Structure for use in fastening a transport container to a support

Abstract

A pin structure for use in fastening a shipping container to a support is provided. The pin structure has a base and a protrusion extending from the base. The pin structure is insertable into an interior cavity of an ISO 1161:2016-compliant shipping container corner casting and is then operable to extend the protrusion outwardly of the corner casting through a hole through a wall of the corner casting, while the base remains within the interior cavity. Also disclosed is a locking device for locking a first shipping container and a second shipping container together.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to structures such as pin structures for use in lashing shipping containers to a support, a shipping container lashing system, a method of configuring a shipping container for lashing, a method of lashing a shipping container to a support, a locking device for locking shipping containers together, a vessel such as a ship, and a method of locking shipping containers together. [Background technology]

[0002] It is known to stack shipping containers on ships in about 11 tiers. To increase the stability of the container stack, it is also known to lash corner castings of containers stacked on deck to the ship's lashing bridges using lashing rods and turnbuckles. The lashing bridges tend to only extend to a height suitable for lashing containers up to the fifth or sixth tier on deck. Containers above the sixth tier in the stack are held in place relative to the lower containers in the stack only by locking devices, also known as twist locks. These locking devices connect the top corner casting (also known as corner fittings) of one container in the stack to the bottom corner casting of the container immediately above it in the stack. Many such corner castings comply with ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 1161:2016 and thus have standardized dimensions, facilitating intermodal transport of containers and the selection of appropriate locking devices.

[0003] However, because each stack of containers is spaced apart from the adjacent stack, the top of the stack is prone to some swaying during ship movements and / or exposure to high winds. This places great strain on the locking devices and other supporting elements such as lashing rods and turnbuckles, increasing the risk of failure of the locking devices, which may result in the stack tipping over and the top container falling overboard.

[0004] Making the lashing bridges taller so that higher tier containers can be secured to them makes the lashing bridges more costly and more flexible, making them less effective at preventing container movement. The increased flexibility of the lashing bridges can be countered by providing them with significant reinforcement or strengthening, but this takes up valuable space on the ship that is better used to store additional shipping containers and other transport materials.

[0005] Containers are also stacked onshore at terminals and such onshore container stacks may also be subject to high winds as above, meaning that the above problems also exist at such terminals. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The embodiments of the invention described herein are directed to facilitating the stabilization of container stacks, particularly stacks of six or more tiers, against a support, whether that support be a vessel or a land-based support, without the cost and space required to provide lashing bridges or similar land-based structures of sufficient height, and indeed in some embodiments, lashing bridges may be omitted entirely.

[0007] According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a pin structure for use in fastening a shipping container to a support, the pin structure having a base and a protrusion extending from the base, the pin structure being insertable into an interior cavity of a shipping container corner casting conforming to ISO 1161:2016 and thereafter operable such that the protrusion extends outside the corner casting through a hole through a wall of the corner casting while the base remains within the interior cavity.

[0008] Such pin structures may thus be inserted and manipulated in this manner by an operator, such as by using a specially designed tool, after which lashing cables are attached to the portion of the corner casting that is exposed on the outside, and the container is hoisted to the top of the stack. With such a process, the time to secure the container on board is much shorter than if lashing rods were used instead, meaning that the vessel spends less time in port. The ability of the pin structure to be inserted into ISO 1161:2016 compliant corner castings facilitates the pin structure being compatible with many different standardized corner castings over its product life. Furthermore, the pin structure can be retrofitted to existing ISO 1161:2016 compliant containers.

[0009] Optionally, the pin structure can be fully inserted into the internal cavity of the corner casting, or the pin structure can be only partially inserted into the internal cavity.

[0010] Optionally, the pin structure is positioned so that when operated, it does not interfere with a locking device, such as a twist lock, that may also be coupled to the corner casting.

[0011] Optionally, the pin structure can be so manipulated without changing the dimensions of the pin structure, thus allowing the manipulation to be performed quickly and for the pin structure to be made as one unitary component.

[0012] Optionally, the base is less than 117 mm in length, less than 63.5 mm in width, and less than 30 mm in thickness, and the protrusion extends from the base in a thickness direction of the base, and the protrusion is less than 80 mm in length, less than 63.5 mm in width, and less than 79.5 mm in depth, measured from the base, e.g., less than 63.5 mm. However, any other suitable dimensions may be selected that make the pin structure robust and usable with corner castings. The selected dimensions should ensure that the pin structure can be used with corner castings in accordance with ISO1161:2016, facilitating use with a number of different corner castings over the life of the product, and preferably also mean that the connector of the locking device can be accommodated in the internal cavity while the pin structure is in place.

[0013] Optionally, the protrusion has a width of less than 51 mm and a depth of less than 79.5 mm. This may facilitate the use of the pin structure in so-called lower corner castings according to ISO1161:2016. Optionally, the protrusion has a width of less than 63.5 mm and a depth of less than 73 mm. This may facilitate the use of the pin structure in so-called upper corner castings according to ISO1161:2016. Optionally, the protrusion has a width of less than 51 mm and a depth of less than 73 mm. This may facilitate the use of the pin structure interchangeably in upper corner castings or lower corner castings according to ISO1161:2016. Optionally, the protrusion has a width of at least 25 mm, such as at least 30 mm, or at least 40 mm. Optionally, the protrusion has a depth of at least 25 mm, such as at least 30 mm, or at least 40 mm. Such a width and depth provides the protrusion with sufficient strength.

[0014] Optionally, the pin structure has a retainer, which helps retain the lashing cable on the lug in use. Optionally, to facilitate attachment of the lashing cable to the lug, the retainer is removable from the lug and connectable to the lug when the lashing cable is attached to the lug. Connecting the retainer to the lug can be by a separate fastener, via the use of mating threads on the lug and retainer, by magnetic attraction, or by any other suitable mechanism such as a retaining pin, or via elements that mate together to provide a "click-in-place" lock.

[0015] Optionally, the pin structure is a unitary structure, which may facilitate manufacturing of the pin structure and may allow the pin structure to be more robust and less prone to deformation. Optionally, the pin structure is made of steel, which may allow for increased durability of the pin structure.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a shipping container lashing system for fastening a shipping container to a support, the shipping container lashing system comprising a pin structure according to the first aspect and a lashing cable, the lashing cable connecting the support and a protrusion of the pin structure when the protrusion extends outside the corner casting through a hole through the wall of the corner casting while the base remains within the internal cavity.

[0017] Optionally, the lashing cable is at least 12 meters or at least 15 meters in length. This facilitates the use of the lashing cable to stabilize the fourth container from the base of the stack. Further optionally, the lashing cable is at least 20 meters in length, such as at least 30 meters, or at least 40 meters in length. A 20 meter lashing cable may be connectable to the top container of a stack of 7 containers, and a 30 meter lashing cable may be connectable to the top container of a stack of 11 containers. The longer the lashing cable, the higher the stack of containers may be and the easier the stabilization may be using the lashing cable. It is further noted that a pin structure may be used at the bottom corner casting or top corner casting of the container to which the lashing cable is connected.

[0018] The lashing cable may be of any suitable shape and made of any suitable material, an example being a wire, such as a steel wire, or alternatively a rope, such as a steel rope or a polyethylene-based rope, such as a rope made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) or high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) fibres, such as Dyneema®.

[0019] The shipping container lashing system may include a tensioner that tensions the lashing cable when it is connected between the support and the projection. For example, a turnbuckle connected to the lashing cable may be used, or the lashing cable may be pulled from a winch that has a locking device that locks the winch, thereby controlling the amount and tension of the lashing cable that is unwound from the winch.

[0020] According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a combination of a pin structure according to the first aspect, or a shipping container lashing system according to the second aspect, with a shipping container corner casting in accordance with ISO 1161:2016. The corner casting may be an upper corner casting or a lower corner casting.

[0021] According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a combination of a pin structure according to the first aspect, or a shipping container lashing system according to the second aspect, with a shipping container comprising a shipping container corner casting in accordance with ISO 1161:2016. The corner casting may be an upper corner casting or a lower corner casting.

[0022] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of configuring a shipping container for lashing down comprising providing a pin structure according to the first aspect, inserting the pin structure into an internal cavity of a corner casting of the shipping container, and then manipulating the pin structure such that a protruding portion of the pin structure extends outside the corner casting through a hole through a wall of the corner casting while the base remains within the internal cavity.

[0023] Thus, as discussed above, the pin structure may be inserted and manipulated in this manner by an operator, after which lashing cables are attached to the portions of the protrusions exposed on the outside of the corner casting, and the container is hoisted to the top of the stack.

[0024] Optionally, the corner casting complies with ISO 1161:2016. This better ensures compatibility of the pin structure with the corner casting. The corner casting can be an upper corner casting or a lower corner casting.

[0025] Optionally, the inserting includes fully inserting the pin structure into the internal cavity of the corner casting.

[0026] Optionally, the manipulating does not involve changing dimensions of the pin structure.

[0027] Optionally, the manipulating includes a human operator using a tool to manipulate the pin structure within the internal cavity.

[0028] According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of lashing a transport container to a support, the method comprising connecting a first end of a lashing cable to a corner casting of the transport container and then placing the transport container on top of a stack of other transport containers.

[0029] Thus, the first ends of the lashing cables are attached to the corner castings without the need for an operator to access the container when it is placed on top of the stack, which increases safety and reduces the time incurred in stacking the containers and therefore also the costs. The lashing can be a so-called external lashing or a so-called internal lashing.

[0030] Optionally, the stack of other shipping containers includes more than 6 shipping containers, such as more than 11 shipping containers. The taller the stack, the more time and cost are saved.

[0031] Optionally, connecting the first end of the lashing cable to the corner casting includes connecting the first end of the lashing cable to a pin structure inserted into the corner casting.

[0032] Optionally, the corner casting complies with ISO 1161:2016. The corner casting can be an upper corner casting or a lower corner casting. Optionally, the pin structure is the pin structure of the first embodiment, and the method includes inserting the pin structure into an internal cavity of the corner casting, and then manipulating the pin structure such that a protrusion of the pin structure extends outside the corner casting through a hole through a wall of the corner casting, with the base remaining within the internal cavity, prior to connecting the first end of the lashing cable to the protrusion of the pin structure.

[0033] Thus, because the corner castings are ISO 1161:2016 compliant and the pin structures are suitable for use with such compliant corner castings, operators can be confident that the pin structures will be compatible with the corner castings. When many such containers are stacked and many such pin structures are available, this compatibility significantly speeds up the lashing process and therefore the stacking of the containers.

[0034] Optionally, the method includes attaching a retainer to the protrusion to assist in retaining the lashing cable on the protrusion when the first end of the lashing cable is attached to the protrusion of the pin structure.

[0035] Optionally, the method includes connecting a second end of the lashing cable to a support. Optionally, the support is a land-based support. Alternatively, the support may be part of the vessel, such as a lashing bridge or deck of the vessel. Connecting the end of the lashing cable between the corner casting and the support allows for stabilization of the container against the support. Connecting the other end of the lashing cable to the vessel deck may allow for the omission of any lashing bridge on the vessel.

[0036] The method may include tensioning the lashing cable once it is connected between the support and the corner casting, which may be done by using a turnbuckle connected to the lashing cable or, if the lashing cable is stored pulled out from the winch, by returning a portion of the lashing cable to the winch and then locking the winch.

[0037] According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a locking device (also referred to as a twist lock) for locking together a first and a second shipping container in a stack, the locking device comprising: a first coupler and a second coupler that mate with respective corner castings of the first and second shipping containers when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container; and a structure, the first and second couplers extending from the structure and the structure being dimensioned such that an abutment portion is located on a side of the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container and the first and second couplers mate with the respective corner castings, such that the abutment portion is capable of contacting one or more further shipping containers adjacent to the side of the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container in use.

[0038] Thus, by providing an abutment, the distance between the stack and one or more further transport containers is reduced or eliminated, thereby reducing the extent to which the stack will rock when subjected to external forces such as high winds or the rolling of the vessel in which the stack may be located. This may have the advantage that a single block made up of multiple container stacks can be created, which may make container lashing more efficient by eliminating the need to lash down every single container in the block. Furthermore, this may change the natural resonant frequency of the stack, preventing stack resonance, which causes the stack to rock violently or exaggeratedly when subjected to high frequency vibrations in the vessel.

[0039] Optionally, the locking device is for locking the first and second shipping containers together by their respective corner castings according to ISO1161:2016. This facilitates the use of the locking device with a number of different corner castings over its product life. Further optionally, the structure is dimensioned such that a distal end of the abutment portion away from the first and / or second shipping container is spaced from the first and / or second shipping container by 30mm to 38mm (e.g. 38mm). Typically, a standardized gap between container stacks is 38mm, in which case the abutment portion may contact one or more further shipping containers, improving the stability of the stack. The gap between the stacks may be larger if the gap is above a hatch cover on a ship, but still the distance between the stack and one or more further shipping containers may be shortened by the abutment portion. Further optionally, the structure is dimensioned such that the distal ends of the abutting portions are instead spaced a maximum of 19 mm (e.g. 19 mm) from the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container, and when the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container are coupled with equivalent locking devices in appropriate locations, and the gap between the stack is the standardized 38 mm, the abutting portions of the two locking devices can abut against each other to improve the stability of the stack.

[0040] Optionally, the abutment portions have chamfered or rounded edges, such as top and bottom edges, which may facilitate easier stacking and unloading of adjacent containers by reducing the likelihood that the adjacent container will get caught or jammed on the abutment portions when lowering or raising the adjacent container.

[0041] Optionally, the structure comprises a body, and the abutment portion comprises a first abutment portion extending from a first side of the body and a second abutment portion extending from a second side of the body opposite the first side of the body, such that when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container and the first coupler and the second coupler are engaged with their respective corner castings, the first abutment portion is disposed on a side of the first shipping container and the second abutment portion is disposed on a side of the second shipping container.

[0042] Thus, in use, the first abutment can contact a further shipping container adjacent to a side of the first shipping container, and the second abutment can contact another shipping container adjacent to a side of the second shipping container, which may further increase the stability of the stack.

[0043] Optionally, the first abutment portion and the second abutment portion have chamfered or rounded edges, such as upper and lower edges.

[0044] Optionally, the locking device is made of steel, which may increase the durability of the locking device.

[0045] Optionally, the structure is of unitary construction. This may facilitate the manufacture of the locking device and may enable the locking device to be more robust and less prone to deformation. Optionally, the locking device is of unitary construction. For example, the locking device may be an automatic locking device. This may further facilitate the manufacture of the locking device and may enable the locking device to be even more robust and less prone to deformation. Alternatively, the structure may comprise an arm and a rotatable element rotatably mounted at a distal end of the arm, the rotatable element forming an abutment part of the structure. Optionally, the rotatable element is a wheel or roller. Optionally, the rotatable element is rotatable about a horizontal axis in use. Such a rotatable element may facilitate the stacking and unloading of adjacent containers, as adjacent containers are less likely to get stuck or jammed in the abutment part when lowering or raising them, as previously described. The rotatable element may also reduce collisions between adjacent container stacks when the container stacks are slightly rocking.

[0046] Optionally, in embodiments where the resulting dimensions allow for proper insertion and operation of the pin structure and locking device, the locking device may be combined with the pin structure of the first embodiment as a unitary structure.

[0047] According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a combination of a shipping container and a locking device (also referred to as a twist lock), the shipping container having a corner casting, a length, and a width less than the length, the locking device having a structure and a coupler extending from the structure, the coupler for mating with the corner casting, and the structure is dimensioned to protrude from the shipping container in a direction parallel to the width of the shipping container when the coupler is mated with the corner casting.

[0048] The protruding structures thus reduce or eliminate the distance between the shipping container and one or more laterally adjacent structures, thereby reducing the extent to which the shipping containers will sway when stacked and subjected to external forces such as high winds or the rolling of the vessel on which they may be located.

[0049] Optionally, when the coupler is mated with the corner casting, the structure is dimensioned to place an abutment portion on the side of the shipping container, which allows the abutment portion to contact a further shipping container adjacent to the side of the shipping container in use. The abutment portion thus reduces or eliminates the distance between the combination and the laterally adjacent shipping container. This reduces the extent to which the shipping containers sway when stacked and subjected to external forces such as high winds or the rolling of a ship on which the shipping containers may be located.

[0050] Optionally, corner castings comply with ISO1161:2016.

[0051] Optionally, the abutment portion is dimensioned such that when the coupler is mated with the corner casting, a distal end of the abutment portion away from the shipping container is spaced 30mm to 38mm (e.g., 38mm) from the shipping container. Alternatively, the abutment portion may be dimensioned such that when the coupler is mated with the corner casting, a distal end of the abutment portion is spaced a maximum of 19mm (e.g., 19mm) from the shipping container, thereby providing the advantages discussed above.

[0052] According to a ninth aspect of the present invention there is provided a marine vessel comprising a pin structure according to the first aspect, a shipping container lashing system according to the second aspect, a combination according to the third aspect, a combination according to the fourth aspect, a locking device according to the seventh aspect or a combination according to the eighth aspect.

[0053] Optionally, the ship is a vessel.

[0054] According to a tenth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of locking a first and a second shipping container together comprising providing a locking device according to the seventh aspect and engaging a first coupler and a second coupler with respective corner castings of the first and second shipping container when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container, such that an abutment portion of the structure is positioned on a side of the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container such that the abutment portion is capable of contacting one or more further shipping containers adjacent to the side of the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container.

[0055] Optionally, the method includes fastening the first and second transport containers to a support to ensure stability once the first and second transport containers are thus locked together, for example by the method of the sixth aspect of the invention.

[0056] When a pair of adjacent stacks are locked together by the method of the tenth aspect of the invention, and the abutment part of the locking device used between the containers of one stack abuts against the transport container of the adjacent stack, the extent of sway of the stacks when subjected to external forces is reduced. Furthermore, when a pair of adjacent stacks are fastened to a support, for example by the method of the sixth aspect of the invention, the pair of adjacent stacks form a more stable block of containers. The more stacks of containers that form such a block, the more stable the stack.

[0057] Optionally, the corner casting complies with ISO1161:2016 and the structure of the locking device is dimensioned such that, upon engagement, a distal end of the abutment portion away from the first and / or second shipping container is spaced 30mm to 38mm (e.g., 38mm) from the first and / or second shipping container. Further optionally, the structure is dimensioned such that, upon engagement, a distal end of the abutment portion is spaced a maximum of 19mm (e.g., 19mm) from the first and / or second shipping container, thereby providing the aforementioned advantages.

[0058] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0059] [Figure 1] 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a ship, more specifically a container ship. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a shipping container, more specifically an intermodal container. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of a corner casting at a lower corner of the shipping container of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a pin structure. [Diagram 5] 5 shows a schematic perspective view of the pin structure of FIG. 4 partially inserted into the internal cavity of the corner casting of FIG. 3. [Figure 6] 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the component of FIG. 5 after the pin structure has been inserted into the internal cavity and then manipulated such that a protruding portion of the pin structure extends outside the corner casting through a hole through the wall of the corner casting, with the base of the pin structure remaining within the internal cavity. [Figure 7] 7 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the components of FIG. 6 after a locking device has been connected to the corner casting. [Figure 8]8 shows a schematic perspective view of the components of FIG. 7 after a first end of the lashing cable has been connected to the pin structure and a retainer has subsequently been attached to the protrusion to assist in retaining the lashing cable on the protrusion. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 shows a schematic end view of a block of six shipping container stacks loaded onto the ship of FIG. [Figure 10] Figure 10a shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a locking device, and Figure 10b shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a locking device. [Figure 11] FIG. 10B is a schematic perspective view of the locking device of FIGS. 10a and 10b coupled to respective corner castings of a first and a second shipping container in a stack, with abutment portions of the locking device contacting two further shipping containers laterally adjacent to each of the first and second shipping containers; [Figure 12] 13 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of a locking device. [Figure 13] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method for configuring a shipping container for lashing. [Figure 14] 1 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary method for fastening a shipping container to a support. [Figure 15] 1 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method for locking a first shipping container and a second shipping container together. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0060] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary vessel 1, here a container ship 1 carrying shipping containers 10 in approximately 11 stacks on deck. Although not visible in FIG. 1, the ship carries additional containers below deck. Not all stacks of containers on deck are visible in the figure as some of the lower containers in each stack are obscured by the ship's sides. It can be seen that there are 24 rows of container stacks along the length of the ship. Although not visible in FIG. 1, there are 23 container stacks along the width of the ship. The number of stacks along the width of the ship varies as the width of the ship varies along the length of the ship. Of course, in other embodiments, the number of containers in a stack, the number of rows of stacks, and the number of stacks along the width of the ship may be other than these numbers. For example, in some instances there may be up to 24 container stacks along the width of the ship, while in other instances (such as small feeder ships) there may only be up to 4 or 5 stacks along the width of the ship.

[0061] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of one of the shipping containers 10. In this embodiment, the shipping container 10 is an intermodal container and is therefore standardized and constructed for intermodal freight transport. For example, the shipping container 10 may be transported by ship, rail, or road vehicle. To enable this intermodal use, each of the eight corners of the shipping container 10 is provided with a corner casting (also known as a corner fitting) 100 for receiving a locking device (also referred to as a twist lock) (described below) that is used to secure the container 10 during transport or possibly storage. In FIG. 2, only six of the corner castings are visible, namely, three of the four upper corner castings 100a at the top corners of the container 10 and three of the lower corner castings 100b at the bottom corners of the container 10. The corner castings 100 are standardized, which ensures compatibility with standardized locking devices and other devices that may cooperate with the corner castings 100 in use. More specifically, all corner castings 100 of the container 10 shown in Figure 2 comply with ISO 1161:2016. As those skilled in the art are very familiar with shipping containers, for the sake of brevity, other details and possible applications of the shipping container 1 will not be further described.

[0062] Figure 3 shows one of the lower corner castings 100b in an upward orientation compared to Figure 2, so that the bottom surface 101 of the corner casting 100b, which would normally face downward in use, is shown at the top. The corner casting 100b also has an end surface 102 which is located at a longitudinal end of the container 10 in use, and a side surface 103 which is located at a side of the container 10 in use. The corner casting 100b is generally rectangular, but has a chamfer or radius on the edge which is most exposed when the corner casting 100b is placed in the remainder of the container 10. The corner casting 100b has an internal cavity 104 for receiving a connector (which is sometimes cone shaped) of a locking device (such as a twist lock) in use.

[0063] To allow insertion of the coupler into the internal cavity 104, the corner casting 100b defines an elongated slot 105 that passes through the bottom wall of the corner casting 100b from the bottom surface 101 to the internal cavity 104. The dimensions of the elongated slot 105 are defined in ISO 1161:2016, and briefly, the slot 105 has a major axis of approximately 124 mm and two flat sides spaced approximately 63.5 mm apart. The curved longitudinal ends of the slot 105 are approximately 124 mm in diameter.

[0064] Corner casting 100b also defines a hole 106 that passes through an end wall of corner casting 100b from end face 102 to interior cavity 104, and an opening 107 that passes through a side wall of corner casting 100b from side face 103 to interior cavity 104. Again, the dimensions of hole 106 and opening 107 are defined by ISO 1161:2016, but briefly each have a major axis of about 79.5 mm and a spacing between the two flat sides of about 51 mm. The curved longitudinal ends of hole 106 and opening 107 are about 51 mm in diameter.

[0065] The upper corner castings 100a are similar to the lower corner castings 100b, and in fact are nearly mirror images of the lower corner castings 100b. Thus, again, each of the upper corner castings 100a has an elongated slot (not shown) in its upper surface (not shown) of the same dimensions as the elongated slot 105 in the lower corner casting for receiving a connector of a locking device (such as a twist lock) into the interior cavity of the upper corner castings 100a. Each upper corner casting 100a also has an end surface that is disposed at a longitudinal end of the container 10 in use, and a side surface that is disposed at a side of the container 10 in use. Each upper corner casting 100a also defines a hole through the end wall from the end surface to the interior cavity, and an opening through the side wall from the side surface to the interior cavity. The opening is the same size as opening 107 in lower corner casting 100b discussed above, but the hole dimensions are different than the dimensions of hole 106 in lower corner casting 100b discussed above. Specifically, the hole in upper corner casting 100a is rather shield-shaped (shown only marginally in FIG. 2) with a long axis of about 73 mm, two flat sides spaced about 63.5 mm apart, and a curved longitudinal end with a diameter of about 63.5 mm and an opposing curved longitudinal end with a radius of about 51 mm.

[0066] Those skilled in the art can readily obtain and understand further details of the upper corner casting 100a and the lower corner casting 100b, such as their overall outer width, depth, and length, as well as the dimensions of their internal cavities 104, by referring to ISO1161:2016.

[0067] FIG. 4 shows a pin structure 200 according to an embodiment. The pin structure 200 is used in fastening the shipping container 10 to a support, as described below. The pin structure 200 has a base 210 and a protrusion 220 extending from the base 210. In general terms, the pin structure can be inserted into the internal cavity 104 of the lower corner casting 100b shown in FIG. 3, and then manipulated so that the protrusion 220 extends outside the lower corner casting 100b through a hole 106 that penetrates the wall of the lower corner casting 100b while the base 210 remains in the internal cavity 104. The base 210 may or may not protrude partially from the internal cavity 104 at one time during manipulation, but when the protrusion 220 extends outside the lower corner casting 100b through the hole 106, the base 210 is completely within the internal cavity 104. In some embodiments, the pin structure can be inserted into an internal cavity of the upper corner casting 100a shown in FIG.

[0068] In this embodiment, the pin structure 200 is a unitary steel structure, making it robust and durable, such that the pin structure 200 can be operated as described above without dimensional change or deformation.

[0069] It is important that the pin structure 200 is dimensioned so that it can be inserted into and operated within the internal cavity 104. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the pin structure 200 is insertable into the internal cavity 104 via an elongated slot 105 in the lower corner casting 100b having the dimensions described above. Thus, in this embodiment, the base 210 of the pin structure 200 is rectangular with a length BL of about 110 mm, a width BW of about 60 mm, and a thickness BT of about 15 mm. The edges of the base 210 may be chamfered or rounded, although in other embodiments this need not be the case. The protrusion 220 extends from the base 210 through the thickness of the base 210 (i.e., perpendicular to the base 210) and has a length PL of 40 mm, a width PW of 50 mm, and a depth PD of 75 mm measured from the base.

[0070] In some embodiments, the dimensions of base 210 are outside of these values. For example, the length can be any value less than 117 mm, such as between 80 mm and 115 mm, the width can be any value less than 63.5 mm, such as between 45 mm and 63 mm, and the thickness can be any value less than 40 mm, such as between 5 mm and 40 mm. Base 210 must be thick enough to maintain the structural stability of pin structure 200 during use.

[0071] Similarly, in some embodiments, the dimensions of the protrusion 220 are other than these values. For example, the length can be any value less than 100 mm, such as between 40 mm and 80 mm, the width can be any value less than 63.5 mm, such as between 45 mm and 63 mm, and the depth can be any value less than 79.5 mm, such as between 60 mm and 79 mm. Having the protrusion 220 have a width less than 51 mm and a depth less than 79.5 mm facilitates the use of the pin structure 200 for a lower corner casting in accordance with ISO 1161:2016. Having the protrusion 220 have a width less than 63.5 mm and a depth less than 73 mm facilitates the use of the pin structure 200 for an upper corner casting in accordance with ISO 1161:2016. Having the protrusion 220 have a width less than 51 mm and a depth less than 73 mm facilitates the use of the pin structure 200 interchangeably for such an upper corner casting and such a lower corner casting. As will be described below, the projections 220 should have a sufficient width and depth to withstand the forces exerted by the lashing cables in use. In some embodiments, the projection width and projection depth should each be at least 25 mm, such as at least 30 mm or at least 40 mm. However, in other embodiments, any other suitable dimensions may be selected that render the pin structure 200 robust and usable with corner castings.

[0072] Once the pin structure 200 is at least partially (and in some embodiments completely) positioned within the interior cavity 104 of the lower corner casting 100b as shown in Fig. 5, the pin structure 200 can be manipulated, such as by a human worker or operator, purely by hand or by use of a specially designed tool, such that the projection 220 extends outside the lower corner casting 100b through the hole 106 while the base 210 remains within the interior cavity 104, as shown in Fig. 6. That is, the distal end 221 of the projection 220 is exposed outside the lower corner casting 100b at a second end outside the hole 106, while the base 210 is adjacent to or abuts a wall defining a first end inside the hole 106. In this embodiment, the pin structure 200 is sized and positioned such that when manipulated in this manner, it does not interfere with a locking device, such as a twist lock, that may also be coupled to the lower corner casting 100b. That is, when the pin structure 200 is positioned with the projection 220 extending through the hole 106, as shown in Figure 7, a connector (not shown) of the locking device 300 can be coupled to the bottom corner casting 100b. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the locking device 300 can be used to connect the bottom corner casting 100b to a top corner casting of another container that the container 10 is stacked on top of.

[0073] Regardless of whether the locking device 300 is coupled to the lower corner casting 100b, after positioning the pin structure such that the projection 220 extends through the hole 106, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first end 401 of the lashing cable 400 can be attached to the projection 220, more specifically to the distal end 221 of the projection 220. Such attachment may involve simply hooking an eyelet 410 at the first end 401 of the lashing cable 400 onto the projection 220, as shown in Figure 8. In alternative embodiments, the first end 401 of the lashing cable 400 may be attached to the projection 220 in any other suitable manner, such as by being clamped to the projection 220 or by being tied to the projection 220.

[0074] In this example, the lashing cable 400 has a length of about 30 meters so that the lashing cable can be used to stabilize the eighth tier of containers 10 from the base of the stack on the deck of the ship 1. In some examples, the lashing cable 400 has a length other than 30 meters, such as at least 12 meters or at least 40 meters. In this example, the lashing cable 400 is a Dyneema® rope, but in other examples, it may have any other suitable shape or be made of any other suitable material(s), such as steel wire.

[0075] The pin structure 200 of this embodiment includes a retainer 230 that helps retain the lashing cable 400 on the projection 220. As shown in FIG. 8, the retainer 230 is removable from the projection 220 to facilitate attachment of the lashing cable 400, and the retainer 230 is connectable to the projection 220 when the lashing cable 400 is attached to the projection 220. Connecting the retainer 230 to the projection 220 may be by any suitable mechanism, such as through the use of a separate fastener, mating threads on the projection 220 and the retainer 230, or by magnetic attraction, etc. In some embodiments, the projection 220 has a ridge or groove on its outer surface to receive and position the lashing cable 400 relative to the projection 220. In some embodiments, such as those in which the projection 220 has such a ridge or groove, the retainer 230 is omitted.

[0076] Thus, a method of configuring a shipping container, such as container 10, for lashing is provided. As shown in FIG. 13, method 130 includes providing 131 a pin structure, such as pin structure 200, having a base and a protrusion extending from the base, the pin structure insertable into an interior cavity of an ISO 1161:2016 compliant shipping container corner casting, such as lower corner casting 100b. The method also includes inserting 132 the pin structure into an interior cavity, such as interior cavity 104 of lower corner casting 100b, and then manipulating 133 the pin structure such that the protrusion of the pin structure extends outside the corner casting through a hole, such as hole 106, through a wall of the corner casting, while the base remains within the interior cavity. In some embodiments, manipulating includes manipulating the pin structure using a tool, such as a specially designed tool. In some embodiments, the method also includes connecting 134 a first end of the lashing cable, such as first end 401 of lashing cable 400, to the protrusion, and / or placing 135 a retainer, such as retainer 230, against the protrusion to assist in retaining the lashing cable on the protrusion.

[0077] The second end 402 of the lashing cable 400 can be connected to a support to increase the stability of the shipping container 10. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the container 10 is placed by a crane on top of a stack 11 of seven other shipping containers on the ship 1, and then the second end 402 of the lashing cable 400 is connected to a lashing bridge 500 on the ship 1. In this variation, the second end 402 of the lashing cable 400 can be connected to the lashing bridge 500 before the container 10 is placed on top of the stack 11. In another embodiment, the support can be part of the deck of the ship 1 or can be a land support. In either case, once the container 10 is placed on top of the stack 11 and the lashing cable is connected between the pin structure 200 and the support, in some embodiments the lashing cable is tensioned according to any suitable technique known to those skilled in the art.

[0078] Thus, a method of lashing a shipping container, such as container 10, to a support is also provided. As shown in Figure 14, the method 140 includes connecting a first end of a lashing cable to a corner casting of the shipping container 143 and then placing the shipping container on top of a stack of other shipping containers 145. The corner casting can be a top corner casting or a bottom corner casting.

[0079] The lashing cable does not have to be connected directly to the corner casting. Indeed, in this embodiment, connecting 143 includes connecting a first end 401 of the lashing cable 400 to a pin structure 200 inserted into the lower corner casting 100b. Thus, in this embodiment, the method 140 also includes inserting 141 the pin structure 200 into the internal cavity 104 of the corner casting 100b, and then manipulating 142 the pin structure (e.g., by hand or via the use of a tool) such that the protrusion 220 of the pin structure extends outside the corner casting through the hole 106 through the wall of the corner casting, with the base 210 remaining within the internal cavity, before connecting 143 the first end 401 of the lashing cable 400 to the protrusion 220 of the pin structure 200.

[0080] In this embodiment, the method 140 further includes attaching 144 a retainer 230 to the projection 220 to assist in retaining the lashing cable 400 to the projection 220 when the first end 401 of the lashing cable 400 is attached to the projection 220, as described above. The method 140 also includes connecting 146 a second end 402 of the lashing cable 400 to a support, and then tensioning 147 the lashing cable 400.

[0081] It will thus be appreciated that the embodiments described herein can be used to facilitate stabilization of container stacks, particularly stacks of six or more tiers, against a support, whether that support is a ship or a land support, without the cost and space required to provide a lashing bridge or similar land structure of sufficient height. The embodiments described herein also eliminate the need to provide lashing rods of sufficient height to secure containers at the top of six or more tiered stacks, which are difficult to store on board and very difficult to connect to corner castings of shipping containers already placed at the top of the stack.

[0082] Only the lashing cable 400 of FIG. 9 has been discussed in detail. A second lashing cable 450 is also shown connected between the lashing bridge 500 and another lower corner casting of a further container spaced from the container 10 at the top of the block 18 of the illustrated container stack. The lashing cables 400, 450 cross each other and pull the stack inward toward the center of the block 18. Additionally, a lashing rod 700 is shown connected between the lashing bridge 500 and a container below the block 18. In alternative embodiments, the lashing rod 700 is omitted, and in some embodiments, the lashing bridge 500 is omitted and the lashing cables 400, 450 are instead connected to another portion of the ship 1, such as the deck. In this embodiment, the lashing cables 400, 450 are connected to the topmost container of the block 18, but in alternative embodiments, the lashing cables 400, 450 may be connected to a container below the block 18, for example, instead of the lashing rod 700. Additionally, in some embodiments, more than the two lashing cables 400, 450 may be used.

[0083] Both the pin structure 200 and the lashing cable 400 may form part of the ship's equipment. The pin structure 200 and the lashing cable 400 may be provided separately or together as a shipping container lashing system or part of such a system. In other words, the system may comprise multiple pin structures 200 and lashing cables 400 rather than a single one, such as several pin structures 200 and / or several lashing cables 400. In some cases, the pin structure 200 or the shipping container lashing system is provided in combination with a corner casting 100b or together with the container 10. Any of these components or systems may be provided on a vessel, such as the ship 1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0084] Reference is now made to Figures 10a and 10b, which show an exemplary locking device (which may also be referred to as a twist lock) for locking together a first and a second shipping container in a stack, and Figure 11 shows the locking device locking the containers together. The locking device 600 is designed to reduce or eliminate the distance between the stack and further containers in an adjacent stack or another adjacent structure, thereby reducing the likelihood of the stack rocking when subjected to lateral forces caused, for example, by high winds or the rolling of a vessel on which the stack may be located. This is particularly useful in stacks of 6 or more containers, such as stacks of 11 or more containers.

[0085] In this embodiment, the locking device is a so-called automatic locking device (also referred to as an automatic twist lock), which automatically locks the first and second containers after one of them is placed on top of the other, and automatically unlocks when the top container is subsequently lifted again. The locking device 600 is a unitary steel structure and comprises a first coupler 610 and a second coupler 620, which mate with the corner castings 100b, 100a of the first and second shipping containers 10, 12, respectively, when the first shipping container 10 is stacked on top of the second shipping container 12. The first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 will not be further described in any significant detail, as they are well understood by those skilled in the art.

[0086] In another embodiment, the locking device is a so-called semi-automatic twist lock, which requires manual intervention for locking and unlocking. Those skilled in the art are very familiar with semi-automatic twist locks and their operation, and will know how versions of them could be modified in light of the teachings of the present invention to have the new and advantageous features disclosed herein.

[0087] The locking device 600 also includes a structure 630 with a first coupler 610 and a second coupler 620 extending therefrom, the structure 630 being dimensioned such that when the first shipping container 10 is stacked on top of the second shipping container 12 and the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 are engaged with the respective corner castings 100b, 100a, an abutment portion 635 is disposed on a side of the first shipping container 10 and the second shipping container 12 such that the abutment portion 635 can contact an adjacent further shipping container 14, 16 on a side of the first shipping container 10 and the second shipping container 12, respectively. In this embodiment, the abutment portion 635 can contact the respective corner castings 100b, 100a of the further shipping containers 14, 16. It should be noted that the structures 630 are thus dimensioned to protrude in a direction parallel to the width of the shipping containers 10,12, rather than in a direction parallel to the length of the shipping containers 10,12.

[0088] The locking device 600 in this embodiment is for locking together a first shipping container 10 and a second shipping container 12 by their respective corner castings 100b, 100a in accordance with ISO1161:2016. Indeed, in this embodiment, the corner casting 100b of the first container 10 is the lower corner casting 100b described above. Furthermore, the structure 630 of the locking device 600 is dimensioned such that when the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 are mated with their respective ISO-compliant corner castings 100b, 100a, the distal end 636 of the abutment portion 635, which is remote from the first shipping container 10 and the second shipping container 12, is spaced 38 mm from the first shipping container 10 and the second shipping container 12. As described above, such dimensioning makes the locking device 600 particularly suitable for use with container stacks spaced apart from adjacent stacks by a standardized gap of 38 mm. Of course, the dimensions of structure 630 may vary in other embodiments.

[0089] More specifically, the structure 630 of the locking device 600 comprises a body 633, and the abutment portion 635 comprises a first abutment portion 631 extending from a first side of the body 633 and a second abutment portion 632 extending from a second side of the body 633 opposite the first side of the body 633. Thus, when the first shipping container 10 is stacked on top of the second shipping container 12 and the first coupler 610 and the second coupler 620 are engaged with the respective corner castings 100b, 100a, the first abutment portion 631 is disposed on a side of the first shipping container 10 and the second abutment portion 632 is disposed on a side of the second shipping container 12. Furthermore, this means that the first abutment portion 631 can contact a further transport container 14 adjacent to the side of the first transport container 10, and the second abutment portion 632 can contact another transport container 16 adjacent to the side of the second transport container 12.

[0090] It should be noted that the upper and lower edges of the first abutment portion 631 and the second abutment portion 632, respectively, have chamfered edges. This facilitates stacking and unloading of adjacent containers 14, 16, as they are less likely to get stuck or jammed on the abutment portion 635 when lowering or raising them relative to the locking device 600. In another embodiment, a radiused edge may be used instead of the chamfered edge. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the structure 630 of the locking device 600 comprises an arm 637 and a wheel-shaped rotatable element 638, which is rotatably mounted on the distal end of the arm 637 so as to rotate about a horizontal axis. The rotatable element 638 forms the abutment portion 635 of the structure 630. Thus, in such an embodiment, when adjacent containers 14, 16 are lowered or raised relative to the locking device 600 while in contact with the rotatable element 638, and thus with the abutment portion 635 of the structure 630, the rotatable element 638 is free to rotate, reducing vertical friction.

[0091] The locking device 600 may be provided separately from any shipping container. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the locking device 600 is provided in combination with a shipping container, such as the container 10 described above. The locking device 600 or a combination thereof may be provided on a vessel, such as the ship 1 shown in FIG. 1. In such an embodiment, the container has a corner casting, such as the lower corner casting 100b. As shown by the embodiment of FIG. 2, the container 10 also has a length CL and a width CW, where the length CL is greater than the width CW. As described above, the locking device 600 includes a coupler 610 and a structure 630 from which the coupler 610 extends, the coupler 610 being for mating with the corner casting 100b. The structure 630 is dimensioned to protrude from the container 10 in a direction parallel to the width direction CW of the container 10 when the coupler 610 is mated with the corner casting 100b. Thus, the protruding structure 630 reduces or eliminates the distance between the container 10 and one or more laterally adjacent objects, such as one or more additional containers. Preferably, the corner casting complies with ISO 1161:2016 so that the degree of protrusion of the structure 630 is more predictable.

[0092] Thus, there is also provided a method of locking together a first and a second shipping container, such as the containers 10, 12 shown in Fig. 11. As shown in Fig. 15, the method 150 includes providing 151 one of the exemplary locking devices 600 described above, and engaging 152 a first coupler 610 and a second coupler 620 with respective corner castings 100b, 100a of the first and second containers 10, 12 when the first container 10 is stacked on top of the second container 12, such that an abutment portion 635 of the structure 630 is disposed on a side of the first and second shipping containers 10, 12, thereby allowing the abutment portion 635 to contact one or more additional shipping containers 14, 16 adjacent to the side of the first and second shipping containers 10, 12.

[0093] In some embodiments, the method includes lashing 153 the containers 10, 12 to a support. In one embodiment, the containers 10, 12 are positioned as shown in Figure 9, with a locking device 600 connecting them as described above, and the bottom corner casting 100b of the first container 10 is connected to the support 500 by a lashing cable 400.

[0094] Thus, advantageously, the new pin structures discussed herein, such as the pin structure 200 shown in Figure 4, can be used in the same embodiments as the new locking devices discussed herein, such as the locking devices shown in Figures 10a and 10b. In this way, the stability of blocks of container stacks, particularly blocks of relatively tall container stacks, may be significantly improved as a result of the new lashing methods disclosed herein and the new methods of controlling swaying or other lateral movement of containers towards the top of relatively tall stacks, whether on ship or on land.

[0095] Exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described with particular reference to the illustrated examples. It will be understood, however, that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A pin structure for use in fastening a transport container to a support, the pin structure has a base and a protrusion extending from the base; the pin structure is insertable into an interior cavity of a shipping container corner casting conforming to ISO 1161:2016 and then operable to cause the protrusion to extend outside the corner casting through a hole through a wall of the corner casting while the base remains within the interior cavity; Pin structure.

2. the base has a length of less than 117 mm, a width of less than 63.5 mm, and a thickness of less than 30 mm; the protrusion extends from the base in the direction of the thickness of the base; 2. The pin structure of claim 1, wherein the protrusion has a length measured from the base that is less than 80 mm, a width that is less than 63.5 mm, and a depth that is less than 79.5 mm.

3. 3. The pin structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pin structure includes a retainer removably attached to the projection to assist in retaining a lashing cable on the projection.

4. The pin structure of claim 1 or 2, wherein the pin structure is fully insertable into the internal cavity of the corner casting.

5. 1. A shipping container lashing system for securing a shipping container to a support, comprising: The pin structure according to claim 1; a lashing cable for connecting the support and the protrusion of the pin structure when the protrusion extends to the outside of the corner casting through the hole through the wall of the corner casting while the base remains within the internal cavity; A shipping container lashing system comprising:

6. 6. A shipping container lashing system according to claim 5, wherein the lashing cable is at least 12 meters in length.

7. 7. A shipping container lashing system according to claim 5 or 6, comprising a tensioner that applies tension to the lashing cable when the lashing cable is connected between the support and the projection.

8. 10. A combination of the pin structure of claim 1 or the shipping container lashing system of claim 5 with the shipping container corner casting in accordance with ISO 1161:2016.

9. 1. A method of configuring a shipping container for lashing, comprising: Providing a pin structure according to claim 1; inserting the pin structure into an interior cavity of a corner casting of the shipping container; then manipulating the pin structure so that the projection extends through a hole extending through the wall of the corner casting and outwardly of the corner casting, with the base remaining within the internal cavity and abutting the wall at a first end within the hole; A method comprising:

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the inserting comprises fully inserting the pin structure into the internal cavity of the corner casting.

11. 1. A method for securing a shipping container to a support, comprising: connecting a first end of a lashing cable to a corner casting of the shipping container; then placing the shipping container on top of a stack of other shipping containers; A method comprising:

12. The method of claim 11 , including connecting a second end of the lashing cable to the support.

13. A locking device for locking together a first transport container and a second transport container in a stack, comprising: a first coupler and a second coupler that mate with corner castings of the first shipping container and the second shipping container, respectively, when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container; a structure, the first coupler and the second coupler extend from the structure; the structure is dimensioned such that when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container and the first coupler and the second coupler are mated with the respective corner castings, an abutment portion is disposed on a side of the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container, such that the abutment portion can contact one or more further shipping containers adjacent to the side of the first shipping container and / or the second shipping container in use. Lock device.

14. The locking device of claim 13 , wherein the structure is a unitary structure.

15. 15. The locking device of claim 13, wherein the structure comprises a main body, and the abutment portion comprises a first abutment portion extending from a first side of the main body and a second abutment portion extending from a second side of the main body opposite the first side of the main body, such that when the first shipping container is stacked on top of the second shipping container and the first coupler and the second coupler are engaged with their respective corner castings, the first abutment portion is positioned on a side of the first shipping container and the second abutment portion is positioned on a side of the second shipping container.

16. the structure comprising an arm and a rotatable element rotatably mounted on a distal end of the arm; The locking device of claim 13 , wherein the rotatable element constitutes the abutment portion of the structure.

17. A combination shipping container and locking device, comprising: the shipping container has a corner casting, a length, and a width that is less than the length; The locking device includes a structure and a connector extending from the structure; the connector is for mating with the corner casting; the structure is dimensioned to protrude from the shipping container in a direction parallel to the width of the shipping container when the coupler is mated with the corner casting; combination.

18. 18. The combination of claim 17, wherein the structure is dimensioned to position an abutment portion on a side of the shipping container when the coupler is mated with the corner casting, thereby allowing the abutment portion to contact an additional shipping container adjacent to the side of the shipping container in use.

19. A ship comprising the pin structure of claim 1, the shipping container lashing system of claim 5, the combination of claim 8, the locking device of claim 13, or the combination of claim 17.

Images