KR20120036938A - A coupling - Google Patents

Abstract

The coupling for connecting the fall 26 to the lifeboat 1 has a locking portion and an accommodating portion constituting the hollow 10 with an opening 15 facing upwardly. The locking portion 25, the hollow 10 and the opening 15 have a form that prevents the locking portion 25 from passing through the opening 15. The coupling has actuators 30, 35, 39 controlled by the controller 40. The string 27 is provided to facilitate the return of the locking portion upon return of the lifeboat 1.

Description

Coupling {A COUPLING}

The present invention relates to a coupling suitable for handling loads such as life preservers.

The present invention can be applied to a launching system for a lifeboat that has to be lowered to a marine surface from a ship or a rig or a lifeboat launched in a free fall form from a ship or a rig in a launching state.

In addition, the present invention can be applied to a general lift operation such as handling cargo by a crane or the like.

In bad weather conditions, the safe launch of lifeboats from stationary structures or ships that may or may not be aisle requires expertise with only a few crew members. In poor weather conditions, only a few masters are ready to save lives and lifeboats to facilitate the acquisition of skills necessary only in emergency situations, so launching training is almost impossible to simulate as in real life.

Accidents during compulsory lifeboat training are a matter of continuing discussion regarding the safety of the crew.

In an emergency situation as well as during practice, lifeboats need to be freely dropped into the sea with the crew on board, with the ships being cautiously descended, ie launching, with the crew giving up the structure or the ship and aboard the crew.

Today, most accidents involve on-load release functions, including failure of lifeboat hooks. On-load release relates to releasing the lifeboat from the pole with the lifeboat at least partially suspended by the fall.

The ability to release lifeboats on load is mandatory for all ships built on or after 1986. 1986 by the IMO Regulations. Ships before this date were generally provided only with off-load release hooks that could not be released from such poles unless the lifeboat was fully supported by the sea.

In addition to the number of accidents and the launch of tests or tests, the number of people killed or injured during launch in emergency situations on lifeboats exceeds 100, but there is no official record of the total number of casualties. Owners, traders, P & I clubs, all walks of life and various other international organizations are consequently focused on reducing the number of accidents.

To meet current IMO requirements, hooked lifeboats need to have off-load release capability as well as on-load release capability.

Accidents with discharge hooks under load are known to be due to poor maintenance, lack of hook operating knowledge, and poor design, and many reasons also make design difficult and provide sufficient measures for poor maintenance and human error. It proved to be difficult to prepare.

Another reason for the accident is that when a lifeboat is provided with two or more poles, it is difficult to ensure that the poles are simultaneously released from the hook. Simultaneous release may require local release of poles by two or more crew members working on the other side of the ship. Experience has shown that too often, ship crews need to release only one hook while still hanging the vessel from the other still connected to the pole. At the next wave goal, the ship is turned upside down, putting the crew around the water or the lifeboat's cabin, with potentially serious consequences. The recognition of this problem by lifeboat manufacturers or marine authorities, with the introduction of partially or fully enclosed lifeboats, has led to the development of more complex lifeboat release systems capable of releasing all poles from a single controlled location, but The system is still based on a conventional hook system in which at least one hook is firmly mounted on the upper part of the lifeboat.

Today's lifeboat types that will descend to the sea surface are typically provided with one front hook and one aft hook. The hooks are actuated by a release means configured to release two hooks simultaneously as soon as the lifeboat floats on water.

As mentioned above, a typical embodiment consists of two discharge hooks, one hook being disposed at each end of the lifeboat and being buried by a chain or rod coming out of a hook disposed at one end of the lifeboat. It is connected to the hook placed at the opposite end of the. The chain or rod disposed between the two hooks is equipped with an operating grip disposed in a convenient position. The hooks are secured to the release hooks in such a way that the chain or rod pulls the chain or rods or makes the hooks work in a similar manner to free them from the poles. The release hook, connected by a rod that can be placed along the bottom of the lifeboat, is actuated by a lever operating through a universal joint or the like.

Other release systems require special training of the crew to operate lifeboats to ensure that operators are accustomed to hook release systems mounted on lifeboats in certain vessels or rigs.

In addition, P & I Club, all walks of life and various other international organizations recommend replacing conventional hook systems that are unable to release under load with new, improved design hooks.

Most conventional hook designs are intentionally particularly unstable because the weight of the boat hanging from the hook results in a hook opening effect that must be sustained by the independent installation of the hook actuation mechanism.

Today, a variety of hook systems are available, and one common system is the SAFELAUCH ^© lifeboat release hook, which is designed to allow rapid load release and to allow the advancing of traditional davit lifeboats. The hooks incorporate various moving parts and require regular maintenance.

Danish patent application PA 2008 00829 discloses a coupling for connecting a pole to a lifeboat. The coupling has a locking portion and a receiving portion. The receiving portion is constituted by a hollow having an opening facing the open end. However, the locking portion, hollow and opening are configured to prevent the locking portion from passing through the opening. The coupling includes an actuator controlled by the controller for releasing the coupling by holding the locking portion inside the hollow as well as forcing the locking portion out of the hollow.

US Patent No. 7,360,498 B2 discloses a lifeboat launch system with a simpler design, but the proposed hook design still contains many complex moving parts. The U.S. patent further discloses a system for supporting and releasing a twin fall lifeboat having a pair of releasable hooks coupled to and corresponding to a corresponding pair of lifting links disposed in the front and solids of the lifeboat. The hook provides positive locking under load because of the central load design, where the load is similar to the center of the hook rotation, thus preventing the hook from inadvertently opening and requiring no fluid arrangement. The system has a release handle, a release arm, a weight rack, and a pair of flexible cables attached to the first end of the rack and attached to the second end of the hook. The release handle is attached to the release arm at the pivot point. The release arm includes a wheel disposed inside the wheel container attached to the weight rack. The system combines the lifting links are secured by hooks and, when the release handle is pulled by the operator, raise the weight rack by rotating the release arm about the boss and pull the flexible cable to release the lifting link from the hook substantially simultaneously. Assume a configuration.

Various attempts have been made to create alternative and simple release systems, some examples of which are described below.

GB 695072 A discloses a ship tackle coupling and release system. The system has a bar configured to receive the hook in a space located inside the bar. The sliding pin engages a hole inside the bar to provide a bridge across the space located inside the bar. The pin secures the hook inside the space and the ship is released from the hook when the pin is retracted from the space by a pendulum load lever.

GB 191303305 A discloses a dismantling gear for dismantling a lifeboat from a pole suspended from a lifeboat on water. The support is attached to a running block of a pole that includes a spring-loaded bolt that engages a ring attached to the lifeboat. When the lifeboat falls into the water, the ring is inserted into the cross slot and the bolt is automatically pulled out, releasing the lifeboat from the hanging pole.

JP 10017263 A2 discloses a lifeboat suspension device configured to suspend a lifeboat by a wire sent from a bus. The lifeboat is connected to the wire through the locking portion disposed on the wire and to the hollow provided on the ship. The locking portion suspended from the wire is introduced into the hollow through the opening and the vessel can be disconnected from the wire, for example by changing the shape of the receiving hollow via a lever or the like.

JP 2007160955 A2 discloses a hook device capable of releasing a connector from a ship. A hook having two parts which are substantially symmetrical connects the connector to the connection base in the ship and secures the connector in the space provided inside the hook parts. When the connector is dismantled, the hook opens and the connector retracts, leaving the ship free.

GB 191027179 A has a headed hanger attached to a pawl hanging from a socket member and a lifeboat. The hanger is received by the socket member to secure the lifeboat. The socket is configured to be rotated by various moving parts to escape the hanger when the ship is in the water. When a load is imposed on the system by a suspended lifeboat, it is carried by the socket member through a hanger.

The foregoing prior arts teach a release system under load that relies on the load of the boat, i. This on-load release feature potentially releases the coupling system while accidentally causing the boat to hang from the pole, resulting in a life-threatening situation for the lifeboat crew.

The present invention aims to improve the reliability and performance of couplings for lifesaving equipment.

To date, the prior art has failed to teach a simpler, more reliable and inexpensive coupling system in a safe and reliable manner without substantially increasing the weight and / or parts of the system, and the risk of any injury to the crew and the mechanical Failed to provide a coupling system that minimizes damage to equipment resulting from failure.

According to one aspect, the invention relates to a coupling for connecting a fall or structure to a lifeboat. Among other things, the coupling includes a load bearing locking portion configured to be connected to the pawl or structure and a receiving portion configured to be attached to or integrated with the lifeboat.

The receiving portion has a hollow having an open end and configured to receive the locking portion. An opening is provided in the wall of the hollow, through which the locking portion is connected to the pawl or structure.

Throughout this specification, expressions such as poles should be understood to mean any form of wire or rope that can be wound on or from the drum.

According to the present invention, there is provided an improved coupling according to the introductory part of the present disclosure, in particular having a pawl, a releasable coupling under load comprising fewer moving parts, arranged near the open end of the hollow, An effective and reliable coupling system can be constructed.

Moreover, inter alia, the coupling system according to the invention relies on applying a force in a direction substantially orthogonal to the upward forces by the poles in order to release the boat from the poles. Horizontal forces are created by a sequence of specific actions that cause the locking portion to be disconnected from the enclosure only after completion.

The detent is configured such that the detent enters the hollow, and when the locking portion enters the hollow, the locking portion is prevented from exiting the hollow. In a preferred embodiment, the coupling comprising the detent is configured such that in the application of the twin pawl, the detent can hold the weight of the complete boat, including the load at only one end of the boat, thereby providing one coupling. In the event of a release or failure in this accident, the boat will be anchored until the other coupling completely descends into the water.

The simple design of the coupling requires very little maintenance and virtually eliminates any risk of components required by the failure of the hook device such as corrosion in the prior art.

According to one embodiment, the coupling further comprises means for forcing the locking portion out of the hollow to release the coupling. In particular, the means for applying a force to the locking portion out of the hollow is disposed opposite the open end of the hollow, and is configured to apply an actuator configured to apply a substantially linear force to the locking portion in a direction facing the outside of the hollow when the actuator is actuated. Equipped.

According to one embodiment, the actuator changes the position of the detent to allow the locking portion to exit the hollow by interconnection.

According to one embodiment, the detent can rotate about an axis, so as a result of the detent, the detent allows the locking portion to enter the hollow.

According to one embodiment, the actuator has a glider configured to transmit a linear movement made by the actuator from the actuator to the detent so that the detent rotates about an axis to rotate to a position where the locking portion can exit the hollow. The detent can be rotated through the device.

According to one embodiment, the glider has an angled member having a first flange connected to the actuator and a second flange adjacent the detent.

According to one embodiment, the locking portion is received inside the flanges of the glider when the locking portion is received into the hollow.

According to one embodiment, the actuator is provided with a return spring.

According to one embodiment, the actuator is operated by hydraulic pressure.

According to one embodiment, the coupling has a second actuator.

According to one embodiment, the locking portion has a ball-shaped member.

According to one embodiment, the coupling has at least one string and allows the locking portion to easily return into the hollow by pulling on the string.

According to one embodiment, the inner or inner surface of the hollow constitutes an elongated funnel.

According to one embodiment, the walls defining the hollow constitute a load bearing member for transferring load to the load bearing locking portion.

According to one embodiment, the walls defining the hollow are shaped to prevent the locking portion from passing through the opening.

According to one embodiment, the hollow constitutes a rigid structure with fixed walls which ensure that the width of the opening is substantially parallel.

According to one embodiment, at least part of the surface of the locking portion is provided with friction reducing means such as teflon, PE or equivalent.

According to one embodiment, at least a portion of the inner surface of the hollow is provided with friction reducing means.

According to one embodiment, the coupling configures the release coupling under load such that the locking portion can be released from the enclosure while the walls of the enclosure carry a weight of at least 50% of the lifeboat suspended by a pole connected to the locking portion. . In particular, the coupling according to this embodiment is capable of applying a force having a magnitude sufficient to the locking portion to overcome the frictional forces created between the surface of the locking portion and the surface of the hollow housing the locking portion such that the locking portion exerts a force out of the hollow. Or more actuators are provided.

According to one embodiment, a lifeboat having a coupling according to the invention is provided.

According to one embodiment, the lifeboat has two opposing receptacles, one arranged forward of the lifeboat with an open end facing forward relative to the lifeboat and the other placed in the solids of the lifeboat. The open end faces the antique against the lifeboat.

According to one embodiment, the lifeboat including the receiving portion is configured such that the openings face upward with respect to the lifeboat.

According to one embodiment, the coupling is newly mounted to the lifeboat.

According to one embodiment, the lifeboat is a free-fall lifeboat.

According to one embodiment, the lifeboat coupling system has a coupling provided according to the invention.

Throughout this specification, expressions such as ships, ships, boats, and the like, should be understood to represent any kind of floating structure suitable for carrying either a passenger, a cargo, or any combination thereof.

1 is a side view of a lifeboat suspended from falls.
FIG. 2 is substantially in accordance with FIG. 1 but partially enlarged in another scenario.
3 is a front view of a lifeboat suspended from poles;
4 is a perspective view of the coupling;
5 is a plan view of the coupling.
6 is a view of the launched lifeboat.
7 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling.
8 is a plan view of the coupling.
9 is a side view of a free-fall lifeboat.
10 shows an embodiment of the locking portion.
11 is a front view of an embodiment of a coupling.
12 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling.
13 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling.

1 shows a lifeboat 1 suspended by falls 26 through couplings provided at the front end and the solid end of the lifeboat 1. Lifeboats suspended according to FIG. 1 are generally termed twin fall lifeboats. The poles 26 may be dismantled from one or more winches (not shown) or similar devices disposed on the vessel or rig. At the opposite ends of the poles 26, the poles 26 are provided with locking portions 25. The locking portions 25 are rigidly directly or indirectly connected to the poles 26, and when the locking portions 25 transmit the weight of the lifeboat, including a sailor, to the poles 26, the pawls 26 and the lockings. The strength of the connection between the parts 25 is important for the reliability of the system. Breakage of the connection results in free fall of the lifeboat 1 to the sea surface, which not only causes serious injury to the crew but also obviously damages the equipment.

The locking portion 25 preferably forms a component incorporating the pawl 26, but this is not a requirement of the coupling according to the invention.

Although the locking portion 25 is shown as a spherical ball in a number of figures, the locking portion 25 represents an alternative form, such as, for example, semi-spherical, cylindrical, pyramid or cuboidal, or the like. Can be. Furthermore, the locking part may for example constitute a ball with flat parts (see FIG. 7) or a cross shaft (see FIG. 10) having a bearing or roller.

In FIG. 1, the locking part 25 is accommodated in the hollows 10 provided in the lifeboat 1. The hollow 10 has a cross-sectional shape allowing loose coupling with the locking portion 25. The hollow 10 according to several embodiments has a plurality of holes for actuators and the like.

The hollow 10 may constitute an elongated hollow 10 that substantially faces the navigational direction of the lifeboat 1, but the hollows may be angled toward the navigational direction of the lifeboat 1.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hollow 10 further comprises an opening 15 and, according to the illustrated embodiment, constitutes an upward opening 15. In addition, the opening 15 is in the direction along the hollow 10 and has a free width, on the other hand, between the poles 26 or any other interposed between the handle or locking portion 25 and the poles 26. A gap is provided between intermediate elements, such as parts, and on the other hand, the width of the opening 15 is selected to prevent the locking portion 25 from passing through the opening 15.

According to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the actuators 30, 35 forming part of the discharge system are arranged near the hollow 10, and the actuators 30, 35 are actuated and exercised. Any suitable means of applying may be constructed. According to the embodiment shown, the actuating means may constitute electric actuators 30, 935, but the actuators may compose hydraulically actuated actuators or their equivalents. In addition, the actuators 30 and 35 need not be operated by an external power source, and the actuators may be manual or spring actuated actuators operated via a coupling device which may be a push-pull rod, chain or wire or the like.

The release system may be equipped with a secondary or backup system (not shown) which may constitute a parallel system. The parallel system may be a complete and independent system, but since the backup system may comprise only selected parts of the discharge system, the backup system may rely on one or more parts of the main discharge system.

According to FIG. 1, the substantially horizontally oriented actuator 30 is configured to exert a force on the locking portion 25 toward the open end of the hollow 10 in operation, and the substantially vertically oriented actuator 35 is In operation, it is configured to allow the locking portion 25 to enter or exit the hollow 10.

The actuator 30 must be able to overcome the friction forces generated between the locking portion 25 and the hollow 10 and the opening 15, respectively. The forces may be necessary when the weight of the lifeboat including the source is transferred to the pawl 26 through the contact surface between the locking portion 25 and the hollow 10 and the opening 15 respectively. In embodiments where the lifeboat 1 is suspended from two poles 26, the weight to be delivered to one pole 26 is approximately 50% of the weight of the lifeboat 1 including the source.

Hollow 10, pawl 26 and locking portion 25 comprising opening 15 may be provided with friction reducing means such as low friction coatings, inserts of Teflon or similar material, plastic inserts or coatings or even bearing means. Can be provided.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1, the actuators 30, 35 have been described in their stationary state, ie the actuator 30 is retracted so that the locking portion 25 is placed inside the hollow 10. On the other hand, the actuator 35 is extended to prevent the locking portion 25 from exiting the hollow 10 so that the coupling is released and the lifeboat 1 is free from the pawl 26.

In the described embodiment, the actuators 30 and 35 are positioned such that the position of the actuators 30 and 35 is in accordance with FIG. 1, that is, the actuator 30 is placed in the retracted position, and the actuator 35 is It is selected to be placed in the extended position.

The hollow 10 and the actuators 30, 35 including the opening 15 constitute a receiving portion. The receiving portion is substantially center of the lifeboat 1, near the end of the lifeboat 10 according to some embodiments described, at the end of the lifeboat as shown in FIG. 9 or in the lifeboat 1 (not shown). It may be disposed on the side of).

If the hollow 10 is oriented such that the open end faces at least partially upwards, the coupling may release the locking portion 25 without the aid of actuators.

2 is a partially enlarged view of the coupling just before the locking portion 25 is pushed out and freed from the hollow 10. Actuator 30 is almost fully elongated while actuator 35 is retracted.

In the described embodiment, the hollow 10 is shown substantially parallel to the inner or inner surface. However, it is desirable to provide a hollow with non-parallel sides, for example by constructing a hollow 10 having an internal structure with a funnel or similar skeleton, such that the effect of relatively sharp edges is reduced so that the system Can reduce wear. Further, although not shown in the present embodiment, the inner surface of the hollow 10 may be provided with a flat portion configured to receive the flat portion of the locking portion 25 entirely (the flat portion of the locking portion is not shown in FIGS. 1 to 5). .

3 is a front view of a lifeboat 1 suspended by a coupling according to an embodiment of the invention, where the locking portion 25 is held in the hollow 10 by an extended actuator 35. Although the actuator 35 has been described as a rod, the actuator may equally be configured with a pivoting arm or the like. The actuator is described to face substantially vertically, but this is not essential for the present invention. Other means capable of holding the locking portion 25 inside the hollow 10, such as a spring, may equally be applied.

4 is a perspective view of an accommodating part including a locking part 25 seated inside the hollow 10. Actuator 35 is not shown in the description.

5 is a plan view of the housing, where the locking portion 25 is held inside the hollow 10 by an actuator 35.

6 illustrates the lifeboat 1 in the launched state. According to another aspect of the present invention, when the lifeboat 1 is returned, the locking portion 25 may be pulled into the hollow 10 by the string 27 (only one end of the lifeboat 1 is shown). . One end of the string 27 is connected to the locking portion 25, while the other end thereof is connected to or in the lifeboat 1. While the strings are inside the lifeboat 1, when the sailor pulls the string 27, the locking portion 25 facilitates a safe and effortless recovery of the lifeboat 1. It is arranged to be pulled. The string 27 is preferably arranged so that the lifeboat 1 can be freed from the locking portion 1 and the string 27 when the lifeboat 1 is launched without the intention of returning. Preferably, the string 27 is only held by a limited force.

7 illustrates another embodiment of a coupling according to the invention. As shown in the figure, the arm 37, which is arranged to be rotated relative to the center of rotation, that is, the support point 38, and connected to the actuator 39, has the locking portion 25 hollowed out when the actuator 39 is operated. (10) Forced outwards, the coupling is configured to dismantle. As shown, the actuator 39 can be connected to the arm 37 via a movable support point 50 so that the release mechanism can act as a lever arm.

Actuator 39 may constitute any type of actuator, such as an electric or hydraulic actuator. Actuator 39 can constitute even a simple form of pure mechanical connection with push-pull rods, chains or cables.

As can be seen in the figure, the upper inner part of the hollow 10 forms an angle α with respect to the base 60, i.e. a plane lying substantially perpendicular to the direction of the pulling or transmitting force, When transmitting forces to the enclosure 25, it is ensured that the locking portion 25 is away from the open end of the hollow 10 so that the structure or layout of the coupling does not take place under unintended dismantling under load. To ensure. However, if the actuator 39 is actuated, the locking portion 25 will still be forced out of the hollow 10, despite the angled upper portion of the hollow 10. In addition, the upper region of the hollow 10 may be flattened to accommodate the flat portion 29 of the locking portion 25 in the region close to the opening 15.

According to one embodiment, 1.5 ° to 15 °, preferably 2 ° to the baseline of the lifeboat 1 or, alternatively, to a plane lying perpendicular to the vertical movement direction of the lifeboat in launch and / or return situations. It is preferred to form an angle α of from 10 to 10 degrees, more preferably from 4 to 8 degrees.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 7, the actuator 35 described in FIGS. 1 to 5 is suspended by a spring 36. The spring 36, which may be configured as a leaf spring, is configured to allow the leaf spring 36 to contract by the locking portion 25 when the locking portion 25 passes through the open end of the hollow 10. Arranged near the open end. The spring is preferably selected so that the spring can support the locking portion 25 inside the hollow 10 when the pawl 26 is loosened.

The described embodiment proposes a leaf spring, but this is not considered a requirement for the coupling according to the invention. Of course, the illustrated leaf spring 36 may be replaced and replaced by other equipment exhibiting similar functionality to such equipment, including one or more coil springs and the like.

The locking portion 25, ie the ball, in the embodiment according to FIG. 7, is flattened around the part of the ball where the pawl 26 is connected directly or indirectly to the ball. The flat portion 29 can lower the stresses and loads applied to the locking region 25 as well as the upper region of the hollow 10 to some extent, thereby reducing the disadvantages of the coupling and increasing the durability of the coupling.

As shown in FIG. 8, the locking portion 25 may be flat opposite the connection to the pawl 26, and some embodiments will facilitate the general function of the design and coupling of the enclosure. As shown, the locking portion 25 is provided with a hollow or hole 42 which can easily act as a connection between the locking portion and any intermediate part, such as a pawl 26 or handle.

As shown in FIG. 8, the locking portion 25 may include a locking portion 25 and a stem 43 integrated with or interposed between the pawls 26, so that in the selected embodiment, the coupling It can improve the overall function. If the coupling is provided with the stem 42 shown, any wear on the pawl 26 due to contact with the opening 15 will be eliminated and the orientation of the locking portion 25 will be controlled by the stem 42 and the opening ( 15) will be eliminated by the gap between them.

8 is a plan view of the coupling according to FIG. 7. As shown, the housing of the coupling may be provided with means for securing the base 60 of the housing onto the lifeboat 1 (not shown in FIGS. 7 and 8), and the base 60 may also be It may be attached to a lifeboat not shown through the holes 61 using bolts, screws, rivets, or the like, or alternatively, welded to the structure of the lifeboat 1.

Reference numeral 28 denotes a collar that can be integrated with the handle as shown, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 8. The collar 28 may facilitate handling of the locking portion 25, and in some embodiments, the collar 28 prevents the locking portion from falling too deep into the hollow 10 through the opening 15. can do. Finally, the handle and the collar can be made of a transparent material that can be seen clearly or alternatively can be painted with paint of similar properties.

According to some embodiments, collar 28 and / or handle may act as an intermediate part or element interposed between pawl 26 and locking portion 28, as shown in FIG. 7.

9 is a side view showing in particular the free fall of a lifeboat provided with a coupling according to an embodiment of the invention, according to FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown, the receiving portion of the coupling is connected to or integrated with the rear part of the free fall lifeboat, whereby the lifeboat is supported by the launching facility by only one coupling. However, it is also possible for a plurality of couplings (not shown) to be provided on the free fall lifeboat.

Since free fall lifeboats do not descend into the sea, as described above, poles hanging from twin pole lifeboats are not needed for launching free fall lifeboats. As a result, the locking portion is connected to the structure 80 via a rod and pivotal connection device 81 instead of poles.

10 illustrates an embodiment of the locking portion when the locking portion constitutes the rod or shaft 90 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the pawl 26. In some embodiments, the shaft may be provided with one or more friction reducing bearings 92. As shown in FIG. 10, the locking portion faces a direction intersecting with the pole 26 and constitutes an assembly having a shaft 90 provided with two bearings that can form a glide bearing or a ball bearing or the like. Can be.

11 shows a front view of an embodiment of a coupling to be discussed in more detail with reference to FIG. 12.

12 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling according to FIG. 11. As shown, the rotatable detent 120 is disposed near the open end of the hollow 10. The detent 120 allows the locking portion 25 to enter the hollow 10, and when the locking portion 25 enters the hollow 10, the locking portion 25 exits the hollow 10. The detent 120 can be configured to prevent it.

Although not shown in the figures, the detent 120 is a spring or equivalent (not shown) to ensure that the detent 120 assumes a substantially upper position after deformation caused by the entry of the locking portion 25. ) May be provided.

As shown in the figure, the actuator 110 disposed on the opposite side of the open end of the hollow 10 may be arranged to apply a force to the locking portion 25 in the direction toward the outside of the hollow 10 during operation. have.

In operation of the actuator 110, the position or orientation of the detent 120, by means of interconnection, can be varied to allow the locking portion 25 to exit the hollow 10. In the described embodiment, the detent 120 rotates about the axis 121, but the linear motion of the detent 120 can be made equal.

The detent 120 can be rotated through equipment with a glider 125. The glider 125 may be configured to transmit the linear motion created by the actuator 110 from the actuator 110 to the detent 120, so that when the actuator 110 is operated, the detent 120 is axle. The locking unit 25 is rotated with reference to 121 to rotate to a position where the hollow 10 may exit.

The glider 125 may be received, in whole or in part, within the enclosure, one flange connected to the actuator 110 and the other flange forming an angled member or element adjacent the detent 120. As shown in FIG. 12, the end or point of the second flange of the glider 125 may be angled or machined depending on the selected embodiment and design, and the point of the detent 120 may be shown in FIG. 12. As can be angulated or the state changed.

The locking unit 25 may be accommodated in the flanges of the glider 125 when the locking unit 25 is accommodated in the hollow 10.

The coupling may be provided with a second actuator 112, according to the selected embodiment. The second actuator 112 may act in conjunction with the actuator for stability reasons or the like, or the second actuator may be provided for extra reasons. Actuators 110 (112) may be provided with one or more return springs or equivalents.

Actuators 110 and 112 may be hydraulically actuated through perforated conduit 130 or equivalent. As shown in FIG. 12, the actuators 110 and 112 may each be connected to independent conduits so that redundancy is guaranteed.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling according to FIGS. 11 and 12, illustrated by the scenario in which the coupling is released. As shown, the glider 125 is partially pushed out of the hollow 10 by the actuators 110 and 112 so that the second flange of the glider 125 is detented relative to the axis 121. By rotating 120, the open end of hollow 10 allows the locking portion, not shown, to move out of the receiving portion.

While the release system for actuating the coupling according to the invention can be controlled in various ways already described, the release system for the coupling according to the invention permits electric or electrohydraulic control. As shown in FIG. 1, the controller 40 may be connected to one or more actuators 30, 35, 39 via a cable 41. The controller can be connected to a button (not shown), and the button can, in operation, cause the controller to initiate the proper release sequence according to the embodiment of the coupling. In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 5, the actuator 35 is retracted and the actuators 30 and 39 are extended.

The system may include an independent power source (not shown) that gives the bus a "dead-ship" situation that is not critical for the operation and release of the lifeboat 1. The power source can be any form of battery or equivalent.

The release system according to the invention can be controlled by or in conjunction with a hydrostatic release mechanism in which release can be initiated from one or both of the actuators or transducers to the other actuator.

The discharge system may also be provided by hydraulic equipment, which may have means for starting the sequence in which the actuator 25 contracts before the actuator 30, 39 exerts a force on the locking portion 25 out of the hollow 10. Can work. The hydraulic equipment may have a power source that may include means for maintaining the system under pressure such as an expansion tank or the like, or the system may be fully manual operated by levers or the like.

In twin pole lifeboat configurations, where only one locking portion 25 is forced out of the hollow 10, according to the selected embodiment the locking portion 25 is caused by having the hollow hold the immovable locking portion upwards. The system may be partially safe due to the tendency of the lifeboat 1 to be pulled out of the hollow by the load of the lifeboat.

The release system comprising a control unit or the like can be synchronized in such a way that simultaneous operation of the actuators is obtained such that the locking portions 25 are simultaneously released from the hollow. It is also desirable that the actuators can be quick acting actuators that can mitigate the effects of a release system that operates slightly asynchronously.

The release mechanism can be operated directly by a number of connections integrated with push / pull rods, levers and cables, without the aid of power. Such a mechanism may be configured with one central actuator actuating connection and / or wires such that the locking portion 25 is maintained inside the hollow 10 or is forced out of the hollow 10.

The coupling according to the invention is preferably retrofitted into existing lifeboat systems. Since the coupling of the present invention only requires proposed reconstruction work or modification of lifeboats including poles, new mounting or conversion can be made very easy.

The described embodiments propose a locking portion 25 that is configured substantially as a ball when the locking portion 25 slides into the hollow 10 in a separation situation in which load is transmitted to the poles. However, the coupling according to the invention may, as an alternative equivalent, comprise a locking part provided on a cross shaft (consisting of a T-shape) comprising a roller or bearing disposed on both sides of the T, with respect to the pole. The containment comprising a hollow can, in such an embodiment, be configured to receive a T comprising a roller or a bearing, and the wear of the coupling is greatly reduced since the slide described above will be replaced by rolling.

The material constituting the coupling can have sufficient strength and at the same time can be selected to prevent the locking portion 25 from sticking in the hollow 10 due to corrosion or the like.

The employment of the coupling according to the invention is basically used in launching systems of ships such as davit launch or free-fall lifeboats, but the coupling of the invention is a tender boat, MOB boat, rescue boat. And equally applicable to general cargo handling vessels.

1 ... lifeboat 10 ... hollow
15 ... opening 25 ... locking part
26 ... Paul 27 ... Steel
28 ... Color 30,35,39 ... actuator
37 ... arm 43 ... stem
50 supporting points 60 base
62 ... hole 81 ... pivoting connector
90 ... shaft 92 ... friction reducing bearing
110 ... actuator 120 ... detent
121 ... axis 125 ... glider

Claims (25)

A coupling for connecting the fall 26 or the structure 80 to the lifeboat 1, the coupling supporting a load configured to be connected to the pawl 26 or the structure 80. 25) and a receiving portion prepared to be attached to or integrated with the lifeboat 1, the receiving portion having a hollow end configured to receive the locking portion 25 and the locking portion 25; In a coupling having an opening 15 provided in the wall of the hollow 10 to allow the connection with the pawl 26 or the structure 80,
The coupling further comprises a detent (120) disposed near the open end of the hollow (10);
The detent 120 allows the locking portion 25 to enter into the hollow 10, and when the locking portion 25 enters into the hollow 10, the pawl 120 from the hollow 10. Coupling, characterized in that the locking portion 25 is configured to prevent the exit.
The method according to claim 1,
The coupling further comprises means for forcing the locking portion (25) out of the hollow (10) to release the coupling;
The means for applying a force to the locking portion 25 out of the hollow 10 has an actuator 110 disposed opposite the open end of the hollow 10, and in operation the actuator 110 is operated by the hollow Coupling, characterized in that configured to apply a linear force to the locking portion (25) in the direction toward the outside of (10).
The method according to claim 2,
And the actuator (110) changes the position of the detent (120) to allow the locking portion (25) to exit the hollow (10) by interconnection.
The method according to claim 2 or 3,
The detent 120 is rotatable about an axis 121, and as a result of the rotation, the detent 120 allows the locking portion 25 to enter the hollow 10. Coupling.
The method of claim 4,
The detent 120 is rotated through a device having a glider 125 configured to transmit the linear motion made by the actuator 110 from the actuator 110 to the detent 120. When the actuator 110 is operated, the detent 120 is rotated with respect to the shaft 121 so that the locking portion 25 is rotated to a position where the hollow 10 can exit the hollow 10. Coupling.
The method according to claim 5,
And the glider (125) has an angled component having a first flange connected to the actuator (110) and a second flange adjacent the detent (120).
The method of claim 6,
And when the locking portion (25) is accommodated in the hollow (10), the locking portion (25) is received inside the flanges of the glider (125).
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 7,
Coupling, characterized in that the actuator (110) has a return spring.
The method according to any one of claims 2 to 8,
Coupling, characterized in that the actuator (110) is hydraulically operated.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The coupling is characterized in that it further comprises a second actuator (112).
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
Coupling, characterized in that the locking portion (25) has a ball-shaped member.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
The coupling further comprises at least one string 27 connected to the locking portion 25,
Coupling, characterized in that for allowing the return of the locking portion (25) into the hollow (10) by pulling the string (27).
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
Couplings, characterized in that the inner or inner surfaces of the hollow (10) have an elongated funnel.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
Couplings characterized in that the walls partitioning the hollow (10) have a load bearing member for transmitting a load to the locking portion.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
And the walls defining the hollow (10) are shaped to prevent the locking portion (25) from passing through the opening (15).
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
The hollow (10) coupling, characterized in that it has a rigid structure with fixed walls which ensure that the width of the opening (15) is parallel.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
At least part of the surface of the locking portion (25) is provided with friction reducing means.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17,
Coupling, characterized in that the inner surface of at least part of the hollow (10) is provided with friction reducing means.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 18,
And the coupling has an on-load release coupling.
A lifeboat (1) comprising the coupling as claimed in claim 1.
The method of claim 20,
The lifeboat 1 has two opposing compartments, one compartment being disposed forward of the lifeboat 1 with the open end facing forward with respect to the lifeboat 1, the other The lifeboat (1), characterized in that one receiving portion is disposed in the solids of the lifeboat (1) so that the open end is facing the solid with respect to the lifeboat (1).
The method according to claim 20 or 21,
The lifeboat (1), characterized in that the opening (15) is directed upward with respect to the lifeboat (1).
The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22,
The lifeboat (1), characterized in that the coupling is newly installed in the lifeboat (1).
The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23,
The lifeboat (1) is a lifeboat (1), characterized in that the free-fall lifeboat.
20. A lifeboat coupling system comprising a coupling according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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