FR2493290A1 - Equipment for personnel transport by crane - by cabin between oil rig and ship with electrical control against wave movement - Google Patents

Abstract

The device is for transporting people, using a crane between a support carrying the crane and a second support (such as a ship) moving relatively to the first. It includes a cabin with a winch and cable with its end joined to the crane hook. The winch is driven and can be locked so that the cabin can be lifted and transported from one support to the other. There is a second winch with cable from the cabin base, its end fixed on the second support. There is electrical winch control.

Description

Device for transporting people using a crane
The present invention relates to a device for transporting people using a crane between a first support on which the crane is arranged and a second support located at a level below the first support and driven by a relative movement with respect to said first support.

 It is known that in conventional devices for transporting people between a first support for example a drilling platform and a second support for example a boat animated with vertical and horizontal movements relative to the platform, a form net is used conical hanging from the hook of a crane.

When descending in swells it can be difficult to place the net at the desired location on the deck of the boat.

 In addition, when taking off the net due to the slow speed of the crane hook, there may be impacts due to the swell between the deck of the boat and the underside of the net which are dangerous for the people being transported.

 In addition, the people transported stand on the outside of the net and can fall if they stop hanging due to discomfort or due to dizziness.

 The device according to the invention making it possible to increase the safety of the transfer is characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a nacelle comprising - a first winch on which a cable is wound, the end of which is connectable to the hook of the crane - motor means tending to drive said first winch in the cable winding direction - means for blocking the winch in the cable unwinding direction, said blocking means being activated so that the nacelle can be lifted and transported from a support for another - a second winch on which is wound a rope exiting below the nacelle and the end of which can be fixed on the second support - motor means tending to wind the rope on said second winch when the end of the rope was fixed to the second support to facilitate the descent of the nacelle and on the other hand - means for controlling the unwinding of the rope - and means for controlling the means for blocking the first winch. vant so that when removing the nacelle from the second support the first winch is blocked at the end of cable winding when before a lifting order was given.

 Thus when descending the nacelle the crane operator can unroll a length of rope, the end of the rope falling on the deck of the boat. The crew of the boat must then pass this end through a ring and fix it at a point slightly distant from this ring. When the crane operator descends the crane hook, the nacelle descends and under the effect of the second winch which tends to wind the rope the nacelle is guided during its descent on the deck of the boat until it is placed at the point desired.

 When the crane operator wishes to raise the nacelle, the lower end of the rope is released, then the crane operator controls the locking of the first winch and starts the ascent of the crane hook.

 The first winch is only blocked when the cable winding stops, which corresponds to the point where the lifting speed of the crane hook is equal to the speed with which the boat is lifted by the swell, which ensures easy takeoff of the nacelle.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the second winch is provided with locking means in position and the end of the rope is provided with a hook manually fixed to the second support and unhooking itself when the tension on the rope is greater than a limit chosen so that when the nacelle is lowered onto the second support the forces impressed by the nacelle are insufficient to unhook it and when the nacelle is detached from the second support while the second winch is blocked, said hook picks up the second support.

 Thus, it is no longer necessary to provide for human intervention to unhook the rope before takeoff from the nacelle.

 According to a particularly simple embodiment of the means for blocking the first winch, these comprise a toothed wheel secured to said winch and at least one pawl cooperating with said toothed wheel, each pawl being associated on the one hand with an electromagnet receiving a signal from the means of control when, the lifting order having been given, the first winch is in winding and which tends, when activated, to apply the pawl on the wheel, and on the other hand to a return spring tending to raise the pawl.

 Thus during takeoff, the electromagnet is activated as soon as the blocking has been ordered by the crane operator, and the cable is wound up, which corresponds to a rise in the boat. The ratchet is then applied to the toothed wheel. When the winding stops and the toothed wheel tends by the force of the crane to turn in the direction of the unwinding, the pawl falls into a notch and blocks the toothed wheel.

 To save the weight of the equipment carried on the nacelle, the motor means actuating the first and the second winch comprise the same constant torque motor coupled to a planetary gearbox, a first output axis of which is coupled to the first winch and the second output axis is coupled to the second winch, said motor being able to have its direction of rotation reversed when it is desired to unwind the rope of the second winch.

 So with a single motor you can operate both winches.

 The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to a particular embodiment cited by way of nonlimiting example and represented by the accompanying drawings.

 Figure 1 is a general view of the device according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 represents the main organs of the device according to the invention.

 FIG. 3 schematically represents the essential members of the circuit for controlling the locking means.

 Figure 4 shows the hook located at the end of the rope of the second winch.

 Figure 5 shows the various stages during the landing and removal of the nacelle on the boat.

 The nacelle according to the invention shown in Figure 1 comprises a floor 1 provided with shock absorbers 2. On the floor 1 is provided a guardrail 3 which prevents passengers from falling. This guardrail 3 is interrupted by a door 4 (shown open). In the center of the floor 1 is provided a space 5 in which the maneuvering means of the nacelle are arranged. These means comprise in particular a first winch 6 on which a target 7 is wound. This cable 7 passes through guide rollers 8 and is terminated by a ring (not shown) in which the hook of the crane hooks appears 5).

 The maneuvering means also comprise a second winch 9 on which is wound a rope 10 which exits below the floor 1.

The control signals of these winches as well as the energy for turning the winches is supplied by an umbilical cord 11 connected to the crane.

 In Figure 2 there is shown the main bodies for operating the nacelle. These members include a constant torque motor 12 driven by a pulley and a belt with a planetary gearbox 15.

 The central axis 16 of the reducer 15 is coupled to the first winch 6, this winch 6 has on its periphery a toothed wheel 17 against which a pawl 18 is applied by an electromagnet 19 when the latter is activated. A return spring 20 tends to spread the pawl 18 of the wheel 17, and it spreads it when the electro-thermal 19 is not activated.

 The reduction gear 15 has a peripheral axis 21 which drives the axis of the second winch 9 by gears 22.

 This second winch is also provided with a toothed wheel 23 against which a pawl 24 is applied by an electromagnet 25 when the latter is activated. A return spring 26 tends to move the pawl 24 away from the wheel 23, and it moves it away when the electromagnet 25 is not activated.

 On the first winch 6 is mounted a tachometer 28 which provides a signal when the winch 6 does not rotate in the direction of winding the cable 7.

 The motor 12 develops a constant torque which tends to wind the cable 7 on the winch 6 and the rope 10 on the winch 9.

 The motor is controlled by a control boot 27 which makes it possible to reverse the direction of rotation of the motor 3 in order to unwind the rope 10.

 During the unwinding of the rope 10 the pawl 18 is held in the toothed wheel 17 pocketing the cable 7 to unwind.

 FIG. 3 schematically represents the control circuit 30 of the device according to the invention.

The circuit 30 includes 2 supply lines 31, 31 ′, a contact 32, operated by a push button P which when pressed, establishes a connection between 31 and a point A. Between 31 and
A is also arranged the contactor 33 'actuated by the coil 33 disposed between a point B and 31'.

 Between point B and point C is placed a contactor 34 controlled by the tachometer 28 and which remains open as long as the winch 6 is not in motion to wind the cable 7.

 Between C and 31 'is disposed the coil 19 which when energized applies the pawl 18 to the toothed wheel 17. The coil 19 when energized closes a contactor 19' disposed between points B and C.

 Between point B and point D is arranged a contact 32 'pressed with contact 32 when the push button P is pressed.

Between point D and 31 'are arranged in series a contactor 35 and the coil 25 which when energized applies the pawl 24 to the toothed wheel 23.

 The contactor 35 is controlled by a button Q on which it is necessary to press to unwind the rope 10, the button Q also controls the circuit 27 to rotate the motor 12 in the opposite direction (see FIG. 2). When the coil 25 is energized it closes a contactor 25 'disposed between B and D.

 Between points A and B is arranged a contactor 36 which is controlled by a detector arranged under the floor 1 of the nacelle. When the nacelle has just been placed on a support and is no longer moving, this detector controls the opening of the contactor 36 which, by time delay, closes soon after. The contactor 36 can also be controlled by a strain gauge arranged in the axis of the pawl 18.

 We will resume the operation of the control circuit in the general context of the operation of the device according to the invention.

 FIG. 4 represents an advantageous embodiment of the hook 40 which is attached to the end of the rope 10.

 The hook 40 includes an attachment 41 secured to the bottom 42 of a guide 43. Inside the guide 43 can translate a block 44 having at the front a fixed finger 45 and a movable finger 46 about an axis 47 integral with the block 44. The movable finger is biased against the fixed finger by a spring 48. The guide 43 is provided with a shoulder 49 which cooperates with the outer edge of the movable finger 46.

 The mobile 46 is provided with a shoulder 50 on its outer edge situated in contact with the shoulder 49 when the hook 40 is at rest. On each side of the shoulder 50 are provided two recesses 51 and 52. The internal edge of the finger 46 is provided at its front part with a shoulder 53 which comes in the vicinity of the fixed finger 45. The spring 48 applies the finger at rest mobile 46 on a stop 54 preventing the shoulder from coming to touch the fixed finger 45 to leave a certain distance between the two fingers at rest.

 In the bottom 42 of the guide 43 are provided a spring 55 of weak force tending to separate the block 44 from the bottom 42 and a much larger spring 56 which tends to prevent any distance from the block which exceeds a distance 1 counted from the bottom 42.

 Thus when a ring 57 is presented between fixed finger 45 and movable finger 46, the movable finger 41 cannot open because the shoulder 50 rests on the shoulder 49 and when the ring 57 is pushed the spring 55 is compressed and the shoulder 50 exceeds the shoulder 49 so that the movable finger 45 can move away, the shoulder 49 coming into contact with the hollow 51.

 The ring 57 then passes between the shoulder 53 and the fixed finger 45, the movable finger 45 under the effect of the return spring 48 comes to close and the ring 57 is trapped (position 57 ') between fixed finger 45 and movable finger 46.

 When the hook is released, the spring 55 relaxes and spreads the block 44 from the bottom 42 bringing the shoulder 50 facing the shoulder 49, thus keeping the ring 57 trapped.

 When the hook 40 is pulled with great force, the spring 56 is compressed and the shoulder 50 exceeds the shoulder 49 which comes opposite the recess 52. The movable finger 46 can then open to let escape the ring 57 As the force applied to the hook then disappears, the hook returns to its equilibrium position, shoulder 49 against shoulder 50. The spring 56 can be calibrated to define the force which is necessary for the ring 57 to be released.

FIG. 5 shows several successive views A,
B and C to represent the decking of the nacelle and 3 views D, E, F to represent the removal,
In Figure 5 A is shown the platform which is raised relative to the boat 59. On the platform 58 is disposed a crane 60 with a cable 61 terminated by a hook 62. The hook 62 is put in a ring 65 attached to the end of the cable 7 of the winch 6 of the nacelle 64. The rope 10 is wound on the winch 9 and the hook 40 attached to the end of the rope 10 can be fixed to the ring 57 located on the bridge of the boat 59.

 Preferably, the control circuit 30 is located in the cabin of the crane 60.

 The operation of the device according to the invention is as follows. When the nacelle 64 is placed on the platform 58, the hook 62 is fixed in the ring 63. The motor 12 is running so that the cable 7 is wound as much as possible on the winch 6 as well as the rope 10 on the winch 9.

 The coils 19 and 25 are not supplied therefore the pawls are not in position in the toothed wheels.

 People having entered the nacelle and door 4 having been closed, the crane operator lifts the hook 62 of the crane.

The cable 7 is unwound because the torque supplied by the motor 12 is less than the force applied to the hook 62. When a length of approximately 3 m has been unwound, the crane operator stops the rise of the hook 62.

 Then he presses the button P to remove the nacelle 64 from the deck of the platform 58.

 When he presses the button P, the contact 32 closes (see Figure 3); contact 36 is closed; on the other hand the contact 34 is open because the winch 6 is not winding the cable.

 The crane operator therefore slightly descends the hook 63 to allow the winch 6 to be wound up, which has the effect of closing the contact 34.

 The current therefore flows between point B and 31 'and the coil 19 is excited so that the pawl 18 is applied to the toothed wheel 17. The contactor 19' closes. On the other hand the coil 33 is energized and the contactor 33 'closes.

 The contact 32 ′ is also closed when the button P has been pressed. The contactor 35 is closed, so that the coil 25 is energized, which causes the application of the pawl 24 in the toothed wheel 23.

 Winches 6 and 9 are therefore blocked. The contactor 25 'closes. The push button P is released so that the contacts 32 and 32 'open but the point B is always connected to 31 by 33', the coil 19 is supplied by the contactors 19 'and 34 while the coil 25 is supplied by 25 '.

 The crane operator then raises the hook 62 so that the nacelle 64 takes off. When the nacelle 64 is at a certain height above the deck of the platform 58, the crane operator stops raising the hook 62 then turns the crane 60 to bring his boom above the boat 59 (Figure SA). It descends the hook 62 to bring the nacelle 64 a few meters (7 m) above the boat 64, then stops the descent. The crane operator then presses the button Q to unwind the rope 10. The contactor 35 opens and the coil 25 is de-energized.

The contactor 25 'is open and the pawl 24 s4 opens. The motor 12 is driven in the opposite direction to the arrows in FIG. 2 and the rope 10 is unwound. The operation is automated so that the circuit 27 turns the motor 12 in the direction of unwinding of the rope 10 just the time necessary for a length of rope, for example 10 meters, to take place.

 The end of the rope 10 with the hook 40 rests on the deck of the boat 59. The personnel of the boat 59 then hooks the hook 40 to the ring 57.

 During all these operations, the pawl 18 of course remained stationary in the toothed wheel 17.

 The crane operator releases the button P and the motor 12 is again controlled in the winding direction.

 The rope 10 is wound on the winch 9 and then tightens (Figure 5B).

 The crane operator then descends the hook 62, the basket 64 attached to the hook 62 also descends.

 When the boat 59 is agitated by the swell, the nacelle is held to a certain extent above the boat 59 by the rope 10 which is always tensioned by the motor 12. The movement of descent of the nacelle is slower than the movements imparted to the boat 59 by the swell so that the rope unrolls and winds on the winch 9 which keeps the rope 10 always taut with constant effort.

 The crane operator continues to descend the hook 62 and the nacelle 64 lands on the deck of the boat 59 at the location of the ring 57 (FIG. 5C).

 When the nacelle 64 is completely lowered the crane operator stops the lowering movement of the hook 62.

 Referring to the control circuit of FIG. 3, it can be seen that when the contactor 36 opens, following the decking of the nacelle 64, the coils 33 and 19 are de-energized.

 The pawl 18 is therefore disarmed under the effect of the spring 20 and the contactor 33 opens, so that when the contactor 36 closes, the coils 33 and 19 are no longer supplied. The cable 7 is unwound and wound on the winch 6 according to the movements that the swell gives to the boat 59.

 The passengers can then safely exit the nacelle 64.

 When passengers are back in the nacelle 64 placed on the deck of the boat 59, the crane operator presses the button P which has the effect of exciting the coils 33 and 25, then starts the ascent of the hook 62 which rises slowly. The pawl 24 therefore comes into the armed position blocking the winch 9. After releasing the button P, the contactor 33 'then being closed, the relay 25 remains energized.

 If when the button P is pressed the boat 59 is going down the cable 7 unrolls and the contactor 34 is open, so that the coil 19 is not energized and the pawl 18 remains disarmed.

 When the boat 59 goes up, the cable 7 is wound on the winch 6 and the contactor 34 closes, which excites the coil 19 and the contact 19 'and the pawl 18 is applied to the toothed wheel 17 which continues to rotate ( Figure 5D). When the speed of rise of the hook 62 is equal to the speed of rise of the boat 59> the wheel 17 stops then begins to turn in the direction of the unwinding.

The contactor 34 opens but the coil 19 continues to be energized via the contactor 19 'and the pawl 18 comes into the armed position in a notch of the wheel 17. At this moment as the hook 62 continues to rise ( Figure 5E) the nacelle 64 takes off.

As the winch 9 is blocked the rope 10 pulls on the hook 40 which unhooks the hook 40 from the ring 57 and the nacelle 64 rises.

 If when the button P is pressed, the boat is going up and the cable is rewinding because the speed of rise of the hook 62 is much lower than the speed of rise of the boat except when it arrives at the top of the wave, the contactor closes and the pawl 18 is applied to the toothed wheel 17. The operation continues as indicated above.

 The crane operator then continues to ascend the nacelle 64 (Figure SF).

When the nacelle is high enough the crane operator turns the boom of the crane 60 to bring it above the platform 58 and then lowers the nacelle 64 onto the deck of the platform 68.

The contactor 36 opens and then closes, de-energizing all the coils 33, 19 and 25.

 The device according to the invention therefore provides great security during the landing or removal of a nacelle transporting people on the deck of a boat animated by vertical and also horizontal movements under the effect of the swell relative to to a platform or equivalent, relatively stable and carrying a lifting crane which thus supports much less effort when lifting the nacelle.

Claims (3)

1 / Device for transporting people using a crane (60) between a first support (58) on which the crane (60) is arranged and a second support (59) located at a level below the first support (58) and animated with a relative movement relative to said first support (58) characterized in that it comprises a nacelle (64) comprising - a first winch (6) on which a cable (7) is wound, the end (63) is connectable to the hook (62) of the crane (60) - motor means (12) tending to drive said first winch (6) in the winding direction of the cable (7) - blocking means ( 17, 18) of the winch (6) in the direction of the unwinding of the cable, said locking means (17, 18) being activated so that the nacelle (64) can be lifted and transported from one support to another - a second winch (9) on which is wound a rope (10) emerging below the nacelle (64) and the end (40) of which can be fixed on the second support (59), - motor means (12) tends ant to wind the rope (10) on said second winch (9) when the end (40) of the rope (10) has been fixed to the second support (59) to facilitate the descent of the nacelle (64) and in that '' it comprises - control means (30, 35 27) for unwinding the rope (10) - and control means (30), blocking means (17, 18) of the first winch (6) activating them so when lifting the nacelle (64) from the second support (59) the first winch (6) is blocked at the end of cable winding (7) when previously a lifting order has been given. 2 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second winch (9) is provided with locking means (23, 24) in position and in that the end of the rope (10) is provided with a hook ( 40) manually fixed to the second support (59) and unhooking alone when the tension on the rope (10) is greater than a chosen limit so that when the nacelle (64) descends on the second support (59) printed by the nacelle (64) are insufficient to unhook it and when the nacelle (64) is detached from the second support (59) while the second winch (9) is blocked, said hook (40) is released from the second support ( 59). 3 / Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking means (17, 18) of the first winch (6) comprise a toothed wheel (17) integral with said winch (6) and at least one pawl ( 18) cooperating with said toothed wheel (17), each pawl (18) being associated on the one hand with an electromagnet (19) receiving a signal from the control means when the lifting order having been given the first winch (6) is in winding and which tends when activated to apply the pawl (8) on the wheel (17) and on the other hand to a return spring (20) tending to raise the pawl (18) 4 / Device according to the 'One of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor means actuating the first (6) and the second winch (9) comprise the same constant torque motor (12) coupled to a planetary gearbox (15) including a first axis of output (16) is coupled to the first winch (6) and a second output axis (21) is coupled to the second winch (9), said motor (12 ) can have its reverse direction of rotation when you want to unwind the rope (10) of the second winch (9).