FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
“A DEVICE FOR TRAILER TWIST LOCKS TO PREVENT THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE TWIST LOCKS ON TRAILER”
NHAVA SHEVA INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL PRIVATE LIMITED, an
Indian Company, of Darabshaw House, Level 1, NM Marg, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400001.
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A device for trailer twist locks to prevent the misalignment of the twist locks on trailer
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device for a trailer twist lock to enhance safety of human
beings involved in carrying the trailer with container from a terminal to any desired location and
vice versa. More particularly, the said device prevents the misalignment of the twist locks by
arresting the movement of twist lock that is used to lock the container on the trailer. This avoids
the driver to get down from trailer to align the twist locks under the container handling
equipment and reduces the risk associated with man machine interface.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
It is known that the external trailer drivers get down in terminal operational area with most
common reason is to align their trailer twist locks to receive/deliver containers from RTG crane.
Though the twist lock alignment is done at outside terminal at designated place, the twist locks
due to their design and trailer travel from gate up to RTG location get turn and misalign. The
drivers get down to align these turned twist lock.
The external container carrying trailers are having twist locks to hold the container while on
road. These twist locks can be locked or unlocked – while the container is to be received or
delivered on trailer by crane the position of twist locks need to be in unlock condition and whilst
on the road for travel need to be in locked condition when container is carried. In the terminal
before the trailers are entering from gate, the twist locks are adjusted to unlock condition so that
driver will not require getting down in the operational area near crane in yard. But the condition
of trailers is such that even after unlocking the twist locks before entering in to yard, due to the
movement of trailer and vibrations, the twist locks are turned slightly and driver is required to
get down again near crane in yard to align these twist locks to unlock condition. Most of the
injury/incidents in the container terminal yard are involving external truck drivers and with them
as a pedestrian (man/machine interface) causing as major contributing factor.
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There is heavy traffic of trailers and also LMVs are moving and the movement of RTG (Rubber
tyred Gantry Cranes) in yard where the driver on foot gets exposed to this traffic and his life gets
in danger. The device in the present invention prevent twist lock in unlock condition to lock
condition and driver not need to get out on foot to align the locks in operational area near crane.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The main objective of the present invention is to safe guard life of the external trailer drivers by
avoiding them to get down and exposed in operational area of traffic of other vehicles and
movement of cranes.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a device prevents the misalignment of
the container by arresting the movement of twist lock that is used to lock the container on the
trailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a solution for the above-said problem by providing a device
which can be incorporated in all external trailers having manual twist locks. The present
invention relates to a device for a trailer twist lock to enhance safety of human beings involved
in carrying the trailer with container from a terminal to any desired location and vice versa. More
particularly, the said device prevents the misalignment of the twist locks by arresting the
movement of twist lock that is used to lock the container on the trailer.
The propose device arrests the twist lock so as to avoid turning and misalignment. The device is
basically a box with four side walls and having top and bottom surfaces / faces open and
constructed in a size and shape so that remain in close contact with outside surface of twist lock
of trailer.
The box is preferred to be having made of a simple card board or any material of similar property
and covers to arrest for trailer twist locks. In a preferred experimentation, the inventors observed
that the dimension of the box is 80 mm x 55mmx37 mm with thickness 3mm for use on loaded
trailers and in 2 sizes for empty trailers – 80mm x 42mmx60 mm, 90mmx46mmx60 mm, with
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thickness of 3mm. The said device will be placed at twist lock stations and will avoid the
misalignment of twist locks so that twist lock remain in unlock condition at the operational area
and thus drivers will not need to get down in operational area for alignment of twist locks while
receive/deliver containers from RTG crane.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
Figure 1 shows the device of the present invention for trailer twist lock.
Figure 2 (a) exhibit the use of device of the present invention for trailer twist lock on empty
trailer.
Figure 2 (b) exhibit the use of device of the present invention for trailer twist lock arrester on
loaded trailer.
Figure 3 (prior art) shows the external container carrying trailers are having twist locks at corners
to hold the container while on road
Figure 4 (prior art) shows the moving part is connected to a lever below the trailer structure by
using this lever one can turn the position of moving part.
Figure 5 (prior art) shows the moving part is connected to a lever below the trailer structure by
using this lever one can turn the position of moving part. These twist locks can be locked or
unlocked. Lock/Unlock of twist locks can be done with the lever attached to the moving part of
lock.
Figure 6 (prior art) shows the twist lock misaligned from unlock position
Figure 7 (prior art) shows the driver is required to get down again near crane in yard to align
these twist locks to unlock condition.
Figure 8 shows the trailer with container for discharge under RTG crane
Figure 9 shows the empty trailer to receiving container under RTG crane
Figure 10 shows the installation of device of present invention, whereby the twist lock arresters
will held the twist locks in unlock condition and driver will not need to get out on foot to align
the locks in operational area near crane.
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DESCRIPTION OF PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a device to prevent the movement of twist lock of
trailer during unlock condition, comprising a) an enclosure or chamber with side surfaces and
without top and bottom surfaces, b) the said side surface of enclosure are being in close contact
with the outside walls of twist lock of trailer, while being placed on the twist lock in unlock
condition and capable to hold the twist lock movement and prevent misalignment.
In an aspect of the present invention, wherein the enclosure is selected of any shape such as
rectangular, square circular, ellipsoidal or any polygonal.
In another aspect of the present invention, wherein the enclosure is preferably in rectangular or
square shape.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the enclosure is made of paper, cardboard
or plastic material.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the enclosure having a continuous surface
or at least two side surfaces or any combination thereof.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the enclosure covers the fixed and moving
part of twist locks, when the moving part is placed on the fixed part.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the twist lock is kept in lock condition for
traveling a longer distance of container on it and kept in unlock condition for getting trailers
empty while the trailers are entering to the terminals.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the twist lock of trailer is to be positioned
in unlocks condition at a designated area by drivers.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the device prevents the movement of twist
lock, generated due to vibrations of trailer.
Still another aspect of the present invention, wherein the device save driver from injury occur
near crane while aligning manually the misaligned twist locks of trailer.
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In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the device being used in plurality and that
depends on the number of twist locks in a carrier.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, wherein the device being preferably used in set of 4
or set of 8 devices.
Still another aspect of the present invention, wherein the a twist lock arrester system in a carrier
comprising a plurality of devices, whereby the each device comprising a) an enclosure or chamber
with side surfaces and without top and bottom surfaces, b) the said side surface of enclosure are
being in close contact with the outside walls of twist lock of trailer, while being placed on the
twist lock in unlock condition and capable to hold the twist lock movement and prevent
misalignment.
The present invention relates to a device for a trailer twist lock to enhance safety of human
beings involved in carrying the trailer with container from a terminal to any desired location and
vice versa. More particularly, the said device prevents the misalignment of the container by
arresting the movement of twist lock that is used to lock the container on the trailer.
The present device arrests the twist lock so as to avoid turning and misalignment. The
device is basically a box with four side walls and having top and bottom surfaces / faces open
and constructed in a size and shape so that remain in close contact with outside surface of twist
lock of trailer.
As shown in figure 1, the device of the present invention may be made of any size as per
the size of the twist lock. The size of the twist locks for the trailers varies in the range of
maximum of 10 mm and the device of the present invention get fit with the available flexibility.
The present process – The inventor having a stock of the device in a bunch of 4 each.
While the trailer will be at the survey area in front of gate , the bunch of 4 devices in accordance
to the present invention will be provided to driver according to the empty or loaded trailer. The
driver will put parking brake on and fix the twist lock arresters to the trailer twist locks at the
designated area at survey point near the gate and under the guidance of surveyors. The safety
precautions will be observed as required for driver to get down in this isolated area under
supervision.
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By this attempt, the driver is assured that his trailer twistlocks will not get misaligned and he will
not need to get down in operational area near crane to align the same. Thus will reduce the
man/machine interface and will reduce the probability of drivers getting injured in operational
area.
This present invention is in the construction and placement of the device for trailer twist locks
that is unique and provides economical solution to the existing problem.
Examples:
Various trials have been carried out to reach up to a solution
Use of paper adhesives tape – did not work
Tried with 10 vehicles and found twist locks
got misaligned in 07 cases
Use of double sticky tape – did not work
Tried with 10 vehicles and found twist locks
got misaligned in 06 cases.
Use of hard and soft rubber – did not work
Hard rubber - Tried with 05 trailers and found
twist locks were misaligned in 03 cases.
Soft rubber - Tried with 05 trailers and found
twist locks were misaligned slightly in 04
cases.
Use of glue gun – did not work
Tried with 05 trailers and found twist locks
were misaligned in all 05 cases.
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Use of card board cover – worked
Prepared covers in house with card board and
tried with 10 trailers and found twist locks
were not misaligned in all cases.
Design of card board twist lock arrester – tried
and worked.
Advantages of invention
The major advantage of the device for twist lock is that the trailer twist locks will not get
misaligned after unlocking and placing the arresters at the designated area and drivers will not
need to get down near the crane to align them again. Thus, it will help in reducing the risk
associated with man/machine interface inside the yard and reducing the probability of drivers
getting injured due to contact of other traffic and moving cranes.
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WE CLAIM
1. A device to prevent the movement of twist lock of trailer during unlock condition,
comprising
a. an enclosure or chamber with side surfaces and without top and bottom surfaces,
b. the said side surface of enclosure are being in close contact with the outside walls
of twist lock of trailer, while being placed on the twist lock in unlock condition
and capable to hold the twist lock movement and prevent misalignment.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is selected of any shape such as
rectangular, square circular, ellipsoidal or any polygonal.
3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is preferably in rectangular or
square shape.
4. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure is made of paper, cardboard or
plastic material.
5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure having a continuous surface or at
least two side surfaces or any combination thereof.
6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the enclosure covers the fixed and moving part
of twist lock, when the moving part is placed on the fixed part.
7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the twist lock is kept in lock condition for
traveling a longer distance of container on it and kept in unlock condition for getting
trailers empty while the trailers are entering to the terminals.
8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the twist lock of trailer is to be positioned in
unlocks condition at a designated area by drivers.
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9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device prevents the movement of twist
lock, generated due to vibrations of trailer.
10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device save driver from injury occur near
crane while aligning manually the misaligned twist locks of trailer.
11. The device as claimed in claim 1, being used in plurality and that depends on the number of twist
locks in a carrier.
12. The device as claimed in claim 1, being preferably used in set of 4 or set of 8 devices.
13. A twist lock arrester system in a carrier comprising a plurality of devices, whereby the each
device comprising
a. an enclosure or chamber with side surfaces and without top and bottom surfaces,
b. the said side surface of enclosure are being in close contact with the outside walls
of twist lock of trailer, while being placed on the twist lock in unlock condition
and capable to hold the twist lock movement and prevent misalignment.