US3559943A - Container latch mechanism - Google Patents

Container latch mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3559943A
US3559943A US770994A US3559943DA US3559943A US 3559943 A US3559943 A US 3559943A US 770994 A US770994 A US 770994A US 3559943D A US3559943D A US 3559943DA US 3559943 A US3559943 A US 3559943A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
frame structure
latch mechanism
rod
specified
latch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US770994A
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English (en)
Inventor
Evan Hammond
Michael Lapaich
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Doosan Bobcat North America Inc
Original Assignee
Clark Equipment Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Clark Equipment Co filed Critical Clark Equipment Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3559943A publication Critical patent/US3559943A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61—RAILWAYS
    • B61D—BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES
    • B61D45/00—Means or devices for securing or supporting the cargo, including protection against shocks
    • B61D45/007—Fixing containers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P7/00—Securing or covering of load on vehicles
    • B60P7/06—Securing of load
    • B60P7/13—Securing freight containers or forwarding containers on vehicles
    • B60P7/132—Securing freight containers or forwarding containers on vehicles twist-locks for containers or frames

Definitions

  • a latch mechanism for latching either of two types of containers to a supporting structure Movement of the mechanism between the unlatched position and the latched position latches to the supporting structure whichever type of container has been placed thereon.
  • the mechanism includes a vertically disposed pivotal member which carries a latch head portion at one end thereof for latching one type of container. Also included in the mechanism is a detent which is arranged to project through an opening in a portion-of the supporting structure and into a mating opening in another type of container to latch it in position.
  • a latch mechanism which includes a frame structure and a vertically disposed pivotal member carried on the frame structure, the pivotal member carrying a latch head portion at one end thereof. Means are provided for pivoting the pivotal member between an unlatched position and a latched position. With one type of container the latch head portion engages or overlies a mating portion of the container and secures the container to the frame structure. There is a vertically projecting portion on the frame structure having an opening therethrough; and a detent is provided which extends through the said opening and into a mating opening in another type of container to secure such container to the frame structure.
  • FIG. 1 shows a side elevational view of a latch mechanism in accordance with this invention
  • FIG. 2 shows an end elevational view of the same mechanism after initial preparation for movement to the latched position
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the latch mechanism along the line 33 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is another end elevational view similar to FIG. 2, but with a portion of the mechanism turned to a different position;
  • FIG. 5 is an end view showing the latch mechanism turned to the latched position for one type of container
  • FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 5, but shows further movement to accomplish latching of another type of container.
  • FIG. 7 shows a top plan view which illustrates the mating latching parts of both types container DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • the preferred embodiment of the invention described and illustrated herein is for use in latching to a conveyance or other supporting structure either a USASI (United States of America Standards Institute) 20 foot container which is 20 feet long, 8 feet high, and 8 feet wide, or the 24 foot container which is utilized by the Matson Navigation Company which is 24 feet long, 8 and 9% feet high and 8 feet wide. It will be readily recognized, however, that the present latch mechanism can be utilized with equal facility with other containers.
  • USASI United States of America Standards Institute
  • the latch mechanism shown also may be utilized as a guide for locating the container on the supporting structure, but this is an optional feature and may be omitted if desired. However, this additional feature should be kept in mind as it will facilitate an understanding of the complete mechanism as disclosed herein.
  • the latch mechanism of this invention is indicated generally by the numeral 10. As shown, the mechanism 10 is mounted upon and partially within a bolster member indicated by the numeral 12. Such bolster may be, for example, a transversely extending frame or support member forming a portion of a semitrailer chassis adapted to transport containers over the highway. However, it will be understood that this invention is not limited to use with such a bolster member.
  • the latch mechanism of this invention may be mounted on any suitable frame or other structural member. and reference to frame" in some of the claims includes any such structural member.
  • the latch mechanism 10 as shown in FIG. 1 in the unlatched position and in the embodiment illustrated also serves in this position as a guide to assist in locating the container when it is deposited on the bolster
  • the latch mechanism includes a vertically disposed pintle member 14 which extends through openings in the upper and lower walls, or top and bottom, of bolster l2, and is pivotal about its vertically disposed axis through an angle of approximately
  • a latch head portion 16 which may be formed integrally with the pintle member, but in any event is rigidly secure thereto.
  • a lock nut 18 or equivalent means is utilized to secure the pintle member in position on the bolster 12.
  • the pintle member 14 extends up through a spacer or collar member 20 which is rigidly secured to the upper surface of bolster l2, and the purpose of this spacer is explained hereinafter.
  • the left margin of the bolster 12 is considered as the outer end thereof and is so referred to in this description.
  • the bolster includes a plate 22 which is preferably welded to the remainder of bolster 12 and thereby forms an integral part thereof.
  • the endplate 22 has a horizontal slot 24 which extends from the right edge (as seen in this view) into and a little past the center, that is, a little past a horizontal centerline through the pintle 14 which is indicated by the numeral 27 and extends longitudinally through the bolster.
  • the slot 24 extends enough past the centerline 27 to permit an operating member or rod 26 to extend longitudinally of the bolster through such slot, and through a suitable opening 13 in the pintle member 14; and in the position of FIG. I the rod 26 extends on through an opening 29 in a transverse brace member 28 extending between the upper and lower walls of the bolster member.
  • the brace member 28 has a key slot 30 therein at approximately a 55 angle with the vertical as indicated in the fragmentary view of FIG. 3.
  • a pin 32 extends through rod 26, and a compression spring 34 is provided to urge the outer end of rod 26 which carries the pin 32 away from pintle 14 at all times.
  • stop member 36 In the position of FIG. 1, the pin 32 is beyond the brace 28 and holds a plate or stop member 36, which is rigidly secured to rod 26, against the end of the bolster. The spacing between end 22 and brace 28 is such that stop member 36 is held rigidly against end 22 in this position. Stop member 36 has an outwardly flared portion 38 at the upper end thereof as seen in FIG. 1 which may serve as a guide for a container being lowered onto the bolster 12.
  • portion 38 can be omitted and pin 32 in the rod 26 and the slot 30 in the brace 28 likewise can be omitted because it is the pin 32 bearing against the brace 28 which holds guide portion 38 rigidly in position so that it will function as a guide and move the edge of the container toward the desired location as it is lowered onto the bolster.
  • the first action to be taken in order to move the latch mechanism from the unlatched position of FIG. 1 toward the latched position is to turn rod 26 approximately 55 counterclockwise as indicated in the end view of FIG. 2. This can be accomplished by grasping the handle portion 40 which is secured to rod 26 and stop 36. When the pin 32 lines up with the key slot 30 (see FIG. 3) the rod 26 then can be pulled outwardly of the end of the bolster, that is, to the left in FIG. 1, against the force of spring 34, until the pin 32 is beyond brace 28.
  • a projecting rod or detent member 42 which is secured to member 36 will abut the bottom surface of bolster 22 as illustrated in FIG. 2.
  • the handle 40 is then pulled out farther so that detent 42 will clear the end of the bolster and the handle 40 is then tuned counterclockwise an additional approximately 135 until 'member 36 has been inverted as indicated in FIG. 4 of the drawing.
  • the detent 42 is utilized to latch a container to a bolster 12 as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawing.
  • the latching mechanism includes an upwardly projecting portion 43 on one side of the bolster which preferably is welded to and forms an integral part of such bolster. and at the top of portion 43 in the form illustrated is a flared portion 45 which like flared portion mentioned previously serves as a guide for a container being lowered onto the bolster I2. Like flared portion 38, flared portion 45 is not essential and may be omitted if desired. In the upper part of the portion 43 but below the flared part 45 is an opening 44. Referring to FIG.
  • portion 43 like the end of the bolster also has a horizontal slot, such slot being indicated by the numeral 25 and communicating with the slot 24 in the end of the bolster and extending horizontally along the bolster sufficiently that the rod 26 can be pivoted from the longitudinal position of FIGv l and FIG. 2 approximately 90 to a transversely disposed position as illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • the handle 40 is grasped and the rod 26 is moved through the slot portions 24 and 25 in the end and side of the bolster, such movement pivoting pintle 14 approximately 90. It will be appreciated that it is necessary to pull out on handle 40 to compress spring 34 in order to move member 36 around the comer of the bolster to the position illustrated in FIG. 5.
  • FIG. 5 When the position of FIG. 5 is reached, the operator merely releases the handle 40 and the spring 34 acting against the pin 32 forces the mechanism into the latched position illustrated in FIG. 6. In this position the detent 42 extends through the member 43 and into a mating opening in the container thereby holding such container in position on the bolster.
  • FIG. 7 of the drawing which is actually a partial sectional view from above looking down on the latching mechanism with the containers in place, but the cross hatching has been omitted for purposes of clarity, and one of the containers is shown in dot-dash lines. The comer fitting of a Matson container is shown in solid lines in FIG.
  • the Matson comer fitting has an opening 50 which is sufficiently large that it is not engaged by the head portion 16 of the pintle member 14 and therefore the turning of such head portion has no effect on the Matson container.
  • the USASI container the corner fitting of which is indicated by the numeral 51, has an opening 52 which is slightly larger than the spacer and of the same shape, and the thickness of the bottom 53 of corner fitting 51 of the USASI container is slightly less than the height of spacer 20 and is such that when the pintle member is turned so that the head portion 16 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 7 and overlies bottom portion 53 the container is secured to the bolster.
  • FIGS. 8 through 11 of such patent which illustrate the operation of a similar latch for a USASI type container only, not including the features provided herein for optionally using a dual-purpose mechanism for latching a Matson container.
  • the housing 54 on the side of the bolster is to protect rod 26, pin 32 and spring 34 in the latched position, and the housing also helps to guide the rod 26 into the proper position to secure and maintain proper alignment of the mechanism in the latched position.
  • this latch mechanism can be moved from the latched to the unlatched position by the reverse of the procedure described herein, and it is believed that no detailed description of this is necessary.
  • the importance of the position illustrated in FIG. 2 should be mentioned in connection with the movement to the unlatched position.
  • the fact that detent 42 abuts the bottom of bolster 22 when pin 32 lines up with slot 30 is important. It will be appreciated that the operator cannot see pin 32 and slot 30 when he is operating the mechanism, but the arrangement mentioned, plus the location of the left end of slot 24 (as seen in FIG. 2) to align rod 26 with opening 29 in the brace 28,makes it possible readily to secure the necessary alignment of both the rod 26 and the pin 32 to move the mechanism back to the position of FIG. 1.
  • a latch mechanism comprising a frame structure, a vertically disposed pivotal member carried on the frame structure, a latch portion at one end of said pivoted member, means for pivoting the said pivotal member between an unlatched position and a latched position comprising an operating member and slot in the said frame structure through which the said operating member moves, the said frame structure having an opening therethrough separate from the said slot, and a detent carried on the said operating member which extends through the said opening in the latched position.
  • a latch mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which additional means are provided for releasably holding the mechanism rigidly in the unlatched position.
  • a latch mechanism as specified in claim 1 in which means are provided for releasably holding the said latch mechanism in the latched position.
  • a latch mechanism comprising a frame structure having top and bottom walls, an end wall and a sidewall, the said top and bottom walls having vertically aligned openings therein, a vertically disposed pintle member carried by the said frame structure and extending through the said openings, a latch head portion at the top end of said pintle member, the said pintle member having a horizontally disposed opening therethrough, a rod extending through the said opening and arranged for pivoting the said pintle member between an unlatched position and a latched position, the said side and end walls having slot portions through which the said rod member passes as it moves between unlatched and latched positions, a vertically projecting portion on the said frame structure having an opening therethrough separate from the said slot portions, and a detent carried by the said rod which extends through the said last mentioned opening in the latched position.
  • a latch mechanism as specified in claim 4 in which the said rod has secured thereto a stop member which abuts the end of the frame structure in the unlatched position and the side of the frame structure in the latched position.
  • a latch mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which the said rod has associated therewith a spring which urges the said stop member toward the said frame structure.
  • a latch mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which the said stop member has a guide portion thereon which projects upwardly above the frame structure in the unlatched position.
  • a latch mechanism as specified in claim 5 in which the said stop member has a handle portion secured thereto.
US770994A 1968-10-28 1968-10-28 Container latch mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3559943A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US77099468A 1968-10-28 1968-10-28

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3559943A true US3559943A (en) 1971-02-02

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US770994A Expired - Lifetime US3559943A (en) 1968-10-28 1968-10-28 Container latch mechanism

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US (1) US3559943A (es)
BE (1) BE740917A (es)
DE (1) DE1953813A1 (es)
ES (1) ES372934A1 (es)
FR (1) FR2021760A1 (es)
NL (1) NL6916255A (es)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1982001174A1 (en) * 1980-09-25 1982-04-15 Marine Prod Inc Meacham Retractable lift ring
US4630981A (en) * 1984-08-24 1986-12-23 Acf Industries, Incorporated Apparatus for restraining containers in a railway car
US6186563B1 (en) * 1995-04-04 2001-02-13 Galbreath, Inc. Apparatus and method for remotely locking and unlocking a transportable container

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1675033A (en) * 1927-04-11 1928-06-26 Lefkovitz Max Spring latch
US3159111A (en) * 1962-05-14 1964-12-01 Puilman Inc Container attachment device for railway cars
US3161151A (en) * 1961-10-12 1964-12-15 Youngstown Steel Door Co Flat cars and cradles therefor
US3220359A (en) * 1963-09-18 1965-11-30 Gen Am Transport Freight transportation systems
US3456967A (en) * 1967-08-17 1969-07-22 Fruehauf Corp Container coupler

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1675033A (en) * 1927-04-11 1928-06-26 Lefkovitz Max Spring latch
US3161151A (en) * 1961-10-12 1964-12-15 Youngstown Steel Door Co Flat cars and cradles therefor
US3159111A (en) * 1962-05-14 1964-12-01 Puilman Inc Container attachment device for railway cars
US3220359A (en) * 1963-09-18 1965-11-30 Gen Am Transport Freight transportation systems
US3456967A (en) * 1967-08-17 1969-07-22 Fruehauf Corp Container coupler

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1982001174A1 (en) * 1980-09-25 1982-04-15 Marine Prod Inc Meacham Retractable lift ring
US4354445A (en) * 1980-09-25 1982-10-19 Meacham Marine Products, Inc. Retractable lift ring
US4630981A (en) * 1984-08-24 1986-12-23 Acf Industries, Incorporated Apparatus for restraining containers in a railway car
US6186563B1 (en) * 1995-04-04 2001-02-13 Galbreath, Inc. Apparatus and method for remotely locking and unlocking a transportable container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL6916255A (es) 1970-05-01
DE1953813A1 (de) 1970-04-30
BE740917A (es) 1970-04-01
ES372934A1 (es) 1971-11-16
FR2021760A1 (es) 1970-07-24

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