EP0968914B1 - Dispositif et méthode pour travailler les surfaces intérieures des cales d'un bateau - Google Patents

Dispositif et méthode pour travailler les surfaces intérieures des cales d'un bateau Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0968914B1
EP0968914B1 EP98305306A EP98305306A EP0968914B1 EP 0968914 B1 EP0968914 B1 EP 0968914B1 EP 98305306 A EP98305306 A EP 98305306A EP 98305306 A EP98305306 A EP 98305306A EP 0968914 B1 EP0968914 B1 EP 0968914B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
hold
vertical
tower
horizontal
trolley
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98305306A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP0968914A1 (fr
Inventor
Richard A. Goldbach
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Metro Machine Corp
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Metro Machine Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to CA002242128A priority Critical patent/CA2242128A1/fr
Priority to NZ330849A priority patent/NZ330849A/xx
Priority to PT98305306T priority patent/PT968914E/pt
Priority to ES98305306T priority patent/ES2199411T3/es
Priority to AU74065/98A priority patent/AU759626B2/en
Priority to DE69814603T priority patent/DE69814603T2/de
Priority to EP98305306A priority patent/EP0968914B1/fr
Priority to DK98305306T priority patent/DK0968914T3/da
Application filed by Metro Machine Corp filed Critical Metro Machine Corp
Priority to SG9801591A priority patent/SG65082A1/en
Priority to KR1019980028079A priority patent/KR20000008320A/ko
Priority to JP10200969A priority patent/JP2000038196A/ja
Publication of EP0968914A1 publication Critical patent/EP0968914A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0968914B1 publication Critical patent/EP0968914B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B63B27/16—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of lifts or hoists
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B59/00—Hull protection specially adapted for vessels; Cleaning devices specially adapted for vessels
    • B63B59/06—Cleaning devices for hulls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C5/00—Equipment usable both on slipways and in dry docks
    • B63C5/02—Stagings; Scaffolding; Shores or struts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for and method of applying work to internal surfaces of a vessel hold.
  • a typical bulk carrier is a shipping vessel having a hull, within at least a major portion of at least the midbody of which, the internal volume bounded by the sidewalls and bottom of the hull, is partitioned into a plurality of cargo holds (sometimes alternatively called tanks).
  • the cargo holds are arranged in one or more side-by-side columns extending lengthwise of the vessel and separated by longitudinal bulkheads, and a plurality of longitudinally adjacent rows and separated by transverse bulkheads.
  • the upper ends of the longitudinal bulkheads and hull sidewalls, with associated structure, provide respective fore-aft walkways of the deck of the vessel, and the upper ends of the transverse bulkheads provide port-starboard walkways of the deck.
  • the bottoms of the individual holds are formed by respective portions of the upper surfaces of the inner side of the bottom of the hull.
  • Portions of the sidewalls of individual holds, whether formed by vessel hull sidewall, sides of longitudinal bulkheads or sides of transverse bulkheads are generally vertical, but may have sloped, beveled or curved regions.
  • the holds typically are open at the top throughout an area which is substantially large as their maximum horizontal cross-sectional area. These openings, generally referred to as hatches, are normally closed during transportation, storage and waiting periods, by openable hatch covers. Hatch covers may be designed to be physically lifted out of position as a unit, or to be folded, tented or rolled out of position.
  • a typical bulk cargo vessel is used for transporting a flowable or pumpable commodity, without use of any containers or packaging material but for the confines of the hold.
  • boxes, bags, drums, containers and other packaging confines the commodity being shipped in a hold, in quanta smaller than the bulk of a single hold.
  • a bulk cargo vessel may be single-hulled throughout, double-hulled throughout, or partially double-hulled (for instance, double bottomed) and the remainder single-hulled.
  • each side, the bottom and the top of a bulk cargo hold typically are made of steel plate, welded at edges and intersections.
  • the internal wall surfaces of a bulk cargo hold are subjected to at least some of the same stressful environmental conditions as is the outer surface of the vessel hull.
  • the environmental stress on the wall surfaces of a bulk cargo hold can cause surface deterioration at a greater rate than is experienced by the exterior of the vessel hull. Therefore, for lengthening the economic life of the cargo vessel and keeping it in good repair, the internal surfaces of each bulk cargo hold are best cleaned and coated when the vessel is new, and then periodically recleaned and recoated.
  • the hold wall surfaces like the vessel hull exterior surfaces, of a new vessel being built, are cleaned and coated entirely after cutting, welding, bolting and installation of at least some fittings have been conducted.
  • Surface cleaning typically involves forcibly impacting particles of an abrasive material ("grit") against the surface which is to be cleaned.
  • the particles are simply sprayed in a blast of compressed air, issuing through a hose and out of a nozzle pointed at the work surface by a human operator who is wearing protective clothing and breathing gear.
  • the similarly attired worker uses a pneumatically or gravity-fed centrifugal impeller the outlet opening of which they direct against the work surface.
  • abrasive grit impacts against the surface to be cleaned, it abrades away whatever is most vulnerable to its attack, principally scale, rust, caked-on remainder of former cargoes, and what remains from prior coatings applied, as affected by the environment since application. It is an operator's responsibility when abrasive blasting, to continue working on a local region of the surface, until substantially all that is 'bad' is gone, but without substantially eating into what is 'good', and then moving on, to the cleaning of an adjacent or next region of the surface.
  • the spent grit therefore, contains not only the material impelled against the surface, as affected by the impact, but also the removal material, all mixed together.
  • the work head includes a spent-grit recovery mechanism, such as an underlying catch basin or funnel and suction line, so that the abrasive blasting is conducted as a clean-up-as-you-go operation.
  • the spent grit simply falls to the floor, i.e., the upper surface of the bottom wall, and onto the predominately upwardly facing surfaces of staging and equipment, and is swept up, vacuumed up or otherwise collected by workers working in support of the blasting operators.
  • the grit is made of sharp-grained particles of refractory material such as Carborundum or agate; in other instances, it is made of hard, sharp fragments of ferromagnetic material, including bits or balls of steel. In such instances, collecting the ferromagnetic component of the spent grit separately from fragments of coating and other debris is possible, using magnetic or electromagnetic collectors or separators.
  • Spent grit can be fractionated and the various fractions subjected to differing benefaction, disposal and re-use procedures.
  • Coatings following cleanings are typically applied by spraying. Generally, these are made of what a non-technical person, and often a person in the trade speaking colloquially would call 'paint'.
  • the current trend in coatings is to ones which include as the vehicle or medium which enables and facilitates application, spreading and continuity of layering, yet upon completion of its contribution to the process, generates a minimum of volatile organic compounds available to escape into the air and, therefore, needing to be contained, abated, combusted or otherwise dealt with.
  • the staging conventionally used in holds for worker support while conducting cleaning and painting operations typically is conventional construction scaffolding, which includes many modular sections of framework, and planking.
  • scaffolding which includes many modular sections of framework, and planking.
  • set-up and tear-down are time consuming, and worker error in securing planks, climbing on scaffolding and dropping parts unfortunately results in accidents and injury.
  • each shift of work and each set-up and tear-down involves clambering on the scaffolding, often while carrying heavy equipment. Blasting and coating equipment needs to be assembled and taken apart, including pneumatic and liquid-delivery hoses, and electric cabling.
  • GB 1 151 793 discloses a device for applying work to the external surfaces of a ship, comprising a vertical tower on a shiftable platform and a rotatable work head mounted on a vertically sliding platform.
  • a device for use in applying work to internal wall surfaces of a bulk cargo vessel hold comprising a vertical tower having a base; a shiftable support structure supporting the tower base and arranged for shifting the tower about in each of two mutually orthogonal horizontal directions on a substantially horizontal deck of a hold; a vertical trolley mounted to the vertical tower and vertically movable thereon to assume and maintain each of a plurality of selected vertical elevations; a horizontal trolley mounted to the vertical trolley and bidirectionally horizontally movable thereon to assume and maintain each of a plurality of selected horizontal positions relative to the vertical tower, including a first extreme of extension in one direction to one side of the vertical tower and a second extreme of extension to an opposite side of the vertical tower; and a complement of supply systems for use in performing work on said surface, said systems being provided on said vertical tower.
  • the work is applied by one or more operators working from an operator walkway provided on said horizontal trolley.
  • said horizontal trolley is generally rectangular in plane; and at least one side of said outer perimeter of said horizontal trolley is provided with one or more horizontal rails extending along the respective side; and the device includes a remotely operable work-applying machine mounted on said rail or rails and arranged for motorised propulsion along the rail or rails while applying work to said surface.
  • the device may be a self-contained device and said shiftable support structure supporting the tower base may be arranged for stationing the tower in proximity with each of four corners where respective pairs of sidewalls of the hold meet one another.
  • an operator walkway may be provided on said horizontal trolley.
  • At least one side of the outer perimeter of said horizontal trolley may be provided with a respective set of horizontal rails extending along the respective side; and the device may include a remotely operable work-applying machine mounted on said set of rails and arranged for motorised propulsion along the set of rails while applying work to said surface; said work-applying machine comprising one of an abrasive grit applicator and a coating sprayer.
  • a method for applying work to internal wall surfaces of a bulk cargo vessel hold, by one or more operators working from a self-contained device comprising:
  • the present invention seeks to preserve the functionality of the heretofore conventional method and apparatus for cleaning and coating the internal surfaces of bulk cargo vessel holds, while overcoming the shortcomings and drawbacks incident to:
  • the self-contained device for cleaning and coating hold surfaces in a bulk carrier includes four major components, namely a horizontally mobile vertical tower (e.g., with walking beams for permitting the device to move into the four corners of the hold into which it has been lowered), a vertical trolley for permitting the workers to reach with their equipment all elevations within the hold, a horizontal trolley for permitting the workers to achieve optimum proximity to a wall surface, and cleaning and coating support equipment and systems.
  • a horizontally mobile vertical tower e.g., with walking beams for permitting the device to move into the four corners of the hold into which it has been lowered
  • a vertical trolley for permitting the workers to reach with their equipment all elevations within the hold
  • a horizontal trolley for permitting the workers to achieve optimum proximity to a wall surface
  • cleaning and coating support equipment and systems e.g., with walking beams for permitting the device to move into the four corners of the hold into which it has been lowered
  • a vertical trolley for permitting the workers to reach with their equipment all elevations within the hold
  • the device can be lifted into and out of the cargo hold altogether, or in a maximum of two sections, including a base section (which includes the base of the vertical tower, walking beams, all required systems for cleaning and coating, worker air supply and electrical power, as well as lower parts of distribution systems, with connectors), and an upper section (which includes a variable height upper vertical tower, vertical trolley, variable extension horizontal trolley, vertical trolley hoist mechanism, horizontal trolley extension mechanism, and upper parts of distribution systems, with connectors).
  • the upper section is stackable on the base.
  • the walkway on the horizontal trolley extends on all four sides, in order to permit working from at least two sides simultaneously for each of four positions of the base on the bottom of the hold.
  • automated abrasive blasting equipment and automated coating spraying equipment is provided for horizontal travel along each of the four sides of the horizontal trolley, e.g., on the safety rail.
  • a bulk carrier vessel 10 is schematically and fragmentarily shown including walls defining a hold 12.
  • the deck 14 (bottom wall) of the hold is provided by the bottom of the hull (which would be the inner hull, in the case of a double-bottomed hull, one side wall 16 is provided by the vessel hull, an opposite side wall 18 is provided by the vessel hull on the opposite side, or by a longitudinal bulkhead, another set of two mutually opposite sidewalls 20 is provided by two successive transverse bulkheads, and the top wall 22 is provided by the underside of a removable displaceable hatch cover or set of hatch covers for the hold. It is these walls 14-22 which provide the internal surfaces 24 of the hold 12, and which are to be cleaned and coated.
  • the self-contained device 26 for cleaning and coating the hull surfaces 24 is sufficiently small in horizontal cross-sectional outline that it can be lowered through the smallest hatch into and raised out of a hold of the least accommodating vessel on which it is expected to be used, yet sufficiently large in horizontal cross-sectional outline, and extensibility, that preferably, workers working from it, can reach all of the internal sidewall surfaces of the hold with no more than four moves of the device (i.e., into the four corners of the hold).
  • its width preferably is somewhat greater than half the port-starboard dimension of the widest hold in which it will be used
  • its depth (including extensibility) preferably is somewhat greater than half the longitudinal dimension of the longest hold (in the bow-to- stern direction of the vessel) in which it will be used.
  • the height preferably is sufficiently great to permit workers to reach the upper extents of the side walls, to clean and coat the underside of the hatch cover or hatch covers, if desired, and yet sufficiently short to permit the hatch cover(s) to be closed as cleaning and coating proceeds, in order to confine the airspace within which cleaning and coating operations are being conducted, thereby facilitating air quality management.
  • the device 26 is shown including four major components, namely, a vertical tower 28 having walking beams or powered trucks 30 at its base, a vertical trolley 32 which is supported on the vertical tower and subject to being raised and lowered and stationed at any desired height on the vertical tower, a horizontal trolley 34 which is supported on the vertical trolley and subject to being centered and bidirectionally shifted (typically maximally to starboard and maximally to port, although the entire device, if lowered into the hold at ninety degrees about a vertical axis to the orientation depicted, would enable shifting of the horizontal trolley, instead, maximally forwards and maximally aft), and cleaning, coating, worker breathing air, and electrical power supply and support systems 36.
  • a vertical tower 28 having walking beams or powered trucks 30 at its base
  • a vertical trolley 32 which is supported on the vertical tower and subject to being raised and lowered and stationed at any desired height on the vertical tower
  • a horizontal trolley 34 which is supported on the vertical trolley and subject to being centered and bidirectionally shifted (typically maximal
  • the vertical tower 28 preferably is a four-sided structure fabricated of structural steel members bolted, welded or otherwise connected, possibly in two or more modules which are stackably connected (in order to provide for working in holds of varying height).
  • the vertical tower preferably is rectangular in plan and elevation, for example, 13-19 meters high, 8-12 meters wide and 3 meters deep (in the fore to aft direction of the ship); in feet, these preferred dimensions are 40-60 feet tall, 25-35 feet wide and 10 feet deep.
  • the vertical tower is supported at its base, i.e., the tower feet are provided by, structures which permit the tower (and, therefore, the entire device 26) to be horizontally shifted, at least in two mutually orthogonal directions (widthwise and lengthwise of the ship).
  • these structures are conventional walking beams 30.
  • a full complement of supply and support systems 36 typically including an electrical distribution system, an abrasive grit supply storage and recycling system, abrasive blast and coating supply pots, a paint-mixing station, an air compressor, and distributing piping for compressed air, breathing air, abrasive grit, and paint.
  • the electrical power supply cabling and distribution piping extend from the supply and support systems 36, to the vicinity of where on the device 26 the service is needed.
  • the supply cabling and distribution piping preferably include connectors that are easily made-up and taken apart at the interfaces of the modules.
  • the modules are made to have easily vertically made-up, easily vertically separated mechanical connectors for respective tower framing elements (e.g., complementary tapering pins and flaring sockets), so that stacking, de-stacking, and lifting and lowering by crane is easy to accomplish.
  • Locking together of respective tower framing elements of stacked modules can be provided, for providing added assurance against partial separation and tilting of an upper module when the vertical trolley is relatively highly elevated, the horizontal trolley is relatively extremely extended, and heavy workers and equipment are supported on the horizontal trolley relatively far from the vertical tower.
  • the device 26 as a whole be provided as two sections, namely a lower section 38 including a base module of the vertical tower 28, including the walking beams 30, the supply and support systems 36, and lower portions of the electrical cables and pipes, and an upper section 40 including an upper module (or an intermediate and an upper module) of the vertical tower 28, the vertical trolley 32, a hoist mechanism 42 for the vertical trolley 32, the horizontal trolley 34, an extension-retraction mechanism 44 for the horizontal trolley, and upper portions of the electrical cables and pipes.
  • the electrical distribution cabling and grit, air and coating piping extends from the base, up through the inside of the vertical tower 28 to its top, with take-offs (i.e., connectors for easily and disconnectably making-up and breaking-down connections) at periodic intervals, such as each 2.5 meters (in feet, each 8 feet).
  • take-offs i.e., connectors for easily and disconnectably making-up and breaking-down connections
  • two ladders extend the full height of the vertical tower, provided on the fore and aft sides of the tower framework (which is only rudimentarily shown in the drawings), complete with a safety cage around the envelope of movement of a climbing user.
  • the vertical tower is constructed, assembled and supported to be stable and free-standing even when the horizontal trolley is in an extreme position and fully loaded.
  • the vertical trolley 32 likewise preferably is a rectangular parallelepipedal framework fabricated of high strength steel members bolted and/or welded or otherwise connected together, having roller elements 46 arranged to rollingly engage respective vertical elements of the vertical tower 28.
  • the vertical trolley can be lowered onto lifted off of the upper end of the vertical tower, should be need arise.
  • the hoist mechanism 42 may be located with the supply and support systems 36 on the base of the lower section 38, or fit over and be supported on the upper end of the vertical tower 28.
  • the rollers 46 of the vertical trolley include internal rollers, as well as external rollers, in upper and lower sets, at all four corners of the tower, in order to accommodate the port-starboard and forward-aft forces which are experienced as equipment and personnel move around on the device, and the walking beams or powered trucks 30, hoist 42 and hoist extension-retraction system 44 are operated.
  • the choice of which of the subsystems of the device 26 to operate using compressed air, possibly hydraulic power, or electrical power can be varied depending on local preferences, requirements and availabilities.
  • the motor for the winch for the cables which support the vertical trolley from the hoist mechanism could be an electrical motor, an air-operated motor or a hydraulic motor.
  • the horizontal trolley 34 likewise is a rectangular framework fabricated of preferably high strength structural steel elements. It is supported on the vertical trolley 32 for bidirectional rolling or sliding movement in a horizontal plane between a neutral position ( Figure 3) and two opposite extreme positions (a representative one of which is shown in Figures 1 and 2), by a suitable extension-retraction system 44 (which may be a rack and gear; chain and sprocket; hydraulically or pneumatically operated extensible-retractable cylinders or the like, provided (like the vertical trolley) with suitable means for locking the trolley in any achieved position, despite bursting of a supply hose, or other failure of the system for changing the position of the trolley).
  • a suitable extension-retraction system 44 which may be a rack and gear; chain and sprocket; hydraulically or pneumatically operated extensible-retractable cylinders or the like, provided (like the vertical trolley) with suitable means for locking the trolley in any achieved position, despite bursting of a supply hose, or other failure of the system for changing the position of the trolley
  • the horizontal trolley 34 preferably includes a walkway 48 made of open grating or expanded metal mesh for decking, which extends about all four sides of the outer perimeter of the horizontal trolley.
  • the walkway 34 is rimmed by an upstanding safety rail 50.
  • the metal framing elements of the device 26 need not all be made of the same type of steel alloy.
  • the horizontal trolley because it is located closest to where the most-abrasive activity is occurring in use, may be made in whole or in part of high yield steel having greater resistance, in order to provide durability yet lightness in weight, while other parts are made of less expensive alloy.
  • a hold 12 In use, a hold 12 is emptied, and cleaned of loose and easily dislodged debris. It could be pre-cleaned using a high-pressure hose for washing, and the spent washwater pumped out.
  • a device 26 is lowered into the hold to become supported via the walking beams or powered trucks 30 on the deck 14 of the hold. If the crane operator and their spotter in the hold are particularly skillful, the initial placement of the device 26 may be in one of the four corners of the hold, corresponding to a first use position.
  • the various respective connectors of the sections of the electrical cables and supply/support pipes are connected to one another, and service is provided to the system 36 by respective lines connected thereto and extending up out of the hatch.
  • Lighting provided at convenient locations on the tower 28 is lit, the human operators assume their positions and connect their breathing equipment, the hatch cover(s) is/are closed to the extent possible (given the ingress-egress of the electrical and fluid supply lines to and from the system 36).
  • the walking beams 30 are operated to adjust the relative location of the device 26 into a first corner of the hold. Blast cleaning of the two side walls which meet at the respective corner of the hold begins.
  • the operator(s) lower or raise the vertical trolley 34 (depending on whether the operator(s) is/are working from top, down, or from bottom, up, and extend/retract the horizontal trolley, in order to reach and perform nearly, or more or less than a quarter of the cleaning work.
  • the operator or operators typically work on both of the two side walls which meet at the respective corner.
  • the device 26 is shifted using the horizontal position-shifting means (the walking beams 30) into each of the other three corners, whereupon, after each move, cleaning is conducted as explained above.
  • the hatch cover(s) is/are opened, the various cables and supply lines to and from the supply and support systems 36 to outside the hold are disconnected, and the device 26 is lifted out of the hold 10 (as a whole, or sequentially in, e.g., two sections, if modular), and lowered into another hold, ready for a next cleaning and coating operation on such other hold.
  • the device 26 can be used to perform some other tasks than blast cleaning or coating, such as high pressure washing or inspecting. It is also possible that only one task would be performed in regard to a particular hold on a particular occasion using the device 26, e.g., cleaning but not coating, or vice versa.
  • the device 26 is shown provided respectively with a ventilation system, and with a modification to that ventilation system.
  • the ventilation system 52 which is supported from the vertical tower 28, and powered and served by the supply and support systems 36, includes a vertical duct 54, provided at its upper end (which in this first instance) is located no higher up than the top of the tower 28, with an air inlet 56 shielded from above by a domed cap 58 which encloses a dust filter (not shown) for incoming air.
  • the dust filter is removable for cleaning, removable for replacement if expendable or easier to clean elsewhere than in place, or cleanable in place.
  • the duct 54 is shown provided at its lower end with an air outlet 60, which also may be screen-covered for preventing large objects from entering or exiting from the air outlet.
  • the air outlet 60 preferably is located near but above the base of the vertical tower 28, e.g., in order to be out of the way of the supply and support systems 36.
  • a fan 62 operated by a motor 64, interposed in the duct 54, for causing ventilating air to be drawn into the duct 54, filtered at 58, and to blow out of the outlet at 60.
  • the motor 64 is served with power from the supply and support systems 36.
  • the workers could depend on the ventilation system 52 to provide air from outside the hold (i.e., by partly opening the hatch cover), it is recommended that at least while abrasive blasting and spray coating are taking place, that workers in the hold wear ventilators, breathing masks or other air supply or filtration units.
  • the ventilating system 52 aids in preventing such intensive airborne dust build-up that visibility is too low for the workers, for aiding in drying/curing of sprayed coatings, and for permitting temperature and humidity within the hold to be favorably influenced.
  • Figures 6 and 7 all is the same as that which has been shown in and described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, except that the domed cap 58 is mounted on a swivelable extension 66 of the duct 54.
  • the extension 66 causes the inlet 56 to be located above the hatch of the hold 12, and the lateral offset provided by the swivelable extension allows the duct portion provided thereby and which extends up out of the hold, to avoid interference with restrictions to the hatch area.
  • the envelope of possible movement and resulting placement of the swivelable extension are illustrated in Figure 7.
  • a set of horizontal rails 68 is shown mounted on the horizontal trolley 34, e.g., on the safety rail 50, so as to extend from corner to corner completely along a respective side.
  • four sets of such rails 68 preferably are provided, one for each side of the horizontal trolley.
  • the rails for each side can be respective portions of a rail system which extends around each corner, so that automated work-applying equipment, likewise, can be advanced around corners from one side to another, four distinct sets of rails like the set shown can be provided.
  • only one or two sets of rails is or are provided.
  • each set is made to be easily mounted to and demounted from the horizontal platform (which can be done with the assistance of a crane, or by workers while the vertical trolley 32 is disposed in its lowermost position).
  • each side is equipped with a set of rails like the one shown at 68.
  • the device 26 is shown set-up for automated blasting, by having an automated blasting machine 70 mounted on the rails 68.
  • an automated blasting machine 70 mounted on the rails 68.
  • automated blasting machines 70 at least the two sides facing the hold surfaces 24 meeting at a corner and both being worked on are provided with automated blasting machines 70 (unless one will suffice because the rails curve around the respective corner so one machine 70 can apply cleaning work to two sides of the hull.
  • Each blasting machine 70 includes an applicator which may be an impeller or sprayer 72 for projecting abrasive grit (such as steel shot) through an outwardly directed housing opening, positioned against the hold surface 24, and a mechanism 74 to pull or push the machine along the rails 68 (such as a motorized cog-wheel meshing with a rack gear provided on the rails, or a motorized rubberized wheel or set of such wheels tractively engaged with the rails.
  • the motor can be pressurized fluid-powered, or electrically powered, with service provided via cabling (not shown) from the supply and support systems 36 at the base.
  • the abrasive used is steel shot, and the spent abrasive, together with dislodging debris, falls to the floor of the housing of the applicator 72, where it is collected by a return line (not shown) and sent to a reclaiming station (which can be located on the base at 36, or outside the hold).
  • a reclaiming station which can be located on the base at 36, or outside the hold.
  • separations are performed, e.g., based on whether the mixed material is ferromagnetic, on particle size and particle shape, with reusable grit being sent back to the supply and support systems 36 for reuse by the blasting equipment.
  • Standard techniques for remotely operating the applying of abrasive, traversing the abrasive applicator along the rails, raising and lowering the vertical trolley, projecting and retracting the horizontal elevator, and shifting the device 26 along the deck of the hold can be used, e.g., using a control panel which is connected by cabling, or by a radio transmitter-receiver pair to the supply and support systems 36.
  • Cleaning of the deck and downwardly facing upper surfaces can be performed by hand-held equipment operated by human operators, as has been described above in relation to the embodiment of Figures 1-7, if the applicator 72 is not susceptible of being reoriented (e.g., by swiveling or remounting) to reach those surfaces automatically.
  • each applicator 72 When cleaning has been completed (for a hold which is to be both cleaned and coated), either each applicator 72 is run to an outer end of the respective set of rails 68 and parked, or is physically moved out of the way (e.g., demounted, or moved to another set of the rails which is not presently juxtaposed with a corner that is being worked on).
  • a coating machine 76 is mounted on the set of rails (one or more on each of two or more sets of the rails).
  • the coating machine likewise includes an applicator 78 (e.g., a spraying head connected by a supply hose or hoses (not shown) to the supply and support systems 36, and a rail traversing mechanism 80.
  • an applicator 78 e.g., a spraying head connected by a supply hose or hoses (not shown) to the supply and support systems 36, and a rail traversing mechanism 80.
  • the respective applicators are caused to traverse the respective sides of the horizontal trolley, while being supplied from the system 36, the trolley 32 is operated to position the applicator at a new increment for applying work, the horizontal trolley is operated for reaching into a corner or further from a corner than can otherwise be reached for a given position of the device 26, and the device 26 is repositioned using the powered perambulators 30, for disposing the device 26 as a whole successively in relative proximity to each of the four corners of the hold.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)
  • Details Or Accessories Of Spraying Plant Or Apparatus (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Spray Control Apparatus (AREA)

Claims (20)

  1. Dispositif destiné à effectuer un travail sur les surfaces de parois intérieures d'une cale d'un bateau de transport en vrac, comprenant :
    une tour verticale (28) possédant une base ;
    une structure d'appui (30) pouvant être déplacée soutenant la base de la tour et disposée en vue de déplacer la tour à peu près dans chacune de deux directions horizontales mutuellement orthogonales sur un pont sensiblement horizontal (14) d'une cale (12) ;
    un chariot vertical (32) monté sur la tour verticale (28) et pouvant être déplacé verticalement dessus pour accepter et maintenir chacune d'une pluralité d'élévations verticales sélectionnées ;
    un chariot horizontal (34) monté sur le chariot vertical et pouvant être déplacé dessus horizontalement de manière bidirectionnelle pour accepter et maintenir chacune d'une pluralité de positions horizontales sélectionnées par rapport à la tour verticale, comprenant une première extrémité d'extension dans une direction sur un côté de la tour verticale et une seconde extrémité d'extension sur un côté opposé de la tour verticale ; et
    un complément de systèmes d'alimentation (36) destinés à être utilisés pour travailler sur ladite surface, lesdits systèmes étant fournis sur ladite tour verticale.
  2. Dispositif selon la revendication 1, comprenant une passerelle d'opérateur (48) placée sur ledit chariot horizontal (34).
  3. Dispositif selon la revendication 2, dans lequel :
    ledit chariot horizontal (34) est généralement rectangulaire en plan, et ladite passerelle d'opérateur (48) s'étend autour des quatre côtés du périmètre extérieur dudit chariot horizontal (34).
  4. Dispositif selon la revendication 3, dans lequel :
    au moins un côté du périmètre extérieur dudit chariot horizontal est équipé d'un ensemble respectif de rails horizontaux (68) s'étendant le long du côté respectif ; et
    le dispositif comprend une machine destinée à réaliser un travail (70, 76) commandée à distance montée sur ledit ensemble de rails et disposée en vue d'une propulsion motorisée le long de l'ensemble de rails alors qu'elle est en train de travailler sur ladite surface ; ladite machine destinée à travailler comprenant un applicateur d'un abrasif de décapage (70) et un pulvérisateur d'enduit (76).
  5. Dispositif selon la revendication 4, dans lequel :
    un ensemble desdits rails (68) est fourni sur chacun desdits côtés dudit périmètre extérieur dudit chariot horizontal (34).
  6. Dispositif selon la revendication 4 ou 5, dans lequel :
    au moins un dit applicateur destiné à réaliser le travail est un applicateur d'abrasif de décapage (70) adapté pour propulser de manière centrifuge une grenaille d'acier, et pour recueillir la grenaille de rebondissement, et la matière délogée dans un logement en vue d'une classification et d'une réutilisation d'au moins une certaine quantité de la grenaille d'acier.
  7. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel ledit chariot horizontal est généralement rectangulaire en plan ; et au moins un côté dudit périmètre extérieur dudit chariot horizontal est pourvu d'un ou de plusieurs rails s'étendant le long du côté respectif ; et le dispositif comprend une machine destinée à réaliser un travail pouvant être commandée à distance montée sur ledit rail ou lesdits rails et disposée en vue d'une propulsion motorisée le long du rail ou des rails alors qu'elle est en train de travailler sur ladite surface.
  8. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit dispositif est un dispositif indépendant et ladite structure d'appui (30) pouvant être déplacée soutenant la base de la tour est disposée en vue de placer la tour à proximité de chacun des quatre angles où les paires respectives de parois latérales (16, 18, 20) de la cale se rencontrent l'une l'autre.
  9. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel :
    ladite tour verticale (28) est modulaire, comprenant au moins un module inférieur et un module supérieur, qui sont reliés en piles de manière à pouvoir être mis hors de liaison, et
    ledit dispositif comprend deux sections (38, 40), dont l'une comprend ledit module inférieur, ladite base et lesdits systèmes, et dont l'autre comprend ledit module supérieur et lesdits chariots verticaux et horizontaux.
  10. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel :
    ladite structure d'appui pouvant être déplacée est constituée de balanciers (30).
  11. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit complément des systèmes d'alimentation (30) comprend :
    un appareil (52) destiné à fournir de l'air respirable audit opérateur ou auxdits opérateurs.
  12. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel ledit complément des systèmes d'alimentation comprend :
    un appareil (70) destiné à fournir un équipement de projection d'abrasif de décapage.
  13. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel le dit complément des systèmes d'alimentation comprend :
    un appareil (76) destiné à fournir un équipement de pulvérisation d'enduit.
  14. Dispositif selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, comprenant en outre :
    un conduit de ventilation (54) soutenu par ladite tour verticale (18) ; ledit conduit de ventilation ayant une entrée d'air (56) placée à une extrémité supérieure de celui-ci, et une sortie d'air (60) placée à une extrémité inférieure de celui-ci ;
    un filtre associé au conduit de ventilation destiné à filtrer l'air aspiré dans le conduit de ventilation ; et
    un ventilateur (62) interposé dans ledit conduit destiné à amener l'air à être aspiré dans ledit conduit à travers ladite entrée d'air et à être expulsé dans la cale à travers ladite sortie.
  15. Dispositif selon la revendication 14, dans lequel :
    ledit conduit comprend une partie d'extrémité supérieure décalée latéralement qui s'étend au-dessus de ladite tour verticale et peut être pivotée autour d'un axe vertical, en vue de placer ladite entrée au niveau de l'un quelconque d'une pluralité d'emplacements décalés latéralement à l'intérieur d'une enveloppe circulaire de mouvement et de disposition.
  16. Procédé pour effectuer un travail sur les surfaces de parois intérieures d'une cale d'un bateau de transport en vrac, comprenant :
    (a) une descente dans la cale d'un dispositif indépendant de manière à ce qu'il soit soutenu sur le pont de la cale, lequel dispositif comprend :
    un cadre présentant une tour verticale (28) possédant une base ;
    une structure d'appui (30) pouvant être déplacée soutenant la base de la tour et disposée en vue de déplacer la tour (28) à peu près dans chacune de deux directions horizontales mutuellement orthogonales sur un pont sensiblement horizontal (14) de la cale, en vue de placer la tour à proximité de chacun des quatre angles où les paires respectives des parois latérales de la cale se rencontrent l'une l'autre ;
    un chariot vertical (32) monté sur la tour verticale (28) et pouvant être déplacé verticalement dessus pour accepter et maintenir chacune d'une pluralité d'élévations verticales sélectionnées ;
    un chariot horizontal (34) monté sur le chariot vertical et pouvant être déplacé dessus horizontalement de manière bidirectionnelle pour accepter et maintenir chacune d'une pluralité de positions horizontales sélectionnées par rapport à la tour verticale, comprenant une première extrémité d'extension dans une direction sur un côté de la tour verticale et une seconde extrémité d'extension sur un côté opposé de la tour verticale ;
    un complément de systèmes d'alimentation (36) destinés à être utilisés pour travailler sur ladite surface, lesdits systèmes étant fournis sur ladite tour verticale ; et
    une passerelle d'opérateur (48) placée sur ledit chariot horizontal (34) ;
    (b) depuis la passerelle (48), avec le dispositif situé dans un premier emplacement sur ledit pont, la réalisation du travail sur les surfaces intérieures de deux parois latérales de ladite cale qui se rencontrent au niveau d'un premier angle, en utilisant les fournitures fournies par lesdits systèmes ;
    (c) déplacer ledit dispositif vers un second emplacement sur ledit pont, en actionnant ladite structure d'appui (30) pouvant être déplacée ;
    (d) depuis la passerelle, avec le dispositif situé dans ledit second emplacement sur ledit pont, la réalisation du travail sur les surfaces intérieures de deux parois latérales (16, 18, 20) de ladite cale qui se rencontrent au niveau d'un deuxième angle, en utilisant les fournitures fournies par lesdits systèmes ; et
    (e) soulever ledit dispositif de ladite cale ;
  17. Procédé selon la revendication 16, comprenant en outre :
    (f) la répétition des étapes (c) et (d) deux fois de plus, respectivement pour déplacer le dispositif à un troisième et un quatrième emplacement et travailler sur les surfaces intérieures (24) de deux parois latérales (16, 18, 20) de la cale (12) qui se rencontrent respectivement au niveau d'un troisième et d'un quatrième angle, avant la réalisation de l'étape (e).
  18. Procédé selon la revendication 17, dans lequel :
    ledit travail comprend au moins une desdites surfaces de nettoyage et d'enduction (24).
  19. Procédé selon la revendication 18, comprenant :
    la réalisation des étapes (1)-(d) et (f) deux fois successivement, une fois pour le nettoyage et une deuxième fois pour l'enduction, avant la réalisation de l'étape (e).
  20. Procédé selon la revendication 18 ou 19, dans lequel :
    ladite enduction comprend la projection d'abrasif de décapage et ladite enduction comprend la pulvérisation avec une matière d'enduction.
EP98305306A 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Dispositif et méthode pour travailler les surfaces intérieures des cales d'un bateau Expired - Lifetime EP0968914B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (11)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002242128A CA2242128A1 (fr) 1998-06-29 1998-06-29 Dispositif autonome pour nettoyer et revetir les surfaces de la cale d'un vraquier
NZ330849A NZ330849A (en) 1998-06-29 1998-07-01 Apparatus for blast cleaning and painting the inside of holds of ships using tower with movable feet and vertically and horizontally movable platforms
AU74065/98A AU759626B2 (en) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Self contained device for cleaning and coating hold surfaces in a bulk carrier
DE69814603T DE69814603T2 (de) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Gerät und Verfahren zum Bearbeiten von Innenoberflächen eines Schiffsladeraumes
EP98305306A EP0968914B1 (fr) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Dispositif et méthode pour travailler les surfaces intérieures des cales d'un bateau
DK98305306T DK0968914T3 (da) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Apparat og fremgangsmåde til at bearbejde indvendige overflader af et fartøjs lastrum
PT98305306T PT968914E (pt) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Dispositivo e metodo para aplicar trabalho a superficies internas de um porao de navio
ES98305306T ES2199411T3 (es) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Dispositivo y metodo para aplicar trabajo a superficies internas de una bodega de barco.
SG9801591A SG65082A1 (en) 1998-06-29 1998-07-04 Self-contained device for cleaning and coating hold surfaces in a bulk carrier
KR1019980028079A KR20000008320A (ko) 1998-06-29 1998-07-13 벌크 화물선내의 선창 표면 세척 및 코팅용내장장치
JP10200969A JP2000038196A (ja) 1998-06-29 1998-07-15 貨物船の船倉壁面を清掃し、コーティングを行なうための船内装置

Applications Claiming Priority (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002242128A CA2242128A1 (fr) 1998-06-29 1998-06-29 Dispositif autonome pour nettoyer et revetir les surfaces de la cale d'un vraquier
NZ330849A NZ330849A (en) 1998-06-29 1998-07-01 Apparatus for blast cleaning and painting the inside of holds of ships using tower with movable feet and vertically and horizontally movable platforms
AU74065/98A AU759626B2 (en) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Self contained device for cleaning and coating hold surfaces in a bulk carrier
EP98305306A EP0968914B1 (fr) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Dispositif et méthode pour travailler les surfaces intérieures des cales d'un bateau
SG9801591A SG65082A1 (en) 1998-06-29 1998-07-04 Self-contained device for cleaning and coating hold surfaces in a bulk carrier
KR1019980028079A KR20000008320A (ko) 1998-06-29 1998-07-13 벌크 화물선내의 선창 표면 세척 및 코팅용내장장치
JP10200969A JP2000038196A (ja) 1998-06-29 1998-07-15 貨物船の船倉壁面を清掃し、コーティングを行なうための船内装置

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0968914A1 EP0968914A1 (fr) 2000-01-05
EP0968914B1 true EP0968914B1 (fr) 2003-05-14

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98305306A Expired - Lifetime EP0968914B1 (fr) 1998-06-29 1998-07-03 Dispositif et méthode pour travailler les surfaces intérieures des cales d'un bateau

Country Status (11)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0968914B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2000038196A (fr)
KR (1) KR20000008320A (fr)
AU (1) AU759626B2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2242128A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69814603T2 (fr)
DK (1) DK0968914T3 (fr)
ES (1) ES2199411T3 (fr)
NZ (1) NZ330849A (fr)
PT (1) PT968914E (fr)
SG (1) SG65082A1 (fr)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK0968914T3 (da) 2003-09-15
EP0968914A1 (fr) 2000-01-05
SG65082A1 (en) 2001-03-20
DE69814603D1 (de) 2003-06-18
JP2000038196A (ja) 2000-02-08
KR20000008320A (ko) 2000-02-07
CA2242128A1 (fr) 1999-12-29
DE69814603T2 (de) 2004-03-11
AU7406598A (en) 2000-01-20
PT968914E (pt) 2003-09-30
AU759626B2 (en) 2003-04-17
ES2199411T3 (es) 2004-02-16
NZ330849A (en) 2000-01-28

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