Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a coupling device for easy and quick detachable interconnection of two objects with lateral horizontal sides, for example floating pontoons.

Background of the Invention

The construction of building and machine assemblies is not possible without the process of connecting parts, sub-assemblies and units into sets, machines, and building units. The basic types, which are commonly known in technical practice, include non-detachable and detachable connections. A typical non-detachable connection is a welded joint, which is formed by melting the edges of the parts to be connected or filler metal. This leads to chemical and physical bonds that can only be broken in a destructive way. The creation of detachable connections then uses a large number of coupling members or technological components, which are a direct part of the parts to be connected. Connections using tongues and grooves, prismatic grooves, screws, split pins, nails, rivets and a number of other fasteners are known from technical practice.

In the field of connecting floating blocks into a single monoblock, the lugs, grooves and overlaps created on individual blocks at the places of planned future connections are used, when these functional parts of the blocks are interconnected using an additional coupling member or members. Such connections are often assembled, where one part is the anchoring and delimiting members, which serve for pre-connection delimitation of the relative position of individual blocks and connecting parts, and the other part is the coupling member or device itself.

A solution is known from document CZ 9823 (Ul), where the individual parts of a pontoon bridge set are provided with a set of lower and upper connecting parts. The connecting parts in the lower parts are front connections based on a pin and a hole and bottom locks based on three lugs connected by means of a common pin. In the upper parts, the connection is made by means of locking teeth anchored to the locking lugs. The main disadvantage of this connection is its complexity using many different types of connecting elements and connecting technologies. In particular, centring the relative position of the lugs for running the connecting pins through requires a great interaction between the operator and the technician.

Document CS 118322 discloses a technology for easier centring of individual pontoon parts together for easier running of connecting pins through a system of connecting lugs. This is achieved by fitting these connecting lugs with outer auxiliary centring hooks and inner centring pins, where the centring pin of one pontoon fits into the centring hook of the other pontoon, thus creating a precise centring hole of the connecting lugs to run the connecting pin through. The disadvantage of this connection is the need to install the individual parts from above, and thus the use of crane technology. In addition, this type of connection is only in the upper part, when there are only connecting lugs in the lower part. This requires a completely calm water surface when making the connection o n the water. In addition, the pin without security can also be extended out spontaneously due to vibrations.

Document CN 207017138 (U) discloses a technology for connecting two or more pontoon blocks together by means of a strength-enhanced assembly of connecting lugs and connecting pins. In contrast to the previous documents, in this case the connecting lugs are arranged in such a way that the connecting pin retracts in a vertical position. The individual lugs are formed in the connecting parts of the pontoon as a system of concentric rings arranged so that they fit into each other, thus forming a coaxial connecting cavity additionally provided with continuous grooves. A connecting pin provided with teeth in profile then retracts into this cavity, distributed around the perimeter of the circle and the number corresponding to the connecting pin. The bayonet type lock then prevents the pin from spontaneously sliding out of the housing. The main disadvantage of this connection is its technological production complexity and the complexity of the connection, consisting in the need to achieve a rest position for precise stabilization of both pontoon parts to retract the set of rings into each other. Document ES 340692 (Al) discloses a connecting system for floating blocks, using anchoring hooks retracted in stops. This connection is very loose and therefore can be created very easily. The resulting strength of the connection is achieved by fitting the connecting hook with an adjustable head with a screw lock. The “U”-shaped stop with a hole facing the adjacent pontoon seats on the metal collar provided on the other pontoon. The stop cavity is additionally provided with a sealing compound. When extending the adjustable head, the stop is pressed on the collar, thus creating the resulting strong and at the same time watertight connection. The main disadvantage of this solution is that it is no longer possible to achieve a watertight connection during installation in water.

The invention according to CN 111139728 (A) combines the advantages of a loose connection facilitating the connection of panels in a flying approach using the technology of locking teeth and locking lugs. In this case, the locking lugs are provided with an extension head with a screw displacement, performing the final approach and tightening of the formed connection. The disadvantage of this connection is that this connection is easy to create in the upper parts of the pontoons, even though they will protrude above the floor profile of the future building structure, but it is not easy to create and, above all, tighten it below the water surface.

The invention according to US 4,060,048 discloses a coupling device for floating objects and pontoons formed by a pair of fixed brackets forming complementary units to the pontoon connected by means of a movable coupling member. The fixed bracket is here formed by a rod web provided on at least one longitudinal side with a longitudinal recess provided with at least one pair of opposite rails, thus forming a semi-closed connecting cavity. The movable coupling member is formed by a rod “I” profile consisting of two bases connected by a connector. The bases of the movable coupling member each fit into one semi-closed connecting cavity of one fixed bracket to form a unit. The coupling device is further provided with at least one device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member. The disadvantage of this solution is that the movable coupling member consists of massive steel profiles and its weight is so heavy that it is necessary to use a crane for its installation. The shape of the movable coupling member requires a pre-matched alignment of the opposite fixed brackets for its installation, because its shape does not allow an easier running of the profile of the movable coupling member into the non-mating semi-closed connecting cavities. The device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member requires additional assembly work by the operator, and in case of troubled water or bad weather the operator is exposed to a constant health risk associated with the movement of pontoons or possible extension of this device from the housing.

The task of the invention is to provide such a coupling device which makes it possible to make a sufficiently strong connection of two pontoon or other blocks, the strength of which would be in all planes of the Cartesian coordinate system. The connection should be removable at the same time. Any manually skilled worker should be able to perform the connecting operation without the need of diving into the water or below the water surface. It should be possible to make the connection without the use of additional mounting tools or mounting jigs/fixtures.

Summary of the Invention

The shortcomings of the currently known devices are overcome by the described coupling device, which is adapted for interconnection of larger components. These components can be, for example, floating pontoon blocks connected to building platforms, bridges or floating rafts. The coupling device is formed by at least one pair of fixed brackets, which are fastened oppositely in pairs, one at a time, on the connected sides of the pair of components. The coupling device is further formed by at least one movable coupling member which is adapted for interconnection of the pairs of fixed brackets together into one unit. The fixed bracket consists of a rod web provided with a groove-type longitudinal recess on at least one of its longitudinal sides. This longitudinal recess is provided with at least one pair of opposite rails, which together with the longitudinal recess form a semi-closed connecting cavity. The movable coupling member is formed by a rod “I” profile consisting of two bases connected by a connector whose bases each fit into one semi-closed connecting cavity of one fixed bracket to form a unit. The coupling device is further provided with at least one device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member. The device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member consists of a locking head and associated locking cavity. The locking head is formed on top of each movable coupling member. The locking cavity, on the other hand, is formed in the upper part of each fixed bracket. The locking head is provided with at least one pair of oppositely extended locking pins. The extension locking pins of the locking head in the retracted position of the movable coupling member fit into the locking cavities of the fixed brackets to be connected. The bases of the coupling member are also provided in the lower part of the coupling member with a side wedge shape, which in the retracted position of the movable coupling member fits into a complementary wedge-shaped bearing surface formed in the lower part of the fixed bracket.

In another preferred embodiment, the bases of the movable coupling member are longer in their lower part than their connector. A recess is thus formed in this lower part which, in the retracted position of the movable coupling member, seats on the upper edge of the locking stop arranged in the lower part of each fixed bracket.

In another preferred embodiment, the locking pins are fitted in the locking head with the possibility of retracting them back into the locking head and subsequently extending them out of the locking head. The retraction and the extension are ensured by means of a spring mechanism arranged inside the locking head.

In another preferred embodiment, the locking head comprises a pair of locking pins, which are arranged in the locking head with a relative lateral displacement.

In another preferred embodiment, the connector of the movable coupling member is provided with relief holes to reduce the weight of the movable coupling member. In this preferred embodiment, the relief holes also serve to eventually gradually pull the movable coupling member out of the housing, in the event of greater friction in the housing due to external influences. The movable coupling member can be gradually pulled out in such a situation by means of a pallet truck adapted for this operation, which is locked in the relief holes. The main advantage of the present invention is the simplicity of the connection by means of a coupling device located on a pair of components. This connection shows high strength in all three planes of the Cartesian coordinate system, both for tensile and torsional loads. High manual skills, tools and additional assembly jigs are not required to create the connection. In addition to its strength, the connection is resistant to potential spontaneous release, which can be caused by external forces or vibrations. The created connection can be disassembled again and thus separate the components for the case of their relocation or change in their arrangement in the final assembly. When connecting floating components, it is not necessary to dive into the water or use auxiliary connecting vessels carrying assembly workers.

Explanation of drawings

The invention will be explained in detail by drawings which illustrate:

Fig. 1 shows a side perspective view of a coupling device divided into two fixed brackets and a movable coupling member. The fixed brackets are in the design of the basic support profile “I” and are shown as not mounted on the components. The coupling member comprises a locking head and locking cavities, as well as a locking stop and associated recesses,

Fig. 2 shows a side perspective view of the coupling device as shown in previous Fig. 1 in the phase of almost complete retraction of the movable coupling member into a pair of fixed brackets to be connected,

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of the coupling device in the connected state,

Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the coupling device in the disconnected state,

Fig. 5 shows a side view of a pair of components provided with a coupling device at the time of the connection. The movable coupling member is already almost completely retracted with its bases in the connecting cavities of the fixed brackets. Examples of the invention embodiments

It shall be understood that the specific examples of the invention embodiments described and depicted below are provided for illustration only and do not limit the examples of the invention embodiments to the examples provided herein. Those skilled in the art will find or, based on routine experiment, will be able to determine a greater or lesser number of equivalents to the examples of the invention embodiments which are described herein.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the described coupling device J_ is based on the principle of a long connection made in a tongue-groove style. The technical solution according to the invention significantly improves this principle so that the coupling device 1_ meets high requirements on the strength of the connection, its durability, stability and simultaneous detachability, as well as to ensure the stability of the connection without external intervention by the operator. The coupling device 1_ is, in particular, designed for connecting components 2 and a large straight longitudinal side or at least an edge, and is adapted primarily for connection of components 2 which are larger and heavier. These components 2 can be, for example, floating pontoon blocks connected to building platforms, bridges or floating rafts, but also other components 2 well known to the person skilled in the art. The coupling device 1_ is formed by at least one pair of fixed brackets 3, which are fastened oppositely in pairs, one at a time, on the connected sides of the pair of components 2. The fixed brackets 3 thus form the right and left sides of the future connection formed by the coupling device F The coupling device 1_ is further formed by at least one movable coupling member 4. This movable coupling member 4 is adapted for connection of a pair of fixed brackets 3 to each other into one functional unit forming the coupling device F The fixed bracket 3 consists of a rod web provided with a groove-type longitudinal recess 7 on at least one of its longitudinal sides 6. This longitudinal recess 7 is provided with at least one pair of opposite rails 9, which together with the longitudinal recess 7 form a semi-closed connecting cavity 10. The ideal semi-finished product for the production of the fixed bracket 3 is a rod steel profile which has at least one of its elongated sides shaped in the form of a “U” profile. However, a solid bracket can also have other shapes and can also be made of other, but sufficiently strong materials, such as aluminium alloys, hard plastics, composite materials, etc. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the movable coupling member 4 is formed by a rod “I” profile consisting of two bases 11 connected by a connector J_3. The bases IT of the movable coupling member 4 each fit into one semi-closed connecting cavity 1Ό of one fixed bracket 3 to form a unit. The coupling device 1 is further provided with at least one device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member 4. The device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member 4 is designed that the movable coupling member 4 is provided in its upper part with a locking head k5 and each fixed bracket 3 is provided in its upper part with at least one locking cavity 5. Each locking head 15 is provided with at least one pair of oppositely extended locking pins 8. In the retracted position of the movable coupling member 4, the extension locking pins 8 fit into the locking cavities 5 of a pair of fixed brackets 3 to be connected. Each base IT of the coupling member 4 is provided in the lower part with a side wedge shape. This lateral wedge shape in the retracted position of the movable coupling member 4 fits into a complementary wedge-shaped bearing surface formed in the lower part of the fixed bracket 3.

According to a non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, the fixed brackets 3 are connected to the components 2 by means of fixed or detachable joints, such as welds, rivets, screws and other methods of connecting components 2 well known to the person skilled in the art.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the device against spontaneous release of the movable coupling member 4 is a locking head 15 in combination with a locking cavity 5 and/or a locking stop 12 in combination with a recess 14. According to another non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, the locking can also be performed using other methods of connecting two adjacent components 2, which are well known to the person skilled in the art.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a fixed bracket 3 is provided with at least one locking cavity 5 and/or locking stop 12. The fixed bracket 3 is provided with a locking cavity 5 in its upper part, while the locking stop 12 is located in the lower part of the fixed bracket 3. According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the bases 11 of the movable coupling member 4 are longer in their lower part than their connector 13. In this lower part, a recess 14 is thus structurally formed, which in the retracted position of the movable coupling member 4 seats on the upper edge of the locking stop 12.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1, the bases of the coupling member 4 are provided with a lateral wedge shape in their lower part. This wedge shape fits into a complementary wedge-shaped bearing surface (not shown) formed inside the longitudinal recess 7 in the lower part of the fixed bracket 3.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the movable coupling member 4 is provided in its upper part with a locking head 15, which is provided with at least one pair of oppositely extended locking pins 8. These locking pins 8 fit in the retracted position of the movable coupling member 4 into the locking cavities 5 formed in the upper part of the fixed brackets 3 to be connected. This arrangement of the locking head 15 is preferred mainly for the optimal performance of the specified function, and also for better manual availability of the locking pins 8 in case of need to disconnect the coupling device l.

According to a non-illustrated embodiment of the invention, the locking pins 8 are fitted in the locking head J_5 with the possibility of retracting them back into the locking head J_5 and subsequently extending them out of the locking head 15. The retraction and the extension of the locking pins 8 are ensured by means of a spring mechanism arranged inside the locking head 15.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the locking head 15 comprises a pair of locking pins 8, which are arranged in the locking head 15 with a relative lateral displacement. The location and number of the locking pins 8 can be variably changed according to the strength needs of the connection, while their location will depend mainly on their number within one locking head 15. According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the connector 13 of the movable coupling member 4 is provided with relief holes 16 to reduce the weight of the movable coupling member 4. The number, size and location of the relief holes 16 depend on the strength needs of the coupling device 1. According to this exemplary embodiment of the invention, the relief holes 16 also serve to eventually gradually pull the movable coupling member 4 out of the housing, in the event of greater friction in the housing due to external influences. The movable coupling member 4 can be gradually pulled out in such a situation by means of a pallet truck adapted for this operation, which is locked in the relief holes 16.

The principle of operation according to this particular embodiment of the invention is that a pair of fixed brackets 3 is connected to a pair of the surfaces of the components 2 to be connected. After bringing the components 2 with the fixed brackets 3 close enough, the movable coupling member 4 slides into the two opposite fixed brackets 3 at the same time. After seating on the recess 14, the movable coupling member 4 automatically retracts the locking pins 8 into the locking cavities 5, thus securing the movable coupling member 4 against extending against the direction of retraction as well as against falling in the direction of retraction.

Industrial applicability

The coupling device will find its application mainly in the area of coupling heavier and bulky components. These components can include, for example, assembled bridge pontoon structures used to bridge watercourses and reservoirs or used as fixed or floating rafts for material transport, protection of banks or waterworks, for the movement of persons, equipment and material. List of reference numerals used in the drawings

1 coupling device

2 component

3 fixed bracket

4 movable coupling member

5 locking cavity

6 longitudinal side

7 longitudinal recess

8 locking pin

9 rail

10 connecting cavity 11 base 12 locking stop

13 connector

14 recess

15 locking head

16 relief hole