Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
  • B63B1/02—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement
  • B63B1/10—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls
  • B63B1/14—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls the hulls being interconnected resiliently or having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B7/00—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels
  • B63B7/02—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels comprising only rigid parts
• • 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
  • B63B27/36—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for floating cargo
• • 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
  • B63C1/00—Dry-docking of vessels or flying-boats
  • B63C1/02—Floating docks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
  • B63B1/02—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement
  • B63B1/10—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls
  • B63B1/14—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls the hulls being interconnected resiliently or having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration
  • B63B2001/145—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls the hulls being interconnected resiliently or having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration having means for actively varying hull shape or configuration
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B25/00—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby
  • B63B25/002—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for goods other than bulk goods
  • B63B25/006—Load-accommodating arrangements, e.g. stowing, trimming; Vessels characterised thereby for goods other than bulk goods for floating containers, barges or other floating cargo
• • 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
  • B63B27/14—Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for cargo or passengers of ramps, gangways or outboard ladders ; Pilot lifts
  • B63B27/143—Ramps
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/28—Barges or lighters
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/40—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting marine vessels
  • B63B35/42—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for for transporting marine vessels with adjustable draught

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a floating device of the type having a floating structure consisting of a platform ensuring the connection between two hulls, said hulls being pivotally articulated to the platform in order to be able to move in particular between at least two positions of predetermined buoyancy, one in which they are aligned with the plane of the platform, the other in which they extend substantially at right angles to said platform, these hulls being provided with ballasting / deballasting means and immobilization or locking means in each of their flotation positions.
• Such floating devices with variable geometry are known from the state of the art as illustrated in particular by patent FR-A-2,674,210 in which a hull of a boat with variable geometry is described which, depending on the conditions , to have a planing hull in order to optimize the boat's progress according to the state of the sea and the force of the wind and to have a variable draft.
• This boat hull is thus provided with a central part along the two longitudinal edges of which are articulated two lateral parts in the form of floats pivotally mounted and adjustable between a position in which they are positioned under the central part and a position in which they are located outside the central part.
• the displacement of these lateral floats requires the presence of extremely powerful hydraulic cylinders. As a result, such a solution is unsuitable for large-scale vehicles without having to have extremely efficient and therefore extremely expensive power hydraulics.
• ballast hulls are connected by means of arms to a connecting platform.
• the ballast arms and hulls are articulated to the connection platform and are controlled in movement by means of a gear system. Again, this results in the need to have powerful control members to cause such a pivoting movement on large machines.
• An object of the present invention is therefore to propose a floating device whose design makes it possible to dispense with a high-power member for the pivoting movement of the hulls by essentially using the hydrostatic forces present.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating device whose design makes it possible to have at least three flotation positions each corresponding to a particular function of said device in order to make the latter versatile.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating device whose design makes it possible to move from one flotation position to another in an extremely short time, including in the absence of powerful energy sources and / or d '' powerful controls.
• FIGS. 1 to 13 represent schematic views of the machine in different configurations during the passage of the craft from a catamaran configuration to the barge configuration ( Figures 1 to 6), and from the barge configuration to the floating dock configuration ( Figures 7 to 13);
• FIG. 14 represents a% front view of a machine according to the invention in a catamaran configuration;
• FIG. 15 represents a% front view of this same machine in the barge position while
• FIG. 16 represents a% front view of this same machine in floating dock configuration;
• FIG. 17 represents a schematic% view before of the machine in catamaran configuration with the detail of the ballasting / deballasting means and
• FIG. 18 represents a detailed view of the hinge-type pivot connection between the shell and the connection platform.
• the floating object of the invention has a floating structure consisting of a platform 1 ensuring the connection between two shells 2.
• These shells are pivotally hinged to the platform in order to be able to move in particular between at least two flotation positions: one in which they are aligned with the plane of the platform, as illustrated in FIG. 15, the other in which they extend substantially at right angles to said platform, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 16.
• These shells 2 are provided with ballasting / deballasting means shown in 5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B in the figures.
• these ballasting means comprise at least one tank or ballast 5 arranged in the hull of the machine, a pump 6 to allow the emptying or filling of such tanks and a three-way valve 7 to which two pipes 8A are connected , 8B forming water intakes, these pipes emerging at two opposite locations of the tank corresponding to a high point and to a low point of the tank when the shells extend substantially at right angles to the connection platform 1.
• the shells affect the shape of ailerons, the conduits 8A and 8B being positioned in the vicinity of each of the longitudinal edges of the aileron.
• These shells 2 are also provided with immobilization or locking means in at least two predetermined flotation positions.
• the hulls are connected to the connection platform 1 by a hinge-type pivot link 3 mechanically lockable in each of the floating positions of said hulls.
• the detail of this hinge 3 is shown in Figure 18.
• the locking means in this case consist of axes 11 of locking integral with a hinge element 3A itself coupled for example to the platform 1 while the other hinge element 3B coupled to the shell 2 comprises a housing intended to receive the locking pin 11.
• the hinge element 3A coupled to the platform 1 has two locking pins 11 while the hinge element 3B coupled to the shell 2 has two housings each intended for receive a locking pin 11.
• the hinge 3 is locked in a position in which the hull 2 extends perpendicular to the platform 1 and below the latter, this position corresponding to a catamaran position of the which will be described in more detail below.
• the position occupied by the hull is a position of alignment with the platform corresponding to a configuration of the craft known as a barge type configuration.
• the locking pin shown most above in Figure 18, comes into the housing of the lowest part of the hinge element 3B, the hinge is then locked in a position of the shell 2 corresponding to a so-called floating dock configuration of the machine.
• the platform 1 for connecting the machine is a floating element.
• the hulls 2, which are provided with ballasting / deballasting means by pumping as described above, are moved from one flotation position to another at least by the ballasting / deballasting means of the hulls cooperating with the means immobilization of the latter.
• Ballasting / deballasting means and immobilization means are thus controlled in operation from a central unit 4 controlling, in a succession of predetermined sequences, said means simultaneously and / or alternately in order to cause the hulls to pivot essentially. under the effect of the hydrostatic forces present.
• this central unit 4 controls on the one hand the ballasting / deballasting means, on the other hand the actuation of the means for immobilizing the hulls locking the hull-platform connection in each flotation position to be taken by the hulls. Thanks to the succession of predetermined sequences of the ballasting / deballasting operations of the hulls and the locking operations of the hull-platform connection, this results in an automatic pivoting movement of the hulls to bring them from one position to another. To allow compliance with this succession of predetermined sequences, the machine also comprises means capable of providing information relating to the relative position of the hulls and of the connection platform and / or to the water level in the tanks. of ballast of the machine.
• the machine comprises, on the one hand, means for detecting the relative position of the hulls and the connection platform consisting of force and position sensors of the device type.
• steering gear positioned on the hinge-type joint 3 between shell 2 and connection platform 1, on the other hand means for detecting the water level in the ballast tanks 5, these level detection means d water preferably operating by ultrasound, all of these detection means transmitting, preferably in real time and continuously, their signals to the central control unit 4 which, from the signals received, is capable of controlling in operation on the one hand the ballasting / deballasting means, on the other hand the means for immobilizing the hulls.
• the connecting platform 1 is a floating element equipped with ballasting / deballasting means 9, 10. Again, these means consist of tanks 9 capable of being filled or emptied by means of pumps 10. All of these ballasting means are connected to the central control unit 4 preferably positioned on the platform. form 1 of connection at the level of the wheelhouse 12 of the machine, this wheelhouse 12 being located at the rear of the platform 1. It can also be provided, in the vicinity of this wheelhouse 12, a chimney 13 as well as a walkway 14. The platform 1 can also be equipped with a liftable access ramp shown at 15 in the figures.
• the machine comprises at least three flotation positions, one known as a barge configuration in which the hulls 2 are aligned with the plane of the connection platform 1, the other two positions, respectively said in catamaran configuration and in floating dock configuration respectively corresponding to positions in which the hulls 2 extend substantially at right angles to the connecting platform 1 and are positioned extending either below of platform 1 (catamaran configuration), or above said platform 1 so as to form a floating dock type device.
• the passage from one configuration to another is more particularly described in FIGS. 1 to 13.
• the sequences for the passage from the position in the catamaran configuration to the position in the barge configuration comprise a ballasting sequence for the hulls 2 kept locked with a view to causing a lowering of the connecting platform 1 to the water level followed by a sequence for unlocking the hulls 2 associated with a sequence for deballasting the hulls 2 with a view to causing a pivoting movement of the shells up to a position in which the shells 2 are aligned with the connection platform 1 and locked in said position.
• the ballast tanks 5 of the hulls 2 and of the platform 1 are empty and the hulls 2 are locked in a position in which they extend substantially. at right angles and below the connecting platform.
• the hulls are ballasted in order to allow the lowering of the connecting platform 1 to the position in which it reaches the water level in order to be able to float.
• the hulls 2 are then unlocked and a gradual deballasting of the hulls 2 is engaged.
• the shells 2 then tend to rise horizontally.
• an angular sensor positioned at the hinges 3 detects a predetermined value corresponding to an alignment of the hulls with the platform, it is considered that the hulls 2 occupy a horizontal position and the control by the central unit 4 of the organs 11 hinge locking 3 is then performed to ensure a new locking hulls.
• connection platform 1 is also equipped with ballast tanks 9, some of these tanks are filled to give the whole of the machine a plate rear able to reduce the front draft.
• ballast tanks 9 some of these tanks are filled to give the whole of the machine a plate rear able to reduce the front draft.
• the same succession of sequences is carried out in reverse order.
• the connection platform 1 is equipped with ballast tanks and has greater buoyancy than the hulls, the hulls cannot be found horizontally and it is then necessary to ballast the platform in order to '' bring the two shells into alignment and thus be able to lock the hinges.
• the ballasting / deballasting sequences for the passage from the position in barge configuration to the floating dock position comprise at least one ballasting sequence of the connecting platform 1 in order to cause the latter to be immersed in parallel with the unlocking of the said platforms.
• FIGS. 7 to 13 represent the different sequences.
• the machine is in the barge configuration, configuration in which the hulls are locked and the tanks of the hulls and of the platform are emptied.
• FIG. 8 represents the ballasting step of the hulls and / or of the platform to obtain a zero moment on the hinge.
• the hulls are then unlocked as illustrated in FIG. 9 to allow said hulls to rise. In parallel, these hulls are deballasted while the ballasting operation of the connection platform is engaged.
• the hulls continue to rise, as illustrated in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 to a position in which the hulls occupy a position substantially perpendicular to the connection platform and extend above this last. In this position, the shells must be locked again.
• the hull tanks can be filled as shown in Figure 12 to allow the loading of a ship. Then, again, we deballast the hulls and the platform to allow the platform to rise to the desired level.
• all of these sequences can be performed automatically thanks to the central unit 4 which is able to pass from one sequence to another thanks to the means for detecting the relative position of the hulls and the platform. form and means for detecting the water levels in the various reservoirs. Means may also be provided to assist in controlling the movement of the shells.
• These assistance means are active when the hulls 2 occupy a position close to the predetermined flotation position in which they are immobilized by actuation of the immobilization means locking the connection between the shell and the connection platform.
• These means of assistance can take various and varied forms. Their purpose is simply to refine the position of the hulls at the end of the race in the vicinity of the predetermined buoyancy position to be occupied by the hull with respect to the connection platform.
• propulsion means is also known as the hulls 2 incorporate these means of propulsion of the machine, these propulsion means preferably being constituted by water propellants whose water supply intakes are arranged on the internal faces opposite the hulls in configuration catamaran of the craft.
• an electric motor on the one hand a water jet propellant, electric motor and water jet propellant being connected to a generator allowing the electric supply of the motor .
• This generator set is preferably positioned on the connection platform.
• the pumps 6 of the ballast / deballasting means of the hulls 2 are supplied from the generators used to supply the propulsion means of the machine.
• the generator sets which are used for carrying out the ballasting / deballasting operations of the hulls can also be used for propelling the machine insofar as the ballasting / deballasting operations are carried out at zero speed and thus operate in a manner alternated with means of propulsion of the machine.
• such a craft is capable of fulfilling several functions, namely a barge function, a craft function capable of sailing at high speed in a catamaran configuration and a craft suitable for use as a floating dock for the maintenance or repair of other vessels.
• This versatility can be obtained in the absence of impressive hydraulic power, thanks to the optimal use of the hydrostatic forces present.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Underground Or Underwater Handling Of Building Materials (AREA)
• Cleaning Or Clearing Of The Surface Of Open Water (AREA)
• Fire-Extinguishing By Fire Departments, And Fire-Extinguishing Equipment And Control Thereof (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Preparation Of Compounds By Using Micro-Organisms (AREA)

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• 2003
  • 2003-10-24 FR FR0312447A patent/FR2861363B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2004
  • 2004-10-20 EP EP04805243A patent/EP1685021B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-20 WO PCT/FR2004/002679 patent/WO2005047096A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-10-20 DE DE602004007290T patent/DE602004007290D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-10-20 AT AT04805243T patent/ATE365670T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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