GB2490508A

GB2490508A - Tapered connection arrangement for a sectional barge

Info

Publication number: GB2490508A
Application number: GB201107326A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stuart James Turner; Daniel George Warren Turner
Original assignee: HOVERTRANS SOLUTIONS Pte Ltd
Current assignee: HOVERTRANS SOLUTIONS Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2011-05-04
Filing date: 2011-05-04
Publication date: 2012-11-07
Also published as: GB201107326D0

Abstract

A connection arrangement for improving the connection of one or more individual barges 1, sometimes referred to as pontoons, together to create a larger sectional barge. The connection arrangement comprises a tapered pin member 13 which, during connection of adjacent individual barges, is received within adjacent tapered sockets 4 provided at the sides of the individual barges. The tapered pin member and the tapered sockets are provided with complimentary tapered faces that act to pull the adjacent individual barges together into sealing contact as the tapered pin member slides into the sockets of the adjacent individual barges. The use of the tapered pin members and tapered sockets allows for better alignment of the individual barges in the horizontal and vertical plane and greater bending moments can be resisted.

Description

Sectional barge connector This invention relates to improving the connection between sectional barges so as to create a larger barge for use as an air cushion vehicle or to be used as a conventional marine barge. Sectional barges sometimes referred to as pontoons are a known product and used in marine civil engineering for carrying various devices such as a piling rig or dredging equipment and for general transportation

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The need to assemble sectional barges which is a known product in remote locations but adapting them for use as an air cushion vehicle is difficult due to the air gap between the sectional barges and their connectors. The connectors on existing products are also designed for use in a floating mode when in water, whereas the air cushion vehicle can due to its amphibious nature can sit down on sandbars or mud banks so that the connectors have to be able to withstand large bending moments when the whole of the base is not supported.

Sectional barges have been around for a long time as a known product and there are various types of methods to connect them together such as a hook and pin mechanism or even bolting them together. Although these can be adapted for the use with an air cushion vehicle they have not been designed for sealing the air around the connector or in the gaps between the sectional barge units and the air cushion flexible skirt assembles. For clarity once the core of the barge is created with sectional barge units, flexible skirt assemblies are connected around the periphery so that during operation, the barge is supported on one or more cushions of pressurised gaseous fluid, and with flexible skirting assemblies which include independent flexible corrugated members, hereafter referred to as individual segments. Flexible skirting assemblies which include a plurality of discrete flexible individual segments in side by side relationship are known.

These known flexible individual segments each consist of a sheet of flexible fluid impermeable material folded to provide, in horizontal cross-section, a U'-like shape, with sides of the U' projecting into the cushion space and acting as at least part of the barrier to the escape of the pressured gaseous cushion or cushions by which the vehicle is supported. The sides of the U' act as tension members to restrain the concave portion from deflecting outwards under the influence of the cushion pressure. Fluid impermeability referred to in this context implies that the material is impervious to both water and air.

The individual segment is attached to the core of sectional barges with the use of the special frames called flexible skirt assemblies which are connected to the periphery of the barge core which allows the sides of the U' shape flexible individual segments to expand when under pressure creating the outer barrier for the cushion of the pressurised gaseous fluid.

SUMMARY OF iNVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a superior method of connection of the sectional barges and the skirt frame assemblies.

With the present designed shape and with the taper of the connector from the deck to the base of each sectional barge unit makes the alignment of two separate units is easier and a better air seal can be achieved as it wfll pull the sectional barge units together in the horizontal plane with the vertical plane being aligned with the use of the tapered locking pin. Due to the connector taper shape larger bending moments can be tolerated as oads can be disturbed through the length of the connector. This new connector has a tapered shape from all sides and is inserted into a tapered receiver of similar shape and size on the sectional barge units which will effectively puU the sectional barge units together and through its tapered shape aligning the sectional barge units in the horizontal plane and a tapered locking pin will align the sectional unit in the vertical plane.

The connector shape can be fabricated to save weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

F1G 1 presents a profile of five sectional barge units being connected to form the core of the barge.

FiG 2 presents a profile of a nine sectional barge units connected to form a complete barge core but can be larger or smaller in number.

F1G 3 presents a profile of nine sectional barge units connected to form a complete barge core with some of the flexible skirt assemblies and individual skirt segments attached.

FIG 4 presents a profile of a single sectional barge conical shape with a slot running from the deck to the base so that the joining connector can be inserted.

FiG 5 presents a profile of the insert that is fitted permanently into the sectional barge conical shape which creates the rear taper and locking component for the joining connector.

FIG 6 presents a profile of the single sectional barge conical shape with the tapered insert located in place.

FIG 7 presents a profile of the single sectional barge joining connector.

F1G 8 presents a profile of two sectional barges with the joining connectors being partially in place.

FIG 9 presents a profile of two sectional barges with the joining connectors in place pulling the two units together.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-FIG 1 presents a profile of five sectional barge (1) units being connected (2) with side (6) forming a small gap (3) with its associated side in the next unit(1)to form the core of the barge.

F1G 2 presents a profile of nine sectional barge units (1) connected via connectors (2) to form a to form a complete barge core.

FIG 3 presents a profile of nine sectional barge units (1) connected to form a complete barge core with some of the flexible skirt assemblies (20) and individual skirt segments (21) attached.

F1G 4 presents a profile of a single sectional barge receiver conical shape (4) with a slot (5) running from the deck to the base along the side (6) of each sectional barge unit so that the joining connector can be inserted. Along all sides at the same height is a compressible air seal (17) that is used to stop air leaking from the air cushion up through the small gaps between the sectional barge units (1) FIG 5 presents a profile of the insert (7) that is fitted permanently into the sectional barge conical shape (4) which creates a rear taper (9) and locking slot which has a taper (8) for a wedge shape device to be inserted. A location pin (11) is fitted at the base for the joining connector to secure its position and an air sealing flat face (10) which will be located against a flexible seal on the joining connector and to stop air raising through the conical shape (4) an air sealing plate (12) is fitted at the same level as the connector sealing position (10).

F1G 6 presents a profile of the single sectional barge conical shape (4) with the tapered insert (7) located in place, fitted into the sectional barge (1) sides (6).

F1G 7 presents a profile of the single sectional barge joining connector (13) with the tapered top locking device (14) that can be swivelled into the locking component on the rear taper insert to give vertical alignment. The taper face (16) on the joining connector is joined to a similar section via a web (18) which is narrower at the top due to the taper and a lifting hole is located (22) for removing the connector when required. A locating hole (15) is positioned in the base and a compressible air seal on the connector is positioned to compress against face (10) and air is stopped from leaking through with an air sealing plate (12).

F1G 8 presents a profile of two sectional barges (1) with the joining connectors (13) being partially in place. The compressible air seal (17) is located on the sectional barge sides (6) so that when they are brought together these will meet at same location (17) and then be compressed together to form a seal between the sectional barge units (1) and the skirt assemblies (20).

F1G 9 presents a profile of two sectional barges (1) with the joining connectors (13) in place pulling the two units together in the horizontal plane and locking devices (14) which are fitted onto the top of the joining component (13) and locked into locking slot (8) fitted on the rear taper insert (7).

As the joining connector (13) is lowered into the sectional barge receiver conical shape (4) the tapered sides (16) will pull the sectional barge uns (1) together in the horizontal plane. The connector (13) will tower by its own weight but if this is an issue it is strong enough to be forced using a jacking device. This method can be reversed for removing it and a lifting hole (22) is located on the web near the top if required. Once the joining connector has reached the bottom a location pin (11) will guide it into place. An air sealing strip of flexible material is located around the sectional barge and at the same height the air sealing on the joining connector (13) is at the same location point (17) and (10) on the barge receiver unit (4). A sealing plate (18) on the connector and (12) on the receiver are also located at this lev& to stop air leaking through the connector and the receiver section. Once located the final alignment is achieved by using the tapered wedges (14) on top of the joining connector and forcing these into the tapered slot (8) on the receiver unit insert (7). If for any reason these tapered locking wedges (14) can be separate and forced into position with a hammer and secured in place with a pin. This method is also used for connecting the skirt assemblies (20) onto the perimeter of the sectional barge core units (1) and the skirt assemblies (20) which are sealed with a compressible seal at the same location point (17).

The individual segment (21) is attached to the core of sectional barges (1) with the use of the special frames called flexible skirt assemblies (20) which are connected to the periphery of the barge core which allows the sides of the U' shape flexible individual segments (21) to expand when under pressure creating the outer barrier for the cushion of the pressurised gaseous fluid. Claim

Claims

This invention relates to improving the connection between sectional barges so as to create a larger barge for use as an air cushion vehicle or barge a known product.Sectional barges sometimes referred to as pontoons are a known product and used in marine civil engineering for carrying various devices such as a piling rig or dredging equipment and for general transportation.Sectional barges have been around for a long time as a known product and there are various types of methods to connect them together such as a hook and pin mechanism or even bolting them together. These existing connectors are limited in strength when the barge is in bending as they tend to have local point loads so are not always strong enough when not in a floating mode.These known products have also been used as air cushion vehicles and although these can be adapted for the use with air cushion vehicles they have not been designed for sealing the air around the connector or in the gaps between the sectional barge units and the air cushion flexible skirt assemblies. For clarity once the core of the barge is created with sectional barge units, flexible skirt assemblies are connected around the periphery so that during operation, the barge is supported on one or more cushions of pressurised gaseous fluid, and with flexible skirting assemblies which include independent flexible corrugated members, hereafter referred to as individual segments. Flexible skirting assemblies which include a plurality of discrete flexible individual segments in side by side relationship are known. These known flexible individual segments each consist of a sheet of flexible fluid impermeable material folded to provide, in horizontal cross-section, a U'-like shape, with sides of the U' projecting into the cushion space and acting as at least part of the barrier to the escape of the pressured gaseous cushion or cushions by which the vehicle is supported. The sides of the U' act as tension members to restrain the concave portion from deflecting outwards under the influence of the cushion pressure. Fluid impermeability referred to in this context implies that the material is impervious to both water and air.The individual segment is attached to the core of sectional barges with the use of the special frames called flexible skirt assemblies which are connected to the periphery of the barge core which allows the sides of the U' shape flexible individual segments to expand when under pressure creating the outer barrier for the cushion of the pressurised gaseous fluid.1. My claim is that this new connector which has a tapered shape from all sides and is inserted into a tapered receiver of similar shape and size on the sectional barge units will effectively pull the sectional barge units together and through its tapered shape align the sectional barge units in the horizontal plane and a tapered locking pin will align the sectional unit in the vertical plane.
2. In addition to my claim the connector can be made stronger as loads can be easily distributed through the main load bearing structure of the sectional barge unit along the whole depth of the unit.
3. In addition to my claim the connector can be used on sectional barges for normal marine use without the air cushion.