WO2005032929A1

WO2005032929A1 - Locking device

Info

Publication number: WO2005032929A1
Application number: PCT/SE2004/001410
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans Boman; Pär DEHLIN; Juang-Kuang, (David) Hsieh; Torbjörn KARLSSON
Original assignee: All Set Marine Lashing Ab
Priority date: 2003-10-06
Filing date: 2004-10-04
Publication date: 2005-04-14
Also published as: SE0302643D0; SE0302643L; SE526007C2

Abstract

A device for lashing ISO containers (3), comprising a first locking means (13) adapted to be secured to a lashing bridge (5), a second locking means (15) adapted to be secured to a corner fitting (7) of a container (3), and a bar element (17) which is arranged between the first locking means (13) and the second locking means (15), the bar element (17) being adapted to absorb compressive and tensile loads essentially horizontally from the ISO containers (3).

Description

LOCKING DEVICE

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for lashing ISO containers, comprising a first locking means adapted to be secured to a lashing bridge, a second lock- mg means adapted to be secured to a corner fitting of a container, and a bar element which is arranged between the first locking means and the second locking means.

Background Art Part-load, freight and thermo-containers are used to a great extent for transporting goods on, for instance, cargo vessels, trains and lorries. These containers are easy to handle in loading and unloading owing to standardised sizes and a robust construction that allows stacking of several containers, the transported goods thus being stored well protected in the containers during transport . As a rule, the containers are rectangular with a floor, a roof, two long sides and two short sides. One short side usually consists of a pair of doors and at the corners there are corner fittings that allow the containers to be interconnected and secured. In current transport systems, with ships that can take several thousands of containers, a small ga in time for each container can cause a great gam in time on a larger scale. On cargo vessels in transport services, containers are stacked vertically for maximum use of the available space. Furthermore the vessel is provided with what is referred to as lashing bridges which, for instance, can run transversely of the longitudinal direction of the containers at a suitable height to allow the stacks of containers to be secured to the vessel. Moreover the lowermost container can be secured to the vessel, and the containers can also be connected to each other. The lashing of the containers is most important to the degree of loading in each container; more stable lashing causes a gain in cost efficiency since a larger quantity of goods can be transported in each freight operation. Every container satisfies special requirements as to size, strength etc. The sizes of the containers are standardised to facilitate handling, and a number of sizes are available. Consequently, it is desirable to make container handling more efficient and allow a higher loading degree in today's container transports.

Summary of the Invention An object of the present invention is to provide a device for lashing ISO containers, which allows a higher load weight per container to be used and lashing of containers to be carried out in a simple and safe manner. The above object and other objects that will be evi- dent from the following description are achieved by a device for lashing containers according to the appended claims . The invention is based on the understanding that the lashing of the containers affects the total transport economy. According to one aspect of the invention, a device for lashing ISO containers is provided, comprising a first locking means adapted to be secured to a lashing bridge, a second locking means adapted to be secured to a corner fitting of a container, and a bar element which is arranged between the first locking means and the second locking means, wherein the bar element is adapted to absorb compressive and tension loads essentially horizontally from the ISO containers. This results in a more stable lashing system for loading of containers so that the load weight can be increased for each container, the lashing system further being easier to handle compared with prior-art technique. The possibility of taking a greater load weight in turn results in each transport being more profitable. By arranging a bar element which can absorb compressive as well as tension loads, it is possible to use only one bar element to achieve a lashing effect which has previously required at least two bar elements. This means that it will be easier and quicker to lash the containers by means of a device according to the invention. Moreover the device for lashing of containers according to the invention is economically advantageous since fewer components are required to achieve at least the same lashing result as with prior-art technique. Preferably, the position of the second locking means is adjustable relative to a corner fitting of a current container. According to an embodiment, a grip coupling with a plurality of gripping positions seen in the longitudinal direction of the bar element is arranged along the extent of the bar element. It should be noted that the extent of the bar element relates to any point along the bar element as well as its ends. Preferably, the grip coupling is displaceably arranged with at least one motion component running in the longitudinal direction of the bar element so as to allow adjustment of the posi- tion of the second locking means in relation to a corner fitting of a current container. Different sizes of containers in a stack of containers result in variation of the position of the corner fitting of the current container, to which corner fitting the second locking means is to be secured. The adjustment of the position of the second locking means thus implies that this difference in position can be compensated for, thus allowing lashing of different sizes of stacked containers. Preferably, the grip coupling is in the locked posi- tion arranged with a horizontally spring-loaded play relative to the lashing bridge for taking up a container tolerance and/or an initial container displacement. The spring-loaded play allows a slight displacement of the position of the second locking means in order to compensate for positional deviations from a nominal position of the corner fitting of the current container. This posi- tional deviation can arise owing to the position of the corner fitting relative to the container deviating from a nominal position and/or the container during loading being located in a position that deviates from a nominal loading position. Suitably, the motion of the horizontal play occurs essentially in the longitudinal direction of the device. According to one embodiment, the grip coupling constitutes the first locking means at the bar element end which is adapted to be secured to the lashing bridge. According to another embodiment, the first locking means comprises a first displacing element which is connected to the bar element, said first displacing element being displaceably arranged relative to the second displacing element which is adapted to be fixed to the lashing bridge. Preferably, the first displacing element and the second displacing element together constitute a slide. The slide is preferably arranged so that its direction of motion is essentially the same as the longitudinal direction of the lashing bridge. It is preferable to fix the second displacing element directly to a lashing bridge by welding or other convenient fastening methods. However, it should be noted that it is possible to fix the second displacing element in other positions than directly to the lashing bridge, since the important thing is that the device for lashing ISO containers can absorb compressive and tensile forces exerted by a current container. In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, the first locking means comprises a cam means which is rotatably arranged relative to the lashing bridge. This cam means is arranged m the first or the second displacing element. Furthermore the cam means is provided with at least one protruding engaging means, which is adapted to engage in one of a number of corresponding recesses, or vice versa, which recesses are arranged in the displacing element opposite to the cam means, so as to lock the first displacing element relative to the second displacing element. It is particularly preferred to arrange the cam means in the second displacing element and said recesses in the first displacing element. By using a cam means to lock the first locking means relative to the lashing bridge, a simple and safe method is obtained for positioning the second locking means in the correct position relative to the corner fitting of the current container. Suitably the cam means is arranged to be displaced in the horizontal direction so that said engaging means, when locking the first locking means, is displaced to a position where engagement in a corresponding recess is allowed. The horizontal displacement of the cam means is intended to compensate for container tolerances and/or initial container displacements. In this way a displace^¬ ment of the first locking means is effected in a prefer^¬ red manner. In a preferred embodiment, the cam means is arranged with a horizontally spring-loaded play relative to the lashing bridge. This spring-loaded play is a way of effecting the displacement of the cam means according to the preferred manner that has been described above. If the corner fitting of the current container deviates from the nominal position and/or the container has been displaced from the nominal loading position, the position of the engaging means of the cam means will not correspond to the position of the corresponding recess, which in a preferred embodiment is positioned at a fixed distance from the corner fitting of the current container. Thus, the cam means is displaced when locking the first locking means to allow the engaging means to engage in a corresponding recess. In order to effect the displacement of the cam means, the engaging means preferably tapers at the end. Owing to this tapered shape, the engaging means is allowed to engage in a corresponding recess even if they are not positioned straight in front of each other. When the portion of the engaging means, which is the wider portion seen from the end to the centre of the cam means, when locking the first locking means is further inserted into the corresponding recess, the cam means will be displaced sideways. It is to be noted that it is also possible to inversely provide a device where the cam is positioned at a fixed distance relative to the corner fitting of the current container and the corresponding recess can be displaced sideways, thereby achieving the same effect as described above. According to an embodiment of the invention, the bar element is arranged with a fixed length. By providing the bar element with a fixed length, a simple and at the same time strong construction is obtained, which can absorb both compressive and tensile loads. The bar element which is arranged between the first and the second locking means is suitably tubular and made of metal, such as steel . According to another embodiment, the first locking means is adapted to be locked relative to the lashing bridge by means of a grip. Since the adjustment of the position of the first locking means can be made by hand, the staff carrying out loading and unloading of containers need not use special tools to handle the adjustment of the first locking means. Preferably the grip is designed as a handle, but it should be noted that also other convenient operating means can be used. Furthermore the bar element is articulated to the first locking means preferably about at least two axes of rotation. This is suitably achieved by connecting the bar element to the first locking means by means of a ball-and-socket joint. According to one embodiment, the second locking means is adapted to be fixed to the corner fitting of the current container by means of a quick fastener. Conveniently the quick fastener of the second locking means is formed as a helical cone. The shape of the preferred helical cone allows the helical cone, when being inserted into the corner fitting, to be moved from a locking position to an inserting position, wherein the helical cone is biased to be automatically returned to the locking position when inserted into the corner fitting. Moreover, the second locking means is suitably adapted to be released from the corner fitting by rotation of the helical cone by means of a handle. It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it is also possible to arrange some other type of second locking means helical cone which is not automatically moved between the locking position and the inserting position when inserting the second locking means into the corner fitting, but is, for instance, operated by means of said handle in the same way as when releasing it from the corner fitting. Preferably, the second locking means is adapted to be manually secured to, and released from, the corner fitting of a container.

Brief Description of the Drawings Preferred embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings, in which Fig. 1 illustrates a loading system comprising a device for lashing ISO containers according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly in cross-section, of the device for lashing ISO containers; Figs 3A-3D are perspective views of a first locking means; Figs 4A-4B are perspective views of a second locking means; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the device for lashing ISO containers. Detailed Description Figs 1-4B illustrate an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 shows a system for lashing and thus secur- ing containers, such as ISO containers. An essentially horizontal device 1 for lashing ISO containers 3 is in this embodiment fixed between a lashmg bridge 5 and an attachment at one of the corners of the current container 3. This standardised attachment of a container 3 is referred to as corner fitting 7. Fig. 1 also shows diagonal braces 9 holding the two upper corners of the container 3 and also the two lower corners of the superposed container 3. The essentially horizontal device 1 for lashmg ISO containers 3 is in this embodiment fixed to a lower corner of the current container 3, to whose two upper corners said diagonal brace 9 is attached. Mounting and dismounting of securing devices for containers 3 is carried out from a platform 11 positioned at a suitable working height under the above-mentioned lashmg bridge 5; the level of the lashmg bridge 5 for fastening said securing devices allows it to constitute a safety railing for the operator. It is also possible to use the level of the lashmg bridge 5 for the attachments as a platform on which an operator is standing, in which case an extra safety railing is mounted on the lashmg bridge 5 (not shown) . In order to provide a stable and safe attachment system for containers 3 that are stacked in three-dimensional matrices, it is possible to use said horizontal device 1 for lashmg ISO containers 3 in combination with said diagonal braces 9 in various ways. This is done above all by varying the choice of which attachment points are to be used in the containers 3 in a stack. Variations are also conceivable as regards the number of lashings, the vertical position of the lashings and the number of lashing bridges 5 that are used. Fig. 2 shows how a preferred embodiment of the device 1 for lashmg ISO containers 3 is constructed. At one end of the device, there is a first locking means 13 in the form of a grip coupling, said locking means being adapted to be fixed to, for instance, the lashing bridge 5 of a vessel, and at the other end of the device there is a second locking means 15 which is adapted to be connected to the corner fitting 7 of a container. A bar element 17 extending between the two locking means 13 and 15 is preferably formed as a tube to be able to efficiently absorb stress in the form of pressure, tension and also buckling load. Moreover the bar element 17 preferably consists of an elongate tubular central part 18, whose ends are mounted on the first and the second lock- mg means, respectively, via tapered end parts 20, 22. The essentially horizontal device 1 for lashmg ISO containers 3 has the option of deviating from the horizontal direction so as to allow attachment to corner fittings 7, the position of which varies depending on the size of the containers 3 in a stack of containers, whereby this angling of the device 1 allows containers 3 of various sizes to be secured in a quick and efficient manner using one and the same device 1. A preferred embodiment of a first locking means 13 for attaching the device 1 for lashmg ISO containers 3 to the lashmg bridge 5 is shown in Figs 3A-D. The first locking means 13 consists of a first 19 and a second 21 displacing element. The first displacing element 19 is arranged with a ball 23 which in the mount- ed position is enclosed in a partly spherical space 25 of one end of the bar element 17 to allow mobility of said bar element 17. In this manner, a ball-and-socket joint is formed, on which the bar element 17 can be mounted by a part of the partly spherical space 25 of the bar ele- ment 17 consisting of a plate 27 which is held by, for instance, screws 29, which means that the ball 23 can be placed inside the partly spherical space 25, after which the plate 27 is screwed on (see Fig. 2) . Furthermore the first displacing element 19 is linearly displaceable relative to the second displacing element 21 since they together form a slide, which is evident from Figs 3A-3D. This allows easy adjustment of the device 1 for its second locking means 15 to achieve the correct position in relation to a corner fitting 7 of the current container 3 that is to be secured. The mobility between the first and the second displacing element 19 and 21 transversely ^"of the sliding direction is limited by one element being formed with an undercut groove 31 which can slide in engagement with a coactmg geometry of the other element. This means that the first displacing element 19 can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the lashmg bridge 5, this displacement being limited by abutments which constitute end stops (not shown) in both directions. To be able to lock the first and the second displac- mg element 19 and 21 to each other and, thus, make it possible for the bar element 17 to transfer stress exerted by a current container 3 to the lashing bridge 5, said first locking means 13 is arranged with a turnable handle 33, which, when moved to the locked position, actuates a cam means 35 provided with a protruding engaging means 37, whereby the cam means 35 rotates m engagement with recesses 39 formed m the first displacing element 19. In the above-mentioned rotational engagement between the engaging means 37 and the recesses 39, the cam means 35 can be displaced in the longitudinal direction under the action of spring load. The displacement of the cam means 35 which is possible in the longitudinal direction allows compensation for any deviations in positional tolerances of the current corner fitting 7 in relation to the con- tamer 3 and/or a possible positional displacement of the container 3 from a nominal position obtained in the positioning of the container. Thus, the possible displacement of the cam means 35 allows the engaging means 37 and the recesses 39 of the first locking means 13 to be moved to a position straight in front of each other, whereby engagement is allowed. The displacement of the cam means 35 is allowed when the cam means 35 is rotated to lock the first locking means 13 by the engaging means 37 tapering at the outer end. Consequently, it is made possible for the engaging means 37 to engage in corresponding recesses 39 when rotating the cam means 35, even if they are displaced relative to each other, in which case the cam means 35 is displaced gradually in the lateral direction during continued rotation of the cam means 35 until the engaging means 37 and the recesses 39 are positioned essentially straight in front of each other. In the shown embodiment, the spring load on the cam means 35 is provided by springs 41 being arranged at the ends of the cam means 35 inside the second displacing element 21. One end of each spring 41 abuts against a force-absorbing surface 43 of the second displacing element 21, and the other end abuts against a stop 45 of the cam means 35. In the shown preferred embodiment, the cam means 35 is also provided with four engaging means 37, and the first displacing element is provided with five recesses 39. The stops 45 positioned on the cam means 35 are arranged in a depression 47 in the second displacing element 21, the spring-loaded displacement of the cam means 35 being limited by the stops 45 abutting against the edges of the depression 47. The play of the cam means 35 amounts totally to at least 10 mm, preferably 10-40 mm, and espe- cially 18-24 mm. Moreover the above-mentioned spring-loaded play of the first locking means 13 makes it possible for the device 1 for lashing containers 3 to have a certain elasticity m the locked position, which is advantageous in order to prevent overloading of individual lashings. Figs 4A-B shows the attachment of the device 1 to a current container 3, the standardised ISO containers 3 being arranged with hollow corner fittings 7, which have oval holes 49 for attaching and lashmg the containers 3. The current, essentially horizontal device 1 for lashing ISO containers 3 is allowed to lockmgly engage in such an oval hole 49 by the second locking means 15 of the device 1 being formed with a helical cone 51, which is spring loaded against its locked position. When the second locking means 15 is inserted into the oval hole 49 of a corner fitting 7, the helical cone 51 rotates owing to the force exerted between the corner fitting 7 and the helical cone 51. Once the second locking means 15 has been moved to a position where the entire helical cone 51 is located inside the inner edge of the oval hole 49 of the corner fitting 7 of the container 3, the helical cone 15 is rotated, under the action of a spring, back to its locked position, in the direction opposite to the rotation during insertion. The second locking means 15 is further provided with a turnable handle 53 for operating the helical cone 51, the turnable handle 53 being mainly intended to turn the helical cone 51 from its locked position to a neutral position when disengaging the second locking means 15 from the container 3, as occurs, for instance, when unloading containers 3 from a vessel. The turnable handle 53 can also be used to secure the second locking means 15 to the container 3 in order to facilitate the rotation of the helical cone 51 when the second locking means 15 is inserted into an oval hole 49 of a corner fitting 7. In the shown embodiment in Figs 4A and 4B, said second locking means 15 is provided with a fixed handle 53 so as to facilitate handling and operation of the device 1 for lashmg ISO containers 3, without necessitating separate tools when mounting it on, and dismounting it from, a corner fitting 7. The design of the helical cone 51 is shown in more detail in Fig. 4B. The helical cone 51 has the shape of a helically turned cone with an essentially oval base and cross-section, the helical shape forcing the helical cone 51 to turn when being pressed against the edge of the oval hole 49 of the corner fitting 7 of the container 3. When the base of the helical cone 51 passes through the oval hole 49, a return spring of the second locking means 15 turns the helical cone 51 back to its initial unaffected position and, in this way, the helical cone 51 is locked in a form-fit manner inside the corner fitting 7 of the container. In addition to the above-described second locking means 15 which is formed with a helical cone 51, it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that it is possible to use a number of alternative solutions to attach said device to the corner fitting 7 of the container 3. In an alternative embodiment, which is illustrated in Fig. 5, the distance between the first and the second locking means 13, 15 is adjusted by a grip coupling which allows interconnection of two bar elements 117, 118 so as to provide an adjustable bar. The grip coupling comprises a female part 157 and a male part 155 which are prefer- ably arranged at one end each of the respective bar elements. The female part is turnable between a neutral position and an engaging position which connects the two bar elements 117, 118 to each other by cooperation between recesses 139 inside the female part 157 and at least one protruding part arranged on one of the bar elements. This embodiment works according to the principle of a bayonet catch and can also be arranged with a previously described spring-loaded play in order to obtain the above-described properties of the device. Of course, it is possible to let the internal recess 139 of the female part and the cooperating protruding part 137 change places and, thus, obtain a corresponding reversed grip coupling. The protruding part/parts 137 may be designed to taper towards the end so as to allow engage- ment in the recesses 139 of the grip coupling 157 if they are not positioned straight in front of each other (not shown) . The female part 157 can be rotatmgly connected to the bar element 118 in several ways known to a person skilled in the art, so that tensile and compressive forces can be transferred, for example by means of abutments, flanges, threaded couplings or other prior-art machine elements. Once the grip coupling is in the locked position, the two bar elements 117, 118 can transfer tensile and compressive forces from a current container 3. In another embodiment, two bar elements are connected telescopically and locked to each other by means of a pin which is inserted into holes aligned with each other in the two bar elements, so that an adjustable length of the two bar elements is obtained. Said bar elements connect the first and the second locking means 13, 15 to each other, .so that tensile and compressive forces from a container 3 can be absorbed.

Claims

CLAI MS

1. A device (1) for lash g ISO containers (3), comprising a first locking means (13) adapted to be secured to a lashmg bridge (5), a second locking means (15) adapted to be secured to a corner fitting (7) of a container (3), and a bar element (17) which is arranged between the first locking means (13) and the second locking means (15) , c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the bar element (17) is adapted to absorb compressive and tension loads essentially horizontally from the ISO containers (3) .

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of the second locking means (15) is adjustable relative to a corner fitting (7) of a current container (3) .

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a grip coupling with a plurality of gripping positions seen in the longitudinal direction of the bar element (17) is arranged along the extent of the bar element.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the grip coupling is displaceably arranged with at least one motion component running in the longitudinal direction of the bar element (17) so as to allow adjustment of the position of the second locking means (15) in relation to a corner fitting (7) of a current container (3) .

5. A device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein the grip coupling in the locked position is arranged with a horizontally sprmg-loaded play relative to the lashmg bridge (5) for absorbing a container tolerance and/or an initial container displacement.

6. A device as claimed in any one of claims 3-5, wherein the grip coupling constitutes the first locking means (13) at that end of the bar element (17) which is adapted to be secured to the lashmg bridge (5).

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first locking means (13) comprises a first displacing element (19) which is connected to the bar element (17), said first displacing element (19) being displaceably arrang- ed relative to a second displacing element (21) which is adapted to be attached to a lash g bridge (5) .

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first displacing element (19) and the second displacing element (21) together constitute a slide.

9. A device as claimed in claim 7 or 8, wherein the first locking means (13) comprises a cam means (35) which is rotatably arranged relative to the lashing bridge (5), said cam means (35) being arranged in the first or the second displacing element (19, 21), and wherein the cam means (35) is provided with at least one protruding engaging means (37), which is adapted to engage in one of a number of corresponding recesses (39), or vice versa, which recess (39) is arranged in the displacing element (19, 21) opposite to the cam means, so as to lock the first displacing element (19) relative to the second displacing element (21) .

10. A device as claimed n claim 9, wherein the cam means (35) is arranged in the second displacing element (21) and said recess (39) is arranged in the first displacing element (19) .

11. A device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the cam means (35) is arranged to be displaced in the horizontal direction so that said engaging means (37), when locking the first locking means (13), is displaced to a position where engagement in a corresponding recess (39) is allowed.

12. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9-11, wherein the cam means (35) is arranged with a horizontally sprmg-loaded play relative to the lashmg bridge (5) .

13. A device as claimed in any one of claims 9-12, wherein said engaging means (37) of the cam means (35) tapers at the end.

14. A device as claimed in any one of claims 6-13, wherein the bar element (17) is provided with a fixed length.

15. A device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bar element (17), which is arranged between the first and the second locking means (13, 15), is tubular and made of metal, such as steel.

16. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first locking means (13) is adapted to be locked relative to the lashmg bridge (5) by means of a grip, preferably a turnable handle (33) .

17. A device as claimed in any one of preceding claims, wherein the bar element (17) is articulated to the first locking means (13) about at least two axes of rotation.

18. A device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the bar element (17) is connected to the first locking means (13) by means of a ball-and-socket joint.

19. A device as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, wherein the grip coupling is arranged along the bar ele- ment (17) between the first and the second locking means (13, 15) .

20. A device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the grip coupling consists of a male member (155) and female member (157) which are displaceably arranged relative to each other, either the male member (155) or the female member (157) being provided with at least one protruding engaging means (137), which is adapted to engage in one of a number of corresponding recesses (139), or vice versa, which recess (139) is arranged in the part opposite to the engaging means (137), so as to lock the male member (155) relative to the female member (157) .

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the engaging means (137) is arranged on the male member (155) and said recess (139) is arranged in the female member (157) .

22. A device as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein said engaging means (137) tapers at the end.

23. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second locking means (15) is adapted to be fixed to the corner fitting (7) of the current container (3) by means of a quick fastener.

24. A device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the quick fastener of the second locking means (15) is form- ed as a helical cone (51) .

25. A device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the shape of the helical cone (51) allows it to be moved from a locking position to an inserting position when being inserted into the corner fitting (7), and wherein the helical cone (51) is biased to be automatically returned to the locking position once inserted into the corner fitting (7) .

26. A device as claimed n claim 25, wherein the second locking means (15) is adapted to be released from the corner fitting (7) by rotation of the helical cone (51) by means of a handle (53) .

27. A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second locking means (15) is adapted to be manually secured to, and released from, the corner fitting (7) of a container (3) .