NO20170922A1 - Lock system - Google Patents

Abstract

A locking system comprises an attachment structure (200), adapted for placement and mounting on a base (2), and a foundation structure (102). The attachment structure (200) and the foundation structure (102) have complementary designed elements (106; 203; 213; 214a, b) so that the foundation structure (102) can be placed on the attachment structure (200). The attachment structure (200) comprises movable locking means (205; 207, 208) designed for simultaneous engagement with respective receiving devices (108) on the foundation structure (102). The foundation structure (102) is designed to carry a payload (101), such as a tank, container or the like. The substrate (2) can be an ISO flatbed, car loading plane or ship's deck. The locking system can be used for the transport of live fish.

Description

Lock system

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a locking system and system for transporting a payload.

The invention is particularly suitable for the transport of live fish, but is also very well suited for the transport of other cargo.

The background of the invention

The need for the transport of live fish has increased in line with the growth in the farming industry. It concerns the movement of fish such as salmon fry, smolt, trout, halibut, cod, roe bream, wrasse and turbot between commercial farming operators, research institutions and cultivation facilities. This can often involve transport over long distances, along the entire Norwegian coast and in Europe. Transport of live fish is increasingly carried out by road, in tankers. An advantage of tanker transport compared to transport in a well boat is a reduced risk of the spread of infection carriers. In addition, the aquaculture industry's and the authorities' demands for fish welfare, documentation and quality are constantly increasing, and the tankers are therefore equipped for monitoring and regulating important environmental parameters to ensure optimal fish welfare during transport.

Today, tanker transport takes place by transferring the fish into the car's tank from cages or vessels. When the tanker arrives at its destination, the fish is transferred out of the tank and into tanks on boats, which in turn transport the fish out to the plants. Here for another round of transfer to cages. Either by the fish being rinsed/transferred out using the water and the fish's "self-fall", via hoses/pipes, or by being pumped out. The pump systems can be based on vacuum pumps, mammoth pumps, ejector pumps or centrifugal pumps, and are designed to move a mixture of water and fish. Such pump devices and pipe/hose arrangements are stressful for the fish and can also cause damage to the fish. It is an object of the invention to reduce or remove these disadvantages.

Summary of the invention

The invention is stated and characterized in the independent patent claim, while the non-independent patent claims indicate other characteristics of the invention.

A locking system has thus been produced, comprising an attachment structure, adapted for placement and mounting on a base, and a foundation structure; where the fixing structure and the foundation structure have complementary designed elements so that the foundation structure can be placed on the fixing structure; where the attachment structure comprises movable locking means designed for simultaneous engagement with respective receiving devices on the foundation structure.

In one embodiment, the movable locking means are designed for simultaneous engagement with respective receiving devices on a plurality of foundation structures.

In one embodiment, the attachment structure comprises a plurality of primary sections, and each primary section is adapted to support one or more foundation structures.

In one embodiment, each primary section is provided with a plurality of openings, and the movable locking means comprise a plurality of locking pawls which are arranged to move between a locking position where at least one locking pawl is at a respective opening, and a non-locking position where the locking pawl is further away from the opening than in the locking position.

Each receiving device has a portion that engages with the locking pawl when in the locking position, whereby the foundation structure is releasably attached to the attachment structure.

The movable locking means may comprise one or more actuators.

In one embodiment, the foundation structure is designed to carry a payload, such as a tank, container or the like.

In one embodiment, the foundation structure and the payload are attached to each other, so that both units can be lifted together via lifting lugs on the payload. The substrate can be an ISO sheet, car loading plan, ship's deck, or other substrate.

The locking system according to the invention is particularly suitable for transporting live fish. The fish can be sluiced in and out of the tank in a gentle way, without the use of pumps, and the tank can be quickly and safely placed on, and removed from, the fixing frame.

The invention enables a transfer of the tanks with fish from car to boat, without the fish having to be moved/transferred from the tanks they came with, and then transporting the tanks with the fish out to the cages for unloading directly from the tanks. The biggest advantage of this way of transporting/handling the fish is reduced stress for the fish, and thus the achievement of far better fish welfare and increased survivability. The invention also saves time and operations. This means a lot, both financially and in terms of safety.

The invention shall not be limited to tanks with fish, but may also include other types of cargo and containers.

Brief description of the drawings

The above and other characteristics of the invention will be further explained in the following description of an embodiment of the invention, presented as a non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of an embodiment of the invention, where six tanks (containers) are releasably mounted on a mounting frame on an ISO flatbed;

Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1, but the tanks have been removed and the mounting frame is shown;

Figure 3 is a perspective drawing of the attachment frame;

Figure 4 shows the attachment frame shown in Figure 3, from one side;

Figure 5 shows the attachment frame shown in Figure 3, from above;

Figure 6 is a perspective drawing of a frame section of a first type;

Figure 7 is a perspective drawing of a frame section of a second type;

Figures 8a and 8b are exploded views of the mounting frame as shown in Figure 3 (the two figures are partially overlapping so that, for example, the frame section of the second type is shown in both figures);

Figure 9 shows part of a locking strut, seen from one side;

Figure 10a shows part of the fastening frame seen from the underside, in an unlocked position;

Figure 10b is a perspective drawing showing part of the mounting frame, obliquely from the underside, in an unlocked position;

Figure 11a shows part of the fastening frame seen from the underside, in a locked position;

Figure 11b is a perspective drawing showing part of the mounting frame, obliquely from the underside, in a locked position;

Figure 12a is an enlargement of section B in Figure 10b;

Figure 12b is an enlargement of section C in Figure 11b;

Figure 13 shows an embodiment of the container seen from one side, showing a long side;

Figure 14 shows an embodiment of the container seen from one side, and shows a short side, as well as enlargements of the upper and lower corner parts;

Figure 15 is a perspective drawing of a base for the container;

Figure 16 shows an embodiment of the base seen from one side, and shows a long side;

Figure 17 shows the section A-A in Figure 4;

Figure 18 is a perspective drawing, where certain parts have been cut away for illustration purposes, of the base placed on and locked to the mounting frame; and

Figure 19 is an enlargement of section D in Figure 18.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The following description will use terms such as "horizontal", "vertical", "sideways", "back and forth", "up and down", "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer", "forward" , "back", "bottom", "top", etc. These terms mainly refer to the perspectives and positions shown in the drawings and which are associated with a normal use of the invention. The terms are only used to facilitate the reading of the description and should not be restrictive.

The system according to the invention comprises one or more tanks 100 which can be connected to and from the fixing frame 200. Figure 1 shows six tanks 100 which are designed to transport live fish. Each tank is provided with an upper hatch 110 which may also include equipment for water treatment, monitoring and control of environmental parameters (e.g. oxygen and pH values, etc.) in the tank, and a lower hatch 111. However, the invention shall not is limited to such tanks, but may also include other cargo types. In what follows, the fish tank 100 will therefore be referred to as a container 100. In figure 1, the six containers 100 are placed on a loading plane 2, which can for example be a transport bed with ISO fasteners. Such transport pallets, so-called ISO pallets, are well known and therefore need not be described further here.

In Figure 2, the containers have been removed so that the fixing frame 200 is shown. The fixing frame 200 is mounted on the ISO sheet in a manner known per se and therefore does not need to be described further here. It should also be understood that the attachment frame 200 can be mounted on other substrates than an ISO flatbed, such as fixed loading platforms, railway carriages, ship and barge decks.

An embodiment of the fastening frame 200 will now be described with reference to Figures 3 to 12b.

In the embodiment shown (see Figures 3, 4, 5), the attachment frame 200 comprises three frame sections 201a-c of a first type, hereinafter referred to as main section 201, and one frame section 202 of a second type, hereinafter referred to as actuator section 202. In the figures, a first main section 201a connected together with the actuator section 202 on one side, a second main section 201b connected together with the actuator section 202 on the other side, and a third main section 201c connected together with the second main section 201b. The sections can be interconnected in a manner known per se. It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the number of frame sections or to the order of connection. A fixing frame can therefore comprise one or more main sections.

Figure 6 shows the main section 201 and Figure 7 shows the actuator section 202. In these figures, the sections are shown without other components (these components will be described below). Both the main section 201 and the actuator section 202 are provided with several recesses 204; in the embodiment shown arranged in two rows along the section's two side edges. The recesses (hereinafter also referred to as openings) 204 extend a distance into the section's horizontal (upper) surface 213 and a distance into the section's two side walls 214a,b, and thus embrace both a horizontal and a vertical part of the section. The distance between adjacent openings 204 is indicated by the reference symbol d1 in figures 6 and 7. It should be noted that the figures are not to the same scale.

As shown i.a. in figure 6, the main section 201 is equipped with brackets 203, which may be welded or bolted to the main section. The braces 203 are arranged in pairs, shown as 203a,b in figure 6, and serve to rest against the base of the container (see e.g. figures 18 and 19). The braces will therefore be referred to below as container supports 203. On the basis of Figures 1 and 6, it will be understood that two containers 100 can be placed on one main section 201.

Figures 8a and 8b are exploded views showing the attachment frame 200 in further detail. Only components that are considered essential for understanding the invention are described. You will see that the two figures are partially overlapping; for example, actuator section 202 is shown in both figures. Attached to the actuator section 202 are two actuators 205. In the embodiment shown, the actuators are pneumatic actuators which are supplied with compressed air from an external source (not shown), for example the compressed air system on a car carrying the ISO bed. Connection hoses are not shown, as such arrangements are well known to a person skilled in the art. It should be understood that the actuator section may include more or fewer actuators than what is shown in the figures, and that other actuator types (e.g. electric, hydraulic) may be used. Although it is not shown in the figures, it should also be understood that the actuators 205 can be placed in one or more of the main sections 201, so that the actuator section 202 can be removed. However, it should also be understood that the actuator section can serve as a foundation for other equipment, such as oxygenation and/or monitoring systems for the contents of the container. This can be placed in the space between the containers shown in Figure 1. Figures 8a,b also show a number of frame clips 206, which are used to attach the sections to the substrate (e.g. the ISO sheet) 2.

Along each long side of the sections, braces are arranged, hereinafter referred to as locking braces. The locking rods are adapted to the length of the section and connected together in the axial direction in a well-known way. The locking rods are mounted on the underside of the sections, mainly along the side walls 214a,b, and are mounted in guide bearings 211 so that they can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the section, as indicated by the double arrow in Figure 8a. The first main section 201a (as well as the other main sections) is thus provided with two locking rods which are longer than the two locking rods with which the actuator section is provided. As the locking rods perform the same function and are in principle the same regardless of length, they are all given the reference number 208.

Each locking rod 208 is equipped with locking pawls 207, mounted parallel to the locking rod's longitudinal axis and at a distance a from the locking rod's surface (see figure 9). The locking pawls 207 are mounted on the locking rod 208 via a stem 212, by welding or in another known and appropriate way. The location of the locking rods 208 and the locking pawls 207 in the guide bearings 211 and in relation to the section's upper surface 213 and side walls 214a,b is also illustrated in figure 17, which shows the section A-A in figure 4.

Number of locking posts 207 per locking struts, and the distance d2 between adjacent locking posts, corresponds to the number of openings 204 per section 201, 202 and the distance d1 between adjacent openings 204 (see Figures 6 and 7).

The actuators 205 are connected to the interconnected locking rods (a row of interconnected locking rods on each side of the section) via an actuator coupling 210. The two rows of interconnected locking rods can therefore be moved back and forth using the actuators. This is illustrated in figures 10a-12b. Figures 11a and 11b show the actuators 205 in a retracted position, and it appears from these figures (as well as Figure 12b) that the locking pawls 207 are located at respective openings 204. This will be referred to below as a locked position. Figures 10a and 10b show the actuators 205 in an extended position, and it is clear from these figures (as well as Figure 12a) that the locking pawls 207 have been removed from the openings 204. This will be referred to below as an unlocked, or open, position. The two rows of locking rods are thus retracted in Figures 10a and 10b, compared to the position in the locked position.

An embodiment of the container 100 will now be described with reference to Figures 13-16. In the illustrated embodiment, the container is a tank 101 which is made of a light but strong material, for example reinforced glass fibre. The tank 101 is placed on a plinth 102 which is made of steel or aluminum plates, and is attached to the plinth with four continuous struts, hereinafter referred to as lifting struts 104. Other fastening means are possible. As figure 14 shows, each lifting rod 104 runs from the upper surface of the tank 101, through the tank (possibly in a separate continuous channel in the tank) and down through respective parts of the base 102. The lifting rod 104 is fixed at the lower end (in the base) with a thread -and-nut connection, and at the upper end (on the upper surface of the tank) in a lifting eye 103. The container 100 (i.e. the tank 101 and the base 102) can thus be lifted via the lifting eyes 103, with the help of a crane or Eq. (not shown) in a known manner. It should be understood that the tank 101 can be replaced by another type of payload, and that this payload and the base can be one unit.

The base 102 comprises legs 107 which are adapted to support the weight of the base and payload when these are placed on a base. Furthermore, the base 107 is provided with structural elements 106, which in the following will be referred to as fork pockets because they have openings where the forks of a forklift can be inserted. The plinth and payload can thus be lifted by a forklift. The fork pockets 106 also serve to stiffen the base and as attachment structures for locking brackets 108. In the embodiment shown, there are four locking brackets 108 per plinth. The locking brackets 108 are provided with holes 112 with a diameter that is at least larger than the diameter of the locking pawl 207. The distance f1 between two opposite locking brackets (more specifically the holes 112; see figure 16) corresponds to the distance f2 between the rows of locking posts on the respective rows of interconnected locking stays on each side of the sections (see figures 10a and 17).

It is understood from the foregoing that the locking pawls 207 can be pushed into respective locking brackets 108 when the payload and base are placed on a section 201. Such a locked position is shown in figures 18 and 19, where some parts have been cut away for illustration purposes. For example, reference numeral 106' indicates a portion of one of the above fork pockets 106, and reference numeral 108' in Figure 19 shows a locking bracket without the entire fork pocket to which it is normally attached. In Figure 19, it is clearly shown how the locking pawls 207 are guided through the hole (112 in Figure 16) in respective locking brackets 108. When the locking pawls are in this position, the base 102 (with payload, e.g. a fish tank or other container) is locked to the main section 202. When the locking pawls are retracted to the unlocked position, the plinth with payload can be lifted off the main section (and consequently the mounting frame).

When several containers are placed on a mounting frame, e.g. as shown in Figure 1, with the help of the system according to the invention, it will be possible to lock and release all the containers at the same time, by operating one or more actuators to move the rows of locking rods (and consequently the mounted locking pawls) forwards or backwards. This facilitates loading and unloading of containers. The system can include sensors that emit an alarm if the locking pawls are not inserted into the holes 112, so that one will know that all the containers are securely locked to the mounting frame when the actuator has moved a predetermined distance.

An expert will understand which materials and dimensions are necessary for e.g. to transport live fish in fish tanks placed on an ISO flatbed. As an example, the locking pawls can have a diameter of 20mm and be made of stainless steel and the locking brackets of 15mm thick aluminum plate. But the invention shall not be limited to specific dimensions or materials.

Claims (10)

Patent claims 1. Lock system, comprehensive - an attachment structure (200), adapted for placement and mounting on a base (2), and a foundation structure (102); - where the fixing structure (200) and the foundation structure (102) have complementary designed elements (106; 203; 213; 214a,b) so that the foundation structure (102) can be placed on the fixing structure (200); - where the attachment structure (200) comprises movable locking means (205; 207, 208) designed for simultaneous engagement with respective receiving devices (108) on the foundation structure (102). 2. Locking system as stated in claim 1, where the movable locking means (205; 207, 208) are designed for simultaneous engagement with respective receiving devices (108) on a plurality of foundation structures (102). 3. Locking system as stated in claim 1 or claim 2, where a fixing structure (200) comprises a plurality of primary sections (201a-c), and each primary section is adapted to support one or more foundation structures (102). 4. Locking system as stated in claim 3, where each primary section (201a-c) is provided with a plurality of openings (204), and the movable locking means comprise a plurality of locking pawls (207) which are arranged to be moved between a locking position where in at least one locking pawl (207) is at a respective opening (204), and a non-locking position where the locking pawl is further away from the opening than in the locking position. 5. Locking system as stated in claim 4, where the receiving devices (108) have a part (112) that engages with the locking pawl (207) when it is in the locking position, whereby the foundation structure (102) is releasably attached to the attachment structure (200) . 6. Locking system as stated in any one of claims 1-5, where the movable locking means comprise at least one actuator (205). 7. Locking system as stated in any one of claims 1-6, where the foundation structure (102) is designed to carry a payload (101), such as a tank, container or the like. 8. Locking system as stated in claim 7, where the foundation structure (102) and the payload (101) are attached to each other, so that both units can be lifted together via lifting lugs (103) on the payload. 9. A locking system as set forth in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the substrate (2) is an ISO flatbed, car loading plan or ship's deck. 10. Application of the locking system as set forth in any one of claims 1-9, for the transport of live fish.