Importance

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Abstract

A latching mechanism for securing and maneuvering industrial or marine equipment. The latching mechanism is coupled to a lift and configured for maneuvering a load, and comprises a latch housing, the latch housing comprising a plurality of latch fingers, the latch fingers being configured to move between an open position and a closed position; a bullet assembly, the bullet assembly comprising a shaft, a bullet head and a terminal end, the bullet head being connected to one end of the shaft and the terminal end being connected to the other end of the shaft, and the terminal end being configured to connect to the load; a block, the block being configured to move along the shaft of the bullet assembly between a first position and a second position; each of the latch fingers including a groove, said groove being configured for receiving and holding at least a portion of the block in said second position; the bullet assembly being configured to couple to a tension member, and the tension member being configured to raise and lower the bullet assembly under an applied tension; the bullet head being configured to engage the plurality of latch fingers in a latched mode in response to the applied force on the bullet assembly; the bullet assembly being responsive to a further applied tension to move the block into the second position and engage the groove in the plurality of latch fingers and move the plurality of latch fingers into the open position; and in the open position the latch fingers being configured to allow the bullet head to pass and the block to disengage from the groove and move into the first position, and into an unlatched mode, so that the load attached to the tension member can be maneuvered by the lift.

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First Claim