US3072089A - Hatch securing device - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 8, 1963 P. L. GAGNON 3,072,089

HATCH SECURING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1961 IN VENTOR.

PAUL L.GAGNON BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent ()htiee Eatented Jan. 3, llfih snvaesa HATCH SECURING BEVKJE Paul L. Gagnon, 24 Harrington Terrace, West Grange, NJ. Filed lane 19, 1% Ser. No. 123,673 4 Claims. (ill. 114-263} My invention relates to a locking device. More particularly, my invention relates to a device for securely locking a hatch beam to the flange of a hatch coaming.

The present method of closing between deck cargo hatches of merchant vessels consists of lowering a series of steel beams each spanning the hatch into sockets in opposite sides of the hatch coaming such that one beam, called a king beam, is at the center of the hatch and other beams called queen beams are parallel thereto, and laying boards transversely across the top of the queen beams, the boards being sized to span one-half of the hatch and about the king beam. Such an arrangement permits removal of the boards from across one-half of the hatch and also permits removal of queen beams supporting such boards. Thus, one-half of the hatch remains closed or covered for depositing cargo thereon to be loaded or unloaded from that particular deck, while the other half of the hatch is open for loading or unloading cargo from the deck below. It is customary to load or unload several decks of the hold simultaneously and since the crane operator cannot always see into the hatch being loaded or unloaded, it frequently occurs that the cargo or crane hook being raised from a deck below engages the king beam of the initially closed hatch above. The normal load capacity of the crane is much greater than the approximately one ton weight of the king beam, so that the crane operator will not normally notice the slight increase in load due to the beam, particularly when the crane is hoisting cargo, so that the king beam can be inadvertently lifted out of its sockets. The dangers of a one ton steel beam and perhaps the hatch boards falling as much as 30 feet into the hold below are obvious.

To guard against the possibility of the king beam becoming dislodged, it is common practice to attach lines through the beam eyes and to secure the lines to some fixed object within the hold, such as the steel work comprising the skeleton of the ship. This practice has not been entirely satisfactory because the lines tend to stretch and their strength is not always sufficient to add an adequate load that would be noticed by the crane operator. Moreover, stringing the lines through the hold creates a hazard in itself. it has also been suggested to provide holes in the beams and in the beam supports which register when the beam is placed in the support and to insert pins in such holes. Such a method required in practice that only a particular beam could be placed in a particular set of supports in a particular hatch in order for the holes to register and was not practical. Another method that has been suggested is to provide the beams with a pin rotating in a vertical plane and to provide the beam supports with a notch adapted to receive the pin so that when the beam is placed in the support the pin can be rotated to engage the notch. Such a method, however, has proved unsatisfactory since the pins were found to be readily jarred out of the notches by any slight impact received by the beam.

it is an object of my invention to provide a locking device for firmly securing a hatch beam in place.

It is another object of my invention to provide such a device which can be employed interchangeably with any beam in any hatch.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a device which cannot be jarred lose by any impact received by the beam.

it is also an object of my invention to provide such a device which will not yield until a load oi sufiicient magnitude to be noticed by a crane operator has been applied to the device.

Briefly, my invention provides a device for securing a vertically movable eye-containing body to a flange which extends horizontally away from the vertically movable body. The device itself includes a length of chain having a first hook means attached to one end of the chain and adapted to engage the edge of the flange which is remote from the movable body, a second hook means adapted to engage the eye of the movable body slidably mounted about the length of chain through the eye of the second hook means and a fiat plate attached to the opposite end of the chain and provided with an opening therethrough, the chain passing through the opening. The plate is also provided with an elongated slot conirnunicating with the opening along the transverse dimension of the slot. The slot in the plate is sized to engage a link of the chain about the smallest dimension of the link thereby preventing passage of the chain through the plate. The second book means is disposed along the chain between the first hook means and the plate and the chain is rove through the opening in the plate, the opening slidably receiving the chain. Thus, when the elements or my device are in fined position, the first hook means engages the edge of the flange, the second book means engages the eye of the movable body, the chain is taut between the first and second hook. means, the flat plate abuts the eye of the second book means and the slot of the plate engages the chain link immediately adjacent the eye of the second book means and the movable body is thcreby secured to the flange.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of my invention specifically designed for securing a hatch beam to the horizontal flange of the beam under the hatch coaming on a merchant vessel, the first and second hook means of my device are of the type described as a versed eye hook in which the plane of the eye is per pendicular to the plane of the hook. in this particular embodiment the first reversed eye book can be attached to the chain by, for example, an anchor shackle. The second reversed eye hook is then positioned on the chain so that the points of the first and second reversed eye hooks face each other. With this arrangement, the plate can abut the eye of the second hook when in fixed position.

Advantageously, the slot and opening through the fiat plate are so positioned that they form an opening with a keyhole configuration and the flat plate is further provided with a hole remote from the narrow portion of the keyhole and adapted to receive, for example, an anchor shackle for attaching the end of the chain to the plate. The last link in the end of the chain attached to the ilat plate can also be provided with some type of connecting means, such as a sister or scissors hook, so that when my device is in fixed position, the connecting means can be attached to one of the links in the taut portion of the chain thereby positively insuring that the flat plate will not be moved from its position of engagement with the chain link.

To describe more completely the device of my invention reference is made to the attached drawing in which:

FlGURE l is a partially sectioned isometric view illustrating a hatch in a lower deck of a merchant vessel.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the device of my invention.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view showing a diiferent re- =3 lationship of certain of the members illustrated in FIG URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a hatch showing the device of my invention in its fixed position securing a hatch beam to a horizontal flange of the hatch coaming.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are isometric views showing steps to lock the plate in position on the chain.

In FIGURE 1 the dotted line indicated by reference numeral 1% represents the hatch opening in an upper deck and reference numeral 12 indicates a hatch opening in a lower deck. The specific elements of the lower deck hatch which are illustrated in FIGURE 1 are the brow 1d, the hatch coaming l6, and the horizontally extending flange I3 of the beam under the hatch coaming 16. As can be seen in this figure the brow 14 extends slightly above the deck level about the hatch opening 12, the coaming 16 extends vertically downward into the hatch, while the flange 18 extends horizontally away from the hatch opening 12 at the lower edge of the hatch coarning 16. Disposed along the hatch coaming 16 are upwardly opening U shaped beam sockets 2d and 21. (Only two of the beam sockets 2t? and 21 can be seen in FIG- URE 1.) Also shown in FIGURE late a king beam 22 having a cross-section in the shape of a Latin cross and two queen beams 24 having a T shaped cross-section. The downwardly extending legs of the king beam 22 and the queen beams 24 are adapted to be received at each end in U shaped beam sockets 2i and 21 respectively. In FIGURE 1, one of the queen beams 24% is shown received in a beam socket 22. The king beam 22 is centrally located within hatch opening I2 when resting in socket Zti. A series of hatch boards 26 are shown positioned transversely to the hatch beams. The hatch boards 26 are sized so as to span one-half of the hatch opening and abut the king beam 22. The hatch boards 26 are also supported at one end at the periphery of the hatch abutting the brow l4 and by a queen beam 24. The arrangement just described is typical of hatch arrangements of merchant vessels and is such that onehalf of the hatch can be opened by removal or" hatch boards 26 from one-half of the hatch followed by removal of the queen beam 24 supporting those hatch boards.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, numeral 28 designates a reversed eye hook which is attached to a length of chain fail by means of an anchor shackle 32. A second reversed eye hook 34 is slidably positioned on chain 30' and is disposed so that the point of the reversed eye hook 34 faces the point of the reversed eye hook 28. Located above reversed eye hook 34 is a flat steel plate 36. Near one end of plate 36 is a small opening 38 to which the terminal link of chain 31? is attached by means of anchor shackle 37. Plate 36 is also provided with a larger circular opening 49 and an elongated slot 42 communicating with circular opening at and positioned on the side of circular opening at remote from hole 38. Chain 36 is slidably positioned through circular opening so. Also shown in FIGURE 2 is a link 44 located in chain 3@ intermediate reversed eye hooks 28 and 34. This link 4d advantageously is distinguishable from the other links in the chain and its function will be explained below. In practice, chain 39 is approximately 6 feet long and the link 44 is located in the chain 34) about 44 inches distant from the tip of reversed eye hook 23.

FIGURE 3 illustrates the function of slot 42 which is to engage a link of chain 3% about the smallest dimension of the link and to prevent passage of the chain 3t; through the plate 36.

FIGURE 4 shows in side elevation brow l4, hatch coaming 16, horizontal flange 18, U shaped beam socket 20, king beam 22 and hatch boards 26 as also illustrated in FIGURE 1. In this enlarged view a doubler d6 having a lifting eye 48 for lifting the beam is shown aifixed to the end of king beam 22. Doubler t6 and king beam 22 are received in beam socket 20. in FIGURE 4 a device of FIGURE 2 of my invention is shown in its fixed position securing king beam 22 to the horizontally extending flange 1% in which reversed eye hook 28 engages the edge of flange 13, reversed eye hook 34 engages the lifting eye 48 in doubler 46, chain 39 i taut between reversed eye hook 28 and reversed eye hook 34, plate 36 abuts the eye of hook 3 2 and slot 42 engages the link of chain 3%? next adjacent the eye of reversed eye hook 3 t thereby preventing movement of the chain 30 through the plate 36.

To lock a beam in place with the device shown in FIG- URE 2, the second reversed eye hook 34 and the plate 36 are held by the operator in one hand with plate 36 on top, the chain 343 is played out through the circular opening it) in the plate 36 and the eye of reversed eye hook 34 until the link 44 has passed through both the circular opening 4t? and the eye of hook 34. Then, with the operator standing on the hatch boards 26 above king beam 22 adjacent to hatch coaming 16 and the point of reversed eye hook 28 facing the hatch coaming 16 the chain is swung toward the hatch coarning 16. Simply by maintaining the link 44 level with the top edge of the hatch coaming during the swing, the chain 30 and first reversed eye hook 28 swing out and under the hatch coaming 16 and reversed eye hook 28 engages the edge of flange I8. This requires no particular skill on the part of the operator. The impetus given reversed eye hook 28 and the lower portion of chain 30 by the chain striking the junction of hatch coaming l6 and flange 18 permits hook 255 to engage flange 18 on nearly every attempt. After engagement of first reversed eye hook 28, second reversed eye hook 3% is moved along the chain 30 and placed into eye 48. The slack in the chain between first and second reversed eye hooks 28 and 34 is then picked up and th chain made taut. Chain 3% is then pulled through circular opening 40 in plate 36 until plate 36 is hard against the eye of hook 34. Plate 36 is then pulled down between the links of chain 36 in such a manner that slot 42 engages the link of chain 30 immediately adjacent the eye of hook 3 That portion of chain 30 between slot 42 and the terminal end of chain 36 connected to plate 36 by means of hole 38 is then released. The weight of this slack portion of the chain is sufficient to maintain plate 36 in vertical position and prevent its jumping out from between the links of chain 30.

Also illustrated in FIGURE 4 is a particularly advantageous embodiment of my invention in which a scissor or sister hook Sti is permanently attached to anchor shackle 3'7 connecting the terminal link of chain 3% to plate Thus, after plate 36 has been pulled down between the links of chain 36 in such a manner that slot 42 engages the link of chain immediately adjacent the eye of hook 34, the scissor opening portion of sister or scissor hook 56 is attached to the nearest link of chain 3% in the portion of chain 3t) maintained taut between hooks 28 and 34, thereby further insuring that plate 36 will not jump out from between the links of chain 30.

I have found that a device of my invention is satisfactory wherein the component parts are sized and connected as follows: The reversed eye hooks have an overall length of approximately 8 /2 inches and the chain employed is any of the standard size coil chains having a suificient proof test for the particular requirements of usage, for example, a inch diameter coil chain having a proof test of 3,720 pounds is normally quite adequate. With such a chain a /s inch anchor shackle is used to attach the chain to the reversed eye hook or a welded connecting link can be used in lieu of the shackle. Also a /3 inch anchor shackle or welded connecting link can connect the other end of the chain to the locking plate. The shape and dimensions of the locking plate can vary depending upon the dimensions of the other members. Thus, employing the inch diameter coil chain in which the links are approximately 2%s inches long by 1 inches wide, the following dimensions will be adequate for plate Inches Thickness Overall length 6% Width 3 Diameter of hole 38 /8 Diameter of opening 40 1% Length of slot 42 1% Width of slot 42 /2 Further, as shown in the drawing, the end of plate 36 proximate slot 42 can be semi-circular and the corners of the plate proximate hole 38 rounded. The rounded corners provide protection to the operator by elimination of sharp edges, while the semi-circular end of the plate is designed to correspond to the shape of the eye of the second reversed eye hook. Most advantageously, the plate 36 is sized so that the distance between the outer end of the slot 42 and the semi-circular end of the plate corresponds to the outside radius of the eye of the second reversed eye hook. With a plate so sized, the chain 30 is pulled through circular opening 40 in plate 36 until the plate 36 positioned with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of hook 34 is hard against the eye of hook 34. Still in this position, the plate is pulled between the links of chain 30 in such a manner that slot 42 engages the link of chain 30 immediately adjacent the eye of hook 34. Plate 36 is then twisted ninety degrees and is locked in place due to the fact that the curved portion of the body of the hook overlies the semi-circular end of the plate. This arrangement is shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The particular device made from components having the dimensions weighs approximately 24 pounds. The weight of the apparatus can be reduced almost one-half by the use of a inch chain with a proof test of about 2500 pounds. Also if the desired load strength of the apparatus is increased or lessened, it can be sized accordingly.

I claim:

1. A device for securing a vertically movable eye containing body to a fixed flange extending away from the body, which device includes a chain having a first hook means attached to one end of the chain for engaging the edge of the flange remote from the movable body, a second hook means for engaging the eye of the body, the second hook means being slidably mounted about the chain through an eye of the second hook means, and a flat plate having means defining an opening through the plate slidably receiving the chain and means defining an elongated slot through the plate, the slot communicating with the opening along the transverse dimension of the slot, the slot sized to engage a link of the chain about the smallest dimension of the link and prevent passage of the chain through the plate, the plate being slidably mounted about the chain through the opening and the plate being attached at a point remote from the opening to the chain at the end of the chain opposite the first hook means, the second hook means being disposed along the chain intermediate the first hook means and the plate, and the plate being disposed along the chain, by means of the opening, intermediate the second hook means and the point of attachment of the chain to the plate, whereby when in fixed position the first hook means engages the edge of the flange, the second hook means engages the eye of the movable body, the chain is taut between the first and second hook means, the fiat plate abuts the eye of the second hook means and the slot of the plate engages the chain link next adjacent the eye of the second hook means, securing the movable body to the flange.

2. A device for securing a lifting eye containing hatch beam to the horizontally extending flange of a beam under the hatch coaming which includes a chain having a first reversed eye hook attached to one end thereof, the first hook being adapted to engage the edge of the flange, a second reversed eye hook adapted to engage the eye of the hatch beam, the second hook being slidably mounted about the chain through the eye of the second hook with the points of the first and second hooks in facing relationship, a flat plate having means defining an opening through the plate for slidably receiving the chain and having means defining an elongated slot through the plate, the slot communicating with the opening along the transverse dimension of the slot, the slot sized to engage a link of the chain about the smallest dimension of the link and prevent passage of the chain through the plate, the plate being slidably mounted about the chain through the opening and the plate being attached at a point remote from the opening to the chain at the end of the chain opposite the first hook, the second hook being disposed along the chain intermediate the first hook and the plate and the plate being disposed along the chain, by means of the opening, intermediate the second hook and the attachment to the plate whereby when in fixed position the first hook engages the edge of the flange, the second hook engages the lifting eye of the hatch beam, the chain is taut between the first hook and the second hook, the flat plate abuts the eye of the second hook, and the slot of the plate engages the chain link next adjacent the eye of the second hook, securing the hatch beam to the flange of the beam under the hatch coaming.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the flat plate is attached to the chain at a point on the plate more remote from said slot than said opening.

4. The device of claim 2 in which the means defining the opening and the means defining the slot together define a keyhole shaped opening through the flat plate.

No references cited.

Claims (1)

1. 2. A DEVICE FOR SECURING A LIFTING EYE CONTAINING HATCH BEAM TO THE HORIZONTALLY EXTENDING FLANGE OF A BEAM UNDER THE HATCH COAMING WHICH INCLUDES A CHAIN HAVING A FIRST REVERSED EYE HOOK ATTACHED TO ONE END THEREOF, THE FIRST HOOK BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EDGE OF THE FLANGE, A SECOND REVERSED EYE HOOK ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE EYE OF THE HATCH BEAM, THE SECOND HOOK BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED ABOUT THE CHAIN THROUGH THE EYE OF THE SECOND HOOK WITH THE POINTS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND HOOKS IN FACING RELATIONSHIP, A FLAT PLATE HAVING MEANS DEFINING AN OPENING THROUGH THE PLATE FOR SLIDABLY RECEIVING THE CHAIN AND HAVING MEANS DEFINING AN ELONGATED SLOT THROUGH THE PLATE, THE SLOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE OPENING ALONG THE TRANSVERSE DIMENSION OF THE SLOT, THE SLOT SIZED TO ENGAGE A LINK OF THE CHAIN ABOUT THE SMALLEST DIMENSION OF THE LINK AND PREVENT PASSAGE OF THE CHAIN THROUGH THE PLATE, THE PLATE BEING SLIDABLY MOUNTED ABOUT THE CHAIN THROUGH THE OPENING AND THE PLATE BEING ATTACHED AT A POINT REMOTE FROM THE OPENING TO THE CHAIN AT THE END OF THE CHAIN OPPOSITE THE FIRST HOOK, THE SECOND HOOK BEING DISPOSED ALONG THE CHAIN INTERMEDIATE THE FIRST HOOK AND THE PLATE AND THE PLATE BEING DISPOSED ALONG THE CHAIN, BY MEANS OF THE OPENING, INTERMEDIATE THE SECOND HOOK AND THE ATTACHMENT TO THE PLATE WHEREBY WHEN IN FIXED POSITION THE FIRST HOOK ENGAGES THE EDGE OF THE FLANGE, THE SECOND HOOK ENGAGES THE LIFTING EYE OF THE HATCH BEAM, THE CHAIN IS TAUT BETWEEN THE FIRST HOOK AND THE SECOND HOOK, THE FLAT PLATE ABUTS THE EYE OF THE SECOND HOOK, AND THE SLOT OF THE PLATE ENGAGES THE CHAIN LINK NEXT ADJACENT THE EYE OF THE SECOND HOOK, SECURING THE HATCH BEAM TO THE FLANGE OF THE BEAM UNDER THE HATCH COAMING.

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