Device for automatically latching a container to a railway car or the like and for automatically unlatching it therefrom

Claim 2

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means on said housing means for entering said opening in said wall for latching engagement therewith, and spring means reacting against said latch means and being characterized by permitting displacement thereof out of the path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means and biasing said latch means into latching position in said opening in said fitting, said spring means being further characterized by being capable of holding said latch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier whereupon said latch means is moved out of said latching position, said spring means including: relatively weak first spring means arranged to be stressed on application of said container to said housing means to bias said latch means to latching position, and relatively strong second spring means providing the principal force for holding said latch means in latching position and arranged to be stressed when said container is lifted from said transport carrier.

Claim 3

Container securing means according to claim 1 wherein guide means mount said first spring means to react against said latch means in one direction, and guide means mount said second spring means to react against said latch means in a direction transverse to said one direction.

Claim 4

Container securing means according to claim 2 wherein pin and slot means in the first mentioned guide means hold said first spring means in prestressed condition, and pin and slot means in the second mentioned guide means hold said second spring means in prestressed condition.

Claim 5

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means on said housing means for entering said opening in said wall for latching engagement therewith, spring means reacting against said latch means and being characterized by permitting displacement thereof out of the path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means and biasing said latch means into latching position in said opening in said fitting, said spring means being further characterized by being capable of holding said laTch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier whereupon said latch means is moved out of said latching position, said spring means including: first spring means arranged to be stressed on application of said container to said housing means to bias said latch means to latching position, and second spring means providing the principal force for holding said latch means in latching position and arranged to be stressed when said container is lifted from said transport carrier, means guiding said latch means for translatory movement into said latching position under the influence of said first spring means, and means mounting said latch means for rotary movement away from said latching position and against the influence of said second spring means.

Claim 6

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means on said housing means for entering said opening in said wall for latching engagement therewith, spring means reacting against said latch means and being characterized by permitting displacement thereof out of the path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means and biasing said latch means into latching position in said opening in said fitting, said spring means being further characterized by being capable of holding said laTch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier whereupon said latch means is moved out of said latching position, said spring means including: first spring means arranged to be stressed on application of said container to said housing means to bias said latch means to latching position, and second spring means providing the principal force for holding said latch means in latching position and arranged to be stressed when said container is lifted from said transport carrier, means guiding said latch means for translatory movement into said latching position under the influence of said first spring means, and means mounting said latch means for rotary movement away from said latching position and against the influence of said second spring means.

Claim 7

Container securing means according to claim 4 wherein a spring follower is biased by said second spring means to react against said latch means, said spring follower has a surface for sliding engagement with said latch means, and stop means hold said spring follower in spaced relation to said latch means and said second spring means in prestressed condition.

Claim 8

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means translatorily and rotatably mounted on said housing means for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting, means for automatically translatorily moving said latch means to latching position with respect to said opening in said wall in response to application of said container thereto, means for automatically rotating said latch means from said latching position with respect to said opening in said wall in response to removal of said container therefrom, first spring means for biasing said latch means for translatory movement to said latching position, and second spring means reacting against said latch means to hold it in said latching position.

Claim 9

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means translatorily and rotatably mounted on said housing means for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting, means for automatically translatorily moving said latch means to latching position with respect to said opening in said wall in response to application of said container thereto, means for automatically rotating said latch means from said latching position with respect to said opening in said wall in response to removal of said container therefrom, first spring means for biasing said latch means for translatory movement to said latching position, and second spring means reacting against said latch means to hold it in said latching position.

Claim 10

Container securing means according to claim 6 wherein said second spring means is stronger than said first spring means and acts to hold said latch means against rotation from said latching position.

Claim 11

Container securing means according to claim 6 wherein said latch means has a first surface inclined with respect to the path of said container fitting in moving toward said latching position and engageable by said fitting to translate said latch means away from said path, and said latch means has a second surface angularly related to said first surface and engageable by said fitting in its movement away from said housing to rotate said latch means away from said latching position to release said fitting.

Claim 12

Container securing means for a transport carrier having a slot in the floor thereof communicating with an opening to secure to said transport carrier a container having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof said container securing means comprising: housing means for underlying said bottom container fitting and having a depending wall section for projecting through said slot and movement therealong to different positions to accommodate different lengths of containers, said wall section terminating in trunnion means extending across said slot to attach said housing means to said transport carrier, said housing means being rotatable by said trunnion means into said opening to position said housing means in retracted position therein, and latch means on said housing means for automatically entering said opening in said wall of said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith when said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing, relatively weak firSt spring means arranged to be stressed on application of said container to said housing means to bias said latch means to latching position, and relatively strong second spring means providing the principal force for holding said latch means in latching position and arranged to be stressed when said container is lifted from said transport carrier.

Claim 13

Container securing means for a transport carrier having a slot in the floor thereof communicating with an opening to secure to said transport carrier a container having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof said container securing means comprising: housing means for underlying said bottom container fitting and having a depending wall section for projecting through said slot and movement therealong to different positions to accommodate different lengths of containers, said wall section terminating in trunnion means extending across said slot to attach said housing means to said transport carrier, said housing means being rotatable by said trunnion means into said opening to position said housing means in retracted position therein, and latch means on said housing means for automatically entering said opening in said wall of said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith when said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing, relatively weak firSt spring means arranged to be stressed on application of said container to said housing means to bias said latch means to latching position, and relatively strong second spring means providing the principal force for holding said latch means in latching position and arranged to be stressed when said container is lifted from said transport carrier.

Claim 14

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting, pin and slot means on said housing means and on said latch means movably mounting said latch means on said housing means, pivot means on said latch means, first spring means reacting between said housing means and said latch means for rotating said latch means about said pivot means into latching position in said opening in said wall of said container fitting on application of said container to said transport carrier, and second spring means reacting between said housing and said pivot means for holding said latch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier and overcome the force exerted by said second spring means.

Claim 15

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting, pin and slot means on said housing means and on said latch means movably mounting said latch means on said housing means, pivot means on said latch means, first spring means reacting between said housing means and said latch means for rotating said latch means about said pivot means into latching position in said opening in said wall of said container fitting on application of said container to said transport carrier, and second spring means reacting between said housing and said pivot means for holding said latch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier and overcome the force exerted by said second spring means.

Claim 16

Container securing means according to claim 10 wherein stop means on said housing means limit movement of said latch means toward latching position.

Claim 17

Container securing means according to claim 10 wherein said latch means is generally L-shaped, said pin and slot means is located at the junction between the long and short arms, the distal end of said short arm is arranged to enter said opening in said container fitting, and said pivot means is located at the distal end of said long arm.

Claim 18

Container securing means according to claim 12 wherein the end surface of said distal end of said short arm is inclined to the path of said container fitting and is engageable thereby to be displaced as said container is applied to said transport carrier against the force of said first spring means, and a side surface of said distal end of said short arm extends transversely to said path of said container fitting and is engageable thereby to be displaced from said latching position as said container is lifted from said transport carrier to rotate said latch means and further stress said second spring means.

Claim 19

Container securing means according to claim 13 wherein said first spring means is a relatively weak tension spring and is connected to said long arm intermediate its ends, said second spring means is a relatively strong compression spring, and said latch means is rotated when said short arm is displaced by upward movement of said container fitting and said second spring means is further compressed.

Claim 20

Container securing means according to claim 14 wherein said pivot means includes a pin that extends into a slot in said housing means and limits the expansion of said second spring means.

Claim 21

Container securing means according to claim 15 wherein said pin and slot means includes a pin mounted on said housing means and an arcuate slot in said latch means the center of curvature of which is located at said pin at said distal end of said long arm, and said slot in said housing means is an arcuate slot the center of curvature of which is located at said pin on said housing means.

Claim 22

Container securing means according to claim 10 wherein angularly related side walls of said housing means are arranged to overlie corresponding side walls of said bottom container fitting, and said latch means is arranged to move through one of said side walls of said housing means.

Claim 23

Container securing means according to claim 17 wherein a pair Of walls extend from said one side wall of said housing means and carry said pin of said pin and slot means to mount said latch means therebetween, and another pair of walls on said housing means have said first and second spring means therebetween. 19. Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, a bell crank having one arm for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting in latching position therewith, pin and slot means on said housing means and on said bell crank for movably mounting said bell crank on said housing means, first spring means reacting between said housing means and the other arm of said bell crank for moving said one arm into latching position in said opening in said wall of said container fitting on lowering of said container onto said transport carrier, and second spring means reacting between said housing means and the distal end of said other arm of said bell crank for holding said one arm in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to raise said container from said transport carrier and overcome the force exerted by said second spring means.

Claim 24

Container securing means according to claim 19 wherein said pin and slot means is located at the junction between said arms of said bell crank, pin and slot means at the distal end of said other arm of said bell crank and on said housing means movably mount said bell crank on said housing means, said first spring means reacts against said other arm of said bell crank between said junction and said distal end, and said second spring means reacts against said pin of said pin and slot means at said distal end.

Claim 25

Container securing means according to claim 20 wherein said pin of said pin and slot means at said junction is mounted on said housing means and said slot thereof is located in said bell crank, said pin of said pin and slot means at said distal end is mounted on said other arm and said slot thereof is located in said housing means.

Claim 26

Container securing means according to claim 21 wherein said slot of said pin and slot means at said junction is an arcuate slot having its center of curvature at said pin at said distal end, and said slot at said distal end is an arcuate slot having its center of curvature at said pin at said junction.

Claim 27

Container securing means according to claim 22 wherein angularly related side walls of said housing means are arranged to overlie corresponding side walls of said bottom container fitting, and said one arm of said bell crank is arranged to move through one of said side walls of said housing means.

Claim 28

Container securing means according to claim 23 wherein a pair of walls extend from one side wall of said housing means and carry said pin of said pin and slot means at said junction to mount said bell crank therebetween, and another pair of walls on said housing means are located on opposite sides of said first and second spring means.

Claim 29

Container securing means according to claim 19 wherein said one arm of said bell crank has an end surface inclined to the path of said container fitting and is engageable thereby to be displaced as said container is lowered onto said transport carrier against the force of said first spring means, and a side surface of said one arm of said bell crank extends transversely to said path of said container fitting and is engageable thereby to be displaced from latching position as said container is lifted from said transport carrier to rotate said bell crank and further stress said second spring means.

Claim 30

Container securing means according to claim 25 wherein said first spring means is a relaTively weak tension spring and is connected to said other arm of said bell crank intermediate its ends, and said second spring means is a relatively strong compression spring.

Claim 31

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means in the form of a bell crank having one arm for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting, pin and slot means on said housing means and at the junction between the arms of said latch means movably mounting said latch means on said housing means, and spring means reacting against the other arm of said latch means, biasing said latch means to hold said pin and slot means at one end position and being characterized by permitting displacement of said one arm of said latch means out of the path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means and movement of said pin and slot means away from said one position and biasing said latch means into latching position in said opening in said fitting, said spring means being further characterized by being capable of holding said latch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier whereupon said latch means is moved out of said latching position.

Claim 32

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, latch means in the form of a bell crank having one arm for entering said opening in said wall of said container fitting, pin and slot means on said housing means and at the junction between the arms of said latch means movably mounting said latch means on said housing means, and spring means reacting against the other arm of said latch means, biasing said latch means to hold said pin and slot means at one end position and being characterized by permitting displacement of said one arm of said latch means out of the path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means and movement of said pin and slot means away from said one position and biasing said latch means into latching position in said opening in said fitting, said spring means being further characterized by being capable of holding said latch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said container from said transport carrier whereupon said latch means is moved out of said latching position.

Claim 33

Container securing means according to claim 27 wherein said spring means is characterized by exerting a greater force to hold said latch means in said latching position than is required to permit displacement thereof out of said path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means.

Claim 34

Container securing means for a transport carrier having a deck, said container securing means being arranged to secure to said deck one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means having angularly related side walls for overlying corresponding side walls of said bottom container fitting, latch means on one of said side walls for entering said latch receiving opening in said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith, and trunnion means depending from said housing means on the side opposite said side wall on which said latch means is mounted and underlying said deck to permit said housing means to pivot in a direction to cause further latching engagement of said latch means with said bottom container fitting when said bottom container fitting is moved upwardly during transport.

Claim 35

Container securing means for a transport carrier having a deck, said container securing means being arranged to secure to said deck one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said container securing means comprising: housing means having angularly related side walls for overlying corresponding side walls of said bottom container fitting, latch means on one of said side walls for entering said latch receiving opening in said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith, and trunnion means depending from said housing means on the side opposite said side wall on which said latch means is mounted and underlying said deck to permit said housing means to pivot in a direction to cause further latching engagement of said latch means with said bottom container fitting when said bottom container fitting is moved upwardly during transport.

Claim 36

Container securing means according to claim 29 wherein spring means react against said latch means to permit displacement thereof out of the path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means and to bias said latch means into latching position in said opening in said fitting, said spring means being capable of holding said latch means in said latching position until sufficient force is applied to lift said bottom container fitting from said transport carrier whereupon said latch means is moved out of said latching position.

Claim 37

Container securing means according to claim 30 wherein said spring means is characterized by exerting a greater force to hold said latch means in said latching position than is required to permit displacement thereof out of said path of said container fitting in moving toward said housing means.

Claim 38

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof comprising: a deck for said transport carrier having a lengthwise extending slot communicating with one or more openings extending transversely thereof, a plUrality of housing means each arranged to underlie said bottom container fitting and each having extension means extending through said slot and slidable therealong, trunnion means at the distal end of said extension means having a transverse dimension greater than the width of said slot to hold said housing means inseparable from said deck and enabling each housing means to be swung into one of said openings, said trunnion means having a relieved section in the upright operative position of the respective housing means to by pass a housing means in retracted position, and latch means on each housing means for entering said opening in said wall of said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith when said housing means is in erect position and, said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing.

Claim 39

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof comprising: a deck for said transport carrier having a lengthwise extending slot communicating with one or more openings extending transversely thereof, a plUrality of housing means each arranged to underlie said bottom container fitting and each having extension means extending through said slot and slidable therealong, trunnion means at the distal end of said extension means having a transverse dimension greater than the width of said slot to hold said housing means inseparable from said deck and enabling each housing means to be swung into one of said openings, said trunnion means having a relieved section in the upright operative position of the respective housing means to by pass a housing means in retracted position, and latch means on each housing means for entering said opening in said wall of said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith when said housing means is in erect position and, said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing.

Claim 40

Container securing means according to claim 32 wherein: said lengthwise extending slot has notches therealong, and each of said housing means has shear lug means depending therefrom for insertion in one of said notches to locate the respective housing means at a predetermined position therealong.

Claim 41

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof comprising: a deck for said transport carrier having a lengthwise extending slot communicating with one or more openings extending transversely thereof, a plurality of housing means each arranged to underlie said bottom container fitting and each having extension means extending through said slot and slidable therealong, trunnion means at the distal end of said extension means having a transverse dimension greater than the width of said slot to hold said housing means inseparable from said deck and enabling each housing means to be swung into one of said openings, said trunnion means being arranged and constructed in the upright operative position of the respective housing means to by pass a housing means in retracted position, latch means on each housing means for entering said opening in said wall of said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith when said housing means is in erect position and, said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing, said lengthwise extending slot having notches therealong, shear lug means depending from each of said housing means for insertion in one of said notches to locate the respective housing means at a predetermined position therealong, said shear lug means in the retracted position of the respective housing means extending into the path of the trunnion means of the housing means slidable along said slot, and each trunnion means having a relieved section to by pass said shear lug means of said housing means in retracted position.

Claim 42

Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof comprising: a deck for said transport carrier having a lengthwise extending slot communicating with one or more openings extending transversely thereof, a plurality of housing means each arranged to underlie said bottom container fitting and each having extension means extending through said slot and slidable therealong, trunnion means at the distal end of said extension means having a transverse dimension greater than the width of said slot to hold said housing means inseparable from said deck and enabling each housing means to be swung into one of said openings, said trunnion means being arranged and constructed in the upright operative position of the respective housing means to by pass a housing means in retracted position, latch means on each housing means for entering said opening in said wall of said bottom container fitting for latching engagement therewith when said housing means is in erect position and, said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing, said lengthwise extending slot having notches therealong, shear lug means depending from each of said housing means for insertion in one of said notches to locate the respective housing means at a predetermined position therealong, said shear lug means in the retracted position of the respective housing means extending into the path of the trunnion means of the housing means slidable along said slot, and each trunnion means having a relieved section to by pass said shear lug means of said housing means in retracted position.