NO137489B - DEVICE FOR READABLE VERTICAL CONNECTION OF GOODS CONTAINERS - Google Patents

Description

The invention generally relates to devices for vertical connection of goods containers (also called cargo containers or containers) between themselves and/or with a loading platform and more specifically to a new type of connection device which is designed as a separate unit intended to be attached removably to corner fittings of cargo containers and/ or loading platforms to automatically connect the loading containers to each other or to the loading platform when a loading container is joined with the connection device on another loading container or a loading platform.

In the past, the most common way of connecting cargo containers to each other and to loading platforms has been by means of lines to fasten the cargo containers to each other to form a large package and partly these packages in several floors on a loading platform, e.g. a vessel deck. This method has been time consuming and also dangerous due to the risk of accidents when climbing up and down the cargo containers. In the past, different locking devices have also been used, which have been of different types depending on where they were to be placed, e.g. between the deck and the lower cargo containers, between the different cargo containers or on top of the cargo containers. This has meant that the loading time was long due to the time-consuming and difficult lashing of the cargo containers as well as the search for other locking devices for use at the various locations. As the berthing time for vessels in port is very expensive, loading and unloading must take place as quickly as possible, and for that reason, in recent times, there has been an increasing preference for cargo containers of standard type (ISO standard) with equal dimensions except in the height direction, where there are several dimensions, as well as equally placed corner fittings or corner boxes with matching holes. Usually the transport tires are provided with holes corresponding to those of the corner boxes. However, previously used types of locking devices have not made it possible to lash cargo containers of different heights next to each other, but prior to lashing, care had to be taken to place cargo containers of the same height side by side. In addition to the above-mentioned dangers in manual connection operations, this situation has contributed to the fact that within this transport area there has been a need for devices and precautions for automatic connection of cargo containers and preferably such devices and precautions that would allow automatic connection of cargo containers of different heights.

The mentioned disadvantages of previously known devices and precautions for vertical connection of goods containers between themselves, resp. with loading platforms, can essentially be cleared of the road with the help of the present invention, which also fulfills the above-mentioned need for devices for automatically connecting even goods containers of different heights. This is in the case of devices that serve for releasable vertical connection of goods containers, so-called "containers", between themselves and/or with a loading platform and are designed as a separate unit including a housing and at least one rotatable locking device projecting from the housing that can be inserted in an initial position in an oblong opening in a corner fitting of the goods container, according to the invention achieved by the rotation of the locking member in a connecting stage occurring automatically when a further goods container is joined to the connecting device placed on a goods container or a loading platform by means of a device that exerts a turning effect which is triggered at the joint and notifies the locking member of a turning movement to a locking position in the corner fitting, and that the locking member is automatically turned by the member to a position where the goods containers can be detached from each other upon release in a release stage after activation.

It should be mentioned that it is not in and of itself new to releasably connect goods containers together by means of devices that lock automatically by turning the locking means when the containers are joined together, as such a device is described and shown in US-PS 3,261,070. However, this is about horizontal connection, and the known device would not be suitable for connecting goods containers vertically, taking into account the considerations that apply in that connection.

Certain further developments of the invention which increase the above generally defined new connection device's practical applicability and advantages, have been realized in embodiments such as partly includes the use of an indicator to indicate that the coupling device has been triggered, and that the goods containers in question are connected with the coupling device and thus with each other and/or a loading platform, partly a relative angular displacement of the arrowhead-like locking devices projecting in opposite directions which sit on a through shaft , as well as a division of the locking member's turning movement over 180° into two differently sized steps chosen depending on the -desired angular displacement between the locking members.

In the following, some selected embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawing, where corresponding parts are provided with the same reference number. Fig. 1 shows in perspective a plurality of cargo containers during loading or unloading of a cargo container C. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the interconnection device according to the invention. Fig. 3 shows a horizontal section along the line III-IIl in Fig.2. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the interconnection device and two. corner boxes in cargo containers that are being stacked on top of each other. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a part of the connecting device provided with a projecting bottom plate for locking to guides on a vessel's deck or the like. Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the connection device according to the invention seen from the side where the release device is located, with part of the lower part of the housing broken away to allow certain internal parts to be seen. Fig. 7 shows the connection device in Fig. 6 turned 90° in

compared to the position in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows the device in Fig. 7 in horizontal section after

the line VIII - VIII in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, of yet another embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 7, of the embodiment of

Fig. 9.

Fig. 1 shows a cargo container C in the process of being lowered onto a stack of cargo containers. The cargo containers are provided with corner fittings 11, 12, and in fig. 1 it is shown how there on. the upper cargo container C is fitted with connecting devices 1 which, when this cargo container is lowered, automatically connect it to the front cargo container at the bottom of the figure. From fig. 1 further shows that cargo containers of different lengths can be placed side by side, and also that cargo containers of different heights can be stacked together, so that the previously necessary time-consuming coordination of uniform cargo containers is avoided.

Fig. 2 and 3 show in detail how the interconnection device according to the invention is constructed. Two joined U-beam sections la, lb are placed with the steps facing away from each other, and welded together at their contact lines. As shown at lc, reinforcing rods are welded to the flanges of the joined U-beam sections and to each other. On one side of the resulting box construction, a carrying handle 19 is mounted. Through the housing 1 extends a central shaft 3, °g the two end parts of this continuous shaft are designed arrowhead-like so that heads 2, 13 appear on each side of the house 1. One or both heads 2, 13

is provided with a through hole 20 for reasons that will be explained in more detail. On the continuous shaft 3, there is a peg 5 which holds one end of a torsion spring 4 to the shaft 3. The other end of the torsion spring 4 is fixed in the housing 1,

e.g. as shown in fig. 2 and 3 to the reinforcement struts that extend between the flanges of the U-beam sections. A locking pin 6 is also fixed on the shaft 3 to limit the turning movement of the through shaft 3 in a manner that will be indicated below. Between the surfaces of the heads 2, 13 and the housing 1 facing the housing 1 are placed liners or filler pieces 18 which are attached to the housing 1 and surround the shaft 3". A release pin 7 extends from the outside of the housing through one of its walls along the continuous axle .3. On the release pin 7 sits a release cam 15 or the like just inside an opening 16 in the housing 1. The side of the release pin 7 facing the shaft 3 is designed with a recess 8 for reasons that will be explained in more detail later. A locking cam 17 or similar is placed in the housing 1 diametrically opposite the release pin 7 in relation to the shaft 3. The torsion spring 4 is shown in the drawing to surround the shaft 3.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2 to 4, the connecting device works in the following way: After connecting devices in accordance with the invention have been placed on the four upper corner fittings of a cargo container, a tool is inserted into the hole 20 in the upper arrowhead-like head 2 and the through shaft 3 is turned against the heads 2, 13 half a turn in the direction of tension of the spring 4" The connecting device is held in place by means of the liner or filler piece l8, which has a shape corresponding to the corner bracket's oblong opening and complements this. During rotation, the locking pin 6 passes through the recess 8 in the release pin 7, and when the locking pin 6 has reached the other side of the release pin 7, this is pushed up by a spring, which is not shown for this embodiment. The interconnection device is now prepared for the following automatic interconnection operation.

When an upper cargo container is lowered towards a lower cargo container as in the embodiment in fig. 2 to 4 have four pre-tensioned connecting devices, the upper projecting arrowhead-like head 2 on each of these will quickly enter the respective lower corner fitting 11 on the upper cargo container, as can be seen from fig. 4«. When the load container is set down on the connecting device, the underside of the corner fitting will press the release pin 7 down, whereby its recess 8 comes in line with the locking device 6 so that this, as in the pre-tensioned position, was held back by a side surface of the release pin 7 as can be seen from fig. 2 and 3 are allowed to pass through the recess 8 under the action of the torsion spring 4". The through shaft 3 with its arrowhead-like heads 12, 13 is then turned 9Q°, after which the pin 5 connected to the torsion spring 4 rests against the side surface of the release pin 7. In this position will thus cause the turning movement of the through shaft, and the arrowhead-like heads 2, 13 will be locked in a position perpendicular to the starting position and thus extend in the transverse direction over the inner surfaces of the corner fitting. Hereby, a locking effect is thus obtained so that the connection device according to the invention connects the two cargo containers together.

When the load has arrived at the destination and the containers are to be unloaded, these are released from the coupling device and thus also from each other in the following way: The release cam 15 on the pin 7 is either manually or with the help of a tool actuated through the recess 16 on the side of the housing 1 in the direction downwards in fig. 2 and 4j whereby the pin 5 connected to the torsion spring 4 is given the opportunity to pass through the recess 8 in the release pin 7• Hereby the turning force from the torsion spring 4 will turn the through shaft 3 with its arrowhead-like heads 2, 13 a further g0° until the locking pin 6 wtots against the locking cam 17., cf. fig. 3. In this position, the arrowhead-like heads 2, 13 on the axle 3 are in line with the oblong opening 14 in the cargo container's corner fitting 11, 12, and the heads 2, 13 have thus moved half a revolution, so that the upper cargo container can be lifted from .the lower without being obstructed by the coupling device, which will remain on the lower cargo container.

Fig. 5 shows a modified embodiment of the invention. Here, the connecting device is intended to be attached to fixed liners 10 or the like on a loading platform, e.g. a vessel's deck, to connect a lower cargo container losbait together with the deck. The device is therefore designed with only one locking device 2 (which does not

is shown in this figure, but may be the same as those in the preceding figures), which extend in from the housing 1, while the housing on its opposite side has a protruding locking plate 9 or possibly a locking bolt, flange or the like. The connecting device can thus be pushed into the fixed liners 10 on a vessel's deck, the upper arrowhead-like head 2 on the pivot shaft 3 can be tightened by half a turn in the manner indicated above, and when lowering a cargo container to be placed on the deck, the same operation as described above take place.

Fig. 6-8 shows yet another embodiment of the connecting device, which is designed here so that it can be suspended under the cargo container in its downward-facing corner boxes. To make this possible, the two arrowhead-like heads 2, 13 which sit on the through shaft 3°g project to opposite sides from the housing 1, here are angularly offset in relation to each other. This angular displacement between the heads 2, 13 is between 10° and 170° and preferably around 30°. In that it has thus been made possible to suspend the interconnection device under a full cargo container as shown in fig. 1, the risky work of climbing onto the already stacked cargo containers and placing connecting devices in their four upper corner boxes is avoided. When a connecting device in this embodiment is to be suspended under a cargo container, its upper locking member 13, which is however shown in the drawing as the lower locking member, is turned until it lies in line with its elongate liner l8, whereby the head 13 and the liner l8 will be able to be pushed into the cargo container's corner bracket. When the arrowhead-like head has entered the corner fitting, the torsion spring 4 will turn the head or the locking member 13 back to its initial position, where the locking member is oriented at an angle in relation to the corner fitting's oblong recess, whereby the connecting device will be suspended below the load container. The torsion spring 4 is then tensioned by turning the second locking device 2 half a turn to a position where the locking pin 6 rests against a locking device 32 and locks the shaft 3. In this state, the locking device 13 placed in the cargo container's corner bracket is thus turned a certain, fixed angle in relation to the connecting device's opposite locking member 2, which is in line with its liner l8 in order to fit into the corner bracket on the lower cargo container when lowering the cargo container which is equipped with the connecting device according to the invention. When the thus equipped upper cargo container is lowered onto the lower one, the lower locking member 2 together with its associated liner l8 will be pushed into the lower cargo container's upper corner fitting, the release pin 7 is pressed in and the locking pin 6 is released and allows the axle 3 with the locking members 2, 13 to turn to the locking position, where the pin 5 will block the shaft 3 against turning movement by coming into contact with the locking member 32. The above-mentioned angular displacement between the two arrowhead-like locking members 2, 13 projecting to opposite sides is not bound to any particular angle, but can which indicated vary between 10° and 170°, although the angle must be so large that the connecting device according to the invention is securely held in place under the cargo containers in the initial position. As mentioned, a value of the angular displacement of 30° is currently preferred, but even an angular displacement of only 15° has proven to be fully sufficient for the purpose when it has been possible to comply with narrow tolerances during manufacture.

In fig. 7 it is shown that the release pin 7 is slidably stored in liners 28 and 31 and is biased upwards by means of a pressure spring 30 which is accommodated in the lower liner 31. The release pin's release cam 15, which is placed within a recess 16 (fig. 8) in the housing 1^ carries as shown in fig. 7 °g 8 a further release cam 29 which is placed at an angle to the release cam 15 and towards one of the open side surfaces of the case structure. The locking cam 32, which is fixedly mounted on the release pin 7>extends towards the through shaft 3 and forms a locking counter-hold for the locking pin 6 in the coupling device's pre-tensioned output state and for the pin 5, to which the lower end of the torsion spring - 4 is attached, in the coupling device's lock state. The release pin 7 is also provided with a cam surface 33 which extends in the direction of rotation of the shaft 3° and cooperates with a cam surface on the locking pin 6 during the biasing operation to allow the locking pin 6 to pass past the detent cam 32. The heads or locking members 2, 13 are, as can be seen from the drawing, made partly narrower and partly shorter than the liners or filler pieces l8 to ensure that no accidental retention occurs during loosening. As the heads or locking members 2, 13 are somewhat smaller than the liners or filler pieces, loose coupling will occur even if there are small errors in the setting, e.g. caused by dirt or wear. Thereby, the great danger that could arise if the coupling device had not fully released the cargo containers is eliminated

■the intended manner at the beginning of the unloading operation.

An indicator in the form of a bowed arm 21 is pivotably mounted in the case construction by means of a bearing pin 23 and a locking disc 24. The indicator arm 21 is spring-loaded inside the housing 1 with a pressure spring 25, which rests with one end against the wall of the housing and at its other end is attached to the indicator arm 21 with screws 26 or the like. A cam, pin or similar 27 is attached to the shaft 3 and during its rotation comes into contact with the indicator arm 21 and presses it outwards in a swinging movement about the pin 23, so that the outer

.end of the indicator arm 21 will protrude through a recess 22 in the housing and thus visually indicate that the coupling device has been released. In the locked position, release the unlocking members 2, 13, against which the pin 7 rests

the locking member 32 on the release pin 7j thus has the pin 27 abut against the indicator arm 21 and holds it in its protruding position. Upon further turning movement of the shaft 3, the pin 27 will come out of contact with the indicator arm 21., which is thus pushed back to its starting position by the pressure spring 25. A detent cam, not shown, is arranged in the housing 1 diametrically opposite the release pin 7 in relation to the through shaft 3> to block further turning movement of the shaft 3 when it has turned half a revolution from the starting position. This locking cam thus corresponds to the locking cam 17 in the embodiment in fig. 2-5.

The coupling device remains in it. embodiment shown in fig. 6 - 8,. solved. at the destination in a similar way to that in fig. 2-4» The release cam 15 or 2$ on the pin y is affected either manually or with the help of a tool through the recess 16. in the side of the housing 1 or, in the case of the release cam 29, through the open side of the case construction in the downward direction in fig. 6, 7 and 9, during which the pin 5 connected to the torsion spring 4 can pass past the locking member 32 on the release pin 7. The torsion spring 4 will thereby turn the shaft 3 with the locking members 2, 13 further until the locking pin 6 abuts against the mentioned locking cam. As the arrowhead-like locking device 2 on the through shaft 3' in this position lies in line with the oblong opening in the cargo container's corner fitting bg has thus traveled half. revolution, the upper cargo container can be lofted off from the lower one without being hindered by the connecting device, which in this embodiment will remain hanging below the thus lofted upper cargo container in its lower corner bracket or corner box. When the connecting devices according to the invention are to be removed from the cargo container, the through shaft 3 is turned an angle equal to the angular displacement between the locking members 2 and 13 until the locking member 13 comes in line with its lining l8 and thus also in line with the oblong opening in the corner fitting. This turning is conveniently carried out manually by inserting a tool into the hole 20 in the lower locking member 2, but it is also possible to use mechanical equipment to remove the connecting device from the cargo containers, just as the connecting devices can also be mounted on the cargo containers with the help of mechanical equipment and also pre-tensioned automatically to the starting position.

In the embodiment in fig. 2 - 4, the total permitted turning movement of the shaft 3 of 180° is divided into two steps of equal length, namely an interlocking step and a releasing step each of 90°, but in the embodiment of fig. 6 - 8, it has been found appropriate to divide the turning movement into two steps of different lengths, chosen taking into account the desired angular displacement between the locking members 2, 13. Thus, it has been found that the first turning step for the locking members to interlocking position in the case of an angular displacement of 30° between the locking members 2 and 13 should preferably be approximately 105°

and the second turning step for the locking elements 2, 13 to the release position for the cargo containers should be approximately 75° • At an angular displacement of 15° between the locking elements -2 and 13, the first turning step for the locking elements 2 and 13 to the locked position should be approximately 97>5° °g the second turning step to the position for releasing the cargo containers approximately 82.5°. These two steps of different lengths can, however, be selected arbitrarily during the manufacture of the connecting device by the pin 5^

which is arranged in a plane below the plane of.' the locking pin 6 as can be seen from fig. 7 °g 10> is displaced in the direction of resp. away from the locking member 32 on the release pin 7. However, the two steps of different lengths of the turning movement must be chosen so that in the locking position the maximum angle is obtained for the locking member 2, 13 in relation to that of the corner fitting.

oblong opening; however, it should be pointed out that the length of the turning steps will depend on the angular displacement between the locking members 2 and 13„

In the embodiment of fig. 9 and 10, the interconnection device according to the invention has a design similar to that of fig.

. 5, as it is intended to be attached to fixed linings or the like on a loading platform, e.g. a ship's deck. In a similar way to the device in fig. 5 is the connection device in fig. 9 and 10 therefore proceed with only one locking member 2, which extends out from the housing 1, while the housing on its opposite side is provided with flanges 3 which protrude from the housing and can take the form of a locking p]afce, -bolt, -flange or similar, possibly extended in one with the lower part of the house. In this embodiment, the connecting device can thus be pushed into fixed liners on the ship's deck, the arrowhead-like locking device on top of the pivot shaft 3 can be tightened half a turn in the indicated manner, and when a cargo container intended for placement on the deck is set down, an operation similar to to the one described above when the release pin 7 is actuated to release the turning movement of the locking member 2, so the indicator 21 will be. affected so that, by its swinging movement, it protrudes through the opening 22 in the housing and thus visually indicates that the coupling device has been released. At the destination, the release of the locking device 2 from the overlying cargo container will likewise take place as in the first embodiment by the action of the release cam 15 or 29 on the pin 7- In the embodiment in fig. 9

and 10, however, the turning movement of the turning shaft is divided into two equally long steps of 90° ••

Further modifications of the device according to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are covered by the invention for

insofar as they' are within the scope of the patent claims. For example, the coupling device according to the invention can be pre-tensioned to its initial state where the shaft 3 is turned half a revolution and the spring 4 is pre-tensioned, before the coupling device is placed on the cargo container. Furthermore, the connection devices in the embodiment in fig.

6-8 are placed in the upper corner boxes of a lower cargo container, although for safety during work it is preferable to suspend the interconnection device under an upper cargo container, as was described above in connection with this embodiment. Although the invention is described with reference to a number of embodiments which are preferred for the present, and where the organ which, in addition to the turning action, is made up of a torsion spring, it is of course within the scope of the invention to use other organs to obtain the necessary turning action.

ning, e.g. compressed air, electric motors or the like to turn the through shaft 3 with its arrowhead-like heads 2, 13.

However, the described, purely mechanical form of operation seems to

make the cheapest and safest solution.

Claims (16)

1. Device for releasable vertical connection of goods containers, so-called "containers", between themselves and/or with a loading platform and made as a separate unit which includes a housing (1) and at least one rotatable locking device (2 or 13) which protrudes from the housing, and which in an initial position can be inserted in an elongated opening (14) in a corner fitting (11, 12) of the goods container (C), characterized in that the locking member (2, 13) rotates in a connection stage automatically when a further goods container (C) is joined with the one on a goods container or a loading platform placed connecting device by means of a body (4) which exerts a turning effect which is triggered by the joining and notifies the locking body (2) of a turning movement to a locking position in the corner trim, and that the locking body (2, 13) when disconnected in a release stage after activation is automatically turned by the body (4) to a position where the goods containers can be detached from each other. 2. Device as stated in claim 1, characterized in that the body (4) which exerts the turning effect is constituted by a torsion spring which can be biased from its inactive state to the aforementioned initial position, where the rotatable locking device (2) is biased for movement by half revolution. 3. Device as specified in claim 2, characterized in that the rotation of the locking device is triggered automatically when a further goods container is connected to the connection device by a trigger pin (7) is pulled into the housing to trigger the torsion spring's (4) turning action for turning the locking member (2) a quarter of a turn to the aforementioned locking position. 4. Device as specified in claim 3, characterized in that one end of the torsion spring (4) is immovably attached to the housing (1) and its other end is attached to a pin (5) connected to the shaft (3) of the locking member (2) or similar to transfer the turning effect of the torsion spring (4) to the locking device (2). 5. Device as stated in claim 4, characterized by a locking pin (6) or the like which is firmly connected to the shaft (3) of the locking member (2), and which is held in the pre-tensioned initial position by the said release pin (7), but when this is affected, can pass past the release pin (7) through a recess (8) formed in it. 6. Device as specified in claim 5, characterized by a release cam (15) or similar which is placed on the release pin (7) and is accessible through an opening (16) or similar in the housing (1) for manual maneuvering of the release pin ( 7) to. triggering of a turning movement a quarter of a turn for the locking device (2) from its connection position for the goods containers when a goods container is connected to the connection device, and that the pin (5) connected to the torsion spring (4) in this connection position rests against the release pin (7 ), while manual operation of the release cam (15) brings the release pin (7) to a position where the pin (5) connected to the torsion spring (4) can pass through the recess (8) in the release pin (7) and allow the locking member (2) to shaft (3) to turn to a position where the locking device (2) lies in line with the corner bracket's oblong opening (14) and the goods container can be released from the connecting device. 7. Device as specified in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, from the housing (1) of the connecting device designed as a separate unit, one locking device (2) extends in one direction and another locking device (2) in the opposite direction in order to enable the simultaneous connection of the connection device with two goods containers which are intended to be placed on top of each other with the connection device in between, while the two locking devices (2) are designed the same and are connected to each other by means of a common shaft (3) that passes through the housing . 8. Device as stated in one of claims 1-6, characterized in that only one locking member (2) extends from the housing (1), while the housing is provided on its opposite side with a projecting locking plate (9), bolt or similar that interacts with fixed guides (10) or similar on a loading platform for releasable connection of a goods container with the platform. 9. Device as specified in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (1) is made of two joined U-beam parts whose steps face each other, and which are mutually welded together at their contact lines and are reinforced with reinforcement rods welded together with each other (at lc) and with the flanges of the joined U-beam parts, at the same time that the through shaft (3) has its longitudinal axis oriented in the same direction as the reinforcement bars, and that a lift is attached to each of the aforementioned bars -handle (19). 10. Device as stated in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes an indicator to indicate that the interconnection device has been triggered, and that the goods container in question is interconnected with the interconnection device and thus with each other and/or a loading platform. 11. Device as stated in claim 10, characterized in that the indicator consists of an arm (21) which can be swung around a pivot shaft (23) and when the locking member (2, 13) is turned to the connecting position is affected by a cam, pin or the like (27) attached to the pivot shaft (3), to rotate to a position where it protrudes through an opening (22) in the housing (1). 12. Device as stated in claim 11, characterized by a compression spring (25) to bias the indicator (21) to the initial position, where the indicator shows that there is no connection. 13. Device as stated in claim 7, characterized in that the two arrowhead-like locking members (2, 13) which sit on the through shaft (3) and project in opposite directions from the housing (1), are angularly offset in relation to each other. 14. Device as stated in claim 13, characterized in that the angular displacement between the locking members (2, 13) is between 10 and 170°, preferably around 30°. 15. Device as stated in claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the locking devices (2, 3 and 13) of the connecting device in the pre-tensioned initial position are pre-tensioned for turning 180° in two different long steps selected depending on the desired angular displacement between the locking devices (2 , 13). 16. Device as stated in claim 15, characterized by the following turning steps for the locking members (2, 13) at an angular displacement of e.g. 30° between the locking devices (2, 13): First step to the interlocking position approximately 150° and the step to the release position for the goods container approximately 75°.