EP2015984B1

EP2015984B1 - Winch for handling loads on ships, crafts, boats, pontoons, platforms and similar in particular for lifeboats or other loads

Info

Publication number: EP2015984B1
Application number: EP06745308A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gianfranco Lucignani; Roberto Scolaro; Fabio Raffo
Original assignee: Navalimpianti SpA
Current assignee: Navalimpianti SpA
Priority date: 2006-04-28
Filing date: 2006-04-28
Publication date: 2011-01-19
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-28
Also published as: WO2007125549A1; EP2015984A1; ATE495970T1; DE602006019780D1

Abstract

Winch for handling loads on boats, ships, pontoons, platforms and similar in particular though not exclusively for lifeboats, where the winch includes a fluid dynamic operating system associated with a container (S) and respective operative piping circuit (C) to command and control by means of a pump (3), a winch drum (TV), the cable of which in winding/unwinding, a load (P) is hung, preferably a lifeboat or other suitable load, characterised in that it includes a gradual intervention device for the control of the braking speed in descent of the load which includes: a) a speed and braking control lever (1) involving two leverages: - a first leverage (7) operating axially on a spring delaying device (6), operating by means of a transmission rod (5) on respective slider (4) of speed regulation valve (VRV) with entry fluid (11) from the said pump (3) and exit (12) towards said container (S), said pump (3) being connected to said winch drum (TV), and - a second leverage (LFS) connected to a static brake device (2), in its turn connected to the rotation control of said winch drum (TV), b) said speed and braking control lever (1) being able to be moved such as to interactively operate, by fluid dynamic braking, with said first leverage (7) and said speed regulation valve (VRV) and with static braking by said static brake device (2), in such a way that one and the other are able to function simultaneously and one can be a safety means of the other.

Description

Technical Field

This invention is related to a winch for handling loads on ships, floats, crafts, pontoons, platforms and similar, in particular for lifeboats with a gradual intervention device for the control of the speed and braking, the characteristics of which confirm to the precharacterizing part of the main claim. The ship, pontoon, boat, craft or platform equipped with at least one said winch also forms part of this invention.

Domain

The domain is substantially directed to winches and cranes and in particular to the braking systems for winches of lifeboats and similar on ships, boats, crafts, pontoons, platforms and similar, therewith meaning on any suitable support in the sea.

Background art and respective problems to be solved

It is known that in the current state of the art, winches for the lifting and lowering of loads, in particular lifeboats and similar loads in which the operativeness must be controlled, are complex, expensive and not always reliable. Moreover, it is very important to control the speed of descent, particularly for lifeboats in difficult conditions.
Finally, it is also important to have the use of braking systems which are reliable and safe as well as easily able to be graduated.
In fact, it is well known that descents which are too fast and grinding halts can endanger the safety of users, like for example, the lifeboat could touch the water at a speed higher than that allowed with all the consequences that could derive from this, and this in calm seas but worse still in rough seas.
Naturally, this is without considering possible harm to passengers.
GB1345124A (SCHAT DAVITS LTD) discloses in a winch apparatus, a first leverage and a second leverage connected to a static brake device, in its turn connected to a rotation control of the winch drum, said speed and braking control lever being able to be moved such as to interactive operate said first and said second leverage for regualtion the speed of the drum and for static braking in such a way that one and the other are able to function simultaneously and one can be the safety means of the other.

Scope of the invention

The scope of the invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages and moreover, without more burdens and without reducing reliability:

improving the functionality and performance;
increasing the safety, reliability and manoeuvrability, in particular to allow a controlled graduation and variability of the speed.

Solution of the problem and identification of the inventive characteristics

The problem is solved with the characteristics of the main claim.
The sub-claims represent advantageous preferred solutions which supply the best performance.

Advantages

In this way there is the advantage of having:

better functionality and efficiency;
- better performance;
- better safety, reliability and manoeuvrability.

Description of the preferred solution

For a better understanding the invention is described in a preferred solution with the help of the attached figures, wherein:

Fig.1.- represents the schematic side view in elevation of the winch for lifeboats according to the present invention.
Fig.2.- represents the perspective schematic view of the structure and the hydraulic regulation valve of speed respectively from left to right, in its external view, in the view of its internal slider partially split of its internal chamber with a plurality of holes of different diameter and in its external view.

Fig.3.- represents the schematic view of the structure and functioning of the device for the position of maximum speed in descent, namely the lever (1) completely lifted.
Fig.4.- represents the view as in the previous Figure in the position of speed control and reduction.
Fig.5.- represents a view in further progression with respect to the two previous Figures in which the control lever is completely lowered to be brought in damping to the limit of stopping, as will be better explained subsequently in more detail.

Description

The system substantially includes a winch device which includes a winch drum (TV) with a cable which is wound and unwound to raise the load (P) like, for example, a lifeboat.
The system includes a hydraulic oil container (S) in which substantially three ducts draw:

forward and back oil circuit duct (C) with a positive displacement pump (3) driven by the descending load, controlled through a speed regulation valve (VRV) by means of two ducts (11,12), connected:
on one side to a regulation valve control rod (5) by means of a first speed control leverage (7) hinged near the speed and braking control lever (1) which therefore realizes a second kind of lever, which on lowering, lowers said leverage (7) with a spring delay device (6) which returns the motion to the control rod (5) of the speed regulation valve (VRV) by means of a slider (4) which is extended to control also a damper device (DA), which, by means of a dynamic braking time control device (SGTFD) transmits the hydraulic oil to a time regulation device (SRTFD) with discharge to said container (S) and
on the other side by means of a second modulation leverage of brake pressure (LFS) which operates a respective static brake device(2) connected in its turn to the axis of the winch drum (TV).

The above being clearly explained in Fig.1 where the weight force of the load (P), puts the winch drum (TV) in rotation, which pulls the positive displacement pump (3). Through the speed regulation valve (VRV), the passage gap of the fluid is varied, obtaining a fluid dynamic braking, the system being assisted however by the operated static brake (2).
In Fig.2 the speed regulation valve (VRV) is described with the respective two ducts (11,12) by means of movement of the slider (4) connected in an adjustable way to the valve control rod (5).
On varying the position of the slider (4) by means of the lever (1), delaying device (6) and valve control rod (5), the coincidences of holes of different diameter vary (FPL) in the hollow central part of the slider (4) and which put the entry and exit channels in communication (11,12). Varying therefore the rate of flow of the fluid.
The progressive lifting of the speed and braking control lever (1) glides the slider (4) of the speed regulation valve (VRV) moving on the passage of the fluid (FPL) of greater diameter, therefore for greater speed, vice-versa on the contrary.
The speed and braking control lever (1) simultaneously manages, as mentioned, also the static brake (2) by means of the static brake leverage (LFS), progressively releasing it.
By adjusting the reciprocal position of the slider (4) of the speed and braking regulation valve (VRV) and the respective leverage (LFS) of the static brake (2) the intervention combination of the two events can be varied.
In case of sudden release of the speed and braking control lever (1) there is the stopping of the load (P) on the basis of the intervention of the two brakes: static (2) and fluid dynamic (VRV); this stopping occurring with the latter by reducing the passage gap of the fluid and subsequently (in the final part of the braking before stopping) the damper device (DA) intervenes and by the throttling channel (9) and throttling regulation valve for damping (10) by means of extension of the slider (4) which provides the choke rod to conclude the manoeuvre in a progressive way The main objective of the system in question is avoiding that the aforementioned restriction of the passage gap (until complete closure) occurs in too short a time giving rise to a too hard braking of the load (P) and the consequent generation of force peaks (on cables, leverages etc... of the lifeboat or suspended load) and excessive pressure inside the hydraulic devices.
Moreover in the case of inefficiency of the static braking device (2), the fluid-mechanical device alone (VRV) is able to carry out the progressive stopping of the load safely.
To obtain this result it is necessary that, independently from the speed with which the operator lowers the lever (1), the fluid flow control slider (4) has a progressive control system of the closure.

Operating phases:

In figure 3 it is noted that the slider (4) of the speed regulation valve (VRV) and its seat have a shape such as to form a chamber full of fluid and it is seen moreover that during the first part of the stroke of the slider (4), the fluid of this chamber is free to flow down into the container through the channel (8).
In figure 4, the slider (4), during its movement, intercepted the channel (8) and the fluid in the chamber can no longer freely flow down but only through the appropriately throttled channel (9) by the throttling regulation valve (10).
In this way, pressure in the chamber is created, able to dampen the movement of the slider (4), thanks to the spring delaying device (6) fitted upstream and which releases the control level (1) by forcing even if completely lowered.
By varying the degree of opening of the damping regulation valve (10 Fig.3) it is possible therefore to obtain more or less brusque dynamic braking.
In figure 5 the fact can be appreciated that also by lowering the speed and braking control lever (1) completely, the slider (4) is free to accomplish the last part of the stroke pushed by the spring of the delaying element (6) and in the time imposed regulating the damping regulation valve (10 Fig.3), held compressed by the weight force of the lever; the damper and progressive effect is therefore guaranteed.
In this way, the braking of the load occurs by combining fluid dynamic braking and static braking, but in such a way that the load is stopped with static braking before completely closing the fluid passage gap.
If the static braking loses effectiveness, the control of the braking of the load is entirely supported by the fluid-dynamic device alone, which always operates in a progressive way.
Substantially starting from Fig. 1 at lever 1 completely lifted (maximum speed), imagining lowering it, there is the first part of the free stroke, in fact, the fluid can flow down through the channel (8), in the second part of the stroke (Fig.4) there is damping, in fact the fluid flows down through the throttled channel (9), moreover, by suddenly lowering the lever (1) the damper element (6) allows to lower it completely with the compression of the spring.
At lever completely lowered as per Fig.5, there is the static brake (2) inserted and the slider (4) not yet at the end of the stroke and the spring of the damper element (6) compressed by the weight force of the lever itself (1).

Claims

Winch for handling loads on boats, ships, pontoons, platforms and similar in particular though not exclusively for lifeboats, where the winch includes a fluid dynamic operating system associated with a container (S) and respective operative piping circuit (C) to command and control by means of a pump (3), a winch drum (TV), the cable of which in winding/unwinding, a load (P) is hung, preferably a lifeboat or other suitable load, and wherein said winch includes a first leverage and a second leverage connected to a static brake device, in its turn connected to a rotation control of the winch drum, said speed and braking control lever being able to be moved such as to interactive operate said first and said second leverage for regualtion the speed of the drum and for static braking in such a way that one and the other are able to function simultaneously and one can be the safety means of the other, characterised in that it includes a gradual intervention device for the control of the braking speed in descent of the load which includes:
a) a speed and braking control lever (1) involving two leverages:
- a. first leverage (7) operating axially on a spring delaying device (6), operating by means of a transmission rod (5) on respective slider (4) of speed regulation valve (VRV) with entry fluid (11) from the said pump (3) and exit (12) towards said container (S), said pump (3) being connected to said winch drum (TV), and

- a second leverage (LFS) connected to a static brake device (2), in its turn connected to the rotation control of said winch drum (TV),

b) said speed and braking control lever (1) being able to be moved such as to interactively operate, by fluid dynamic braking, with said first leverage (7) and said speed regulation valve (VRV) and with static braking by said static brake device (2), in such a way that one and the other are able to function simultaneously and one can be a safety means of the other.
Winch for handling loads according to claim 1, characterised in that said speed regulation valve (VRV) includes in the respective hollow slider (4) a plurality of fluid passage holes with various diameters of fluid passage (FPL) which are progressively brought in communication between said entry and exit (11,12) of the same valve (VRV) by the axial movement of said slider (4) varying therewith the respective rate of fluid between said entry and exit (11,12).
Winch for handling loads according to claim 2, characterised in that said slider (4) has a hollow chamber in said fluid passage holes (FPL) which, with the variation of the axial position of movement of said slider (4), allow the coincidence of a couple of said holes of different diameter (FPL) with the holes of said entry and exit (11,12), varying therewith the rate of the fluid for the respective variation of the section.
Winch for handling loads according to any of the previous claims, characterised in that it further comprises a damper device (DA) associated to a time control system (SGTFD) and a dynamic braking time regulation system (SRTFD) by means of an outflow channel. (8) and throttling channel (9) with respective throttling valve (10).
Winch for handling loads according to claim 4, characterised in that said damper device (DA) is axially associated to said speed regulation valve (VRV), operating with the rod in extension of said slider (4) with diameter reduction in the fluid chamber (CF) with said outflow channel (8) and throttling channel (9) with respective throttling valve (10), to vary the volume of fluid to be evacuated, since on complete lowering of said speed and braking control lever (1) said slider (4) progressively operates delayed, pushed independently by the spring device of said delaying device (6).
Ship involving at least one winch for handling loads having the characteristics according to any of the previous claims.
Boat involving at least one winch for handling loads having the characteristics according to any of the previous claims.
Craft involving at least one winch for handling loads having the characteristics according to any of the previous claims.
Pontoon involving at least one winch for handling loads having the characteristics according to any of the previous claims.
Platform involving at least one winch for handling loads having the characteristics according to any of the previous claims.