WO2020026090A2

WO2020026090A2 - Intermodal container door lock

Info

Publication number: WO2020026090A2
Application number: PCT/IB2019/056355
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Johannes MAC DONALD
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-07-30
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2020-02-06
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-30
Also published as: WO2020026090A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a heavy-duty cargo container door lock for securing doors of intermodal containers, such as those which may be used on ships, rail lines and trucks, against theft. The door lock comprises at least one elongate internal lock rod, which is arranged inside the container so as to lock a door from with inside the container, the internal lock rod being displaceable between a locked and an unlocked position; and remotely operable actuating means for displacing the internal lock rod between the locked and unlocked positions.

Description

INTERMODAL CONTAINER DOOR LOCK

INTRODUCTION

The invention relates to a heavy-duty cargo container door lock for securing doors of intermodal containers, such as those which may be used on ships, rail lines and trucks, against theft.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

An intermodal container is a large, standardized shipping container, which is designed and built for intermodal freight transport, which means that these containers can be used across different modes of transport - from ship to rail to truck - without unloading and reloading their cargo. Intermodal containers are primarily used to store and transport materials and products efficiently and securely. They exist in many types and a number of standardized sizes and are typically referred to as cargo or freight containers, ISO containers, shipping, sea or ocean containers, container vans or container boxes. For purposes of this specification, the term“intermodal container” is used to designate all of these various types of containers used across different modes of transport.

These intermodal containers are typically rectangular, closed box models, with steel doors fitted at one end of the container within a door frame, and made of corrugated weathering steel. Each container typically includes two steel door leaves that are hingedly connected to rear corner posts of the container with drop forged steel hinge blades. The blades allow 270-degree opening, which allow the doors to swing back against a container side wall. Each door is fitted with two vertically extending, elongate lock rods which extend between the bottom and the top of the doors and which are used to enable opening, closing and locking of the doors. A door handle rotates the lock rods to initiate a door opening / closing process.

Intermodal containers are often the target of break-ins and burglary, and cargo theft results in millions of Rands of losses annually. The doors of such containers have always been the most vulnerable area for illegal entry into a cargo space. Several interlocking devices have been developed to protect the doors of trailers and/or containers against unauthorized opening. These include, for example, lock rod clamps or crossbar locks of heavy duty steel tubing, that clamp over the lock rods and that prevent the primary doors’ handle from turning. Container bolts protect the doors of trailers and/or containers against forcible opening and may be placed around the door handles and locked sideways with an integrated lock cylinder.

The existing prior art solutions suffer from one or a number of disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that the existing interlocking devices that protect the doors against unauthorized opening generally engage the lock rods. However, perpetrators have become so sophisticated and well-equipped that they often use power tools to cut the lock rods above and below the locking device, effectively removing a portion of the lock rods and bypassing the locking device entirely. Another disadvantage is that some locking devices require modifications to the container itself, which is not only a cost factor, but also require skilled labour.

It is an object of the current invention to provide a heavy-duty cargo container door lock that is easily assembled as an add-on feature without requiring any modifications to the container or container doors, and that will increase theft prevention of cargo through the container doors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a heavy-duty door lock adapted for locking doors of an intermodal container, wherein the intermodal container includes an internal chamber which is defined by a container floor, a container roof and at least two sidewalls extending between the roof and the floor, and wherein the doors are hingedly mounted to one end of the container, and wherein each door includes at least one, but typically a set of at least two, elongate external lock rods extending vertically from a bottom end to a top end of the doors for locking the doors; the door lock comprising - at least one elongate internal lock rod arranged within the internal chamber so as to lock a door from with inside the chamber, the internal lock rod being displaceable between a locked and unlocked position; and

actuating means for displacing the internal lock rod between the locked and unlocked positions.

The door lock may comprise a set of at least two internal lock rods with each lock rod being operatively associated with one door of the container and configured for locking the container door to the floor or roof of the container. The internal lock rods may longitudinally be displaceable between the container floor and container roof between the locked and unlocked positions, such that in the locked position the internal lock rods at least partially protrude into either one or both of the floor and/or the roof of the container. In a preferred form of the invention, the internal lock rods are longitudinally displaceable such that in the locked position, they protrude at least partially into the floor of the container, while in the unlocked position they are vertically upwardly displaced and disengaged from the container floor. Each internal lock rod may include a stationary external shaft which is disconnectably connectable to an interior surface of the container door; and a displaceable internal shaft which is co-axially displaceable relative to the external shaft and which is displaceable between the container roof and container floor between the locked and unlocked positions. The external shaft may be connectable to the interior surface of the door through a set of lock rod brackets. The external shaft may include at each opposite end thereof a bush, with a first bush being fitted into an end of the external shaft closest to the container floor, and with a second bush being fitted into an end of the external shaft closest to the container roof. The internal shaft may be spring-loaded. Particularly, the internal shaft may be spring- loaded to the unlocked position, such that the actuating means is required to actuate the internal shaft against the spring to the locked position. Alternatively, the internal shaft may be spring-loaded to the locked position, such that the actuating means is required to actuate the internal shaft to the unlocked position. More particularly, the internal shaft may include at least one helical compression spring coaxially arranged approximate a bottom end of the internal shaft closest to the container floor.

The internal shaft may include a first stopper flange extending radially outwardly from the internal shaft and arranged approximate a bottom end of the internal shaft closest to the container floor; and a second stopper flange extending radially outwardly from the internal shaft and arranged approximate a top end of the internal shaft closest to the container roof. The first stopper flange may have a radius that is at least equal to, but preferably greater than, the dimeter of the helical compression spring. The compression spring may be arranged between the first stopper flange of the internal shaft and the first bush of the external shaft, such that through downward displacement of the internal shaft into the locked position, the first stopper flange compresses the spring against the first bush, thus allowing protrusion of the internal shaft into the container floor. During unlocking of the door lock, the compression spring may displace the internal shaft upwardly to release engagement of the internal shaft with the container floor, until the second stopper flange is pressed against the second bush of the external shaft, which brings upward displacement of the internal shaft to a halt.

The actuating means may be housed within a housing which is releasably connectable to the container roof in operational alignment with the internal lock rods.

The actuating means may be a remotely operable actuating means and may include a displaceable actuator plate; and two actuator shafts which are connected to and displaceable with the actuator plate, the arrangement being such that the actuator shafts are aligned with and engage the internal shafts of the internal lock rods for displacing the internal shafts between the locked and the unlocked positions through alternative downward and upward displacement of the actuator plate and accompanying actuator shafts. The actuating means further may include a remotely operable worm drive cylinder, which is operatively associated with a battery powered electric motor, and which includes at least one cylinder shaft which is co-axially displaceable relative to the cylinder between an extended and a retracted position. The cylinder shaft may be connected to the actuator plate through an arrangement of pivotally inter-connected levers. Displacement of the cylinder shaft between an extended and a retracted position, may vertically displace the actuator plate and accompanying actuator shafts between a first position, in which the actuator shafts press down upon and vertically downwardly displace the internal shafts of the internal lock rods into the locked potion; and a second position, in which the actuator shafts are vertically upwardly displaced from the internal shafts of the internal lock rods so as to release the downward pressure, allowing the compression spring vertically upwardly to displace the internal shafts into the unlocked position.

The cylinder shaft may be connected to the actuator plate through at least one substantially L-shaped lever, which is pivotally connected to the housing such that one free end of the L-shaped lever is pivotally connected to the cylinder shaft, and an opposite free end of the L-shaped lever is pivotally connected to the actuator plate.

The actuator means also may include an actuator plate guiding frame for guiding upward and downward displacement of the actuator plate. The door lock may include a receiver capable of receiving a selected electronic signal and coupled to the actuating means to cause the actuating means to be energized upon receiving the selected electronic signal to move the actuating means between a locking and unlocking position; and a transmitter remote from the receiver and capable of transmitting the selected electronic signal to the receiver.

The housing may be dimensioned to accommodate the receiver and transmitter therein, as well as all relevant electronic equipment such as a microprocessor, satellite tracking and GPS equipment, and a lithium battery. The housing also may include a solar panel, or a series of parallel-connected solar cells, connected to the baseplate of the housing and configured to charge the lithium battery.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Without wishing to be bound thereto, the invention will now further be described and exemplified with reference to the following non-limiting examples and drawings, in which - FIGURE 1 is a rear view of an intermodal container, illustrating the plane X-X from which Figure 2 should be viewed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectioned view of the container of Figure 1 , looking at the container doors from inside of the container chamber;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of an actuating means according to the invention from one angle of rotation; FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an actuating means according to Figure 3 from a different angle of rotation;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the doors of the container with the internal lock rods in an unlocked position, looking at them from inside of the container;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view of the doors and internal lock rods of Figure 5 in a locked position;

FIGURE 7 is a sectioned side elevation of the door lock of the invention, comprising the internal lock rods and actuating means, with the lock rods in an unlocked position;

FIGURE 8 is the sectioned side elevation of Figure 7, but with the lock rods in a locked position.

The door lock of the invention is adapted for locking doors [10] of an intermodal container [12], wherein the intermodal container [12] includes an internal chamber [14] which is defined by a container floor [16], a container roof [18] and at least two sidewalls [20] extending between the roof [18] and the floor [16]. The doors [10] are hingedly mounted to one end of the container [12] and each door includes at least one, but typically a set of at least two, elongate external lock rods [22] extending vertically from a bottom end to a top end of the doors [10] for locking the doors [10].

The door lock [24] comprises at least one elongate internal lock rod [26] arranged within the internal chamber [14] so as to lock a door [10] from with inside the chamber [14], the internal lock rod [26] being displaceable between a locked and unlocked position; and actuating means [28] for displacing the internal lock rod [26] between the locked and unlocked positions. Typically, the door lock [24] comprises a set of two internal lock rods [26] with each lock rod being operatively associated with one door [10] of the container [12] and configured for locking the container door [10] to the floor [16] or roof [18] of the container [12] The internal lock rods [26] are longitudinally displaceable between the container floor [16] and container roof [18] between the locked and unlocked positions, such that in the locked position the internal lock rods [26] at least partially protrude into the floor [16] of the container [12], while in the unlocked position they are vertically upwardly displaced and disengaged from the container floor [16].

Each internal lock rod [26] includes a stationary external shaft [30] which is disconnectably connectable to an interior surface of the container door [10]; and a displaceable internal shaft [32] which is co-axially displaceable relative to the external shaft [30] and which is displaceable between the container roof [18] and container floor [16] between the locked and unlocked positions. The external shaft [30] is connectable to the interior surface of the door [10] through a set of lock rod brackets [34]

The external shaft [30] includes at each opposite end thereof a bush [36], with a first bush [36.1 ] being fitted into an end of the external shaft [30] closest to the container floor [16], and with a second bush [36.2] being fitted into an end of the external shaft [30] closest to the container roof [18].

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the internal shaft [32] includes at least one helical compression spring [38] coaxially arranged approximate a bottom end of the internal shaft [32] closest to the container floor [16] such that the internal shaft [32] is spring-loaded to the unlocked position. The actuating means [28] is required to actuate the internal shaft [32] against the spring [38] to the locked position.

The internal shaft [32] also includes a first stopper flange [40.1 ] extending radially outwardly from the internal shaft [32] and arranged approximate a bottom end of the internal shaft [32] closest to the container floor [16] ; and a second stopper flange [40.2] extending radially outwardly from the internal shaft [32] and arranged approximate a top end of the internal shaft [32] closest to the container roof [18]. The first stopper flange [40.1 ] has a radius that is at least equal to, but preferably greater than, the dimeter of the helical compression spring [38]. The compression spring [38] is arranged between the first stopper flange [40.1 ] of the internal shaft [32] and the first bush [36.1 ] of the external shaft [30], such that through downward displacement of the internal shaft [32] into the locked position, the first stopper flange [40.1 ] compresses the spring [38] against the first bush [36.1 ], thus allowing protrusion of the internal shaft [32] into the container floor [16]. During unlocking of the door lock [24], the compression spring [38] displaces the internal shaft [32] upwardly to release engagement of the internal shaft [32] with the container floor [16], until the second stopper flange [40.2] is pressed against the second bush [36.2] of the external shaft [30], which brings upward displacement of the internal shaft [32] to a halt.

The actuating means [28] is housed within a housing [42] which is releasably connectable to the container roof [18] in operational alignment with the internal lock rods [26] The actuating means [28] includes a displaceable actuator plate [44]; and two actuator shafts [46] which are connected to and displaceable with the actuator plate [44] The actuator shafts [46] are aligned with and engage the internal shafts [32] of the internal lock rods [26] for displacing the internal shafts [32] between the locked and the unlocked positions through alternative downward and upward displacement of the actuator plate [44] and accompanying actuator shafts [46].

The actuating means [28] further includes a remotely operable worm drive cylinder [48], which is operatively associated with a battery powered electric motor [50], and which includes at least one cylinder shaft [52] which is co-axially displaceable relative to the cylinder [48] between an extended and a retracted position. The cylinder shaft [52] is connected to the actuator plate [44] such that displacement of the cylinder shaft [52] between an extended and a retracted position, vertically displaces the actuator plate [44] and accompanying actuator shafts [46] between a first position, in which the actuator shafts [46] press down upon and vertically downwardly displace the internal shafts [32] of the internal lock rods [26] into the locked potion; and a second position, in which the actuator shafts [46] are vertically upwardly displaced from the internal shafts [32] of the internal lock rods [26] so as to release the downward pressure, allowing the compression spring [38] to displace the internal shafts [32] vertically upwardly into the unlocked position.

The cylinder shaft [52] is connected to the actuator plate [44] through at least one substantially L-shaped lever [54], which is pivotally connected to the housing [42] at pivot [56] such that one free end of the L-shaped lever [54] is pivotally connected to the cylinder shaft [52] at pivot [58], and an opposite free end of the L-shaped lever [56] is pivotally connected to the actuator plate [44] at pivot [60]. Displacement of the cylinder shaft [52] between an extended and a retracted position pivots the L-shaped lever [54] between a first and second position, which in turn displaces the actuator plate [44] and accompanying actuator shafts [46] between the first and second positions.

The actuating means [28] also includes an actuator plate guiding frame [62] for guiding upward and downward displacement of the actuator plate [44] The actuator plate [44] includes two plate pegs [66] which are connected to and extend from opposite ends of the actuator plate [44] The actuator plate guiding frame [62] guides the actuator plate [44] from opposite ends thereof. In particular, the actuator plate guiding frame [62] includes elongate slots [68] through which the plate pegs [66] protrude, such that the plate pegs [66] slide within the elongate slots [68] during upward and downward displacement of the actuator plate [44] The L-shaped lever [54] is connected to the actuator plate [44] by means of pivotal connection [60] with the plate pegs [66]. The plate pegs [66] are also pivotally connected to the actuator plate guiding frame [62] through levers [70] and pivot [74]

The actuating means [28] is a remotely operable actuating means [28]. The door lock [24] includes a receiver (not shown) capable of receiving a selected electronic signal and coupled to the actuating means [28] to cause the actuating means [28] to be energized upon receiving the selected electronic signal to move the actuating means [28] between a locking and unlocking position; and a transmitter (not shown) remote from the receiver and capable of transmitting the selected electronic signal to the receiver. The housing [42] is dimensioned to accommodate the receiver and transmitter therein, as well as all relevant electronic equipment [64] such as a microprocessor, satellite tracking and GPS equipment, and a lithium battery. The housing [42] is connected to the interior surface of the roof 18 of the container [12], beneath a window [72] which is cut in the roof of the container [12] to facilitate satellite tracking and GPS tracking communications.

It will be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the invention may be possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A heavy-duty door lock [24] adapted for locking doors [10] of an intermodal container [12], wherein the intermodal container [12] includes an internal chamber [14] which is defined by a container floor [16], a container roof [18] and at least two sidewalls [20] extending between the roof [18] and the floor [16], and wherein the doors [10] are hingedly mounted to one end of the container [12], and wherein each door [10] includes at least one, but typically a set of at least two, elongate external lock rods [22] extending vertically from a bottom end to a top end of the doors [10] for locking the doors [10]; the door lock [24] comprising at least one elongate internal lock rod [26] arranged within the internal chamber [14] so as to lock a door [10] from with inside the chamber [14], the internal lock rod [26] being displaceable between a locked and an unlocked position; and

actuating means [28] for displacing the internal lock rod [26] between the locked and unlocked positions.

2. The door lock [24] according to claim 1 wherein the door lock [24] comprises a set of at least two internal lock rods [26], with each lock rod [26] being operatively associated with one door [10] of the container [12] and configured for locking the container door [10] to either the floor [16] or the roof [18] of the container [12]

3. The door lock [24] according to claim 2 wherein the internal lock rods [26] are longitudinally displaceable between the container floor [16] and container roof [18] between the locked and unlocked positions, such that in the locked position the internal lock rods [26] at least partially protrude into either one or both of the floor [16] and/or the roof [18] of the container [12]; and wherein in the unlocked position the internal lock rods [26] are disengaged from both the floor [16] and the roof [18] of the container [12]

4. The door lock [24] according to claim 3 wherein the internal lock rods [26] are longitudinally displaceable such that in the locked position, they protrude at least partially into the floor [16] of the container [12], while in the unlocked position they are vertically upwardly displaced and disengaged from the container floor [16].

5. The door lock [24] according to claim 1 wherein the internal lock rod [26] includes a stationary external shaft [30], which is disconnectably connectable to an interior surface of the container door [10]; and a displaceable internal shaft [32] which is co-axially displaceable relative to the external shaft [30] and which is displaceable between the container roof [18] and container floor [16] between the locked and unlocked positions.

6. The door lock [24] according to claim 5 wherein the external shaft [30] includes at each opposite end thereof a bush [36], with a first bush [36.1 ] being fitted into an end of the external shaft [30] closest to the container floor [16], and with a second bush [36.2] being fitted into an end of the external shaft [30] closest to the container roof [18]; and wherein the internal shaft [32] is spring-loaded within the external shaft [30].

7. The door lock [24] according to claim 6 wherein the internal shaft [32] is spring- loaded to the unlocked position, such that the actuating means [28] is required to actuate the internal shaft [32] against a spring [38] to the locked position.

8. The door lock [24] according to claim 6 wherein the internal shaft [32] is spring- loaded to the locked position, such that the actuating means [28] is required to actuate the internal shaft [32] to the unlocked position.

9. The door lock [24] according to claim 6 wherein the internal shaft [32] includes at least one helical compression spring [38] coaxially arranged approximate a bottom end of the internal shaft [32] closest to the container floor [16]; and wherein the internal shaft [32] includes a first stopper flange [40.1 ] extending radially outwardly from the internal shaft [32] and arranged approximate a bottom end of the internal shaft [32] closest to the container floor [16] such that the compression spring [38] is arranged between the first stopper flange [40.1] of the internal shaft [32] and the first bush [36.1 ] of the external shaft, with the first stopper flange [40.1 ] having a radius that is at least equal to, but preferably greater than, the diameter of the helical compression spring [38]; and a second stopper flange [40.2] extending radially outwardly from the internal shaft [32] and arranged approximate a top end of the internal shaft [32] closest to the container roof [18]; the arrangement being such that through downward displacement of the internal shaft [32] into the locked position, the first stopper flange [40.1 ] compresses the spring against the first bush [36.1], thus allowing protrusion of the internal shaft [32] into the container floor [16]; and wherein during unlocking of the door lock [24], the compression spring [38] displaces the internal shaft [32] upwardly to release engagement of the internal shaft [32] with the container floor [16], until the second stopper flange [40.2] is pressed against the second bush

[36.2] of the external shaft, which brings upward displacement of the internal shaft [32] to a halt.

10. The door lock [24] according to claim 2 wherein the actuating means [28] is housed within a housing [42] which is releasably connectable to the container roof [18] in operational alignment with the internal lock rods [26].

1 1. The door lock [24] according to claim 6 wherein the actuating means [28] is remotely operable actuating means and include a displaceable actuator plate [44]; and two actuator shafts [46] which are connected to and displaceable with the actuator plate [44], the arrangement being such that the actuator shafts [46] are aligned with and engage the internal shafts [32] of the internal lock rods [26] for displacing the internal shafts [32] between the locked and the unlocked positions through alternative downward and upward displacement of the actuator plate [44] and accompanying actuator shafts [46].

12. The door lock [24] according to claim 11 wherein the actuating means [28] further include a remotely operable worm drive cylinder [48], which is operatively associated with a battery powered electric motor [50], and which includes at least one cylinder shaft [52] which is co-axially displaceable relative to the cylinder [48] between an extended and a retracted position, the cylinder shaft [52] being connected to the actuator plate [44] through an arrangement of pivotally inter connected levers, such that displacement of the cylinder shaft [52] between an extended and a retracted position, vertically displaces the actuator plate [44] and accompanying actuator shafts [46] between a first position, in which the actuator shafts [46] press down upon and vertically downwardly displace the internal shafts [32] of the internal lock rods [26] into the locked potion; and a second position, in which the actuator shafts [46] are vertically upwardly displaced from the internal shafts [32] of the internal lock rods [26] so as to release the downward pressure, allowing the compression spring [38] to displace the internal shafts [32] vertically upwardly into the unlocked position.

13. The door lock [24] according to claim 12 wherein the cylinder shaft [52] is connected to the actuator plate [44] through at least one substantially L-shaped lever [54], which is pivotally connected to the housing [42] such that one free end of the L-shaped lever [54] is pivotally connected to the cylinder shaft [52], and an opposite free end of the L-shaped lever [54] is pivotally connected to the actuator plate [44]

14. The door lock [24] according to claim 13 wherein the actuator means also include an actuator plate guiding frame [62] for guiding upward and downward displacement of the actuator plate [44]

15. The door lock [24] according to claim 1 wherein the door lock [24] includes a receiver capable of receiving a selected electronic signal and coupled to the actuating means [28] to cause the actuating means [28] to be energized upon receiving the selected electronic signal to move the actuating means [28] between a locking and unlocking position; and a transmitter remote from the receiver and capable of transmitting the selected electronic signal to the receiver.

16. The door lock [24] according to claims 10 and 15 wherein the housing [42] is dimensioned to accommodate the receiver and transmitter therein, as well as all relevant electronic equipment [64], including a microprocessor, satellite tracking and GPS equipment, and a lithium battery; and wherein the housing [42] also includes a solar panel, or a series of parallel-connected solar cells which is configured to charge the lithium battery.

17. The door lock [24] according to claim 1 substantially as herein illustrated and exemplified with reference to the accompanying drawings.