Quick-release mooring apparatus for floating vessels

Abstract

The present invention is an improved platform-mounted apparatus for holding and rapidly releasing a flexible load line having the properties of a wire rope. The invention comprises wedge gripper means for holding the line up to a tensile force substantially equal to the breaking strength of the line, with the gripper means comprising a grip frame for mounting to the platform and a pair of opposed grip wedges, the wedges having opposed internal gripping surfaces for engaging the line and external wedging surfaces that taper toward each other in the direction of the tensile force in a gripped line, each grip wedge having a wide end and a narrow end. Grip connection means connect the wide end of each grip wedge to the grip frame, said grip connection means defining a lower travel limit for each grip wedge in the direction of the tensile force in a gripped line. A grip body has opposed seating surfaces against which the external wedging surfaces of the grip wedges moveably bear, said seating surfaces tapering toward each other at substantially the same angle as the external wedging surfaces, such that motion of the grip wedges into the taper of the seating surfaces causes the opposed grip wedges to wedge together to engage the line and motion out of the taper of the seating surfaces causes release of the line. Release means connected to the pair of grip wedges and the grip body positively move the grip body relative to the grip wedges to cause line release. When the wedge gripper means is combined with a winch means for mounting to a platform, with the winch means having the ability to draw in and hold the line up to a tensile force less than the breaking strength of the line, the combined apparatus can draw in, hold, pay out and rapidly release a mooring line.