GB2293164A

GB2293164A - Locking Device

Info

Publication number: GB2293164A
Application number: GB9418771A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Edward Moon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-16
Filing date: 1994-09-16
Publication date: 1996-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-16
Also published as: GB2293164B; GB9418771D0

Abstract

A locking device for a demountable container (2, Fig 1) has a part (72) to block a gap (5) between a bale bar (4) of the container and the container's breast plate (9) by covering or filling the gap. The blocking part (72) is locked in to the blocking position by a lock preferably a padlock (82). The locking device is essentially in two forms either it can be completely removable from the container (Figures 2 to 4 and 5) or it may be permanently fixed to the container (Figures 6 to 8) with a part being hinged e.g. upwardly when unlocked to allow access to the bail bar. <IMAGE>

Description

DEMOUNTABLE CONTAINERS The present invention relates to demountable containers and locking devices therefor.

Demountable containers some of which are skips are known in a particular form shown in Fig. 1 at 2 which conform to a standard subframe assembly form known as C.H.E.M. T.S.8.

These containers which may have various body designs are all designed to be lifted and mounted on hook lift vehicles. These vehicles have a hydraulic lift with a hook which engages on a bale bar 4. The bale bar 4 which is a shallow inverted 'V' shaped member is welded to a pair of plates 6, 6' angled at 12h to the vertical. Between the plates 6, 6' is a vertical upper buffer plate 8. The bale bar is spaced from this buffer plate a standard 133mm to provide a gap 5 for the hook of the hook lift.The buffer plate is welded to the angled plates 6, 6' and to a breast plate 9, whilst the angled plates are also welded to a pair of upright frame members 10, 10' which are commonly steel channel members angled at the same 120. The upright frame members 10, 10' are also welded to the breast plate and at their lower end to a pair of longitudinal horizontal frame members 12, 12' which support the base cross members 13 of the container. A pair of horizontal upper frame members 16, 16' are welded between brackets 18, 18' and the upper ends of the upright frame members 10, 10'. The upper frame members 16, 16' are also welded to the breast plate 9. A lower buffer plate 14 is also welded to the breast plate between the upright frame members 10, 10'.

The container body 20 to the rear of the breast plate 9 forming the front of the body varies in construction depending on the particular use of the container.

A problem has arisen as containers become more specialised and expensive in that they are prone to be stolen from the site where they have been deposited by the hook lift vehicles.

According to the invention there is provided a demountable container having a bale bar arranged for receiving a hook of a hook lift vehicle, the bale bar being mounted to the body of the container with a gap between the bale bar and container body to provide access for the hook, characterised by a removable and lockable blocking member so arranged and constructed to substantially cover the gap.

By locking the blocking member in or over the gap use of the bale bar by a hook lift is denied making unauthorised removal of the container by a hook lift vehicle very difficult.

The blocking member may be provided as a cover removably securable to an existing known container or mounted to a container so as to be movable from a blocking to an unblocking location. The locking arrangement may be by means of a padlock or a fitted lock. Where the cover is mounted to a container means may be provided to retain the cover in the unblocking location.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a known container having a standard subassembly, Figure 2 is a front elevation of a bale bar cover according to a first embodiment of the invention which is removable from the container, Figure 3 is a sectional side view of the cover of Fig. 2 taken on A-A and closed around the bale bar, Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the cover of Fig. 2 in an open but unremoved position, Figure 5 is a sectional side view of a bale bar cover according to a second embodiment of the invention taken on a similar line as Fig. 3, Figure 6 is a front elevation of a bale bar cover according to a third embodiment of the invention which is hingedly mounted to the container, Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the cover of Fig. 6 taken on B-B and closed around the bale bar, and Figure 8 is the sectional side view of Figure 7 with the cover open and pinned back.

The bale bar cover shown in Figures 2 to 4 comprises a rear part 30 hinged at 31 to a front part 32. The rear part 30 when the cover is fitted substantially fills the gap 5 between the bale bar 4 and upper buffer plate 8 welded to the front of the breast plate 9 of the container 2.

The front part 32 hinges over and covers the front of the bale bar as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and is secured in place by a padlock 34 the hasp 35 of which passes through a hole 36 in an extending plate 37 welded to the top of rear part 30. A hood 38 open at the front welded to the top of the front part 32 forms a pocket 39 to cover the padlock and to prevent a bolt cutter from accessing the hasp 35 of the padlock when inserted in hole 36.

To remove the bale bar cover of Figures 2 to 4, the padlock is unlocked and removed allowing the front part to swing in direction C (Fig. 4) and the rear part to drop in direction D out of gap 5. The cover can then be removed and the container lifted as usual by a hook lift engaging with bale bar 4. When fitted the cover sits on top of the bale bar and extends between upright plates 6 and 6' between frame members 10 and 10'.

In another embodiment not shown the rear part 30 is simplified by extending the extending plate 37 to the lower web 40 of the rear part and eliminating the rear web 42 of the rear part.

In a further embodiment shown in Fig. 5 the cover comprises a rear part 50 having a rear web 52 which is hinged at 51 to a front part 53. Front part 53 has an upper web and lower web 55 and 56 approximately at right angles to each other. A plate 57 extending from rear web 53 through a slot 58 in upper web 55 enables the cover to be locked as before with a padlock 54 in pocket 59. Ribs 61 and 62 extend rearwardly to engage with bale bar 4 to assist in holding the cover in place. Ribs 63 and 64 locate against the rear of the bale bar to prevent the cover from being forced forward.

The cover of Fig. 5 is operated as the previous embodiment of Figs. 2 to 4.

In a yet further embodiment shown in Fig. 6 the cover comprising a front part 72 is hinged at 71 to plate 73 welded to the upper surfaces ofa single horizontal frame member 16". The front part 72 extends over the front of the bale bar 4 to a lower edge 75 designed to prevent a hook of a hook lift engaging with the bale bar.

Horizontally movable pin 76 engages in holes 77 and 77' in upright frame members 10 and 10' to hold the cover in place over the bale bar. Pin 76 is locked in engagement with the holes 77 and 77' by a padlock 82. Permanently fitted locks alternatively may be provided on the frame members 10 and/or 10' to lock the front part 72 instead of the pin 76, pins of the locks protruding through holes 77 and 77'.

When not in use front part 72 is hinged upwardly in direction E as shown in Fig. 8 and secured by a pin 83 through lug 84 welded to and extending from plate 73, the lug 84 protruding through an elongate hole 85 in front part 72. In this position the gap 5 between bale bar 4 and upper buffer plate 8 is uncovered for access by a hook of a hook lift vehicle.

The padlock 82 is enclosed in a pocket 86 formed between webs 87, 88 and 89 of the channel section of frame 10'.

Claims

1. A demountable container having a bale bar arranged for receiving a hook of a hook lift vehicle, the bale bar having mounted to the body of the container with a gap between the bale bar and container body to provide access for the hook, characterised by a removable and lockable blocking means so arranged and constructed to substantially block the gap.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blocking means is detachable from the container.

3. a container as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the blocking means comprises a front part and a rear part linked together so that, when in the blocking position, the bale bar is between the front and rear part.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the front part substantially covers or fills the gap to block the gap.

5. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rear part substantially covers or fills the gap to block the gap.

6. A container as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the front and rear parts are lockable together by means of a removable lock, particularly a padlock, and wherein a pocket is provided on the front or rear part to at least partly cover the lock when fitted.

7. A container as claimed in claim 3 wherein a lower part of the front part as fitted has a downwardly facing surface which slopes inwardly from the front to the rear.

8. A blocking means for a demountable container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A container as claimed in claim 1 wherein the blocking means is fixed to the container so as to be movable from a first and blocking position to a second position where the hook can engage the bale bar.

10. A container as claimed in claim 9 wherein means are provided to retain the blocking means in the second position.

11. A container as claimed in claim 9 or 10 wherein means are provided to lock the blocking means are provided to lock the blocking means in the first position.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11 wherein the locking means comprises a bar movably fitted to the container body.

13. A container as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bar is arranged to receive a removable lock, particularly a padlock and wherein a pocket is provided on the container body to at least partly cover the lock when fitted.

14. A container as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the blocking means has a lower downwardly facing surface which slopes inwardly from the front to the rear.

15. A demountable container substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A blocking means for a demountable container substantially as described with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.