GB2069954A

GB2069954A - A mooring device

Info

Publication number: GB2069954A
Application number: GB8006151A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Navire Cargo Gear International AB
Current assignee: Navire Cargo Gear International AB
Priority date: 1980-02-22
Filing date: 1980-02-22
Publication date: 1981-09-03

Abstract

A pontoon, for instance of the type used as an intermediary between a Ro-Ro ship and a quay, is provided with at least one tower structure (14) at its side to be directed towards the quay. A slide (16) is movable in relation to a vertical guide (15) in the tower structure, and is retained in a fixed position in relation to a mooring post (13) at the quay, by means of a wire (12) or the like. Two strands (19, 25), for example, lengths of chains, are attached to the quay and are guided over fair-leads (21, 27; 22, 26) at the upper and lower ends respectively of the guide and are finally attached to opposite ends of the slide (16). During changes in the level of the position in relation to the quay, inverse changes of the length of the portions of the strands (19, 25) between their attachment to the quay and the upper and lower fair-leads at the guide will occur. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A mooring device This invention relates to a device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay.

Differences in tide water level will complicate cargo handling in many ports. This is especially noticeable when so called Ro-Ro ships are involved, as the cargo handling necessitates some form of ramp arrangement forming a drivable connection between the ship and the quay.

The inclination of such a ramp must not exceed a certain value, and as well as changes in water level, the loading and unloading of the ship will of course influence its actual depth in the water.

It has been proposed to arrange a pontoon or other floating structure as an intermediary between the ship and the quay, which facilitates the communication insofar as the ramp connection between the ship and the pontoon is not influenced by changes in tide water level.

The position of the pontoon in relation to the quay will of course change, however, as the water level changes, and considerable difficulties have been encountered in mooring the pontoon in a satisfactory manner. As the pontoon on the one hand must communicate with the ship, and on the other hand, must also communicate with the quay, no appreciable displacement along the quay can be accepted, but the pontoon should move vertically only.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mooring device, which obviates manual adjustments and permits the pontoon automatically to follow changes in tide water level.

According to the invention a device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay comprises at least one pillar structure mounted at a side of the pontoon to be directed, in use, towards the quay, a vertical guide at the pillar structure having a height at least corresponding to expected changes in tide water level, a slide co-operating with said guide, means for connecting the slide, in use, to a fixed element at the quay, to maintain it at a predetermined level thereto, and means for governing relative movements between the slide and the guide.

Preferably the means for governing the relative movements between the slide and the guide comprises a first strand having one end intended to be connected, in use, to the quay and being guided over a first fair-lead at an upper end of the pillar structure, then passing a second fair-lead at a lower end of the guide to have its opposite end attached to a lower end of the slide, and a second strand having one end intended to be attached, in use, to the quay adjacent to the attachment of the first strand and being guided over a third fair-lead at the lower end of the guide and then passing a fourth fair-lead at the upper end of the pillar structure, to have its opposite end attached to an upper end of the slide.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which shows a portion of a pontoon, moored along a quay by means of a device according to the invention.

In the drawing reference 10 denotes a quay and 11 a portion of a pontoon which is moored at the quay by means of a short length of wire 12, or some similar element having one end connected to a mooring post 13.

The pontoon is provided with at least one, preferably two or more, pillar or tower structures 14 along the one of its sides to be directed, in use, towards the quay. Each tower structure contains a vertical guide 1 5 and a co-operating slide weight 16, to which the other end of the wire 12 is attached.

In the drawing, expected high tide water level "is denoted by 17, and expected low tide water level is denoted by 18. The extension of guide 1 5 must correspond at least to the difference between high and low tide water levels.

A first strand 19, for instance a chain, has one of its ends 20 attached to the quay and is guided over a first fair-lead 21 at an upper end of the tower structure, and then passes a second fairlead 22 at a lower end of the guide. The other end 23 of the first strand 19 is finally attached to a lower end of slide 1 6.

One end 24 of a second strand 25 is attached to the quay close by the attachment of end 20 of the first strand. The second strand is guided over third fair-leads 26 at the lower end of the guide and then passes over a fourth fair-lead 27 at the upper end of the tower structure. Its other end 28 is finally attached to an upper end of the slide 16.

It is evident that the slide 1 6 will retain its position level with the quay, and that the wire 12 will remain substantially horizontal, as the pontoon sinks down towards the lower water level 1 8. A reduction of the distance between the attachment 20 at the quay and the first fair-lead will be compensated by a corresponding increase in the distance between attachment 24 and the third fair-lead. No manual adjustments are necessary, and the reverse conditions will of course occur when the tide water level again rises.

In order to prevent sideward movements, wire 12 can be augmented in any suitable manner, for instance by the use of two wires arranged in Vconfiguration. Two or more tower structures will of course efficiently retain the pontoon in position.

In order to facilitate the vertical movements of the pontoon the quay may be provided with a number of fenders 29, the quay-ward ends of strands 1 9, 25 preferably being attached to one of those fenders.

1. A device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay and comprising at least one pillar structure mounted at a side of the pontoon to be directed, in use, towards the quay, a vertical guide at the pillar structure having a height at least corresponding to expected changes in tide water level, a slide co-operating with said guide, means

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A mooring device This invention relates to a device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay. Differences in tide water level will complicate cargo handling in many ports. This is especially noticeable when so called Ro-Ro ships are involved, as the cargo handling necessitates some form of ramp arrangement forming a drivable connection between the ship and the quay. The inclination of such a ramp must not exceed a certain value, and as well as changes in water level, the loading and unloading of the ship will of course influence its actual depth in the water. It has been proposed to arrange a pontoon or other floating structure as an intermediary between the ship and the quay, which facilitates the communication insofar as the ramp connection between the ship and the pontoon is not influenced by changes in tide water level. The position of the pontoon in relation to the quay will of course change, however, as the water level changes, and considerable difficulties have been encountered in mooring the pontoon in a satisfactory manner. As the pontoon on the one hand must communicate with the ship, and on the other hand, must also communicate with the quay, no appreciable displacement along the quay can be accepted, but the pontoon should move vertically only. The object of the present invention is to provide a mooring device, which obviates manual adjustments and permits the pontoon automatically to follow changes in tide water level. According to the invention a device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay comprises at least one pillar structure mounted at a side of the pontoon to be directed, in use, towards the quay, a vertical guide at the pillar structure having a height at least corresponding to expected changes in tide water level, a slide co-operating with said guide, means for connecting the slide, in use, to a fixed element at the quay, to maintain it at a predetermined level thereto, and means for governing relative movements between the slide and the guide. Preferably the means for governing the relative movements between the slide and the guide comprises a first strand having one end intended to be connected, in use, to the quay and being guided over a first fair-lead at an upper end of the pillar structure, then passing a second fair-lead at a lower end of the guide to have its opposite end attached to a lower end of the slide, and a second strand having one end intended to be attached, in use, to the quay adjacent to the attachment of the first strand and being guided over a third fair-lead at the lower end of the guide and then passing a fourth fair-lead at the upper end of the pillar structure, to have its opposite end attached to an upper end of the slide. One embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, the single figure of which shows a portion of a pontoon, moored along a quay by means of a device according to the invention. In the drawing reference 10 denotes a quay and 11 a portion of a pontoon which is moored at the quay by means of a short length of wire 12, or some similar element having one end connected to a mooring post 13. The pontoon is provided with at least one, preferably two or more, pillar or tower structures 14 along the one of its sides to be directed, in use, towards the quay. Each tower structure contains a vertical guide 1 5 and a co-operating slide weight 16, to which the other end of the wire 12 is attached. In the drawing, expected high tide water level "is denoted by 17, and expected low tide water level is denoted by 18. The extension of guide 1 5 must correspond at least to the difference between high and low tide water levels. A first strand 19, for instance a chain, has one of its ends 20 attached to the quay and is guided over a first fair-lead 21 at an upper end of the tower structure, and then passes a second fairlead 22 at a lower end of the guide. The other end 23 of the first strand 19 is finally attached to a lower end of slide 1 6. One end 24 of a second strand 25 is attached to the quay close by the attachment of end 20 of the first strand. The second strand is guided over third fair-leads 26 at the lower end of the guide and then passes over a fourth fair-lead 27 at the upper end of the tower structure. Its other end 28 is finally attached to an upper end of the slide 16. It is evident that the slide 1 6 will retain its position level with the quay, and that the wire 12 will remain substantially horizontal, as the pontoon sinks down towards the lower water level 1 8. A reduction of the distance between the attachment 20 at the quay and the first fair-lead will be compensated by a corresponding increase in the distance between attachment 24 and the third fair-lead. No manual adjustments are necessary, and the reverse conditions will of course occur when the tide water level again rises. In order to prevent sideward movements, wire 12 can be augmented in any suitable manner, for instance by the use of two wires arranged in Vconfiguration. Two or more tower structures will of course efficiently retain the pontoon in position. In order to facilitate the vertical movements of the pontoon the quay may be provided with a number of fenders 29, the quay-ward ends of strands 1 9, 25 preferably being attached to one of those fenders. CLAIMS

1. A device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay and comprising at least one pillar structure mounted at a side of the pontoon to be directed, in use, towards the quay, a vertical guide at the pillar structure having a height at least corresponding to expected changes in tide water level, a slide co-operating with said guide, means for connecting the slide, in use, to a fixed element at the quay to maintain it at a predetermined level thereto, and means for governing relative movements between the slide and the guide.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, in which the governing means includes a first strand having one end intended to be connected, in use, to the quay and being guided over a first fair-lead at an upper end of the pillar structure, then passing a second fair-lead at a lower end of the guide to have its opposite end attached to a lower end of the slide, and a second strand having one end intended to be attached, in use, to the quay adjacent to the attachment of the first strand and being guided over a third fair-lead at the lower end of the guide and then passing a fourth fair-lead of the upper end of the pillar structure, to have its opposite end attached to an upper end of the slide.

3. A device for mooring a pontoon or the like along a quay substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.