US2699314A - Boom clamp - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 11, 1955 N. R. BEALE BOOM CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1950 INVENTOR. NOBLE" R. BEALE BY ATTORNEYS N. R. BEALE Jan. 11, 1955 BOOM CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NQBLE R. BEALE BY Filed Nov. 24, 1950 TJQ Z 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOOM CLAMP Noble R. Beale, Berkeley, Calif. Application November 24, 1950, Serial No. 197,315 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-309) otally a pair of clamping jaws movable pivotally to open and closed positions. Means is provided to maintain the jaws in normally open position, and the aror unclamping A principal object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide a the device may be located), it is unnecessary for any of the ships crew to climb aloft to accomplish this end.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boom clamp of the type briefly mentioned hereinabove which permits release of a secured boom from a point remote from the boom clamp itself. Again, the usual necessity for ship personnel to climb aloft to unlash a boom from secured position is avoided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic boom clamp incorporating novel guide means to assist in within the clamping jaws of the device.

Other objects of the present invention will become each of the several In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device partly in section and with some of the parts shown fragmentarily.

ig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a generally schematic view of the device showing the operation of the clamping jaws in relation to the locking mechanism.

Fig.

a jaw locking mechanism C.

Frame A comprises, more specifically a pair of spaced oppositely facing parallel plates 11 and 12 secured to one another by a number of spacing bars or bolts, such The upper end of frame A terminates in a pair of outwardly diverging guide arms 14, and preferably a plurality of angle bars, such as indicated at 16, are secured to opposite sides of arms 14 and project outwardly therefrom to form, in effect, a continuation of said guide arms for facilitating the guiding of a boom into proper location within jaws B, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Each of the clamping jaws is identically formed and comprises a somewhat triangular-shaped plate 17 pro as indicated at 13.

Illustrated in Fig. 4.

Means, comprising expansion springs 23, are provided to normally urge the jaws to open position. More specifically, each spring 23 is attached at one ends to an associated aperture 13a formed in opposite another as indicated in Fig. 4.

The locking mechanism heretofore designated generally at C is adapted to lock automatically the clamping jaws in closed position. More specifically, the locking mechanism comprises cam shaft 26 supported rotatably in suitable bearings 27, and is provided with wardly projecting of said pin and against the inner face of the associated pin su ing jaw. Each bifurcated cam 29 straddles an assoengaging the inner 32 with which said cam is respectively associated. Movement of lever 28 in the direction of arrow D will rotate cam. shaft 26 in a direction appropriate to outwardly and cam stud pins lDurmg opening or closing movements of the jaws, the

as aforesaid.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, it is seen that when the jaws are in fully open position. the inner ends thereof establish suitable cam surfaces 39 against which a cargo boom. such as indicated at 41, can bear to cause within the open clamping jaws.

Fig. 5 illustrates how a boom clamp embodying the present invention may be secured to a ships mast adjacent the top thereof, as indicated at 50, in order to permit securing of a cargo boom 41a adjacent and parallel to said mast and well out of the way of normal ship traffic and ship operations. Fig. also illustrates how lanyard 40, heretofore mentioned, may be run from the control lever of the boom clamp downwardly to the base of the mast, for example, from which location the locking mechanism of the device may be controlled. It will be recalled that the locking of the boom within the clamping jaws is automatic upon the boom being moved by its winch into position within and against the jaws, and that opening of the jaws is automatic upon actuation of the control lever to cause the spring biased stud pins to be withdrawn from engagement with the jaws. In view of the fact that this latter operation is the'only one requiring manual control, and further in view of the fact that this control may be effected through simple manipulation of a lanyard or other similar suitable remote control means, it becomes unnecessary for any member of the ships crew to climb aloft so as to be within the near vicinity of the device during any of its operations.

From the foregoing it is seen that a boom clamp embodying the present invention may be installed on practically any type of ship. The device may be welded, bolted, or otherwise firmly secured to a ships mast, as previously suggested, and in this connection, the frame of the device may be formed with a suitable cut-out (indicated fragmentarily at 52) proportioned to engage said mast to facilitate the welding or bolting of the device to said mast. It is also believed evident that the present boom clamp may be secured to a stationary part of a ship other than a ships mast, as for example, the boom clamp may be anchored to the deck of the ship in order to permit a cargo boom to be cradled and secured in horizontal position if so desired.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boom clamp comprising a ing clamping jaws each having a substantially semicircular boom clamping shoe, each jaw independently pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said frame, said jaws movable pivotally from a closed position to an open position whereat the outer ends of said jaws spread apart from one another and the inner ends of said jaws move toward one another, means to maintain said jaws in normally open position, releasable interlocking elements for locking said jaws in closed position, said interlocking elements comprising a pair of stud pins slidable in bearings mounted on said frame and each respectively engageable in a registering aperture formed in an associated jaw when said jaw has been moved to closed position, means to axially withdraw said stud pins from said apertures to permit opening of said jaws, the inner ends of said jaws presenting cam surfaces against which inwardly frame, a pair of coactdirected force will cause said inner jaw ends to spread 6 and the jaws to move into closed position, and means comprising a pair of stationary guide arms mounted to said frame projecting divergently outwardly from said clamping jaws for defining a V-shaped guideway for guiding a boom into position within said jaws.

2. A boom clamp according to claim 1 and wherein spring elements are provided to normally spring bias said stud pins toward said associated jaws whereby said pins automatically engage said respectively associated apertures when said jaws are closed and said apertures have moved into registry with said pins.

3. A boom clamp according to claim 1 and wherein said means to withdraw said stud pins from said apertures include cams cngageable with said pins.

4. A boom clamp according to claim 1 and wherein said means to maintain said jaws in normally open position comprises spring elements connected to said jaws exerting a spring force appropriate to normally urge said jaws to open position.

5. A boom clamp comprising; a frame including a pair of oppositely facing frame plates secured together in parallel spaced relationship by spacing bars, a pair of coacting substantially semi-circular clamping jaws each individually pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said frame between said frame plates, said jaws movable pivotally from a closed position to an open position whereat the outer ends of said jaws spread and the inner ends of said jaws close toward one another, spring elements connected to said jaws and said frame respectively to normally urge said jaws to said open position, releasable interlocking elements for locking said jaws in closed position comprising a pair of stud pins slidable axially in bearings mounted on said frame and each respectively engageable in a registering aperture formed in an associated jaw when said jaw has moved to closed position, a cam shaft mounted rotatably on said frame supporting a pair of cams each having a cam surface engageable with a portion of an associated pin, said cams arranged to cam said pins outwardly slidably in their said bearings upon actuation of said cam shaft to cause axial withdrawal of said pins from their respectively associated jaw apertures whereupon said jaw springs will urge said jaws to open position, the inner ends of said jaws presenting cam surfaces against which inwardly directed force will cause the inner jaw ends to spread and the jaws to move into closed position, and means comprising a pair of stationary guide arms mounted to said frame projecting divergently outwardly from said clamping jaws for defining a V-shaped guideway for guiding a boom into position within said jaws.

6. A boom clamp according to claim 5 and wherein a control lever is provided On said cam shaft for actuating said cam shaft, and wherein a lanyard attachable to said control lever is provided to permit actuation of said cam shaft via said lanyard from a location remote from said boom clamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 618,507 Henderson Jan. 31, 1899 2,423,584 Currier July 8, 1947 2,522,951 Knox Sept. 19, 1950 2,564,801 Cook Aug. 21, 1951

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