Receptacles – Freight containers
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-15
2001-04-24
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Freight containers
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220468
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to lift fittings for cargo containers. More particularly, the invention relates to top and bottom corner fittings.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Cargo containers are commonly used to transport goods on ships, trains, and trucks. These cargo containers must be lifted and moved as they are transported. Lifting devices, such as mechanical cranes, are used to grapple and position the cargo containers. To ease coupling the lifting device to the cargo container, the cargo container may be provided with lift fittings. These fittings may be positioned in, for example, the upper or lower corners of the cargo container. Further, as the cargo container and its load may be extremely heavy, the fittings may be positioned in a reinforced area. The fittings each have at least one aperture that receives a mating portion of the lifting device. Once secured into the apertures of the fittings, the lifting device can lift and move the cargo container.
When the cargo container is in transport or storage, it may be desirable to secure the cargo container into a stable position. Therefore, locking mechanisms may be used to engage the apertures to secure the container during transport or storage. The apertures are adapted to accept lifting or locking mechanisms and to withstand the forces imposed during movement and transport.
Because cargo containers are used to transport goods throughout the United States and worldwide, national and international standards have been established for such lift fittings. For example, ISO specification 1161 provides that the fittings will be generally box-shaped without any sharp corners. Furthermore, there must be at least four fittings on the top and at least four fittings on the bottom, generally positioned at the end corners of the cargo container. Each fitting on the top should have at least one aperture on each of the exposed top, side, and end surfaces. Similarly, the fittings along the bottom edges of the cargo container should have at least one aperture on each of the exposed bottom and side surfaces.
Another typically standardized characteristic is the distance between the fittings. Containers of standard size have fittings located in the end corners, thus benefiting from the strength of the three intersecting walls at an end corner for support. Another typical standardized characteristic is the width distance between apertures of the fittings. For example a typical North American type domestic cargo container is 102⅜ inches wide, with fittings positioned in the top end corners. The aperture for each fitting is centered approximately 6{fraction (11/16)} inches from each sidewall. In such a manner the center of a pair of apertures are spaced apart by approximately 89 inches.
However, some cargo containers are longer than the standardized lengths allowing higher-volume payloads that reduce transportation costs. These longer cargo containers generally still have four top and four bottom fittings positioned in the end corners and are approximately 102⅜ inches wide. However, the longer cargo containers also should have fittings inboard from the ends. For example, the Association of American Railroads Specification M930 specifies that cargo containers over 40 feet in length must also have four top and four bottom intermediate corner fittings positioned 40 feet apart. These fittings are attached into frames that support the loads imposed during transportation.
Many known lift fittings are difficult to manufacture, requiring the joining of parts by welding. This suffers a deficiency of substantial time and costs for production. Many known lift fittings require numerous welds to create the frame of the cargo container. This welding is also undesirable because it increases the time and costs of manufacture.
Furthermore, many known lift fittings need bulky vertical supports, creating cargo containers with non-smooth sidewalls. Smoother sidewalls are desirable because they can allow higher volume cargo payloads. Furthermore, smoother sidewalls increase the durability of the cargo container by reducing the damage caused by objects catching the edges of a non-smooth sidewall.
Accordingly, there is a need for a lift fitting that is economical to manufacture, but strong enough to survive the rigors of transportation, including lifting, stacking, and racking. There is also a need for an a lift fitting that allows the construction of cargo containers with sufficient strength but with fewer welds to reduce production costs. Furthermore, there is a need for an a lift fitting that allows the construction of a cargo container with substantially smooth sidewalls.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention alleviates to a great extent the above noted and other disadvantages of the known lift fittings by providing a lift fitting that allows the securing and lifting of cargo containers preferably using a single casting for each lift fitting.
In a preferred embodiment, a lift fitting includes a body element defining a chamber. The body has at least one aperture on each of the exposed vertical and horizontal surfaces communicating with the chamber to permit the engagement of locking elements within the chamber.
The body of a preferred embodiment has a vertical extension depending from the inner horizontal surface for attachment to a vertical support post of the cargo container. The vertical extension has integrated steps on its outside face, designed to attach to a vertical support post. These steps on the outside face of the vertical extension position and secure the vertical support. The junction between vertical support post and the stepped vertical extension of the intermediate fitting preferably is sufficiently strong and stable to allow connection with a single weld, or a small number of welds. Furthermore, the present invention allows the use of plug welds that strengthen the connection but are easy to apply.
In a disclosed example of the lift fitting, the body of the lift fitting has both a vertical extension and a horizontal extension. The extensions may be in the form of weld flanges to be welded to a cargo container. Accordingly, the lift fitting may be conveniently and securely attached to a cargo container.
In another aspect of a preferred embodiment, top corner fittings are constructed such that the center of the top aperture of each fitting is positioned approximately 3 inches from the sidewall of the cargo container. Thereby, the centers of the apertures for a pair of top corner lift fittings are spaced apart by approximately 96⅜ inches. By spacing the apertures closer to the cargo container sidewalls, stress and deformation is minimized during lifting. These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from review of the detailed description of the invention, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
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patent: 5782519 (1998-07-01), Baumann
Baker & McKenzie
Hyundai Precision America, Inc.
Pollard Steven
LandOfFree
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