Device for attaching lashing means for containers to a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for attaching lashing means for containers to a vehicle, comprising: at least one lashing plate; a double plate which is rotatably attached to the at least one lashing plate by means of a connecting pin and which comprises at least two lashing rings for receiving a lashing means in each case, wherein the at least two lashing rings form a two-armed lever with respect to the connecting pin; and a first means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting pin, wherein the device provides force equalisation between at least two forces acting on the at least two lashing rings. In order to ensure proper force equalisation during operation of the vehicle and to prevent possible faulty lashing, according to the invention a stop is provided as the first means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting pin in a first direction of rotation.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Device for attaching lashing devices for containers to a vehicle

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for attaching lashing means for containers to a vehicle, with at least one lashing plate, a double plate rotatably attached to the at least one lashing plate by means of a connecting bolt, which double plate has at least two lashing eyes for receiving a lashing means each, wherein the at least two lashing eyes form a two-armed lever with respect to the connecting bolt, and with a first means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate about the connecting bolt.

[0004] Such a device is known from EP 3 612 442 B l.

[0005] Container stacks are secured on board ships using lashing rods and turnbuckles. External lashing, described, for example, in DE 10 2013 103 951 A1, has proven particularly advantageous and effective.

[0006] Lashings arranged almost parallel offer one way of ensuring that limits are not exceeded for the forces to be dissipated. To do this, they are absorbed by two attachment points instead of one. In practice, the two almost parallel lashings are preferably attached to two containers stacked on top of each other and coupled together by container couplings. To do this, one lashing rod is arranged in the upper corner fitting of the lower container and the other lashing rod is arranged in the lower corner fitting of the upper container. A turnbuckle is arranged at each end of the lashing rods opposite the corner fittings of the containers. The other end of each of the two turnbuckles is connected to the corresponding receptacles of a double plate that acts as a rocker, known in the art as a fitting plate. This in turn is rotatably mounted on the lashing plate.Such a device can be found, for example, in EP 3612442 B1 cited above. The devices mentioned above are all capable of achieving good force balancing. As soon as the force introduced into the fitting plate via one of the two lashings is greater than the force introduced via the other of the two lashings, the fitting plate will twist in proportion to the force and leverage. Once a moment equilibrium has been established, the fitting plate will assume a rest position. While the function of this device is very advantageous during ship operation, lashing containers can be quite problematic. For the device to function optimally, the pretension of the two lashings arranged on a fitting plate must be in a defined ratio to one another.Since the stevedore has to tighten two largely independent tensioning screws in a defined manner, which are also attached to the rotatably mounted fitting plate, this is rarely achieved in practice. The invention is therefore based on the object of describing a device which ensures proper force compensation during operation and prevents possible faulty lashing. This object is achieved according to the invention by a device according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims. The device according to the invention for attaching lashing means to a vehicle consists of at least one lashing plate and a double plate. The double plate is arranged rotatably on the at least one lashing plate via a connecting bolt, thus having a rotational degree of freedom with respect to the at least one lashing plate.Furthermore, the double plate has at least two lashing eyes, which serve to introduce and absorb forces into the device according to the invention. Clamping screws can be attached to the at least two lashing eyes, for example by means of shackles. The at least two lashing eyes are preferably arranged equidistant from the connecting bolt of the double plate on the at least one lashing plate, although arrangements with different distances between the at least two lashing eyes and the connecting bolt are also conceivable.

[0007] If a force is introduced into the double plate via a tensioning screw or its shackle, it generates a torque with respect to the connecting bolt. As long as the forces introduced via the at least two lashing eyes create a moment equilibrium with respect to the connecting bolt of the double plate on the at least one lashing plate, the system remains at rest and does not change its position. However, if moment equilibrium no longer exists, the double plate rotates around the connecting bolt. This changes the introduced forces and, if necessary, the levers, until moment equilibrium is again established and the system assumes a rest position.Using such a device, as known, for example, from EP 3 612 442 B1, asymmetrically introduced forces are compensated by redirecting excess force on one of the lever arms to the other lever arm, thereby reducing the forces acting on the lashing plate. This reduces the risk of containers being damaged or lost on board ships, and also allows for smaller dimensions of the entire device.

[0008] However, properly lashing containers on board ships with such a device presents a challenge for stevedores. In a double plate arrangement with two lashing eyes, a turnbuckle with an attached lashing rod is attached to one lashing eye, which is arranged on the lower corner fitting of an upper of two stacked containers. The other lashing eye also has a turnbuckle with an attached lashing rod, which is arranged on the upper corner fitting of the lower of the two stacked containers. If a stevedore now tightens a turnbuckle to lash the container connected via the lashing rod, this will initially cause the double plate to twist around the connecting bolt. To compensate, they must also tighten the other turnbuckle. In practice, they will therefore frequently switch between the two turnbuckles, making this process very time-consuming.Otherwise, there is a risk that the stevedore, in order to save time, will first tighten one of the turnbuckles to the stop and then tighten the other turnbuckle. This poses a very high risk that at least one of the two containers will not be properly lashed. Furthermore, if the double plate is initially twisted, there is a risk that it will strike and not be able to fulfill its force-balancing function at all, or at least not fully.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to restrict the rotatable arrangement of the double plate on the at least one lashing plate for the process of stowing a container in order to minimize the risk of incorrect lashing by the stevedore.

[0010] According to the invention, this is achieved by a first means for restricting rotational movement of the double plate around the connecting bolt in a first direction of rotation, which means is designed as a stop provided on the at least one lashing plate. This stop has the task of preventing rotation of the double plate relative to the at least one lashing plate when tightening the clamping screws.

[0011] As described in the introduction and can be seen from the figures explained later, with lashings arranged in parallel, one lashing rod is guided from the lashing eye of the double plate, which is higher in the starting position, to the lower corner fitting of an upper one of two stacked containers, while a second lashing rod connects the upper corner fitting of the lower one of two stacked containers to the lower lashing eye of the double plate. This geometry, combined with the fact that in practice the force is always introduced into the device from the upper container and thus into the higher lashing eye of the double plate, means that the rotation of the double plate around the connecting bolt during vehicle operation, starting from the starting position, only occurs in one direction, which is referred to in the present application as the second direction of rotation.Only when lashing the container can the force applied to the lower lashing eye of the double plate exceed that of the higher lashing eye of the double plate, which would lead to an opposite rotation of the double plate around the connecting bolt, which is referred to in the present application as the first direction of rotation. The stop described above is an effective, reliable, and cost-effective means of preventing this rotation.

[0012] The rotational movement of the double plate around the connecting bolt in the second direction of rotation must not be permanently prevented. In order for the force compensation device to fulfill its function, a rotational movement of the double plate in the second direction of rotation must be enabled during vehicle operation within the range of the usual angles of rotation. For this purpose, according to a preferred embodiment, a second means is provided which ensures a quasi-rigid system during stowage, but does not prevent the force compensation device from functioning during vehicle operation. As a second means, a pretensioning element is therefore provided to limit a rotational movement of the double plate around the connecting bolt in the second direction of rotation.This has two functions: When the forces occur when tightening the turnbuckles, which are usually between 10 kN and 20 kN at most, the pre-tensioning element must exert a retaining force that prevents the double plate from twisting relative to at least one lashing plate. When larger forces occur, which usually only occur during ship operation and can amount to up to 250 kN, the pre-tensioning element must influence the force compensation by the device as little as possible. After overcoming the retaining force, the pre-tensioning element must therefore exert a significantly lower restoring force on the double plate, which simply serves to return the double plate to its original position. This further simplifies the stevedore's work and helps to avoid errors during lashing.

[0013] According to a further preferred embodiment, the prestressing element consists of at least one spring and a head element. The spring provides the required spring force or spring stiffness needed to achieve the tasks described above. For this purpose, the spring is supported on a defined contact surface on at least one lashing means. For example, a blind hole or a hole with a shoulder can be provided on the lashing means, in which the spring is arranged. To transfer 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, for example, be spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, tooth-shaped, arcuate, or wedge-shaped.

[0014] According to a further preferred embodiment, a complementary shape is provided on the double plate as a counterpart to the above-described head element of the pre-tensioning element. Such an arrangement defines a rest position for the double plate, which is subjected to the retaining force of the pre-tensioning element, in relation to the lashing plate. This arrangement significantly simplifies the stevedore's work, as he can carry out the lashing work on a quasi-rigid system. If, during operation of the vehicle, significantly greater forces occur than during lashing, for example in rough seas, this design enables a controlled rotation of the double plate around the connecting bolt on the lashing plate, largely unaffected by the pre-tensioning element. This only applies the restoring force to the double plate, whereby the double plate returns to its original position when the external forces decrease.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the prestressing element consists of at least one spring, which is in direct contact with the complementary shape of the double plate. In such an embodiment, the head element can be omitted. This also allows the use of one or more leaf springs as a prestressing element. Their orientation can be configured either with the plane of the spring pointing toward the connecting bolt or with the plane of the spring not extending through the connecting bolt.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment, the device has two pretensioning elements. The two tasks of the pretensioning element, which in embodiments with exactly one pretensioning element are fulfilled by the latter, are divided between these. The first pretensioning element, whose head element interacts with a complementary shape on the double plate, generates a retaining force and thus fixes the double plate in its initial position. For this purpose, the spring, head element, and complementary shape are designed such that no rotation of the double plate around the connecting bolt occurs until a claw, which usually occurs when lashing the container, occurs. If this force is exceeded during vehicle operation, the head element leaves the complementary shape of the double plate, which can be, for example, trough-like or ball-socket-like.At this point, the function of the additional preload element comes into play, which is subjected to a linear load, for example. As the deflection of the double plate from its initial position increases, the restoring force of the spring of the additional preload element can also increase. If the external force decreases due to changed conditions, the restoring force causes the double plate to rotate toward its initial position. If the external force is sufficiently low, the head element of the first preload element will slide back into the complementary shape of the double plate, fixing it in its initial position.

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment relates in particular to devices in which the head element of the prestressing element is cylindrical or similarly shaped. In this case, the at least one lashing plate can have a lateral recess through which the head element is guided along the axis of the spring of the prestressing element, thus preventing the prestressing element from breaking out or tilting. In addition, the head element can be secured against slipping sideways out of the recess by means of a fastening means. This can be achieved, for example, by a split pin that is guided through the head element outside the at least one lashing plate. Such an arrangement is preferably provided on both sides of the head element.

[0018] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to some exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing. In the drawing:

[0019] Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention,

[0020] Fig. 3 various embodiments of a prestressing element;

[0021] Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the invention,

[0022] Fig. 5 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0023] Fig. 6 is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the invention; and

[0024] Fig. 7 is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the invention.

[0025] Fig. 1 shows a device 10 for attaching lashing means for containers to 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 a connection not shown in detail, for example a welded connection. The device 10 further comprises a double plate 14. The double plate 14 is connected to the lashing plates 12 via a connecting bolt 18, wherein the double plate 14 is rotatably mounted relative to the lashing plates 12 via the connecting bolt 18. The double plate 14 also comprises two lashing eyes 16. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the lashing eyes 16 are arranged equidistant from the connecting bolt 18. The lashing eyes 16 are used to attach fixing means, preferably shackles.For example, turnbuckles are attached to these, by means of which lashing rods are tightened for lashing containers on board a ship. Due to their design, the lashing rods attached to the lashing eyes 16 are subjected exclusively to tensile loads. The upper lashing eye 16 of the double plate 14 is always tied to the lower corner fitting of an upper one of two stacked containers, while the upper corner fitting of a lower one of two stacked containers is connected to the lower lashing eye 16. The two stacked containers are directly connected to one another via coupling pieces, also called twistlocks, arranged in the corner fittings. These prevent the upper container from lifting off the lower container, for example in rough seas.

[0026] Due to this arrangement, a tensile force is always initially introduced via the upper lashing eye 16 before a force triggered 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 or exactly as great as the force introduced via the lower lashing eye 16. This has the consequence that a deflection of the double plate 14 from the initial position shown in Fig. 1 only occurs counterclockwise, never clockwise. According to the invention, a stop 22 is therefore provided on the lashing plate 12, which prevents a rotation of the double plate 14 around the connecting bolt 18 in the clockwise direction, which is referred to as the first direction of rotation in the context of the present application.This arrangement assists the stevedore when lashing the container in the event that he lashes the lower container first, resulting in the situation, which is impossible during ship operation, of a greater force being introduced into the double plate 14 via the lower lashing eye 16 than via the upper lashing eye 16. It should be noted that the above information on the direction of rotation always refers to the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 (and subsequently in Figs. 2 and 4 to 7). If the device 10 is arranged in a mirror image, for example on the opposite side of a container, the directions of rotation are correspondingly opposite.

[0027] In a second direction of rotation, which is oriented counterclockwise as described above, rotation of the double plate 14 about the connecting bolt 18 relative to the lashing plate 12 should not be prevented, since otherwise the device 10 would no longer be able to fulfill its force balancing function. Specifically, a rotational movement of the double plate 14 in the second direction of rotation should be enabled within a range of the forces typically occurring during operation of a vehicle and the resulting angle of rotation, and should only be limited in the opposite direction, i.e., the first direction of rotation. Very specifically, the rotational movement in the first direction of rotation, starting from the rest position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 to 7, in which the double plate 14 strikes the stop, is limited to 0° in the first direction and enabled by at least 15° in the opposite second direction.The specific angular range is not so crucial. As mentioned, it only matters that the rotational movement in the second direction is not hindered during operation, i.e., during the sea voyage, to the extent that it occurs during the sea voyage.

[0028] For this purpose, the device 10 comprises a prestressing element 20 according to a second embodiment shown in Fig. 2. In this embodiment, the prestressing element 20 consists of a spring 24 and a head element 26. For this purpose, a blind hole is provided in one, preferably in both, of the lashing plates 12. The spring 24 of the prestressing element 20 is arranged in this hole. At the end of the prestressing element 20 facing the double plate 14, the head element 26 is arranged such that it is in contact with the double plate 14.

[0029] One of the tasks of the prestressing element 20 is to ensure that the double plate 14 remains in the illustrated starting position up to a certain force, which is introduced into the device 10 via the lashing eyes 16. For this purpose, a shape complementary to the head element 26 is provided on the part of the double plate 14 that is in contact with the prestressing element 20. In the case of a spherical, cylindrical, or arcuate head element 26, this can be, for example, a depression or a shape similar to a ball socket.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows several possible embodiments of the preload element 20. This consists of a spring 24 and a head element 26. Depending on the individual circumstances, the head element 26 can be spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, toothed, curved, or wedge-shaped. It is also conceivable for the head element 26 to have a receptacle for better connection of the spring 24, as shown, for example, in the second example from the right.

[0031] Fig. 4 shows an embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, in which the prestressing element 20 has a cylindrical head element 26. In addition, the lashing plates 12 have a slot-shaped recess whose width is slightly larger than the diameter of the head element 26. This arrangement ensures that the head element 26 is guided in the recess during operation. Thus, loading of the spring 24 off its axis can be prevented, thereby minimizing the risk of canting and / or blocking of the spring 24. Outside the lashing plate 12, the head element 26 is secured against axial displacement by a fastening means 28, in this case a cotter pin.

[0032] 5 to 7 show further embodiments of the device 10. Components which are structurally and functionally identical to the embodiments described above will not be discussed further. The prestressing element 20 in the embodiments of Figs. 5 and 6 is in each case a leaf spring which is subjected to bending load. In the device 10 according to Fig. 5, the leaf spring is arranged similarly to the prestressing elements 20 of Figs. 2 and 4, namely essentially in the direction of the connecting bolt. In the device 10 according to Fig. 6, however, a bore in the lashing plate 12 can be dispensed with. The leaf spring there is arranged parallel to the imaginary connecting line between the two lashing eyes 16.

[0033] A separation of the functions of the prestressing element 20 is realized in the embodiment shown in Fig. 7. The function of fixing the double plate 14 in its starting position up to a certain force is fulfilled by the upper of the two prestressing elements 20 shown. For this purpose, analogous to the embodiment in Fig. 1, a shape of the double plate 14 complementary to the shape of the head element 26 is provided. In this case, a disc spring assembly is provided as the spring 24 instead of a spiral spring. The second function of the prestressing element 20, namely returning the double plate 14 to its starting position, is fulfilled in the embodiment according to Fig. 7 by an additional prestressing element 30. This is arranged approximately horizontally, whereby the lever arm acting around the connecting bolt 18 is maximized.The force introduction into the additional preload element 30, which occurs via a corresponding complementary shape on the double plate 14, is thus optimized. The above separation of tasks allows for the use of components specifically designed for the respective task.

[0034] 5 pre-tensioning elements 20, 30 are used, which on the one hand allows economical use and on the other hand promises high reliability and longevity of the device 10.

[0035] List of references

[0036] 10 Device

[0037] 12 Lashing plate

[0038] 14 double plate

[0039] 16 Lashing Eye

[0040] 18 connecting bolts

[0041] 20 voltage element

[0042] 22 stop

[0043] 24 springs

[0044] 26 head element

[0045] 28 fasteners

[0046] 30 Additional leader element

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 19 April 2024 (19.04.2024) 1. Device (10) for attaching lashing means for containers to a vehicle, in particular a ship, comprising: at least one lashing plate (12), a double plate (14) rotatably attached to the at least one lashing plate (12) by means of a connecting bolt (18), which double plate has at least two lashing eyes (16) for receiving a lashing means each, wherein the at least two lashing eyes (16) form a two-armed lever with respect to the connecting bolt (18), and a first means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate (14) about the connecting bolt (18), characterized in that the first means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate (14) about the connecting bolt (18) in a first direction of rotation is a stop (22), while a rotational movement of the double plate (14) in an opposite direction of rotation is enabled in a rotational angle range resulting from forces occurring during operation of the vehicle.

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, characterized by a second means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate (14) about the connecting bolt (18) in the direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation, wherein the second means for restricting a rotational movement of the double plate (14) in the second direction of rotation is a prestressing element (20) which prevents a rotational movement of the double plate (14) under the forces occurring when tightening the lashing means, but allows it under the forces occurring during operation of the vehicle.

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the prestressing element consists of at least one spring (24) and one head element (26), where- AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) wherein the head element (26) is spherical, hemispherical, cylindrical, tooth-shaped, arc-shaped or wedge-shaped.

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

5. Device (10) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by a fastening means (28) which is arranged and designed to secure the head element (26) of the prestressing element (20) against lateral displacement.

6. Device (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by an additional prestressing element (30).

7. Arrangement with: two containers stacked on top of each other, a first lashing means which is connected to a lower corner fitting of the upper container, and a second lashing means which is connected to an upper corner fitting of the lower container, characterized by the device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein when a tensile force on the first lashing means which is greater than on the second lashing means, a rotational movement of the double plate (14) about the connecting bolt (18) is made possible in a rotational angle range resulting from forces occurring during operation of the vehicle, while the stop (22) limits rotation in the opposite direction.

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