Coupling device of use inter alia for the connection between a barge and a pusher tug

Claim 1

A coupling assembly for connecting a barge vessel and a pusher tug vessel, comprising: at least one upright member having an inclined outer surface, said member mounted on one of said vessels; said upright member having a recess therein defining a hook at the end of said upright member nearest said inclined surface and defining an abutment for a coupling member at the opposite end of said upright member; a coupling member, movable in a forward and a backward direction and mounted on the other of said vessels, for coupling with said upright member; a release pawl associated with said abutment, said release pawl adapted to move to a coupling position into the hook, and to a release position bridging said hook when said coupling member is applied to said abutment, said release pawl being combined with a bolt for retaining the pawl in said release position for automatically releasing said coupling member upon backward movement of the coupling member along said release pawl, said bolt retractable by said coupling member when said coupling member moves backward on the inclined surface, so that the pawl can return to said coupling position.