US3884518A - Casting-off device - Google Patents

Casting-off device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3884518A
US3884518A US379939A US37993973A US3884518A US 3884518 A US3884518 A US 3884518A US 379939 A US379939 A US 379939A US 37993973 A US37993973 A US 37993973A US 3884518 A US3884518 A US 3884518A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
arms
transverse member
casting
closed
pivot point
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US379939A
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English (en)
Inventor
Marcel Lepetit
Christian Charles
Jean Nonnet
Francois Lefoll
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Societe Le Nickel SLN SA
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Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3884518A publication Critical patent/US3884518A/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C7/00—Salvaging of disabled, stranded, or sunken vessels; Salvaging of vessel parts or furnishings, e.g. of safes; Salvaging of other underwater objects
    • B63C7/26—Means for indicating the location of underwater objects, e.g. sunken vessels
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C11/00—Equipment for dwelling or working underwater; Means for searching for underwater objects
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
    • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
    • E02D1/00—Investigation of foundation soil in situ
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
    • G10K—SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G10K11/00—Methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound in general; Methods or devices for protecting against, or for damping, noise or other acoustic waves in general
    • G10K11/004—Mounting transducers, e.g. provided with mechanical moving or orienting device
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B2209/00—Energy supply or activating means
    • B63B2209/08—Energy supply or activating means impact with water-surface or -bottom

Definitions

  • the device has two vertical arms, pivoted together, which form at least one casting-off hook or eye. Displacement of the arms about the pivot opens or closes the hook or eye.
  • a transverse member, weighted at one end and pivotally mounted to the top of one arm restrains the arms from opening while held at right angles to the arms.
  • the equipment to be cast-off is automatically released when impact with the ocean floor causes the transverse member to incline downward, releasing the arms and opening the hook or eye.
  • the device includes a means for attaching floats to the transverse member. Locking means are provided by a water soluble plug, as is an elastic mechanism to return arms to a locked position following the equipment release.
  • the present invention relates to a casting-off device, particularly for use with underwater exploration apparatus. It is known that such apparatus, which may be sampling devices or photographic apparatus, are ballasted, attached to one or more floats, generally by means of a cable, and released at the surface of the water to be explored. This assembly sinks under the effect of the ballast and, when it touches the sea-bed, carries out operations such as casting-off the ballast and picking up samples or taking photographs, with the aid of equipment which will not be described in this specification. When the ballast has been cast off, the remainder of the assembly rises to the surface of the water with the aid of floats, and can then be recovered.
  • the assembly should include at least one casting-off device which detaches one or more elements when the assembly touches the sea-bed.
  • the casting-off device has to release ballast to enable the apparatus to rise again to the surface under the action of the floats.
  • the apparatus concerned comprises a sampling device of the type described in our French patent application No. 72-26061 filed on July 19, 1972, the casting-off device has to release two cables from each other, thus simultaneously activating the sampling device for operation and casting-off the ballast.
  • a required function of the device in accordance with the present invention is to operate apparatus connected to a float by a cable, under the effect of the impact caused when the equipment strikes the sea-bed.
  • Hooks which may be operated to release various objects, while being normally locked in their closed position, are already known, for instance from US. Pat. No. 1,793,401. These known hooks usually comprise two pivoted arms which are displaceable between an open position and a closed position in which they are disposed substantially one behind the other, the arms being so shaped as to form, near the pivot point, at least one casting-off hook which is open when said arms are in the open position and closed when these arms are in the closed position, and a locking member slidable over the arms being provided to lock the hook against move ment.
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a casting-off device of this kind which can be used for automatically actuating underwater exploration apparatus when the apparatus touches the sea-bed.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a casting-off device of the kind which operates in a reliable manner and prevents premature actuation of the apparatus.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind that is of simple construction, robust, and inexpensive.
  • a casting-off device of the kind comprising two arms which are pivoted together to be displaceable between a closed position in which they are disposed substantially one behind the other and an open position, and which arms are so shaped as to form, near their pivot point, at least one casting-off hook or eye which is open when said arms are in the open position and closed when these arms are in the closed position, characterized in that:
  • a transverse member which is effectively weighted at its one end is pivotally mounted at a point near its other end on one of said arms, the transverse member being displaceable between a locking position in which it is at approximately right angles to said arms and a release position in which it is inclined from said pivot point; a stop is provided at the said other end of said transverse member; a retaining element to coact with said stop is provided at the end of the other of said arms, said retaining element engaging said.
  • the apparatus to be cast off may be secured to the casting-off hooks, for example by means of at least one cable.
  • each of the eyes can be formed by an inwardly curved finger on one of the arms and a transverse closure part on the other arm.
  • the pivotal arms are of scissorlike form and, between the pivot point and their lower ends, they are of curved or angled shape so as to form a hook or eye which is closed! or open depending upon whether the arms are in the closed or open position.
  • the stop formed on the transverse member is advantageously made of a flange of U-shaped cross-section at the end of the member and which, when the transverse member is in the locking position, caps the upper end of that arm on which the transverse member is not pivoted.
  • Said means for locking the pivotal arms in the closed position preferably comprise a peg which can be inserted into two holes which are formed in the pivoted arms and which move into register when these arms are in the closed position. It is advantageous for this peg to be made of a water-soluble substance such as barley sugar, so that it can be operative when the apparatus is lowered into the water but will have disappeared when the exploration apparatus reaches the sea-bed.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation of one form of casting-off device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a detail plan view of part of the device shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a further form of castingoff device according to the invention.
  • the casting-off device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is designed for use with an apparatus which applies to the device two lateral forces indicated in FIG. 1 by arrows F. This is the case when the apparatus comprises the sampling device described in the above patent application No. 72-26061.
  • the device of the invention is in the operating position, for example descending towards an underwater bed, and expressions such as vertical and upper part are to be read in this light.
  • the casting-off device illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two arms 1 and 2 pivoted .at their lower ends about a shaft 3 and having the form of two rigid blades which can be disposed one behind the other over the greater parts of their lengths.
  • a transverse member 4 is mounted to rotate on a pivot 5 at the upper end of the arm 2 and carries a counterweight 6 at its free end remote from the pivot 5.
  • the arm 1 is shorter than the arm 2 and is provided with a projection 7 at its upper end.
  • the two arms 1 and 2 are disposed substantially one behind the other and, when the transverse member 4 is in the horizontal position, the device is prevented from opening by a flange 8 of U-shaped cross-section which is formed at the pivoted end of the member 4 and which hold the projection 7 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the flange 8 disengages from the projection 7, and the pivoted arms 1 and 2 are free to open as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1.
  • the height of the projection 7 is selected to suit the required delay in effecting release.
  • the arms 1 and 2 have transverse fingers 9 and 10, respectively, which are curved upwardly, the two symmetrical fingers extending in opposite directions to each other.
  • the arms 1 and 2 have lateral closure parts 11 and 12, respectively, these two symmetrical parts extending in opposite directions to each other and each in a direction opposite to that of the finger of the same arm.
  • the finger 9 on the arm 1 extends to the right and the lateral closure part 11 on the same arm extends to the left, whereas the finger on the arm 2 extends to the left and the lateral part 12 of this arm extends to the right.
  • the finger 9 and the closure part 12 on the other arm form a first closed hook or eye 13 and, in the same way, the finger 10 and the lateral closure part 11 form a second eye 14 disposed symmetrically in relation to the first eye. As shown in broken lines in FIG. 1, these eyes open outwardly when the arm 1 swings clockwise about the pivot 3.
  • each of the arms 1 and 2 is provided with a lateral extension 15,
  • each extension containing a hole 16.
  • the holes 16 move into register when the device is closed, so that a peg 16' made of water-soluble material can be inserted to hold the arms 1 and 2 in the closed position.
  • the lateral extension 15a of the arm 2 has a flange of U- shaped cross-section, as shown in FIG. 2, and this flange acts as a stop for the arm 1 when the pivoted arms are closed.
  • the transverse member 4 has a hold 17 between the counterweight 6 and the pivot 5, but much nearer to the latter; through this hole is passed cable 18 which connects the device to the floats mentioned previously.
  • the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 operates in the following manner.
  • the apparatus to be cast off is connected to the device, in the open position, by means of, for example, two cables passed through the eyes 13 and 14; as mentioned above, the cables apply the lateral forces illustrated in FIG. 1 by the arrows F. It is, of course, possible to equip these cables with means such as shackles, i.e. bowed elements fitted with bolts, and to pass the shackles into the eyes.
  • the pivotal arms are closed and a peg made of water-soluble substance, for example barley sugar, is inserted into the aligned holes 16.
  • the floats for the exploration assembly are attached to the casting-off device by the cable 18 passed through the hole 17.
  • the assembly can then be submerged, and it descends towards the sea-bed under the action of ballast, not shown.
  • the peg dissolves, but the arms 1 and 2 are kept closed by the locking action of the flange 8 of the transverse member 4 on the projection 7 of the arm 1.
  • the transverse member 4 is held in the horizontal position as a result of the opposing effects of, on the one hand, the tension in the cable 18 which is passed through the hole 17 and connects the device to the floats and, on the other hand, the weight of the exploration apparatus acting on the lower part of the device.
  • the device opens, under the action of the lateral forces F, the peg having dissolved.
  • the cables or the shackles of the exploration apparatus are then freed from the eyes 13 and 14 and move out under the effect of the lateral forces F, so that the apparatus is cast off.
  • the casting-off device itself rises to the surface as a result of the pull applied by the floats, through cable 18.
  • FIG. 3 the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 are used for parts that are identical to or perform the same function as those bearing those reference numerals in FIG. 1.
  • the form of device shown in FIG. 3 is intended for use where the apparatus to be cast off applies a substantially vertical force F which is, of course, directed downwardly.
  • the device of FIG. 3 has pivoted arms 1 and 2, but their pivot 3 is spaced above their lower ends. Between the pivot 3 and their lower ends, the scissor-like arms are angled to extend first outwardly and then inwardly so that they form a hook or eye 20 when the device is in the closed position. In the open position of the device, as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 3, the eye 20 is open at the bottom.
  • the upper part of the device is similar to that of the device illustrated in FIG. 1. Again, there is provided a transverse member 4 with its counterweight 6 and its flange 8 of U-shaped cross-section, and a projection 7 formed at the upper edge of the arm 1.
  • the lateral extension of the arm 1 in this arrangement comprises a downwardly extending portion to which there is secured a bolt 22, and a similar bolt 21 is mounted on the arm 2 at a point near its lower end and remote from the axis of symmetry of the arm assembly.
  • a resilient return member 23 made of, for example, a synthetic material such as NEOPRENE, is stretched between the bolts 21 and 22.
  • member 23 The function of member 23 is to ensure that the device remains open upon removal of the locking action due to the peg fitted in the holes 16 and due to the projection 7 bearing against the flange 8. It should be noted that this return member would serve no useful purpose in the device illustrated in FIG. 1 where the lateral forces F applied by the device to be cast off urge the device to the open position.
  • the pivot 3 may be of sufficient length to guide the casting-off device in relation to the exploration apparatus, for example by its being passed through slots formed in plates integral with the apparatus.
  • a casting-off device of the kind comprising two arms which are pivoted together to be displaceable between a closed position in which they are disposed substantially one behind the other and an open position,
  • a transverse member which is effectively weighted at its one end is pivotally mounted at a point near its other end on one of said arms, the transverse member being displaceable between a locking position in which it is at approximately right-angles to said arms and a release position in which it is inclined from said pivot point; a stop is provided at said other end of said transverse member; a retaining element to coact with said stop is provided at the end of the other of said arms, said retaining element engaging said stop when the transverse member is in the locking position and releasing said stop when the transverse member is in the release position; means for connecting at least one float to said transverse member are located on the transverse member between its weighted end and said pivot point; the pivot point of said arms is disposed near that end of each of said arms that is remote from said transverse member, the arms being so formed as to constitute, near the pivot point, two symmetrical casting-off hooks which are either completely closed or open at the side, depending upon whether the arms are in the closed or open position; and, for the purpose
  • a casting-off device in which said peg is made of barley sugar.
  • each of said casting-off hooks is constituted by an inwardly curved finger formed on one of said arms and by a transverse closure part integral with the other arm.
  • a casting-off device of the kind comprising two arms which are pivoted together to be displaceable between a closed position in which they are disposed substantially one behind the other and an open position, and which arms are so shaped as to form, near their pivot point, at least one casting-off hook or eye which is open when said arms are in the open position and closed when these arms are in the closedposition, characterized in that:
  • a transverse member which is effectively weighted at its one end is pivotally mounted at a point near its other end on one of said arms, the transverse member being displaceable between a locking position in which it is at approximately right-angles to said arms and a release position in which it is inclined from said pivot point; a stop is provided at said other end of said transverse member; a retaining element to coact with said stop is provided at the end of the other of said arms, said retaining element engaging said stop when the transverse member is in the locking position and releasing said stop when the transverse member is in the release position; means for connecting at least one float to said transverse member are located on the transverse member between its weighted end and said pivot point; said arms which are pivoted in the manner of scissors and are so shaped between said pivot point and that end remote from said transverse member so as to form a hook which is either completely closed or open at the side of said end remote from the transverse member, depending upon whether the arms are in the closed or open position; a return means provided between said arms to
  • a casting-off device in which said peg is made of barley sugar.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Paleontology (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Acoustics & Sound (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Hooks, Suction Cups, And Attachment By Adhesive Means (AREA)
  • Underground Or Underwater Handling Of Building Materials (AREA)
US379939A 1972-07-19 1973-07-17 Casting-off device Expired - Lifetime US3884518A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7226060A FR2192971B1 (sv) 1972-07-19 1972-07-19

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3884518A true US3884518A (en) 1975-05-20

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ID=9102076

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US379939A Expired - Lifetime US3884518A (en) 1972-07-19 1973-07-17 Casting-off device

Country Status (13)

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US (1) US3884518A (sv)
JP (1) JPS5430199B2 (sv)
AU (1) AU477059B2 (sv)
BE (1) BE802348A (sv)
CA (1) CA980384A (sv)
ES (1) ES417030A1 (sv)
FR (1) FR2192971B1 (sv)
GB (1) GB1377468A (sv)
IT (1) IT992270B (sv)
NL (1) NL162345C (sv)
NO (1) NO136549C (sv)
SE (1) SE404056B (sv)
ZA (1) ZA734887B (sv)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5072899A (en) * 1991-05-15 1991-12-17 Nickle Steven L Kite accessory release device with dissolvable member
US5356188A (en) * 1990-03-30 1994-10-18 Coflexip Device for temporarily holding a load on a holding line

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU632226B2 (en) * 1990-05-11 1992-12-17 Totetu Mfg. Co., Ltd. Dismounting device for heavy load hoisting member
US9107436B2 (en) 2011-02-17 2015-08-18 Purecircle Sdn Bhd Glucosylated steviol glycoside as a flavor modifier
EP2358730B1 (en) 2009-10-15 2014-01-15 Purecircle SDN BHD Method for preparing high-purity rebaudioside d
EP4108668A1 (en) 2010-03-12 2022-12-28 PureCircle USA Inc. High-purity steviol glycosides

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US441255A (en) * 1890-11-25 Trip-hook
US1435634A (en) * 1920-12-18 1922-11-14 Frederick A Foxhall Grip
US1793401A (en) * 1930-01-25 1931-02-17 Seth H Hopkins Davit-tackle hook
US2632275A (en) * 1950-03-17 1953-03-24 Oliver C Richardson Tong fishing hook assembly
US2791785A (en) * 1955-11-15 1957-05-14 Adonis A Metts Retrieving device
US3186752A (en) * 1962-12-11 1965-06-01 Louis G Kaplan Lifter with substantially constant inward jaw pressure
US3228080A (en) * 1963-09-27 1966-01-11 Robert J Trauger Undersea release clasp

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US441255A (en) * 1890-11-25 Trip-hook
US1435634A (en) * 1920-12-18 1922-11-14 Frederick A Foxhall Grip
US1793401A (en) * 1930-01-25 1931-02-17 Seth H Hopkins Davit-tackle hook
US2632275A (en) * 1950-03-17 1953-03-24 Oliver C Richardson Tong fishing hook assembly
US2791785A (en) * 1955-11-15 1957-05-14 Adonis A Metts Retrieving device
US3186752A (en) * 1962-12-11 1965-06-01 Louis G Kaplan Lifter with substantially constant inward jaw pressure
US3228080A (en) * 1963-09-27 1966-01-11 Robert J Trauger Undersea release clasp

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5356188A (en) * 1990-03-30 1994-10-18 Coflexip Device for temporarily holding a load on a holding line
US5072899A (en) * 1991-05-15 1991-12-17 Nickle Steven L Kite accessory release device with dissolvable member

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO136549C (no) 1977-09-21
NL162345C (nl) 1980-05-16
FR2192971A1 (sv) 1974-02-15
AU477059B2 (en) 1976-10-14
NL7309825A (sv) 1974-01-22
CA980384A (en) 1975-12-23
SE404056B (sv) 1978-09-18
IT992270B (it) 1975-09-10
ZA734887B (en) 1974-06-26
BE802348A (fr) 1973-11-05
DE2336117A1 (de) 1974-02-07
AU5816373A (en) 1975-01-30
JPS5430199B2 (sv) 1979-09-28
ES417030A1 (es) 1976-03-01
NO136549B (sv) 1977-06-13
GB1377468A (en) 1974-12-18
NL162345B (nl) 1979-12-17
FR2192971B1 (sv) 1976-02-13
JPS4943393A (sv) 1974-04-24
DE2336117B2 (de) 1976-08-26

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