GB2212553A - Lashing anchorages - Google Patents

Abstract

The anchorage for flexible lashings (wire, rope) to secure ship-borne cargoes has an inner part 10 with convergent sides 12A, 12B and peripheral grooving 14, and an outer part 20 with grooving 24A, 24B in sides 22A, 22B, 23A, 23B; the lashing 30 has different parts of its circumference received in groovings 14, 24A, 24B and is sandwiched between the parts 10, 20 when the inner part 10 is drawn under load into wedged sandwiching relationship, with the lashing 30 against outer part 20. Details of this operation are specified. Inner part 10 may be brass, aluminium, mouldable synthetic plastics material etc. The two parts may be linked by e.g. keys and keyways, rivets and slots etc and in the embodiment of Figures 6 - 6D the inner part (510) has an elongated aperture (516) captive by e.g. a headed bolt on the outer part (520). Figure 5 illustrates anchorage devices welded onto eyes of turnbuckle tightening devices 42. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Lashing Anchorages DESCRIPTION This invention relates to anchorages for flexible lashings, such as of wire or other rope.

Ship-Dorne cargoes require secure lashing as their movement can be not only damaging to the cargo itself and/or other cargo and/or fittings of a hold or deck but also dangerous to the safety of ships' crew and to stability of ships themselves. Most unwanted movement of items of cargo, even in roughest of seas, is due to inadequacies of lashing of that cargo. One such inadequacy concerns gripping and tightening devices for lashings, though much more in their incorrect use than in the inherent nature of the devices themselves. Thus the well-known bull--dog grips for securing a lashing back on itself in forming loops are often not used correctly and result in the lashing pulling out when heavily loaded or stressed.

It is an object of this invention to provide a lashing anchorage that is easy to use and inherently less susceptible to incorrect usage.

According to this invention, a lashing anchorage comprises an inner part having two spaced generally convergent sides peripherally grooved to accept part of the cross-sectional circumference of lashing at least at positions opposite grooving of two spaced generally convergent sides of a wedge-constraining outer part to accept another part of the cross-sectional circumference of lashing then sandwiched therebetween with a wedging action to locate and fix lashing portions so sandwiched, the outer part accepting lashing sideways into its said grooving past its said covergent sides into the spaces between them at least when the lashing is looped about the inner part and the latter drawn down under load into.its intended wedged sandwiching relation with the lashing against the outer part.

To facilitate such anchored return for an end of the lashing back on itself at satisfactory curvature not deleterious to the lashing, the inner part may have its outer periphery of a shape resembling a section through a tear-drop, actually rather like the well-known thimbles for forming eyes in ends of ropes.

It was first expected that preferred and advantageous inner parts hereof for heavy duty cargo use will be cast or machined from suitable metal and metal alloys, normally steel, conveniently high tensile steel.

However moulding, say from brass aluminium or reinforced plasics may well be feasible. Recessing or aperturing need be no more than sufficient to facilitate use thereof for undoing the anchorage or as is known to be safe in terms of assurance against being crushed out of shape when subjected to design loadings.

Preferred such inner parts hereof are flat and of a thickness sufficient for side-edge grooving to accommodate up to half the cross-sectional circumference of the intended lashing when stressed to maximum permitted load.

It is normal for lashings to be stressed very close to their ratings, so, as a lashing anchorage, it is seen as advantageous or desirable for side edge grooving to be at or close to cross-sectional circumference of loaded lashing, say at least sufficiently close to prevent escape of even single strands of a multi-strand rope or cable as the lashing.

Lighter loadings and other uses for lashing anchorages hereof may allow, require or permit preference of other materials for the inner parts, whether metal such as brass or aluminium, or mouldable materials such as synthetic plastics at least such as, but not restricted to, those reinforced with fibres or on strong cores. Also, desirable side-edge grooving geometry may permit less extensive grooves relative to the periphery of the anchored flexible member.

One suitable outer part formation is as a plate with upstanding spaced side walls interiorly grooved to present opposed accommodation for close to half the cross-sectional circumference of the intended lashing.

Such grooves may be ridged to afford increased grip at one or more places, but tests have shown that to be more a matter of preference than necessity. Those side walls may conveniently go from substantially parallel to the aforesaid convergence, and similar considerations apply to materials and allowed strength as for the inner parts. The opposite major face of the plate can be secured or securable, often welded onto, cargo lashing-related items including but not limited to turnbuckle parts or bottle screw parts or container parts or deck or hold anchorages.

It will be appreciated that embodiments of this invention can have outer and inner parts that are loose, effectively associated only when mutually engaging with sandwiched lashings. Alternatively, the two parts may be linked one to another by co-operating means say including a rivet 'T' piece or any other device so long as same allows the required free movement of the inner part within the outer part, which preferably extends to permit said side ways entry of a lashing loop, i.e. thrown over the inner part before that inner part and the lashing loop is pulled into sandwiched grip with the outer part.

At least for captive inner parts, lashing installation may be assisted by ensuring that groovings of the outer part extend not more than to about the centre line of an oval hole in the inner part, i.e.

that there is clearance beyond such centre line.

Side-ways-on installation of loose inner parts complete with lashing thereabout is also facilitated by limiting extent of outer part groove-carrying portions.

Practical implementation of an embodiment of this invention will now be specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a lashing anchorage; Figures 2 and 3 are sections of inner and outer parts on the lines A-A and B-B; Figure 4 is a section of the inner part; Figure 5 shows mounting to other tackle, specifically eyes of turnbuckle components; and Figures 6 and 6A-D are plan, side and detail sectional views of a revised lashing anchorage.

In the first sheet of the drawings, a generally flat inner part 10 has a rounded end portion 11, convergent sides 12A, 12B therefrom to a tip 13, a peripheral groove 14 into its edge 15, and an aperture 16 therethrough sharing its centre with origin of curvature of the rounded end portions 11. However, such is merely preferred as shown, and could be otherwise, equally where there is co-operating means for retaining association of the inner part 10 with outer part 20.

The outer part 20 comprises a plate-like portion 21 with upturned spaced sides, of which first portions 22A, 22B are convergent and second portions 23A, 23B are substantially parallel and extending from most divergent ends of the first portions 22A, 22B, and grooving 24A, 24B of the sides 22, 23.

The inner part 10 is shown loose in the outer part 20 except when sandwiching a loop of lashing shown dashed at 30 going about the inner part groove 14 and into the outer part grooving 24A, 24B at its convergent side portions 22A, 22B. Arrangements for associating inner and outer parts 10 and 20 could include keys and keyways, rivets and slots, bars with projections and slots, end-secured cords or wires, indeed in any convenient way.

One part, say 32A, of the lashing 30, which will usually be wire rope for heavy duty cargo securement purposes, that exits the anchorage device illustrated past the nose 13 of the inner part 10 and between converged ends of the side wall portions 22A, 22B of the outer part will bear load, i.e. be in tension. The other exiting lashing part, say 32B, can be free, but the loop of lashing 30 will be securely trapped sandwiched in the grooving 14, 24 with a wedging action enhanced by tension in the lashing part 32A.

Fixing lashing to the anchorage device illustrated is extremely simple. All that is necessary is for the loop 30 to be formed loose and laid onto the base plate 21 of the outer part 20, the inner part 10 placed within the loop, and the Lashing pulled at its part 32A to bring itself and the inner part 10 to the positions shown in Figure 1 relative to the outer part 20. Alternatively, if the inner part is attached in some way to the outer part, there is a minimum of permitted relative movement required, preferably enough to throw the lashing sideways into the outer part 20 and over the inner part 10, otherwise threading through will be required. The minimum could be reduced by omitting grooving of the outer part at 23A, 23B, i.e.

above the converging portions 22A, 22B, see dashed lines 23C, 23D, even at the "corners" of the inner part.

Anchorage devices as illustrated are readily secured relative to any other parts or devices, for example welded by the base plate 21 of the outer part 20 onto eyes of conventional turnbuckle type tightening devices, see 42 of 40 in Figure 5, also dashed in Figure 1. Such welded securement can serve to strengthen the base plates 21, but any other convenient forms of securement to turnbuckles or other devices or parts can be used. Moreover, the base plates 21 could be formed, extended, or secured to other parts so as to present effectively integral or at least fixed attachment means.

It will be noted that the grooving 14 of the inner part 10 is shown as being asymmetric, its edge adjacent the plate 21 of the outer part 20 extending further than its other edge, but even so spaced from the start of the grooving 24 of the outer part sides portions 23. That enables the overall thickness of the anchorage device to be less than if the grooving 14 was asymmetrical, effectively of little, if any, greater thickness than the lashing, but avoiding undue binding of the lashing on the plate 21.Also, of course, it can contribute to minimising relative movement of inner and outer parts to permit throwing a lashing loop over the inner part and between the grooved sides of the outer part, which needs to increase the gap between outer edges of the groovings 14 and 24 from that shown in Figure 1 to what is shown for the bases of those groovings in that Figure, unless, of course, the inner part can move sideways between the groovings 24A, 24B for consecutive emplacement of different limbs of a lashing loop.

Turning to the second sheet of drawings, inner part 510 has an elongated aperture 516 and may be captive by a headed bolt or the like (not shown) on outer part 520 but capable of sliding up (on the drawing sheet) for release/installation of lashing and down for anchoring purposes under load. The outer part 520 has only convergent side portions 522A, B to aid installation/removal of lashing. Curved ends for those side portions 522A, B are also advantageous.

Grooving 514 of the inner part 510 and 524A, B of the side portions 522A, B of the outer part 520 is such that lashing between the groovings is both free, or slightly spaced, relative to the main plate of the outer part 520 at 523A, B and also closely constrained at 525A, 525B to prevent escape of any strands of a multistrand lashing.

It is also found often to be preferable for securement of anchorages hereof to other tackle, as previously described for Figure 5, to be from ends of the plates of the outer part 520, or from the same face thereof as carry the side portions 522A, B.

Then, pulling forces on installed lashings can be made to be in-line with axes of the groovings 514, 522A and B.

Tests have shown that single lashing anchorages hereof, even in prototype form using mild steel, can sustain loads equivalent to those for which three prior bulldog grips and thimble were required to be used in correct orientation, and without slippage even where groovings are smooth.

Claims (19)

1. A lashing anchorage comprising an inner part having two spaced generally convergent sides peripherally grooving to accept part of the cross sectional circumference of lashing at least at positions opposite groovin of two spaced generally convergent sides of a wedge-constraining outer part to accept another part of the cross-sectional circumference of lashing then sandwiched therebetween with a wedging action to locate and fix lashing portions so sandwiched, the outer part accepting lashing sideways into its said grooving past its said convergent sides into the spaces between them at least when the lashing is looped about said inner part and the latter drawn down under load into its intended wedged sandwiching relation with the lashing against the outer part.

2. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner part has its outer periphery of a shape resembling a section through a tear drop.

3. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said inner part is manufactured from a metal or metal alloy.

4. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 3, wherein said metal is high tensile steel.

5. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said inner part is manufactured from reinforced plastics material.

6. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said inner part has recessing or aperturing to facilitate use thereof for undoing the anchorage.

7. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said inner part is flat and of a thickness sufficient for side-edge grooving to accommodate up to half the cross-sectional circumference of the intended lashing when Stressed to maximum permitted load.

8. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said side grooving is at or close to cross-sectional circumference of loaded lashing.

9. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said outer part is formed as a plate with upstanding spaced side walls interiorly grooved to present opposed accommodation for close to half the cross-sectional circumference of the intended lashing.

10. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 9, wherein said grooves are rigid.

11. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein said side walls go from substantially parallel to convergence.

12. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 9. 10 or 11, wherein said outer part is manufactured from metal or a metal allow or reinforced plastics.

13. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the opposite major face of said plate can be secured or securable onto cargo-lashing-related items.

14. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any previous claim, wherein said inner and outer parts are loose, effectively associated only when mutually engaging with sandwiched lashings.

15. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claims 1 to 13, wherein said inner and outer parts are linked to each other by cooperating means.

16. A lashing anchorage as claimed in claim 15, wherein said means is a rivet or 'T' piece.

17. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the lashing anchorage is made by throwing a lashing loop over said inner part before that part and the lashing loop is pulled into sandwiched grip

18. A lashing anchorage as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 1O, and claims 12 to 18, wherein groovings of said outer part extend not more than to about the centre line of an oval hole in said inner part.

19. A lashing anchorage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6A to D of the acommpanying drawings