Abstract:
An apparatus and method suspends cables from the top and sides of a shipping and stowage container having separated block-shaped fittings with top and side openings. A cross bar with rounded support structure suspends the cables and extends past the block-shaped fittings. First twist-lock fittings are mounted on a first side of the cross bar in the same spaced-apart relationship as the openings on the sides of the separated block-shaped fittings. Bayonets in the twist-lock fittings can be inserted into the side and top openings and rotated to secure the apparatus to the block-shaped fittings. Rotatable end hangers support cables beyond the container. Second twist-lock fittings are mounted on a second side of the cross bar in the same spaced-apart relationship as the openings on the tops of the separated block-shaped fittings.

Description:
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST 
     The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to cable hangers for suspending flexible cables from shipping and stowage containers. More particularly, this invention is for a cable hanger readily coupled to preformed mounting blocks on shipping and stowage containers for suspending cables above a deck or walkway to reduce possible hazards and maintain reliable electrical, hydraulic and/or optical interconnections. 
     Containers for shipping goods are widely used in air, sea and land transport vehicles for a multitude of different items. Large containers can efficiently keep many items together as a lot and provide a degree of protection during the haul. The containers can rest singly or be stacked on the deck or pallets and usually are arranged in holds and on the decks in accessible rows and columns having walkways for ventilation and for workmen. Large transport vehicles can carry many of the containers that can extend across considerable area in large holds or other spacious deck areas. 
     Most of the long-haul shipping and stowage containers used by the great majority of commercial air and maritime commerce have evolved into a standard design. The standard established by ISO 1161 requirements by the International Organization for Standardization is for containers of standardized dimensions and ruggedness to promote efficiency and safety for air and maritime use. The ISO 1161 containers are robustly constructed with rigid side walls mounted on strong frameworks that have a heavy-duty block-shaped corner fitting at each of the containers&#39; eight corners. The corner fittings as well as the other parts of an ISO 1161 container can be made from steel, aluminum or other tough material. 
     The block-shaped corner fittings have elongated openings sized to receive appropriately dimensioned heavy-duty rotatable bayonet portions of twist-lock fittings. When a bayonet portion in inserted through an opening and into a corner fitting, the inserted portion is manually rotated a partial turn via its attached small twist-lock lever. This rotation of the inserted bayonet portion securely engages the twist-lock fitting to the block-shaped corner fitting, and whatever is coupled to the other end of the twist-lock fitting is thereby secured to the container. Individual containers can be securely stacked together by double ended twist-lock fittings engaging abutting block-shaped corner fittings, or hoisting slings or other components can be secured to the containers via similar twist-lock fittings. A considerable number of ISO 1161 corner fittings and interfacing twist-lock fittings are commercially available by a number of well known suppliers such as TANDUMLOC Inc., 824 Highway 101, Havelock, N.C. 28532, for example. 
     It is not uncommon to have a number of electrical, hydraulic and/or optical cables reaching across the storage areas of the containers. These cables provide for the numerous power and communication needs of the host vessel, and in addition some of the cables might be used to supply electrical power or communications links with equipments in some of the containers during transit. Because of the tight time schedules of most on-loading operations, the cables have been loosely draped across the tops of the containers and passageways between them. These cables have been known to hang down into the walkways and obstruct or trip the crewmen and other workmen. The hanging or underfoot cables also could become damaged and create severe fire hazards with possible injuries and fatalities along with the interruption of their normal functions. 
     Thus, in accordance with this inventive concept, a need has been recognized in the state of the art for a cable hanger for securely suspending cables externally to shipping containers to reduce the possibility of injury of personnel and interruption of electrical, hydraulic, and/or communications functions. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides an apparatus and method for suspending cables from a shipping and stowage container. The container has standardized separated block-shaped fittings that are each provided with openings on the tops and sides. An elongate cross bar has a length to extend past the spaced-apart fittings of the container and a rounded cable support structure is mounted on the elongate cross bar to support and suspend the cables from the container. A first pair of twist-lock fittings is mounted on a first side of the elongate cross bar and the pair is in a spaced-apart relationship of essentially the same distance as between the top openings or side openings of the separated block-shaped fittings. Each of the first pair of twist-lock fittings has an outwardly extending rotatable bayonet portion connected to a handle. The spaced-apart relationship of the first pair of twist-lock fittings permits the rotatable bayonet portions extending outwardly on each of the first pair of twist-lock fittings to be inserted through the side or top openings on the separated block-shaped fittings, and permits rotation of each rotatable bayonet portion by its interconnected handle to securely engage each corner block fitting. A second pair of twist-lock fittings is mounted on a second side of the elongate cross bar. The second pair of twist-lock fittings is in a spaced-apart relationship of essentially the same distance as between the top openings or side openings of the separated block-shaped fittings. The twist-lock fittings of the second pair each have an outwardly extending rotatable bayonet portion connected to a handle. The spaced-apart relationship permits insertion of the bayonet portions of the second twist-lock fittings through the top or side openings on the separated block-shaped fittings and permits rotation of each rotatable bayonet portion by its interconnected handle to securely engage each block-shaped fitting. 
     A pair of elongate end hangers that are shaped for slideably fitting within opposite ends of the cross bar each has a pin for engaging select holes in the cross bar to secure each elongate end hanger at a desired degree of longitudinal extension from the cross bar. A laterally extending guide portion at the end of each elongate end hanger has vertical keepers at opposite ends. Each laterally extending guide portion provides vertical support for cables and each vertical keeper retains cables on each laterally extending guide portion. Optionally, the end hangers can be withdrawn from the cross bar, rotated a quarter turn and reinserted and secured in the cross bar to allow top or side suspension of cables from the container. 
     An object of the invention is to provide a device for suspending at least one cable above a passageway. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device for suspending cables from a shipping container. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device for suspending cables above or to the side of a shipping container. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be quickly and securely coupled to a shipping container to suspend one or more cables above a walkway and other areas around the container. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device readily connectable to the ends or sides of single or stacked shipping containers for suspending cables above peripheral areas. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be quickly and securely coupled to a shipping container to suspend one or more cables to prevent their being trod upon or rolled over by equipment/machinery. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be quickly secured to a shipping container with standard mobilization interfaces and interfacing hardware to suspend cables from the top or the side around the container. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a device that can be quickly secured to a shipping container to suspend one or more cables at different degrees of extension from the top or the side around the container. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the ensuing specification when taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the cable hanger of the invention in the extended position for securing cables externally onto a shipping and stowage container. 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the cable hanger of the invention in a partially retracted position for securing cables externally in a side mounting configuration onto a shipping and stowage container. 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of the cable hanger of the invention in a partially retracted position for securing cables externally in a top mounting configuration onto a shipping and stowage container. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , cable hanger  10  of the invention is shown mounted at the top of a shipping and stowage container  14 . In accordance with the salient features cable hanger  10  assures a suspended support of one or more cables  16  that can be connected to equipment  18  inside container  14 , a single one of which being depicted as cable  16 A, and/or other cables, one of which being depicted as cable  16 B, that extend from one side to the other of a storage area  20  where container  14  is located. Cables  16  are thereby suspended over deck/ground  22  where storage area  20  is located and above walkways  24  around each shipping and stowage container  14 . 
     Shipping and stowage container  14  has a block-shaped corner fitting  26  at each of its eight corners. In accordance with ISO requirements, corner fittings  26  are fabricated from a tough material such as steel or aluminum having an elongated opening  28  machined in each of their exposed faces that communicates with a hollow interior  30 . Such corner fittings are in widespread commercial use in the container industry to allow interconnection with external equipments and/or other containers. Examples of typical block shaped corner fittings are the weldable Models 243000C-BL, BR, TL, TR and 243000C-SBL, SBR, STL, STR marketed by Tandemloc Inc. 
     Referring also to  FIG. 2 , cable hanger  10  of the invention is designed to quickly and securely engage the sides or tops of corner fittings  26 A and  26 B although it could also engage any side-by-side pair of block-shaped corner fittings  26  on container  14 . Cable hanger  10  has an elongate cross bar  32  that can have a hollow square cross sectional configuration like that shown or could have other cross sectional shapes such as circular, elliptical, etc. Cross bar  32  is designed to meet the requirements of ISO 1161 so that it has sufficient length to be secured to the top or side openings  28  of corner fittings  26 A and  26 B or other corner fittings  26  with similar spatial separations on shipping and stowage container  14 . 
     Cross bar  32  has a pair of heavy-duty twist-lock fittings  34  welded onto one of its sides at opposite end portions to allow cable hanger  10  to engage the outside ones of openings  28  on the sides of corner fittings  26 A and  26 B. Twist-lock fittings of the type used in association with this invention to engage appropriately shaped corner fittings are in widespread commercial use to engage stacked containers or secure other external equipments. Exemplary, typical twist-lock fittings that could be selected for mounting on cross bar  32  could be the Weldable Fastmount Model N2501BA-1PA, -2PA, -3PA, -PA, Model 806000T-100, or Model S38000B-IPA, also marketed by Tandemloc Inc. Each of these typical twist-lock fittings has a bayonet portion rotatable by a small handle to engage an apertured fixture such as the exemplary block shaped corner fittings, Models 243000C-BL, BR, TL, TR and 243000C-SBL, SBR, STL, STR marketed by Tandemloc Inc., as mentioned above. 
     The pair of twist-lock fittings  34  are spaced-apart essentially the same distance as are the same side facing openings  28  in corner fittings  26 A and  26 B. This spacing permits an appropriately dimensioned heavy-duty rotatable bayonet portion  36  extending outwardly on each twist-lack fitting  34  to be inserted through aligned outer ones of elongate openings  28  and into hollow interiors  30  of corner block fittings  26 A and  26 B. After each bayonet portion  36  has been inserted through an opening  28  and into interior  30 , an operator rotates a small handle  38  extending from each twist-lock fitting  34  a part of a revolution. Since each handle  38  is connected to a separate rotatable bayonet portion  36  that has been inserted into an opening  28 , each bayonet portion  36  is correspondingly rotated a like amount to securely engage each corner fitting  26  and secure cross bar  32  of cable hanger  10  to corner fitting  26 . 
     Cross bar  32  has an elongate end hanger  40  at each end that has a square cross section or is otherwise suitably shaped for telescoping or slideably fitting within cross bar  32 . Each end hanger  40  can be pulled out of or retracted into cross bar  32  and secured at a desired degree of longitudinal extension by a straight or tapered pin  42  inserted through a hole  44  in cross bar  32  and selected a one of holes  46  provided along at least part of the length in each end hanger  40 . A laterally extending guide portion  48  at the end of end hanger  40  provides vertical support for supported cables  16 . Vertical keepers  50  at opposite ends of guide portion  48  retain cables  16  on end hanger  40 . Another laterally extending guide portion  52  is connected to another end hanger  40  that is configured like the other end hanger  40  but is not completely visible in the figures because it is in the fully retracted position and retained by an interlocking pin  42  inside of and at the opposite end of cross bar  32 . Guide portion  52  on the retracted end hanger  40  provides additional vertical support and guidance for supported cables  16 . Vertical keepers  54  at opposite ends of guide portion  52  also help retain cables  16  on cable hanger  10 . If it is desired to hang cables  16  over the walkway  24  at the far side of container  14 , the retracted end hanger  40  can be extended from cross bar  32  and secured in a desired length of extension from cross bar  32  by a pin  42  inserted through aligned holes in the now extended end hanger  40  and cross bar  32 . 
     A series of rounded cable support structures  56  are included along the length of cross bar  32  to aid in the suspension of cables  16  by cable hanger  10 . Cable support structures  56  each have an oblong rounded shape and a rounded continuous retaining lip  58  to retain cables  16  on cable hanger  10  and to avoid creating any irregular surface that might abrade or otherwise impede sliding motion of any of cables  16  that are placed to extend across them. The laterally extending guide portions  48  and  52  and vertical keepers  50  and  54  in cooperation with rounded cable support structures  56  and retaining lips  58  assure positive support and retention of cables to keep walkways and other trafficked areas free of potentially dangerous cables. 
     If cable hanger  10  is desired to be mounted on the top openings of block shaped fittings  26  on container  14 , cross bar  32  with end hangers  40  in place can be rotated ninety degrees to align and engage twist-lock fittings  34  with top openings  28  of block-shaped corner fittings  26 A and  26 B and/or other like-spaced block corner fittings  26 . End hangers  40  at opposite ends of cross bar  32  can be withdrawn from cross bar  32 , rotated ninety degrees in the opposite direction of rotation as cross bar  32  was rotated, and reinserted in cross bar  32 . Next, pins  42  are reinserted through aligned ones of holes  47  extending through end hangers  40  and holes  44  at opposite ends of cross bar  32  to secure the rotated end hangers  40 . This feature allows cable hanger  10  of the invention to have only one pair of twist-lock fittings  34  for selective engagement of side and top openings  28  of any pair of appropriately spaced-apart block-shaped corner fittings  26 . 
     Referring also to  FIG. 3 , cable hanger  10  of the invention is shown in a partially retracted position for securing cables  16  externally in a top mounting configuration onto a shipping and stowage container  14 . Cable hanger  10  can be preferably made to have two twist-lock fittings  60  of the same design as described above welded or otherwise mounted on a different side than twist-lock fittings  34 , in this case the bottom side of cross member  32 . This configuration of cable hanger allows a workman to quickly and securely engage the tops of block-shaped corner fittings  26 A and  26 B to support cables  16  above container  14  without any modification. In other words, cable hanger  10  of the invention has pairs of both twist-lock fittings  34  and  60  to allow workmen to utilize a single standardized unmodified design for cable hanger  10  for suspending cables  16  at the side or over the top of container  14 . Heavy-duty twist-lock fittings  60  welded onto the bottom at the opposite end portions of cross member  32  allow cable hanger  10  to engage the outside ones of openings  28  on the tops of corner fittings  26 A and  26 B. These twist-lock fittings  60  are also of the type described above that are in widespread commercial use. 
     The pair of twist-lock fittings  60  are also spaced-apart essentially the same distance as are the same top facing openings  28  in corner fittings  26 A and  26 B. This spacing permits quick secure engagement as described above with respect to engagement by twist-lock fittings  34 . 
     Because of the prearranged spacing of twist-lock fittings  34  and  60  on cross bar  32 , cross bar  32  can be secured to either the side or top of shipping and stowage container  14  to keep cable support structures  56  and guide portions  48  and  52  of cable hanger  10  substantially horizontal. Each support structure  56  of cable hanger  10  is rounded to prevent over-bending of the cable radius of supported cables  16 , and has a lip  58  to retain cables  16  on cable hanger  10 . A retaining cord, small line  62 , or other suitable means can be used to secure cables  16  to cable hanger  10 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Because cross bar  32  can be attached to either the end or the top of shipping and stowage container  14 , it is possible to use cable hanger  10  of the invention in areas where shipping and stowage containers are stacked or have a low overhead, or in areas where the shipping and stowage containers are placed against each other or there is little space around the sides of the shipping and stowage containers. 
     End hangers  40  can be inserted into cross bar  32  which has appropriate cross-sectional shapes that ensure that end hangers  40  cannot rotate relative to cross bar  32 . End hangers  40  are designed to support cables  16  beyond the corners of shipping and stowage container  14 , so that cables  16  can be suspended in air over a clear space around shipping and stowage container  14 . End hangers  40  are secured in position to cross bar  32  using a securing pin  42  or other position securing feature to set the overall length of cable hanger  10  of the invention. End hangers  40  and guide portions  48  and  52  are designed to support the weight of cables  16 , keep them from falling off on either side via vertical keepers  50  and  54 , and provide another location where cables  16  can be secured to cable hanger  10  of the invention using retaining cord, small line  62  or other means. End hangers  40  can be removed when they are not required to be used; such as when it is not necessary to suspend ends of cables  16  away from shipping and stowage container  14 . 
     Modifications and alternate embodiments of cable hanger  10  of the invention may be adapted, and differently configured to accommodate cables of different constituencies for many different operational conditions. All components of cable hanger  10  can be made from a wide variety of tough non-corrosive or corrosion resistant materials that will hold up in the harsh marine environment. In addition to the uncomplicated, highly functional cable hanger described, cable hanger  10  of the invention could have different shapes, sizes and materials to create other user-friendly shapes that can bear up under more adverse conditions. 
     The disclosed components, and their arrangements as disclosed herein, all contribute to the novel features of this invention. It should be readily understood that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible within the purview of the claimed invention. It is to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.