Device for mounting a training device for a container on a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for mounting a tie device for a container on a vehicle, comprising at least one tie plate, a double plate which is rotatably mounted on the at least one tie plate by means of a connecting screw and which has at least two tie eyes for each receiving a tie device, and a first device, the at least two tie-down eyes form a double-arm lever with respect to the coupling screw, and the first means is used to limit a rotational movement of the double plate about the coupling screw, the device enabling a force balance between at least two forces acting on the at least two tie-down eyes. In order to ensure a suitable force balance during the operation of the vehicle and to prevent possible defective binding, it is proposed to provide a stop as a first means in order to limit a rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting screw in a first rotational direction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for fixing a lashing device for a container on a vehicle (vehicle / vessel), the device comprising at least one lashing plate, a double plate, and a first device. The double plate is rotatably mounted on the at least one lashing plate by means of a connecting screw (connecting bolt / pin), the double plate having at least two lashing eyes, each of which is used to receive (one) lashing device, wherein the at least two lashing eyes form a double-arm lever with respect to the connecting screw, and the first device is used to limit the rotational movement of the double plate around the connecting screw.

[0002] Such a device is known from EP 3 612 442 B1.

[0003] Container stacks are lashed on the deck of a ship by means of lashing rods and tension bolts. Here, for example, the so-called external lashings described in DE 10 2013 103 951 A1 have proven to be particularly advantageous and effective.

[0004] Approximately parallel lashings offer the possibility of dissipating forces without exceeding limiting values. To this end, these forces are absorbed via two attachment points (fixing points) rather than just one. In practice, two approximately parallel lashings are preferably attached to two containers stacked on top of each other and connected via container couplings. To this end, one lashing rod is mounted in the upper corner fitting of the lower container, while the other lashing rod is mounted in the lower corner fitting of the upper container. A tensioning bolt is arranged at each end of the lashing rod opposite the container corner fittings. The other ends of the two tensioning bolts are connected to corresponding receptacles of a double plate serving as a rocker (Wippe), known in the prior art as a "mounting plate." These, in turn, are rotatably supported on the lashing plate. Such a device can be found, for example, in EP 3 612 442 B1 mentioned above.

[0005] All of the devices described above achieve a good force balance. As soon as the force introduced into the mounting plate by one of the two lashings is greater than the force introduced into the mounting plate by the other lashing, the mounting plate twists (rotates) in proportion to the force ratio and the lever ratio. Once the moment balance is achieved, the mounting plate assumes its rest position.

[0006] While the functionality of this system is highly advantageous during ship operation, container lashing can become problematic. This is because, for the system to function optimally, the pretensioning (force) of the two lashing elements arranged on the docking plate must be maintained in a defined ratio relative to one another. This is rarely achieved in practice, as the stevedores must tighten two, generally independent, tensioning bolts in a defined manner, which are also fastened to the rotatably mounted docking plate.

[0007] The object of the present invention is therefore to describe a device which ensures a proper balance of forces during operation and prevents possible defective lashings.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The device according to the invention for mounting a tie-down device on a vehicle comprises at least one tie-down plate and a double plate. The double plate is rotatably arranged on the at least one tie-down plate via connecting screws and thus has (one) degree of rotational freedom relative to the at least one tie-down plate. Furthermore, the double plate has at least two tie-down eyes for introducing and absorbing forces into the device according to the invention. Tensioning bolts can be fastened to the at least two tie-down eyes, for example, by means of lifting lugs. Preferably, the at least two tie-down eyes are arranged on the at least one tie-down plate at equal distances from the connecting screws of the double plate, although an arrangement (configuration) in which the at least two tie-down eyes are at different distances from the respective connecting screws is also conceivable.

[0010] If force is introduced into the double plate via the tensioning bolts or their lugs, a torque is generated about the connecting screws. As long as the force introduced via the at least two lashing eyes results in a moment equilibrium about the double plate's connecting screws at at least one lashing plate, the system remains stationary and does not change its position. However, if moment equilibrium no longer exists, the double plate rotates about the connecting screws. This causes the introduced force to change, and if necessary, the levers, until moment equilibrium is achieved again, with the system in its stationary position. With a device of this type, as known, for example, from EP 3 612 442 B1, asymmetrically introduced (transmitted) forces are compensated by redirecting excess force from one lever arm to the other, thereby reducing the forces acting on the lashing plates. This reduces the risk of damage or loss of containers on the ship's deck, and the design allows for a smaller overall size of the device.

[0011] However, properly securing containers to the spread deck in such a setup presents a challenge for stevedores. In a double deck arrangement with two lashing eyes, one lashing eye is secured with a tensioning bolt and a lashing bar positioned so that it is located at the lower corner fitting of the upper container in the stack. The other lashing eye is also secured with a tensioning bolt and a lashing bar positioned so that it is located at the upper corner fitting of the lower container in the stack. If a stevedore now tightens the tensioning bolt to secure the containers connected by the lashing bar, this will initially cause the double deck to twist around the connecting bolt. To compensate, the stevedore must also tighten the other tensioning bolt. Consequently, in practice, the stevedore frequently switches between the two tensioning bolts, making this process very time-consuming. Otherwise, there is a risk that, to save time, the stevedore will first tighten one tensioning bolt to its limit (maximum), then subsequently tighten the other. This creates a significant risk that at least one of the two containers will not be properly secured. Furthermore, the initial twisting of the skis carries the risk that the skis will collide and their force balancing function will not be fully or at least not be fully realized.

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore to limit the rotatable arrangement of the double plates at at least one lashing plate during loading and unloading of containers in order to minimize the risk of faulty lashing by stevedores.

[0013] According to the invention, this is achieved by a first means for limiting the rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting screw in a first rotational direction, which first means is designed as a stop (stop) provided on at least one of the lashing plates. Its task is to prevent the double plate from twisting relative to the at least one lashing plate when tightening the tensioning screw.

[0014] As described at the outset and as can be seen in the figures explained below, with parallel lashings, one lashing rod leads from the higher-positioned tie eye of the double panel in the starting position to the lower corner fitting of the upper container of the two stacked containers, while a second lashing rod connects the upper corner fitting of the lower container of the two stacked containers to the lower-positioned tie eye of the double panel. Combined with the fact that, in actual operation, forces are always introduced into the device from the upper container and, from there, to the higher-positioned tie eye of the double panel, this geometry means that during operation of the vehicle, the double panel can only rotate about the connecting screw from the starting position in one direction, referred to in this application as the "second rotational direction." Only when lashing containers can the force introduced into the lower-positioned tie eye of the double panel exceed the force introduced into the higher-positioned tie eye of the double panel, resulting in the opposite rotation of the double panel about the connecting screw, which is referred to in this application as the "first rotational direction." To prevent such rotation, the stops described above are an effective, reliable and cost-effective means.

[0015] Rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting screw in the second rotational direction cannot be permanently prevented. For the force balancing device to also perform its function in this manner, the double plate must be able to rotate in the second rotational direction within the range of rotation angles typically encountered in such situations during operation of the vehicle. To this end, according to a preferred embodiment, a second device is provided that ensures a quasi-rigid system during loading and unloading (stowage), but does not prevent the functioning of the force balancing device during operation of the vehicle. Therefore, a prestressing element is provided as the second device to limit the rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting screw in the second rotational direction. This prestressing element has two tasks: The forces occurring when tightening the tensioning bolts, typically up to 10 kN to 20 kN, must be met by a retaining force that prevents the double plate from twisting relative to the at least one lashing plate. Larger forces, typically occurring only during operation of the vessel and up to 250 kN, must be met by the prestressing element to minimize the impact on the force balance achieved by the device. After the holding force has been overcome, the pre-tensioning element applies a much smaller restoring force to the double plate, which serves only to return the double plate to its starting position. This makes the work of the stevedores easier and helps to avoid mistakes during lashing.

[0016] According to another preferred embodiment, the pretensioning element consists of at least one spring and a head element. The spring provides the spring force or spring stiffness required to achieve the aforementioned tasks. To this end, the spring is supported on a defined contact surface on at least one of the tie-down devices. For example, the tie-down device may include a blind hole (blind drilled hole) or a drilled hole with a shoulder, in which the spring is arranged. To transmit the spring force to the double plate, a head element is provided at the end of the spring facing the double plate. This head element can be designed, for example, to be spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, toothed, arched (arc-shaped), or wedge-shaped.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment, a complementary shape is provided on the double plate, serving as a counterpart to the head element of the pretensioning element described above (complementary shapes corresponding to the head element of the pretensioning element are provided on the double plate). This arrangement defines a resting position for the double plate, loaded with the retaining force of the pretensioning element, relative to the lashing plate. The lashing plate significantly simplifies the work of stevedores, as it allows lashing operations to be performed using a quasi-rigid system. If, during the operation of the vehicle, for example, in the event of a sea, forces significantly greater than those encountered during lashing are applied, this configuration allows for controlled rotation of the double plate about the connecting screws on the lashing plate, essentially unaffected by the pretensioning element. This exerts only a restoring force on the double plate, so that when the external force decreases, the double plate returns to its starting position.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the pretensioning element consists of at least one spring that is in direct contact with the complementary shapes of the double plate. In this embodiment, the head element can be omitted. Furthermore, this allows the use of one or more leaf springs as pretensioning elements. Their orientation can be configured in such a way that the spring's flat surface points toward the connecting screw, or in such a way that the spring's flat surface does not extend through the connecting screw.

[0019] According to another preferred embodiment, the device has two prestressing elements. In embodiments with exactly one prestressing element, this prestressing element distributes the two functions of the prestressing element between the two prestressing elements. The head element of the first prestressing element interacts with the complementary shape of the double plate, generating a retaining force and securing the double plate in the starting position. To this end, the spring, head element, and complementary shape are designed so that the double plate cannot rotate about the connecting screw until the forces typically encountered with lashed containers are reached. If this force is exceeded during vehicle operation, the head element moves away from the complementary shape of the double plate, which is, for example, designed as a groove or spherical seat (socket). At this point, an additional prestressing element comes into play, loading the prestressing element linearly, for example. As the double plate deviates further from the starting position, the restoring force of the spring of the additional prestressing element may also increase. If the external force then decreases due to changing conditions, the restoring force causes the double plate to rotate in the direction of the starting position. If the external forces are correspondingly low, the head element of the first pretensioning element will slide back into the complementary shape of the double plate and fix it in the starting position.

[0020] Another advantageous embodiment relates in particular to a device in which the head element of the pretensioning element is designed to be cylindrical or similar. In this case, at least one tie plate can have a lateral (transverse) groove, through which the head element is guided along the axis of the spring of the pretensioning element, thereby preventing the pretensioning element from breaking or tilting (falling out or getting stuck). In addition, the head element can be fixed by means of a fastener so that it does not slide out of the groove laterally (transversely). This can be achieved, for example, by a cotter pin (Splint), which is guided through the head element outside the at least one tie plate. Preferably, such an arrangement is provided on both sides of the head element.

[0021] The present invention will be further explained below based on some embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 Different embodiments of the pretensioning element are shown;

[0025] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of a sixth embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 1 A device 10 is shown for mounting a lashing device for containers on a vehicle, in particular a ship. The device 10 comprises two lashing plates 12, which are connected to a deck, a hatch cover or a lashing bridge via connections (not shown in detail), for example welded connections. The device 10 also comprises a double plate 14. The double plate 14 is connected to the lashing plates 12 via connecting screws (connecting screws) 18, wherein the double plate 14 is rotatably supported relative to the lashing plates 12 via the connecting screws 18. The double plate 14 also comprises two lashing eyes 16. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the lashing eyes 16 are arranged equidistant from the connecting screws 18. The lashing eyes 16 are used to fasten a fixing device, preferably a lifting eye (hook). For example, tensioning bolts are arranged at these lashing eyes, with the aid of which lashing rods are tensioned for lashing the container to the deck of the vessel.

[0030] Due to the design, the lashing bars attached (installed) at the lashing eyes 16 bear only tensile loads. The upper lashing eyes 16 of the double panels 14 are always connected to the lower corner fittings of the upper container of the two stacked containers, while the upper corner fittings of the lower container of the two stacked containers are connected to the lower lashing eyes 16. The two stacked containers are directly connected to each other via coupling blocks (couplings, also called "twistlocks") arranged in the corner fittings. This prevents the upper container from being lifted off the lower container, for example, in the event of a sea.

[0031] Due to this arrangement, the introduction (transmission) of the pulling force always takes place first via the upper lashing eye 16 before the force generated by the lower container acts on the lower lashing eye 16. Furthermore, the force introduced into the device 10 via the upper lashing eye 16 is always greater than the force introduced via the lower lashing eye 16, or is exactly the same as it. Figure 1The deflection of the starting position shown is only carried out in the counterclockwise direction, never in the clockwise direction. Therefore, according to the invention, a stop (stop) 22 is provided at the lashing plate 12, which prevents a rotation of the double plate 14 around the connecting screw 18 in the clockwise direction, which is referred to as the "first direction of rotation" within the scope of the present application. When lashing containers, this arrangement helps the stevedores in the following situation: they first lash the lower container and thus avoid the following situation during the operation of the ship: the force introduced into the double plate 14 via the lower lashing eye 16 is greater than the force introduced via the upper lashing eye 16. It should be pointed out that the information above about the direction of rotation always refers to Figure 1 (and in the following Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 7 In a mirror-image arrangement of the device 10, for example on opposite sides of a container, the directions of rotation are then correspondingly opposite.

[0032] In the second direction, which is oriented counterclockwise according to the description above, the rotation of the double plate 14 relative to the lashing plate 12 about the connecting screw 18 should not be prevented, because otherwise the device 10 would no longer be able to fulfill its force balancing function. In particular, the rotational movement of the double plate 14 in the second rotational direction should be allowed within the range of forces and resulting rotation angles that typically occur during operation of the vehicle, while being restricted only in the opposite direction, i.e., the first rotational direction. More specifically, from Figure 1 、 Figure 2 and Figures 4 to 7 Starting from the illustrated rest position (where the double plate 14 strikes / contacts the stop), rotational movement in the first direction is limited to 0°, while rotation in the opposite second direction of at least 15° is permitted. The specific angular range is not crucial. As previously mentioned, the only important thing is that during operation, i.e., during navigation, rotational movement in the second direction is not hindered to the same extent as rotational movement (in the first direction) that occurs during navigation.

[0033] For this purpose, according to Figure 2 The second embodiment of the device 10 shown includes a pre-tensioning element 20. In this embodiment, the pre-tensioning element 20 consists of a spring 24 and a head element 26. For this purpose, blind holes (blind holes) are provided in one, preferably both, of the lashing plates 12. The springs 24 of the pre-tensioning element 20 are arranged in these holes. The head element 26 is arranged at the end of the pre-tensioning element 20 that faces the double plate 14, so that the head element 26 contacts the double plate 14.

[0034] One of the tasks of the pre-tensioning element 20 is to ensure that the double plate 14 remains in the illustrated starting position until a certain force is introduced into the device 10 via the lashing eye 16 (to ensure that the double plate 14 remains in the illustrated starting position until a certain force is applied to the lashing eye 16). To this end, a shape complementary to the head element 26 is provided at the portion of the double plate 14 that contacts the pre-tensioning element 20. In the case of a spherical, cylindrical, or arched head element 26, this complementary shape can be, for example, a groove or a shape similar to a spherical seat (ball socket).

[0035] Figure 3 Several possible embodiments of the pretensioning element 20 are shown. The pretensioning element 20 consists of a spring 24 and a head element 26. Depending on the individual circumstances, the head element 26 can be designed to be spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, toothed, arched (arc-shaped), or wedge-shaped. It is also conceivable for the head element 26 to have a receptacle for better connection to the spring 24, as shown in the second example from the right.

[0036] Figure 4 An embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention is shown, in which the pretensioning element 20 has a cylindrical head element 26. Furthermore, the tie plate 12 has a recess in the form of an elongated hole, the width of which is slightly greater than the diameter of the head element 26. This arrangement allows the head element 26 to be guided in this recess during operation. This prevents the spring 24 from being loaded in directions other than its axis, thereby minimizing the risk of the spring 24 tilting (twisting) and / or seizing. The head element 26 is secured outside the tie plate 12 by a fastening device 28, in this case a cotter pin, to prevent axial displacement.

[0037] Figures 5 to 7 Other embodiments of the device 10 are shown. Components that are structurally and functionally identical to those of the embodiments described above will not be discussed further. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the embodiment of the present invention, the pretensioning element 20 is a leaf spring that is loaded and bent. Figure 5 The device 10, the leaf spring and Figure 2 and Figure 4 The pretensioning element 20 in the embodiment is arranged similarly, ie substantially in the direction of the connecting screw. Figure 6 In the device 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, the (drilling) hole in the lashing plate 12 can be omitted. The leaf spring there is parallel to the imaginary line connecting the two lashing eyes 16.

[0038] exist Figure 7In the embodiment shown, the individual tasks of the prestressing elements 20 are separated. The task of securing the double plate 14 in its starting position until a certain force is reached is performed by the upper of the two prestressing elements 20 shown. Figure 1 The embodiment shown is similar, with the double plate 14 being shaped to complement the shape of the head element 26. In this case, a disc spring assembly is provided as spring 24 instead of a helical spring. Figure 7 In the embodiment of FIG, the second task of the prestressing element 20, namely, returning the double plate 14 to its starting position, is accomplished by an additional prestressing element 30. This additional prestressing element 30 is arranged approximately horizontally, thereby maximizing the lever arm acting around the connecting screw 18. The introduction of force into the additional prestressing element 30 is thus optimized by corresponding complementary shapes on the double plate 14. This separation of tasks allows the use of prestressing elements 20, 30 specifically designed for the respective tasks, which, on the one hand, is economical and practical, and on the other hand, ensures high reliability and durability of the device 10.

[0039] Reference Signs List

[0040] 10 Equipment

[0041] 12 Tie plates

[0042] 14. Double board

[0043] 16 Tie Eyes

[0044] 18 Connecting screws

[0045] 20 Pre-tensioning element

[0046] 22 stopper (stopper)

[0047] 24 Spring

[0048] 26 head components

[0049] 28 Fastening device

[0050] 30 Additional pre-tensioning element.

Claims

1. A device (10) for fixing a lashing device for a container on a vehicle, in particular a ship, comprising: at least one lashing plate (12), A double plate (14) is rotatably mounted on the at least one tying plate (12) by means of a connecting screw (18), the double plate having at least two tying eyes (16) for receiving a tying device respectively, wherein: The at least two tying eyes (16) form a double-arm lever with respect to the connecting screw (18), and having first means for limiting the rotational movement of the double plate (14) around the connecting screw (18), It is characterized in that The first means for limiting the rotational movement of the double plate (14) about the connecting screw (18) in a first rotational direction is a stop (22).

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that Second means for limiting the rotational movement of the double plate (14) around the connecting screw (18) in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction, wherein The second means for limiting the rotational movement of the double plate (14) in the second rotational direction is a pretensioning element (20).

3. The device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that The pretensioning element is composed of at least a spring (24) and a head element (26), wherein the head element (26) is designed to be spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, toothed, arched or wedge-shaped.

4. The device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that The double plate (14) has a shape complementary to the head element (26) of the pretensioning element (20) for interacting with the head element (26).

5. The device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that A fastening device (28) is provided and designed to secure the head element (26) of the pretensioning element (20) against lateral displacement.

6. The device (10) as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that Additional pre-tensioning element (30).

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