US2952237A - Towing rig for watercraft - Google Patents

Description

se 't;1i 3, 1960 M, REILLY 2, 5

TOWING RIG FOR WATERCRAFT -Fn d Sept. 10, 1956 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 "WVENTOR MASON JOSEPH REILLY A RNEY Sept. 13, 1960 M. J. REILLY 2,952,237 TOWING RIG FOR WATERCRAFT Filed Sept. 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 --"\1NVENT0R MASON JOSEPH REILLY ATT NEY P 1960 M. J. REILLY 2,952,237

TOWING RIG FOR WATERCRAFT Filed Sept. 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR MASON JOSEPH REILLY p 1960 M. J. REILLY I 2,952,237

TOWING RIG FOR WATERCRAFT Filed Sept. 10, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR MASON JOSEPH REILLY United States Patent 2,952,237 TOWING RIG FOR WATERCRAFT Mason Joseph Reilly, Kingsville, Md., assignor to The Martin Company, a corporation of Maryland Filed Sept. 10, 1956, Ser. No. 608,829 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) This invention relates to an improved rig for engaging and towing watercraft, and more particularly to an improved rig which is virtually automatic in its operation, requiring little or no manual assistance for. its deployment and for its engagement with watercraft.

In the past, various floating rigs have been utilized for engaging and towing watercraft, but these prior art devices relied upon the use of long lengths of cable, paravanes, otters, floats and the like, which necessarily required considerable time as well as the eiforts of a number of men for their deployment in the Water. Such pieces of apparatus not only tend to become entangled easily, but also present quite a hazard to the hull of a craft approaching the pickup cable. Furthermore, the stowage problem aboard the towing vessel is quite complex and a substantial amount of time is required to retrieve the rig and place it in easily accessible positions on the towing vessel.

In accordance with the present invention, a rig for engaging and towing watercraft is provided, comprising a pair of frame members secured in hinged relationship at their forward ends, a pickup cable extending between the aft ends of said members, and means to bias the members to a spread position in which the pickup cable will be substantially taut and thereby engageable by the keel hook of watercraft. Means are provided so that the rig can be towed through the water, and the biasing means are arranged to permit the frame members to be moved together into a towing position when the cable has been engaged by the craft to be towed.

.The biasing means can take the form of drag means, such as sea anchors, disposed on arms provided upon the frame members, and the arrangement is such that the drag provided by the drag members tends to keep the frame members separated into the cable-extending position. Other modifications of this invention include the use of elastic members to keep the frame members spread apart, as well as the use of a rudder or paravane member disposed at the end of each frame member, with reliance being placed upon the action of the rudder members in the water to keep the frame members in the cable-extending position.

'The improved rig according to this invention is quite uncomplicated, and because of its lightweight, folding construction, can be launched and retrieved from a surface vessel or submarine without direct, manual contact with the rig being necessary. Also, it is self-deploying in the water, and presents a minimum of water resistance once a watercraft has been engaged and the rig is in the towing position.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that such further disclosure is by way of exemplification and the invention is not limited thereby, but only to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a towing rig according to this invention, shown in a typical position for engagement by a seaplane;

Figure 2 is a view from below the surface of the water, illustrating the towing position of the rig according to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a second modification of a towing rig according to this invention, shown in a cable-extending position;

Figure 4 illustrates the position taken by the frame members of Figure 3 when a watercraft is being towed;

Figure 5 illustrates a third embodiment of the rig according to the present invention; and

Figure 6 shows a typical keel hook such as can be employed by a seaplane or other watercraft for engagement with the pickup cable of a rig according to this invention.

Referring first to Figure 1 of the drawing, there is shown a first embodiment of a rig according to this invention that is about to be engaged by a seaplane 9. The rig, which may' be referred to as a ladder rig, comprises frame members including legs 1 and 1a that are se cured together in hinged relation such as by a pivot 2. Arms 3 and 3a are rigidly secured to legs 1 and 1a respectively, and at the outer end of each arm is located a drag means, such as, in the illustrated embodiment, sea anchors 4. A towing cable 5 is secured at pivot point 2 to permit the rig to be towed through the Water, and float members 6, which may be in the nature of cork sausage floats are provided to keep the front end of the rig from pitching down in the Water or porpoising when the rig is being towed.

A pickup cable 7, which may be of nylon, extends between the aft ends of legs 1 and 1a, The relationship of arms, legs and sea anchors is such that the drag created by the sea anchors tends to keep legs 1 and 1a spread apart into a V-shaped configuration as the rig is towed through the water, thereby keeping pickup cable 7 in a taut condition so that it can be engaged by a watercraft such as seaplane 9.

As will be seen from Figure 2, when pickup cable '7 has been engaged by keel hook 8 of the seaplane, the cable is drawn rearwardly into a long narrow loop, thus causing the legs of the rig to be moved together into a configuration enabling the rig to be towed through the water most easily. As is obvious from Figure 2, this motion of the legs causes the respective arms to be moved forwardly into a position somewhat approaching cable 5. It is contemplated that other drag devices could be substituted for sea anchors 4, that would present less water resistance than sea anchors when the legs have moved into the towing position illustrated in Fig. 2.

The legs 1 and 11a can be of any suitable construction, so that they will float in the water and offer a minimum resistance when being towed through the water. For example, the legs may be of a generally oval or streamlined cross-section and may consist of a spine of honeycomb sandwich construction surrounded by appropriate flotation material such as cork or the like. Additionally, the legs may be covered by rubberized fabric or other waterproof material. Since legs 11 and 1a provide the principal flotation of the rig as well as being the structural members to absorb the towing loads, it is apparent that suitably strong honeycomb construction surrounded by appropriate flotation material forms ideal construction. However, it is to be understood that hollow tubing of oval or streamlined cross section or another type of co struction may be utilized for the legs if desired.

Arms 3 and 3a, which also are of lightweight materials, are preferably of tubular construction having the necessary cantilever strength to extend the legs 1 and 1a into the cable-extending position as well as to withstand the loads imposed thereon by the drag means 4.

Referring now to Figure 3, this embodiment of the invention comprises leg members 11 and 11a, which are secured in hinged relation at their forward ends to member 12. Rudder or paravane members 13 and 130 are mounted at the outer or extreme ends of legs 11 and 11a, respectively, to bring about movement of the legs into the cable-extending position when the rig is being towed through the water. The rudder members 13 and 13a are preferably movably secured to their respective legs at locations 14 and 14a respectively. These locations, which may be regarded as pivot points, are preferably located about two-thirds of the distance aft from the forward-most point on the rudder members, so that there will be a natural tendency for the force of the water to move the rudder members away from their respective legs, and thereby bring about movement of the legs into the separated or cable-extending position. Short cables 18 are provided to keep the rudder members from moving beyond a most desirable attitude with respect to the legs.

Towing cable 15 is attached to member 12 so that the rig can be towed through the water, and float 16 is provided for buoyancy and stability reasons. Pickup cable 17 extends between the aft ends of the rig, and more particularly between points at or near the aft ends of the rudder members. Because of this arrangement, the drag of cable 17 as the rig moves through the water tends to position the rudders so as to supply the maximum spreading force to the legs.

When the watercraft has engaged the pickup cable 17, it tends to draw it into a long extended loop with the sides of the loop being generally in alignment with the direction of travel. As illustrated in Fig. 4, this not only causes the legs 11 and 11a to be moved into the towing position, but also it causes rudder members 13 and 13a to move into positions more nearly aligned with the direction of travel through the water, thereby to present a minimum of water resistance.

Turning now to Figure 5, an embodiment generally similar to that of Figure 1 is illustrated, but in this instance, the arms 23 and 23a, which are rigidly attached to legs 21 and 21a respectively, have secured to their outer ends elastic members 28, which may be in the nature of bungees or springs. The rearward end of each elastic member is secured to the aft end of its respective leg, to bias the legs into the cable-extending position. As in previous instances, this rig is equipped with towing cable, floats and pickup cable, which are shown at 25, 26, 27 respectively. The towing effort may be centralized at point 22, which may be regarded as the pivot point or hinge point of the frame members. It is worthy of note that the rig according to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. is biased into the cable-extending position even when the rig is not underway and moving through the water. As an alternative arrangement, each arm could be placed on the same side of the rig as the leg to which it is attached, i.e., the arm 23leg 21 not crossing arm 23aleg 21a in Fig. 5. In this latter event, the arms would extend somewhat forwardly, and be located at a less obtuse angle with respect to each other so that one or more elastic members extending between the outer ends of the arms could serve to bias the legs 21, 21a apart.

Referring now to Figure 6, there is shown by way of example a typical keel hook such as may be employed on watercraft to engage the pickup cable of the rig. The direction of moton of the craft through the water is indicated by arrow 29. This hooking device principally comprises hook 31 and keeper 37, which are pivoted at points 32 and 38 respectively. Arms 43 and 39 are connected to the hook and keeper, respectively, and the opposite ends of the arms are connected at points 44 and 40 to operating cylinders 42 and 41. Keel hook 31 is preferably of the type having trigger member 33 that is adapted to be engaged by the pickup cable. The trigger member is pivotally mounted at 35, and recess 34 is provided into which trigger 33 may move when the pickup cable has been engaged. The trigger has an upper extension that is adapted to engage a switch 36 when the pickup cable has caused the trigger to be depressed.

This hooking device may be carried entirely within the contour of the watercraft, above the keel line 30, until such time as a pickup cable is to be engaged. Then, the control circuit associated with actuating cylinder 42 is operated, thus causing arm 43 to move hook 31 into the extended or cable-engaging position. When the cable has been engaged, the trigger member 33 is thereby operated, causing the switch 36 to close the control circuit associated with hydraulic cylinder 41. This causes cylinder 41 to operate, causing the keeper 37 to move from a retracted position inside the hull down into the illustrated position in which it acts to retain the pickup cable engaged by the towing hook 31. Similarly, control cylinders 41 and 42 can be operated so as to cause the hook and keeper to release the pickup cable when the towing has been accomplished.

This type of hook is described at greater length in the co-pending patent application of Kurek et al. filed January 31, 1956, Serial No. 571,120, entitled Towing Hook for Seaplanes, now Patent No. 2,872,890.

Because a towing rig according to this invention is collapsible into a folded position requiring very little space for its accommodation, it may be carried easily on the afterdeck of a small towing vessel, or on board a submarine. Then, when a watercraft such as a seaplane is to be engaged for the purposes of repair, refueling, anchorage or the like, the rig is pushed or dropped overboard into the water. As previously mentioned, the rig according to Fig. 5 normally assumes the cable-extending position illustrated in this figure. Since in the typical instance the towing vessel is underway, the rigs according to Figures 1 and 3 will easily and naturally be moved into the cable-extending position as the rig is towed through the water.

In each embodiment, the pickup cable assumes a relatively taut position that is easily engageable by a watercraft. Because of their lightweight construction, these devices can be engaged without undue danger to the comparatively delicate hulls of seaplanes. Then, when engagement with the craft to be towed has been made, each of the rigs according to this invention move into a towing position, thereby permitting the craft to be towed easily to the desired location.

Although this invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that this invention has advantageous applications for many other purposes, and reference should be made to the following claims to determine the full scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A rig engageable by a towing hook of a watercraft comprising a pair of frame members secured in hinged relation at their forward ends, a pickup cable extending between the aft ends of said members, and means to bias said members to a spread position in which said cable will be substantially taut, whereby said cable can be engaged by a towing hook.

2. A rig engageable by a towing hook of a watercraft comprising lightweight frame members secured together in hinged relation at their forward ends, a pickup cable extending between the aft ends of said members, means to tow said rig through the water and means to bias said members to a spread position in which said cable will be substantially taut, whereby said cable can be engaged by the towing hook of a moving craft.

3. A rig engageable by a towing hook of a watercraft comprising lightweight frame members secured together in hinged relation at their forward ends, a pickup cable extending between the aft ends of said members, said members, when said cable has been engaged by a craft to be towed, being movable into a towing position which said members lie close together, means to tow said rig through the water, and means to bias said members to a spread position in which said cable will be substantially taut, and thereby engageable by the towing hook of a moving craft.

4. A ladder rig for engaging and towing a watercraft comprising a pivoted V frame having lightweight structural members secured together for pivotal movement relative to each other by pivot means at their forward ends, a pickup cable secured to and extending between the aft ends of said members, and means to spread said members to a position in which said cable will be stretched taut in a generally horizontal position between said members, said means arranged to allow said members to be moved together into a towing position when said cable is engaged by a craft to be towed.

5. A ladder rig engageable by the towing hook of a watercraft comprising a pair of rigid, lightweight feg means secured together in hinged relation at their forward ends, a pickup cable secured to and extending between the aft ends of said leg means, and arms rigidly secured to said leg means adjacent said hinge, said arms being secured to said leg means at an angle such that they extend generally normal to the direction of motion of said rig when said leg means are extended to maintain said cable taut for pickup operation.

6. A ladder rig for engaging and towing a watercraft comprising a pivoted V frame of rigid lightweight leg members connected for pivotal movement relative to each other and extending aft of said pivot, a pickup cable secured to and extending between the aft ends of said leg members, arms secured to said leg members adjacent said pivot, and means on each arm at a point remote from said pivot for exerting a force tending to spread said legs of said V frame when said rig is towed in the water.

at their forward ends, a pickup cable secured to and extending between the aft ends of said legs, arms secured to said legs adjacent said hinge and serving as a lever means which bias the leg members outwardly when a force is applied to said arms, and means for applying a force to said arms, said legs being moved by said pickup cable to a collapsed position when said cable is engaged by a watercraft for towing.

8. A ladder rig for engaging and towing a watercraft comprising a pivoted frame of rigid, lightweight leg members extending aft of the pivot, a pickup cable secured to and extending between the aft ends of said legs, arms secured to said legs adjacent said pivot, said arms being secured to said legs at an angle such that they extend generally normal to the direction of motion of said rig when said legs are extended to maintain said cable taut for pickup operation, and drag producing means mounted on each arm at a point remote from said pivot to exert a drag force tending to spread said legs of said frame when said rig is towed in the water.

9. A rig engageable by a towing book of a watercraft comprising a pair of frame members secured in hinged relation at their forward ends, a pickup cable extending between the aft ends of said members, means to bias said members to a spread position to extend said cable into a taut, generally horizontal position between said members while said rig is being towed and to permit the collapse of said members to the towing position when said cable is engaged by a watercraft, said means including rudder means pivotally mounted upon the aft ends of said members, said pickup cable being secured to said trailing edges of said rudders whereby said rudders are aligned for minimum resistance by said pickup cable when in a towing position.

10. A rig engageable by a towing hook of a watercraft comprising a pair of frame members secured in hinged relation at their forward ends, a pickup cable secured to and extending between the aft ends of said members, arms secured to said members adjacent said pivot, and resilient means interconnecting the arm of one frame member to the aft end of the other frame member to maintain said members extended and said cable in a generally horizontal position for pickup operations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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