US2531484A - Device for swinging ships - Google Patents

Description

1950 F. J. VAN DUSEN EIAL 2,531,434

DEVICE FOR SWINGING SHIPS Filed Aug. 8, 1945 INVENTORS Freda/"wk J Van Base/1 BY l l/a/fer A. BMW/(e M -WW AT TORNL'I" Patented Nov. 28, 1950 2,531,484 DEVICE FOR SWINGING SHIPS Frederick J. Van Dusen and Walter A. Burke, New York, N. Y.

Application August 8, 1945, Serial No. 609,705

1 Claim.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) This invention relates to a device for swinging a ship in a small area.

Iron and steel ships, boats and vessels in general have magnetic qualities and their magnetism affects magnetic compasses on board. The divergence between correct magnet direction and the direction indicated on a magnetic compass is known as deviation and varies in amount for different vessels, for different headings of the same vessel, and with large changes in latitude.

To eliminate the effect of the ships magnetism insofar as possible and to make a table or chart of the deviation remaining for various headings of the vessel, several methods are used involving steaming on many different headings. This procedure is known as swinging ship and requires a large, open body of navigable water, engines in operating condition, a calm sea, and good visibility.

This invention presents a device for swinging ship in a small area of water, as between piers in a-shipyard and can be used under. almost all conditions of sea and visibility and without the use of the vessels engines.

Reference is made to copending applications S. N. 609.703 filed August 8, 1945, now Pat. #2,466,753 issued April 12, 1949, and S. N. 609,704 filed August 8, 1945, now abandoned, which, also disclose and claim devices for swinging ship in a small area.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for swinging ship in a small area.

Another object is to provide a device for swinging ship without use of the ships engines.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as its construction, arrangement and operation, are apparent from the following description and claim in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vessel with the device for swinging ship and the piers with which used.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a vessel with the device for swinging ship.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the pintle.

A vessel is designated by the reference numeral l and the piers that define the body of water where the vessel I 8 is to beswung are designated by the reference numeral 1 I. I

Welded to the sides of vessel lllare brackets 12 that have inwardly bent portions 13. Attached to portions 13 as by bolts 14 are upwardly and inwardly inclined members l that form with the plate IS a shape in the form of a truncated pyramid strengthened by cross bars I? attached by bolts l8 to the inclined members 15 attached to plate I6 by screws 19. Integral with the plate I6 is a block 28 that has integral therewith a pintle.

Rotatably mounted on pintle 2| is a plate 30 maintained in a relatively fixed position by means 2 of guys 31 attached to plate 30 by rings 32 that pass through apertures 33 in plate 30 and that are attached at their free ends to cleats 34 on piers I I.

In operation, in order to swing ship, movement of the Vessel II! is achieved by guide lines 40 attached to cleats on the vessel 10, or in any other suitable manner. The guide lines 40 are manipulated by hand or otherwise to place the vessel 10 on the heading desired, whereupon the compass deviation is then determined in the usual manner.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes can be made in this invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as set forth in the appended claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed is:

In combination with a vessel having brackets on the sides thereof, elongated support members, said members being attached to said brackets, said members extending upwardly and inwardly toward a common point, a plate connecting the upper ends of said members, said members and said plate forming the general shape of a truncated pyramid, a spacing block on the upper side of said plate, said block having a pintle, a second plate, said second plate having a central aperture, said aperture receiving said pintle and serving as a bearing therefor, guys attached to said second plate, the free ends of said guys'being attached to land structures, and guide lines attached to said vessel, whereby manipulation of said guide lines will permit turning of said vessel about the axis of said pintle.

FREDERICK J. VAN DUSEN. WALTER A. BURKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 26,219 Willis Nov. 22, 1859 171,722 Gorringe Jan. 4, 1876 235,669 Colony Dec. 21, 1880 600,891 Schausten Mar. 22, 1898 1,008.564 Schmidt Nov. 14, 1911 1,086,742 Wright Feb. 10, 1914 1,798,851 Roane Mar. 31, 1931 1,852,338 Shaffer Apr. 5, 1932 2,312,567 Lyon Mar. 2, 1.943

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 698,461 France Nov. 18, 1930

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