ES2304108A1 - Device for attaching perimeter floats - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for attaching perimeter floats, the device comprising: outside retention means at least one halyard held in the retention means in such a way as to be slidable and held in such a way that the two cables thereof are accessible fastening means fixed in at least one (attachment cable) of said halyard cables at a point which is accessible at least one float assembly comprising a float and fixing means which can be connected to the halyard fastening means and anchoring means placed in an accessible area for anchoring at least the halyard cable (tensioning cable) which is opposite the attachment cable.

Description

Float Placement Device perimeter.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a perimeter float placement device, for any type of ship, cargo container or floating structure, and to the method of using said device, being intended said device to be used when a situation of emergency derived from the appearance of a waterway, collision, filtration, beached or any other applicable situation.

The invention falls within the industry sea and river, and is applicable to ships of any type and Size: from large ships to pleasure boats, whether to transport passengers or merchandise; floating structures such as floating docks, oil rigs and the like; and cargo containers carried in the previous ones.

Background of the invention

In the art there are many devices of buoyancy, inflatables and other types, intended to avoid less temporarily the sinking of the ship in a situation of emergency in an aquatic environment, which are mounted on the hull of the boat and they unfold so much inside (they try to recover and / or maintain the ship's own buoyancy) as outside (They try to provide the ship with buoyancy and stability supplementary).

A first common inconvenience to said buoyancy devices for indoor or outdoor deployment is that the assembly that houses them usually occupies a volume significant inside the boat, which represents an inconvenience especially in small boats where space is find optimized to the fullest.

In addition, when they are based on elements inflatables, the volume of such inflatable elements in state inflated, and therefore its effectiveness, decreases over time, to a rhythm that depends on the construction quality of the own element and the severity of the circumstances in which works

Particularly, the devices of Indoor deployment buoyancy are, in most of the cases, of little use because emergency situations come  often accompanied by risks inside the ship, such as fires and sharp elements, which compromise integrity of the buoyancy device, and because the crew is found at different points of the ship, so the isolation of a part of the ship sometimes produced by the deployment of buoyancy device can leave part of it trapped crew.

On the other hand, buoyancy devices of external deployment, although they overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of internal deployment buoyancy devices, They also have certain drawbacks.

The fundamental drawback is that, the outdoor deployment buoyancy devices go preinstalled in the helmet, which greatly limits the amount of devices that can be mounted on a helmet, even more with large ships that require huge buoyancy devices and, consequently, corresponding large areas.

Therefore, external deployment buoyancy devices have been proposed based on inflatable elements called portable (not mounted a priori on the ship), of small size, which are attached to the ship at the time of use and are therefore replaceable.

However, these devices do not provide a total solution since they are either intended to be moored in structural roofing elements, that is, in dead work, so that the inflatable element is above the waterline and its effectiveness for keeping the ship afloat is reduced (at least temporarily the complete sinking of the ship is avoided but not its partial sinking, which prevents or at least greatly hinders the rescue of the crew), or they are intended to be moored on site alive, that is, in a submerged area of the surface of the helmet, so that the placement procedure involves certain difficulties and, even more important, certain personal risks for the operators who perform such placement, increasing said difficulties and said personal risks until unacceptable levels in the circumstances that usually accompany emergency situations (heavy storms and waves, large amp boat rolling latitude, fast sinking of
boat, etc.)

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is thus a perimeter float placement device for any type of ship, cargo container or floating structure, which addresses The problems mentioned above.

The float placement device Perimetral of the present invention comprises:

retention means located in the outer surface of a ship, cargo container or structure floating, preferably below the waterline planned;

at least one halyard slidably held in said retention means by an intermediate point thereof and laid out so that the two resulting halyard ends are accessible from an area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for human transit;

fastening means arranged so fixed in at least one of said halyard ends (placement end) at a point accessible from said area of the ship, container of floating load or structure enabled for human transit;

at least one float set that includes a float and fixing means connectable to said means of halyard hold; Y

mooring means arranged in said area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled to human transit, to tie at least the halyard line (end of tension) opposite to said placement end.

Said float of said float assembly it can be inflatable, then including said float assembly Inflation means.

Said inflation means are either means Autonomous inflation or controlled inflation means.

In the case of controlled inflation means,  said inflation means comprise an extensible connection of fluid for connecting fluid of said inflatable float to a separate source of fluid; and in the case of inflation means autonomous, said inflation means may comprise a connection extensible activation and an extensible fluid connection of filling.

Preferably, said retention means are arranged in a corresponding concavity of the external surface of the ship, cargo container or structure floating so that they are essentially fairings with said external surface

Optionally, said retention means comprise an outer eyebolt or embedded in the concavity cited

Optionally, said fastening means are fixedly arranged in said placement so that the length of the segment of said placing line between said fastening means and the free end of said positioning end it is at least essentially equal to the distance between said means of retention and said mooring means.

When you go to use it, this halyard will be tied, by both ends, to said mooring means. So, an operator hooks at least one float assembly by said means of fixing to said fastening means and at least partially releasing said place for placing said mooring means, and then launch said float assembly into the aquatic environment.

In case said float of said set of float is inflatable and said inflation means comprise a or extensible connections, the operator can hold the free end of said extensible connections.

In case said float of said set of float is inflatable and said inflation means are about autonomous inflation means without extensible activation connection, the operator will activate autonomous inflation, which can include some known delay system, before launching said set from float to aquatic environment.

In case the segment length of said place of placement between said fastening means and the end free of said placement is at least essentially the same at the distance between said retention means and said means of mooring, the operator may hold the free end of said place of placement.

Finally, said operator will pull the end of tension to place said float at the proper depth in the aquatic environment, where it will be maintained by tense mooring of said tension end to said mooring means.

Additionally, in case the operator has held the free end of said placement end, the Operator may also tie said place of placement to said Mooring means

In the latter case, if you want to replace or complement the float assembly already placed with one or more additional sets of float, the operator, after releasing the less partially the mooring of said tension end may pull of the positioning line for lifting said fastening means and hook on them the additional float set (s); in otherwise, the operator will use a collection means, preferably in the form of a hook topped rod, to hoist said fastening means.

In addition, in case both ends are provided with fastening means, to replace a set of float previously placed by a new float assembly the Operator may engage said new float assembly in the fastening means of the cape that until then acts as a cape of tension, and thus lowering said new float assembly at par which hoists said previous float assembly.

The float assembly usable with the perimeter float placement device according to The present invention can be stored in various places in the interior of the ship, cargo container or floating structure, of so that your impasse is as little as possible, or it can be provided by an eventual support group in case of need.

The float placement device Perimeter of the present invention is applicable to all types of ship.

The positioning device of the present invention may be the only means of security existing in the ship, cargo container or floating structure, or be supplemented with one or more of the safety devices existing in the art.

The positioning device of the present invention, due to its special design and its simple operation, it can be a very safety instrument economic in the maritime and river industry.

Brief description of the drawings

The main features of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of it, provided purely by way of illustrative and non-limiting example and given with reference to attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a implementation of the float placement device perimeters according to the present invention, arranged in a ship shown in cross section; Y

Figure 2 shows a sectional view longitudinal of a float assembly of the prior art, of inflatable controlled inflation float, usable with the perimeter float placement device according to The present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

To simplify, from now on it will be done reference to a device of the present invention in combination  simply with a "ship", understanding that it represents Descriptive effects any type of ship, cargo container or floating structure

In figure 1, a device 1 of placement of perimeter floats according to a embodiment of the present invention.

Said float placement device 1 perimeter according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises retention means 50, at least one halyard (showing only a halyard 10 in the drawings in order to simplify the illustration) provided with fastening means 20, a mooring means 30 and a float assembly 40.

Said float assembly 40 comprises simply a float 41 and fixing means 43 materialized, for example, in a carabiner.

Said retention means 50 have a recess 51 in the form of a spherical cap, practiced in the hull surface 70 of a ship, on which a stem 53 diametrically pierced in said recess 51 so which leaves a sufficient gap to thread in said means 50 of holding said halyard 10.

Said halyard 10 is therefore threaded into said retention means 50, a tension line 11 being formed and a cape 13 of placement. In said placement 13 are arranged said fastening means 20, composed, for example, by a clamp 21 that is fixed immovably to said end 13 of placement and a ring 23 articulated to said clamp 21, as shown in detail A of figure 1.

In this embodiment, the segment length of said placing 13 between said securing means 20 and the free end of said laying end 13 is greater than the distance between said retaining means 50 and said means 30 of tie up

To tie said halyard 10, said means 30 of  mooring comprise, for example, two twin bitas, one for each out 11, 13 interchangeably.

On the other hand, figure 2 shows a 100 set of inflatable float, controlled inflation, with extensible fluid connection, of the prior art, likewise usable with float placement device 1 perimeters according to the present invention.

Said set 100 of inflatable float it comprises a sealed envelope 110, which houses a folded state inflatable float 120. One end of said inflatable float 120 is attached to said extensible fluid connection composed of a unidirectional valve 130 and a retractable helical hose 160, for feeding fluid to said inflatable float 120. The other end of said inflatable float 120 is attached to means of fixing composed of a halyard 140 loading that ends in a fixing carabiner 150.

The use of perimeter float placement device 1 according with the present invention, in combination with the assembly 100 of inflatable float, controlled inflation, with extensible connection of fluid, of the prior art, of Figure 2, instead of in combination with the float assembly 40 of figure 1, by get a more complete explanation.

Initially, said halyard 10 is moored, by both ends 11, 13, to said mooring means 30, each end 11, 13 to his respective bitch.

When required, the crew breaks said sealed housing 110, releasing said fixing means 140, 150 and said extensible fluid connection 130, 160.

Then said carabiner 150 is hooked to said ring 23, the laying end 13 is released at least partially of the respective bit of said mooring means 30 and said set 100 of inflatable float is thrown into the middle aquatic, holding the free end of said end 13 of placement and the free end of said hose 160.

Alternatively, the sealed envelope 110 of said set 100 of inflatable float may present externally said carabiner 150 'in addition to said end of said hose 160, and be adapted to break automatically by the Float inflation. In this way, the crew will hook that ring 23 to said carabiner 150 ', will release the cape 13 of placement at least partially and will throw said set into the aquatic environment 100 inflatable float (holding the end free of said placement end 13 and the free end of said hose 160) without previously breaking said sealed envelope 110, breaking it later during and because of the inflation of the float.

Then, said tension line 11 is pulled until said inflatable float 120 is in position and modify the mooring of said end 11 until it is left in a state tense.

Finally, said placement 13 is tie back to his respective bit of said means 30 of mooring, and said hose 160 is connected to a source of fluid at pressure and said inflatable float 120 is inflated (which can feed as many times as desired).

If it is necessary to replace float 120 or add one or more floats, said tension line 11 is released to the less partially of the respective bit of said means 30 of mooring and said fastening means 20 are lifted by pulling said end 13 placement. Then they engage in said means 20 of hold the desired float (s) and place them in a analogously to that already described for float 120.

Obviously, it should be understood that this invention has been described according to specific embodiments of the same, so that modifications, variations can be implemented and / or additions, without thereby leaving the scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, by way of illustration and not limitation, in the described embodiment said fastening means 20 could include a carabiner instead of said ring 23 or attached to said ring 23; and, in that case, said carabiner 43, 150 could be replaced by a ring. 0 said securing means 20 and / or said fixing means 43 could include a joint swivel to avoid twists.

Likewise, the bits of said means 30 of mooring could be different from each other and / or present a location distant to a greater or lesser extent, to better adapt to a specific function and to a specific ship structure; or in Bitas place could be cleats.

Obviously, said halyard 10 can be extended from said retention means 50 to said means 30 of mooring going through some conduit arranged from the top from helmet to deck, or simply overboard or through of the railing that occasionally surrounds the deck of ships and that has been schematically represented in figure 1.

Finally, it will be appreciated that said rod 53 of said retention means 50 will preferably be arranged horizontal way to favor the sliding of said halyard 10, although in figure 1 it is represented vertically arranged To simplify the illustration.

Claims (17)

1. Device for placing perimeter floats for any type of ship, cargo container or floating structure, characterized in that it comprises: retention means (50) located in the outer surface of a ship, cargo container or structure floating, preferably below the waterline planned; at least one halyard (10) retained so slidable in said retention means (50) by a point intermediate of it and laid out so that the two halyard ends resulting (11, 13) are accessible from an area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for transit human; fastening means (20) disposed of fixed manner in at least one halyard end (13) of said halyard (10), at a point accessible from said area of the ship, container of floating load or structure enabled for human transit; at least one float set (40; 100) that includes a float (41; 120) and means (43; 140, 150, 150 ') of  fixing connectable to said fastening means 20 of said halyard (10); Y mooring means (30) arranged in said ship area, cargo container or floating structure enabled to human transit, to tie at least the end (11) halyard of said halyard (10) opposite to said halyard end (13) of said halyard (10) in which said means (20) of subjection. 2. Float placement device perimetral according to claim 1, wherein said retention means (50) are arranged in a corresponding concavity (51) of the outer surface (70) of the ship, cargo container or floating structure so that said means (50) of retention are essentially fairings with said external surface (70). 3. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, wherein said retention means (50) comprise a eyebolt (53). 4. Float placement device perimeter according to claims 2 and 3, wherein said eye bolt (53) is embedded in said concavity (51). 5. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, wherein said fastening means (20) are fixedly arranged in said halyard end (13) so that the length of the segment of said halyard line (13) between said fastening means (20) and the free end of said end (13) of halyard is at least essentially equal to the distance between said retaining means (50) and said mooring means (30). 6. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, wherein said fastening means (20) comprise a clamp (21) fixedly fixed to said halyard end (13) and a ring (23) articulated to said clamp (21). 7. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, in which said means (43; 140, 150, 150 ') of fixing and / or said fastening means (20) comprise a carabiner. 8. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, wherein said mooring means (30) comprise the Less a bit. 9. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, wherein said mooring means (30) comprise the Less a cleat. 10. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, in which said means (43; 140, 150, 150 ') of fixing and / or said fastening means (20) comprise a pivot joint. 11. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, in which at least one of said ends (11, 13) of halyard of said halyard (10) extends from said means (50) of retention until said means (30) of mooring going through a duct arranged from the top of the helmet (70) to cover. 12. Perimeter float placement device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said halyard ends (11, 13) of said halyard (10) extends from said retaining means (50) to said means (30) of mooring passing over the
rail. 13. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, in which at least one of said ends (11, 13) of halyard of said halyard (10) extends from said means (50) of retention until said means (30) of mooring passing through a perimeter railing. 14. Float placement device perimeter according to any one of the claims above, wherein said float (41; 120) of said set (40; 100) float is inflatable, and wherein said set (40; 100) float includes inflation means. 15. Float placement device perimetral according to claim 14, wherein said inflation means are controlled inflation means that they comprise an extensible connection (130, 160) of fluid for the fluid connection of said inflatable float (41; 120) to a separate source of fluid. 16. Float Placement Device perimetral according to claim 14, wherein said Inflation means are autonomous inflation means. 17. Float placement device perimetral according to claim 16, wherein said autonomous inflation means comprise an extensible connection of activation and / or an extensible filling fluid connection.