SECURITY LOCK FOR TRAILER CARGO COMPARTMENT

Abstract

Disclosed is a security lock for cargo compartment of a trailer. This solution is targeted to hermetically closeable cargo compartments (e.g., refrigerated cargo compartments) and includes at least one electromechanical lock mounted on the exterior side of the door. This locking solution is applicable to a number of cargo compartment doors produced by trailer companies, and with no substantial modifications in the original construction of the door due to the lock mounting. The lock provides several options of locking/unlocking, at least, by mechanical key, and continuous monitoring and locking/unlocking remotely from the central office with the use GPS and communication services (Internet/GSM/GPRS/satellite). The variety of mounting and locking options allows to adapt this solution and to protect the cargo from unauthorized access, on different trailers and logistics processes, for the entire trip of the cargo from the source to the destination.

Claims

1. A security lock for trailer cargo compartment door comprising at least an electromechanical locking mechanism is mounted on the door of the hermetically closeable cargo compartment of the trailer, wherein said electromechanical locking mechanism has means to interface it to communication means for remote monitoring and locking/unlocking, characterized in that said electromechanical locking mechanism is arranged on the external side of the door, at the door perimeter, and a tongue-loop of the lock is arranged on the jamb of the door, in such a way that during locking the tongue of the lock extends into the tongue-loop, wherein said security lock provides at least two locking/unlocking options: a mechanical key and locking/unlocking remotely using digital communication means.

2. The security lock according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises an electronic interface to monitor the status of said security lock continuously, both locally and remotely.

3. The security lock according to claim 1, characterized in that it has means to interface said security lock to communication systems for remote management from the central office by the use of Internet, GPS, GPRS and satellite connections.

4. The security lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said electromechanical locking mechanism uses threaded linear drive for locking/unlocking, wherein use of electric power is applied during the locking/unlocking action only.

5. The security lock according to claim 1, characterized in that said electromechanical locking mechanism and the tongue-loop are fixedly mounted, respectively, at the bottom part of the door and at the bottom part of the jamb.

6. The security lock according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a protective stainless steel case which is fixedly mounted or welded onto the electromecahnical locking mechanism and extends over the jamb to cover the tongue-loop.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0023] To disclose the invention and its practical applications, the following pictures are provided and referenced hereafter. Figures are given as examples only and in no way shall limit the scope of the invention.

[0024] FIG. 1 illustrates the embodiment of the locking solution and the electromechanical lock (1) in the scope of logistics process;

[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates the internal construction of the electromechanical lock. The construction comprises the lock basement (7), electro-mechanical threaded drive (11), lock tongue (9), lock-tongue springs (18), protected tongue-loop (8) welded to the door jamb (17), mechanism of the lock (10), key-hole (15) and key-hole plug (16), mechanical key (4), external welded stainless steel cover to protect the lock mechanism (13), sensor of the locking position (12);

[0026] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the electro-mechanical lock (1) mounted on the outside of the door (2, 21) of the refrigerated cargo compartment (3) of the trailer and the jamb (17) of the door (2, 21); specifically, FIG. 3A illustrates the door (2) with two vertically openable door-halves (21, 22) which partly cover each other in the closed position and FIG. 3B illustrates the door (2) with two vertically openable door-halves (21, 22) which do not block each other in the closed position, therefore, the second door-half (22) is addi-additionally reinforced with a stainless steel tongue (24).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] The most preferred embodiment of the present invention is electro-mechanical lock comprising at least of the lock basement (7), electro-mechanical threaded drive (11), lock tongue (9), lock-tongue springs (18), protected tongue-loop (8) welded to the door jamb (17), mechanism of the lock (10), key-hole (15) and key-hole plug (16), mechanical key (4), external welded steel lock cover (13) to protect the internal construction of the lock.

[0028] Mechanical Part: [0029] The lock operates by the principle of an ordinary lockthe linear drive (11) sets down the lock-tongue (9) into tongue-loop (8), by thus fixing the position of the door (2, 21) and not allowing to open it. Also, the linear drive (11) can keep the lock-tongue (9) in the raised position that means the lock and door opened. The linear drive (11) is implemented as the threaded linear drive that means, the electrical power is needed only during locking or unlocking actions, and no electrical power is required to keep lock-tongue (9) in any of its static positions. [0030] The emergency unlocking provides the possibility to open the lock with the help of key (4) with a specific shape when it is not possible to open the lock remotely by logistics operator. The principle is: the key raises up the lock-tongue (9) and opens the door (2, 21).

[0031] Electrical Part: [0032] Linear threaded drive (11), which is responsible for moving the lock-tongue (9); [0033] Inductive sensor IS (12) of the lock-tongue position; is installed near the opened position of the lock-tongue (9) and sends electrical signal opened to the tracking module (6) when the lock-tongue opens the lock; [0034] The controller of the linear threaded drive CTRL (5)receives the control signal from the tracking module (6) and defines the direction of movement of the linear drive (11); in other words, changes polarity of control of the linear drive, dependently on the control signal received; [0035] Tracking module COM (6)any type, having 2 digital outputs. Accepts control signal from the central management system (CMS) and transmits it to the controller of the linear drive (5). Also, it accepts digital signal from the inductive sensor (12) and transmits it to the central management system (CMS).

[0036] Software Part: [0037] The lock can be opened from the central management system (CMS) of the company. The signal is transmitted via communication services to the tracking module (6) of the lock; [0038] The system indicates the attempt to open the lock; [0039] If the opening attempt successfulthe signal opened is transmitted from the inductive sensor (12) to the central management system (CMS) and the state of the lock is identified.

[0040] The lock mounting options are possible in different places along the perimeter of the door (2, 21, 22) and jamb frame (17). However, the most effective mounting position should be considered for different door configurations and security level.

[0041] In the most preferred embodiment (FIG. 3A), the door (2) is considered to have two vertically openable door-halves (21, 22), which partly cover each other in the closed position. Thus, one door-half (21), when being closed, also blocks the second door-half (22). Therefore, the mounting of the lock is recommended at the bottom of the covering door-half (21), where the best door blocking result is achieved, and also it is the most convenient position to access the lock for the authorised person with the mechanical key (4). Meanwhile, the protective stainless steel cover (13) is considered to provide enough protection against non-authorized persons to access and open the lock and the door.

[0042] In another practical embodiment (FIG. 3B), the originally made door (2) also comprises two vertically openable door-halves (21, 22). However, these halves do not block each other firmly in the closed position because the second door-half (22) has only a rubber edging (23) to be covered by the first door-half (21). Said rubber edging (23) allows to open the second door-half (22) only if the first door-half (21) is opened. However, this rubber edging (23) is somewhat vulnerable to cutting it from outside (e.g. by a knife) and, therefore, it provides a security breach for unauthorised access. For this type of the door, the mounting of the lock is recommended at the bottom of the covering door-half (21), and also, the second door-half (22) is additionally reinforced with a stainless steel tongue (24), fixedly mounted (e.g. rivet clinched or welded) from inside of the second door-half (22), in order the first door-half (21) to block firmly the second door-half (22) (FIG. 3B).

[0043] The electrical wiring from the lock can be effectively guided into the interior side of the door through small and later hermetically sealed holes that would not affect total hermetic properties of the cargo compartment.

[0044] In the most preferred embodiment, a variety of methods of the door locking/unlocking are considered, at least, these: [0045] The driver of the truck may be granted with the mechanical key, kept in a secret and secured place of the truck. [0046] The lock is connected to the GPS tracking and communication system of the trailer that would enable configurable options for locking/unlocking the door of the trailer, at least: [0047] Pre-programmed automatic locking/unlocking of the door according to the GPS coordinates at customs geofencing areas, as may be required by customs procedures in some cases; [0048] Locking/unlocking remotely by a dispatcher of logistics company who is responsible for freight management from the source to the destination; [0049] Locking/unlocking remotely by the supplier and/or client authorised persons who are granted, correspondingly, to lock and unlock the trailer's door at the moments of delivery and arrival of the freight;

[0050] The management methods of the lock are provided as examples of real practices only. However, the given examples should not limit the application scope of this invention to a broader field of logistics processes.