Device for locking / unlocking a lower corner part of a container having a standardised attachment element, and container

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (D) for locking / unlocking a lower corner part (15) of a container (1) having a standardised attachment element (10'), including: - an actuating flywheel (100) movable between an engaged position and a rotated position; - a rotating lock (500) including a first locking member (510) rotatably movable between a locking position and an unlocking position; - mechanical coupling means between the flywheel and the lock, including a lever provided on the first locking member as well as a transmission mechanism (200) comprising a finger coupled to one end of a connecting cable (400), the other end of which is coupled to the flywheel, the finger being able to be translated during the rotation of the flywheel towards its rotated position so as to cause the first locking member to rotate towards its unlocking position.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR LOCKING / UNLOCKING A LOWER CORNER PIECE OF A CONTAINER TO A

[0002] STANDARDIZED FIXING ELEMENT, CONTAINER

[0003] Technical field

[0004] The present invention relates to a device for locking / unlocking a lower corner piece of a first container to a standardized fixing element consisting of an upper corner piece of a second container arranged below said first container or by a fixing cradle of a support.

[0005] Prior art

[0006] Document US 3,980,185 A discloses a device for locking / unlocking a lower corner piece of a first container with such a standardized fixing element, said device comprising:

[0007] - an actuating handwheel intended to be securely housed in a corresponding upper corner piece of said first container, said handwheel being capable of being engaged and rotated by an external control member between an engaged position and a rotated position;

[0008] - a rotating lock designed to be permanently secured to said lower corner piece of said first container and comprising a first locking member comprising a lower bolt adapted to be inserted into a said fixing element, said first locking member being rotatable between a locking position intended to secure said rotating lock to said fixing element when said lower bolt is housed therein and an unlocking position intended to allow the insertion or extraction of this lower bolt into or out of this fixing element;

[0009] - a coupling shaft rigidly connecting said handwheel and this lower bolt of the rotary lock so that the rotation of said handwheel from its engaged position to its turned position causes that of said first locking member from its locked position to its unlocked position and vice versa.

[0010] Unfortunately, if the operating handwheel or shaft becomes blocked or broken, for example due to an impact or deformation of this first container, it is no longer possible to ensure the unlocking of the lower corner piece from the standard fixing element.

[0011] Furthermore, due to the permanent attachment of the rotary lock to the lower corner piece, a container equipped with such locking / unlocking devices cannot be fixedly secured to supports with integrated rotary locks.

[0012] In order to address these issues, document FR 3 088 626 A1 discloses such a locking / unlocking device in which the rotating lock can be detached from the lower corner piece of the first container.

[0013] To do this, this document proposes to provide in the rotating lock a dog clutch mounted to move between a clutching position where the shaft and the lower bolt of this lock are coupled, and an unclutching position where these two elements are uncoupled so as to allow the separation of this rotating lock from the lower corner piece.

[0014] The removable nature of the twist lock thus allows a container equipped with such locking / unlocking devices to be securely fastened to supports with integrated twist locks.

[0015] In the event of blockage or breakage of the actuating handwheel or the shaft, moving the clutch to the disengaged position makes it possible to manually rotate the lower bolt of the rotary lock to its unlocking position, so as to ensure the unlocking of said lower corner piece of said first container with respect to said standardized fixing element.

[0016] Such a device, however, requires the presence of a coupling member with this dog mounted at the lower end of the shaft and permanently housed in the lower corner piece at the level of the rotation axis. Arranged in the upper central area of ​​the lower corner piece of the container so as to be aligned with the vertical rotation axis of the lower bolt, this coupling member can unfortunately interfere with certain types of rotating locks integrated into supports, so as to prevent the locking of this corner piece to these supports.

[0017] Statement of the invention

[0018] The present invention aims to improve the situation.

[0019] To this end, it proposes a device for locking / unlocking a lower corner piece of a first container to a standardized fixing element consisting either of an upper corner piece of a second container arranged below said first container or of a fixing cradle of a support.

[0020] This device includes:

[0021] - an actuating handwheel intended to be securely housed in a corresponding upper corner piece of said first container, said handwheel being capable of being engaged and rotated by an external control member between an engaged position and a rotated position;

[0022] - a rotating lock intended to be removably secured to said lower corner piece of said first container and comprising a first locking member comprising a lower bolt adapted to be inserted into a said fixing element, said first locking member being rotatable between a locking position intended to secure said rotating lock to said fixing element when said lower bolt is housed therein and an unlocking position intended to allow the insertion or extraction of this lower bolt into or out of this fixing element;

[0023] - the extraction of this lower bolt from this fixing element; and - means ensuring the mechanical coupling between said handwheel and said rotating lock so that the rotation of said handwheel from its engaged position to its turned position causes that of said first locking member from its locked position to its unlocked position and vice versa.

[0024] According to the invention, said coupling means comprise a lever provided on said first locking member as well as a transmission mechanism designed to be housed securely and permanently in said lower corner piece along one of its edges, said mechanism comprising a finger mounted to move in translation and coupled to a first end of a connecting cable, the second end of which is coupled to said steering wheel, said finger being capable of being driven in translation via said connecting cable when said steering wheel rotates towards its turned position, so as to act on said lever and cause said first locking member to rotate towards its unlocked position.

[0025] Such a transmission mechanism cooperating with a lever provided on said first locking member of the rotary lock has the advantage of being able to be installed inside the lower corner piece of a container along one of its edges in an area free from any risk of interference with the upper bolt of another type of rotary lock integrated into a support, so as to allow a container equipped with locking / unlocking devices according to the invention to be able to be fixedly secured to such supports equipped with integrated rotary locks.

[0026] For reasons of simplicity of manufacture and cost, said transmission mechanism preferably comprises a sheath as well as a sleeve mounted to slide inside said sheath and rigidly connected to said finger passing through this sheath at the level of a slot extending along the latter.

[0027] In order to ensure automatic return of the finger when the steering wheel is returned to its engaged position, said transmission mechanism advantageously comprises a main spring housed in said sleeve between said bushing and a stop end piece provided at one end of said sleeve, said main spring elastically returning said finger and said bushing to their rest position.

[0028] In order to "absorb" the additional tensile displacement of the connecting cable caused by the residual rotation of the steering wheel, said transmission mechanism also advantageously comprises a shuttle rigidly connected to said first end of said connecting cable and slidably mounted inside said sleeve, as well as an overtravel spring housed in said sleeve between an end wall of the latter and said shuttle.

[0029] In order to optimize the operation of the device according to the invention, said rotating lock preferably comprises a first spring permanently urging said first locking member towards its locking position, so as to automatically cause it to return to this locking position when said steering wheel is returned to its engagement position.

[0030] In this case and in order not to disturb the rotational movement, via the action of the finger secured to the socket on the lever, of the first locking member towards its unlocking position, said overtravel spring of said transmission mechanism advantageously has a stiffness greater than that of the spring equivalent to said first spring of said rotating lock and said main spring of this transmission mechanism.

[0031] In order to obtain sufficient traction of the connecting cable during rotation of the steering wheel, the second end of this connecting cable is advantageously rigidly connected to said steering wheel at an attachment point offset radially from its axis of rotation.

[0032] In order to allow the rotary lock to be separated from the standardized fixing element in the event of damage to the steering wheel, the connecting cable or the transmission mechanism, said rotary lock advantageously comprises a control cable provided at one of its ends with a gripping handle and capable, when pulled by an operator with a certain traction force, of driving said first locking member towards its unlocking position.Furthermore, and to allow the rotary lock to be detached from a lower corner piece of said first container, said rotary lock preferably comprises a second locking member comprising an upper bolt designed to be inserted into said lower corner piece, said second locking member being rotatable relative to said first locking member between a first locking position intended to make said rotary lock integral with this lower corner piece when said upper bolt is housed therein and an unlocking position intended to allow the extraction of this upper bolt from this same lower corner piece.

[0033] Preferably and in order to facilitate this detachment of said rotating lock from a lower corner piece of said first container, said control cable is also capable, when pulled by an operator with a greater traction force, of driving said second locking member towards its unlocking position.

[0034] The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a container comprising four such locking / unlocking devices each arranged along a respective vertical edge of this container.

[0035] Brief description of the drawings

[0036] The description of the invention will now be continued by the detailed description of an exemplary embodiment, given below for illustrative but non-limiting purposes, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0037] - Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a container provided with four locking / unlocking devices according to the invention, taken along the median vertical transverse plane of the corner pieces of a first longitudinal end of this container;

[0038] - Figures 2, 3 and 4 illustrate the successive steps of securing the container of Figure 1 to a second container by means of its four locking / unlocking devices according to the invention; - Figure 5 represents a top view of the actuating wheel of a device according to the invention housed securely and permanently in an upper corner piece of the container of Figure 1 and occupying its engagement position;

[0039] - Figure 6 is an elevational view of the transmission mechanism of a device according to the invention housed securely and permanently in a lower corner piece of the container of Figure 1;

[0040] - figure 7 represents a sectional view of the transmission mechanism of figure 6, taken along its median vertical transverse plane;

[0041] - figure 8 is a perspective view of the rotating lock of a device according to the invention intended to be removably secured to a lower corner piece of the container of figure 1;

[0042] - figure 9 represents a perspective view from another angle of the rotating lock of figure 8 without its housing;

[0043] - figure 10 is an enlargement of the lower part of the rotating lock of figure 8 without its housing;

[0044] - figure 11 represents a perspective sectional view of the rotating lock of figure 8 taken along a horizontal plane passing through its housing;

[0045] - figures 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D are views respectively from above and in horizontal sections taken at different levels of the rotating lock of figure 8 in the rest configuration;

[0046] - figures 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D represent views respectively from above and in horizontal sections taken at different levels of the rotating lock of figure 8 in intermediate configuration;

[0047] - Figure 14 is a top view of the rotary actuating handwheel of a device according to the invention, in an intermediate position corresponding to the arrival of the rotary lock of this device in the intermediate configuration; - Figures 15 and 16 represent top views respectively of the rotary lock and the handwheel of a device according to the invention when this handwheel reaches its turned position; and

[0048] - figures 17A and 17B are views respectively from above and in horizontal section of the rotating lock of figure 8 in extreme configuration.

[0049] Detailed description

[0050] Figures 1 to 4 represent a container 1 equipped with four locking / unlocking devices according to the invention D, each arranged along a respective vertical edge of this container 1 and allowing it to be secured / unsecured to a second container 2 (shown in Figures 3 and 4) or to a support not shown arranged below this container 1.

[0051] We define with respect to this container 1 an orthogonal reference XYZ comprising three axes perpendicular two by two, namely:

[0052] - an X axis, defining a longitudinal direction of this container 1 and parallel to the ground;

[0053] - a Y axis, defining a transverse direction of this container 1, also parallel to the ground and which with the X axis defines a horizontal XY plane; and

[0054] - a Z axis, defining a vertical direction, perpendicular to the ground as well as to the horizontal XY plane.

[0055] In the remainder of the description and with reference to the reference defined above, the terms “longitudinal” or “longitudinally” will refer to a direction parallel to the X axis, the terms “transverse” or “transversely” will refer to a direction parallel to the Y axis, and the terms “vertical” or “vertically” will refer to a direction parallel to the Z axis.

[0056] On the other hand, and by convention, the terms "lower" and "upper" will be understood in relation to the general orientation of container 1. The term "lower" will thus indicate a greater proximity to the ground in the vertical direction than the term "upper".

[0057] As illustrated by these figures 1 to 4, the container 1 comprises at each of its vertical edges an upper corner piece 10 and a lower corner piece 15 aligned vertically and spaced from each other.

[0058] Of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, these corner pieces 10, 15 are hollow so as to each define an interior volume.

[0059] Each upper corner piece 10 (respectively lower 15) has on its upper wall 10A (respectively lower 15A), an upper oblong opening 11 (respectively lower 16) oriented longitudinally.

[0060] Each of the locking devices D comprises an actuating handwheel 100 housed permanently in a corresponding upper corner piece 10 of the container 1 and rotatably mounted on the lower wall 10B of the latter around a vertical axis V, between an engagement position illustrated by figures 1 and 4, and a position turned at approximately 90° with respect to the latter illustrated by figures 2 and 3.

[0061] Better visible in Figure 5, this actuating wheel 100 is intended to be engaged and rotated by an external control member O mounted on lifting equipment such as a crane and shown schematically in Figures 2 and 3.

[0062] This external control member O is capable of occupying a position (not shown) of insertion in which it extends in a longitudinal direction so as to be able to be inserted into an upper corner piece 10 by passing through its opening 11 and to couple in rotation with the actuating handwheel 100.

[0063] As illustrated by Figures 2 and 3, this external control member O is also capable of being pivoted by approximately 90° relative to this insertion position to a service position in which it extends in a transverse direction so as to also cause the rotation of the actuating handwheel 100 in its turned position. It will be noted in support of these Figures 2 and 3 that in this service position, the external control member O projects transversely on either side of the opening 11 of the corresponding upper corner piece 10, which makes it integral with this upper corner piece 10 of the container 1 and allows the latter to be lifted by lifting equipment.

[0064] Each locking device D also includes a transmission mechanism 200 housed securely and permanently in a lower corner piece 15 against and along one of its upper transverse edges.

[0065] With reference to figure 6, this transmission mechanism 200 comprises a cylindrical sleeve with transverse axis 210 fixed by screwing against a side wall 15B of this lower corner piece 15 and closed at one of its ends by a stop end piece 220.

[0066] This sheath 210 houses a helical compression spring 230, a first end of which rests in abutment against the end piece 220 and which will be designated in the remainder of the description by the term main spring.

[0067] As illustrated in Figure 7, this transmission mechanism 200 also comprises a hollow cylindrical sleeve 240 mounted to slide transversely inside this sheath 210 and rigidly connected to a curved finger 250 passing through the sheath 210 at a slot 211 extending along the latter.

[0068] An end wall 241 of the sleeve 240 rests in abutment against the second end of the main spring 230, so that the latter elastically returns this sleeve 240 and the finger 250 towards their rest position of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0069] The sleeve 240 houses a second helical compression spring 260, a first end of which rests in abutment against its end wall 241 and which will be designated in the remainder of the description by the term overtravel spring.

[0070] The transmission mechanism 200 further comprises a shuttle 270 mounted to slide transversely inside this sleeve 240 and one end 271 of which rests in abutment against the second end of the overtravel spring 260. This shuttle 270 is rigidly connected to a first end of a connecting cable 400 passing successively through the overtravel spring 260, the end wall 241 of the sleeve 240, the main spring 230, the end piece 220 and the side wall 15B opening onto the interior of the container 1 of the lower corner piece 15.

[0071] With reference to figures 1 to 4, this connecting cable 400 then extends vertically along the corresponding vertical edge of the container 1 and then passes through the lower part of a side wall opening onto the interior of the container 1 of the corresponding upper corner piece 10. As illustrated by figure 5, its second end is further rigidly connected to the steering wheel 100 at an attachment point P offset radially with respect to its vertical axis of rotation V.

[0072] In order to avoid any risk of water flowing inside the container 1 via the passage orifice of the connecting cable 400 provided in the lower part of such a side wall of this upper corner piece 10, an angled guide conduit crossed by this connecting cable 400 and rising vertically along this wall will advantageously be fixedly and in a sealed manner against the periphery of this side wall from its face giving onto the interior of this container 1.

[0073] Each locking device further comprises a rotating lock 500 removably secured to a corresponding lower corner piece 15 of the container 1.

[0074] Such a removable nature of the twist locks 500 allows in particular a container 1 equipped with such locking / unlocking devices D to be fixedly secured to supports provided with integrated twist locks.

[0075] This removable nature of the 500 twist locks also allows for their regular maintenance (in particular their cleaning and lubrication) so as to guarantee their optimal operation over their entire life cycle, as well as to replace them if necessary without having to dismantle the entire locking device D.

[0076] Shown alone in Figure 8, this rotating lock 500 comprises a first locking member 510 comprising a lower bolt 511 adapted to be inserted, as will be seen in more detail later, into a standardized fixing element constituted either by an upper corner piece 10' of a second container 2 arranged below the container 1 as illustrated by Figures 2 and 3, or by a fixing cradle of a support such as a ship deck or the floor of a trailer.

[0077] As illustrated by figures 1 to 4, this first locking member 510 also comprises a shaft 512 with a vertical axis V extending upwards the lower bolt 511 and provided at its top with a conical head 513 forming a shoulder.

[0078] Preferably made from a single piece of metallic material by injection or machining, this first locking member 510 further comprises a lever 514 extending in a radial direction from the conical head 513 of this shaft 512.

[0079] The rotary lock 500 also comprises a second locking member 520 comprising an upper bolt 521 housed, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a corresponding lower corner piece 15 of the container 1 so as to secure this rotary lock 500 to this container 1.

[0080] With reference to Figure 9, this second locking member 520 also comprises a cylindrical sleeve 522 with a vertical axis V extending below the upper bolt 521, as well as an annular collar 523 projecting radially from the lower end of this sleeve 522.

[0081] Advantageously consisting of two hollow metal half-bodies assembled to each other by screwing using several bolts, the second locking member 520 also has a blind recess 524 with a vertical axis V visible in figures 1 to 4, and opening at its lower end.

[0082] As illustrated in these figures, this blind recess 524 houses the upper portion of the shaft 512 complementary to this recess 524, so that this second locking member 520 is only movable in rotation with respect to the first locking member 510 around the vertical axis V of this shaft 520 (the cooperation between the head 513 forming a shoulder and the upper part of the recess 524 preventing any relative translational movement between these two locking members 510, 520 in a vertical direction).

[0083] This second locking member 520 also has a recess 525 formed in the upper bolt 521 and opening at the top of the recess 524, this recess 525 visible in figure 9 being crossed by the lever 514.

[0084] With reference to Figures 9 and 10, the first locking member 510 further comprises a collar 515 projecting from the lower portion of the shaft 512, as well as a protrusion 516 also projecting from the lower portion of the shaft 512 above this collar 515.

[0085] As illustrated in FIG. 8, the rotary lock 500 also comprises a hollow housing 530 extending vertically between the lower bolt 511 and the upper bolt 521, and enveloping the elements of the locking members 510, 520 arranged between these two bolts 511, 521, so that the locking members 510, 520 are able to rotate around the vertical axis V with respect to this housing 530.

[0086] This housing 530 comprises an upper fitting portion 531 having a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the opening 16 of a lower corner piece 15 of the container 1, as well as a lower fitting portion 532 having a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the opening 1T of a standardized fixing element constituted by an upper corner piece 10' of a second container 2 or by a fixing cradle of a support.

[0087] As can be clearly seen in Figure 8, the housing 530 is advantageously made up of two symmetrical hollow half-bodies assembled together by screwing using four bolts and each made from a single piece in a metallic material by injection or machining.

[0088] The rotary lock 500 further comprises a first torsion spring 540 arranged around the shaft 512 below the collar 515.

[0089] With reference to Figure 10, the first vertical end strand 541 of this spring 540 passes through a notch of complementary shape 515A provided on the collar 515 so as to be integral in rotation around the vertical axis V with the first locking member 510.

[0090] As illustrated by figure 11, its second end strand 542, oriented in a horizontal direction, is held in abutment against an internal stop wall 533 of the housing 530 so as to be integral in rotation around the vertical axis V with this housing 530.

[0091] The rotary lock 500 further comprises a second torsion spring 550 arranged around the shaft 512 above the collar 515.

[0092] Again with reference to Figure 10, the first vertical end strand 551 of this spring 550 passes through a notch of complementary shape 516A formed in the protrusion 516 so as to be integral in rotation about the vertical axis V with the first locking member 510, this first end strand 551 also passing through an arcuate opening 523A formed in the lower wall of the collar 523 and centered on the vertical axis of rotation V. Its second vertical end strand 552 passes through an orifice of corresponding size 523B also formed in the lower wall of the collar 523 so as to be integral in rotation about the vertical axis V with the latter and the second locking member 520.

[0093] The rotary lock 500 finally comprises a control cable 560 attached by one of its ends to the collar 523 and partially wound around it, this cable 560 passing through the housing 530 via an orifice 534 (see figure 8) and being provided at its second end located outside this housing 530 with a grip handle not shown.

[0094] In the rest configuration of this rotary lock 500 illustrated by figures 1, 4 and 12A to 12D, the first locking member 510 occupies its locking position where a first stop surface 515B of the collar 515 rests against an inner side wall 535 of the housing 530 (see figure 12D) and towards which it is elastically returned by the first torsion spring 540.

[0095] In this locking position of this first locking member 510, it can be noted that the lower bolt 511 is oriented at an angle of approximately 60° with respect to the lower fitting portion 532 of the housing 530 from which it projects laterally on either side, so as to make the rotating lock 500 integral with a standardized fixing element (10') when this lower bolt 511 is housed therein.

[0096] Still in the rest configuration, the second locking member 520 also occupies a first locking position towards which it is elastically returned by the second torsion spring 550 and where its upper bolt 521 is oriented at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the upper fitting portion 531 of the housing 530 from which it projects laterally on either side, so as to make the rotating lock 500 integral with a corresponding lower corner piece 15 of the container 1 when this upper bolt 521 is housed therein.

[0097] It will be noted that in this rest configuration the first vertical end 551 of the second spring 550 is located near a first end edge of the arcuate light 523A.

[0098] To carry out the lifting and positioning of the first container 1 on a second container 2 (or on a support not shown), this first container 1 must first be secured to lifting equipment not shown.

[0099] To do this, each external control member O of this lifting equipment must first be inserted through the opening 11 of a respective upper corner piece 10 of this container 1 (or that of a corresponding fixing cradle of this support), so as to couple in rotation with a corresponding actuating handwheel 100.

[0100] As illustrated in Figure 2, these external control members O must then be pivoted by approximately 90° to their service position in which they extend in transverse directions so as to also cause the rotation of the actuating handwheels 100 in their rotated position.

[0101] Each of the external control members O then becomes integral with the upper corner piece 10 of the container 1 in which it is housed, so as to cause the securing of this first container 1 to the lifting equipment. The container 1 can then be lifted by this lifting equipment and moved vertically above the second container 2 (or the support).

[0102] The rotation of each steering wheel 100 caused by that of a corresponding external control member O also causes traction of the connecting cable 400 causing the movement, against the main spring 230, of the sleeve 240 along the sheath 210 so that the finger 250 acting on the lever 514 will cause the rotation of the first locking member 510 of the corresponding rotary lock 500 against its first spring 540.

[0103] This rotation will continue until these rotating locks 500 are brought into the intermediate configuration illustrated by figures 2, 3 and 13A to 13D in which their lower bolts 511 come to align with the lower fitting portions 532 of their housings 530 so as to no longer project laterally (see figure 13D) and to allow, as illustrated by figure 3, the insertion of these lower bolts 511 into the upper corner pieces 10' of the second container 2 (or into the fixing cradles of the support), while the lower fitting portions 532 of the housings 530 come to be housed in the openings 11' of these upper corner pieces 10' (or of these cradles).

[0104] As illustrated by FIG. 13D, the first locking members 510 of these rotary locks 500 then occupy their unlocking position in which a second stop surface 515C of the collar 515 comes to rest against an inner side wall 536 of the housing 530.

[0105] It will be noted that this rotation of the first locking member 510 also has the effect of causing, due to the cooperation in abutment between the first end strand 551 of the second spring 550 and the first end edge 523Aa of the light 523A (see figure 13B), a simultaneous rotation in the same direction of the second locking member 520 which comes to occupy a second intermediate locking position in which it is oriented at an angle of approximately 30° with respect to the upper nesting portion 531 of the housing 530 from which it continues to project laterally on either side (see figure 13A) so that the rotating locks 500 remain integral with the lower corner pieces 15 of the container 1.

[0106] It will also be noted that the rotating lock 500 comes to occupy its intermediate configuration before the end of the rotational movement of the steering wheel 100, as soon as the latter reaches an intermediate position illustrated by figure 14.

[0107] This intermediate configuration of the rotary lock 500 corresponding to an extreme position of the first locking member 510 (due to the cooperation in support between the second stop surface 515C of the collar 515 and the inner side wall 536 of the housing 530), the presence of the overtravel spring 260 makes it possible, as illustrated by figures 15 and 16, to “absorb” the additional tensile displacement of the connecting cable 400 caused by the residual rotation of the steering wheel 100 to its turned position.

[0108] In order not to disturb the rotational movement, via the action of the finger 250 secured to the sleeve 240 on the lever 514, of the first locking member 510 towards its unlocking position, this overtravel spring 260 advantageously has a stiffness significantly greater than that of the spring equivalent to the springs 230 and 540 so as not to be compressed during this movement of the first locking member 510.

[0109] Once the first container 1 is positioned on the second container 2 (or on the support), the external control members O must be pivoted again towards their insertion position so as to allow their removal from the upper corner pieces 10 of this container 1 as illustrated in figure 4.

[0110] This rotation of the external control members O will also cause the actuating handwheels 100 to return to rotation in their engagement position and the connection cable 400 to relax.

[0111] The levers 514 no longer being stressed by the cables 400, the first locking members 510 automatically return, thanks to the return force of the first springs 540, to their initial locking position ensuring the securing of the rotating locks 500 with the upper corner pieces 10' of the second container 2 (or with the fixing cradles of the support) and therefore their locking with the lower corner pieces 15 of the first container 1 so as to achieve its securing to the second container 2.

[0112] Furthermore, the finger 250 being no longer constrained by the lever 514, the springs 230 and 260 will also cause the sleeve 240 and this finger 250 to return to their rest position.

[0113] To unfasten this first container 1 from the second container 2 (or from a support), it is understood that the rotating locks 500 must each be unfastened from a corresponding upper corner piece 10' of this second container 2 (or from a corresponding fixing cradle of this support).

[0114] This decoupling can be carried out very easily using four external control members O mounted on lifting equipment which will be inserted through the corresponding openings 11 of the upper corner pieces 10 of this container 1 (or those of the fixing cradles of this support), so as to couple in rotation with a corresponding actuating handwheel 100.

[0115] These external control members O must then be pivoted by approximately 90° relative to this insertion position towards their service position so as to cause the rotation of the actuating handwheels 100 into their rotated position and to bring, via the connecting cables 400, the rotary locks 500 into their intermediate configuration (see figure 3) in which the first locking members 510 of these locks 500 occupy their unlocking position allowing the extraction of the lower bolts 511 from the upper corner pieces 10' of the container 2 (or the support fixing cradles).

[0116] Container 1 is then undocked from container 2 (or the support) so that it can be lifted by the lifting equipment and moved.

[0117] In the event, for example, of damage to the steering wheel 100, the connecting cable 400 or the transmission mechanism 200 of a locking device D, the rotating lock 500 of this device D can also be manually detached from a corresponding upper corner piece 10' of the container 2 (or from a corresponding fixing cradle of the support). To do this, the operator must exert a certain pulling force on the control cable 560 via the gripping handle (not shown) and against the first spring 540, so as to cause the simultaneous rotation of the first and second locking members 510, 520 until this rotating lock 500 comes to occupy its intermediate configuration illustrated by FIGS. 13A to 13D.

[0118] In order to allow the rotary lock 500 to be held in this intermediate configuration against this spring 540 when the handle is released, the housing 530 will advantageously comprise means (not shown) for holding the control cable 560 in the pulled position.

[0119] After the first locking members 510 of the twist locks 500 have been brought and held in their unlocked position, the first container 1 is unfastened from the second container 2 (or from the support) so that it can be lifted by the lifting equipment and moved.

[0120] As indicated previously, each rotating lock 500 can also be manually detached from a lower corner piece 15 of the container 1, for example to carry out its maintenance.

[0121] To do this, the operator must first exert a certain traction force on the control cable 560 via the grip handle (not shown) and against the first spring 540 so as to cause the simultaneous rotation of the first and second locking members 510, 520 until the rotating lock 500 comes to occupy its intermediate configuration illustrated by FIGS. 13A to 13D.

[0122] This operator must then exert a greater pulling force on the control cable 560 against the two springs 540, 550 so as to cause an additional rotation of the second locking member 520 alone until this rotating lock 500 is brought into the extreme configuration illustrated by FIGS. 17A and 17B in which this second locking member 520 comes to occupy its unlocking position where its upper bolt 521 no longer projects laterally from the upper fitting portion of the housing 530 in order to allow it to pass through this opening 11 and be extracted from the corresponding lower corner piece 15 of the container 1.

[0123] It will be noted in support of figure 17B, that this additional rotation of the second locking member 520 is permitted thanks to the arcuate opening 523A formed in the collar 523 and according to the reference frame of which the first vertical end 551 of the second spring 550 moves along this opening 523A.

[0124] To reattach the rotating lock 500 to a lower corner piece 15 of the container 1, its first locking member 510 must first be manually turned (by gripping its lower bolt 511) with respect to the housing 530 and against the first spring 540 to its unlocking position in which the rotating lock 500 comes to occupy its intermediate configuration illustrated by FIGS. 13A to 13D.

[0125] While manually holding this first locking member 510 in the unlocked position, the operator must then present the rotating lock 500 below a lower corner piece 15 of the container 1 so that the upper nesting portion 531 of the housing 530 is aligned with the lower opening 16 of this lower corner piece 15.

[0126] It must then slide this rotary lock 500 vertically upwards so as to cause, by the cooperation between the peripheral edge of this opening 16 and the inclined contact surfaces of the upper bolt 521, an additional rotation in the same direction as previously of the second locking member 520 against the two springs 540, 550 until its unlocking position (corresponding to the extreme configuration of the rotary lock 500 illustrated by figures 17A and 17B) in which this upper bolt 521 no longer projects laterally from the upper fitting portion 531 of the housing 530, so as to allow it to pass through this opening 16 and to be inserted into the lower corner piece 15 while this upper fitting portion 531 is housed in this same opening 16.

[0127] As soon as this upper bolt 521 has passed through the opening 16, the rotating lock 500 automatically returns, thanks to the return force of the spring 550, to its intermediate configuration of figures 13A to 13D ensuring the connection of this rotating lock 500 with the lower corner piece 15.

[0128] The operator can then release this rotating lock 500 so that it automatically returns, thanks to the return force of the spring 540, to its rest configuration.

[0129] According to alternative embodiments not shown, certain elements of the locking / unlocking device D according to the invention may be shaped differently. Its actuating mechanism could, for example, be without an overtravel spring and / or the return means of its rotating lock could be of a different type.

[0130] Many other variant embodiments of the present invention are of course conceivable and it is recalled in this regard that this invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the figures, but also encompasses all the variant embodiments within the reach of those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Locking / unlocking device (D) for a lower corner piece (15) of a first container (1) to a standardized fixing element consisting either of an upper corner piece (10') of a second container (2) arranged below said first container (1) or of a fixing cradle of a support, said device (D) comprising: - an actuating handwheel (100) intended to be securely housed in a corresponding upper corner piece (10) of said first container (1), said handwheel (100) being capable of being engaged and rotated by an external control member (O) between an engaged position and a turned position; - a rotary lock (500) intended to be removably secured to said lower corner piece (15) of said first container (1) and comprising a first locking member (510) comprising a lower bolt (511) adapted to be inserted into a said fixing element (10'), said first locking member (510) being rotatable between a locking position intended to make said rotary lock (500) secured to said fixing element (10') when said lower bolt (511) is housed therein and an unlocking position intended to allow the insertion or extraction of this lower bolt (511) into or out of this fixing element (10'); - means (514, 200, 400) ensuring mechanical coupling between said steering wheel (100) and said rotary lock (500) so that the rotation of said steering wheel (100) from its engaged position to its turned position causes that of said first locking member (510) from its locked position to its unlocked position and vice versa; characterized in that said coupling means comprise a lever (514) provided on said first locking member (510) as well as a transmission mechanism (200) intended to be housed securely and permanently in said lower corner piece (15) along one of its edges, said mechanism (200) comprising a finger (250) mounted movable in translation and coupled to a first end of a connecting cable (400) the second end of which is coupled to said steering wheel (100), said finger (250) being able to be driven in translation via said connecting cable (400) during rotation of said steering wheel (100) towards its turned position, so as to act on said lever (514) and to cause rotation of said first locking member (510) towards its unlocking position.

2. Device (D) according to claim 1, characterized in that said transmission mechanism (200) comprises a sheath (210) as well as a bushing (240) slidably mounted inside said sheath (210) and rigidly connected to said finger (250) passing through this sheath (210) at the level of a slot (211) extending along the latter.

3. Device (D) according to claim 2, characterized in that said transmission mechanism (200) comprises a main spring (230) housed in said sheath (210) between said bushing (240) and a stop end piece (220) provided at one end of said sheath (210), said main spring (230) elastically returning said finger (250) and said bushing (240) to their rest position.

4. Device (D) according to claim 3, characterized in that said transmission mechanism (200) also comprises a shuttle (270) rigidly connected to said first end of said connecting cable (400) and slidably mounted inside said sleeve (240), as well as an overtravel spring (260) housed in said sleeve (240) between an end wall (241) of the latter and said shuttle (270).

5. Device (D) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said rotating lock (500) comprises a first spring (540) permanently urging said first locking member (510) towards its locking position, so as to automatically cause it to return to this locking position when said steering wheel (100) is returned to its engagement position.

6. Device (D) according to claims 4 and 5, characterized in that said overtravel spring (260) of said transmission mechanism (200) has a stiffness greater than that of the spring equivalent to said first spring (540) of said rotating lock (500) and to said main spring (230) of this transmission mechanism.

7. Device (D) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second end of said connecting cable (400) is rigidly connected to said flywheel (100) at an attachment point (P) radially offset from its axis of rotation (V).

8. Device (D) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said rotating lock (500) comprises a control cable (560) provided at one of its ends with a grip handle and capable, when pulled by an operator with a certain traction force, of driving said first locking member (510) towards its unlocking position.

9. Device (D) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said rotating lock (500) comprises a second locking member (520) comprising an upper bolt (521) intended to be inserted into said lower corner piece (15), said second locking member (520) being rotatable relative to said first locking member. (510) between a first locking position intended to make said rotating lock (500) integral with this lower corner piece (15) when said upper bolt (521) is housed therein and an unlocking position intended to allow the extraction of this upper bolt (521) from this same lower corner piece (15).

10. Device (D) according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said control cable (560) is also capable, when pulled by an operator with a greater traction force, of driving said second locking member (520) towards its unlocking position.

11. Container (1) comprising four locking / unlocking devices (D) according to one of claims 1 to 10, each arranged along a respective vertical edge of this container (1).

Images