US1862409A

US1862409A - Mooring apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1862409A
Application number: US28344A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert C Lamond
Original assignee: American Engineering Co Ltd
Current assignee: American Engineering Co Ltd
Priority date: 1925-05-06
Filing date: 1925-05-06
Publication date: 1932-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 1949-06-07

Description

June 7, 1932. R. c LAMOND MOORING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 6, 1925 Z cy- June 7,1932. c LAM ND 1,862,409

I MOORING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 7, 1932- R. c, LAMOND MOORING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 7, 1932. c, LA 1,862,409 7 MOORING v APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 7, 1932. Q LAMOND I 1,862,409

MOORING APPARATUS Filed May- 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 7, 1932] R. c. LAMOND 1,862,409

MOORING APPARATUS Filed May 6, 1925 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT FF1E ROBERT C. LAMONID, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOR TO AMERICAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA MOORING APPARATUS Application filed. May 6,

My invention relates to hydraulic apparatus, having particular relation to ferry mooring machines.

One object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple and efli'cient device for mooring a boat to a ferry-bridge, dock or other structure, which shall be of such construction that it will exert equal and simultaneous pulls on both sides of the boat and that will be capable of being controlled by one man through a single operating member.

Another object of my invention is to provide hydraulic mooring mechanism, whereby the boat may be held against the ferry-bridge with the pump and driving motor therefor at rest.

With these and other objects and applications in mind, my invention further consists in the details of construction and operation and arrangement, hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of em bodiment of my invention, the pump-control mechanismbcing shown partly in horizontal section; i

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the ferrymooring apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3. and 1 are enlarged front and side elevational views, respectively, partially in section, of the single acting fluid motor and associated parts illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged, detail, side elevational and top plan views, respectively, of

the driving motor and valve control mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view partially diagrammatic and partially in elevation of an alternative mooring device employing double acting fluid motors;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, detail sectional view of one of the double acting fluid motors .of Fig. 7 and Figs. 9 and 10 are front and side elevational views, partially in section, of the mechanism for simultaneously operating the driving motor switch and the main reversing valve.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, a

1925. Serial No. 28,344.

mooring device 1 of the single acting cylinder type comprises a pair of

fluid motors

2 and 3 which are respectively mounted on opposite sides of a ferry-bridge 4-, whereby cables 5 and 6 through mooring hooks 7 and 8 may simultaneously exert equal forces on a ferry-boat 9, the whole being controlled by a single lever 10, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

While my invention is described in connection with ferry apparatus, it is, of course, capable of various other applications, and hence the broader features of my invention are not to be strictly limited to the present showing. Since the

fluid motors

2 and 3 are substantially identical, the former only will be described in detail. I

The fluid motor 2 comprises a vertically positioned casing 11 which may be mounted on the ferry-bridge 4 in the usual manner. A vertically movable plunger 12 is provided at its inner end with an enlarged end portion 13 constituting a piston. An opposite end 14 extends through an upper end 15 of the motor casing 11 and abuts against a base portion 16 of a cross-head 17 of U-shape. When it is desirable to secure the cross-head 17 to the plunger 14:, the former may be recessed to receive an extension 18 of the latter and the Whole detachably secured together by a tapered pin 19.

A sheave 20 is rotatably supportedby a pin 21 extending between

side walls

22 and 23 of said .U-shaped cross-head 17. The ends of the

side walls

22 and 23 are provided with laterally extending

portions

24 and 25, which are respectively perforated to receive

guide rods

26, 26 extending vertically from an enlarged portion 27 of the casing 11 to an upper.

posite sides of the cross-head 17, serve to maintain the cable 32 in position. Sheave

guards

36 and 37, which are secured to the cross-head 17 on opposite sides of the sheave 20, further serve to prevent the cable 32 from being disengaged from said sheave. 20. As shown, a base portion 38 of each sheave guard extends parallel to the face of the sheave 20, while an upper portion 39 thereof is curved outwardly.

H The cable 32, as it passes from the sheave 20 toward the boat 9 or other apparatus, is further guided by a second sheave 41 which may be so pivotally mounted on a supporting arm 42 as to be substantially in the same plane as the. sheave 20. One end 43 of the arm 42 is perforated to receive a pivot pin 44, the opposite ends of which are supported in spaced

perforations

45 and 46 in the motor casing 11, thereby affording a pivotal mounting for the sheave 41. The cable 32 passes around the underside of the sheave 41 and it is there protected by the member 42 which is provided with side walls 47 and a connecting base portion 48, the outer ends of said side. walls and base portion forming a guidin channel 49.

The fluid motor 2 is provided with an inlet opening 51 adjacent to the base of the casing 11 and this opening is connected by means of a pipe 52 to a similar opening 53 in a casing 54 of the fluid motor 3. A fluid medium may be supplied to or withdrawn from the

motors

2 and 3 by means of a pump 55 having one outlet 56 connected by means of a pipe 57 to the pipe 52 interconnecting the

fluid motors

2 and 3. A second outlet 58 of the pump 55 is connected by a pipe 59 to a supply tank 61 constituting. in the present instance, a foundation for the pump 55 and a reversible driving motor 62. The latter may be connected to the shaft 63 of the pump 55 through a flexible coupling 64 of usual design. The pump 55 may be of the reversible, variable-capacity type, the stroke of which may be controlled by an element 65.

The stroke of the pump 55 may be automatically reduced to zero when the discharge pressure thereof exceeds a predetermined desired value by means of mechanism 66 connected by a pipe 68 to the pressure side of the pump. A movable plunger 69 extends from a cylinder 70 and it is connected to the pump control element 65. A spring device 72 serves to retain the control element 65 in the desired position until the discharge pressure in the pump 55 exceeds the predetermined value, whereupon the pump control element 65 is automatically returned to the neutral position. Since the specific details of the mechanism 66 forms no part of the present invention, further description is unnecessary.

My invention also contemplates means whereby the boat 9 may be held tightly against the ferry-bridge 4 with the driving motor 62 at rest. This desired result may be effected by means of a valve 73 (Figs. 2 and 5) which is positioned in the pipe 57. When the valve 73 is open, the actuating fluid from the pump 55 passes freely through the

pipes

57 and 52 to the

fluid motors

2 and 3. However, When the valve 73 is closed, the fluid in the

motors

2 and 3 is prevented from returning through the pipe 57 to the pump 55, thus locking the fluid in the motor cylinders and preventing further movement of the pistons.

As illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the pump driving motor 62 and the valve 73 may be controlled by one man through the single operating lever 10. The control mechanism therein disclosed comprises a casing 74 for enclosing a reversing switch, the latter being connected by means of a ball-and-socket joint to a pinion 78 rotatably mounted in a support 7 9 and adapted to carry on its up per end the control lever 10. A rack 81 is slidably mounted on the support 79 and it has one end pivotally connected to a longitudinally movable rod 82. An opposite end of the latter is similarly connected to a second rack 83 slidabl mounted on a supporting member 84. The member 84 also provides a rotative mounting for a pinion 85 which is mounted on a vertical shaft 86, a lower end of which is pivotally connected to an operating member 87 for the valve 73. The above parts are so arranged that when the control lever 10 is in the central solid-line position shown in Fig. 6, the reversing switch is in a position to deenergize the driving motor 62 and the valve 73 is closed. A movement of the lever 10, however, to the right or left of this position causes the opening of the valve 73 and the operation of the pump 55 in such direction as to propel fluid toward the

motors

2 and 3 or to withdraw fluid therefrom.

Assuming that the boat 9 is to be moored to the ferry-bridge 4, the mooring hooks 7 and 8 are caused to engage suitable securing means 90 on the boat 9, whereupon the control lever 10 is moved from the mid position shown in Figs. 1 and 6 to the right. This movement opens the valve 73 and also so closes the switch as to cause the driving motor 62 to actuate the pump 55 in a forward direction, whereby actuating fluid may be discharged through the

pipes

57 and 52 to the

fluid motors

2 and 3. A supply of fluid to the

motors

2 and 3 is followed by a vertical movement of the plungers 12 and hence the sheaves 20. The upward movement of the sheaves 2O establishes a tension in the cables 5 and 6 tending to draw the boat 9 tightly into engagement with the ferry-bridge 4. The operating lever 10 may now be returned to its mid position so as to close the valve 73 and deenergize the pump driving motor 62.

However, should the operator fail to actuate the control. lever 10 to its mid position and the pressure in the

fluid motors

2 and 3 thereby exceed a predetermined safe value, the safety mechanism 66 would function to render the pump 55 ineffective by returning the control element 65 thereof to its mid position. The closing of the valve 7 3 when the boat 9 has been moored to the ferry-bridge 4 effectually locks the fluid in the

motors

2 and 3, thus preventing the lowering of the plungers 12 and the consequent loosening of the cables 5 and 6.

When the boat 9 is to be released from the ferry-bridge 4, the control lever 10 is actuated to the left of the mid position shown in Figs. 1 and 6, thereby opening the valve 73 and reversing the direction of movement of the pump-driving motor 62. The fluid in the motor casings 11 and 54 is then withdrawn by the actuation of the pump 55 and discharged through the pipe 59 back into the pump-supply tank 61. This withdrawal of the fluid from the motors 2 and 8 has been found to be Very desirable in practice, inasmuch as it very materially lessens the time required for the loosening of the cables 5 and 6 sufiioient to permit of the release of the mooring hooks 7 and 8. When the desired amount of slack is provided in the cables 5 and 6 by the lowering of the plungers 12, the operating lever 10 is again moved to its mid position.

Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive, illustrate an alternative embodiment of my invention involving the use of a double-acting cylinder 88. The specific constructional details of the cylinder 88 are identical to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the exception that a pair of

ports

89 and 91 are providedin the cylinder 88 on opposite sides of a piston 93, rather than on ust one side.

As in the system of Figs. 1 to. 6, a pair of

fluid motors

94 and 95 are employed, corresponding

openings

89 and 91 of which are respectively connected by

pipes

96 and 97. Actuating fluid may be supplied to the

mo tors

94 and 95 by a pump 100 through a pipe 98, a four-way valve 99 and one orthe other of a pair of

pipes

101 and 102. which are respectively connected to the pipes 96. and 97. A supply tank 103 is connected by a pipe 104 to the four-way valve 99. A suction side 105. of' the pump 100 may be connected by a. pipe 106 to the supply tank 103.

The four-way valve 99 is so designed that when an operating-lever 107 thereof is moved from the central solid-line position shown in Fig. 7 to the right hand dot-anddaish line position, the pipe 98' is directly connected to the pipe 102, while the pipe 101 is connected to the discharge pipe 104. When the operating lever 107 is moved into the left hand dot-and-dash line position, the pressure pipe/ 98 is connected tothe pipe 101, while the pipe 102 is connected to the discharge pipe 104', thereby reversing the direction, of. operation of the

motors

94 and 95. A check valve 108 is positioned in the pipe 98 to prevent any leakage from the

fluid motors

94 and 95 when the operating lever 107 is in the central position.

A driving motor (not shown): for the pump- 100 is provided with a control switch, which is mounted in a casing 111 supported on a wall bracket 112. A shaft 113 of the switch is provided with an operating arm 114 having a pin 11.5 in sliding engagementv with a slot 116 formed in the valve operating lever 107, as shown particularly in Figs. 9: and 10. c

The operating lever 107 may be maintained in either of its positions, by means of a spring loaded plunger 117 which is movable over an arm 118 provided with a plurality of grooves 119 defining said positions. Since the details of the valve form nopart of my present invention, further description thereof will not lee-made; The switch i's so designed that the pump-driving motor (not shown) is actuated in the same direction for both dot-and-dash line positions of the lever 107. but rendered ineffective for the central four-way valve 99 to the pipe 102. so that fluid is supplied to the underside of the pistons 93 of the

fluid motors

94 and 95. The

vertical movement of the pistons 93 causes 7 fluid to be discharged through the upper openings 91 into the pipe 96, passing therefrom through the pipe 101, the four-way valve 99 and the pipe 104 to the supply tank 103. The associated cables 5 and 6 are then tightened in the same manner as in the preceding system, and the boat 9 is rigidly moored to the ferry-bridge 4.

When the control lever 107 is moved to the central position, the switch is so actuated as to deenergize the pump-driving motor. The check valve 108 prevents leakage from the cylinders 88 and maintains the pressure side of the system tight. Safety mechanism 109 similar to the mechanism 66 of Fig. 1 may be employed to return the pump control element to the mid position should the pressure in the fluid motors'94 and 95 exceed a desired value or should the operator fail to return the lever 107 to the mid position after the boat 9 is moored to the bridge 4.

pistons 93 of the

fluid motors

94 and 95. The

pistons 93 are then caused to descend and the fluid is discharged from the underside thereof through pipe 97, the pipe 102, the fourwa-y valve 99 and the pipe 104 to the supply tank 108. The lowering of the pistons may be continued until sufficient slack is provided to permit the release of the mooring hooks 7 and 8, whereupon the operating lever 107 may be again moved to the central position.

While I have shown two embodiments of my invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of construction and of operation, it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the fundamental scope of my invention, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the prior art.

I claim:

1. A mooring device comprising a standard having longitudinal elements constituting guides, a working cylinder at the bottom of said standard, a piston in the cylinder and a piston rod extending upwardly betweensaid guides, a crosshead at the upper end of said 'rod slidably interlocked'with the guide elements, a sheave carried by the crosshead, a bracket pivotally mounted at the lower end of the standard for transverse oscillation, a sheave carried thereby, fluid-pressure mechanism for actuating the piston, a mooring cable fixed at one end adjacent the lower end of the standard and extending in successive passes over and under the first and second named sheaves respectively, whereby by actuation of the piston the free end of the cable may be extended and subsequently retracted transversely from and toward the standard.

2. A mooring device comprising spaced standards, a working cylinder at the bottom of each standard, a piston in each ofsaid cylinders and a piston rod extending upwardly from each piston, a crosshead on each of said rods guided in the associated standard, a sheave carried by each crosshead, a second sheave at the lower end of each standard, a mooring cable secured at one end adjacent the lower end of each standard and extending in successive passes over and under the first and second named sheaves respectively of the associated standard, means for preventing dislodgment of the cables from the second named sheaves due to transverse angular displacement of the free ends of the cables, and fluid-pressure mechanism for actuating the pistons to afiord extension of the free ends of the cables transversely away from and forcible retraction of the cables toward the stand ards.

3. A mooring device comprising spaced standards, a working cylinder at the bottom of each standard, a piston in each of said cylinders, and a piston rod extending upwardly from each piston, a crosshead on each of said rods guided in the associated standard, a sheave carried by each crosshead, a second sheave at the lower end of each standard, a mooring cable secured at one end adjacent the lower end of each standard and extending in successive passes over and under the first and second-named sheaves respectively of the associated standard, the free ends of said cables extending transversely from the respective standards for attachment to opposite sides of a vessel to be moored, actuating means for said pistons comprising a reversible discharge fluid pump connected to both of said cylinders, and mechanism for actuating said pumps to permit extension and to effect subse quent retraction of the free ends of said cables.

4:. A mooring device comprising spaced standards, a working cylinder at the bottom of each standard, a piston in each of said cylinders, and a piston rod extending upwardly from each piston, a crosshead on each of said rods guided in the associated. standard, a sheave carried by each crosshead, a second sheave at the lower end of each standard, a mooring cable secured at one end adjacent the lower end of each standard and extending in successive passes over and under the first and second-named sheaves respectively of the associated standards, the free ends of said cables extending transversely from the respective standards for attachment to opposite sides of a vessel to be moored, actuating means for said pistons comprising a reversible discharge fluid pump connected to both of said cylinders, mechanism for actuating said pumps to permit extension and to effect subsequent retraction of the free ends of said cables, and pressure operated control means operatively associated with the pump for in terrupting the pumping operation when the pressure in the fluid system exceeds a predetermined maximum.

5. A mooring device comprising a standard having longitudinal elements constituting guides, a working cylinder at the bottom of said standard, a piston in the cylinder, and a piston rod extending upwardly between said guides, a crosshead at the upper end of said rod slidably interlocked with the guide elements, a sheave carried by the crosshead, a second sheave mounted adjacent the lower end of said standard, a mooring cable fixed at one end adjacent the lower end of the standard and extending in successive passes over and under the first and second-named sheaves respectively whereby by actuation oi the piston the free end of the cable may be extended transversely from and subsequently retracted toward the standard, means for preventing dislodgment of the cable from said second sheave due to transverse angular displacement of the free end of the cable, a fluid pump for actuating the piston, and means independent of the pump whereby said piston may be maintained in any desired operative position.

6. A mooring device comprising a standard having longitudinal elements constituting guides, a working cylinder at the bottom of said standard, a piston in the cylinder, and a piston rod extending upwardly between said guides, a crosshead at the upper end of said rod slidably interlocked with the guide elements, 3, sheave carried by the crosshead, a second sheave mounted adjacent the lower end of the standard, a mooring cable fixed at one end adjacent the lower end of the standard and extending in successive passes over and under the first and second-named sheaves respectively whereby by actuation of the piston the free end of the cable may be extended transversely from and subsequently retracted toward the standard, a reversible discharge pump for actuating the piston, means whereby said piston may be maintained in a desired operative position, and control means operatively associated with the pump and with said piston-maintaining means and adapted in alternative positions to effect independent movements of the piston in reverse directions and actuation of said maintaining means to render the latter efiiective. ROBERT C. LAMOND.