GB2270881A

GB2270881A - Man overboard recovery apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2270881A
Application number: GB9211230A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Oliver Tribe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-05-27
Filing date: 1992-05-27
Publication date: 1994-03-30
Also published as: GB9211230D0

Abstract

Apparatus for recovering a person overboard comprises a triangular frame 1 pivoted at its base 4 to the desk 10 of a boat so as to be movable between an outboard position and an inboard position. A frame stay 2 connected to the top 7 of the frame 1 supports it in its outboard position. Self locking tackle 3 for lifting the person overboard includes a block 31 connected to the top of the frame and a jammer block 32. A recovery strap 13 is fitted to the outboard end of the tackle line 12. <IMAGE>

Description

Man overboard recovery apparatus The present invention relates to a man overboard recovery apparatus for recovering a man overboard from the water onto a vessel.

Recovery of a man overboard from the water alongside a vessel can be very difficult, particularly in heavy seas and when the vessel is small and relatively unmanoeuvrable, such as a yacht for instance. This difficulty is exacerbated when the yacht is short-handed, particularly when only one crew member is available to effect the recovery.

A recovery apparatus having a frame pivoted above the deck is known from its use by the R.N.L.I. Because of the height at which the apparatus is pivoted the man overboard, when suspended from the apparatus, is at risk of serious injury from collision with the hull of the lifeboat when the latter is rolling in heavy weather. The apparatus also requires a number of strong men to operate it.

The object of the invention is to provide improved recovery apparatus.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for recovering a man overboard from the water onto a vessel, the apparatus comprising: a generally planar frame having a base and a top; means for pivotally connecting the frame at its base to a deck of the vessel for swinging of the frame from an outboard position to an inboard position; a frame stay connected to the top of the frame for supporting it in its outboard position; tackle for lifting the man overboard, the tackle including a block connected to the top of the frame, a self-locking device connected to the frame and a line having means for connection to the man overboard at one end, passing the block and self-locking device and having its other end available to be hauled on for lifting the man overboard.

Preferably the frame is triangular in shape with one vertex at the top of the frame supporting the block and the opposite side forming the base.

In the preferred embodiment the stay is connected to an attachment point at the top of the frame. Conveniently the stay is connected by a shackle.

Preferably the pivotal connection means consists of a plurality of engagement members attached to the base of the frame and adapted for removable engagement with a deck of a vessel. Conveniently each engagement member will have a pair of parallel spaced apart apertured lugs adapted to receive between them a fitting on the deck of the vessel, the fitting having an upstanding apertured lug. The engagement member will be secured to the fitting by passing a pin through the concentric apertures in each of the lugs.

The engagement members will conveniently be a pair.

In order to more fully understand the invention a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an side elevation view of a frame of man overboard recovery apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the apparatus including the frame of Figure 1 in use with a man overboard in the water and; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of the apparatus in use with the man overboard on board a vessel.

Referring to the drawings the recovery apparatus has a triangular frame 1, a stay 2, and a self locking tackle 3.

The frame 1, which is of tubular section stainless steel, has a base 4 which has two pairs of apertured lugs 5 depending from it. An upper apertured plate 6a depends from the top vertex 7 of the frame 1. A similar lower apertured plate 6b is upstanding from the base 4 at its mid point.

A tackle 3 has a pair of blocks 31 and 32. The upper block 31 is connected to the upper plate 6a and the lower jammer block and becket 32 is attached to the lower plate 6b by a short length of chain 8.

The apparatus is positioned on a boat at a suitable break in a guardrail (not shown). The frame is erected by firstly engaging the apertured lugs 5 over complimentary upstanding apertured lugs 9 in the boat's deck 10 close to the b6at's gunwale 14. A pivot pin 15 may-then be passed--through the apertures of each of the lugs 5,9. The stay 2 is then connected to the upper plate 6a and. led athwart the boat to a fitting 11 in the deck 10. The length of the stay 2 is such that it results in the frame 1 being angled outwardly of the boat so that the angle shown by the arrow A is obtuse. A line 12 is then led from outboard of the frame 1 firstly through block 31 and then through the jammer block and becket 32, before being taken inboard the boat. The free end of the line outboard of the tackle carries a karibiner clip (not shown).A recovery strap 13 has a clip at each end for attachment to the karibiner.

In use the side of the boat bearing the apparatus is brought alongside a man overboard 50 in the water. The outboard free end of the line 12 is then thrown to the man overboard 50 by a rescuer. The recovery strap 13 may be then passed around the man overboard with or without his assistance and the clips at its ends secured in the karibiner on the line 12.

Once the strap 13 is secured around the body of the man overboard 50, the rescuer can heave on the line 12 inboard of the tackle 3, alternatively the line 12 may be taken around a convenient winch and winched in, to raise the man overboard from the water.

When the man overboard is raised sufficiently out of the water, so that his body is substantially above the gunwale 14, his weight can be supported by the jammer block and becket 32 which prevents the line 12 from paying out with the man overboard. The rescuer is then free to pull inwardly on the frame 1 causing it to pivot inwardly about its base 4 until the frame lies substantially flat on the deck 10. In this way the man overboard 50 is moved substantially inboard of the boat with his body lying on top of the frame.

Claims

Claims:

1. Apparatus for recovering a man overboard from the water onto a vessel, the apparatus comprising: a generally planar frame having a base and a top; means for pivotally connecting the frame at its base to a deck of the vessel for swinging of the frame from an outboard position to an inboard position; a frame stay connected to the top of the frame for supporting it in its outboard position; tackle for lifting the man overboard, the tackle including a block connected to the top of the frame, a self-locking device connected to the frame and a line having means for connection to the man overboard at one end, passing the block and self-locking device and having its other end available to be hauled on for lifting the man overboard.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is triangular in shape with one vertex at the top of the frame supporting the block and the opposite side forming the base.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stay is connected to an attachment point at the top of the frame.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stay is connected by a shackle.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pivotal connection means consists of a plurality of engagement members attached to the base of the frame and adapted for removable engagement with a deck of a vessel.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each engagement member has a pair of parallel spaced apart apertured lugs adapted to receive between them a fitting on the deck of the vessel, the fitting having an upstanding apertured lug.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the engagement member is adapted to be secured to the fitting by passing a pin through the concentric apertures in each of the lugs.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engagement members are provided as a pair.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the self-locking device connected to the frame is a jammer block and becket.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the jammer block and becket is attached to a plate on the frame by a short length of chain.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the frame is of sufficient size for a man overboard being rescued with the apparatus to pass through the frame.

11. Apparatus for recovering a man overboard from the water onto a vessel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.