FLOATING J-HOOKS BETWEEN TWO BUSHINGS IN HOUSING WITH A SINGLE PISTON

• US 20100326145A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 12/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cubic Corporation
• Inventors: Sparks, Jamie, Bertuna, Daniel, Bonneau, Walter C. JR., Waddell, Stuart J., Aberizk, David K., Powers, David R., Wilson, Scott, Warf, Donald H., Frankie, Keith L., Neasham, Jon D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/158
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0057 Feeding
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0058 by batteries
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0094 Mechanical aspects of remotely controlled locks electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0096 Mechanical aspects of locks whose actuation is dependent on geographical location, e.g. by means of a GPS system electronic locks G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0097 including means for monitoring voltage, e.g. for indicating low battery state
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/005 Locks with means for tracking the location of locked items, e.g. freight containers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 51/02 by pneumatic or hydraulic means E05B17/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/10 Hydraulic or pneumatic hydraulic or pneumatic circuits E05B81/52
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/02 Locks for railway freight-cars, freight containers or the like; Locks for the cargo compartments of commercial lorries, trucks or vans
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/186 with a pair of hooks, which are movable towards each other for grasping of an element on the wing, respectively on the frame, or for grasping of an element on each of the wings forming a double door
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/00634 Power supply for the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/06 by tampering with fastening
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/32 Freight car door fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/23 Cross bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/37 : Portable securer plate or bar
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/51 : Seal bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 : Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/498 : Shields or canopies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5031 : Receptacle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 : Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5544 : Pivoted
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5566 : External locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5765 : Rotary or swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5779 : With padlock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5973 : Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7051 : Using a powered device [e.g., motor]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 : Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]

Abstract

A lock mechanism for locking at least one door of a container in a closed position includes first and second members slidably coupled to each other to move relative to each other, a latching mechanism configured to prevent the two members from moving relative to each other in at least one direction when the latching mechanism is in a locked state, and first and second lock members, each of the lock members including a first end and a second end. The first ends of the first and second lock members protrude through the body. The second end of the first lock member is coupled to the first member of the locking mechanism and the second end of the second lock member being coupled to the second member of the locking mechanism. The first ends of the first and second lock members are configured to engage portions of the container to lock the at least one container door in a closed position. The body is sized and disposed to support the first and second lock members to prevent rotation of the first and second lock members about points where the first and second lock members are attached to the first and second members of the latching mechanism. The lock mechanism further includes a lock circuit at least partially enclosed within the body. The lock circuit includes a lock controller coupled to the latching mechanism and configured to receive commands related to the operation of the lock mechanism, wherein the lock controller is configured to cause the latching mechanism to be in the locked state in response to the received commands.

Claims

1. A lock mechanism for locking at least one door of a container in a closed position, the lock mechanism comprising:

a body;

a locking mechanism coupled to the body, the locking mechanism comprising;

first and second members slidably coupled to each other to move relative to each other, and

a latching mechanism configured to prevent the two members from moving relative to each other in at least one direction when the latching mechanism is in a locked state;

first and second lock members, each of the lock members including a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second lock members protruding through the body, the second end of the first lock member being coupled to the first member of the locking mechanism, the second end of the second lock member being coupled to the second member of the locking mechanism, the first ends of the first and second lock members configured to engage portions of the container to lock the at least one container door in a closed position, the body being sized and disposed to support the first and second lock members to prevent rotation of the first and second lock members about points where the first and second lock members are attached to the first and second members of the latching mechanism; and

a lock circuit at least partially enclosed within the body, the lock circuit comprising a lock controller coupled to the latching mechanism and configured to receive commands related to the operation of the lock mechanism, wherein the lock controller is configured to cause the latching mechanism to be in the locked state in response to the received commands.

2. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first ends of the first or second lock members are J-hook members configured to engage latch assembly bars of the container.

3. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first ends of the first or second lock members is a U-hook member configured to engage latch assembly bars of the container.

4. The lock mechanism of claim 1, further comprising first and second bushings lining first and second apertures of the body, wherein the first ends of the first and second lock members protrude through the first and second bushings, respectively, and the first and second bushings contact the first and second lock members and allow the lock members to slide within the bushings.

5. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first member of the locking mechanism is a fluid chamber configured to hold a fluid, and the second member of the locking mechanism is a piston rod coupled to a piston housed within the fluid chamber.

6. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body is permanently attached to a portion of the container.

7. The lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the body is characterized by a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the container door and the first and second lock members are configured and disposed such that a portion of the body extends beyond the first and second portions of the container in the direction perpendicular to the container door a distance that is less than half a thickness of the body.

8. The lock mechanism of claim 7, wherein the portion of the body that extends beyond the first and second portions of the container comprises an upper and/or lower edge characterized by an outer surface that is beveled or curved.

9. A lock mechanism for locking at least one door of a container in a closed position, the lock mechanism comprising:

means for enclosing at least a portion of the lock mechanism;

a locking mechanism coupled to the body, the locking mechanism comprising;

means for slidably coupling first and second members to each other to move relative to each other, and

latching means for preventing the first and second members from moving relative to each other in at least one direction when the latching means is in a locked state;

first and second lock members, each of the lock members including a first end and a second end, the first ends of the first and second lock members protruding through the enclosing means, the second end of the first lock member being coupled to the first member of the locking means, the second end of the second lock member being coupled to the second member of the locking means, the first ends of the first and second lock members comprising means for engaging portions of the container to lock the at least one container door in a closed position, the enclosing means being sized and disposed to support the first and second lock members to prevent rotation of the first and second lock members about points where the first and second lock members are attached to the first and second members of the latching means; and

control means coupled to the latching means for receiving commands related to the operation of the lock mechanism, and for causing the latching mechanism to be in the locked state in response to the received commands.

10. The lock mechanism of claim 9, wherein the engaging means of at least one of the first ends of the first or second lock members is a J-hook member configured to engage a latch assembly bar of the container.

11. The lock mechanism of claim 9, wherein the engaging means of at least one of the first ends of the first or second lock members is a U-hook member configured to engage latch assembly bars of the container.

12. The lock mechanism of claim 9, further comprising means for lining first and second apertures of the enclosing means, wherein the first ends of the first and second lock members protrude through the lining means, and for contacting the first and second lock members and allowing the lock members to slide within the lining means.

13. The lock mechanism of claim 9, wherein the first member of the latching means is a fluid chamber configured to hold a fluid, and the second member of the latching mechanism is a piston rod coupled to a piston housed within the fluid chamber.

14. The lock mechanism of claim 9, wherein the enclosing means is permanently attached to a portion of the container.

15. The lock mechanism of claim 9, wherein the enclosing means is characterized by a thickness in a direction perpendicular to the container door and the first and second lock members are configured and disposed such that a portion of the enclosing means extends beyond the first and second portions of the container in the direction perpendicular to the container door a distance that is less than half a thickness of the enclosing means.

16. The lock mechanism of claim 15, wherein the portion of the enclosing means that extends beyond the first and second portions of the container comprises an upper and/or lower edge characterized by an outer surface that is beveled or curved.