Self-locking and- releasing connector group for the connection of two components, at least one of which comprises an undercut hole

Abstract

The invention relates to a self-locking and -releasing connector group, for the connection of two components, at least one of which comprises a hole for the partial introduction of the connector group and which is preferably a corner fitting on a sea freight container. Said group comprises a housing ( 2 ), at least one locking component ( 170 ), which can be displaced back and forth between a released position and a closed position, a stop component, displaceably mounted on the housing, whereby the housing may be fixed to one of the components and the locking component, in the released position thereof, may be inserted in the hole of the other component, during the relative manoeuvring of the components to be fixed together. Said stop component is moved, relative to the housing, by the other component during further relative manoeuvring of the components, which moves the locking component from the released position into the locked position, in which it engages with the undercut in the longitudinal hole, thus locking the two components together. The group further comprises a locking device ( 182 ), which prevents a displacement of the locking component ( 170 ), from the locked position into the released position, on a separation of the two components which are locked together, when the above are accelerated above a certain level and/or displaced from the rest position.

1 . A self-locking and self-releasing connector group for connecting two components, at least one of which comprises an undercut hole for partial insertion or introduction of the connector group and which is preferably a corner fitting of a sea freight container, comprising 
 a housing ( 2 ),    at least one locking component ( 13 ,  170 ,  6 ) movably mounted in the housing ( 2 ), which is movable between a release position and a locking position,    a stop element ( 8 ,  150 ) movably mounted on the housing, whereby a component ( 64 ,  218 ) is mounted on the housing and, in the release position of the locking component during movement of two components ( 64 ,  68 ,  218 ,  232 ) to be interconnected to one another, is insertable through the hole of the other component ( 86 ,  232 ), the stop element during further movement of the components to be interconnected toward one another moving relative to the housing and thereby moving the locking component out of its release position into its locking position in which it undergrips the longitudinal hole, so that the components to be interconnected are interconnected to one another, and    a locking device ( 50 ,  110 ,  182 ) which locks out a movement of the components interconnected to one another out of their locked together position into a release position in connection with a movement of the locking components ( 13 ,  170 ,  6 ) in which they are accelerated outwardly beyond a predetermined degree and/or are moved out of a rest position.    
     
     
         2 . A connector group according to  claim 1 , whereby the locking device ( 182 ) comprises two movable components ( 188 ,  180 ) movable relative to one another and an inertia mass ( 196 ), which blocks the capability of the components to move relative to one another, in the event that the locking device is subjected to a horizontal sliding component and/or the locking device is tipped about a horizontal axis out of a normal position.  
     
     
         3 . A connector group according to  claim 2 , whereby the locking device ( 182 ) comprises a locking housing ( 180 ) in which a head ( 192 ) of a tappet ( 188 ), which is displaceably guided in the locking house, is received, the head having an upper side ( 194 ) configured such that a ball ( 196 ), which acts as an inertia mass, is disposed in a deepest point in the center of the over side during vertically upright orientation of the locking device in which the locking device is not subject to any sidewise force and the ball ( 196 ) moves out of its deepest position in correspondence with a tipping of the locking device and/or a sidewise acceleration, and a counter surface ( 198 ) in the housing disposed in opposition to the outer side ( 194 ) of the head and being configured such that it cooperates with the ball ( 196 ) to effect a locking out of movement in the event of a movement of the head in the direction toward the counter surface.  
     
     
         4 . A connector group according to  claim 1 , whereby the locking device ( 50 ) comprises a rotatable shaft ( 76 ) onto which a band ( 54 ) is wound up, the band ( 54 ) cooperating with the stop element and comprising a locking mechanism ( 80 ,  82 ) which locks out the capability of the shaft ( 76 ) to rotate during the occurrence of predetermined operational conditions.  
     
     
         5 . A connector group according to one of claims  1 - 4 , whereby the stop element ( 8 ,  50 ), moves, during movement of the components ( 64 ,  68 ) to be interconnected to one another toward one another, the locking component ( 13 ,  170 ) out of an interconnecting position into a locking position extending sidewise out of the housing.  
     
     
         6 . A connector group according to one of claims  1 - 6 , whereby the housing ( 2 ) comprises a hammerhead ( 6 ) disposed on a rear side thereof in a rotatably mounted disposition, the hammerhead being displaceable into a corresponding longitudinal hole ( 66 ) in one of the components ( 64 ) to be interconnected to one another, whereby a turning of the hammerhead acts to secure the housing thereto, and the hammerhead being turnable to assume an undergrip position in the longitudinal hole.  
     
     
         7 . A connector group according to one of claims  1 - 6 , whereby the stop element ( 150 ), during movement of the components ( 218 ,  232 ) to be interconnected to one another, turns the locking component ( 6 ), which is rotatably mounted on the rear side of the housing ( 2 ), into a locking position.  
     
     
         8 . A connector group according to  claim 7 , whereby the locking component is configured as a hammerhead ( 6 ).  
     
     
         9 . A connector group according to  claim 7  or  8 , whereby at least a portion of the housing to be inserted into the hole ( 170 ) of one of the components ( 218 ) to be interconnected to one another extends into the hole and undergrips the hole and is displaceable against the force of a spring during further movement into a hollow space ( 219 ) behind the longitudinal hole.  
     
     
         10 . A connector group according to one of claims  1 - 9 , whereby the housing ( 2 ) comprises a flange ( 4 ) for engagement on an outermost rear surface of at least one of the components to be interconnected to one another and the stop element ( 150 ) is mounted on the housing in a manner such that it is movable out of a position extending over one of the flanges into a position in which it is substantially flush with the flange.  
     
     
         11 . A connector group according to one of claims  1 - 8 , whereby the components ( 64 ,  68 ) to be moved toward one another to thereby interconnect to one another engage a flange ( 4 ) on one of the housings ( 2 ) in opposed manner.