US3302331A

US3302331A - Door mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3302331A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Sturm; Osbourne Alan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-15
Filing date: 1964-08-21
Publication date: 1967-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1984-02-07

Description

Feb. 7, 1967 G. w. STURM ETAL DOOR MECI-IANI SM (5 Sheets-Sheet IL Original Filed July 15, 196

INVENTOR;

GEORGE w swan/1 ALAN osaoue/vs 1967 5. w. STURM ETAL DOOR MECHANI SM Original Filed July 15, 196

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 -F-\ l INVENTOR-S GEORGE W STURM ALAN OSBOURNE BY 41% W02 ORNEYS G. W. STU RM ETAL DOOR MECHANI SM 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I INVENTORS GEORGE w STU/2M 1 ALAN OSBOURNE 1 AT ORNEYS Feb. 7, 1967 Original Filed July 15. 1960 United States Patent 3,302,331 DOOR MECHANISM George W. Sturm, 514 Ethan Allen Ave., Takoma Park, Md. 20012, and Alan Osbourne, Cabin John, Md.; said Osbourne assignor to said Sturm Original application July 15, 1960, Ser. No. 43,077, now Patent No. 3,145,854, dated Aug. 25, 1964. Divided and this application Aug. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 391,179

13 Claims. (Cl.49248) This is a division of United States letters Patent No. 3,145,854, the application for which was filed July 15, 1960, Serial No. 43,077, entitled Ship and Cargo Handling Equipment, and issued August 25, 1964.

The invention resides in certain improvements and combinations as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of half clamping rings in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a tunnel portion secured by the half clamping rings taken on section line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 2A is a perspective view of one of the half clamping rings shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a side view of the watertight side port door in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the watertight door taken on section line 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows the hydraulic system for opening and closing the door shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the end of a tunnel portion; and

FIGURES 7A, 7B, and 7C are diagrammatic plan views in partial section illustrating the engaging of the half clamping rings with the grooved tunnel.

In the patent, No. 3,145,854, of which this is a divisional there is disclosed means to load and unload a cargo ship from under the waterline of the ship. The cargo ship involved is provided with a plurality of underwater ports each having a door which is swung aside to permit the insertion of an underwater tunnel which is secured to the ship to provide an underwater passageway to and from the ship. The mechanism employed to secure the tunnel to the ships underwater port is the same as is used to se cure the door closed over the underwater port. This is accomplished by a pair of

half clamping rings

125 and 126 which are located in a 'vestibule 73 relative to the underwater port 62 to engage grooves 64 at the end of tunnel 70 or corresponding grooves 64A in the door 189. Thus, referring to FIGURES l and 2, it will be noted that the end of tunnel 70 is locked into the ships watertight vestibule 73 in a locked position by

half clamping rings

125 and 126 which move horizontally along guide rails 127. These clamping rings are wedge-shaped as shown in the perspective view FIGURE 2A.

The groove 64 is shown exaggerated in FIGURE 6. FIGURES 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate diagrammatically how the tunnel 70 (and in like manner, the door 189) is locked against the plating 71 of the ships hull. FIG. 7A shows the tunnel 70 inserted sufliciently into the port 62 so that the groove 64 can receive the wedge-shaped

half clamping rings

125 and 126. As the half clamping rings move together, a collar 70A employed on tunnel 70 is drawn toward the ships hull 71 as shown in FIGURE 7B and finally the tunnel 70 is locked securely in position with the collar 70A engaging the plating 71 as shown in FIGURES 7C and 2. When door 189 is swung into place, over port 62, as is hereinafter more fully described, the

half clamping rings

125 and 126 engage the groove 64A to urge the door 189 against the plating 71 in the same manner as collar-70A is brought to bear against same.

Half clamping rings

125 and 126 are moved horizontally either together or apart by means of rotating threaded shafts 117 and 117A. In FIGURE 1, the threaded shaft 117 has a right-hand thread on its right side, and the left side is threaded left-hand while shaft 117A has its right side threaded left-hand and its left side threaded righthand. Electric motor 114 rotates threaded shaft 117 through gears 116 which, in turn, through gears 118, rotates shaft 120. Further gears 121 journaled to shafts and 117A cause threaded shaft 117A to rotate with shaft 120. By controlling the rotation of motor 114,

half clamping rings

125 and 126 are moved together or apart. A pneumatic gasket 77 outboard of groove 64 insures watertight integrity.

FIGURES 3 and 4 relate to the underwater side port doors 189.

FIGURE 3 is an outboard profile of a hydraulically- -operated underwater side port door with the hinges and mechanism for operating the door located within the ship, thereby presenting a substantially smooth exterior hull surface.

Door 189 is hinged on its forward side at the top and bottom by a link motion assembly 155. A bracket 171 for supporting the door linkage is secured to the inner side of plating 71 of the ships hull and constitutes the upper base for the doors linkage assemblage 155. Bracket 171 is connected on its free end to link 166 through a pin 17 9. Pin 179 is rigidly secured to link 166 and additionally is keyed to the shaft of actuator 163. The casing of actuator 163, in turn, is secured to base 171. Link 166 is connected on its further free end to a second link 167 by pin 180. Pin 180 is rigidly secured to link 166 and in addition is keyed to a second actuator 164. The casing of this second actuator 164 is rigidly attached to the second link 167. In addition, the second link 167 is connected on its further free end to the door 189 by means of pin 177 inserted in boss 173 which extends from the inside of door 189. Pin 177 is rigidly secured to second link 167 and is keyed to the shaft of actuator 165. The casing of actuator 165 is secured to the door 189. The upper link assemblage is housed in a watertight box 162 which is open to the sea when door 189 is opened. The lower link assemblage is similarly housed in a watertight box 168 also open to the sea when door 189 is opened. Watertight boxes 162 and 168 are constructed so as to prevent water from entering the interior of the ship. It will be noted that boxes 162 and 168 enclose boss 173 and the corresponding boss in the lower linkage assembly.

The lower link assemblage 160 is aligned with and corresponds to the upper link assemblage except that the actuators may be omitted, and it is contemplated that the weight of the door 189 will be substantially supported by the lower link assemblage. It should be noted that the upper and lower pins have their diameters graduated and stepped in to support properly the weight or buoyancy of side port door 189.

Door 189 when shut seals opening to antrum 73 by means of an O-ring pneumatic gasket 77 and the link assemblage boxes and 168 by an outer gasket 138. It will be understood that gasket 138 is normally fastened to the ships side or the door 189 and conforms to the shape of door 189 with portions removed corresponding to the port 62 and boxes 162 and 168. However, when O-ring 77 is deflated, and

half clamping rings

125 and 126 opened, water will enter into the antrum 73 to equalize the pressure inside and outside the door 189. A groove 64A is located on the inner edge of door 189 to engage half clamping rings 125 and 126 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, whereby door 189 may be locked closed.

Referring now to FIGURES 3, 4 and 5, the operation of door 189 is as fol-lows:

Electric motor 201 (FIGURE 5) drives a hydraulic fluid pump 195. Pump 195 is located in a lower level than the hydraulic fluid supply reservoir 193. Fluid from 193 passes through line 194 to pump 195 and is pumped through filter 196 and line 198 to accumulator 200. When the pressure, after the accumulator, is at the desired level, a pressure-actuated controller 203 turns off the electric motor 201. Should the pressure become less than the desired amount, the controller 203 again starts the pump, as is usual in marine practice. Hydraulic fluid from line 204 passes to a 3-position valve 205. At the start of the operation, the 3-position valve 205 is closed. To open door 189 the hand wheel of valve 205 is turned until fluid in line 204 passes through valve 205 into line 207. From line 207 the fluid passes through a T-connection 208. The hydraulic fluid passes through line 231 to piston valve 210 and also through line 225 and through needle-valve 213 and line 226 to cylinder 211. The hydraulic pressure pushes against piston 211A which, in turn, is directly connected to a double piston 215 in valve 210, moving the piston 215 past an opening to line 183. Hydraulic fluid from line 231 passes through valve 210 into line 183 to actuator 163. The hydraulic fluid remaining in actuator 163 from the previous closing operation of door 189 is released through line 184 and through space 219 of valve 210 and through line 192 to reservoir 193. Hydraulic fluid remaining in cylinder 211 from the previous closing operation of door 189 is released through line 228, needle valve 212,

lines

227 and 216 to valve 205 and finally through line 218 to the reservoir 193. Remaining hydraulic fluid in the other end of valve 210 from the previous closing operation of door 189 is released through line 229 and line 216 to valve 205 and line 218 into reservoir 193.

During the foregoing opening operation, actuator 163 turns pin 179 counterclockwise 90 and link 166 similarly moves counterclockwise 90.

In FIGURE 5, as the piston 211A continues to be moved by hydraulic fluid, it, in turn, pushes the piston valve 215 and an opening to line 185 is uncovered which receives hydraulic fluid. Hydraulic fluid passes then from line 185 into actuator 164. The hydraulic fluid in actuator 164 from the previous closing operation of door 189 is returned to reservoir 193 through line 186, valve chamber 219 and line 192.

During the foregoing operation, actuator 164 turns itself on pin 180 clockwise 90 and link 167 likewise turns in a 90 clockwise direct-ion. Thus, it will be seen that while link 166 turns counterclockwise 90 on pin 179, link 167 turns clockwise 90 around pin 180 and door 189 moves smoothly out of the ships side plating 71 substantially perpendicularly to plating 71.

Referring back to FIGURE 5, as piston 211A in cylinder 211 continues to be moved by hydraulic fluid, piston 215 uncovers the opening to line 187 and hydraulic fluid passes through line 187 to actuator 165. The hydraulic fluid in the actuator 165 from the previous closing operation of door 189 passes through line 188 into valve chamber 219, through line 192 into reservoir 193.

During the foregoing evolution, actuator 165 located on door 189 turns itself on pin 177 counterclockwise substantial-1y 180. Door 189 also moves counterclockwise and opens substantially 180.

To close the door 189, valve 205 is set in its second position so that fluid under pressure from line 204 passes to line 216, to T-connection 214, and through line 227, needle valve 212, and line 228 into the other end of cylinder 211. From T-connection 214 hydraulic fluid also passes through line 229 to the other end of piston valve 210. As the hydraulic fluid pressure is applied to piston 211A, the piston 215 in valve 210 also moves in the same direction, passing between the aforementioned openings in sequence to

lines

188, 186 and 184 and permitting 4- hydraulic fluid to go to

actuators

165, 164 and 163 in that order.

At the same time and in the same order the other end of piston valve 210 clears

lines

187, 185 and 183 permitting the low pressure fluid from the actuators to return to the reservoir 193.

The low pressure hydraulic fluid in cylinder 211 which was used to open door 189 returns to the reservoir 193 through line 226, needle valve 213, line 225, line 207, and line 218. The low pressure hydraulic fluid in cylinder 210 which was used to open door 189 returns to the reservoir 193 through

lines

231, 207 and line 218. Dur ing this period actuator 165 located on door 189 and boss 173 turns itself on pin 177 clockwise substantially 180 and since boss 173 is fixed to the door 189, the door 189 moves clockwise substantially 180. Actuator 164 then turns itself on pin 180 counterclockwise 90 and link 167 likewise turns counterclockwise 90. While this is going on actuator 163 turn link 166 clockwise 90 and the door 189 is brought smoothly inward parallel to corresponding portion of the ships hull plating 71 and closed. Half clamping rings 125 and 126 are then moved together into groove 64A and door 189 is thereby locked in place.

It will be recognized that parts of the

lines

185, 186, 187, and 188 are made of flexible hose or jointed pipe.

Actuators

163, 164 and 165 are torque actuators. Any suitable actuator of this type known to the art may be employed. An example of such actuators is the Rotac Torque Actuators produced by the Ex-Cell-O Corporation of Detroit, Michigan, as disclosed in its catalog No. 26282. The stops for upper linkage motion are installed inside the casings of

rotary actuators

163, 164 and 165. Interlocks may be employed so as to harmonize the sequence of the actuator operations. For example, interlocks may be provided whereby actuator 165 will always operate either before or after

actuators

163 and 164 have completed their evolution, depending upon whether door 189 is being closed or opened.

It will be understood that the drawings in this case are diagrammatic and that details that would occur to those skilled in the art will have been omitted for purposes of clarity. For example, power sources, such as wires to motors, have been omitted inasmuch as it is well under- I stood that electric motors will, of course, be suitably connected to an electric power source.

The above description and drawings disclose several embodiments of the invention, and specific language has been employed in describing the several figures. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitations of the scope of the invention are thereby contemplated, and that various alterations and modifications may be made such as would occur to one. skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

We claim:

1. A watertight door for an opening to a space for precluding the entrance of water therein comprising a plate continuously overlapping the outside of said opening, a gasket interposed therebetween when said plate is in the overlapped portion of said opening, a pair of means to open and secure said plate over said openings, the first of said means comprising torque actuator means interconnected to said plate for moving said plate perpendicularly away from said opening in its first opening movement, the second of said means comprising further torque actuator means for swinging said plate through an arc of more than relative to said opening in its second opening movement, and a fluid control system for controlling said actuators.

2. Hinge means for opening and securing a door comprising a frame for said door, a bracket extending inwardly from said frame, a link extending from said bracket substantially parallel to said door, a first actuator to rotate said link from said bracket, a further link r-otatably connected to the free end of.-the first- Inentioned link, a second actuator to control the relative rotation of said first-mentioned link with further link, said further link being substantially perpendicular to said door when said door is closed, a boss secured to the inside of said door and rotatably secured to the free end of said further link, a third actuator to control the relative rotation between said further link and said boss, whereby when said door is opened said first actuator rotates said link towards said door while at the same time said sec-ond actuator rotates said further link in an opposite direction causing said door to move outwardly from said door frame and said third actuator rotates said boss with said door attached thereto about an arc to open said door. I

3. A watertight door for an underwater port in the hull of a vessel comprising a plate sized to fit over said port, hinge means connecting the hull of said vessel and said plate, said hinge means having a first bracket extending rigidly inwardly from said hull, a first link connected to the inward end of said first bracket by first pivot means, a second link connected to the further end of said first link by second pivot means, a second bracket extending inwardly from said plate, a further end of said second link connected to the inward end of said second bracket by third pivot means, said pivot means each being operatively associated with actuators where-by when said port opens, said first and second pivot means are first actuated to cause said door to open outwardly substantially parallel to said port and third pivot means is thereafter actuated to cause said door to swing open about said pivots in an arc of travel.

4. Means for locking a watertight covering member in closed position relative to an opening in a wall member comprising opposed half clamping rings, means to slide said half clamping rings whereby said half clamping rings may be slid together and apart, said covering member including flange means at its periphery engageable with one side of said wall member and a further portion extendable through said opening, said further portion having a slot about its edge, said clamping rings disposed on the other side of said wall member relative to said flange means, said half clamping ring being adapted to slide into said slot.

5. Door hinge means for combination with an opening in a structure and a door sized to fit over said opening, said hinge means connecting said structure and said door and comprising a first bracket extending inwardly from said structure, a first link connected to the inward end of said first bracket by first pivot means, a second link connected to the further end of said first link by second pivot means, a second bracket extending inwardly from said door, a further end of said second link connected to the inward end of said second bracket by a third pivot means, said pivot means being operatively associated with actuators whereby when said door opens, said first and second pivot means are first actuated to cause said door to open outwardly substantially parallel to said opening and third pivot means is thereafter actuated to cause said door to swing about said pivots in an arc of travel.

6. Means for looking a closure in a closed position relative to and opening in a wall member comprising a pair of opposed half clamping rings, each of said half clamping rings including a part wedge-shaped in cross section with coplanar slide surfaces, means to slide said half clamping rings whereby said half clamping rings may be slid together and apart, a slot substantially at and around the periphery of said closure, said slot including a pair of further coplanar slide surfaces with the planes of said further coplanar surfaces being nonparallel, said further coplanar surfaces each being adapted to engage a coplanar surface of said clamping rings, said slot conforming in shape to the wedge-shaped parts of said half clamping rings and adapted to receive said wedge-shaped parts with the coplanar surfaces of said clamping rings engaging the coplanar surfaces of said slot when said clamping rings are slid together whereby said half clamping rings continuously engage said slot.

7. Means for locking a closure in accordance with claim 6 wherein said closure is substantially circular in shape.

8. Watertight door apparatus for submersible structure comprising an opening in said structure, a movable cover member for closing said opening, said cover member including a circum-ferentially extending flange disposed within said opening when said cover is closed, a fastening device for clamping said cover member against the periphery of said opening in a watertight relationship when said cover member is in closed position, said fastening device including a clamping ring comprised of two semicircular separable segments which are movable relative to each other for expansion and contraction of the clamping ring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said flange on contraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments of said clam-ping rin-g being inclined relative to each other, whereby contraction of said clamping ring forces said cover member against the periphery of said opening.

9. Watertight door apparatus for submersible structure comprising an opening in said structure, a movable cover member for closing said opening, said cover member including a circumferentially extending flange, a fastening device for clamping said cover member against the pe riphery of said opening in a watertight relationship when said cover member is in closed position, said fastening device including a clamping ring comprised of two semicircular separable segments which are movable relative to each other for expansion and contraction of the clamping ring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said flange on the contraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments of said clamping ring with said flange being substantially coplanar and inclined relative to each other whereby contraction of said clamping ring forces said cover member against the periphery of said opening.

10. Watertight door apparatus in accordance with claim 9 wherein said segments are wedge-shaped in cross section.

11. Watertight door apparatus for a submersible structure comprising an opening in said structure, said opening having a circumferentially extending radially projecting flange, a movable cover member for closing said opening, said cover member including a circumferentially extending further flange, a fastening device for clamping said cover member against the periphery of said opening in a watertight relationship when said cover member is in closed position, said fastening device including a clamping ring comprised of two semicircular separable segments which are movable relative to each other for expansion and contraction of the clamping ring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said further flange on contraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments of said clamping ring with said further flange being substantially coplanar and inclined relative to each other whereby contraction of said clamping ring forces said cover member against the periphery of said opening.

12. Watertight door apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said segments engage said first mentioned flange on one side and said further flange on the other side.

13. Door apparatus comprising a structural opening, a hinged cover member for closing said opening, said cover member including a portion extending normally inwardly therefrom with a circumfer-entially extending flange on one end thereof, a fastening device for clamping said cover member against the periphery of said opening in tight relationship when said cover member is in closed position, said fastening device including a clamping ring comprised of two semicircular separable segments which are movable relative to each other for expansion and contraction of the clamping ring, said clamping ring frictionally engaging said flange on contraction, the engaging surfaces of each of said segments of said clamping ring with said flange being substantially coplanar and inclined relative to each other whereby contraction of said clamping ring forces said cover member against the periphery of said opening, and hinge means connected to said cover member, said hinge means located inwardly with respect to said cover member and comprising a plurality of torque actuators and a hydraulic system, whereby said cover member moves perpendicularly away from said opening in its first movement and is swung out more than 90 degrees in its second movement.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,857 10/1921 Utley 114173 2,224,292 12/1940 DWyer 2922565 2,338,622 1/1944 Cleveland et a1. 292256.67 2,457,625 12/1948 Amiot 26875 X 2,528,180 1 /1950 Roe-hl 285158 2,576,387 11/1951 Buell 114117 2,637,453 /1953 Cleveland 114-72 X 2,722,405 11/ 1955 Thomson et a1 2 6830 X 2,736,577 2/1956 Mackey 285158 2,778,632 1/1957 Mercier 26866 FOREIGN PATENTS France.

References Cited by the Applicant UNITED STATES PATENTS Kelly. Chadwick et a1. Muller.

'Emery.

Kinsey.

Gail.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

MILTON BUCHLE'R, CHARLES E. OCONNELL,

Examiners.

A. H. FARRELL, J. K. BELL, Assistant Examiners.

Claims

1. A WATERTIGHT DOOR FOR AN OPENING TO A SPACE FORE PRECLUDING THE ENTRANCE OF WATER THEREIN COMPRISING A PLATE CONTINUOUSLY OVERLAPPING THE OUTSIDE OF SAID OPENING, A GASKET INTERPOSED THEREBETWEEN WHEN SAID PLATE IS IN THE OVERLAPPED PORTION OF SAID OPENING, A PAIR OF MEANS TO OPEN AND SECURE SAID PLATE OVER SAID OPENINGS, THE FIRST OF SAID MEANS COMPRISING TORQUE ACTUATOR MEANS INTERCONNECTED TO SAID PLATE FOR MOVING SAID PLATE PERPENDICULARLY AWAY FROM SAID OPENING IN ITS FIRST OPENING