Mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic twist lock and method of operation thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic twist lock and an operating method thereof, which comprises a base fixedly installed on a ship body or a top of a container, a floating base slidably installed above the base, a limiting pin assembly movably arranged on the floating base and used for locking the base and the floating base, a lock body movably installed on the floating base and capable of rotating synchronously and clamping a container to be locked during the process that the floating base slides downward under the gravity of the container to be locked, an electromagnetic assembly arranged on the base and matched with the limiting pin assembly to lock the base and the floating base when the floating base slides downward to a limit position, and a reset assembly used for resetting the floating base and the lock body when the electromagnetic assembly releases the locking of the base and the floating base. The two groups of limiting pin assemblies form geometric constraints in opposite directions, and the geometric constraints in opposite directions formed by the two groups of limiting pin assemblies can still realize mechanical retention when the electromagnetic assembly loses power, and the overall safety is high.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the technical field of container ship securing equipment, and particularly relates to a mechanical self-locking electromagnetic twist lock for containers and its operation method. Background Technology

[0002] When containers are stacked and transported on ship decks or in cargo holds, securing devices such as twist locks, bridge locks, and lashing bars are needed to restrict the relative movement between the container and the ship's hull, preventing the container from slipping, overturning, or detaching under yaw, pitch, impact vibrations, and stacking loads. Twist locks, which engage with the corner fitting holes of the container to lock and release, are important inter-container connections and anti-detachment components in the container transport system. Their structural design, strength verification, and testing typically need to refer to the relevant requirements of ISO 3874, GB / T 16956, and classification society cargo securing manuals.

[0003] Existing container twist locks mainly include manual, semi-automatic, and automatic types. Manual twist locks rely on personnel boarding the ship or entering the work area to insert, remove, rotate, and confirm the lock, which presents risks such as high labor intensity, low operational efficiency, and accidental locking or missed locking. To reduce manual intervention, existing semi-automatic or fully automatic twist locks typically use methods such as container weight, spring reset, torsion spring energy storage, helical surface guidance, or threaded pair engagement to achieve lock head rotation and retention. Some solutions also use electromagnets, motors, or external control mechanisms to complete unlocking or drive the twist lock action, but automatic unlocking may occur after an accidental power failure of the electromagnet, resulting in low security. Although this type of structure can achieve a certain degree of automatic locking, it is still difficult to simultaneously ensure reliable locking and mechanical retention in the event of power failure under the long-term rolling, pitching, impact vibration, salt spray, and dust environments of ships. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Purpose of the invention: The first purpose of this invention is to provide a mechanically self-locking electromagnetic torsion lock for containers that is highly secure, while also ensuring reliable locking and mechanical retention in the event of power failure.

[0005] The second objective of this invention is to provide an operating method for a mechanically self-locking electromagnetic twist lock for containers.

[0006] Technical Solution: This invention discloses a mechanical self-locking electromagnetic twist lock for containers, comprising a base fixedly installed on the hull or the top of the container, a floating seat slidably installed above the base, a limiting pin assembly movably mounted on the floating seat for locking the base and the floating seat, a lock body movably mounted on the floating seat that rotates synchronously and locks the container as the floating seat slides downward under the gravity of the container to be locked, an electromagnetic component mounted on the base that cooperates with the limiting pin assembly to lock the base and the floating seat when the floating seat slides downward to its limit position, and a reset component installed between the base and the floating seat to reset the floating seat and the lock body when the electromagnetic component releases the lock on the base and the floating seat.

[0007] Furthermore, the base includes a base plate fixedly installed on the hull or the top of the container and two self-locking plates symmetrically installed on the top of the base plate. The base plate has a bottom through hole for the lock body to pass through, and the two self-locking plates each have an L-shaped first self-locking groove, and the two first self-locking grooves are arranged in a mirror symmetrical manner.

[0008] Furthermore, the floating seat includes a pressure plate, two self-locking sleeves symmetrically installed at the bottom of the pressure plate, and a sleeve fixedly installed at the bottom of the pressure plate and located between the two self-locking sleeves; the pressure plate has a top through hole for the lock body to pass through and communicate with the sleeve, and the two self-locking sleeves each have an L-shaped second self-locking groove, and the two second self-locking grooves are arranged in a mirror symmetrical manner; the two self-locking sleeves are respectively slidably sleeved on the outer periphery of the two self-locking plates, and when the floating seat slides down to the limit position, the first self-locking groove and the second self-locking groove on the same side completely overlap.

[0009] Furthermore, the limiting pin assembly includes a sliding rod that passes through a first self-locking groove and a second self-locking groove located on the same side, an iron limiting block located inside the self-locking sleeve plate and fixedly connected to the sliding rod and cooperating with the electromagnetic assembly, and a limiting baffle fixedly installed on the sliding rod to prevent the sliding rod from falling off the second self-locking groove; the diameter of the sliding rod is smaller than the groove width of the first self-locking groove.

[0010] Furthermore, the limiting pin assembly also includes a manual emergency release component located outside the self-locking sleeve and fixedly connected to the sliding rod, which is used to manually move the sliding rod when the electromagnetic component fails to power.

[0011] Furthermore, the lock body includes a main lock shaft that passes through the floating seat and the base, an upper lock head that is fixedly installed on the top of the main lock shaft and located above the floating seat, a lower lock head that is fixedly installed on the bottom of the main lock shaft and located below the base, and a driven pin that is fixedly installed on the main lock shaft; the sleeve is provided with a rotary guide groove, and the driven pin slides along the rotary guide groove.

[0012] Furthermore, both the upper and lower locking heads are configured as truncated pyramid structures, and are symmetrically arranged about the main locking axis. The width of the rectangle on the bottom surface of the upper locking head is smaller than the width of the connection opening at the bottom of the container to be locked, so that the container to be locked can be supported on the pressure plate after the connection opening passes through the upper locking head. The length of the rectangle at the bottom of the upper locking head is greater than the width of the connection buckle at the bottom of the container to be locked, so that the upper locking head can be locked onto the container to be locked after rotating to its limit position.

[0013] Furthermore, the electromagnetic component includes four electromagnets mounted in a rectangular array on the base plate for driving the sliding rod to move. The four electromagnets are located between two self-locking plates, with two electromagnets located at both ends of the first self-locking groove and the other two electromagnets located at both ends of the other first self-locking groove.

[0014] Furthermore, the reset assembly includes a plurality of evenly distributed reset springs, the top end of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the self-locking sleeve and the bottom end of which is fixedly connected to the self-locking plate.

[0015] Based on the same inventive concept, this invention also discloses an operation method for a mechanically self-locking electromagnetic torsion lock for a container, wherein the self-locking method of the mechanically self-locking electromagnetic torsion lock for a container is as follows:

[0016] The connection port at the bottom of the container passes through the upper lock head and is supported on the pressure plate, which drives the pressure plate to move downward. During the downward movement of the pressure plate, the driven pin slides along the rotary guide groove, causing the main lock shaft to rotate.

[0017] When the pressure plate moves downward to its limit position, the main locking shaft rotates to its limit angle, causing the upper locking head to lock the container's connection port; at this time, the first self-locking groove and the second self-locking groove are completely overlapped, and the limit pin assembly moves to the place where the vertical and horizontal parts of the first self-locking groove meet under its own gravity.

[0018] Two electromagnets arranged diagonally are energized, which in turn drive two sets of limiting pin assemblies to enter the transverse ends of the first self-locking groove on the corresponding side. This causes the limiting pin assemblies, the first self-locking groove, and the second self-locking groove to fix the floating seat and the lock body in the current position and maintain the self-locking state, thereby de-energizing the two electromagnets.

[0019] The method for unlocking the electromagnetic torsion lock of a mechanically self-locking container is as follows:

[0020] The other two diagonally positioned electromagnets are energized, and these two electromagnets drive the two sets of limiting pin assemblies to move from the end of the horizontal part of the first self-locking groove to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal parts of the first self-locking groove, and then the electromagnets are de-energized.

[0021] When the container is lifted, the floating seat moves upward under the action of the return spring. During the upward movement of the floating seat, the driven pin slides along the rotary guide groove, causing the main lock shaft to rotate in the opposite direction.

[0022] When the pressure plate moves upward to the initial position, the main lock shaft rotates in the opposite direction to the initial position, causing the upper lock head to release the restriction on the container's connection port.

[0023] Beneficial Effects: Compared with existing technologies, this invention has the following significant advantages: This invention utilizes the container's own weight to trigger locking, eliminating the need for external pressure; the lock body rotates and locks the container through the cooperation of the limiting pin assembly and the floating seat; self-locking is achieved by the electromagnet assembly driving the limiting pin assembly to move, keeping the lock body locked; during unlocking, the limiting pin assembly is driven in the opposite direction to unlock, and after the container is lifted, the return spring causes the lock body to rotate in the opposite direction to release the container's restriction, and the floating seat and lock body return to their initial positions; self-locking and unlocking operations are simple and convenient for practical application. During self-locking, the two sets of limiting pin assemblies form geometric constraints in opposite directions, keeping the entire assembly in a self-locking state, effectively improving the safety and reliability of container securing; furthermore, the electromagnetic assembly is only used to drive the limiting pin assembly to move, and is de-energized after self-locking and unlocking, eliminating the need to rely on the electromagnetic attraction of the electromagnetic assembly to maintain the self-locking state. That is, even when the electromagnetic assembly is de-energized, the two sets of limiting pin assemblies forming geometric constraints in opposite directions can still achieve mechanical holding. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 2 For the present invention Figure 1 The main view;

[0026] Figure 3 For the present invention Figure 1 The right view;

[0027] Figure 4 For the present invention Figure 1 Top view;

[0028] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the base of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the floating seat of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 7 This is another structural schematic diagram of the floating seat of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the lock body of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the limiting pin assembly of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 10 This is a top view of the base of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention in its initial state;

[0035] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the present invention in the self-locking state;

[0036] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the self-locking process of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Example 1

[0039] This invention discloses a mechanical self-locking electromagnetic twist lock for containers, such as... Figures 1 to 4 As shown, the system includes a base 1, a floating seat 2, a limiting pin assembly 3, a lock body, an electromagnetic assembly, and a reset assembly. The base 1 is fixedly mounted on the hull or the top of a container, and the floating seat 2 is slidably mounted above the base 1. The limiting pin assembly 3 is movably mounted on the floating seat 2 and is used to lock the base 1 and the floating seat 2. The lock body is movably mounted on the floating seat 2, and as the floating seat 2 slides downwards under the gravity of the container to be locked, the lock body rotates synchronously and locks the container. The electromagnetic assembly is mounted on the base 1, and cooperates with the limiting pin assembly 3 to lock and fix the base 1 and the floating seat 2 when the floating seat 2 slides downwards to its limit position. The reset assembly is installed between the base 1 and the floating seat 2, and resets the floating seat 2 and the lock body after the electromagnetic assembly releases the lock. Preferably, the base 2 and the electromagnet assembly are waterproof, dustproof, or salt spray resistant, and the protection level of the electromagnet assembly is not lower than IP56, preferably not lower than IP67.

[0040] like Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the base 1 includes a base plate 4 and a self-locking plate 5. The base plate 4 is fixedly installed on the hull or the top of the container, and a bottom through hole 6 is provided on the base plate 4 for the lock body to pass through. There are two self-locking plates 5, and the two self-locking plates 5 are symmetrically installed on the top of the base plate 4; each of the two self-locking plates 5 has an L-shaped first self-locking groove 7, and the two first self-locking grooves 7 are mirror-symmetrically arranged, that is, the lateral portions of the two first self-locking grooves 7 face opposite directions.

[0041] like Figure 1 , Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, the floating seat 2 includes a pressure plate 8, a self-locking sleeve 9, and a sleeve 10. The pressure plate 8 has a top through hole 23 through which the lock body passes and communicates with the sleeve 10. Two self-locking sleeves 9 are provided, symmetrically installed at the bottom of the pressure plate 8. The sleeve 10 is fixedly installed at the bottom of the pressure plate 8, located between the two self-locking sleeves 9. Each of the two self-locking sleeves 9 has an L-shaped second self-locking groove 11, mirror-symmetrically arranged, meaning the lateral portions of the two second self-locking grooves 11 face opposite directions. The two self-locking sleeves 9 are slidably fitted onto the outer periphery of the two self-locking plates 5, and when the floating seat 2 slides downward to its limit position, the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 on the same side completely overlap.

[0042] like Figure 9 As shown, the limiting pin assembly 3 includes a sliding rod 12, a limiting block 13, a manual emergency release component 14, and a limiting baffle 15. The sliding rod 12 passes through the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 located on the same side. The diameter of the sliding rod 12 is smaller than the width of the first self-locking groove 7 and the diameter of the sliding rod 12 is also smaller than the width of the second self-locking groove 11, so as to ensure that the sliding rod 12 can move along the vertical part of the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 under its own weight and can move along the horizontal part of the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 under the action of the electromagnetic component. Two limiting baffles 15 are fixedly installed on the sliding rod 12. The diameter of the limiting baffles 15 is larger than the width of the first self-locking groove 7 and the diameter of the limiting baffles 15 is also larger than the width of the second self-locking groove 11. The two limiting baffles 15 are located on both sides of the self-locking sleeve 9, and the setting of the limiting baffles 15 can prevent the sliding rod 12 from falling off the floating seat 2. The limiting block 13 and the manual emergency release component 14 are fixedly connected to both ends of the sliding rod 12, with the limiting block 13 located inside the self-locking sleeve 9 and the manual emergency release component 14 located outside the self-locking sleeve 9. The manual emergency release component 14 is used to manually move the sliding rod 12 when the electromagnetic component fails to de-energize. The limiting block 13 is made of iron and cooperates with the electromagnet 21. When the electromagnet 21 is energized, it generates a magnetic force on the limiting block 13. In practical applications, the manual emergency release component 14 can be configured as a tool hole, a push rod, or a manual lever, used to drive the corresponding limiting pin assembly 3 to the release position when there is a power outage, electromagnet failure, or control malfunction. Preferably, the manual emergency release component 14 can only be operated after the container is unloaded or the limiting pin assembly 3 is ready for release. Preferably, to improve safety, the manual emergency release component 14 is equipped with an anti-accidental contact protective cover, a special tool interface, or a secondary unlocking action to avoid accidental operation under abnormal conditions.

[0043] like Figure 8As shown, the lock body includes a main locking shaft 16, an upper locking head 17, a lower locking head 18, and a driven pin 19. The main locking shaft 16 passes through the floating seat 2 and the base 1 through the top through hole 23 and the bottom through hole 6. The upper locking head 17 and the lower locking head 18 are fixedly connected to both ends of the main locking shaft 16, with the upper locking head 17 located above the floating seat 2 and the lower locking head 18 located below the base 1. Both the upper locking head 17 and the lower locking head 18 are set as a truncated pyramid structure, and the upper locking head 17 and the lower locking head 18 are symmetrically arranged about the main locking shaft 16. The width of the rectangle on the bottom surface of the upper locking head 17 is smaller than the width of the connection opening at the bottom of the container to be locked, so that the container to be locked can be supported on the pressure plate 8 after the connection opening passes through the upper locking head 17. The length of the rectangle at the bottom of the upper locking head 17 is greater than the width of the connection buckle at the bottom of the container to be locked, so that the upper locking head 17 can be locked onto the container after rotating to the limit position. The driven pin 19 is fixedly mounted on the main locking shaft 16. A rotary guide groove 20 is provided on the sleeve 10. The driven pin 19 slides along the rotary guide groove 20. The rotation angle of the main locking shaft 16 from its initial position to its limit position is 80° to 100°, preferably 90°. During the downward movement of the sleeve 10 driven by the pressure plate 8, the driven pin 19 slides along the rotary guide groove 20, causing the main locking shaft 16 to rotate. When the container to be locked is lifted, the floating seat 2 moves upward under the action of the return spring 22. During this upward movement, the driven pin 19 slides along the rotary guide groove 20, causing the main locking shaft 16 to rotate in the opposite direction. Preferably, two driven pins 19 are provided, and the two driven pins 19 are symmetrical. Two rotary guide grooves 20 are provided on the sleeve 10 to match the corresponding driven pins 19. The arrangement of two driven pins 19 and two rotary guide grooves 20 helps to improve the stability of the main locking shaft 16 during rotation.

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 10 As shown, the electromagnetic assembly includes four electromagnets 21 arranged in a rectangular array on the base plate 4 to drive the sliding rod 12. The four electromagnets 21 are located between two self-locking plates 5, with two electromagnets 21 located at both ends of the first self-locking groove 7 and the other two located at both ends of the other first self-locking groove 7. The rectangular array distribution of the four electromagnets 21 (diagonally arranged) helps to balance the timing of the actions of the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3, improving the consistency of the displacement action of the limiting pin assemblies 3 under hull rolling and vibration conditions. The electromagnet group 21 uses a pulse energizing method, and the attraction force generated by the electromagnets 21 on the limiting pin assembly 3 after energization is greater than the frictional resistance experienced by the limiting pin assembly 3 when sliding laterally in the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11; preferably, the rated voltage of the electromagnets 21 is DC 12V, 24V, or 48V. Figure 11As shown, the mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic twist lock of the present invention is in its initial state; during self-locking, the connection port at the bottom of the container to be locked passes through the upper locking head 17 and is supported on the pressure plate 8, driving the pressure plate 8 to move downward. During the downward movement of the pressure plate 8, the driven pin 19 slides along the rotating guide groove 20, causing the main locking shaft 16 to rotate; when the pressure plate 8 moves downward to its limit position, the main locking shaft 16 rotates to its limit angle, and the upper locking head 17 moves synchronously with the main locking shaft 16, so that the upper locking head 17 rotates to its limit position and is locked in the container to be locked, achieving the initial locking of the container to be locked; at this time, the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 are completely overlapped, and the limiting pin assembly 3 moves to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal parts of the first self-locking groove 7 under its own gravity; the two electromagnets 21 located diagonally and respectively at the ends of the horizontal parts of the two first self-locking grooves 7 are activated. After the two electromagnets 21 are energized, as Figure 10 Electromagnets c and b in the middle attract the corresponding limiting pin assembly 3 to slide to the end of the transverse part of the first self-locking groove 7 on the corresponding side, that is, enter the self-locking position. Then, the two electromagnets 21 are de-energized, as shown in the figure. Figure 12 As shown. During unlocking, the two diagonally opposite electromagnets 21 are energized, as shown... Figure 10 Electromagnets a and d in the first self-locking groove 7 attract the corresponding limiting pin assemblies 3 from the end of the horizontal portion to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal portions, releasing the self-lock. The base 1 and floating seat 2 can then move relative to each other in the vertical direction, de-energizing the two electromagnets 21. The container to be locked is then lifted, and the floating seat 2 moves upward under the action of the return spring 22. During this upward movement, the driven pin 19 slides along the rotating guide groove 20, causing the main locking shaft 16 to rotate in the opposite direction. When the pressure plate 8 moves upward to its initial position, the main locking shaft 16 rotates in the opposite direction to its initial position, releasing the upper locking head 17 from the limiting position of the connection port of the container to be locked. In summary, the electromagnets 21 are only used to drive the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3 to move in the horizontal portion of the first self-locking groove 7, and do not participate in the main locking load-bearing, which helps ensure that the electromagnets 21 are in normal working condition and extends their service life.

[0045] In this invention, the first self-locking grooves 7 on the two self-locking plates 5 are mirror images of each other. When the limiting pin assembly 3 enters the self-locking position, the geometric constraints of the mirrored L-shaped grooves on both sides maintain the mechanical self-locking state, keeping the floating seat 2 in the locked and pressed position, preventing the sleeve 10 from driving the main locking shaft 16 to reverse reset, and reducing the risk of the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3 simultaneously slipping out under pressure, vibration, or impact. Because the two first self-locking grooves 7 are mirror images of each other, that is, the lateral portions of the two first self-locking grooves 7 face opposite directions, they form geometric constraints in opposite directions on the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3. When the hull rolls, pitches, or vibrates, causing one side of the limiting pin assembly 3 to move to the intersection of the lateral and vertical portions of the first self-locking groove 7, the other side of the limiting pin assembly 3 is still constrained by the lateral portion of the corresponding first self-locking groove 7, thereby reducing the risk of the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3 simultaneously moving to the intersection of the lateral and vertical portions of the first self-locking groove 7. Therefore, even after the electromagnet 21 is de-energized, the locked state can still be maintained by the mechanical structure, thereby reducing the risk of the left and right limit pin assemblies simultaneously disengaging from their self-locking positions under ship rolling, vibration, or impact conditions, and improving the reliability of the marine container securing system. In summary, the L-shaped first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 have guiding, lateral locking, and anti-slippage functions, used to limit the sliding path of the corresponding side limit pin assembly 3, and reduce the risk of both sets of limit pin assemblies 3 simultaneously disengaging from their self-locking positions under ship rolling, pitching, vibration, or impact conditions.

[0046] like Figure 7 As shown, the reset assembly includes multiple evenly distributed reset springs 22. The top end of each reset spring 22 is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the self-locking sleeve 10, and the bottom end is fixedly connected to the self-locking plate 5. During self-locking, the container to be locked is supported on the pressure plate 8, causing the reset springs 22 to be compressed. During unlocking, the container to be locked is lifted. When the force exerted by the container on the pressure plate 8 is zero, the reset springs 22 return to their original position, causing the pressure plate 8 to move upward to its initial position.

[0047] This invention utilizes the gravity of the container to be locked to trigger the locking mechanism, eliminating the need for external pressure. The driven pin 19 engages with the sleeve 10 to rotate the lock body and lock the container. An electromagnet drives the limit pin assembly 3 to move, achieving self-locking and maintaining the lock body in a locked state. To unlock, the limit pin assembly 3 is driven in the opposite direction. After the container is lifted, a return spring causes the lock body to rotate in the opposite direction, releasing the limit on the container. The floating seat 2 and the lock body return to their initial positions. This invention features simple self-locking and unlocking operations, facilitating practical application. Furthermore, during self-locking, the two sets of limit pin assemblies 3 form opposite geometric constraints, effectively improving the reliability of the container's securing.

[0048] Example 2

[0049] This invention discloses an operation method for a mechanical self-locking electromagnetic torsion lock for containers.

[0050] like Figure 13 As shown, the self-locking method of the electromagnetic torsion lock for mechanically self-locking containers is as follows:

[0051] The initial state of a mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic twist lock is as follows: Figure 13 As shown in (a), the return spring 22 causes the floating seat 2 to be located above the base 1, the second self-locking groove 11 does not completely overlap with the first self-locking groove 7, and the limiting pin assembly 3 is located at the bottom of the vertical part of the second self-locking groove 11 due to its own weight.

[0052] The container to be locked is lifted by hoisting equipment. The bottom connection of the container to be locked passes through the upper lock head 17 and is supported on the pressure plate 8, which drives the pressure plate 8 to move downward. During the downward movement of the pressure plate 8, the driven pin 19 slides along the rotating guide groove 20, causing the main lock shaft 16 to rotate.

[0053] like Figure 13 As shown in (b), when the pressure plate 8 moves downward to the limit position, the main locking shaft 16 rotates to the limit angle, causing the upper locking head 17 to lock the connection port of the container to be locked; at this time, the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 are completely overlapped, and the limiting pin assembly 3 moves to the place where the vertical part and the horizontal part of the first self-locking groove 7 meet under its own gravity, that is, the bottom end of the vertical part of the first self-locking groove 7.

[0054] like Figure 13 As shown in (c), two diagonally arranged electromagnets 21 are energized. The energization of these two electromagnets 21 drives two sets of limit pin assemblies 3 to enter the lateral ends of the corresponding side first self-locking groove 7, so that the limit pin assembly 3, the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11 fix the floating seat 2 and the lock body in the current position and maintain the self-locking state, so that the two electromagnets 21 are de-energized.

[0055] Because the two first self-locking grooves 7 are mirror images of each other, meaning their lateral portions face opposite directions, they create opposite geometric constraints on the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3. When the ship rolls, pitches, or vibrates, causing one side of the limiting pin assembly 3 to move to the intersection of the lateral and vertical portions of the first self-locking groove 7, the other side's limiting pin assembly 3 remains constrained by the corresponding lateral portion of the first self-locking groove 7. This reduces the risk of both sets of limiting pin assemblies 3 simultaneously moving to the intersection of the lateral and vertical portions of the first self-locking groove 7. Therefore, even after the electromagnet 21 is de-energized, the locked state can still be maintained by the mechanical structure, thereby reducing the risk of the left and right limiting pin assemblies simultaneously disengaging from their self-locking positions under ship rolling, vibration, or impact conditions, and improving the reliability of the ship's container locking system.

[0056] The method for unlocking the electromagnetic torsion lock of a mechanically self-locking container is as follows:

[0057] The two diagonally positioned electromagnets 21 are energized, which in turn drive the two sets of limiting pin assemblies 3 to move from the horizontal end of the first self-locking groove 7 to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal parts of the first self-locking groove 7. Then, the electromagnets 21 are de-energized. This releases the locking of the first self-locking groove 7 and the second self-locking groove 11, that is, it releases the locking of the base 1 and the floating seat 2. At this time, the base 1 and the floating seat 2 can move relative to each other in the vertical direction.

[0058] When the container to be locked is lifted, and the force applied to the pressure plate 8 by the container to be locked is zero, the floating seat 2 moves upward under the action of the return spring 22. During the upward movement of the floating seat 2, the driven pin 19 slides along the rotary guide groove 20, causing the main locking shaft 16 to rotate in the opposite direction.

[0059] When the pressure plate 8 moves upward to the initial position, the main locking shaft 16 rotates in the opposite direction to the initial position, so that the upper locking head 17 releases the limit of the connection port of the container to be locked, that is, the upper locking head 17 no longer jams the connection port of the container to be locked.

Claims

1. A mechanical self-locking electromagnetic twist lock for containers, characterized in that: The system includes a base (1) fixedly installed on the hull or the top of the container, a floating seat (2) slidably installed above the base (1), a limit pin assembly (3) movably installed on the floating seat (2) for locking the base (1) and the floating seat (2), a lock body movably installed on the floating seat (2) that rotates synchronously and locks the container under the gravity of the floating seat (2) as it slides downwards, and is set on the base (1) to cooperate with the limit pin assembly (3) to lock the base (1) and the floating seat (2) when the floating seat (2) slides downwards to the limit position, and an electromagnetic assembly installed between the base (1) and the floating seat (2) to reset the floating seat (2) and the lock body after the electromagnetic assembly releases the lock on the base (1) and the floating seat (2).

2. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 1, characterized in that: The base (1) includes a base plate (4) fixedly installed on the hull or the top of the container and two self-locking plates (5) symmetrically installed on the top of the base plate (4). The base plate (4) has a bottom through hole (6) for the lock body to pass through. The two self-locking plates (5) each have an L-shaped first self-locking groove (7) and the two first self-locking grooves (7) are mirror symmetrically arranged.

3. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 2, characterized in that: The floating seat (2) includes a pressure plate (8), two self-locking sleeves (9) symmetrically installed at the bottom of the pressure plate (8), and a sleeve (10) fixedly installed at the bottom of the pressure plate (8) and located between the two self-locking sleeves (9); the pressure plate (8) has a top through hole (23) for the lock body to pass through and communicate with the sleeve (10); the two self-locking sleeves (9) each have an L-shaped second self-locking groove (11), and the two second self-locking grooves (11) are mirror symmetrically arranged; the two self-locking sleeves (9) are respectively slidably sleeved on the outer periphery of the two self-locking plates (5), and when the floating seat (2) slides down to the limit position, the first self-locking groove (7) and the second self-locking groove (11) on the same side completely overlap.

4. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: The limiting pin assembly (3) includes a sliding rod (12) that passes through the first self-locking groove (7) and the second self-locking groove (11) located on the same side, an iron limiting block (13) located inside the self-locking sleeve plate (9) and fixedly connected to the sliding rod (12) and cooperating with the electromagnetic assembly, and a limiting baffle (15) fixedly installed on the sliding rod (12) to prevent the sliding rod (12) from falling off the second self-locking groove (11); the diameter of the sliding rod (12) is smaller than the groove width of the first self-locking groove (7).

5. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The limiting pin assembly (3) also includes a manual emergency release component (14) located outside the self-locking sleeve plate (9) and fixedly connected to the sliding rod (12), which is used to manually move the sliding rod (12) when the electromagnetic assembly fails to power.

6. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: The lock body includes a main lock shaft (16) that passes through the floating seat (2) and the base (1), an upper lock head (17) that is fixedly installed on the top of the main lock shaft (16) and located above the floating seat (2), a lower lock head (18) that is fixedly installed on the bottom of the main lock shaft (16) and located below the base (1), and a driven pin (19) that is fixedly installed on the main lock shaft (16); a rotating guide groove (20) is provided on the sleeve (10), and the driven pin (19) slides along the rotating guide groove (20).

7. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 6, characterized in that: Both the upper lock head (17) and the lower lock head (18) are configured as a truncated pyramid structure, and the upper lock head (17) and the lower lock head (18) are symmetrically arranged about the main lock shaft (16); the width of the rectangle on the bottom surface of the upper lock head (17) is smaller than the width of the connection port opened at the bottom of the container to be locked, so that the container to be locked can be supported on the pressure plate (8) after the connection port passes through the upper lock head (17); the length of the rectangle at the bottom of the upper lock head (17) is greater than the width of the connection buckle opened at the bottom of the container to be locked, so that the upper lock head (17) can be locked on the container to be locked after rotating to the limit position.

8. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 4, characterized in that: The electromagnetic assembly includes four rectangular arrays of electromagnets (21) mounted on the base plate (4) for driving the sliding rod (12) to move. The four electromagnets (21) are located between two self-locking plates (5), with two electromagnets (21) located at the two ends of one of the first self-locking slots (7) and the other two electromagnets (21) located at the two ends of the other first self-locking slot (7).

9. The mechanical self-locking container electromagnetic torsion lock according to claim 3, characterized in that: The reset assembly includes multiple evenly distributed reset springs (22), the top end of which is fixedly connected to the inner wall of the self-locking sleeve (10), and the bottom end is fixedly connected to the self-locking plate (5).

10. A method for operating a mechanical self-locking electromagnetic twist lock for a container, characterized in that: The self-locking method for controlling the electromagnetic torsion lock of a mechanically self-locking container is as follows: After the connection port at the bottom of the container to be locked passes through the upper lock head (17), it is supported on the pressure plate (8) and drives the pressure plate (8) to move downward. During the downward movement of the pressure plate (8), it slides from the moving pin (19) along the rotating guide groove (20), causing the main lock shaft (16) to rotate. When the pressure plate (8) moves downward to the limit position, the main locking shaft (16) rotates to the limit angle, so that the upper locking head (17) locks the connection port of the container to be locked; at this time, the first self-locking groove (7) and the second self-locking groove (11) are completely overlapped, and the limit pin assembly (3) moves to the place where the vertical part and the horizontal part of the first self-locking groove (7) meet under its own gravity; Two electromagnets (21) arranged diagonally are energized. The energization of these two electromagnets (21) drives two sets of limit pin assemblies (3) to enter the end of the transverse part of the first self-locking groove (7) on the corresponding side. This causes the limit pin assembly (3), the first self-locking groove (7), and the second self-locking groove (11) to fix the floating seat (2) and the lock body in the current position and maintain the self-locking state. This de-energizes the two electromagnets (21). The method for unlocking the electromagnetic torsion lock of a mechanically self-locking container is as follows: The other two diagonally positioned electromagnets (21) are energized. The energized electromagnets (21) drive the two sets of limit pin assemblies (3) to move from the end of the horizontal part of the first self-locking groove (7) to the intersection of the vertical and horizontal parts of the first self-locking groove (7), and then the electromagnets (21) are de-energized. The container to be locked is lifted up, and the floating seat (2) moves upward under the action of the return spring (22). During the upward movement of the floating seat (2), it slides from the moving pin (19) along the rotating guide groove (20), causing the main locking shaft (16) to rotate in the opposite direction. When the pressure plate (8) moves upward to the initial position, the main locking shaft (16) rotates in the opposite direction to the initial position, so that the upper locking head (17) releases the limit of the connection port of the container to be locked.

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