JP2013521199A - Connecting device for connecting containers, particularly for connecting containers used in cargo ships - Google Patents

Abstract

A connecting device (1) for connecting containers (40, 41), particularly for connecting containers and containers used in cargo ships and land transportation, comprising a main body (48) of the connecting device A fixing member (2) is formed on the upper portion, and the main body is fixed to a corner member (26) attached to a corner of the container (40) by rotating the fixing member about its vertical axis. Thereby, the fixing member is fixed to the corner member (26) of the container, and a flat connecting plate (3) is formed between the upper part and the lower part in the main body part. Has a cam part (6) under the connecting plate, and a rotatable lever-like first fixing part (5) for preventing and / or releasing movement of the main body part is attached to the main body part. And allows movement of the body and Alternatively, the main body has a rotatable lever-like second fixing part (8) for blocking, and the rotatable lever-like second fixing part (8) is directly or indirectly rotatable. When the first fixed component rotates in contact with the lever-shaped first fixed component (5), the second fixed component can also rotate to realize the fixed mode and the fixed release mode. The second fixed component is formed with a protrusion (34) that receives a vertical force between the containers.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a coupling device according to the preamble of claim 1 used for interconnecting containers, in particular used for interconnecting containers in a cargo ship. In addition to sea transport, containers are also used for land transport.

  Conventionally, on a ship, the stacked containers are easily inclined to one side according to the degree of inclination of the ship. This means that at least two corners of a container, i.e. one side or the other side of the container, are under pressure caused by the weight of the container above the container.

  On the other hand, when the container is lifted, it is lifted so that all four corners are raised simultaneously. For this reason, it can be clearly identified when the container coupling device has to be in the fixed mode and when it has to be in the unlocked mode. In the known device, the vertical force, i.e. the lifting force of the container, is converted into a lateral (horizontal) force in the coupling device, this lateral force being the container being lifted, i.e. the upper side. Move the container at the side to the container below it.

  Various devices for interconnecting containers are known from the prior art. Devices are known in which containers are connected to each other by means of a connection device that is operated completely by hand. That is, when using such a connecting device, the connection is completely made manually both in the fixing stage and in the fixing release stage. Semi-automatic and fully automatic coupling devices are also known. The coupling device described here relates to a coupling device that operates fully automatically.

  From the specification of EP 1810938, a connecting device for connecting containers is known, which device allows a cam-like part to receive the weight of the container to be lifted, and a locking mode and a locking mode. One rotatable fixing member. This fixing member is arranged so as to be movable along the opposite side of the cam-like part.

  A fully automatic operating coupling device is described in the specification of WO 2006/137759 A1. The connecting device according to this specification is a device for connecting containers to each other, and the connecting device is a main body connected to a fixing part that operates for fixing and releasing by rotating about a vertical axis. Has a part. The fixing component is provided with a plurality of asymmetric guide surfaces, thereby providing a fixing mode and a fixing release mode.

  From the specification of WO 2005054086, a connecting device is known which is used for connecting containers to each other, in particular for connecting containers to each other in a cargo ship. In this connecting device, a fixing member is formed on the upper portion of the main body of the connecting device, and the main body is attached to a corner member attached to the corner of the container by rotating the main body about its vertical axis. The portion can be fixed, whereby the fixing member is fixed to the corner member of the container. In addition, a flat connecting plate is formed between the upper part and the lower part of the main body part. The main body has a cam part that controls the movement of the main body and substantially receives a vertical force between the containers. A rotating lever-like first fixing part for preventing and / or releasing the movement of the main body is also attached to the main body, and the main body can also move in the lateral direction. And a rotating lever-like second fixed part for receiving and / or preventing and receiving a vertical force between the containers.

  Prior art devices have several drawbacks. Known prior art devices operate asymmetrically. That is, only the connection (fixation) on one side acts on the container below it. Therefore, the operation of such a coupling device is unreliable and may even create a dangerous situation because the coupling device may be unfixed by the force generated by the asymmetrical locking. This is particularly possible if the container has an undesired deviation from a predetermined dimensional tolerance. Even if safe loading has already been done, the load is biased to one side, so fixing can cause permanent changes in the corners of the container, which can be very detrimental .

  The connecting device is a part of a larger whole that also includes other parts (such as fixed bars) and must receive a large load that occurs when the container is connected to the ship or the ship moves, Must be able to firmly connect containers to each other and to ships. If the displacement in the coupling device, that is, the displacement of the coupling device when the coupling device is attached to the corner member of the container becomes too large, parts other than the coupling member such as the fixing bar receive excessively large force. The system may be overloaded.

EP 1 810 938 A WO 2006/137759 A1 WO 2005054086

  An object of the present invention is to provide a novel coupling device for coupling containers to each other. This coupling device eliminates or minimizes the disadvantages of the known devices and makes it possible to achieve a coupling device that functions reliably and well.

  The connecting device according to the invention is characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1. The device according to the invention is further characterized by what is stated in claims 2-10. The coupling device described here according to the invention has significant advantages over known coupling devices.

  According to the invention described here, a new kind of connecting device is provided for connecting containers to each other, thereby eliminating the problems of known connecting devices and being easy to use. Thus, a reliable connection device can be provided in use. When this connecting device is used, the container and the container are not unintentionally separated from each other, and the connecting device substantially receives the force acting vertically between the containers (and the force acting in the other direction). Containers can be interconnected to function effectively. In a state where the containers are connected to each other, the connecting device can sufficiently withstand the stress applied to the connecting device. Furthermore, the production of the coupling device according to the invention is relatively simple and not expensive.

  The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example with reference to FIGS.

1a, 1b and 1c show a coupling device according to the invention. Figures 2a to 2c show how two containers are connected to each other by means of a connecting device according to the invention. 3a-3c show how the connection between the two containers is released. In the state where the two containers are connected to each other and the rotational movement between them, that is, the state where the container is lifted, the rotation of one container about the vertical axis is shown. The corner member provided in the corner of a container is shown. It shows the vertical force generated when connecting the containers. Fig. 6 shows a coupling device in a situation where the corners of one container are moving upwards because the stacked containers are tilted.

  According to FIGS. 1 a, 1 b and 1 c, the connecting device of the present invention has a fixing member 2 formed in the upper part of the main body part in the main body part 48. By rotating the main body 48 around the vertical axis, the main body can be fixed to the corner member 26 provided at the corner of the container 40 by this fixing member (see FIGS. 2a and 6). .) In this way, the fixing member is fixed to the corner member of the container so that the horizontal surfaces 10 and 11 of the main body portion receive a vertical force and the vertical surfaces 4 and 12 of the main body portion receive a horizontal force.

  A flat connecting plate 3 is formed between the upper part and the lower part of the main body. This connecting plate is between the container 40 and the container 41 to be lifted (FIG. 2c) and receives the force acting between the containers, mainly the weight of the container 40 on the upper side. Further, when the two containers 40, 41, one of which is placed on the other, try to move horizontally relative to each other, the connecting plate receives and transmits the frictional force generated from the weight of each container. .

  The main body has a (elongated) cam part 6 that controls the movement of the main body, and the main body also has a rotatable lever-like shape for preventing and / or releasing the movement of the main body. The first fixing part 5 is attached.

  Also attached to the main body part is a rotatable lever-like second fixing part 8 which enables and / or prevents lateral movement of the main body part. In order to receive a force in the vertical direction, a protrusion 34 is formed in the lever-like second fixing part 8. When the rotatable lever-like first fixing part 5 is rotated, the rotatable lever-like second fixing part is also rotated so that the coupling device can take a fixing mode and a fixing release mode (FIG. 2a). 2c), the rotatable lever-like second fixing part is in direct or indirect contact with the rotatable lever-like first fixing part 5. A spring-like member (not shown) is attached to the rotatable lever-like second fixing component, and the spring-like member attaches the second fixing component to the second fixing component in the main body. It is provided for pushing into (or pulling out from) the space 20 in the main body. This spring-like member can also be connected to the first fixed part. In this manner, the second fixing component pushes the first fixing component out of the main body, and the second fixing component is in direct or indirect contact with the first fixing component. When no force is applied to the second fixed part, it is in the position shown in FIG. The first fixed part can be partially or fully pushed into the interior of the cam part, and when a force is applied to the surface 14, this surface rotates about the axis 25 and the interior of the cam part 6 To enter the space 20.

  The second fixing part 8 has a protrusion 34 which has a surface 42 which prevents vertical movement, for example as shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 1 b, reference numerals 31, 32, 33, and 35 indicate slopes of the connecting member.

  2a to 2c show a process of connecting two containers 40, 41 to each other by the connecting device 1 according to the present invention. In the state shown in FIG. 2a, the connecting device is fixed to the corner member 26 of the upper container 40 by the fixing member 2 of the main body, and the horizontal and vertical surfaces 4, 10, 11, 12 of the fixing member 2 (FIG. 1). In contact with the corresponding engaging surfaces 21, 22, 23, 24 of the corner member to hold the coupling device in place in the corner member. In this way, the coupling device cannot move in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction inside the corner member. As understood from the figure, the lower corner member 27 does not move, and the upper corner member 26 to which the coupling device 1 is fixed moves downward.

  When the upper container to which the coupling device is fixed moves downward (as shown in FIG. 2a), the surface 37 of the lower corner member 27 and the surface 18 of the first fixing part 5 The surface 36 of the lower corner member comes into contact with the surface 42 of the second fixed component 8.

  As shown in FIG. 2b, as the upper container 40 is moved further downward and the second fixing member 8 contacts the corner member 27, the face 39 of the lower corner member 27 is second fixed. The (curved) surface 17 ′ of the protrusion 13 of the component comes into contact. The first fixed part likewise contacts the second (opposite) surface 38 of the corner member. Moreover, since the surface 15 of the first fixed component and the surface 16 of the second fixed component are in contact with each other, the second fixed component 8 presses (engages) the first fixed component 5. When the upper corner member 26 is lowered, the second fixed component 8 rotates counterclockwise, and at the same time, the first fixed component 5 rotates clockwise. Then, the upper corner member can move to the right side. Similarly, the surface 17 'of the projection-like second protrusion 13 in the second fixing component 8 contacts the surface 39 of the corner member to control the lateral movement (that is, the first fixing component is fixed). Press to position).

  As shown in FIG. 2c, when the upper container is lowered until it rests on the lower container, the lower surface 40 of the connecting plate 3 contacts the surface 44 of the corner member 27 of the lower container. The weight of the upper container pushes the lower container through the connecting plate 3 and a frictional force is generated between them.

  As shown in this drawing, the corner member 26 and the corner member 27 are thus arranged in a straight line. The second fixing component 8 is inside the main body, its surface 17 'is in contact with only the surface 39 of the corner member, and the second fixing component also rotates in the same manner and the surface of the corner member. The first and second fixed parts are rotated so as to come to the respective pole positions that are in contact with 37.

  3a-3c show the process of releasing the connection between two containers when the upper container is lifted by a lifter or other lifting device.

  As shown in FIG. 3a, the upper container 40 is above the lower container 41, and due to the weight of the upper container, the connecting plate 3 pushes the lower corner member 27 and rubs between them. A frictional force is generated between the two containers. This friction prevents the container 40 and the container 41 from moving relative to each other. As shown in this figure, the corner members 26 and 27 are aligned. The second fixing part 8 is inside the main body, its surface 17 is in contact with only the vertical surface 45 of the corner member, and the second fixing part is also rotated in the same manner so that its surface 19 is the surface 37 of the corner member. The first and second fixed parts are rotated so as to come into contact with each other.

  As shown in FIG. 3b, when the lifting of the upper container is started, the friction between the containers is eliminated, and the upper container and the lower container are connected by the connecting device 1 (a plurality of connecting devices). Horizontal movement occurs between the first fixed part and the surface 42 of the second fixed part to control the horizontal movement. The first and second fixing parts 5 and 8 can be controlled (freely) in contact with a plurality of surfaces of the corner member 27.

  As shown in FIG. 3c, when the upper container is further lifted, it continues to move in the horizontal direction until the surface 42 of the second fixed part no longer contacts the corner member 27.

  As can be seen from FIG. 3c, when the second fixing part 5 and the cam part 34 do not interfere with the vertical movement, the connecting device 1 can be pulled out of the lower corner member 27 and lifted. Then, the first fixing part 5 rotates completely or almost completely inside and enters the space 20 shown in FIG.

  FIG. 4 shows a state in which the two containers 40 and 41 are connected to each other. In this state, the corner angles (two corner members 26 and 27) of the two containers are perfectly aligned. Has been. Each corner of the upper container 40 is fixed to the lower container 41 by a connecting device (not shown in FIG. 4) via a corner member provided in the container. This figure shows the direction of rotation, i.e. in which direction the upper container can be rotated once the upper container has been raised. And when the upper container is lifted, there is no friction between the containers caused by the weight of the upper container when the upper container is over the lower container, and there is a slight rotational movement, i.e. the vertical movement of the two containers At the same time that the movement that occurs about the axis occurs between the containers, the connection by the connecting device can be released as shown in FIGS. 3a-3c. The two connecting devices mounted on one side of the container can move in the opposite direction to the connecting device mounted on the opposite side of the container, with the upper container being lifted. This allows operation of the coupling device.

  FIG. 5 shows the corner member attached to the corner of the container. According to this figure, the corner member is a rectangular parallelepiped member, and a connection opening 28 is formed on the upper surface 44 thereof. Openings 29 and 30 for lifting with a lifting hook or other members, and for fixing a supporting member or the like are further provided on the side surfaces of the corner members.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the container having the corner member 26 and the container having the corner member 27 are connected by the connecting device 1 and the interconnected container is tilted to the left, the upper container 40 A pressing force (indicated by an arrow) generated by the weight of the container is applied to the left corner 47 of the lower container. This pressing force further pushes the left side of the lower container 41, that is, the corner 47 to generate a frictional force between the corner member of the container and the connecting plate, and this frictional force prevents the horizontal movement. It is done. If the horizontal movement is prevented, the coupling device also prevents the vertical movement. Further, a traction force is generated at the right corner 46 to pull the corner 46 away from the corresponding corner of the lower container. When the interconnected containers are tilted to the left, the connecting device 1 attached to the right corner of the container is thus subjected to tensile stress.

  When the container tilts and the upper container 40 on the lower container 41 moves to the left (slides), a horizontal force is also generated between the containers.

  FIG. 7 shows that the stacked containers are tilted (at the corner angle 47, the weight of the upper container causes friction between the containers), and the corner angle 46 is about to lift (shown in FIG. 6). Shows the operation of the coupling device in this situation. When the upper container 40 is above the lower container 41, and the connecting plate 3 presses the lower corner member 27, a frictional force is generated between the two containers due to the weight of the upper container. A frictional force is also generated between the connecting plate and the lower corner member. This frictional force prevents the two containers 40 and 41 from moving horizontally with respect to each other, and at the same time, the corner members 26 and 27 cannot move horizontally with respect to each other.

  When the corner member 26 of the upper container at the corner 46 tries to move upward, the surface 18 of the first fixing component 5 is in contact with the surface 38 of the corner member, and the second fixing component 8 protrudes. Since the surface 42 of the portion 34 is in contact with the downward surface 36 of the corner member, the first fixing component 5 and the second fixing component 8 prevent vertical movement between the corner members. Since the upward movement is hindered by the contact between these surfaces, the coupling device 1 cannot move upward from the second or lower corner member.

  It is well known to those skilled in the art that the various aspects of the present invention are not limited to the examples described above but can be varied within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (10)

  A connecting device (1) for connecting containers (40, 41), particularly for connecting containers and containers used in cargo ships and land transportation, comprising a main body (48) of the connecting device A fixing member (2) is formed on the upper portion, and the main body is fixed to a corner member (26) attached to a corner of the container (40) by rotating the fixing member about its vertical axis. Thereby, the fixing member is fixed to the corner member (26) of the container, and a flat connecting plate (3) is formed between the upper part and the lower part in the main body part. Has a cam part (6) under the connecting plate, and a rotatable lever-like first fixing part (5) for preventing and / or releasing movement of the main body part is attached to the main body part. And allows movement of the body and Alternatively, in the connecting device having the rotatable lever-like second fixing part (8) for preventing the main body part, the rotatable lever-like second fixing part (8) is directly or indirectly rotated. When the first fixed component rotates in contact with the possible lever-shaped first fixed component (5), the second fixed component can also rotate to realize the fixed mode and the fixed release mode. The lever-like second fixing part is formed with a projecting portion (34) for receiving a vertical force between the containers.   The second fixed component (8) has a protruding second protrusion (13) on the upper portion of the second fixed component, and the second protrusion is formed by a corner member (27 of the container). 2. The coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has at least one surface (17 ′) that can control the lateral movement of the corner member in contact with the corner member.   The protrusion (34) of the second fixed part (8) has at least one surface (42), which is a single surface or a plurality of surfaces (36, 37) of the corner member (27). 2. The connecting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (40, 41) can be prevented from moving in the vertical direction by contacting it.   The coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one surface (42) of the protrusion (34) of the second fixed part is substantially horizontal in the fixed position.   The at least one surface (42) of the protrusion (34) of the second fixed part is above the substantially horizontal control surface (9) of the cam part (6) in the fixed position. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein:   Contact between the surface (18) of the first fixing component and one corner surface (38) of the corner member, and the at least one surface (42) in the protrusion (34) of the second fixing component ) And the face (36) at the opposite corner of the corner member, the vertical movement between the containers (40, 41) can be prevented. The coupling device as described.   Connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fixing part and / or the second fixing part (5, 8) is attached to a shaft (7, 25) of the body part (48). apparatus.   The first fixing component and the second fixing component (5, 8) have one or more surfaces (15, 16), and the surfaces contact each other to move the two fixing components (5, 8) between each other. The connecting device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device is made possible.   2. Connection according to claim 1, characterized in that the first fixing part and / or the second fixing part (5, 8) are partially or fully rotatable in the body (48). apparatus.   In order to realize the fixing mode and / or the unlocking mode, the first fixing part and the second fixing part contact the corner member (27) to move the container in the horizontal direction, and the fixing mode or the unlocking mode is set. 2. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that it has surfaces (42, 17, 18) that enable it.

Images