Coupler

Abstract

A coupler for coupling a marine vessel line and a tugboat line is provided. The coupler includes a coupling zone for receiving the marine vessel line and the tugboat line. A guide is configured to receive a connector and guide the connector around the coupling zone to wrap the connector around the lines. A securing member is configured to secure the connector to the lines such that the lines are coupled. The securing member is upstream of the guide and is configured to bend the connector prior to the connector being received by the guide.

1 . A coupler for coupling a marine vessel line and a tugboat line, the coupler comprising:
 a coupling zone for receiving the marine vessel line and the tugboat line;   a guide configured to receive a connector and guide the connector around the coupling zone to wrap the connector around the lines; and   a securing member configured to secure the connector to the lines such that the lines are coupled, wherein the securing member is upstream of the guide and is configured to bend the connector prior to the connector being received by the guide.   
     
     
         2 . The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide comprises a channel to guide the connector around the coupling zone, and a roller arranged along the channel to direct the connector along the channel. 
     
     
         3 . The coupler according to  claim 2 , wherein the coupling zone is defined by a housing and the channel of the guide is arranged in a surface of the housing, the housing comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the first section is moveable relative to the second section. 
     
     
         4 . The coupler according to  claim 3 , wherein the coupler is operable in a first configuration wherein the housing restricts movement of the lines in a first axis and a second axis which are orthogonal to each other but not in a third axis orthogonal to both the first axis and the second axis, and in a second configuration wherein the housing restricts movement of the lines in the first axis but not in the second axis and the third axis 
     
     
         5 . The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupler is configured to wrap the connector around the lines a plurality of times. 
     
     
         6 . The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector comprises a length of wire. 
     
     
         7 . The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing member is actuable to twist together free ends of the connector to secure the connector to the lines. 
     
     
         8 . The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a feed mechanism configured to feed the connector from a supply toward the securing member, and wherein the securing member comprises a cutting element configured to cut the connector from the supply. 
     
     
         9 . The coupler according to  claim 8 , wherein the cutting element comprises a lip that extends around a periphery of the securing member. 
     
     
         10 . The coupler according to  claim 8 , wherein the feed mechanism is configured to feed the connector toward the securing member at a first rate and the roller is configured to rotate at a second rate, the second rate greater than the first rate. 
     
     
         11 . The coupler according to  claim 8 , wherein the securing member is actuable to both twist together free ends of the connector to secure the connector to the lines and cut the connector from the supply. 
     
     
         12 . The coupler according to  claim 8 , wherein the securing member is rotatable about a rotational axis to secure the connector to the lines and is translatable along the rotational axis to move the cutting element relative to the supply to cut the connector from the supply. 
     
     
         13 . The coupler according to  claim 12 , wherein the securing member comprises a cylindrical cam which is engageable with a projection of the coupler to cause the securing member to translate along the rotational axis during rotation of the securing member about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         14 . The coupler according to  claim 8 , wherein the securing member comprises a bending surface and the securing member is alignable with the feed mechanism such that the connector is directed toward the bending surface to bend the connector. 
     
     
         15 . The coupler according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing member comprises a pair of protrusions between which the connector is configured to pass, wherein the pair of protrusions engage with the connector when the securing member is rotated such that the connector is twisted when the securing member is rotated. 
     
     
         16 . A line handling system for a tugboat, the line handling system comprising the coupler according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A tugboat comprising the coupler according to  claim 1  or the line handling system. 
     
     
         18 . A method of coupling a marine vessel line and a tugboat line, the method comprising:
 providing a connector;   placing the marine vessel line and the tugboat line in a coupling zone of a coupler, the coupler comprising a guide configured to receive the connector and guide the connector around the coupling zone, and a securing member configured to secure the connector to the lines;   bending the connector prior to the connector being received by the guide;   guiding the connector around the coupling zone to wrap the connector around the lines; and   securing the connector to the lines with the securing member such that the lines are coupled.