US3409153A - Boat hoist - Google Patents

Description

R. A. sTEARN ETAL 3,409,153

Nov. s, 196s` BOAT HOIST 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filled Dec. 22, 1966 m, n@ WW WA m43 .w mw xJ HN N0 5, 1.968 R. A. sTc-:ARN ETAL y 3,409,153

BOAT HOIST Filed Dec. 22, 196e 3 Sheets-Sheet v2 v NO-V. 5, R, A, STEARN ET AL 3,409,153

BOAT HoIsT Filed Dec. 22, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent O 3,409,153 BOAT HOIST- Richard A. Steam, Arnold Petersen, and Norbert Lenius, Sturgeon Bay, Wis., assiguors to Marine Travelift, Inc., Sturgeon Bay, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Dec. 22, 1966, Ser. No. 603,952 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-396) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a boat hoist which has a frame, a boat sling connected to the frame for supporting a boat and a plurality of wheels movably supporting the frame. The frame includes a pair of columns and a catch is mounted on one of the columns. An elongated arm has one end pivotedly mounted on the other of the columns. The elongated arm has a lock mounted on the free end thereof for releasable engagement with the catch. The lock includes a fixed jaw and a movable jaw cooperative with the catch to lock the arm to the catch. A motor is connected to the arm and to the lock for raising and lowering the arm and operating the lock.

This invention relates to an improved construction for a boat hoist and more particularly to that type of boat hoist which is movable and includes a gate rwhich may be opened in onder to allow a portion of the boat to pass through the gate, and the gate may then be closed to provide a rigid structure to support a raised boat and transport the raised boat.

`In the operation of small craft, it becomes necessary to remove the small craft from the Iwater. A common method of removing the small craft is to use a boat hoist which is transported to a slip and then placing slings under the boat to raise the boat out of the water. The raised boat is then transported to a desired location for storage or maintenance. The customary construction of a boat hoist utilizes a frame which includes two generally U-shaped ends which are connected by beams. In the case of certain boats, especially sailboats, the mast of the sailboat may be higher than the cross-members of the U. In order to eliminate the need of dismantling the mast of a sailboat, it is customary to provide a gate at one of the ends of the hoist to allow the mast to pass through the gate and the gate is then closed to lock the hoist together in order to provide a rigid support structure.

In the ordinary operation of the prior art boat hoistsl the operation of the gate has been a common problem. Although the frame of the hoist is ordinarily a rigid structure, the construction of the hoist is such that often there is racking of the frame in the normal operation of the boat hoist. In many instances, the maintenance of the deck of a pier or wharf is such that the deck is not perfectly fiat and there may be depressions and rises in the deck. When the boat hoist is placed into position, one portion of the boat hoist may Ibe at a different level than another portion of the boat hoist so that there is racking of the frame. In the prior art construction of the gate, there must be virtually perfect alignment of the parts of the gate or the gate with other parts of the hoist for the gate to be operative, both in opening and in closing. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the instant invention to provide a boat hoist construction Iwherein normal racking of the frame inordinary operation vof the boat hoist has only a minimal adverse effect on the operation of a gate which constitutes a part of the boat hoist.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved boat hoist construction wherein the gate is operated by a single motor, in that, operation of a lock ice for the gate and opening and closing of the gate is accomplished by a single motor.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an improved boat hoist construction wherein the gate may be simply and economically manufactured.

Other objects and uses of the herein disclosed invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a perusal of the following specification in light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a boat hoist ernbodying the instant invention with a gate in an open position with a boat approaching the hoist;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the boat hoist shown in FIGURE 1, with the gate in a closed position and showing a boat supported fby the boat hoist;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the gate which constitutes a portion of the boat hoist shown in FIGURE l, with a portion of the gate broken away and showing the gate in a closed and locke-d attitude;

FIGURE 4 is a plan view of a fluid motor, which is connected to a column of the yboat hoist and to the gate;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a portion of a lock of the gate, showing the lock in engagement with a catch;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIGURE 5 showing a side elevation of a movable jaw which constitutes a portion of the lock;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of the gate shown in FIGURE 3, with portions broken away in order to show details of construction and showing the gate in a closed and locked attitude;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 7, lbut showing a movable jaw in a partially unlocked position; and

FIGURE 9 is a side elevational view of the gate of FIGURE 3, but showing the -gate in an unlocked and partially raised attitude.

Referring now to the drafwings, and especially to FIG- URE 1, a boat hoist embodying the instant invention and generally indicated bynumeral 10 is shown positioned on apier 12, having aslip 14, into which is partially positioned aketch 16. Theboat hoist 10 generally includes aframe 18 which is supported by two Idrivewheels 20 at one end, and t-wo gate wheels 22 at the other end. Apower source 24 is mounted on theframe 18 to drive the twodrive Wheels 20 and to provide a source of energy for raising a pair ofslings 26 and 28.

Theframe 18 includes afront U-shaped end 30, which is particularly adapted to receive side wheel loads, and arear U-shaped end 32. The two ends are connected by substantially torsionallyrigid beams 34 and 36. Thefront end 30 includes a pair ofupright columns 38 and 40 which are connected by anupper beam 42 to complete thefU configuration. Therear U-shaped end 32 includes anupright column 44 and secondupright column 46, which are fixed tobeams 34 and 36, respectively. The upper portion of theend 32 includes agate 48 which releasably connects theupright columns 44 and 46, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Theslings 26 and 28 are connected to theends 30 and 32, respectively, and the slings are raised and lowered in a conventional manner. Thesling 26 includes a pair ofbelts 50 and 52, each of which has one end connected to abar 54 and the other end connected to a bar S6. Thebars 54 and 56 are connected topulley systems 58, each of which pulley systems is connected to arespective winch 60, which is in turn driven by aconventional motor 62. Themotors 62 are connected to a source of energy from thepower source 24.

Thesling 28 also includes a pair ofbelts 64 and 66, each of which having one end connected to abar 68 and the other end connected to abar 70, and each bar is 3 connected to arespective pulley system 72, which is also connected to a winch and motor to drive the winch.

Thepower source 24 includes an internal combustion engine, which is connected to a fluid pump. The pump has its output connected through conventional valving to a pair offluid drive motors 76, one of which drive motors is mounted on awheel frame 74 and other of which drive motors is mounted on a wheel frame 7S. The two motors are conventionally drivingly connected to drive wheels to provide a means for propelling the boat hoist.

Looking now to FIGURE 3, which better shows the details of construction of gate48, it may be seen that thegate 48 includes anelongated arm 78, which has one end pivotedly connected to thecolumn 44, and acatch 80, which is mounted on the upper portion of the otherupright column 46. Alock 82 is mounted on the free end ofelongated arm 78 and is releasably engageable with thecatch 80. Amotor 84 is connected tocolumn 44 and to theelongated arm 78 to raise and lower the arm and to operate thelock 82, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

Thecolumn 44 has anarm mounting plate 86 fixed to its upper end and a pair ofvertical mounting plates 88 fixed toplate 96, whichplates 88 are spaced from each other. Extending through theplates 88 is anaxle 90 which has pivotedly mounted thereon ahead 92, which constitutes one end of thearm 78 and whichhead 92 is free to rotate relative to theplates 88. Thearm 78 includes atube 94 which is fixed to thehead 92. Connected to the other end oftube 94 is thelock 82.

Thelock 82 includes a pair of spaced, fixedjaw plates 96, which are fxedly connected to the free end oftube 94. Each of thejaw plates 96 includes a pair ofribs 98, which define a slide. Slideably mounted on the slide is ajaw guide pin 100 to which is fixed amovable jaw 102. Themovable jaw 102 includes astem 104 which is pivotedly connected to a pair ofconnector plates 106 through a jawconnector plate pin 108. Theconnector plates 106 are pivotedly connected to thetube 94 through aplate jaw pin 110 and fixedjaw plates 96. Aconnector link pin 112 is also pivotedly mounted in theconnector plates 106 and thepin 112 is connected to an elongatedtubular operator link 114, which has ayoke 116 connected to its other end. Aguide pin 118 is connected to theyoke 116.

Mounted on theelongated arm 78 is a pair ofguide plates 120, between which is mounted theyoke 116. Each of the guide plates includes aguide slot 122, and the guide pin 1118 is slideably mounted in both of theguide slots 122.

Themotor 84 is a conventional double-acting hydraulic cylinder which has a pair ofears 124 fixed to one end. The ears are pivotedly connected to the vertical mountingplates 88 by means of acylinder pin 126. The hydraulic cylinder includes apiston rod 128 which is pivotedly connected to theguide pin 118 within theyoke 116. The hydraulic cylinder derives its source of power from the pump in thepower source 24.

As may be seen in FIGURES 3 and 5, thecatch 80 includes acatch plate 130 mounted on top ofcolumn 46. The catch includes a jaw guide which jaw guide is formed by a pair ofjaw guide plates 132 and 134, which are fixed to thecatch plate 130. As may be clearly seen, the jaw guide plates generally define a V-shaped surface to engage the fixedjaw plates 96 and to guide the fixed jaw to the center of the catch. Thecatch 80 also includes acatch rod 136, which is fixed to theguide plates 132 and 134. The rod provides a convenient means for thelock 82 to engage and hold thecatch 80, as will be described in detail hereinafter.

The subject boat hoist operates in the following manner. Thepower source 24 provides sufiicient power to drive themotors 76 in order to move the boat hoist on the wheels. The operation of the power source and the fluid drive motors is conventional. The boat hoist is moved alongpier 12 until the hoist is appropriately positioned to straddleslip 14. Theslings 26 and 28 are then lowered into the water.

When a boat, such as,ketch 16 is to be lifted from the water, thegate 48 is opened so that the masts 138 and may pass through theend 32 and be positioned between theend 30 and theend 32. In order to open the gate, themotor 84 is activated; that is, hydraulic fluid under pressure is applied to the cylinder to retract thepiston rod 128. As the piston rod is retracted, theguide pin 118 slides in theslots 122, thereby moving theoperator link 114 relative totube 94. As theoperator link 114 moves toward the motor, the movement of the operator link causes theconnector plates 106 to pivot aboutpin 110, The pivoting of theconnector plates 106 causes the pin :108 to be lifted and moved toward thetube 94. This movement of thepin 108 causesjaw 102 to pivot aboutpin 100 and to move along guides 98 toward thetube 94, thereby disengaging thecatch rod 136. Asjaw 102 is retracted,catch rod 136 follows the jaw for a short distance, sufficient to clear thejaw plates 96, sincecolumns 44 and 46 lean toward each other due to the pull of the slings, especially when the slings are supporting a boat.Column 44 leans further towardcolumn 46 due to the weight of the gate when the gate is raised offcatch rod 136. As may be seen in FIGURE 8, initial movement of the motor causes the movable jaw to disengage the catch rod and to be displaced laterally from the catch rod. Further movement of thepiston rod 128 positions theguide pin 118 at the end 4of theslots 122. As thepiston rod 128 is further retracted, the force of the motor is transmitted to theelongated arm 78 through theguide plates 120, thereby causing the elongated arm to pivot aboutaxle 90. As the elongated arm pivots aboutaxle 90, the fixedjaw plates 96 are raised from thecatch rod 136, as may be seen in FIGURE 9. Further movement of the piston rod and the cylinder causes thegate 48 to assume the attitude shown in FIGURE 1. It should be noted that the -motor 84 provides the dual function of releasing the lock from the catch and also raising the elongated arm.

With thegate 48 in a raised attitude as shown in FIG- URE l, the boat is then moved into the slip and over the slings, as is conventional. The boat is appropriately positioned relative to the hoist and the slings are placed into engagement with the boats hull. With the boat in position, the -gate 48 is then closed. It is important to note that in the normal construction of wharves and piers, there are often holes and rises in the surface of the deck so that the boat hoist is not on a perfectly smooth surface. As often happens, there is racking of the frame of the boat hoist so that thecolumn 46 is displaced from alignment withcolumn 44. The displacement may be lateral, vertical or longitudinal. And the displacement is largely dependent upon the particular conditions of a given location of a given wharf.

In order to close thegate 48, and to securely connect the upper portion ofcolumn 44 to the upper portion ofcolumn 46, it is necessary for the lock to engage securely the catch. In order to close the gate, the fluid pressure t0 themotor 84 is relieved so that gravity carries the gate toward a closed position. It may be readily appreciated that the rate of closing of the gate may be easily regulated by the relief of fluid pressure.

As the gate moves toward thecatch 80, it may be appreciated that toward final closing of the gate, the jaw guide plates of the catch guide the fixed jaw plates toward central location, should there be any longitudinal displacement of the catch. It should also be further noted that any vertical displacement is easily accommodated inasmuch as the fixed jaw moves vertically relative to the catch. The elongated arm is lowered until the fixed jaw plates engage thecatch rod 136.

Fluid under pressure is applied to the cylinder to extend thepiston rod 128. Thus, the piston rod causes theguide pin 118 to slide alongguide slots 122 toward the fixed jaw plates. As theguide pin 118 moves toward the fixed jaw so does theoperator link 114, thereby pivoting theconnector plates 106 about thepin 110. The pivoting of theconnector plates 106 causes themovable jaw 102 to slide in theguides 98 toward thecatch rod 136. It should be noted that lateral displacement of the catch Within the width of the outline of the gap oflock 82 is accommodated by lateral movement of the movable jaw, thereby accommodating the lock to lateral displacement of the catch. Thepiston rod 128 is extended until the movable jaw is moved into its closed or locked position, as may be best seen in FIGURES 6 and 7. It is important to note that the lowering of the elongated arm and locking of the gate is accomplished by the same fluid motor which unlocked the gate and raised the gate.

Once the gate is closed and locked, theslings 26 and 28 are conventionally raised to lift the boat out of the water to the attitude shown in FIGURE 2. The boat is then conventionally transported to a desired location.

From the foregoing description, it may be seen that the instant construction of a boat hoist provides a simple and economical arrangement of parts in the gate. The gate may be simply operated and it accommodates itself to adverse conditions in use of the boat hoist.

Although a specific embodiment of the instant invention showing one best mode of embodying the invention has been shown and described in detail above, it is readily apparent that those skilled in the art may make various modifications and changes without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. It is to be expressly understood that the subject invention is limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a boat hoist having a frame including a pair of upright columns, a boat sling connected to said frame for supporting a boat, and a plurality of wheels connected to the frame for movably supporting the frame, the improvement comprising, a catch mounted on one of said upright columns, an elongated arm having one end pivotedly mounted on the other of said upright columns, a lock mounted on the other end of said elongated arm and being releasably engageable with the catch to secure releasably the other end of the elongated arm to said one of the upright columns, said lock including a fixed jaw mounted on the other end of said elongated arm and being releasably engageable with the catch and a removable jaw mounted on the other end of said elongated arm and being cooperative with the fixed jaw to secure releaseably said other end of the elongated arm to the catch on the one of said upright columns, said catch including a rod connected to said one of the upright columns for engagement with the fixed jaw and the movable jaw, and a motor connected to the arm and to the lock for raising and lowering the arm and opening and closing the lock.

2. In a boat hoist as defined in claim 1 including a pair of plates fixed to said one of the upright columns defining a generally V-shaped jaw guide and being engageable with the fixed jaw to guide the fixed jaw into position for engagement with the rod.

3. In a boat hoist having a frame including a pair of upright columns, a boat sling connected to said frame for supporting a boat, and a plurality of wheels connected to the frame for movably supporting the frame, the improvement comprising, a catch mounted on one of said upright columns, an elongated arm having one end pivotedly mounted on the other of said upright columns, a lock mounted on the other end of said elongated arm and being releasably engageable with the catch to secure releasably the other end of the elongated arm to said one of the upright columns, said lock including a fixed jaw mounted on the other of said elongated arms and being releasably engageable with the catch and a movable jaw mounted on the other end of said elongated arm and being cooperative with the fixed jaw to secure releasably said other end of the elongated arm to the catch on the one of said upright columns, a motor connected to the arm and to the lock for raising and lowering the arm and opening and closing the lock, a connector plate pivotedly connected at one point to the elongated arm ad` jacent to the other end of said elongated arm and pivotedly connected at a second point to the movable jaw, and an elongated operator link having one end pivotedly connected to the connector plate at a third point and at the other end connected to the motor. l

4. In a boat hoist as defined in claim 3 wherein the catch includes a rod connected to said one of the upright columns for engagement by the fixed jaw and the movable jaw.

5. In a boat hoist as defined inclaim 4 including a pair of plates fixed to said one of the upright columns defining a generally V-shaped jaw guide for engagement With the fixed jaw to guide the fixed jaw into position for engagement with the rod.

6. In a boat hoist as defined in claim 3 including a. guide plate fixedly connected to the elongated arm adjacent to the one end of said elongated arm, said guide plate having an elongated guide slot, and a link pin connected to the other end of the operator link and being slideably mounted in the guide slot, whereby movement of the operator link in one direction retracts the movable jaw from cooperation with the fixed jaw and further movement of the operator link in the same direction positions the link pin in one end of the guide slot to cause the arm to move relative to the other of said upright columns with the operator link.

7. In a boat hoist as defined in claim 6 including a jaw gui-de connected to the elongated arm, and a jaw guide pin connected to the movable jaw and engageable with the jaw guide to control the movement of the movable jaw relative to the elongated arm.

8. In a boat hoist as defined in claim 3 including a jaw guide mounted on said one of the upright columns and being engagable with the fixed jaw to guide the fixed jaw into position for engagement with the catch.

9. In a boat hoist as defined in claim 3 wherein the motor is pivotedly connected to said other of the upright columns and is pivotedly connected to the operator link.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,181,717 5/1965 Kumferman 214-394 3,247,990 4/1966 Prescott 214-508 3,272,362 9/1966 Lamer et al. 214-396 3,329,284 7/1967 Bogart et al. 214-396 X y ALBERT I. MAKAY, Primary Examiner.

ul.. l n n dhd91 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,409,153 November 5, 1968 Richard A. Stearn et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealedY thisv 3rd day of March 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

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