Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B23/00—Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like
  • B63B23/40—Use of lowering or hoisting gear
  • B63B23/48—Use of lowering or hoisting gear using winches for boat handling
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B23/00—Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like
  • B63B23/30—Devices for guiding boats to water surface
  • B63B23/34—Guiding means for lowering by cables, e.g. for listing ships
• • 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 
  • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a launch and retrieval system suitable for handling loads such as lifesaving equipment.
• the invention may be applied to lifesaving systems comprising lifeboats that are to be lowered to, and retrieved from, the surface of the sea from vessels or rigs and the like.
• the present invention relates to a launch and retrieval system for a lifesaving system.
• the system includes:
• an enclosure configured for at least partially accommodating a lifeboat or equivalent
• enclosure means, at least partially arranged inside the enclosure, configured for suspending a lifeboat or equivalent by means of one or more wires from an upper portion of the enclosure.
• the means is configured for hoisting and lowering a lifeboat or equivalent in or out of the enclosure.
• enclosure refers generally to all kinds of housings or encapsulations configured for accommodating means for lifesaving such as, but not limited to, lifeboats.
• the various types of lifeboats includes the type typically suspended from two falls connected to opposed ends of the boats, as well as free fall lifeboats.
• the encasements or enclosures may or may not form or constitute modular enclosures.
• the advantages rendered by stowing the lifeboats in enclosures are multifarious and are further disclosed e.g. in applicants WO 09153240 A.
• US 6,510,808 B discloses a rescue system including at a space operable to be completely closed from a surrounding environment for long-term occupation therein.
• a plurality of lifeboats may be arranged within an enclosure.
• the lifeboats may be boarded while present inside the enclosure, i.e. prior to deployment.
• the lifeboats may be lowered to the surface of the sea out underneath the enclosure.
• WO 0 702 885 1 A1 discloses an abandon station for a maritime unit.
• the abandon station is isolated from the surroundings by an enclosure.
• a lifeboat may be arranged within the enclosure, and the lifeboat is operable to be occupied while inside the enclosure prior to de- ployment.
• the lifeboat may be lowered to the surface of the sea out underneath the enclosure.
• WO 1 009 212 7 A discloses a launch and retrieval device for handling means for lifesaving to be lowered to the surface of the sea from inside of an encasement.
• the device inter alia comprises a winch comprising a drum, one or more pulleys and a structure accommodating the winch and one or more pulleys.
• the structure further comprises coupling means adapted to provide a releasable connection between the structure and an interior part of an encasement adapted to accommodate means for lifesaving.
• WO 0 915 324 0 A discloses a lifesaving system for rescuing crew on board ships or rigs and the like.
• the system includes a lifeboat and an encasement adapted to accommodate the lifeboat.
• the encasement including the lifeboat form part of a modular system allowing maintenance to be carried out on modules not arranged on the ship or rig.
• any disturbance could constitute any shift of internal loads within a lifeboat, e.g. occupants moving around within a lifeboat, or disturbances or impacts rendered by the systems surrounding environment, e.g. motion of the ship or rig, waves, or wind etc.
• a lifeboat or equivalent is positioned in any position in between its upper and stowed position inside an enclosure and a position below the enclosure, any transverse or lateral swing or movement may cause the lifeboat or equivalent to bump into surrounding structures such as the internals of the enclosure or the lower edges of the enclosure.
• Lifeboats and its surrounding equipment are delicate equipment, and therefore any impact or even gentle contact with surrounding structures may damage the equipment potentially rendering the equipment unusable.
• the present invention seeks to overcome the above drawbacks of today's launch and retrieval systems.
• prior art has failed to teach a simple and yet reliable and inexpensive launch and retrieval system which in a safe and reliable manner, without substantially increasing the weight and/or particulars of the system, provide a reliable and durable launch and retrieval system minimizing any risk of injuries to crew as well as damages to the equipment resulting from swinging of the lifesaving equipment.
• an improved launch and retrieval system as per the introductory part of this specification, and in particular upon providing the launch and retrieval system with means preventing a life- boat or equivalent from swinging freely in positions in-between an uppermost and stowed position and a lowermost position wherein a lifeboat of equivalent at least partially is positioned outside the enclosure, a launch and retrieval system eliminating the abovementioned drawback of the prior art launch and retrieval systems is provided.
• the means preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely in positions in-between an uppermost and stowed position and a lowermost position may constitute a movable follower or a guide configured for reducing the arm of pendulum defined by the suspended lifeboat and its point of pivot.
• the guide means may constitute a vertically displaceable guide configured to maintain a pendulum arm defined by the lifeboat suspended from the one or more wires and its point of pivot essentially unchanged during the lifeboats descent or ascent inside, or partially in- side, the enclosure.
• the means preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely may constitute a movable follower provided with a wire guide.
• the follower and the wire guide may be configured for at least partially following, relatively or not, a connection point between a lifeboat or equivalent and the wire such that a pendulum arm defined by a suspended lifeboat or equivalent and its point of pivot about the wire guide is minimized.
• the wire guide may be provided with one or more rollers arranged to define an internal gap through which the suspending one or more wires are run.
• the rollers are beneficial if the lifeboat or equivalent is to be elevated over a substantial distance below the encasement.
• the means preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely may be configured to descend inside the enclosure together with a lifeboat or equivalent.
• the means may descend by means of gravity.
• the movable follower and the wire guide may be configured to be lowered through a bottom plane, defined by a lower periphery or edge of the enclosure, by means of an extendable and retractable guide.
• the system may be provided with two op- posed wires configured for suspending a lifeboat or equivalent from connec- tion means arranged forward and aft of a lifeboat or equivalent as well as two opposed means preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely.
• the system may be configured for, in a stowed position of a lifeboat or equivalent, completely enclose a lifeboat or equivalent ' .
• the lifesaving system may further comprise a lifeboat.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the system according to the present invention wherein the means preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely is located in an upper position inside the enclosure.
• Figure 2 is another perspective view according to that of figure 1 .
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the system according to the present inven- tion wherein the means preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely is located in a lower position outside the enclosure.
• Figure 4 is another perspective view according to that of figure 3.
• Figures 5 - 20 are perspective views of a system according to the present invention.
• Figure 1 shows a part of a launch and retrieval system for a lifesaving system.
• the figure shows one end only of the launch and retrieval system.
• Numeral 10 refers to an enclosure which, again for illustrative purposes, throughout the figures is shown as a cage only.
• the enclosure 10 may constitute an at least partially closed box or equivalent having lower edges defining a bottom face 1 1 through which means for not shown lifesaving may be lowered through, inter alia by means of wires or falls 20.
• the top and side faces of the cage may be closed by panels or equivalent.
• the fall 20 interconnects coupling means 70 for coupling with, or attachment to, a lifeboat or equivalent and means 80 configured for hoisting and lowering the means for lifesaving.
• the means 80 may constitute an arrangement of motors, wire drums and pulleys or equivalent.
• the launch and retrieval system comprise means 50 preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely.
• the positions illustrated in the figures are positions in-between an uppermost and stowed position, as illustrated by figures 1 and 2, and a lowermost position, as illustrated by figures 3 and 4.
• the means 50 preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely may be obtained by various arrangements.
• the means 50 configured for preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely in positions below an uppermost and stowed position.
• the means 50 preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely constitute an assembly comprising inter alia a movable follower 51 configured to be guided vertically by a rail or guide 55.
• the rail or guide may in a simple form constitute an l-profile or equivalent.
• the follower 51 is provided with a wire guide 52 comprising rollers arranged to define an internal gap 54.
• the internal gap or space 54 is configured for guiding the fall 20 in-between the rollers through the wire guide 52 and the follower 51 .
• the follower 51 and the wire guide 52 are configured for following a connection point, or hook, between a lifeboat or equivalent and the wire 20 such that a pendulum arm defined by a suspended lifeboat or equivalent and said wire guide is minimized due to prevention of movement in planes lying normal or perpendicular to the orientation of the fall 20 extending through the gap or space 54.
• the means 50 i.e. inter alia the follower 51 and the wire guide 52, is according to the embodiment shown throughout the figures configured to descend inside and ultimately also outside, the enclosure 10 together with a not shown lifeboat or equivalent, by means of gravity.
• the follower 51 and the wire guide 52 is raised into the enclosure 10 by means of contact with coupling means 70 or equivalent, alternatively, the means for lifesaving.
• the launch and retrieval device may be provided with means controlling the position of the follower 51 and wire guide 52. Such means could constitute servos or even simple wire operated arrangements or equivalent.
• the movable follower 51 and the wire guide 52 may, as shown in figures 3 and 4 be configured to be lowered through a bottom plane 1 1 defined by a lower periphery or edge of the enclosure 10.
• the encasement 10 preferably shall be free of, in a stowed position, parts protruding through the bottom plane 1 1 , the means 50 preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely in positions in-between an uppermost and stowed position of a lifeboat or equivalent and a lowermost position
• the follower may be guided by telescopic guides allowing a portion of the guide rail to descend below the bottom face of the enclosure 10, i.e. the guide may constitute an extendable and retractable guide 55.
• the launch and retrieval system will typically by provided with two opposed wires or falls 20 configured for suspending a lifeboat or equivalent from connection means 70 arranged forward and aft of a lifeboat or equivalent as well as two opposed means 50 preventing a lifeboat or equivalent from swinging freely.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)
• Buildings Adapted To Withstand Abnormal External Influences (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46178552

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (9)

• 2012
  • 2012-05-30 WO PCT/EP2012/060121 patent/WO2012163957A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2012-05-30 SG SG2013088174A patent/SG195206A1/en unknown
  • 2012-05-30 CN CN201280027022.6A patent/CN103748005A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-05-30 EP EP12724335.0A patent/EP2714505A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-05-30 KR KR1020137034289A patent/KR20140033158A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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