US3842780A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for buoying the end of a wire mooring line
Assignee: Global Marine Inc
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Filing: 1973-01-05
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Granted: 1974-10-22
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Expires: 1993-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A system for buoying the end of a wire mooring line cast off from a floating vessel includes an annular stopper loosely fitted around the mooring line onboard the vessel between the fairlead of the vessel and a winch drum to which the end of the line is releasably attached. An annular receptacle is loosely fitted around the mooring line outboard of the vessel and has a bore shaped to be engageable with the exterior configuration of the stopper. The receptacle is lashed lightly to the hull of the vessel and carries a shackle to which a buoyant line and buoy are connected. When the vessel mooring station is to be abandoned, the stopper is fixed to the mooring line by forcing a clamping device between the mooring line and the interior of the stopper. The mooring line is then cast off from the winch drum, allowing the line to run through the fairlead and the receptacle until the stopper mates with the bore in the receptacle. The engagement of the mooring line with the receptacle breaks the lashing of the receptacle to the vessel, and the buoy and its line follow the receptacle. The buoy supports the end of the mooring line and marks its location in the water so the line may be recovered later and reconnected to the vessel to reestablish its desired mooring.
Inventors
- 👤 G Allens
- 👤 B Perkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 09:58
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B21/00; B63B21/20; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
269 words
Apparatus for buoying a cast off mooring line comprising a receptacle defining a conical bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement therethrough of the mooring line relative to the vessel through the receptacle bore, means for connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member arranged for surrounding the mooring line and, when disposed to surround the mooring line, for defining a bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement of the mooring line relative to the vessel through the bore in the surrounding collar member, and a clamping member insertable into the bore of the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, to cooperate between the mooring line and the collar member for fixing the collar member to the mooring line, the collar member being sufficiently small in diameter to pass, when fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, through a fairlead, chock or the like with the mooring line, the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, having a conical exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the conical configuration of the receptacle bore for selfengagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore, irrespective of the angular relationship between the collar member and the receptacle, in response to the mooring line being payed out through the receptacle bore after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
269 words
Apparatus for buoying a cast off mooring line comprising a receptacle defining a conical bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement therethrough of the mooring line relative to the vessel through the receptacle bore, means for connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member arranged for surrounding the mooring line and, when disposed to surround the mooring line, for defining a bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement of the mooring line relative to the vessel through the bore in the surrounding collar member, and a clamping member insertable into the bore of the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, to cooperate between the mooring line and the collar member for fixing the collar member to the mooring line, the collar member being sufficiently small in diameter to pass, when fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, through a fairlead, chock or the like with the mooring line, the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, having a conical exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the conical configuration of the receptacle bore for selfengagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore, irrespective of the angular relationship between the collar member and the receptacle, in response to the mooring line being payed out through the receptacle bore after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the clamping member comprises a wedge shaped to be fitted between the mooring line and the bore of the collar member to tightly clamp the collar member onto the mooring line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the clamping member comprises a pair of locking segments shaped to fit between the interior of the collar member and the mooring line to tightly clamp the collar onto the mooring line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the bore of the collar member is tapered, and in which the locking segments are correspondingly tapered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 including ratched means cooperating between the locking segments and the collar member to lock the locking segments in line fixing cooperation between the collar member and the mooring line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the ratchet means comprises a threaded portion in the collar bore, and a sPring carried on the locking segments and biased toward the collar member interior to interlock with the threads and prevent movement of the locking segments out of the collar member bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 in which the locking segments are pivotally interconnected to move from an open position to a closed position matching the contour of the mooring line, the segments in their closed position having an exterior surface which is tapered to match the tapered contour of the collar bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 including means for attaching the receptacle to a fixed point on the vessel to constrain movement of the receptacle along the mooring line away from the vessel, the attaching means having a sufficiently low tensile strength that the connection between the receptacle and vessel can be broken by engagement of the collar member and the receptacle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for casting off a wire rope mooring line from an anchored vessel and for buoying the cast off end of the line comprising the steps of disposing around the mooring line outboard of the vessel a receptacle arranged for free passage of the line therethrough, connecting a suitable buoy to the receptacle, loosely disposing around the mooring line aboard the vessel, at a location on the line between a mooring winch and a gunwale fairlead or the like for the line, a stopper member configured to mate with the receptacle and to pass through the fairlead when fixed to the line, fixing the stopper member to the line adjacent the bitter end thereof only in preparation for disconnecting the line from the winch, and disconnecting the line from the winch after fixing the stopper member to the line, whereby the stopper member passes with the line through the fairlead or the like and engages the receptacle so that the buoy is pulled from the vessel by the falling line.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
171 words
A method for casting off a wire rope mooring line from an anchored vessel and for buoying the cast off end of the line comprising the steps of disposing around the mooring line outboard of the vessel a receptacle arranged for free passage of the line therethrough, connecting a suitable buoy to the receptacle, loosely disposing around the mooring line aboard the vessel, at a location on the line between a mooring winch and a gunwale fairlead or the like for the line, a stopper member configured to mate with the receptacle and to pass through the fairlead when fixed to the line, fixing the stopper member to the line adjacent the bitter end thereof only in preparation for disconnecting the line from the winch, and disconnecting the line from the winch after fixing the stopper member to the line, whereby the stopper member passes with the line through the fairlead or the like and engages the receptacle so that the buoy is pulled from the vessel by the falling line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method according to claim 9 including tethering the receptacle and the stopper member to the vessel sufficiently strongly that they maintain predetermined locations relative to the vessel during normal operation of the winch but insufficiently strongly to support loads applied thereto by the line following disconnection of the line from the winch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method according to claim 9 including storing the buoy on the vessel after connection thereof to the receptacle in such manner that the buoy is pulled from the vessel by the line following engagement of the stopper member with the receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 9 wherein the stopper member is fixed to the line by applying wedging means between the line and the stopper member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
413 words
Apparatus for buoying a mooring line extending from a point of attachment onboard a floating vessel through a fairlead, chock or the like of the vessel following casting off of the mooring line from the vessel in an emergency or the like, the apparatus comprising a receptacle adapted to be located outboard of the vessel and defining a tapered bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for free passage of the mooring line through the receptacle bore to an anchor, means for connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member adapted to be located on the vessel inboard of the fairlead and arranged for surrounding the mooring line and, when disposed to surround the mooring line, for defining a bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for free passage of the mooring line therethrough, the collar member also having a tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for locking cooperation of the collar member within the receptacle bore, a clamping member insertable into the bore of the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, to cooperate between the mooring line and the collar member for fixing the collar member to the mooring line at a location inboard of tHe fairlead, the collar member being sufficiently small in diameter to pass, when fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, through the fairlead, chock or the like with the mooring line, the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, having its tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for self-engagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore, irrespective of the angular relationship between the collar member and the receptacle, in response to the mooring line being payed out through the bore in the receptacle after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, and means for attaching the receptacle to a fixed point on the vessel to constrain movement of the receptacle along the mooring line away from the vessel in normal use thereof, the attaching means having a sufficiently low tensile strength that the connection between the receptacle and vessel can be broken by engagement of the collar member and the receptacle in response to the mooring line being payed out after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
413 words
Apparatus for buoying a mooring line extending from a point of attachment onboard a floating vessel through a fairlead, chock or the like of the vessel following casting off of the mooring line from the vessel in an emergency or the like, the apparatus comprising a receptacle adapted to be located outboard of the vessel and defining a tapered bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for free passage of the mooring line through the receptacle bore to an anchor, means for connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member adapted to be located on the vessel inboard of the fairlead and arranged for surrounding the mooring line and, when disposed to surround the mooring line, for defining a bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for free passage of the mooring line therethrough, the collar member also having a tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for locking cooperation of the collar member within the receptacle bore, a clamping member insertable into the bore of the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, to cooperate between the mooring line and the collar member for fixing the collar member to the mooring line at a location inboard of tHe fairlead, the collar member being sufficiently small in diameter to pass, when fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, through the fairlead, chock or the like with the mooring line, the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, having its tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for self-engagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore, irrespective of the angular relationship between the collar member and the receptacle, in response to the mooring line being payed out through the bore in the receptacle after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, and means for attaching the receptacle to a fixed point on the vessel to constrain movement of the receptacle along the mooring line away from the vessel in normal use thereof, the attaching means having a sufficiently low tensile strength that the connection between the receptacle and vessel can be broken by engagement of the collar member and the receptacle in response to the mooring line being payed out after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
258 words
Apparatus for buoying a cast off mooring line comprising a receptacle defining a conical bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement of the mooring line relative to the vessel, means for connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member having a tapered bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement of the mooring line relative to the vessel through the receptacle bore, clamping means comprising a pair of locking segments shaped to fit between the bore of the collar member and the mooring line to tightly clamp the collar onto the mooring line, the collar member having a tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for self-engagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore in response to the mooring line being payed out after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping means, and ratchet means cooperating between the locking segments and the collar member to lock the locking segments in line-fixing cooperation between the collar member and the mooring line, the ratchet means comprising a threaded portion in the collar bore, and a spring carried by the locking segments and biased toward the collar member interior to interlock with the threads thereof and prevent movement of the locking segments out of the collar member bore.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
258 words
Apparatus for buoying a cast off mooring line comprising a receptacle defining a conical bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement of the mooring line relative to the vessel, means for connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member having a tapered bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line for loosely fitting around the mooring line to allow normal in and out movement of the mooring line relative to the vessel through the receptacle bore, clamping means comprising a pair of locking segments shaped to fit between the bore of the collar member and the mooring line to tightly clamp the collar onto the mooring line, the collar member having a tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for self-engagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore in response to the mooring line being payed out after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping means, and ratchet means cooperating between the locking segments and the collar member to lock the locking segments in line-fixing cooperation between the collar member and the mooring line, the ratchet means comprising a threaded portion in the collar bore, and a spring carried by the locking segments and biased toward the collar member interior to interlock with the threads thereof and prevent movement of the locking segments out of the collar member bore.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
381 words
A system for buoying the end of a mooring line cast off from an anchored floating vessel, the apparatus of the system normally being installed on the vessel in association with the line for normal use of the line but in readiness for an emergency casting off of the line, the apparatus comprising a receptacle located outboard of the vessel and defining a tapered bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line and through which the mooring line is loosely fitted for free passage of the line relative to the vessel through the receptacle bore, means connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member located onboard the vessel and loosely surrounding the mooring line at a location on the line between a mooring winch and a fairlead, chock, or the like of the vessel for free passage of the mooring line therethrough, the collar member having a tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for locking cooperation of the collar member within the receptacle bore, clamping means insertable into the bore of the collar member to cooperate between the mooring line and the collar member for fixing the collar member to tHe mooring line adjacent the bitter end thereof in preparation for disconnecting the line from the winch, the collar member being sufficiently small in diameter to pass, when fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, through the fairlead, chock, or the like with the mooring line, the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, having its tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for self-engagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore in response to the line being disconnected from the winch and payed out through the bore in the receptacle after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, and means releasably attaching the receptacle to a fixed point on the vessel to constrain movement of the receptacle along the mooring line away from the vessel in normal use thereof, the receptacle attaching means being releasable from the vessel by self-engagement of the collar member and the receptacle in response to the mooring line being disconnected from the winch.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
381 words
A system for buoying the end of a mooring line cast off from an anchored floating vessel, the apparatus of the system normally being installed on the vessel in association with the line for normal use of the line but in readiness for an emergency casting off of the line, the apparatus comprising a receptacle located outboard of the vessel and defining a tapered bore therethrough of minimum diameter greater than the diameter of the mooring line and through which the mooring line is loosely fitted for free passage of the line relative to the vessel through the receptacle bore, means connecting a buoy to the receptacle, a collar member located onboard the vessel and loosely surrounding the mooring line at a location on the line between a mooring winch and a fairlead, chock, or the like of the vessel for free passage of the mooring line therethrough, the collar member having a tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for locking cooperation of the collar member within the receptacle bore, clamping means insertable into the bore of the collar member to cooperate between the mooring line and the collar member for fixing the collar member to tHe mooring line adjacent the bitter end thereof in preparation for disconnecting the line from the winch, the collar member being sufficiently small in diameter to pass, when fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, through the fairlead, chock, or the like with the mooring line, the collar member, when disposed to surround the mooring line, having its tapered exterior configuration arranged in cooperation with the tapered configuration of the receptacle bore for self-engagement of the collar member in the receptacle bore in response to the line being disconnected from the winch and payed out through the bore in the receptacle after the collar member is fixed to the mooring line by the clamping member, and means releasably attaching the receptacle to a fixed point on the vessel to constrain movement of the receptacle along the mooring line away from the vessel in normal use thereof, the receptacle attaching means being releasable from the vessel by self-engagement of the collar member and the receptacle in response to the mooring line being disconnected from the winch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-10-21 | 1978-04-22 | 1978-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-10-21 | 1982-04-22 | 1982-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-10-21 | 1986-04-22 | 1986-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |