GB2356891A

GB2356891A - A movable container lock assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2356891A
Application number: GB0003569A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Todd J De Koning
Original assignee: Holland Co
Current assignee: Holland Co
Priority date: 1999-12-03
Filing date: 2000-02-17
Publication date: 2001-06-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-17
Also published as: CA2361557A1; WO2001042043A1; AU4514901A; EP1163127A1; CA2361557C; AU748454B2; GB2356891B; GB0003569D0; EP1163127A4

Abstract

A container lock assembly 10 for securing a container to a vehicle deck 12 comprises a lock housing 14 containing a latch mechanism 16 for engaging the container, said housing having wings 20 and 22 projecting therefrom, locating stops 24 and 32 mountable to the vehicle deck and having projecting tabs 28 and 36 extending therefrom, said wings being slidable under the projecting tabs of the locating stops for locating the lock assembly on the vehicle deck. A sliding anchor 52 may be secured to the housing by means of a tether 50 to allow the lock housing to be moved along the deck to different container securement positions. A pivoting gravity lock 60 may be provided to prevent the housing being moved from an in-use position without said gravity lock being moved first.

Description

2356891 TITLE: LOCK ASSEMBLY FOR SECURING SHIP TAINERS

Field of the Invention

A container lock assembly has a lock housing locatable on a deck or frame of a vehicle so V.:

that the lock can be adapted to different load conditions, including a different mix of containers of different length and the like while having unused locks not interfere with the flush mounting of long containers.

Desc&tion of the Related Art Numerous arrangements for container locks are known including the applicants' United States Patent No 5,570,981. The disclosure in U.S. Patent 5,570.981 is incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein. Locks are typically mounted by various means including recently by welding using flanges that permit adaption of a lock to pedestals of specific size.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided a container lock assembly for securing a shipping container to a vehicle deck, the assembly comprising:

a lock housing containing a latch mechanism for engaging the container; Z;I said housing having wings, lips, or ears projecting therefrom; I 2 locating stops being mountable to the deck; projecting tabs extending from said locating stops; said wings, lips, or ears sliding under and engaging said projecting tabs of the zn locating stops; wherein the locating stops position the lock housing appropriately for longitudinal and I lateral positioning for container service and providing container securement by transferring lateral and longitudinal forces between the container and the vehicle deck.

A preferred container lock assembly has a lock housing carrying a latch mechanism that extends outwardly from the housing to engage a shipping container corner casting. The housink has a combination of projecting wings and lip projecting therefrom in a generally T " shaped plan form.

Preferably, the assembly includes a sliding anchor that allows the lock housing to be moved along the deck to different container securement positions on the deck.

A tether may interconnect the anchor and the lock housing to keep the lock secure with respect to the vehicle. The tether is preferably formed in a length that allows the lock housing enough movement to disengage the stop block projecting tabs but not so much movement that the lock housing can hang over the side of the vehicle.

Preferably, a pivoting gravity lock prevents the lock housing from being moved from its located position without human intervention. The gravity lock may have a pivoting pendulous member having a first tab projecting upwardly in a position of rest and a second projecting tab projecting sidewardly in a position or rest such that said member is pivotable against gravity to move said first tab to a sidewards position and said second tab to an upwards position. The pendulous member is conveniently pivotally mounted on a plate, the plate being opaque and selectively concealing and revealing above the deck one of said 3 first tab and second tab, so that said first tab being revealed above the deck indicates a lock operable state and said second tab being revealed above the deck indicates a lock movable state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the movable container lock assembly for shipping containers, Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the movable container lock assembly for shipping containers, Figure 3 is a top plan view of the movable container lock assembly for shipping containers, Al Figure 4 is a rear front elevational view of the movable container lock assembly for shipping containers, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the movable container lock assembly for shipping containers in its disengaged state, Figure 6 is a top plan view of the movable container lock assembly for shipping containers in its disengaged state, and Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a gravity lock for the container lock assembly.

4 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

The container lock assembly 10 is used for securing standard shipping containers (not shown) by latching their corner castings. The lock assembly 10 has a housing 14 which is movably and stowably mounted to a vehicle deck or frame 12. This may be, for example, a standard flat car, a European style railroad wagon or the like. A latch mechanism 16 extends outwardly from the housing 14 to engage the shipping container corner casting.

The housing 14 has a base 18 which has a combination of projecting wings 20 and lip 22 C C> projecting therefrom in a generally " T " shaped plan form.

Longitudinal locating stops 24, 26 are welded to the deck on the lefthand side and right hand side of each of a number of container securement positions on the deck of the vehicle. Projecting tabs 28, 30 extend from the longitudinal locating stops 24, 26. The wings 20 of the housing 14 slide under and engage beneath the projecting tabs 28, 30 of the longitudinal locating stops 24, 26, respectively.

A, Lateral stops in the form of blocks 32, 34 are welded to the deck inboard of the edge of the frame 12. The stops 32, 34 have projecting tabs 36, 38, respectively that receive the lip 22.

The stops and blocks 24, 26 and 32, 34 act together to position the lock housing appropriately for longitudinal and lateral positioning for container service and providing container securement by transferring lateral and longitudinal forces between the container and car or wagon. It will be noted that the wings 20 are strengthened by gussets 40 which helps transfer these loads.

A sliding anchor arrangement allows the lock housing to be moved along the deck to different container securement positions. This anchor arrangement comprises a tether 50 and an anchor 52. The tether 50 interconnects the anchor 52 and an attachment 54 on lock housing to keep the lock housing secure with respect to the car, wagon or other vehicle.

The anchor 52 slides along a rod extending along the deck inboard of the edge thereof.

The tether 50 is formed by a length of chain that allows the lock housing enough movement to disengage the wings 20 and lip 22 from the projecting tabs 28, 30, 36, 38 but Z71 C not so much movement that the lock housing can hang over the side of the vehicle frame or deck 12.

One embodiment of anchor arrangement is shown, using a chain as the tether 50 and a pipe for the anchor 52. Other arrangements using links or cables could be used commensurate with the needs of the particular vehicle.

A pivoting gravity lock 60 prevents the lock housing 14 from being moved from its located position without human intervention. The lock 60 uses a pivoting pendulous member 62 that pivots around rod 64. Member 62 has a first tab 66 projecting upwardly (above the deck level) in a position of rest and a second projecting tab 68 projecting sidewardly in a position of rest, such that said member 62 is pivotable against gravity to move said first tab 66 to a sidewards position and said second tab 68 to an upwards position. This is shown in Figure 7. The member 62 is pivotally mounted on a plate 70, attached to the side of the A deck so that the member 62 is between the plate 70 and the deck side. The plate 70 is not only structural, but being opaque also selectively conceals and reveals first tab 66 and second tab 68, so that when the first tab 66 is visible above the deck a lock operable state is indicated and when the second tab 68 is visible above the deck, it a lock movable state is indicated. The lock movable state is one where the lock housing is not secure and therefore the container will not be secured on the car or wagon.

In the described arrangement, the pair of longitudinal stops 24, 26 and the pair of blocks 32, 34 are welded to the vehicle deck at each of a number of container securement positions on the deck.

Typically, two lock housings will be captive on each side of the deck, by virtue of the sliding anchor arrangements. When it is desired to secure a container to the deck, the lock housings are slid between the stops 24, 26 at a chosen pair of container securement position, dependent on the length of the container. At each container securement position, the member 62 is swung aside to allow the lock housing to be slid between the stops 24, 26, after which the member 62 is released, allowing the member 62 to swing under gravity 6 to its blocking position in which the tab 66 prevents the lock housing being disengaged from the stops 24, 26 and the blocks 32, 34. In this locked position of the lock housing, the wings 20 are trapped beneath the tabs 28, 30 and the lip 22 is trapped beneath the tabs 36, 38. The housing 14 is thus located on the deck and the latch mechanism 16 engages the corresponding corner casting of the container to retain the latter on the deck. When it is desired to reposition the lock housing to suit a container of a different size, the member 62 is moved to its unblocking position, enabling the housing 14 to be slid out from the stops 24, 26 and blocks 32, 34. The housing is captive on the deck so cannot be lost and is ready for subsequent securement of a container on the deck. Thus, containers of different sizes can be secured on the deck.

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Claims

1. A container lock assembly for securing a shipping container to a vehicle deck, the assembly comprising:

a lock housing containing a latch mechanism for engaging the container; said housing having wings, lips, or ears projecting therefrom; locating stops being mountable to the deck; projecting tabs extending from said locating stops; A, said wings, lips, or cars sliding under and engaging said projecting tabs of the locating stops; wherein the locating stops position the lock housing appropriately for longitudinal and lateral positioning for container service and providing container securement by transferring lateral and longitudinal forces between the container and the vehicle deck.

2. An assembly according to claim 1 and further comprising:

a slidin- anchor that allows the lock. housing to be ino,ed along the deck to Z:1 different container securement positions on the deck.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 and further comprising:

a tether interconnecting the anchor and the lock housing to keep the lock housing Z Z:1 secure with respect to the vehicle deck.

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4. An assembly according to claim 3, and further having a pivoting gravity lock that prevents the lock housing from being moved from its located position on the deck without human intervention, the gravity lock having a pivoting pendulous member having a first tab projecting upwardly in a position of rest and a second projecting tab projecting sidewardly in a position of rest, such that said member is pivotable against gravity to move said first tab to a sidewards position and said second tab to an upwards position, wherein:

said pendulous member is pivotally mounted on a plate, said plate is opaque and selectively conceals and reveals above the deck one of said first tab and second tab, so that said first tab being revealed above the deck indicates a lock operable state and said second tab being revealed above the deck indicates a lock movable state.