GB2422356A - Man overboard recovery hoist - Google Patents

Abstract

A horizontal drum (1), equipped with a winding handle and ratchet, is supported on two legs (2), configured as an 'A'. A rope wound onto the drum raises a single block and spring hook assembly (10). The tail of the rope, returning from the block, is lead to a cam cleat (11), mounted on a horizontal cross beam (5). The beam is fixed between the legs, close below the drum. A pendant attached to the horizontal bar is lead to a convenient strong point on the vessel, adjusted so as to maintain the required angle of the hoist. In use, the assembly is steadied by means of a handle extending to the rear from the horizontal bar. Sections of the hoist can be parted for stowage.

Description

DESCRIPTION

MAN OVERBOARD RECOVERY HOIST

BackQround The recovery of a person who accidentally falls from a vessel at sea involves two distinct processes: the manoeuvring of the vessel to a position adjacent to the person in the water and then lifting them up the side of the vessel. The second process will invariably need to be accomplished with little or no self help by the victim due to injury or weakness.

Current recommendations discourage the use of a stern platform to recover a man overboard from the water, in anything other than calm conditions. This is due to the dangers posed by the proximity of underwater propulsion and steering gear and the rise and fall of the platform as the vessel pitches. Hence received opinion favours recovery from the side deck. It will rarely be the case that to hang a boarding ladder over the side, for the victim to climb aboard unassisted, will be adequate, due to the weight of wet clothing and weakness caused by cold, breathing difficulties and possibly injury.

A means of lifting the victim up the side of the vessel will invariably be required.

Commonly dispensed advice to meet this need is to set up a tackle attached to the boom or sail halyard of a sailing vessel, or to any suitable strong point on a motor vessel. Such points of attachment will invariably involve a compromise in terms of positioning, or their ready availability due to their main function. Where the rescuer is single handed, such improvisation may not allow the victim to be given close and visual monitoring, to provide reassurance, physical assistance and assessment of their condition during the lifting process.

Statement of Invention

This invention describes a hoist which provides a means for one person to recover a man overboard, from the water, to the side deck of a yacht or motor cruiser, but without the need to adapt equipment normally used for the operation of the vessel.

Advantages This hoist meets the need for a device which is independent of a vessel's standard operating rig and equipment. It facilitates recovery of a person from the side deck, and provides an adequate mechanical advantage to allow one person, of moderate strength, to hoist another from the water, clad in wet clothing, while maintaining close visual and physical contact between them.

Preferably, the legs and handle of the hoist can be pulled apart to facilitate stowage. However, all components remain connected in the dismantled state, to prevent loss.

Introduction to Drawings

The description of the hoist refers to the following drawings: Figure 1 (p1 of 2): This shows the Hoist mounted on the side deck of a sailing yacht, with the fall of the Hoist attached to a strop around a person being lifted from the water. The hoist operator is not shown.

Figure 2 (p2 of 2): Front elevation of the Hoist.

Figure 3(p2 of 2): Side elevation of the Hoist, viewed from the side of the winding handle. The drawing shows the Hoist in its working position on the side deck of a yacht.

Construction A winch drum (1) is supported on two tubular legs (2). Each leg is fitted with a foot-plate with a non-slip sole (3). The axle of the drum and the footplate bolts pass through holes drilled in the legs which are suitably pressed to form a flat bar section and slightly angled to enable the legs to form an adequately stable base for the hoist.

The width of the legs is restrained by a webbing strap (4) attached to a ring on the heads of the pins coupling the foot plates to the legs.

A cross beam (5) of channel' section, with the open side facing downwards has slots cut in its horizontal face at each end. The legs are located in these slots and a bolt is passed through the cross beam and each leg, to provide rigidity to the structure and a platform to carry other parts of the apparatus.

The winch drum is bounded by a ratchet wheel (6) on one side. This engages with a spring loaded pawl (7) fastened to the cross beam. The drum is keyed onto an axle which can be rotated by means of a cranked handle (8). Synthetic fibre line (9) of suitable strength is secured at one end onto the drum, the other end being passed through a single block and spring hook assembly (10) and then back to a closed cam cleat (11) to form a fall'. The tail of the line is tied with a stopper knot (12) to prevent it from running out completely through the eye of the cam cleat.

The end of a short piece of tubing (13) is held in holes, cut centrally on the vertical faces of the cross beam, by a vertical pin introduced through a hole on the horizontal face immediately above, to form a handle.

A webbing strap (14) is looped through a slot cut in the cross beam adjacent to the handle. The other end of this strap is fitted with a buckle, or similar, to allow itto be secured around a suitable fitting; this will commonly be a handrail (15) attached to the coach roof (16).

ODeration The hoist is placed in position on the side deck (17) as shown in Figure 3, with the footplates against the upstand of the coach roof. The webbing strap is secured to a part of the vessel which will allow the hoist drum to be subtended at an angle above the edge of the deck or toe rail (18). In this position the fall of the hoist can be lowered down the side of the vessel to water level, keeping only a short tail of line inboard of the cam cleat. Once the man overboard has been attached to the spring hook, any slack in the line can be rapidly recovered through the cam cleat. Once tension has been brought onto the fall, it can be raised by the operator winding the line onto the drum with one hand, whilst exerting a steadying force on the handle with the other.

The hoist must be set up' and adjusted in the position where it is most likely to be used on a particular vessel, so that its emergency deployment can be rapid and effective.

Refinements 1. Unusually the deck of the vessel, selected for the recovery operation, may not be bounded by a cabin side, against which to position the foot plates.

In this case an additional webbing strap is attached to the legs in a similar way to the retaining strap (4). This is adjustable in length and is threaded through a flat metal hook. The hook is caught over the toe rail, or onto the hull/deck joint and the length of the strap adjusted to anchor the legs at a suitable distance from the deck edge.

2. A vital step in the man overboard recovery process is to secure the lifting arrangement to a man alongside in the water. This will invariably be made difficult by the motion of the sea and vessel and the height of the deck above the water or freeboard'. To assist the process of attaching the spring hook to a lifting point on the victim, a pocket' formed with flexible or rigid material can be fixed to the side of the hook/block assembly. A boat hook or similar pole can then be used to guide the hook into position.

3. For the benefit of convenient stowage, the legs can be made so that they pull apart, below the point at which the cross beam is attached. Similarly the handle can be removed by withdrawing the securing pin, If this facility is built into the hoist, all parts need to be attached by lanyards, such that no items can be lost in stowage or deployment.

Claims (4)

1. The hoist provides a means for one person to recover a man overboard from the water to the side deck of a yacht or motor cruiser, without the need to adapt equipment normally used for the running of the vessel.

2. A hoist according to claim 1, which allows a single operator to visually monitor and assist a man overboard throughout the recovery process.

3. A hoist according to claim 1, where the supporting legs and steadying handle can be dismantled to facilitate stowage and are capable of rapid assembly for use.

4. A hoist according to claim 1, in which all its constituent parts are connected, both in use and for stowage.