US3638599A

US3638599A - Adjustable chain stopper

Info

Publication number: US3638599A
Application number: US844886A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold E Nilsen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-07-25
Filing date: 1969-07-25
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01

Abstract

An improved chain stopper that will eliminate the need for using a devil''s claw, pelican hook, or other device for properly holding a vessel''s anchor in stowed position or for measuring tension in a vessel''s anchor chain when it is riding at anchor. A pawl on the chain stopper is carried by a frame which is adjustable to bring the pawl into position immediately adjacent to one of the chain links to hold the chain.

Description

Q United States Patent [151 3,638,599 Nilsen Feb. 1, 1972 [54] ADJUSTABLE CHAIN STOPPER 1,226,731 5/1917 Wheeler ..l14/200 [72] Inventor: Harold E. Nilsen, 1425 Homestead Ave., Primary Examiner Andmw Farrell Metame' 70005 AttorneySandoe, Hopgood & Calimafde [22] Filed: July 25, 1969 [57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl' 844886 An improved chain stopper that will eliminate the need for using a devils claw, pelican hook, or other device for properly 52 us. Cl ..114/200 holding a vessels anchor in stowed P measun'ng [51 1 hm Cl 1363b 21/18 tension in a vessels anchor chain when it is riding at anchor. A [58] Field of 1 14/200 pawl on the chain stopper is carried by a frame which is adjustable to bring the pawl into position immediately adjagem to one of the chain links to hold the chain.

[56] References Cited 11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures UNlTED STATES PATENTS 311,573 2/1885 Emery ..1 14/200 PATENTED FEB 1 1972 SHEET 2 [IF 2 INVENTOR AM-W BY M, x

ATTORNEYS ADJUSTABLE CHAIN STOPPER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The anchor of a vessel is pulled up by its windlass into its hawse pipe or catling frame until it is stowed reasonably snug against the shell or pocket on the vessel. The chain stopper is then positioned on its adjustable base so that the pawl can be engaged. After the pawl has been engaged, the chain stopper is then slid inboard on its adjustable base until the anchor is properly stowed.

Normally, when a vessel is at anchor, the chain stopper will be slid to its most outboard position against a positive stop to eliminate unnecessary strain on screws, hydraulics, or other means to adjust the sliding chain stopper. However, this stopper can also be used for an anchor-chain-tension-measuring device by permitting the stopper not to slide to its outboard position by installing a pressure gauge on a hydraulic system, or a strain gauge when other mechanical instruments are used for moving the chain stopper.

By using the chain stopper of this invention, the load can always be taken off the windlass so that there will not be any brake freezing up and resulting delaying in the anchoring of the vessel. Also for work or maintaining of the windlass, this device is excellent for holding the anchor snug.

If installed with the slide longer than one chain link, it can be used for pulling in the chain.

Maintenance is far less on the desk as there are not any marks for devils claw, pelican hook, or other devices. Safety is maximized as there are no chains or other devices falling on or becoming entangled with someone.

The invention may also include a locking pin if the owner so desires for preventing the pawl from being raised out of engagement with the anchor chain; and this locking pin must be deliberately removed before the anchor chain can move in a direction to lower the anchor.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views:

FIG. I is an assembly view showing the improved chain stopper of this invention attached to the deck of a vessel and showing its relation to the hawse pipe and windlass;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view, partly broken away, of a modification of the chain stopper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the chain stopper shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and in section, showing the detailed construction of the chain stopper shown in FIG. I, the view being taken from the other side of the chain stopper;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail elevation, partly in section, of the chain stopper shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the construction shown in FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. I shows a deck I0 ofa ship which has a hawse pipe 12 through which an anchor chain 14 is pulled to raise the anchor. The chain 14 passes from the hawse pipe 12 through a chain stopper 16 to a windlass 18. The construction of the windlass is conventional and no further illustration of it is necessary for a complete understanding of this invention.

The chain stopper 16 includes a frame 22. The frame 22 is supported by a base 24 rigidly secured to a foundation 26 welded or otherwise permanently secured to the deck with an orientation that holds the frame 22 in line with the anchor chain I4 as it passes from thehawsc pipe 12 to the windlass I8.

The construction of the frame 22 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The frame 22 has a chain support 30 with a slot 32. There are shoulders 34 located on both sides ofthe slot 32. As the chain passes over the support 30, alternate links of the chain rest on the shoulders 34. These links may be referred to as horizontally extending links and they are designated in the drawing by the reference character 36.

The links 36 are connected by intervening links 38 which may be referred to as vertically extending links. These references to orientation refer to the planes of the links, and all of the links, when considered with respect to their length, extend at a slight slope to the horizontal, i.e., in the direction of movement of the chain, as shown clearly in FIG. I.

The frame 22 has generally

parallel parts

40 and 42 extending upwardly from opposite sides of the chain support 30 and preferably of one-piece construction with the chain support. There is a pawl 44 (FIG. 6) connected between the upwardly extending

parts

40 and 42 by a pin 46 which extends through bearings 48 to provide a pivot connection for the pawl 44 to the frame 22. The pawl 44 has a lower end 50 which rests on horizontally extending links 36 and which has its midportion shaped to engage the end of the next vertically extending link 38 to hold the chain against movement, in the direction of its length, across the chain support 30. Preferably the midportion of the lower end 50 contacts with the end of a vertical link 38 along an arc that reaches a level more than half way down the height of the link 38.

When the pawl 44 is in its chain-locking position, as shown in FIG. 6, the pawl extends at an acute angle to the vertical and it is prevented from swinging downward by contact with the horizontally extending link 36 which rests on the chain support 30. A locking pin 54 is inserted through openings 56 in the upwardly extending parts of the frame 22 to hold the pawl 44 down in contact with the chain 14.

In order to have the frame 22 in a position that will cause the pawl 44 to fall into a position immediately adjacent to a chain link 38, when the anchor reaches fully raised position, the frame 22 is moved along the base 24 in whatever direction will bring the pawl 44 into a link-engaging position. This movement is effected by either hydraulic motor operated or manually operated mechanism, and FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8 show manually operated mechanism for moving the frame 22.

The base 24 has channels 60 at opposite sides of the base with the open sides of the channels confronting one another. Flanges 62 at the lower ends of the frame 22 extend into the channels 60, the channels serving as tracks along which the flanges 62 slide. Since the channels 60 extend vertically along the outer surfaces of the flanges 62, and also extend inward across the top of the flanges 62, these channels 60 hold the frame 22 against horizontal transverse displacement and also against tipping over. Running clearance for the flanges 62 in the channels 60 is controlled by bearing plates 64, which may be brass or polytetrafluoroethylene, attached to the channels 60 by screws 66 or other suitable fastening means, or attached to the flanges in positions to bear against the upper and lower surfaces of the channels 60. The bearing plates 64 are replaced when they become worn.

Lugs 70 (FIGS. 7 and 8) extend upwardly from the base 24 at both sides of the base. Other lugs 72 extend outward from the frame 22 at both sides of the frame and constitute a stop for holding the frame 22 against movement along the channels or tracks 60, especially movement in the direction that would permit the chain to move in a direction to lower the anchor. Lead screws 74 thread into the lugs 72 and extend into the lugs 70 in which there are thrust bearings for preventing axial movement of the lead screws 74 with respect to the lugs 70.

The lead screws 74 also extend through bearings in lugs 76 attached to the base 24. Rotation of the lead screws 74 causes the lugs 72 to advance along the lead screws 74 as nuts on the screws and this movement shifts the frame 22 lengthwise along the base 24.

The lead screws 74 can be rotated by power means but in the illustrated construction, they are rotated by wrenches 80 and in order to rotate the lead screws on both sides uniformly and at the same time, gears 82 on the lead screws 74 rotate other gears 84 which turn sprockets 86 connected together by a chain 88.

FIGS. 4 and show a construction similar to FIGS. 7 and 8 but with a different mechanism for moving the frame along the base. Corresponding parts in FIGS. 4 and S are indicated by the same reference characters as in FIGS. 7 and 8 but with a prime appended. Cylinder-and-piston hydraulic motors 90 are connected to opposite sides of a frame 22'. In the construction illustrated, a cylinder 92 of each motor is secured to the frame 22' and a piston rod 94 is secured to a lug 96 on a base 24. This construction can be reversed.

The cylinders 92 are double acting and working fluid is supplied to opposite sides of the cylinders through tubing 98 with the supply and exhaust of the working fluid controlled by a manually operated slide valve 99. The slide valve 99 can be moved into a locking position in which it blocks flow of working fluid, preferably hydraulic fluid, to and from both ends of the cylinder 92. The frame 22' can thus be locked in any adjusted position along the base 24'. Shutoff valves 100 in the tubing 98 can be closed to keep hydraulic fluid from escaping and to thus lock the motor piston and the frame 22 or 22' from moving. A gauge communicating with one end of the cylinder 92 indicates the pull of the chain which is a function of the hydraulic pressure in the head end of the cylinder 92.

When the anchor is to be lowered, the chain 14 is held tightly by the windlass and the

frame

22 or 22 is moved enough to shift the pawl away from the adjacent chain link far enough to permit the pawl 44 to swing counterclockwise in FIG. 6, the pin 54 having been previously removed. The pawl 44 can be moved angularly about the pin 46 until the pawl reaches the position shown in dot-and-dash lines in FIG. 6. In

this position, the pawl 44 is supported by a rest stop 102 ex-:

tending across the width of the frame 22 between the 'upwardly extending parts of the frame.

For convenience in shifting the pawl 44 into different positions, a handle 104 is attached to the pawl at a location above the chain 14 and far enough above the chain so that a crewman does not have his hand in contact with the chain when moving the pawl 44 about its pivot connection 46, or a handle 105 on the pin 46 can be used.

After the pawl 44 has been lifted out of the path of the chain 14, the anchor can be lowered.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described and the invention is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. In a chain stopper having a frame with a guide in the lower part thereof across which an anchor chain passes, the guide having a slot into which one side of alternate links extend while the other links rest on supporting shoulders of the guide at both sides of the slot, a pawl pivotally connected with the frame above the chain support, the pawl being movable on its pivot connection with the frame into a position clear of the chain or into a position to engage a link of the chain at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the chain for preventing movement of the chain in a direction to lower the anchor, the improvement which comprises a base for permanent connection with a fixed part of the ship, a track on the base along which the frame moves in the direction of movement of the chain, a positive stop that prevents movement of the frame along the track in the direction'in which the chain moves to lower the anchor, and means for adjusting the stop and the resulting position of the frame along the track to bring the pawl to a location immediately adjacent to an end portion of a link when the chain stops with the anchor in its fully raised position.

2. The chain stopper described in claim 1 characterized by the means for adjusting the stop on the base having one end connected with the base and the other end connected with the sto J? The chain stopper described in claim 2 characterized by the stop and means for adjusting it being a cylinder-and-piston motor connected between the frame and base, one connection being with the piston rod of the motor and the other connection being with the cylinder of the motor.

4. The chain stopper described in claim 3 characterized b the stop and means for adjusting the stop including two double-acting cylinder-and-piston motors, one on each side of the frame and each of the motors having a piston rod extending from a corresponding end thereof, a pivot connection joining the cylinder of each of the motors with the base and pivot connection joining the piston rod of each of the motors to the frame, valve means for selectively supplying working fluid to one end of each of the cylinders while exhausting working fluid from the other end thereof, and an actuator for moving the valve means into different positions for reversing the operation of the motors.

5. The chain stopper described in claim 2 characterized by the means for adjusting the stop including an actuator and mechanism operated by the actuator for giving the actuator a mechanical advantage gaining force for moving the stop with respect to the base.

6. The chain stopper described in claim 5 characterized by the actuator being a manually operated handle and the mechanism being a lead screw rotated by the handle and threaded means connected to the frame.

7. The chain stopper described in claim 6 characterized by the threaded means being a nut connected with each side of the frame, there being two lead screws, one on each side of the frame, and bearings carried by the base and in which the lead screws rotate, the bearings including thrust bearings for preventing axial movement of the screws with respect to the base.

8. The chain stopper described in claim I characterized by the track including channels at opposite sides of the base, the channels having open sides that confront one another at a level below the surface of the chain support across which the chain passes for engagement by the pawl, and the frame having flanges projecting from opposite sides thereof into the channels of the base for guiding the frame along the channels and for preventing tipping of the frame by holding both sides thereof against vertical movement, said channels being open at one end for inserting the flanges of the frame into the channels.

9. The chain stopper described in claim 8 characterized by replaceable bearing plates in the channels for carrying the weight of the frame and for controlling the width of the running clearance in the channels for the flanges of the frame,

10. The chain stopper described in claim 1 characterized by the pawl being angularly movable about its pivot connection with the frame to shift the center of gravity of the pawl to the side of the axis of the pivotal connection of the pawl opposite the side on which the pawl engages the chain, a rest stop for holding the pawl when so shifted, a handle by which the pawl is moved angularly about its pivot axis, and a pin which extends through openings in the frame just above a part of the pawl when the pawl is in chain-engaging position to prevent the pawl from moving angularly out of engagement with the chain, said pin being movable out of the path of the pawl when free movement of the pawl is desired.

11. The chain stopper described in claim 1 characterized by the frame and the guide and support for the chain being of one-piece construction and the frame having two spaced and substantially parallel parts extending upwardly from the chain support, the pivot being located between the spaced parts of the frame, and the pivot connection of the pawl being a pin that extends through the parallel parts of the frame and across the space between said parallel parts.

Claims

1. In a chain stopper having a frame with a guide in the lower part thereof across which an anchor chain passes, the guide having a slot into which one side of alternate links extend while the other links rest on supporting shoulders of the guide at both sides of the slot, a pawl pivotally connected with the frame above the chain support, the pawl being movable on its pivot connection with the frame into a position clear of the chain or Into a position to engage a link of the chain at an acute angle to the direction of movement of the chain for preventing movement of the chain in a direction to lower the anchor, the improvement which comprises a base for permanent connection with a fixed part of the ship, a track on the base along which the frame moves in the direction of movement of the chain, a positive stop that prevents movement of the frame along the track in the direction in which the chain moves to lower the anchor, and means for adjusting the stop and the resulting position of the frame along the track to bring the pawl to a location immediately adjacent to an end portion of a link when the chain stops with the anchor in its fully raised position.

2. The chain stopper described in claim 1 characterized by the means for adjusting the stop on the base having one end connected with the base and the other end connected with the stop.

3. The chain stopper described in claim 2 characterized by the stop and means for adjusting it being a cylinder-and-piston motor connected between the frame and base, one connection being with the piston rod of the motor and the other connection being with the cylinder of the motor.

4. The chain stopper described in claim 3 characterized by the stop and means for adjusting the stop including two double-acting cylinder-and-piston motors, one on each side of the frame and each of the motors having a piston rod extending from a corresponding end thereof, a pivot connection joining the cylinder of each of the motors with the base and pivot connection joining the piston rod of each of the motors to the frame, valve means for selectively supplying working fluid to one end of each of the cylinders while exhausting working fluid from the other end thereof, and an actuator for moving the valve means into different positions for reversing the operation of the motors.

8. The chain stopper described in claim 1 characterized by the track including channels at opposite sides of the base, the channels having open sides that confront one another at a level below the surface of the chain support across which the chain passes for engagement by the pawl, and the frame having flanges projecting from opposite sides thereof into the channels of the base for guiding the frame along the channels and for preventing tipping of the frame by holding both sides thereof against vertical movement, said channels being open at one end for inserting the flanges of the frame into the channels.

9. The chain stopper described in claim 8 characterized by replaceable bearing plates in the channels for carrying the weight of the frame and for controlling the width of the running clearance in the channels for the flanges of the frame.