FR2574043A1 - Connection or disconnection device facilitating the mooring or casting off of a ship to or from a mooring structure; as well as a mooring arm. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for connecting or disconnecting a ship to or from a mooring structure. This device comprises a tri-axial joint 4 as well as first connection or disconnection means 6 situated on the tri-axial joint 4, interacting with second connection or disconnection means 8 connected to the ship, and being mounted for example at the end of a mooring arm 10 articulated at 12 to the ship 1, the said first means 6 comprising at least one bearing 14 with a centring stud, mounted rotatably about a horizontal shaft 18 perpendicular to the mooring direction, the said second means comprising a counter-bearing 20 shaped in order to receive the centring stud and to be fixed removably to the said associated bearing 14 by conventional coupling means, and characterised in that each bearing 14 comprises, at its lower portion, a flexible element 24 which can be moored at the other end to a mooring point 26 of the arm 10 so that upon connection, after having fixed the flexible element to the mooring arm 10, the lowering of the arm 10 pulls the flexible element 24 taut and gives rise to a rotation of the bearing in order to bring it into correct coupling alignment with the counter-bearing 20. The device gives great ease of mooring.

Description

 The present invention essentially relates to a connection or disconnection device facilitating the mooring or undocking of a ship to a mooring structure as well as a mooring arm.

 We know that until now, to permanently moor to a mooring structure, such as an articulated column or a buoy, at sea, a ship, for example a tanker, intended to serve as a fixed floating tank, used a rigid arm permanently articulated to the ship and kept in the out-of-service or navigation position either by a suspension structure (mast and sling) attached to the ship, or by flotation by means of a float secured to the arm. .

 This known suspension structure has the disadvantage of being used only for a very short time in comparison with the operational period, that is to say just during the possible journeys of the ship for maintenance (fairing) and for coming to moor on the site.

 Furthermore, the system for connecting the arm to the mooring structure included a hinge that could be triaxial carried by the free end of the arm and which was fixed in a fixed part of the mooring structure.

 A disadvantage of this procedure was that when the tanker vessel serving as a fixed tank was sent to the fairing, the mooring structure could not be used to moor, by simple hawser, tankers for the load, because the joint is removed with the arm.

 It has also been proposed to produce the triaxial joint on the mooring structure and in this case also we experience significant difficulties in making the mooring.

 The invention therefore aims to solve the drawbacks of the prior art by providing a connection or disconnection device facilitating the mooring, or undocking, of a ship to a mooring structure, of a particularly simple design, and allowing a particularly easy mooring, glelles whatever the circumstances.

 According to the present invention, this solution consists of a connection or disconnection device facilitating the mooring, or undocking, of a ship to a mooring structure usually located at sea, comprising a triaxial joint allowing rotation around the vertical axis respectively and of two orthogonal horizontal axes, comprising first connection or disconnection means located on the triaxial joint, cooperating with second connection or disconnection means linked to the ship, for example by being mounted at the end of a mooring arm articulated to the vessel, said first means comprising at least one coupling stud with centering stud mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of mooring or undocking, said second means comprising a counter bearing shaped to receive the stud centering or vice versa and can be fixed removably to said associated bearing by coupling means for example a operated by remote-controlled jacks, characterized in that each bearing has at its lower part a flexible element, such as a chain, which can be fixed at the other end to a predetermined mooring point of said mooring arm so that during connection, after having fixed the flexible element to said lashing point, the lowering of the arm tightens the flexible element and causes the bearing to rotate, bringing it into correct coupling alignment with the counter bearing.

According to a preferred characteristic of the device according to the invention, it comprises an auxiliary structure fixed to the end of the arm, comprising a length support
predetermined, arranged at least temporarily in a plane perpendicular to the end of the arm carrying the
counter bearing, the free end being provided for
constitute the mooring point of the flexible element.

According to a preferred characteristic, this structure
auxiliary is retractable.

 According to yet another preferred characteristic of the device according to the invention, the length of the chain is substantially equal to the difference of the distance separating the counter-bearing from the anchoring point of the flexible element, at the distance separating the securing point of the flexible element on the bearing of the axis of rotation of the bearing.

 According to yet another preferred characteristic, the mooring arm is constituted by a lattice beam having the shape of a pyramid, preferably with four faces and with a trapezoidal base, the top of which serves as a point of attachment of a device for lifting, connected for example to a lifting cylinder on the ship.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the invention also relates to the new Eotduit constituted by the
mooring arm produced in the form of a truss beam having the shape of a pyramid, preferably with four faces, and with trapezoidal base, the top of which serves as the attachment point of a lifting device, connected by example to a lifting cylinder on the ship.

It will thus be understood that to make the mooring of the ship to the mooring structure, it suffices in a
first time to secure the free end of the element
flexible, (for example formed by a chain, comprising
which is usually connected to a flotation element
floats) 7 the end of the mooring arm, preferably at the mooring point located at the lower end of the auxiliary structure.

 In a second step, it suffices to partially lower the mooring arm, thereby causing tension in the flexible element making a first rotation of the bearing comprising the centering pin.

 The continuation of the lowering movement of the arm makes it possible to act in traction on the flexible element and to cause a new rotation of the bearing so as to bring it into correct coupling alignment with the counter bearing.

 It then suffices to lock the counter bearing with the bearing by conventional means, for example using remote-controlled jacks.

 It is thus understood that the invention allows very simple mooring, almost automatically, and etmeee with severe weather conditions. On the other hand, by the particular structure of the arm, produced in the form of a lattice beam having the shape of a pyramid, for example with four faces, and with trapezoidal base, this arm is of great mechanical strength.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear clearly in the light of the explanatory description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings presenting a currently preferred embodiment of the invention, given simply by way of illustration and which therefore cannot in any way limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings:
- Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a conventional mooring structure which has been modified to receive a flexible element according to the invention, and a ship comprising a mooring arm modified in accordance with a first embodiment of the presently preferred invention, the ship being disposed near the mooring structure with the mooring arm raised;
- Figure 2 shows a second step in the mooring procedure according to which the free end of the flexible element has now been connected to the mooring point of the mooring arm, here comprising an auxiliary structure, the mooring arm being partially lowered ;;
- Figure 3 shows a subsequent step in the mooring procedure according to which the mooring arm has been further lowered, representing the tension position of the flexible element;
- Figure 4 shows the end of the mooring procedure according to which the mooring arm has been lowered, which has caused traction on the flexible element and a rotation of the bearing so as to bring it into the correct position d 'coupling and to achieve this coupling;
- Figure 5 is a view similar to that of Figure 4 showing in more detail the structure thus formed after docking; and
- Figure 6 shows a top view along arrow VI of Figure 4 to see the structure of the mooring arm.

 With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, a device for connecting or disconnecting a ship 1 to a mooring structure 2 usually located at sea, for example an articulated column or a buoy, comprises in a manner known per se a triaxial joint 4 allowing an anti-respective rotation of the vertical axis ZZ and of two horizontal orthogonal axes XX and YY.

 The connection device comprises first connection means 6 located on the triaxial joint 4.

 According to the example shown, these first connection means 6 are at least two in number and located on either side of the triaxial seal as clearly visible in FIG. 6.

 These first connection means 6 cooperate with second connection (or disconnection) means 8 linked to the vessel 1, for example by being mounted at the end of an articulated mooring arm 10 (articulation 12) to the vessel 1.

 Preferably, as shown, the first means comprise at least one coupling bearing 14 with centering pin 16, mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis 18 perpendicular to the direction of mooring or undocking.

 Similarly, the second means 8 comprise a counter-bearing 20 shaped to receive the centering pin 16 and which can be removably fixed to said associated bearing 14 by usual coupling means, for example actuated by remote-controlled jacks (not shown). .

On this structure known per se, according to the present invention, the connection (or disconnection) device is characterized in that each bearing 14 has at its lower part a flexible element 24, such as a chain, which can be moored to the other end at a mooring point 26 of said mooring arm 10 so that during connection, after having fixed the flexible element to said mooring point 26, as shown in FIG. 2, the lowering of the arm tends the flexible element (FIG. 3) and then causes rotation of the bearing 14 to bring it into correct coupling alignment with the counter bearing 20, as shown in FIG. 4.
According to a preferred embodiment of this device, it is characterized in that it comprises an auxiliary structure 28, here comprising a support 30 mounted articulated
at the lower part of the counter-bearing 20 of the arm 10 and comprising a connecting element 32 mounted articulated at the same time
to the arm 10 and towards the free end of the shaft 30 (articulation point 34 and 36, respectively).

 Thus this auxiliary structure 28 is fixed to the end of the arm 10 and comprises a support 30 of predetermined length, which is arranged at least temporarily (that is to say for mooring) in a plane substantially perpendicular to the end of the arm 10 carrying the counter bearing 20, the free end being provided to constitute the mooring point 26 of the flexible element, as is clearly understandable from FIGS. 1 to 6.

 According to a preferred characteristic of the device according to the invention, the length 1 of the flexible element 24 is substantially equal to the difference of the distance d separating the counter bearing 30 from the anchoring point 26 of the flexible element, at the distance a separating the point of attachment of the flexible element on the bearing from the axis of rotation of the bearing. We therefore obtain the equation 1 = d - a.

 On the other hand, as shown, it will be understood that preferably the auxiliary structure 28 is retractable, the arm 30 being likewise articulated at 38 on the counter bearing 20 so as to be foldable entirely along the arm 10, for example being actuated by cylinders.

 According to yet another preferred characteristic of the invention, the mooring arm 10 is constituted by a truss beam having the shape of a pyramid 40, for example with 4 faces 41 to 44, clearly visible in FIG. 6, and with trapezoidal base 46, clearly visible in Figure 6.

 The top 48 of the pyramid preferably serves as an attachment point 50 for a lifting device 52, connected for example to a lifting cylinder 55 fixed at 54 to the ship.

 It is also possible to provide lifting devices comprising hydraulic winches. The invention also relates to the mooring arm in itself constituted by the aforementioned truss beam and in the form of a pyramid 40, this pyramid preferably being four-sided and with a trapezoidal base, as shown, and the top serves as attachment point of a lifting device which can be connected for example to a lifting cylinder.

 It is easy to understand that, thanks to this structure of the connection or disconnection device, the mooring operation of a ship 1 is carried out with very great ease at a mooring structure 2. It suffices for this to catch the 'free end of the flexible element 24 via a floating hawser that is fished from the ship and that is pulled on the ship.

 This free end is then attached to the mooring point 26 by a remote automatic connection device.

 Then, it suffices to gradually lower the arm so as to firstly tension the flexible element 24, as shown in FIG. 3, while the following lowering movement rotates the bearings 14 so as to bring them in correct coupling alignment with the counter bearings 20.

 It will be observed in this regard that in the example currently shown as preferred, the arm 10 with a pyramidal structure with a trapezoidal base, is terminated by two branches, each of which is provided with a counter bearing 20 cooperating with an associated bearing 14.

 It will naturally be understood that the male or female centering shape can be produced on the bearing 14 or the counter bearing 20, the only requirement is that the bearing of the mooring structure is mounted to rotate.

 It will also be noted that it is possible, if necessary, to perfect the orientation of coupling alignment by pulling by means of a cable from ship 1, on the mooring structure, for the tilt towards the arm.

This is in particular achievable in the case of mooring structures constituted by articulated columns, such as column 64 shown in FIG. 5.

 Then, it is therefore possible to pass hoses 68 allowing the loading of the ship to be carried out, for example in oil or preferably liquefied gas.

 In the moored position shown in Figure 4, the bearing is fixed by bolts or pins or equivalent means, actuated for example by remote-controlled jacks.

 It is thus understood that according to the invention, a mooring is carried out almost automatically, without practically the intervention of labor, with very great ease, even in the case of severe weather conditions in complete safety.

Claims (6)

 1. Connection or disconnection device facilitating the mooring or undocking of a ship (1) to a mooring structure (2) usually located at sea, comprising a triaxial seal (4) allowing rotation about the vertical axis respectively (ZZ) and two orthogonal horizontal axes (XX ;; YY), comprising first means (6) for connection or disconnection located on the triaxial joint (4), cooperating with second means (8) for connection or disconnection linked to the ship (1), for example by being mounted at the end of a mooring arm (10) articulated (12) to the ship (1), said first means (6) comprising at least one coupling bearing (14 ) with a centering pin, mounted in rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the mooring or undocking direction, said second means (8) comprising a counter bearing (20) shaped to receive the centering pin or vice versa and which can be removably fixed to said associated bearing by means of coupling, for example Example actuated by a remote-controlled cylinder, characterized in that each bearing (14) of the mooring structure, has at its lower part a flexible element (24), such as a chain, which can be moored at the other end at a mooring point (26) of said mooring arm (10) so that during connection, after having fixed the flexible element (24) to said mooring point (26), the lowering of the arm (10) tightens the flexible element (24) and causes rotation of the bearing (14) to bring it into correct coupling alignment with the counter bearing (20).  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that an auxiliary structure (28) is fixed to the end of the arm (10), comprising a support (30) of predetermined length arranged at least temporarily in a plane perpendicular to the end of the arm carrying the counter bearing (20), the free end of the support (30) being provided to constitute the mooring point (26) of the flexible element (24).  3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the length (l) of the flexible element (24) is substantially equal to the difference of the distance (d) separating the counter bearing (20) from the point of mooring (26) of the flexible element (24), at the distance (a) separating the securing point (22) of the flexible element (24) on the bearing (14) of the axis of rotation (18) of the bearing (14).  4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the aforementioned auxiliary structure (28) is retractable.  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the mooring arm (10) consists of a lattice beam having the shape of a pyramid (40), for example with four faces and with trapezoidal base, the top (48) of which serves as an attachment point (50) of a lifting device (52), connected for example to a lifting cylinder (54).  6. Mooring arm, characterized in that it is constituted by a lattice beam having the shape of a pyramid (40), preferably with four faces and with a trapezoidal base, the apex (48) of which serves as a point attachment (50) of a lifting device (52).