Hatch or door system for securing and sealing openings in marine vessels

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a cloned position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• and
• wherein each of the dogging members is mounted on the surrounding structure for rotation about an axis parallel to an adjacent edge of the panel.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• and
• wherein each of the dogging members is mounted for translation toward and away from an adjacent edge of the panel in a direction transverse to the adjacent edge of the panel.

A hatch or door system for closing en opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• wherein each continuously extending portion of the panel is formed with a recess and each dogging member is formed with a complementary configuration matable with the recess;
• wherein the recess is formed by a curved surface and a flat face, and the dogging members each comprise a protrusion rotatably mounted on a shaft for rotation following the curved surface into the panel-securing position abutting the flat face;
• and
• wherein the dogging members comprise a quill shaft mounted for rotation and the protrusion comprises a tang extending radially from the quill shaft.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• wherein each continuously extending portion of the panel is formed with a recess and each dogging member is formed with a complementary configuration matable with the recess;
• wherein the recess is formed by a curved surface and a flat face, and the dogging members each comprise a protrusion rotatably mounted on a shaft for rotation following the curved surface into the panel-securing position abutting the flat face;
• and
• wherein the dogging members include an inner quill shaft and an outer quill shaft, the outer quill shaft attached to the inner quill shaft at one end and terminating at a location spaced from an end of the inner quill shaft, a tang extending from the outer quill shaft, and a further tang extending from the inner quill shaft along a portion of the inner quill shaft beyond the termination of the outer quill shaft.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• wherein each continuously extending portion of the panel is formed with a recess and each dogging member is formed with a complementary configuration matable with the recess;
• wherein the recess is formed by a curved surface and a flat face, and the dogging members each comprise a protrusion rotatably mounted on a shaft for rotation following the curved surface into the panel-securing position abutting the flat face;
• wherein the operating mechanism comprises an actuating mechanism operative to rotate the shaft, the actuating mechanism including a handle configured for gripping by an operator;
• wherein the actuating mechanism further comprises a second handle on an opposite side of the surrounding structure, whereby the operating mechanism is operable from either side of the surrounding structure;
• and
• wherein the handle and the second handle are connected through the surrounding structure via a sealed gearbox.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• wherein each continuously extending portion of the panel is formed with a recess and each dogging member is formed with a complementary configuration matable with the recess;
• wherein the recess is formed by a curved surface and a flat face, and the dogging members each comprise a protrusion rotatably mounted on a shaft for rotation following the curved surface into the panel-securing position abutting the flat face;
• and
• wherein the shafts of the operating mechanism extend in at least two orthogonal directions along adjacent sides of the panel, and the actuating mechanism includes a gearing mechanism operative to rotate each shaft about its axis.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• further comprising a lip formed on the panel to extend beneath an opposing surface, a gasketing member disposed between the lip and the opposing surface;
• and
• wherein the opposing surface is formed on a portion of the operating mechanism.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• and
• wherein the dogging members comprise linkage plates mounted on the surrounding structure for translation toward and away from the panel, long edges of each linkage plate configured with a wedge surface, opposing edges of the panel configured with complementary wedge surfaces, whereby in a panel-securing position, the wedge surfaces and complementary wedge surfaces are contacting.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• and
• wherein the dogging members comprise breech lock members mountable on the surrounding structure for translation parallel to the two straight edges, the straight edges including recesses formed therein to define protruding lugs, the breech lock members including complementary recesses and lugs, the lugs having opposed wedge surfaces, whereby in a panel-securing position, the wedge surfaces are in contact, and in an open position, the lugs of the panel are passable through the recesses of the breech lock members.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• and
• wherein the panel has a sandwich panel configuration comprising a core covered on opposite faces with face skins.

A hatch or door system for closing an opening in a surrounding structure, comprising:

• a panel configured to close the opening in the surrounding structure;
• the panel having a configuration having at least two straight edges disposed along opposite sides of the panel;
• the panel rotatably mountable to the surrounding structure for rotation between a closed position and an open position, wherein in the closed position, the opening in the surrounding structure is closed by the panel;
• an operating mechanism for retaining the panel in the closed position, the operating mechanism comprising dogging members movably mountable on the surrounding structure at a location adjacent at least the two straight edges of the panel and configured to apply a force along at least a portion extending continuously along each of the two straight edges when in a panel-securing position;
• and
• wherein the panel comprises stiffeners integrated within surrounding akin material.