Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Device for the connection of transport devices
The present invention concerns a device for the connection of transport
devices.
Such devices are known in the form of what are referred to as twistlocks and
are
used for example to connect together transport apparatuses such as for example
containers, open transport containers, transport support and cradle structures
and the
like. For that purpose those twistlocks are fitted into oppositely disposed
corner fitments
of the containers and the lock members are rotated by actuation of the rotary
handle with
respect to the central portion. Due to the rotary movement of the lock members
they
engage into the corresponding corner fitment in such a way that release
therefrom is
prevented.
Such a connection provides a force-locking engagement between horizontally
and/or vertically adjacent containers so that the individual containers are
connected
fixedly but releasably to afford a block comprising a plurality of containers.
Connecting
containers which are standing in mutually juxtaposed relationship increases
the ground-
contacting base area and thus naturally also increases the stability of the
containers in
terms of standing. It will be appreciated however that the known twistiocks
can be used
only in relation to predetermined spacings between the transport apparatuses
or only in
reiation to the uppermost stacked containers.
25
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In the event of differing spacings between the transport apparatuses, it is
possible to provide for a bracing anchoring effect with bracing cables, for
load-securing
purposes. It will be noted however that that presupposes corresponding
abutment
options which however are not always available or which cannot be used for
other
reasons, for example transport packet assemblies which just on their own
occupy a
plurality of container placement locations in the longitudinal direction.
DE 196 52 817 Cl discloses a kit for the rigid connection of two containers
provided at their corners with hollow corner fitments. DE 1 581 134 discloses
a coupling
member for transport containers. DE 196 21 456 Al discloses a stowage portion
for
stowing transport containers in mutually juxtaposed relationship. US No 4 993
125
discloses a connecting element for containers. US No 3 683 463 discloses a
connecting
element for containers.
Therefore the object of the invention is to provide a device which permits an
improved connection of transport apparatuses.
In one configuration there is provided a device for the connection of
transport
apparatuses, in particular a twistiock, which has an elongate central portion
and two lock
members for engagement into corner fitments of the transport apparatuses. The
two lock
members respectively co-operate with the ends of the central portion in such a
way that
the two lock members are adapted to be displaceable along the longitudinal
axis of the
central portion.
In that respect the invention is based on the realisation that, with
fundamentally
identical mechanical requirements as on the state of the art, the range of use
of the
device according to the invention is substantially dependent on the length of
the central
portion. The length of the central portion determines the adjustment range of
the device.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention the central portion has a
male screwthread at at least one of its ends and at least one of the two lock
members
has a hole with a corresponding female screwthread so that, by rotation of the
central
portion, the male
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screwthread thereof co-operates with the female screwthread of the lock member
and
the lock member is moved along the longitudinal axis of the central portion.
By virtue of rotating the central portion the lock members which co-operate
with
the central portion are moved away from each other or towards each other in
dependence on the direction of rotation. The position of the lock members can
thus be
easily adapted to the spacing of the transport apparatuses.
In a preferred configuration of the invention there is provided a lever on
each lock
member. In that way the spacing of the lock members relative to each other can
be so
adjusted by way of a rotary handle on the central portion that that spacing
corresponds
to the spacing of the corner fitments at the transport apparatuses. When the
lock
members are in their predetermined position, each lock member can be rotated
by the
lever mounted thereto so that a connection is made between the transport
apparatuses
and the device according to the invention, as is known from the state of the
art, but with
different spacings in respect of the transport apparatuses relative to each
other.
In a further configuration each lever in that case is mounted substantially
perpendicularly or radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the
central portion in
order to permit particularly simple rotation of each lock member into the
desired locking
or unlocking position.
In a preferred configuration of the invention there is provided a bore in at
least
one lock member. The central portion of the device according to the invention
can be
recognised through that bore. Suitable positioning of that bore makes it
possible to
ensure that the connection between the central portion and the lock member is
at any
event sufficient as long as the central portion is still to be seen in the
bore. That makes it
possible to prevent unintentional incorrect fitment by virtue of rotating the
central portion
excessively far out of the lock members.
Further configurations of the invention are described herein.
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The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference
to the Figures in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a twistlock in accordance with a
first embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a twistlock in accordance with a
second embodiment of the invention, and
Figure 3 shows a side view of a part of the twistlock shown in Figure
2.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a twistiock according to a first
embodiment of the invention. The twistlock substantially comprises a
central portion 10 and two lock members 14 which are respectively
arranged at the two ends of the central portion 10. Fixed to the two lock
members 14 is a respective lever 16 which extends radially with respect to
the longitudinal axis of the central portion 10. A rotary handle 12 is fixed
to
the central portion 10.
A male screwthread is provided at each of the two ends of the
central portion 10. That male screwthread co-operates with a female
screwthread in a hole in each of the lock members so that the two lock
members can be screwed on to the two ends of the central portion 10, that
is to say a left-hand and a right-hand screwthread co-operate.
By virtue of rotation of the rotary handle, the central portion 10 is
rotated and the lock members 14 which co-operate with the central portion
10 are moved away from or towards each other, depending on the direction
of rotation. The position of the lock members can thus be adapted in a
simple manner to the spacing of the transport apparatuses.
The two levers 16 on the two lock members 14 serve to rotate the
lock members in such a way that, when the lock members 14 are
positioned in a predetermined longitudinal position in relation to the corner
fitments on the transport apparatuses, a connection is made between the
transport apparatuses and the twistiock. The perpendicular or radial
arrangement of the levers 16 relative to the longitudinal axis of the central
portion 10 permits simple rotary movement of the lock member 14 for
locking or unlocking purposes.
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The twistlock is held in the corner fitment by an undercut configuration, as
is also
known in the state of the art. For that purpose the corner fitment is
internally hollow and
has at least one hole, the length of which is greater than its width. The lock
member 14
which is to be fitted into the corner fitment is of comparable proportions.
The lock
5 member 14 can therefore be fitted into the corner fitment.
When now the lock member 14 is rotated through about 90 by means of the
lever 16, its longitudinal extent extends in the direction of the width of the
opening in the
corner fitment. As the longitudinal extent of the lock member 14 is greater
than that width
of the opening, the lock member 14 engages with the corner fitment in the
undercut
configuration and can no longer be removed therefrom without firstly
implementing an
opposite rotary movement through 90 .
The rotary handle 12 is preferably of a cylindrical configuration and at at
least
one end has a male screwthread, on to which a nut can be screwed. For fitting
the rotary
handle 12 accordingly one of the two nuts is unscrewed so that the rotary
handle can be
passed through a hole in the central portion 10 and the corresponding nut can
then be
screwed back on again. That provides that the rotary handle 12 can be readily
fitted or
removed.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a twistlock in accordance with a second
embodiment of the invention. This twistlock is of substantially the same
design
configuration as that described with reference to Figure 1 and has a central
portion 11
with two lock members 15 at the two ends of the central portion, and a rotary
handle 13.
The essential difference between the twistlock shown in the first and second
embodiments lies in the configuration of the two lock members at the end of
the
respective central portion 10, 11 and the length thereof.
The lock member 15 has an end plate 15c which in turn is substantially of the
proportions of the opening in the corner fitment. That end plate 15c is
connected by way
of a narrower limb 15b to the screwthread portion of the lock member 15, the
end plate
15c projecting in a direction towards the
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rotary handle 13, that is to say towards the central portion, beyond the limb.
By virtue of rotation of the rotary handle 13, the lock members 15 can be
moved
into the desired position and fitted into the corner fitments of two adjacent
transport
apparatuses or containers. Then the rotary handle 13 is moved in such a way
that the
two lock members 15 move towards each other. That results in engagement of the
end
plates in the corner fitment in the undercut configuration thereof and a force-
locking
connection is made between the device and the corner fitment and the
associated
transport apparatus.
On the outside of the lock members 15 however there is now a gap which
substantially corresponds to the dimension of the undercutting engagement of
the end
plate in the corner fitment. In order now to avoid unintentional release of
the device,
there is provided at least one securing plate 17 which is displaceable
perpendicularly or
radially with respect to the central portion 11 in the direction of the limb
15b, the securing
plate 17 filling the opening in the corner fitment at least to such an extent
that the
engagement in undercut relationship of the end plate of the lock member cannot
be at
least completely nullified without pulling out the securing plate 17 and thus
unintentionally.
Figure 3 shows a side view of the twistiock from Figure 2. The lock member 15
here has a bore 19. The central portion 11 of the device according to the
invention can
be recognised through that bore 19. Suitable positioning of that bore 19 makes
it
possible to ensure that the connection 25 between the central portion 11 and
the lock
member 15 is at any event adequate as long as the central portion 11 is still
to be seen
or felt in the bore 19. That makes it possible to prevent unintentional
incorrect mounting
by virtue of the central portion 11 being turned excessively far out of the
lock members
15.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the twistiock the two ends of
the
respective central portions do not have a male screwthread but through holes
are
provided in the central portion at the respective ends. The two lock members
each have
a respective through hole which
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substantially corresponds to the through hole in the central portion. To alter
the spacing between the two lock members at the two ends of the central
portion, a tommy bar or a rod can be passed through the opening in the
lock member and through the through holes in the central portion.
In such an embodiment the rotary handle 12, 13 is not required as
adjustment of the spacing between the two lock members is not effected by
rotating the central portion.
