CA2572231A1 - Ship fender - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a ship fender used to protect the hull of a ship with fixing means enabling it to be fixed to the ship. The ship fender has a larger overall density than water. Preferably it comprises an inner area defined by an outer wall and at least two holes on opposite sides. Preferably, the fender is toroidal, the basic shape thereof being circular, oval or polygonal.

Description

SHIP FENDER

The invention concerns a ship fender. Ship fenders serve to protect the hull of a ship which is berthed alongside a quay wall or a natural rock in the event of impacts against the quay wall or the rock. They are fixed to the ship hull and thus act as a buffer between the ship hull and the quay wall or the rock. In the same manner they also protect the ship hull from contact with other ships which are lying directly beside the ship.
Ship fenders of usual kind are air-filled floating bodies which are usually of a cylindrical or ball-shaped configuration and which are made from a soft material.
However, as floating bodies, usual fenders are limited to protecting the ship hull at the level of the waterline. Protection for the ship hull from rock projections jutting out below the waterline is not possible with conventional fenders. Changes in the height of the water level mean that jutting-out rock projections or other obstacles can be at different heights relative to the water level, at different times. Beneath the water level, they can easily damage the ship hull if the latter is not adequately protected.
The changes in world climate at the present time and which are to be expected in the future also cause a rise in sea level; in many ports and harbours the quay walls are thus only a little higher than sea level and projections which previously were at the height of sea level and against which ship hulls could be protected in conventional manner are now beneath the sea level.
The object of the invention is to provide a ship fender which can better protect the ship hull.
That object is attained by a ship fender having the feature recited in claim 1.
As the ship fender according to the invention does not float on the surface of the water, it can be sunk at a desired location to a desired depth and fixed to the ship and can thus protect the ship hull from impacts against an obstacle which is to be found there. It can thus protect the ship hull from outwardly jutting rock projections, projections from the quay wall or similar obstacles at the height of the water line as well as beneath the water line. The ship hull can be protected exclusively by ship fenders according to the invention or by a combination of fenders according to the invention and conventional fenders.
Preferred configurations of the invention are set forth in the appendant claims. A preferred ship fender has an internal space which communicates with the external environment by way of holes provided at opposite sides of the fender. Out of the water, the fender is thereby filled with air and can thus be handled very easily and simply. When it is lowered into the water the fender fills with water and quickly sinks to the desired depth. If the fender assumes the shape of a flat body, preferably a torus shape, it bear over a large area flat against the ship hull in protecting relationship therewith and is nonetheless easily handleable.
An embodiment of the invention is described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 in which:
Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view along the x-y plane, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the fender along the y-z plane, and Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a ship berthed at a quay wall with a fender according to the invention fixed to the ship.
The ship fender 1 according to the invention as shown in Figure 1 is in the shape of a torus or a tyre which is open at the inside periphery towards the opening of the torus. Its outside wall 2 is made from an elastic material such as for example a rubber mix or a suitable elastomer which is sufficiently soft, smooth and abrasion-resistant in order not to leave any traces behind on the side wall of the ship. As shown in Figure 2 parts of the outside wall 2 or the entire outside wall 2 are also reinforced by a layer 8 of harder material such as for example a steel reinforcement. The fender 1 has an annular internal space 3 which is delimited by the outside wall 2 but is open inwardly towards the opening of the torus. The reinforcement 8 of the outside wall 2 provides that the fender 1 cannot be readily compressed into itself and it affords it the appropriate strength for damping impacts.
The internal space 3 is connected to the outside environment by way of the open inside periphery of the torus and a plurality of holes 4a-c and 5a-d. The holes 4a-c and 5a-d are respectively disposed on the outer peripheral side of the torus on opposite sides of the opening of the torus.
By virtue thereof, when the fender is out of the water, it is filled with air and is of light weight. In particular it is easy to transport and stow. The fender can be fixed to the ship with lines by way of eyes 6a, 6b, 7 at the outside wall 2. In that respect the eyes are preferably rubber-coated steel eyes which are fixed to the outside wall 2 with self-securing steel nuts and screws.
When the fender is let down into the water on lines which are fixed to the eyes 6a, 6b which are upper eyes when the fender dips into the water, it is initially filled with water through the lower eyes 5a to 5d and then through the open inward side of the torus while the air escapes from the internal space 3 through the inward side of the torus and the upper holes 4a to 4c at the upper eyes 6a, 6b. Finally the internal space 3 is entirely filled with water and the fact that the overall density of the fender material is greater than that of water provides that it quickly sinks to the desired depth. It is held there by the lines fixed to the eyes 6a, 6b, 7.
While the fixing at the two upper eyes 6a, 6b secure the fender 1 to prevent it from turning, the fixing at the lower eye 7 serves to stabilise the fender 1 to prevent lateral movements thereof and as a safety fixing.
Figure 3 shows how a fender 1 according to the invention protects the hull 10 of a ship from impacts against jutting-out rock projections 11 at a quay wall 9 beneath the waterline.
When the fender is pulled up on the lines which are fixed to the eyes 6a, 6b, 7 the water drains off by way of the inside of the torus and the lower holes 5a-d.
It is possible for the inside of the torus which is towards the opening of the torus to be closed entirely or in portion-wise manner.

The toroidal shape of the fender 1 as shown in Figure 1 has the advantage that the fender 1 is less sensitive in relation to lateral movements of the water through the opening of the torus at its centre.
Variants are also conceivable such as a toroidal fender of oval or polygonal, for example octagonal basic shape (cross-section in the x-y plane in Figure 1) and of circular, oval or polygonal cross-sections along the y-z plane as well as completely different shapes such as for example an elongate shape, a cylindrical shape or an anchor shape. A shape with a flat external contour is preferred however as it can bear in flat surface contact against the ship hull in protecting relationship therewith.
Advertising means, the name of the ship or decorations can be provided on the outside wall 2 of the ship fender 1.

Claims (7)

1. A ship fender (1) for protecting a ship hull, comprising fixing means (6, 7) for fixing to the ship, wherein the ship fender (1) is of an overall density which is greater than that of water.

2. A fender (1) according to claim 1 having an internal space (3) delimited by an outside wall (2) and at least two holes (4a-4c 5a-d) provided on two opposite sides of the fender in the outside wall.

3. A fender (1) according to claim 2 wherein the outside wall (2) is made from an elastomer and has an embedded reinforcing layer (8) of a hard material.

4. A fender (1) according to one of the preceding claims wherein the fixing means are eyes.

5. A fender (1) according to one of the preceding claims of toroidal shape of circular, oval or polygonal basic shape.

6. A fender (1) according to claim 5 wherein the fender (1) is opened inwardly towards the opening of the torus entirely or partially.

7. A fender (1) according to claim 5 wherein the fender (1) is closed inwardly towards the opening of the torus.