JPH055192Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Field of industrial application] The present invention relates to a container connecting fitting that connects upper and lower containers stacked in multiple tiers on the deck of a ship, for example. This invention relates to a container connecting fitting that can be attached to and detached from a corner caster by swinging.

[Prior Art] Generally, when a large number of containers are loaded onto a ship, some of them are stowed in the ship's hold, while others are stowed, for example, in three tiers, on the deck.

By the way, when containers are stacked on deck in multiple stages, if the containers are simply stacked one above the other, there is a risk of the cargo collapsing due to the rocking of the ship. 1986
- A method of interconnecting the lower corner caster at the lower end of the upper container and the upper corner caster at the upper end of the lower container using the container connection fittings shown in Publication No. 113587 or Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 113588/1983. is taken.

22 to 25 show an example of a conventional container connecting fitting 1 of this kind. This container connecting fitting 1 consists of a lower corner caster 2 at the lower end of the upper container and an upper corner caster 3 at the upper end of the lower container. The metal fitting body 4 placed between
An upper cone 5 is attached to the upper end of the metal fitting main body 4, and is attached to the upper cone 5, which rotates a required amount around the central axis O and is locked to the lower corner caster 2. A lower cone 6 is attached to the lower cone 6 which rotates a required amount around the central axis O together with the upper cone 5 and is locked to the upper corner caster 3.

Moreover, in the vertical center part of the metal fitting main body 4,
As shown in FIGS. 22 to 25, a grip 7 and an operation handle 8 are provided which project in the longitudinal direction of the container, respectively, and the operation handle 8 is placed in the lock position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 23 and 24. By doing this, both the upper and lower cones 5 and 6 are locked, and by setting the lower cone to the open position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 23 and 24, the upper cone 5 remains locked. The lower cone 6 is opened, and also as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24.
By setting the upper cone in the open position shown by the dashed line in the figure, the upper cone 5 is opened while the lower cone 6 remains locked, contrary to the above.

When connecting upper and lower containers for loading using the container connecting fitting 1 having the above configuration, first move the container to be loaded onto the ship to the bottom of the gantry crane using a straddle carrier or trailer. transport.

Next, with the gantry crane spretsuda,
The container is lifted to a height of about 1 m above the ground and stopped, and the upper cone 5 of the container connecting fitting 1 is locked to the lower corner caster 2. Specifically, with the operation handle 8 in the upper cone open position shown by the dashed line in FIGS. 23 and 24, the upper cone 5 is inserted into the hole 2a of the lower corner caster 2 (see FIG. 22). )
In this state, the operation handle 8 is operated to the lock position shown in solid lines in FIGS. 23 and 24. This work is carried out manually by four workers who approach the container at each of the four corners of the container, each holding one of the container connecting fittings 1.

Upper container lower corner castering 2
After the upper cones 5 of the container connecting fittings 1 are respectively locked, the container is further suspended by a gantry crane and placed on the first or second container on the deck. Then, the lower cone 6 of each container connecting fitting 1 comes into contact with the hole 3a (see FIG. 22) of the upper corner caster 3 of the container previously placed on the ship and is forcibly opened. It is returned to the locked state by the spring pressure of an auto-lock mechanism (not shown) and is latched to the upper corner caster 3. In other words, auto-lock is performed.

On the other hand, when unloading a container loaded on deck, operate the operation handle 8 in the lock position to the open position for the lower cone shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. upper corner caster 3
Release the lock. In this state, when the upper container is lifted by a gantry crane, the container connecting fitting 1 is also lifted at the same time.

Next, this container is transported to a height of 1 m above the ground by operating a gantry crane and stopped, and in this state it is placed in the open position for the lower cone as shown by the two-dot chain line in Figures 20 and 21. The operation handle 8 is swung to the open position for the upper cone shown by the dashed line. As a result, the upper cone 5 is unlocked from the lower corner caster 2, and the container connecting fitting 1 is removed from the container. This work is performed manually by four workers approaching the four corners of the container.

By the way, in the conventional method for attaching and detaching container connecting fittings, the attachment and detachment of the container connecting fitting 1 to the lower corner caster 2 is performed by a worker approaching the container that is hoisted to a height of about 1 m above the ground. Because it must be done manually, the work is quite dangerous and takes a lot of time.Also, if the container connecting fitting 1 is attached to the lower corner caster 2 upside down, , there was a problem that subsequent work became completely impossible.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention first proposed in Utility Application No. 62-65596 that the container connecting fittings can be easily installed and removed from the lower corner caster, and that they can operate safely. We have proposed an attachment/detachment device for container connecting fittings that eliminates the risk of attaching the container to the lower corner caster in reverse.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the conventional container connecting fitting 1, only the lower cone 6 has an auto-lock mechanism, and when the upper cone 5 is attached to and removed from the lower corner caster 2, Since it is necessary to operate the operation handle 8, there is a problem that the operation cannot be automated even if the container connecting fitting attachment/detachment device proposed earlier by the inventors of the present invention is used.

A possible solution to this problem is to make the shape of the upper cone 5 the same as that of the lower cone 6 so that it comes into contact with the hole 2a of the lower corner casting 2 and is forcibly returned to the open state. However, in the conventional container connecting fitting 1, simply changing the shape of the upper cone 5 does not allow the upper cone 5 to have an auto-locking structure.

That is, in the conventional container connecting fitting 1, the movable part is always biased in the direction of swinging the operation handle 8 toward the open position for the upper cone by the spring pressure of an auto-lock mechanism (not shown). In order to prevent the cone 5 from being inadvertently opened due to the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism, a stopper for fixing the operation handle 8 to the lock position is built into the metal fitting body 4, and when this stopper is released, the operation handle can be opened. In order to bring the operation handle 8 into the open position for the upper cone, it is necessary to swing the operation handle 8 while pulling it toward you. For this reason, in the conventional container connecting fitting 1, it is not possible to make the upper cone 5 into an auto-locking structure simply by changing the shape of the upper cone 5, and it is not possible to create a connecting fitting structure that is completely different from the conventional one. It becomes necessary.

This idea was created in view of the current situation,
To provide a container connecting fitting capable of forming not only a lower cone but also an upper cone into an auto-lock structure.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention consists of a connecting fitting body arranged between a lower corner caster of an upper container and an upper corner caster of a lower container; a shaft that rotatably passes through the shaft vertically; an operation handle whose tip protrudes almost horizontally from the connecting fitting and which can rotate the shaft by swinging in the horizontal direction; When the operation handle is placed in the open position for the upper cone at one end in the swing direction, the engagement with the hole in the lower corner casting is released, and the operation handle is placed in the lock position in the middle of the swing direction. an upper cone that is engaged in a hole in the lower corner caster when the shaft is rotated; and an upper cone that is fixedly attached to the lower end of the shaft and when the operation handle is positioned at the open position for the lower cone at the other end in the swinging direction; a lower cone that is disengaged from the hole in the upper corner caster and engaged in the hole in the upper corner caster when the operation handle is positioned in the lock position; an auto-lock mechanism incorporated therein, which biases the movable portion of the connecting fitting with spring pressure in both forward and reverse directions to hold the operation handle in the lock position; each cone positions the operation handle in the lock position; By attaching each corner casting in this state, it comes into contact with the hole in each corner casting, resists the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism, returns to each open position, passes through the hole, and then returns to the auto-lock mechanism. It is characterized in that it is automatically returned to the lock position by spring pressure and is locked to each corner caster.

[Function] The container connecting fitting according to the present invention has a conventional auto-lock mechanism in which the movable part of the connecting fitting is biased by spring pressure only in the direction in which the operation handle swings toward the open position for the upper cone. Instead, an auto-lock mechanism is used in which the movable part of the connecting fitting is biased by spring pressure in both forward and reverse directions to hold the operation handle in a locked position. Therefore, by attaching each cone to each corner caster with the operation handle in the lock position, each cone contacts the hole in each corner caster to resist the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism and lock the cone in each open position. After being returned to the section and passing through the hole,
Once again, the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism automatically returns it to the lock position and locks it to each corner caster. In other words, it is possible to provide not only the lower cone but also the upper cone with an auto-lock structure.

[Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a container connection fitting according to the present invention, and this container connection fitting 11 is a metal fitting arranged between a lower corner caster 2 of an upper container and an upper corner caster 3 of a lower container. It has a main body 12. 1, 2, and 4 on the top surface of this metal fitting main body 12.
The lower corner caster 2 as shown in the figure
A fitting part 13 having a generally rectangular shape that follows the shape of the hole 2a is integrally provided, and the lower surface of the metal fitting main body 12 is provided with a fitting part 13 that is shaped like the hole 2a of the upper corner caster 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. A fitting portion 14 having a generally rectangular shape that follows the shape of 3a is integrally provided. This metal fitting main body 12 is provided with a shaft 15 that vertically passes through the center portions of the two fitting portions 13 and 14 and is rotatable around the central axis O. 1
6, and a lower cone 17 is fixedly attached to the lower end of the shaft 15 so as to operate integrally with the shaft 15.

Further, in the vertical center of the shaft 15,
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the base end of an operation handle 18 whose tip protrudes almost horizontally out of the metal fitting body 12 through the opening 12a of the metal fitting body 12 is fixed. , is horizontally swingable from an open position for the lower cone shown by a chain line in FIGS. 2 and 3 to an open position for the lower cone shown by a chain double-dot line. A lock position is formed between the two open positions, as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which both cones 16 and 17 are locked.

Each of the cones 16 and 17 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, it is formed into a roughly mountain-shaped shape when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the central axis O, and a roughly rhombic shape when viewed from the direction of the central axis O. As shown in FIG. 3, a contact surface 19 curved in an S-shape when viewed from the direction of the central axis O is formed. This contact surface 19 has a downward slope from the central axis O toward points A and B,
The contact surface 19 is formed into a curved surface that slopes downward from point B to point A, and this contact surface 19 is formed in the hole 2 of each corner caster 2, 3, as will be described in detail later.
The cones 16 and 17 contact the peripheral edges of the cones 16 and 3a and serve as guide surfaces for forcing the locked cones 16 and 17 into the open state.

That is, when the operation handle 18 is positioned in the lock position as shown by solid lines in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ends of the cones 16 and 17 are separated from the outer shape of the respective fitting portions 13 and 14. The operation handle 18 is positioned in an open position for the upper cone shown by a dashed line in FIGS. 2 and 3 and an open position for the lower cone shown by a dashed double dot line in FIGS. When inserted, the outer shape of each cone 16, 17 is completely located within the outer shape of each fitting portion 13, 14. Then, with the operation handle 18 in the lock position, each cone 16, 17 is attached to each corner caster 2, 3, so that each cone 1
The contact surfaces 19 of the cones 6 and 17 come into contact with the peripheries of the holes 2a and 3a of the respective corner casters 2 and 3, and a counterclockwise force acts on each cone 16 and 17 in FIGS. each cone of state 16,
17 is forcibly rotated into an open state.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, an auto-lock mechanism 20 is incorporated in the metal fitting body 12, which applies spring pressure in both forward and reverse directions when the operation handle 18 is in the lock position. , with this auto-lock mechanism 20,
The operating handle 18 is adapted to be held in a locked position.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the auto-lock mechanism 20 includes an actuating plate 21 that protrudes from the outer surface of the shaft 15 on both sides in the tangential direction, and a movable plate that moves horizontally in the distance direction with respect to the shaft 15 within the fitting body 12. 22, a coil spring 23 that constantly presses and urges the movable plate 22 in a direction away from the shaft 15, and a pair of receiving metal fittings 22a and 22b that are integrally provided with the movable plate 22 and that both ends of the actuating plate 21 are in contact with, respectively. It is equipped with

The actuating plate 21 is formed, for example, by welding the central part of a plate material of a predetermined thickness to the shaft 15, and the movable plate 22 is formed by welding the center part of a plate material of a predetermined thickness to the shaft 15, and the movable plate 22 is formed by welding the lower end of a vertically rectangular flat plate as shown in FIGS. An inverted U-shaped notch 24 in the center and guide notches 25 on both sides.
and a bent portion 26 that is bent at right angles toward the front in the figure on the upper edge, and both guide notches 25 engage with the guide rail portion 27 of the metal fitting body 12. This guides the sliding of the movable plate 22. Further, the receiving portions 22a and 22b are connected to the movable plates 2 on both sides of the notch 24, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.
2 are formed by bending the lower end portions of the receiving portions 22a and 22b at a right angle toward the front side in the figure, and the operating plate 21 is formed on the upper surface of each receiving portion 22a and 22b when the operation handle 18 is placed in the lock position. The lower surfaces of both ends are in contact with each other at the same time.

Further, a fixing plate 28 that is fixed in position within the fitting main body 12 is disposed at a portion of the movable plate 22 located within the notch 24, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9. A guide pin 29 passing through the bent portion 26 of the movable plate 22 is fixed to the
A coil spring 23 is mounted on the guide pin 29 to constantly press and bias the movable plate 22 in a direction away from the shaft 15. This causes the operation handle 18 to be held in the locked position.

A recess 30 is provided in the circumferential surface of the shaft 15, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, and a coil spring 31a is inserted into the recess 30 when the operation handle 18 is placed in the lock position. and the steel ball 31c that constitutes the positioning mechanism 31 together with the push bolt 31b engages.
The lock position can be checked by the operator.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a temporary fixing mechanism 32 consisting of a stopper pin 32a, a coil spring 32b, and a push bolt 32c is also incorporated into the metal fitting main body 12. When the operation handle 18 is located in the lower cone open position, the tip of the stopper pin 32a engages with the recess 33 provided in the operation handle 18, and the operation handle is moved against the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism 20. 18 can be temporarily fixed in the open position for the lower cone.

Note that this temporary fixing mechanism 32
When the operation handle 18 is locked in the hole 3a of the upper corner casting 3 by the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism 20, the operation handle 18 swings to the front of the open position for the lower cone and returns to the lock position again. It does not operate and therefore only operates when the operation handle 18 is manually swung to the open position for the lower cone. This will be explained in detail later.

A grip 34 that projects in the same direction as the operation handle 18 is integrally provided at the end of the lower cone open position side of the metal fitting main body 12, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.
By operating the operation handle 18 between it and the grip 34, it can be easily operated.

In addition, a safety mechanism 35 consisting of a pin 35a and a coil spring 35b is incorporated in the middle part of the operation handle 18, as shown in FIG. 6. The distal end side of the operation handle 18 is bent counterclockwise against the spring pressure to prevent the operation handle 18 from being cut or damaged.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

When the container connecting fitting 11 is not in use, the operation handle 18 is in the lock position due to the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism 20, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, and the upper and lower cones 16 and 17 are As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ends thereof protrude outward from the outer shapes of the fitting portions 13 and 14. As shown in FIGS.

In this state, for example, when the container connecting fitting 11 is set on the attachment/detachment device shown in Utility Model Application No. 62-65596 and the container is lowered onto the attachment/detachment device, the peripheral edge of the hole 2a of the lower corner caster 2 contacts the contact surface 19 of the upper cone 16, and a force is applied to the upper cone 16 causing it to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

When the upper cone 16 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 2, the shaft 15 integral with it also rotates in the same direction, and the operation handle 18
The upper cone begins to swing toward the open position.

When the shaft 15 rotates counterclockwise from the lock position shown in FIG. It slides in a direction approaching the shaft 15 against the biasing force. And operation handle 18
When the upper cone 16 has swung to the upper cone open position, the upper cone 16 is completely located within the outer shape of the insertion part 13 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. It is allowed to pass through the hole 2a of the lower corner casting 2.

When the upper cone 16 passes through the hole 2a, contact between the contact surface 19 and the peripheral edge of the hole 2a is released, so that the auto-lock mechanism 20 returns from the state shown in FIG. 8 to the state shown in FIG. 7. , the upper cone 16 is in the locked position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2, and the operating handle 18 is returned to the locked position. That is, the upper cone 16
is automatically locked to the lower corner casting 2.

By the way, when the upper cone 16 passes through the hole 2a of the lower corner caster 2, the upper cone 16 theoretically rotates to the position shown by the dashed line in FIG. Since there is a predetermined distance between the upper cone 16 and the fitting part 13, the upper cone 16 passes through the hole 2a with its end protruding slightly outward from the outer shape of the fitting part 13. For this reason, the operation handle 18 is
It does not swing until the open position for the upper cone.
It will swing until just before that point and return to the lock position. Therefore, the operation handle 18 swings to the open upper cone position only when actuated manually.

After the upper cone 16 is attached to the lower corner caster 2 in this manner, the container is lifted and placed on the first or second container on the deck. Then, the contact surface 19 of the lower cone 17 contacts the hole 3a of the upper corner caster 3.
3, and a force is applied to the lower cone 17 causing it to rotate counterclockwise in FIG.

When the lower cone 17 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 3, the shaft 15 integral therewith also rotates in the same direction, and the operation handle 18 begins to swing toward the lower cone open position.

That is, the shaft 15 rotates clockwise from the locked position shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the right receiving part 22b is pressed by the actuating plate 21, and the movable plate 22 slides in a direction toward the shaft 15 against the biasing force of the coil spring 23. When the operation handle 18 is swung to the lower cone open position, the lower cone 17 is completely located within the outer shape of the insertion part 14, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. This causes the lower cone 17 to move into the hole 3 of the upper corner casting 3.
It is allowed to pass through a.

When the lower cone 17 passes through the hole 3a, the contact between the contact surface 19 and the periphery of the hole 3a is released, so that the auto-lock mechanism 20 returns from the state shown in FIG. 9 to the state shown in FIG. 7. The lower cone 17 is in the locked position shown in solid lines in FIG. 3, and the operating handle 18 is returned to the locked position. That is, the lower cone 17
is automatically locked to the upper corner casting 3.

Note that when the operation handle 18 swings to the open position for the lower cone, the operation handle 18 is temporarily fixed by the temporary fixing mechanism 32, so that the lower cone 17 is in the open state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. However, when the lower cone 17 passes through the hole 3a of the upper corner caster 3,
For the same reason as the upper cone 16, the operation handle 18 cannot be rotated to the position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. ,
The operation handle 1 is fixed by the temporary fixing mechanism 32.
8 is not temporarily fixed. For this reason, the lower cone 17 is inserted into the hole 3a of the upper corner casting 3.
, the operation handle 18 is returned to the lock position.

On the other hand, when unloading a container loaded on deck, the operation handle 18 is artificially swung to the open position for the lower cone, and the operation handle 18 is temporarily fixed by the temporary fixing mechanism 32. As a result, the lower cone 17 is fixed in the open state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG.
The lock to the upper corner caster 3 is released. When the upper container is lifted in this state, the container connecting fittings 11 are lifted together with the upper container and separated from the lower container.

Next, this container, for example,
65596, and placed on the attachment/detachment device shown in No. 65596. Then, by swinging the operation handle 18 to the upper cone open position to open the upper cone 16 and lifting the container in this state, the container connecting fitting 11 is separated from the lower corner casting 2. remains on the attachment/detachment device.

At this time, the operation handle 18 is normally swung manually by a worker, but a chevron-shaped metal fitting is attached to the attachment/detachment device, and the container connecting fitting 11 is placed on the attachment/detachment device together with the container. If the metal fitting is inserted between the operation handle 18 and the grip 34 when the operation handle 18 is operated, the operation of the operation handle 18 can be automated.

Thus, the auto-lock mechanism 20 is biased by spring pressure in both forward and reverse directions from the lock position.
and the upper cone 16 and the lower cone 17
Since the cones 16 and 17 have the same shape as the contact surface 19, both cones 16 and 17 can have an auto-lock structure. Therefore, when the container connecting fitting 11 is attached to and detached from the lower corner caster 2 using the attachment/detachment device, automation is extremely easy.

Furthermore, even if the container connecting fitting 11 is attached to the lower corner caster 2 upside down, the operation during unloading will be somewhat troublesome;
Unlike the conventional container connecting fitting 1, subsequent work is not impossible.

FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
An actuating plate 41 protruding from the shaft 15 in place of the auto-lock mechanism 20 in the first embodiment;
An auto-lock mechanism 40 is used which has two leaf springs 42a and 42b that press and bias the actuating plate 41 from both sides. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be expected.

FIG. 11 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.
In place of the auto-lock mechanism 20 in the first embodiment, an actuating plate 51 protruding from the shaft 15;
An auto-lock mechanism 50 is used which has coil springs 52a and 52b arranged on both sides of the actuating plate 51 and pulling the actuating plate 51 from both sides. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be expected.

FIG. 12 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
In place of the auto-lock mechanism 20 in the first embodiment, an auto-lock mechanism 60 having a coil spring 62 whose one end is fixed to the shaft 15 side and whose other end is fixed to a spring case 61 integrated with the metal fitting body 12 is used. It is something. Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be expected.

FIG. 13 shows a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
An actuating plate 71 protruding from the shaft 15 in place of the auto-lock mechanism 20 in the first embodiment;
An auto-lock mechanism 70 having two coil springs 72a and 72b that press and bias the actuating plate 71 from both sides is used.
With this configuration, both coil springs 72a and 72b are used in the compression direction, which makes it possible to stabilize the operation and extend the service life compared to when they are used in the tension direction. .

FIG. 14 shows a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Both coil springs 72 in the fifth embodiment
a and 72b are curved to match the operating direction of the operating plate 71. With this configuration, the operation of the auto-lock mechanism 70 can be made more stable.

FIG. 15 shows a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
An actuating plate 81 protruding from the shaft 15 in place of the auto-lock mechanism 20 in the first embodiment;
The interlocking fitting 82a slides to the left in the figure in conjunction with the actuation plate 81 only when the actuation plate 81 swings to the left in the figure, and the actuation plate 82a slides to the left in the figure only when the actuation plate 81 swings to the right in the figure. An interlocking fitting 82b that slides to the right in the figure in conjunction with 81, and both interlocking fittings 82a, 82b.
An auto-lock mechanism 80 is used which has a single coil spring 83 that constantly presses and biases the lock in the direction of separation. With this configuration, the same effect as in the fifth embodiment can be obtained with one coil spring 83.

FIG. 16 shows the eighth embodiment of the present invention.
Interlocking fittings 82a, 82b in the seventh embodiment
The coil spring 83 is curved in accordance with the operating direction of the actuating plate 81. With this configuration, the auto-lock mechanism 80
operation can be made more stable.

FIG. 17 shows a ninth embodiment of the present invention.
The opening 12a of the metal fitting body 12 is located at a position that is swung to the right in the figure compared to the opening 12a of the first embodiment, and the swinging area of the operation handle 18 is located away from the grip 34. This is how it was done. By configuring like this,
No matter what kind of latching rod is used, there is no problem in which the operation handle 18 comes into contact with the latching rod and latching cannot be performed.

That is, in order to stack containers on the deck, the corner casters 2 and 3 of the upper and lower containers are connected to each other by the container connecting fittings 11, and then the containers are stacked on the deck using a latching rod whose upper end is locked to the corner casters 2 and 3. fixed on top.

At this time, depending on the type of latching rod, the latching rod may come into contact with the operation handle 18 and latching may not be possible. Therefore, in the first embodiment, a safety mechanism 35 is provided in the middle part of the operation handle 18 so that it can be bent, but there are problems in that the structure is complicated and lashing is not easy.

However, in the case of this embodiment, since the operation handle 18 is swung far to the right in the figure, there is no risk that the operation handle 18 in the lock position will come into contact with the latching rod, and the latching rod can be moved by the operation handle 18. and the grip 34. Therefore, the safety mechanism 35 (see FIG. 6) of the operation handle 18 can be omitted.

Furthermore, since the latching rod is located between the operation handle 18 and the grip 34, even if you accidentally try to swing the operation handle 18 toward the open position for the lower cone, the operation handle 18 will not move to the latching rod. It is safe because it does not shake due to contact. Conversely, even if you accidentally try to swing the operation handle 18 toward the open position for the upper cone, the operation handle 18 in the open position for the upper cone will end up in a position between the upper and lower containers. Therefore, it is impossible to swing the upper cone to the open position, and there is no risk that the upper cone 16 will be unlocked, so it is safe.

It is necessary to set the operation handle 18 to the open position for the upper cone.
Since the container has been unloaded onto land, it can be operated normally without any problems.

FIG. 18 shows a tenth embodiment of the present invention.
Contrary to the case of the ninth embodiment, the opening 12a of the metal fitting main body 12 is replaced with the opening 12a of the first embodiment.
The swing area of the operation handle 18 is swung to the left side in the figure compared to the main body 1 of the fitting.
2, and grip 3.
4 is omitted.

In this embodiment, contrary to the ninth embodiment,
An open position for the lower cone is provided on the right side of the lock position in the figure, and an open position for the upper cone is provided on the left side of the lock position in the figure.

Even with this configuration, the same effects as in the ninth embodiment can be expected, and since the grip 34 is omitted, there is no fear that the latching rod will come into contact with the grip 34, and the weight can be reduced. Become.

19 to 21 show an eleventh embodiment of the present invention, in which even if the container connecting fitting 11 is used upside down, it can be used under exactly the same conditions as when used in its normal state. This is what I did.

That is, the metal fitting main body 12 of this embodiment has the 20th
As shown in the figure, it is symmetrical when viewed from above, and is designed to maintain the same shape even when used upside down. Further, the upper cone 16 and the lower cone 17 have completely the same shape and dimensions, so that they can be used under the same conditions even if the lower cone 17 is on top and the upper cone 16 is on the bottom. Furthermore, operation handle 1
As shown by the solid line in FIGS. 19 and 20, 8 becomes the lock position by positioning it at the center in the swinging direction. From this state, the operation handle 18 is swung rightward in FIG. 20. By setting it to the state shown by the dashed line, it becomes an open position for the upper cone, and
By swinging the operation handle 18 to the left by the same amount in FIG. 20 to the state shown by the two-dot chain line, the open position for the lower cone is obtained.

In FIG. 19, reference numeral 32' designates a temporary fixing mechanism having the same structure as the temporary fixing mechanism 32 (see FIG. 1), and when the operation handle 18 is located in the open position for the upper cone, It can be temporarily fixed using the operation handle 18.

Therefore, the shape does not change at all even in the normal usage state with the upper cone 16 facing up, or in the upside down usage state with the lower cone 17 facing up. Moreover, in any state of use, by swinging the lock position operation handle 18 to the right,
The cone located on the upper side (the upper cone 16 in normal use, the lower cone 17 in upside-down use) is in the open state, and if the operation handle 18 in the lock position is swung to the left, the cone can be moved downward. The located cone (the lower cone 17 in the normal usage state, the upper cone 16 in the upside down usage state) is in the open state, and the usage conditions are also exactly the same. In addition, since it has an open position temporary fixing mechanism 32' for the upper cone, the lower cone 16 or 17 can be temporarily fixed in the open position in any usage state. Therefore, there is no need to change the shape or color of the upper and lower cones 16, 17 to distinguish between the upper and lower cones, and handling becomes extremely easy.

By the way, in the case of this embodiment, unlike the cases of the ninth and tenth embodiments, the swinging area of the operation handle 18 is set at the center, so that it is difficult to move the container loaded on the deck to the lashing rod. If the latching rod is used and fixed on the deck, it is expected that the latching rod will come into contact with the operation handle 18 and latching will not be possible.

Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, a safety mechanism 35 (see FIG. 2) is provided in the middle of the operation handle 18, similar to that of the first embodiment, so that the tip side of the operation handle 18 can be used either left or right. It is preferable that it be able to be bent up and down.

In each of the embodiments described above, except for the eleventh embodiment, the temporary fixing mechanism 32 is provided only in the open position for the lower cone. It may also be provided.

Further, the operation handle 18 may not be directly connected to the shaft 15, but may be interlocked with the shaft 15 through, for example, a gear mechanism.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, the present invention is different from the conventional auto-lock system in which the movable part of the connecting fitting is biased by spring pressure only in the direction in which the operation handle swings toward the open position for the upper cone. Instead of a mechanism, an auto-lock mechanism is used that holds the operation handle in a locked position by biasing the movable part of the connecting fitting with spring pressure in both forward and reverse directions. By simply creating a similar shape, the upper cone can also have an auto-lock structure. Therefore, handling of the connecting fittings is easy and automation is also easy. Furthermore, even if the connecting fitting is installed upside down on the lower corner casting, there will be no major problem since both the upper and lower cones have an auto-locking structure.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 is a front view of a container connecting fitting showing a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1, and FIG.
The figure is a bottom view of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a right side view of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the container connection fitting, Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the - line of Fig. 1, and Fig. 7 is a Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the main parts, Figure 8 is a view equivalent to Figure 7 when the operation handle is in the open position for the upper cone, and Figure 9 is the operation handle in the open position for the lower cone. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the main part of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11 is a diagram of the main part of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. The fourth part of this invention
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the main part of the fifth embodiment of the invention, FIG. 14 is a diagram of the main part of the sixth embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 15 is a diagram of the main part showing the sixth embodiment of the invention. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the main part of the seventh embodiment of the invention, FIG. 16 is a diagram of the main part of the eighth embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 17 is a diagram equivalent to FIG. 6 showing the ninth embodiment of the invention. , 18th
The figures are a view equivalent to Figure 6 showing the 10th embodiment of the present invention, Figure 19 is a view equivalent to Figure 1 showing the 11th embodiment of the present invention, Figure 20 is a plan view of Figure 19, and Figure 21. is a right side view of Fig. 19, Fig. 22 is a front view showing a conventional container connecting fitting, Fig. 23 is a plan view of Fig. 22, Fig. 24 is a bottom view of Fig. 22, and Fig. 25 is a 23 is a right side view of FIG. 22. FIG. 2...Lower corner castering, 2a, 3a
... Hole, 3 ... Upper corner caster, 11
...Container connection fitting, 12...Metal fitting body, 15
...shaft, 16 ... upper cone, 17 ... lower cone, 18 ... operation handle, 2
0, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80... Auto-lock mechanism, 21... Operating plate, 22... Movable plate, 2
2a, 22b...Bracket, 23...Coil spring, 32, 32'...Temporary fixing mechanism, 33...Recess, 34...Grip, 35...Safety mechanism.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] 1. A connecting fitting body disposed between a lower corner caster of an upper container and an upper corner caster of a lower container; the connecting fitting body being vertically movable around an axis; a shaft penetrating through; an operation handle whose tip protrudes substantially horizontally from the connecting fitting and is capable of rotating the shaft by swinging in the horizontal direction;
The operation handle is fixed to the upper end of the shaft, and when the operation handle is positioned at the open position for the upper cone at one end in the swinging direction, the engagement with the hole in the lower corner caster is released, and the operation handle an upper cone that is engaged with a hole in the lower corner caster when the shaft is positioned at a lock position in the middle of the shaft; The lower part is disengaged from the hole in the upper corner caster when the operation handle is in the open position, and the lower part is engaged in the hole in the upper corner caster when the operation handle is in the lock position. a cone; and an auto-lock mechanism that is incorporated into the connecting fitting main body and that biases the movable portion of the connecting fitting with spring pressure in both forward and reverse directions to hold the operation handle in a locked position, and each of the cones includes: By attaching the operation handle to each corner caster with the operation handle in the lock position, it contacts the hole in each corner caster and is returned to each open position against the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism. After passing through the container, the container connecting fitting is automatically returned to the locking position again by the spring pressure of the auto-locking mechanism and is respectively locked to each corner casting. 2. The connecting fitting body has a grip that protrudes from the end on the open position side for the lower cone in the same direction as the operation handle and can operate the operation handle by widening or narrowing the distance between the grip and the operation handle. 1. A container connecting fitting according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that: 3. Claim 1 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that the connecting fitting body has a temporary fixing mechanism that temporarily fixes the movable part against the spring pressure of the auto-lock mechanism in the open position for the lower cone, or Container connection fittings described in paragraph 2. 4. The auto-lock mechanism consists of an actuating plate that protrudes from the outer surface of the shaft on both sides in the tangential direction, a movable plate that moves horizontally in the direction of distance from and near the shaft within the main body of the connecting fitting, and this movable plate that is constantly biased in a direction away from the shaft. Claims 1 and 2 of the utility model registration claim, characterized in that the utility model includes a spring and a pair of receiving parts that are integrally provided on the movable plate and that both ends of the actuating plate are in contact with, respectively. Container connection fittings described in paragraph 3. 5. The operation handle has a safety mechanism in the middle in its protruding direction that bends the protruding tip side toward the open position for the upper cone when an overload is applied. Paragraph 1, Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3 or Paragraph 4
Container connection fittings listed in section.