GB255510A - Improvements relating to aircraft mooring stations - Google Patents

Abstract

255,510. White, A. E., (Aircraft Development Corporation). March 23, 1925. Anchoring.-A mooring station which may be erected over buildings comprises a tower A down which the nose can be lowered and supporting tracks arranged to engage the bottom of the ship the arrangement being such that the whole ship can swing with the wind when on the ground. With one form of tower, Figs. 2, 3, the ship is hauled in bv a winch at the base until the coupling block 19 engages the cup 18 on a mooring ram. The ram is centred and the cup is detached from the ram and secured by means of pins 23 to a carriage 6. The carriage is lowered by means of a cable 25 down the guide rail 1, 2 with the aid of a winch at the top or foot of the tower. With this arrangement the guide rail is in one piece and carries pinions 4<1> at each end coupled together and engaging circular racks on the tower. It is secured to the tower by means of rollers 9. 9<a> engaging flanged tracks on the, tower and by means of brackets 11 with weightcarrying wheels 12. In the modified system, Figs. 5, 5a the ram tripod and the top section 1<a> of the guide rail are permanently secured together and rotate round the mast. The ram can be swung only in one plane with respect to the tripod. When the nose has been secured to the cup 31 the ram is made to assume the position shown at 31a and is then swung round by the worm and sector 30, 29, to position 31b. The nose coupling 32 on the carriage 6<a> is then - secured to the member 20 on the ship and the member 19 is released. The section 1<b> of the guide rail is attached to a ring 35 carried on wheels 36, 37 so as to allow the ring to rotate round the mast. The rail is further subdivided so that in general only one section moves with the ship when it is moored and in emergency it is possible to bring in a second ship. When the ship has been hauled down, it is secured towards the after end to a heavy ground truck, Fig. 6, carrying a spring cylinder 42 on a universal joint 45 and held upright by a spring plunger system 46. The plunger 43 carries a mooring plate 44 with quick release clips 54. The truck also carries a winch and motor and if necessary driving gear and ballast. The wheels may be castering or pairs of both wheels may be steered by a single handle. At a point nearer the nose the ship is secured to a further truck, Fig. 9a, working on a rail B mounted on trestles which also carry a platform movable with the ship. The wheels 65 may be carried on outriggers. The gangway J has a wheel j<1> and trolleys j<11> on outrigger struts. Indicators, applications of.-The plunger 43 on the trucks may control an indicator for measuring the lift.