Patent US736559A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3853082A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US3853082A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Mechanical retriever

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
•
Filing: 1973-05-03
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1993-05-03
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for attaching a hoisting cable to a sunken vessel is configured to be pulled-down onto a cone-shaped line anchor. The device is pulled down onto the line anchor when the hoisting cable and marker-buoy line are drawn in opposite directions by a pair of surface ships. Having the ships draw the hoisting cable and the marker buoy line in opposite directions prevents the cable and line from becoming entangled to allow connection to the sunken vessel and to reduce the hazard of inadvertently separating the more fragile marker-buoy line.

Inventors

  • 👤 E Rosenberg
  • 👤 S Moran

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 04:45
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63C; B63C7/00; B63C7/16

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 182 words
An apparatus guided by a marker buoy line joined to a line anchor on a sunken vessel and a first surface craft for securing a hoisting cable coupled to a second surface craft to the sunken vessel when the first and second surface craft move in diverging directions comprising: a body member shaped with a longitudinal channel for receiving the marker buoy line and having a connector portion formed to engage the line anchor when a sufficient downward force is created as the first and second surface craft move in diverging directions; a first member disposed on one side of said body member coupling the hoisting cable thereto; and a second member journaled in the opposite side of said body member configured to orient the marker buoy line in a direction diverging from the hoisting cable and being further configured to ensure the exertion of said sufficient downward force as the hoisting cable and marker buoy line are pulled in opposite directions by the first and second surface craft to further ensure the securing of the hoisting cable to the sunken vessel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 182 words
An apparatus guided by a marker buoy line joined to a line anchor on a sunken vessel and a first surface craft for securing a hoisting cable coupled to a second surface craft to the sunken vessel when the first and second surface craft move in diverging directions comprising: a body member shaped with a longitudinal channel for receiving the marker buoy line and having a connector portion formed to engage the line anchor when a sufficient downward force is created as the first and second surface craft move in diverging directions; a first member disposed on one side of said body member coupling the hoisting cable thereto; and a second member journaled in the opposite side of said body member configured to orient the marker buoy line in a direction diverging from the hoisting cable and being further configured to ensure the exertion of said sufficient downward force as the hoisting cable and marker buoy line are pulled in opposite directions by the first and second surface craft to further ensure the securing of the hoisting cable to the sunken vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 49 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said connector portion includes a pair of flared sections configured to accommodate the line anchor and a pair of spring-biased jaws orthogonally disposed with respect to said flared sections for engaging the line anchor when said sufficient downward force is exerted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 46 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further including: a guide member journaled in said opposite side of said body member and outwardly reaching therefrom and provided with a passageway receiving the marker buoy line to further orient iT in a direction diverging from the hoisting cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said guide member includes a low-friction sleeve carried in said passageway to permit free travel of the marker buoy line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 61 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 in which said first member is a shackle-swivel combination coupling the hoisting cable to said body member and said second member is a sheave provided with a rim sized to accommodate the marker buoy line and orient it from said longitudinal channel as the hoisting cable and marker buoy line are pulled in opposite directions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 27 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 in which said body member is a pair of spaced-apart elongate plates carrying the spring-biased jaws and the sheave between them.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 26 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 in which said flared sections and said spring-biased jaws define a cone-shaped cavity having dimensions larger than said line anchor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1234456A Cited
US1271342A Cited
US2273497A Cited
US2347690A Cited
US2363353A Cited
US2373502A Cited
US2723153A Cited
US3713414A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-12-09 1978-06-10 1978-12-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-12-09 1982-06-10 1982-12-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-12-09 1986-06-10 1986-12-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag