GB2291032A - Load transportation - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus (10) for use in transporting a load comprises support means (12) for supporting the load, gas bearing means (16) for selectively providing a gaseous support for the support means and duct means (e.g. 24) extending between opposite ends of said support means for use in supplying gas to said gas bearing means. The duct means are connectable by means of pipe connections (70) at each of said opposite ends with duct means of respective like apparatus. The apparatus (10) is particularly suitable for transporting loads onto and off sea-going vessels. The support can mount an 150 container or a pallet. Preferably a train of load supports is formed and coupled with a drive and a grid for moving along rails into a ship for stacking the loads for transport, Figs. 9 - 12. <IMAGE>

Description

LOAD TRANSPORTATION The invention relates to load transportation and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with the loading and unloading of sea-going vessels.

Conventional techniques for the loading/unloading of a sea-going vessel include lowering/lifting freight, which may be containerised or palletised, into/out of the vessel's holds by means of cranes or overhead gantries. Alternatively, freight can be stacked on the vessel's decks. Such a technique tends to be slow since the containers, pallets (or other items of freight) are typically moved individually onto/off of the vessel.

It is known for containerised freight to be driven onto/off of a vessel on a lorry which is transported with the freight. This mode of transportation tends to be limited to relatively short journeys and in any event, the loading/unloading of the so-called roll on/roll off ferries typically used tends to be relatively slow since each lorry must be individually driven on/off the ferry.

To improve load transportation efficiency by seagoing vessels, it is desirable to reduce the time spent in port loading and unloading. Reducing turnaround times will be of particular interest to operators of so-called fast ships such as that disclosed in EP-A-0497776 as these become available for freight transportation.

It is an object of the invention to improve load transportation efficiency.

Accordingly, the invention provides apparatus for use in transporting a load, said apparatus comprising support means for supporting the load, gas bearing means for selectively providing a gaseous support for the support means and duct means extending between opposite ends of said support means for use in supplying gas to said gas bearing means, said duct means being connectable at each of said opposite ends with duct means of respective like apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises coupling means provided at each of said opposite ends for coupling said apparatus with respective like apparatus.

Advantageously, the duct means is at least in part integral with said support means.

The gas bearing means may comprise a plurality of gas bearings detachably mounted on said support means, in which case, a gas bearing may be mounted in each corner region of the support means.

The apparatus may comprise guide means connected with said support means for cooperating with elongate guide rail means by which the apparatus can be guided during movement thereof.

The guide means may comprise a plurality of rotatable members for bearing against said guide rail means.

The guide means may comprise pairs of rotatable members, the rotatable members of each said pair being disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship about the longitudinal axis of the support means.

Advantageously, a respective pair of rotatable members may be disposed in the end region adjacent each of said opposite ends.

The rotatable members may be rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

The support means may be adapted for use with containers of predetermined size, the adaption comprising a plurality of locking devices arranged on the support means for securing a container thereon.

The support means may comprise pallet means releaseably mountable on a frame means.

Alternatively, the support means may comprise platform means integral with a frame means.

The apparatus may further comprise securing means arranged on said support means for securing the support means to cooperable parts on an adjacent surface.

A plurality of the apparatus may be coupled one to another to form a train coupleable with moving means whereby said train is moveable to selected positions.

The invention also includes a method for use in load transportation comprising supplying gas to the duct means of a plurality of apparatus as defined in the last but eleven paragraph, the duct means of which are interconnected such that said gas bearing means provide gaseous support for the support means of said apparatus.

Preferably, the apparatus are coupled together.

The method may comprise the step of placing a respective load on one or more of said plurality apparatus.

The, or each, load may be a container having a predetermined size, the method comprising the further step of securing the or each said container to the respective support means of the apparatus by means of locking devices provided on said support means.

The method may comprise the further step of coupling said plurality of apparatus with moving means and moving said plurality of apparatus to a selected position.

The method may comprise providing elongate guide rail means for cooperating with respective guide means of said plurality of apparatus, said elongate guide rail means extending at least partially between selected positions whereby said plurality of apparatus is guided at least partially during movement between said selected positions by cooperation of said guide rail means and the respective guide means of the apparatus.

The invention also includes a method of loading and unloading sea-going vessels by means of a plurality of transporters coupled together to form a train of transporters moveable by moving means to a selected position, the method comprising the steps of coupling the transporters with a said moving means, supplying gas to gas bearing means on said transporters whereby the transporters are gaseously supported and moving said gaseously supported transporters by means of said moving means onto or off said sea-going vessel to a selected position.

The method may comprise the step of discontinuing supplying of gas to said gas bearing means on reaching said selected position whereby the transporters are brought into contact with a surface therebelow.

When the selected position is on board a vessel, the method may comprise the further step of securing the transporters to the vessel by means of securing devices provided on each said transporter and arranged to be engageable with cooperating parts on said vessel.

The method may comprise placing a respective load on one or more of said transporters prior to said step of moving the gaseously supported transporters to a selected position on said vessel.

If the respective load placed on at least one of said transporters is a container having a predetermined size, the method may comprise the step of securing the or each said container to the respective transporter by means of respective locking devices provided on the transporter.

The method may comprise removing a respective load from one or more of said transporters subsequent to said step of moving the gaseously supported transporters to a selected position off said vessel.

Having reached a selected position on or off said vessel the method may comprise decoupling said moving means from said transporters.

Preferably, when a plurality of said trains of transporters are disposed on said vessel having moved one of said trains to a selected position off the vessel to provide a reload space, a train of transporters is moved into said reload space before a further train of said transporters is moved off the vessel.

Advantageously, when a plurality of said trains of transporters are disposed on said vessel the method comprises the steps of moving a plurality of symmetrically disposed trains off the vessel thereby providing a plurality of reload spaces and moving trains of transporters into said reload spaces before further trains are moved off the vessel.

In order that the invention may be well understood, some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of apparatus for use in transporting a load; Figure 2 is a side view of one end portion of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of a gas bearing; Figure 4 is a side view of the gas bearing of Figure 3 when providing a gaseous support; Figure 5 is a section view along line 5-5 of Figure 1; Figure 6 is an enlarged side view of a pipe connection of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a partial perspective view showing two apparatus according to Figure 1 coupled together with each apparatus supporting a load; Figure 8 is a plan view of pallet means for use with the apparatus shown in Figure 1;; Figure 9 is a side view of a sea-going vessel carrying loads supported by trains of apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 in Figure 9; Figure 11 is a schematic representation of the vessel of Figure 9 being unloaded; and Figure 12 is a plan view of Figure 11.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, apparatus 10 for use in transporting a load (hereinafter referred to as a transporter) comprises support means 12 for supporting the load, gas bearing means 16 for selectively providing a gaseous support for the support means and duct means extending between opposite ends of the support means 12 for use in supplying gas to the gas bearing means 16, the duct means being connectable at each said opposite end with duct means of respective like transporters 10.

The support means comprises frame means comprising two longitudinally extending hollow members 24 which form a part of the duct means for supplying gas to the gas bearing means. The hollow members 24 are held together by a plurality of cross-members 28.

On each side of the hollow members 24 at the opposite end regions thereof, frame extensions 30 are provided for mounting the gas bearing means 16. The frame extensions 30 each comprise a plurality of members 32 welded together to provide mounting for the gas bearing means and a load to be supported by the frame.

A detailed description of the illustrated arrangement of the members 24, 28 and 32 comprising the frame means of the transporter 10 will not be given since it will be understood that this is purely exemplary and a suitable frame for transporting a load may be fabricated to many designs which can of course be varied to match the type of load to be transported where necessary.

The gas bearing means comprises a plurality of gas bearings 16 of a known type detachably mounted on the frame means. As can be seen in Figure 1, a gas bearing 16 is mounted in each corner region of the frame means to a respective frame extension 30. The duct means further comprises suitable ducting and valving (not shown) for communicating gas from the hollow members 24 to the respective gas bearings.

Each gas bearing 16, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, comprises a body part 40 which defines a chamber 42.

A so-called quick coupling 44 is provided on the body part 40 by which the gas bearing can be connected with ducting connected to the duct means. A generally annular rubber bellows 46 is sealingly fitted to the mounting 40 and is supplied with gas from the chamber 42 through an aperture 50. In use, to provide a gaseous support, gas is supplied to the chamber 42 and passes through the aperture 50 to inflate the bellows 46 thereby gradually raising the frame means. When the pressure in the bellows exceeds the downward pressure exerted by the frame means and any load supported thereby, gas flowing out from the bellows via a further aperture 52 disposed inwardly of the bellows forms a thin gas film on which the frame means floats above a surface 54 therebelow.It will be appreciated that by regulating the gas flow to the respective gas bearings 16, the frame means 12 can be levelled to cope with uneven loads.

Referring to Figure 5, the gas bearings are detachably mounted to the frame extensions 30.

Specifically, the gas bearings are bolted to L-shaped members 58 fixed to the frame extensions 30. The arrangement is such that in the absence of a gas supply to the gas bearings, the frame means contacts the surface therebelow through a respective surface 60 of the frame extensions 30. In this condition, the gas bearings do not support the frame means.

Accordingly, should the rubber bellows of a gas bearing be damaged, the gas bearing can be readily removed from the frame means, even when fully loaded, by unbolting and sliding the damaged bearing away from the L-shaped members allowing a replacement to be fitted.

As shown in Figure 2, and in greater detail in Figure 6, the duct means is provided with pipe connections 70 disposed at opposite ends of the hollow members 24 by which the duct means is connectable with duct means of like transporters. An angled plate 72 is provided on the hollow member 24 adjacent each pipe connection 70 to provide protection against damage during loading and unloading of the transporter 10.

Also provided at each end of the frame means are respective coupling means 80 for coupling the transporter 10 with like transporters. The coupling means 80 each comprise a pair of plates welded to the frame means. Each plate has a centrally disposed through-hole 82 and the through-holes 82 of each pair of plates are aligned. The transporter 10 may then be coupled with a like transporter by means of, for example, a rigid coupling member 84 (as seen in Figure 7) connected with the coupling means 80 by means of a bolt or the like passing through the through-holes 82 of the coupling means 80 and a suitable through aperture of the coupling member 84.

Figure 7 shows two transporters 10, each supporting a load 86 coupled together by means of a coupling member 84. Flexible connecting pipes 88 extend between the respective pipe connection 70 of the two transporters to allow the supply of gas between the respective duct means thereof. It will be appreciated that where a train of transporters is formed, the individual transporters 10 coupled together and having their duct means interconnected (as seen in Figure 7) may be supplied with gas for their respective gas bearings from a common source.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the transporter 10 comprises guide means for cooperating with an elongate guide rail means 92 by which the transporter can be guided during movement thereof. The guide means comprises rotatable members 94 which bear against the guide rail means. The rotatable members 94 are arranged in pairs, the rotatable members of each pair being disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship about the longitudinal axis of the frame means 12. A respective pair of rotatable members 94 is disposed in the end region adjacent each end of the frame means.

The rotatable members are wheels mounted on respective shafts 96 disposed inwardly of the hollow members 24.

The shafts 96 extend downwardly such that the rotatable members are rotatable about a vertical axis.

It will be appreciated that with the rotatable members forming each pair bearing on opposite sides of the guide rail means 92, the transporter 10 is constrained to follow the guide rail means during movement thereof.

A plurality of locking devices (not shown) are arranged on the frame means 20 at locations indicated by reference numeral 100 in Figures 1 and 2 for securing a container of predetermined size to the frame means. Such locking devices which utilise a twistlock and engage with the container are well-known to those skilled in the art and are accordingly not described in detail herein.

The transporter is further provided with securing means (not shown) arranged on the frame means 12 for securing the transporter to cooperable parts on an adjacent surface. The securing means comprises a plurality of devices of the known twistlock type which are fixed to the frame means 12 so as to be engageable with cooperating parts provided in a surface on which the transporter is to rest during transit. Thus a sea-going vessel may be provided with such parts in a suitable arrangement in a cargo deck thereof whereby the transporter 10 may be releaseably secured to the deck.

If it is desired to use the transporter for purposes other than the transportation of containers, a load bearing surface or pallet means 120 as shown in Figure 8 can be releaseably mounted on the frame means 12 and secured thereto by means of the locking devices at locations 100. It will be appreciated that the pallet means 120 is provided with means (not shown) cooperable with the locking devices at locations 100 in the same way as is known in the art of containers.

The pallet means can be provided with a load bearing surface in the form of a plywood layer 122 if so desired.

As an alternative to providing a releasable pallet means 120 for mounting on the frame means, the frame means can be provided with integral pallet means by fixing plates or additional members to the frame means 20 as required, for example to form a platform providing a continuous load bearing surface. It will be readily understood that integral pallet means 120 having the configuration shown in Figure 8 can be fabricated by bolting or welding longitudinal members 124 and cross members 126 to the frame means 12.

Likewise an integral pallet means may comprise a load bearing surface such as a plywood layer 122.

It will be understood that the support means need not necessarily comprise frame means, but instead may comprise platform means, for example providing a continuous load bearing surface, to which the gas bearing means are mounted.

It is envisaged that the transporters may be provided with means for connecting their duct means with transporters disposed on either side thereof. In addition the transporters may comprise coupling means so as to be coupleable with transporters disposed on either side thereof. It will be appreciated that this allows transporters in side-by-side relationship to be moved by a common moving means.

A method of use of the transporter 10 in load transportation will now be described with particular reference to Figures 9 to 12. The described method of use relates to the loading and unloading of a seagoing vessel 200. It is, however, to be understood that the transporter 10 is not limited to such use and may find other applications.

The vessel 200 is shown loaded with containers 202 which are stacked two high on respective transporters 10. The transporters 10 are coupled together to form a plurality of trains 206. Each train 206 is formed so as to have a length substantially equal to the effective length of a cargo deck 210, 212 of the vessel on which it is located.

As seen in Figure 10, the cargo decks 210, 212 each have eight trains 206 disposed thereon. The vessel 200 is provided with a stern opening (not shown) by means of which the trains may be moved onto and off of the vessel.

On arrival in a suitably equipped port, the stern of the vessel 200 is presented to the quayside 220 for unloading/loading. The vessel 200 may comprise ramp means in the stern region for providing a connection with the quayside over which the trains may be moved.

Alternatively, a so-called linkspan, which is a device well known to those skilled in the art, may be used.

The following description relates to the use of a linkspan 222.

The linkspan 222 comprises a pontoon 224 from which a plurality of ramps 230, 232, 234 and 236 extend. The ramps 230, 232 together with an interconnecting platform 238 supported by towers 239 provide a connection between the upper cargo deck 210 of the vessel and the quayside 220. The ramps 234, 236 together with an upper surface 240 of the pontoon provide a connection between the lower cargo deck 212 and the quayside. Elongate guide rail means 92 are provided on the linkspan to cooperate with the rotatable members 94 of the transporters. The guide rail means 92 on the linkspan are arranged to coincide at the end regions thereof with like guide rail means 92' on the vessel 200 and quayside 220.

In order to move a train 206 off of the vessel 200, a moving means 240 is coupled with the transporter 10 thereof which is nearest the stern opening (hereinafter referred to as the lead transporter). The moving means can be a tractor of the type utilised at airports for towing aircraft and is provided with compressor means for generating a pressurised air supply for the transporters 10. The compressor means of the tractor 240 is connected with the pipe connections 70 of the lead transporter to supply air to the gas bearings of the transporters forming the train. The transporters are raised by the gas bearings until the train 206 is gaseously supported by pressurised air. In this condition, the tractor 240 tows the train 206 off of the vessel 200 to a selected position on the quayside 220 via the linkspan.The cooperation of the rotatable members 94 of the transporters with the guide rail means 92, 92' guides the train 206 during movement thereof.

On reaching the selected position on the quayside, the supply of air to the gas bearings is discontinued and accordingly the transporters 10 are brought into contact with the surface therebelow being supported on the respective surfaces 60 of the frame extensions 30. The tractor 240 can then be decoupled from the train for use elsewhere.

The movement of the train 206 off the vessel 200 provides a reload space on the cargo deck. A replacement train 206 may then be loaded into the reload space. Movement of the replacement train from the quayside to the reload space is achieved in the same way as the movement of the train off of the vessel, except that the tractor 240 is coupled to the trailing transporter of the train which is then pushed, rather than pulled, onto the vessel. On reaching the reload space on the vessel the air supply is discontinued and the is replacement train is decoupled from the tractor 240. The train 206 is then secured to the deck of the vessel by means of the respective securing devices provided on each transporter which are arranged to be engageable with cooperating parts in the deck.

It will be appreciated that the replacement trains 206 to be loaded onto the vessel can be made up prior to the arrival of the vessel at the port such that the unloading/loading procedure merely requires the moving of trains onto and off of the ship. Thus, the loading/unloading time (turnaround time) may be comparatively short as compared with the known techniques where freight is moved, loaded and unloaded from the vessel in individual units by a crane or gantry. For example, it is estimated that the vessel shown in Figure 9 having sixteen trains each formed of twelve transporters 10 could be unloaded and loaded with replacement trains in approximately one to two hours. To unload and then load a similar number (768) of containers by means of a crane, which is typically able to load or unload around thirty containers an hour, would be expected to take approximately twentyfive hours.

The trains made up for loading to a ship are formed by connecting the duct means of a plurality of transporters 10 to form a train having a predetermined length. Preferably the train is formed such that the length thereof corresponds substantially to the effective length of a selected position on a cargo deck of the vessel to be loaded. The transporters 10 are further coupled together by means of coupling members 84 as shown in Figure 7. A respective load is placed on the transporters 10. It will be readily appreciated that this step may take place before or after forming of the train 206 as required. If the loads are containers of a predetermined size, the respective containers placed on the transporters are secured to the transporter 10 by means of the respective locking devices arranged at locations 100.

Where loads other than containers of predetermined size are to be transported, a pallet means 120 may be mounted and secured to some or all of the transporters in the train. Alternatively, transporters having an integral pallet means or platform means as described above can be used. It will be understood that the provision of pallet means or platform means allows the transporters to be used to carry many different types of load. For example, a lorry trailer, which may carry one or more containers can be loaded on a transporter having a pallet means or a platform means and secured thereto.

To avoid ballasting problems during the loading/unloading of the vessel 200 the trains 206 may be loaded/unloaded in a symmetrical fashion. It is envisaged that with the arrangement shown in Figures 11 and 12, two trains could be moved off a particular deck at the same time. Thus, for example, the two outermost trains 206 on the cargo deck 210 would be moved off of the vessel together. Alternatively, the outermost train on the starboard side of deck 210 could be unloaded at the same time as the outermost train on the port side of deck 212. It is also desirable that the reload spaces provided on a particular deck are filled by replacement trains prior to the movement of further trains from that deck.

Claims (34)

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for use in transporting a load, said apparatus comprising support means for supporting the load, gas bearing means for selectively providing a gaseous support for the support means and duct means extending between opposite ends of said support means for use in supplying gas to said gas bearing means, said duct means being connectable at each of said opposite ends with duct means of respective like apparatus.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising coupling means provided at each of said opposite ends for coupling said apparatus with respective like apparatus.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said duct means is at least in part integral with said support means.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said gas bearing means comprises a plurality of gas bearings detachably mounted on said support means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a said gas bearing is mounted in each corner region of said support means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising guide means connected with said support means for cooperating with elongate guide rail means by which the apparatus can be guided during movement thereof.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide means comprises a plurality of rotatable members for bearing against said guide rail means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said guide means comprises pairs of said rotatable members, the rotatable members of each said pair being disposed in parallel spaced apart relationship about the longitudinal axis of the support means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, comprising a respective said pair of rotatable members disposed in the end region adjacent each of said opposite ends.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein each said rotatable member is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support means is adapted for use with containers of predetermined size, the adaption comprising a plurality of locking devices arranged on the support means for securing a container thereon.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support means comprises pallet means releaseably mountable on a frame means.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said support means comprises platform means integral with a frame means.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising securing means arranged on said support means for securing the support means to cooperable parts on an adjacent surface.

15. A plurality of transport apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims coupled one to another to form a train coupleable with moving means whereby said train is moveable to selected positions.

16. A method for use in load transportation comprising supplying gas to the duct means of a plurality of apparatus as claimed in claim 1, the duct means of which are interconnected such that said gas bearing means provide gaseous support for the support means of said apparatus.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of apparatus are coupled together.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or 17, comprising the further step of placing a respective load on one or more of said plurality apparatus.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the or each said load is a container having a predetermined size, the method comprising the further step of securing the or each said container to the respective support means of the apparatus by means of locking devices provided on said support means.

20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, comprising the further step of coupling said plurality of apparatus with moving means and moving said plurality of apparatus to a selected position.

21. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 20, comprising providing elongate guide rail means for cooperating with respective guide means of said plurality of apparatus, said elongate guide rail means extending at least partially between selected positions whereby said plurality of apparatus is guided at least partially during movement between said selected positions by cooperation of said guide rail means and the respective guide means of the apparatus.

22. A method of loading and unloading sea-going vessels by means of a plurality of transporters coupled together to form a train of transporters moveable by moving means to a selected position, the method comprising the steps of coupling the transporters with a said moving means, supplying gas to gas bearing means on said transporters whereby the transporters are gaseously supported and moving said gaseously supported transporters by means of said moving means onto or off said sea-going vessel to a selected position.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising the step of discontinuing supplying of gas to said gas bearing means on reaching said selected position whereby the transporters are brought into contact with a surface therebelow.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said selected position is on board said vessel, comprising the further step of securing the transporters to the vessel by means of securing devices provided on each said transporter and arranged to be engageable with cooperating parts on said vessel.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, 23 or 24, comprising the further step of placing a respective load on one or more of said transporters prior to said step of moving the gaseously supported transporters to a selected position on said vessel.

26. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein the respective load placed on at least one of said transporters is a container having a predetermined size, comprising the further step of securing the or each said container to the respective transporter by means of respective locking devices provided on the transporter.

27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 26, comprising the further step of removing a respective load from one or more of said transporters subsequent to said step of moving the gaseously supported transporters to a selected position off said vessel.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 27, comprising the further step, having reached said selected position on or off said vessel, of decoupling said moving means from said transporters.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein a plurality of said trains of transporters are disposed on said vessel and having moved one of said trains to a selected position off the vessel to provide a reload space, a train of transporters is moved into said reload space before a further train of said transporters is moved off the vessel.

30. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein a plurality of said trains of transporters are disposed on said vessel, comprising the steps of moving a plurality of symmetrically disposed trains off the vessel thereby providing a plurality of reload spaces and moving trains of transporters into said reload spaces before further trains are moved off the vessel.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 22 to 30, wherein said trains of transporters are formed so as to have a length substantially equal to the effective length of a cargo deck of said vessel at a respective selected position.

32. Apparatus for use in transporting a load substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

33. A method for use in load transportation substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

34. A method of loading and unloading sea-going vessels substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.