US425634A - Device for securing ferry-boats - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OEECE.

FREDERICK S. RUDGE, OF BROOKLYN, NEIV. YORK.

DEVICE FOR SECURING FERRY-BOATS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 425,634, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed December 23, 1889. Serial No. 334,721. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. RUDGE, ar citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Securing Ferry-Boats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

My invention relates to improvements in devices for automatically securing and releasing ferry-boats; and it has for its object the provision of a very simple and efficient device by which the ferry-boat will be automatically secured to the slip or wharf as it approaches the same, and which can be easily operated by the pilot to release the boat.

The invention consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the coupling hook or ring attached to the wharf. Fig. 2 is a similar View of the pivoted block or coupling-pin on the boat, showing it engaged by the coupling -ring. Fig. 3 is a view showing the manner of operating the device to release the boat. Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking at the rear end of the box or support for the coupling-hook.

In carrying my invention into practice I secure to the wharf or ferry-slip a box or support A, which may be of any suitable size or material, and is provided in its upper side with a longitudinal V-shaped groove B, as shown, in which the coupling-hook C rests. At the rear end of the box or support I provide the vertically-adjustable standard or supporting-,plate D,whieh is mounted between the rearward extensions E of the box or support and is secured at any desired height by the bolts F, which are mounted on the extensions E and engage perforations or sockets G in the plate or standard. The said plate or standard is further provided with one or more openin gs Il, through which the shank or body of the coupling-hook passes, and chains I are secured at their upper ends to the inner or rear side of said plate and have pins .I attached to their lower ends. Similar chains K are provided on the front side of the plate and have pins L at their lower ends.

The coupling hook or ring M consists of a bar or shank N, having an eye or loop at its outer or front end and provided with the longitudinal series of openings P near its rear end. The bar or shank rests in the groove B and projects through one of the openings II in the verticalplate or standard,

v so as to be supported in proper position to engage the coupling-pin on the boat. The coupling hook or ring is secured in position by inserting the pins J and L through the openings P, so that they bear against the front and rear sides of the plate, thus preventing the hook from having any endwise or longitudinal motion. The hook is supported and secured in the event of the chains .I and K being unfastened by the chain Q, which has its ends secured to the upper front corners of the box or support A by spring-hooks and its central portion passed through a ring R on the coupling-hook.

The coupling-pin S is pivoted in a slot Tin the floor or deck of the boat, and has its upper and lower ends extending, respectively, above and below the deck. The upper end of the pin is cone-shaped, as shown at V, so as to provide a deflecting surface, up which the end of the coupling-hook may ride and pass over the end of the pin to engage the same. The

rear side of the pin, at the upper end thereof, is

provided with a series of notches or shoulders, which engage the coupling-hook in the operation of the device to prevent the accidental and premature release of the boat. Below its pivot -the coupling-pin is provided with a slot or notch WV, which is engaged by the end .of a lever Y, pivoted on the 'under side of the deck. The opposite end of this lever is connected by a pitman Z with a vertically-disposed lever a, which extends up into the pilot-house.

In practice the couplinghook rests loosely in the bottom of the groove in the box-support A and projects from and beyond the front end of the saine, while the coupling-pin is arranged normally in a vertical position and held in such a position by the end of the lever Y engaging the notch W, as will be readily understood upon reference to the IOG drawings. As the boat approaches the wharf the coupling-hook will ride upon the deck and over and into engagement with the couplingpin, thereby securing the boat. If it is desired to release the boat, the pilot throws the vertical lever backward, thereby vibrating the horizontal lever, so as to release the same from the coupling-pin, when the strain applied to the pin by the boat moving from the wharf will cause it to swing on its pivot into a horizontal position, so that it may readily pass under the `coupling-hook. W'hile the boat is making its trip the coupling-pinis returned to its normal vertical portion; and the lever then again engaged in the notch in the pin, so that when 1the boat approaches the other wharf itinaybe automatically Secured thereto. l

f Itwill bey observed from the foregoing description that I' have provided a very cheap and simple device by which the boat will be eectuallysecured to the wharf, andwhich is entirely automatic in its operation. By lthe use of my devicethe boat "can be very quickly secured without necessitating the attendance of operators, thus effecting 1an economy bf time and labor. The seriesof shouldersl or notches in fthe upper end of the coupling-pin' provides' for a positive engagement of the coupling-hook, notwithstanding any dierence tliatmay exist between the heights of the wharf andthe deck of the boat. The verticall supporting plate or standard-p canl be quiclrlyvand easily adjusted tofcorrespond to thetide, and 'the manner of supprting the cupling-hookpermits it to readily yrise and fallin theop'eration `of `the device. l l

It will be understood, of course,th'at I do not limit myself `to the exact details 0f constructionshown in the drawings, as itis obvious that many minor changes may be made there@ inwithut departing from the. `principles of myinvention.

' Having thus described my invention,` what I claim,v and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A devicefor securing ferry-boats, consisting, essentially, of `a coupling-hook secured to the wharf, a pivoted coupling-pin carried by the boat and adapted to be e11- gaged by the coupling-hook, and means for operatingthe coupling-pin, as set forth.

2. The combination of' the vertically-adjustable supporting-plate mounted l on the wharf,the coupling-hook carried thereby, and a couplingpin carried by lthe boat and adapted to be engaged by the coupling-hook, as set forth. 4

3. The combination of the coupling-pin piv- 'oted in the deck of the boat and having a notch in its side belowits pivot,the lever engaging said notch-,imeansjfor releasingksaid lever,` and the coupling-hook mounted on the wharf and adapted toy engage the couplingpin, asset forth. r

4. The combination cf -the pivotedcbuplingfpinin the deck of the boatg'having a series'of notches 'on its rear 'side inits upper end, means for yoperating said pin, and the coupling-hook mounted on the Wharf and adapted to engage'the notches in said pin, as set forth.

5.' The combination of `the box or support secured onI the wharf andi having al longitudinal groove'in its upper side, the couplinghook rest-ing in said groove, the chains secured to the box and the hook, and the pin on the boat adaptedto be engagedfby thehook, as set forth. E

6. The combination 'ofthe'box on the wharf, the vertical piateadjustably secured to the rear end of 'the boxrthe couplin g-hook adj ustablysecured tosaidlplate and supported by the box, andthe pin carried by theboat and adapted to be `engaged^by the' saidhook, as set forth.

In testimony whereof 'Iaiiliz mysign ature in presence of two witnesses.

' FREDERICK S: BUDGE.

Witnesses: y

ALEXIS GREEN, B2 LUERssEN.

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