US1086667A

US1086667A - Releasing device.

Info

Publication number: US1086667A
Application number: US75728613A
Authority: US
Inventors: James Irwin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1913-03-28
Filing date: 1913-03-28
Publication date: 1914-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 1931-02-10

Description

J. IRWIN.

RELEASING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.28, 191s.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

' INVENTOR r/Zzmes Ira in coLuml'alA PLANOGRAPH co A:HX\GTON n c bill 8 and shank 9 in either direction; a shoulder 11 formed on the bill 8 engaging the pin 19 when the bill is in its open position, and the inner end of a notch 12 in the shank 9 engaging the pin 10 when the bill 8 is in its innermost position. The lower end of the shank 9 is rounded and may be provided with a roller 13, as shown in Fig. 5, if desired. In some instances, however, the roller 13 may be dispensed with.

Mounted between the plates A, below the lower end of the slots 4, is a weighted cam disk 14, which is mounted on a removable pin 15, extending through one of the plates A and threaded on its outer end to screw into the other plate A, as shown in Fig. 4; the pin 15 being adapted to be removed to permit of the cam 14 being interchanged. The cam 14 is so positioned that its crown will contact the inner face of the shank 9 to form an abutment for the latter and prevent the hook 8 being released when a load is carried thereon.

Formed on the cam disk 14 is an extension 16, which projects through the open side of the casing between the plates AA, and is adapted to have a handle 17 secured thereto, by means of which the cam disk 14 may be manually rocked on the pivot pin 15.

The releasing device is designed to operate either in the position shown in the drawings, or in an inverted position, and when disposed in the position shown in the drawings the lever 17 is weighted to normally retain the cam lever 14 in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1; a projection 18 on the extension 16 being arranged to engage the spacer 3 to limit the downward movement of the handle portion 17. When the device is inverted, the handle 17 is lightened suiiL ciently to allow the weight of the cam portion 14 to maintain the cam in its normal position. Means are provided for rocking the cam 14 from a remote point, such for instance as from the center of a boat having a releasing device situated at each end thereof. which means is here shown as consisting of a reciprocating bar 19 mounted in suitable guides on the forward edges of the plates A; the bar 19 having shoulders 20 thereon arranged to engage the underside of the extensions 16 on the cam 14, the lower end of the bar 19 normally rests upon an operating cam 21, mounted on a rocking shaft 22 in such manner that when the latter is operated the cam 21 will act to raise the releasing bar 19 and thereby rock the cam 14 on its pivot pin 15 into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. If desired, the bar 19 may be operated by a cord connecting with a perforation 23 in the lower end of the bar, or in any other suitable manner.

When it is desired to operate the releasing device only when the load carried thereon is relieved, the face of the cam 14 is arranged eccentric to its axis of rotation, as shown in Fig. 1, in such manner that on the initial rocking of the cam 14 it will operate to rock the shank 9 and bill 8 in opposition to the load carried by the latter into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus necessitating the lifting of the load carried by the bill 8 immediately before its release. This arrangement insures the device against being accidentally operated. In some instances, however, it may be desired to adapt the releasing device to being readily disconnected from the load, in which event the face of the cam 14 is arranged concentric with its axi of rotation, as shown in Fig. 5; in which event the cam 14 may be readily rocked irrespective of the load carried by the bill 8, and only on the application of sufficient power to rock the cam 14. The arrangement shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 being preferred, however, where the device is used in connection with life boats, as in this arrangement the boat can not be readily released until it is supported in the water, as it requires the application of suflicient power to operate the cam 14 as would be necessary to lift the load carried by the bill 8. In the operation of the invention assume the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1; the hill 8 being in its closed position and engaging an eyelet or hook 24 from which the device is suspended, the hook or ring 24 supporting the load carried on the lower end of the releasing device. lVhen it is desired to release the load, the cam 14 is rocked on its pivot pin 15, either by the manipulation of the handle 17 or the reciprocation of the bar 19, to move the cam 14 in the direction of the arrow 6 in Fig. 1.

The downward movement of the cam 14 causes its raised crown portion to rock the shank 9 outwardly a short distance in opposition to the load carried on the hill 8 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The upper portion of the cam 14 on passing beneath the rounded lower end of the shank 9 allows the load carried by the bill 8 to rock the latter into the open position. shown in Fig. 2, thus releasing the'load and detaching it from the device. The hill 8, by reason of its being heavier than the shank 9, will normally remain in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the shank 9 extending across the slot 4. On the release of the cam 14, the latter will gravitate back to its normal position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When it is desired to attach the ring or hook 23 to the releasing device, the former is forcibly impacted against the shank 9 to cause the latter to move in the direction of the arrow 0 in Fig. 2; the impact on the shank 9 rocking the shank on its shaft 7 causing its lower end to strike the upper face of the releasing cam 14, moving the latter downward into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and allowing the shank 9 to pass to its normal position; the bill 8 moving into engagement with the hook or ring 23. The moment the shank 9 passes beyond the outer end of the releasing cam 14:, the latter gravitates to its normal position and reengages v the shank 9 to lock the latter against movement. This manner of connecting the releasing device to the hook or ring 23 obviates one of the serious difliculties commonly met with in the connecting of releasing devices such as are now generally employed on life boats and the like; great difiiculty being usually encountered in re-connecting the releasing device owing to the pitching of the boat.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. In a releasing device, the combination with a casing comprising spaced plates hav ing opposed open-ended slots in one end thereof, of a cam disk pivotally mounted between the plates and weighted to normally maintain its operating face in a substantially vertical plane, a hook pivoted in the casing, and a shank on said hook formed with a semi-circular outer end which extends beyond the operating face of the cam disk when the device is closed and adapted to actuate the cam disk to be automatically engaged thereby on closing the hook, said shank extending across the slots in the casing when the device is open, said rounded end of the shank facilitating the operation of tlhe cam disk in releasing and closing the 1100 2. In a releasing device, the combination with a casing having an open-ended slot in one end thereof, a bill pivoted in the casing and adapted to extend across the open end of the slot, a shank on said bill, said shank I formed with a rounded outer end, a cam disk having a flat face and a rounded face, said cam disk pivoted in the casing and arranged with its rounded face abutting against the shank at a point adjacent to the base of the rounded portion of the latter, when the device is closed said cam disk adapted to be actuated by the shank on closing the hook to automatically engage the shank, and means for rocking the disk to dispose it clear of the shank and allow the bill and shank to rock.

3. In a releasing device, the combination with a casing having an open-ended slot in one end thereof, of a bill pivoted in the casing and adapted to extend across the open end of the slot, a shank on said bill, said shank formed with a rounded outer end, a cam disk having a flat face and a rounded face, said cam disk pivoted in the casing and arranged with its rounded face abut-ting against the shank at a point adjacent to the base of the rounded portion of the latter, when the device is closed, an arm on said disk, and a plate slidable on the casing engageable with the arm to rock the disk when the plate is rec-iprocated.

4. In a releasing device, the combination with a casing having an open-ended slot in one end thereof, of a bill pivoted in the easing and adapted to extend across the open end of the slot, a shank on said bill, said shank formed with a rounded outer end, a cam disk having a flat face and a rounded face, said cam disk pivoted in the casing and arranged with its rounded face abutting against the shank at a point adjacent to the base of the rounded portion of the latter, when the device is closed said cam disk adapted to be actuated by the shank on closing the hook to automatically engage the shank, the rounded face of said cam disk having an increased eccentric portion adjacent to the fiat face adapted to rock the shank before the latter releases when the disk is rocked, and means for rocking the disk to dispose it clear of the shank and allow the bill and shank to rock.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES IRWVIN.

VVit-nesses A. W. MoGURRY, J. F. MCCARTHY,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.