EP1186528A1 - Submersible mooring device provided with own deflation means - Google Patents

Abstract

The mooring device comprises a mooring line, a body (31) able to be submerged or raised to the surface and a compressed air generator. The submersible body is provided with its own means of deflation. When it is filled with gas the body is raised to the surface. After a certain time lapse a valve opens and puts the body interior in contact with the outside air. The gas under the effect of forces exerted by the deflating means is expelled from the body through the compressed air conduit (33) and the valve but it is not put in the water previously. The opening of the valve can be controlled by a chronometer. The deflation means can consist of a longitudinal support (35) passing right through the body and on which the body is prestressed longitudinally.

Description

The invention relates to a wetting device comprising a mooring line fixed by appropriate means to a fixed point of mooring, a submersible body for facilitate the entry of the portion of the mooring line intended to be fixed to the boat, said submersible body that can be submerged or brought to the surface in response to a signal, a compressed gas generator, preferably compressed air, intended to fill said gas the submersible body to bring it up to the surface as well as means for remove the gas from the submersible body in order to cause the deep immersion of said submersible body, comprising a communication device which, when it is activated, communicates the interior of the submersible body with the outside air.

Conventional wetting devices generally consist of a chain fixed by one end to the bottom of the water for example to a concrete slab and by the other end either directly to a chest or to a mooring by means of a rope, rope connecting the chain to the mooring. The function of the chest or mooring is to indicate the position of the free end of the mooring chain and to facilitate reboarding. When a boat wants to moor on the chain indicated by a mooring, the crew grabs the mooring, brings it back on board and shoots the rope until the chain appears. This is then attached to the mooring bollard and the rope is struck for example around the mat. If the mooring is done on a trunk, it must be moored under the trunk with a chain attached to the boat and whose free end is meshed on the trunk chain.

We find these classic devices either individually to allow wetting in a cove for example, or in ports as a second mooring point when boats must moor perpendicular to the wharf or a pontoon.

These devices have many drawbacks. In the case of chests by example, the buoyancy of the float must be sufficient to pull the chain towards the surface whatever the level of the tide. In practice, it must correspond to twice the weight of chain suspended at high tide. This implies that the trunk has a large volume which can make docking maneuver difficult and its inertia can cause damage in the event of accidental collision. In addition, the chain is always in motion and wears out due to the friction of the meshes on each others even if no boat is moored there.

The mooring does not have this drawback since the chain rests on the melts when no boat is moored there. However, the rope that connects the end of the mooring chain must be long enough for the mooring to float even at high tide. In practice, we choose a length equal to one and a half times the maximum expected water height. The orin then risks being cut by a propeller.

Whether it is a trunk or a mooring, the float always remains on the surface of water when no boat is moored there. However, free space in marinas is more and more restricted. For example, when a boat wants to dock at a pontoon approach the pontoon in reverse, moor at the pontoon, then a member of the crew, placed at the front of the boat, grabbed the float using a boat hook to moor the bow of the boat to the mooring chain thus caught. This same float usually has hindered the approach maneuver.

In particularly crowded ports, where maneuvering possibilities are very small, we got around this problem by lengthening the mooring chain to ability to secure free end to pontoon or dock. When the boat is moored at quay or pontoon, the crew grabs this end and lifts the chain going up towards the front of the boat to be able to moor conventionally to this chain. However, this solution has the disadvantage of being inconvenient or even dangerous when weather conditions are unfavorable.

We know from document DE 34 32 868 A1 a mooring buoy with a float inflatable fixed to a mooring chain and connected by a pipe to a compressor placed on the quay. When no boat is moored on the mooring chain, the buoy is deflated and lies on the bottom of the water with the end of the chain. If a boat wish to moor on the buoy, a signal is emitted from the boat causing the setting compressor running and the inflation of the mooring buoy going back to the surface, carrying with it the end of the mooring chain to which it is fixed. The crew can then moor the boat in the conventional way. At the end of the operation, a second signal is sent to cause suction by the compressor of the contained air in the buoy. During the fitting, the deflated buoy is returned to the water and its buoyancy is no longer sufficient to pull the chain, it falls to the bottom of the water. grace with this device, it is possible to retract the float as long as it is not used. We avoid both premature wear of the chain by friction of the links on each other than a risk of shearing of the rope. However, this system presents the disadvantage of requiring either a compressor making it possible both to compress and to suck the gas into the float, a deflection device for connecting the pipe either on the inlet or on the outlet of a simple unidirectional pump. In all cases, the device is expensive and relatively fragile. In addition, a signal must be issued to cause deflation of the float and therefore remove the stresses that are exerted on him. If the crew forgets to issue this signal, the float may remain inflated for all the wetting, which can in the long run have a negative influence on its sealing and its lifespan. In addition, to prevent the pump from sucking too much water in the event of a leak of the system, it is necessary to provide it with a water detector to cause the shutdown of the pump.

A similar device is described in EP 0 502 219 A1. To inflate the float, we starts a compressor placed on the platform. When the float must descend, we stop the compressor and open a valve which puts the compressed air line connected to the float in contact with atmospheric pressure. Under the weight of the chain and hydrostatic pressure, the flexible submersible body tends to sink while driving the air towards the atmosphere. This repression may however in some cases not be enough fast, it is planned to use the compressor to suck the air contained in the pipe and in the submersible body. We find the disadvantages mentioned above.

Another solution is presented in US 3,899,990. A rigid rigid buoy is connected to a tanker mooring bar. The buoy has at least two valves allowing its internal cavity to come into contact with water. A gas pipe compressed to fill it with gas. When the buoy must go up, a valve located in the lower part of the buoy is open and the cavity is filled with gas. The water contained in the cavity is forced back through the lower valve by the incoming gas. In se filling with gas, the buoy rises to the surface by driving the mooring bar. When the buoy must be retracted, a second valve, located on the upper part buoy is open as well as the lower valve. Compressed gas can escape through the upper valve while water enters through the lower valve. By sizing correctly the valves it is possible to quickly retract the rigid buoy. However, these valves are subject to particularly ambient conditions aggressive making them easily inoperative: corrosion, algae, molluscs etc.

Finally, we know from US 3,382,514 a buoy intended to be dropped into the water where it must hold a measuring instrument on the surface for a predefined time that it does not sink into the water and disappears, either so as not to impede circulation or to prevent third parties from seizing a confidential device. The buoy consists of a balloon covered with a fabric cover. When the device comes into contact with water, a gas contained in a cartridge is released in the balloon which inflates and follows the shape of the cover. On the pipe connecting the gas bottle to the bladder, we placed an opening to put the inside of the ball in contact and the water. This opening is initially closed by a salt tablet which dissolves slowly in the water. When the salt tablet is completely dissolved, the pressure to the interior of the balloon disappears and it tends to regain its original shape by ejecting gas through the opening. The device is no longer supported by the balloon, it slowly disappears in the water. This balloon-based device is only intended for single use and it could not be transferred without significant modifications to a mooring buoy intended to repeat the ascent and descent into a harsh environment. To prevent the balloon from being punctured in particular by gaffs, crustaceans or the various roughness present on the bottom, it would be necessary that the cover is particularly resistant. In this case, the balloon could have difficulty swelling and the pressure of the gas to be applied should be all the more important. In addition, if water penetrated the fabric of the cover when the balloon deflates, it would be necessary during the next inflation to get the water out of the cover to allow the balloon to take all the volume necessary for the ascent to the area. In addition, the balloon should occupy the entire space located at inside the cover, it would not be possible to place the mooring ring on the top of the buoy because the support or chain could not cross the buoy occupied by the balloon.

The objective of the invention is therefore to develop a mooring device of the type of the one described in the preamble which allows rapid deflation without using the compressor while having sufficient stability to withstand harsh conditions an extended stay in the waters of a mooring area.

This objective is achieved by the device according to the invention in which the body submersible is provided with its own deflation means. The pressure force exerted by these deflation means causes the body to deflate, at least partially submersible from the opening of the means to let out the gas. If these means are actuated before the submersible body is put into the water, it will deflate by itself so that at the time of launching, the buoyancy will be insufficient and the body submersible will immediately fall to the bottom of the water. If the means to bring out the gases are activated when the submersible body is put into the water, it will deflate much faster than under the sole effect of hydrostatic pressure.

In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the means of deflation of the submersible body consists in particular of a longitudinal support passing through the submersible body right through and on which said submersible body is fixed prestressed in longitudinal extension. The mooring line is for example fixed at one end of the longitudinal support and a ring is placed on the other end to facilitate its seizure. It can also cross the longitudinal body and end in a ring whose diameter is greater than the dimensions of the longitudinal body. The body submersible generally has a spherical or oval shape. The longitudinal support passes by its axis of rotation. It is fixed on this longitudinal support beyond the positions it would have in normal inflated position. In the absence of overpressure, the submersible body thus prestressed tends to flatten along the longitudinal support causing the expulsion of the gas it contains.

In a second embodiment which can be complementary to the previous one, the means for deflating the submersible body consist of rods or elements elastics surrounding the submersible body on which they are placed in tension when the submersible body is under pressure. When the pressure disappears, these rods or these elastic elements tend to return to their original shape by straightening or shrinking, thereby causing gas to be expelled from the submersible body.

In a third embodiment of the invention, which can also be combined with one or two other embodiments, the means for deflating the submersible body notably consist of first and second rings placed at opposite of each other on the submersible body, to hold one or two ends mooring on the circumference of the submersible body, on both sides thereof. So, when the boat moored, the ends of two ends can be fixed to the first ring, which is preferably located in the lower part of the submersible body. The mooring ends are then passed in the second ring passing from hand and on the other side of the submersible body before being fixed on the boat. By avoiding, the boat pulls on the mooring ends which causes the submersible body to crush and the gas which it contains via the means to let out the gas.

Thanks to the own deflation means, it is no longer necessary to pump the gas contained in the submersible body at the risk of pumping water in case of rupture of the device; just let it escape. The compressed gas generator no longer has function than pressurizing a submersible body. This generator is preferably an air compressor and it forms with the submersible body a sealed unit at the water.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the setting device communication includes a valve which is preferably placed on the body submersible or on a pipe connecting the submersible body to the gas generator under pressure. We will choose for example an electromagnetic valve or a manual valve that the crew or a third person can operate.

In general, it is preferable to provide a non-return valve between the compressed gas generator and the communication device. So when the pressure necessary to maintain the surface of the submersible body is reached, the compressed gas generator can be turned off, the unit formed by the pipe and the body submersible being sealed by the non-return valve.

To prevent the overpressure applied to the submersible body and the pipe does not damage the installation, it is in accordance with the invention that the setting device communication is controlled by a time measurement instrument which emits a signal when a predetermined period of time has passed since admission into the body submersible gas under pressure for the ascent of said submersible body. said signal causes actuation of the communication device as soon as the time normally required for the approach maneuver is completed.

Figure 1

Corps submersible remplissant la fonction d'un corps-mort comme deuxième point d'amarrage sur un ponton, ayant la forme d'un ballon gonflable, en position haute ;

Figure 2

Corps submersible remplissant la fonction d'un corps-mort comme deuxième point d'amarrage sur un ponton, ayant la forme d'un ballon gonflable, en position basse ;

Figure 3

Corps submersible remplissant la fonction de coffre, ayant la forme d'un ballon gonflable précontraint longitudinalement, vu en coupe en position gonflée ;

Figure 4

Corps submersible remplissant la fonction de coffre, ayant la forme d'un ballon gonflable précontraint longitudinalement, en position dégonflée

Figure 5

Détail d'un mode de réalisation du générateur de gaz comprimé.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below using the following figures:

Figure 1

Submersible body performing the function of a dead body as a second mooring point on a pontoon, in the form of an inflatable balloon, in the high position;

Figure 2

Submersible body fulfilling the function of a dead body as a second mooring point on a pontoon, in the form of an inflatable balloon, in the low position;

Figure 3

Submersible body fulfilling the function of trunk, having the shape of an inflatable balloon prestressed longitudinally, seen in section in the inflated position;

Figure 4

Submersible body fulfilling the trunk function, in the form of an inflatable balloon prestressed longitudinally, in the deflated position

Figure 5

Detail of an embodiment of the compressed gas generator.

The mooring device in itself is known. An inflatable buoy (1, 31) is connected to a compressed air generator (2) (compressor) via a line (3, 33). Swollen, the buoy (1, 31) plays the role of mooring or trunk. A rope (5) connects it to the chain mooring (4) which is itself fixed to the bottom for example by a concrete pad (6). It is also possible to fix the buoy (31) directly to the mooring chain (34). The pipe (3, 33) is tightly fixed to the buoy (1, 31) so that water cannot enter neither the buoy (1, 31) nor the pipe (3, 33). When the buoy (1, 31) is swollen with air, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, it floats on the surface of the water from where it can be grabbed with a hook to get on board. We then access the mooring chain (4, 34), either directly or by pulling on the rope (5) in a conventional manner.

A valve (24), acting as a communication device, is placed in the compressor housing (21) on a branch of the line (3). We open the valve when the buoy needs to be deflated. Without proper deflation means, the buoy deflates under the combined effect of the weight of the rope (5) or the mooring chain (34), its own weight and the hydrostatic forces exerted by water. This deflation is then relatively slow and the buoy may be damaged if the boat leaves before its complete immersion. If the valve is opened before launching, the overpressure decreases but the buoy retains its general shape so that at the time of the apparatus and its launching it still has a significant buoyancy so do not immerse immediately.

To overcome this drawback, the submersible body according to the invention is provided with deflation means which, when the valve is opened, deflate important of the buoy, even if it is not submerged. These deflation means can take different forms which can be combined with each other.

A first solution consists in fixing the flexible buoy (31) on a support longitudinal (35) in an extended position along the main axis (for example the axis rotation if the buoy is spherical or oval). Thus the two ends (36, 37) of the buoy (31) through which the longitudinal support (35) is stretched outwards before being fixed. The normal position of the unconstrained buoy is shown in dashed in Figure 3. In the absence of pressure, the buoy (31), stretched longitudinally, tends to approach the longitudinal support by expelling the gas it contains as shown in Figure 4. When the gas is introduced, the pressure applied is greater than the extension tensions and the buoy inflates normally. The chain (34) or the rope can be fixed either at the lower end of the longitudinal support either cross it so that it is possible to moor directly on the top of the buoy (31). The compressed gas line (33) can be fixed, for example directly on the buoy as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It can also pass in the longitudinal support.

In a second variant, the buoy is surrounded by rods or elements elastic bands which are under tension when the buoy is inflated. So when driving is open, these elements in tension tend to find a less taut position in pressing on the wall of the buoy and causing it to deflate quickly.

In a third embodiment, in particular when the submersible body fulfills the trunk function, it is possible to fix two mooring ends on its ring lower, to bring them up each side of the submersible body towards the top of this one to pass them through the upper ring and fix them in a classic way to the boat. By avoiding, the boat pulls on the mooring ends which causes the crushing of the submersible body and expelling the air it contains via the open valve (24). The body submersible is therefore deflated and it will fall to the bottom of the water as soon as the chain is released mooring where it will eventually deflate.

To prevent the buoy from being subjected to mooring during all the time tensions, it is preferable that the valve (24) is controlled by a chronometer (23) whose start-up was triggered automatically at the start of pressurization buoy (1, 31). After a predetermined period of time, the stopwatch the opening of the valve (24). The inside of the buoy is therefore brought into contact with the air outside. The valve remains open until the next compressor start. Under the effect of the deflation means placed on the buoy (1, 31), the tensions due to the pressure decreases and the buoy tends to deflate at least partially. The duration life of the buoy (1, 31) and the pipe (3, 33) is thus greatly improved. The pressure is interrupted automatically after a certain period of time, there is no risk of the crew forgetting to relax the device. Furthermore, if the setting device pressure was triggered inadvertently, the buoy will submerge automatically after the preset time, freeing up the maneuvering area.

At the time of the fitting, the chain is returned to the water where it falls under the effect of its weight. Under the effect of the own deflation means, the residual air is expelled from the buoy (1, 31) in the pipe (3, 33) from which it escapes by the valve (24) much faster than under the combined effect of the weight of the buoy (1, 31) and slush (5) or chain (34) and hydrostatic water pressure. The reserve of buoyancy no longer being sufficient, the curled buoy falls to the bottom of the water, as shown in figure 2.

To prevent damage to the compressed gas line, it is preferably weighted. In ports where the free end of the mooring chain (4) is fixed at the pontoon, it is possible to fix the compressed air line (3) at this end of the chain (4). This is the solution chosen in Figures 1 and 2. Another solution consists in provide weights regularly distributed to force it to stay at the bottom of the water.

The triggering of the compressor (21) and the pressurization of the body submersible can be controlled manually or remotely controlled from the boat. A receiver (25), contained for example in the housing (2) of the compressor, receives the signal sent from the boat, closes the valve (24) and switches on the compressor (21) market.

A non-return valve (22) prevents gas from escaping from the system so that it it is possible to turn off the compressor (21) when a threshold pressure is reached or after a predefined period of time.

It does not matter how the mooring line is attached to the bottom of the water. It can be a concrete stud (6) as in the examples cited in this document, this can also be a transverse chain in a port or any other appropriate means.

The mooring device according to the invention allows the body to be deflated quickly submersible so that it quickly drops to the bottom of the water without using the compressor. By coupling the communication device to a time measurement, such as a stopwatch, that causes automatic decompression of the system after a certain period of time, we are sure that the system does not remain under pressure than the time required for the maneuver. These advantages allow significantly increase the life of the compressor as well as that of the body submersible and pipe.

List of references:

1

Submersible body

2

Compressor housing

3

Compressed gas line

4

Mooring chain

5

Orin

6

Concrete block

21

Compressor

22

Non-return valve

23

Stopwatch

24

Valve

25

Receiver

31

Submersible body

33

Compressed gas line

34

Mooring chain

35

Longitudinal support

36

End of the submersible body fixed on the longitudinal support

37

End of the submersible body fixed on the longitudinal support

Claims (9)

Anchoring device comprising a mooring line (4, 34) fixed by suitable means to a fixed mooring point (6), a flexible submersible body (1, 31) to facilitate gripping the portion of the mooring line (4, 34) intended to be fixed to the boat, said submersible body (1, 31) being able to be immersed or brought up to the surface in response to a signal, a compressed gas generator (21), preferably compressed air, intended to fill the submersible body (1, 31) with said gas in order to bring it up to the surface, means for removing the gas from the submersible body (1, 31) in order to bring about the deep immersion of said submersible body (1, 31), comprising a communication device (24) which, when activated, communicates the interior of the submersible body (1, 31) with the outside air characterized in that the submersible body (1, 31) is provided with own deflation means (35, 36, 37). Wetting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for deflating the submersible body consist in particular of a longitudinal support (35) passing through the submersible body (31) right through and on which said submersible body (31) is fixed prestressed in longitudinal extension. Wetting device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for deflating the submersible body (1, 31) consist in particular of rods or elastic elements surrounding the submersible body on which they are placed in tension when the submersible body is under pressure. Wetting device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for deflating the submersible body (1, 31) consist in particular of first and second rings placed opposite one another on the submersible body (1, 31), to maintain one or two mooring ends on the circumference of the submersible body (1, 31) on either side thereof. Wetting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device for communicating with the outside comprises a valve (24). Wetting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the valve (24) is placed on the submersible body (1, 31) or on a pipe (3, 33) connecting the submersible body (1, 31) to the gas generator under pressure (21). Wetting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the submersible body (1, 31) forms with the compressed gas generator (21) a watertight unit. Wetting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a non-return valve (22) is placed between the compressed gas generator (21) and the communication device (24). Wetting device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device (24) is controlled by a time measuring instrument (23) which emits a signal when a predetermined period of time has elapsed from the admission into the submersible body (1, 31) of the gas under pressure for the ascent of said submersible body (1, 31).

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