The present invention relates to preventing a sudden terrorist attack via a public entrance walkway in particular the entrance for passengers and provisioning access to a cruise ship. Passenger and provisioning access onto a Cruise ship when dockside or when anchored is through what is referred to as a shell door located above the waterline of the ship. A gangplank or walkway is extended from the docking platform through the shell door into the ship lower deck vestibule or storage area. The shell door is hydraulically operated and cannot be closed when the gangplank is in place with out removing the gangplank, a time consuming operation.
In the present order of things security of a cruise ship and such other events as sports, air shows, music events relies heavily on the effectiveness of the pre-boarding or pre-entry screening of the individuals entering the activity to insure that weapons metallic or fabricated are not allowed to pass into the protected entry gang plank or access walkway.
The present invention provides an additional security system after pre-entry screening, an instantly closable, high strength, ballistic resistant portable door system located at the ship gangplank or event entrance after the secured screening area. Closed remotely or locally upon sighting of an overt action, the door closure prevents an immediate presence or threat by forced entry onto a cruise ship gangplank or event entry gate.
The present invention provides a portable door closure system for instantly closing off an entry passage against unwanted or unauthorized intrusion from forced entry.
In accordance with the present invention, a portable quick close door system is placed immediately inside the shell door of a cruise ship after the ship is docked and the gangplank is put in place. The quick close door system is designed such as to allow the gangplank from the dock to the ship's shell door to be in place passing uninterrupted through the quick door system onto the ship's lower deck. The quick close door system has integral handrails continuing the gangplank handrails to the ships interior. The quick close doors, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, are situated on opposite sides of the cruise ship at right angles to the gangplank. Kevlar filled doors are each hanging from overhead bars contained within the left and right enclosures clamped to the shell door opening. The said door enclosures contain the doors allowing each to slide towards each other, meeting in the middle, closing off the gangplank walkway. The mating doors meet each other as tongue groove fittings providing minimal grip area for forced opening from the ship's exterior gangplank. The said Kevlar lined enclosures block the shell door opening on each side of the gangplank floor to ceiling from terrorist entry or ballistic attack. The said doors are pulled closed by stretched springs via a cable pulley arrangement. Said springs, a bungee type material, allow pre stretch and door closed tension. Said doors are held open by keepers connected to a common release tube allowing manual door release from either side of the gangplank. Remote door release is possible with the addition of an electric latch solenoid and associated transmitter system.
Visual means such as a video camera placed outside of the gangplank provides viewing of potential terrorists from any location on the ship allowing remote door closure. A peephole in the doors provides viewing of the gangplank after door closure.
The quick close door system is designed in separate left and right mating halves that bolt together with a keeper operation connecting rod. Each lightweight quick close door assembly has caster wheels and a handle installed for easy transport to a storage area within the ship.
Specific design configurations in the following descriptions are for purpose of clarity, but various details can be changed to fit applications other then cruise ship requirements within the scope of the present invention.
Modified embodiments of the present invention for other type access passages as sport events, music concerts, public events are also disclosed.
An object of the invention is to provide a cruise ship security system for the protection of a cruise ship from terrorist gaining entry on board the ship via storming the passenger gangplank or provisioning gangplank when the ship is docked at its homeport or other and third world countries' docking locations.
Another object of the invention is to provide quick closure of bullet resistant doors immediately inside the ship's shell or entry doors where the passenger gangplank is installed preventing terrorist access to the ships interior.
Another object of the invention is to provide a portable or fixed security door closure system for public events as sporting events, music events, indoors or outdoors. The quick close door system is placed after the entry screening process and before main access to the event. The quick close system will provide immediate closure of the event entrance via remote closure when a security guard is not present and it is dangerous to be in the immediate vicinity or by manual door release keeper actuation by an attendant security guard.
Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent with an understanding of the following detailed description or upon employment of the invention in practice.
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In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, after docking and opening of the ships shell door 2 a portable Quick Close Door System 8 and 9 herein referred to as QCDS is installed inside the ship whereby providing a means to quickly close off access to the ship's interior from a terrorist threat.
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Detailed operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
Door 17 retraction pressure is then released and the said door 17 is held in place by said keeper 29. Door release handle 14 is in the safety lock position during said door 17 retraction and can not be released except by removing the safety pin 36.
One of the preferred aspects of the invention is that passengers entering the cruise ship on the gangplank and through the (QCDS) are not aware of it's existence. Operation of the QCDS is from inside the ship vestibule area by lifting either QCDS door release handle 14. Door closure would only be performed in the event of an emergency situation requiring the blocking of the entrance to the ship as in case of an terrorist attack.
Closing of the QCDS doors is initiated by first removing the associated safety pin 36 and then lifting either release door handle 14 on the aft 9 or forward 8 QCDS. Lifting said release handle 14 applies tension to the release cable 35 which in turn applies pressure to the door keeper control tube rotation arm 28 urging rotation of said arm 28. Rotation of said arm 28 allows door outer slide tube 23 (which is being pulled by spring 15) to pass by said door keeper 29 and extend said doors 16 and 17 to fully closed position.
The QCDS is made up of mirror image forward 8 and aft 9 assemblies bolted together at the central mating plate 32. Aft/forward rotation keying tube 30 is slid in place after installation of the said forward 8 and aft 9 assemblies using keying tube insertion button 31 keying said forward 8 and aft 9 control tube rotation arms 28 together.
Activation of either forward or aft QCDS release door handle 14 will release both forward 8 and aft 9 QCDS doors. Said doors 8 and 9 meet in the middle when released with a tongue on the aft door leading edge mating with a groove in the forward door leading edge making manual door separation difficult. Door closure pressure is insured by the preload applied to both forward door 8 and aft door 9 springs 15.
Another preferred aspect is the application of the invention.
The embodying principals of the invention are applicable to situations other then cruise ship loading and embarkation.
Various changes may be made to the structure and methodology embodying the principals of the invention. The foregoing embodiments are set forth in an illustrative and not limiting sense. Remote operation of the quick close door systems and cameras for visibility of associated areas although not shown are considered to be a part of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.