BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a container connector in accordance with a container
loading and fastening technique. The connector in accordance with the present invention
is used in the case of loading a plurality of containers vertically, or the case of
fixing the containers on a deck panel of a ship.
Description of the Conventional Art
[0002] Conventionally, as described in the following patent document 1 and the like, there
has been known a container connector provided with an upper cone engaging with a lower
corner casting provided in a lower surface of an upper container (in the case of loading
a plurality of containers vertically), or a lower corner casting provided in a lower
surface of the container (in the case of fixing the containers onto a deck panel of
a ship), and a lower cone engaging with an upper corner casting provided in an upper
surface of a lower container (in the case of loading a plurality of containers vertically)
or a socket provided on the deck board of the ship (in the case of fixing the containers
on the deck board of the ship), and structured such that the upper and lower cones
are provided respectively at an upper end or a lower end of rotation shaft, and are
inserted to the corner casting or the socket from an engagement hole of the corner
casting or the socket, whereby the cone is engaged with an inner edge of the engagement
hole at a time of rotating to an engagement position from an engagement release position.
Therefore, in accordance with this structure, extremely powerful container fastening
force is achieved. On the contrary, since the cone can not be detached from the corner
casting or the socket until the cone is rotated in accordance with a manual operation,
a load discharging work of the container involves a lot of trouble.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-23514
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0003] The present invention is made by taking the point mentioned above into consideration,
and an object of the present invention is to provide a container connector which can
detach a lower cone from an upper corner casting of a lower container or a socket
on a deck board without rotating the lower cone in accordance with a manual operation,
whereby it is possible to improve a workability of load discharging. In addition,
an object of the present invention is to provide a container connector which can achieve
fastening force which is equal to the conventional cone rotation engagement structure
as occasion demands.
Means for Solving the Problem
[0004] In order to achieve the object mentioned above, in accordance with claim 1 of the
present invention, there is provided a container connector comprising:
a case integrally formed with fit portions which are fitted and inserted to upper
and lower sides of a plate-like support panel portion arranged so as to be sandwiched
between a lower corner casting of an upper container and an upper corner casting of
a lower container or between a lower corner casting of a container and a socket on
a deck board in a state of being prevented from rotating with respect to an engagement
hole of the corner casting or the socket respectively;
a shaft inserted rotatably into the cases;
an upper cone provided at an upper end of the shaft and inserted into the lower corner
casting;
a lower cone provided at a lower end of the shaft and inserted into the upper corner
casting or the socket;
a shaft rotation operating means rotating the shaft in one rotating direction in accordance
with a manual operation;
a restoring spring rotating the shaft so as to restore; and
a shaft rotation stopping means stopping the shaft at a predetermined rotational position
in accordance with a manual operation,
wherein the upper cone has a rotation engagement structure in which the upper cone
engages with an inner edge of an engagement hole at a time when the upper cone is
inserted into the lower corner casting so as to rotate from an engagement release
position to an engagement position,
wherein the lower cone has a rotation engagement structure in which the lower cone
engages with the inner edge of the engagement hole at a time when the lower cone is
inserted to the upper corner casting or the socket so as to rotate from an engagement
release position to an engagement position, and a non-rotatable second engagement
structure in which a projection-like engagement portion provided in one side surface
of the cone engages with the inner edge of the engagement hole even if it does not
rotate at a time of being inserted into the upper corner casting or the socket,
wherein a lower portion of the engagement portion is provided with an inclined surface
shaped first guide surface allowing the engagement portion to pass through the engagement
hole by sliding with respect to an outer edge of the engagement hole of the upper
corner casting or the socket at a time of installing so as to actuate the second engagement
structure, thereby displacing the lower cone on a plane with respect to the engagement
hole,
wherein a lower fit portion is provided with an inclined surface shaped second guide
surface moving the engagement portion to a position at which it engages with the inner
edge of the engagement hole by sliding with respect to the outer edge of the engagement
hole of the upper corner casting or the socket after passing through the engagement
portion so as to restore and move the displaced lower cone,
wherein an upper portion of the engagement portion is provided with an inclined surface
shaped third guide surface allowing the engagement portion to pass through the engagement
hole by sliding with respect to the inner edge of the engagement hole of the upper
corner casting or the socket at a time of detaching so as to displace the lower cone
on a plane with respect to the engagement hole,
wherein the shaft is structured such as to be stoppable at a first rotation stop position
and a second rotation stop position having different angles of rotation from each
other,
wherein the rotation engagement structure of the upper cone exists at the engagement
position, the rotation engagement structure of the lower cone exists at an engagement
release position, and the second engagement structure is capable of actuating while
the engagement portion is opposed forward to the engagement hole, at the first rotation
stop position,
wherein both the rotation engagement structure of the upper cone and the rotation
engagement structure of the lower cone exists at the engagement position, at the second
rotation stop position,
wherein at a time of a stationary use of the connector, the shaft stops at the first
rotation stop position, and the lower cone automatically engages with the upper corner
casting or the socket by the second engagement structure, and automatically disengages
therefrom, and
wherein at a time of reinforcing fastening force of the connector, the shaft stops
at the second rotation stop position, and the lower cone engages with the upper corner
casting or the socket by the rotation engagement structure.
[0005] Further, in accordance with claim 2 of the present invention, there is provided a
container connector as recited in claim 1 mentioned above, wherein the restoring spring
is set to a neutral state at the first rotation stop position of the shaft.
[0006] Further, in accordance with claim 3 of the present invention, there is provided a
container connector as recited in claim 1 mentioned above, wherein the second engagement
structure of the lower cone is structured such that the projection shaped engagement
portion provided in one side surface of the lower cone engages with one longitudinal
edge of the engagement hole of the upper corner casting or the socket, and the shaft
is arranged so as to be eccentric in a direction coming close to the edge with respect
to the center of the engagement hole, in a state in which the fit portion is fitted
to the engagement hole, for setting a depth of engagement of the engagement portion
with respect to the edge large.
[0007] Further, in accordance with claim 4 of the present invention, there is provided a
container connector as recited in claim 1 mentioned above, wherein the second engagement
structure of the lower cone is structured such that a projection shaped engagement
portion provided in one side surface of the lower cone engages with one longitudinal
edge of the engagement hole of the upper corner casting or the socket, the shaft is
arranged so as to be eccentric in a direction coming close to the edge with respect
to the center of the engagement hole in a state in which the fit portion is fitted
to the engagement hole, for setting a depth of engagement of the engagement portion
with respect to the edge large, the rotation engagement structure of the upper cone
is structured such that one end portion in a longitudinal direction of the upper cone
engages with one longitudinal edge of the engagement hole and the other end portion
in the longitudinal direction engages with the other longitudinal edge of the engagement
hole, and a length from the center of the shaft to one end portion in a longitudinal
direction of the upper cone and a length from the center of the shaft to the other
end portion in a longitudinal direction of the upper cone are set such that the one
arranged at the opposite side is set larger than the one arranged in an eccentric
direction of the shaft at a time of engaging, for setting engagement areas of both
end portions with respect to both the edges large.
[0008] Further, in accordance with claim 5 of the present invention, there is provided a
container connector as recited in claim 1 mentioned above, wherein the second engagement
structure of the lower cone is structured such that a projection shaped engagement
portion provided in one side surface of the lower cone engages with one longitudinal
edge of the engagement hole of the upper corner casting or the socket, the shaft is
arranged so as to be eccentric in a direction coming close to the edge with respect
to the center of the engagement hole in a state in which the fit portion is fitted
to the engagement hole, for setting a depth of engagement of the engagement portion
with respect to the edge large, the rotation engagement structure of the upper cone
is structured such that one endportion in a longitudinal direction of the upper cone
engages with one longitudinal edge of the engagement hole and the other end portion
in the longitudinal direction engages with the other longitudinal edge of the engagement
hole, and a length from the center of the shaft to one end portion in a short axial
direction of the upper cone and a length from the center of the shaft to the other
endportion in a short axial direction of the upper cone are set such that the one
arranged at the opposite side is set larger than the one arranged in an eccentric
direction of the shaft at a time of engaging, for setting engagement areas of both
end portions with respect to both the edges large.
[0009] Further, in accordance with claim 6 of the present invention, there is provided a
container connector as recited in claim 1 mentioned above, wherein the second engagement
structure of the lower cone is structured such that a projection shaped engagement
portion provided in one side surface of the lower cone engages with one longitudinal
edge of the engagement hole of the upper corner casting or the socket, the shaft is
arranged so as to be eccentric in a direction coming close to the edge with respect
to the center of the engagement hole in a state in which the fit portion is fitted
to the engagement hole, for setting a depth of engagement of the engagement portion
with respect to the edge large, the rotation engagement structure of the lower cone
is structured such that one end portion in a longitudinal direction of the lower cone
engages with one longitudinal edge of the engagement hole and the other end portion
in the longitudinal direction engages with the other longitudinal edge of the engagement
hole, and a length from the center of the shaft to one end portion in a longitudinal
direction of the lower cone and a length from the center of the shaft to the other
end portion in a longitudinal direction of the lower cone are set such that the one
arranged at the opposite side is set larger than the one arranged in an eccentric
direction of the shaft at a time of engaging, for setting engagement areas of both
end portions with respect to both the edges large.
[0010] The connector in accordance with the present invention having the structure mentioned
above has two different engagement structures including the rotation engagement structure
engaging the lower cone with the upper corner casting or the socket by rotating, and
the non-rotatable second engagement structure engaging the lower cone with the upper
corner casting or the socket without rotating, with regard to the structure for engaging
the lower cone with the upper corner casting of the lower container or the socket
on the deck board.
[0011] The former rotation engagement structure is structured such that the lower cone engages
with the inner edge of the engagement hole at a time when the lower cone is inserted
into the upper corner casting or the socket and rotates from the engagement release
position to the engagement position, extremely powerful fastening force can be achieved
in the same manner as the prior art mentioned above, however, on the other hand, the
lower cone can not be detached from the upper corner casting or the socket until the
lower cone is rotated in accordance with a manual operation.
[0012] On the other hand, the latter non-rotatable second engagement structure is structured
such that the projection shaped engagement portion provided in the side surface of
the cone engages with the inner edge of the engagement hole even if the lower cone
does not rotate at a time when it is inserted into the upper corner casting or the
socket, and fastening force is smaller than the former rotation engagement structure.
However, on the contrary, the lower cone can be automatically detached from the upper
corner casting or the socket even if the lower cone is not rotated in accordance with
a manual operation.
[0013] Accordingly, it is possible to improve a workability of load discharging work and
secure fastening force required in response to a condition, by selectively using the
latter second engagement structure having a good workability of load discharging in
spite of comparatively small fastening force at a stationary time, and using the former
rotation engagement structure having great fastening force only at an emergency time
when a swing of a ship is large such as a heavy weather time or the like, for example.
[0014] A mechanism for engaging and disengaging the latter second engagement structure is
structured as follows.
[0015] In this case, the connector in accordance with the present invention is used in the
case of loading a plurality of containers vertically or fixing the containers on the
deck board as mentioned above, however, a description will be given below of the former
case that a plurality of containers are loaded vertically, in the following description
of "means for solving the problem". In the latter case that the containers are fixed
onto the deck board, "container", "lower corner casting of the container", "on the
deck board" and "socket on the deck board" are substituted for "upper container",
"lower corner casting of the upper container", "lower container" and "upper corner
casting of the lower container" in the following description, respectively.
[0016] In particular, the lower cone is provided at the lower end of the rotation shaft,
and the lower cone is arranged below the lower fit portion of the case. The lower
cone is structured such as to be activated as the rotation engagement structure by
being rotated, and is provided with the following second engagement structure which
is activated without rotating at an engagement release position thereof.
[0017] First of all, a projection shaped engagement portion is provided in one end surface
of the lower cone, and the engagement portion engages with the edge of the engagement
hole of the upper corner casting of the lower container from its inner side, whereby
the lower cone is prevented from coming off with respect to the upper corner casting
of the lower container. The engagement portion is a projection protruding in a lateral
direction, and an upper surface thereof engages with the inner edge of the engagement
hole.
[0018] Further, an inclined surface shaped first guide surface is provided in a lower portion
of the engagement portion, and an also inclined surface shaped second guide surface
is provided in the lower fit portion. The first and second guide surfaces are activated
as follows at a time when the upper cone is engaged with the lower corner casting
of the upper container, the connector is installed to the upper container, the upper
container is suspended by a crane, and the lower cone is engaged with the upper corner
casting of the lower container.
[0019] Since the projection shaped engagement portion provided in the one side surface of
the lower cone engages with the edge of the engagement hole of the upper corner casting
of the lower container from its inner side as mentioned above, the engagement portion
interferes with the outer edge of the engagement hole in the case of being brought
down from the position which is straightly above the engagement position. Accordingly,
the lower cone can not be inserted to the upper corner casting of the lower container.
Therefore, the first guide surface is provided in the lower portion of the engagement
portion, and the first guide surface slides with respect to the outer edge of the
engagement hole of the upper corner casting of the lower container, thereby displacing
the lower cone on the plane with respect to the engagement hole so as to allow the
engagement portion to pass through the engagement hole. Accordingly, the engagement
portion passes through the engagement hole, and the lower cone is inserted into the
upper corner casting of the lower container. Further, the second guide surface is
provided in the lower fit portion, and the second guide surface slides with respect
to the outer edge of the engagement hole of the upper corner casting of the lower
container after passing through the engagement portion, thereby restoring the displaced
lower cone so as to move the engagement portion to a position at which it engages
with the inner edge of the engagement hole. Accordingly, the engagement portion gets
into under the edge of the engagement hole, and can engage with the edge of the engagement
hole from its inner side.
[0020] Further, a third guide surface formed in an inclined surface shape is provided in
an upper portion of the engagement portion, and the third guide surface is activated
as follows at a time of detaching the lower cone from the upper corner casting of
the lower container.
[0021] If a come-off load having a magnitude which is equal to or more than a predetermined
value is applied to the lower cone, by drawing up the upper container by the crane,
the third guide surface slides with respect to the inner edge of the engagement hole
of the upper corner casting of the lower container, thereby displacing the lower cone
on a plane with respect to the engagement hole so as to allow the engagement portion
to pass through the engagement hole. Accordingly, the engagement portion passes through
the engagement hole in a come-off direction, and the lower cone comes off from the
upper corner casting of the lower container.
[0022] As is known from the actuation mentioned above, the engagement made by the second
engagement structure is set such that it does not come off at a time when the come-off
load having the magnitude which is less than the predetermined value is applied, but
comes off at a time when the come-off load having the magnitude which is equal to
or more than the predetermined value is applied. Accordingly, comparatively small
fastening force as mentioned above is achieved.
[0023] The connector having two different engagement structures with regard to the lower
cone is used as follows.
Stationary time
[0024] The connector is installed to the lower corner casting of the lower surface of the
upper container in the state in which it is suspended by the crane by means of the
upper cone in accordance with a manual operation. When this work is started, the shaft
exists, for example, at the first rotation stop position or the second rotation stop
position. A description will be given below of the case that the shaft exists at the
first rotation stop position. In the case that the shaft exists at the first rotation
stop position, the upper cone exists at the engaged position and the lower cone exists
at the engagement release position with regard to the rotational positions of the
upper and lower cones. Next, the upper container is moved just above the lower container
and is brought down straightly, by operating the crane as the work. Then, a sliding
motion of the first guide surface and a sliding motion of the second guide surface
in the second engagement structure are sequentially carried out, and the lower cone
is automatically engaged with the upper corner casting of the lower container. Accordingly,
the loading work is finished, and the upper and lower containers are coupled by comparatively
small fastening force. The coupled state of the upper and lower containers is kept
as long as a navigation of the container loaded ship is favored by good weather or
the like, and does not fall on an emergency such as a heavy weather or the like. Next,
the upper container is drawn upward straightly from the lower container by the crane
at a time when the ship arrives at a destination so as to discharge the load. Then,
the sliding motion of the third guide surface in the second engagement structure is
carried out, and the lower cone is automatically detached from the upper corner casting
of the lower container. Accordingly, since it is not necessary to manually operate
to rotate the lower cone as is different from the prior art mentioned above, it is
possible to make the load discharging work easy at this degree. Next, the upper cone
is detached manually from the lower corner casting in the lower surface of the upper
container in a state of being suspended by the crane.
Emergency time
[0025] In the case of falling on the emergency time, for example, the heavy weather or the
like during the course mentioned above, the coupled state of the upper and lower containers
is changed from the comparatively smaller fastening force generated by the second
engagement structure to the comparatively larger fastening force generated by the
rotation coupling structure, in accordance with a judgment of a crew member. In particular,
the crew member manually operates the shaft rotation operating means so as to rotate
the shaft in one rotating direction, and stops the shaft at the second rotation stop
position by the shaft rotation stopping means. Then, the upper cone rests at the engaged
position, and on the other hand, the lower cone is changed from the engagement release
position to the engaged position,thereby achievingextremely powerful fastening force
by which the lower cone engages with the inner edge of the engagement hole. Accordingly,
even if the ship swings widely, it is possible to prevent a load collapse, a loss
of flow accident of the container and the like from being caused. Next, after finishing
the emergency time or after reaching the destination, the shaft rotation stopping
means is released manually, the shaft is rotated so as to restore by the restoring
spring, and the lower cone is returned to the engagement release position. If the
upper container is pulled upward straightly from the lower container by a crane in
this state, the sliding motion of the third guide surface in the second engagement
structure is carried out, and the lower cone is automatically detached from the upper
corner casting of the lower container. Next, the upper cone is detached from the lower
corner casting in the lower surface of the upper container in the state of being suspended
by the crane in accordance with a manual work.
[0026] Accordingly, it is possible to improve a workability of load discharging work in
accordance with an intended purpose and secure fastening force required in response
to a condition, by selectively using them as mentioned above.
[0027] In the case that the shaft exists at the second rotation stop position as an initial
motion position, at a time of starting the work at the stationary time mentioned above,
there is added a work for rotating the shaft from the second rotation stop position
to the first rotation stop position in such a manner that the lower cone automatically
engages with the upper corner casting of the lower container on the basis of the second
engagement structure, in a stage of installing the connector to the lower corner casting
in the lower surface of the upper container.
[0028] As shown by the actuations at the stationary time and the emergency time, the state
in which the shaft stops at the first rotation stop position is set to a basic state,
a time for which the shaft is left in this state is long. Accordingly, with regard
to the restoring spring rotating so as to restore the shaft, it is possible to lower
a load applied to the restoring spring by setting a neutral state (a free state in
which the shaft does not elastically deform) at a time when the shaft is at the first
rotation stop position (claim 2).
[0029] Further, since the second engagement structure of the lower cone is structured such
that the projection shaped engagement portion provided in one side surface of the
lower cone engages with one longitudinal edge of the engagement hole of the upper
corner casting of the lower container as mentioned above, it is possible to set the
depth of engagement of the engagement portion with respect to the one longitudinal
edge large, by arranging the shaft so as to be eccentric in the direction coming close
to the one longitudinal edge with respect to the center of the engagement hole, in
the installed state, that is, in the state in which the fit portion of the case is
fitted to the engagement hole of the corner casting. Accordingly, engagement force
of the proj ection-shaped engagement portion with respect to the corner casting is
increased (claim 3).
[0030] In this case, if the shaft is arranged so as to be eccentric in the direction coming
close to the one longitudinal edge of the engagement hole as mentioned above, the
upper cone is arranged eccentrically in accordance with this. Therefore, in the rotation
engagement structure of the upper cone, if the length from the center of the shaft
in the planar shape of the upper cone to the one end portion in the longitudinal direction
of the upper cone is equal to the length from the center of the shaft to the other
end portion in the longitudinal direction of the upper cone, there is a case that
an area of engagement with respect to the corner casting of the upper cone can not
be set large. Then, in accordance with the present invention, as described in claim
4 as the further preferable structure, with regard to the dimensional relationship
in the longitudinal direction in the planar shape of the upper cone, the length from
the center of the shaft to the one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the
upper cone and the length from the center of the shaft to the other end portion in
the longitudinal direction of the upper cone are set such that the one arranged at
the opposite side is larger than the one arranged in the eccentric direction of the
shaft at a time of engaging, thereby enlarging the area of engagement.
[0031] Further, same applies to the dimensional relationship in the short axial direction
in the planar shape of the upper cone, the length from the center of the shaft to
the one end portion in the short axial direction of the upper cone and the length
from the center of the shaft to the other end portion in the short axial direction
of the upper cone are set such that the one arranged at the opposite side is larger
than the one arranged in the eccentric direction of the shaft at a time of engaging,
thereby enlarging the area of engagement, as described in claim 5.
[0032] Further, same applies to the rotation engagement structure of the lower cone, the
length from the center of the shaft to the one end portion in the longitudinal direction
of the lower cone and the length from the center of the shaft to the other end portion
in the longitudinal direction of the lower cone are set such that the one arranged
at the opposite side is larger than the one arranged in the eccentric direction of
the shaft at a time of engaging, thereby enlarging the area of engagement, as described
in claim 6.
[0033] Therefore, in accordance with these structures, since the area of engagement is enlarged
with respect to the corner castings of the upper and lower cones, it is possible to
increase the engaging force, that is, the container fastening force.
Effect of the Invention
[0034] The present invention achieves the following effects.
[0035] In accordance with the present invention having the structure mentioned above, as
mentioned above, with regard to the structure in which the lower cone is engaged with
the upper corner casting of the lower container or the socket on the deck board, it
is possible to improve the workability of the load discharging work and secure the
fastening force required in response to the condition, by having two different engagement
structures including the rotation engagement structure rotating the lower cone, and
the non-rotatable second engagement structure which does not rotate the lower cone,
and selectively using them.
[0036] Further, in addition to this, in accordance with the structure of claim 2, it is
possible to lower the load applied to the restoring spring. In accordance with the
structures of claims 3 to 6, it is possible to increase the force of engagement with
respect to the corner castings of the upper and lower cones, and consequently increase
the container fastening force.
BRIEF EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS
[0037]
Fig. 1 is a front view of a container connector in accordance with a first embodiment
of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container connector;
Fig. 3 is a right side view of the container connector;
Fig. 4 is a left side view of the container connector;
Fig. 5 is a plan sectional view of the container connector;
Fig. 6 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of upper and lower cones;
Fig. 7 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of the upper and lower cones;
Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of the upper and lower cones;
Fig. 9 is an explanatory view of an operating state of the container connector;
Fig. 10 is an explanatory view of an operating state of the container connector;
Fig. 11 is an explanatory view of an operating state of the container connector;
Fig. 12 is an explanatory view of an operating state of the container connector;
Figs. 13A and 13B are explanatory views of an engagement area of the upper cone;
Figs. 14A and 14B are explanatory views of an engagement area of the lower cone;
Fig. 15 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of upper and lower cones in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 16 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of the upper and lower cones
in accordance with the embodiment;
Fig. 17 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of upper and lower cones in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and
Fig. 18 is an explanatory view of a rotation position of the upper and lower cones
in accordance with the embodiment.
[0038] Description of Reference Numerals
- 1
- connector
- 2
- case
- 2a
- support panel portion
- 2b, 2c
- fit portion
- 2d
- stopper portion
- 3
- shaft
- 3a
- contact portion
- 4
- upper cone
- 4a, 5a
- engagement end portion
- 4b
- cam surface
- 4c, 4d, 5f, 5g
- end portion in longitudinal direction
- 4e, 4f
- end portion in short axial direction
- 5
- lower cone
- 5b
- engagement portion
- 5c
- first guide surface
- 5d
- second guide surface
- 5e
- third guide surface
- 6
- shaft rotation operating means
- 7
- wire
- 8
- grip
- 9
- piece member
- 10
- restoring spring
- 11
- shaft rotation stopping means
- 12
- mouth piece member
- 12a, 12b
- notch
- 13
- compression spring
- 21
- upper container
- 22
- lower corner casting
- 23, 26
- engagement hole
- 24
- lower container
- 25
- upper corner casting
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0039] Next, a description will be given of embodiments in accordance with the present invention
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First Embodiment
[0040] Fig. 1 shows a front view of a container connector in accordance with a first embodiment
of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows a plan view, Fig. 3 shows a right side view,
Fig. 4 shows a left side view, and Fig. 5 shows a plan sectional view, respectively.
Further, Figs. 6 to 8 show explanatory views of rotation positions of upper and lower
cones, and Figs. 9 to 12 show explanatory views of operating states of the container
connector, respectively. The connector may be called as a container fastening twist
lock on the basis of its function and construction. In this case, the following description
in a column "embodiment" will be given of a case that a plurality of containers are
loaded vertically. Accordingly, in the case that the container is fixed on a deck
board, "container", "lower corner casting of the container", "on the deck board" and
"socket on the deck board" are substituted for "upper container", "lower corner casting
of the upper container", "lower container" and "upper corner casting of the lower
container" in the following description, respectively.
[0041] As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, first of all, a connector 1 has, as a basic structure,
a case 2 in which upper and lower fit portions 2b and 2c fitted into engagement holes
23 and 26 of corner castings 22 and 25 in a rotation prevented state are integrally
formed respectively at upper and lower sides of a plate-like support panel portion
2a arranged in such a manner as to be sandwiched between the lower corner casting
22 of an upper container 21 and the upper corner casting 25 (refer to Fig. 9) of a
lower container 24, a shaft (a rotation shaft) 3 which is inserted to the case 2 so
as to be rotatable in a vertical direction, an upper cone 4 which is provided at an
upper end of the shaft 3 and is inserted into the lower corner casting 22 of the upper
container 21, a lower cone 5 which is provided at a lower end of the shaft 3 and is
inserted into the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24, a shaft rotation
operating means 6 which rotates the shaft 3 in one rotating direction (a counterclockwise
direction as seen from the above) in accordance with a manual operation, a restoring
spring 10 which rotates the shaft 3 in a restoring direction (a clockwise direction
as seen from the above), and a shaft rotation stopping means 11 which stops the shaft
3 at a predetermined rotated position (a second rotation stop position (Fig. 7) and
a third rotation stop position (Fig. 8) described below in this embodiment) in accordance
with a manual operation.
[0042] The lower corner casting 22 of the upper container 21 is attached to a lower surface
of the upper container 21 in the upper and lower containers 21 and 24 which are loaded
together, as shown in Fig. 9, and is formed hollow in its inner portion as well as
having an engagement hole 23 which is open to a lower surface. The engagement hole
23 is formed in a rectangular shape (a shape in which a length in one direction on
a plane is longer than a length in an orthogonal direction thereto, such definition
being applied hereunder too) in its opening shape so as to have a directionality with
regard to an installation of the connector 1 (insertion of the fit portion 2b and
the cone 4) as shown in Fig. 6 by a broken line, and an upper fit portion 2b of the
case 2 which is also formed in a rectangular shape on a plane is fitted thereto in
a state in which it is aligned in the direction so as to be prevented from rotating.
[0043] The upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24 is structured such as to be
attached to an upper surface of the lower container 24 in the upper and lower containers
21 and 24 which are loaded together, as shown also in Fig. 9, and is formed hollow
in its inner portion as well as having an engagement hole 26 which is open to an upper
surface. The engagement hole 26 is formed in a rectangular shape in its opening shape
and has a directionality with regard to an installation of the connector 1, as shown
by a dotted line in Fig. 6, and a lower fit portion 2c of the case 2 which is also
formed in a rectangular shape on a plane is fitted thereto in a state in which it
is aligned in the direction so as to be prevented from rotating.
[0044] The case 2 integrally provided with the support panel portion 2a and the upper and
lower fit portions 2b and 2c is divided into two right and left pieces as seen from
a front face as a part, and the right and left halves are fastened to each other by
bolts.
[0045] The shaft 3 rotatably inserted to the case 2 stops on the basis of a contact of an
arm-shaped contact portion 3a provided on an outer peripheral surface thereof with
a stopper portion 2d provided in an inner surface of the case 2, in an inner portion
of the case 2 as shown in Fig. 5, and a stop position in a state in which the contact
portion 3a comes into contact with the stopper portion 2d is a first rotation stop
position of the shaft 3 and is set to an initial motion position (Fig. 6) thereof.
Since the case 2 is structured such as to be divided into two right and left pieces
as mentioned above, a shape of the shaft 3 is simplified, and is accordingly formed
by a forging having a high strength instead of a casting.
[0046] The upper cone 4 is formed by using a plane rectangular shape as a keynote, and has
a directionality with regard to the insertion to the engagement hole 23. Further,
the upper cone 4 has a rotation engagement structure in which engagement end portions
4a at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cone 4 respectively engage with
edges of the engagement hole 23 from an inner side thereof at a time of being inserted
to the lower corner casting 22 of the upper container 21 so as to rotate from an engagement
release position (an open position, Fig. 8) to an engagement position (a lock position,
Fig. 6 or 7). Further, an upper portion of the upper cone 4 is provided with a cam
surface 4b which automatically rotates the cone 4 from an engagement position (an
initial motion position, Fig. 6) to an engagement release position (Fig. 8) by sliding
with an outer edge of the engagement hole 23 at a time of pressing the cone 4 existing
at the engagement position (the initial motion position, Fig. 6) to the outer edge
of the engagement hole 23 of the lower corner casting 22 of the upper container 21,
in the case of installing the upper cone 4 to the lower corner casting 22 of the upper
container 21.
[0047] The lower cone 5 is formed by using a plane rectangular shape as a keynote, and has
a directionality with regard to the insertion to the engagement hole 26. Further,
the lower cone 5 has a rotation engagement structure in which engagement end portions
5a at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the cone 5 respectively engage with
edges of the engagement hole 26 from an inner side thereof at a time of being inserted
to the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24 so as to rotate from an engagement
release position (which is an engagement release position of the rotation engagement
structure but is not an engagement release position of a second engagement structure,
Fig. 6) to the engagement position (Fig. 7), and further has a non-rotatable second
engagement structure in which a projection-shaped engagement portion 5b provided in
one side surface (one longitudinal side surface) of the cone 5 engages with the edge
(one longitudinal edge) of the engagement hole 26 from an inner side thereof, even
if it does not rotated at a time of being inserted to the upper corner casting 25
of the lower container 24.
[0048] In order to actuate the second engagement structure, a lower portion of the projection-shaped
engagement portion 5b is provided with an inclined surface shaped first guide surface
5c which displaces the lower cone 5 on a plane with respect to the engagement hole
26 so as to allow the engagement portion 5b to pass through the engagement hole 26,
by sliding with respect to the outer edge of the engagement hole 26 of the upper corner
casting 25 of the lower container 24 at a time of installing. Further, a side surface
at an opposite side to the lower fit portion 2c is provided with an inclined surface
shaped second guide surface 5d which returns the displaced lower cone 5 so as to move
the engagement portion 5b to a position engaging with the inner edge of the engagement
hole 26, by sliding with respect to the outer edge of the engagement hole 26 of the
upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24 after the engagement portion 5b
passes through the engagement hole 26. Further, an upper portion of the engagement
portion 5b is provided with an inclined surface shaped third guide surface 5e which
again displaces the lower cone 5 on a plane with respect to the engagement hole 26
so as to allow the engagement portion 5b to pass through the engagement hole 26 in
a come-off direction, by sliding with respect to the inner edge of the engagement
hole 26 of the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24 at a time of detaching.
These guide surfaces 5c, 5d and 5e are all formed in a flat shape, and accordingly
slide in a line contact state with respect to the linear edge of the engagement hole
26.
[0049] Comparing the rotation engagement structure in the lower cone 5 with the non-rotatable
second engagement structure, they have such a relationship that engagement force (fastening
force) is larger in the former rotation engagement structure, and the engagement force
(the fastening force) is smaller in the latter second engagement structure. In comparison
with the engagement in accordance with the former rotation engagement structure, since
the engagement portion with the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24
is biased to one side and the engagement area is small in the latter second engagement
structure, the corner casting 25 becomes a bottle neck on a structure strength, and
a yield point of changing from an elastic deformation to a plastic deformation and
a breaking load become lower than those of the rotation engagement structure. Accordingly,
a possibility that a residual deformation is caused in the corner casting 25 at a
time of falling on a heavy weather during a ship operation becomes higher in comparison
with the rotation engagement structure. In this case, the former rotation engagement
structure requires a manual operation for rotating the cone 5 at a time of detaching,
however, the latter second engagement structure does not require anymanual operation,
but has an operational advantage that it is automatically detached at a time of lifting
the upper container 21 by a crane.
[0050] With regard to the rotation positions of the upper and lower cones 4 and 5, when
the shaft 3 exists at the first rotation stop position as shown in Fig. 6, the rotation
engagement structure of the upper cone 4 is at the engagement position, the rotation
engagement structure of the lower cone 5 is at the engagement release position, and
the second engagement structure of the lower cone 5 can be actuated in a state in
which the engagement portion 5b is opposed forward to the edge (one longitudinal edge)
of the engagement hole 26. Further, when the shaft 3 is at the second rotation stop
position by the shaft rotation stopping means 11 as shown in Fig. 7, the rotation
engagement structure of the upper cone 4 is at the engagement position, and the rotation
engagement structure of the lower cone 5 is at the engagement position.
[0051] The shaft rotation operating means 6 is constructed by a wire structure, and is formed
by arranging one end of the wire 7 around the shaft 3 so as to fix to the shaft 3
and drawing out the other end of the wire 7 to an outer portion of the case 2 as shown
in Fig. 5, for manually rotating the shaft 3 and the upper and lower cones 4 and 5,
and the shaft 3 and the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 rotate in one rotating direction
(a counterclockwise direction as seen from the above) against an elasticity of the
restoring spring 10 (Fig. 6 → Fig. 7 → Fig. 8), by gripping and pulling the grip 8
attached to the other end of the wire 7. Further, if the pulling force is released,
the shaft 3 and the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 restore and rotate in an opposite
direction (a clockwise direction as seen from the above) on the basis of the elasticity
of the restoring spring 10 (Fig. 8 → Fig. 7 → Fig. 6).
[0052] The restoring spring 10 is constructed by a coil spring arranged around the shaft
3 in the inner portion of the case 2, is locked to the case 2 side with its one end
and locked to the shaft 3 side with the other end, and restores and rotates the shaft
3 rotated in one rotating direction by the shaft rotation operating means 6 as mentioned
above. If the shaft 3 restores and rotates, the wire 7 is drawn into the case 2 in
accordance with this.
[0053] The shaft rotation stopping means 11 is constructed by a wire lock structure, has
a mouth piece member 12 and a compression spring 13 pressure fixing it to the case
2 for stopping the shaft 3 and the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 at a second rotation
stop position (Fig. 7) or a third rotation stop position (Fig. 8) against the elasticity
of the restoring spring 10, and stops the wire 7 in a drawing out state by engaging
a piece member 9 provided in the middle of the wire 7 with notches 12a and 12b provided
in an opening portion of the mouth piece member 12. Since the notches 12a and 12b
are provided at two positions above and below the opening portion of the mouth piece
member 12, and distances from the shaft 3 are set to be different from each other,
the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 stop in the state in Fig. 7 (the second rotation
stop position) if the piece member 9 is engaged with one near notch 12a (refer to
Fig. 5), and the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 stop in the state in Fig. 8 (the third
rotation stop position, that is, the engagement release position of the upper cone
4) if the piece member 9 is engaged with the other far notch 12b (refer to Fig. 2)
(this third rotation stop position is used at a time of detaching the connector from
the lower corner casting 22 of the upper container 21).
[0054] The connector 1 having the structure mentioned above is used as follows, and operates
as follows.
Stationary time No. 1 (container loading time)
[0055] When loading the upper container 21 onto the lower container 24, first of all, the
connector 1 is installed to the lower corner casting 22 of the lower surface of the
upper container 21 in a state of being suspended by the crane by the upper cone 4
in accordance with a manual work. At the beginning of the work, the shaft 3 is at
the first rotation stop position (Fig. 6) as the initial motion position thereof,
and, with regard to the rotation positions of the upper and lower cones 4 and 5, the
upper cone 4 is at the engagement position, and the lower cone 5 is at the engagement
release position. As the work, the upper cone 4 in the state in Fig. 6 is pressed
strongly to the outer edge of the engagement hole 23 of the lower corner casting 22
of the upper container 21. Then, since the cam surface 4b slides with the outer edge
of the engagement hole 23, the upper cone 4 automatically rotates from the engagement
position (Fig. 6) to the engagement release position (Fig. 8), passes through the
engagement hole 23, and restores and rotates on the basis of the elasticity of the
restoring spring 10 so as to return to the engagement position (Fig. 6) after passing.
Accordingly, since the engagement end portion 4a of the upper cone 4 engages with
the edge of the engagement hole 23 from the inner side thereof so as to come to a
state of being prevented from coming off, connector 1 comes to a state in which it
is suspended to the lower corner casting 22 of the upper container 21.
[0056] Next, as shown in Fig. 9, the upper container 21 is moved just above the lower container
24 and is brought down straightly by operating the crane. Then, the first guide surface
5c in the second engagement structure of the lower cone 5 comes into contact with
the outer edge of the engagement hole 26 of the upper corner casting 25 of the lower
container 24 so as to slide, whereby the lower cone 5 displaces in one direction (a
direction of an arrow x in the drawing) on a plane with respect to the engagement
hole 26 so as to allow the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b to pass through
the engagement hole 26, as shown in Fig. 10. Since the connector 1 is in the state
in which it is suspended by the lower corner casting 22 of the upper container 21
as mentioned above, a whole of the connector 1, the lower corner casting 22 suspending
it and the upper container 21 to which it is attached simultaneously displace, if
the lower cone 5 displaces in the one direction (the direction of the arrow x in the
drawing) on the plane with respect to the engagement hole 26. In this case, since
the corner castings 22 and 25 are installed at four corners on a plane of the containers
21 and 24 in the case of loading the containers 21 and 24, four connectors 1 are used.
In this case, planar shapes of the containers 21 and 24 are formed in a rectangular
shape, two connectors 1 used at both ends of one long side are arranged so as to direct
the protruding direction of the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b toward one
of the longitudinal directions, and the remaining two connectors 1 used in both ends
of the other long side are arranged so as to direct the protruding direction of the
projection-shaped engagement portion 5b toward the other of the longitudinal directions.
Accordingly, since the former two connectors 1 and the latter two connectors 1 displace
and operate with respect to the engagement hole 26 in the opposite directions to each
other, the upper container 21 rotates with respect to the lower container 24 insofar
as this operation. Since this rotation is a point symmetrical movement around the
center of suspended portion by the crane, a rotational balance is good.
[0057] If the upper container 21 is moved down further from the state in Fig. 10, the projection-shaped
engagement portion 5b of the lower cone 5 completely passes through the engagement
hole 26 as shown in Fig. 11, and next, the second guide surface 5d in the second engagement
structure of the lower cone 5 comes into contact with the outer edge at the opposite
side to the engagement hole 26 of the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container
24 so as to slide, whereby the displaced lower cone 5 restores in an opposite direction
(a direction of an arrow y in the drawing) to the one direction on a plane as shown
in Fig. 12, and the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b moves to a position at
which it engaged with the edge of the engagement hole 26 from the inner side thereof.
Accordingly, since the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b engages with the edge
of the engagement hole 26 by an upper surface thereof (that is, a third guide surface
5e) from the inner side thereof so as to come to a state in which it is prevented
from coming off, even if the lower cone 5 is going to come off upward from the upper
corner casting 25 of the lower container 24, the lower cone 5 does not come off. In
this case, the engagement of the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b with the
inner edge of the engagement hole 26 is set so that it does not come off at a time
when a come-off load having a magnitude which is less than a predetermined value is
applied, and if the predetermined value or more come-off load is applied by the crane
or the like such as a time of a load discharging work mentioned below, this engagement
automatically comes off. Therefore, the container fastening force by the second engagement
structure is comparatively small.
[0058] The container loading work at the normal time is finished in accordance with the
procedure mentioned above, and the upper and lower containers 21 and 24 are connected
by comparatively small fastening force. As mentioned above, the installation of the
lower cone 5 to the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24 on the basis
of the second engagement structure is totally carried out automatically by the sliding
motion of the first and second guide surfaces 5c and 5d.
Stationary time No. 2 (load discharging time)
[0059] The connection state of the upper and lower containers 21 and 24 is kept in the procedure
finish state (the state in Fig. 12), unless the ship operation of the container loading
ship falls on an emergency time such as the heavy weather, with being favored by good
weather. Accordingly, the lower cone 5 engages with the upper corner casting 25 of
the lower container 24 on the basis of the second engagement structure. Next, when
the ship arrives at a destination to discharge the upper container 21, the upper container
21 is drawn upward straightly from the lower container 24 by the crane without any
particular manual operation of the connector 1. At this time, the come-off load having
a magnitude which is equal to or more than the predetermined value mentioned above
is applied to the lower cone 5. Then, the third guide surface 5e in the second engagement
structure of the lower cone 5 slides with respect to the inner edge of the engagement
hole 26 of the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24, whereby the lower
cone 5 again displaces in one direction on a plane with respect to the engagement
hole 26 so as to allow the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b to pass through
the engagement hole 26, as shown in Fig. 11. Accordingly, as shown in Fig. 10, the
projection-shaped engagement portion 5b passes through the engagement hole 26 in the
come-off direction, and the lower cone 5 is automatically detached from the upper
corner casting 25 of the lower container 24. Therefore, since it is not necessary
to rotationally operate the lower cone 5 manually as is different from the prior art
mentioned above, it is possible to make the load discharging work easier at this degree.
Next, the upper cone 4 is detached from the lower corner casting 22 in the lower surface
of the upper container 21 in the state of being suspended by the crane in accordance
with a manual operation (the shaft 3 is stopped at a third rotation stop position
(Fig. 8) by the shaft rotation stopping means 11).
Emergency time No. 1 (fastening force reinforcing time)
[0060] For example, in the case that the ship falls on the heavy weather in the process
of the course mentioned above, or in the case that it has a risk of falling on the
heavy weather, the connected state of the upper and lower containers 21 and 24 is
changed from the state having the comparatively small fastening force on the basis
of the second engagement structure to the state having the comparatively large fastening
force on the basis of the rotation connection structure, in accordance with a judgment
of a crew member. In other words, the crew member manually operates the shaft rotation
operating means 6 so as to pull the wire 7, rotates the shaft 3 from the initial motion
position (Fig. 6) to the one rotating direction (the counterclockwise direction as
seen from the above), and stops at the second rotation stop position (Fig. 7) by the
shaft rotation stopping means 11. Accordingly, the upper cone 4 rests at the engagement
position, and on the other hand, the lower cone 5 is changed from the engagement release
position to the engagement position, thereby achieving extremely powerful fastening
force by which the lower cone 5 engages with the edge of the engagement hole 26 from
its inner side by its engagement end portion 5a. The powerful fastening force is set
such that the lower cone 5 does not come off from the upper corner casting 25 even
if the come-off load having a magnitude which is equal to or more than the predetermined
value is applied. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a load collapse and a loss
of flow accident of the container from being caused even if the ship swings greatly.
Emergency time No. 2 (container discharging time)
[0061] Next, after finishing the emergency time or after arriving at the destination, the
shaft rotation stopping means 11 is manually released, the shaft 3 is returned on
the basis of the elasticity of the restoring spring 10, and the lower cone 5 is returned
to the engagement release position (Fig. 6). Accordingly, the lower cone 5 returns
to the state in which it engages with the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container
24 on the basis of the second engagement structure. Next, at a time of moving down
the upper container 21, the upper container 21 is pulled upward straightly from the
lower container 24 by the crane without any particular manual operation of the connector
1. At this time, the come-off load having a magnitude which is equal to or more than
the predetermined value is applied to the lower cone 5. Accordingly, the third guide
surface 5e in the second engagement structure of the lower cone 5 slides with respect
to the inner edge of the engagement hole 26 of the upper corner casting 25 of the
lower container 24, whereby the lower cone 5 again displaces in one direction on a
plane with respect to the engagement hole 26 so as to allow the projection-shaped
engagement portion 5b to pass through the engagement hoe 26, as shown in Fig. 11.
Therefore, the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b passes through the engagement
hole 26 in the come-off direction as shown in fig.10, and the lower cone 5 is automatically
detached from the upper corner casting 25 of the lower container 24. Accordingly,
since it is not necessary to rotationally operate the lower cone 5 manually after
releasing the shaft rotation stopping means 11 as is different from the prior art,
it is possible to make the load discharging work of the upper container 21 easy at
this degree. Next, the upper cone 4 is detached from the lower corner casting 22 in
the lower surface of the upper container 21 in the state of being suspended by the
crane in accordance with a manual operation (the shaft 3 is stopped at the third rotation
stop position (Fig. 8) by the shaft rotation stopping means 11).
[0062] Accordingly, since it is not necessary to manually operate the connector 1 at a time
of moving down the upper container 21 by selective use as mentioned above, it is possible
to improve a workability of the load discharging work of the container, and it is
possible to secure the fastening force which is necessary in response to the condition.
[0063] In this case, as shown by the operations at the stationary time and the emergency
time, the state in which the shaft 3 stops at the first rotation stop position (Fig.
6) is set to a basic state, and a time for which the shaft 3 is set to this state
is longest in actual work. Accordingly, with regard to the restoring spring 10 restoring
and rotating the shaft 3, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the restoring
spring 10 by setting a neutral state (a free state in which the restoring spring hardly
deforms elastically) to be at a time when the shaft 3 is at the first rotation stop
position (Fig. 6).
[0064] Further, since the second engagement structure of the lower cone 5 is the structure
in which the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b provided in one side surface
of the lower cone 5 engages with the one long edge of the engagement hole 26 formed
in the rectangular shape in a plane without rotating, as mentioned above, it is possible
to set an engagement depth of the engagement portion 5b with respect to the one long
edge large by arranging the shaft 3 so as to be eccentric in a direction (a rightward
direction in Fig. 6) coming close to the one long edge (the right long edge in Fig.
6) with respect to a center O
1 of the engagement hole 26 (a position at which a center line in a longitudinal direction
of the engagement hole 26 intersects a center line in a short axial direction), as
shown in Fig. 6 in the installed state, that is, in the state in which the fit portion
2c of the case 2 fits to the engagement hole 26 of the corner casting 25. Accordingly,
in the present embodiment, the shaft 3 is arranged so as to be eccentric in the direction
(the rightward direction in Fig. 6) coming close to the one long edge (the right long
edge in Fig. 6) with respect to the center O
1 of the engagement hole 26 from this point of view, whereby the engagement force of
the projection-shaped engagement portion 5b is increased with respect to the corner
casting 25.
[0065] Further, if the shaft 3 is arranged so as to be eccentric in the direction coming
close to the one long edge of the engagement hole 26 as mentioned above the upper
cone 4 is also arranged eccentrically in accordance with this. Accordingly, if a length
L
1 from a center O
2 of the shaft 3 in a plane shape of the upper cone 4 to one end portion 4c in the
longitudinal direction of the upper cone 4 is set to be equal to a length L
2 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 4d in the longitudinal direction of the upper
cone 4 (L
1 = L
2) as shown in Fig. 13A, with regard to the rotation engagement structure of the upper
cone 4, it is impossible to set an engagement area (a contact area at the engaging
time) with respect to the corner casting 22 of the upper cone 4 sufficiently large,
and since the engagement areas become unbalanced at both ends in the longitudinal
direction of the upper cone 4, there is a case that the engagement state becomes unstable.
Accordingly, in the present embodiment, as a further preferable structure, as shown
in Fig. 13B, with regard to a dimensional relationship in the longitudinal direction
in the plane shape of the upper cone 4, comparing the length L
1 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the one end portion 4c in the longitudinal direction of the upper
cone 4 and the length L
2 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 4d in the longitudinal direction of the upper
cone 4, the length L
1 arranged at the opposite side to an eccentric direction (a rightward direction in
the drawing) of the shaft 3 in the engagement state (the first or second rotation
stop position) is set larger than the length L
2 arranged in the eccentric direction (L
1 > L
2), whereby the engagement area is enlarged.
[0066] Further, similarly, if a length from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 in the plane shape of the upper cone 4 to one end portion in the short
axial direction of the upper cone 4 is set to be equal to a length from the center
O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion in the short axial direction of the upper
cone 4 (not shown), with regard to the rotation engagement structure of the upper
cone 4, it is impossible to set an engagement area (a contact area at the engaging
time) with respect to the corner casting 22 of the upper cone 4 sufficiently large,
and since the engagement areas become unbalanced at both ends in the longitudinal
direction of the upper cone 4, there is a case that the engagement state becomes unstable.
Accordingly, in the present embodiment, as a further preferable structure, as shown
in Fig. 13B, with regard to a dimensional relationship in the short axial direction
in the plane shape of the upper cone 4, comparing a length L
3 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the one end portion 4e in the short axial direction of the upper
cone 4 and a length L
4 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other endportion 4f in the short axial direction of the upper
cone 4, the length L
3 arranged at the opposite side to the eccentric direction (the rightward direction
in the drawing) of the shaft 3 in the engagement state (the first or second rotation
stop position) is set larger than the length L
4 arranged in the eccentric direction (L
3 > L
4), whereby the engagement area is enlarged.
[0067] Further, similarly, if a length L
5 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 in a plane shape of the lower cone 5 to one end portion 5f in the
longitudinal direction of the lower cone 5 is set to be equal to a length L
6 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 5g in the longitudinal direction of the lower
cone 5 (L
5 = L
6), as shown in Fig. 14A, with regard to the rotation engagement structure of the lower
cone 5, it is impossible to set an engagement area (a contact area at the engaging
time) with respect to the corner casting 25 of the lower cone 5 sufficiently large,
and since the engagement areas become unbalanced at both ends in the longitudinal
direction of the lower cone 5, there is a case that the engagement state becomes unstable.
Accordingly, in the present embodiment, as a further preferable structure, as shown
in Fig. 14B, with regard to a dimensional relationship in the longitudinal direction
in the plane shape of the lower cone 5, comparing the length L
5 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the one end portion 5f in the longitudinal direction of the lower
cone 5 and the length L
6 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 5g in the longitudinal direction of the lower
cone 5, the length L
5 arranged at the opposite side to the eccentric direction (the rightward direction
in the drawing) of the shaft 3 in the engagement state (the second rotation stop position)
is set larger than the length L
6 arranged in the eccentric direction (L
5 > L
6), whereby the engagement area is enlarged.
[0068] Accordingly, in accordance with the structure mentioned above, since the engagement
areas (the contact areas at the engaging time) with respect to the corner castings
22 and 25 of the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 are enlarged respectively, it is possible
to increase the engagement force, that is, the container fastening force, and it becomes
easy to secure the area of 800 mm
2 prescribed in ISO. Further, since the balance of the magnitudes of the engagement
areas becomes improved at both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the upper
and lower cones 4 and 5, it is possible to stabilize the engagement state at this
degree.
Second Embodiment
[0069] In this case, in the first embodiment mentioned above, the initial motion position
of the shaft 3 is set to the first rotation stop position (Fig. 6) at which the rotation
engagement structure of the upper cone 4 is at the engagement position, the rotation
engagement structure of the lower cone 5 is at the engagement release position, and
the second engagement structure is set operable, however, is not limited to this,
but may be structured, for example, such that it is set to the second rotation stop
position at which both the rotation engagement structure of the upper cone 4 and the
rotation engagement structure of the lower cone 5 are at the engagement position.
[0070] From this point of view, in the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 15, the initial
motion position of the shaft 3 is set to the second rotation stop position at which
both the rotation engagement structure of the upper cone 4 and the rotation engagement
structure of the lower cone 5 are at the engagement position, and if the piece member
9 of the shaft rotation stopping means 11 is engaged with the one notch 12a at the
near side by drawing out the wire 7 of the shaft rotation operating means 6 from this
state, it is changed to the first rotation stop position at which the rotation engagement
structure of the upper cone 4 is at the engagement position, the rotation engagement
structure of the lower cone 5 is at the engagement release position and the second
engagement structure is set operable as shown in Fig. 16. Further, if the piece member
9 of the shaft rotation stopping means 11 is engaged with the other notch 12b at the
far side by further drawing out the wire 7 of the shaft rotation operating means 6,
it is changed to the third rotation stop position at which the rotation engagement
structure of the upper cone 4 comes to the engagement release position. In this case,
in this embodiment, since the restoring spring 10 is set to be in a neutral state
at the second rotation stop position (Fig. 15), the invention in accordance with claim
2 of the present invention which is characterized by the neutral state at the first
rotation stop position is outside its scope.
[0071] Further, in the first embodiment mentioned above, the planar shapes of the upper
and lower cones 4 and 5 are arranged in the directions in which the respective longitudinal
directions are approximately orthogonal as shown in Fig. 6, however, the angle at
which the longitudinal directions of the planar shapes of the upper and lower cones
4 and 5 intersect is not limited to a right angle, but is not particularly limited.
[0072] From this point of view, in the second embodiment shown in Figs. 15 and 16, an angle
θ
1 at which the longitudinal directions of the planar shapes of the upper and lower
cones 4 and 5 intersect is set to about 33 degrees (the longitudinal direction of
the lower cone 5 displaces approximately at 33 degrees in the shaft rotating direction
(the counterclockwise direction in the drawing) on the basis of the longitudinal direction
of the upper cone 4).
Third Embodiment
[0073] Further, in a third embodiment shown in Figs. 17 and 18, an angle θ
2 at which the longitudinal directions in the planar shapes of the upper and lower
cones 4 and 5 intersect is set to about 110 degrees (the longitudinal direction of
the lower cone 5 displaces approximately at 110 degrees in the shaft rotating direction
(the counterclockwise direction in the drawing) on the basis of the longitudinal direction
of the upper cone 4). In accordance with a verification by the inventors of the present
invention, in the case that the planar shapes of the upper and lower cones 4 and 5
are those shown in Figs. 17 and 18, it is possible to set the engagement areas (the
contact areas at the engaging time) with respect to the corner castings 22 and 25
of the cones 4 and 5 largest by setting the angle mentioned above. Generally, it is
preferable that the angle at which the longitudinal directions in the planar shapes
of the upper and lower cones 4 and 5 intersect is set to a range between 100 and 120
degrees (the longitudinal direction of the lower cone 5 displaces about 100 to 120
degrees in the shaft rotating direction (the counterclockwise direction in the drawing)
on the basis of the longitudinal direction of the upper cone 4).
[0074] The other structures, and operations and effects in the second and third embodiments
are the same as those of the first embodiment. Further, in the second and third embodiments,
the second engagement structure of the lower cone 5 is structured such that the projection-shaped
engagement portion 5b provided in one side surface of the lower cone 5 engages with
one longitudinal edge of the engagement hole 26 without rotating as shown in Fig.
16 or 18, and the shaft 3 is arranged so as to be eccentric in the direction coming
close to the one longitudinal edge with respect to the center O
1 of the engagement hole 26, in the state in which the fit portion is fitted to the
engagement hole 26, for setting the engagement depth of the engagement portion 5b
with respect to the one longitudinal edge large. Further, with regard to the dimensional
relationship in the longitudinal direction in a plane shape of the upper cone 4, comparing
the length L
1 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the one end portion 4c in the longitudinal direction of the upper
cone 4 and the length L
2 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 4d in the longitudinal direction of the upper
cone 4, the length L
1 arranged at the opposite side to the eccentric direction of the shaft 3 in the engagement
state is set larger than the length L
2 arranged in the eccentric direction (L
1 > L
2), whereby the engagement area is enlarged. Further, with regard to the dimensional
relationship in the short axial direction in a plane shape of the upper cone 4, comparing
the length L
3 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the one end portion 4e in the short axial direction of the upper
cone 4 and the length L
4 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 4f in the longitudinal direction of the upper
cone 4, the length L
3 arranged at the opposite side to the eccentric direction of the shaft 3 in the engagement
state is set larger than the length L
4 arranged in the eccentric direction (L
3 > L
4), whereby the engagement area is enlarged. Further, with regard to the dimensional
relationship in the longitudinal direction in a plane shape of the lower cone 5, comparing
the length L
5 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the one end portion 5f in the longitudinal direction of the lower
cone 5, and the length L
6 from the center O
2 of the shaft 3 to the other end portion 5g in the longitudinal direction of the lower
cone 5, the length L
5 arranged at the opposite side to the eccentric direction of the shaft 3 in the engagement
state is set larger than the length L
6 arranged in the eccentric direction (L
5 > L
6), whereby the engagement area is enlarged.