Device for a loading deck

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6595731
  • Patent Number
    6,595,731
  • Date Filed
    Monday, November 5, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, July 22, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
An arrangement for locking cargo to a deck on board a ship is described. Lateral dividing profiles, which are arranged on and secured to the deck, and which form loading lanes, have lock accommodating openings to accept rotatable and movable locking devices from lockable loads (trailer supports and cargo cassettes) capable of being parked in the cargo lanes. Present on the loads is a mechanism, which is connected to the locking device for the purpose of locking or releasing the loads, in conjunction with a cargo vehicle, which can be driven between the lanes, is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism when the cargo vehicle passes the mechanism.
Description




CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS




Not Applicable




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH




Not Applicable




INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISK




Not Applicable




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to an arrangement for locking cargo to a deck on board a ship.




2. Description of Related Art




Previously disclosed arrangements for locking a cargo to a deck are, for example, straps, lines and similar tensioning devices, in conjunction with which use is made of existing cargo fittings in the deck of the ship.




Securing of cargo carriers, for example cargo cassettes, is performed only at each end of a positioned row of cargo carriers with the help of counter-pressure components, while cargo trailers have previously been secured to existing cargo openings with the help of straps, for example, in accordance with the above. There previously disclosed devices did not, however, permit so-called automatic activation of the locking devices, and this has had to be performed manually, which has been dangerous and time-consuming for the personnel responsible for securing the cargo. The aforementioned previously disclosed means also did not effectively permit the close packing of freight.




BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The principle object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems by simple and efficiently functioning means.




The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that lateral dividing profiles, which are capable of being laid out on the deck and secured to it, and which are so arranged as to form loading lanes between pairs of rows, exhibit either lock-accommodating openings to accept rotatable and/or movable locking devices from trailer supports and/or cargo cassettes capable of being parked in the cargo lane or locking devices capable of lateral displacement from lateral dividing profiles, which are so arranged as to interact with trailer supports, cargo vehicles, cargo cassettes and/or some other cargo capable of being parked in the cargo lane, and in that present on the trailer support and/or load cassette or lateral dividing profiles in question is a mechanism which is connected to the aforementioned locking device for the purpose of releasing it or locking it, in conjunction with which a cargo vehicle, which can be driven along and between the dividers, is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism when the cargo vehicle in question passes the mechanism.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention is described below as a number of preferred illustrative embodiments, in conjunction with which reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:





FIG. 1

shows a first example with the cargo supported on a load carrier of the cassette type and in a position in which it is loaded and locked to the deck;





FIG. 2

shows an exploded view of the entire cargo arrangement illustrating the lateral dividing profiles laid out and secured to the deck;





FIG. 3

shows a partial view of a locking mechanism on a cargo cassette;





FIG. 4

shows the locking mechanism in an intended locked position;





FIG. 5

shows the locking mechanism in a released position;





FIGS. 6-7

shows the locking mechanism in two different intermediate connection positions;





FIG. 8

shows a bottom perspective view of the load cassette and a lateral dividing profile positioned to the side with the locking mechanism in the locked position;





FIGS. 9-16

show a second illustrative embodiment with cargo trailers, where:





FIG. 9

shows how a cargo container on a trailer is transported on the deck by a cargo vehicle along lateral dividing profiles positioned to the side;





FIG. 10

shows an exploded view of the system shown in

FIG. 9

;





FIG. 11

shows a trailer support standing on a deck and illustrated in the opened position ready for locking;





FIGS. 12-13

show details of a locking mechanism included in the trailer support with the support in a locked position;





FIG. 14

shows a bottom view of the aforementioned trailer support in a position with a locking device locked to a lateral dividing profile positioned to the side;





FIG. 15

shows the trailer support viewed in perspective at an angle from above;





FIG. 16

shows a side support leg of the trailer support with the constituent locking device in a position locked to a profile; and





FIGS. 17-23

show different embodiments of locking devices accommodated in lateral dividing profiles.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




The invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, is in the form of an arrangement


1


and


101


which is arranged for the detachable locking of a cargo


2


and


102


to a deck


3


on board a ship


40


and comprises long lateral dividing profiles


4


,


4




1


, which are capable of being set up on the deck


3


and of being locked to the deck


3


, which profiles are so arranged as to form cargo lanes


5


between pairs of profiles


4


,


4




1


. . . arranged in rows.




Referring to

FIG. 8

, the aforementioned lateral dividing profiles


4


,


4




1


appropriately exhibit in accordance with a number of illustrative embodiments channel-like lock accommodating openings


6


,


7


, which are situated at the lower end


4


A of the profiles to either side of a stand part


8


forming the bottom, from which a number of securing devices


9


project in a direction downwards, appropriately in the form of a laterally extending retaining component


10


attached to an upright


38


which can be tightened from the inside of the profile


4


after the retaining component has been introduced into a match opening in the deck


3


.




In this way, the profile


4


is clamped securely to the deck


3


and forms lane dividers when driving cargo along it on the deck


3


.




The lateral lock-accommodating openings


6


,


7


are adapted in size to accommodate rotatable and/or movable locking devices


151


,


12


from trailer supports


150


and/or cargo cassettes


11


capable of being parked in the cargo lane


5


on the deck. Present on the trailer support


150


and/or the load cassette


11


in question is a mechanism


14


,


154


which is connected to the aforementioned locking device for the purpose of releasing I, CI or locking II, CII the trailer support


150


or the cargo cassette


11


. A cargo vehicle


13


,


113


, which can be driven along and between the profiles


4


,


4




1


, is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism


14


,


154


.




In accordance with the invention illustrated in the drawings in

FIGS. 9-16

, the aforementioned trailer support


150


, which is formed appropriately by a portal-shaped support component with a connecting pin


153


on its underside and internally within it, which pin is capable of detachable attachment to a cargo tractor vehicle


113


of the kind in question, has a mechanism


154


capable of actuation by the tractor vehicle. The aforementioned mechanism is so arranged, as a result of actuation by the cargo tractor vehicle


113


, as to cause the locking devices


151


in the trailer support stand


150


to be moved into a released position CI in which they are disengaged from the profiles


4


,


4




1


. When the cargo tractor vehicle


113


is disconnected from the trailer support, the locking devices


151


in the trailer support


150


are so arranged as to be positively guided into a locked position CII.




Present in conjunction with this is a spring element


161


in the form of a draw spring, which is so arranged, when in the unactuated position by the cargo tractor vehicle


113


, as to cause the locking devices


151


to move to the locked position on CII and into engagement with the profiles


4


,


4




1


and their lock-accommodating openings


6


,


7


in the profiles


4


,


4




1


.




The aforementioned actuating mechanism


154


is formed by an actuating component


155


capable of being pushed in by the cargo tractor vehicle


113


, for example by means of its turntable


182


, situated on the side of a kingpin


153


, which actuating component in the case illustrated here is formed by a vertically guided upright which, with its bottom part


155


A, is attached in an articulating fashion to a pivoting arm


156


. Supported on the top part


155


B of the upright is a rotating pulley wheel


183


, which is so arranged as to extend along a plane extending in the longitudinal median plane


157


of the trailer support


150


. The aforementioned actuating component


155


is attached via cables


159


,


160


to the locking device


151


in question and a spring


161


.




The function of the aforementioned defined arrangement


101


should have been appreciated from the above description, although briefly it functions as follows:




A cargo vehicle


113


reverses in under a trailer support


150


of the kind in question, in conjunction with which the mechanism


154


is caused by the cargo trailer vehicle


113


and its turntable


182


to push in the actuating component


155


. The two cables


159


,


160


, each of which is attached to the axle


164


,


165


of its own deflector pulley


162


,


163


, are tensioned in conjunction with this. The springs


161


, one in each trailer support leg


166


,


167


, normally try to pull on the locking devices


151


so that they adopt their locked position; see FIG.


13


. The locking devices can be in the form of pairs of pivotally mounted blocks


151


, each of which is rigidly attached to its own vertical axle


168


,


169


. Each of the aforementioned axles


168


,


169


is rigidly attached to its own horizontal arm


170


,


171


, which with the help of an articulated connecting link arm


172


, provides simultaneous pivoting of the locking devices


151


.




The link arm


172


has a support


173


, to which the spring


161


and the cables


159


and


160


on the other leg are attached. Pulling on the cable in the direction


174


causes extension of the spring


161


, in conjunction with which the axles


168


,


169


rotate in the locking devices


151


in the associated cavity


175


,


176


in the trailer support legs


166


,


167


, after which the trailer support


150


will rave been released from engagement with the locking devices


151


In the matching lock-accommodating openings


6


,


7


in the profiles


4


,


4


. The cargo trailer


177


can then be connected to its kingpin


178


in a turntable


179


on the top side


150


B of the trailer support


150


.




After the rig has reversed into the ship between the profiles


4


,


4




1


, the cargo tractor vehicle


113


is disconnected from the cargo trailer and the trailer support


150


, in conjunction with which the actuating component


155


is caused to be displaced downwards when the spring


161


relaxes, and the locking devices


151


are caused to pivot out into the locked position. The arrangement


101


thus has a simple and effective function. The rear part of the cargo trailers is attached securely to the deck


3


by means of straps


180


, which are normally kept rolled up in compartments


181


in the profiles.




The nature of the embodiment in accordance with the other drawings


1


-


8


is such that the cargo cassettes


11


exhibit a centrally located space


15


to accommodate a cargo vehicle


13


, which has lifting means enabling a cassette


11


to be hoisted to the desired level for transport or setting down on the deck


3


. Projecting actuating devices


16


-


16




3


are provided and are so arranged as to be actuated by the cargo vehicle


13


as it drives into the inner space of the cassette


15


in both directions of travel


17


,


18


. A rotating component


19


, which is rotatably attached to a rotatable locking device


12


, has a number of such radially projecting pivot pins


16


-


16




3


, which are connected to the rotating component


19


.




The aforementioned cargo vehicle


13


exhibits lateral stops


20


,


21


at each end


13


A,


13


B of the vehicle to either side of it. The aforementioned stops


20


,


21


project laterally in order to come up against an actuating device


16


-


16




3


as the cassette


11


passes internally


15


therein.




One part of a laterally projecting pin


16


-


16




3


attached to the rotating component


19


is guided in such a way as to be capable of actuation in a V-shaped slot


22


in a flat part of the frame


23


of the cassette


11


. The locking device


12


is pivotally


25


connected via a universal joint


24


to a rotating component executed as an axle


19


for the purpose of its lateral displacement.




The V-shaped slot


22


is arranged with its meeting point


26


situated between straight elongated openings


27


,


28


which meet one another and extend upwards at an angle facing in a direction downwards directly in line with an aforementioned laterally projecting pin


16


-


16




3


. The pin


16


-


16




3


is thus capable of actuation by a spring


29


causing it to be positively guided in a downward direction towards the bottom of the aforementioned V-shaped slot


22


, i.e. the aforementioned centrally located meeting point


26


.




The rotating component


19


, which is accommodated internally in a U-shaped frame


30


, which is open in an upward direction, in one side


31


of which a horizontal opening


32


is present, through which pins


16


-


16




3


project laterally, supports a freely moving ring


33


on its external boundary surface


19


A. The ring


33


is provided with, for example, four radially projecting pivot pins


16


-


16




3


. A compression spring


29


is accommodated by the rotating component


19


acting between the upper part


33


A of the ring


33


of the rotating component and a stop


34


located at a higher point for the purpose of producing compression of the aforementioned ring


33


of the rotating component until it is level with the bottom


26


of the V-shapes groove. A slotted sleeve


35


is permanently attached to the under part


33


B of the ring


33


of the rotating component, and a rotation-transmitting component


37


accommodated in the slot


36


is permanently connected to the rotating upright


19


.




The ring


33


of the rotating component is capable of axial movement along a section of the aforementioned upright


9


, but is positively guided in its direction of rotation, in conjunction with which the locking mechanism


14


is so arranged, in conjunction with actuation by a vehicle


13


, as to be positively guided towards locking position II and locking position I when an aforementioned vehicle


13


passes below the cassette


11


, and the pins


16


-


16




3


are caused to rotate with their lateral stops


20


,


21


situated at the front and rear, so that the locking device


12


which is connected to the upright


19


also rotates.




This embodiment should have been appreciated from the above description.




The embodiments in accordance with

FIGS. 17-23

differ from those described above and the illustrative embodiments of the invention shown in earlier Figures. The embodiment shown in

FIGS. 17-21

comprises locking devices in the form of a number of long, rail-like locking profiles


251


which are actuated, for example by jacks, causing them to be displaced horizontally in a direction


252


across the cargo-accommodating lanes


204


in question and the lateral dividing profiles


205


set out in pairs.




A mechanism can thus be provided on the trailer support


250


and/or the load cassette


211


in question or on the lateral dividing profiles


205


in question, which are not shown in the drawings. The aforementioned mechanism is connected to the aforementioned locking device in order to release and lock the-locking device. A cargo vehicle which is capable of being driven along the profiles


205


and between them is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism automatically when the cargo vehicle in question passes the mechanism.




The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the patent claims without departing from the idea of invention.



Claims
  • 1. Arrangement for locking cargo to a deck on board a ship, characterized in that lateral dividing profiles, which are capable of being laid out on the deck and secured thereto, to form loading lanes between pairs of rows of profiles, have lock-accommodating openings to accept movable locking devices from trailer supports being capable of being parked in the loading lane, the profiles are arranged as to interact with trailer supports capable of being parked in the loading lane, connected to the locking device is a mechanism for the purpose of releasing and locking the locking device, the trailer supports are capable of detachable attachment to a cargo vehicle which can be driven along and between the profiles, and is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism, the trailer support, which is formed appropriately by a portal-shaped component with a connecting plate capable of detachable attachment to a cargo vehicle, has a mechanism capable of actuation by the cargo vehicle, which is so arranged, as a result of actuation by the cargo vehicle, as to cause the locking devices in the trailer support to be moved into a released position in which they are disengaged from the profiles and in that, when the cargo vehicle is disconnecting from the trailer support, the locking devices in the trailer support are so arranged as to be positively guided into a locked position.
  • 2. Arrangement in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that a spring element is present, which is so arranged, when in the unactuated position by the cargo vehicle, as to cause the locking devices to move to the locked position and into engagement with the profiles and the lock-accommodating openings in the profiles.
  • 3. Arrangement in accordance with claim 2, characterized in that actuating mechanism is formed by an actuating component, capable of being pushed in by the cargo vehicle, which is attached via cables to the locking device and a spring.
  • 4. Arrangement for locking cargo to a deck on board a ship, characterized in that lateral dividing profiles, which are capable of being laid out on the deck and secured thereto to form loading lanes between pairs of rows of profiles, have lock-accommodating openings to accept movable locking devices from cargo cassettes being capable of being parked in the loading lane, the lateral dividing profiles, are so arranged as to interact with the cargo cassettes capable of being parked in the loading lane, connected to the locking device is a mechanism for the purpose of releasing or locking a cargo vehicle which can be driven along and between the profiles and is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism when the cargo vehicle passes the mechanism and that the cargo cassettes have actuating devices projecting laterally inwards into a centrally located space of the cassette to accommodate a cargo vehicle as it passes through the internal spaces of the cassettes in both directions of travel.
  • 5. Arrangement in accordance with claim 4 wherein the locking devices are rotatable.
  • 6. Arrangement in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that the cargo vehicle exhibits stops at each end, which project laterally to contact the mechanism as the cassettes pass internally therein.
  • 7. Arrangement in accordance with claim 6, characterized in that a rotating component, which is rotatably attached to the locking device, has a number of radially projecting pins which are connected to the rotating component.
  • 8. Arrangement in accordance with claim 7, characterized in that the one part of a laterally projecting pin attached to the rotating component is guided in such a way as to be capable of actuation in a v-shaped slot, in a part of the frame of the cassette.
  • 9. Arrangement in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the v-shaped slot is arranged with its meeting point situated between straight elongated openings which meet one another and face downwards directly in line with a laterally projecting pin, in conjunction with which the pin is so arranged as to be capable of actuation by a spring causing it to be positively guided in the direction towards the bottom of the V-shaped slot, at centrally located meeting point.
  • 10. Arrangement in accordance with claim 8, characterized in that the locking device is connected via a universal joint to the rotating component, and an axle.
  • 11. Arrangement in accordance with claim 4, characterized in that a rotating component, which is rotatably attached to the locking device, has a plurality of radially projecting pins which are connected to the rotating component.
  • 12. Arrangement in accordance with claim 11, characterized in the one part of a laterally projecting pin attached to the rotating component is guided in such a way as to be capable of actuation in a v-shaped slot, in a part of the frame of the cassette.
  • 13. Arrangement in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that the locking device is connected via a universal joint to the rotating component, wherein said rotating component is an axle.
  • 14. Arrangement in accordance with claim 13, characterized in that the v-shaped slot is arranged with its meeting point situated between straight elongated openings which meet one another and face downwards directly in line with a laterally projecting pin, in conjunction with which the pin is so arranged as to be capable of actuation by a spring causing it to be positively guided in the direction towards the bottom of the V-shaped slot, at a centrally located meeting point.
  • 15. Arrangement in accordance with claim 12, characterized in that the v-shaped slot is arranged with its meeting point situated between straight elongated openings which meet one another and face downwards directly in line with the laterally projecting pin, in conjunction with which the pin is so arranged as to be capable of actuation by a spring causing it to be positively guided in the direction towards the bottom of the V-shaped slot, at the centrally locked meeting point.
  • 16. Arrangement in accordance with claim 15, characterized in that the rotating component supports a freely moving ring with pins projecting diametrically away from one another and with a compression spring acting between the upper part of the ring of the rotating component, in that a rotation-transmitting component accommodated in a slot is permanently connected to the rotating upright, and in that the ring of the rotating component is capable of axial movement along a section of the, but is positively guided towards a locking position and an unlocking position when a vehicle passes below the cassette.
  • 17. Arrangement for locking cargo to a deck on board a ship, characterized in that lateral dividing profiles, which are capable of being laid out on the deck and secured thereto to form loading lanes between pairs of rows of profiles, have locking devices capable of lateral displacement from lateral dividing profiles which are so arranged as to interact with a lockable load capable of being parked in the loading lane, connected to the locking device is a mechanism for the purpose of releasing or locking the locking device to the lockable load that can be driven along and between the profiles and is so arranged as to actuate the mechanism when the lockable load passes the mechanism, the locking devices are capable of interacting with lock-accommodating devices on the lockable load.
  • 18. Arrangement in accordance with claim 17, characterized in that the locking devices are capable of being accommodated in matching lock-accommodating openings in the load.
  • 19. Arrangement in accordance with claim 17, wherein the locking devices are capable of being accommodated in matching lock-accommodating devices in the form of grooved side rails.
  • 20. Arrangement in accordance with claim 19, characterized in that the locking devices are capable of being accommodated in matching lock-accommodating devices in the load.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
9901587 May 1999 SE
PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/SE00/00856 WO 00
Publishing Document Publishing Date Country Kind
WO00/66421 11/9/2000 WO A
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Number Name Date Kind
2634988 Porte Apr 1953 A
2637453 Cleveland May 1953 A
2902247 Loomis et al. Sep 1959 A
3392944 Wyrough Jul 1968 A
4068813 Chatwin et al. Jan 1978 A
4077590 Shorey Mar 1978 A
4089539 Berger May 1978 A
4805859 Hudson Feb 1989 A
4929133 Wiseman May 1990 A
6210088 Crosby Apr 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number Date Country
74913 Dec 1987 FI
60163788 Aug 1985 JP
9730890 Aug 1987 WO