WO2012168537A1

WO2012168537A1 - Coupling means

Info

Publication number: WO2012168537A1
Application number: PCT/FI2011/050962
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Bergman
Original assignee: Cargotec Finland Oy
Priority date: 2011-06-08
Filing date: 2011-11-01
Publication date: 2012-12-13
Also published as: DK201100893A; CN102815376A; CN102815376B; TW201249726A; FI20115556A; DE102011055287A1; DK177594B1; FI20115556A0; TWI504548B; FI123300B

Abstract

Coupling means (1) for rods (2) to be used for lashing and supporting containers, more particularly containers (9,13,21,22) to be transported on ships, such as cargo ships, which coupling means (1) comprises at least two locking heads (A,B), which locking heads comprise end parts (4,5), and which end parts comprise at least one support surface (6,7) for achieving a lashing function and supporting function, and which end parts can be fitted inside the holes (10, 12) that are on the corners (9 ',13 ' ) or in the corner pieces of containers, for lashing and supporting the containers, and in which coupling means at least two locking heads (A,B) are fitted with a hinge (8) to a rod (2) such that they can be turned around the hinge (8) to the extent of the desired angle, for selecting the locking head (A or B) to be used, and in that the essentially orthogonal distance (Α ', Β ' ) of the support surfaces (6,7) from the center line of the rod is different when either the locking head (A) or (B) is used.

Description

COUPLING MEANS

Background of the invention The object of this invention is a coupling means, which is used more particularly in connection with rods to be used for lashing and supporting containers to be transported on cargo ships, and which coupling means is fixed to the end of the aforementioned rods. Various solutions regarding the coupling means (locking heads) of rods to be used for lashing and supporting containers are known in the art. For example, publication EP1424277 presents one solution regarding a coupling means, which coupling means is a locking head that can be fitted into apertures of different sizes, which apertures are disposed in the corner pieces that are on the corners of a container. In the solution according to the publication one locking head is fitted into a slot at the end of a rod, which locking head can move in the aforementioned slot.

Further, a solution is known from publication DE3525322 wherein two fixed locking heads suitable for different-sized holes are fitted to a rod.

A lashing rod is known from publication DE3501109, both ends of which comprise a locking head. Prior-art solutions have some weaknesses. One weakness in prior-art solutions is that when the rods are placed crosswise for fixing containers a longitudinal adjustment margin is achieved with the slot- shaped hole of the hinge point in the locking head, so that the second of the rods would be farther from the container, and despite this the rods can still collide with each other, and the aforementioned hole also weakens the locking head and, on the other hand, it sets limits in relation to the alignment of the rods.

Brief description of the invention

The coupling means according to the invention is characterized by what is mentioned in the characterization part of the independent claim 1. The coupling means according to the invention is also characterized by what is mentioned in the attached claims 2-6.

The solution according to the invention now being presented has some significant with respect to prior-art solutions. The coupling means according to the invention now being presented has the advantage that by using it the distance of a rod from the container can be adjusted to be suitable by using different locking heads on the corners (of different containers), and thereby the collision of the rods with each other, which is highly undesirable, can be prevented.

Compared to a prior-art solution, in the solution according to the invention the distance of the top end of a rod from the container corner to which the support rod is connected remains optimal regardless of the user and of the loading state, unlike in prior-art models having a long hole, in which models the axle pin of the support rod can move freely to a random point.

The solution according to the invention is also extremely durable and strong in its structure as well as also being simple and extremely easy to use.

Brief description of the figures In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid some examples of its embodiment with reference to drawings la-3, wherein;

Figs, la-lc present some prior-art solutions regarding coupling means.

Figs. 2a-2c present a coupling means according to the invention in different positions.

Fig. 3 illustrates the use of a solution according to the invention in lashing and supporting containers. Detailed description of the invention

Fig. la presents a perspective sketch of a prior-art solution, in which a longitudinal adjustment margin has been achieved with the elongated hole of the hinge point that is in the locking head so that the other one of the rods would be farther from the container in a lashing situation, as presented in the figure.

Fig. lb correspondingly presents a side view of the solution presented by Fig. la, and in the figure the hole (slot) can be seen in the locking head, into which hole the rod is fitted so that it can move in the hole.

Fig. lc correspondingly presents one prior-art solution in which the locking head is curved in shape, and in which there is a slot-shaped hole into which the rod is movably fitted

Fig. 2a presents a side view of the solution according to the invention and it shows at least two locking heads A,B in a coupling means 1, which locking heads comprise end parts 4,5 and which end parts further comprise support surfaces 6,7 for achieving a lashing function and supporting function.

The end parts can be fitted inside the holes 10, 12 (see Fig. 3) that are on the corners of containers for lashing and supporting the containers, and in this case the support surfaces 6,7 are in contact with the inside surfaces (not visible in the figures) of the holes. According to what is presented in Fig. 2a, the two locking heads A,B are fitted with a hinge 8 onto a rotatable rod 2 (or onto the end part of the rod) such that the locking heads can be turned, according to what is presented by the arrow, to the extent of the desired angle on the end of the rod, for selecting the locking head A or B to be used. Fig. 2a describes a situation, in which the locking head A is used for the lashing function and supporting function. In a lashing situation, in which the locking head A is used, the horizontal distance A ^' of the support surface 6 of the locking head A from the hinge 8 (or, in other words, from the center line of the rod drawn via the hinge, which line is marked with a dashed line) is in this case greater than the horizontal distance B ^' of the support surface 7 of the second locking head B from the same hinge 8, which distance B ^' is presented in Fig. 2b. If, correspondingly, the locking head B is used for the lashing function and supporting function, as presented in Fig. 2c (or 2b), in this case the horizontal distance of the support surface 7 from the hinge 8 (or, in other words, from the center line in the direction of the rod drawn via the hinge 8) is ^' B ^' .

In Fig. 2a a support surface marked with the reference number 18 can be seen, which support surface rests on the corner surface of a container according to what is presented in Fig. 3, and, correspondingly, the corresponding support surface that rests on a corner surface of a container when the locking head B is used for lashing and supporting is marked with the reference number 17.

The end pieces 4,5 can comprise curved end surfaces 14,15, but the end surfaces can also be flat. There can be roundings 20 between the end parts A,B. In Fig. 2a the surfaces that are at an angle to the support surfaces 18 and 17 are marked with the reference numbers 16 and 19.

In the situation presented by Fig. 3 a lashing situation is presented, in which the lower containers 21, 22 (which comprise the corner pieces 21 ^' and 22 ^' on top of which the upper containers 1 and 13 rest) are lashed/supported with rods 2, at the end of which are the coupling means 3 of the solution according to the invention. According to what is presented in the figure, the coupling means 3 rests on the corner 9 ^' of the container 9 by the surface 18, and the locking head 5 of the coupling means is inside the hole 10, in which case the support surface 6 presented in Fig. 2a is in contact with the inside surface (not visible in Fig. 3) of the hole. Correspondingly, the locking head 4 is fitted inside the hole 12 in the container 13, in which case the support surface 17 (not visible in Fig. 3) presented in Fig. 2a is in contact with the corner 13 ^' of the container 13. According to what is presented in the figure, the rods are at different distances from the corners of the containers (from the vertical corner surfaces of the containers) because the locking head A (see Fig. 2a) is used in the container 1, and correspondingly the locking head B (see Fig. 2c) in the container 13, and owing to this the rods do not collide with each other because the lashing rod 2 of the container 13 is, according to the figure, closer to the corner surface of the container/corner of the container.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention are not limited solely to the examples described above, and that they may therefore be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.

In the coupling means according to the invention the locking heads (A,B) can be the same piece, but a solution can also be conceived wherein the locking heads (A,B) are different pieces, i.e. they can in this case rotate in a hinged manner independently of each other.

There can also be three or more locking heads in each coupling means.

The characteristic features possibly presented in the description in conjunction with other characteristic features can, if necessary, also be used separately to each other.

Claims

Coupling means (1) for rods (2) to be used for lashing and supporting containers, more particularly containers (9, 13,21,22) to be transported on ships, such as cargo ships, which coupling means (1) comprises at least two locking heads (A,B) which locking heads comprise end parts (4,5), and which end parts comprise at least one support surface (6,7) for achieving a lashing function and supporting function, and which end parts can be fitted inside the holes (10, 12) that are on the corners (9 ^' ,13 ^' ) or in the corner pieces of containers for lashing and supporting the containers, characterized in that at least two locking heads (A,B) are fitted with a hinge (8) to a rod (2) such that they can be turned around the hinge (8) to the extent of the desired angle, for selecting the locking head (A or B) to be used, and in that the essentially orthogonal distance (Α ^' , Β ^' ) of the support surfaces (6,7) from the center line of the rod is different when either the locking head A or B is used.

Coupling means according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking heads (A,B) are the same piece.

Coupling means according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking heads (A,B) are different pieces.

Coupling means according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling means (1) comprises second support surfaces (17, 18) that remain outside the holes (10,12), which second support surfaces determine the distance of the hinge (8) from the corner (9 ^' , 13 ^' ) of container.

Coupling means according to claim 1, characterized in that the support surfaces (6,7) are at an angle with respect to each other.

6. Coupling means according to claim 1, characterized in that the support surfaces (6,7) are parallel.