US3809002A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic coupling mechanism for submarines dirigibles and other like buoyant vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-05-31
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Granted: 1974-05-07
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Expires: 1992-05-31
Abstract
Abstract This is a coupling mechanism for use in connecting together submarines, dirigible aircraft and other similar vehicles in a manner that cannot be readily effected by hand within water or in the air. These coupling mechanisms are automatic in operation and once the submarine or dirigible has made firm and true axial contact with a tow vehicle the ball mechanism will be automatically put into operation to extend the ball so as to engage a sensor plunger in the ball grip mechanism and thereby effect the operation of the mechanism to enclose the ball grip clamps about the ball head of the trailing vehicle to thereby finally effect the coupling of the vehicles, one with the other. At the same time that the mechanical coupling of the mechanisms is effected an electric coupling of a plug within a socket is made between the mechanisms so that electric current can be passed from the two submarine to the trailer submarine for the purposes of charging its battery and providing current directly from the generator of the tow submarine for various uses in the trailer craft. Adequate provision is provided in the ball head mechanism to take up any shock from the ball head when it is extended engaging with a wall obstruction in such a manner that would normally cause damage and so that the blow can be cushioned within the ball mechanism by the action of cushioning springs and by hydraulic dampening of the return of the ball to its extended position when the obstruction is removed and wherein automatic retraction of the ball should be effected should the obstruction not be removed. The same ball grips mechanisms operable in the same manner in response to engagement of a ball with a sensing pin can also, as shown, be used in the ground for mooring purposes of a dirigible. The finding and the joining of the coupling parts being effected through radio.
Inventors
- 👤 C Nagy
- 👤 J Nagy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:30
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/56; B63B21/58; F; F16; F16C; F16C11/00; F16C2326/00; F16C2326/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20396; Y10T74/20402; Y10T74/20408; Y10T74/2045
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
In combination, a tow submarine, dirigible or other buoyant vehicle having nose and trailing ends, said vehicle having a central axially aligned opening generally of conical shape in its trailing end, a ball grip power actuated mechanism having a plurality of ball grip clamps centrally located within the vehicle and axially aligned with the central opening, a sensor device lying centrally within the power actuated mechanism and automatically operable in response to moveMent of the sensor device to effect the actuation of the ball grip power actuated mechanism and the closing of the ball grip clamps, a trailing submarine or other buoyant vehicle having a retractable ball head mechanism mounted in the nose of the trailing submarine and when extended having a ball head projected therefrom in the axis of the trailing submarine, said ball head adapted to enter the central opening of the tow submarine and engage the sensor device therein whereby to effect the automatic closing of the grips upon the ball head and the coupling of the two submarines or like buoyant vehicles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
In combination, a tow submarine, dirigible or other buoyant vehicle having nose and trailing ends, said vehicle having a central axially aligned opening generally of conical shape in its trailing end, a ball grip power actuated mechanism having a plurality of ball grip clamps centrally located within the vehicle and axially aligned with the central opening, a sensor device lying centrally within the power actuated mechanism and automatically operable in response to moveMent of the sensor device to effect the actuation of the ball grip power actuated mechanism and the closing of the ball grip clamps, a trailing submarine or other buoyant vehicle having a retractable ball head mechanism mounted in the nose of the trailing submarine and when extended having a ball head projected therefrom in the axis of the trailing submarine, said ball head adapted to enter the central opening of the tow submarine and engage the sensor device therein whereby to effect the automatic closing of the grips upon the ball head and the coupling of the two submarines or like buoyant vehicles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
139 words
The combination as defined in claim 1, and said retractable ball head mechanism having power operated means for effecting the extension and retraction of the ball head thereof, the nose end of said submarine being generally of conical shape and adapted to enter the central conically shaped opening in the rear end of the tow submarine and engage the internal surface thereof, switch means lying in the conical nose surface of the trailing submarine and engageable with the conical surface of the tow submarine, said power means for operating the ball head mechanism being connected to said switch means and operable in response thereto whereby said ball head will be extended into the ball grip mechanism only when the nose of the trailing submarine has been centered within the conical opening in the rear end of the tow submarine.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
The combination as defined in claim 1 and said power mechanism for effecting the operation of the ball grip clamps including toggle links, fluid cylinder devices connected with the toggle links to operate the same by fore and aft movement thereof and a cam lever latch operable by the movement of said fluid cylinder means for engagement with the sensor device to hold the sensor device in its retracted position once acted upon by the ball head of the trailing submarine.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
128 words
The combination as defined in claim 3, said fluid cylinder devices being adapted to carry fluid to the opposite sides of the pistons thereof, one way valve means associated with each cylinder device to hold its piston extended and the ball grip clamps in their locked positions, valve passage means for releasing the one way valve means cylinder devices and switch means operable by the sensor device when engaged by the ball head of the trailer submarine to effect the operation of the fluid supply valves for the fluid cylinder devices, said sensor lock device being automatically released upon the actuation of the fluid cylinder device to collapse the toggle links and open the ball grips and the sensor device being thereby returned to its ball engaging position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
78 words
The combination as defined in claim 1 and said sensor device having a spring biasing means lying therewithin to normally urge the sensor device rearwardly, said ball head having a receptacle opening, an electrical plug spring biased within the sensor device for thrusting the plug from the sensor device into the ball receptacle opening, means operable in response to the movement of the power means for the releasing of the ball grip clamps to retract the electric plug.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The combination as defined in claim 5, and said electric plug means having a cable extending through the sensor device for controlling the operation of the plug device, said operable means including means connecting the cable with the power means for opening and closing said ball grip clamps, whereby the retraction of the plug means is effected by the cable.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
The combination as defined in claim 6 and said retractable ball mechanism in the trailer vehicle including a ball head shank with extension with an opening, a cable extending rearwardly from the receptacle opening in the ball head through the ball shank and its extension, a cable spool carried on the ball grip mechanism, said cable spool including spring means for effecting the reeling and unreeling of the cable from the ball shank as the ball is retracted and extended.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The comBination as defined in claim 1, said retractable ball head mechanism having a housing and power operated means in said housing for extending and retracting the ball head, said power means including a dampener assembly to permit retraction of the ball head upon the same encountering a wall obstruction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The combination as defined in claim 8, said power means having a threaded ball shank extension extending through the dampener assembly, reversible motor driven gearing carried on said dampener assembly and operable upon the threaded ball shank extension to extend and retract the ball head and compression spring means reacting against the housing for normally holding the dampener assembly in its advanced position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination as defined in claim 9, and limit switch means in the housing engageable by abnormal retraction of the ball head and dampener assembly to effect the reversing of the motor driven gearing and the retraction of the ball head and into extension upon the dampener assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3478711A
Cited
US3666216A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-05-06 | 1977-11-05 | 1978-05-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-05-06 | 1981-11-05 | 1982-05-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-05-06 | 1985-11-05 | 1986-05-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |