JP2002510584A - Remotely controlled device to release locking device on stack - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: The present invention is a remote control device configured to release a locking device mounted on a stack of ISO type containers, the container being loaded on a cargo ship, for example, on a sea. The locking devices are preferably stackable for transport, and the locking devices are preferably arranged such that when stacked on top of each other, the containers are automatically vertically moved relative to each other by the action of the weight of the containers located above. Mounted on the four corners of the container so that they can be connected to each other when the locking device on the container to be lifted (7) is released, in the form of a crane, traveling crane or the like. Such a remote control device which can be lifted from a stack of containers by a lifting device. A release device (1) is mounted on or becomes a part of the known lifting frame (8) of the lifting device, and is provided with a wedge, magnet or similar release mechanism or key ( 19), the release mechanism or the key is pushed down from the pull-up frame (8), guided downwardly with respect to the locking device and inserted into the locking device, and these locking devices are locked. The device is simultaneously disengaged from the lower container (6), thereby releasing the container (7) to be lifted from the lower container (6).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a remote control device configured to release a locking device (lock) mounted on a stack of ISO type containers, wherein the container is loaded on a cargo ship, for example. The locking devices are preferably stackable for transport by sea, and the locking devices are preferably arranged such that, when stacked on top of each other, the containers are vertically oriented relative to each other by the action of the weight of the containers located above. Mounted on the four corners of the container so that they can be automatically connected by a crane, a traveling crane or the like when the locking device on the container to be lifted is released. Such a remote control device which can be lifted from a stack of containers by an upper device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the technical field described above, many different solutions for releasing a locking device on a stack of containers are known. Release it manually from under the deck,
Alternatively, it can be done manually from a cage suspended on a traveling crane. In the latter case, the operator operates a bar, one end of which is adapted to hold the bar and the other end of which is provided with a gripping device. The bar can then be operated to release the locking device on the container stack.

[0003] This task is cumbersome and difficult, especially if the locking device causes difficulty at the top of the stack of containers and requires effort with welding equipment or the like, the personnel selected to perform the operation are required. Is often very dangerous for These unlocking operations are often technically complex and extremely difficult to achieve, especially in high winds.

When the containers are arranged close to each other, it is extremely difficult to reach the locking device for releasing from both below and above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks with respect to a device configured to release a locking device on a stack of containers, especially from a distance from the container. It is in.

[0006] This remotely operated unlocking device is a locking device of the type that is always in the initial position for locking (for example Norwegian patent application 973,585 or PCT /
No. 98/00277). The locking device is
Adjusted in the corner box of the suspended container, inserted from below and rotated. This operation is to prevent the locking device from falling off when the container is pulled up.
It is performed until it stops at the position locked by the ball-blocked pin.

When containers are stacked on top of each other, the upper container is immediately connected to the lower container in the stack. The structure of the locking device allows for remote control of the release. That is because the locking device can be released by a very small amount of energy and a small vertical movement of about 6 to 10 mm, which means that the movement can be achieved by means such as wedges or magnets. . The stacks of containers can be easily released from one another, even though they can be positioned very close to each other with a spacing of about 75 mm.

When the lock is released and the container is lifted, the locking device returns to its initial state again without any manual influence until the next automatic locking is performed. It is kept in that state. This is true if the ship is stationary or the stack of containers is on solid ground, but if the ship is rocking at all, it is difficult to release the locking device. These locking devices are completely enclosed and filled with cold-resistant oil, so that they are reliable and can be operated even in bad weather, even after destruction or contamination.

According to the concept of the present invention, the above-mentioned problem is that the release device is mounted on a known lifting frame of a lifting device or is a part of the lifting frame.
A release mechanism or key in the form of a wedge, magnet, or the like, which is depressed from the pull-up frame and guided downwardly with respect to the locking device, into the locking device. Configured to disengage and preferably simultaneously disengage these locking devices from engagement with the underlying container, thereby releasing the container to be lifted from the underlying container. Solved by

Further, according to the concept of the present invention, the simultaneous release of the locking devices at the four corners of the container can be quickly and reliably released by the remote control release mechanism. The release mechanism is easy to handle, can be used for both new and used remanufactured container frames, can be manufactured at low cost, has a long service life, and is highly reliable in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A remotely operated unlocking device 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. This device unlocks locking devices 2,3,4,5 mounted on the corners of the containers to lock the vertically arranged and stacked containers 6,7 on top of each other. It is configured. The unlocking device 1 has four corners 9, 10, 11, and 12
Or is a part of the known pulling frame 8 having A reversible / gear reduction motor 13 is attached to each short side of the pull-up frame 8. One of the four identical unlocking devices will be described below.

The gear reduction motor 13 is a shaft 1 that rotates in parallel with a short side surface of the pull-up frame 8.
4 is driven. Sprockets 15 and 16 that rotate in parallel with the long side surface of the pull-up frame 8 are attached to both ends of the shaft 14. Two parallel bicycle chains 17,18 extend between the sprockets 15,16, and the ends of the chains are rack-gear-shaped angu.
lar) Terminating in a "key" having the shape 19; The key 19 is made of an elastic material such as polyurethane, for example, and is provided with axial grooves 20 and 21 for the chains 17 and 18.

The chains 17, 18 have outer links 23, which are slightly wedge-shaped outwards and have the widest outer ends. Sprocket 15
, 16 have guide rails 27, 28 mounted between the sprockets 15, 16 to hold the chains 17, 18 in a bent shape. A guide / support frame 25 for the key 19 is attached to the lower end of the pull-up frame 8.

The lower end of the key 19 is adapted to be inserted into an unlocking frame 24 (also preferably made of polyurethane) on a locking device. A lower end portion 26 provided on the key 19 has a chamfered shape or a wedge shape, and its tip is directed downward. The lower end 26 will cause the unlocking frame 24 to move laterally when the chain depresses the key, unlocking the locking device. The chains 17, 18 are fastened to the key 19 at their ends. An electrical cable is cast into the key, the upper end of which is connected to the cable reel, and the lower end is provided with a contact button. When the contact button comes into contact with the contact rail attached to the unlocking frame 24 on the locking device (after the downward movement of the chains 17 and 18 is completed),
The circuit is closed.

When the chains 17, 18 are pushed down along the side of the container, the links 23,
Due to the shape of, it bends to the side of the side and comes into contact with the container wall. At the same time, four lamps on the operation panel in the traveling crane that lifts the container indicate that pulling is possible. The electrical cable for each key is connected to a ramp on the control panel in the traveling crane. Pulling up is possible as soon as the four lamps corresponding to the corners of the upper container are turned on. Therefore,
Thanks to this display panel on the control panel, premature lifting can be avoided.

The fact that the downward feed is stopped through electrical contact is a consequence of the draw-in regardless of the height of the container and even when containers with different heights are mixed and stacked. Allow all containers to be lifted without stopping on top. The stack may also include plane racks, which do not prevent unlocking and lifting of various sized racks and containers in the stack.

It is important to understand that the invention can, of course, be varied in various ways within the scope of protection defined by the claims. The gear reduction motor 13 at each corner of the pull-up frame may be replaced with, for example, a hydraulic motor. In this case, the chain is stopped by the electromagnetic valve blocking the flow of the liquid to the hydraulic motor that drives the chain.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a pulling frame having a releasing device above a container.

FIG. 2 is a view of the lifting frame and the container shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from above.

FIG. 3 shows the release device from the pulling frame and the long side of the container, and how the key is pressed down against the locking device of the container and how the locking device is released. FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view of the release device shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from a short side of the pull-up frame and the container.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view showing the unlocking state of the unlocking device shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail view showing the unlocking state of the unlocking device shown in FIG. 3;

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (81) Designated country EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE ), OA (BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY , CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP , KE, KG, KP, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZW [Continued from summary] Disengage from container (6) Thus, the container (7) to be lifted is released from the container (6) located thereunder.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Release (release) of a locking device mounted on a stack of ISO type containers
A remotely operated device configured to: stack the containers, for example, to be transported by sea on a cargo ship, and wherein the locking devices are preferably located on top of each other. The containers are mounted on four corners of the container so that the containers can be automatically connected to each other vertically by the action of the weight of the container positioned above when stacked. A remotely operated device such that when said locking device on the container to be released is released, it can be lifted from the stack of containers by a crane, traveling crane or similar lifting device, wherein the release device (1) comprises: , Mounted on or part of a known lifting frame (8) of the lifting device, and wedges, magnets or It includes a release mechanism or key (19) of a similar form, said release mechanism or key being depressed from said pull-up frame (8) to said locking device (2, 3, 4, 5). Being guided downward and inserted into the locking device, disengaging these locking devices (2, 3, 4, 5), preferably simultaneously, with the container (6) located below; As a result, the container (7
) Is released from the container (6) located thereunder. 2. The keys (19) of said unlocking mechanism are respectively mounted on the ends of chains (17, 18), said chains (17, 18) being driven by a reversible motor (M). Sprockets (15, 16) mounted on transverse shafts (14, 14 ')
The motor (M) extends the chain (17, 18) and subsequently the key (19) along the short side of the container (7). The locking device (2
, 3, 4, 5), which are pushed down into the unlocking frames (24) of their locking devices, whereby the unlocking frames are moved to the unlocking position and subsequently lifted again after unlocking The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: 3. The key (19) has a cornered shape and is made of an elastic material such as polyurethane, and when the key (19) is inserted into the unlocking frame (24), the key is released from the unlocking position. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is wedge-shaped at its outer end (26) in order to be moved. 4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reversible motor (M) is a gear reduction motor (13). 5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the reversible motor (M) is a hydraulic motor (13). 6. The key according to claim 1, wherein the key is an electromagnet configured to open (release) the locking device (2, 3, 4, 5) by attracting a locking element. Item 6. The apparatus according to Item 5.