Keith Tantlinger
Encyclopedia
Keith Walton Tantlinger (March 22, 1919 - August 27, 2011) was a mechanical engineer and inventor whose inventions played a major role in globalization
. Working with Malcom McLean
, who spearheaded the container ship
revolution in the 1950s, Tantlinger developed much of the early technology that made modern container shipping possible. His designs included the corner casting and Twistlock
systems found on every intermodal container
, the spreader bar for automatic securing of containers lifted on and off ships, and the ship-shore container transfer apparatus for the first cellular container ship. In the course of his professional career, Tantlinger was granted 79 United States patents, all related to transportation equipment. Many of his patents related to commercial highway freight trailers and transit buses.
, on March 22, 1919. He was educated the University of California, Berkeley
, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
. During World War II
, he worked for the Douglas Aircraft Company
(later McDonnell Douglas
), where he designed tools used to produce the B-17 bomber.
He married Marjorie Cunningham. They had a daughter, Susan Tantlinger, and they later divorced.
In the 1950s, Tantlinger persuaded McLean that shipping containers should be built so they could be separated from a chassis, with strong corner posts and built so they could be stacked on top of each other.
Tantlinger also worked on the basic structure and many features of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
cars for San Francisco and the rapid transit cars for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority.
During his career he also worked as chief engineer and vice president of engineering at Brown Trailers in Spokane
; vice president of engineering and manufacturing at Fruehauf Corporation
in Detroit; and senior vice president, ground transportation systems at Rohr Industries in Chula Vista, California
.
On September 10, 1981, he married Wanda Mae Gunnell Delinger in Las Vegas, Nevada
.
In 2010, Tantlinger was awarded the Gibbs Brothers Medal
by the National Academy of Sciences
for his role in developing the expansion of world trade. He died in Escondido, California
, on August 27, 2011, age 92.
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
. Working with Malcom McLean
Malcom McLean
Malcom Purcell McLean , born in Maxton, North Carolina, was an American entrepreneur, often called "the father of containerization"...
, who spearheaded the container ship
Container ship
Container ships are cargo ships that carry all of their load in truck-size intermodal containers, in a technique called containerization. They form a common means of commercial intermodal freight transport.-History:...
revolution in the 1950s, Tantlinger developed much of the early technology that made modern container shipping possible. His designs included the corner casting and Twistlock
Twistlock
A twistlock and corner casting together form a standardised rotating connector for securing shipping containers. The primary uses are for locking a container into place on container ship, semi-trailer truck or railway container train; and for lifting of the containers by container cranes and...
systems found on every intermodal container
Intermodal container
An intermodal container is a standardized reusable steel box used for the safe, efficient and secure storage and movement of materials and products within a global containerized intermodal freight transport system...
, the spreader bar for automatic securing of containers lifted on and off ships, and the ship-shore container transfer apparatus for the first cellular container ship. In the course of his professional career, Tantlinger was granted 79 United States patents, all related to transportation equipment. Many of his patents related to commercial highway freight trailers and transit buses.
Life and career
Tantlinger was born in Orange, CaliforniaOrange, California
Southern California is well-known for year-round pleasant weather: - On average, the warmest month is August. - The highest recorded temperature was in 1985. - On average, the coolest month is December. - The lowest recorded temperature was in 1950...
, on March 22, 1919. He was educated the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked for the Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
(later McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
), where he designed tools used to produce the B-17 bomber.
He married Marjorie Cunningham. They had a daughter, Susan Tantlinger, and they later divorced.
In the 1950s, Tantlinger persuaded McLean that shipping containers should be built so they could be separated from a chassis, with strong corner posts and built so they could be stacked on top of each other.
Tantlinger also worked on the basic structure and many features of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
cars for San Francisco and the rapid transit cars for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority.
During his career he also worked as chief engineer and vice president of engineering at Brown Trailers in Spokane
Spokane
Spokane is a city in the U.S. state of Washington.Spokane may also refer to:*Spokane *Spokane River*Spokane, Missouri*Spokane Valley, Washington*Spokane County, Washington*Spokane-Coeur d'Alene-Paloos War*Spokane * USS Spokane...
; vice president of engineering and manufacturing at Fruehauf Corporation
Fruehauf Corporation
Fruehauf Corporation was an American corporation engaged in the manufacture and sale of truck trailers with headquarters located in Detroit, Michigan., and bankrupted in 1997.-History:...
in Detroit; and senior vice president, ground transportation systems at Rohr Industries in Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista, California
Chula Vista is the second largest city in the San Diego metropolitan area, the seventh largest city in Southern California, the fourteenth largest city in the State of California, and the seventy seventh largest city in the U.S....
.
On September 10, 1981, he married Wanda Mae Gunnell Delinger in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
.
In 2010, Tantlinger was awarded the Gibbs Brothers Medal
Gibbs Brothers Medal
The Gibbs Brothers Medal is awarded by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences for "outstanding contributions in the field of naval architecture and marine engineering". It was established by a gift from William Francis Gibbs and Frederic H. Gibbs....
by the National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences
National Academy of Sciences commonly refers to the academy in the United States of America.National Academy of Sciences may also refer to :* National Academy of Sciences of Argentina* Armenian National Academy of Sciences...
for his role in developing the expansion of world trade. He died in Escondido, California
Escondido, California
Escondido is a city occupying a shallow valley ringed by rocky hills, just north of the city of San Diego, California. Founded in 1888, it is one of the oldest cities in San Diego County. The city had a population of 143,911 at the 2010 census. Its municipal government set itself an operating...
, on August 27, 2011, age 92.