Patent GB-1300114-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to a coupling mechanism and lashing strap combination
Inventor: ADAMS LELAND DREW JR
IPC: B63C9/22
Filed: 1970-03-04
Abstract: 1300114 Releasable fastenings C J HENDRY CO 4 March 1970 10363/70 Headings E2A and E2B A combined coupling mechanism 33 and lashing strap 27 for releasably securing the lashing strap partially about a buoyant object 25 to be held to a vessel to thereby releasably secure the object to the vessel, the mechanism having first and second lashing plates 41 and 57, cooperative fastening means 45, 63 carried by said first and second lashing plates, and having a moveable portion 45 moveable between a first position in which the first and second lashing plates are held together by said fastening means and a second position in which separation of said lashing plates is permitted, said cooperative fastening means being formed in such a manner that tension between the first and second lashing plates urges the moveable portion of the fastening means from its first to its second position, one of the lashing plates carrying a plunger 49 movable between two positions one of which portions permits the moveable portion of the fastening means to move to its second position and the other of which positions prevents movement of the moveable portion and the fastening means to said second position, means responsive to hydrostatic pressure for moving said plunger to said one position, manually operable means 51 for moving said plunger to said one position, characterised by spring means, carried by one of said lashing plates and disposed between an abutment provided by said one lashing plate and an abutment carried by means 71 engaging the lashing strap for continuously applying sufficient tension between said lashing plates to tend to cause movement of said cooperative fastening means to said second position and separation of said lashing plates regardless of tension being applied to said lashing plates independent of said spring means, whereby in use said object can be released from the vessel either by hydrostatic action or manually regardless of any friction between the lashing strap and the object. In the construction shown the means responsive to hydrostatic pressure includes a cup 47 which houses a spring and a diaphragm, the diaphragm being attached to the plunger 49. The fastening means as shown has two moveable portions in the form of dogs 45 pivotally carried by the first lashing plate; these are engageable with lugs 63 carried by the second lashing plate. The disposition of the pivots relative to the lugs is such that tension between the lashing plates causes the dogs to pivot towards each other to release the lugs; the plunger has a narrow shaft portion 53 and an enlarged shaft portion 55 and provided the enlarged shaft portion is disposed between the dogs they cannot move from the fastening condition in which they are engaged with the lugs; however moving the narrow portion between the dogs either by hydrostatic pressure on the diaphragm or by means of the means 51 which is a button attached to the plunger allows the dogs to move towards each other and thus release the lugs so that the two lashing plates can separate. The spring means is contained in a housing defined by the second lashing plate and is connected to the means 71 which as shown is a hook which is slidable relative to the lashing plate and which is engagable with a pin 31 held in a loop of the strap. The other lashing plate is formed with an aperture for engagement by a hook attached to a framework which supports the object.