Abstract:
A stowage component ( 10 ) that enables release of containers coupled together both by manual actuation of the stowage component ( 10 ) and also by automatic uncoupling of the stowage component ( 10 ) from the relevant container, so as to allow uniform identical stowage components ( 10 ) to be used in general, and also used in the area of narrow joints between 20-foot containers, thus helping to eliminate confusion, such as is possible in the case of the previously necessary different stowage components ( 10 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a stowage component. The invention also relates to a method of stowing, particularly connecting containers. 
     Conventionally, for transporting goods, containers are used which are fitted at their eight corners with so-called corner castings. These are constructively integrated in the other containers in such a way that the forces introduced via the corner castings are capable of holding the container at a provided site on a support, preferably consisting of containers underneath. Provided in the corner castings, which are formed similarly to the entire container as a rule according to International Standards (ISO), are openings, through which stowage components are introduced into a space enclosed by the corner casting, and can be locked therewith. 
     Stowage components of the type discussed here have been the subject of lively development activity in the course of time. Many different types of stowage components exist. Many of them are fitted with a pivot, which after its introduction into the inner space of a corner casting is rotated and thus securely connects the corner casting and thereby the entire container to a support, for example a ship&#39;s deck or at least one container located beneath the container to be secured. Such stowage components, termed twistlocks, have proved their worth in practice. However, they encounter difficulties at those points which are difficult to reach during loading and/or unloading of the containers. Principal among these are the so-called 20-foot ISO container joints. These difficulties rise due to the fact that two containers at 20 feet each must be deposited on a stand site provided for one 40-foot container. In this case there is between the two 20-foot containers a joint of 3 inches wide (76 mm). This joint is too narrow to permit human activation. For this reason, attempts have been made for a long time to provide a locking system for the containers in the area of this joint, which is independent of human activity. 
     For this purpose stowage components converted from other areas of use were used, these however being extremely difficult to use, as they may be easily confused and have a strength which lies only at the lowest acceptable threshold. A further substantial disadvantage is the geometry of these parts, dictated by their function. They must project higher above or below the container corners, than the locking devices lying opposite, for example twistlocks or so-called semi-automatic twistlocks (SAT). Only in this way is it ensured that the attachment parts present in the area of the ISO container standard joint are initially locked upon placing of the container, before the twistlocks can be locked. In the case of containers and/or ships which must be loaded in the longitudinal direction, if this sequence cannot be guaranteed, considerable problems frequently arise in opening the jammed stowage components. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is therefore to improve a stowage component of the type initially named in such a way that with its aid locking and/or unlocking of containers is generally simplified, and in particular in the area of the ISO 20-foot joint. 
     The object is achieved by a stowage component with the features described herein. By virtue of the fact that the connection between the guide piece of the stowage component and the aperture, particularly in the corner casting of the respective container, is optionally possible by means of a traction drive, for example a traction cable, or a relative movement of the container is possible relative to the guide area, in particular at least one container located underneath, with one and the same stowage component, and these above all can also be released, if only a small joint is present between adjacent containers, which does not permit manual activation of the traction drive and of the corresponding stowage components. 
     With the aid of such a stowage component a container may be automatically locked in the region of a support area, upon which the container is to be deposited. In this respect there are regarded as a support area in particular the floors of ships&#39; holds, ship decks and the upper sides of other containers, upon which a container to be loaded is to be deposited. In addition, other support areas may be envisaged, for example stowage areas upon which containers are to be stowed on land. 
     The bolt is relatively easy to displace within its guide means, so that relatively small forces are sufficient in order to undertake this displacement. In addition, relatively small forces are sufficient in order to push the bolt out of its locked position back into its unlocked position. As a rule, spring forces are available for this purpose. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt is acted upon in a locked position by a force acting on its control end facing away from the locking end. In this case the bolt extends through a guide means extending through the entire guide piece, so that it can be acted upon at both ends in order to execute movements. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the control end in the locked position is acted upon by the container which is lowered onto the support area. By means of this control of the bolt it is possible to control the locking movement in dependence on the movement of the container to be locked. 
     A further stowage component for achieving the purpose already mentioned has the features described herein. By means of the bolt extending obliquely to the plane of the support area of containers, it is possible, by means of tilting the container into which the guide piece with the bolt projects, to disengage the rear side of the guide piece aligned away from the anchoring end of the bolt from the aperture in the container. In this way a relative displacement of the container to the guide piece can be induced, resulting in uncoupling the stowage component from the container. In this way the stowage component can be released or uncoupled from the container without the necessity manually to operate a traction drive of the stowage component. Furthermore, a situation is achieved by a stowage component with the feature described herein in which the guide means extend obliquely to a plane spanned by the support area. The bolt opens with above the plane with a spacing therefrom, which corresponds to the locking position provided in the aperture. In this way, the control end of the bolt is acted upon only when the container is lowered, when the locking end can be pushed into the locking position. 
     According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt is acted upon by a spring force displacing it in the direction towards the unlocked position. In this way a situation is achieved in which, after removal of load from the control end, the spring force is placed in a position of pushing the bolt back into the unlocked position. 
     The four different embodiments of the bolt may all be basically envisaged. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bolt is of a one-piece design. In this form it is pushed by the descending container by its control end as far into the guide means as it projects at its locking end out of the guide means. This embodiment is simple, and as a rule during operation gives rise to no problems. 
     According to another preferred embodiment of the invention the bolt consists of at least two parts located one behind the other in the longitudinal direction, which act upon one another when pushing movements take place within the guide means. In this embodiment of the invention, the rear part undertaking the locking is pressed by a compression spring into the locked position, when the container to be locked acts upon the control end in the direction of the guide means. In this way the rear part undertaking the locking is resiliently housed within the guide means, so that even during difficult loading activities, for example when there is a considerable wind pressure acting on the container, it can react resiliently to every eventuality. 
     According to a third preferred embodiment of the invention, the rear part facing the locking end is provided with a mechanism for locking and unlocking. Such a mechanism has the great advantage that manual unlocking can be undertaken should it not yet be intended to move the container to be unlocked. In this way a stowage component is provided which can be used in the area of the accessible end of a container instead of a twistlock for example. On the other hand this stowage component also permits fully automatic control with the aid of the control end, its movements being capable of being influenced by lowering and raising the container. 
     Finally, a considerable simplification of the bolt is achieved in that it only extends through a portion of the guide means facing the locking end out of which the bolt projects with its locking end. In the case the opposed end of the guide means is closed, so that a spring acting on the bolt can be supported thereon. The great advantage of this embodiment resides in the fact that a guide edge of the aperture in the corner casting of the container, when the latter is lowered, slides over a slide surface provided at the locking end of the bolt, and thus pushes the bolt into the guide means contrary to the force of the compression spring. This latter pushes the locking end into the locked position, as soon as the container has been fully lowered and the guide edge has passed the locking end. Now the bolt can only be displaced with the aid of a handle or a traction drive, particularly a traction cable or the like, which imparts to the stowage component the property of an SAT. 
     A cable forming the traction drive can be provided at the free end with a knob-like handle. The length of the portion of the cable projecting out of the stowage component when the stowage component is locked is such that, in a narrow joint between adjacent containers, the knob is housed to a sufficient extent, i.e. entirely or partly, in a lateral upright aperture, particularly in the corner casting of the container carrying the stowage component. In this way the knob-like handle is protected from damage in a narrow joint, and is prevented from counteracting coupling together of the containers. 
     A method for achieving the purpose has already been mentioned. According to this, in order to connect or couple together the containers or to couple them to a support area, identical stowage components are used. According to the invention, four identical stowage components are associated with the four corners of a container. By means of corresponding design of the stowage components it is possible to uncouple, i.e. release one container from containers lying underneath or from a support area, the locked condition of the stowage components on one side of the container which is freely accessible being released by actuating the handle of the cable or a similar traction drive. In this way the upper container can be tilted, so that it is releasable also from the two other stowage components without the necessity to open these in the area of a narrow inaccessible joint between adjacent containers by actuating the traction drive. In this way also a container may be uncoupled from containers lying underneath or from a support area even in inaccessible places. 
     Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings, which show preferred embodiments of the invention by way of example. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 : a side view of two containers stacked on a support surface, 
     FIG.  2 : a front view of a stowage component, 
     FIG.  3 : a longitudinal section according to the section line III—III in FIG. 2 through a container corner and a stowage component projecting into it, 
     FIG.  4 : an enlarged detail of the longitudinal section in FIG. 3, 
     FIG.  5 : a pattern sketch of a stowage component with a bolt consisting of two parts, 
     FIG.  6 : a view from beneath of a bolt consisting of two parts, 
     FIG.  7 : a side view of a bolt consisting of two parts with inserted springs, 
     FIG.  8 : a front view of two spiral springs one thrust into the other, 
     FIG.  9 : a pattern sketch of a stowage component with a two-part bolt and a locking mechanism, 
     FIG.  10 : a pattern sketch of a stowage component with a bolt consisting of two parts in the unlocked position, 
     FIG.  11 : a pattern sketch of a bolt consisting of two parts in the locked position, 
     FIG.  12 : a locking mechanism provided with a lever, 
     FIG.  13 : a longitudinal section through a stowage component with a bolt projecting at one side into the locked position, 
     FIG.  14 : a longitudinal section through a stowage component with a bolt drawn into the unlocked position by an unlocking mechanism, 
     FIG.  15 : a pattern sketch of corner castings shown in longitudinal section in the locked position (type of stowage: suspended), 
     FIG.  16 : a pattern sketch of a longitudinal section through three container corners adjacent to one another, two of which belong to one container (type of stowage: upright), and 
     FIG.  17 : a pattern sketch of a longitudinal section through two container corners adjacent to one another, of a container during raising of the container (type of stowage: upright). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Three containers,  2 , 3 , 4  are stacked on a support area  1 , for example a ship&#39;s deck. The lower containers  2 , 3  adjacent to the support area  1  are formed as 20-foot containers, while the upper container  4 , as a 40-foot container, projects over the two lower containers  2 , 3 . The length of the two lower containers  2 , 3  is shorter by a 20-foot ISO container joint  5  than the overall length of the 40-foot container  4 . Each of the three containers  2 , 3 , 4  is provided at its corners with container corners  6 , each container having eight of these. The container corners  6  are preferably standardised corner castings. 
     Provided in these container corners  6  are openings  7 , 8 , 9  which serve to secure the container  2 , 3 , 4  relative to a support area  1  or relative to other containers  2 , 3 , 4 . 
     In order to connect together the containers  2 , 3 , 4  and to the support area  1  there are fastening devices. Each container corner  6  of each corner casting of a container  2 , 3  or  4  has associated therewith, for connection with the support area  1  or at least one of the containers located above or below the relevant container  2 , 3 , 4 , four fastening devices. Associated with each container corner  6  on the upper side and/or underside of the relevant container  2 , 3 , 4  there is thus a fastening device. According to the invention identical fastening devices, i.e. stowage components  10 , are used. These are semi-automatic automatic stowage components  10 , so-called semi-automatic twistlocks (SAT). 
     A stowage component  10  projects with a guide piece  11  into an inner space  12  surrounded by the container corner.  6 . The container corner  6  is guided on this guide piece  11  during placement of a container  2 , 3 , 4 . In this way it is ensured that the container  2 , 3 , 4  stands precisely at a predetermined point, for example on the support area  1 . 
     Thus the container  2 , 3 , 4  is supported with its lower surface  13  facing the support area  1  on a surface  14  facing it of the support area  1 . As a rule the container  2 , 3 , 4  lies with its under surface  13  on a working surface  15 , which surrounds the guide piece  11 , which rises from the working surface  15 . On an under-surface  16  facing away from the working surface  15 , the stowage component  10  is supported on the support area  1 . Connecting with the under-surface  16  there is a locking piece  17  in a direction facing away from the guide piece  11 , and which can project into an aperture  18  provided in the support area  1  and which can be locked therein by locking cams  19 , 20  in a conventional way. In a similar way the stowage component  10  can be locked with its locking piece  17  also in container corners  6  of containers  2 , 3  lying underneath, if an upper container  4  is to be placed on these lower containers  2 , 3 . 
     Extending through the guide piece  11  is a guide means  21 , which extends obliquely with respect to a plane spanned by a support area  1 . Thus the guide  21  opens with its lower mouth opening  22  facing the support area  1  into the area of the working surface  15 , while its opposite upper or higher mouth opening  23  is located above the working surface  15  in such a way that a bolt  24  extending through the guide means  21  is in a locked position  25  locking the container corner  6  relative to the support area  1 . In this locked position  25  the bolt  24  presses with its lower edge  26  facing the support area  1  onto a side surface  27  of the container corner  6  loading the support area  1 . 
     The bolt  24  is designed as one piece and projects with a locking end  28  out of the upper mouth opening  23  into the inner space  12  of the container corner  6 . Thus the bolt  24  is acted on at its control end  29  facing away from the locking end  28  by the side surface  27  of the container corner in the direction of the locking position  25 , when the container  2  is lowered in the direction of the support area  1 . 
     For this purpose the control end  29  is provided with a bevel  30 , upon which the side surface  27  of the descending container  2  slides. Thus the weight of the container  2  presses the bolt  24  contrary to the pressure of a compression spring  31  into the guide means  21 . In this case the compression spring  31  is supported with its first terminal end  32  on an end surface  33 , which defines a housing  34  on its end facing the control end  29 . This housing  34  is in a trough shape in a lower surface  35  of the bolt  24  facing the locking piece  17 . 
     With its second end surface  36  facing away from the first end surface  32 , the compression spring  31  is supported in the area of a lower portion  36  projecting out of the housing  34  on a second counter support  38  formed in the guide means  21 , so that the bolt  24 , when in the locked position, is tensioned by the compression spring  31 . As soon as the container  2  is raised or tilted and the control end  29  is released from the side surface  27  and is thus freed of load, the compression spring  31  presses the bolt  24  back into its unlocked position, so that the locking end  28  is accommodated by the guide means  21 . In this position of the bolt  24  the portion of the side surface  27  adjacent to the locking end  28  slides along a rounded forward edge  39  of the bolts  24 , so that the container corner  6  can be raised from the guide piece  11 . 
     Another embodiment of the stowage component  10  has a bolt  24  which consists of two parts  40 , 41  (FIGS. 5 to  8 ). These two parts  40 , 41  are located one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the guide means  21 . They are interconnected by a connecting web  42 , which extends through a housing  34  formed in the two parts  40 , 41 . 
     Located in this housing  34  are two compression springs  31 , of which a smaller compression spring  43  extends through the larger compression spring  31 . In this case the two compression springs  31 , 43  wind in contrary directions, i.e. the larger compression spring  31  can be wound in a left-hand direction and the smaller compression spring  43  in a right-hand direction. 
     The larger of the two compression springs  31  projects out of the housing  34  and is supported with its first terminal surface  32  on an end surface  33  defining the housing  34  in the part  41 . The lower end of the larger compression spring, projecting out of the housing  34 , is supported on the counter surface formed in the guide means  21 . 
     In contrast to this, the smaller compression spring  43  does not project downwards out of the housing  34 . It is rather exclusively supported on the end surface  33  of the housing  34  formed in the part  41 , while its forward end  44  lying opposite the end surface  33  is supported on an end surface  45  adjacent thereto, which is formed in the part  40 . 
     The two parts  40 , 41  are secured in the guide means  21  against slipping out. They are guided with the aid of a guide surface  46  formed on part  41  in a correspondingly provided groove  47  which is formed in the guide means  21 . 
     In addition, both parts  40 , 41  are interconnected by the connecting web  42 , from which a guide pin  48  opens into a slot  49  and is guided therein in the longitudinal direction of the bolt  24 . It is ensured in this way that upon removal of load from the rear part  41  from the ascending side surface  27  of the container corner  6 , the rear part  41  is acted upon in the guide means  21  by the compression spring  31  and slides into an unlocked position, thus drawing the forward part  40  via the guide pin  48  into the unlocked position. 
     In the case of this construction consisting of two parts  40 , 41  of the bolts  24  it is ensured, upon loading of the control end  29  by the side surface  27  of the container corner  6 , that the movement of the locking end  28  can adapt resiliently to the respective lowered position in which the side surface  27  is located. In this case firstly the rear part  41  is displaced along the slot  49  in the direction of the forward part  40 . Only when the side surface  27  has released the locking end  28  of the forward part  40 , does the smaller compression spring  43  press the forward part  40  into the locking position. 
     In a number of cases, unlocking of the container  2 , 3 , 4  proves necessary before release of the side surface  27  by the control ends  29  takes place. This case can for example occur if the container  2 , 3 , 4  is raised not parallel to the support area  1  but obliquely thereto, so that in the area of a locked side, it is still securely connected to the support area  1 , while on a manually unlocked side it is already being raised. This requirement is satisfied by an embodiment which is provided with a mechanism  50  for locking and unlocking (FIGS. 9 to  11 ). This substantially consists of an eccentric  51 , which is formed as an arcuate piece  53  pivotal about an axis  52 . This arcuate piece  53  is defined by an arc  54 . The axis  52  passes through the arcuate piece  53  outwith a centre point of the arc. 
     The arcuate piece  53  is connected to a traction drive, in the embodiment shown a pivotal drive  55 . This is in the form of a cable  56  extending over the arc  54 , and which runs in a groove extending through the arc  54 , and is connected to the arcuate piece  53  at an end  57  lying opposite the axis  52 . The cable  56  is passed outwards through a bore  58  extending through the working surface  15 , and carries at its end  59  projecting out of the bore  58  a handle  60 , for example a knob which is easy to grasp. The bore  58  opens into a mouthpiece  61  which facilitates deflection of the cable  56 , so that a position favourable for the respective user is enabled, when he draws the cable  56  out of the mouth piece  61  with the handle  60 . In addition, there is also connected to the cable  56  a return spring  62 , which after release of the cable  56  draws it back again into its initial position. 
     The arcuate piece  53  conforms closely with its arc  54  to a catch  63  correspondingly formed on the arc  54 , on the part  40 . This catch  63  has an arcuate surface  65  facing the arcuate piece  53 , against which the arc  54  is pressed when the arcuate piece is pivoted. In an initial position  64 , with the aid of the arcuate piece  53  no pressure is exerted in the arcuate surface  65 , so that the forward part  40  is merely under the pressure of the compression springs  31  or  43 . If the control end  29  formed on the rear part  41  is under the influence of the side surface  27 , and if the bolt  24  is thereby displaced into its locking position, it is then uninfluenced by the arcuate piece  53 . 
     If it now ensues that the forward piece  40  must be retracted from the locking position in the direction of the guide means  21 , without load being removed from the control end  29  by raising the side surface  27 , then traction is exerted on the cable  56  with the aid of the handle  60 , so that the eccentric  51  pivots about the axis  52 . Thus the arc  54  comes into contact with the arcuate surface  65  of the catch  63  and presses it, and thus also the part  42 , upon further traction on the handle  60 , in the direction of the rear part  41 . Thus the tension in the two springs  31 , 43  increases. Despite this, the forward part  40  can be retracted until the side surface  27  of the container corner  6  can be withdrawn from the guide piece  11 . This pivoted position of the arcuate piece  53  is shown in FIG.  10 . In contrast to this FIG. 11 shows the part  40  in its locked position, in which the arc  54  of the arcuate piece  53  does not act upon the arcuate surface  65  of the catch  63 . 
     The length of the cable  56  and the dimensions of the knob-like handle  60  are specially selected. Accordingly, the handle  60  is of such a size that it can enter entirely or partly into an upright aperture in one end face of the corresponding container  6 , particularly into a corner casting. The length of the cable  56  projecting laterally out of the stowage component  10  is selected accordingly. Thus, in the case of narrow joints between adjacent containers, the handle  60  of the respective stowage component  10  can pass laterally through the corresponding aperture into the relevant container corner  6 . Then the handle  60  on cable  56  does not present an obstruction during stowage of the containers. In particular, the containers can be stowed with an intermediate space which is smaller than the dimensions of the handle  60 . 
     Instead of the pivotal drive  55 , in which the force for pivoting the arcuate piece  53  is applied via a cable  56 , it is possible to pivot the arcuate piece  53  about its axis  52  with the aid of a lever  84 . The lever  84  is securely connected to the arcuate piece  53  (FIG.  12 ). 
     A further implication in operation results in the case of a stowage component  10  provided with a mechanism  50  for locking and unlocking in that the bolt  24  is no longer displaced, as in the embodiments already described, via a control end  29  into the respectively required position, but has only a locking end  28 , by means of which the bolt  24  is continuously urged into the locked position by a compression spring  66  supported in the guide means  21 . In this case the compression spring  66  is supported at one end at a rear wall  68  defining the bolt  24  and at the other end on an end  67  defining the guide means  21  (FIGS. 13 to  17 ). 
     During locking of the container  2 , 3 , 4 , its side surface  27  is lowered in the direction of the locking end  28  of the bolt  24 . In this case the locking end  28  has a slide surface  69  guiding the side surface  27 , and which yields under the pressure of the descending side surface  27  in the direction of the guide means  21  and thus tensions the compression spring  66 . As soon as the bolt  24  has yielded so far that the side surface  27  has moved past the outermost point of the locking end  28  into the locking position, the bolt  24  is then pushed back by the compression spring  66  into the locked position. Now the container corner  6  is automatically locked by the bolt  24 . 
     If this locked condition is to be removed, the mechanism  50  for locking and unlocking is actuated. In this case a force is introduced into the cable  56  by means of a handle  60 . The cable is pivotally articulated via a pivotal joint  71  on a pivot lever  72 . The pivot lever  72  is securely connected to the arcuate piece  53 , and mounted to pivot in common therewith about the axis  52 . When the arcuate piece  53  is pivoted, the arc  54  is pressed against a pressure surface  73  formed on the bolt  24 , so the bolt  24 , as the pivoting of the arcuate piece  53  increases, slides in a guide means  21  backwards out of the locking position and thus biases the compression spring  66 . At the same time a helical spring  74  surrounding the mechanism  50  is tensioned, which ensures, after load is removed from the cable  56 , that the arcuate piece  53  is pivoted back into its initial position in which the bolt  24  is not acted upon. 
     After the bolt  24  has been withdrawn from a locked position, the side surface  27  can slide away over the outermost point  70  and can be raised from the guide piece  11 . This unlocked position is shown in FIG.  14 . 
     In order to assemble each stowage component  10 , it is divided in the longitudinal direction. Thus there result two halves, which may be made of cast steel, which are held together by connecting screws  75 , 76 , 77 . In this case the connecting screw  77  is additionally designed as a securing means for the helical spring  74 . 
     The great advantage of this embodiment of the stowage component  10  resides in the fact that it can be used universally and without any alteration as a manually-operated operated stowage component  10  and also for example in the area of the 20-foot ISO container joint  5  in automatic operation. These cases are shown in FIGS. 15 to  17 . FIG. 15 shows that the stowage component  10 , in the suspended type of stowage, is suspended with its locking piece  17  in a container corner  6  of an upper container otherwise not shown. This upper container  78  is lowered in the direction of a lower container  79 , so that the stowage component  10  slides with its guide piece  11  into the container corner  6  of the lower container  79 . Thus the bolt  24  is acted upon by the side surface  27  of the container corner  6  provided on the lower container  79  in the direction of the guide means  21 . The side surface  27  slides away over the outermost point  70  of the bolt  24  as soon as the upper container  78  stands on the working surface  15  of the stowage components  10 . Thus locking is automatic both in the area of the 20-foot ISO container joint  5  and also in the opposite area  80 . 
     If now the upper container  78  is to be raised again, firstly in the manually accessible area of the container two stowage components  10  lying on an end surface of the containers are unlocked. This is effected by actuation of the handle  60 , so that the arcuate piece  53  is pivoted, so that the arc  54  is supported on the pressure  73 . Thus the bolt  24  is retracted into the guide means  21  contrary to the action of the compression spring  66 . Now the upper container  78  can be raised in the area of the two manually unlocked stowage components  10  in the area of the oppositely-lying end surface of the container  78  are still coupled to the container  79  underneath. Thus upon raising the upper container  78 , the latter merely tilts. The consequence of this is that the vertical rear side of the guide piece  11 , which is aligned away from the locking end  28  of the bolt  24 , disengages from the side surface  27  of the aperture in the corner casting of the corner container  78  can be moved in the longitudinal direction relative to the lower container  79  (with respect to FIG. 15, to the right). Due to this there is a relative movement of a guide piece  11  in the container corner  6 , lying in the area of a 20-foot ISO joint  5 , of the lower container  79 . This relative movement leads to a situation in which the locking end  28  of the bolt  24 , projecting out of the guide means  21  of the guide means  11 , slides out of the container corner  6  of the lower container  79 . In this case the bolt  24  slides with its forward edge  39  along the side surface  27  of the aperture in the container corner  6  of the lower container  79 . If necessary (alternatively), by designing the forward edge  39  of the bolts  24  as a sliding surface  81 , the bolt  24  can be acted on in the direction of the guide means  21  from a specific relative movement of the bolt  24  or of the guide piece  11  in the container corner  6 , so that in this way the compression spring  66  is tensioned and the bolt  24  is pressed entirely or partly into the guide means  21 . The side surface  27  can then slide away over the outermost point of the sliding surface  81  and in this way the stowage component  10  can pass out of the opening  8  in the container corner  6 . 
     A locking and unlocking of an upper container  82  relative to a lower container  83  is effected in a similar way if the stowage components  10  are thrust with their locking pieces  17  into the container corners  6  of the lower container  83 . In this case the upper container  82  is lowered onto the guide piece  11 , which arises from the container corner  6  of the lower container  83  (FIGS.  16  and  17 ). The side surface  27  of the container corner  6  attached to the upper container  82  presses the bolt  24  into its guide means  21 . As soon as the side surface  27  has moved past the outermost point  70 , the biased compression spring  66  presses the bolt  24  back into its locked position, so that the upper container is locked both in the area of the 20-foot ISO container joint  5  and also in the opposite area  80 . 
     When the upper container  80  is raised, firstly the two stowage components  10  lying on an end side, are unlocked by pulling the handle  60  of the respective stowage component  10 . Thus the bolt  24  is retracted into the guide means  21  of the respective stowage components  10 . The side surface  27  of the respective stowage component  10  can slide away over the outermost point of the corresponding container corner  6 . Thus the upper container  82  adopts an oblique position, as it is still securely held in the area of the container corners  6  located at the opposite end side, which due to the narrowness of the 20-foot ISO container joint  5  cannot be manually unlocked via the handles  60 . Due to this oblique positioning, however the rear sides of the guide pieces  11  are released from the adjacent side surfaces  27  of the corresponding container corners  6  of the upper container  82 . Thus the forward edges  39  of the bolt  24  of the stowage components  10 , projecting out of the guide means  21 , are pivoted in the area of the narrow 20-foot ISO container joint  5  out of the corner casting of the respective container corner  6  of the upper container  82  (FIG.  18 ). Now the entire upper container  82  can be raised from the lower container  83 . 
     An essential feature for the unlocking procedures described with reference to FIGS. 15 to  17  is that the bolts  24  are oblique or inclined to the plane extending through the under side or upper side of the respective container. This inclination simplifies removal of the guide pieces  11 , with the bolt  24  located in the locked position, from the corresponding container corner  6 . Furthermore, this removal can be facilitated in that the forward surface of the guide piece  11 , penetrated by the guide means  21 , is slightly inclined relative to the working surface  15 , so that the displacement of the ascending side surface  27  of the corresponding container in the direction of the forward edge  39  of the bolt  24  is facilitated. 
     By means of the functions described with reference to FIGS. 15 to  17 , the use of a unified stowage component  10  is enabled both in the area of the 20-foot ISO container joint  5  and also in the area  80  accessible for manual actuation of the stowage container  10 . The previously necessary differentiation between container components which can be used only in the narrow 20-foot ISO container joint  5 , and those which are used for an area accessible for manual handling, can be avoided due to the uniform stowage component according to the invention which is usable for every case, i.e. a semi-automatic stowage component.