US2249752A - Method and apparatus for delivering articles to and picking articles up from ships - Google Patents

Description

July 22, 1941. R, C u PQNT, 2,249,752

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES TO .AND PICKING ARTICLES UP FROM SHIPS Filed July 8.. 1939 if INVENTQR 4- ATTORNEY Patented July 22, 1941 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ARTICLES TO AND PICKING ARTICLES UP FROM SHIPS Richard C. du Pont, Wilmington, Del.

Application July 8, 1939, Serial No. 283,446

7 Claims. (Cl. 244137) This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for delivering articles to and picking articles up from ships, and is adapted for use when the vessel is at sea.

In picking up articles from a ship at sea, or in delivering articles to a ship at sea, and particularly doing it by aircraft, it is desirable that the aircraft be able to effect such a transfer without passing directly over the ship or without coming in close proximity thereto, due to the peculiar convection currents set up around a vessel.

It is also desirable that any system for delivering articles to or picking articles up from a vessel while at sea, be of such a nature that it is possible to effect the transfer without affecting the movement of the vessel.

It is further desirable that such a system and apparatus be one which is cheap in construction and serviceable under varying conditions.

The present invention meets all of the requirements for such a transfer and does it with a mechanism which is simple in construction,

comprises parts which are readily available and does it in such a manner as to present the minimum risk both to the pilot of the aircraft and to the pilot'of the craft on the water.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the' accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus for effecting a transfer of articles from an aircraft to a ship at sea;

, Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus for effecting a delivery of articles from a ship to'an aircraft, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus adapted to effect either a transfer of articles from or delivery of articles to a ship at sea or a simultaneous operation.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the various views of the drawing andthe specification. Y

The system of effecting delivery to a vessel while at sea comprises generally trailing a line from a point adjacent the stern of a vessel and.

at such an altitude that its other end will not reach the water for a considerable distance from the vessel. The other end of the line which is not attached to the boat is preferably attached to a sea anchor which tends to hold the line taut. It may thus be seen that if the end which is attached to the boat or to a mast on the boat is at an elevation of fifty to seventy-fivefeet there will be a considerable distance between the boat and the sea anchor where there will be sufficient space between the line and the water to enable a line with a burden attached thereto to come in contact with the line trailed from the boat without danger of the burden striking the water.

In such a system, the aircraft with a line trailing therefrom having a burden attached thereto is operated so that the line trailing from the plane is brought in contact with'the line trailing from the boat so that the burden is between the line trailing from the boat and the water. The line to which the burden is attached may be connected directly to a release in the aircraft or it may be attached by means of a frangible connection to a line which depends from the aircraft.

Thus, when the aircraft is fiown so that the line depending therefrom comes in contact with theline trailed from the boat, the line depending from the aircraft with the burden thereon will be left deposited on the line trailed from the boat.

When it is desired to effect a transfer of articles from a boat to an aircraft, a line may be affixed to the boat or a mast at the stern of the boat. A pick-up and delivery line with a burden suspended thereon may be releasably connected to said first line. .The means connecting the two lines may be of such a type that it will break when a predetermined amount of pressure is applied thereto. To the other end of the pick-up and delivery line may be attached as by a similar frangible connection a further line which in turn is attached to a sea anchor which trails in the water. It will thus be seen that the suspending line together with the burden delivery line will be held taut in spaced relation to the water over I the lower end thereof is flown, preferably at substantially right angles to the line trailing from the vessel, in such a manner that the grapple comes between the suspending line and the water at a point intermediary of the two breaking connections. Thus, as the transferring line strikes the pick-up and delivery line, the pick-up and delivery line with the burden attached thereto is broken loose from the suspending line and the article is thus transferred to the line trailing from the plane which upon being pulled into the aircraft completes the transfer.

It is obvious that either of these two operations might be performed independently, but it may be desirable to, upon occasion, perform those operations at or about the same time. For this purpose two lines, one above the other at a desired distance and connected to desirable points on the boat may be provided. The aircraft in such case is provided with a burden transfer line,

at the lower end of which is attached a grapple and below which is connected by a frangible connection a delivery line. I The aircraft is then maneuvered in such a manner that the grapple passes below the upper or delivery line, on which the burden to be transferred to the aircraft is suspended, and above the fixed line on which the burden to be delivered is to be suspended. As

the grapple and transfer line come in contact with the burden pick-up and delivery line on which the burden to be transferred to the plane is suspended, the line connected thereto by a frangible connection will come in contact with the permanent fixed line trailing from the stern of the boat. The pick-up and delivery line with the burden which is to be transferred to the boat will be pulled loose from the grapple and left suspended on the delivery line trailing from the boat, and thus the burden previously carried by the plane will be suspended on the line trailing from the boat, and the burden previously carried by the boat will be attached to the line suspended from the plane. It is obvious that by winding in either or both of these lines the respective burdens may thus be transferred to the new carrier.

In Fig. 1 is shown an embodiment of the invention wherein the apparatus is provided for receiving an article to be transferred from an airplane to a boat. In this figure, a boat I has a mast or other point of elevation 2, to which a receiving line 4 running to a sea anchor 3,-is at tached. The sea anchor 3 is adapted to be trailed in the water 5.

An aircraft 6 has trailing therefrom a transfer line I with a ring member ID adjacent its lower end into which a breaking link H attached to a pick-up and delivery line 8 is releasably fastened. The pick-up and delivery line 8 may have weights or knots l2 thereon. In addition a burden 9 may be secured to the pick-up and delivery line 8 as by a sliding frictional contact l3.

In operation the aircraft 6 is flown at such a eight above the water that the burden 9 does not come in contact therewith and yet passes between the stern of the vessel or point of attachment 2, the sea anchor 3 and the receiving line 4. Thus, the delivery line 8 will come in contact with the receiving line 4. When this occurs, the delivery line will be broken loose from the member ID and will be secured to the receiving line 4 due to the tendency of the delivery line 8 to wind around the receiving line 4 because of its inertia which is transformed into rotary movement.

In Fig. 2 is shown a boat with a mast or.

- pension line 24.

other elevated point adjacent the stern thereof to which a hoist line 23 may be attached. A pick-up and delivery line 28 having breaking links 3! on either end thereof is connected at one end by one of the breaking links 3| to a connector member 21 on the hoist line 23.

The pick-up and delivery line 28 is connected at its other end by a breaking link 3| to a connector member 21 on a suspending line 24 which is attached at its other end to a sea anchor 22. A check line 25 may be. connected at each end to the connector members 21. Weights 26 may be provided on the check line 25 so as to cause it to hang straight down from the points of attachment and keep it clear of the space directly below the pick-up and delivery line 28.

A burden container 29 may be connected to the pick-up and delivery line as by the slidng frictional member 30. The pick-up and delivery line 28 may have adjacent either end thereof a plurality of knots or weights 32 which prevent the member 30 from sliding off the pick-up and delivery line 28.

An aircraft 35 having a transfer line 33 suspended therefrom with a grapple 34 adjacent its lower end completes the equipment for this transfer mechanism.

In operation, the suspending line 24 is attached at one end to the sea anchor 22 and at the other end to the check line 25 and pick-up and delivery line 28. The other end of the pick-up and delivery line 28 is attached to the hoist line 23 as by the member 21 and breaking link 3|. The check line 25 is also connected to the connector member 21. The hoist line 23 is then elevated on the mast or other elevated point 2| on the boat 20 and the sea anchor 22 dropped over into the water so that it holds the suspending line 24 with the pick-up and delivery line and hoist line out taut.

In order to transfer the pick-up and delivery line 28 with the burden 29 attached thereto from the boat to the aircraft, the aircraft is flown preferably at right angles to the hoist line 23 and suspending line 24 with the grapple below the pick-up and delivery line 28 and above the water 36. Thus, as the flight path of the plane crosses at right angles to the path of the boat, the transfer line 33 on the plane will come in contact with the pick-up and delivery line 28 suspended between the hoist line 23 and the sus- When this occurs, the pick-up and delivery line 28 which ,has at both ends breaking links 3| will be broken loose from the hoist line 23 and the suspended line 24 and will ultimately, as it slides down the transfer line, be grasped by the grapple 34. To complete the transfer to the aircraft 35 the transfer line 34 with the pick-up and delivery line 28 and burden 29 now attached thereto is pulled into the plane.

When the pick-up and delivery line 28 is removed from between the hoist line 23 and the suspending, line 24, it is obvious the suspending line 24 and the sea anchor 22 would be lost unless the check line 25 between the two were there. The check line 25 must be held so that it is a substantial distance below the pick-up and delivery line in order to afford the maximum room for the grapple 34 to come between the pick-up and delivery .line 28 and the water 38 thus allowing for any error on the part of the pilot in making the pick-up.

A boat may have a mast or other point at a substantially elevated position adjacent the stern as at 52. To this may be attached a receiving line 54 adapted to trail out behind the boat and be held there by a sea anchor 53 which rides in the water 55. At another point 63, preferably higher than the point 52 may be suspended a hoist line 64. One end II of this line is adapted to pass over a pulley 69 and has attached thereto a weight 13 which will cause the line to come back down to the deck or other point on the boat. The weight I3 may have a ring 14 therein into which a breaking link 15 on the end of a pickup and delivery line 58 may be inserted. The

' other end of the pick-up and delivery line 58 may have another breaking link 15 which is adapted to be connected into a ring 14 in the end of a suspension line 16 the other end of which is attached to the sea anchor 53.

Attached to the pick-up and delivery line 58 as by a sliding restricting member 18 is a burden 59 which is to be transferred to an aircraft l0. Adjacent both ends of the pick-up and delivery line 58 may be provided weights or knots 62 which serve a dual purpose of preventing the sliding fitting 18 from running past the end of the pick-up and delivery line 58 and also aid in the delivery of this line to a receiving line.

An aircraft has a transferring line 56 suspended therefrom with a grapple 60 at the lower end thereof. Below the grapple is a link 6| into which a breaking link 66 on a pick-up and delivery line 68 may be inserted. The burden 61 to be delivered to the vessel is suspended from the pick-up and delivery line 68 by a sliding restricting fitting 65.

When it is desired ery or both, the receiving line 54 is attached to the sea anchor 53.

The pick-up and delivery line 58 with the burden 59 connected thereto is then connected to the hoist line 64 by the frangible connection and rings 14.

The other end of the pick-up and delivery line 58 is connected to a suspending line 16 as by the frangible link 15 and ring I4 and the suspending line 16 in turn is attached to the sea anchor 53.

The sea anchor with the two lines connected thereto is then put over the stern of the vessel and allowed to trail astern thus pulling the two lines out with space therebetween over substantially their. entire length.

A transfer line 56 is then let down from the aircraft In with' a grapple 68 at the end thereof having a link 6| to which a frangible line 66 on a delivery line which acts both as a pick-up and delivery line 58 is connected and the burden 61 is suspended on the pick-up and delivery line 58 by the sliding frictional member 65. The pick-up and delivery line 58 may also have weights or knots 62 and at the opposite end from the grapple 60 may have another breaking link 6|.

The aircraft is then flown at substantially right angles to the path of the vessel and to the stern thereof at such an altitude that the grapple 60 will come above the receiving line 54 and below the pick-up and delivery line 58. The pick-up and delivery line 58 is of such a length that the burden 61 which is adjacent its lower end will come below the receiving line 54. As the transfer line 56 comes in contact with the pick-up and delivery line 68, the pick-up and delivery line 68 will be broken loose from the hoist line 64 and the suspending line 16 and become attached'to the transfer line 56 and the grapple 60. At about the same time this occurs. the pick-up and delivery line 68 will be broken loose from the grapple and the link 6| thereon and due to the to make a pick-up or delivinertia of the weight 62 it will become attached to the receiving line 54.

Thus, the burden 59 which was previously suspended by the hoist line 64 and the suspending line 16 will have been transferred to the transferring line 56 and the burden 61 which was suspended from the transfer line 56 'will be deposited upon the receiving line 54. By then pulling in the transfer line 56 and the receiving line 54, the two burdens will have been completely transferred from the aircraft to the boat and from the boat to the aircraft respectively; 7

Thus, by an efficient, yet simple construction, this invention makes it possible to make delivery to a boat,,to effect delivery from a boat to an aircraft and to perform the two operations substantially simultaneously if desired. I

' The apparatus necessary for the transfer is not complicated and affords a maximum of safety to the operator of the aircraft and also assures maximum efficiency in effecting the transfer.

The materials for making these various mechanisms are readily available and the cost of the apparatus is well within the limits justified by the results obtained.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described, or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for transferring articles from a boat to an aircraft and from an aircraft to a boat comprising a boat, a plurality of masts, a

sea anchor, a first line running from one of said masts to said sea anchor, a second line attached to another of said masts and running therefrom from a point above said first line, a pick-up and delivery line detachably connected at one end to said second line, a suspending line connected to said sea anchor at one end and detachably coni nected to said pick-up and delivery line at its other end, an article container frictionally connected to said pick-up and delivery line, and an aircraft, an article transfer line suspended therefrom, a grapple on the lower end of said article transfer line and a pick-up and delivery line with an article container releasably connected thereto.

2. An apparatus for transferring articles from a boat to an aircraft boat comprising a boat, a plurality of masts, a sea anchor, a first line rimning from one of said masts to said sea anchor, a second line attached to another of said masts and running therefrom from a point above said first line, a pick-up and delivery line detachably connected at one end to said second line, a suspending line connected to said sea anchor at one end and detachably connected to said pick-up and delivery line at its seav anchor, a first line running from one of said masts to said sea anchor, a second line attached to another of said masts and running therefromfrom a point above said first line, a pick-up and and froin an aircraft to a W delivery line detachably connected at one end to said second line, a suspending line connected to said sea anchor at one end and detachably connected to said pick-up and delivery line at its other end, and an article container frictionally connected to said pick-up and delivery line, an aircraft, an article transfer line suspended therefrom, a grapple on the lower end of said article transfer line and a pick-up and delivery line releasably connected thereto.

4. Apparatus for transferring a burden from a boat to an aircraft comprising a boat, a hoist line, a sea anchor, a suspending line attached at one end to said sea anchor, a pick-up and delivery line releasably connected at one end to said hoist line and at its other end to said suspending line, a burden container, a member connecting said burden container to said pick-up and delivlng resistance to movement upon said pick-up and delivery line, a check line connected at one end to said hoist line and at its other end to said suspending line, an aircraft, a transfer line suspended from said aircraft, a member on said transfer line adapted to retain said pick-up and delivery line.

6. Apparatus for transferring a burden from a boat to an aircraft comprising a boat, a hoist line, a sea anchor, a suspending line attached at one end to said sea anchor, a pick-up and delivery line releasably connected at one end to said hoist line and at its other end to said suspending line, a burden container, a member conery line, said member adapted to exert a. varying resistance to movement upon said pick-up and delivery line, an aircraft, a transfer line suspended from said aircraft, a member on said transfer line adapted to retain said pick-up and delivery line. v

5. Apparatus for transferring a burden from a boat to an aircraft comprising a boat, a hoist line, a sea anchor, a suspending line attached at one end to said sea anchor, a pick-up and delivery line releasably connected at one end to said hoist line and at its other end to said suspending line, a burden container, a member connecting said burden container to said pick-up and delivery line, said member adapted to exert a varynecting said burden container to said pick-up and delivery line, an aircraft, a transfer line suspended from said aircraft, and a member on said transfer line adapted to retain said pick-up and delivery line. 7

'7. Apparatus for transferring articles to a boat from an aircraft and from a boat to an aircraft comprising in combination a boat, a plurality of masts, a sea anchor, a first line connected at one end to one of said masts and at its other end to said sea anchor, a second line attached at one end to another of said masts at a point above the point of attachment of said first line, a pick-up and delivery line detachably connected at one end to the other end of said second line, and a suspending line connected to said sea anchor at one end and detachably connected to said pick-up and delivery line at its other end.

RICHARD C. no PONT.

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