Interlocking system, apparatus and method for connecting modules
AssigneeCDI Corporation
InventorDaniel Latimer Wilkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An interlocking system, apparatus and methods for connecting floating structures by utilizing a male-female interlocking arrangement of shafts, cams, and connector bodies which manually lock and unlock thereby permitting, when attached to structures, quick and easy connecting and disconnecting of the structures in various states of motion including rough seas.
Claims96
An interlocking system for connecting at least two floating structures comprising:
- at least one male finger attached to a first structure;
- at least one female finger attached to a second structure;
- at least one connector body attached to said male finger;
- a receiver dispose on said female finger adapted to receive and retain said connector body;
- a camshaft rotatably fixed within said male finger;
- and
- at least one cam located about and attached to said camshaft in said male finger.
An interlocking system for connecting at least two floating structures comprising:
- at least one male finger attached to a first structure;
- at least one female finger attached to a second structure;
- at least one connector body attached to said male finger, wherein said connector body is substantially spherical;
- and
- a receiver disposed on said female finger adapted to receive and retain said connector body.
An interlocking system for connecting at least two floating structures providing a locking mechanism comprising:
- at least one male finger attached to a first structure;
- at least one female finger attached to a second structure;
- at least one connector body attached to said male finger;
- a receiver disposed on said female finger adapted to receive and retain said connector body;
- a camshaft disposed within said male finger
- at least one bearing rotatably connected to said camshaft;
- a socket attached to said bearing;
- a locking pin adapted to fit through said socket;
- and
- a tightening device adapted to connect with said socket.
An interlocking system for connecting at least two floating structures providing a locking mechanism comprising:
- at least one male finger attached to a first structure;
- at least one female finger attached to a second structure;
- at least one connector body attached to said male finger;
- a receiver disposed on said female finger adapted to receive and retain said connector body;
- a camshaft disposed within said male finger;
- at least one bearing rotatably connected to said camshaft;
- a socket attached to said bearing;
- a locking key adapted to fit within said socket;
- and
- a tightening device adapted to connect with said socket.
An interlocking system for connecting at least two structures comprising:
- at least one male finger attached to a first structure;
- at least one female finger attached to a second structure;
- at least one connector body attached to said male finger;
- a receiver disposed on said female finger adapted to receive and retain said connector body;
- a camshaft disposed within said male finger;
- and
- a mechanism for locking said interlocking system attached to said camshaft.
A method for connecting at least two floating structures in relative motion between said structures comprising the steps of:
- insertably positioning a male finger into a female finger
- rotating a camshaft in said male finger;
- and
- reliably locking said camshaft.
A method for achieving a full strength connection between two misaligned floating structures in relative motion between said structures comprising the steps of:
- insertably positioning a male finger into a female finger
- rotating a camshaft in said male finger;
- and
- reliably locking said camshaft.
A method for connecting at least two floating structures in relative motion between said structures said step for connecting including:
- operating a camshaft;
- establishing a connection between at least two tapered fingers;
- and
- inserting a connector body into a receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.