Container coupling device

Details Container coupling device Container coupling device

2001-08-28

2003-02-18

Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3626)

Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.

Freight container to freight container fastener

C410S082000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06519816

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a container coupling device for preventing stacked containers from moving or being displaced in the back-and-forth and right-and-left directions.
Generally, in transporting many containers by ship, containers are stacked on hold floors or on the deck and upper and lower containers are coupled together by a container coupling device to prevent displacement of the containers.
Stacked containers have their outer peripheral corners guided by vertically extending guides, so that they have a relatively small tendency to incline in the vertical direction. Thus, upper and lower containers are coupled together by container coupling devices for preventing displacement in the back-and-forth and right-and-left directions.
As a container coupling device for preventing displacement of containers, one shown in
FIGS. 6 and 7
is known. This container coupling device is integrally provided with a support shaft
22
on the top surface of a flange
21
arranged between upper and lower containers C
1
and C
2
. An upper positioning protrusion
23
which is inserted into an engaging hole a
1
formed in a bottom corner fitting A
1
of the upper container C
1
is provided so as to be rotatable about the support shaft
22
. At the top end of the support shaft
22
, an engaging member
24
is integrally provided and has its two ends engageable with the peripheral edge of the engaging hole a
1
of the bottom corner fitting A
1
.
On the bottom surface of the flange
21
, a lower positioning protrusion
25
is integrally provided and can be inserted into an engaging hole a
2
formed in a top corner fitting A
2
of the lower container C
2
.
To position containers using such container coupling devices, the position of the upper positioning protrusion
23
is adjusted so that the engaging member
24
is received within the outer periphery of the upper positioning protrusion
23
by rotating the upper positioning protrusion about the support shaft
22
. Then, the upper positioning protrusion
23
is inserted into the engaging hole a
1
in the bottom corner fitting A
1
of the upper container C
1
, and both ends of the engaging member
24
are brought into engagement with the peripheral edge of the engaging hole a
1
in the bottom corner fitting A
1
by rotating the flange
21
relative to the upper positioning protrusion
23
to mount the container coupling device to the bottom surface of the upper container C
1
.
After mounting the container coupling device, the upper container C
1
is stacked on the lower container C
2
loaded beforehand to insert the lower positioning protrusion
25
into the engaging hole a
2
in the top comer fitting A
2
of the lower container C
2
, thereby preventing displacement of the upper and lower containers C
1
and C
2
by the engagement of the positioning protrusions
23
and
25
in the respective engaging holes a
1
and a
2
.
In this conventional container coupling device, since the upper positioning protrusion
23
, which is adapted to be inserted into the engaging hole a
1
in the bottom comer fitting A
1
of the upper container C
1
, is supported so as to be rotatable about the support shaft
22
, if the upper container C
1
inclines with the upper and lower containers C
1
and C
2
positioned by the container coupling device, a load will act on the support shaft
22
.
Since the support shaft
22
extends through the positioning protrusion
23
, there is a limit to an increase in the outer diameter of the support shaft
22
. Since a load due to inclination of the upper container is borne by the support shaft
22
, which is small in outer diameter and weak in the mechanical strength, there is a fear that the support shaft
22
may break. Thus one problem is poor durability.
Also, with the container coupling device mounted to the bottom corner fitting A
1
of the upper container C
1
, since the engaging member
24
, which engages the peripheral edge of the engaging hole a
1
in the comer fitting A
1
, is pivotable relative to the upper positioning protrusion
23
, when the upper container C
1
is lowered to stack it on the lower container C
2
, if the lower positioning protrusion
25
abuts an obstacle and turning force is imparted thereto, there is a danger that the engaging member
24
will rotate out of engagement with the peripheral edge of the engaging hole a
1
such that the container coupling device will fall.
An object of this invention is to improve durability and safety of a coupling device for preventing displacement of containers in the back-and-forth and right-and-left directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided a container coupling device comprising a flange arranged between upper and lower containers, and positioning protrusions integrally provided on top and bottom surfaces of the flange for preventing displacement of the upper and lower containers in the back-and-forth and right-and-left directions by being inserted into engaging holes formed in opposed corners of the upper and lower containers. The upper positioning protrusion has in the center of its top surface a downwardly extending inserting hole. A rotary shaft is inserted in the inserting hole so as to be rotatably supported. An engaging member is provided on the top end of the rotary shaft so as to be engageable and disengageable relative to the peripheral edge of the engaging hole of the upper corner fitting. A turning amount limiting mechanism sets the turning range of the rotary shaft for rotation between an engaged position in which ends of the engaging member protrude outwardly from the sides of the upper positioning protrusion and a disengaged position in which the entire engaging member is received within the outer peripheral surface of the upper positioning protrusion.
By integrally providing the upper positioning protrusion on the flange, with the upper and lower containers positioned, if the upper container inclines, the load due to the inclination is borne by the upper positioning protrusion which is integral with the flange. Thus, it is possible to bear an extremely large load on the upper positioning protrusion, so that a coupling device superior in durability can be obtained.
Also, in a mounted state in which both ends of the engaging member engage the peripheral edge of the engaging hole formed in the bottom corner fitting of the upper container, during transfer for e.g. stacking the upper container, even if an obstacle collides against the lower positioning protrusion and a turning force is imparted to the coupling device, the engaging member will not turn in the disengaging direction. Thus, it is possible to avoid danger due to a fall of the coupling device.
Also, if a spring for imparting a turning force to the rotary shaft in such a direction that the engaging member engages the peripheral edge of the engaging hole is provided, by inserting the upper positioning protrusion into the engaging hole of the bottom corner fitting of the upper container and releasing the operating force for turning the rotary shaft, the engaging member will turn due to the resilience of the spring and its ends will automatically engage the peripheral edge of the engaging hole. Thus, it is possible to reliably mount the container coupling device to the bottom corner fitting in a short time.
As the turning amount limiting mechanism, a through hole communicating with the inserting hole is formed in the sides of the lower positioning protrusion, and a lever is mounted to the rotary shaft at a position opposite the through hole, thereby limiting the turning amount of the rotary shaft by the abutment of the lever on both inner peripheral sides of the through hole.
In the turning amount limiting mechanism, by forming the recesses which can accommodate the lever in both sides thereof, it is possible to prevent the lever from inadvertently turning even if the lever collides against an obstacle. Thus it is possible to reliably retain the engaging member in a position in which it engages the peripheral edge of the engagi

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