Method and device for locking rope winch
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2019-07-02
16/039,297
2018-07-18
✅ Patent granted
US 10,336,408 B1
2019-07-02
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Emmanuel M Marcelo
Neifeld IP Law, PC
2038-07-18
Smart Summary: A new method locks a rope winch to ensure safety during lifeboat operations. When the rope drum stops, a locking bolt is inserted through specific holes and secured with a nut. This design allows for checking any issues with the winch without needing to lower the lifeboat into the water. It improves safety by enabling tests of the lifeboat launching system while keeping the boat secure. Overall, this innovation enhances the reliability of lifeboat operations on ships and offshore platforms. 🚀 TL;DR
Abstract:
A method for locking the rope winch which is characterized by the fact that the locking bolt is inserted when the rope drum of the rope winch is stopped, first, through one of two holes in the first lug, then through one of the arched cuttings on the wheel of the rope drum of the rope winch, and finally through one of two holes in the second lug, Then the locking bolt is secured in position with a nut.
Applicant:
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Classification:
B63B23/48 » CPC main
Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like; Use of lowering or hoisting gear using winches for boat handling
B63B23/02 » CPC further
Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like Davits, i.e. devices having arms for lowering boats by cables or the like
B63B35/40 » CPC further
Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting marine vessels
B66D1/40 » CPC further
Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans; Other constructional details Control devices
B66D1/54 » CPC further
Rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms; Capstans Safety gear
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The subject of the invention is the method and device for locking rope winch.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
This invention may, in particular, serve for operation of rope winches in lifeboat launching systems mounted on ships and offshore platforms.
Background Art
There are a number of lifeboat launching systems for ships and offshore platforms, using rope winches allowing a lifeboat to descend automatically by unwinding the rope on a drum after the rope winch has been unlocked. On offshore platform systems, a lifeboat usually descends vertically into the water; on ships, it usually is moved outside the ship's board by a davit, and then it is vertically lowered into the water, along its side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
Such solutions, however, do not allow to examine any potential failure of the rope winch until it is unlocked or until a lifeboat is lowered into the water.
Solution to Problem
The invention has a specific advantage in that it allows to engage the rope winch lock while a lifeboat is being pulled up, and, if there is any rope winch failure, such failure may be examined and repaired without any need to secure a lifeboat or lower it into the water.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
The invention also increases safety of any tests of the lifeboat launching systems for ships and offshore platforms using rope winches, namely, it allows to test moving a lifeboat from its original position to a position indicated by a rope winch drum lock.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The device for locking rope winch has been shown in the following figures:
FIG. 1. is a transverse section of the device for locking rope winch, particularly for launching lifeboats, with arched cuttings 3 visible on the wheel 2 and with locking bolt 6 secured with a nut 7.
FIG. 2 is the longitudinal section of device for locking rope winch, particularly for launching lifeboats, with parallel lugs 4 and the wheel 2 in between them,
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The device for locking rope winch presented in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 consists of a wheel 2 controlling the rope drum 1 of the lifeboat rope winch, with arched cuttings 3, and, on both its sides, identical separate fixed lugs 4 with two holes 5 in each, and a locking bolt 6 with a nut 7.
The arched cuttings 3 in the wheel 2 controlling the rope drum 1 of the lifeboat rope winch are identical in length and are positioned in equal distance from each other on the arc of the circle which has its centre in the rotation axis of the rope drum 1 of the lifeboat rope winch.
Each separate fixed lug 4 contains two identical holes 5 positioned on the arc of the circle which has its centre in the rotation axis of the rope drum 1 of the lifeboat rope winch.
The length of the arc with its centre in the rotation axis of the rope drum 1 of the lifeboat rope winch, measured between two holes 5 of each lug 4, is more than the length of the arc between arched cuttings 3 and less than the length of the arc of each arched cutting 3. As the rope drum 1 of the rope winch rotates, at least one of the holes 5 in each lug 4 aligns with one of the arched cuttings 3 on the wheel 2 of the rope drum 1 of the rope winch, subsequently allowing to insert the locking bolt 6 if the rope drum 1 of the rope winch has been previously stopped.
The locking bolt 6 is inserted when the rope drum 1 of the rope winch is stopped, first, through one of two holes 5 in the first lug 4, then through one of the arched cuttings 3 on the wheel 2 of the rope drum 1 of the rope winch, and finally through one of two holes 5 in the second lug 4, then it is secured in position with a nut 7 which locks rotational movement of the rope drum 1 of the rope winch.
As the length of the arc with its centre in the rotation axis of the rope drum 1 of the lifeboat rope winch, measured between two holes 5 of each lug 4, is more than the length of the arc between arched cuttings 3 and less than the length of the arc of each arched cutting 3, the use of the locking bolt 6 results in blocking the rotary movement of the rope drum 1 of the rope winch with a delay.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
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- 1 rope drum
- 2 wheel
- 3 cutting
- 4 lug
- 5 hole
- 6 locking bolt
- 7 nut
Claims
The invention claimed is:1. A method for locking a rope winch, characterised in that a locking bolt (6) is inserted when a rope drum (1) of the rope winch is stopped;
first, said inserting is performed through one of two holes (5) in a first lug (4);
then said inserting is performed through one of multiple arched cuttings (3) on a wheel (2) of the rope drum (1) of the rope winch; and
finally said inserting is performed through one of two holes (5) in a second lug (4), then the locking bolt (6) is secured in position with a nut (7).
2. The method of claim 1, characterised in that while the rope drum (1) of the rope winch rotates, at least one of two holes (5) in each lug (4) aligns with one of the multiple arched cuttings (3) on the wheel (2) of the rope drum (1) of the rope winch.
3. A device for locking a rope winch, particularly for launching lifeboats, equipped with a rope drum (1) with a wheel and lugs, characterised in that there are arched cuttings of identical length (3) in the wheel (2) which are positioned in equal distance from each other on an arc of a circle which has its centre in a rotation axis of the rope drum (1) of the rope winch and each lug (4) has two identical holes (5) positioned on the arc of the circle which has its centre in the rotation axis of the rope drum (1).
4. The device of claim 3, characterised in that the length of the arc with its centre in the rotation axis of the rope drum (1) of the rope winch, measured between two holes (5) of each tug (4), is more than the length of the arc between said arched cuttings (3) and less than the length of the arc of each arched cutting (3).
Images & Drawings included:
Sources:
- United States Patent and Trademark Office - verify current appl. status at the USPTO↗
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