Improvements in Means for Securing Ships' Hatch Covering

6638. Bisson, F. H., and Gordon, J. L. May 4. Hatches and hatchways.-Tarpaulin and like coverings for ships' hatches are secured in position by a series of bars 3 mounted on links 8 and projections 4 engaging fixed yokes 5, the members 3 being lifted vertically to grip the covering against the flange of the hatch coaming by the operation of a screwed rod 12. When the rod 12 is rotated by a handle 16 and the gearing shown, the nut 11 carried by a rod 10 is moved longitudinally. This rod couples the pivoted links 8 together, and the pins 7 thereof, engaging the slots 6 of the bars, force the members 3 against the tarpaulin. The gripping-bars on each side of the hatchway are operated in a similar manner, and each adjacent pair may be connected and operated by one handle. In modifications, the coupling-rod is connected to the bar elements through togglelinks, or the bar elements themselves may be carried by the links 8; or the bars are lifted by engaging wedge or cam shaped surfaces.