US3570441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine towline shock absorber
Assignee: PNEUVEYCO EQUIPMENT Ltd
•
Filing: 1969-06-02
•
Granted: 1971-03-16
•
Expires: 1989-06-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for use at the tow end of a marine towline and adapted to absorb shock loads and damp travelling waves in said towline. A marine towline is attached to an element which is restrained by a pendant attached to a tow and by a flexible tension member attached to an extensible member of a pneumatic cylinder, another member of which cylinder is attached to the tow. The geometric relationship of the pendant and flexible tension member is such that a shock load in the towline is initially borne substantially by the pneumatic cylinder but progressively shared with the pendant as the extensible member of the pneumatic cylinder extends.
Inventors
- 👤 Norman A Johnson
- 👤 Leonard D Hengeveld
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 13:40
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/56; B63B2021/003; B63B2021/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
In a towed vessel, an apparatus having connection means adapted to join the ends of towline means, pendant means, and a flexible tension member, said towline secured at its other end to a towing means, said pendant means secured at its other end to a tow, said flexible tension member secured to an extensible member of pneumatic cylinder means, another member of said pneumatic cylinder means being secured to said tow, said connecting means being adapted to balance coplanar forces in said towline means, pendant means, and flexible tension member, said flexible tension member passing through guide means, said guide means allowing movement of said connection means under influence of said towline means subject to constraint of said pendant means and said flexible member, said guide means adapted to maintain alignment as between an axis of that segment of said flexible tension member nearest said pneumatic cylinder means and the axis of said extensible member of said pneumatic cylinder means, said pneumatic cylinder means comprising gas-filled cylinder means and piston means in said cylinder means, said piston being movable along said axis of said extensible member, said gas in said cylinder means resisting movement of said extensible member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
In a towed vessel, an apparatus having connection means adapted to join the ends of towline means, pendant means, and a flexible tension member, said towline secured at its other end to a towing means, said pendant means secured at its other end to a tow, said flexible tension member secured to an extensible member of pneumatic cylinder means, another member of said pneumatic cylinder means being secured to said tow, said connecting means being adapted to balance coplanar forces in said towline means, pendant means, and flexible tension member, said flexible tension member passing through guide means, said guide means allowing movement of said connection means under influence of said towline means subject to constraint of said pendant means and said flexible member, said guide means adapted to maintain alignment as between an axis of that segment of said flexible tension member nearest said pneumatic cylinder means and the axis of said extensible member of said pneumatic cylinder means, said pneumatic cylinder means comprising gas-filled cylinder means and piston means in said cylinder means, said piston being movable along said axis of said extensible member, said gas in said cylinder means resisting movement of said extensible member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 1, further where said pneumatic cylinder means is located within a forward hold of said vessel and where a seal between said guide and said pnuematic cylinder means is adapted substantially to avoid leakage or seepage into said hold along or around said flexible tension member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 2, further wherein the end of said flexible tension member opposite said connection means is attached to one end of a tension member passing through substantially positive sealing means and being itself attached at its other end to said extensible member of said pneumatic cylinder means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 1, further where said pneumatic cylinder means is located on an exposed surface of said vessel, said pendant means being secured to structure of said vessel generally above said pneumatic cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 1, further having another guide means adapted to resist torsional and transverse forces accompanying axial forces in said towline means or said flexible tension member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 1, further wherein said guide means is adapted, shaped, and formed to match the characteristics of said flexible tension member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 1, further wherein said flexible tension member is substantially round in cross section, said guide means being a coiled sPring adapted to accommodate movements of said connecting means and said flexible tension member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 1, further wherein a pneumatic circuit is adapted to permit servicing, maintaining, and monitoring of pressures at either side of said piston means within said gas-filled cylinder means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 8, further wherein a volumetric accumulating means is adapted to receive gas from said pneumatic cylinder means as said piston means changes position within said gas-filled cylinder means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 9, further wherein throttling and check-valving means are adapted to effect free flow of gas in one direction and restricted flow of gas in the opposite direction as between said volumetric accumulating means and said pneumatic cylinder means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
51 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 8, further wherein gas storing means is adapted to store gas at a pressure higher than that required to raise the pressure on either side of said piston and further adapted automatically or manually to admit said gas into said pneumatic circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a towed vessel, apparatus as described in claim 8, further wherein gas compressing means are adapted to function either continuously or intermittently, and further adapted automatically or manually to admit compressed gas into said pneumatic circuits.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1378102A
Cited
US1423576A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-15 | 1974-09-14 | 1975-03-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-15 | 1978-09-14 | 1979-03-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-15 | 1982-09-14 | 1983-03-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |