Automatic pontoon interlocking for ferry or bridge - involves compression springs linking bolts on hooks swung into troughed pieces

摘要

Connection of pontoons into ferries or floating bridges involves rotatably mounted hooks locking into trough-shaped pieces. The hooks comprise two symmetrically sited bolts (3) linked by a compression spring (5) rotating about fixed axes (2), with outward-facing lugs (4). These are swung apart by turning a stem piece (6a) on a shaft (6) between them behind spaced lugs (28) on hooked abutments (27) in the trough piece on the opposing pontoon against compression spring force. A spike in this piece releases the shaft, which is turned through 90 deg. by a compression spring. Connection between pontoons is effected simply by pushing them together.