WO1988003100A1

WO1988003100A1 - Container lock

Info

Publication number: WO1988003100A1
Application number: PCT/DK1987/000133
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gunner Voldsgaard Jensen
Original assignee: Gunner Voldsgaard Jensen
Priority date: 1986-10-23
Filing date: 1987-10-23
Publication date: 1988-05-05
Also published as: AU8175487A

Abstract

For interlocking stacked standard ISO containers, especially on board ships, special container locks are applied, which are placed between the upper and lower lock fittings (14) of the containers, respectively. Normally these container locks are activated manually for achieving the required locking effect, but the invention provides for a container lock which is activated automatically by the actual placing of a container on top of the underlying container. The container lock according to the invention has a pivotal locking head (24), which is spring loaded for carrying out a snap lock pivoting in automatic response to the containers being joined. The locking head (24) is manually turnable into an arrested release position by means of a simple and conveniently operable actuator mechanism (26, 28, 66, 68, 70).

Description

Container lock

The present invention relates to a container lock of the kind defined in the introductory clause of claim 1, i.e. a lock unit intended for insertion between the corner lock fittings on standard ISO containers, which are placed in a vertical stack, e.g. on board ships. These corner fittings consist of box-like units, which at top and bottom, respec¬ tively, have an oblong lock opening which can accommodate respective lower and upper locking head parts of intermediary container lock units or blocks, and which can be placed interlocked with one of the containers and after two con¬ tainers be stacked together these lock units can be acti¬ vated to also being locked to the other container. Tradi¬ tionally this locking is effected purely manually as the relevant operator, normally a dock labourer sees to operating the control lever of the container lock for activating pro¬ truding locking members of the locking head part inserted last.

As the containers are stacked in several tiers, this work is often carried out from long ladders and is therefore exceedingly troublesome. It is known, however, to produce an automatic interlocking by means of a snap lock catch on one locking head part, but this entails great wear and tear, and the locking is none too secure, unless very fine tole¬ rances are applied. The present invention endeavours to provide a container lock which upon pre-mounting on a con¬ tainer can be fully automatically locking activated as a consequence of this container being lowered onto another container, hereby aiming at a lock, which is simple and sturdy and is distinguished by great reliability.

According to the invention this is preferably achieved by the container lock being designed as stated in the charac¬ terizing clause of claim 1. Hereby the indicated pivotal locking head will work as a snap lock, which from its out-turned locking position will be forced to turn in towards its passive position by the actual power, by which the upper container weighs down on the lower container, and the locking head will then with a snap^'effect return to its locking position as soon as it has entered the lock opening of the opposite corner fitting by the insertion into that fitting. This will be the case whether the pivotal head of the container lock turns upwards or downwards, but in prac¬ tice it is preferred that the container lock be mounted on the bottom of a container, so that the pivotal head will cooperate with the container placed immediately below in the stack. In principle it would be possible to let the turning out of the locking head into the locking position be dependent of a pressure being exerted on a particular actuator pin by the stacking of the containers, such that the locking head would hereby be released for turning out into the locking position, but it has been found construc- tionally much easier to let the turnable locking head act as a simple snap lock. An essential function is that during its turning out the locking head will engage with not only one edge portion of the lock opening, but with both of the opposed edges thereof concurrently, whereby a safe locking is obtained. It is also important that during its turning in phase the locking head is affected by symmetrical mo en- tu s, such that the interior guiding means for the locking head will hot be subjected to any substantial wear. In order to facilitate a separation or destacking of containers, it must, of course, be possible to release the said locking, and this can be effected by the said actuator means, which should be operated for surmounting the said spring loading during the associated return movement of the locking head into its passive position as required for a release of the locking engagement, just as it should obviously be ensured that the passive position of the pivotal head can be main¬ tained till the containers are mutually disengaged. However, as indicated in the subclaims, this can be achieved quite simply. It should be particularly emphasized that the spindle of the actuator means cannot be very thick, as its thickness is limited by the thickness of the said plate block, and consequently it can be difficult to establish a cam engage¬ ment between the pivot shaft of the locking head and the spindle, at which engagement a preferred turning of only 90 of the spindle may cause a desired turning out of approx. 45 of the locking head; therefore it is a great advantage that the spindle, cf. claim 3, also is in screw joint with the spindle passage in the plate block, as hereby the desired effect can be achieved without much friction, namely by a. combined turning and compulsory longitudinal displacement of the spindle.

In the following the invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container lock according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view thereof, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof, shown partly in section.

The container lock shown is constructed according to usual standard with a middle plate block part 2 and a herefrom vertical upstanding lock part 4 comprising an intermediate block portion 6 and an upper locking head 8, which is designed out-turned in relation to the intermediate block portion 6 so that the locking head 8 has corner parts 10 jutting out over the side walls of the intermediate block portion 6, obliquely cut as shown at 12, stretching correspondingly to the overlying walls of the locking head 8, At the bottom of Fig. 1 is shown a corner lock fitting on a container not shown, this fitting having a locking opening 16, and a quite similar opening 16 is indicated by dot-and-dash lines in engagement with the upper lock part 4. What is here in question is a locking hole in a corresponding locking fitting on the lower side of an overlying container, and the entire container lock can be mounted in engagement with this fitting by an insertion of the locking head 8, the form of which fits into the lock opening 16, into this opening, upon which the entire container lock be turned to the position shown, wherein th _*e corner parts 10 of the locking head will be jut- ting in over the respective edge areas of the locking opening 16, offering an effective double sided locking agains-t extraction of the container lock from the opening 16.

In the plate block 2 is shown a hole 18, which is adapted to receive a non-illustrated upwardly raisable pin, which from an underlying recess area 20 can,be pushed upwardly for achieving a securing σf the locking engagement, thus preventing the container lock from being returned to the position where it can be inserted into and retracted from the opening 16.

At its lower side the plate block 2 is provided with a depending intermediate portion 22 of a form and thickness substantially corresponding to the opening 16 of the con¬ tainer fitting 14, and this intermediate portion is extended downwards in a downwardly pointed guiding and locking head part 24. It is well known that the intermediate portion 22 can have a corresponding fixed down-guiding part, but with the present invention it is a question of this part being designed as a turnable lock head, which is turnable between the passive downguiding position shown in solid lines and an active locking position indicated in dot-and-dash lines. The turning of the locking head 24 between these positions may be controlled by means of a control lever 26, which reaches horizontally into the plate block 2 with a spindle part 28, and in the container lock there is a built-in spring which generally affects the locking head to turn out towards the active locking position thereof.

When the container lock together with the container above is lowered towards the container below with the locking head 24 in its dot-and-dash line indicated out-turned position, the slanting walls of the locking head will be led to engagement with the opposed longitudinal edges of the locking opening 16, whereby the locking head being pressed- down by the container above will be forced to turn inwards towards the passive position against the effect of the spring means mentioned so that the locking head will allow for a lowering down of the intermediate portion 22 into the opening 16. The rest of the container lock is obviously affected hereby to turn in the same direction, but this is insignificant, as it is firmly locked in the upper locking opening 16. When the locking head 24 by the lowering thereof passes down below the lower edge of the locking opening 16 it will be forced by the said spring means to turn out again into the dot-and-dash outlined lock position, i.e. the top side of the locking head will snap out down below the plate part, in which the locking opening 16 is shaped, thus establishing a double-sided lock engagement of an exceedingly stable character.

The locking head 24 is in permanent movement engagement with the control lever spindle 28, and by the said in and out turning of the locking head the handle 26 will perform a corresponding swinging movement around the axis of the spindle 28. The handle 26, which has an outer actuator hook 30, can inversely be affected from the outside to a forced turning of the locking head 24, namely to turning in of this from the lock position to a selfbarring neutral position, in which the containers can be separated by a raising of the upper container. As explained below the control lever can thereafter be affected to neutralize the selfbarring and to turn out the locking head 24 into its active position, in which it is ready for being brought into snap lock engage¬ ment with a container below.

Fig. 2 shows the lock head 24 being placed on a pivot 32 which is provided with a protruding cam having the form of a steel ball 34 placed in a recess, this pivot 32 being received in a bore 36 in the remaining block shaped part of the container lock. At the bottom this bore is narrowed by a keyshaped part 38, which holds the pivot 32 in position after the latter has been pushed up into the bore 36 with an ensuing turning of the pivot away from the insertion position. At the mounting of the pivot 32 this is brought into axial connection with, a downwardly projecting pin por¬ tion 40 of a screw spring 42 surrounding a socket portion 44 on a rectangular carrying plate 46, which is embedded in the top side of the upper lock head 8 and is secured thereto by means of a clamp screw 48. The socket 42 is provided with an axial wall slot 50, in which a fixed end part 52 of the spring 42 is received. The depending spring end 40 is received in an excentric bore in the pivot 32.

By the mounting in the locking head parts 24, 32 and the spring parts 42, 44, respectively, it is ensured that the spring socket parts 44, 46 are turned to bias the spring 42 upon having established engagement between the spring end 40 and the corresponding bore in the pivot 32, such that the spring when the base plate has been finally mounted can activate the pivot 32 and the head 24 to be turned essentially past the said neutral position, viz. with com¬ paratively great force to an opposite turned-out position corresponding to the lock position mentioned. In order to secure this position further the lock head 24 is provided with a protruding pin 56, which is received in a recess 58 at the bottom of the lower intermediate portion 22, ending in an abutment wall portion 60 for the pin 56.

In connection with the mounting of the lock head 24, 32 and the spring holder 44 also the control lever spindle 28 is mounted, namely through a passage 62 in the plate block 2. The spindle 28 is hereby brought in a screw cam engage¬ ment with the cam or ball 34 on the pivot 32 as explained in further detail below, and besides the spindle is brought in screw cam engagement with the wall of the passage 62 by bringing a screw groove on the spindle to engage with a fixed pin or ball which is finally mounted by radial in¬ sertion through a side hole in the plate block 2, this hole being threaded for receiving a lock plug for this cam or ball.

In Fig. 3 it is the latter lock cam or ball which is designated 66, and it is shown that it engages an oblique track 68, in the spindle 28, causing an axial displacement of the spindle 28, when it is affected to turning by means of the protruding handle 26, 30. Additionally the spindle 28 is provided with a screw shaped groove 70 for receiving the cam or ball 34 on the pivot 32, so that a turning of the spindle 28 will result in a turning of the pivot 32 both by means of the screw track 70 and by the fact that the spindle 28 will be axially displaced by the turning as a consequence of the engagement between the cam or the ball 66 and the screw track 68. Even though the diameter of the spindle 28 is comparatively small, a substantial resulting turning of the pivot 32 can thus be obtained without the mutual pitches in the screw joints being so small that they cause any signi¬ ficant friction problems.

Fig. 3 further shows that the track 68 can have an end portion 72 which over a short distance extends primarily at right angles to the direction of the axis of the spindle 28, whereby a selfbarring effect is obtained with respect to the possibility of the spring loaded pivot 32 to cause a displacement of the spindle 28. Moreover the track 70 is closed by a short end portion 74 of a reverse pitch, so that the ball 34 at the completion of the turning in move¬ ment will enter into this end portion and by the spring load on the pivot 32 will complete and efficient self-barring of the system.

The locking system is designed in such a way that the locking head 24 is turned into its passive position when the actuator handle 30 be swung downwards, this enabling the handle to be gripped from deep down by means of a tow bar- for opening the container lock. However, it may be desirable to open the lock also by a swinging up of the handle 30 and this can be made possible by the oblique tracks 68 and 70 in the spindle 28 being extended into a symmetrical course in the opposite direction. It should be noted that the turning handle 25, 30 in Fig. 1 is shown in a horizontal position which will correspond with the locking head being located in the position shown in dot-and-dash lines, from where this head may then be turned inwards by either an upward or a downward swinging of the handle 26, 30. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown, as the locking head 24 can be mounted and guided in other ways than illustrated, but it should be appreciated that the embodiment shown is advantageous in that it appears as an exceedingly sturdy unit consisting of a very limited number of different parts.

Claims

C L I M S :

1. A container lock of the type consisting of a plate block having locking parts projecting to both sides and each comprising an intermediary portion and an outer lock¬ ing head, which at one side is a fixed head portion with which the entire container lock can be brought into firm engagement with a container corner fitting having a stand¬ ard lock opening, while the locking head at the other side has a projectable locking part, which by means of an actuator handle is moveable between a locking position, in which it protrudes from the intermediary portion for locking the container lock to an opposed container corner fitting, and a passive position, in which it, together with the inter¬ mediate portion, can be inserted into and retracted from - the corner fitting, characterized in that the moveable part is a pivotal head part which is spring loaded for turning outwards towards the locking position and is provided with such outwardly slanting wall parts that when forced against the corner fitting it is affected by edge portions of the lock opening to be turned inwards towards the passive posi¬ tion, from where it is returnable by the spring bias into the locking position after its insertion into the lock opening, and that the actuator means are operable to turn the locking head into the passive position against the acting of the spring and to arrest the locking head in this position in a releasable manner.

2. A container lock according to claim 1, characterized in that the turnable locking head is placed on a pivot shaft reaching into the plate block and there being connected to the actuator means protruding from the plate block, and that the pivot shaft cooperates with an associated transversely extending actuator spindle which can be turned from the outside, a driving connection between the shaft and the spindle being established by means of a protruding cam pin on one part and a screw track on the other part, the said screw track extending such that the locking head upon being turned in to the passive position, is selfbarring in this position until the spindle be sufficiently turned back to release the selfbarring.

3. A container lock according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pivot shaft on the locking head is in direct coope¬ ration with a transverse, turnable actuator spindle mounted in the plate block, a driving connection between the shaft and the spindle being established by means of a protruding cam pin on one part and a screw track on the other part, whereas the actuator spindle additionally cooperates with^• wall area of its associated passage in the plate block through a pin-screw connection in such a way that a turning of the actuator spindle additionally causes an axial displacement of the latter.

4. A container lock according to claim 2 or 3 characterized in that the pin-screw connection is symmetrically shaped such that the actuator spindle from one of its extreme positions can be moved towards the opposite extreme position thereof or of the pivotal head by a turning in both one and the opposite direction.

5. A container lock according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuator spindle cooperates with the wall area of its passage through the plate block in that a screw track in the spindle cooperates with a fixed pin or ball projecting into the passage, said pin or ball being mounted from the outside through a thereafter closed insertion hole.