EP3822157A1

EP3822157A1 - A gangway with telescopic motion

Info

Publication number: EP3822157A1
Application number: EP20208083.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michele Grimaldi
Original assignee: Opacmare Srl
Current assignee: Opacmare Srl
Priority date: 2019-11-18
Filing date: 2020-11-17
Publication date: 2021-05-19
Anticipated expiration: 2040-11-17
Also published as: PL3822157T3; EP3822157B1; IT201900021489A1; ES2925886T3

Abstract

A gangway comprising a proximal gangway member (2) and a distal gangway member (3), a distal stanchion (22), and a distal stanchion control mechanism comprising a distal rod (23) hinged to the distal stanchion (22) and provided with a block (24), and a distal rod abutment (26) integral with the proximal gangway member (2). The extraction motion of the distal gangway member (3) comprises a first motion phase, in which the distal rod (26) is driven by the distal gangway member (3), and a second motion phase, in which the distal gangway member (3) moves relative to the distal rod (22) abutted against the distal rod abutment (26) and the distal stanchion is rotated from a lying position to an upright position. The distal stanchion (22) is at least partially tubular and is connected to an extensible elastic rope arranged in such a way that, in the lying position of the distal stanchion (22), excess rope is collected within the distal stanchion.

Description

The present invention relates in general to motorized telescopic gangways, which are used for example on boats.
Gangways of this kind generally comprise at least two gangway members, more specifically a proximal gangway member and a distal gangway member which is inserted into the proximal gangway member and slidable in a telescopic manner relative thereto, between a retracted terminal position and an extended terminal position.
In general, the gangways (telescopic or not) may be provided with so-called stanchions, i.e. support posts for ropes or cables that are used as a bearing or support aid for users.
These stanchions may be fixed, mounted on the gangways at the time of their use, or may be provided with systems for controlling their handling from a lying rest position to an upright use position.
WO 2013/042157 A1 describes a gangway comprising a mechanism for lifting a distal stanchion.
The object of the present invention is to provide a system for controlling the stanchions that is suitable for telescopic gangways.
The subject matter of the invention is therefore a gangway comprising
a proximal gangway member and a distal gangway member which is inserted into the proximal gangway member and slidable in a telescopic manner relative thereto, between a retracted terminal position and an extended terminal position,
a distal stanchion hinged at a distal end of the distal gangway member, and
a distal stanchion control mechanism comprising a distal rod having a distal end articulated to the distal stanchion and a proximal end provided with a block, and a distal rod abutment integral with the proximal gangway member and configured to be engaged by the block of the distal rod,
wherein the extension motion of the distal gangway member comprises a first motion phase, in which the distal rod is driven by the distal gangway member until the block of the distal rod is abutted against the distal rod abutment, and a second motion phase, in which the distal gangway member moves relative to the distal rod abutted against the distal rod abutment and the distal stanchion rotates from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the distal rod,
wherein said distal stanchion is at least partially tubular and is connected to an extensible elastic rope arranged in such a way that, in the lying position of the distal stanchion, excess rope is collected within the distal stanchion.
By means of the gangway according to the invention, it is possible to configure the geometry of the mechanism for controlling the distal stanchion in such a way as to minimize the extension of the final part of this motion when the stanchion rotates from the lying rest condition to the upright use condition, thus avoiding the risk of interference between the rotation of the stanchion and the extraction motion of the distal gangway member.
According to one embodiment, the gangway also comprises
a proximal stanchion hinged at a proximal end of the proximal gangway member,
a proximal stanchion control mechanism, comprising a proximal rod having a proximal end articulated to the proximal stanchion and a distal end provided with a block, and a proximal rod abutment integral with the distal gangway member and configured to engage the block of the proximal rod,
wherein the extraction motion of the distal gangway member comprises a first motion phase, in which the distal rod is driven by the distal gangway member until the block of the distal rod is abutted against the distal rod abutment and the proximal rod abutment is abutted against the block of the proximal rod, and a second motion phase, in which the distal gangway member moves relative to the distal rod abutted against the distal rod abutment and the distal stanchion is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the distal rod, while the distal gangway member drives the proximal rod by means of the proximal rod abutment and the proximal stanchion is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the proximal rod.
According to one embodiment, the proximal end of the proximal rod is hinged to a lever which is integral with the proximal stanchion and extends radially from the point at which the proximal stanchion is hinged to the proximal gangway member, and wherein the distal end of the distal rod is hinged to a lever which is integral with the distal stanchion and extends radially from the point at which the distal stanchion is hinged to the distal gangway member.
In particular, in the first motion phase the distal rod moves integrally with the distal gangway member.
According to one embodiment, the gangway also comprises
an intermediate stanchion hinged at a distal end of the proximal gangway member, and
an intermediate stanchion control mechanism comprising a lever integral with the intermediate stanchion, and a block integral with the distal gangway member and configured to engage the lever of the intermediate stanchion,
wherein in the second motion phase the stanchion rotates from a lying position to an upright position by the block of the distal gangway member pushing against the lever of the intermediate stanchion.
Further features and advantages of the gangway according to the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely for illustrative and nonlimiting purposes, in which:

Fig. 1 to 3 are perspective views of a gangway in three distinct positions, namely with the distal gangway member retracted, the distal gangway member almost completely extracted, and the distal gangway member completely extracted with upright stanchions;
Fig. 4a-4b are side elevation views, from the inside toward the outside, of the stanchions and of the relative control system in the position of the distal gangway member shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5a-5b are plan views of the stanchions and of the relative control system in the position of the distal gangway member shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 6a-6b are side elevation views, from the outside toward the inside, of the stanchions and of the relative control system in the position of the distal gangway member shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 7a-7c are side elevation views, from the inside toward the outside, of the stanchions and of the relative control system in the position of the distal gangway member shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 8a-8c are plan views of the stanchions and of the relative control system in the position of the distal gangway member shown in Fig. 2;
Fig. 9 is a side elevation view, from the inside toward the outside, of the stanchions and of the relative control system in the position of the distal gangway member shown in Fig. 3; and
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a central detail from Fig. 9.

With reference to Fig. 1-3, a telescopic gangway is shown, indicated as a whole by reference sign 1. This gangway may be installed on board a vehicle, in particular on board a boat.
The gangway 1 comprises a proximal gangway member 2 and a distal gangway member 3 which is inserted into the proximal gangway member 2 and slidable in a telescopic manner relative thereto, between a retracted terminal position shown in Fig. 1 and an extended or extracted terminal position shown in Fig. 3.
The proximal gangway member 3 may also be provided with its own motions, for example rotational motions. The proximal gangway member may itself be a member provided with telescopic movement with respect to a further member or accommodating seat, indicated by 4. In the example shown, the accommodating seat 4 is configured to be fixed to the structure of a boat. The handling of the gangway members is controlled by a control system and actuators in a manner which is known per se and not essential for the purposes of the invention.
The proximal gangway member 2 comprises a proximal end 2a and a distal end 2b. The distal gangway member 3 comprises a proximal end 3a and a distal end 3b. For the purposes of the present description, the terms "proximal" and "distal" refer to the sliding direction of the distal gangway member 3, corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the gangway. The term "proximal" means "closer" to the vehicle on which the gangway 1 is installed.
The gangway 1 also comprises a plurality of stanchions which are rotatable between a lying position (substantially parallel to the gangway 1) and an upright position (substantially orthogonal to the gangway 1).
In particular, the gangway 1 comprises a proximal stanchion 12 hinged at the proximal end 2a of the proximal gangway member 2.
With reference to Fig. 4-10, the proximal stanchion 12 is hinged to a support bracket 12a, at a hinge point x1. The bracket 12a is arranged inside the box-shaped structure of the proximal gangway member 2 and is fixed thereto. At the hinge axis x1, the proximal stanchion 12 is integral with a shaft which passes through a lateral wall of the proximal gangway member 2 and is supported by the bracket 12a. The proximal stanchion 12 is associated with a mechanism for controlling the proximal stanchion 12, which mechanism is arranged inside the proximal gangway member 2. In Fig. 4 to 10, the structure of the gangway is omitted so as to show the control mechanism of the stanchion 12, as well as the control mechanisms of the other stanchions which will be described below.
The proximal stanchion control mechanism comprises a proximal rod 13 having a proximal end 13a articulated to the proximal stanchion 12 and a distal end 13b provided with a block 14. More precisely, the proximal end 13a of the proximal rod 13 is hinged to a lever 15 which is integral with the proximal stanchion 12 and extends radially from the point x1 at which the proximal stanchion 12 is hinged to the proximal gangway member 2. This lever 15 forms a certain angle with the proximal stanchion 12. The hinge point between the proximal end 13a of the proximal rod 13 and the lever 15 is indicated by x2 in the figures. The distal end 13b of the proximal rod 13 is arranged inside the gangway 1 in a guided manner.
The proximal stanchion control mechanism also comprises a proximal rod abutment 16 which is integral with the distal gangway member 3 and configured to engage the block 14 of the proximal rod 13.
The gangway also comprises a distal stanchion 22 hinged at the distal end 3b of the distal gangway member 3.
With reference to Fig. 4-10, the distal stanchion 22 is hinged to a support bracket 22a, at a hinge point x3. The bracket 22a is arranged inside the box-shaped structure of the distal gangway member 3 and is fixed thereto. At the hinge axis x3, the distal stanchion 22 is integral with a shaft which passes through a lateral wall of the distal gangway member 3 and is supported by the bracket 22a. The distal stanchion 22 is associated with a mechanism for controlling the distal stanchion 22, which mechanism is arranged inside the distal gangway member 3. The proximal end 23b of the distal rod 23 is arranged inside the gangway 1 in a guided manner.
The distal stanchion control mechanism comprises a distal rod 23 having a distal end 23a articulated to the distal stanchion 22 and a proximal end 23b provided with a block 24. More precisely, the distal end 23a of the distal rod 23 is hinged to a lever 25 which is integral with the distal stanchion 22 and extends radially from the point x3 at which the distal stanchion 22 is hinged to the distal gangway member 3. This lever 25 forms a certain angle with the distal stanchion 22. The hinge point between the distal end 23a of the distal rod 23 and the lever 25 is indicated by x4 in the figures.
The distal stanchion control mechanism also comprises a distal rod abutment 26 which is integral with the proximal gangway member 2 and configured to be engaged by the block 24 of the distal rod 23.
The gangway also comprises an intermediate stanchion 32 hinged at the distal end 2b of the proximal gangway member 2.
With reference to Fig. 4-10, the intermediate stanchion 32 is hinged to a lateral wall of the proximal gangway member 2, at a hinge point x5 (shown in Fig. 10). The intermediate stanchion 32 is associated with a mechanism for controlling the intermediate stanchion 32, which mechanism is arranged inside the proximal gangway member 2.
The intermediate stanchion control mechanism comprises a lever 33 which is integral with the intermediate stanchion 32 and extends radially from the hinge point x5. The lever 33 forms a certain angle with the intermediate stanchion 32. The stanchion control mechanism also comprises a block 34 which is integral with the distal gangway member 3 and configured to engage the lever 33 of the intermediate stanchion 32.
The stanchions 12, 22, 32 are connected to each other by a rope F which acts as a handrail, shown purely for ease by a dashed line in Fig. 9. The rope is advantageously an extensible elastic rope arranged in such a way that, with the stanchions lowered, excess rope is collected within the stanchions (which have to be at least partially tubular for this purpose). According to alternative embodiments which are not shown, the stanchions may be connected to each other by a substantially inextensible rope or by rigid elements.
The extraction motion, i.e. from the retracted position to the extended position, of the distal gangway member 3 is controlled by the control system of the gangway in a manner known per se. This extraction motion comprises a first motion phase (from the position in Fig. 1 to the position in Fig. 2), in which the distal rod 23 is driven by the distal gangway member 3 until the block 24 of the distal rod 23 is abutted against the distal rod abutment 26 (integral with the proximal gangway member 2) and the proximal rod abutment 16 is abutted against the block 14 of the proximal rod 13. In particular, in the first motion phase the distal rod 23 moves integrally with the distal gangway member 3. In other words, during the first motion phase the distal rod 23 is stationary with respect to the distal gangway member 3, i.e. there is no relative motion therebetween.
The extraction motion then comprises a second motion phase (from the position in Fig. 2 to the position in Fig. 3), which begins near the end of the extraction motion, for example a few centimeters from the end of the extraction motion. In the second motion phase, the distal gangway member 3 moves relative to the distal rod 23 abutted against the distal rod abutment 26 (integral with the proximal gangway member 2) and the distal stanchion 22 is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the distal rod 23, while the distal gangway member 3 drives the proximal rod 13 by means of the proximal rod abutment 16 and the proximal stanchion 12 is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the proximal rod 13.
Moreover, in the second motion phase, the intermediate stanchion 32 is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by the block 34 of the distal gangway member 3 pushing against the lever 33 of the intermediate stanchion 32.
In the retraction motion, i.e. from the extended position to the retracted position, of the distal gangway member 3, the sequence of motions described above is reversed, and the stanchions 12, 22 and 32 rotate from the upright position to the lying position.
It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown here, but instead may be subject to modifications relating to the shape and arrangement of parts, design and operating details, according to the numerous possible variants that will appear appropriate to those skilled in the art, and which are to be understood as included within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

A gangway comprising
a proximal gangway member (2) and a distal gangway member (3) inserted into the proximal gangway member (2) and slidable in a telescopic manner relative thereto, between a retracted terminal position and an extended terminal position,
a distal stanchion (22) hinged at a distal end (3b) of the distal gangway member (3), and
a distal stanchion control mechanism comprising a distal rod (23) having a distal end (23a) articulated to the distal stanchion (22) and a proximal end (23b) provided with a block (24), and a distal rod abutment (26) integral with the proximal gangway member (2) and configured to be engaged by the block (24) of the distal rod (23),
wherein the extraction motion of the distal gangway member (3) comprises a first motion phase, in which the distal rod (26) is driven by the distal gangway member (3) until the block (24) of the distal rod (23) is abutted against the distal rod abutment (26), and a second motion phase, in which the distal gangway member (3) moves relative to the distal rod (23) abutted against the distal rod abutment (26) and the distal stanchion (22) is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the distal rod (23),
said gangway being characterized in that said distal stanchion (22) is at least partially tubular and is connected to an extensible elastic rope (F) arranged in such a way that, in the lying position of the distal stanchion (22), excess rope is collected within the distal stanchion.
The gangway according to claim 1, further comprising
a proximal stanchion (12) hinged at a proximal end (2a) of the proximal gangway member (2),
a proximal stanchion control mechanism, comprising a proximal rod (13) having a proximal end (13a) articulated to the proximal stanchion (12) and a distal end (13b) provided with a block (14), and a proximal rod abutment (16) integral with the distal gangway member (3) and configured to engage the block (14) of the proximal rod (13),
wherein the extraction motion of the distal gangway member (3) comprises a first motion phase, in which the distal rod (26) is driven by the distal gangway member (3) until the block (24) of the distal rod (23) is abutted against the distal rod abutment (26) and the proximal rod abutment (16) is abutted against the block (14) of the proximal rod (12), and a second motion phase, in which the distal gangway member (3) moves relative to the distal rod (23) abutted against the distal rod abutment (26) and the distal stanchion (22) is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the distal rod (23), while the distal gangway member (3) drives the proximal rod (13) by means of the proximal rod abutment (16) and the proximal stanchion (12) is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by means of the articulation with the proximal rod (13).
The gangway according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the proximal end (13a) of the proximal rod (13) is hinged to a lever (15) integral with the proximal stanchion (12) and extending radially from the point (x1) at which the proximal stanchion (12) is hinged to the proximal gangway member (2), and wherein the distal end (23a) of the distal rod (23) is hinged to a lever (25) integral with the distal stanchion (22) and extending radially from the point (X3) at which the distal stanchion (22) is hinged to the distal gangway member (3).
The gangway according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the first motion phase the distal rod (23) moves integrally with the distal gangway member (3).
The gangway according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising
an intermediate stanchion (32) hinged at a distal end (2B) of the proximal gangway member (2), and
an intermediate stanchion control mechanism comprising a lever (33) integral with the intermediate stanchion (32), and a block (34) integral with the distal gangway member (3) and configured to engage the lever (33) of the intermediate stanchion (32),
wherein in the second motion phase the intermediate stanchion (32) is rotated from a lying position to an upright position by the block (34) of the distal gangway member (3) pushing against the lever (33) of the intermediate stanchion (32).
The gangway according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein said stanchions (12, 22, 32) are at least partially tubular and are connected to each other by an extensible elastic rope (F) arranged in such a way that, in the lying position of the stanchions (12, 22, 32), excess rope is collected within the stanchions.