CA1241871A - Tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like - Google Patents
Tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the likeInfo
- Publication number
- CA1241871A CA1241871A CA000487641A CA487641A CA1241871A CA 1241871 A CA1241871 A CA 1241871A CA 000487641 A CA000487641 A CA 000487641A CA 487641 A CA487641 A CA 487641A CA 1241871 A CA1241871 A CA 1241871A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- winch
- cable
- towing
- main deck
- tow boat
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
Abstract A tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like, said winch means being arranged on or adjacent a main deck extending along the major part of the afterbody and comprising a first winch having a cable leaving the winch and extendable in spaced parallel relationship to the main deck for towing objects and the like, and a second winch having a cable leaving the underside of a drum forming part of the winch for handling anchors and the like. The first winch has a higher position than the second winch. A 'tweendeck is arranged at a level below that at which the cable leaves a drum forming part of the first winch and above the level at which the cable leaves the drum of the second winch, said level lying above the main deck. Moreover, a vertical shaft may be provided adjacent the winch means to extend to the underside of the vessel.
Description
The present invention relates to a tow boat havin~ winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like, said winch means being arranged on or adjacent a main deck extending along a part of the afterbody and comprising a first winch having a cable leaving the winch and extendable in spaced parallel relationship to the main deck for ~owing objects and the like, and a second winch having a cable leaving the winch and extendable to a stern roller serving as a cable guide for handling anchors and the like.
A similar tow boat is known from British patent 1,462,797. For many years it has been known to use tow boats or maritime transport of vessels whether or not having their own propulsion mechanism.
Initially, these were practically always cargo ships or similar vessels. At present, however, there is an increasing need for towing floating installations, such as off-shore drilling rigs, working platforms and the like. These ins~allations are to be anchored at the destination. For this purpose, tow boats of the known type are used for handling the anchors; this is also done for weighing ~he anchors, for removing or relocating the installa~ion. The anchors weighed '~
A similar tow boat is known from British patent 1,462,797. For many years it has been known to use tow boats or maritime transport of vessels whether or not having their own propulsion mechanism.
Initially, these were practically always cargo ships or similar vessels. At present, however, there is an increasing need for towing floating installations, such as off-shore drilling rigs, working platforms and the like. These ins~allations are to be anchored at the destination. For this purpose, tow boats of the known type are used for handling the anchors; this is also done for weighing ~he anchors, for removing or relocating the installa~ion. The anchors weighed '~
-2-cannot be installed on the poop deck of the known type of tow boa~ but, before a start can be made with the ~ransport of the installation, should be transferred to a different part of the tow boat or be taken on board the installation to prevent said anchors from reducing the manoeuvrability of the tow boat during the towing of the installation.
A further drawback of this known tow boat is the considerable distance between the point of attach-ment of the towing cable and the point or axis of rotationof the ship, so that the manoeuvrability of the tow boat is adversely affected. It has been tried to improve this manoeuvrability by using a driving mechanism in the fore-part. However, the effectiveness of this feature, to say the least, is doubtful in the case of any swell.
A fur~her development in the past few years has been that many of such installations are towed in an at least partially sunk condition, which implies that the place of attachment of the towing cable is often at a given distance below the water level, so that the towing cable is prevented by the stern of the tow boat from extending in a substantially straight line from the winch to said place of attachment. This is detrimental to the manoeuvrabili~y of the tow boa~
due to the large distance between the point of application of the towing cable on the tow boat and its rota~ion point. The further displacement of the winch towards - -3~
-the stern of the tow boat does not remove the drawback regarding the manoeuvrability of the tow boat, while moreover the winch can no longer be employed for hauling objects, e.g. anchors, on deck. In order to preserve the optimum manoeuvrability of the tow boat by not allowing the towing cable to be supported on the stern of the tow boat, said cable may be provided outboard with a plurality of floating bodies keeping the towing cable, prior to its submersion, at such a level that the afterbody of the tow boat can swivel freely underneath the cable. The installation of floating bodies, however, and certainly in ~he case of rough weather, is elaborate and time-consuming, while the floating bodies, moreover, in inoperative condition, occupy space that could otherwise be used for transpor~ing cargo. This drawback is ~he more significant when it is borne in mind that tow boats are also used as provisioning boats for these floating installation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optimally manoeuvrable tow boat which, moreover, enables optimum anchor and cargo handling.
It is another object of the present invention to maintain an optimum manoeuvrability oE the ~ow boat, as well as such a cable guide that the time consuming ins~allation of bulky floats can be dispensed with.
According to the present invention optimum manoeuvrability and optimum anchor and cargo handling ~4 ~ '7~
are achieved with a tow boat of the above described type when the main deck extends along the major part of the afterbody and the second winch includes a cable leaving the underside of a drum constituting part of the winch, said first winch having a higher position than the second winch, a 'tweendeck being provided at a level below that at which the cable leaves a drum forming part of the first winch and above the level at which the cable leaves the drum of the second winch, said level lying above the main deck.
The~e features allow to minimize the distance between the point of application of the towing cable on the tow boat and its point or axis of rotation, while during both towing and the handling of anchors, there always renains a deck free for storing and trans-porting goods, while the total deck area is substantially increased when the boat is neither towing nor handling anchors.
When anchors are handled, cargo may be present on the Itweendeck without entailing impediments or problems. A further advantage is that the main deck is covered, at least partly, so that crew members being at that location for handling the anchors are sheltered.
This is especially important when it is borne in mind that a tow boat, during the execution of operations, is preferably positioned in such a manner that in the case of engine failure or the like it drifts away from -5~
the installation, which means that the tow boat with its low afterbody lies in the wind direction with all adverse effec~s resulting therefrom for the crew members working at that location.
When towing takes place, at least the part of the main deck covered by the 'tweendeck is available for cargo. For instance, the anchors of the floating installation can be stored at that place during towing.
This means a substantial gain of time when floating installations are relocated, in particular in rough weather,since the transfer of the anchors to, and the take-over from, the floating installation can be dispensed with.
When no towing or anchor handling takes place, both the 'tweendeck and the main deck are entirely available for stowing cargo, so that considerably more supplies can be transpor~ed.
In order to maintain adequate manoeuvrability in the case of a relatively low attachment of the cable 2~ to the objec~ in tow, in a further preferred embodiment of the pr~sent invention, tow rails are provided on the 'tweendeck. Said two rails can guide the towing cable during its rec;procating slewing movement relative-ly to the deck.
For promoting efficient operation and greater flexibility in the alternation between towing and anchor handling, in a further preerred embodiment of the -6- ~ 7~
present invention means are provided for displacing carg~ from the main deck to the 'tweendeck and vice versa. Any cargo present can be transferred in a quick and simple manner from one deck to another by said means, e.g. one or a plurality of hatches and/or a simple hoisting apparatus, e.g. during changeover from towing to anchor handling. For instance, cargo present on the main deck during towing can be positioned on the 'tweendeck, so that this becomes entirely free for optimum and effective anchor handling. After taking the anchors on board, the cargo can again be lowered onto the main deck and be secured between or adjacent the anchors, after which the 'tweendeck is again free for providing an optimum manoeuvrability during the towing.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is arranged underneath and/or behind the winch means a substantially vertical shaft for passing ~he cable underneath the tow boat, said shaft being provided at least at a lower end with a cable guiding and retaining member which, as viewed in the towing direction, is positioned adjacent the rear part of ~he lower end. Due to these features, in fact, the place of attachment oE the towing cable is displaced to the underside of the towing boat, i.e.
to the c~ble guiding and retaining member situated at the lower end of the vertical shank, so that this '7 point of application can con~;nue to be situated in proximity to the point of rotation of the towing boat.
It has thus been become superfluous to elaborately create a bend in the towing cable between the ~ow boat and the objects to be transported by means of additional, bulky, loose aids.
An additional advantage of the features proposed in accordance with the present invention is that at least one deck of the ~ow boat remains substantially free and thus becomes available for storing objects, transporting cargo and/or carrying out operations.
When the vertical shaft is not situated under the winch means, according to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention, for optimum cable guidance and take-up of towing force that the shaft is provided at the forward part as viewed in the towing direction of its upper end with a cable guiding member.
The vertical shaft adjacent the winch means offers the addi~ional advantage that very large and/or heavy objects can be towed by means of attachment of a first cable at a submerged level and a second cable, e.g. at the level of or above the water line. Moreover, and advantageously, it thus becomes possible to raise and/or transport submerged objects in a controlled manner by engaging the object by means of a cable extending vertically downwards through the shaft and by means of one or more cables extending downwards from the -8~
stern roller. This enables an object to be hoisted up wh~n the winches are set ;nto operation, after which said object, suspended from the cable, can be transported or be inspec~ed or repaired by divers.
Some embodi~ents of the tow boat according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the tow boat during towing with cargo on the main deck;
Fig. 2 shows the tow boat according to Fig.
1 during the handling of an anchor with cargo on ~he 'tweendeck;
Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a tow boat during towing with a low point of a~tachment of the towing cable;
Fig. 4 shows the tow boat according ~o Fig.
A further drawback of this known tow boat is the considerable distance between the point of attach-ment of the towing cable and the point or axis of rotationof the ship, so that the manoeuvrability of the tow boat is adversely affected. It has been tried to improve this manoeuvrability by using a driving mechanism in the fore-part. However, the effectiveness of this feature, to say the least, is doubtful in the case of any swell.
A fur~her development in the past few years has been that many of such installations are towed in an at least partially sunk condition, which implies that the place of attachment of the towing cable is often at a given distance below the water level, so that the towing cable is prevented by the stern of the tow boat from extending in a substantially straight line from the winch to said place of attachment. This is detrimental to the manoeuvrabili~y of the tow boa~
due to the large distance between the point of application of the towing cable on the tow boat and its rota~ion point. The further displacement of the winch towards - -3~
-the stern of the tow boat does not remove the drawback regarding the manoeuvrability of the tow boat, while moreover the winch can no longer be employed for hauling objects, e.g. anchors, on deck. In order to preserve the optimum manoeuvrability of the tow boat by not allowing the towing cable to be supported on the stern of the tow boat, said cable may be provided outboard with a plurality of floating bodies keeping the towing cable, prior to its submersion, at such a level that the afterbody of the tow boat can swivel freely underneath the cable. The installation of floating bodies, however, and certainly in ~he case of rough weather, is elaborate and time-consuming, while the floating bodies, moreover, in inoperative condition, occupy space that could otherwise be used for transpor~ing cargo. This drawback is ~he more significant when it is borne in mind that tow boats are also used as provisioning boats for these floating installation.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optimally manoeuvrable tow boat which, moreover, enables optimum anchor and cargo handling.
It is another object of the present invention to maintain an optimum manoeuvrability oE the ~ow boat, as well as such a cable guide that the time consuming ins~allation of bulky floats can be dispensed with.
According to the present invention optimum manoeuvrability and optimum anchor and cargo handling ~4 ~ '7~
are achieved with a tow boat of the above described type when the main deck extends along the major part of the afterbody and the second winch includes a cable leaving the underside of a drum constituting part of the winch, said first winch having a higher position than the second winch, a 'tweendeck being provided at a level below that at which the cable leaves a drum forming part of the first winch and above the level at which the cable leaves the drum of the second winch, said level lying above the main deck.
The~e features allow to minimize the distance between the point of application of the towing cable on the tow boat and its point or axis of rotation, while during both towing and the handling of anchors, there always renains a deck free for storing and trans-porting goods, while the total deck area is substantially increased when the boat is neither towing nor handling anchors.
When anchors are handled, cargo may be present on the Itweendeck without entailing impediments or problems. A further advantage is that the main deck is covered, at least partly, so that crew members being at that location for handling the anchors are sheltered.
This is especially important when it is borne in mind that a tow boat, during the execution of operations, is preferably positioned in such a manner that in the case of engine failure or the like it drifts away from -5~
the installation, which means that the tow boat with its low afterbody lies in the wind direction with all adverse effec~s resulting therefrom for the crew members working at that location.
When towing takes place, at least the part of the main deck covered by the 'tweendeck is available for cargo. For instance, the anchors of the floating installation can be stored at that place during towing.
This means a substantial gain of time when floating installations are relocated, in particular in rough weather,since the transfer of the anchors to, and the take-over from, the floating installation can be dispensed with.
When no towing or anchor handling takes place, both the 'tweendeck and the main deck are entirely available for stowing cargo, so that considerably more supplies can be transpor~ed.
In order to maintain adequate manoeuvrability in the case of a relatively low attachment of the cable 2~ to the objec~ in tow, in a further preferred embodiment of the pr~sent invention, tow rails are provided on the 'tweendeck. Said two rails can guide the towing cable during its rec;procating slewing movement relative-ly to the deck.
For promoting efficient operation and greater flexibility in the alternation between towing and anchor handling, in a further preerred embodiment of the -6- ~ 7~
present invention means are provided for displacing carg~ from the main deck to the 'tweendeck and vice versa. Any cargo present can be transferred in a quick and simple manner from one deck to another by said means, e.g. one or a plurality of hatches and/or a simple hoisting apparatus, e.g. during changeover from towing to anchor handling. For instance, cargo present on the main deck during towing can be positioned on the 'tweendeck, so that this becomes entirely free for optimum and effective anchor handling. After taking the anchors on board, the cargo can again be lowered onto the main deck and be secured between or adjacent the anchors, after which the 'tweendeck is again free for providing an optimum manoeuvrability during the towing.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention there is arranged underneath and/or behind the winch means a substantially vertical shaft for passing ~he cable underneath the tow boat, said shaft being provided at least at a lower end with a cable guiding and retaining member which, as viewed in the towing direction, is positioned adjacent the rear part of ~he lower end. Due to these features, in fact, the place of attachment oE the towing cable is displaced to the underside of the towing boat, i.e.
to the c~ble guiding and retaining member situated at the lower end of the vertical shank, so that this '7 point of application can con~;nue to be situated in proximity to the point of rotation of the towing boat.
It has thus been become superfluous to elaborately create a bend in the towing cable between the ~ow boat and the objects to be transported by means of additional, bulky, loose aids.
An additional advantage of the features proposed in accordance with the present invention is that at least one deck of the ~ow boat remains substantially free and thus becomes available for storing objects, transporting cargo and/or carrying out operations.
When the vertical shaft is not situated under the winch means, according to a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention, for optimum cable guidance and take-up of towing force that the shaft is provided at the forward part as viewed in the towing direction of its upper end with a cable guiding member.
The vertical shaft adjacent the winch means offers the addi~ional advantage that very large and/or heavy objects can be towed by means of attachment of a first cable at a submerged level and a second cable, e.g. at the level of or above the water line. Moreover, and advantageously, it thus becomes possible to raise and/or transport submerged objects in a controlled manner by engaging the object by means of a cable extending vertically downwards through the shaft and by means of one or more cables extending downwards from the -8~
stern roller. This enables an object to be hoisted up wh~n the winches are set ;nto operation, after which said object, suspended from the cable, can be transported or be inspec~ed or repaired by divers.
Some embodi~ents of the tow boat according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the tow boat during towing with cargo on the main deck;
Fig. 2 shows the tow boat according to Fig.
1 during the handling of an anchor with cargo on ~he 'tweendeck;
Fig. 3 shows a second embodiment of a tow boat during towing with a low point of a~tachment of the towing cable;
Fig. 4 shows the tow boat according ~o Fig.
3 during the towing of a very large and/or heavy object with a high and a low point of attachment of the towing cable; and Fig. 5 shows the tow boat according to Fig.
3 during the hoisting up or transport of a submerged object.
The figures very diagrammatically show a tow boat 1 having a fore-part 2 with a bridge 3 and an afterbody 4 w;th a main deck 5. The winch means are arranged approximately amidship, winch 6 with cable 7 serving as a towing winch and winch 8 with cable 9 as an anchor handling winch. Winches 6 and 8 are arranged and mounted in such a manner that the cable 7 leaves the winch 6 at the top and the cable ~ leaves the winch 8 at the underside, winches 6 and 8 being vertically of~set relatively to one another, so that there is created such a difference in height between the two cable levels that a 'tweendeck 10 can be mounted underneath the level of cable 7 when extending horizontal-ly, thereby obtaining a covered working and/or storage space for cargo 11 on the main deck 5.
For ~he purpose of a proper guidance of the anchor handling cable 9, the rear of the t OT`~ boat 1 comprises a stern roller 12, while for ~he purpose Of a proper guidance of ~he towing cable 7, i.e. in the case of a rela~ively low attachment to an object being towed, not shown, there are arranged on the 'tween-deck 10 tow rails 13, one being shown diagrammatically in the drawings. Moreover, the 'tweendeck 10 may include one or a plurality of hat.ches and/or a simple hoisting apparatus may be provided for displacing cargo in a quick and simple manner from the main deck to the 'tween-deck and vice versa.
As shown in Fig. 1, the ~ow boat 1 is adapted to transport cargo 11 during towing, without said cargo having an adverse efEect on the manoeuvrability of the tow boat, i.e. the towing cable 7 leaving the winch 6, arranged approximately at the point of rotation of the tow boat 1, can unimpededly perform a reciprocating swivelling movement over the 'tweendeck 10. Moreover, ~he cargo 11 is present in a covered space.
Fig. 2 sho~s that the main deck 5, in sp;te of the presence of cargo 11 then positioned on the 'tweendeck 10, is entirely available for handling anchors.
In this arrangement the main deck 5 is covered at least partly, so that crew members presen~ at that location are considerably less exposed to weather conditions, which is par~icularly advantageous in the case of rough weather, the more so ;f it is considered ~hat the tow boa~ 1 is positioned preferably leeward of the floating installation, with the afterbody in the wind, in order that, in the case of engine failure or the like, the tow boat drits away from the installation. After the anchors have been taken on board, the cargo 11 may again be relocated to the main deck 5 and be secured at that location adjacent to or between the anchors taken on board.
When ne;ther the towing cable 7 nor the anchor handling cable 9 are being used, both the main deck 5 and the 'tweendeck 10 are entirely available for transpor~ing cargo, which improves the provisioning function of the tow boat, considerably.
The ~ow boat shown in figs. 3-5, as compared to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is additionally provided with a vertical ~haft 14 arranged - as view in the towing direction - at a short distance behind the winches 6 and 8, throu~h which a cable can be passed from the main deck 5 to underneath tow boat 1. For the purpose of proper cable guidance, there are arranged at and in the shank 14 cable guiding mPans, of which the figures show a roller 15 at the top of shaft 14 and a roller 16 at the bottom of shaft 14, said roller 16 being designed so that athwar~ship forces exerted on the cable can be taken up.
Fig. 3 shows the situation during the towing of an installation, with the towing cable 7 being connected to the installation at a low level under water. Towing cable 7 then extends from winch 6 to roller 15, where cable 7 is bent to a position extend;ng through the vertical shaft 14 to roller 16, where cable 7 leaves the underside of tow boat 1 and is bent a second time.
Roller 16 accordingly functions as a point of application of cable 7 on ~ow boat 1, i.e. tow boa~ 1 can roLate 29 about said point of application relatively to cable 7. It is therefore recommendable to situate roller 16 as close as possible to the centre of rotation of tow boat 1.
As shown in Fig. 3, in this towing method both main deck 5 and 'tweendeck lO are available for the transport of cargo, the storage of objects, e.g.
anchors and/or the execution of operations.
-12~
When very heavy and/or very large objects have to be towed, the procedure shown in Fig. 4 can be followed. In addition to a towing cable 7 conventional-ly passed from winch 6, a cable 9 can be passed over roller 15 through shank 14 and over roller 16, and attached to the object to be towed at a low, underwater level. In this method of towing the main deck 5 remains available for e.g. the storage of anchors with which the installation being towed is anchored at a place of use.
Fig. 5 shows a further possible application to be realized with the features aecording to the present invention. By passing cable 7 over stern roller 12 and cable 9 over roller lS, horizontally spaced apart therefrom, it is possible to hoist up an article 17 from e.g. the bottom under water in a controlled manner.
The article 17 thus lifted is easily accessible to divers for inspection, maintenance or repair operations and ~he like or can be transpor~ed in a position suspended from cables 7 and 9.
It is self-evident that many modifications and variants are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, 'tweendeck 10 may ex~end over a larger or smaller length than ~5 shown in the drawings. Also, at least a part of itweendeck lO may not extend parallel to main deck 5, but e.g.
slope towards it, which part may ~hen be arranged e.g.
-13~
for swivelling movement and/or be adap~ed for hoisting objects, e.g~ anchor~, from the water surface direct onto 'tweendeck 10~ Although the above descrip~ion refers to one winch 6 with cable 7 and one winch 8 with cable 9, these may also be a plurality of winches, e.g. two winches 8~ each having a cable 9. The shaft 14 may be adapted to pass more than one cable under guidance and/or a plurality of shafts 14 may be provided.
Furthermore, the location of æhaft 14 as shown, longitu-dinally of the boat, should be regarded merely as anexample, too; shaft 14 could alternatively be positioned right under winches 6 and 8.
.
3 during the hoisting up or transport of a submerged object.
The figures very diagrammatically show a tow boat 1 having a fore-part 2 with a bridge 3 and an afterbody 4 w;th a main deck 5. The winch means are arranged approximately amidship, winch 6 with cable 7 serving as a towing winch and winch 8 with cable 9 as an anchor handling winch. Winches 6 and 8 are arranged and mounted in such a manner that the cable 7 leaves the winch 6 at the top and the cable ~ leaves the winch 8 at the underside, winches 6 and 8 being vertically of~set relatively to one another, so that there is created such a difference in height between the two cable levels that a 'tweendeck 10 can be mounted underneath the level of cable 7 when extending horizontal-ly, thereby obtaining a covered working and/or storage space for cargo 11 on the main deck 5.
For ~he purpose of a proper guidance of the anchor handling cable 9, the rear of the t OT`~ boat 1 comprises a stern roller 12, while for ~he purpose Of a proper guidance of ~he towing cable 7, i.e. in the case of a rela~ively low attachment to an object being towed, not shown, there are arranged on the 'tween-deck 10 tow rails 13, one being shown diagrammatically in the drawings. Moreover, the 'tweendeck 10 may include one or a plurality of hat.ches and/or a simple hoisting apparatus may be provided for displacing cargo in a quick and simple manner from the main deck to the 'tween-deck and vice versa.
As shown in Fig. 1, the ~ow boat 1 is adapted to transport cargo 11 during towing, without said cargo having an adverse efEect on the manoeuvrability of the tow boat, i.e. the towing cable 7 leaving the winch 6, arranged approximately at the point of rotation of the tow boat 1, can unimpededly perform a reciprocating swivelling movement over the 'tweendeck 10. Moreover, ~he cargo 11 is present in a covered space.
Fig. 2 sho~s that the main deck 5, in sp;te of the presence of cargo 11 then positioned on the 'tweendeck 10, is entirely available for handling anchors.
In this arrangement the main deck 5 is covered at least partly, so that crew members presen~ at that location are considerably less exposed to weather conditions, which is par~icularly advantageous in the case of rough weather, the more so ;f it is considered ~hat the tow boa~ 1 is positioned preferably leeward of the floating installation, with the afterbody in the wind, in order that, in the case of engine failure or the like, the tow boat drits away from the installation. After the anchors have been taken on board, the cargo 11 may again be relocated to the main deck 5 and be secured at that location adjacent to or between the anchors taken on board.
When ne;ther the towing cable 7 nor the anchor handling cable 9 are being used, both the main deck 5 and the 'tweendeck 10 are entirely available for transpor~ing cargo, which improves the provisioning function of the tow boat, considerably.
The ~ow boat shown in figs. 3-5, as compared to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is additionally provided with a vertical ~haft 14 arranged - as view in the towing direction - at a short distance behind the winches 6 and 8, throu~h which a cable can be passed from the main deck 5 to underneath tow boat 1. For the purpose of proper cable guidance, there are arranged at and in the shank 14 cable guiding mPans, of which the figures show a roller 15 at the top of shaft 14 and a roller 16 at the bottom of shaft 14, said roller 16 being designed so that athwar~ship forces exerted on the cable can be taken up.
Fig. 3 shows the situation during the towing of an installation, with the towing cable 7 being connected to the installation at a low level under water. Towing cable 7 then extends from winch 6 to roller 15, where cable 7 is bent to a position extend;ng through the vertical shaft 14 to roller 16, where cable 7 leaves the underside of tow boat 1 and is bent a second time.
Roller 16 accordingly functions as a point of application of cable 7 on ~ow boat 1, i.e. tow boa~ 1 can roLate 29 about said point of application relatively to cable 7. It is therefore recommendable to situate roller 16 as close as possible to the centre of rotation of tow boat 1.
As shown in Fig. 3, in this towing method both main deck 5 and 'tweendeck lO are available for the transport of cargo, the storage of objects, e.g.
anchors and/or the execution of operations.
-12~
When very heavy and/or very large objects have to be towed, the procedure shown in Fig. 4 can be followed. In addition to a towing cable 7 conventional-ly passed from winch 6, a cable 9 can be passed over roller 15 through shank 14 and over roller 16, and attached to the object to be towed at a low, underwater level. In this method of towing the main deck 5 remains available for e.g. the storage of anchors with which the installation being towed is anchored at a place of use.
Fig. 5 shows a further possible application to be realized with the features aecording to the present invention. By passing cable 7 over stern roller 12 and cable 9 over roller lS, horizontally spaced apart therefrom, it is possible to hoist up an article 17 from e.g. the bottom under water in a controlled manner.
The article 17 thus lifted is easily accessible to divers for inspection, maintenance or repair operations and ~he like or can be transpor~ed in a position suspended from cables 7 and 9.
It is self-evident that many modifications and variants are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention. For instance, 'tweendeck 10 may ex~end over a larger or smaller length than ~5 shown in the drawings. Also, at least a part of itweendeck lO may not extend parallel to main deck 5, but e.g.
slope towards it, which part may ~hen be arranged e.g.
-13~
for swivelling movement and/or be adap~ed for hoisting objects, e.g~ anchor~, from the water surface direct onto 'tweendeck 10~ Although the above descrip~ion refers to one winch 6 with cable 7 and one winch 8 with cable 9, these may also be a plurality of winches, e.g. two winches 8~ each having a cable 9. The shaft 14 may be adapted to pass more than one cable under guidance and/or a plurality of shafts 14 may be provided.
Furthermore, the location of æhaft 14 as shown, longitu-dinally of the boat, should be regarded merely as anexample, too; shaft 14 could alternatively be positioned right under winches 6 and 8.
.
Claims (5)
1. A tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like, said winch means being arranged on or adjacent a main deck extending along a part of the afterbody and comprising a first winch with a cable leaving the winch and extendable in spaced parallel relationship to the main deck for towing objects and the like, and a second winch with a cable leaving the winch and extendable to a stern roller serving as a cable guide for handling anchors and the like, characterized in that the main deck extends along the major part of the afterbody and the second winch is provided with a cable leaving the underside of a drum forming part of the winch, said first winch having a higher position than the second winch with a 'tweendeck being provided at a level below that at which the cable leaves the drum forming part of the first winch and above the level at which the cable leaves the drum of the second winch, said level lying above the main deck.
2. A tow boat according to claim 1, characterized in that tow rails are provided on the 'tweendeck.
3. A tow boat according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that means are provided for displacing cargo from the main deck to the 'tweendeck and vice versa.
4. A tow boat according to claim 1, characterized in that there is arranged underneath and behind the winch means a substantially vertical shaft for passing the cable underneath the tow boat, said shaft including at least at its lower end a cable guiding and retaining means which, as viewed in the towing direction, is positioned at the rear part of the lower end.
5. A tow boat according to claim 4, characterized in that the shaft includes a cable guiding means at the forward part of its upper end as viewed in the towing direction.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000487641A CA1241871A (en) | 1985-07-26 | 1985-07-26 | Tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000487641A CA1241871A (en) | 1985-07-26 | 1985-07-26 | Tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1241871A true CA1241871A (en) | 1988-09-13 |
Family
ID=4131074
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000487641A Expired CA1241871A (en) | 1985-07-26 | 1985-07-26 | Tow boat having winch means for towing objects and handling anchors and the like |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1241871A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103482037A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2014-01-01 | 浙江海洋学院 | Small-sized tugboat |
-
1985
- 1985-07-26 CA CA000487641A patent/CA1241871A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN103482037A (en) * | 2013-09-23 | 2014-01-01 | 浙江海洋学院 | Small-sized tugboat |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |