MARINE SAFETY DEVICE ATTACHMENT WITH AUTOMATIC RELEASE CAPABILITY

• US 20100257836A1
• Filed: 06/25/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CM Hammar AB (Ernströmgruppen AB)
• Original Assignee: CM Hammar AB (Ernströmgruppen AB)
• Inventors: SHNAYDER, Taila, RASKIN, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,971,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 59/93
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 21/04 Fastening or guiding equipment for chains, ropes, hawsers, or the like means for fastening cables or ropes in general F16G11/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16G 15/10 Emergency joints or links
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/1374 Neck supported holder

Abstract

A device for fastening emergency equipment to a vessel includes a hydrostatic release mechanism, a tether, and a float-free link. The tether is attached to the hydrostatic release mechanism and provides an attachment point for lashing the emergency equipment to the vessel. The tether may also be threaded through openings in the curved partially tubular body of the float-free link. A breakable bridge is integrally coupled to the body of the float-free link to form a closed loop. The breakable bridge is designed to be the break point when the emergency equipment needs to be freed from a vessel that has sunk below a predetermined depth. When the vessel sinks below the predetermined depth, the hydrostatic release mechanism severs the tether thus freeing the emergency equipment from one point of attachment to the vessel. The bridge is designed to break when the strain on the fastening line, e.g., the painter line, is between a predetermined minimum force and maximum force.

Claims

1-43. -43. (canceled)

44. A float-free link, comprising:

a first linkage means for allowing a first fastener to be attached thereto;

threading means for allowing a second fastener to be threaded through a portion of the linkage means; and

breakaway means for controlled breaking of the float-free link between a minimum and a maximum force and at a specific location on the float-free link.

45. The float-free link of claim 44, further comprising second linkage means for allowing a third fastener to be attached thereto, wherein the second linkage means is integrally coupled to the first linkage means.

46. The float-free link of claim 45, wherein the first linkage means and the second linkage means form a unitary integrally molded structure.

47. The float-free link of claim 44, wherein the first linkage means, threading means, and breakaway means form a unitary integrally molded structure.

48. The float-free link of claim 47 being composed of a plastic material that is substantially stable to ultraviolet light

49. The float-free link of claim 48 wherein the plastic material is polycarbonate.

50. The float-free link of claim 44, wherein the minimum force is at least about 100 lbs and the maximum force is no more than about 134 lbs.

51. The float-free link of claim 44, wherein the minimum force is at least about 200 lbs and the maximum force is no more than about 268 lbs.

52. The float-free link of claim 44, wherein the minimum force is at least about 400 lbs and the maximum force is no more than about 536 lbs.

53. A hydrostatically-releasable device for fastening an emergency device to a vessel comprising:

a tether configured to mechanically couple the emergency device to the vessel;

a hydrostatic release mechanism attached to the tether, the hydrostatic release mechanism configured to sever the tether when the hydrostatic release mechanism is submerged below a predetermined depth;

a first external fastener mechanically coupled to the vessel;

a second external fastener mechanically coupled to the emergency device; and

an integrally formed float-free link having

a curved link body having at least one aperture configured to mechanically couple the float-free link to the first external fastener, and a channel extending around at least a portion of the at least one aperture, said channel configured to receive a portion of the tether threaded therethrough; and

a breakaway bridge integrally formed with the curved link body to form a closed loop, wherein the breakaway bridge is designed to break between a minimum and a maximum force resulting from strain exerted by the second external fastener once the tether has been severed by the hydrostatic release mechanism.

54. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 53, wherein the curved link body is partially a hollow tubular body which forms the channel through which the tether is threaded.

55. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 54, wherein the hollow tubular body is partially open along its length.

56. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 55, wherein the hollow tubular body is partially toroidal in shape.

57. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 53, wherein the breakaway bridge has a tensile strength substantially lower than that of the first or second link.

58. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 57, wherein the breakaway bridge has a substantially reduced cross-section as compared to that of the first or second link.

59. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 53 wherein the breakaway bridge is dimensioned only to break after the minimum force has been exceeded and before the maximum force has been exceeded.

60. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 59, wherein the minimum force is substantially within a first range of about 100 lbs to 400 lbs and the maximum force is substantially within a second range of about 134 lbs to 536 lbs, and wherein the minimum force is less than the maximum force.

61. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 59, wherein the minimum force is at least about 100 lbs and the maximum force is no more than about 134 lbs.

62. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 59, wherein the minimum force is at least about 200 lbs and the maximum force is no more than about 268 lbs.

63. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 59, wherein the minimum force is at least about 400 lbs and the maximum force is no more than about 536 lbs.

64. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 53, wherein the tether is a rope.

65. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 53, wherein hydrostatic release mechanism is attached to the tether at a point along the tether that is outside of the channel of the float-free link.

66. The hydrostatically-releasable device of claim 53, wherein the curved link body has a cross-bar to divide the aperture into first aperture and second aperture, wherein the first aperture is configured to mechanically couple with the first external fastener and wherein the second aperture is configured to mechanically couple with the second external fastener.

67. A hydrostatically-releasable device for fastening an emergency device to a vessel comprising:

a tether configured to mechanically couple the emergency device to the vessel;

a hydrostatic release mechanism attached to the tether, the hydrostatic release mechanism configured to sever the tether when the hydrostatic release mechanism is submerged below a predetermined depth; and

a first external fastener mechanically coupled to the vessel;

a second external fastener mechanically coupled to the emergency device; and

an integrally formed float-free link having

linkage means for allowing the first external fastener to be mechanically coupled thereto;

threading means for allowing the tether to be threaded through a portion of the linkage means; and

breakaway means for controlled breaking of the float-free link at a specific location on the float-free link and between a minimum force and a maximum force resulting from strain caused by the second external fastener once the tether has been severed by the hydrostatic release mechanism.