US3578374A - Container coupler arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highway trailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, sea or air transport means, an upper between-the-containers compression spacer block and a lower tension coupler between the containers wherein the lower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in the corner fittings of tandem containers in locked and unlocked positions, key means slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing and contained thereby for each clamp for rotating each clamp about an axis and moving each clamp independently of the other clamp along such axis between locked and unlocked positions and including complementary tooth means on the clamp and on the key means for clamp rotation and the key means having key wedge portions for moving each clamp axially and for limiting rotation of each locked clamp, and, key holder means for retaining the key means in the locked position in the housing.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor John J. Glassmeyer Covington, Ky. [21 Appl. No. 826,852 [22] Filed May 22, 1969 [45] Patented May 11, 1971 [73] Assignee Pullman Incorporated Chicago, Ill.

[54] CONTAINER COUPLER ARRANGEMENT 31 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 294/67, 24/221, 220/234, 280/415, 287/2, 294/83 [51] Int. Cl 1366c l/l0 [50] Field of Search 24/221; 220/23.4; 280/415; 287/2; 294/67, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,972,175 6/1959 Abolins 24/221 3,365,229 12/1965 Hitch et a1. 294/67 3,456,967 8/ 1967 Tantlinger et al 287/2 FOREIGN PATENTS 646,389 8/1962 Canada Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.lohnny D. Cherry Attorneysl-lilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT: For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highway trailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, sea or air transport means, an upper between-the-containers compression spacer block and a lower tension coupler between the containers wherein the lower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in the comer fittings of tandem containers in locked and un- -locked positions, key means slidable inwardly and outwardly PATENTEU MAY! 1 I9?! saw 1 BF 5 IN VE N TOR PATENTEU m1 1 Ian sum 3 {IF 5 INVENTOR JOHN J. GLASSMEYER PATENTED HAYI 1 I97! SHEET 4 OF 5 PATENTED RAY] 1 I97! v sum 50F 5 3'578'374 JOHN J. GLASSMEYER M g-W CONTAINER COUPLER ARRANGEMENT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to container coupling devices and in particular relates to coupler means for coupling two containers together in tandem relation in order to hoist the containers between various container transporting means such as between a highway trailer and a railroad car or an aircraft or ship and vice versa. The tandem coupled containers may be coupled at thebottom while a spacer block or compression member is placed between the containers at the top and then hoisting means, such as hoist lines, may be connected to the outward facing upper corner fittings of each container as, for instance, shown in US. Pat. No. 3,365,229 to R. A. Hitch et al. and which patent is hereby incorporated by reference. The top compression member need only be hooked to one container and free of or in uncoupled relation with respect to the other container, but the lower coupler means is to be coupled or locked to and between each of the containers at their comer fittings.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide for a coupling arrangement for coupling containers together in tandem relation wherein there is provided a compression member between the facing top sides of the container, and a coupling unit is connected to each set of facing comer fittings of the two tandem connected containers such that the pair of coupler means at the bottom of the containers are rotated and axially moved relative to the containers between locked and unlocked positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a bottom container cou'pler having axially spaced independently rotatable and axially movable clamp elements selectively oriented in and out of locking relation with a respective comer fitting of a set of tandem coupled containers.

A further object is to provide for key means in the coupler for rotating the clamp part of the coupler for reception into a corner fitting and wherein the keying means is provided with wedging surfaces for axially moving the clamp part against the inside of the container comer fitting for tight locking of the containers together.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a coupler that has key holder or retainer means for holding the keys in locked position within the housing portion of the coupler or, in the alternate, to be used to pry the key means from the locked coupler position to the unlocked coupler position whereby the coupler may be removed from its tandem coupled container position.

These and other objects, advantages and purposes will become apparent from reference to the following description, appended claims and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is illustrative of a pair of coupled together containers in the process of being hoisted from a trailer means and employing the novel container'tandem coupler;

a coupler housing adapted for placement between a pair of tandem units and adapted to engage respective recesses in each of the units attendant'to coupling of the units aligned FIG. 3 is an end view of the bottom coupler means showing a clamp in the locked position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective end view of the tandem container coupler;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the tandem container coupler;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the coupler with the key holder or retainer means mounted thereon;

FIG.'9 is a plan view of the coupler and coupler retainer arrangement;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the coupler and coupler retainer arrangement; and

FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings and particularly with reference to FIG. I, there is shown a pair of coupled together containers, 1 and 2, the containers being in end-to-end longitudinally placed tandem relation with respect to one another. The forward and rearward containers, 1 and 2, are mounted on the trailer underframe or chassis 3 which has a forward landing gear 4 in the down position and a rear bogie arrangement 5. The fore and aft containers, 1 and 2, may be coupled together while being mounted on this frame or chassis 3 but bottom coupler means 6 located at the lower facing comer fittings 8 of each container and a compression block means or spacer 7 may be located between the tops of the containers at their respective corner fittings 8. Each lower comer fitting 8 is of standardized construction. Since the containers, 1 and 2, are coupled together at their bottom facing portions, a crane hoist line 9 (schematically shown) may be attached to each of the lower outer comer fittings 8 of each container whereby the container may be hoisted from the trailer chassis onto a railroad car, a ship or an aircraft, etc. This general arrangement is known, as, for instance, in the aforementioned US Pat. No. 3,365,229. By such a method of coupling the two containers together longitudinally, one large container is formed, for instance: two 20-foot containers may be coupled to permit handling as a 40-foot container.

With reference to FIG. 2, it is seen that each of the top corner fittings of each of the containers that face one another includes a cavity 10 and is provided with a side aperture 11 and a rear aperture 12, a horizontal outer support bar 13 and a vertical outer wall 14 and a vertical sidewall 15 and a horizontal outer wall 16 with an opening 17. The aperture 12 in the vertical end wall 14 of each lower corner fitting 8 is elongated in shape having a vertical axis of greater extent than the horizontal axis, that is, the hole is vertically elongated relative to its horizontal width for purposes to be described later. The other lower corner fittings 8 are similarly constructed. The compression block member or spacer 7 is adapted by means of its hook element 18 to couple to the horizontal bar 13 of an upper corner casting orfitting 8 while the block portion 19 is located outwardly-and rests against the vertical wall 14 of the upper corner fitting 8. The blockportion 19 has a horizontal transverse extent approximate its vertical extent and its horizontal longitudinal extent. A spacer element 7 is inserted in to'each of the two facing comer fittings 8 of one container so as to have the outside vertical surface 20 of the block 19 abut the vertical wall 14 of the adjacent corner fitting of the other container. It is to be noted that the spacer does not couple the containers together but merely acts as a compression member between each of the facing corners of each of the containers thus requiring two spacers for a pair of the 20-foot containers. The hook element 18 comprises a vertically,extending hook portion 21, and a top transversely extending arm or crossmember 22 extends generally the transverse extent or width of the recessl0 and rests against the inside of thetransverse horizontal crossarm 1 3. The upper spacer 7 is a compression device and is a steel casting, having the generally blocklike appearance with the hook-shaped protuberance 18 on one side. When the upper spacer isplaced in a container comer fitting, it cannot possibly fall out and can be removed only by raising upward on the block element or section 19 until the hook section I8can he slid out of the aperture 12 in an upper comer fitting 8. The upper compression member 7 acts only in compression and not in tension as distinguished from the spacer or upper coupler member shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,365,299 which latter coupler does couple the top portions of the container together.

A pair of lower couplers 6 are'provided between the lower corners of each the containers, 1 and 2, that face one another and are, therefore, inner lower corners 8 as distinguished from the outer corners which are on opposite spaced apart ends of the respective containers, 1 and 2. Each lower coupler 6 is a tension coupling device and it actually couples the containers together for taking compression and tensile forces but in the arrangement shown in FlG. 1 where the containers are hoisted as a unit, the pair of lower couplers connecting each lower side end portion of the containers together acts only in tension. Each lower coupler 6 comprises a two-piece cast steel housing 23 (the two separate housing sections or pieces 24 and 25 being welded together), key means 26 including two steel keys 27 and 28, clamp means 29 for operating by the key means, the clamp means being two cast steel doorknobshaped clamps 30 and 31, and a key holder or retainer bar means 32. The clamp means 29 is movably constrained within the housing 23 and is moved rotatably and axially by the key means 26 whereby the clamp means 29 is locked against the inside of the wall 14 of each of the containers for locking them together and maintained in this locked condition by the key retainer means 32. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, the interior of the housing 23 has an annularly shaped central chamber 33 having a central reduced portion 34 which I reciprocally receives the wedge or inclined clamp portion 35 of each of the clamp elements 30 and 31 and having a pair of enlarged chamber portions 36 on either side of the reduced portion 34 for slidably receiving key members 27 and 28 and having a pair of further reduced outer end chamber portions 37 through which extend the shank clamp portions 38 of the clamp elements 30-and 31. The interior of the housing 23 further has key-engaging surfaces or housing shoulder portions 39 at the upper and lower inside wall surfaces of the side 40 of the housing 23, the side 40 of housing section 24 being the location at which the key members 27 and 28 move inwardly and outwardly of, as seen, for instance, in F IGS. 6 or 7. The housing 23 also has key exiting vertically elongated rectangular apertures 41 for each of the keys 27 and 28 and is also provided with round apertures 42 formed by the reduced portions 37 for letting the clamp shanks 38 extend outwardly of the housing, the housing portions 37 in conjunction with the housing portion 34 rotatably journaling the shank 38 and wedge 35 of each of the clamps. The housing section 25 has a side 43, as seen in FIG. 4, provided with a retainer bar aper ture 44 and has openings or rectangular slots 45 which are vertically elongated and communicate with the chambers or central reduced portion 34 whereby the keys 27 and 28 may be withdrawn completely within the housing 23. The side 46 of each of the housing sections 24 and 25 that face the containers are provided with an elongated centrally annular protuberance 47 which defines the bore 37. The protuberance 47 is formed by a'lug structure 48 on each section 24 and 25 and when these lug sections 48, 48 are brought together they define the protuberance or corner casting entering member 47. The central part of each lug section 48 is in the shape of a semicircular lug section 48a and the upper and lower ends of each lug section 48 form projections 48b, the lug sections 48b of each of the housing sections 24 and 25 forming the projections 47 for entrance into the end or rear aperture 12 in a respective comer fitting. The sections 48a and 48b of the lug structure 48 of each section 24 or 25 that form the protuberance 47 are best seen in FIG. 7.

The clamps 30 and 31 of the clamp means 29 are best seen in FIGS. 4, 5 and 7. The keys 27 and 28 rotate the clamps 30 and 31 90 respectively but in opposite direction to one another as indicated by the arrows in F lG. 7. Each clamp 30 or 31 is similar in construction to the other except that they face outwardly of one another from the side 46 of the housing 23 and so description of one will suffice for the other. The clamp member 30, as previously mentioned, has the shank portion 38 which is an annular shaft portion upon which are located serrations or teeth 49; for engagement with its respective key 27, the teeth 49.0f the clamp 31 cooperating with the key 28. The clamp element 30 is further provided with an elongated outer fiat clamp portion 50 and an inner wedge or inclined clamp portion or cam portion 35 as previously mentioned. The cam portion 35 is generally elliptical in its peripheral camming surface 51 and has an outer wall or surface 52 which is generally flat and vertical and has an opposed inner slope or wedging surface 53 which cooperates withits respective key upon rotation thereby to move the clamp 30 axially of itself or in a direction inward into the aperture 12 of a respective comer fitting 8, that is to say, that the wedging surface 53 is wider at the top and tapers to be narrower at the bottom when the clamp portion 50 is in a vertical position where the elongation of the clamp portion 50 extends vertically for entrance into the aperture 12 of the comer fitting. The clamp portion 50 of the clamp 30 or 31 that enters the aperture 12 in a comer fitting has an elongate body having pyramid or tapering sides 50a which converge to form an apex 50b, as seen in FIG. 4, for instance. In the unlocked nonrotated position these flats 50a, 50a extend vertically and are elongated. The clamp portion is further defined by double sides or ends 50c which oppose one another and are at right angles to sides 50a, 50a. As will be noted in FlG. 4, the inside or back side surface 50d of each clamp portion 50 attached to the shaft portion 38 is flat for engagement with the flat inside wall 54 of the corner fitting 8. The key 27 extends outwardly of the housing 23 and the head clamp portion 50 has its elongate surfaces 50a extending vertically with the back surface 50d being away from the inside wall 54 of the corner fitting 8 whereas the head portion 50 of the clamp element 31 has its pyramid sides 50a horizontal with the flat back wall 50d engaging with the inside wall 54 of the corner casting and the key 28 extended completely within the housing 23. Thus, not only is the clamp 31 rotated 90 but it is drawn inwardly toward the housing 23 and in engagement with the corner casting wall as distinguished from the clamp 30.

The key members 27 and 28 are selectively receivable independently of one another within the housing 23 by way of entrant portions or apertures 41 as seen in Fig. 7. Each key 27 or 28 is similarly constructed to the other except that the tooth locking portion and antirotating ledge portion of one key are located l 49 in a vertical position form those on the other key, as will be readily apparent from studying FIG. 7. Therefore, a description of one key 27 will suffice for the other key 28 wherein the same references may be used for like parts on either key, since one of the keys may be rotated 180 and then be identical in construction to the other. Also, each clamp 30 or 31 is identical to the other in construction but is so positioned that its camming portion faces the other with the camming portion of the left-hand clamp, as viewed in FlG. 7, being wider at the top and the camming portion of the righthand clamp 31, as viewed in FIG. 7, being narrower at the top. By this arrangement of the respective keys and clamps, the clamps may be rotated by the keys to prevent withdrawal of the clamps by the corner fittings with the advantage that the clamps and the keys are interchangeable since they are identical in construction except that they must be properly oriented within the housing for locking and unlocking of the clamps 30 and 31.

The key 27 is a generally upright or vertical plate structure 55 including a handle or grasping plate portion 56 which is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with a generally centrally located tool or hand grasping aperture 57 extending through its sides and is provided with upper and lower notch portions 58 equally spaced from its top and bottom surfaces to permit 180 rotation of the key and still permit the retaining bar means 32 to engage either of the notches 58, as will later be explained. The plate portion has extending from it in an inward direction into the housing 23, vertically spaced upper and lower key arm portions 59 and 60. The upper key arm portion has an elongated bar or toothed runner 61 and a horizontally extending wedge portion 62. The runner 61 has downwardly projecting teeth 63 for engagement with teeth 49 for rotation of the latter. The wedge portion 62 engages with the inside surface 53 of the cam clamp portion 35 of the clamp 30 and since the wedge 62 has an inwardly extending inwardly tapering surface 62a as the key moves inward in rotating the clamp portion 50, the entire clamp 30 is also moved axially of itself inwardly into the housing 23 for snug engagement of the clamp portion 50 against the inside of the rear wall of a comer fitting. The lower key arm portion is also provided with a wedge portion 62 and a tapered surface 62a to complement the action of the upper wedge with its tapered surface and the lower key arm portion 60 is also provided with a runner 64 which, in conjunction with the upper runner, guides the key 27 into the entranceway 41 and the chamber 36. The lower runner 64 also has on top of it a locking wedge 65 which presents a flat surface to be spaced adjacent to the cutout or flat 380 on the clamp 30 or 31. This flat 38a on the shank clamp portion 38 is 90 from the teeth 49 on the shank portion 38 so that when the affected clamp 30 or 31 is rotated from the unlocked position to the'locked position, the flat or surface 38a is placed opposite the locking wedge surface 65a, the latter then preventing rotation of the clamp 30 or 31 in the locked position thereof. Either of the keys may be manually pushed or, by means of a hook, passed through aperture 57, then pushed into the housing 23 and may be similarly removed by grasping the aperture 57 because of the semicircular cutouts 57a provided in the entrant part of the housing portion 24 of the housing 23, as seen in H0. 7.

The key holder or retainer bar means 32 is best seen in FIGS. 2, 8, 9 and 10. The purpose of the retainer bar means is to hold the keys within the housing in the locked position whereby the containers are held to one another at their lower facing ends for transferring the containers in tandem relation from one place to another or from one form of transportation to another. The holder or retainer means 32 comprises generally an elongated rectangularly shaped bar member 66 having a generally C-shaped clamp or key fastener 67 attached to one end 68 (see FIG. 8) by bolt 69, the lower inwardly directed horizontal end flange 70 of the C-shaped clamp 67 being nestled in one of the upper or lower sets of notches 58 in the keys 27 and 28 to retain both keys within the housing 23. .In this regard it is to be noted that the entrant end of the housing section 24 is provided with an L-shaped notched out portion 440 more or less directly opposite of the aperture 44 in the housing section 25, the L-shaped notched out portion 44a cooperating with either of the upper or lower notches 58 of each key 27 and 28 to receive the clamp flange 70. Below the L-shaped notch portion 440 is the semicircular or quarter-round-shaped notch 57b which cooperates with open end apertures 57a to expose the apertures 57 in each of the keys 27 and 28 to the hand or other means for jointly pulling out both keys 27 and 28 in unison. Another L-shaped notch 44a is provided in the lower entrant end part of the housing section 24 permitting the housing section 24 to be rotated 180 in either direction for the end flange 70 to contact either of the notches 44a, 44a. The retainer bar mounts in journals 71 fixed on top of the bar and intermediate its ends an S-shpaed plunger 72, as seen in FIG. 8. The plunger 72 is in the form of a rod and has a horizontal bar portion 73 extending toward the other end 74 of the bar and above the bar and has a vertical portion 75 facing toward the end 68 of the-bar and extending through an opening 76 in the bar downwardly below the bar and connecting with a horizontal end portion 77 of the plunger which portion 77 is directed toward the end 68 and extends into the aperture 44 in the section of the housing 23 and is in general alignment with the clamp flange 70 cooperating therewith to clamp or retain the keys 27 and 28 within the housing 23. The spring 78 is around the portion 73 between seat means 79a fixed on horizontal portion 73 and the other of the trunnions or journals 71 and the other inner journal 71 urging the plunger toward the C-shaped clamp 67 to snugly hold the keys within the housing. A plunger release ring or handle 78 is provided at the end of the horizontal portion 73 to withdraw the plunger from the opening 44. The retaining bar may also be used as a prying member, for it is provided with cylindrical-shaped laterally opposed lug portions 79 carried by arms 80 that form a cross with the elongated bar 66. The lug or prying portions 79 when placed in a vertical position, that is, when one lug portion 79 is spaced vertically with respect to another lug portion, one of the lug portions may be entered between the keys 27 and 28 while they are completely within the housing and the one of the ears or prying portions 79 may be inserted into the aperture 57 of one of the keys 27 and 28 and the bar may then be pulled on to withdraw one of the keys at a time.

In operation the keys may independently be reciprocated inwardly and outwardly of the housing 23 but they cannot fall out as the ends 5911 or 600 at the top and bottom of each of the keys abuts against the inner wall key-engaging surfaces or housing shoulder portions 39.

The operation of the tension coupling device is as follows: With the wedges in the outward position and the crossarms on the clamps in a vertical attitude, the device is lifted into position so that the crossarm on one end of the assembly enters the oblong aperture in the front face of the lower container corner fitting. The wedge nearest the container is then forced inward. The pair of teeth on the wedge engage the notches in the shank of the clamp, rotating the clamp as the wedge moves inward. Further inward motion of the wedge causes the inclined surface of the wedge to slide along the inclined plane on the cylindrical knob section of the clamp, thereby forcing the clamp to move axially, causing the crossarm to bear against the inside wall of the comer fitting. The second container is then brought into position, sliding over the vertical crossarm of the second clamp until it butts against the wall of the coupler housing. The second wedge is then driven inward thereby rotating and pulling up the second clamp. The spring loaded retaining bar is then snapped into the locking grooves in the back of the two wedges. This prevents the wedges from vibrating out if the forces acting on the coupler should be relieved. Uncoupling of two containers is accomplished by prying the spring-loaded retaining bar out of engagement with the wedges and pulling the wedges outward with a hook which enters the hole provided. Pulling the wedges out rotates the clamps 90 to a vertical attitude which permits the twocontainers to be moved apart from each other.

As various changes could be made in the above construction without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

lclaim:

l. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relation comprising:

a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the units and unit clamp means exiting from the housing and adapted for coupling with each unit,

said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adapted for reception in a coupling recess of one unit and a second clamp member adapted for reception within the recess of a second unit,

each clamp member having a clamp head portion constructed for reception within the unit recess in an unlocked position and in a locked position,

key means reciprocally disposed within the housing and adapted to cooperate with the clamp means attendant to locking and unlocking of the coupling device with the units,

said key means comprising a pair of key elements reciprocally extendable in and out of said housing,

one of said key elements being operatively engageable with one clamp member for operation of the latter between locked and unlocked positions and the other key element likewise cooperative with the other clamp member for operation thereof between locked and unlocked positions.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

said key means being disposed transversely to said clamping head portions.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element being selectively movable inwardly and outwardly of the interior of said housing whereupon inward movement of the key element into the housing rotates the respective clamp head portion to the locked position from the unlocked position and outward movement of each key element rotates the respective clamp head portion from the locked to the unlocked position.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element being provided with a vertically spaced runner member having an interlocking section and each clamp member having a complementary interlocking section adapted for engagement with the interlocking section of the respective key runner member upon movement of the respective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted to rotate the respective clamp member to the locked position,

each key element having a second runner member spaced from the first named runner member and having a locking surface,

each clamp member having a complementary locking surface whereupon intermeshing of said locked sections on the first runner member and on the clamp member orients the locking surfaces of the second runner member and the clamp member to prevent rotation of said clamp member in the locked position thereof.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and

the interlocking section of one clamp member being oriented generally 180 from the interlocking section of the other clamp member and the locking surface of one key member being oriented generally 180 from the locking surface of the other key member.

' 6. The invention according to claim 1, and

each clamp ember and each key element having complementary locking surfaces limiting rotation of the clamp member. with respect to the key element in the locked position.

7. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element having an interlocking section and each clamp member having a complementary interlocking section adapted for engagement with the interlocking section of the respective key element upon movement of respective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted to rotate the respective clamp member to the locked position.

8. The invention according to claim 1, and

each clamp member being provided with a cam and each key element being provided with a cam engaging wedge,

said wedge and said cam each being tapered to provide for transverse movement of the clamp member relative to the key element upon engagement and movement of the key element against the clamp member for rotating the cam and causing transverse movement of the cam member relative to the key element.

9. The invention according to claim 1, and

said housing being provided with container entering lug portions about the rotatable clamp head portions attendant to guiding of the housing and clamp head portions into the respective unit recesses and fixing relative movement between the housing and the respective container.

10. The invention according to claim 9, and

each of said aligning lug portions being spaced from one another on each side of the housing and on opposite sides of the clamping head positions.

11. The invention according to claim 1, and

said clamp head portion being elongated for reception into an elongated recess of the unit whereupon when the clamp head is transversely rotated, removal of the clamp from the clamp head portion unit recess is prevented.

112. The invention according to claim 1, and

each of said clamp members being rotated by a respective key member independent of the other clamp member.

13. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element being generally a duplicate of the other but oriented generally 180 with respect to the other.

14. The invention according to claim l, and

each clamp member being generally a duplicate of the other but oriented generally 180 with respect to the other clamp member.

15. The invention according to claim 1, an

said key means being provided with means for withdrawing the key means from the housing.

16. The invention according to claim 1, and

key retainer means mounted on the housing and having one end engaging the key means and the other end engaging the opposite side of the housing,

said retainer means including a first end so clamping said key means and a second movable end engaging the other side of said housing, and

means holding the ends of the key retainer means on the housing attendant to holding the key means in the hous- 17. The invention according to claim 16, and

the retainer means being provided with key prying means adapted to be inserted into the key means for prying the key means outwardly of the housing for unlocking of the clamp members.

18. The invention according to claim 1, and

key retainer means mountable on the housing and including means engaging the key means and the housing in the locked position attendant to holding the key means in the housing in the locked position.

19. The invention according to claim 1, and

said housing comprising a pair of housings affixed together and entraining the key means and the container clamp members within the housing.

20. The invention according to claim 1, and

said unit clamp members and said key means being provided with abutment means adapted for engaging the interior surface of the housing to prevent removal of the key means and the clamp members from the housing.

21. For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highway trailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, sea or arr transport means:

an upper between-the-containers compression spacer block and a lower tension coupler between the containers wherein the lower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in the corner fittings of tandem containers in locked and unlocked positions,

key means slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing and contained thereby for each clamp for rotating each clamp about an axis and moving each clamp independently of the other clamp along such axis between locked and unlocked positions and including complementary means on the clamp and on the key means for clamp rotation and the key means having key wedge portions for moving each clamp axially and for limiting rotation of each locked clamp, and

key holder means for retaining the key means in the locked position in the housing.

22. A container coupler device comprising:

a coupler housing adapted for placement between a pair of tandem units and adapted to engage respective recesses in each of the units attendant to coupling of the units together,

a clamp member exiting from each side of the housing and adapted to couple with a respective unit recess in a longitudinal direction,

a pair of transversely independently movable key members reciprocally extendable in and cut of said housing,

each key member operatively engaging with a respective clamp member for rotation thereof independent of the other clamp member for orienting a respective clamp member inwardly of a recess and irremovably from said recess,

each of said key members and its complementary cooperating clamp member having wedging portions cooperative with one another to move the clamp member axially upon transverse movement of the activating key member attendant to placing the clamp member tightly against the interior wall of the unit recess for rigidly and snugly locking the units with respect to one another, and

key retainer means disposed over the housing in clamping relation with respect to the key members in preventing movement of the key members outwardly of the housing and thereby preventing axial and rotational movement of the clamp members.

23. The invention according to claim 22, and

said coupler device coupling the lower portions of the units and acting in tension,

an upper compressive element being disposable between the upper portions of the units and coupleable to one of the units, and

means for placement at the outer ends of each of the units for coupling with suitable hoisting means attendant to lifting the units together from one place to another.

24. A coupling device for attaching two units together in tandem relation comprising:

a housing,

a first coupler member rotatably mounted in said housing and having a head extending outwardly therefrom,

a second coupler member rotatably mounted in the housing and extending outwardly therefrom, and

means reciprocally insertable inwardly and out of the housing and connecting with each coupler member for selective rotation "of each coupler member independently of the other between locked and unlocked positions with respect to a respective unit.

25. The invention according to claim 24, and

said means for rotating each coupler member independently comprising:

a pair of slide members, each slide member being mounted in said housing for reciprocal motion transverse to the axis of rotation of each of the coupler members and con necting with a respective coupler member.

26. The invention according to claim 25, and

retainer means containing each of the slide members within the housing to prevent rotation of the coupler members in the locked position thereof.

27. The invention according to claim 26, and said last-mentioned means being provided with wedging means for independently moving each of the coupler members in axial opposition relative to the other, attendant to locking of the respective coupler member.

28. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relation comprising:

a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the units and unit clamp means extending from the housing and adapted for coupling with each unit,

said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adapted for reception in a recess of one unit and a second clamp means adapted for reception in the recess of a second unit,

each clamp member being independently movable with respect to the other clamp member and each clamp member having a clamp head portion constructed for reception within the unit recess in an unlocked position and in a locked position, and

key means disposed within said housing and operatively connected with each clamp member attendant to locking and unlocking the same with a unit.

29. The invention according to claim 28, and

said key means comprising a pair of key elements reciprocally extendable in and out of the housing,

each key element being cooperative with and for the movement of a respective clamp member attendant to placing the clamp member between locked and unlocked positrons.

30. The invention according to claim 28, and

each clamp member having means cooperative with key means for moving each clamp member axially thereof attendant to locking the clamp member with respect to its unit 31. The invention according to claim 28, and

said key means having means engaging with a respective clamp member attendant to rotating said clamp member between locked and unlocked positions independently of the other clamp member.

Claims (31)

1. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relation comprising: a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the units and unit clamp means exiting from the housing and adapted for coupling with each unit, said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adapted for reception in a coupling recess of one unit and a second clamp member adapted for reception within the recess of a second unit, each clamp member having a clamp head portion constructed for reception within the unit recess in an unlocked position and in a locked position, key means reciprocally disposed within the housing and adapted to cooperate with the clamp means attendant to locking and unlocking of the coupling device with the units, said key means comprising a pair of key elements reciprocally extendable in and out of said housing, one of said key elements being operatively engageable with one clamp member for operation of the latter between locked and unlocked positions and the other key element likewise cooperative with the other clamp member for operation thereof between locked and unlocked positions.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and said key means being disposed transversely to said clamping head portions.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and each key element being selectively movable inwardly and outwardly of the interior of said housing whereupon inward movement of the key element into the housing rotates the respective clamp head portion to the locked position from the unlocked position and outward movement of each key element rotates the respective clamp head portion from the locked to the unlocked position.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and each key element being provided with a vertically spaced runner member having an interlocking section and each clamp member having a complementary interlocking section adapted for engagement with the interlocking section of the respective key runner member upon movement of the respective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted to rotate the respective clamp member to the locked position, each key element having a second runner member spaced from the first named runner member and having a locking surface, each clamp member having a complementary locking surface whereupon intermeshing of said locked sections on the first runner member and on tHe clamp member orients the locking surfaces of the second runner member and the clamp member to prevent rotation of said clamp member in the locked position thereof.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and the interlocking section of one clamp member being oriented generally 180* from the interlocking section of the other clamp member and the locking surface of one key member being oriented generally 180* from the locking surface of the other key member.

6. The invention according to claim 1, and each clamp ember and each key element having complementary locking surfaces limiting rotation of the clamp member with respect to the key element in the locked position.

7. The invention according to claim 1, and each key element having an interlocking section and each clamp member having a complementary interlocking section adapted for engagement with the interlocking section of the respective key element upon movement of respective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted to rotate the respective clamp member to the locked position.

8. The invention according to claim 1, and each clamp member being provided with a cam and each key element being provided with a cam engaging wedge, said wedge and said cam each being tapered to provide for transverse movement of the clamp member relative to the key element upon engagement and movement of the key element against the clamp member for rotating the cam and causing transverse movement of the cam member relative to the key element.

9. The invention according to claim 1, and said housing being provided with container entering lug portions about the rotatable clamp head portions attendant to guiding of the housing and clamp head portions into the respective unit recesses and fixing relative movement between the housing and the respective container.

10. The invention according to claim 9, and each of said aligning lug portions being spaced from one another on each side of the housing and on opposite sides of the clamping head positions.

11. The invention according to claim 1, and said clamp head portion being elongated for reception into an elongated recess of the unit whereupon when the clamp head is transversely rotated, removal of the clamp from the clamp head portion unit recess is prevented.

12. The invention according to claim 1, and each of said clamp members being rotated by a respective key member independent of the other clamp member.

13. The invention according to claim 1, and each key element being generally a duplicate of the other but oriented generally 180* with respect to the other.

14. The invention according to claim 1, and each clamp member being generally a duplicate of the other but oriented generally 180* with respect to the other clamp member.

15. The invention according to claim 1, and said key means being provided with means for withdrawing the key means from the housing.

16. The invention according to claim 1, and key retainer means mounted on the housing and having one end engaging the key means and the other end engaging the opposite side of the housing, said retainer means including a first end so clamping said key means and a second movable end engaging the other side of said housing, and means holding the ends of the key retainer means on the housing attendant to holding the key means in the housing.

17. The invention according to claim 16, and the retainer means being provided with key prying means adapted to be inserted into the key means for prying the key means outwardly of the housing for unlocking of the clamp members.

18. The invention according to claim 1, and key retainer means mountable on the housing and including means engaging the key means and the housing in the locked position attendant to holding the key means in the housing in the locked position.

19. The invention according to claim 1, and said housinG comprising a pair of housings affixed together and entraining the key means and the container clamp members within the housing.

20. The invention according to claim 1, and said unit clamp members and said key means being provided with abutment means adapted for engaging the interior surface of the housing to prevent removal of the key means and the clamp members from the housing.

21. For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highway trailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, sea or air transport means: an upper between-the-containers compression spacer block and a lower tension coupler between the containers wherein the lower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in the corner fittings of tandem containers in locked and unlocked positions, key means slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing and contained thereby for each clamp for rotating each clamp about an axis and moving each clamp independently of the other clamp along such axis between locked and unlocked positions and including complementary means on the clamp and on the key means for clamp rotation and the key means having key wedge portions for moving each clamp axially and for limiting rotation of each locked clamp, and key holder means for retaining the key means in the locked position in the housing.

22. A container coupler device comprising: a coupler housing adapted for placement between a pair of tandem units and adapted to engage respective recesses in each of the units attendant to coupling of the units together, a clamp member exiting from each side of the housing and adapted to couple with a respective unit recess in a longitudinal direction, a pair of transversely independently movable key members reciprocally extendable in and cut of said housing, each key member operatively engaging with a respective clamp member for rotation thereof independent of the other clamp member for orienting a respective clamp member inwardly of a recess and irremovably from said recess, each of said key members and its complementary cooperating clamp member having wedging portions cooperative with one another to move the clamp member axially upon transverse movement of the activating key member attendant to placing the clamp member tightly against the interior wall of the unit recess for rigidly and snugly locking the units with respect to one another, and key retainer means disposed over the housing in clamping relation with respect to the key members in preventing movement of the key members outwardly of the housing and thereby preventing axial and rotational movement of the clamp members.

23. The invention according to claim 22, and said coupler device coupling the lower portions of the units and acting in tension, an upper compressive element being disposable between the upper portions of the units and coupleable to one of the units, and means for placement at the outer ends of each of the units for coupling with suitable hoisting means attendant to lifting the units together from one place to another.

24. A coupling device for attaching two units together in tandem relation comprising: a housing, a first coupler member rotatably mounted in said housing and having a head extending outwardly therefrom, a second coupler member rotatably mounted in the housing and extending outwardly therefrom, and means reciprocally insertable inwardly and out of the housing and connecting with each coupler member for selective rotation of each coupler member independently of the other between locked and unlocked positions with respect to a respective unit.

25. The invention according to claim 24, and said means for rotating each coupler member independently comprising: a pair of slide members, each slide member being mounted in said housing for reciprocal motion transverse to the axis of rotatioN of each of the coupler members and connecting with a respective coupler member.

26. The invention according to claim 25, and retainer means containing each of the slide members within the housing to prevent rotation of the coupler members in the locked position thereof.

27. The invention according to claim 26, and said last-mentioned means being provided with wedging means for independently moving each of the coupler members in axial opposition relative to the other, attendant to locking of the respective coupler member.

28. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relation comprising: a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the units and unit clamp means extending from the housing and adapted for coupling with each unit, said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adapted for reception in a recess of one unit and a second clamp means adapted for reception in the recess of a second unit, each clamp member being independently movable with respect to the other clamp member and each clamp member having a clamp head portion constructed for reception within the unit recess in an unlocked position and in a locked position, and key means disposed within said housing and operatively connected with each clamp member attendant to locking and unlocking the same with a unit.

29. The invention according to claim 28, and said key means comprising a pair of key elements reciprocally extendable in and out of the housing, each key element being cooperative with and for the movement of a respective clamp member attendant to placing the clamp member between locked and unlocked positions.

30. The invention according to claim 28, and each clamp member having means cooperative with key means for moving each clamp member axially thereof attendant to locking the clamp member with respect to its unit

31. The invention according to claim 28, and said key means having means engaging with a respective clamp member attendant to rotating said clamp member between locked and unlocked positions independently of the other clamp member.

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