Background of the invention

The object of the invention is a rotation prevention means suited for a lashing device as defined in the preamble of claim 1, which rotation prevention means is used more particularly in a lashing device, such as in a turnbuckle screw, for containers on cargo ships, so that unintended rotation of the lashing device can be prevented.

Some solutions for lashing devices that are used for lashing containers to be carried by ship, and more precisely on cargo ships, and that comprise a rotation prevention means are known in the art.

Publication US2008/0213060 presents one lashing device, in which lashing device grooving is formed in a stud bolt that is in the lashing device, against which grooving a coupling means connected to the stud bolt is pressed for preventing with some prestressed part, such as a pin, a ball or some other corresponding part unintended turning. The solution according to the publication also presents a solution wherein a prestressed part is fitted onto the stud bolt, and grooving is correspondingly made in the coupling part. The rotation prevention means to be used in lashing devices in solutions according to prior art have some drawbacks. In prior-art lashing devices the same force is needed for rotating them as for changing the direction of rotation, or on the other hand prior-art solutions comprise easily breakable parts, such as levers mounted on shafts, or corresponding, and therefore they do not last very well in use. Furthermore, prior-art solutions require regular servicing, such as lubrication of levers, in order for them to function, and this is undesirable and uneconomic. In addition, prior-art solutions are also awkward to service or replace. The purpose of this invention is to achieve a new type of solution for a rotation prevention means to be used in a lashing device, with which it is possible to avoid the problems occurring in prior-art solutions. Brief description of the invention

The solution according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the characterization part of the independent claim 1. Additionally, the solution according to the invention is characterized by what is disclosed in the dependent claims 2-8.

The solution according to the invention now being presented has some significant advantages when it is compared to solutions that are known and used.

With the solution now presented a rotation prevention solution of a lashing device is achieved, which, on the one hand, effectively and reliably prevents unintended rotation of the coupling part of a lashing device, but which is at the same time light to rotate in either direction when e.g. loosening or tightening the lashing device when checking containers.

Another advantage of the arrangement is that it is durable, operationally reliable, service-free and the use of it does not require tools.

Brief description of the figures In the following, the invention will be described in more detail by the aid some embodiments with reference to the drawings l-2e, wherein,

Figs. l-2d present the rotation prevention means that is in the lashing device and the operation of said means.

Fig. 1 presents a rotation prevention means suited for a lashing device.

Figs, la-lc present a situation wherein the coupling part in connection with the rotation prevention means is rotated in the same direction.

Figs. 2a-2e present a situation wherein the direction of rotation of the coupling part is changed. Detailed description of the invention

The rotation prevention means 2 suited for a lashing device 1 according to the invention that is presented by Figs. 1 and 2a, which lashing device is used more particularly for lashing containers to be carried on ships, such as cargo ships, which lashing device comprises an elongated first coupling part 3, such as a stud bolt, which can be detachably connected with a coupling end 6 to a desired base, such as to the ship or to the deck of the ship (not shown in the figure), and to the aforementioned first coupling part 3 at least one rotatable second coupling part 4 is further fitted (which can be formed e.g. from two rods connected to each other), for changing the length of the lashing device. The rotation prevention means 2 is fitted in connection with the first and the second coupling part for preventing unintended rotation of the second coupling part 4. According to the invention the rotation prevention means 2 is fitted movably in the longitudinal direction of the coupling parts to the second coupling part (fitted into a groove in the rotation prevention means).

The rotation prevention means 2 operates such that the force needed to change the direction of rotation of the second coupling part 4 is essentially greater than the force that is needed for rotating the second coupling part in either direction, and this is described in more detail in Figs. la-2e.

Fig. 1 also contains the end pieces of the second coupling part 4 that are described with the reference number 15 and 16, and the support part of the stud bolt, which support part is described with the reference number 5, and further the supporting part fitted to the second coupling part 4, which supporting part is described with the reference number 17.

According to Fig. la the rotation prevention means 2 (which according to the figure is installed onto the extension 10 of the first coupling part 3) comprises at least one prestressing means 8, such as e.g. a spring, which presses a first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 (which can comprise one or more similar or different teeth 11,18), such as a toothed plate or gear wheel, that is fitted to the first coupling part 3 and that rotates along with the first coupling part 3, and at least one second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 in the rotation prevention means 2, which part is either a toothed plate or a gear wheel, is in contact with the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 for preventing unintended rotation of the second coupling part 4, and the prestressing means 8 presses the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 against the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19. Grooves and/or notches and/or teeth 20 are directly or indirectly formed in the frame (lid) 14 of the rotation prevention means (the grooves, notches or teeth can be formed e.g. in some separate part, which is installed in the frame 14; this is not presented in the figures) in contact with which grooves and/or notches and/or teeth 20 is a second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19. One or more grooves and/or notches and or teeth 20,9 are formed in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19, on both sides of it.

In the rotation prevention means grooves and/or notches and/or teeth 20 are directly or indirectly formed in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 on the side of it that is in contact with the frame 14 of the rotation prevention means, which grooves and/or notches and/or teeth are essentially smaller than the grooves and/or notches and/or teeth 11,18 formed in the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part, and the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 comprises one or more teeth 11,18 which are of different sizes and/or which comprise a different tooth angle (i.e. inclination of the surface of the tooth). In the situation according to Fig. la the tooth 11 in the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 is in contact with the tooth 9 in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19, and the teeth, notches or grooves 21 on the opposite side of the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 are in this case in the grooves and/or notches 20 formed directly or indirectly in the frame (frame plate) 14 of the rotation prevention means, because the prestressing means 8 presses the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 against the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19, which further presses against the frame 14, which comprises the aforementioned teeth, grooves or notches 21. In Fig. la the shell fixing screws of the rotation prevention means are marked with the reference number 12 and 13. In Fig. lb the coupling part 3 has been further rotated (to the left) and because the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7, being fitted onto the extension 10 of the coupling part, rotates along with it, the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part rises in this case out of the grooves or notches 20 and is able to rotate, because the tooth 11 in the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part pushes/presses the tooth 9 in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part. In the situation according to Fig. lb the spring forces are small because the prestressing means is as long as possible, and owing to this the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 is able to rise out of the grooves or notches such that it can rotate because the tooth 11 in the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part is not able to pass over the tooth 9. The first and the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part thus comprises one or more teeth 9, 11 which are formed such that rotation of the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part can be achieved with the contact between said teeth.

In Fig. lc the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part has rotated further so that the teeth 21 in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 are again in the grooves 20 in the frame.

In the situation according to Figs. 2a-2e a change in the direction of rotation is presented, in other words Fig. 2a otherwise corresponds to the situation according to Fig. la in which the coupling part has been rotated all the time in the same direction (to the left in Fig. lb), but in Fig. 2a the direction of rotation is now changed, and rotation occurs in a second direction, i.e. to the right, as the arrow in the figure indicates.

In Figs. 2b-2d the tooth 9 in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 travels along the surface of the tooth 18 (which tooth comprises a gently sloping/inclined surface according to the figure) of the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 until the teeth 9 and 11 are in contact with each other, as presented in Fig. 2e. When in the situation presented by Figs. 2b-2d the prestressing means has flattened and the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 is flattened against the frame 14, and owing to this the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part is not able to rotate because it will not rise out of the grooves or notches 21 of the frame (the tooth angle of the tooth 18 is of a gentler gradient than that of the tooth 20, and owing to this the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 does not rotate, because according to the figure in this case only the first grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 7 is able to rotate when the tooth 18 moves along the surface of the tooth 9).

According to Figs. 2b-2d, the first and the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part thus comprises one or more teeth 20, 18 having tooth angles that differ to each other such that rotation of the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part 19 can be prevented with the contact between said teeth.

According to what is presented by Figs. 2a-2e, the teeth 18,9, 11 and 20 are different to each other, but the shape of the teeth can be different to what is presented in the figures and is in no way limited to the shape presented by the figures. The teeth can comprise a gently sloping surface, sharp edges, a rectangle or rectangles, and they can be beveled, rounded, et cetera.

It is also obvious to the person skilled in the art that the different embodiments of the invention are not limited solely to the examples described above, and that they may for these reasons be varied within the scope of the claims presented below.

The grooves and/or notches and/or teeth formed directly or indirectly in the frame of the rotation prevention means according to the invention can be essentially similar to the grooves, notches or teeth in the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part.

In the solution according to the invention, the grooves, notches or teeth in the grooved or notched part are rectangular or rounded, or beveled or of the desired shape, and the grooves or notches or teeth can be formed on the outer rim of the grooved or notched part and/or on a surface that is at a right angle in relation to the outer rim. In the solution according to the invention the first and the second grooved and/or notched and/or toothed part are mounted on a shaft concentrically, but they can be mounted on a shaft eccentrically.