US2408762A - Locking apparatus for elevator platforms - Google Patents

Description

J. DUNLOP ET AL 2,408,762- LOCKING APPARATI-IS FOR ELEVATOR PLATFORMS Oct. 8, 1946.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16 1943 mvswroes James Dun lap and Patented Oct. 8, 1946 LOCKING APPARATUS FOR ELEVATOR PLATFORMS James Dunlop,

Ridgewood, and Lennie R. Rissler,

Hohokus, N. J.,' assignors, by mesne assignments, to Westinghouse Pa, a corporation of Penn- East Pittsburgh,

sylvania Electric Corporation,

Application December 16, 1943, Serial No. 514,520 I -20 Claims. 1

Our invention relates to locking apparatusfor elevator platforms and more particularly to locking apparatus for securely holding large elevator platforms in a wedge-locked position at a landing.

One object of our invention is to provide for firmly wedging and locking large elevator plat forms at a parking floor. I

Another object is to provide a wedge lock for large elevator platforms at a parking floor which will maintain its wedging action as long as the lock is in looking position. Afurther object is to so look and wedge the platform of a deck-edge elevator at a flight deck on a ship as to overcome of the platform and also to the wind and the sea.

A still further object is to provide a wedge and locking apparatus which will maintain an elevator platform securely in position at a flight deck on a ship regardless of the action of the ship, the elements or any warpage of the deck or change in the size of the platform opening in the deck due to changes in temperature.

It is also an object to provide a wedging; and locking apparatus for elevator platforms which may be easily operated either by power or by hand and which may be easily maintained in sound operative condition under all circumstances. V a

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying draw.- ings; in which:

v Figure lis a View in'aft end elevation of a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, with the elevator platform at the main deck,

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation taken from the inside of theship and looking in the outboard direction, with the platform at the flight deck, I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top-plan'view of the elevator platform lock in position at the flight deck,

part of the flight deck being broken away to disclose our improved locking apparatus and the platform being shown in broken parts to accommodate the figure to the drawing,

Fig. 4 is a view in fore end elevation of the locking apparatus illustrated'in Fig. 3,. 1

Fig. 5 is a view in inboard side elevation of the locking apparatus illustrated in Figure. 3,

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the inboard look at the aft end of the platform, Fig. '7 is a vertical longitudinal section through the outboard wedge look at the aft end of the platform, i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical longitudinalsection from the inboard side of the mechanism for interlocking the hoisting engine and the platform locking apparatus shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 9 is a view taken'on the line IX-JX Fig. 8. g

,Fig. 10 is an enlarged view in side elevation, taken from the aft end of the platform, of the cam mechanism responsive to the position ofth'e platform for preventing operation of the locking apparatus until the platform is level with the flight deckjand.

Fig. 11 is a view in side elevation of the hand lever and ratchet wheel for operating the lockthe battering-ram effect on the ship due to pitch and roll ing apparatus by hand.

The invention is illustrated as deck edge elevator on an In a typical ship of this character having a deck edge elevator the flight deck overhangs the edge applied to a of the ship about 16 feet and out of this overhanging part of the deck is notched a spacefor the elevator platform. Such a platform is about feet long and 34 feet wide and weighs approximately 60 tons. The outboard portion of the platform extends approximately 18 feet, beyond the overhanging edge of the flight deck. The guides for the platform are mounted on the outside of the ship hull: andtheplatform is suspended and operated in the guides by a plurality of hoisting cables which pass over sheaves mounted on the underside of the overhanging part of the deck and which are attached'to, the fore and aft ends of the platform. The platform is suspended entirely by its hoistingeablesand is not counterweighed. L i

When the platform is not in ordinary use and the roll of the ship exceeds 10,it should belocked at the flight deck For this purpose, we provide two looks at its fore end and'two looks at its aft end. Theinboard look at the fore end and the inboard look at the aft end are mounted on the underside of the overhanging deck close to the ship hull. The outboardlock'atthe fore end and the outboard look at the aft end are mounted underneath the flight deck near its outboard edge. The locks are connected together so that they maybe operated in unisoneither by byhand. of locks will permit a moveunder the action of externally appliedforces, such as the platform dipping into a wave with the ship under motion. This platform movement will progress until the externally applied turning moment is balanced by a countermoment'ekerted by the roller guides against the rollers of'the platform. Any turning pneumatic power or This arrangement airplane carrier ship.

moment is therefore resisted by reactions at opposite ends of the platform, instead of by reactions at the locking members, which have a much shorter lever arm.

When the ship rolls heavily the outer portion of the platform dips into the water. As the platform strikes the water severe stresses are set up. On coming out of the water the platform lifts many tons of water, thereby creating heavy additional stresses. the four looks. The inboard locks are designed to take vertical reactions only and the outboard locks are designed to take both Vertical and fore and aft loads. The reactions athwartship are not taken on any of the locks but. are taken on the elevator guides. In order to prevent a battering ram eflect of the platform on the ship' due to pitch and roll and also to wind and sea, the outboard locks are made wedge shaped so that the platform will be locked tightly to the flight deck and there can be no looseness between the flight deck and the ship. even though there should be warpage of the flight deck or a change in size of the notch in the deck due to changes in temperature.

Although the invention is described in connection with a deck edge elevator on an airplane carrier ship, it may be used in connection with any movable body which should be securely locked and wedged in a particular position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, we have illustrated a deck edge elevator comprising an elevator platform It disposed between a pair of guide rails II and I2 mounted on the outside of a ship hull I3, in position to be supported by and to be raised and lowered between a main deck I4 and a flight deck or parking floor I5 by a plurality of hoisting cables I6 and I1 operated by a hoisting engine I8,

The platform I!) comprises a base section 29 and a hinged or outboard section 21 the floors of which normally lie in the same plane and provide a large level area upon which airplanes may be moved and carried from one deck to another.

The base section of the platformv is constructed With a suitable flooring 22 laid upon a frame 23 made of seamless steel tubing, structural steel sections and steel plate welded together in bridge like construction .to form a relatively light but stron structure. platform is also constructed with a suitable floor 24 laid upon a frame .25 of seamless steel tubing, structural steel and steel plate welded to gether in bridge like construction in the same manner as the. base and is. mounted upon and I:

connected to, the. base With asuitable hin ed joint 26 so that it may be raised from its normal horizontal position into a vertical position on the base when the ship has to pass through .a canal lock or other narrow opening, in the copending application, Serial No. 513,029 filed Dec. 6, 1943.

The guide rails II and I2 are mounted in vertical. position and. facing each other on the side of the ship hullv by means, of a plurality of horizontally disposed brackets 28,.

The guide rails are provided with vertical slots 29 in their sides facing each other which are disposed to receive a plurality of rollers 35 rotatably mounted on the base section for the purf' pose of guiding the movement of the elevator platform as it is raised or lowered and for also maintaining the platform in its horizontal position. A block 32 is securely fastened by welding tothe lower end of each guide rail to prevent The stresses are taken on ,by'

The outboard section of the as described and claimed the elevator from dropping on down through the slots in case of failure of the safeties and cables, etc. In normal use the platform is suspended entirely on its hoisting cables and no counterweights are provided.

The hoisting engine I8 is a hydraulic engine comprising a single cylinder 34 mounted in a horizontal position on a frame or engine bed 35 and a power plunger 33 disposed in the cylinder. The outer end of the plunger is provided with a power head 31 in which a pair of power sheaves 38 are rotatably mounted. The plunger slides back and forth in the cylinder and thus moves the power sheaves back and forth with it. The

plunger is designed for operation by a suitable hydraulic medium. such as oil placed under pressure by any suitable pumping apparatus (not shown). A valve block 39 is mounted on the cylinder for controlling the operation of the plunger by controlling the admission of the oil to the cylinder. An electric motor 49 is connected with the valve block for operating the valve mechanism therein.

A pair of down stopping blocks ii are mounted on the cylinder block in position to engage the power head for the purpose of limiting the rearward motion of the plunger when the elevator is being lowered to the main deck and a pair of up stopping blocks 42 are mounted on a projection 43 on the engine bed in position to limit the forward stroke of the plunger when the platform is being raised to the flight deck.

The hoisting cables I6 at the aft end of the platform (Fig. 2) are secured to the base 20 by a bracket 45 and pass upwardly and over an idler sheave 46 fastened to the ship structure underneath the overhanging portion of the flight deck, thence rearwardly over a second idler sheave 41 mounted on the ship frame inside the hull, thence downwardly and under a deflector sheave 48 mounted on the engine bed 35, thence around a stationary sheave 49 mounted on the engine bed, thence forward and around the one of the power sheaves 38 and thence to adead end hitch 50 on the lower part of the rear end of the engine cylinder 34.

The hoisting cables i! at the fore end of the elevator are secured to the base 23 by a bracket 52 and pass upwardly and over an idler sheave 53 fastened to the ship structure underneath the overhanging portion of the flight deck, thence rearwardly over a second idler sheave 54 mounted on the ship frame inside the hull, thence downward and undera deflector sheave 55 mounted on theengine bed, thence under and over one of the power sheaves 38, and thence to a dead-end hitch 56 on the upper part of the rear end of the engine cylinder. This roping arrangement is described and claimed in the copending application Serial No. 507,132, filed October 21, 1943.

We have provided an aft inboard lock se, a forward inboard lock (it, an aft outboard lock 62 and a forward outboard lock 63 for locking the elevator platform I3 in its position level with the flight deck when it is not in use or When its cables are to be renewed.

The aft inboard lock 63 (Fig. 6) comprises a horizontal cylindrical bolt 64 slidably disposed in a, housing 65' made in the form of a casting and securely fastened to the underside of the overhanging portion of the flight deck. A flattened face 65 is provided on the upper side of the looking end of the bolt 54 for engaging the underside of a stop castin 67 mounted in the edge of the elevator platform. The casting 61, is provided the same manner and its 10 with an extended lip 68 disposed to be locked between a stopping device or ledge 69 on thelock housing and the upper face of the lock bolt 64.

The rear end of the bolt 64 is connected by a link TI to. one end of a lever arm I2, the other end of which is fixed on an aft outboard lock shaft I3 so that rotation or rocking of the aft outboard lock shaft 13 will move the lock bolt 64 into or out of locking position. It will be observed that the lip or stop 68 held between the lock bolt and the casting ledge 69 has horizontal flat faces so that it will lock the platform against vertical reaction'only.

The forward inboard lock 6| is constructed and mounted at the forward end of the platform in ck'bolt "is connected to a forward outboard lock shaft Iby a link I6 and a lever arm 11.

The aft outboard lock 62 (Fig. 7) is provided with a longitudinal cylindrical lock bolt 80 slidably' disposed in a housing or casting 8|. The housing BI is bolted or otherwise securely fastened'to the underside of the overhanging portion of the flight deck I5. The upper portion of the casting 8| is provided with a stopping device having a beveled-or downwardly and inwardly retreating face 82 disposed to engage the downwardly and outwardly extending beveled face 83 of a stop casting 84 which is bolted or otherwise firmly secured to the aft end of the elevator platform III. The bottom face 85 of the stop casting 84 is inclined rearwardly and downwardly at an angle to its face 83. The upper front top portion 86 of the bolt 86 is cut away at an'angle extending outwardly and downwardly for wedging the faces 83 and 86 of the stop casting on the edge of the elevator platform between the beveled edge 82 of the lock housing and the lock bolt when the lock bolt is moved forward to lock the platform in its flight deck position, so that the aft end of the elevator will be tightly locked and wedged against the flight deck when the lock bolt is in its locking and wedging position.

.The rear end of the bolt 86 is connected by a link 81 to the upper end of a lever arm 88, the other end of which is fixed on the outboard lock shaft I3, so that rotation or rocking of the lock shaft I3 willmove the lock bolt 80 into or out of locking position; p

The forwardoutboard lock 63 is constructed and mounted at the forward end of the platform in the same manner and its lock bolt 96 is connected to the forward outboard lock shaft I5 by a link 9| and a lever 92. The lock bolt 90is also provided with an outwardly and downwardly beveled face 93 disposed to engage a beveled face 94 on the stop casting 95 associated with the lock 63. V The beveled faces on the lock bolts and the stop members of the lock 62 and 63 will not only lock the platform firmly in its position at the flight deck, but will also wedge it firmly against the flight deck so that there can be no looseness between the flight deck and the ship even though there should be warpage of thefiight deck or a change in size of the notch in the deck due to I changes in temperature. This wedging action will prevent any battering ram effect of the platform on the ship due to pitchand roll and, also, to wind and sea. v

It will also be notedzthe links and lever arms between the lock bolts and the lock shafts form toggle-Ike connectors which exert a powerful pressure to maintain the bolts in their locking position.

{The lock shaft I3 for operating the lock bolts 64 and 80, is rotatably mounted in a plurality of pillow blocks 91, 98, 99 and I66, mounted on the underside of the overhanging edge of the flight deck platform and in a pillow block IIlIIa mounted within the ship hull. In order to prevent binding of the shaft I3 and its bearings, it is constructed in several sections connected by universal joints IIlI and I02. The lock shaft "I5 at the forward end of the elevator platform is rotatably mounted in a plurality of pillow-blocks I63, I84, I85 and I06, secured at, suitable intervals on the underside of the overhanging edge of the flight deck and in a pillow block Iil6a mounted within the ship hull. The shaft I5 is, constructed in several sections which may be connected by suitable universal joints I91 and I68 in order to avoid binding of the shaft in any of its bearings.

The means for operating the lock shafts I3 and "I5 comprise an air engine IID mounted within the ship hull on a frame I H. The engine is provided with a piston I I I disposed in a cylinder I I2 for driving a piston rod I I3. The engine is connected by inlet and outlet air pipes II4 and H5 by means of which it may be connected to a suitable air force (not shown) mounted in the ship.

The outer end of the rod I I3 is fixed in acrosshead II6 which is slidably disposed one part of the engine frame Ill. The forward end of the cross head H6 is connected by a link IIB to a clevis H9 on the forward end of an inboard operating rod I26. 7

The guide block H6 is provided with an off set arranged to engage a roller II6A which in turn operates an electric switch IIBB. As the crosshead I I6 moves under the influence of power rod II3, switch arm IIBA is moved and switch N63 is closed, to connect the electric control for moving the platform when the locks are unlocked and to disconnect it when the lock bolts are moved to their locking position. This arrangement provides a means for preventing the motor 46 from causing operation of the hoisting en- 5 gine and platform while the platform is locked against the flight deck.

The aft end of the operating rod I26 is piv 'otally connected by a link I2I with the upper end of a lever arm I22, the lower end of which is fixed on the inner end of the lock shaft IS. The lever arm I22 isso fixed on the lock shaft 'i3that a reciprocating motion of the operating rod I20 in the aft direction will rotate or rock the lock shaft I3 and thereby operate its levers I2 and188'to movethe lock bolts 56 and 88 out of their locking position. r The means for rotatably moving the lock shaft 7 I5 by means of the air engine, comprises a lever I25,'a link I26, and a lever arm IZ'I. The lever I25 has its upper end pivotally connected to the link H8 attached to the rod Ii!!! and its lower end pivotally connected to a support I25 mounted on the ship frame. The link I26 has one end pivotally connected to the middle portion of the 55 lever I25 and its central portion pivotaily con nected to the outer end of thelever arm 121, the other end of which is fixed on the inner end of the lock shaft '55. With this construction, it will be observed that a reciprocating movement bi the link'II8 by the piston rod I53 toward the aftend of the ship will move thetop 0f the lever I25 in the. aft direction thereby pulling on f the link'iilfi and turning the crank arm l2! to rock the shaft I5 and thus operatethe lever arms "I5 I1 and 92 to move the locking bolts I4 and 9- out of their locking position and into their unlocked position.

A manual means I30 is provided for operating the locking apparatus at any time when the air engine fails in operation by reason of failure in the air supply for it or for any other reason. The manual means I35 includes a hand lever I3! having its base end rotatably mounted on one end of a shaft I32 which is rotatably mounted in the framework underneath the overhanging deck I5. A rest hook I33 is provided for supporting the hand lever when it is not in use. A two-way pawl E34 (Fig. 11) is pivotally mounted by a bolt I35 on the base end of the hand lever IS! in position to engage either side of a ratchet wheel I36 fixed on the outer end of the shaft I32, so that the lever may be used for operating the pawl to rotate the shaft I32 in either direction. A spring biased pin 53? is disposed in the free end of the pawl for holding it out of use when the lever Il is not being used. A pinion I35 is fixed on the inner end of the shaft I52 in position to mesh with a segmental gear I46 which is firmly fixed on the locking shaft l5. so that operation of the hand lever I 3I when the pawl I34 is in one of its locking positions will retate the pinion I39 and thereby move the segmental gear to rock the shaft l to move the lock bolts into or out of locking position, it being obvious that the rotation of the shaft 75 to move the lock bolts id and 53 will also operate the arm I21, the link I26, the lever I25 and the operating rod I212 to rock the shaft I3 for moving the lock bolts 64 and 8B.

In order to prevent the lock moved into locking position when the elevator platform is not at the flight deck, a safety cam I42 (Figs. 3, 5 and is pivotally mounted by a bolt I44 on a depending support I 45 and provided with a locking member I43 disposed to cooperate with a lock block It? on the rod I29. The block B ll is fastened to the rod I253 by a bolt I48 and it may be adjusted to its correct position on the rod by loosening the bolt sliding the block along the rod until it is in the correct position and then tightening the bolt. The depending support I45 is also provided with a hole which receives the operating rod I 2d and provides a slidable bearing for it.

A compression spring I l2a is mounted between a lip I42b on the safety cam arm and a nut and washer M20 on the outer end of a rod I42d, the inner end of which is pivotally mounted by a bolt M2e on the depending safety cam support I45. I42 outwardly into form so that the locking member I 33 of the safety cam device will always be in looking position except when the elevator platform is at the flight deck.

When the lock bolts are withdrawn from their locking position by movement of the rod 428 in the aft direction, that movement of the rod moves the locking block I47 aftward beyond the end of the locking member I43. leaves the flight deck, it releases the cam lever I42. Thereupon, the spring I did forces the looking member B43 against the rod I263 back of the block I47 where it will prevent forward movement of the rod and the form is again moved to the flight deck. Thus the rod I20 cannot be operated to move the lock bolts into locking until the movement of the platform to the flight deck operates the cam lever bolts from being The spring IdZa will bias the safety cam the path of the elevator plat- When the platform block until the plat.-

I42 to move the locking member I 43 outwardly to its unlocking position.

When the elevator platform is locked in position at its flight deck, the locking bolts must not be removed from their locking position unless the oil pressure in the hydraulic engine cylinder 34 is sufficient to maintain the hoisting cables with full power to support the platform at the flight deck. Therefore, we have provided an engine interlock mechanism I50 for preventing movement of the locking bolts to their unlocking position unless the oil pressure in the engine is sufiicient to support the elevator platform at the flight deck.

The interlock mechanism I50 comprises a hydraulic cylinder I5I (Figs. 5, 8 and 9), a piston I52 operatively disposed in the cylinder and a rectangular head I53 on the upper end of the pis ton. The cylinder I 5! is mounted by a pair of supporting members I54 on the lower part of the engine frame with the piston head I 53 slidably disposed between a pair of guide blocks I54a and I541) on the underside of a portion of the frame In of the air engine H9. The piston head I53 is disposed to engage, when in its lowermost position, a pair of locking hooks I55 and I55a on the free end of the link yoke I25 which is pivotally connected with the lever I25 and the lever arm I21 so that the levers and the operating rod 528 cannot be moved to withdraw the locking bolts from their locking position unless the piston head I53 is in its uppermost position.

The means for raising the piston and piston head into their uppermost position to permit unlocking operation of the rod I29 when the engine is ready to support the platform is a plunger I55 seated in a cavity I5! in the lower part of the cylinder I5I which is connected by an oil pipe line I58 :to the high pressure side of the hydraulic engine. When the hydraulic fluid in the. high pressure side of the hydraulic engine is at its normal high pressure, that pressure will raise the plunger I 56 upwardly and cause it to push upwardly on the bottom of the piston I52 and thus raise the piston to move its piston head I53 to its uppermost position out of engagement with the locking hooks I55 and I55a on the operating link I26.

A compression spring i is mounted in the interior of the cylinder I 52 between a plug IEI slidably disposed in the upper end of the cylinder and a bottom plate I62 which is welded into the bottom of; the cylinder. The upper end of the plug rests against a bottom section of the air engine frame H1. When the piston is moved upwardly under the action of the plunger I56, the spring I is compressed and stores up energy to bias the piston 52 downwardly against the pressure of the oil in the engine cylinder. The strength of the compression spring I50. should be so selected that it will counterbalance the pressure of the plunger I55 operated by the pressure of the oil in the engine in such manner that the piston will be forced upwardly to unlock the bars I 55 and I55a only when the oil pressure in the engine gylinder is sufficient to support the elevator platorm.

At times it may happen that the oil line I58 leading to the cylinder I5I is shot away Or otherwise damaged while the oil pressure in the engine cylinder 34 is still capable of supporting the elevator platform. If the oil line I 58 is seriously damaged but the oil pressure in the engine cylinder is still capable of supporting the'platform, the piston I52 may be moved upwardly by the hand lever I55 which is pivo-tally mounted on the cylbolts from their locking position.

Assumed operation of the apparatus It will be assumed now that the elevator platform is locked at the flight deck in the position shown in Fig. 3, that the hand operating means is disconnected by moving the pawl I34 into its non-engaging position and resting the hand lever against the rest hook I33, and that the oil pressure in the engine .cylinder is sufficient to support the platform and, therefore, suflicient to maintain the piston head I 53 above the interlock hooks I55 and I-5a. It will be' assumed now that the ber I43 away the platform at the 10 held in safe position by the elevator platform being at the flight deck. e It will be assumed now that the platform is again raised to the flight deck and that it will be locked in position thereat.

As the elevator platform approaches closely to the flight deck it strikes the safety cam I42 and moves it inwardly, thus moving the locking memfromthe rod I26 and out of the way of the locking block I41 so that the operating rod I26 may be moved in the forward direction for operating the locking apparatus to lock flight deck. In this operation ofthe locks it will be assumed thatf the air pressure for the air engine is insufficient to operate that engine and that the attendants must operate the manual means I36 to effect the desired locking action. In order to use the hand means the pawl I34 is thrown into engagement with the ratchet wheel I36, then the lever I3I is operated back and forth to rotate attendant desires to unlock the platform to move it downwardly and, therefore, operates the air engine I III to move the lock bolts to their unlocked position; ,The operation of the air engine II6 causes its piston III to move in the aft directime (Fig. 3) and thereby push its piston rod II3 outwardly.

The outward movement of the piston rod carries with it the guide II6, the link II8, the lever I25, the clevis II9, the operating rod I26, 'and the link I2I and thereby rocks the lever arm I22 in anticlockwise the lock shaft 13 into open locking position. This rotative movement of the shaft 13 causes its lever arms'1.2 and 88 to punch their links H and 81 and thus pull the aft inboard locking bolt 64 and the aft outboard locking bolt 86 out of their locking position into their unlocked position. This motion also engages guide block i I6 with roller I I6A to close switch I I6B to close the electric circuit to the platform control.

The aft movement of the link II8 carries with it the upper end of the operating lever I25 thus pulling the link I26 in the aft direction and thereby operating the lever arm I21 to cause a corresponding rotative movement of the shaft 13. The rotative movement of the shaft 15 causes its lever arms 11 and 92 to pull on their links :6 and 81 and thus move the forward inboard lock bolt 14 and the forwardoutboard lock bolt 96 out of their locking position and into their unlocked position. The lock bolts are now in their unlocked position and the platform is supported on the hoisting cables by the hydraulic engine.

The rotative movement of the lock shaft 15 also rotates a gear segment I46 and this in turn rotates the pinion I39 of the hand operating mechanism but this results in no effect because the pawl I34 has. been disconnected from the ratchet wheel I36.

It will be assumed now thatv the platform is lowered from the flight deck to the main deck. As it leaves the flight deck, it moves out of the way of the safety 1y under the'effect of the spring. M211 and thereby moves its locking member I43inwardly against the operating rod I26. The unlocking movement of the locking rod moves the locking block I41 in the aft direction until it is beyond the looking member I43 so that the present movement ofthe locking member I43 brings it up against the operating rod back of the locking member where it will prevent any locking mov of the oper ti rod a o as th Safety is cam I42 which falls downward I direction to rock the ratchet wheel I36. The rotation of the wheel I36 rotates the pinion I39 on the segmental gear: I46 and thus rocks the lock shaft 15 to move its links 16 and 9| in the aft direction and thereby push the locking bolts 14 and 96 into their looking position. I

The rotative movement of the lock shaft 15 (Fig. 5) also moves the 'lever arm I21 to pull the link I26 on the the operating rod I26 cause a rotative movement of the rotative movement lever arms 12 and 88 to push on the links H and 81 and thereby move the locking bolts 64 and 86 into their locking position. Inasmuch as the wedge shaped faces 86 and 93 of the outboard locking bolts 86 and 96 are disposed'in engagement with stop castings on the elevator platform, they will wedge the platform tightly against the flight deck and maintain it in that position regardless of the action of the elements or any changes in the size of the elevator notch.

From the foregoing parent that we have provided an eflicient looking apparatus for locking and wedging a deck edge elevator platform in a parking position at the flight deck in such manner as to prevent any on the lever arm I22 to shaft 13. The

looseness between the platform and the ship so deck edge elevator platform at its flightdeck;

that such apparatus may be operated either by hand or a power means; that we have provided means for interlockingthe locking apparatus with the hoisting engine in it cannot be unlocked unless the oil pressure in the hoisting engine is sufllcient to support the and that the lock bolts cannot be platform;

locking position until the platmoved to their form is in the position in which it. is to be locked.

It willalso :be apparent that, with the described arrangement of the locks, that the inboard locks will carry only vertical forces which will result in a low reaction at drag; that we have provided a wedge shaped locking means with a power follow-up which will 1 the aft lock due to water tiethe elevator platform securely to the ship under all adverse coditions; and that the toglever I25 and thereby pull of the shaft 13 causes its cooperating wedge faces on the description it w'm be apthe platform dips into the:

suchmanner that gle arrangement of theoperating devices behind the lock bolts will exert a high force on the bolts and will prevent any forces exerted by the platform from moving the bolts out of their engaged position.-

Although' we have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment of our invention, many changes therein and modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

W claim as our invention:

1. In an' elevator, a platform for serving a parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a stop device on the floor for each end of the platform, to limit its upward movement, a wedging lock at each end of the platform for wedging and locking the platform tightly against the stopping devices on the parking floor, a lockingengine for locking and unlocking the locks, and means for causing the locking engine to exert a continuous pressure on the wedging locks While they are in their locking position and thereby constantly maintain the platform tightly against the parking floor.

2. In an elevator, a platform for serving a parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a plurality of stopping devices on the parking floor for each end of the platform, a pair of. guide members for preventing lateral movement of the platform, a look at each end of the platform for locking it against the adjacent stopping devices on the parking floor and preventing more than a limited vertical movement of the platform, a Wedging look at each end of the platform for Wedging the platform tightly against the adjacent stopping devices on the parking floor, and means for locking and unlocking the locks.

3. In an elevator, a platform for serving a parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a plurality of locks for locking the platform at the parking floor, means for locking and unlockin the looks, a means responsive to movement of the platform from the parking floor for preventin locking operation of the locks while the platform is away from the parking floor, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing unlocking of the locks while the hoisting engine is not in condition to operate the platform.

4. In an elevator, a platform for serving a parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a pair of guide members for preventing lateral movement of the platform, a lock at each end of the platform for looking it at the parking floor and preventing more than a limited vertical movement, of the platform, a wedging look at each end of the platform for wedging the platform tightly against the parking floor, means for locking and unlocking the locks, a means responsive to movement of'the platform from the parking floor for preventing locking operation of the locks while the platform is away from the parking floor, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing unlocking of thelockswhile the hoisting engine i not in condition to support the'platform.

In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform'for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, a lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, a stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the housing there'at, a

12 lock bolt slidably disposed in each housing for engaging the stop associated therewith, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the-platform for moving the bolts into and out of locking position, an operating rod for operating the lock shafts, a means for operating the operating rod, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing withdrawal of the locking bolts from their locking position while th hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

6. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, a lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, a stop mounted onea'ch end of the platform opposite the housin thereat, a lock aolt slidably disposed in each housing for engaging the stop associated therewith, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform for moving the bolts into and out of locking position, an operating rod for operating the lock shafts, a locking engine for operating the operating rod, a means responsive to movement of the platform from the flight deck for preventing locking operation of the lock bolts until the platform is positioned at the flight deck, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing withdrawal of the locking bolts from their looking position While the hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

7. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, a lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, a stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each housing, for engaging the stop associated there- With, said housings, stops and lock bolts having beveled faces to wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaftrotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a link and lever arm'connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms connecting the operating rod to the lock shafts, and a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to, rock the lock shafts and'thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position.

8. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck,-a lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, a stop mount-ed on each end of the platform-opposite the housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each housing for engaging the stop associated therewith, said housings, stops and lock bolts having beveled faces disposed to wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform an operating rod, a plurality of links and lover arms connecting the operating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position, and

a means responsive to movement of the platform from the flight deck for preventing locking operpositioned at the flight deck. r

9. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, a lock housing mounted in the flight deck ateach end of the platform, a of the platform opposite the housing thereat,.a

lock bolt slidably disposedin each .housing for engaging the stop associated therewith, said housings, stops and lock bol'tshaving beveled I faces disposedto wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lockv shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms connecting the operating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position, and an interlocking mechanism respon sive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing withdrawal of the locking bolts from their locking position while the hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

' 10. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a'flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, an inboard lock housing having a stopping member mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an inboard stop mounted at each end of the platform opposite the inboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith and looking it against the stopping member on the housing, an outboard lock housing having a stepping member mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an outboard stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the outboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith and locking it against thestopping member on that outboard housing, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms conneotingthe operating rod to the lock shafts, and ,a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position. v

11. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, an inboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an

inboard stop mounted at each end of the platform opposite the inboard housing bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith, said inboard housings,,inboard stops and inboard bolts having horizontal flat, cooperating faces for preventing vertical movement but permitting a limited stop mounted on each end" thereat, a lock 7 horizontal movement of the platform, an outboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the'p1atform,'an-

outboard stop mounted on each end of the plat form opposite the'outboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith, said outboard housings, outboard stops and outboard lock bolts having beveled faces to wedge and lock-the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end. of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of operating rod to the lock shafts, and a locking engine connecting to the operating rod for moving it'to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock boltsinto and out of their locking position.

' 12. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, an inboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an inboard stop mounted at each end of. the platform opposite the inboard housing thereat, a lock .bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith,

said inboard housing, inboard stops and inboard at each end of the platform, an outboard stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the outboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith, said outboard housings, outboard stops and outboard lock bolts having beveled faces to wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms connecting the operating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position, and manual means for operating the operating rod to move the bolts into and out of locking position upon failure of the locking engine.

13. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane car rier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, ahoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform,

can inboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an inboard stopmounted at each end of the platform oppo- 1 site the inboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith, said inboard housings, inboard stops and I having horizontal flat cooperating faces for preventing vertical movement but permitting a limited horizontal movement of the platform, an outboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an outboard stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the outboard, housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith, said out board housings, outboard links and lever arms connecting the inboard bolts stops and outboard lock' bolts having beveled faces to wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted. on the ship at each end of the platform, a toggle like link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms connectin the operating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby movethe lock bolts into and out of their locking position, and means for supplying a constant power to the looking engine to maintain the outboard lock bolts in tight wedging position while they lock the platform at the flight deck.

14. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main deck and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, an inboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an inboard stop mounted at each end of the platform opposite the inboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith, an outboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an outboard stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the outboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a toggle like link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms connecting the operating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position, means for supplying a constant power to the locking engine to maintain the outboard lock bolts in tight wedging position while they lock the platform at the flight deck, andan interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing withdrawal of the locking bolts from their lockin position while the hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

15. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator platform for serving a main and a flight deck, a hoisting engine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, an inboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an inboard stop mounted at each end of the platform opposite the inboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith; an outboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an outboard stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the outboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith, said out-- board housings, outboard stops and outboard lock bolts having beveled faces to wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck when the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a toggle like link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of. links and lever arms connecting. the opfor locking the locking. the platform crating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the look shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position, means for supplying a constant power to the locking engine to maintain the outboard lock bolts in tight wedging position while they lock the platform at the flight deck, and a means responsive to movement of the platform from the flight deck for preventing locking operation of the locking bolts until the platform is positioned at the flight deck, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing withdrawal of the locking bolts from their locking position while the hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

16. In a deck edge elevator for an airplane carrier ship, an elevator main deck and a flight deck, a hoistingengine for supporting and raising and lowering the platform, an inboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an inboard stop mounted at each end of the platform opposite the inboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidably disposed in each inboard housing for engaging the inboard stop associated therewith, said inboard housings, inboard stops and inboard lock bolts having fiat horizontal cooperating faces for preventing vertical movement of the platform, an outboard lock housing mounted in the flight deck at each end of the platform, an outboard stop mounted on each end of the platform opposite the outboard housing thereat, a lock bolt slidab-ly disposed in each outboard housing for engaging the outboard stop associated therewith, said outboard housings, outboard stops and outboard lock bolts havin beveled faces to wedge and lock the platform tightly against the flight deck When the bolts are in their locking position, a lock shaft rotatably mounted on the ship at each end of the platform, a toggle like link and lever arm connecting each lock bolt to the lock shaft at its end of the platform, an operating rod, a plurality of links and lever arms connecting the operating rod to the lock shafts, a locking engine connected to the operating rod for moving it to rock the lock shafts and thereby move the lock bolts into and out of their locking position, means for supplying a constant power to the locking engine to maintain the outboard lock bolts in tight wedging position while they look the platform at the flight deck, a safety cam responsive to movement of the platform from the flight deck for preventing a locking operation of the locking bolts until the platform is positioned at the flight deck, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing withdrawal of the locking bolts from their lockin position while the hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

17. In an elevator, a platform for serving a parking door, a plurality of stopping devices on the parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a look at each end of the platform 18. In an elevator, a platform for serving a:

parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a lock at each end of the platform for platform for serving a platform against the stopping deagainst the parking fl0or,

ineans responsive to operating or the locks to lock the platform at the parking floor for preventing operation of the hoisting engine while the locks are in locked condition, and an interlocking mechanism responsive to the condition of the hoisting engine for preventing the locks from being unlocked while the hoisting engine is not in condition to support the platform.

19. In an elevator, a platform for serving a parking floor, a plurality of stopping devices on the parking floor, a hoisting engine for operating the platform, a look at each end of the platform for locking the platform against the stopping de vices on the parking floor, means responsive to operation of the locks to look the platform at the parking floor for preventing operation of the hoisting engine while the locks are in locked condition, and a means responsive to the absence of the platform from the parking floor for preventing a locking operation of the locking bolts until the platform is positioned at the parking floor.

20. In an elevator, a platformfor serving a parking'fioor, a plurality of stopping devices on the parking floor, a, hoisting engine for operating the platform, a look at each end of the platform for locking the platform against the stopping device on the parking floor, a locking engine for locking and unlocking the locks, and a means responsive to the absence of the platform from the parking floor for preventing a locking operation of the locks until the platform is positioned at the parking floor.

JAMES DUNLOP. LENNIE R. RISSLER.

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