Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02361557 2008-02-06
Movable Container Lock for Shipping Containers
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention
A movable shipping container lock is mountable and demountable on a deck or
frame of
a vehicle so that the lock can be adapted to different load conditions
including a different mix
of containers of different length and the like while having unused locks not
interfere with the
flush mounting of long containers.
Description of Related Art
Numerous arrangements for container locks are known including our United
States Patent
No. 5,570,981, sharing a common assignee with tllis application. The
disclosure in 5,570,981
is incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. Locks are typically
mounted by various
means including recently by welding using flanges that permit adaptation of a
lock to pedestals
of specific size.
European Patent No. EP 0292369 entitled "Locking device for containers on a
vehicle
loading platform, and platform provided therewith." is for a locking device
for containers on a
vehicle loading platform such as that of a railway wagon or a road vehicle and
is characterized
in that the opposing faces of bearing planes for the securing members and of
these securing
members are given complementary shapes which, without opposing any lifting of
the securing
member, lock it in terms of translational movement in the bearing plane at
least in a direction
parallel to the longitudinal axis of the platform. In particular, this patent
shows a projection or
finger, that fits vertically into a complementary opening or aperture, the
walls of the opening or
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aperture preventing longitudinal movement, while the entire lock can be
lifted, disengaging the
projection from the aperture, and the lock can then be slid along a rod, to
which it is slidably
affixed through an arm, to a location wherein the lock can be stowed, thereby
freeing the deck
of the vehicle from the projection of the lock.
Brief Description of the Preferred Embodiment
A container lock for securing shipping containers to a vehicle deck comprising
has a lock
housing containing a latch mechanism that extends outwardly from the housing
to engage a
shipping container corner casting. The housing has a combination of projecting
wings and lip
projecting therefrom in a generally symmetric "T" shaped plan form.
In alternative embodiments, other plan forms may be used, such as combining an
"A"
shape with a rod or bar under the vehicle deck, sliding into a mounted
position and retracting into
a hanging demounted position, combining a modified, generally asymmetric, "T"
shape with
wings and an asymmetric projecting lip, sliding with a pivoting rod, sliding
into and out of a
mounted position and then pivoting and inverting or "flipping over" to a
stowed position.
Locating stops for the symmetric "T" shaped lock are mountable to the deck of
the
vehicle. Projecting tabs extend from the locating stops. The wings and lips
slide under and
engage the projecting tabs of the locating stops. Similarly, the asymmetric
"T" shaped lock uses
locating stops having projecting tabs to receive the wings and lip. The "A"
shaped lock uses
flanges that engage the plate from which the vehicle deck is formed.
Blocks mountable to the deck position the lock appropriately for longitudinal
and lateral
positioning for container service and provide container securement by
transferring lateral and
longitudinal forces between the container and car or wagon. The preferred
longitudinally sliding
anchor arrangement allows the lock to be moved along the deck to different
container
securement positions. The alternative embodiments provide for fixed
longitudinal positions or
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stations.
In the longitudinally movable (symmetric "T'") embodiment, a tether
interconnects the
anchor and the lock to keep the lock secure to the car. The tether is formed
in a length that
allows the lock enough movement to disengage the stop block projecting tabs
but not so much
movement that the lock can hang over the side of the vehicle.
In the longitudinally movable (symmetric "T") embodiment, the best mode of the
invention is practiced using a pivoting gravity lock which prevents the lock
from being moved
from its position without human intervention. This uses a pivoting pendulous
member having
a first tab projecting upwardly in a position of rest and a second projecting
tab projecting
sidewardly in a position of rest, such that said member is pivotable against
gravity to move said
first tab to a sidewards position and said second tab to an upwards position.
The gravity lock's
pendulous member is pivotally mounted on a plate, said plate being opaque and
selectively
concealing and revealing one of said first tabs and second tabs, so that said
first tab indicates a
lock operable state and said second tab indicates a lock movable state.
The asymmetric "T" embodiment contemplates a pin to fix the lock in place. The
"A"
shaped embodiment uses the combination of the mechanical elements of slots and
the bar or rod
to fix the lock in place.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the movable container lock for shipping
containers.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the movable container lock for
shipping containers.
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the movable container lock for shipping
containers
Figure 4 is a rear front elevational view of the movable container lock for
shipping
containers.
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the movable container lock for shipping
containers
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in its disengaged state.
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the movable container lock for shipping
containers in its
disengaged state.
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the gravity lock for the container
lock.
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the asymmetric "T" lock deployed on a
railcar.
Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the asymmetric "T" lock being a slid
out of an
engagement with the stops.
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the asymmetric "T" lock pivoted into
the stowed
position.
Figure 11 is a front elevational view of the asymmetric "T" lock.
Figure 12 is a top plan view of the asymmetric "T" lock.
Figure 13 is a top plan view of the deck of a vehicle showing the stops and
opening into
which the asymmetric "T" lock pivots.
Figure 14 is a side elevational view of the rod type "A" lock in a place on a
rail car.
Figure 15 is a top plan view of the rod type "A" lock in place on a railcar.
Figure 16 is side elevational view of the ride type "A" Lock stowed on a rail
car.
Figure 17 is a side elevational view of the bar type "A" lock in place on a
railcar.
Figure 18 is a top plan view of the bar type "A" lock in place on a rail car.
Figure 19 is a side elevational view of the round type "A" lock being slid
from its
operational position.
Figure 20 is a side elevational view of the ride type "A" lock after the view
in figure 19,
being raised and moved to a stowing position.
Figure 21 is a side elevational view of the rod type "A" lock being lured into
its stowed
position such as figure 16.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Container lock 10 is used for securing standard shipping containers (not
shown) by
latching their corner castings. Lock 10 is movably and stowably mounted to a
vehicle deck or
frame 12. This may be, for example, a standard flat car, a European style
railroad wagon or the
5 like. Lock housing 14. It will be seen that a latch mechanism 16 extends
outwardly from the
housing 14 to engage the shipping container corner casting. The housing 14 has
a base 18 which
has a combination of projecting wings 20 and lip 22 projecting therefrom in a
generally "T"
shaped plan form.
Longitudinal locating stops 24, 26 are mountable on the left hand side and
right hand side
of each selected position of lock 10 to the deck of the vehicle. Projecting
tabs 28, 30 extend
from the longitudinal locating stops. The wings 20 slide under and engage the
projecting tabs
28, 30 of the longitudinal locating stops 24, 26.
Lateral stops 32, 34 are located inboard on the car frame 12. These also have
projecting
tabs 36, 38, respectively that receive lip 22.
The blocks 24, 26 and 32, 34 act together to position the lock appropriately
for
longitudinal and lateral positioning for container service and providing
container securement by
transferring lateral and longitudinal forces between the container and car or
wagon. It will be
noted that wings 20 are further supported by gussets 40 which helps transfer
these loads. This
sliding anchor arrangement that allows the lock to be moved along the deck to
different container
securement positions.
A tether 50 interconnects an anchor 52 and an attachment 54 on lock 10 to keep
the lock
secure to the car, wagon or other vehicle. The tether 50 is formed in a length
that allows the lock
50 enough movement to disengage the wings 20 and lip 22 from the block
projecting tabs 28,
30, 3 6, 38 but not so much movement that the lock can hang over the side of
the vehicle frame
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or deck 12. One embodiment of tether 50 is shown, using a chain and pipe for
anchor 52. Other
arrangements using rods, links or cables could be used commensurate with the
needs of the
particular vehicle.
A pivoting gravity lock 60 prevents the lock 10 from being moved from its
position
without human intervention. This uses a pivoting pendulous member 62 that
pivots around rod
64. Member 62 has a first tab 66 projecting upwardly in a position of rest and
a second
projecting tab 68 projecting sidewardly in a position of rest, such that said
member 62 is
pivotable against gravity to move said first tab 66 to a sidewards position
and said second tab
68 to an upwards position. This is shown in Fig. 7. The gravity lock's
pendulous member 62
is pivotally mounted on a plate 70. The plate 70 is not only structural, but
being opaque also
selectively conceals and reveals first tab 66 and second tab 68, so that the
visible first tab 66
indicates a lock operable state arid when only the second tab 68 is visible,
it indicates a lock
movable state. The lock movable state is one where the lock is not secure and
therefore the
container will not be secure on the car or wagon.
Description of the Alternative Embodiments
An "A" shape plan form lock 110, 112 of Fig. 14 through Fig. 21 with a rod,
Fig. 14 - 16
and Fig. 19 - 21, or bar Fig. 17 and 18, is maintained in container receiving
position through the
engagement of tabs 114, 116 under the vehicle deck 12, sliding into a mounted
position, Fig. 14
and Fig. 17 and retracting into a hanging demounted position, Fig. 16. The "A"
shape
designation is used for convenience because when viewed in plan, as in Fig. 15
and Fig. 18, tabs
114, 116 form the legs of the "A" and flanges 118, 120 form the apex of the
"A'".
Extending from the flanges, 118, 120 are, respectively, a rod. 122 or bar,
124. Rod 122
or bar 124 function to maintain the operative lock 110 or 112 in position, and
to hold the
container to the deck 12 because the rod 122 or bar 124 abuts the underside of
the deck 110, 112,
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thereby limiting movement having an upward directional component. The stowing
operation,
which may be viewed as a movement from the operative position of Fig. 14 to
the stowed
position of Fig. 16, through the intermediate progression of sliding in Fig.
19, to lifting in Fig.
20 and lowering in Fig. 21 are similar whether the rod 122 or bar 124 is used
and will be
understood as such by one of ordinary skill. The lifting is performed by
manual lifting of handle
126. In either case lock 110, 112 is lowered through a rectangular aperture,
130 in deck 12.
Plates 132 provide added strength on deck 12 adjacent aperture 130. The lock
110, 112 is
preferably an automatic lock such as taught in United States Patent No.
5,570,981, but other
locks could be used.
The alternative generally asymmetric, "T" shape plan form lock 210 is shown in
Fig. 8 -
12. Like the preferred embodiment, this embodiment uses wings 220 to hold lock
210 in place,
working in conjunction with an asymmetric projecting lip 222. Wings 220 and
lip 222 engage
longitudinal locating stops 224, 226 and lateral stop 232, respectively. Stops
224, 226 in this
embodiment have projecting tabs 228, 230 which maintain the lock 210 in
position when in its
operative location. Similarly, stop 232 has a projecting tab 236 that captures
lip 222.
This device is made to slide laterally outwardly relative to the rail car to
move to the
operative position, and slide laterally inwardly relative to the rail car to
disengage stops 224,
226, 232. There term "laterally" is relative to the longitudinal axis of a
rail car, and could also
mean "transversely" relative to the longitudinal axis of the rail car, the
longitudinal axis being
understood to be the long dimension of the typical car, and running from the
center of one
coupler to the other. The principles taught herein are not necessarily
intended to be limited to
rail cars, as containers need to be locked to decks of various other vehicles.
In the operative position, the lock 210 is maintained in position by the
engagement into
locking flange 245 of pin 247 which extends into through aperture 248 and into
opening 249 in
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deck 12.
Stowing is accomplished by sliding lock 210 so that stops 224, 226. 232 are
disengaged
as shown in Fig. 9. Extending inwardly from base 218 is pivot arms 250. Arms
250 have pivot
rod 252 extending outwardly therefrom, being retained on deck by straps 254
which provide a
limit of vertical movement of pivoting rod 252, while permitting sliding of a
movement
sufficient to disengage stops 224, 226, 232 into and out of a mounted
position. When
disengaged, as in Fig. 9, the entire lock 210 is and then pivot and inverted
or "flipped over" to
a stowed position as shown in Fig. 10. Aperture 280, Fig. 13, enables the
receipt of the inverted
lock 210 so that a substantially flat deck 12 can be presented for cargo.
Arms 250, straps 254 and rod 252 coact to provide security against loss or
theft. and are
advantageous for high performance automatic locks of the type discussed
herein, although other
locks may be used.
While the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to
three
embodiments thereof, it will be apparent, as noted above that variations and
modifications may
be made therein. It is also noted that the present invention is independent of
the vehicle on which
it is mounted, and is not limited to those vehicles. It is, thus, intended in
the following claims to
cover each variation and modification that falls within the true spirit and
scope of the present
invention.
