Grabber
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorArthur F. Langguth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This device assures the underwater recovery of heavy objects by marine mals. A trigger mechanism releases sections of spring biased tubing which converged about the object. After the tubing sections interconnect, the marine mammal pulls free and the object is retrieved by a hoisting line. If the object is partially buried in marine sediment, a pair of pressurized gas cartridges are ruptured to jet a pathway for the converging tubular sections. Because the tubing sections are inherently strong, the hoisting line optionally is connected directly to them or to a suitably arranged bridle. The lightweight concentrically arranged tubing sections are capable of lifting heavy loads and are designed to assure reliable trouble free operation.
Claims19
An apparatus for engaging an object comprising:
- means for defining two arcuate members each member having an arcuately shaped outer element and an arcuately shaped inner element sized to be concentrically carried inside of an outer element and being partially coextensively contained therein;
- means connected to both arcuate members for holding the inner elements in the outer elements;
- means sized to be contained in each of the outer elements and bearing against inner first ends of each of the inner elements for urging them from their positions of being partially coextensively contained in the outer elements;
- and
- means coupled to the holding means for displacing it to release the inner elements to extended converging positions about the object.
An apparatus for engaging an object comprising:
- means for defining two arcuate members arranged in a side by side relationship each member having an arcuately shaped outer element formed from a semicircular length of tubing and an arcuately shaped inner element formed from a semicircular length of tubing and sized to be concentrically carried inside of an outer element and being partially coextensively contained therein, annular guides are provided between the inner and outer elements in both arcuate members to permit smoother operation;
- means connected to both arcuate members for orientating the inner and outer elements to ensure that they extend to converging positions about the object;
- means coupled to the defining means for positioning it adjacent the object to effect its engagement;
- means connected to both arcuate members for holding the inner elements in the outer elements;
- a helically extending spring exerting an angularly opposed force contained in each of the outer elements and bearing against inner first ends of each of the inner elements for urging them from their positions of being partially coextensively contained in the outer elements;
- means coupled to the holding means for displacing it to release the inner elements to extended converging positions about the object;
- means carried on exposed second ends of the inner elements for securing them together about the object;
- and
- means coupled to the securing means for permitting the retrieval of an engaged object.
An apparatus for engaging an object comprising:
- means for defining two arcuate members each member having an arcuately shaped outer element and an arcuately shaped inner element sized to be concentrically carried inside of an outer element and being partially coextensively contained therein;
- means coupled to the defining means for positioning it adjacent the object to effect its engagement;
- means connected to both arcuate members for holding the inner elements in the outer elements;
- means contained in each of the outer elements and bearing against inner first ends of each of the inner elements for urging them from their positions of being partially coextensively contained in the outer elements;
- means coupled to the holding means for displacing it to release the inner elements to extended converging positions about the object;
- means carried on exposed second ends of the inner elements for securing them together about the object;
- means coupled to the securing means for permitting the retrieval of an engaged object;
- and
- means coupled to the defining means for jetting away sediment as the inner elements move toward their extended converging positions about the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.