Electrical interconnect for intermodal shipping containers
OwnerDwight A. Harriengerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electrical interconnect provides electrical communication between adjacent intermodal shipping containers. The electrical interconnect includes a carriage moveable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the intermodal shipping container, wherein the carriage includes an electrical contact and a magnet configured to operably engage a corresponding electrical contact and a magnet on a second intermodal shipping container. The carriage is mounted to the intermodal shipping container through a pair of guide rods and bias members.
Claims14
An electrical interconnect for an intermodal shipping container, the electrical interconnect comprising:
- (a) a first carriage configured to be mounted to a side rail of the intermodal shipping container, the first carriage movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- (b) a first electrical contact connected to the first carriage for movement with the first carriage;
- (c) a first magnet connected to the first carriage for movement with the first carriage;
- and
- (d) a first bias member configured to be located intermediate the first carriage and the side rail, the first bias member urging the first carriage to the retracted position.
An intermodal shipping container comprising:
- (a) a first bottom side rail and a second bottom side rail, the first bottom side rail and the second bottom side rail extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the intermodal shipping container;
- (b) a first top side rail and a second top side rail, the first top side rail and the second top side rail extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the intermodal shipping container;
- (c) a first carriage moveably mounted to one of the first bottom side rail or the second bottom side rail, the first carriage including a first electrical contact, a second electrical contact, and a first magnet;
- (d) a first bias member intermediate the first carriage and its respective first bottom side rail or second bottom side rail;
- (e) a second carriage moveably mounted to one of the first top side rail or the second top side rail, the second carriage including a third electrical contact, a fourth electrical contact, and a second magnet;
- and
- (f) a second bias member intermediate the second carriage and its respective first top side rail or second top side rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.