Security system for cargo trailers

• US 7,059,159 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2003
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mi-Jack Systems and Technology LLC (Lanco International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mi-Jack Products Incorporated (Lanco International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mirabella, Peter W., Chalko, Gerald F. Jr., Labowicz, Maciej, Lanigan, William P., Moldenhauer, Kurt A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): YANG, CLARA I
• Application Number:
  US10/360,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20040155477A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,223 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.5, 340/5.73, 292/144, 292/210, 292/61, 292/129, 702/80, 702/57
• US Class Current: 70/280
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0222 Connecting elements between stanchions, e.g. roof supporting elements, stiffeners non-fixed roofs B60J7/00; securing and covering of load B60P7/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0023 Nuts or nut-like elements moving along a driven threaded axle
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1021 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5978 With switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7062 Electrical type [e.g., solenoid]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7107 And alternately mechanically actuated by a key, dial, etc.
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7113 Projected and retracted electrically

Abstract

An apparatus to secure a door of a cargo container. The apparatus includes a latching device and a cover can be positioned over at least a portion of the latching device. The latching device is positioned within a housing. At least one pad is positioned between the latch and the housing. The latching device includes a screw for moving the latch between an open position and a closed position and a rotary motor for turning the screw. A pre-compressed spring is coupled to the latch and the screw for exerting a force to Increase friction and prevent back rotation of the screw.

Claims

1. A cargo transport vehicle including a cargo container comprising;

a cargo door accessible from the outside for closing the container and being movable from an open position to a closed position;

a latching device on the inside of the container, the latching device having a latch, a screw for moving the latch between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a motor for turning the screw, wherein the motor turns the screw in one direction and thereby moves the latch from the unlocked position to the locked position and the motor turns the screw in the direction opposite of said one direction and thereby moves the latch from the locked position to the unlocked position wherein the screw has threads with a degree of pitch no greater than 5 degrees.

2. A cargo transport vehicle as defined in claim 1, further comprising a pre-compressed spring coupled to the latch and the screw for exerting a force to increase friction and prevent back rotation of the screw.

3. A cargo transport vehicle as defined in claim 1, including a sensing device for determining the position of the latch.

4. A cargo transport vehicle as defined in claim 1, including a latch receiving device, adapted to receive the latch, located on the inside of the container, adjacent to the cargo door.

5. A method for securing the cargo of a trailer having a container and cargo door accessible from the outside for closing the container and being movable from an open position to a closed position, the method comprising:

providing a latching device on the inside of the container, the latching device having a latch, a screw for moving the latch between an unlocked position and a locked position, and a motor for turning the screw;

turning the screw in one direction to thereby move the latch from the unlocked position to the locked position;

turning the screw in the direction opposite of said one direction and thereby moving the latch from the locked position to the unlocked position;

providing a pre-compressed spring coupled to the latch and the screw for exerting a force to increase friction and prevent back rotation of the screw.

6. A method of using a latching device for securing a cargo door of a cargo trailer, the method comprising:

providing a housing having an enclosure;

providing a latch member moveably positioned in the enclosure, the latch member movable from an unlocked position and a locked position;

providing a drive mechanism, coupled to the latch member, that moves the latch member within the enclosure, the drive mechanism including a motor, spring coupler, a drive screw attached to the motor through the spring coupler, a drive nut threaded on the drive screw; and

a spring disposed between the drive nut and the latch member, wherein the drive mechanism moves the latch member to the locked position by utilizing the motor to turn the drive screw in a first direction such that the drive nut advances down the drive screw and bears against the spring, which pushes the latch member to the locked position, and wherein the drive mechanism moves the latch member to the unlocked position by utilizing the motor to turn the drive screw in a second direction such that the drive nut moves up the drive screw and pulls the spring which retracts the latch member to the unlocked position;

providing a controller coupled to the motor that controls movement of the latch,

utilizing the motor to turn the drive screw in the first direction to advance the latch member to the locked position,

if the latch is blocked from advancing to the locked position, allowing the drive nut to compress the spring for a predetermined amount of time, and

stopping the motor from turning the drive screw after the predetermined amount of time.

7. A method of using a latching device for securing a cargo door of a cargo trailer, the method comprising:

providing a housing having an enclosure;

providing a latch member moveably positioned in the enclosure, the latch member movable from an unlocked position and a locked position;

providing a drive mechanism, coupled to the latch member, that moves the latch member within the enclosure, the drive mechanism including a motor, spring coupler, a drive screw attached to the motor through the spring coupler, a drive nut threaded on the drive screw; and

a spring disposed between the drive nut and the latch member, wherein the drive mechanism moves the latch member to the locked position by utilizing the motor to turn the drive screw in a first direction such that the drive nut advances down the drive screw and bears against the spring, which pushes the latch member to the locked position, and wherein the drive mechanism moves the latch member to the unlocked position by utilizing the motor to turn the drive screw in a second direction such that the drive nut moves up the drive screw and nulls the spring which retracts the latch member to the unlocked position;

providing a controller coupled to the motor that controls movement of the latch,

utilizing the motor to turn the drive screw in the second direction to retract the latch member from the locked position to the unlocked position,

if the latch is blocked from retracting to the unlocked position, allowing the drive nut to extend the spring coupler for a predetermined amount of time, and

stopping the motor from turning the drive screw after the predetermined amount of time.