-20 of the hole 12, so that the support surface 17 (not shown in Figure 3) shown in Figure 2a is in contact with the corner 13 'of the container 13. As shown in the figure, the rods are at different distances from the corners of the containers (vertical corners of the container) since the locking end A (see Fig. 2a) is used in the container 1, and the locking head B (see Fig.

2c) and therefore the rods do not collide with each other since the locking rod 2 of the container 13 is, as shown, closer to the container surface / container container, δ

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It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the various embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examples above, and may therefore vary within the scope of the following claims.

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In the coupling member according to the invention, the locking heads (A, B) may be the same, but it is conceivable that the locking heads 00 (A, B) are different pieces, i.e. they can rotate independently of one another.

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There may also be three or more locking heads in each coupling member.

The features, possibly in combination with other features in the specification, may also be used separately if necessary.

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Claims (6)

A coupling member (1) for locking and supporting containers, particularly containers carried on ships such as cargo vessels (9,13,21,22), wherein the coupling member (1) has at least two locking ends (A, B). ) with locking ends having end portions (4,5), and having end portions having at least one support surface (6,7) for providing a locking and support function, and which end portions are adaptable to holes in the corners (9 ', 13') of the containers or (10,12) for locking and supporting containers, characterized in that at least two locking heads (A, B) are mounted by a joint (8) on the rod (2) so that they can be pivoted about the joint (8) at a desired angle. - to select the locking head (A or B) and that the substantially perpendicular distance (A ', B') of the support surfaces (6,7) from the center line of the bar is different when either locking head A or B is used for locking. Coupling element according to Claim 1, characterized in that the locking ends (A, B) are the same. The coupling member according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking ends (A, B) are different pieces. Coupling member according to Claim 1, characterized in that the coupling member (1) has second support surfaces (17,18) outside the holes (10,12) which define the distance of the joint (8) 30 from the container corner (9 '). , 13 '). C \ j X The coupling member according to claim 1, characterized in that the support surfaces (6,7) are at an angle to each other. LO LO 5 35 Coupling member according to Claim 1, characterized in that the support surfaces (6,7) are parallel.