GB2098959A

GB2098959A - Fire fighting tower

Info

Publication number: GB2098959A
Application number: GB8112747A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: GRAY MACKENZIE TECHNICAL SERVI
Current assignee: GRAY MACKENZIE TECHNICAL SERVI
Priority date: 1981-04-24
Filing date: 1981-04-24
Publication date: 1982-12-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fire fighting tower for use on a semi- submersible vehicle to assist in fighting fires on an off-shore oil rig. The invention provides a fire fighting tower comprising a vertical column (10) rotatably mounted at its base on a vessel, a telescopically collapsible access gantry (14) pivotably connected to the upper end of the column (10), a staircase (24) mounted on the exterior of the column (10) to provide access to the gangway (14), a hoist (36) mounted on the column (10) for enabling equipment to be raised to the level of the gangway (14) and means (28, 30) for spraying water onto the gangway (14), the staircase (24), the hoist (36) and the means (28, 30) for spraying water all being rotatable with the column (10). This structure enables the reach required by the gangway (14) to be achieved with a minimum of weight. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fire fighting tower The present invention relates to a fire fighting tower for use on a semi-submersible vehicle to assist in fighting fires on an off-shore oil rig.

According to the present invention, a fire fighting tower comprises a vertical column rotatably mounted at its base on a vessel, a telescopically collapsible access gangway pivotably connected to the upper end of the column, a staircase mounted on the exterior of the column to provide access to the gangway, a hoist mounted on the column for enabling equipment to be raised to the level of the gangway and means for spraying water onto the gangway, the staircase, the hoist and the means for spraying water all being rotatable with the column.

Preferably, a control cab is provided at the upper end of the column from which an operator can operate motors and/or jacks to position the end of the gangway at the desired position relative to the oil rig fire.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a side view of a fire fighting tower in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the tower shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an end view of the tower looking from the left in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is an end view of the tower looking from the right in Figure 1.

The fire fighting tower shown in the drawings consists of a column 10 which is pivotable at its lower end 12 about a vertical axis. Support bearings (not shown) are provided within the column 10 at its lower end to enable the whole of the column to rotate.

A gangway 14 is pivoted at the upper end of the column 10, the gangway comprising two telescopically collapsible sections 1 6 and 20. The column may be pivoted about an axis 18 by means of a jack 22 acting between the gangway and the lower end of the column 10. The end of the gangway remote from the column is adapted to rest on an oil rig when in use so that the jack 22 only serves to raise and lower the gangway during its positioning and the gangway is supported at both ends once it has been manoeuvred into the desired position.

A staircase 24 encircles the column 10 and is secured to it. As may be seen from Figure 1, there is a clearance between the lower end of the staircase and the floor supporting the column 10 so that the staircase may rotate with the remainder of the column.

Also rotatable with the column and mounted at its upper end is a cab 26 which an operator may operate controls to raise and lower the gangway and rotate the column 10. A central supply pipe (not shown) extends up the center of the column 10 and is forked at its upper end and connected to two pipes 28 which pass through the walls of the column 10. The pipes 28 are connected at their upper end to fire monitors 30 which serve to spray water over the whole of the gangway. The connection between the pipes 28 and the supply pipe within the column 10 is capable of swivelling so as to permit the column to rotate and the fire monitors 30 to rotate with the column.

The pipes 28 further act as supports for a cross beam 32 which carries pulleys 34 (see Figure 4) which form part of a hoist mechanism. The hoist 36 is guided on rails 38 secured to the column and can be raised and lowered by means of a motor mounted on board the hoist itself. It can also be seen from Figure 4 that the base of the hoist mechanism is clear of the floor so that the hoist may also rotate with the column 10.

Figures 3 and 4 show that the control cab 26 is mounted to one side of the gangway on the same level as a transfer platform 40 which is at the same level as the gangway 14 and also at the same level as the top of the staircase 24 and the top of the hoist mechanism.

Additionally, pipes (not shown) for supplying mud and water to the fire fighting personnel on the gangway pass up the column and are supported by the gangway.

The advantage of the construction described above is that it enables the reach required by the gangway to be achieved with a minimum of weight and at the same time reduces the cost of the fire fighting tower.

1. A fire fighting tower comprising a vertical column rotatably mounted at its base on a vessel, a telescopically collapsible access gangway pivotably connected to the upper end of the column to allow movement of the gangway in a vertical plane, a staircase mounted on the exterior of the column to provide access to the gangway, a hoist mounted on the column for enabling equipment to be raised to the level of the gangway and means for spraying water onto the gangway, the staircase, the hoist, and the means for spraying water all being rotatable with the column.

2. A fire fighting tower as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control cab provided at the upper end of the column and from which an operator can control the free end of the gangway so as to locate it at the desired position.

3. A fire fighting tower as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the gangway is pivoted with respect to the column by the action of a jack.

4. A fire fighting tower as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for spraying water onto the gangway comprises a supply pipe extending within the column and which is fixed relative to the vessel.

5. A firefighting tower as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for spraying water further comprises a bifurcated pipe connected to the supply pipe in a manner to permit the bifurcated pipe to rotate with the column.

6. A fire fighting tower as claimed in claim 5,

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Fire fighting tower The present invention relates to a fire fighting tower for use on a semi-submersible vehicle to assist in fighting fires on an off-shore oil rig. According to the present invention, a fire fighting tower comprises a vertical column rotatably mounted at its base on a vessel, a telescopically collapsible access gangway pivotably connected to the upper end of the column, a staircase mounted on the exterior of the column to provide access to the gangway, a hoist mounted on the column for enabling equipment to be raised to the level of the gangway and means for spraying water onto the gangway, the staircase, the hoist and the means for spraying water all being rotatable with the column. Preferably, a control cab is provided at the upper end of the column from which an operator can operate motors and/or jacks to position the end of the gangway at the desired position relative to the oil rig fire. The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 is a side view of a fire fighting tower in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of the tower shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is an end view of the tower looking from the left in Figure 1, and Figure 4 is an end view of the tower looking from the right in Figure 1. The fire fighting tower shown in the drawings consists of a column 10 which is pivotable at its lower end 12 about a vertical axis. Support bearings (not shown) are provided within the column 10 at its lower end to enable the whole of the column to rotate. A gangway 14 is pivoted at the upper end of the column 10, the gangway comprising two telescopically collapsible sections 1 6 and 20. The column may be pivoted about an axis 18 by means of a jack 22 acting between the gangway and the lower end of the column 10. The end of the gangway remote from the column is adapted to rest on an oil rig when in use so that the jack 22 only serves to raise and lower the gangway during its positioning and the gangway is supported at both ends once it has been manoeuvred into the desired position. A staircase 24 encircles the column 10 and is secured to it. As may be seen from Figure 1, there is a clearance between the lower end of the staircase and the floor supporting the column 10 so that the staircase may rotate with the remainder of the column. Also rotatable with the column and mounted at its upper end is a cab 26 which an operator may operate controls to raise and lower the gangway and rotate the column 10. A central supply pipe (not shown) extends up the center of the column 10 and is forked at its upper end and connected to two pipes 28 which pass through the walls of the column 10. The pipes 28 are connected at their upper end to fire monitors 30 which serve to spray water over the whole of the gangway. The connection between the pipes 28 and the supply pipe within the column 10 is capable of swivelling so as to permit the column to rotate and the fire monitors 30 to rotate with the column. The pipes 28 further act as supports for a cross beam 32 which carries pulleys 34 (see Figure 4) which form part of a hoist mechanism. The hoist 36 is guided on rails 38 secured to the column and can be raised and lowered by means of a motor mounted on board the hoist itself. It can also be seen from Figure 4 that the base of the hoist mechanism is clear of the floor so that the hoist may also rotate with the column 10. Figures 3 and 4 show that the control cab 26 is mounted to one side of the gangway on the same level as a transfer platform 40 which is at the same level as the gangway 14 and also at the same level as the top of the staircase 24 and the top of the hoist mechanism. Additionally, pipes (not shown) for supplying mud and water to the fire fighting personnel on the gangway pass up the column and are supported by the gangway. The advantage of the construction described above is that it enables the reach required by the gangway to be achieved with a minimum of weight and at the same time reduces the cost of the fire fighting tower. CLAIMS

6. A fire fighting tower as claimed in claim 5, wherein a respective fire monitor which serves to spray water onto the gangway is provided at each of the bifurcated ends of the pipe which rotates with the column.

7. A fire fighting tower as claimed in claim 6, wherein the bifurcated pipe supports pulleys which form part of the hoist.

8. A fire fighting tower as claimed in claim 7, wherein the hoist is guided on rails secured to the column and can be raised and lowered by means of a motor mounted on board the hoist itself.

9. A fire fighting tower as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a transfer platform provided at the same level as the gangway which is also at the same level as the top of the staircase and the upper limit of travel of the hoist.

10. A fire fighting tower as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising pipes for supplying mud and water to the gangway personnel for use in fighting the fire.

11. A fire fighting tower substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.