US2447001A - Safety latch - Google Patents

Description

ug. 17, 1948. c. A. ERICKSON' SAFETY LATCH Filed June 16, 1945 gwue/wfo'v CLAYTON A. ERICKSQN.

Patented Aug. 17, 1948 SAFETY LATOH Clayton A. Erickson, United States Navy Application June 16, 1945, Serial No. 599,946

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in latches, and more specifically to a latch associated with a depth bomb rack which can readily be released when desired, but which will not jar loose due to the motion of the ship.

The customary depth charge rack consists of a frame made up of angle irons bolted to the deck, the frame being located close to a depth charge projector, such as a Y-gun or a K-gun. The rack has incorporated therein a substantially horizontal track arranged so that it is at right angles to the projector tray. On the track there is disposed a car adapted to support a depth charge, the car being movable from a ready position at the end of the track remote from the projector to the loading end of the track adjacent to the projector, Where when the car comes to rest against a stop at that end of the track the depth charge automatically rolls from the car into the tray of the projector. It is the practice to have a depth charge loaded in the tray of the projector ready for projection and a succeeding charge in the car at a ready position. The car is releasably anchored to the rack at the ready position so that the motion of the ship will not cause it to run along the track to the loading position and hence interfere with the charge already in the projector tray. When the charge in the tray has been projected, the operator releases the car manually timing the release with the motion of the ship so that the car runs along the track to bring the new charge into loading position opposite the projector whereupon it automatically rolls into the tray.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved means for anchoring the car with the depth charge thereon at the ready end of the track, which may quickly be released when desired by manual operation but which will not be caused to release the car by the motion of the ship and which will be simple in construction.

With the aforesaid objects in View, the invention resides in the combination with a depth charge projector and rack having a track on which there is a car movable lengthwise thereof to transport a depth charge from a ready position to a 1oading position adjacent to the projector, a bar slidably mounted on the rack at the ready end of the track, means pivotally flXEd to the car, said means being adapted to engage the bar, thereby to anchor the car at the ready end of the track, means pivoted to the rack in a position to engage the first-named means to hold it in engagement with the bar, means associated with the first-named means adapted to hold the (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) second-named means in engagement with the first-named means, means attached to the thirdnamed means and the bar, whereupon movement of the bar to disengage it from the first-named means will disassociate the third-named means and the first-named means. As illustrated herein, more specifically the means for anchoring the car to the slidable bar is a hook pivotally fixed to the car, the hook being adapted to catch over the upper edge of the bar, the latter being disposed on edge and slidable in a substantially horizontal plane so that movement of the hook in a direction normal to the bar is prevented, except when the hook is released by longitudinal movement of the bar to such an extent as to disengage the bar from the hook. A hasp pivoted on the rack above the bar normally straddles the hook engaging the top thereof. The hasp prevents the hook from lifting up from the edge of the bar, due to the motion of the ship which in turn causes a certain amount of oscillation. of the car. To prevent the hasp from swinging outwardly away from the hook, a cotter pin is inserted through an aperture in the hook to retain the lower end of the hasp between it and the bar. The cotter pin is adapted to be removed during the manual operation of the bar to release the hook thereby to free the hasp by a cord fastened to the pin and bar.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of one end of a depth charge rack showing the improved latching means; and

Fig. 2 is an elevational View longitudinally of the depth charge rack on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing an end view of the improved latch means.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the depth charge rack is shown diagrammatically with the improved latching means is mounted thereon, the rack consisting of a frame !2 made up of suitable structural members such as angle irons supported from the deck by posts I i which are bolted to the deck. The frame l2 carries a pair of parallel horizontally disposed tracks is on which there is mounted for movement upon wheels !8, a car 20 adapted to support a depth charge 22. The frame [2 is so situated with respect to a depth charge projector, not shown herein, such as a K-gun or Y-gun that the tracks it are substantially at right angles to the tray of the projector so that when the car 2c is opposite the projector, the depth charge will automatically roll into the tray. It is customary to tate toward the bar 26.

the cotter pin, a cord 58.

have one depth charge resting in the tray and another in the car 20 at a ready position, that is, at the end of a track which is remote from the projector. The tracks l6 are horizontal and the movement of a car from the ready position to a loading position, that is, a position opposite the projector, is taken care of by the motion of the ship, that is, when the ship pitches so that the tracks [6 slope toward the projector, the car is released and allowed to run along the tracks toward the projector where it is brought to a stop by a stop at the end of the tracks. To restrain the car from movement when it is not desirable to have a depth charge in. the projector tray or when there is a charge already in the projector tray and it is desirable to retain this succeeding charge in a ready position, there is provided latching means for anchoring the car at the ready end of the track.

The latching means indicated generally by the reference character It consists of a slidable bar 26 mounted for sliding movement in a horizontal position on the end 2 3 of the rack in a pair of spaced straps 28 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the end 24. For convenience in slidthe latter being fastened as heretofore pointed out to the bar 26 adjacent to the rod 30. It is obvious with this arrangement, that when the bar 2G is moved longitudinally, the cord 58 will move with it, and hence, withdraw the cotter pin from the end of the hook at to free the hook from the hasp.

In operation, assuming that a depth charge 22 is mounted on the car 20 and it is desirable to move it to its loading position, the car being anchored at the ready position, the operator grasps the rod 39] and gives it a jerk so as to disengage the bar 26 from the hook 36. Since the cord 58 is attached to the bar 26 and to the cotter pin 56, this movement simultaneously withdraws the cotter pin from the end of the hook at. The disengaging of the bar 26 is timed. so that the motion of the ship will be such that the tracks it are tilted toward the projector. As soon as the car and depth charge run into loading position with respect to the projector, the charge automatically rolls into the projector tray and the car is returned by hand to the ready position for a succeeding charge. The bar 26 is returned to its operative position as soon as the rod ing the bar 25 longitudinally, there is fixed thereto at one end a rod 30. The bar is yieldably held in operative position by a spring 38 secured at one end to a flange 50 formed on one of the straps 28 and at its other end to a flange 22 formed on a plate 62 fixed to the bar 26 adjacent to the end of the rod 30.

The anchoring means for securing the car 29 to the bar 26 consists of a link 32 pivoted at 3G to the car 20 in such a manner as to permit the link to assume a horizontal attitude in its position of rest and to permit it to be moved freely in an upward direction when the hook 36, at its free end, is to be passed over and engaged with the edge of the bar 26, as shown in Fig. 2. In order to hold the hook 365 in engagement with the bar 26, in spite of the motion of the ship, which causes oscillation of the car on the track and which might result in the hook jumping over the edge of the bar, it is desirable to provide means for engaging the top of the hook to prevent it from swinging upwardly in a counter clockwise direction. To this end and in accordance with the invention, a hasp or keeper M is suspended on a pin 46 mounted between a pair of cars 43 secured to or formed on the end 24 of the frame, the hasp being arranged to gravi- The lower end of the hasp is bifurcated at so that when the hook is in engagement with the bar, it will straddle the hook 36 and the bottom 52 of the bifurcation will engage the top of the hook, thereby holding it down against the bar. The hasp Mi might swing outwardly away from the hook due to the motion of the ship and to prevent this, there is inserted through an aperture 52 formed in the hook, a cotter pin 54, so that the hasp is retained between the cotter pin and the bar, as shown in Fig. 2.

In releasing the car to allow the car 26 and depth charge 22 to move into loading position, the operator pulls on the rod 30, thereby moving the bar 26 longitudinally lengthwise thereof to disengage it from the hook 35. To free the bar so that it will slide readily and also to allow the hook to be drawn through the bifurcation after the bar 26 is withdrawn, the cotter pin 54 must be removed, hence, there is attached to The cord 58 is also attached to a flange -60 formed on the plate 62,

is released by the spring 38, and since the hasp Ml is rec to swing outwardly away from the bar, movement of the car to the ready position with hook 36 disposed horizontally at rest will result in automatic engagement of the hook with the bar. This takes place by reason of the fact that the lower end of the hook 36 is rounded off and when it strikes the bar 26, will cam itself upwardly over the edge of the bar and at the same time move the hasp M outwardly, that is, in a counterclockwise direction. When the end of the hook clears the edge of the bar, it will fall by gravity over the edge of the bar and the hasp in turn will fall back by gravity over the top of l the hook. The only manual operations necessary are to insert the cotter pin 54 into the aperture 52 to retain the hasp in place between it and the bar 26 when locking the latching means and to withdraw the bar when releasing the car.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with latching means consisting of a hook and a bar adapted by interengagement to anchor one part to another, a retainer holding the hook in engagement with the bar, a cotter pin inserted through an aperture in said hook for preventing disengagement of the retainer from the hook, and means attaching the cotter pin to the bar, whereby movement of the bar to disengage it from the hook will simultaneously withdraw the cotter pin from the hook.

2. In combination with latching means con-- sisting of a hook and a bar, the hook being arranged to engage an edge of the bar and to resist a pull normal to the bar, said bar being movable longitudinally thereof to disengage the hook, a keeper associated with the hook in a manner to engage the top of the hook when it is in latching position, thereby to hold the hook against the edge of the bar, a cotter pin insertable through an. aperture in the hook adjacent to the keeper to retain the keeper between the pin and bar, and a flexible member attaching the pin to the bar, whereupon longitudinal movement of the bar to disengage it from the hook will simultaneously withdraw the pin from the Number hook, thereby releasing the keeper. 914,895 CLAYTON A. ERICKSON. 1,078,964 1,277 ,754 REFERENCES CITED 5 1,353,652 The following references are of record in the 1,504,992 file of this patent: UNITED STATES PATENTS 2350 493 Number Name Date 10 201,922 Hogan Apr. 12, 1878 6 Name Date Sznutchko et a1 Mar. 9, 1909 Slattery Nov. 18, 1913 Reed Sept. 3, 1918 Hampton Sept. 21, 1920 Stewart Aug. 12, 1924 Norton June 30, 1931 Caulkins Aug. 11, 1942 Caulkins June 6, 1944

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