GB2183713A - Twistlocks - Google Patents

Abstract

Twistlocks 3 to secure transport equipment are interconnected in pairs or together and are actuated by a driver from his seated driving position by actuating means. Twistlock lever arms 6 may be connected by a direct link 7 or by feed tubes 15 of pneumatic cylinders 8,8a and a variety of actuating means could be applied to lever arms 6 e.g. hydraulic cylinders, electric linear actuator. The pneumatic cylinder 8 could be linked to a pneumatic starting device to prevent vehicle movement until twistlocks are registered locked-electrical actuators could be linked to starting circuit. A rod 9 may be pivotally linked to lever arm 6 of such length to provide indication in the form of tell-tales 11; a micro-switch 12 may signal or act as safety cut-out. Manual override may be provided by unclipping clevis pivot pin 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Remotely actuated twistlocks This invention relates to a system for remotely locking twistlocks.

Twistlocks are well known and have been in use for many years, typically to locate and secure such transport equipment as "containers" and demountable body systems, containers often being secured to a transporting carrier by means of the twistlock into a corner pocket. Similarly, demountable bodies are sometimes anchored to their carrying lorry ortrailer bytwistlocks mounted in appropriate parts of the vehicle chassis. Such twistlocks are generally mounted on the underside of a chassis and become dirty and because they are manually operated, are both time consuming and unpleasant, and more seriously, the operator could forget one or more twistlocks, which would result in damage when the body is lifted. According to the present invention there is provided a series of twistlocks connected in pairs ortogetherand actuated mechanically.There can also be provided in the mechanism an indicator to show the position of the locking element of the twistlock. Additionally, several simple devices can be interlinked to the actuating mechanism to produce safety features, as for example preventing the vehicle from being started ifthetwistlocks are not secu red. In orderto provide for operation of the twistlocks should the actuating powerfaii,a spring located pin can be removed from the actuator clevis and the lock twisted by hand.

Specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in plan view the system with two twistlocks linked together and in position on a chassis.

Figure 2 shows the relationship of twistlock actuator and clevis etc. in side view.

Figure3shows in plan details as mentioned in Figure2togetherwithtelltale indicatorandsafety interlock.

In operation the demountable body or container 1 is lowered over the projecting head 2 ofthetwistlock assembly 3 on to the chassis or other resting surface 4so that the socket Son the container/body registers on the projection 2 and is located by it. Rotation of the head 2 through 900 completes the locking and retention process with the container/body constrained in three mutually perpendicular planes.

The twistlock lever arm 6 may be connected to the adjacentsimilar membereither bya direct link7 or by the actuating means 8 (in a typical case shown, a pneumatic cylinder) being themselves connected i.e.

bytheirfeed tubes 15, in the latter case one actuator pertwistlock is obviously required as 8a. It follows that a variety of actuating means could be applied two the lever arm 6 as, for example, an hydraulic cylinder, an electrical linear actuator, orthey could themselves be rotary actuators. Some transport vehicles are equipped with pneumatic starting devices which would lend themselves to interlinking with the pneumatic cylinders shown at8, in order to preventvehicle movement until the twistlocks are registered as being in the locked position. Similarly, electrical actuators may be simply linked into the normal electric starting circuit.Alternatively, or in addition the lever arm 6 may have pivotallylinkedto it a rod 9 of such length as to be housed within the chassis or body side member 10 when the twistlocks are in the unlocked position, but to project outside the member 10 in tell tale 11 mannerto indicate twistlocks are in locked position.Since the mechanical actuation ofthe twistlocks can be carried out by a driverfrom his seated driving position an additional benefit from this system isthatthetell tales 11 are visibleto the driver either directly orvia hisrearviewmirrors. If projecting tell tales 11 are not required orfurther safety features are desired an electrical micro switch 12 may be added to contact the lever arm 6to signal in a similar manner, or act as a safetycut outto the engine of thetransporting vehicle either with or without an associated warning light.By careful selection ofthe siting ofthe control of the mechanical actuators, as for example, below the driver's seat on the side opposite the passenger seat, further resistanceto tampering or accidental operation is provided. In the event of power failure or damage to the connecting link7 manual "override" to movethetwistlock by hand inthenormal manner is provided by an additional feature ofthis invention.

The spring located clevis pivot pin 14 is unclipped, removed from the hosed position in the clevis 13 and the clevis swung to one side pivoting, for example, abouttheanchorofthe pneumaticcylinder8 allowing the twistlock assembly 3 to be rotated by hand orwith the aid of stool forthe purpose.

1. A road transport conta iner or demou ntable body system comprising a multiplicity oftwistlocks (each as for example defined in British Standard 5237) which can be caused to turn through 900 to lock orviceversato unlock by means either directly or indirectly of an actuatorsignalled to operate by a driver/controllerfrom a position remote from said twistlocksand having an abilityto indicate their locked or unlocked position either visually or otherwise and be interconnected to a further control system if so desired to prevent subsequent actions of the system or its carrier.

2. A system of twistlocks as in Cla im 1 which can belinkedtogetherin groupsortotallysoasto operate all at the same time.

3. A system oftwistlocks as in Claims 1 and 2 having external or othertell tale means in orderthat the operator can check visually or otherwise that all the locking elements in anyone system are in the same state i.e. locked or unlocked.

4. Atwistlocksystem as in Claim 1,2and3 wherein the locking elements are interconnected to a control means in orderto prevent untimely or inappropriate operation.

5. Atwistlocksystem as in Claims 1-4 wherein the locking elements are interconnected to a control device such that subsequent operations cannot take

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Remotely actuated twistlocks This invention relates to a system for remotely locking twistlocks. Twistlocks are well known and have been in use for many years, typically to locate and secure such transport equipment as "containers" and demountable body systems, containers often being secured to a transporting carrier by means of the twistlock into a corner pocket. Similarly, demountable bodies are sometimes anchored to their carrying lorry ortrailer bytwistlocks mounted in appropriate parts of the vehicle chassis. Such twistlocks are generally mounted on the underside of a chassis and become dirty and because they are manually operated, are both time consuming and unpleasant, and more seriously, the operator could forget one or more twistlocks, which would result in damage when the body is lifted. According to the present invention there is provided a series of twistlocks connected in pairs ortogetherand actuated mechanically.There can also be provided in the mechanism an indicator to show the position of the locking element of the twistlock. Additionally, several simple devices can be interlinked to the actuating mechanism to produce safety features, as for example preventing the vehicle from being started ifthetwistlocks are not secu red. In orderto provide for operation of the twistlocks should the actuating powerfaii,a spring located pin can be removed from the actuator clevis and the lock twisted by hand. Specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 shows in plan view the system with two twistlocks linked together and in position on a chassis. Figure 2 shows the relationship of twistlock actuator and clevis etc. in side view. Figure3shows in plan details as mentioned in Figure2togetherwithtelltale indicatorandsafety interlock. In operation the demountable body or container 1 is lowered over the projecting head 2 ofthetwistlock assembly 3 on to the chassis or other resting surface 4so that the socket Son the container/body registers on the projection 2 and is located by it. Rotation of the head 2 through 900 completes the locking and retention process with the container/body constrained in three mutually perpendicular planes. The twistlock lever arm 6 may be connected to the adjacentsimilar membereither bya direct link7 or by the actuating means 8 (in a typical case shown, a pneumatic cylinder) being themselves connected i.e. bytheirfeed tubes 15, in the latter case one actuator pertwistlock is obviously required as 8a. It follows that a variety of actuating means could be applied two the lever arm 6 as, for example, an hydraulic cylinder, an electrical linear actuator, orthey could themselves be rotary actuators. Some transport vehicles are equipped with pneumatic starting devices which would lend themselves to interlinking with the pneumatic cylinders shown at8, in order to preventvehicle movement until the twistlocks are registered as being in the locked position. Similarly, electrical actuators may be simply linked into the normal electric starting circuit.Alternatively, or in addition the lever arm 6 may have pivotallylinkedto it a rod 9 of such length as to be housed within the chassis or body side member 10 when the twistlocks are in the unlocked position, but to project outside the member 10 in tell tale 11 mannerto indicate twistlocks are in locked position.Since the mechanical actuation ofthe twistlocks can be carried out by a driverfrom his seated driving position an additional benefit from this system isthatthetell tales 11 are visibleto the driver either directly orvia hisrearviewmirrors. If projecting tell tales 11 are not required orfurther safety features are desired an electrical micro switch 12 may be added to contact the lever arm 6to signal in a similar manner, or act as a safetycut outto the engine of thetransporting vehicle either with or without an associated warning light.By careful selection ofthe siting ofthe control of the mechanical actuators, as for example, below the driver's seat on the side opposite the passenger seat, further resistanceto tampering or accidental operation is provided. In the event of power failure or damage to the connecting link7 manual "override" to movethetwistlock by hand inthenormal manner is provided by an additional feature ofthis invention. The spring located clevis pivot pin 14 is unclipped, removed from the hosed position in the clevis 13 and the clevis swung to one side pivoting, for example, abouttheanchorofthe pneumaticcylinder8 allowing the twistlock assembly 3 to be rotated by hand orwith the aid of stool forthe purpose. CLAIMS

1. A road transport conta iner or demou ntable body system comprising a multiplicity oftwistlocks (each as for example defined in British Standard 5237) which can be caused to turn through 900 to lock orviceversato unlock by means either directly or indirectly of an actuatorsignalled to operate by a driver/controllerfrom a position remote from said twistlocksand having an abilityto indicate their locked or unlocked position either visually or otherwise and be interconnected to a further control system if so desired to prevent subsequent actions of the system or its carrier.

2. A system of twistlocks as in Cla im 1 which can belinkedtogetherin groupsortotallysoasto operate all at the same time.

3. A system oftwistlocks as in Claims 1 and 2 having external or othertell tale means in orderthat the operator can check visually or otherwise that all the locking elements in anyone system are in the same state i.e. locked or unlocked.

4. Atwistlocksystem as in Claim 1,2and3 wherein the locking elements are interconnected to a control means in orderto prevent untimely or inappropriate operation.

5. Atwistlocksystem as in Claims 1-4 wherein the locking elements are interconnected to a control device such that subsequent operations cannot take place until the operator has checked that the system is in a safe state so to do i.e. proved.

6. Atwistlock system as in Claims 1-5 and largely asdescribedintheillustrationsFigures1-3Ofthe accompanying drawings.