WO2014116402A1 - Mooring line quick release - Google Patents

Abstract

A mooring line release mechanism that can be remotely opened or disconnected to allow a vessel's Captain or assigned crewmember to release the eye of a mooring line from a mooring structure without the need of personnel near the mooring structure and while remaining onboard the vessel. The subject matter discussed herein relates generally to mooring lines to ships and large vessels and more particularly, to quick releasing mooring lines.

Description

MOORING LINE QUICK RELEASE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/748,793, filed on January 4, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The subject matter discussed herein relates generally to mooring lines to ships and large vessels and more particularly, to quick releasing mooring lines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, a conventional mooring line 21 has an eye 22 formed at the end by splicing the end back on the line for the eye. In typical operation, the eye of the line is placed around a bollard 32 or cleat (not shown) by a line handler who stands on the dock. Once the eye 22 of the mooring line 21 is properly placed on a mooring structure, tension is applied to the mooring line 21 to keep the ship 31 in a desired position.

To release the mooring line 21 so the ship 31 can leave the dock, the ship's crew releases the tension in the mooring lines 21 and then the line handlers remove the eye 22 of the lines from the bollards 32 or cleats. This approach requires maintenance, operation, and cooperation by personnel at that dock facility. Thus, the typical prior art approach makes the ship crew dependent on the crew of the dock facility. However, it can take hours for a ship to achieve approvals and effectuate a line release via human dock line handlers. In an environment that suddenly becomes threatening or hostile, such approval and release may not happen at all. This practice can put the ship and its crew in significant inconvenience, cost, and even danger. Other prior art approaches, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent 5,123,374 and 5,957,075, use standard lines and require mounting a special releasable device onto each mooring facility. Thus, at a minimum, the cooperation of the dock facility is required to install and maintain the releasable devices.

Another prior art approach is shown in US 2005/0081772, and includes a release within the line. This approach may work for small vessels, but does not provide sufficient holding strength to secure a larger vessel such as a barge or ship. For example, a typical commercial or naval ship can apply as much as ten to twenty tons of tensile strength on a mooring line while moored. In addition, some ship crews use their mooring lines to connect to a towing vessel, a practice that can apply as much as 50-65 tons of tensile strength while towing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mooring line that overcomes many of these disadvantages. First, it allows a mooring line to be removed from a mooring structure without the need of personnel to manipulate the eye of the mooring line from the mooring structure. Second, it puts the operation of releasing mooring lines, when undocking, in the control of the Captain of the vessel. Therefore, the Captain can decide exactly when he/she wants a particular mooring line released from the mooring structure. Third, this device will prevent the Captain and crew from having to cut a mooring line in order to become free from the mooring structure in an emergency. This third advantage will provide cost savings since mooring lines will not have to be severed and can be reused after an emergency. Fourth, this device can be installed in any existed mooring line. No new mooring lines would have to be purchased. Fifth, the maintenance of this device is minimal. After each use, an anti-corrosion lubricant can be applied and the device stored. Sixth, this device reduces the possibility of injury to personnel that may occur during mooring operations.

The embodiments disclosed herein include the releasable devices within the mooring line and thus can be maintained and operated by the crew aboard the vessel. Vessels travel to many different ports in many different locations and may need to utilize their mooring lines in different methods. As disclosed herein, the captain and crew may use their discretion on where to put their mooring lines and can still undock without the use of line handlers or shore personnel and equipment. The captain and crew only need an standard object on which an eye of a mooring line can be placed that is strong enough to hold the tension exerted on that mooring line.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional mooring line in the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a top view of a connected mooring line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a top view of a disconnected mooring line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a mooring line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention holding a ship to a mooring bollard;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a mooring line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention disconnecting from a mooring bollard;

FIG. 5 is a top view of an eye of a mooring line in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a view of a quick-release device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a view of a quick-release device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B, mooring line 21 has eye 22 formed at an end via splice 24 and quick-release ends 23 A and 23B.

FIG. 3 shows ship 31 with mooring line 21 deployed and connected to mooring bollard 32 on dock 33, and quick-release device 23 closed or connected.

As shown in FIG. 4, quick-release device 23 has been opened to break eye 22 so that mooring line 21 can be released from bollard 32.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a quick-release device in accordance with one aspect of the invention. As shown therein, eye 22 is opened and secondary eyes 22A and 22B are formed to hold fastening end 64 of quick-release end 23A and fastening end 70 of quick-release end 23B. Eyes 22 A and 22B can be formed for example via known splicing methods. Quick-release end 23B also includes female screw connection 68 to receive screw 67 of quick-release end 23A. In this embodiment, quick-release end 23B can be forged of stainless steel or similar material. Quick-release end 23A includes screw 67, battery powered motor 63, and receiver 62 such as an RE or IR receiver. The term "screw" is used herein for convenience, and should be noted that a bolt or other fastener could be used in replace of screw 67, so long as it is threaded to mate with female threads. In one embodiment, screw 67 can be made of stainless steel, such as 316 stainless steel, due to its anti-corrosive properties and high tensile strength. In this preferred embodiment, a tensile strength of over 100,000 lbs, and preferably over 150,000 lbs for typical shipping applications, can be achieved with a screw 67 of 1.5 inch diameter. Screw 67 may be larger in diameter for larger ships, and smaller in diameter for small ships and yachts. With this preferred embodiment, the quick-release 23 should withstand a 65 ton force. Other materials can be used as well, depending on the needs and the anti-corrosive properties and tensile strength of the materials.

As shown in FIG. 6, eyes 22A and 22B of mooring line 21 fasten mooring line 21 to housing 61 and housing 70, respectively. Receiver 62 (such as for example an RF or other receiver) is electrically connected to electric motor 63, which is via motor shaft 64 to male screw 67. Optional bushing 66 can be used to reduce friction and wear between housing 61 and male screw 67. Male screw 67 mates with female housing 68 to connect the eyes 22A and 22B.

FIG. 7 shows part of an additional embodiment in which quick release end 23A has guides 71, 72 extending from the body of end 23A. End 23B includes receptacles 73, 74 that receive guides 71 and 72 during connection to help align the connection as well as reduce the rotational forces. Reduction of rotational forces can help reduce twisting of the line during connection and disconnection.

Additional reductions in mooring line 21 twisting can also be achieved by applying appropriate amounts of tension to the mooring line 21 (e.g., via mooring line 21 retraction), keeping in mind that too much tension can impede motor's 63 ability to turn screw 67.

In operation, to disconnect mooring line 21 from a mooring such as bollard 32 according to a preferred embodiment, an operator such as a ship crew member (not shown) uses a wireless controller (not shown) to send a disengage signal to receiver 62. Wireless signals such as disengage and engage signals can be encrypted using known methods to provide security.

Receiver 62 then sends an appropriate electrical signal to electric motor 63 which rotates male screw 67 counterclockwise to unthread from female housing 68. Once male screw 67 disconnects from female housing 68, eye 22 of mooring line 21 becomes open and mooring line 21 releases from bollard 32. Mooring line 21 can then be retrieved on board the ship by the ship's crew. Once on board, crew members can perform any necessary maintenance (e.g., lubrication) and reconnect male screw 67 with female housing 68 so that mooring line 21 is ready for the next deployment.

Individual quick release devices 23 can be controlled one at a time, in groups, or all at the same time depending on the needs of the ship crew. With the quick release devices 23 as described herein, a ship's Captain and/or crew can reduce the approval and release time from hours to minutes, thus improving the efficiency and safety of the mooring release process.

Claims

1. A mooring line release mechanism, comprising:

a housing with a first loop for receiving a first eye of a mooring line;

an electric motor within said housing;

a wireless receiver within said housing and electrically coupled to said electric motor and operable to cause said electric motor to turn based on a received wireless signal;

a screw coupled to said electric motor;

a female screw-receiver with threads sized to receive said screw, said female screw- receiver having a second loop for receiving a second eye of said mooring line.

2. A mooring line release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said screw is at least 1.5 inches in diameter.

3. A mooring line release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said received wireless signal is encrypted.

4. A mooring line release mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said mooring line release mechanism can withstand a 65 ton pulling force applied to said first and second loops in opposite directions.

5. A mooring line release mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one male guide extending from at least one of said housing and said female screw -receiver towards said other of said housing and said female screw-receiver; and at least one female guide extending from said other of said housing and said female screw -receiver to accept said male guide during connection.

6. A mooring line having a loop at one end comprising:

a screw connection within said loop structured to allow opening and closing of said loop; an electric motor operable to turn said screw;

a control circuit operable to receive command signals and cause said electric motor to turn said screw in accordance with said command signals.

7. A mooring line according to claim 6, wherein said screw is at least 1.5 inches in diameter.

8 A mooring line according to claim 6, wherein said command signals are encrypted.

9. A mooring line according to claim 6, wherein said mooring line can withstand a 65 ton pulling force with said connection closed.

10. A mooring line according to claim 6, further comprising:

at least one male guide extending from at least one end of said connection towards said other end of said connection; and

at least one female guide extending from said other end of said connection to accept said male guide.