Locking apparatus for shipping containers

• US 8,058,985 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trakloc International LLC
• Original Assignee: TRAK LOK Corporation
• Inventors: Dobson, Eric L., Reed, Joel K.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US12/313,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20090135015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.13, 340/572.1, 340/539.17, 340/541, 340/542, 340/545.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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: 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: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/554 Cover, lid, cap, encasing shield

Abstract

A security system for freight containers comprises: a locking device configured to reliably attach to the container and prevent unauthorized opening of the container doors; an electromechanical locking mechanism; and a GPS receiver so that unlocking may be authorized when the container is at a selected location. The system may further include a device to sense conditions affecting the container; and, a communication system to transmit the output of the sensing device to a system administrator located remotely. The locking and sensing devices may be capable of two-way communication with the system administrator. The system may include a visual display on the exterior of the container capable of displaying selected messages. The messages may be preprogrammed or may be changed as the container moves from one geographic location to another.

Claims

1. A locking apparatus for shipping containers comprising:

a substantially rigid housing;

a mechanical member configured to reliably attach to respective locking bars on both doors of said shipping container and secure said container from being opened when said mechanical member is in a latched position;

a microprocessor;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver and at least one redundant means of cross checking the GPS output;

a power supply; and

,

an electromechanical latching mechanism configured to latch said mechanical member and to unlatch said mechanical member upon a signal from said microprocessor when said shipping container has reached a selected geographic location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said redundant means of cross checking said GPS output is selected from the group consisting of:

using accelerometers and a clock to compute approximate location by dead reckoning;

using a clock circuit to compare the current time to the approximate scheduled time of arrival;

comparing the currently indicated location to a previously updated location;

comparing the indicated location of one container to the indicated location of other containers that are supposed to be traveling together;

using cellular radio signals; and

,

using LEO satellite signals.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one wireless transmitter selected from the group consisting of:

UHF and microwave Low Earth Orbit satellite modems;

quadband Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) modems, and passive and active radio frequency identification (RFID) devices including those with radio mesh networking capabilities.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one sensing device selected from the following group:

accelerometers;

tilt sensors;

impact sensors;

load cells;

strain gauges;

thermal sensors;

chemical sensors;

radiation sensors;

humidity sensors;

air pressure sensors;

biological sensors and RFID tag readers.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of said sensing devices is contained within said housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein at least one of said sensing devices is mounted remotely from said housing and said sensing device is configured to communicate wirelessly with said microprocessor at selected times.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a data input device selected from the group consisting of:

keypads;

USB ports; and

wireless data links, whereby selected data may be input to said microprocessor.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said microprocessor is configured to determine the geographic location of said container based on input from said GPS receiver and from said at least one means of cross checking said GPS receiver.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said microprocessor signals said mechanical member to unlatch based upon a combination of said geographic location and the meeting of a condition selected from the following group:

the time approximately matches a scheduled time of arrival; and

user has entered a correct access code.

10. A locking apparatus for shipping containers comprising:

a locking device configured to reliably attach to respective locking bars on both doors of a freight container and prevent unauthorized opening of said container;

a sensing device including a two-way communication system, said sensing device further including a GPS receiver;

a power supply; and

,

a microprocessor that signals said locking device to unlatch based upon a combination of input from said GPS receiver and the meeting of a condition selected from the following group;

the time approximately matches a scheduled time of arrival; and

,

user has entered a correct access code.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said two-way communication system is configured to communicate with a system monitor located remotely from said container, said system monitor configured to receive data from said sensing device at selected times and to communicate with said sensing device at selected times.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said two-way communication system comprises at least one wireless transmitter selected from the group consisting of:

UHF and microwave Low Earth Orbit satellite modems;

quadband Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) modems, and passive and active radio frequency identification (RFID) devices including those with radio mesh networking capabilities.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising at least one sensing device selected from the following group:

accelerometers;

tilt sensors;

impact sensors;

load cells;

strain gauges;

thermal sensors;

chemical sensors;

radiation sensors;

humidity sensors;

air pressure sensors;

biological sensors and RFID tag readers.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a second circuit configured to provide a redundant check of the output of said GPS receiver.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said two-way communication system is configured to communicate with at least one similar locking device attached to a second container.