EP0837814B1

EP0837814B1 - Device at a ship

Info

Publication number: EP0837814B1
Application number: EP96910265A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tore Bark; Dan Magnusson
Original assignee: Hamworthy KSE AB
Current assignee: TTS Marine AB
Priority date: 1995-04-10
Filing date: 1996-04-03
Publication date: 2001-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2016-04-03
Also published as: ES1038163Y; WO1996032317A1; DK0837814T3; ES2154811T3; NO974657L; AU5351096A; NO317091B1; DE69611784D1; EP0837814A1; SE507496C2; JPH11504586A; NO974657D0; JP3686677B2; DE69611784T2; SE9501335L; ES1038163U; SE9501335D0

Description

The present invention relates to a device for a ship which exhibits a pivotally mounted door element so arranged as to function as a door in an upward-pivoted covering position in an opening in the ship, and as a ramp in a downward-pivoted position affording passage, and in that a movably supported further ramp component is so arranged as to be capable of displacement between a stowed position and an extended ramp position to permit loading and unloading respectively, at which the aforementioned externally situated ramp component is in the stowed position when the door element is retained in its closed position in an essentially vertical upward-pivoted position and said ramp components being accommodated next to the upper part of the opening along the deck essentially perpendicularly in relation to the door element and supported in a pivotally attached fashion to a pivot component, which is in turn pivotally attached to the ship or detachably atachable to the door element.

Previously disclosed door and ramp arrangements of the kind indicated above on ferries and other ships have involved a door, which also served as a ramp, being directly attached to a further ramp component, in conjunction with which the articulated link between the door element and the ramp component was of a permanent nature. This arrangement was associated with a risk of the door element suffering damage in the event of heavy operation of the aforementioned further ramp component situated outside the door element when it is in its stowed position folded closely along the door element and close to it.

The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to find a solution which, by simple means, permits the components to be separated, whilst retaining their interaction and movement pattern.

Said object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that the externally situated ramp component, viewed in a direction away from the internal load space of the ship, is supported separately from the door element in such a way that in the extended position this ramp component can interact with hte door element so as to function as a common ramp.

The invention is described below as a number of preferred illustrative embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figs. 1-6 show a first illustrative embodiment, in which:

Fig. 1 shows the bow of a ship with an associated opening in its position closed by means of a door element,

Figs. 2-5 show in schematic form various subsequent stages for making this opening accessible for loading and unloading the ship, in conjunction with which:

Fig. 2 shows a ramp component in the extending position,

Fig. 3 shows the ramp component in the extended position,

Fig. 4 shows a door element in a partially opened position,

Fig. 5 shows the door element and the entire ramp respectively in the opened and extended loading and unloading position; and

Fig. 6 shows a view from above of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7-8 show a second illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 7 shows the bow of a ship with a door element and a ramp component in a connected pivoting position with the door element pivoted upwards;

Fig. 8 shows the ramp component disconnected from the door element and in the stowed position,

Figs. 7A-8A show views from above of the aforementioned second example;

Fig. 9 and Fig. 10 show a third illustrative embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 9 shows the bow of a ship with a door element and a ramp component in a connected pivoting position with the door element in the raised closed position,
Fig. 10 shows the ramp component disconnected from the door element and in the stowed position, and
Figs. 9A and 10A show views from above of the aforementioned third example.

An arrangement 1 for a ship 2, which exhibits a pivotally mounted door element 3 so arranged as to function as a door in the open covering position F in an opening 4 in the ship 2, and as a ramp inter alia for driving vehicles upon when it is in the downward-pivoted position P affording passage, is of a previously disclosed kind, for example, and may be so arranged as to be actuated by means of cables 5 which run over blocks 6 and is capable of being actuated so as to pivot outwards by means of a previously disclosed ejector 7. A further ramp component 8 is also movably supported in such a way as to be capable of being displaced between a stowed position S and an extended ramp position F for the purpose, in the aforementioned extended ramp position R, of connecting the internal load space 9 of the ship to the outside of the ship, thereby permitting loading and unloading of the ship 2 via the aforementioned formed ramp 10.

According to the present invention the externally situated ramp component 8, viewed in a direction away from the internal load space 9 of the ship, is supported separately from the door element 3 in such a way that it is free to move. In the extended position R this ramp component 8 can interact with the door element 3 so as to function as a common ramp 10, or so as to function separately from one another, so that the aforementioned ramp component 8 is activated only when it is wished to span long distances A between the ship 2 and the shore, etc., for example a quay 100, for example in the case of the openable bow 2A of a ferry.

The following description is restricted to the embodiment in which the door element 3 and the aforementioned external ramp component 8 function together as a common unit, as shown in the drawings.

The aforementioned external ramp component 8 is connected to supports 11 which are so arranged in conjunction with the stowing of the aforementioned component 8, preferably accommodated close to the upper part 4A ot the opening along a deck 12, as to function as a carrying support tor same.

The external ramp component 8 is pivotally attached to a pivot component 13, which is in turn pivotally attached to the ship 2, which pivot component is preferably in the form of pairs of

pivot arms

14, 15 laterally displaced at a mutual distance X from one another, which pivot

arms

14, 15 are connected to one another at the respective

free ends

14A, 15A of the arms. The aforementioned connection, which extends between the

pivot arms

14, 15, is in the form of a beam 16 or some other sheet-like component so arranged, with the

pivot arms

14, 15 and the external part of the ramp 16 and the door element 3 in their downward-pivoted position N, as to be capable of functioning as an intermediate ramp component 16 for bridging the gap between the outer free end part 3A ot the door element and the end part 8A ot the external ramp component facing in towards the ship 2.

The

pivot arms

14, 15 are supported via pivot arms 17 at approximately the same level 18 as the level 20 of the pivot bearing 21 of the door element and are displaced in a direction 22 outwards from the pivot bearings 21, so that the door element 3 and the

pivot arms

14, 15 are pivoted upwards, essentially into a vertical position parallel with one another, when the door element 3 is retained in the closed position F and the external ramp component 8 is in the stowed position S (see Fig. 1), so that the

pivot arms

14, 15 and the external ramp component 8 are retained in an essentially perpendicular attitude in relation to one another.

The external ramp component 8 exhibits at its end 8A facing in towards the ship 2 two rigid laterally displaced bearing support arms 23, at the outer ends 23A of which a pivot link 24 is connected to each of the bearing attachments 25 situated on the side 13B of the pivot component 13 facing outwards from the ship 2.

In addition to providing a supporting function, the aforementioned pairs of arms 11 functioning as a bearing support are also so arranged as to function on the respective sides 4A, 4B of the door opening as a pivot arm arrangement 26 together with the

bearing support arms

14, 15, in so doing achieving the desired

pivot pattern

27, 28 for the external ramp component 8, at the same time as the door element 3 is caused to pivot between the closed position F and the open position P in a similar fashion to so-called parallel stays.

The pivot bearing 29 for the respective bearing support 11 is arranged at a lower level 30 than that of the

pivot bearings

17, 21 of the pivot arms and the door element.

The aforementioned pivot arm arrangement is arranged in such a way that the

pivot arms

14, 15 and the external ramp component 8 are retained in an essentially perpendicular position, as shown in Fig. 1, with the external ramp component 8 preferably accommodated close to the upper part 4C of the opening.

Situated at the furthest extremity of the external ramp component 8 is a pivotally mounted, tapered level regulator flap 31, with the help of which a smooth connection can be achieved between, for example the quay 100 and the external ramp component 8.

The invention offers considerable protection against the door 3 suffering damage as a consequence of the ramp being forced inwards against the ship 2, for example in the event of damage to the bow visor/bow doors or in the event of a collision, in that the door 3 has been separated from the ramp 8, and yet it still permits them to interact with one another to form a common vehicular access ramp 10, when necessary; see Fig. 5.

The external ramp component 8 is also appropriately arranged to be operated by a cable 32.

The arrangement 101 for a ship 102 illustrated in Figs. 7-8, which exhibits a pivotally mounted door element 103 of the kind described in the above illustrative embodiment, which is so arranged as to function as a door in the upward-pivoted covering position CF in an opening 104 in the ship 102, and as a ramp in the downward-pivoted position affording passage, which is not shown here but functions in accordance with the examples described above, also has a pivotally mounted external ramp component 108 that is capable of displacement between a stowed position CS and a ramp position (not shown) in accordance with the foregoing, for the purpose of permitting loading and unloading of the ship in question. The aforementioned door element 103 and ramp component 108 are capable of attachment to one another via a detachable pivot link 150. The aforementioned pivot link 150 may consist of a number of pivoting link arms 151 which, in the example illustrated in Figs. 7-8, are pivotally supported by the ramp component 108 via a pivot shaft 152 in a mounting lug 153 on the underside 108A of the ramp component at its end 108B facing towards the door element 103. The aforementioned link arms 151 are capable of detachable attachment at their pivoting end 151A with the door element 103 via a further pivot bearing 154. The aforementioned further pivot bearing 154 may be in the form of a pivot shaft 155 which acts between the link arm 151 and, for example, a mounting lug 156 on the outside 103A of the door element. By means of appropriate activating devices capable of remote actuation, for example jacks such as a hydraulically operated cylinder, the pivot shaft 155 and the link arm 151 of the respective pivot link 150 can be caused to move the pivot shaft 155 between its activated and disengaged position, and to cause the link arm 151 to pivot downwards or upwards away from the door element 103 to the under side 108A of the ramp component 108, and back in the opposite direction for reconnection. Pivoting is thus able to take place in differing directions about a shaft which extends along or across the ramp component 108.

The ramp component 108, when in the position in which it is connected to the door element 103, is thus capable of being controlled to pivot in such a way as to be displaced between a position K permitting connection with the door element 103 in accordance with the above and a stowed position SK in which it is displaced in a direction away from the door element 104 and is detachably released from the door element 103 and is retained in a stowed position CS removed from the door element 103, so that the latter will not suffer damage in the event of the ramp component 108 being subjected to, for example, a collision with the ship 102, or in the event of the bow visor/bow doors of the ship being forced inwards.

The aforementioned control is achieved by means of a support 111 which, as in the similar previous embodiment of the arrangement, i.e. pairs of arms 111 which are pivotally mounted via

pivot bearings

129, 156 in the ship 102 and the ramp component 108, in conjunction with which the aforementioned support 111, as in the above example, together with the door element 103 or the pivot component to which the ramp component 108 is pivotally attached, form a parallelogram 157, and which is capable without problem of controlling the ramp component 108 and the door element 103 during their pivoting movement between the downward-pivoted loading and unloading position and the upward-pivoted closed stowed position in which the ramp component 108 is accommodated essentially horizontally and perpendicular to the door element 103, closely along the upper part 104A of the opening 104.

Illustrated here as an alternative to the pairs of supports 111 extending between a ramp component 108 and the deck of the ship, which are rigid in accordance with the illustrated Figures, for example, or which can consist of jacks, i.e. piston cylinder arrangements, is a further alternative type of support in the form of jacks 500, preferably hydraulic cylinders by means of which the ramp component 108 is operated, extending between the ramp component 108 and the door element 203. The aforementioned cylinders 500 are so arranged that they are in a neutral position when the door element 203 is in its retracted covering position and when the ramp component 208 has been arranged so that it is in a disengaged position free from the door element 203. The aforementioned arrangement with jacks 500 has been utilized in every conceivable illustrative embodiment covered by the present invention. When in the disengaged position, the jack cylinders 500 are retained in their neutral position so that they can be actuated without risk, for example so at to be compressed without the associated movement being transmitted to the door element 203, but so that the jack cylinders are instead simply compressed without involving the transmission of any force and movement to the door element 203.

Figs. 9-10 show an example of an arrangement 201 similar to that shown in Figs. 7-8. This arrangement 201 also includes a ramp component 208 which is pivotally mounted in such a way as to permit its displacement between a position (see Fig. 9) enabling it to be connected to a pivotally mounted door element 203, via a pivot link 250, and a stowed position in which it is detachably disconnected from the door element 203 and is retained in a stowed position disengaged from the door element 203 (see Fig. 10). In the aforementioned illustrative embodiment, the pivot link 250 is executed as a number of rigid arms 251 attached to the ramp component 208 and bridging the gap between the door element 203 and the ramp component 208, at the respective outer ends 251A of which arms a pivot shaft 255 is accommodated in an

accommodating opening

275, 276 in the aforementioned ramp component 208 and door element 203. From its closed position CCF in the opening 204 with the door element 203 fully extended vertically, the pivot shaft 255 is released from engagement with the aforementioned associated

accommodating openings

275, 276 so that the ramp component 208 can be pivoted in a direction 277 away from the door element 203 and into a stowed position S at a safe distance from the door element 203, so that the latter does not suffer damage in the event of the ramp component 208 being forced in a direction towards the inside of the ship. The rear end 278 of the ramp component 208 is controlled, as in the case of the second illustrative embodiment above, by a device 279 which, together with a subjacent support 211, resembling the pivot arms in accordance with the above example, retains the ramp component 208 in an essentially horizontal position during the period for which it is pivoted into its intended stowed position S, and also whilst it is in the aforementioned stowed position S, in which it is locked by appropriate means of a previously disclosed kind, for example pistons.

In other respects the function of this arrangement resembles the others described and illustrated here.

The essential feature is that the door element and the ramp component in the stowed position arc separated and do not form a coherent whole with a connected link between them, but that the connection between them is disengaged with the result that the door element cannot be forced back into the ship by the effect of the externally situated ramp component, which is supported in accordance with the above examples I-III, or in some other suitable separable fashion.

It must also be pointed out that the various parts ot the door arrangement are so arranged as to be operated by remote control of a previously disclosed kind, for example via jacks and cables, etc.

The invention is not restricted to the illustrative embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. The invention thus also proposes to include the case in which the link arms are supported by the ramp section in such a way that they possess the ability to be pushed into, for example telescopically, or beneath the aforementioned ramp component with the pivot links in their disconnected position, and so that the door and the ramp component are only disconnected from one another via the pivot link when in the stowed position, so that the door cannot be damaged by the ramp section in the event of its being subjected to the effect of the latter, for example so that the ramp section is controlled in the event of being subjected to such an effect so as to be guided along a path such that the door is not struck and damaged, for example in a collision.

Claims

Device (1; 101, 201) for a ship (2; 102; 202) which exhibits a pivotally mounted door element (3; 103; 203) so arranged as to function as a door in an upward-pivoted covering position (F; CF; CCF) in an opening (4; 104; 204) in the ship (2; 102; 202), and as a ramp in a downward-pivoted position (P) affording passage, and in that a movably supported further ramp component (8; 108; 208) is so arranged as to be capable of displacement between a stowed position (S) and an extended ramp position (R) to permit loading and unloading respectively, at which the aforementioned externally situated ramp component (8; 108; 208) is in the stowed position (S) when the door element (3; 103; 203) is retained in its closed position (F; CF; CCF) in an essentially vertical upward-pivoted position and said ramp component (8; 108; 208) being accommodated next to the upper part (4A; 104A; 204A) of the opening along the deck (12; 112; 212) essentially perpendicularly in relation to the door element (3; 103; 203) and supported in a pivotally attached fashion to a pivot component (13; 113; 213), which is in turn pivotally attached to the ship (2; 102; 202) or detachably attachable to the door element (103; 203), characterized in that, the externally situtated ramp component (8), viewed in a direction away from the internal load space (9) of the ship, is supported separately from the door element (3) in such a way that in the extended position R this ramp component (8) can interact with the door element (3) so as to function as a common ramp (10).
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the aforementioned external ramp component (8; 108; 208) is connected to a carrying support (11; 111; 211) for the ramp component (8; 108; 208).
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 2, characterized in that the aforementioned support (11; 111; 211), together with the pivot component (13) or the door element (103; 203) to which the ramp component (8; 108; 208) is pivotally attached, forms a parallelogram for controlling the ramp component (8; 108; 208) during pivoting between the downward-pivoted position and the upward-pivoted position.
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the pivot component (13) is in the form of pairs of pivot arms (14, 15) laterally displaced at a mutual distance (X) from one another, which pivot arms are connected to one another at the respective free ends (14A, 15A).
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 4, characterized in that the connection between the pivot arms (14, 15) is in the form of a beam component (16), as to function as an intermediate ramp component for bridging the gap between the outer free end part (3A) of the door element and the end part (8A) of the external ramp component facing in towards the ship.
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 5, characterized in that the pivot arms (14, 15) are supported at approximately the same level (18) as the pivot bearing (21) of the door element and are displaced in a direction (22) outwards from same, so that the door element (3) and the pivot arms (14, 15) are pivoted upwards, essentially into a vertical position parallel with one another, when the door element (3) is retained in the closed position (F) and the external ramp component (8) is in the stowed position (S).
Arrangement as claimed in one or other of Patent Claims 3-6, characterized in that the external ramp component (8) exhibits at its end (8A) facing in towards the ship (2) two rigid laterally displaced bearing support arms (23), at the outer ends (23A) of which a pivot link (24) is connected to each of the bearing attachments (25) situated on the side (13B) of the pivot component facing outwards from the ship.
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 7, characterized in that the aforementioned pairs of bearing support arms (11) are arranged on the respective sides of the door opening together with the bearing support arms (14, 15).
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 8, characterized in that the pivot bearing (29) for the bearing support (11) is arranged at a lower level (30) than that of the pivot bearings (17, 21) of the pivot arms (14, 15) and the door element (3).
Arrangement as claimed in one or other of Patent Claims 8-9, characterized in that the pivot arms (14, 15) and the external ramp component (8) are retained in an essentially perpendicular attitude.
Arrangement as claimed in one or other of Patent Claims 1-3 or 7-10, characterized in that the pivot arrangement is formed by the door element (103; 203), and in that the ramp component (108; 208) is capable of attachment to the door element (103; 203) via a detachable pivot link (150; 250).
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 11, characterized in that a pivotally mounted link arm (151) is so arranged as to be capable of being attached between the ramp component (108) and the door element (103), or in that the ramp component exhibits rigid projecting support arms at its end facing in towards the ship, at the outer ends of which a link to the door element is present.
Arrangement as claimed in Patent Claim 11, characterized in that the ramp component (108; 208) is pivotally mounted in such a way as to be displaced between a position enabling it to be connected to the door element (103; 203) and a stowed position in which it is detachably disconnected from the door element (103; 203) and is retained in a stowed position disengaged from the door element (103; 203).
Arrangement as claimed in one or other of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that jacks (500), preferably hydraulically operated, are arranged to act between the aforementioned ramp component (8; 108; 208) and pivot component (13; 113; 213) or the door element (103; 203).