Container connecting metal fixture

Abstract

A container coupling metal joint of the invention comprises a joint main body 2 having an upper fitting portion 22 and a lower fitting portion 23 capable of respectively fitting into engaging apertures of container corner fittings of the container, a shaft 3 pivoted ratatably to the joint main body 2, an upper metal fitting 4 and a lower metal fitting 5 capable of respectively engaging with the engaging apertures of the corner fittings of the container, and an operation member 7 for rotating the shaft. The joint main body 2 is provided with a rotation mechanism 6 for rotating the shaft 3 by receiving the action of the load of the container. The shaft 3 is provided with spring means 34 for urging and rotating the upper metal fitting 4 to the position at which it overlaps the upper fitting portion 22. The upper metal fitting 4 includes cutouts 4x formed at diagonally opposite corner portions of the lower face on the side in engagement with the engaging apertures of the corner fittings of the container.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a container coupling metal joint for coupling two containers together, disposed between vertically adjacent containers stacked in multi-layers in a container yard or on a container ship. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Generally, as shown in FIG. 22, containers Ct are loaded and unloaded from a container yard Yd to a container ship Sh and vice versa. [0003] When, for example, containers Ct in the container yard Yd are loaded onto the container ship Sh, the containers Ct are transferred from the container yard Yd onto a container conveying vehicle V such as a trailer, using a transfer crane Tc or a straddle carrier and, then, the containers Ct are conveyed to an apron Ap. Next, on the apron Ap, the containers Ct are lifted up by a spreader Sp of a container crane Cr and are placed on other containers Ct on the deck of the container ship Sh. [0004] On the other hand, when containers Ct on the deck of the container ship Sh are unloaded, the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] The present invention was conceived in view of the above problems and the object thereof is to provide a container coupling metal joint with a simplified structure, capable of coupling automatically the container to be loaded with the underlying container as well as releasing automatically the coupled containers without any work at an elevated place.

[0053] According to this constitution, when the containers tilt under the status where they are coupled with each other, the joint main body, i.e., the safety mechanism provided on the joint main body is also tilted, the rolling elements roll along one of the tilted paths corresponding to the direction of the tilt and the rolling elements are fitted in the fitted recesses formed on the ascending / descending member facing the rolling elements. For this reason, ascending of the ascending / descending member is prevented. In this case, the shaft does not rotate as far as the ascending / descending member does not ascend since the pin is fitted in the spiral groove. Therefore, the rotation of the shaft caused by the biasing force of the spring means can be securely prevented.

Problems solved by technology

In this case, there are problems that it is difficult to operate securely the operation knob with the tip of the elongated tool, that much time is necessary to carry out this work and that the fatigue caused by operating the heavy elongated tool is considerable.

Furthermore, in the case where the operation starts from the uppermost container, this work has a disadvantage from the viewpoint of safety since the work is carried out at an elevated place and it accompanies danger such as falling down.

The inventors applied before a container coupling metal joint described in Re-Publication Patent Application WO00 / 23358 but this joint has a disadvantage that its costs are high and its operation becomes uncertain when it is used over a long period of time due to its complicated structure.

Images