TOWING DEVICE Russian patent published in 1997 - IPC

FIELD: marine towing systems. SUBSTANCE: wire rope-cable is wound on winch drum 1. Wire rope-cable is divided in splitter into two lines: power and signalling ones. Line 4 is laid to current connector 6, and line 5 is laid to panel 7. Panel 7 is installed on ball support 9 in flooring 8 and is enclosed in railing 10 rigidly connected with flooring. Supply line 11 of panel 7 is laid through current connector 12. Signalling line is enclosed in corrugated metal pipe (bellows) which, in its turn, is placed in stationary tube secured on deck 15 in support 16 and between bearing housing 17 and bearing cover 19. Tube has flange on its end connected with housing 17 and cover 19. Rubber rings provide sealing of flange and bellows. Fasteners of the same design are used to fix tube 14 at side of support 16 and at side of bellows 13. Space between bellows and tube 14 is filled with engine oil. EFFECT: improved electric communication between towing and towed vessels. 5 cl, 3 dwg