LOCKING AND LIFTING DEVICE FOR A CONTAINER

Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined locking and lifting device for a container (1) of storage type. The device comprises protruding front ends of supporting beams (2, 3), first and second locking beams (7, 8), a yoke (9) and first, second and third locking cases (10, 11, 12). The first and second locking cases (10, 11) are welded to the ends of the supporting beams (2, 3) and to the container structure above the doors (4, 5) respectively. The locking beams (7, 8) are mounted on the doors (4, 5) on bolts provided with resilient distance sleeves for achieving a certain degree of movability. The locking beams (7, 8) are joined with the yoke (9), which is pivoted in a hinge (14) on the first locking beam (7) and locked in the third locking case (12) on the second locking beam (8). First and second plates (16, 20) hide the access openings (50) on the locking beams when the device is in a locked position. An adapter for a hoisting hook (not shown) can be applied to the yoke (9) and the container can be hoisted on board a vehicle. A stationary use the access opening (50) on the yoke (9) is covered by a locking clamp (22).

Description: Locking and lifting device for a container The present invention relates to a combined locking and lifting device for containers of storage type Containers of storage type, which are provided with doors at one end, are usually designed for shipping freight Such containers are often placed on construction sites, near sports facilities, etc They are used for different kinds of equipment but can also be used for machines such as cooling plants for ice rinks They can also contain mobile power units on places where electric power from the net is not easily accessible The content of such a container can thus represent great values and unauthorized access must be prohibited in an effective way Even if the containers mainly are designed for stationary use, the basic philosophy is that they should be mobile, i e they might be loaded on a truck or a trailer for transport to a different place of application Since the content in most cases is heavy and also can be sensitive to rough handling it is important that loading on a vehicle is simple and not causes large acceleration stress Some containers are provided with hoisting eyebolts or other devices on the upper side to allow use of overhead travelling cranes or hoisting cranes Such solutions are disclosed in among others US 4 358 145 and US 5 516 172 US 4 358 145 discloses a container provided with two lifting yokes on the short front side, one at the upper edge and one at half the height When loading a container, as shown in a lifting sequence in fig 1 - 3 from a recessed position, the hook is first applied to the upper yoke wherefore the container is placed in an inclining position against the edge of the recess and the hook is moved to the second yoke Specially designed platforms where a container can be put and fixed are available In the front end the platforms are provided with a yoke where a lifting hook can be applied. Tho platform with the container can then be lifted in the front end and towed up on the vehicle. Under the bridge longitudinally mounted beams are joined with a transversal beam for securing the platform on the vehicle. Containers can also be lifted and loaded by means of a fork lift truck. However a truck used for lifting a fully loaded container must be of considerable size and needs a truck operator. The presented devices for loading containers involves that specific and more or less stationary equipment such as hoisting cranes or overhead travelling cranes have to be used. Additional personnel are also needed for operating the hoisting aids. For practical reasons, when unloading a container, it is suitable that the container is placed with its door-side as close to a wall as possible or together with other equipment in order to making the container occupying minimum space. If the container is placed on a platform as mentioned above, the problem occur that the doors will be located behind the front part of the platform where the hoisting yoke is located and can consequently not be opened. Placing the container on the platform with the doors turned backward in the related case is unsuitable since the vehicle must be given space enough to drive in an unload the container and then drive away. Since containers used as storage or for portable plants of different kinds are provided with doors at the one gable it is, as mentioned before, desirable that the doors can be closed and locked in an effective way. Locking is in most cases carried out by placing a beam over the closed doors and which beam can be provided with a heavy padlock. Such an arrangement is vulnerable since the vital parts in most cases are easily accessible with craw bars or cutting tools. To solve the problems related above regarding loading and locking of containers, it would be desirable that a lifting device with a hoisting hook could be attached directly in the container structure on the door side As the locking device for the container doors for natural reasons must be placed on the outside of the doors, problems will arise by the two devices interfering with each other Thus the strongly dimensioned hoisting device has to be removable to release the doors and the locking device after the container is unloaded on the intended place The object with the present invention is to achieve one single device eliminating the above mentioned disadvantages of known devices for loading and locking of containers of the type used as storage or for plants of different kinds and which device permits effective closing and locking of the container doors and permits use of known hoisting hooks at loading and unloading the same The object is achieved by a device characterized by that first and second locking beams with first locking mechanisms, accessible from outside, are mounted on the doors and have their ends fixable in opposite mounted first and second locking cases which are fixed to the container structure above the doors and in protruding ends of the supporting beams below the doors and that the locking beams in fixed position are joined by means of an yoke having a first end rotatably arranged in a hinge on the first locking beam and a second end fixable in a third locking case on the second locking beam via a second internal locking mechanism being accessible from outside when the yoke is rotated upward into the third locking case, wherefore the first locking mechanisms are inaccessible from outside and the second locking mechanism is protected by a lockable clamp that is replaced by an adapter for a hoisting hook for loading and unloading the container on a vehicle The object of the invention is further achieved with the detailed solutions that are evident from the characteristics of the subclaims A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described more in detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, on which: Fig. 1 shows a complete locking and lifting device for a container and the device mounted on a container; Fig. 2 shows a locking case in two different perspective views; Fig. 3 shows a first locking beam; Fig. 4 shows a second locking beam; Fig. 5 shows a locking mechanism; Fig. 6 shows an adapter for a hoisting hook; Fig. 7 shows a locking clamp; In figure 1 is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention applied on a container 1 (see inset picture in reduced scale). Under the container first and second supporting beams 2 and 3 are welded in a known way along the whole length of the bottom of the container. Such beams are also applied on the platforms mentioned in the introduction to make it possible to pull them up on a vehicle end fix them there. A transversal beam (not shown) joins the beams in their rear part also in a known way and can be caught by existing hooks for fixing the container on the vehicle. On one short side of the container are two doors 4 and 5. The device 6 according to the invention comprises following main parts: protruding ends of the supporting beams 2 and 3 and first, second and third locking cases 10, 11 , and 12. The locking cases 10, 11 and 12 are identical and have a parallelepiped shape with first and second open sides meeting each other. In the device according to the invention, the ends of the supporting beams 2 and 3 protrudes somewhat in front of and under the lower front edge of the container, under the doors 4 and 5 in the front gable. In the protruding ends of the supporting beams the first locking cases 10 are welded with their first openings directed upward. On the front side of the upper edge of the container, opposite to the first locking cases, the second locking cases 11 are welded to the container structure. The second locking cases 11 are identical with and inverted relative the first locking cases 10, making the first openings of the locking cases be directed forward and the second openings directed toward the second openings of the locking cases 10. The first and second locking beams 7 and 8 are arranged on the doors by means of a number of key hole like openings 13 on their back side, into which heads of bolts (not shown) can be inserted and locked. Between the locking beams and the door blades the bolts are provided with resilient distance sleeves (not shown) that keep the locking beams a small distance from the door blades and get a certain flexibility relative the bolts and thereby the door blades. The locking beams are long enough to allow their upper and lower ends to be pushed into the locking cases 10 and 11 respectively when the doors 4 and 5 are closed. On the second locking beam 8, the third locking case 12, which is identical with the locking cases 10 and 11 , is applied at about half the height of the locking beam. The locking case is mounted so that its first and second openings are directed downward and toward the first locking beam 7 respectively. In the side of the first locking beam that is directed toward the second locking beam, just opposite the third locking case 12, there is a circular opening 50 intended for maneuvering a locking mechanism (fig. 5). A hinge 14 is applied on the first locking beam 7, somewhat above half the height. A first end 15 of the yoke 9, with the same rectangular profile as the locking beams, is applied in the hinge by means of a lever in the shape of a first plate 16. The length of the lever is such that when the yoke 9 is rotated upward so that a second end 17 of the yoke is pushed into the third locking case 12 on the first locking beam 7 from underneath, the yoke enters horizontal position and the first plate 16 comes in close contact with the outside of the second locking beam 8. There are at least two holes 18 made in the plate engaging dowels 19 fixed on the outside of the second locking beam 8 when the yoke is rotated to a horizontal position. In the side of the locking beam, behind the first plate 16 and in the middle of the front side of the yoke there are holes 50 similar to those on the first locking beam. The hole 50 on the second locking beam is thus inaccessible when the yoke is rotated to its horizontal position. At the first locking beam 7 there is a second plate 20 on the yoke covering the hole 50 in the first locking beam when the yoke is rotated to the horizontal position and making also this hole inaccessible. On the backside of the yoke are two low guiding flanges 21 welded at a distance from each other. Their purpose is to permit a locking clamp 22 (see Fig. 7) to be pushed down to cover the hole 50 in the yoke when the container is going to be locked. In the flanges of the locking clamp, extending below the yoke, holes 23 are made for applying a suitable locking device. In Fig. 2 two perspective views are shown of a locking case 10, 11 and 12 respectively. All five locking cases are identical and are right-angled parallelepipeds with the same length as the height of the profile of the locking beams. On the inside of the sidewalls of the first open side, guide bars 25 are made or applied by welding. They are beveled from outside and inward to guide the ends of the yoke and the locking beams respectively when the doors are locked. The inner edge of the guide bars form bearing surfaces 26 having a slight inclination inward from the second open side toward the opposite covered side to guide a locking pin 36 (Fig. 5). This makes the ends of the locking beams and the yoke to be pressed against the container and the first locking beam respectively at locking. Fig. 5 shows a locking mechanism 28 that is designed to be mounted inside the locking beams 7 and 8 (the description is also valid for the single-sided mechanism mounted in the yoke 9). The mechanism comprises a wheel 29 having a hollow shaft 30 mounted with force fit. The shaft has an inner key handle 31 , splines or the like making it maneuverable from the outside with a tool 32 applicable through the round holes 50 in the locking beams and the yoke. Rods 33 and 34 are coupled to the wheel in diametrically opposite points close to the periphery of the wheel 29. At the ends of the rods sliding blocks 35 of plastic are mounted. They have such a shape, round or parallellepipedic, that they can slide unimpededly back and forth inside the locking beams 7 and 8 respectively when the wheel 29 is rotated with the tool 32. The locking pins 36 extend through the sliding blocks 35 and slides in elongated openings 37 in the sides of the ends of the locking beams. The locking pins extends far enough to be guided into the locking case 10, 1 1 and 12 respectively, behind the bearing surfaces 26 and slides in between the flanges in the locking case 7 and 8 when the wheel is rotated and push away the sliding elements 35 to the ends of the locking beams. Due to the inclined bearing surfaces, the locking pins, the locking beams and the yoke are pressed against the container and the first locking beam respectively. Thus the ends of the locking beams 7 and 8 are fixed into the locking case 10 and 11 and the other end 17 of the yoke 9 into the third locking case 12. The flanges of respective locking case now cover the ends of the locking pins and make the locking pins inaccessible from the outside When the device according to the invention is set in operation by closing the doors 3 and 4 of the container, the locking beams 7 and 8 are securely fixed to the structure of the container by the first and second locking cases 10 and 1 1. The yoke is securely fixed to the locking beams by the dowels 19 engaging the plate 18 and the third locking case 12. In order to reduce possible play between ends of the locking beams and yoke and the locking case, the covered sides facing the first open sides of the locking cases are covered with some damping material, for instance rubber plates. These are slightly compressed when the locking beams and the yoke are pressed against them by their respective locking mechanisms. Material and dimensions of the locking beams, locking cases, locking pins and yoke are selected so that they can transfer the forces from a hoisting hook at loading or unloading of a container with maximum weight to the framework and the supporting beams of the container without deformation. To hoist and pull the container up on a vehicle an adapter 38 is applied on the yoke 9 and locked behind the yoke by means of locking bolts 39, as shown in Fig. 6. The locking bolts are placed laterally guided by the two guiding flanges 21 , which prevent the adapter from sliding laterally on the yoke 9. The hoisting eyebolt 40 of the adapter is formed to extend long enough in front of the container doors to let the hoisting hook of the vehicle to escape the doors. Since the adapter should also be able to take up minor compressive forces downward and backward, it is necessary to apply it on the yoke without too much play. In stationary position with the adapter removed, the container can be locked with the locking clamp 22 and a suitable locking device passed through the holes 23 in the flanges of the clamp. The material in the locking clamp should be high-quality steel, i. e. the same as is normally used in locking devices suitable for the purpose. When the hole 50 on the yoke is covered by the locked locking clamp 22, no parts of the locking mechanism in the device 6 are accessible from outside. Many containers are placed on isolated places like construction sites, felling places in the forest, road construction sites, etc. In this situation they are an interesting object for theft since the crime can be committed without being observed. Since the components comprised in the device according to the invention are dimensioned to make it possible to hoist and load the container on a vehicle they possess such a strength that advanced mechanical equipment is needed to break the locking device. Locking with the locking clamp 22 also obstruct applying a hoisting hook if such an attempt would be made. Besides being a measure of security to protect the content, mounting the device according to the invention on a container is a measure that result in more favorable insurance premium. The invention can within the scope of the characteristics of the enclosed claims be given different shapes than those disclosed in the preferred embodiment related above. The yoke joining the locking beams can for instance be a loose component applied to these and which first end is locked into a fourth locking case applied to the first locking beam. The yoke is then provided with a locking mechanism of the same design as the locking mechanism 28 in the locking beams. The adapter for applying the hoisting hook could also be integrated in the yoke, which then gets the function of a combined locking and hoisting yoke.

Claims: Ciaims 1. Combined locking and lifting device (6) for a container (1) for stationary use, which on one short-side is provided with doors (4, 5) and on the under side, along its whole length, has first and second supporting beams (2, 3), c h a r a c t e r i z e d by that first and second locking beams (7, 8) with first inner locking mechanisms (28) accessible from outside are mounted on the doors and have their ends fixable in opposite mounted first and second locking cases (10, 11), fixed to the container structure above the doors and to protruding ends of the supporting beams (2, 3) below the doors, and that the locking beams in a fixed position are joined by means of an yoke (9) having a first end (15) rotatably arranged in a hinge (14) on the first locking beam (7) and a second end (17) fixable in a third locking case (12) on the second locking beam (8) via a second internal locking mechanism (28') being accessible from outside when the yoke is rotated upward into the third locking case (12), wherefore the first locking mechanisms (28) are inaccessible from outside and the second locking mechanism (28') is protected by a lockable clamp (22) that is replaced by an adapter for a hoisting hook when loading and unloading the container on a vehicle. 2. Combined locking and lifting device for a container according to claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i s e d by that the first and second locking beams (7, 8) are beams with rectangular beam section placed up end and via openings (13) removably attached to the doors (4, 5) on bolts provided with resilient distance sleeves, that the third locking case (12) is downward mounted on the front side of the second locking beam (8), and that dowels (19) are fixed on the outside of the first locking beam (7), just opposite to the third locking case on the first locking beam. 3. Combined locking and lifting device for a container according to any of the proceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by that the first and second locking mechanisms (28, 28') comprises maneuvering wheels (29) fixed on shafts (30) pivoted in the locking beams (7, 8) and the yoke (9) and rotatable from outside, that rods (33, 34) are articulately coupled to the periphery of the wheels and having their ends mounted in sliding blocks (35) displaceable in the ends of the locking beams and the second end of the yoke, said sliding blocks having sideward directed locking pins (36) sliding in slots (37) in the sides of the locking beams and the yoke respectively, and that when the shafts by means of a handle (32) are rotated, the rods push the sliding blocks (35) and the locking pins (36) into respective locking cases (10, 11 , 12). 4. Combined locking and lifting device for a container according to any of the proceeding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by that the first, second and third locking cases (10, 11 , 12) are identical and have the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with first and second meeting open sides, that from outside and inward beveled guiding flanges (25) along the outer edges of the insides of the first open side wall constitutes inclined bearing surfaces (26) extending from the second open side toward the opposite covered side, that when the ends of the locking beams and yoke are pushed into respective locking cases, the ends are guided into the locking cases by the bevels, and that when the locking pins (36) by the locking mechanisms (28, 28') are pushed behind the guiding flanges (25) against the inclined bearing surface (26), the ends of the locking beams and the yoke are pressed against a resilient coating on the covered side opposite to the first open side. Combined locking and lifting device for a container according to at least claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i s e d by that the yoke (9) is a beam having the same rectangular beam section as the first and second locking beams (7, 8) that the first end (15) of the yoke has a first plate (16) perpendicular to the beam pivoted in the hinge (14), that holes (18) are made in the plate just opposite to the dowels (19) applied on the outside of the first locking beam so that when the second end of the yoke is rotated into the third locking case (12), the pins enter the holes (18) and the plate covers an access hole (50) for the shaft (30) on the first locking beam (7), and that a second plate (20), perpendicular to the yoke, is mounted on the inside of the yoke covering the access hole (50) for the shaft (30) on the second locking beam (8) when the yoke is in locked position.

Inventors: JACOBSON INGE, KJELLANDER GLENN, JACOBSON, INGE, KJELLANDER, GLENN
Applicants: JACOBSON INGE, KJELLANDER GLENN, JACOBSON, INGE, KJELLANDER, GLENN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65D
IPC codes: B65D90, E05B65