US2377803A - Releasable fastening for life rafts - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1945. f H. G. MORNER 2,377,803

v RELESABLE FASTENING`FOR LIFE RAFTS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 ZSheetS-Sheet 1 June 5, 1945. v H Q MQRNER 2,377,803

RELEASABLE FAS'IIENING FOR LIFE RAFTS Filed Aug. 22, 1944 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 5 I nlnllllunH l..

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flans eaf "afn/wer M E Patented June 5, 1945,

UNITED .STATES PATE-NT OFFICEv 2,377,803 I RELEASABLE FASTENING FOR LIFE RAFTS Hans G. Morner, New York, N. Y.

Application August 22, 1944, Serial No. 550,503

y 10 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in devices for releasably securing life rafts or other buoyant objects carried on board vessels.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, thevsame being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view of a stack of life rafts secured and equipped with means embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the stack shown in Fig. l, `a portion thereof being broken away to show the ends of two rafts in section;

Fig. 3 isa transverse central vertical section of a portion of said stack of rafts illustrating the raft-releasing operation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the raftsecuring frames or brackets; and

Fig. v5 is a reduced, partly diagrammatic view of the invention in operation, showing the action thereof with a stack of rafts secured to the deck of a submerged vessel. l

The invention is directed to providing novel means for releasably securing a nested or superposed stack of life rafts or similar buoyant objects to the surface of a' ship or other vessel in such manner as to provide automatically for the immediate release and freeing of each `of said stacked rafts from the stack as soon as the vessel sinks or otherwise submerges. The invention provides for securely fastening each of the rafts of the stack to the vessel and to the other rafts in the stack during normal sailing operations so that the raftsl may be stacked with a View to the greatest economy of space on the deck and held thereon in secure position during normal movements of the vessel even under most severe weather or othersailing conditions.

While it is a relatively simple matter to so fasten a stack of rafts for normal sailing conditions, problems arise when the vessel submerges, at which time it is desired immediately to release the rafts individually so that they will float free from the vessel and be available .for use by its survivors. As soon as the raft-supporting deck of a sinking vessel is submerged, the water tends 'to float the stack of rafts `thereon and thus to exert an upward stress upon any lashings o'r other apparatus provided for fastening the rafts together and/or to the deck. This fact has caused great difficulty in readily unfastening stacks of floating or submerged rafts. Even if the lashings have been secured the whole stack will oat off, the lowest rafts floating the rest, which makes it almost impossible for a survivor swimming in the water to pry themf apart .or otherwise separate the rafts in such a floating stack. t r

It has heretofore been the general and common practice to lash a stack of lifesaving rafts to the deck by means of pelican hooks and turnbuckles. This securely holds the stack to the deck but requires several manual operations to release each one of the stacks. In another method of fastening, the life rafts are stacked between uprights welded to the deck at the corners of the stack or around the edges of the life rafts. When the ship sinks on an even keel, the life rafts float out of the uprights but if the ship goes down with a considerable list, the stack may jam and go down with the ship. In either manner lof lash-'- ing, the stack normally oats off as a whole, and the rafts can be separated and launched only by tilting the iioating stack. This requires that one or more seamen climb the side of the floating stack of rafts, and tilt the stack until theA rafts separate and iioat away. Due to the relatively heavy weight of each of the rafts, this is a very dangerous operation, and as the stack turns over in the water, the seamen may be seriously in jured and possibly killed.

By virtue of the invention, a stack of rafts may be secured together as previously stated yet im-Y mediately upon submersion will automatically separate from each other and each unit of the stack in turn will float `free therefrom and be delivered to the surface of the water unconnected with any lashing apparatus or other impedimenta. Furthermore, the rafts of the stack are released therefrom and from each other alternately from two sides of the stack so that they will tend to float apart from each other and thus not interfere with each other as they separate and come to the surface. However, al1 of the lashing apparatus used to secure the rafts together in the stack during normal operations will remain connected to the deck of the vessel and automatically be brought to rest thereupon in an orderly manner during the releasing operation so that such lashing devices will not encumber the surface of the water or otherwise interfere with the rescue operations or safety of the survivors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an anchoring means whereby the stack as a whole is lfirmly anchored to the ships deck, while the individual rafts of the stack, from the top downward, are free from direct connection with the -deck and, Whilenormally Aheld from displacement., .are adaptedto oat off one by one and to be automatically released and separated from each other for rap-id launching in the event of quick sinking of the ship. l

Broadly described, the apparatus-provides for the stacking of a plurality of rafts in nested relationship one above the other, separated by intervening frames or spacers of 4buoyant for-"non-l l buoyant specific gravity. Each of said separating frames is individually lashed to the deck of the vessel byone .or more wires orilike ties whichv run from :withinl` the-separating frame lover the' raft below 'it,1down one'side of the -stackand 'therealong nto the ..deck. The' lashing wires of one' frame .lead over the side `of thestaclcopposite to those ofthe ladjacent :raft frames of the rafts above;andzbelow it, the rafts themselves not ybeingfzpositivelyconnected to the declrat any time. Asca result-.-of'this alternate unilateral frame lashing arrangement, the buoyant effect'of the wateren the'submerged stack is such as to cause the .uppermost raft'to rise, and thereafter the in superposed relation as shown in Figs. 2, 3 Iand 5, usually at least ve of said rafts constituting such a stack. In acco-rdance with the invention and as previously stated, each of the rafts of the stack is separated from that below it by an ntervening fastening frame as shown most clearly in Fig. 4. The central axis of said frame preferably is made of a metal pipe or rod I0 slightly less in length than the major outer axis of the obong raft I. Cross .bars Hand t2, similar in shape and material to the central bar IU and long enc-ugh to extend across the raft are dis- :posed crosswise of bar I0 about one-third of the 4.distance ,between thecenter and the ends of said central bar. The bars I0, II and!! preferably 4alllie in the-same plane and the junctions of the bars II and IZ with the bar I0 are preferably strengthened by diamond-shaped webs I3 and I4 respectively as shown in Figs. 1 and 4.

The ends o-f the bars I0, II and I2 are designed to rest-snuglyupon'the top surface of the raft below them and similarlyfto vsupport the raft above them. For this :purpose each lend of each of said bars is provided-with `a raft-engaging .block i5 preferablyfthoughvnot necessarily, formed `.of wood. .Each of vsaidblocks is identical'in construction and a descriptionof one will suice. The Vblocks l5 are 'centrally 'bored' to lit about the ends `of the round bars ISB, I I yand I2, said bars projecting through the block bores and being threaded at their projecting. ends, The blocks are thus tightly fastened at the `ends of 'the bars by next'raft may rise at its free side-and tilt `toward its .lashed side until the tilting reaches such 'an angle that the superposed frame is disengaged and falls. with Ithe lashing wires -to the -surface of the fdeck, thusfreeing the second iraft to -iloat .to the surface. 'This simple tilting operation automatically releases 'the raft-and'frame just below, permitting'it yto tilt vto the opposite' side under `the buoyant action of the-'water and the pullv-ofiits respective lashing wires. kThus the rafts of a submerged stack will alternatelytilt to the vright and left 'of the stack, freeing-'themselves vand releasing .each other to float `upwardly and' to oneside or the-*other while their lashing frames alternately are fdumped lo-n the deck over toward the sides ofthe stack toward which they are tilted. If vtime permits, the rafts may' be launched Amanually before submergence, without requiringfany severing of lashes Yor use of any force'except the tilting -ofsuccessive'rafts in opposite fdirections.

it will be understood that the -foreeoinggeneral description andthe following 'detailed vdescription as well are exemplary andexplanatory but are not Arestrictive ofthe invention.v

Referring now in details-to the lpresent. preferred 'embodiment' ofthe invention, Villustrated by Away of example inthe accompanying drawings, thefrafts shown in` said drawings 4comprise -the presently used substantiallypblong bodies I, filled Withany suitable ybuoyant material 2. Said generalv shape and construction of life rafts is we'll .known andv constitutes no 'necessary part of the invention and the structure thereof is'shown herein in general voutline only. The vinterior, portion' ofi'said-raftbounded by the yfloating oblong body 1|"may -be empty-or may containa fiat connecting `,web (not shown) which 'is usually per and 3. The elongated or stem portion I5 ofthe block-is straight and 'flat sowas correspondingly to conform to the square faces-of theraft bodies I. As shown in Figs. 2 and'3 between each two rafts of the stack there -is placed 'one of the cruciform framesl Vjust described whichframe yis closely nested with respect to the rafts above and 'below it and serves frictiona'llytohold said rafts in place with respect Ato each other and thereby'to form the stack. The shape ofssaid frames is such that the raft cannot slide laterally 'in any direction, while the weight of the rafts and frames holds the stack together.

In accordance with lthe invention, however, additional r'nriealus are provided for lashing the stack of vrafts to a fixed ylocus on the deck, which means also serves to Lelfect the prompt and separate release yof the rafts from the stack Vand from each other -upon'subrnersion For this plural purpose, exible lashing wires, ropes, cables v-or other similar tensiony means -are provided. The lashing wires 25, as shown, constitute the present preferred form of such means.l As embodied a pair Aofv spaced wires 25 and 26 Vare provided for,

lashing a separate Aframe to the ships 'deck'. Said wires are looped through yand fastened to suitable eyesfor vstaples Z'I'and 28 respectively, which staples are bolted, riveted or otherwise fastened to the deck surface .38. 'The wire 2E, for example, is run vertically Aupwardly alongthe outerside of the staclrfand over the toprof the raft body I which lies below 'the uppermostV separating frame, across the top/of said body and over the cross-bar Ii.v and the central bar vIIl of the' frame to engage the bar I2 on the far side of the diamondshape web I 4. This engagement is made by looping the end of the wire at 33 around said bar I2 at least once and then fastening the free end to the running part of the wire by `clamps or other suitable fastening means. The wire is run upwardly from the. staple 2'! andffastened to the cross bar II of the frame in similar manner. By this fastening arrangement the frame and the raft I beneath it are firmly lashed to the deck, the wires 25 and 26 beingmade as ltaut as possible, and this lashing tends to constrict the whole stack while resting on the deck. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the next lower frame which separates the raft I from the raft la below it is similarly fastened to the deck by wires and 3S which engage similar staples 31 and 38. It will be noted that the Awire lltv is looped about the cross bar I2 of said frame at a point beyond the center rod Ill of said frame and at' the side opposite the fastening of the upper wire 25 at the point 33 on the frame above.

The intervening frame for the next lower raft through the staples 21 and 28 in the mannerrst described with respect to the frame for raft I (Fig. 3). That is, the wire 25 for the frame above saidraft Ib rises from staple 28 and is connected at point 43 to the cross bar I2 of the lowermost frame, which point 43 is directly below the point 33 of the uppermost frame of the stack of three rafts shown in Fig, 3, when said rafts are all nested in the stack in their static condition.

Referring now to the operation of the invention when theldeckl 30 of a vessel is submerged, same will be clear from Figs. 3 and 5. Bearing in mind that each raft of the stack shown in Fig. 5, for example, is lashed to the deckby wires running from the frame above it to stapleson one side only of the stack, while the frame above the raft just below (and of alternate frames like it) are lashed by wires running to staples at the opposite side of the stack, the principle of the operation will be clear.

With the arrangement shown and described the stack will be firmly held in position against shifting of the rafts or displacement of the stack as a whole under any and all normal disturbing forces, while the rafts are free to be removed one by one without the necessity of rst severing any lashes. Thus the rafts are adapted to be successively removed and launched, when their use becomes necessary, within a minimum Vperiod of time, without liability of confusion, and with a minimum amount of labor. If suiiicient time for their manual removal is afforded, the top raft, which is freey to be lifted off, may be removed and launched, after which, by simply lifting the spacers and swinging them outwardly, successively in opposite directions, the underlying rafts may be conveniently removed one by one and launched. In the event, however, of the rapid sinking of the ship, as soon as the vessel submerges sufliciently to bring the top raft of the stack below water, the buoyant effect of the water on said rafts -will cause the uppermost one to rise from its free side and tilt about the blocks I5 on the frame just below it. The wires 25 and 26 (Fig. 3) on the frame above said raft I will hold taut while the free or unlashed side of the frame rises under` the floating raft. This tilting action continues until the raft assumes an angle suiiciently steep above horizontal to throw off the frame resting on top of it. The attachment of the wires at the point 33 beyond the center line of the frame tends to impart a strong Vdisengaging leverage to this motion so that the frame is quickly pulled away from the tilting raft and falls free to the side of the stack. `Duringthe tilting action the lower edge of the raft -turns upon the stem I5 of the frame below it, thereby tending to hold said frame in place. Also this vaction tends to hold down that side of the raft below. However, as soon as the frame above is cast olf, the raft I floats `away and then the free edge of the next frame below is able to rise as the raft I a starts to vtilt about its opposite side under the influence of the wires 35 and 36 attached as shown. Thus in a stack such as shown in Fig. 5, the rafts will be` tilted successively to one side and then to the other and their frames disengage toward said respective sides in alternate relation from the top to the bottom of the stack; Preferably the uppermost raft (Fig. 2) is allowed to rest freely on top of the first frame. without any lashing above said raft. Thus when the vessel is submerged the first raft floats freely upwardly from the top of the stack.and so is automatically disengaged as shown in Fig. 5.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and de-A scribed but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

, 1. A device of the class described including in combination, a plurality of life rafts stacked in superposed relation on the deck of a vessel,

' non-buoyant spacing frames between each raft and the one below it in the stack and tension members running over an edge of each raft, said members beingconnected to the frame thereabove and to the deck adjacent said edge of theraft, the tension members from alternate frames being connected to the deck at opposite sides of the stack whereby the unbound sides of the rafts in the stack may rise under the buoyant effect of water to tilt the rafts and superposed frames in opposite directions to free said rafts and frames from the stack.

2. A device of the class described including in combination, a plurality of oblong life rafts stacked in superposed relation on the deck of a vessel, non-buoyant spacing frames between each posed frames in opposite directions to free said.

rafts and frames from the stack.

3. A device of the class'described including in combination,V a plurality of oblong, open-center life rafts stacked in superposed relation on the deck of a vessel, non-buoyant spacing frames between each raft and the one below it in the stack occupying a portion of the open-center space 'I of said rafts, and tension members running over an edge of each raft, said members being connected to the frame thereabove and to the deck adjacent said edge of the raft, the tension memthe deck-.at oppesiteV-,Sdesief tbe-fstack whereby the unbound sides o f the rafts in .the Stackimay rise under the buoyant effect of water to tilt `the rafts and superposed frames in opposite directions t free Said .rafts andframes from the stack- -4. Adevice of theclassdescribed.including in combination, a plurality of voblong life rafts stacked in superposedrelation on thedeck of -a vessel, non-buoyant spacing frames between each raft and the one below,v it in the stacky and tension members running -over a Vlongitudinal edge of each raft, said members being connected-to the frame .ther-eabcve andpto the deck adjacent said edge of the raft, the tension members from alternate frames being. connected to the deck atopposite sides of the stack whereby the-unbound sides of the rafts in the stack mayrise under the buoyant effect of water to tilt the rafts and superposed frames in opposite directions to free said `rafts and frames from thestack, thetension members being-connected to the respective frames at points beyond Vthe center lines thereof remote from the sides ofthe stack on which said-members are fixed to the deck.

.5.'In means for securing a vertically disposed stack of life rafts and raft spacers to a ships deck, and in. combination with ;a series of superposed rafts, and spacers between the rafts, lashes connecting different spacersat the respective sides to the deck .at opposite sides of the stack tand extending fromsaid spacers outside of the respective raft sides.

6. In means for securing a vertically disposed stack of life rafts and raft spacerscto a ships deck, and in combination with a series of superposed rafts, and spacers between the rafts., lashes arranged at opposite sides of :the stack alternately connecting-spacers at the opposite sides of thesstak 12o-.the deQk-andextendlrisfrsmfseid spacers .,Qiltsideof the respectvereft Sides- `7. In means for securing a ,vertically disposed stack of -life vrafts and. raftspacers t0 ashipS deck, and in combination with a seriestoft-supern0sed rafts. `and-Spacers .between therafts, a set of lashesat one outer side of ,the stackconnecting spacers at different levels to the deck, andy a set of o lashes at the opposite outer side ofthe stack connecting spacers at other different levels tothe deck.

r8. In means for releasably anchoring a stack of superposed vlife rafts and intervening raft spacers to a ship's deck, a lashing at ,one louter ,side of the ,Stack connecting thetop spacer'tof the stack to the deck, .a lashing atthe samerside of the vstack connecting an intermediate spacer of :the stack to thedeck, and lashings at the opposite outer side of the stack respectively connecting `the others of the lspacers arranged between rafts of the stack to the deck.

9.'v In means for releasably anchoring Aa stack of superposed life rafts and spacers disposed between the rafts to `a ships deck, lashes connecting .different spacers ofthe stack from top to bottom yof the stack to the deck alternately at yopposite sides of the stack, eachof the la'shes extending onone outer side only of theI stack from the deck to Va spacer.

1 0. In combination ,with the deck of. a ship, a Stack 0f life rafts mounted thereon.. andspacers disposed between the rafts and releasably engaged therewith, fasteners at one outer yside only ofthe `stack connecting certain spacers with the deck,

and fasteners at the opposite outer side only `of the stack connectingthe remaining spacers with the deck.

HANS G. MORNER.

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