FR2572353A1 - METHOD FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING A VESSEL, AND VESSEL FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION CONCERNS A PROCESS FOR LOADING AND UNLOADING A SHIP, AS WELL AS A SHIP FOR CARRYING OUT THIS PROCESS. THIS VESSEL ESSENTIALLY CONSISTS OF A DECK 2 LIKELY TO SUPPORT HEAVY LOADS AND PART OF WHICH IS CONSTITUTED BY THE LOADING SURFACE 6 OF A FLOAT-CARRIER 4 EQUIPPED AT ONE END OF A TILTING RAMP 9 ALLOWING THE LOADING AND UNLOADING OF LOADS THE VESSEL ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION ALLOWS THE LOADING, TRANSPORTATION AND UNLOADING OF LOADS UP TO SEVERAL HUNDREDS OF TONNES.

Description

The subject of the present invention is essentially a method of

  loading and unloading a ship from a site and / or to a non-equipped site

to receive it.

  It also applies to a vessel

application of this method.

  It has already been proposed to take or remove loads on a ship near a site, starting or completing the transportation to that site at

  average of barges. However, loading and unloading

  Until now, these operations have been long, delicate and often very difficult to carry out, especially when heavy loads were involved. This is due to the fact that it has not yet been

  proposed a ship whose design lends itself to

  fast and reliable unloading and unloading

whatever the site.

  The present invention aims to fill this gap by proposing a new method of loading and unloading a ship, reliable on and flexible, even

  when the loads are heavy and bulky.

  For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method of loading and unloading a vessel, characterized by the passage of the charges introduced into the vessel, or extracted from this vessel) on the tilting ramp of a float-carrier forming himself at least a part of a

loading bridge of the ship.

  According to another characteristic of this method, the float-carrier is introduced and extracted from the vessel

  by flotation after sinking of this vessel.

  It will be further specified here that the loading or

  unloading the vessel on a site that is not equipped or

  sible is carried out by the float-carrier and its associated ramp. The invention also relates to a ship for carrying out the above method and of the type comprising at least one bridge capable of withstanding heavy and bulky loads, this vessel being characterized in that the bridge is constituted in whole or in part by

  the bearing surface of at least one float-carrier.

  This ship is further characterized by the fact that the float-carrier is equipped at one of its ends with a folding ramp eventually forming

  door and allowing loading and unloading.

  According to yet another characteristic of this vessel, the floater is provided at the other end with a folding panel to ensure

  continuity between the bearing surface of the float-

  carrier and the aforementioned loading bridge of the vessel.

  But other features and benefits of

  the invention will appear in the detailed description

  which follows and refers to the accompanying drawings, given solely by way of example and in which: - Figure 1 is a partial schematic view

  elevation of a ship in accordance with the principles of

  represented during loading or unloading on a site equipped to receive it; FIG. 2 is a view identical to FIG. 1, but showing the ship at sea, a load resting on the dry cargo float in the ship, and another on the loading deck; FIG. 3 is a view identical to the previous ones

  but showing the vessel being unloaded, or

  on the road or on the site not allowing the transfer of the load by direct rolling of the ship on a platform or vice versa-; and

  FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the float

  carrier in position after loading or ready to unload

  on site not equipped to receive the ship.

  Referring to the drawings, it can be seen that a ship according to the invention, and according to an exemplary embodiment, comprises a hull 1 inside

  of which is provided a bridge 2 capable of receiving

  see loads like C, part of bridge 2

  being constituted by a float-carrier.

  As seen in Figures 1 to 4, the float-carrier 4 comprises a shell 5, possibly sides 3, and a bearing surface 6 which lies in the same horizontal plane as that of the bridge 2 and

ensures continuity.

  The float-carrier 4 rests in the ship on a deck 7 located at a level below the deck 2, the difference in height between these two decks 7 and 2 corresponding in

  principle in the hollow of the float-carrier 4.

  A folding panel 8 secured to one end

  of the float-carrier 4 allows the passage from the sur-

  bearing face 6 of the latter to the deck 2 of the ship, or vice versa. It is understood that such a panel is not mandatory and can be replaced by any other system without going beyond the scope of

the invention.-

  In contrast to the folding panel 8 and integral with the other end of the float-carrier 4, a tilting ramp 9 possibly forming a door allows the loading and unloading of the loads C on the ship in equipped site or on the float-carrier in site no

  equipped as explained in more detail below.

  The ship conforming to the principles of the invention 3. is obviously equipped with a number of equipment

  classics found on almost every ship.

  Thus, there is shown in the drawings a propeller 10 and a rudder 11 that can be found on all the ships, and a double door 12 that is

found on some ships.

  We will now describe the principle of loading and unloading this ship by helping one another successively

Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.

  It will start from the position shown in Figure 1 which shows the floatporter 4 in its place in the ship, its bearing surface 6 being in the plane and continuity

  with deck 2. As already mentioned, the float-

  carrier 4 was set up in the vessel by flotation

  after sufficient immersion of the bridge 7.

  In this same figure 1, we see that the double door 12 of the ship is open and the tilting ramp 9 of the float-carrier 4 is lowered. C loads rolling, or stowed on mobile platforms 13,

  towed or pushed by a vehicle V) may thus

  leave or board the vessel by crossing ramp 9.

  The routing of these charges C to or from

  any point on the ship other than the surface

  aunt 6 of the 4jse float-carrier will do by crossing this

  supporting surface 6 and the folding panel 8 of the float-

carrier.

  The movement and stowage of these loads C inside the ship are not part of the present invention. The loading or unloading operations of various loads such as C being completed, the ramp 9 is raised and the door with two leaves 12 is closed. The ship can then go to sea with her loads C as shown in Figure 2, or without load;

float-carriers 4.

  When the ship is at a site that does not allow for direct embarkation and disembarkation on Q wharf, as shown in Figure 1, the vessel is sinking

  in order to sufficiently immerse the deck 7 so that the float-

  carrier 4 no longer rests on the aforementioned bridge, as

appears in Figure 3.

  Once this operation is completed, all the translational movements (entry and exit) of the float-carrier 4 by its own means (self-propelled) or with the assistance of means installed on the ship (capstans, winches, etc.) are authorized. external and independent

(tug, pusher, etc ...).

  The loads C can thus be transported from or to the loading or unloading site which by definition is not accessible to the ship or is not

  not equipped to allow loading and unloading

  When the float-carrier 4 is on the aforementioned site, with or without an inclined plane P as shown by way of example in FIG. 4, the ramp 9 is lowered, thus connecting the bearing surface 6 of the float-carrier 4 to the mainland. Any load C can then by rolling be disembarked from the float-carrier 4 or embarked from the mainland without any other restrictions than those due

to the terrestrial environment.

  As can be understood at this point in the

  present description of the invention, the float-carrier

  4 may at the end of the above operation be brought back to the ship:

  - to continue loading or unloading

  the vessel, either to enable the ship to continue her voyage for the purpose of loading and unloading.

on another site.

  It has thus been realized according to the invention a particularly safe, reliable and rapid process that allows the loading on a ship and the unloading from a ship of all heavy and bulky loads in any maritime or river site inaccessible to a conventional ship or facilities for loading or

unloading this vessel.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and illustrated which has not been

given as an example.

  Thus, it would be perfectly possible to provide a number of floaters such as 4 capable of being accommodated in the ship and whose bearing surfaces 6 would replace all or part of the deck 2 of the ship. Similarly, the practical realization of the tilting ramp 9 could be any as well besides the realization of the folding panel 8 to another

end of the float-carrier.

  This means that the invention includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are carried out according to its

mind.

Claims (6)

R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N S CLAIMS   1.- A method of loading and unloading a vessel, characterized by the passage of charges introduced into the ship or extracted from it, on the tilting ramp of a float-carrier forming itself at least a part of a loading bridge of this ship.   2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the float carrier is introduced or extracted   of the vessel by flotation after sinking of that vessel.   3.- Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the loading or unloading of the ship on a site not equipped or inaccessible is   carried by the float-carrier and its associated ramp.   4.- Ship for the implementation of the process   according to one of claims 1 to 3, and of the type comprising   at least one bridge capable of withstanding heavy and bulky loads, characterized in that the bridge is wholly or partly constituted by the surface   carrying at least one float-carrier.   5.- ship according to claim 4, characterized in that the floater is equipped at one of its ends with a folding ramp possibly forming   door and allowing loading and unloading.   6. Vessel according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the float-carrier is provided with   the other end of a folding panel allows   both to ensure continuity between the bearing surface of said floater and the aforementioned loading bridge of the ship.