Apparatus for articulated towboat barge combination

Claim 2

Apparatus for quick-release connection of two floatable vessels together for articulated independent pitching of the vessels in a vertical plane about a single common generally horizontal axis, comprising: a. a first connection assembly for fixed mounting on one of the vessels and, b. a second connection assembly for fixed mounting on the other of the vessels, said first assembly including at least one generally horizontally disposed shaft and said second assembly including at least one horizontally disposed bearing member, said bearing member having a concave opening adapted for mating engagement with said shaft through an angular measurement not to exceed 180 degrees and having an open side facing in a generally horizontal direction toward said shaft to facilitate horizontal receiption of said shaft in said bearing member upon generally horizontal movement of the vessels together relative to each other, and means to be carried by at least one of the vessels selectively operable for locking said shaft in abutment in said bearing opening for rotational movement there-between or for release of said locking of said shaft with respect to said bearing opening for disconnection of said first and second connection assemblies for separation of vessels connected thereby by horizontal relative movement of the vessels apart relative to each other.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first connection assembly is carried by a barge at an end thereof and said second connection assembly is carried by a towboat at an end thereof, to provide means for facilitating driving of said barge by said towboat wherein said barge and towboat are free of any other connections that are effective to prevent the relative articulated independent pitching thereof.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein there are two said first connection assemblies, each being provided with a said shaft, the shafts being generally laterally spaced and axially aligned, and wherein there are two said second assemblies, each provided with a said opening, with said openings being axially aligned for receiving said shafts.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein each said second connection assembly is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced said openings, to provide means for connecting vessels at one of a plurality of different relative heights.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein both said first connection assemblies are carried by a Barge and both said second connection assemblies are carried by a towboat with said first and second assemblies being in locked engagement for driving of said barge by said towboat wherein said barge and towboat are free of any other connections that are effective to prevent the relative articulated independent pitching thereof.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connection assembly is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced said openings, to provide means for connecting vessels at one of a plurality of different relative heights.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locking means comprises a lateral extension on said shaft, a latching element carried by said extension for pivotal movement and having a latching arm extending radially thereof, a recess in said second connection assembly for reception of said latching element therein, and means for securing said latching element in said recess.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first connection assembly is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced said shafts, to provide means for connecting vessels at one of a plurality of different relative heights.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said locking means comprises a hook-like member to be carried by a vessel upon which said second connection assembly is mounted for engagement with a portion of a selected sais shaft, and means are provided for moving said hook-like member into engagement with a selected said shaft for urging said selected shaft into engagement within said concave opening.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each said shaft includes a lateral extension, and wherein said extension comprises said portion adapted for engagement by said hook-like member.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said locking means comprises a cable to be carried by a vessel upon which said second connection assembly is mounted for engagement with a portion of a selected said shaft, and means are provided for moving said cable into engagement with a selected said shaft and for urging said selected shaft into engagement by said hook-like member.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each said shaft includes a lateral extension, and wherein said extension comprises said portion adapted for engagement by said cable.

Claim 14

Apparatus for quick-release connection of two floatable vessels together for articulated independent pitching of the vessels in a vertical plane about a single common generally horizontal axis, comprising a first connection assembly for fixed mounting on one of the vessels and, a second connection assembly for fixed mounting on the other of the vessels, said first assembly including at least one generally horizontally disposed shaft and said second assembly including at least one horizontally disposed bearing member, said bearing member having a concave opening adapted for mating engagement with said shaft through an angular measurement not to exceed 180 degrees and having an open side facing in a generally horizontal direction toward said shaft to facilitate reception of said shaft in said bearing member, and means to be carried by at least one of the vessels selectively operable for locking said shaft in abutment in said bearing opening for rotational movement therebetween or for release of said locking of said shaft with respect to said bearing opening for disconnection of said first and second connection assemblies for separation of vessels connected thereby, wherein there are two said first connection assemblies, each being provided with a said shaft, the shafts being generally laterally spaced and axially aligned, and wherein there are two said second assemblies, each provided with a said opening, with said openings being axially aligned for receiving said shafts, wherein said locking means comprises a lateral extension on each said shaft, a latching element carried by each said extension for pivotal movement and having a latching arm extending radially thereof, a recess in each said second connection Assembly for reception of an associated said latching element therein, means for securing each said latching element in an associated said recess, wherein said securing means comprises a void in each said latching element and a pair of bolt-like members to be carried by the vessel which carries said second connection assemblies, said bolt-like members being movable into interfering engagement with said voids to prevent retraction of said latching elements from said recesses, and means for selectively actuating said bolt-like members between positions of interfering engagement with said voids and clearance of said voids.

Claim 15

Apparatus for quick-release connection of two floatable vessels together for articulated independent pitching of the vessels in a vertical plane about a single common generally horizontal axis, comprising a first connection assembly for fixed mounting on one of the vessels and, a second connection assembly for fixed mounting on the other of the vessels, said first assembly including at least one generally horizontally disposed shaft and said second assembly including at least one horizontally disposed bearing member, said bearing member having a concave opening adapted for mating engagement with said shaft through an angular measurement not to exceed 180 degrees and having an open side facing in a generally horizontal direction toward said shaft to facilitate reception of said shaft in said bearing member, and means to be carried by at least one of the vessels selectively operable for locking said shaft in abutment in said bearing opening for rotational movement therebetween or for release of said locking of said shaft with respect to said bearing opening for disconnection of said first and second connection assemblies for separation of vessels connected thereby, wherein there are two said first connection assemblies, each being provided with a said shaft, the shafts being generally laterally spaced and axially aligned, and wherein there are two said second assemblies, each provided with a said opening, with said openings being axially aligned for receiving said shafts, wherein said locking means comprises a lateral extension on each said shaft, a latching element carried by each said extension for pivotal movement and having a latching arm extending radially thereof, a recess in each said second connection Assembly for reception of an associated said latching element therein, means for securing each said latching element in an associated said recess, wherein said securing means comprises a void in each said latching element and a pair of bolt-like members to be carried by the vessel which carries said second connection assemblies, said bolt-like members being movable into interfering engagement with said voids to prevent retraction of said latching elements from said recesses, and means for selectively actuating said bolt-like members between positions of interfering engagement with said voids and clearance of said voids.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said bolt-like members are provided with cam means for engagement with said latching element for camming said shafts into contacting engagement within associated said openings.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 13, including means associated with said first connection assemblies for pivotally adjusting the position of said latching element.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each said second connection assembly is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced said openings, to provide means for connecting vessels at one of a plurality of different relative heights.

Claim 19

Apparatus for quick-release connection of two floatable vessels together for articulated independent pitching of the vessels in a vertical plane about a single common generally horizontal axis, comprising a first connection assembly for fixed mounting on one of the vessels at an end thereof, and a second connection assembly for fixed mounting on the other of the vessels at an end thereof adjacent the one vessel, said first assembly including horizontally disposed pivotal mounting means and a first latching member pivotally mounted thereon for arcuate movement relative thereto in a generally vertical plane, and including means for interconnecting said second connection assembly and said latching member for securement of the vessels together in such a way as to permit the relative articulated independent pitching at the pivotal mounting means, when said connection assemblies are mounted on vessels that are to be pivotally connected together, and means for releasing said interconnecting means for facilitating separation of the vessels.

Claim 20

Apparatus for quick-release connection of two floatable vessels together for articulated independent pitching of the vessels in a vertical plane about a single common generally horizontal axis, comprising a first connection assembly for fixed mounting on one of the vessels at an end thereof, and a second connection assembly for fixed mounting on the other of the vessels at an end thereof adjacent the one vessel, said first assembly including horizontally disposed pivotal mounting means and a first latching member pivotally mounted thereon for arcuate movement relative thereto in a generally vertical plane, and including means for interconnecting said second connection assembly and said latching member for securement of the vessels together in such a way as to permit the relative articulated independent pitching at the pivotal mounting means, when said connection assemblies are mounted on vessels that are to be pivotally connected together, and means for releasing said interconnecting means for facilitating separation of the vessels.