Release mechanism

摘要

An improved cable release mechanism for mounting on the deck of a tow boat, tug or other tow vessel or vehicle comprising a rigid frame connectable to said tow vessel having pivotally connected thereto a pelican hook swingable through at least 180 DEG . The tow strain exerted by the tow cable passes along a line on the plane along which the axis of rotation of the pelican hook lays. As a result, when the device is used for towing, there is no rotational bias exerted on said pelican hook. In one embodiment, means for securing and/or releasing the pelican hook are comprised of a generally triangular shaped release member means having an upper pin and a lower pin positioned on the upper and lower side of the free end of the pelican hook, respectively, wherein when said release member is pivoted toward the release position, the lower pin exerts an upward force on the pelican hook and the upper pin is allowed to clear the way for the pelican hook to swing to the open position thereby releasing the cable. The upward force of the lower pin on the lower surface of the front end of the pelican hook causes the tow strain to be exerted along a line which passes above the axis of rotation of said pelican hook thereby lending a rotational bias to the pelican hook proportional to the tensile load on the tow cable. In a second embodiment, means for securing and/or releasing the pelican hook is comprised of a generally cylindrical member coextensive with the elongate axis of the cable release mechanism, a U-shaped recess adaptable to receive the front end of the pelican hook for securement thereof, said U-shaped recess being movable from a downward opening position through 180 DEG of rotation of said cylindrical member to an upward opening position wherein the free end of the pelican hook is allowed to swing through 180 DEG thereby releasing the tow cable. The U-shaped recess is positioned eccentrically with respect to the elongate axis of said cylindrical member wherein rotation of said cylindrical member causes the pelican hook to move partly upward thereby raising the line of action of the tow cable to pass above and therefore not through the axis of rotation of said pelican hook thereby imparting a rotational or opening bias to said pelican hook proportional to the tensile load carried by the tow cable.