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(11) | EP 0 280 114 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Quick-release mooring apparatus for floating vessels |
| (57) An improved platform-mounted apparatus for holding and rapidly releasing a flexible
load line (38) having the properties of a wire rope comprises wedge gripper means
(100) for holding the line up to a tensile force substantially equal to the breaking
strength of the line. The gripper means comprise a grip frame (54, 60, 62) for mounting
to the platform (10) and a pair of opposed grip wedges (74). A grip body (102) has
seating surfaces which taper toward each other such that motion of the grip wedges
(74) into the taper of the seating surfaces (78) causes the opposed grip wedges to
wedge together to engage the line (38) and motion out of the taper of the seating
surfaces causes release of the line. Release means connected to the pair of grip wedges
(74) and the grip body (102) positively move the grip body (102) relative to the
grip wedges (74) to cause line release. When the wedge gripper means is combined with
a winch means (40) for mounting to a platform, with the winch means having the ability
to draw in and hold the line (38) up to a tensile force less than the breaking strength
of the line, the combined apparatus can draw in, hold, pay out and rapidly release
a mooring line. |