US3892196A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tugboat-barge connection system
Assignee: VICTORIA MACHINE WORKS
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Filing: 1973-10-19
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Granted: 1975-07-01
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Expires: 1993-10-19
Abstract
Abstract In a tugboat-barge connection system a hook-shaped latching member is mounted on the barge and a T-shaped latching member is mounted on the tugboat for cooperation with the hook-shaped latching member to couple the tugboat to the barge. A hydraulic cylinder is provided for extension to position the T-shaped latching member both for coupling to and uncoupling from the hook-shaped latching member, and for retraction to draw the tugboat and the barge together and into proper positioning for the tugboat to propel the barge. The hydraulic cylinder includes a piston rod having a locking portion comprising a segmented screw and a housing including a main portion secured to the tugboat and a locking portion comprising an internally segmented nut which is aligned with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the hydraulic cylinder is in the retracted position and which is adapted for rotation relative to the piston rod to threadedly engage the segmented screw portion of the piston rod, thereby securing the T-shaped latching member in the retracted position. The locking portion of the housing is secured to the main portion by means of a plurality of bolts extending from the main portion parallel to the piston rod and through the locking portion and a plurality of expandable nuts each normally threadedly engaged with the distal end of one of the bolts to secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof. The expandable bolts are each adapted for actuation by fluid pressure for release from the associated bolt. Therefore, in the event that it is necessary to uncouple the tugboat from the barge in a situation in which the locking portion of the housing cannot be disengaged from the piston rod, a fluid pressure signal is simultaneously applied to all of the expandable nuts, thereby releasing the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof. This permits actuation of the hydraulic cylinder to the extended condition even though the internally segmented screw of the locking portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw of the locking portion of the piston rod.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr John J Swoboda
- 👤 Lawrence T Boatman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 17:30
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/56; B63B21/58; B63B21/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
281 words
A boat-barge connection system comprising: first latching means mounted on the barge; second latching means mounted on the boat for cooperation with the first latching means to couple the boat to the barge; cylinder means supporting the second latching means on the boat and adapted for actuation by fluid pressure to extend the second latching means and thereby Facilitate coupling and uncoupling of the first and second latching means and to retract the second latching means and thereby draw the boat and the barge together and into a predetermined positioning with respect to each other; said cylinder means including a housing comprising a main portion secured to the boat and a locking portion and a piston rod extending from the housing to the second latching means and including a locking portion, said locking portion of the housing and the piston rod operable for locking the cylinder means in the retracted condition; and emergency release means independent of the locking means for selective actuation to permit operation of the cylinder means to extend the second locking means and thereby uncouple the boat from the barge even though the locking means remains in the locked condition, said emergency release means including a plurality of bolts extending from the housing parallel to the piston rod and through the locking portion of the housing and a plurality of expandable nuts each normally threadedly secured to the distal end of one of the bolts for cooperation therewith to normally retain the locking portion of the housing secured to the main portion thereof, said nuts responsive to the receipt of a predetermined emergency signal to disconnect the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
281 words
A boat-barge connection system comprising: first latching means mounted on the barge; second latching means mounted on the boat for cooperation with the first latching means to couple the boat to the barge; cylinder means supporting the second latching means on the boat and adapted for actuation by fluid pressure to extend the second latching means and thereby Facilitate coupling and uncoupling of the first and second latching means and to retract the second latching means and thereby draw the boat and the barge together and into a predetermined positioning with respect to each other; said cylinder means including a housing comprising a main portion secured to the boat and a locking portion and a piston rod extending from the housing to the second latching means and including a locking portion, said locking portion of the housing and the piston rod operable for locking the cylinder means in the retracted condition; and emergency release means independent of the locking means for selective actuation to permit operation of the cylinder means to extend the second locking means and thereby uncouple the boat from the barge even though the locking means remains in the locked condition, said emergency release means including a plurality of bolts extending from the housing parallel to the piston rod and through the locking portion of the housing and a plurality of expandable nuts each normally threadedly secured to the distal end of one of the bolts for cooperation therewith to normally retain the locking portion of the housing secured to the main portion thereof, said nuts responsive to the receipt of a predetermined emergency signal to disconnect the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
The boat-barge connection system according to claim 1 wherein the locking portion of the piston rod comprises a segmented screw and wherein the locking portion of the housing comprises an internally segmented nut positioned in alignment with the segmented portion of the piston rod when the cylinder means is in retracted condition and adapted for rotation with respect to the piston rod to threadedly engage the segmented screw portion thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
244 words
A tugboat barge connection system comprising: first latch means mounted on the barge; second latch means mounted on the tugboat for cooperation with the first latch means to secure the tugboat to the barge; a piston rod supporting the first latch means and having a locking portion; a housing receiving the piston rod and including a main portion secured to the tugboat and a locking portion for cooperation with the locking portion of the piston rod to secure the piston rod to the housing; said housing and piston rod comprising cylinder means adapted for actuation by fluid pressure to selectively extend the piston rod and thereby position the second latch means both for coupling to and for uncoupling from the first latch means and to selectively retract the piston rod and thereby draw the tugboat and the barge together and into relationship with respect to each other whereby the tugboat may propel the barge; bolt means secured to the main portion of the housing; releasable nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt means for cooperation therewith to secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof; and means for selectively releasing said nut means for detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion and thereby facilitating actuation of the cylinder means to extend the piston rod and thereby uncouple the tugboat from the barge even though the piston rod remains secured to the locking portion of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
244 words
A tugboat barge connection system comprising: first latch means mounted on the barge; second latch means mounted on the tugboat for cooperation with the first latch means to secure the tugboat to the barge; a piston rod supporting the first latch means and having a locking portion; a housing receiving the piston rod and including a main portion secured to the tugboat and a locking portion for cooperation with the locking portion of the piston rod to secure the piston rod to the housing; said housing and piston rod comprising cylinder means adapted for actuation by fluid pressure to selectively extend the piston rod and thereby position the second latch means both for coupling to and for uncoupling from the first latch means and to selectively retract the piston rod and thereby draw the tugboat and the barge together and into relationship with respect to each other whereby the tugboat may propel the barge; bolt means secured to the main portion of the housing; releasable nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt means for cooperation therewith to secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof; and means for selectively releasing said nut means for detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion and thereby facilitating actuation of the cylinder means to extend the piston rod and thereby uncouple the tugboat from the barge even though the piston rod remains secured to the locking portion of the housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The tugboat-barge connection system according to claim 3 wherein the locking portion of the piston rod comprises a segmented screw and wherein the locking portion of the housing comprises an internally segmented nut which is aligned with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder means is retracted and which is supported for rotation relative to the piston rod to threadedly engage the segmented screw portion thereof and thereby secure the piston rod to the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
The tugboat barge connection system according to claim 3 wherein: said bolt means comprise a plurality of elongate bolts secured to the main portion of the housing and extending therefRom substantially parallel to the axis of the piston rod through the locking portion of the housing; said nut means comprise a plurality of releasable nut means each normally threadedly engaged with the distal end of one of the bolts for cooperation therewith to secure the locking portion to the main portion of the housing; and means for simultaneously admitting fluid pressure to all of the nut means to disengage the nut means from the bolts and thereby permit disengagement of the locking portion from the main portion of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
331 words
A vehicular connection system which comprises: first latch means on a first vehicle; second latch means on a second vehicle for cooperation with the first latch means to couple the vehicles; cylinder means including a housing mounted on the second vehicle and a piston rod extending from the housing for supporting the second latch means; said cylinder means for selective extension both to couple the second latch means to the first latch means and to uncouple the second latch means from the first latch means and for selective retraction to draw the vehicles together and into a predetermined relationship with respect to each other; said piston rod of the cylinder means including a portion comprising a segmented screw; said housing of the cylinder means including a portion comprising an internally segmented nut which is aligned with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder means is in the retracted condition and which is adapted for rotation with respect to the piston rod to threadedly engage the segmented screw portion of the piston rod and thereby lock the piston rod of the cylinder means in the retracted condition; bolt means extending from the main portion of the housing and through the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut, nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt means to secure the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut to the main portion of the housing and adapted for selected release from the bolt means to permit disengagement of the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut from the main portion of the housing; and means for actuating said nut means for selectively detaching the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut from the remainder of the housing and thereby facilitating extension of the cylinder means to disconnect the first latch means from the second latch means even though the segmented nut portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
331 words
A vehicular connection system which comprises: first latch means on a first vehicle; second latch means on a second vehicle for cooperation with the first latch means to couple the vehicles; cylinder means including a housing mounted on the second vehicle and a piston rod extending from the housing for supporting the second latch means; said cylinder means for selective extension both to couple the second latch means to the first latch means and to uncouple the second latch means from the first latch means and for selective retraction to draw the vehicles together and into a predetermined relationship with respect to each other; said piston rod of the cylinder means including a portion comprising a segmented screw; said housing of the cylinder means including a portion comprising an internally segmented nut which is aligned with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder means is in the retracted condition and which is adapted for rotation with respect to the piston rod to threadedly engage the segmented screw portion of the piston rod and thereby lock the piston rod of the cylinder means in the retracted condition; bolt means extending from the main portion of the housing and through the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut, nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt means to secure the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut to the main portion of the housing and adapted for selected release from the bolt means to permit disengagement of the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut from the main portion of the housing; and means for actuating said nut means for selectively detaching the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut from the remainder of the housing and thereby facilitating extension of the cylinder means to disconnect the first latch means from the second latch means even though the segmented nut portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
64 words
The vehicular coupling apparatus for coupling a tugboat to a barge according to claim 6 wherein the nut means are each adapted for actuation by a fluid pressure to disengage the bolt means and thereby facilitate movement of the portion of the housing comprising the segmented nut out of engagement with the bolt means as the piston rod of the cylinder means is extended.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
324 words
A tugboat-barge connection system which comprises: a hook-shaped latching member mounted on the barge; a T-shaped latching member mounted on the tugboat for cooperation with the hook-shaped member on the barge to couple the tugboat to the barge; fluid pressure operated cylinder means mounted on the barge for supporting the T-shaped latching member and comprising a piston rod having a locking portion and a housing including a main portion secured to the barge and a locking portion detachably secured to the main portion; said cylinder means for selectively extending the rod to position the T-shaped latching member on the tugboat both for coupling to and for uncoupling from the hook-shaped latching member on the barge and for selectively retracting the piston rod and thereby drawing the tugboat and the barge together and into a towing relationship with respect to each other; said locking portion of the piston rod comprising a segmented screw; said locking portion of the housing comprising a segmentEd nut positioned in alignment with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder means is in the retracted condition and mounted for rotation relative to the piston rod and into threaded engagement with the segmented screw portion thereof; a plurality of bolt members extending from the main portion of the housing through at least a portion of the locking portion of the housing; expandable nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt members for cooperation therewith to detachably secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof; and means for actuating said nut means for selectively detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof and thereby permitting extension of the cylinder means to uncouple the T-shaped latching member on the tugboat from the hook-shaped latching member on the barge even though the segmented nut portion of the locking portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
324 words
A tugboat-barge connection system which comprises: a hook-shaped latching member mounted on the barge; a T-shaped latching member mounted on the tugboat for cooperation with the hook-shaped member on the barge to couple the tugboat to the barge; fluid pressure operated cylinder means mounted on the barge for supporting the T-shaped latching member and comprising a piston rod having a locking portion and a housing including a main portion secured to the barge and a locking portion detachably secured to the main portion; said cylinder means for selectively extending the rod to position the T-shaped latching member on the tugboat both for coupling to and for uncoupling from the hook-shaped latching member on the barge and for selectively retracting the piston rod and thereby drawing the tugboat and the barge together and into a towing relationship with respect to each other; said locking portion of the piston rod comprising a segmented screw; said locking portion of the housing comprising a segmentEd nut positioned in alignment with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder means is in the retracted condition and mounted for rotation relative to the piston rod and into threaded engagement with the segmented screw portion thereof; a plurality of bolt members extending from the main portion of the housing through at least a portion of the locking portion of the housing; expandable nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt members for cooperation therewith to detachably secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof; and means for actuating said nut means for selectively detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof and thereby permitting extension of the cylinder means to uncouple the T-shaped latching member on the tugboat from the hook-shaped latching member on the barge even though the segmented nut portion of the locking portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
The tugboat barge connection system according to claim 8 wherein: the bolt members each extend substantially parallel to the piston rod; each of the expandable nut means is normally threadedly engaged with the distal end of one of the bolt members; the expandable nut means are adapted for actuation by fluid pressure for disengagement from the bolt members; and the means for detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof comprises means for simultaneously applying fluid pressure to all of the expandable nut means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
286 words
In a tugboat-barge connection system of the type including a first latching member on the barge, a second latching member on the tugboat for cooperation with the first latching member to couple the tugboat to the barge, and fluid pressure operated cylinder apparatus on the tugboat for extension to position the second latching member for coupling to and uncoupling from the first latching member and for retraction to draw the tugboat and the barge toward one another and into a towing relationship, said cylinder apparatus including a piston rod having a locking portion comprising a segmented screw and a housing including a main portion secured to the tugboat and a locking portion including a segmented nut positioned in alignment with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder apparatus is in the retracted condition and mounted for rotation relative to the piston rod to effect threaded engagement with the segmented screw portion thereof, the improvement comprising: means including a plurality of bolt members extending from the main portion of the housing through the locking portion thereof and expandable nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt members for cooperation therewith to secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof, so that the locking portion of the piston rod and the housing are effective to secure the cylinder apparatus in the retracted condition; and emergency release means for detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof and thereby permitting actuation of the cylinder apparatus to the extended condition even though the segmented nut portion of the locking portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw portion of the locking portion of the piston rod.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
286 words
In a tugboat-barge connection system of the type including a first latching member on the barge, a second latching member on the tugboat for cooperation with the first latching member to couple the tugboat to the barge, and fluid pressure operated cylinder apparatus on the tugboat for extension to position the second latching member for coupling to and uncoupling from the first latching member and for retraction to draw the tugboat and the barge toward one another and into a towing relationship, said cylinder apparatus including a piston rod having a locking portion comprising a segmented screw and a housing including a main portion secured to the tugboat and a locking portion including a segmented nut positioned in alignment with the segmented screw portion of the piston rod when the cylinder apparatus is in the retracted condition and mounted for rotation relative to the piston rod to effect threaded engagement with the segmented screw portion thereof, the improvement comprising: means including a plurality of bolt members extending from the main portion of the housing through the locking portion thereof and expandable nut means normally threadedly engaging the bolt members for cooperation therewith to secure the locking portion of the housing to the main portion thereof, so that the locking portion of the piston rod and the housing are effective to secure the cylinder apparatus in the retracted condition; and emergency release means for detaching the locking portion of the housing from the main portion thereof and thereby permitting actuation of the cylinder apparatus to the extended condition even though the segmented nut portion of the locking portion of the housing remains threadedly engaged with the segmented screw portion of the locking portion of the piston rod.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
The improvement according to claim 10 wherein the expandable nut means comprises a plurality of expandable nut members each normally threadedly engaged with the distal ends of one of the bolt members, and wherein the emergency release means comprises means for simultaneously disengaging all of the expandable nut members from the bolt members and thereby permitting movement of the locking portion of the housing with respect to the main portion thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement according to claim 11 wherein the expandable nut means are each adapted for actuation by fluid pressure for disengagement fRom the bolt members, and wherein the emergency release means comprises means for simultaneously applying fluid pressure to all the expandable nut members.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-30 | 1978-12-30 | 1979-07-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-30 | 1982-12-30 | 1983-07-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-30 | 1986-12-30 | 1987-07-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |