Cargo Container Locking System with Sliding Rod and Drop Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing locking systems for cargo containers are vulnerable to theft as they can be easily compromised using simple tools like drills, pry bars, and Sawzalls, with prior solutions failing to provide comprehensive security.
Innovation Solution
A container locking system featuring a lock box with a sliding lock rod, a sliding lock rod guard, door guards, and a drop lock, all made of hardened steel, which prevents access and tampering by positioning the lock components in a way that makes it difficult to drill, pry, or cut through, using a combination of door guards and lock encasement dimensions to secure the lock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a puck lock with keyhole is used in the locking system, then the locking mechanism can be operated with a key, but the lock becomes vulnerable to drilling attacks where a 90-degree drill can drill out the keyhole in about five minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The keyhole and key operation capability are extracted from the main locking mechanism. Instead of having a traditional keyhole in the puck lock, the system uses a key-operated mechanism that actuates the sliding lock rod through the lock box structure, removing the vulnerable keyhole from the lock face while maintaining key-based operation
Solution Approach 2:
The lock box structure serves as an intermediary between the key operation and the sliding lock rod. The key operates a mechanism within the lock box that moves the sliding lock rod horizontally, providing a protective barrier between the external keyhole and the critical locking components
2Ease of operation
If the lock components are positioned for easy access and operation, then the locking system is easy to use, but thieves can easily access the lock with pry bars and drills to break into cargo containers
Solution Approach 1:
The locking components are nested within protective structures. The sliding lock rod is nested within the lock box, which is itself mounted on the container door. The lock rod guard nestedly protects the sliding lock rod from external access. This nested arrangement maintains operational accessibility while providing multiple layers of protection against theft
Solution Approach 2:
The lock components are positioned in three-dimensional space within the lock box structure rather than being exposed on the surface. The sliding lock rod moves horizontally within the lock box volume, and the keyhole is positioned on the lock box exterior away from the sliding rod, creating spatial separation that prevents tool access while maintaining operation
3Reliability
If traditional locking bars and puck locks are used, then the locking system provides basic security, but the system remains vulnerable to cutting with Sawzall and prying with pry bars
Solution Approach 1:
The locking system combines multiple materials and structural elements: hardened steel for the sliding lock rod and lock rod guard, structural steel for the lock box, and complementary locking mechanisms (sliding lock rod and drop lock). This composite approach creates a system where each component contributes different protective properties, making the overall system resistant to cutting and prying attacks
Data Source
AI summary
A locking system and method of manufacture can include: a cargo container having a first container door, a second container door, and a container frame base; a lock box affixed to the second container door, the lock box extended into and through the second container door, the lock box including a sliding lock rod configured to extend behind the first container door when the lock box is in a locked configuration; a sliding lock rod guard affixed to an exterior surface of the first container door and affixed to the exterior surface of the second container door; door guards affixed to the second container door and the first container door; and a drop lock affixed to an interior surface of the first container door, the drop lock including a drop lock rod configured to extend down into the container frame base when the drop lock is in a locked configuration.