JP2010052757A - Container connector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simply structured container connector which automatically connects a container to be loaded with an underneath container, does not disrupt a conventional tightening or securing method using a rod, etc. and automatically disengages the containers in a connected condition with no heavy work or dangerous high-place work. <P>SOLUTION: A top corner metal clamp 30 is provided at the top corner of a container 3 underneath a container 3 to be loaded and a bottom corner metal clamp 40 is provided at the bottom corner of the upper container 3 of stacked container 3. This container connector 10 engages with the clamp 40 to be held and connects the clamp 30 and the clamp 40. The container connector 10 connects the containers stacked mutually by connecting the clamp 30 and the clamp 40 when the bottom part of the upper container 3 is stacked on the top of the container 3 underneath. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container connector that is arranged between containers stacked and arranged in a container ship or the like and connects containers to each other.

  At the loading port, for example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the container connector 101 is attached to the container 100, and the container 100 is stacked on the container ship 110 using the crane 102. Thus, when a large number of containers 100 are transported by the container ship 110, the containers 100 stacked in multiple upper and lower stages are connected by the container connector 101, and the hull 130 and the lowermost container 100 are fastened by the rod 131. Then, tightening is performed, and the cargo is loaded so as not to collapse when the hull 130 shakes.

  As described above, in the container ship 110, the container 100 is normally fastened and tightened by the combination of the semi-automatic twist-lock container coupling tool 101 and the rod 131, and the container coupling tool 101 is engaged. Is automatic, and opening manually.

Further, as shown in Patent Document 1, an adjustment rope is used as a device for fastening and tightening a container, the adjustment rope is tied to a lashing rod hole, and the tip of the lashing rod is locked to the metal fitting hole of the container metal fitting. Under the state where the connecting arm of the turnbuckle is connected to the storage device, the hooking arm of the turnbuckle is locked to the adjusting rope, and the turnbuckle configured to be stretchable is contracted to tension the lashing rod. is there.
JP 2006-142881 A

  By the way, in the apparatus for fastening and tightening containers shown in Patent Document 1, the lowermost container and the upper container from the lowermost containers are fastened and fastened, but the structure is complicated.

  9 and 10 use a semi-automatic twist lock type container connector 101 which is automatically engaged but is released manually for fastening and tightening of the container. Therefore, the work is heavy labor.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the container connector 101 has a force (top ring) that causes the container ship 110 to fall with one end of the bottom surface of the container 100 as a fulcrum by a lateral force caused by rolling or wind of the container ship 110. The lower corner bracket 120 provided at the lower four corners of the upper container 100 and the upper corner bracket 121 provided at the upper four corners of the lower container 100 in order to prevent the other end of the bottom surface of the container 100 from floating and falling. The upper and lower containers 100 are used to position the upper and lower containers 100 in the vertical direction and fasten and tighten them.

  In addition, the rod 131 is usually installed on a diagonal line, and suppresses container levitation with respect to the top ring, and at the same time, static (compression, buckling) or dynamic lateral force (on the container end frame or side frame) Used to support the deformation of the frame that occurs when racking is added.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the container to be loaded and unloaded can be automatically attached to and detached from the lower container, and the connected state without causing any hindrance to fastening and tightening with a conventional rod or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container connector having a simple structure that can be automatically attached and detached without high-risk work and heavy labor.

  In order to solve the problems and achieve the object, the present invention is configured as follows.

The invention according to claim 1 is an upper corner fitting provided at the upper corner of the lower container of the stacked containers, or
Provided in the lower corner bracket provided in the lower corner of the upper container of the stacked container,
A container connector for connecting the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket;
The container connecting tool is characterized in that the upper corner metal fitting and the lower corner metal fitting are connected by stacking the lower corner metal fittings by stacking the lower part of the upper container on the upper part of the lower container.

The invention according to claim 2 is a connecting cone that rotates to an open position and an engaging position in order to connect the upper corner fitting and the lower corner fitting,
A connecting body that rotatably supports the cone and has a support portion that is pressed by the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket,
A cone rotation means provided between the cone and the coupling body, having a spiral groove and a guide pin that engages with the spiral groove, and rotating and vertically moving the cone. And a cone lock means that is in a position where the connection body and the cone are not engaged in the vertical direction, and in a state inclined with respect to the vertical direction, the connection body and the cone are engaged. The container connector according to claim 1.

  With the above configuration, the present invention has the following effects.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the upper corner metal fitting and the lower corner metal fitting are connected by the container connecting device by stacking the lower portion of the upper container on the upper portion of the lower container. Containers that are in a connected state without hindering tightening and tightening can be automatically attached and detached without dangerous work and heavy labor at high places, and have a simple structure.

  In the invention according to claim 2, when the containers are stacked, the cone of the container connecting tool is inserted into the lower corner metal fitting and the upper corner metal fitting so that it is rotated and lowered from the open position to be connected to the engagement position. Thus, the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket can be connected. In addition, the connecting body and the cone are not engaged in the vertical direction at the engaging position of the cone, and the connecting body and the cone are engaged when tilted with respect to the vertical direction. With the lateral force, it is possible to prevent the other end from floating and falling over with one end of the bottom surface of the container as a fulcrum.

  Also, when the stacked containers are lowered, the cone is in the vertical direction, so the connection body and the cone are in a position where they do not engage, so the cone rotates and rises to the open position and automatically connects the upper and lower corner brackets. The container can be lifted and lifted down, and the container can be automatically attached and detached without dangerous work and heavy labor at high places, and has a simple structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the container connector of the present invention will be described. The embodiment of the present invention shows the most preferable mode of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to this.

[Construction of container connector]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a loading operation of a container 3 at a loading port using the container connector 10 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the fastening and tightening of the container 3 using the container connector 10 according to the present invention. is there.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the loading port, the lowest container 3 is arranged side by side on a container ship 2 using a crane 1. Similarly, the second stage, the third stage, and the container 3 are sequentially stacked, and the lower part of the upper container 3 is stacked on the upper part of the lower container 3, for example, 7 to 8 levels.

  In this way, the containers 3 are stacked. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper corner bracket 30 and the lower corner bracket 40 are connected by the container connector 10 by stacking the lower portion of the upper container 3 on the upper portion of the lower container 3. Then, the stacked containers 3 are connected to each other.

  The container 3 in the second tier from the bottom has a pair of rods 60 arranged diagonally and connected to the hull 2a of the container ship 2 so as to be static (compression, buckling) on the container end frame or side frame. Alternatively, it supports the deformation of the frame that occurs when a dynamic lateral force is applied.

  Further, the upper container 3 to be loaded by the container connector 10 is automatically connected to the lower container 3, and the adjacent upper container 3 is further loaded, and the upper container 3 is automatically connected to the lower container 3 by the container connector 10. Link. In addition, even when the container connector 10 is placed, it does not hinder conventional tightening and tightening with a rod or the like, and the container 3 in the connected state can also be automatically attached and detached without dangerous work and heavy labor in high places, Moreover, it has a simple structure.

  Next, the configuration of the container connector 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state of the container connector 10, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a connected state along line IV-IV in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a view showing a positional relationship of the cone 21 at the engagement position. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the opened state of the container connector 10, FIG. 7 is a view showing the positional relationship of the cone 21 in the open position, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the fitted state of the cone lock means 25.

  The container connection equipment of this embodiment includes an upper corner metal fitting 30, a lower corner metal fitting 40, and a container connection tool 10. The upper corner metal fitting 30 is formed in a rectangular box shape with metal, and the upper corner metal fitting 30 is provided so as to be fitted into the container frame 3 a at four locations in the upper corner of the container 3. An opening 30a is formed in the upper wall of the upper corner fitting 30 in a rectangular shape when viewed from above. The lower corner fittings 40 are formed in a rectangular box shape with metal, and the lower corner fittings 40 are provided so as to be fitted into the container frame 3 a at four locations in the lower corner of the container 3. An opening 40a is formed in the lower wall of the lower corner fitting 40 in a rectangular shape when viewed from below.

  The container connector 10 includes a cone 21, a connection main body 22, a cone rotation means 24, and a cone lock means 25.

  The cone 21 includes a lower cone 21a, an upper cone 21b, and a connecting shaft 21c. The lower cone 21a is connected to the lower portion of the connecting shaft 21c, and the upper cone 21b is connected to the upper portion. The connecting shaft 21c has a central portion 21c1 having a larger diameter, a lower portion 21c2 having a smaller diameter than the central portion 21c1, and an upper portion 21c3 having a smaller diameter than the central portion 21c1.

  The lower cone 21a and the upper cone 21b are formed in a trapezoidal quadrangular pyramid having a rectangular bottom surface, and the lower cone 21a and the upper cone 21b connected by the connecting shaft 21c are for connecting the upper corner metal fitting 30 and the lower corner metal fitting 40. The shaft is pivoted to the open position and the engagement position, and in the open position, the upper cone 21b and the lower corner fitting 40 are engaged, and the lower cone 21a and the upper corner fitting 30 are opened. At the engagement position, the upper cone 21b and the lower corner fitting 40, and the lower cone 21a and the upper corner fitting 30 are both engaged, and the upper corner fitting 30 and the lower corner fitting 40 are connected at the engagement position.

  The connection main body 22 is integrally clamped and fixed by four fastening bolts 22d at two left and right symmetrical members, and is positioned below the support portion 22a and the support portion 22a pressed by the upper corner metal fitting 30 and the lower corner metal fitting 40. It consists of a lower engaging portion 22b and an upper engaging portion 22c located above the support portion 22a.

  The container connector 10 is attached with the lower corner fitting 40 with the upper cone 21b engaged with the opening 40a of the lower corner fitting 40. In this attached state, the lower cone 21a and the opening 30a of the upper corner fitting 30 are set to have an open positional relationship. A mounting hole 22e is formed in the connection main body 22 with the same diameter and penetrating in the axial direction. The connection hole 21e rotatably supports the connection shaft 21c of the cone 21, and the connection shaft 21c is movable in the axial direction. It has become.

  The connecting shaft 21c is formed so that the diameter of the central portion 21c1 is smaller than the diameter of the mounting hole 22e, and the connecting shaft 21c can be slightly inclined with respect to the mounting hole 22e. ing.

  When the cone 21 connects the upper corner bracket 30 and the lower corner bracket 40, the lower cone 21a is engaged with the opening 30a of the upper corner bracket 30 with the upper cone 21b engaged with the opening 40a of the lower corner bracket 40. Then, the support portion 22 a is pressed between the upper portion of the upper corner fitting 30 and the lower portion of the lower corner fitting 40.

  The cone rotation means 24 includes a spiral groove 24 a and a guide pin 24 b that engages with the spiral groove 24 a, and is provided between the connection shaft 21 c of the cone 21 and the connection body 22. The helical structure 24a of this embodiment is formed on the shaft surface of the connecting shaft 21c, and the guide pin 24b is formed on the connecting body upper engaging portion 22c.

  When the cone 21 is in the open position, the guide pin 24b is located at the lower end of the spiral groove 24a. The container connector 10 is attached to the lower corner bracket 40, descends together with the lower corner bracket 40, the lower cone 21a is inserted into the opening 30a of the upper corner bracket 30, and the coupling body lower engaging portion 22b is inserted. It reaches the upper surface of the upper corner fitting 30. The cone 21 that has come out of contact with the lower corner bracket 40 is guided by the spiral groove 24a by the guide pin 24b, and the guide pin 24b reaches the upper end of the spiral groove 24a while the cone 21 descends and rotates by its own weight. Become position. The spiral groove 24a may be formed on the inner surface of the mounting hole 22e of the connection body 22, and the guide pin 24d may be formed on the shaft surface of the connection shaft 21c. Further, the gradient of the spiral groove 24a is set to an angle larger than the static friction angle of the material so that a sufficient rotational force is generated.

  The cone lock means 25 includes a lower step portion 25a having a shaft diameter formed on the connecting shaft 21c of the cone 21 and an inner edge 25b of the lower end surface of the connecting main body lower engaging portion 22b. When the container connector 10 is in the engaged state, as shown in FIG. 3, when both the connecting body 22 and the cone 21 are in the vertical state, the lower step portion 25a having the shaft diameter of the connecting shaft 21c and the lower portion of the connecting body. The inner edge 25b of the lower end surface of the joining portion 22b does not overlap and does not fit in the vertical direction.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting body 22 is in a vertical state, but when the cone 21 is inclined with respect to the vertical, the lower stepped portion 25a of the shaft diameter of the connecting shaft 21c and the connecting body lower engagement. The inner edge 25b of the lower end surface of the portion 22b overlaps and fits in the vertical direction.

[Use of container connector]
Next, the operation of the container connector 10 of this embodiment will be described.

  When loading, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the container 3 is moved to the container ship 2 using the crane 1, and the lower part of the upper container 3 moved to the upper part of the lower container 3 is stacked up to a plurality of levels.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the container connector 10 is attached to the lower corner bracket 40 provided at the four corners of the lower container 3 in the open position.

  When the lower part of the upper container 3 is stacked on the upper part of the lower container 3, the container connector 10 enters the inside through the opening 30a of the upper corner fitting 30 because the lower cone 21a of the cone 21 is in the open position. The spiral groove 24a is guided by the guide pin 24b and the cone 21 descends while rotating under its own weight. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide pin 24b is positioned at the upper end of the spiral groove 24a and the lower cone 21a is in the engaged position. Become.

  In this way, by stacking the lower part of the upper container 3 on the upper part of the lower container 3, the container connecting tool 10 connects the upper corner metal fitting 30 and the lower corner metal fitting 40 to connect the stacked containers 3 to each other.

  Therefore, by stacking the container 3 to be loaded on the upper part of the lower container 3, the cone 21 of the container connector 10 is inserted into the upper corner fitting 30, and the cone 21 rotates while descending with its own weight as the container 3 descends. The containers 3 are automatically connected to each other from the open position to the engaged position.

  In addition, the container 3 that is in a loaded state without hindering tightening and tightening with conventional rods, etc., can be automatically attached and detached without dangerous work and heavy labor at high places, Structure.

  During operation, if lateral force due to rolling or wind of the container ship 2 is applied to the container 3, a force (top ring) that causes the container 3 to fall with one end of the bottom of the container 3 as a fulcrum works. When the other end of the bottom surface is levitated, first, the outer end portion of the upper cone 21b is first lifted by the lower corner metal fitting 30, the vertical axis of the cone 21 is inclined as shown in FIG. 8, and the cone lock means 25 is fitted. It becomes a joint state. That is, when the cone 21 is inclined with respect to the vertical, the lower stepped portion 25a having the shaft diameter of the connecting shaft 21c and the lower end surface inner edge 25b of the connecting main body lower engaging portion 22b are overlapped and fitted in the vertical direction.

  As the levitation proceeds, the container connector 10 is lifted together with the lower corner fitting 30 and finally the lower cone 21 a reaches the inner upper surface of the upper corner fitting 30, and the lower corner fitting 40 and the upper corner fitting 30 are connected by the cone 21. The levitation of the other end of the container 3 is stopped to prevent the container 3 from falling.

  When the container 3 is lowered from the container ship 2, when the container 3 is lifted by using the crane 1, the cone 21 is not fitted because the cone 21 has a vertical axis so that the upper cone 21 b is connected to the lower corner bracket 40. The connecting shaft 21c of the cone 21 moves upward while rotating, and the lower cone 21a is in the open position.

  Accordingly, the lower cone 21a of the cone 21 is automatically detached from the upper corner fitting opening 30a of the upper corner fitting 30 of the lower container 3, and the container 3 is also automatically detached without involving dangerous work and heavy labor at high places. It has a simple structure.

  The present invention can be applied to a container connector that is arranged between containers stacked in a multi-stage array on a container ship or the like, and connects containers to each other. The container which is in a connected state without hindering or tightening with a rod or the like can be automatically detached without dangerous work at high places and heavy labor, and has a simple structure.

It is a figure explaining the loading operation of the container in the loading port using the container coupling tool of this invention. It is a figure which shows container fastening and tightening using the container coupling tool of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the connection state of a container connection tool. It is sectional drawing of the connection state in alignment with the IV-IV line of FIG. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a cone etc. in the connection state of a container connection tool. It is sectional drawing which shows the open state of a container coupling tool. It is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a cone etc. in the open state of a container coupling tool. It is a figure which shows the fitting state of the cone lock | rock means of a container coupling tool. It is a figure explaining the state which loads the conventional container. It is a figure explaining the conventional fastening and tightening of a container. It is a figure explaining the state where the horizontal force by the rolling of a container ship, a wind, etc. is applied.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Crane 2 Container ship 3 Container 10 Container connection tool 21 Cone 22 Connection main body 24 Cone rotation means 25 Cone lock means 30 Upper corner metal fitting 40 Lower corner metal fitting

Claims (2)

Upper corner bracket provided at the upper corner of the lower container of the stacked containers, or
Provided in the lower corner bracket provided in the lower corner of the upper container of the stacked container,
A container connector for connecting the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket;
A container connector that stacks the lower part of the upper container on the upper part of the lower container, thereby connecting the upper corner metal fitting and the lower corner metal fitting, and connecting the stacked containers. In order to connect the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket, a connecting cone that rotates to an open position and an engagement position;
A connecting body that rotatably supports the cone and has a support portion that is pressed by the upper corner bracket and the lower corner bracket,
A cone rotation means provided between the cone and the coupling body, having a spiral groove and a guide pin that engages with the spiral groove, and rotating and vertically moving the cone. And a cone lock means that is in a position where the connection body and the cone are not engaged in the vertical direction, and in a state inclined with respect to the vertical direction, the connection body and the cone are engaged. The container connector according to claim 1.