GB411605A - Improvements in holding and launching devices for life buoys - Google Patents

Abstract

411,605. Lifebuoy &c. supports. MECHANICAL IMPROVEMENTS CORPORATION, 604, West Jersey Trust Building, Camden, New Jersey, U.S.A. Feb. 17, 1933, No. 4921. Convention date, March 23, 1932. [Class 77.] A lifebuoy is releasably mounted in a holder and when released can drop vertically and is positively pulled from the holder to discharge it, the means for releasing and for pulling the buoy being connected to single operating element. A torch with a breakable seal is releasably supported by the lifebuoy holder, the operating element on the latter being connected to a seal - breaking member. The means for discharging the buoy also discharge the torch from its holder. The U-shaped holder 1, also U-shaped in cross-section, is provided with a cross-piece 14. The lifebuoy 9 is supported by a strap 12 attached at one end either to the lifebuoy 9 as shown or to the holder and passing through an aperture 15 in the cross-piece 14 between two rings 17 mounted on the cross-piece. A locking pin 18 passes through the apertures in the rings and through an eye in the strap 12. The torch 10 is supported by spring blades 23 mounted on a bracket 22 forming part of the cross piece 14. An opening in the torch is closed by a seal 24 soldered onto the torch and adapted to be broken away. A ring 27, attached to the seal 24, passes around a pin 28 on the lever 29, which is pivoted at 30 to an upright 31 on the bracket 22. A torch ejector 52 with forked upper part fitting over the top of the torch around the seal 24, is connected to the strap 12 by a lanyard 55, and the torch is connected to the strap 12 by a lanyard 19, which is normally wound around the rings 17. The buoy ejector 47 is a curved member engaging the top of the buoy. It normally lies in a groove 49 in the holder, and is located by a pin 50 sliding in a pocket 51 in the bracket 38 at the top of the holder. A cable 33 is attached at one end to the buoy ejector 47, passes around a pulley 45 supported by a bracket 45<1> on the cross-piece 14, through holes 43, 44 in a cable block 40, through an eye 42 on the pin 18, through a third hole 41 in the block 40 and through the forked end of the lever 29. At the point 34, the cable 33 branches into two parts 35, 36 which pass through an opening 37 in the bracket 38. The branch 35 ends in a loop or ring 39 which is grasped to launch the lifebuoy. The cable 36 can be operated from any other desired position. There is some slack 46 between the block 40 and pulley 45. On pulling the cable 33, the block 40 is raised and lifts the lever 29, so breaking the seal 24. At the same time, the pin 18 is raised and the strap 12 and buoy 9 released. The slack 46 is then taken up, and the ejector 47 is pulled downwardly, so pulling the buoy downwardly. This pull is transmitted from the buoy through the lanyard 55 to the torch ejector 52 which frees the torch.