EP1121310B1 - Method of securing a container on a container or on a transport means situated underneath it - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for securing a container on an underlying container in a container stack or on a means of transport (trucks, railway wagons, Ships etc.). Standardized containers, namely ISO containers and sea-land containers, point at their eight corners Corner fittings that are hollow on the inside and, at the upper corners, Elongated holes at the top for inserting and fixing bolts Lifting elements or on coupling pieces (twistlocks) are provided. The corner fittings on the lower corners of the container show according to below, slots into which twistlocks are inserted and can be locked to another on the container Connect container standing with it or on a means of transport to secure. The corner fittings point over the mentioned Elongated holes to the side and to the front of the container out more holes.

So far, containers have been made manually using special coupling pieces, especially with the so-called twistlocks, on other containers, on ship hatches or the like to prevent slipping and Tipped over. Such a coupling piece is for example in DE 34 39 134 A1 described. The coupling piece has opposite Latches in their starting position in an elongated hole a corner fitting of the container or in a corresponding one Elongated hole inserted on a means of transport and through it Twisting can be fixed. Then becomes the next container put on the prepared twistlocks, grab these with their second latches in the lower corner fittings of the attached container and are twisted in it the bolt set. This way, several Layers of containers are stacked on top of one another and secured, the bottom container on the transport surface with Twistlocks is held at its corners and the ones stacked over it Containers with twistlocks at their corners are connected. They are also semi-automatic twistlocks known in which the latch by the weight of the patch Containers are twisted so that a manual twisting to Fixing the twistlocks is unnecessary.

Because containers are stacked in more and more layers today and transported, for example in up to seven layers on ships, the securing of the containers comes on the one hand become more and more important and on the other hand they become required manual operations ever more dangerous because Workers use and lock the twistlocks at high altitude or have to solve. This has, especially in bad weather conditions, a not inconsiderable risk of an accident.

The problem of securing a container on one of them lying container or a means of transport (ship, truck, Railway wagon etc.) always turns up when the container is loaded or reloaded. Become containers usually by means of lifting elements (e.g. on permanently installed or mobile cranes). To do this, the lifting elements are involved Bolts at their lower ends in the elongated holes of the upper corner fittings of the container and are inside Twisting set. Then the container is by means of the lifting organs are raised and to the desired new position after which the bolts of the lifting elements in the upper corner fittings back to their starting position, i.e. in their open position, be turned back and the lifting elements then lifted off become.

From DE 43 28 635 C1 a charging harness is known, which to the usual lifting elements of a crane or crane truck coupled can be and that is designed in the corner fittings of an open container from which cargo protrudes, to allow the container to be picked up. there is the loading harness at the bottom with corresponding rotating latches provided in the same manner as described above in the Insert the elongated holes in the corner fittings. The lifting elements grip thereby in the upper elongated holes on the loading gear. In the charger is a linkage transmission between the upper corner fittings and the rotating bars underneath, about the rotation of the lifting elements from the upper corner fittings of the loading gear onto the rotating latch will, so that the latch of the loading harness in the same way rotated by the usual rotation of the bolts on the lifting elements be able to fix them in the corner fittings of the container or to solve again.

US 3 980 185 and US 4 341 495 are transmissions of the rotary movement the bar of the lifting organs reveals itself in that bars in engage complementary counterparts in the upper corner fittings so that the rotation is transmitted to the locking bolts in the lower corner fittings.

It is an object of the present invention, a method and specify a container adapted to the procedure, which a compatibility of the method and the container according to US 3 980 185 and Create US 4,341,495 with conventional latches on lifting elements

The method according to serves to solve this task Claim 1 as well as the trained container with the characteristics of claim 4. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

According to the invention it is provided that the rotational movement of the bolt the lifting elements in the lower corner fittings of the container rotatably mounted locking bolt is transmitted. The safety latches are arranged so that when the container is set down into the elongated holes in the upper corner fittings of a person sitting underneath Containers or in the slots on a means of transport intervene as a support for the container and twist it can be locked in it. The transmission of the rotary motion the latch of the lifting elements is on the safety latch designed in opposite directions in such a way that when rotating the latch of the lifting organs from the open to the fixed Position in the upper corner fittings the locked in the open position in the elongated holes of the Edition are rotated, and vice versa that when rotating the Latches from the set position to the open position from the open to the locked position in the Elongated holes of the edition are rotated. In this way the Container when he uses the lifting organs to his new position is set, by turning back the bolts on the lifting elements, to be able to pull them out of the corner fittings again, automatically by the lower safety catch on the one below lying container or the means of transport fixed by the locking bolts behind the elongated holes in the corner fittings of the underlying container or the means of transport Twisting can be fixed. As a result, the container is through the removal and subsequent removal of the lifting organs without further work steps are automatically saved. This backup is automatically solved again when relocating the Containers this again with lifting elements in the upper corner fittings is gripped.

The invention thus eliminates the need for workers inspect the containers and perform operations there, to secure them or to release them again. So that will be Risk of accidents significantly reduced. At the same time, the Handling process also accelerated and simplified overall, see above that cost savings are possible.

For the application of the method according to the invention the bolts on the lifting elements are extended downwards trained and grip from above in complementary counterparts transmission so as to make a slewing ring create. By engaging the extended bars with the Counterparts ensure that when using conventional Latch on lifting elements no transmission of the rotary movement takes place, The bolts and locking bolts therefore remain in their position or can be moved manually, so that a Compatibility with conventional systems is maintained. Moreover is done mechanically by the transfer of the lifting organs triggered rotation of the bolt the connection between Container and substructure (e.g. additional containers) more stable.

A container for performing the method according to the invention is preferably designed so that the locking bolt in the lower corner fittings slidably mounted in the vertical direction are and are loaded with a bias that the Locking bolt into one of the lower corner fittings Prestressed position below. The biased should issued position of the locking bolts are so that the locking bolt when the lower corner fitting on one upper corner fitting of an underlying container or one The means of transport is attached, the elongated hole into which it projects, can reach behind by twisting. That way ensures that when the container is in position on one underlying container or a means of transport with appropriate Slotted holes are attached to the locking latch at the bottom of the container simply by twisting in the elongated holes can be fixed. It should also be vertical Movable storage of the locking bolts allow the Locking bolt against the preload up to one inside of the lower corner fitting can be withdrawn can. This mobility of the locking bolt is advantageous making the container compatible with conventional security procedures using twistlocks remains. Will the container placed on pre-positioned twistlocks, these push the Locking bolts in the lower corner fittings of the container inside, so that the container is also secured in a conventional manner can be. It is also possible to open the container a flat surface (such as a street) where the locking bolts then by the weight of the container be pushed far into the lower corner fittings that they flush with the undersides of the lower corner fittings on the Road.

The transmission of the rotational movement of the latches of the lifting elements the lower locking latch can be used as a positive mechanical Be trained transmission. However, there are other transmissions, such as pneumatic, electrical, etc. can be used.

If the transmission is designed as a mechanical connection, can they are formed, for example, by a linkage that the Rotation directly, i.e. transmits without translation. This can lead to Example be done in that between the top and the associated lower corner fitting, parallel to the corner edge of the container a linkage of two telescoping interlocking Rods runs, with the safety catch at the bottom of one telescopically displaceable rod should be attached. On in this way the vertically displaceable described above Storage of the locking bolt can be realized, the vertical The locking bolt can be moved thanks to the telescopic function of the boom is made possible.

Each transfer can be made vertically along the corner edge of the Containers between an upper and a lower corner fitting extending housing can be arranged, this Housing be attached to the inside of the container walls should, so that none projecting beyond the standard dimensions Structures emerge. Such over the corner edges of the container trending housing have the additional advantage that they are for further reinforce the container structure, which in particular with regard to a higher load capacity of the container is advantageous in high container stacks.

Figur 1:

eine seitliche Draufsicht auf eine Eckkante eines Containers zeigt, wobei das Gehäuse der Übertragung im Schnitt dargestellt ist;

Figur 2:

eine Schnittansicht des Gehäuses der Übertragung von vorne zeigt;

Figur 3:

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Gestänges für die Übertragung zeigt;

Figur 4:

Schnittdarstellungen des unteren Eckbeschlages, wobei der darin angeordnete Sicherungsriegel in verschiedenen vertikalen Stellungen dargestellt ist;

Figuren 5 - 8:

Schnittdarstellungen eines oberen Eckbeschlages mit eingreifenden Riegeln von Hebeorganen in verschiedenen Stellungen zeigen.

The invention is described below with reference to exemplary embodiments in the drawings, in which:

Figure 1:

shows a side plan view of a corner edge of a container, the housing of the transmission being shown in section;

Figure 2:

a sectional view of the housing of the transmission from the front;

Figure 3:

a perspective view of a linkage for transmission;

Figure 4:

Sectional views of the lower corner fitting, the locking bolt arranged therein is shown in different vertical positions;

Figures 5 - 8:

Show sectional views of an upper corner fitting with engaging bolts of lifting elements in different positions.

In the figures are detailed views of one for executing the Invention suitable container shown.

1 shows a front edge of the container, the housing 12 of the transmission 20 is shown in section. The container has a corner fitting 6 and at the upper corner at the bottom a corner fitting 6 ', which as a hollow body are formed, the former above an elongated hole 6a and the latter has an elongated hole on the underside. Furthermore can the existing on the sides of the corner fittings 6, 6 'openings serve to allow access to the inside with tools if parts are jammed. Vertically between the the upper corner fitting 6 and the lower corner fitting 6 ' Housing 12, which is also attached to the inner walls of the container can be and that surrounds a transmission 20. The transfer 20 is shown in FIG. 3. It has a counterpart at the top 5, which is essentially the shape of a U-shaped channel has and which is rotatably arranged in the upper corner fitting 6. Firmly connected to the counterpart 5 is an upper rod, which carries an inner square 4 at its lower end. The top bar the transfer is made by resting the counterpart 5 on the floor of the corner fitting 6, through the guidance of the upper rod a hole in the bottom of the upper corner fitting 6 and through Passing the upper rod through a in the housing 12th attached fixing plate 8 held in position. In the Inner square 4 of the upper rod is a complementary one Square 3 slidably received, of which a lower rod emanates. The bottom bar runs through a hole in one Safety bolt 1 and carries the safety bolt at its lower end 2. Through the interlocking parts of the inner square 4 and the square 3 is a non-rotatable connection made between the counterpart 5 and the locking bolt 2, being by the telescopic interlocking of Square 3 and inner square 4 a vertical mobility of the lower rod and thus the locking bar 2 allows becomes.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the securing bolt 1 extends through the lower corner fitting, with an end stop lug 1a Pad comes on top of the lower corner fitting 6 ' Movement of the lower bar is limited downwards, so that the Safety bolt 1 and the safety catch 2 at most up to the position shown in Figure 2 from the lower corner fitting 6 'can protrude. One between the top and lower rod effective preload that the lower rod and the locking bolt 2 in the one shown in FIG Position is biased. This bias can Example by a arranged in the cavity of the inner square and acting between the inner square 4 and the square 3 Spring 4a are generated.

The vertically movable mounting of the locking bolt 2 is preferred, so that the safety catch depending on Art the document can take a suitable position, such as this is shown in Figures 4. In Figure 4 A the securing bolt is sufficient 1 and the safety catch 2 from the lower corner fitting 6 'of the container in the upper corner fitting 6 of an underlying Containers and can be fixed there by twisting become. In Figure 4 B, the securing bolt is slightly inserted and the locking bar 2 is flush with the bottom the corner fitting 6 'on a flat surface. In Figure 4 C is the locking bolt 1 in the lower corner fitting pressed in by a twistlock 13 that the two Corner fittings 6 ', 6 connects to each other in a conventional manner.

In Figures 5-8 there is an upper corner fitting 6 with an engaging one Lifting member 15 shown in different positions, wherein in 5 and 6, a lifting member 15 is shown with a bolt 14 'previously used. The lifting organ 15 carries at its lower end a bolt 14 ', which is not protrudes so far into the corner fitting 6 that it fits into the counterpart 5 could grab. Therefore, the container described remains compatible with conventional systems and can also do so can be included without twisting the locking bolt 2 to effect. In Figures 7 and 8 is a Extended bar intended for the present method 14 attached to the lifting member 15. This bolt 14 is in cross section slightly wedge-shaped and protrudes from above into the U-shaped Channel of the counterpart 5 into it. In Figures 6 and 8 respectively the bolt 14 'or 14 is rotated by 90 °, in Figure 6 did not rotate the counterpart 5, however with the elongated bolt 14 in FIG. 8 a positive one Engagement of the bolt 14 with the counterpart 5 Has caused rotation of the counterpart 5 with the bolt 14. in the lower part of Figure 8 is an alternative transmission 21 with hydraulic means shown schematically, which instead of mechanical transmission 20 from Figures 1 to 3 are used could.

The locking latch 2 have vertical dimensions so that they do not protrude so far into a corner fitting 6 in order to reach into a counterpart 5. Rather, the counterpart remains 5 when a locking bolt 2 engages in the associated one Corner fitting 6 unaffected.

The "opening" and "closing" of the bolt 14 of the lifting element in the upper corner fitting 6 runs in opposite or opposite directions to open or close the locking bolt 2 in the Corner fitting of the container below, i.e. if the container to be implemented and the bolt 14 in the upper Corner fitting 6 inserted and fixed therein by twisting becomes, this rotation causes the movement of the locking bolt 2 from its set position in the one below Corner fitting in the open position so that the Move the safety catch 2 out of the corner fitting below can, if the container on the fixed bars 14 is raised hanging. Conversely, after stopping the Containers, if this is on an underlying container is placed so that the locking bar 2 in the elongated holes the upper corner fittings 6 of the container below (or into corresponding elongated holes on a means of transport) are, the bolt 14 after settling back into the released position in the upper corner fitting 6 can be turned back, so that the lifting organ can be removed, this Turning the bolt 14 back into the open position means twisting of the locking bolt 2 in the closed or fixed Position causes so that automatically with the solution of the Locking the lifting elements securing the container to the new one Place is performed.

The upper rod snaps into the open position accordingly and a closed bolt in the area of the sheet 8.

For easier maintenance or to remedy malfunctions the housing 12 of the transmission 20 is provided with an opening, from which a lever 10 attached to the lower rod protrudes, which allow mechanical rotation of the boom if this is jammed or due to ice formation is frozen.

It can also be seen in Figure 2 that in the lower corner fitting 6 'existing side opening allows using a Place the tool on the safety pin 1 and this, if it is jammed or frozen. This is the safety bolt 1, as can be seen in FIGS. 4 A, 4 B and 4 C, with Provide recesses that simplify the attachment of a tool. Create the recesses in the securing bolt 1 also space for lash rods, if this for securing Stacking containers between the corner fittings of containers be used continuously.

Claims (17)

1. Method of securing a container on a container arranged underneath it or on a transport means, the container having at all corners corner fittings (6, 6') with slots in order to engage with bolts (14, 14') on lifting elements (15) or twist locks, and each upper corner fitting (6) having a counterpart (5), whereby a transmission of the rotational movement from the lifting elements (15) to securing bolts (2) rotatably housed in the lower corner fittings (6') can take place with the following steps:

   1a) Use of a lifting device which engages from above in the slots (6a) in the upper corner fittings (6), in order to lift the container with lifting elements (15) which are provided with rotatable conventional bolts (14'),

   1b) Rotation of the bolts (14') in order to fasten the bolts (14') in the upper corner fittings (6) in order to lift the container without engagement in the counterparts (5) and these being rotated,

   1c) Reverse rotation of the bolts (14') after setting down the container on a container arranged underneath it or on a transport means, in order to release the bolts (14') again in the upper corner fittings (6); or with the following steps:

   2a) Use of a lifting device with lifting elements (15) which are provided with rotatable extended bolts (14) in order to engage from above in the slots (6a) in the upper corner fittings (6),

   2b) Rotation of the extended bolts (14) in order to fasten the extended bolts (14) in the upper corner fittings (6), the rotational movement of the extended bolts (14) being transmitted to securing bolts (2) rotatably housed in the lower corner fittings (6') by engagement in the counterparts (5) complementary to the extended bolts (14),

   2c) Reverse rotation of the extended bolts (14) after setting down the container on a container arranged underneath it or on a transport means, in order to release the extended bolts (14) again in the upper corner fittings (6), the securing bolts (2) being arranged such that upon the setting down of the container they engage in the slots in the upper corner fittings of a container arranged underneath or at the transport means, and that by back-rotation of the extended bolts (14) they can be locked therein by engagement with the complementary counterparts (5), the complementary counterparts (5) being arranged such that they can engage with the extended bolts (14), but not with the conventional bolts (14').
2. Method according to claim 1, in which the transmission of the rotational movement of the extended bolts (14) of the lifting elements (15) to the securing bolts (2) is designed to be a counter-rotational movement in such a way that, upon rotation of the extended bolts (14) of the lifting elements in the upper corner fittings from the released into the fastened position, the securing bolts (2) are rotated from the locked into the released position in the slots of the container arranged underneath or of the transport means, and conversely upon rotation of the extended bolts (14) from the fastened into the released position, the securing bolts (2) are rotated from the released into the locked position in the slots of the container arranged underneath or of the transport means.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, in which extended bolts (14) are used which, compared with customary bolts (14') on lifting elements, are extended vertically downwards so that their extended end engages in rotation-resistant manner in the complementary counterpart (5) of a transmission means (20), so that a transmission of the rotational movement from the lifting elements to the securing bolts (2) takes place only when using the vertically extended bolts (14).
4. Container for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, with upper corner fittings (6) at the four upper corners and lower corner fittings (6') at the four lower corners of the container, with rotatable securing bolts (2) at the lower corner fittings (6') which are arranged such that upon the setting down of the container they can be introduced into the slots of a container arranged underneath it or of a transport means, and with a transmission means (20), upper and lower corner fittings lying above one another in each case between every pair (6, 6'), whereby upon rotation of the extended bolt (14) of the lifting element in the upper corner fitting (6) from the released into the fastened position, each securing bolt (2) is rotated from the locked into the released position in the corresponding slot of the container arranged underneath or of the transport means, and conversely upon rotation of the extended bolt (14) from the fastened into the open position, each securing bolt (2) is rotated from the released into the locked position in the corresponding slot of the container arranged underneath or of the transport means, while no transmission of rotational movement to the securing bolts (2) rotatably housed in the lower corner fitting (6') takes place if a conventional bolt (14') is used instead of an extended bolt (14).
5. Container according to claim 4, in which each conventional securing bolt (2) has dimensions in vertical direction such that upon engagement in a corner fitting (6), it does not project so deeply into the corner fitting (6) as to engage in the complementary counterpart (5) of the transmission means (20), so that this counterpart remains unaffected by the rotation of the securing bolt (2).
6. Container according to claim 4 or 5, in which the securing bolt (2) in each of the lower corner fittings (6') is housed vertically displaceable and is subjected to a pre-stressing which pre-stresses the securing bolt (2) into a position projecting downwards from the lower corner fitting (6'), in which [the] securing bolt (2) can be locked by rotation in a slot of a corner fitting (6) lying underneath or at a transport means, the securing bolt (2) in the released position being able to be forced into the corner fitting (6') vertically against the pre-tension.
7. Container according to one of claims 4 to 6, in which the transmission means (20) is developed as a form-locking mechanical transmission means.
8. Container according to claim 7, in which the transmission means (20) is formed by a multi-part multi-part [sic] rod system, running vertically between the upper corner fitting (6) and the lower corner fitting (6') lying underneath, to the lower end of which the securing bolt (2) is connected.
9. Container according to claim 8, in which the mechanical transmission means (20) has an upper rod and a lower rod coaxial to this, which run between the upper corner fitting (6) and the lower corner fitting (6') which intermesh in form-locking manner in the direction of rotation of the rods and which are displaceable against each other in a telescopic manner in longitudinal direction of the rods.
10. Container according to claim 9, in which the upper rod of the transmission means carries at its lower end an inner square (4) and the lower rod carries at its upper end a complementary square (3) which is housed displaceable in longitudinal direction in a telescopic manner into the inner square (4).
11. Container according to claim 9 or 10, in which there acts between the upper and the lower rod of the transmission means (20) an elastic force which pre-stresses the securing bolt (2) into the position protruding downward from the corner fitting (6').
12. Container according to claim 10, in which there is arranged in the inner square (4) a spring (4a) which acts between the inner square (4) and the square (3) in order to effect the pre-stressing of the securing bolt (2), connected to the lower rod, into the exposed position.
13. Container according to one of claims 4 to 12, in which the transmission means is arranged in a casing (12) running vertically along the corner edge of the container.
14. Container according to claim 13, in which the upper rod of the transmission means (20) is housed in the casing (12) secured against displacement in longitudinal direction and the lower rod is housed displaceable in longitudinal direction via the telescopic connection (3,4) to the upper rod, the lower rod being provided with an end-stop projection (1a) which cooperates with a fixed stop surface in order to limit the downwardly exposed end position of the securing bolt (2) against the pre-stressing.
15. Container according to one of claims 4 to 14, in which the lower rod of the transmission means (20) is connected below to a securing pin (1), through the vertical bore of which it passes, the lower rod carrying the securing bolt (2) in conventional size at its lower end under the securing pin (1).
16. Container according to claim 15, in which the lower corner fittings (6') are provided in their side surfaces with at least one opening, through which tools can be applied to the securing pin (1) in order to be able to operate it.
17. Container according to one of claims 9 to 16, in which the lower rod of the transmission means (20) is provided with a lever (10) which protrudes through an opening (11) from the casing (12), so that a rotation of the lower rod and thus of the securing bolt (2) can be effected manually by rotating the lever (10).

Images