Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B22/00—Buoys
  • B63B22/02—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel
  • B63B22/021—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids
  • B63B22/026—Buoys specially adapted for mooring a vessel and for transferring fluids, e.g. liquids and with means to rotate the vessel around the anchored buoy
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B27/00—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers
  • B63B27/22—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of conveyers, e.g. of endless-belt or screw-type
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G67/00—Loading or unloading vehicles
  • B65G67/60—Loading or unloading ships
  • B65G67/606—Loading or unloading ships using devices specially adapted for bulk material

Definitions

• This invention relates to an azimuthal mooring tower suitable for use in loading and unloading particulate material such as coal onto or from a bulk carrying vessel and the use thereof.
• the present invention provides an azimuthal mooring type tower for use in loading or unloading particulate material onto or from a bulk carrying vessel, which tower has a base securable to the ground in a body of water accessible to said vessel, and an upper portion supporting a rotatable portion mounted for rotation around said upper portion and provided with a mooring means, said tower having an opening below said upper portion for connection, in use of said tower, to a tunnel provided with material conveying means and extending below the level of the hull of a said vessel moored at said tower, said tower including a material conducting means extending upwardly from a position in proximity to said opening for conducting, in use of the tower, material between said tunnel, and a material distribution means having a portion extending generally radially of said rotatable portion and arranged for rotation therewith and for discharging or receiving material at at least one position spaced from said tower, for loading or unloading, respectively, of a vessel moored to said rotatable portion, in use of said tower.
• the invention provides an azimuthal mooring type tower for use in loading material onto a material carrying vessel, which tower has a base securable to the ground in a body of water accessible to said vessel, and an upper portion supporting a rotatable portion mounted for rotation around said upper portion and provided with a mooring means, said tower having an opening below said upper portion for connection, in use of said tower, to a tunnel provided with material conveying means and extending below the level of the hull of a said vessel moored to said tower, said tower including a material elevating means extending upwardly from a position in proximity to said opening for conveying, in use of the tower, material carried through said tunnel, up to said upper portion for discharging material thereat onto a material distribution means having a portion extending generally radially of said rotatable portion and arranged for rotation therewith and for discharging material at at least one position spaced from said tower, for loading of a vessel moored to said rotatable portion, in use of said tower.
• the invention provides an azimuthal mooring unloading tower suitable for use in unloading coal from a coal carrying vessel, said tower having: a base securable to the ground in a body of water accessible to said vessel; an upper portion provided with receipt means for receiving coal discharged from a vessel in use of the tower and directing the coal downwardly through the tower towards said base; an opening below said upper portion for connection, in use of said tower, to a tunnel provided with coal conveying means and extending below the level of the hull of a said vessel moored at said tower; and a rotatable portion having mooring means for securing of a vessel thereto, said mooring portion being rotatable around a vertical axis of the tower to permit azimuthing of the vessel, due to wind and/or tidal forces, around the tower whilst remaining moored thereto, in use of the tower.
• an azimuthing mooring type loading or unloading terminal comprises an azimuthing mooring type tower according to the present invention disposed in a position in a body of water accessible to a bulk carrying vessel with the base of said tower secured to the ground in said body of water and with the top of said tovrer projecting above a high-water level, a tunnel extending between said tower at a level, at least in proximity to said tower, below the level of the hull of a said vessel moored to said tower, and a remote supply point, said tunnel including conveyor means for conveying material between said tower and said supply point.
• This invention also provides a method of loading or unloading particulate material onto or from a vessel comprising the steps of mooring the vessel at the rotatable portion of an azimuthal mooring type tower of an azimuthal mooring type loading terminal according to the present invention; positioning a discharging or receiving portion of said radially extending portion of the material distribution means above a hold opening of the vessel; using the tunnel material conveying means, tower material conducting means, and coal distribution means to convey material between said vessel and said remote supply point.
• Figure 1 is a generally schematic partially sectioned side elevation of an azimuthal mooring and loading terminal of the invention with a vessel moored thereat;
• Figure 2 is a detail partially sectioned view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the tower and part of the distribution means thereof;
• Figure 3 is a partial plan view of the terminal of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is a schematic transverse sectional view of the radial portion of the terminal and the vessel therein;
• Figure 5 is a detail side view of the tower showing various parts of the distribution means thereof;
• Figure 6 is a view corresponding generally to Figure 1 of an alternative embodiment
• Figure 7 is a general partly sectioned view of a third embodiment end on to the mooring means thereof;
• Figure 8 is a transverse cross-section of the terminal of Figure 7 through an elongate pier member and a vessel moored thereat;
• Figure 9 is a partial plan view of the tower and part of the rotatable portion mooring means thereof of Figs. 7 and 8;
• Figure 10 is a detail view corresponding to Fig. 7 of the annular coal conveyor of the embodiment of Figs. 7 to 9;
• Figure 11 is a generally schematic part-sectioned side view of part of a modified terminal similar to that of Figs. 7 to 9 side on to the rotatable portion mooring means
• Figure 12 is a generally schematic view corre sponding to Fig. 1 of a first azimuthal mooring unloading terminal of the invention
• Figure 13 is a detail view corresponding to Figure 12 of a second unloading terminal of the invention.
• Figure 14 is a schematic transverse sectional view of the radial portion of the terminal of Figure 13 and two vessels thereat.
• FIG. 1 shows a coal carrying vessel 1 secured by conventional mooring means 2 to an azimuthing mooring unloading tower 3.
• the tower 3 comprises a bP.se 4 secured to the sea bed 5 by suitable means e.g. piles 6, an upper portion 7, extending up above the waterline 8 and an interconnecting portion 9.
• the upper portion 7 rotatably mounts a rotatable portion 10 via bearing means 11.
• the vessel 1 is moored to the rotatable portion 10 so that the vessel 1 can swing around the tower 3 under the influence of e.g. wind and tide to a greater or lesser extent - subject to the use of internal thruster means of the rotatable portion as will be further described below, to counteract the influence of the wind and/or tide, whilst remaining moored at said tower.
• the tower 3 At or in proximity to the base 4j the tower 3 is provided with a side opening 12 at which is connected one end of a tunnel 13 which extends along or under the sea bed 5 from the base 4 of the tower 3 to a remote supply point 14 which is conveniently on dry land, for example, at a convenient stock pile or rail head.
• the rotatable portion 10 is provided with a coal distribution means 15 which is in the form of a generally annular chute means 16 which is inclined so as to extend obliquely of the vertical axis of the tower 3 and slope downwardly from an upper end 17 to a lower end 18.
• a coal distribution means 15 which is in the form of a generally annular chute means 16 which is inclined so as to extend obliquely of the vertical axis of the tower 3 and slope downwardly from an upper end 17 to a lower end 18.
• a flap valve 20 (see Figure 3) arranged for diverting coal to either one of two outwardly extending discharge chutes 21 for permitting coal to pass to both said chutes 21 simultaneously.
• the rotatable portion 10 is generally V-shaped with its approximate geometric centre generally coincident with the central vertical axis 22 of the tower 3 and with its two limb portions 23 extending generally outwardly of the tower 3, the free ends 24 of limb portions 23 being connected to respective ones of two elongate members 25 by respective, coaxial and horizontally extending, pivotal connections 26.
• the elongate members 25 extend parallel to and spaced from, each other on either side of the vessel 1 and generally radially of the tower 3.
• conveyor means 27 of various lengths with their inboard (relative to the tower 3) ends 28 disposed for receiving coal from the respective discharge chutes 21 and with further, optionally telescopic, discharge chutes 29 at their respective outer ends 30.
• rotatable hopper means 31 are provided at the outboard ends 30 of the conveyor means 27 with the further discharge chutes 29 connected to the lower ends 32 of the hoppers 31 for rotation together therewith about a generally vertical axis.
• connections 33 between the further discharge chutes 29 and the hoppers 31 are formed so as to permit pivotal movement thereat about a generally horizontal axis with the aid of suitable piston and cylinder means 34 (preferably of hydraulic type) whereby the free ends 35 of said further discharge chutes 29 can be raised or lowered.
• This freedom of movement of the further discharge chutes 29 (which correspond to the discharge ends of the distribution means 15) enables their position to be changed relative to vessel 1 thereby enabling different parts of the hold(s) 36 to be efficiently loaded in a simple and efficient manner.
• the elongate members 25 are of a framework type of con ⁇ struction, conveniently of steel, provided with float or buoyancy means in the form of sponsons 37 which support the members 25 in the water in a substantially horizontal position with the conveyor means 27 at a level above the hatches 38 of the hold( ⁇ ) 36 of the vessel 1.
• the rotatable portion 10 is also supported through its connections 26 to the members 25 but is free to rise and fall, together with the elongate members 25, relative, to the tower 3, e.g. due to tidal differences, by virtue of the bearing means 11
• a degree of pitching of the elongate members 25 due to wave action and the like, relative to the rotatable portion .10. can be accommodated, by ' relative ' pivotal movement through the pivotal connection 26 therebetween.
• the elongate members 25 may be provided with control means 52 for varying the buoyancy of the sponsons 37 to adjust the trim of the elongate members 25 relative to the trim of the vessel 1 and/or to maintain the members at a constant level relative to the tower 3 under varying tidal conditions etc.
• outwardly extending chutes 21, and elongate members 25 with their conveyors 27, and further discharge chutes 29, extend generally radially of the tower 3 and thus, together constitute a radial portion of the coal distribution means 15, further details of whose construction may be seen in Figure 5.
• a conveyor means 40 preferably duplicate, which extends through the tunnel 13 via the side opening 12 in the tower into the base 4 of the tower 3 to discharge coal into the interior 41 of the base 4, which interior is generally hopper shaped
• a coal elevating means preferably duplicate and conveniently in the form of a bucket elevator 42 extending substantially vertically inside the tower, picks up coal from the interior 41 of the base 4 and carries it up into the upper portion 7 of the tower 3 whence it discharges the coal via an outwardly extending and downwardly inclined outlet 43 onto the annular chute 16.
• the coal may be discharged anywhere between the upper and lower ends 17, 18 of the annular chute 16 but will always end up passing through the lower end 18, and flap valve 20 onto the outwardly extending chv.tes 21 and thence onto the conveyors 27 on the elongate nembers 25 and finally via the further discharge chutes 29 and hatches 38 into the hold(s) 36 of the vessel 1.
• the vessel tending to swing about the mooring point, only, it is possible under certain conditions that the vessel may be moved e.g. by tidal forces, towards the tower 3 and the latter is therefore advantageously provided with suitable protection means such as inflatable fenders to avoid any possible collision damage.
• the elongate members 25 are also desirably provided with, desirably rctatable, annular fender means e.g. as indicated at 44 in Figure 1.
• loading can be made very simple and labour requirements reduced to a minimum level.
• the location of the tower the latter can be made accessible to the largest vessels which can be simply and quickly moored thereto.
• loading can proceed substantially continuously and automatically without the need of any manual labour - it being only necessary to adjust the position(s) of the discharge end(s) and vessel relative to each other to facilitate complete loading of all the hold space.
• the tunnel may be disposed under the sea bed or possibly even supported above the sea bed as long as it is positioned well clear of the hull of any vessel approaching the tower or moored to the tower on any side thereof to permit azimuthing of the vessel through 360° around the tower.
• the inshore end may extend well above the water line depending on the form of the shore and the location of the discharge point.
• the tunnel may be made of steel or reinforced concrete and/or of precast concrete sections assembled in situ and preferably is provided with ballast compartments 53 to minimize buoyancy.
• the tower itself may also be made by any form of construction suitable for use in such a structure - as for example for off-shore oil exploration and production platforms. Conveniently, though the tower may be made of reinforced concrete and/or steel plate construction.
• the present invention is applicable to various particulate materials though it is of greatest significance in connection with dry coal - whether in the form of rock coal or smaller size coal - and materials of similar size and consistency e.g. minerals such as iron ore or phosphate rock, as these can not be so readily handled in conventional continuous loading and unloading systems available for use with fluids or grain.
• the terminal is desirably weatherized to protect it against the elements by any suitable means such as for example roof means with openable and/or retractable portions or closure means.
• the terminal of Figure 6 is generally similar in construction to the above described embodiment, like parts being indicated by like reference numbers, except for the construction of the radially extending portion 15 and some consequential differences in the form of the upper portion of the tower 3.
• the radial portion 15 comprises a jib 45 supported outwardly 46 of the central part of the rotatable portion 10, by a winch means 47 connected at its other end to a rotatable part 51 on the upper portion 7 of the tower 3 above said rotatable portion 10 so that said jib 45 can be raised or lowered at its outward end 48, as well as being rotated around the tower 3 together with the vessel 1 moored thereto.
• a discharge chute 29 which is also supported by a respective winch means 50 connected at its other end to the rotatable part 51 on the fixed upper portion 7 of the tower 3 and which is disposed for receiving coal from the outer end of a conveyor 27 which extends along the jib 45.
• a respective winch means 50 connected at its other end to the rotatable part 51 on the fixed upper portion 7 of the tower 3 and which is disposed for receiving coal from the outer end of a conveyor 27 which extends along the jib 45.
• this may be effected by initially mooring the vessel to the tower 3 at a distance therefrom and then gradually bringing the vessel in, for example, by winching in the mooring line 2, whilst maintaining the vessel under "slow astern" away therefrom.
• the jib 45 and chute 29 will normally move together with the rest of the rotatable portion 10 and hence remain substantially in line with the vessel 1, it would also be possible to swing the jib through a limited arc to permit movement of the discharge chute 29 transversely of the vessel 1 to facilitate the full loading of the vessel's holds.
• a vessel 1 is shown moored at a tower 3 on whose upper portion 7 is mounted a rotatable portion 10.
• the vessel 1 is moored 2 in conventional manner to an elongate member in the form of a floating pier 25 which is connected to the central part of the rotatable portion 10 via a flexible triangulated linkage 53 of the type described in British Patent No.
• the pier 25 includes an underwater member 58 which in this case has negative buoyancy and serves as a keel member (see Fig.8) which provides additional stability to the pier particularly against rolling thereof.
• a keel member which provides additional stability to the pier particularly against rolling thereof.
• the keel member 58 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending propulsion or thruster units 59 (see Fig. 8). Activation of these will tend to swing the pier 25 round the tower 3.
• This can be used to advantage in for example final docking of a vessel 1 by bringing the pier close against the side of the vessel (and conversely during unberthing) or in adverse sea conditions e.g. where tidal and/or current forces and wind forces are acting on the pier in opposite directions to optimise azimuthing of the pier with respect to the tower 3.
• Operation of the propulsion units can als be used to relieve additional stresses under storm conditions e.g. by thrusting radially inwardly towards the tower, tension loading in the connecting linkage can be relieved.
• annular coal conveyor 60a is of the endless belt type extending circumferentially around the tower 3 to a discharge point between opposed ends of the belt run at which point the coal is discharged onto one end of a radially extending conveyor system 27 which conveys the coal out onto the vessel 1.
• the annular coal conveyor 60b is in the form of an L-shaped section ring with the upright on the radially outermost side.
• the ring rotated by a drive 75, carries coal on the base of the section around the tower 3 until it is deflected radially inwardly off the Ting by a transversely extending deflector plate 61a (see Fig.
• Fig. 7 also shows a tensioning system 62 for the shore-to-tower coal carrying conveyor belt 40.
• the radially extending conveyor system 27 (as be seen in Fig. 11) comprises a connecting endless conveyor belt 66 supported on a framework 67 which pivots intermedi ate its ends about a horizontal pivot shaft 68 mounted on the flexible linkage 53.
• This connecting conveyor belt 66 discharges via a hopper 69 onto an endless distributing conveyor belt 70 which runs the length of the pier 25 and is provided with one or more conventional tripper units 71
• the latter are movable along the pier and can either discharge coal onto a transversely extending final distribution conveyor belt 72 or return it to the pier conveyor belt 70 for carriage further along the pier 25.
• the transverse conveyor belt 72 is movable laterally of the tripper unit 71 so that its discharge end 73 can be shifted from one side of the vessel hold 74 to another.
• the vessel is not moored directly to the tower and is normally moored to the pier at two or more points, the vessel behaves as if it were in a single point or azimuthal mooring system insofar as it can swing more or less freely around the tower whilst moored thereat.
• the expression azimuthal mooring type tower is accordingly used herein to include such forms of construction also.
• Figure 12 shows a coal carrying vessel 101 secure by conventional mooring means 102 to an azimuthing mooring
• the tower 103 comprises a base 104 secured to the sea bed 105 by suitable means e.g. piles, an upper part 106, extending up above the water-line 107 and a narrower interconnecting portion 108.
• the upper part 106 includes a rotatable portion
• the rotatable portion 109 is provided with a hopper 110 for receiving coal from the vessel 101 and channelling it down into the tower 103 through which it passes downwardly to the base 104 where it is received on the end 111 of a conveyor means such as an endless conveyor belt 112.
• a conveyor means such as an endless conveyor belt 112.
• the coal is desirably slowed in the course of its downward passage by, for example, baffles 121 positioned in the interconnecting portion 108 of the tower 103.
• the conveyor belt 112 is housed inside a tunnel 113 which extends along or under the sea bed 105 from the base 104 of the tower 103 to a discharge point 114 which is conveniently on dry land, and will usually be at a committed service installation such as a coal-fired power station 120.
• the vessel 101 is provided with an elevator means such as a conveyor belt 116 or preferably a screw elevator 117 (shown in phantom) or other means, such as a bucket or flight elevator, which have a minimal horizontal extent, for raising the coal from the hold of the vessel up to its main deck level 118.
• the coal is then carried over the bow or side of the ship by further conveyor or chute means 119 which terminate directly above the hopper 110 of the tower 103 so as to discharge the coal into said hopper.
• unloading can be made very simple and labour requirements reduced to a minimal level.
• the location of the tower the latter can be made accessible to the largest vessels which can be simply and quickly moored thereto.
• unloading can proceed substantially continuously and automatically without the need of any manual labour - at least as far as the discharge point.
• the tunnel may be disposed under the sea bed or possibly even supported above the sea bed as long as it is positioned well clear of the hull of any vessel moored to or approaching the tower.
• the inshore end may extend well above the water line depending on the form of the shore and the location of the discharge point.
• the tunnel may be made of reinforced concrete and/or of precast concrete sections assembled in situ.
• the tower itself may also be made by any form of construction suitable for use in such a structure - as for example for off-shore oil exploration and production platforms. Conveniently though the tower may be made of reinforced concrete and/or steel plate construction.
• Figs. 13 and 14 The embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14 is generally similar to that of Figs. 12 and like parts have been indicated by like reference numbers, the radially extending coal distribution means and mooring means of the rotatable portion 109 being more akin to those of the loading terminal of Fig. 11. Also the coal receiving means are in the form of a travelling crane 122 with a grab 123 in place of the on-board conveyor 116 or elevating means 117.
• the rotatable portion 109 is mounted for vertical movement on the tower 103 via bearing means 124 similar to those 11 in Fig. 1.
• the rotatable portion 109 is hingedly connected 126 by a triangulated linkage 125 similar to that 53 in Fig. 9, to a floating pier 127 similar to that 25 in Figs. 8 and 9.
• the latter has endless conveyor belts 128 with chute means 129 into which the grab 123 discharges and with an inclined portion 130 the radially inner end 131 of which discharges into the tower 103 down onto the tunnel conveyor 112.
• a second vessel 132 is moored to the pier 127 on the opposite side thereof from the first mentioned one 101. This enables unloading of successive vessels to proceed with the minimum delay since the next vessel can be moored in position while the first is still unloading without waiting for the latter to first vacate its mooring position. It is also possible for unloading of both vessels to proceed simultaneously where sufficient grab means etc. are provided. Such an arrangement is of course equally applicable to the loading terminals of Figures 1 to 11.
• the present invention is applicable to the handling of particulate materials used in the energy producing and other fields of industry.

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• 1981
  • 1981-11-23 WO PCT/GB1981/000254 patent/WO1982001859A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1981-11-23 EP EP19810903110 patent/EP0064997A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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