Release mechanism for container clamping device

Abstract

A releasable semi-automatic clamping device for holding down a corner fitting of a container to an underlying support, such as a load platform of a road or rail vehicle, in which the device enters the corner fitting via a lower entrance aperture upon relative closing movement between the support and the corner fitting. The device comprises a clamping head which is rotatable between a clamping position and a release position, and which is usually biased towards the clamping position by a biasing means. A remotely operated release mechanism is coupled with the clamping device and can be operated remotely to move the clamping head from the clamping position to the release position, and includes a remote actuator positionable at a remote operating location, e.g. the cab of a vehicle or in the cockpit of an aircraft, and an elongate connection, preferably a cable, interconnects the remote actuator and the clamping head.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A releasable semi-automatic clamping device for holding down a corner fitting, of a container to an underlying support, said device entering the corner fitting via a lower entrance aperture upon relative closing movement between the support and the comer fitting, and in which the device comprises: 
 a clamping head which is rotatable between a clamping position and a release position;    a biasing means arranged to bias the clamping head towards the clamping position; and,    a release mechanism which is operative to move the clamping head from the clamping position to the release position, said release mechanism comprising:    an actuator positionable at a remote operating location; and    an elongate connection for interconnecting the actuator to the clamping head.    
     
     
         2 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , including a rotatable shaft on which said clamping head is mounted, and a base portion on which the shaft is mounted and which is securable to said support.  
     
     
         3 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , in which said elongate connection is a tensile connection.  
     
     
         4 . A clamping device according to  claim 3 , in which the tensile connection is a cable.  
     
     
         5 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , in which said elongate connection is a push-rod connection.  
     
     
         6 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , in which said actuator is a T-shaped member.  
     
     
         7 . A clamping device according to  claim 6 , in which said T-shaped member is securable in either one of a first or second position, corresponding respectively to the clamping position and the release position of the clamping head.  
     
     
         8 . A clamping device according to  claim 1 , in which the clamping head is automatically moveable from the clamping position to the release position, against the action of the biasing means, upon engagement of the clamping head with the lower entrance aperture of the corner fitting.