Device For The Connection Of Transport Devices

Abstract

There is provided a device for the connection of transport apparatuses, in particular a twistlock, 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 realization 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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention concerns a device for the connection of transport devices.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] 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.

[0005] 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 twistlocks can be used only in relation to predetermined spacings between the transport apparatuses or only in relation to the uppermost stacked containers.

[0006] 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.

[0007] DE 196 52 817 C1 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 A1 discloses a stowage portion for stowing transport containers in mutually juxtaposed relationship. U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,125 discloses a connecting element for containers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,683,463 discloses a connecting element for containers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] There is provided a device for the connection of transport apparatuses, in particular a twistlock, 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.

[0009] In that respect the invention is based on the realization 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.

[0010] 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 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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 recognized 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.

[0015] Further configurations are the subject-matter of the appendant claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the Figures in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a twistlock in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention,

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a twistlock in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a side view of a part of the twistlock shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a twistlock 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.

[0021] 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.

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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 twistlock. 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.

[0024] 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 member 14 can therefore be fitted into the corner fitment.

[0025] When now the lock member 14 is rotated through about 90.degree. 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.degree..

[0026] 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.

[0027] FIG. 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 FIG. 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.

[0028] The lock member has an end plate 15c which in turn is substantially of the proportions of the opening in the corner fitment. That end plate 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 rotary handle 13, that is to say towards the central portion, beyond the limb.

[0029] 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 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.

[0030] On the outside of the lock members 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 15, 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.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the twistlock from FIG. 2. The lock member 15a here has a bore 19. The central portion 11 of the device according to the invention can be recognized through that bore 19. Suitable positioning of that bore 19 makes it possible to ensure that the connection between the central portion 11 and the lock member 15a 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 15a.

[0032] In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the twistlock 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 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] All of the above U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

[0035] From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A device for the connection of transport apparatuses, comprising: an elongate central portion and two lock members for engagement into corner fitments of the transport apparatuses; and wherein 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 movable along the longitudinal axis of the central portion.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein, 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 rotating the central portion the male screwthread on the central portion co-operates with the female screwthread of the lock member and the lock member is moved along the longitudinal axis of the central portion.

3. The device according to claim 2 and further comprising: a rotary handle for rotating the central portion.

4. The device according to claim 1 comprising: a lever on each lock member.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the lever is mounted substantially radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the central portion.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising: a securing plate on at least one of the two lock members, the securing plate being displaceable substantially radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the central portion.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein a bore is provided in at least one of the two lock members.