Claims:1. An auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degree comprising of:

a securing assembly including a hatch stopper forsecuring hatch cover;

a holder lug assembly with holder lug base and holder lugs for retaining hatch stopper;
a compression spring, placed within the holder lugs;
a split pin passing through the compression spring and hatch stopper, thus securing the spring and hatch stopper together when actuated;
a spring cover with groove for split pin covering the spring containing lubricant within it for spring;
a back support arrangement with support plate and support brackets for restricting the Hatch Stopper from overshooting and thus meriting its secured position; and
a split pin with keep chain constraining any movement or slipping of Hatch Stopper and thus necessitating rigid securing of the hatch cover at an any angle lesser than 90 degrees during voyage.

2. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said securing assembly consists of a hatch stopper, which is retained by two numbers of holder plates.

3. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 2, wherein the said holder plates are welded to holder lug base.

4. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 3, wherein the said securing assembly consists of one number spring cover, welded toholder lugs.

5. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 4, wherein the said securing assembly consists of one number spring cover and one number compression spring.

6. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 5, wherein the said one number split pin is configured for securing spring and hatch stopper altogether.

7. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 6, wherein the said securing assembly consists of one number back support plate.

8. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 7, wherein the said securing assembly consists said, one number back support plate and two numbers back support brackets which are welded to back support plate.

9. The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 8, wherein the said securing assembly further includes one number split pin with keep chain, which is passed only through hatch stopper constraining any movement or slipping of Hatch Stopper and thus warranting rigid securing ofthe hatch cover during voyage.

10.The auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees as claimed in claim 1 to 9, wherein the said hatch stopper is configured for constraining any movement or slipping of Hatch Stopper and thereby warranting rigid securing of the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees during voyage.
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present innovation relates to an Auto Catch mechanism for securing Hatch Cover. More particularly, the present innovation relates to an Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees. Further this innovation shall provide the option for securing the hatch cover firmly at any position during voyage.

BACKGROUND ART

All Indian ships built to date were provisioned with hatches having covers with locking arrangement for opening hatch cover at 90 degree or more than 90 degrees. In some of the cases the hatch is fitted at such allocation that there is no provision for opening the cover at 90 degrees; say in-line hatches, wherein the covers of hatches are required to open at an angle lesser than 90 degrees to facilitate opening of hatches below slopping ladders for deck to deck transfers.

In a prior art, there is disclosed a Chinese utility model application No. CN CN201520285004.9U dated 05/05/2015 discloses boats and ships hatch board stop device, including check post and the bolt that is located the hatch lateral wall, the pivot is installed to the check post, through the pivot links to each other with the fixed block of hatch lateral wall, the part is to keeping away from the wall direction slope of cabin side below the check post pivot, the check post lower extreme leaves there is the screw, bolt one end is installed on the hatch lateral wall, and the other end is provided with the handle of the turn-knob of being convenient for, and the bolt can beat hatch lateral wall free rotation, the bolt passes the screw, and swivel bolt can make the check post move on the bolt.

In another prior art, an US application US3380422A discloses a cargo carrying vessel having an upper deck and at least one lower deck, the improvement comprising hatch means in said upper deck for moving a horizontal cargo platform there through in vertical direction to and from said lower deck, the downwardly projecting area of said hatch means defining a vertical hatchway extending to the Level of said lower deck, and at least one pair of guide means position-able on opposite sides of said hatch way to extend vertically upward from substantially the level of said lower deck within said hatch way for receiving said cargo platform between the pair and for guiding said platform in its said vertical movement, at least one member of said pair of guide means being movable out of its said position within said hatchway.

In another prior art, an US application US3952790A discloses a cover arrangement for a container comprising two cover elements hinged and movable together to open and close the container under the action of pulling means attached to one of the cover elements, the pulling means acting through direction changing means to enable opening of the container to be carried out by an upward pull on the pulling means.

OBJECTOFINVENTION

In view of the foregoing challenges as described in the back ground art, the present invention aims to provide, an Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover in open position at any angle lesser than 90 degrees.

SUMMARY OFINVENTION

The present innovation relates to provisioning an Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover in open position atany angle lesser than 90 degrees.

Therefore, as per a principle object there is provided a Hatch Stopper of any suitable material to hold back the hatch cover at open condition at an angle lesser than 90 degrees.

Such as herein described there is provided an auto catch mechanism for securing the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degree comprising of a securing assembly including a hatch stopper for securing hatch cover; a holder lug assembly with holder lug base and holder lugs for retaining hatch stopper; a compression spring, placed within the holder lugs; a split pin passing through the compression spring and hatch stopper, thus securing the spring and hatch stopper together when actuated; a spring cover with groove for split pin covering the spring containing lubricant within it for spring; a back support arrangement with support plate and support brackets for restricting the Hatch Stopper from overshooting and thus meriting its secured position; and a split pin with keep chain constraining any movement or slipping of Hatch Stopper and thus necessitating rigid securing of the hatch cover at an any angle lesser than 90 degrees during voyage.

As per yet another object, there is provided a compression Spring engaged with Hatch Stopper by a Split Pin for automatic locking or manual unlocking of the hatch cover at an any angle lesser than 90 degrees.

As per yet another object, there is provided a Spring Cover containing proper lubricant within it, viz grease for smooth operation of the compression spring, having a guide slot on it for movement of split pin during operation of the auto catch.

As per yet another object, there is provided two Holder Lugs with one Holder Lug Base for holding the Hatch Stopper and thus meriting its position during operation.

As per yet another object, there is provided Back Support arrangement for restricting the Hatch Stopper from overshooting and thus meriting its position during operation.

As per yet another object, there is provided a Split Pin with keep chain constraining any movement or slipping of Hatch Stopper and thus guaranteeing rigid securing of the hatch cover at an any angle lesser than 90 degrees during voyage.

In order to fulfill the objective and to ease the locking of the hatch cover in open position at any angle lesser than 90 degrees, the design of this mechanism necessitates features which are simple to operate with rigidity in locking with its associated structures during its service life cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOFTHE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 illustrates elevation view of auto catch mechanism in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates side elevation view of auto catch mechanism in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 3 illustrates plan view of auto catch mechanism in accordance with the present invention;
Fig.4 illustrates detail of hatch stopper in accordance with the present invention;

Fig.5 illustrates Auto Catch fitted for hatch below slopping ladder in accordance with the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This innovation relates to provisioning an Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover in open position at any angle lesser than 90 degrees. In general, the hatch with covers are designed with its self-locking arrangement of hatch cover at 90 degrees or more while open position. During detailed designing, wherein hatches are to be out fitted below slopping ladder; say in-line hatches or such, where the hatch covers are restricted to be opened at lesser than 90 degrees and thus cannot be locked by its self-locking arrangements. Hence, the challenge to design, develop, test and successfully implement an Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover in open position atany angle lesser than 90 degrees was envisaged.

The innovation of auto catch mechanism as shown, comprises a securing assembly including a substantially Hatch Stopper 1, constructed by any suitable material, preferably steel, engaged within Holder Lugs 5a which is further welded to Holder Lug base 5band passes through the compression spring 2.

Within the Holder Lugs 5a, a compression Spring 2 constructed by any suitable material, preferably spring steel, is positioned by Split Pin 3 constructed by any suitable material, preferably steel, which is further covered with Spring Cover 4.

The Spring Cover 4 constructed by any suitable material, preferably steel, is having a groove and lubricated by any suitable lubricant such as grease for free movement of spring along with Split Pin 3 when compressed.

While hatch cover is opened the cover plate pushes the slant portion of the Hatch Stopper 1, consequently the Hatch Stopper 1 moves up-ward and compresses the Spring 2 and gets locked and there by securing the hatch cover by the Hatch Stopper 1.

The above sub-assembly is further integrated with a Back Support arrangement 6a and 6b constructed by any suitable material preferably steel for restricting the Hatch Stopper from overshooting and thus meriting its secured position during voyage.

There is also provided a Split Pin 7 with keep chain, constructed by any suitable material preferably steel, constraining any movement or slipping of Hatch Stopper and thus necessitating rigid securing of the hatch cover at an any angle lesser than 90 degrees during voyage.
Table-A is the List of Items for each Auto Catch arrangement for Hatch Cover.

TABLE – A
List Of items for Auto Catch arrangement for Hatch Cover
POS NO. Description Quantity
1. Hatch Stopper 1 NO.
2. Spring 1 NO.
3. Split Pin 1 NO.
4. Spring Cover 1 NO.
5a. Holder Lug 2 NOS.
5b. Holder Lug Base 1 NO.
6a. Back Support Plate 1 NO.
6b. Back Support Bracket 2 NOS.
7. Split Pin 1 NO.

ADVANTAGES AND USES OFINVENTION

The hatches, which are fitted on board vessels wherein, there is no provision for opening the cover at 90 degrees and hence limiting to lock the cover lesser than 90 degrees with its own locking arrangement, viz, hatches out fitted below slopping ladders in case of deck to deck transfer through in-line hatches. The present innovation provides an Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover in open position at any angle lesser than 90 degrees.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION

The Auto Catch mechanism for locking the hatch cover at any angle lesser than 90 degrees provide the option for securing the hatch cover firmly at any position during voyage.

Although the foregoing description of the present invention has been shown and described with reference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it has been presented for purposes of illustration by way of examples and description and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particular embodiments and applications disclosed. The particular embodiments and applications were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such changes, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.