Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B43/00—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for
  • B63B43/02—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking
  • B63B43/04—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving stability
  • B63B43/045—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving stability by decreasing the free surface effect of water entered in enclosed decks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
  • B63B25/24—Means for preventing unwanted cargo movement, e.g. dunnage
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B43/00—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for
  • B63B43/02—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking

Definitions

• the invention concerns a method and a device for securing closed decks and cargo on ships respectively, e.g. decks for vehicles or cargo in holds.
• a system for securing cargo, which consists of a highly elastic rubber bag/rubber membrane which in an inflated state secures the cargo in a hold, the cargo being fixed in position when "free" airspace in the cargo hold is replaced by the highly-elastic, air-filled rubber bag.
• a rubber bag is used which is mounted in advance in the ceiling of the cargo hold and which is filled with air from an air pumping set and the air pressure is adjusted and controlled, in order to ensure that the rubber bag is only inflated to a pressure which prevents the cargo from shifting.
• a rubber bag is used with a very high degree of elasticity of elongation, a minimum of 500%.
• This cargo securing system can be used both in cars, boats, aircraft and on the railway.
• a cargo hold or deck which is open during loading and unloading can, after the cargo has been placed in position, be divided up in a very simple fashion into smaller units, while at the same time the cargo is secured in a simple and reliable manner.
• the open space on the deck or in the hold is also filled, a minimum of space thereby being available for penetration of water in the event of an accident and in addition to the fact that the amount is reduced, this water will have only limited capability of movement, thereby substantially improving the security of the ship.
• the inflated bags according to the invention will give the ship an extra buoyancy in the event of an accident, thus enabling the ship to be kept afloat longer than normal in an emergency situation and even possibly preventing it from sinking.
• the opportunities for summoning help will therefore be much greater.
• the filled gas bags can also be filled with a fire-retardant gas. thus automatically extinguishing any small fires which may break out.
• a further advantage which is obtained by means of the invention is that the cargo is automatically secured without the necessity of employing traditional securing equipment such as chains and straps. This means a substantial rationalization in connection with loading and unloading, while at the same time the cargo is carefully secured with an evenly distributed securing effect over the entire surface of the cargo.
• the cargo can be automatical 1 ⁇ ' tightened up during transport by adjusting the securing pressure.
• the cargo securing can also be constantly monitored by means of sensors.
• a further advantage which is obtained by means of the invention is that in cases where the hold or deck is not full, the vehicles or the cargo can be located in the most favourable positions on the ship, since by inflating the bags the cargo can be secured and kept in the desired position on the cargo surface.
• the device according to the invention can be built into existing ships and car ferries without the need for comprehensive mechanical conversions which alter the vessel's mechanical characteristics.
• the device is very easy to use. and will it not lead to a reduction in the capacity on board the ship.
• By placing the bags in a grid pattern the space can be divided and securing can be obtained against the outer edges of the ship, e.g. against the vehicle doors at the ends of the ship, which provides an additional security.
• the attachment means in the deck's driving plate can be advantageously located in such a manner that they establish driving lanes for the vehicles on a car deck and thereby also facilitate the correct positioning of the vehicles.
• Fig. 1 is a plan view of the car deck on a ferry, illustrating the device according to the invention
• fig. 2 is a sectional view of a car ferry with two ferry decks
• fig. 3 is a detail view of the device according to the invention in an intermediate position when a car deck is divided up into compartments
• fig. 4 is the car deck in fig. 3 in a secured position
• fig. 5 is a perspective view of a bag according to the invention in an extended position and attached at its lower edge
• fig. 6 is a perspective partial view of the rolling up system for the bag for the device according to the invention.
• Fig. 1 of the drawing illustrates a car deck on a ship or ferry 1 , where the deck is denoted by 2.
• vehicles or cars which are denoted by 3
• Fig. 2 illustrates a section through such a car deck with the device according to the invention in a secured state.
• Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate purely schematically the positioning of the elastic bags between the vehicles on the deck.
• the bags 4 are illustrated here in an extended position, where they are fastened by means of attachment means 7 to the floor of the deck between the vehicles. In this position a longitudinal sectional division of the car deck has been achieved, which will prevent any water which has penetrated into the ship from washing back and forward between the ship's transverse sides.
• Fig. 4 illustrates the device according to the invention in the securing position, the elastic bags being inflated and thereby securing the cargo, i.e. the vehicles and also filling the space between the vehicles above and at the side.
• This f ⁇ l- ling operation is performed in the lateral direction of the vehicles, thus hold- ing them securely against one another, but as the expansion of the bags proceeds the vehicle will also be secured from the top and thereby be held secure in a cushioned fashion. Only the space 8 under the vehicles will be free.
• Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the suspension and the attachment of the bags 4.
• the bags act as a kind of curtain.
• Their lower edge is designed with a weight load or beam arrangement 9 which holds the bag taut like a curtain in the longitudinal direction, in the example shown pulled down in such a manner that the beam 9 is located in a recess 13 in the floor of the deck.
• This is not an absolute requirement, since the beam can also be made to abut against the actual deck floor 6.
• On each side of this area 13 there are provided rotatable plate elements with rounded ends which can be rotated towards each other by means of suitable drive means and thereby grip the curtains or the top of the beam 9 and hold it in place.
• a curtain or wall secured above and below between each row of cars, which will prevent movement, e.g. of water in the ship's transverse direction.
• the mechanism for rolling up the bag or the curtain 4 is illustrated in fig. 6.
• a bracket 10 In the ceiling of the deck or the cargo hold, e.g., there is attached with a bracket 10 a rotatable roller 11, which is motor-driven, thus enabling the curtain 4 to be rolled up or pulled down according to the direction of rotation.
• the beam 9 When it is rolled down the beam 9 will ensure additional traction in a downward direction.
• the roller 1 1 can be designed with one or more rows of holes or slots 12, as illustrated in the lower part of fig. 6 and also in fig. 5.
• the ends of the roller are thereby sealed and it is in communication with an air intake from a compressor or another air source which can blow in air which fills the bags through holes 12. causing the bags to expand and envelop the vehicles as illustrated in fig. 4. During retraction air is extracted through the same system, causing the bags to contract into the form of curtains, whereupon they can be rolled up. It should be pointed out that it is an essential feature that the bags have a very high degree of elasticity, thus allowing them to be expanded as much as 500%. Thus the bag will not slide against the surfaces of the cars, but expand around these surfaces, thus preventing any sliding or tearing effect against the surfaces.
• the mode of operation of the invention can be said to be as follows:
• the bags 4 are mounted on a hollow tube 1 1 which can be rolled up when vehicles are driving ashore and on board, see fig. 6.
• the bag 4 is rolled out and clamped mechanically to the bottom by means of the devices 7 and 9. The bag is then inflated with air or gas via the hollow tube 1 1.
• the bag will thereby gradually envelop all the cargo and secure it as the pressure rises in the bag 4.
• a pressure regulating valve is released when the correct pressure is reached.
• the cargo will be enclosed by an envelope which keeps the air confined. There is a pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the bag which secures the cargo in a careful manner. The pressure is evenly distributed against all surfaces of the cargo. It will be possible to regulate the strength with which the cargo is secured by means of the pressure.
• the invention provides a very flexible solution, since the system can be built into existing ferries without comprehensive mechanical conversion which could result in a change in the vessel's mechanical characteristics.
• the securing method is also extremely flexible and can also be employed in the case of only partially filled decks, since, at any rate in rough weather, the remaining empty spaces can be completely filled by means of the air bags.
• Many modifications will be possible within the scope of the invention.
• it will be possible to monitor the system by means of sensors, and pressure regulators which will ensure that the situation on the vehicle deck remains constant.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=19897627

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (11)

Families Citing this family (8)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 1994
  • 1994-11-11 NO NO944318A patent/NO302657B1/no not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1995
  • 1995-11-09 CN CN95197286A patent/CN1067640C/zh not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-11-09 ES ES95937229T patent/ES2129868T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-11-09 JP JP8515948A patent/JPH10508810A/ja active Pending
  • 1995-11-09 AU AU39392/95A patent/AU3939295A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-11-09 EP EP95937229A patent/EP0790917B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-11-09 DK DK95937229T patent/DK0790917T3/da active
  • 1995-11-09 KR KR1019970703304A patent/KR100422245B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-11-09 DE DE69507326T patent/DE69507326T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-11-09 WO PCT/NO1995/000210 patent/WO1996015024A1/en active IP Right Grant
• 1999
  • 1999-04-05 GR GR990400954T patent/GR3029865T3/el unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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