GB1260364A - Coupling device - Google Patents

Abstract

1,260,364. Releasable fastenings. BLAIR PRODUCTS S.A. 15 June, 1970 [14 March, 1969], No. 13492/69. Heading E2B. A coupling device comprises a pair of elongate substantially co-extensive coupling members 1, 2 contained in a housing, each member having enlarged coupling heads 3 at its opposite end portions, the coupling members being disposed in the housing so that each has one head protruding from one end of the housing and the other head protruding from the opposite end of the housing, means 4, 5 forming a fulcrum between said members intermediate their ends, means 13 urging the coupling heads of the respective members on one side of the fulcrum towards one another and cam means 14 operative between the members on the other side of the fulcrum for forcing the members apart at the fulcrum when a reaction member formed by one of a pair of members to be coupled is present around said members on said other side of the fulcrum so that the coupling heads of both end portions of said members can be relatively opened and operating means for the cam means. The coupling device is intended for coupling together a pair of freight containers provided with standard corner fittings which the coupling heads are intended to engage. In the construction shown the housing consists of two members 8 and 9 urge apart by a compression spring 10, a pin 11 engaging a slot 12 to locate the two members. The cam means 14 is operated from outside the housing by the means whereas in the form of a head (not shown). The two coupling members are provided with complementary longitudinal male and female locating formations 6 and 7. The device is first connected to the left hand corner fitting as shown in Fig. 2 by manually separating the right hand coupling heads against the bias of the means 13 which as shown are leaf springs and this allows the left hand heads to enter the opening 16 of the left hand fitting until further entry is terminated by member 8 engaging the outer wall of the left hand fitting. The right hand coupling heads are then released and can be entered into the corner fitting of the right hand container which is then moved to the left to telescope the members 8 and 9 against spring 10 until the left hand wall of member 9 engages a terminal spigot 20 of member 8. The cam means 14 is then rotated to force the coupling members apart at their fulcrum so that the right hand coupling heads enter into coupling engagement with the right hand fitting. Any axial play between the coupled containers is then taken up by an outer element 21 screwed onto the member 9. Each of the members has a projection 22 for absorbing axial thrust in the coupled condition of the device in one direction by abutting against the outer face of the left hand corner fitting.