Remotely Controlled Twist-Lock and a Method For Controlling Such a Lock to be Connected to a Container

• US 20080193246A1
• Filed: 09/02/2005
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cargotec Finland Oy (Cargotec Oyj)
• Original Assignee: All Set Marine Lashing AB (Cargotec Oyj)
• Inventors: Bohman, Hans, Bohman, Karl
• Application Number:
  US11/661,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20080193246A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 410/82
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/132 twist-locks for containers or frames
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/004 for containers B63B25/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2590/0083 Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/00 Component parts, details or accessories for large containers B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0013 Twist lock

Abstract

The present invention relates to a twist-lock (104a-d) and a method for controlling a twist-lock to be connected to a container (102) for locking two containers together. The method comprises to match the remotely controlled twist-lock (104a-d) with the container (102), wherein unique identifiers are registered for said twist-lock and said container, storing said identifier information in a database. Further the unlocking function of said twist-lock is remotely controllable by means of a remote control unit (104).

Claims

1. A method for controlling a twist-lock (104a-d) to be connected to a container (102) for locking two containers together

characterized in the steps of:

matching the remotely controlled twist-lock (104a-d) with the container (102), wherein unique identifiers are registered for said twist-lock and said container,

storing said identifier information in a database.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

selectively remote unlocking of the twist-locks (104a-d) for unlocking of the containers (102) from each other.

3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of:

entering data to said database to be associated with said identifier, for example the loaded weight of said container (102).

4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of:

programming a security device (106), to be mounted on the container (102), with the identifiers of said twist-lock (104a-d).

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of:

transmitting identifiers from said twist-lock (104a-d) and said security device (106) to a remote server.

6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of:

creating a discharge plan to be saved on a memory stick and used by a remote control unit (104) for controlling said twist-lock (104a-d).

7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising the step of:

daisy chaining wherein the unlock command from a first twist-lock (104a-d) is passed along from container to container until it reaches its destination.

8. A twist-lock (104a-d) for connection to a container for locking two containers (102) together, characterized in that the unlocking function of said twist-lock (104a-d) is remotely controllable by means of a remote control unit (104).

9. A twist-lock (104a-d) according to claim 8, wherein said twist-lock is provided with an identifier to be associated with an identifier of the container (102).

10. A twist-lock (104a-d) according to any of the claims 8-9, wherein a particular twist-lock is identifiable, which permits selective remote unlocking of the twist-lock (104a-d) via a radio interface.

11. A twist-lock (104a-d) according to any of the claims 8-10, wherein said remote control unit (104) is connectable to a antenna (105) for enhancing the communication between said twist-lock and said remote control unit.

12. A twist-lock (104a-d) according to any of the claims 8-11, wherein said twist-lock is flangeless, i.e. without adding unnecessary vertical height between the containers.