CZ309235B6 - Ramp designed especially for approaching equipment to floating bodies - Google Patents

Abstract

The approach ramp (1), in particular for approaching equipment to floating bodies, such as pontoon bridges, rafts, ferries, etc., comprises at least one anchoring part (2), at least one bridging part (3) and at least one approach part (4). The interconnection of the anchoring part (2), the bridging part (3) and the approach part (4) is always formed by at least one connecting part of two-axis connecting mechanism (5) formed with the possibility of simultaneous rotary movement around the vertical and horizontal axis for connecting the pivotal anchoring part (2), the bridging part (3) and the approach part (4). The bridging part (3) comprises at least two beams (9) that can be interconnected in a platform assembly at a lateral distance to form a spacer joint (11) between the individual beams (9), the adjacent beams (9) have at least one pair of dies (7) on their facing sides for mutual movable connection of two adjacent beams (9) by an articulated coupling (12) and this articulated coupling (12) is anchored to the beam (9) by a connecting pin (19). The bridging part (3) further comprises at least one spacer slide beam (13) for covering the spacer joint (11) between the beams (9), with positioning pins (10) for defining the mounting position and for fixing the spacer slide beam (13) in the spacer holes articulated couplings (12).

Description

Drive-in ramp designed especially for driving equipment onto floating bodies

Field of technology

The invention relates to a loading ramp designed especially for driving machinery onto floating bodies and enabling machinery to be driven into places that are not connected by a fixed road or are at different heights. This is mainly about driving equipment onto floating bodies such as a pontoon bridge, pontoon raft or ferry.

Current state of the art

The transport of equipment and material requires a comprehensive transport infrastructure connecting the loading and unloading points so that the equipment and/or persons can complete the relevant journey as far as possible without traffic complications. In the case of making accessible places that are separated from each other, or rather not connected to each other by a solid surface, various mobile, temporary or stationary connections are created using building and assembly units. A typical example known from the current state of the art are variable stationary bridge structures, which can also be temporarily disconnected. More mobile structures are various bridges, footbridges, etc.

The second usual transport complication is overcoming different heights between two transport points. If this difference is not bridged by a classic engineering network, permanent or temporary construction solutions are usually installed. These are either made up of translation machines, such as cranes, access ramps, stairs or elevators, or other well-known systems for high-altitude transport of people, equipment and material.

It is common to mount a wide variety of ramps on transport equipment or transshipment equipment. A folding access ramp is known from document US 6484344 Bije. This ramp is primarily intended for stair systems and its task is to allow devices such as prams, trolleys, bags on wheels, etc. to climb the stairs. so it doesn't even prevent pedestrians from walking. The disadvantage of this device is its stationary use. The device has a maximum given width and length and it is not possible to simply move it, expand it, relocate it, etc.

From the document CS 129856 A, a ship's gangway is known, allowing people to get off and board and manual unloading and loading on and off the ship at the wharves. The bridge is vertically foldable by means of a pulley rope control mechanism. The bridge is also foldable and therefore has an adjustable length. The disadvantage of this device is that it again means a limitation of access, when, despite the decomposability, its max. length is clearly limited, as well as width and load capacity.

From document WO 2016175656 AI, a mobile device is known for overcoming height differences between boarding areas of people. The device is installed on a container and can therefore be handled and moved between platforms. However, this telescopic access bridge is only used for the movement of pedestrians.

From document EP 3331755 AI, a bridge for connecting a floating platform to the ground is known. The floating platform and the ground provided with an anchor pillar are connected in such a way that the bridge allows the partial movement of the floating platform to be balanced against the rigidly fixed and immovable ground in all three axes. The disadvantage of this solution is that it is a massive and very heavy construction tied to robust connecting elements and equally robust connecting joints. In addition, the floating block used for anchoring the bridge cannot be used, for example, in the middle of the platform assembly due to its shape. The bridge is also stationary and cannot be disassembled.

- 1 CZ 309235 B6

From the document CZ 293299 B6, there is known an approach bridge for equipment loading surfaces enabling the approach of equipment to this loading surface from the road, without this loading surface of the equipment being scanned or, for example, tilted. The device consists of a pair of approach ramps, forming a bridging part that folds down from the platform onto the road. The anchoring of the ramps to the loading surface is carried out using an anchoring part composed of the suspension eyes of the loading platform and ramps, which are fixed together to this pin. The mounting of the pin is in the transverse plane, and this mounting ensures a sliding bearing in the transverse direction in a limited range for changing the mutual spacing of the pair of ramps. The adjustable pitch of the ramps enables flexible response to different wheel tracks of various loaded equipment, but does not address the possibility of eliminating mutual lateral displacement between the two points that the ramp connects. Combinations are also known from technical practice, where the bridging part in its lower part smoothly transitions into the ramp part or the bridging part is fitted with this ramp part. The disadvantage of this and the previous solutions is primarily that none of these solutions solves the ongoing lateral displacement of the places connected by the ramp. Even if floating bodies, such as pontoon bridges, rafts or ferries, are anchored at the moment of unloading and loading equipment, this anchoring is never completely fixed and the action of the current exerts a lateral force on both the pontoons and the connecting parts of the ramp. As a result, the connecting parts are stressed by a lateral force of unequal magnitude and direction, which after time causes the connecting part to break. The lateral displacement of the ramps is limited and concerns only the provision of the possibility of correcting a certain width of the ramps depending on the width of the vehicle's wheels. The disadvantage is that the ramps remain on the equipment after being raised and form an obstacle at the rear face of the transport platform.

The essence of the invention

The task of this invention is to create such a loading ramp, which will be primarily intended for loading equipment onto floating bodies, such as pontoon bridges, rafts and ferries. The created access ramp must allow the technology to drive to places that are not connected by a fixed road or are at different heights. The construction of this invention must be disassembled, but at the same time simply complex. The design of this invention must allow modification of the bridged length and ramp width, or the spacing of several separate ramp segments. The construction of the access ramp must allow vertical tilting, eliminating the different and time-varying height of the connected places, and at the same time, it must allow horizontal rotation of the ramp structure, eliminating the horizontal shift of the connected places. Both of these factors are necessary to reduce the stress on the connecting parts and prevent them from breaking.

The shortcomings of currently known devices are overcome by the described approach ramp, which is primarily intended for approaching equipment onto floating bodies. Typical representatives of these bodies are pontoon bridges, rafts, ferries, etc. The approach ramp consists of at least one anchoring part, at least one bridging part and at least one approach part. The mutual connection of the anchoring part, the bridging part and the approach part is always formed by at least one connecting part. The connecting part is formed by a two-axis connecting mechanism, which is designed in such a way that it allows the anchoring part, the bridging part and the ramp part the possibility of simultaneous mutual rotary movement in the connection around the vertical and horizontal axes. The anchoring part is anchored to the floating body, while the approach part is laid freely on the surface of the terrain and the bridging part forms a surface that connects them to each other, thereby creating a bridge that enables the approach of equipment and boarding of people from the place on the shore to the floating body. The rotating connection of the anchoring part, the bridging part and the approach part reacts flexibly to the possibility of limited movement of the anchored floating body and thus eliminates the effect of lateral forces otherwise directly acting on the created joints by horizontal or vertical torsion. The bridging part is made up of at least one beam, which is adapted at both ends for mounting on a two-axis connecting mechanism.

The bridging part consists of at least two beams that are adapted for mutual connection into a platform assembly. The connection of the beams into the platform assembly is realized in such a way that there is a lateral distance between the beams forming a distance joint. The girders forming the platform assembly are provided on their facing sides with at least one pair of through-holes used for mounting the joint coupling, which connects two adjacent girders to each other. This connection allows mutual

-2CZ 309235 B6 movable connection of two adjacent beams while ensuring the possibility of changing the mutual position of the beams in the longitudinal direction. In this connection, the parallelism of the pair of beams connected by the joint coupling is always maintained. The joint is anchored to the beam using a connecting pin. The bridging part also includes at least one distance sliding beam, covering the distance joint between a pair of adjacent beams in the folded state of the approach ramp. The distance sliding beam is equipped with positioning bolts that fit into the distance holes of the joint coupling in the mounted position of the distance sliding beam. The positioning blocks thus have the function of defining the position of the spacer sliding beam in relation to the articulated coupling and the ramp and fixing it in the mounted position on the ramp.

In an advantageous embodiment, the two-axis connecting mechanism consists of one two-axis joint and two anchor pins, one of which is mounted with its axis of rotation in the horizontal plane and the other with its axis of rotation in the vertical plane. A horizontally located anchor pin connects the two-axis joint to the bridging piece, and a vertically placed anchor pin connects the two-axis joint to either the anchor piece or the ramp piece.

In another advantageous embodiment, the anchor pin is formed by a thick-walled tmbk profile, the cavity of which is closed on both sides by an inner cap. In this advantageous design, the inner cap is provided with a central hole with an internal thread. The biaxial coupling mechanism further includes a pair of locking circular plates with an internal threaded hole as well as a pair of coupling screws. The connecting screw is used to connect the respective securing circular plate to the inner cap of the anchor pin.

In the following preferred embodiment, the beam is formed by at least a three-sided steel profile with a closed upper longitudinal wall. This upper longitudinal wall is provided with an anti-slip surface and/or anti-slip elements. In this advantageous embodiment, the beam is equipped at each end with a pair of opposite connecting eyes used to accommodate the anchor pin for the rotary connection with the biaxial connecting mechanism.

In another advantageous embodiment, the ramp part is made up of at least one ramp pad at one end of a triangular shape. At its other end, opposite to the end of the triangular shape, the ramp foot is adapted for connection with a two-axis coupling mechanism. In this advantageous embodiment, the ramp foot is provided at its end adapted for connection with the biaxial coupling mechanism with a pair of opposite connecting eyes serving to accommodate the anchor pin for the rotary connection with the biaxial coupling mechanism.

In another advantageous embodiment, the anchoring part is provided with elements for connection with this floating body at one of its ends facing the floating body. At its other end facing away from the floating body, the anchor part is adapted to be connected to the biaxial coupling mechanism by at least one pair of opposite coupling eyes. The connecting eyes are intended for the rotary connection of the anchoring part with the two-axis connecting mechanism.

In another advantageous embodiment, the element for connecting the anchoring part with the floating body is a quick-locking mechanism formed by a switch lock.

The main advantage of this invention is that the approach ramp according to this invention enables equipment to approach and people to board bodies located on the water surface, which do not have a fixed transport connection with the shore. This invention primarily solves and eliminates the problem of excessive stress on the anchors and connecting elements connecting the floating body to the ramp, but also individual parts of the ramp itself to each other. The two-axis rotary movement made possible by the use of a two-axis coupling mechanism with simultaneous movement in the horizontal and vertical axis allows the ramp to dynamically respond to the horizontal displacement of the floating body on the surface or its movement in the vertical plane due to a change in the water level. This rotational movement is sufficient to react to the movement of floating bodies that are anchored by conventional anchoring systems during loading and transshipment. The construction of this invention is portable and dismountable at the same time

-3 CZ 309235 B6 easily foldable. The construction of this invention enables the modification of the bridged length and approach width, or the spacing of several separate approach segments.

Clarification of drawings

The invention will be further explained with the help of the drawings, which show the following views.

Giant. 1 is a perspective view from above of the approach ramp assembly consisting of an anchoring part and an assembly of four beams, arranged in one platform and connected by four articulated couplings. The approach ramp is further formed by a pair of approach parts and eight two-axis connecting mechanisms. In this illustration, the approach ramp is also equipped with two sliding beams.

Giant. 2 is a perspective view from below of the ramp assembly consisting of an anchoring part and an assembly of four beams, arranged in one platform and connected by four articulated couplings. The approach ramp is further formed by a pair of approach parts and eight two-axis connecting mechanisms.

Giant. 3 is a perspective view from above of the approach ramp assembly consisting of an anchoring part and an assembly of four beams, arranged in two platforms, where each is formed by a pair of beams connected by a pair of articulated couplings. The approach ramp is further formed by a pair of approach parts and eight two-axis connecting mechanisms. In this illustration, the approach ramp is also equipped with two spacer sliding beams.

Giant. 4 is a perspective view from below of the approach ramp assembly consisting of an anchoring part and an assembly of four beams, arranged in two platforms, each consisting of a pair of beams connected by a pair of articulated couplings. The approach ramp is further formed by a pair of approach parts and eight two-axis connecting mechanisms.

Giant. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the spacer slide beam.

Giant. 6 is a perspective view from below of the detail of the through-holes and their fitting with articulated couplings.

Giant. 7 is a perspective view of the detail of the biaxial coupling mechanism and its basic parts.

Examples of implementation of the invention

It is to be understood that the specific embodiments of the present invention described and illustrated below are presented by way of illustration and not as a limitation of the embodiments of the present invention to the examples shown. Those skilled in the art will find or be able to find, using routine experimentation, a greater or lesser number of equivalents to the described embodiments of the invention.

The described approach ramp 1 is primarily intended for driving equipment onto non-illustrated floating bodies, typical representatives of which are pontoon bridges, rafts, ferries, etc. The approach ramp 1 thus forms a mobile fixed link between the floating body and the shore or other stationary or floating places. According to Figs. 1 to 4, the ramp 1 described is made up of at least one anchoring part 2, at least one bridging part 3 and at least one ramping part 4. The mutual connection of the anchoring part 2, bridging part 3 and ramping part 4 is always formed by at least one connecting part , which is formed by a two-axis coupling mechanism 5. The two-axis coupling mechanism 5 is constructed in such a way that it allows the anchoring part 2, the bridging part 3 and the ramping part 4 to perform a simultaneous mutual rotary movement around the vertical and horizontal axis when necessary. The anchor part 2 is anchored to the floating body, while the approach part 4 is laid freely on the ground surface. The bridging part 3 forms a surface that connects the anchoring part 2 and the approach part 4 to each other and thus creates a bridging that enables the approach

-4CZ 309235 B6 techniques and boarding of people from a place on the shore or a neighboring floating body onto a floating body fitted with a ramp L The rotating connection of the anchoring part 2, bridging part 3 and ramping part 4 thanks to the connection by the biaxial connection mechanism 5 reacts flexibly to the possibility of limited movement of the moored floating bodies and the effect of lateral forces arising from this movement, causing immediate or gradual fatigue of the material of the connection, its breaking or breakage.

According to Figs. 1 to 4, the bridging part 3 is formed by at least one beam 9, which is adapted at both ends for connection with the biaxial coupling mechanism 5, i.e. the biaxial joint 6. In a variant, the bridging part 3 is formed by at least two beams 9, which are adapted for mutual connection into a platform assembly. The connection of these beams 9 into the platform assembly is realized in such a way that there is a lateral distance between the beams 9 forming a distance joint 11. All adjacent beams 9 are provided with at least one pair of through-holes 7 on their facing sides. connecting two adjacent beams 9. This connection enables the mutual movable connection of two adjacent beams 9, ensuring the possibility of changing their mutual position in the longitudinal direction, while the parallelism of the pair of beams 9 connected by the joint coupling 12 is always maintained. The joint coupling 12 is anchored to the beam 9 by means of a connecting pin 19. According to the illustration in Fig. 1 to 6, the bridging part 3 also includes at least one distance sliding beam 13, covering the distance joint 11 between a pair of adjacent beams 9 in the assembled state of the approach ramp 1. The distance sliding beam 13 is in this example an embodiment of this invention equipped with positioning rods 10. which fit in the mounted position dist of the sliding beam 13 into the distance holes of the joint coupling 12. The positioning blocks 10 thus have the function of defining the position of the distance sliding beam 13 in relation to the joint coupling 12 and ramp 1 and its fixation in the mounted position on the ramp 1.

According to an example of the implementation of this invention, shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 7, the biaxial coupling mechanism 5 is formed by one biaxial joint 6 and two anchor pins 8, one of which is mounted with its axis of rotation in the horizontal plane and the other with its axis of rotation in the vertical plane. The horizontally placed anchor pin 8 connects the two-axis joint 6 to the bridging part 3, and the vertically placed anchor pin 8 connects the two-axis joint 6 either to the anchor part 2 or to the ramp part 4.

According to another non-illustrated example of the arrangement of this invention, other placements of anchor pins 8 can be used for individual connections in the connection relationship of the biaxial joint 6 with the anchor part 2, the bridging part 3 or the ramp part 4, but always in such a way that each biaxial joint 6 has exactly one anchor pin 8 with a horizontal axis of rotation and just one anchor pin 8 with a vertical axis of rotation.

According to another non-illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the biaxial joint 6 can be replaced by another mechanism well known to a person skilled in the art with the same biaxial rotational motion effect, such as a cross joint and the like.

According to the embodiment of this invention, shown in Fig. 7, the anchor pin 8 is formed by a thick-walled tubular profile, the cavity of which is closed on both sides by an inner cap 21. In this embodiment of the invention, the inner cap 21 is provided with a central hole 22 with an internal thread. The two-axis connecting mechanism 5 further includes a pair of locking circular plates 18 with an internal threaded hole, not shown, as well as a pair of connecting screws 23. The connecting screw 23 serves to connect the respective locking circular plate 18 to the inner cap 21 of the anchor pin 8.

According to another, not shown, embodiment of this invention, the anchor pin 8 can be secured in the storage by other means well known to the expert, such as cotter pins, locking washers, locking rings, etc.

-5CZ 309235 B6

According to the embodiment of this invention, shown in Fig. 1, the beam 9 is formed by at least a three-sided steel profile with a closed upper longitudinal wall 17. This upper longitudinal wall 17 is provided with an anti-slip surface and/or anti-slip elements 14. The beam 9 in this embodiment is of this invention is provided at each end with a pair of opposite connecting eyes 15 serving to accommodate the anchor pin 8 for the rotary connection with the two-axis connecting mechanism 5.

According to another non-illustrated example of the arrangement of this invention, the beam 9 can also be made of a four-sided steel or otherwise shaped profile and can also be made of another material well known to the expert, such as aluminum, composite, plastic, etc. with appropriate strength and durability parameters.

According to the example embodiment of this invention, shown in Fig. 1 to 4, the ramp part 4 is formed by at least one ramp foot 16, which has a triangular shape at one end. At its other end, opposite to the end of the triangular shape, the approach foot 16 is adapted for connection with the biaxial coupling mechanism 5. In this example of the implementation of this invention, the approach foot 16 is provided at its end adapted for connection with the biaxial coupling mechanism 5 with a pair of opposite coupling eyes 15 serving for storing the anchor pin 8 for the rotary connection with the two-axis coupling mechanism 5. According to the example of the implementation of this invention, shown in Fig. 3 and 4, the ramp part 4 is formed by two ramp feet 16 completely separated from each other.

According to the example of the implementation of this invention, shown in Fig. 1 to 4, the anchoring part 2 is provided at one end facing the floating body with elements not shown for connection with this floating body. At its other end facing away from the floating body, the anchor part 2 is adapted for connection to the biaxial coupling mechanism 5 by at least one pair of opposite coupling eyes 15. The coupling eyes 15 are, according to this embodiment of the present invention, intended for the rotary connection of the anchoring part 2 with the biaxial coupling mechanism 5 .

According to the same example of the implementation of this invention, shown in Fig. 1 to 4, the element for connecting the anchoring part 2 with the floating body is a locking quick-clamping mechanism formed by a switch lock 20.

Industrial applicability

Access ramps, designed especially for driving equipment onto floating bodies, find their application in the military and transport for the provision of temporary crossing of watercourses, maintenance of bridges and dams and for the transport of people and equipment in places where it is not convenient or economically advantageous to build stationary bridge structures.

Claims (7)

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Approach ramp (1), intended especially for approaching equipment on floating bodies, such as pontoon bridges, rafts, ferries and the like, including at least one anchoring part (2), at least one bridging part (3) and at least one approach part ( 4), the mutual connection of which is always formed by at least one connecting part, which is formed by a biaxial connecting mechanism (5) intended for the rotary connection of the anchoring part (2), the bridging part (3) and the approach part (4), while the biaxial connecting mechanism ( 5) is designed with the possibility of simultaneous rotary movement around the vertical and horizontal axis of rotation, and the bridging part (3) includes at least one beam (9) adapted at both ends for fitting a biaxial connecting mechanism (5), characterized in that the bridging part ( 3) includes at least two beams (9) adapted to be connected to each other in a platform assembly with a lateral distance to create a distance joint (11) between individual beams (9), while adjacent beams (9) are on their facing side sides are equipped with at least one pair of through-holes (7) for the mutual movable connection of two adjacent beams (9) with an articulated coupling (12), and this articulated coupling (12) is anchored to the beam (9) with a connecting pin (19), and that the bridging part (3) further includes at least one distance sliding beam (13) for covering the distance joint (11) between the beams (9), equipped with positioning brackets (10) for defining the mounting position and for fixing the distance sliding beam (13) in the distance holes of the joint coupling (12). 2. Ramp (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the two-axis connecting mechanism (5) consists of one two-axis joint (6) anchored on both sides by anchoring pins (8). 3. Access ramp (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the anchor pin (8) is formed by a thick-walled tubular profile, the cavity of which is closed on both sides by an inner cap (21) with a central hole (22) with an internal thread, and that the two-axis connecting mechanism (5) further includes a pair of locking circular plates (18) with an internal threaded hole and a pair of connecting screws (23) for connecting the locking circular plates (18) to the inner caps (21) of the anchor pin (8). 4. Ramp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the beam (9) is formed by at least a three-sided steel profile with a closed upper longitudinal wall (17) provided with a non-slip surface and/or non-slip elements (14), while the beam (9) is equipped at each end with a pair of opposite connecting eyes (15) for a rotating connection with the two-axis connecting mechanism (5). 5. Ramp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the ramp part (4) is formed by at least one ramp foot (16) at one end having a triangular shape and at the other end opposite to the end of the triangular of a shape adapted for connection with the two-axis coupling mechanism (5) by at least one pair of opposite coupling eyes (15) for the rotary connection with the two-axis coupling mechanism (5). 6. Ramp (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the anchoring part (2) is provided with an element for connection with this floating body at one end facing the floating body and at its other end facing away from the floating body of the body is adapted to be connected to the biaxial coupling mechanism (5) by at least one pair of opposite connecting eyes (15) for rotary connection with the biaxial coupling mechanism (5). 7. Access ramp (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the element for connecting the anchoring part (2) with the floating body is a locking quick-clamping mechanism formed by a switch lock (20).