DEVICE FOR VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL LOAD SECURING OF STACKED CARGO AND ITS USE

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a device for vertical and horizontal load securing of stacked cargo comprising a housing and a first shaft (18) bearing-mounted in the housing, wherein a first end on a first side and a second end on an opposite second side project from the housing, the ends of the first shaft comprising a locking body (17) which is radially elongated with respect to the shaft, the device comprising a second shaft (18) bearing-mounted in the housing, wherein a first end on the first side and a second end on the second side project from the housing, the ends of the second shaft comprising a locking body (17) which is radially elongated with respect to the shaft and wherein the shafts are parallel. The invention also relates to a use for vertical and horizontal load securing of modular break-bulk cargo.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device for vertical and horizontal load securing of stacked cargo.

[0002] In a second aspect, the invention also relates to a use for vertical and horizontal load securing of modular break-bulk cargo.

PRIOR ART

[0003] Twistlocks are devices that are often used to secure shipping containers that comply with ISO (International Standards Organisation) regulations. Such twistlocks are very frequently used in shipping, where the twistlocks interlock between corner fittings of two stacked containers on a container ship, or where twistlocks are fixedly mounted on a deck of a container ship to anchor a container to the deck. There are also other applications for twistlocks, for example when transporting containers by rail or truck.

[0004] Twistlocks have traditionally been in the form of a housing, through which a shaft protrudes, with a cone formed or attached to either side of the shaft. The cones are slightly elongated to fit through an elongate slot in the corner fitting of a container and to lock when rotated in the corner fitting to a position transverse to the slot. When both cones are locked in a corner fitting, two containers located one above the other are fastened together.

[0005] Such a twistlock is known, inter alia, from US 5 632 586. US '586 describes a twistlock in which a single cone operates automatically so that vertical forces on the twistlock cone can be used both to lock a container in place and to unlock the container.

[0006] This well-known twistlock is not suitable for horizontal and vertical securing of stacked cargo. The twistlock can only secure a container vertically on a ship's deck or to an underlying container. There is no horizontal securing of any kind between adjacent containers. With containers stacked above decks on a container ship, it is possible that a high stack, despite containers being vertically attached to each other, topple over during rough weather and fall into the sea. As a result, the height of the stack of containers is limited.

[0007] This disadvantage also applies to a modular break-bulk load. A modular break-bulk load comprises large general cargo, such as the blades of a windmill, which are placed above deck on a ship. A module of a modular break-bulk load comprises metal frames attached to the general cargo item near ends or a metal frame that delimits the entire general cargo item in three dimensions. The metal frames comprise corner fittings as known in shipping containers that comply with ISO regulations. The metal frames are stacked on top of each other and secured with twistlocks according to the prior art. Again, the frames are only secured in a vertical direction, which means that there is a real risk of a stacked modular break-bulk load tipping over.

[0008] To limit the risk of tipping over, the stacks are additionally secured using chains from a deck to containers or modules of the modular break-bulk load. This requires extra material and additional actions, which makes securing the load time-consuming.

[0009] The present invention aims to solve at least some of the above problems or drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a device according to claim 1.

[0011] The great advantage of this device is that in addition to a first shaft, comprising locking bodies at its ends, it also comprises a second parallel shaft. The second shaft also comprises locking bodies at its ends. The locking bodies are elongated to fit through an elongate slot in the corner fitting of a container or a frame of a module of a modular break-bulk load. By rotation of the shafts, the locking bodies lock in a position transverse to the slot. As a result, containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load are secured to each other or to the deck of a ship in a vertical direction. Because the device comprises two shafts, the device can be used not only to secure containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load of a first stack in a vertical direction, but also to secure containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load of a second adjacent stack in a vertical direction. Because both shafts are comprised in the same housing, the containers or modules of two adjacent stacks are automatically also secured horizontally by the housing. As a result, instead of several separate stacks, a single stack with a wide base is obtained, whereby the risk of tipping is small. Due to the device, it is not necessary to use additional chains or elements and stacked cargo can be secured both vertically and horizontally with the same number of operations as with vertical only securing.

[0012] Preferred embodiments of the device are set out in claims 2 to 14.

[0013] A particular preferred embodiment of the invention relates to a device according to claim 8.

[0014] This embodiment is advantageous because the housing comprises an elongate body, the elongate body comprising two detachable end pieces and a middle part, whereby a distance between the two shafts of the device, measured according to a perpendicular connecting line between the two shafts, can be changed by detaching the end pieces and replacing the middle part with a shorter or longer middle part. Because the distance between the shafts can be changed, it is possible to adapt the device, depending on the distance between adjacent stacks of cargo.

[0015] In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a use according to claim 15. This use results in an advantageous securing of stacked modular break-bulk cargo, wherein modules of a modular break-bulk load are secured not only in the vertical direction to underlying modules or to a deck of a ship, but also in a horizontal direction to modules of adjacent stacks of modular break-bulk cargo. As a result, instead of several separate stacks of modular break-bulk cargo, a single stack with a wide base is obtained, whereby the risk of tipping is small. By using the device, it is not necessary to use additional chains or elements and stacked modular break-bulk cargo can be secured both vertically and horizontally with the same number of operations as with vertical only securing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0016] 

Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an alternative use of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3A and Figure 3B show a schematic representation of prior art modular break-bulk load securing.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of modular break-bulk load securing using a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the description of the invention, including technical and scientific terms, have the meaning as commonly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. For a better understanding of the description of the invention, the following terms are explained explicitly.

[0018] In this document, "a" and "the" refer to both the singular and the plural, unless the context presupposes otherwise. For example, "a segment" means one or more segments.

[0019] The terms "comprise", "comprising", "consist of", "consisting of", "provided with", "include", "including", "contain", "containing", are synonyms and are inclusive or open terms that indicate the presence of what follows, and which do not exclude or prevent the presence of other components, characteristics, elements, members, steps, as known from or disclosed in the prior art.

[0020] Quoting numerical intervals by endpoints comprises all integers, fractions and/or real numbers between the endpoints, these endpoints included.

[0021] In the context of this document, break-bulk or general cargo are goods whose quantity is not specified by size or weight, but per piece.

[0022] In the context of this document, a modular break-bulk load is a load of general cargo in which an item of general cargo is packaged to form a module, so that several modules of the general cargo can be stacked on top of each other. Non-limiting examples of this are boxes, crates, barrels or bales. Alternatively, an item of general cargo comprises near its ends a preferably metal frame attached to the general cargo item, or the general cargo item is delimited in three dimensions by a preferably metal frame, the preferably metal frames being configured for stacking on top of one another.

[0023] In the context of this document, a break-bulk vessel is a vessel suitable for carrying break-bulk in a cargo hold or on deck. Optionally, a break-bulk vessel includes cranes, which enable the vessel to load or unload break-bulk independently.

[0024] In the context of this document, "cargo" is a general term for a load that is carried by means of a ship, such as, for example, containers or modular break-bulk cargo.

[0025] In the context of this document, a spherical cap is a part of a sphere that is cut off from the sphere by a plane.

[0026] In the context of this document, a cylindrical segment is a portion of a cylinder cut off from the cylinder by a plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder.

[0027] In a first aspect, the invention relates to a device for vertical and horizontal load securing of stacked cargo.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a housing, a first shaft and a second shaft.

[0029] The housing is preferably formed from metal, more preferably from steel. Steel is a suitable material for absorbing tensile and compressive forces, bending forces and shear forces. These forces are considerable in the case of stacked cargo, such as containers and modules of modular break-bulk cargo, due to movements of a ship, such as a container ship or a break-bulk vessel. The movements of the ship are caused by waves at sea and can become very large in severe weather conditions. Due to the strength of steel and because steel can also deform elastically, the housing will not crack or break under the influence of tensile and compressive forces, bending forces and shear forces, even in severe weather conditions, so that a stacked cargo remains secured in vertical and horizontal directions.

[0030] The housing preferably comprises one or more castings. Castings can be obtained quickly and easily by pouring molten metal into a mold. After cooling, a casting requires a limited number of processing steps to finish the casting.

[0031] The first shaft comprises a longitudinal axis. The first shaft is rotatably borne in the housing. The first shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A first end of the first shaft projects from the housing on a first side of the housing. A second end of the first shaft projects from the housing on a second side of the housing. The second side of the housing faces the first side of the housing. The first end of the first shaft comprises a locking body which is radially elongated with respect to the first shaft. The second end of the first shaft comprises a locking body which is radially elongated with respect to the first shaft. "Radially elongated" means that a locking body is extended in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being transverse to the first shaft.

[0032] The second shaft comprises a longitudinal axis. The second shaft is rotatably borne in the housing. The second shaft is rotatable about its longitudinal axis. A first end of the second shaft projects from the housing on the first side of the housing. A second end of the second shaft projects from the housing on the second side of the housing. The first end of the second shaft comprises a locking body which is radially elongated with respect to the second shaft. The second end of the second shaft comprises a locking body which is radially elongated with respect to the second shaft. "Radially elongated" means that a locking body is extended in a longitudinal direction, the longitudinal direction being transverse to the second shaft. The second shaft is parallel to the first shaft.

[0033] The shafts are preferably made of metal, more preferably steel. The shafts are preferably stamped from a block of hot metal. This is advantageous because it avoids having an imperfection in a shaft, such as a casting flaw or a void, which has a negative influence on the tensile strength of the shafts.

[0034] A radially elongated locking body is preferably configured to be received through an elongate slot in a corner fitting of a container. The container is preferably in accordance with standard ISO 668:2020. Said standard defines dimensions for the corner fitting and the elongate slot. A radially elongated locking body is a separate part that is fixedly mounted on a shaft or formed as a single piece together with the shaft. Preferably, a shaft and its locking bodies are a single piece. Preferably, a shaft and its locking bodies are made of metal, more preferably of steel. Preferably, a shaft and its locking bodies are stamped from a single block of hot metal.

[0035] By rotation of a shaft, a locking body at one end of the shaft twists into the corner fitting of a container or module of a modular break-bulk load, preventing a locking body from moving through the elongate slot of the corner fitting and the device is attached to the corner fitting of the container or module of a modular break-bulk load.

[0036] The locking bodies at the first and second ends of a shaft are configured to simultaneously secure the device to two stacked containers or modules of a modular break-bulk cargo by rotation of the shaft. As a result, containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load are secured to each other or to the deck of a ship in a vertical direction.

[0037] The distance between the two shafts, measured according to a perpendicular connecting line between the two shafts, is preferably greater than a maximum length of a locking body. As a result, locking bodies of the first shaft cannot touch the locking bodies of the second shaft.

[0038] Because the device comprises two shafts, the device can be used not only to secure containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load of a first stack in a vertical direction, but also to secure containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load of a second adjacent stack in a vertical direction. Because both shafts are comprised in the same housing, the containers or modules of two adjacent stacks are automatically also secured to each other in a horizontal direction by the housing. As a result, instead of several separate stacks, a single stack with a wide base is obtained, whereby the risk of tipping is small. Due to the device, it is not necessary to use additional chains or elements to secure stacked cargo and stacked cargo can be secured both vertically and horizontally with the same number of operations as with vertical only securing.

[0039] According to a preferred embodiment, locking bodies of a shaft are symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. This is advantageous because it prevents the device from being misoriented when a locking body is facing the elongate slot in a corner fitting of a container or module of a modular break-bulk load.

[0040] According to a preferred embodiment, the first and second shaft are identical. This is advantageous when assembling the device, because the first and the second shaft may be interchanged. This is also advantageous because when placing the device, both the first axis or the second axis may be directed towards the elongate slot in a corner fitting of a container or module of a modular break-bulk load.

[0041] According to an embodiment, the housing is formed from steel having a tensile strength of at least 390 MPa, preferably at least 400 MPa, more preferably at least 410 MPa, even more preferably at least 420 MPa and even more preferably at least 500 MPa. Steel with a tensile strength of at least 390 MPa is required to absorb tensile and compressive forces, bending forces and shear forces on the device due to ship movements.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, a shaft comprises a handle. The handle is positioned transversely to the shaft and projects through the housing. The housing comprises a slot suitable for moving the handle. The handle is configured to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position over an angle β.

[0043] A handle is a separate part that is fixed on a shaft. Preferably, a handle is made of metal, more preferably of steel. The handle is preferably welded to the shaft. Alternatively, the handle is screwed into an internal thread in the shaft.

[0044] A handle is advantageous for rotating a shaft for locking or unlocking a locking body in the elongate slot of a corner fitting of a container or module of a modular break-bulk cargo. A locking body is unlocked in the first position, wherein the locking body can go in and out of the corner fitting and locked in the second position. The handle does not require any tools to rotate the shaft. The handle is also an advantageous visual indication of whether or not a locking body is locked in a corner fitting.

[0045] According to a further embodiment, the angle β is at least 75° and at most 105°, preferably at least 85° and at most 95°, more preferably 90°. An angle β within the specified range guarantees that a locking body, after turning the handle from the first to the second position, is sufficiently transverse to the elongate slot of a corner fitting of a container or module of a modular break-bulk cargo.

[0046] According to an embodiment, the distance between the first and the second axes, measured according to a perpendicular connecting line between the two shafts, is at least 100 mm and at most 400 mm, preferably at least 150 mm and at most 300 mm. Within this range it is possible to horizontally secure adjacent stacks of stacked cargo. A smaller distance results in locking bodies that are too small, as a result of which these locking bodies cannot adequately absorb the tensile and compressive forces, shear forces and bending forces. A greater distance creates excessive shear forces and bending forces on the device. In addition, this also ensures that adjacent stacks of stacked cargo are stacked horizontally further apart, so that space in a hold or on a deck of a ship is used less efficiently.

[0047] According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a spring-actuated clamping mechanism. The spring-actuated clamping mechanism is configured to clamp a shaft in the first and second positions. The first and second positions of the shaft are as in a previously described embodiment. The spring-actuated clamping mechanism is advantageous to prevent a shaft from rotating inadvertently out of the first or second position due to, for example, vibrations, and a locking body from being locked or unlocked inadvertently.

[0048] The spring-actuated clamping mechanism comprises a clamping body which is tensioned against the shaft by a spring. Preferably, the shaft comprises recesses in which the clamping body is pressed by the spring with the shaft in the first or second position. The recesses preferably comprise inclined or rounded side walls. This is advantageous to move the clamping body out of the recess against the spring force by exerting a torque on the shaft, so that the shaft is no longer clamped in the first or second position and can be moved to another position.

[0049] A non-limiting example of a spring-actuated clamping mechanism comprises a spring and a ball. The spring is placed in the housing and presses the ball into a recess in a shaft, the recess being a recess in the form of a spherical cap or a cylindrical segment.

[0050] This embodiment is particularly advantageous in combination with a previously described embodiment wherein a shaft comprises a handle. The handle is suitable as a lever for overcoming the spring force of the spring-actuated clamping mechanism, whereby a high spring force can be used to prevent a shaft from moving unintentionally out of the first or second position, for example due to vibrations, while the spring-actuated clamping mechanism can be overcome by muscular force.

[0051] According to a further embodiment, the spring-actuated clamping mechanism is configured to clamp a shaft in a third position. The third position is located between the first and the second position. A third position is advantageous to provide, for example, a third operating condition of the device. A first operating condition is that both locking bodies of a shaft are unlocked, as with a shaft in the first position. A second operating condition is that both locking bodies of a shaft are locked, as with a shaft in the second position. The third operating condition is that one of the two locking bodies of a shaft is partially locked, and the other locking body is unlocked. Partially locked means that a locking body is not substantially transverse to the elongate slot of a corner fitting, nor is it aligned with the elongate slot. The device is already attached to said corner fitting but cannot yet absorb tensile forces in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. This third operating condition is advantageous for provisionally fixing a device to a corner fitting of for instance a first container or module of a modular break-bulk load, after which a second container or module is placed on top of the first container or module. If the second container or module taps against the device instead of being placed on the device, the device will remain in place. This avoids having to place a device on the first container several times before the device can be attached to the second container. After the second container has been placed on the first container and the locking bodies of the shaft are received in both the elongate slot of a corner fitting of the first and second container, the shaft can be moved to the second position, whereby the device is secured to the first and second containers and the first and second containers are secured vertically.

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking bodies at the first end and the second end of a shaft each have their own longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the shaft. The angle between the longitudinal direction of the locking body at the first end and the longitudinal direction of the locking body at the second end is at least 15° and at most 30°, preferably at least 20° and at most 25°, more preferably 22.5°.

[0053] With the shaft in the first position, the longitudinal direction of either locking body is substantially parallel to an elongate slot of a corner fitting of a container or module of a modular break-bulk cargo, allowing said locking body to be moved in and out of the elongate slot of the corner fitting. The longitudinal direction of the other locking body forms an angle with the elongate slot which is equal to the angle between the longitudinal directions of the two locking bodies. By careful determination of a width of a locking body, where the width of a locking body is smaller than the width of the elongate slot, a locking body can also still be moved in and out of the elongate slot of the corner fitting if a locking body is at an angle to the elongate slot which falls within the above defined range for an angle between the longitudinal directions of the locking bodies. Due to the angle between the longitudinal directions of the two locking bodies, the other locking body can therefore also be moved in and out of the elongate slot. By rotating the shaft from the first position over an angle θ toward the second position, the locking body which in the first position was substantially parallel to the elongate slot of a corner fitting will now form an angle θ with the elongate slot, while the other locking body will form an angle with the elongate slot equal to angle θ plus the angle between the longitudinal directions of the two locking bodies or equal to angle θ minus the angle between the longitudinal directions of the two locking bodies. By careful choice of the angle θ, it can be ensured that one of the two locking bodies, after the rotation of the shaft through the angle θ, forms an angle with the elongate slot, which falls within the above defined range for an angle between the longitudinal directions of the locking bodies, while the other locking body has an angle which is greater and outside the defined range. This is advantageous to partially lock one of the two locking bodies, while the other locking body is still unlocked. The advantages are further analogous to an embodiment described above wherein the spring-actuated clamping mechanism is configured to clamp a shaft in a third position. It is clear that both embodiments can be combined advantageously.

[0054] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises an elongate body having a longitudinal direction, transverse direction and height direction. The longitudinal direction is along a perpendicular connecting line between the first and second shafts. The height direction is parallel to the first and second shafts. The transverse direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction. The elongate body is flat on the first and second sides of the housing and located along the height direction between the locking body at the first and second ends of the first and second shafts. The elongate body is advantageous for horizontally securing containers or modules of a modular break-bulk cargo of two adjacent stacks. The elongate body is a suitable bridging distance between two adjacent stacks. The elongate body is additionally advantageous for supporting containers or modules of a modular break-bulk cargo on the flat first or second side of the elongate body and for supporting the device with the flat first or second side of the elongate body on an underlying container or module of a modular break-bulk cargo. The elongated body also provides a visible spacing between stacked containers or modules, allowing a freight handler to easily visually check whether stacked cargo is secured horizontally and vertically using the device.

[0055] According to a further embodiment, the elongate body has a height of at least 50 mm. A height of at least 50 mm is sufficient for a visible spacing between stacked containers or modules of a modular break-bulk cargo. A height of at least 50 mm also provides sufficient strength in the elongate body of the device. Preferably, the elongate body has a height of at least 55 mm, more preferably at least 60 mm.

[0056] At a height of at least 50 mm, the device can withstand a compressive force of at least 600 kN along the longitudinal direction of the elongate body. The device can withstand a shear force of at least 250 kN transverse to the longitudinal direction of the elongate body and parallel to the flat part of the elongate body on the first or second side of the housing. The device can withstand a shear force of at least 380 kN transverse to the longitudinal direction of the elongate body and perpendicular to the flat part of the elongate body on the first or second side of the housing. The device can withstand a bending moment about an axis, transverse to the longitudinal direction of the elongate body and parallel to the flat part of the elongate body on the first or second side of the housing, of at least 1.5 kNm. As a result, the device is sufficiently strong for the reliable securing of stacked cargo in horizontal and vertical direction, without the device breaking.

[0057] According to a preferred embodiment, the elongate body comprises two detachable end pieces and a middle part. The two detachable end pieces are attached to the middle part by means of bolts and preferably also nuts. The first shaft is positioned in a first detachable end piece or on a boundary between the first detachable end piece and the middle piece. The second shaft is positioned in a second detachable end piece or on a boundary between the second detachable end piece and the middle piece. An elongate body with two detachable end pieces and a middle piece is advantageous for changing the distance between the two shafts of the device, measured according to a perpendicular connecting line between the two shafts, by detaching the end pieces and replacing the middle part with a shorter or longer middle part. Because the distance between the shafts can be changed, it is possible to adapt the device, depending on a distance between adjacent stacks of cargo.

[0058] According to a further embodiment, the middle part is mounted on a mounting surface of a first end piece. The mounting surface of the first end piece is flat. The longitudinal axis of the first shaft is in the plane of the mounting surface of the first end piece. The middle part is mounted on a mounting surface of a second end piece. The mounting surface of the second end piece is flat. The longitudinal axis of the second shaft is in the plane of the mounting surface of the second end piece. The first and second mounting surfaces are parallel. By detaching the first and second end pieces, the first and second shafts can be removed from the housing. The first and second end pieces are configured for releasably mounting the mounting surface of the first end piece on the mounting surface of the second end piece. This is advantageous because it allows a single shaft twistlock to be obtained from a device by detaching the first and second end pieces of a device from the middle part and removing the first and second shafts and by placing the first or second shaft between the first end piece and the second end piece and releasably mounting the mounting surface of the first end piece on the mounting surface of the second end piece. The resulting twistlock can be used for vertically securing containers or modules of a modular break-bulk cargo on a side where there is no adjacent stack of containers or modules. The twistlock obtained automatically has a height that corresponds to the height of devices used for vertically and horizontally securing said container or module to an adjacent stack of containers or modules, so that adjacent containers or modules are aligned horizontally and there are no moments of force in the contiguous stacks of containers or modules.

[0059] The mounting surface of the first end piece is detachably mounted on the mounting surface of the second end piece by means of bolts and preferably also nuts. Preferably, these are the same bolts and nuts as for releasably mounting an end piece to the middle part, as in a previously described embodiment, so that bolts and nuts can be reused when converting a device to a single shaft twistlock and vice versa.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking body at the first end of a shaft has a longitudinal direction, wherein a central cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the locking body is conical. This is advantageous because when a container or a module of a modular break-bulk load is placed on top of another container or module, if there is a deviation of a few centimeters between positions of the containers or modules, the former container or module is automatically aligned so that the locking body is centrally received in the elongate slot of a corner fitting of a container or module.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, the locking body at the second end of a shaft has a longitudinal direction, wherein a central cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the locking element is a segment of a circle. A segment of a circle has a similar advantage as in a previously described embodiment in which the central cross-section is conical. However, a segment of a circle is flatter in the horizontal direction than a cone shape near the shaft in which the locking element is comprised, so that with deviations larger than 3 cm in position between containers or modules of a modular break-bulk load to be stacked on top of each other, there is no longer necessarily an automatic alignment. However, this is still sufficient for manually aligning a device according to the present invention on a container or module, for example when the device is manually secured to a top of a container or module. A segment of a circle is also advantageous because for the same length of a locking body it can result in a smaller volume of the locking body, resulting in a weight saving.

[0062] It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that this embodiment can be advantageously combined with a previously described embodiment, wherein the central cross-section is conical.

[0063] According to a further embodiment, the locking bodies at the first end and the second end of a shaft are identical. The locking bodies may have a central cross-section which is conical or a segment of a circle, as in previously described embodiments, or another suitable shape.

[0064] According to a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises a beam-shaped collar near the first end and the second end of the first and the second shaft. The beam-shaped collar extends in a direction transverse to the perpendicular connecting line between the first and second shafts and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the first and second shafts. The beam-shaped collars are situated around the shafts. The beam-shaped collars are advantageous for absorbing shear forces from a container or module of a modular load. When sliding horizontally, a corner fitting of the container or module rests against the beam-shaped collar, so that forces are not transferred to the shaft but via the beam-shaped collar directly to the housing of the body. This prevents shafts from breaking due to shear forces.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment, the housing comprises a recess at ends in the direction of a connecting line between the first and the second shaft. This recess is advantageous for weight saving. Because the recess is positioned at an end of the housing, this has no adverse effect on the strength of a device according to the present invention or on manufacture in case the housing is a casting.

[0066] In a second aspect, the invention relates to the use of a device according to the first aspect for vertical and horizontal load securing of modular break-bulk cargo.

[0067] Modular break-bulk cargo, such as but not limited to windmill components and modular housing units, are often divided into modules and stacked on top of each other. A module of a modular break-bulk load comprises a preferably metal frame which is secured to items of general cargo of the module, or which delimits the general cargo items in three dimensions, the preferably metal frames being configured for stacking on top of one another. For this purpose, the metal frames comprise corner fittings, analogous to the corner fittings of containers in accordance with standard ISO 668:2020.

[0068] The use of a device according to the first aspect of the invention results in an advantageous securing of stacked modular break-bulk cargo, wherein modules of a modular break-bulk load are secured not only in the vertical direction to underlying modules or to a deck of a ship, but also in a horizontal direction to modules of adjacent stacks of modular break-bulk cargo. As a result, instead of several separate stacks of modular break-bulk cargo, a single stack with a wide base is obtained, whereby the risk of tipping is small. By using the device, it is not necessary to use additional chains or elements and stacked modular break-bulk cargo can be secured both vertically and horizontally with the same number of operations as with vertical only securing.

[0069] In what follows, the invention is described by way of non-limiting figures illustrating the invention, and which are not intended to and should not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0070] Figure 1 shows an exploded view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0071] The device includes a housing and a first and second shaft (18). The housing comprises an elongate body. The elongate body comprises two end parts (10) which are releasably fastened to a middle part (13) by means of bolts (15) and nuts (14). The middle part is mounted on a mounting surface (22) of the end pieces (10). The mounting surface (22) is flat. The longitudinal axis of a shaft (18) is in the plane of a mounting surface (22) of an end piece (10). The shafts (18) extend at a first end through a first side and at a second end through an opposite second side of the housing. The shafts (18) comprise a locking body (17) at the first end, wherein a central cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the locking body (17) is conical. The shafts (18) comprise a locking body (19) at the second end, wherein a central cross-section in the longitudinal direction of the locking body (19) is a segment of a circle. The shafts (18) comprise a handle (20), the handle (20) being positioned transversely of the shafts (18) and extending through the housing, and the housing comprising a slot (23), suitable for moving the handle (20) from a first to a second position. The device includes a spring-actuated clamping mechanism configured to clamp a shaft (18) in a first, second and intermediate third position. The spring-actuated clamping device comprises springs (11) and balls (12). A shaft (18) comprises recesses (21) in the form of a spherical cap or a cylindrical segment. The spring (11) presses the ball (12) into a recess (21), thereby clamping a shaft (18) in the first, second or intermediate third position. The housing comprises a beam-shaped collar (16). The beam-shaped collar (16) extends in a direction transverse to the perpendicular connecting line between the shafts (18) and transverse to the longitudinal direction of the shafts (18). There are recesses (19) at the ends of the housings. The recesses (19) are advantageous for weight saving.

[0072] Figure 2 shows an exploded view of an alternative use of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0073] The device is analogous to the device of Figure 1. The end pieces (10) are detached from the middle part (13), after which the end pieces (10) are mounted around a single shaft (18). As a result, a single axis twistlock (18) is obtained from the device.

[0074] Figure 3A and Figure 3B show a schematic representation of prior art modular break-bulk load securing.

[0075] Figure 3A shows the break-bulk load in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of a break-bulk vessel. Figure 3B shows the break-bulk load in the longitudinal direction of a break-bulk vessel.

[0076] The modular break-bulk load consists of modules (1) stacked three high. All modules (1) are equal. Each module (1) comprises a metal frame. A metal frame comprises attachment points (2) at the bottom and top edges. Stacked modules (1) are attached to each other by means of twistlocks (3). The module (1) at the bottom is secured to the deck of a break-bulk ship with twistlocks (3). The twistlocks (3) are known from the prior art. Along each upper longitudinal edge of a module (1), four sets of chains (4), withstanding a maximum load of 10 tons, are fastened to prevent modules (1) from tipping over due to wave movements.

[0077] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of modular break-bulk load securing using a device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] Figure 4 shows the break-bulk load in the longitudinal direction of a break-bulk vessel.

[0079] The modular break-bulk load consists of the same modules (1) as in Figures 3A and 3B. The modules (1) are stacked in adjacent substantially vertical stacks (5). Each module (1) of each substantially vertical stack (5) is horizontally secured in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of a break-bulk ship by means of devices (6) according to the present invention to a module (1) at the same height of an adjacent substantially vertical stack (5). The devices (6) also vertically secure each module (1) of a substantially vertical stack (5) under which another module (1) is positioned, to the module (1) below. Modules (1) at the bottom of the substantially vertical stacks (5) are secured to the deck of a break-bulk ship by means of a twistlock (3). A module (1) under which another module (1) is positioned is secured vertically to the module (1) lying below it on a side where there is no adjacent module (1) by means of a twistlock (3). All modules (1) are attached only to attachment points (2) at their corners. The attachment points (2) are preferably corner fittings, analogous to the corner fittings of containers in accordance with standard ISO 668:2020. All modules (1) form a block that does not tip over due to its wide base. No chains are needed to secure a modular break-bulk load, so that less material is needed, and a modular break-bulk load can be secured faster. A device (6) according to the present invention also allows to stack modules (1) five high, compared to three high in Figure 3A and Figure 3B, whereby more modules (1) can be transported on the same surface on the deck.

Claims

1. A device for vertical and horizontal load securing of stacked cargo comprising a housing and a first shaft, comprising a longitudinal axis, which is mounted rotatably borne in the housing about its longitudinal axis, wherein a first end of the first shaft projects from the housing on a first side of the housing and a second end of the first shaft projects from the housing on an opposite second side of the housing, wherein the first and second ends of the first shaft comprise a locking body which is radially elongated with respect to the shaft, characterized in that the device comprises a second shaft, comprising a longitudinal axis, which is mounted rotatably borne in the housing about its longitudinal axis, wherein a first end of the second shaft projects from the housing on the first side of the housing and a second end of the second shaft projects from the housing on the second side of the housing, wherein the first and second ends of the second shaft comprise a locking body which is radially elongated with respect to the shaft and wherein the first and second shafts are parallel.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that a shaft comprises a handle, the handle being positioned transverse to the shaft and projecting through the housing, and wherein the housing comprises a slot suitable for moving the handle, wherein the handle is configured to rotate the shaft about its longitudinal axis from a first to a second position over and angle β.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that the angle β is at least 75° and at most 105°.

4. The device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the device comprises a spring-actuated clamping mechanism configured for clamping a shaft in the first and second positions.

5. The device according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring-actuated clamping mechanism is configured for clamping a shaft in a third position, located between the first and the second position.

6. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-5, characterized in that the housing comprises an elongate body with a longitudinal direction, transverse direction and height direction, wherein the longitudinal direction is along a perpendicular connecting line between the first and second shafts, wherein the height direction is parallel to the first and second shafts, wherein the transverse direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the height direction, wherein the elongate body is flat on the first and second sides of the housing and wherein the elongate body is located along the height direction between the locking body at the first and second ends of the first and second shafts.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the elongate body has a height of at least 50 mm.

8. The device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the elongate body comprises two detachable end pieces and a middle part.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterized in that the middle part is mounted on a mounting surface of a first end piece, wherein the longitudinal axis of the first shaft is in the plane of the mounting surface of the first end piece, and the middle part is mounted on a mounting surface of a second end piece, wherein the longitudinal axis of the second shaft is in the plane of the mounting surface of the second end piece, wherein the first and second mounting surfaces are parallel and wherein the first and second end pieces are configured for releasably mounting the mounting surface of the first end piece on the mounting surface of the second end piece.

10. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-9, characterized in that the locking bodies at the first and second end of a shaft each have their own longitudinal direction, wherein the longitudinal direction is perpendicular to the shaft and wherein the angle between the longitudinal direction of the locking body at the first end and the longitudinal direction of the locking body at the second end is at least 15° and at most 30°.

11. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-10, characterized in that the locking body at the first end of a shaft has a longitudinal direction, wherein a central cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the locking body is conical.

12. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-11, characterized in that the locking body at the second end of a shaft has a longitudinal direction, wherein a central cross-section along the longitudinal direction of the locking body is a segment of a circle.

13. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-12, characterized in that the housing comprises a beam-shaped collar near the first end and the second end of the first and the second shaft, wherein the beam-shaped collar extends in a direction transverse to the perpendicular connecting line between the first and second shafts and transverse to the longitudinal directions of the first and second shafts.

14. The device according to any of the preceding claims 1-13, characterized in that the housing comprises a recess at ends in the direction of a connecting line between the first and the second shaft.

15. Use of the device according to any of claims 1-14 for vertical and horizontal load securing of modular break-bulk cargo.

Drawing