Coupling

A lifeboat comprising:

• a coupling that includes:
• a load bearing locking portion configured to be joined with a fall or a structure,
• a receiving portion prepared for being attached to, or unified with, a lifeboat, said receiving portion comprising:
• a hollow having an open end and being configured to receive said locking portion;
• an aperture provided in a wall of said hollow allowing said locking portion to connect with a fall or a structure through said aperture while preventing said locking portion from passing through said aperture;
• means for, in order to release said coupling, force said locking portion out of said hollow while said locking portion is under load, said means constitute an actuator arranged opposite said open end of said hollow and configured such that said actuator, upon activation, applies force onto said locking portion in a direction oriented outwards of said hollow;
• a pivotable pawl, rotatable about an axis, arranged near said open end of said hollow, said pawl being configured such that said pawl allows said locking portion to enter said hollow and, upon entrance of said locking portion into said hollow, prevent said locking portion from exiting said hollow,
• wherein walls of said hollow constitute a load bearing member transferring loads to said load bearing locking portion, and where said actuator, by means of interconnection, change a position of said pawl, such that said locking portion is allowed to exit said hollow, wherein that said pawl is rotated through an arrangement comprising a glider configured for transferring a linear motion, established by said actuator, to said pawl such that, upon actuation of said actuator, said pawl is rotated about said axis and into a position where said locking portion may exit said hollow.

A lifeboat coupling system comprising:

• a coupling that includes:
• a load bearing locking portion configured to be joined with a fall or a structure,
• a receiving portion prepared for being attached to, or unified with, a lifeboat, said receiving portion comprising:
• a hollow having an open end and being configured to receive said locking portion;
• an aperture provided in a wall of said hollow allowing said locking portion to connect with a fall or a structure through said aperture while preventing said locking portion from passing through said aperture;
• means for, in order to release said coupling, force said locking portion out of said hollow while said locking portion is under load, said means constitute an actuator arranged opposite said open end of said hollow and configured such that said actuator, upon activation, applies force onto said locking portion in a direction oriented outwards of said hollow;
• a pivotable pawl, rotatable about an axis, arranged near said open end of said hollow, said pawl being configured such that said pawl allows said locking portion to enter said hollow and, upon entrance of said locking portion into said hollow, prevent said locking portion from exiting said hollow,
• wherein walls of said hollow constitute a load bearing member transferring loads to said load bearing locking portion, and where said actuator, by means of interconnection, change a position of said pawl, such that said locking portion is allowed to exit said hollow, wherein that said pawl is rotated through an arrangement comprising a glider configured for transferring a linear motion, established by said actuator, to said pawl such that, upon actuation of said actuator, said pawl is rotated about said axis and into a position where said locking portion may exit said hollow
• wherein said hollow includes, in an internal area abutting said aperture, a flattened portion defining an angle (α) ensuring that said locking portion, under transfer of load from said receiving portion to said locking portion, is urged away from said open end of said hollow.