GB2508640A

GB2508640A - Apparatus and Method for retrieving injured person from confined space

Info

Publication number: GB2508640A
Application number: GB1222000.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Charles Warburton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-06
Filing date: 2012-12-06
Publication date: 2014-06-11

Abstract

An apparatus comprises: a plurality of support members 10a, 10b having upper and lower surfaces; the ends of each support member being configured to engage with a structural element 2 of a structure and/or another support member 10a, 10b. The support members may include protrusions on the lower surfaces to restrict lateral movement of the support members. The apparatus is preferably used to rescue an injured person from a tank within a ship or similar confined space by sliding the person along the apparatus from a first end to a second end before detaching the support member from the first end and adding it to the first end.

Description

RettievalAppatatus and Method

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a retrieval apparatus and method and principally to an apparatus and method for retrieving personnel from remote locations and in particular from tanks situated in vessels.

Background of die Invention

Some sea going vessels include tanks. These ranks include walls having openings therein which are fabricated around frames spaced apart by 600 mm. This is standard throughout the industry. The openings are 50(1mm by 7(1(1mm and the tanks themselves are approximately 15(10mm high. Again, this is standard throughout the indusy.

The tanks may he used to hold hallast, fresh water, fuel or other cargos.

From time to time the tanks need to he service, that is they need to be cleaned and repaired. lihis requires workmen to enr the tanks. An opening is provided in the upper wall of the tanks, again these are 500mm x 700mm openings. The inside of the tank is accessed via the opening.

The workmen move through the openings in the tank to gain access to all parts of the tank.

Tf a workman is injured, or becomes ill lie must he removed from rhe tank as qtiickly as possible.

This involves moving the injured person such that he is immediately helow the opening in the upper wall of the tank. A single tank nray comprise 30 walls having openings therein, all space apart by 600mm with the openings of one wall being aligned with the openings of the adjacentwalls.

Tn order to retrieve the injured workman from the tank he may need to pass rhrough 15 of the 51110mm by 700mm openings.

Tb date there is ho piece of equipment that is adapted 10 assist in the retrieval of a person from the ahove-descrthed type of tank. In the event of needingto retrieve an injured orifi person other workers woLdd typically carry the injured person on a plank of wood or a stretcher.

It voud therefore he desirable to provide an apparatus and method that is adapted to facilitate the retrieval ofa person from a tank of the type described above.

Summary of the Invention

According to first aspcct of thc invcntion thcre is providcd an apparatus comprising a plui-alitv of support members, each having upper and lower surfaces and each support member configured to engage with a structural elcment of a structure and/or another support memher, cach support n1cmhcr having two spaced apart ends, and wherein the support members supported by another support member are supported on the ends thereof Pi-eferably, the apparatus inclndes two types of support membei-, a first type configured to he supported by structural elements of a structure, such as wails in a tank, anda second type configured to be supported by the first type of structural membet-.

Advantageously, the first hype of snpporr member includes at least one protrusion exrending from the lower surface thereof for engaging a structural element ofa structure and isolating the snppurt member against lateral movement thereof with respect to the structural element. Preferalfiy, the at kast one protrusion comprises a rib, rhe rib being positioned so as to engage the structural element and prevent lateral movement of the support member with respect to the structural element. More preferably, two spaced apart protrusions extend from the Tbower surface of the first type of support member.

Advantageously, the second type of support member includes at least one protrusion extending from the inwer surface thereof for engaging with an adjacent first type of support member and isolating the support member against lateral movement thereof with respect to the adjacent first type of support member.

Preferaldy, the at kast one protrusion comprises a ril), die rib being posiuoned so as to engage an adjacent first rvpe of support member, preferably an end face thereof and prevent lateral movement of the support member with respect to tile sti-uctural clement.

The cross-sectional shape of tile first and second type of support members preferably correspond to each other and to the shape ofa structure On which tIle first type ol-support member is to be supported.

Preferalily, the first and second support members are curved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Tn the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of an apparatus -1cc)rding to the invention: Figure 1 is an illustration ofa double bottom tank ofa vessel; Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the apparattis in situ in a tank of die type shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3a to 3d are schemanc representations of the apparatus in an inverted state showing the underside thereof

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring now to figure 1, therc is shown a part of a particuJar type of vesseJ having a doubJe bottom tank 1, 1'. The tank 1 comprises a plurality of spaced apart walls 2 incJuding a plurality of openings 3. The spacing between adjacent walls 2 is 61110mm, the openings 3 being 501Illlm wide by 700mm in height.

Each wall 2 includes a plurality of ribs 3' extend from the wall 2 between adjacent upenings 3.

Adjaccnt t-ihs are also spaced apart by 600mm.

Tilie tank 1 includes an upper wall 4, which includes access openings 5, closed by covers 6. iii order to inspect, service and repair the tank 1 personnel access the tank 1 via the openings 5. Once in the tank 1, access to various parts of the tank is gained either by walking along the base of the tank 7 between adjacent walls 2, or by climbing through opcnings 3.

As may he appreciated from Figure I, ifa workman were to he injured or fall ill when situated in the tank 1 remote from the opening 5, retrieval of him would he very difflcult given the number of openings 3 that would need to he traversed.

Referring now to Figure 2, which illustrates an apparatus for retrieving a person according to the invenflon, the apparatus comprises a plurality of curved members lOa, 101), alternate members lOa, lOb being attached to structural elements 2' of the tank and adjacent members I Oa respectively. The structural elements 2' are the edges of the openings 3 in the walls 2.

As can hc apprcciatcd from Figure 2, the members i Oh sit in a different plane to the members I (Ia.

The end portions lob' of the members lOb overlap and sit on top of the end portions of the end portions lOa' of the member lila'. Hence, the gap between openings 3 in two adjacent walls 2is bridged by a member I Oa, but the next gap is bridged by the member lob, which is directly supported by members lOa, and of course indirecfly by the 2 supporting the member lOa.

The appai-atus i-het-efore foi-ms a pathway through the aligned openings 3 along which an injured person may be passed.

Tt is envisaged that the method of rctrieving an injured person using the apparatus would involve: a) Bringing a set of mcmhers lOa, lob, for example five members including three members lOa and two members lob, to the opening 3 closesr to the injured person's position; h) Attaching each of the three members I On to alternate sets of strucrual members 2' of two adjacent walls 2 to bridge the gap there between, leaving a gap between each of the three members 1 (Ia to be bridged by a member lOb; c) Attachitig each ot the members 1 Oh to adjacetit members 1 On; d) Placing a person on one of the members at a first end of the assembled apparatus; e) Slidhng the person along the members lOa, lob until the second end of the apparatus is reached; Removing the members 1 Oa, lob at or most proximate to the ft-st end; g) Passing those renv)ved members to the second end; h) Attaching the free member iOa to structual elements 2' so as to bridge a gap between openings 3 in adjacent walls 2, and leaving an unhridged gap between the free member iOa and the next member iOa, and attaching a member lob the opposing ends IOa' of the spaced apart members 1 Oa to bridge said gap; i) Repeating steps e to h until the person is in the vicili ity of the opening 5; and j) Lifting the person from the tank 1 ia the opening 5.

Figures 3a to 3d ifiustrate the apparatus in an inverted state in order that the means of attaching members to lOa to structural elements 2" and members lob to members lOa may be described. On the convex side and at each end iOa' of the memhcrs lOa, there are mounted spaced apart ribs 12, defining a space 12' therehetween. The distance between the centres of the spaced apart ribs 12' of any one memher lOa are selected to correspond to the distance between walls 2 in a tank 1, which in the type of tank described is 600mm.

The members lob are each provided at each end thereof with a rib 13, again on the convex side of the mcmher and at each end I Oh' thereof. Tllie ribs 13 arc configured to butt up against the end faces of the adjacent members iOa, as can be best appreciated from Figures 3c and 3d.

As can he seen figures 2 and 3h, each member I Oa, 1 (lb is provided with handles Ii to facilitate liffing, carryingand Inailouvering of the members lila, lob. The members lila, lOb are formed of gdass reinforced plastic. Tihis allows them to be both strong and light weight.

The members lOa and lOb are of substantially equal leith, hut the members lOb are slightly smaller than the members lila in their radius. The external radius of curvature of the members 1 (lb corresponds substantially to the internal radius of curvature of the members I (Ia.

Tihe apparatus provides a simple, vet highly effective means for retrieving personnel from a tank of the type shown in figure 1. TIhe apparatus may he adapted to suit other structures. For example, the support members may have different cross-secthonmil shapes, or different dimensions. They may he used to mvoe objects other than people.

Claims

Claims I. An apparatus comprising a pItitiity of support members, each having upper and lower surfaces and each support member configured to engage with a structural element ofa structure and/or another support member, each support member having two spaced apart ends, and wherein the support members supported by another support member are supported on the ends thereof.
2. An apparatus according to Claim I, including two lipes of support memhei-, a first type configured to he supported by structural elements of a stracture, and a second type configured to supported by the first type of structural member.
3. An apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the first type of support member includes at least one protrusion extending from the lower surface thereof for engaging a structural element of a structure and isolating the support member against lateral movement thereof with respect to the structural ci 011 mt.
4. An apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the-t least one protrusion comprises a rib, the rib being posidoned so as to engage the structural element and prevent lateral movement of the support mcmbcr with rcspccr to thc structural clcmcnt.
5. An apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, comprising two spaced apart protrusions extending from the lowcr surfacc of thc first tvpc of support mcmhcr.
6. An apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 5, whcrcin rim sccond typc of support mcmhcr includes at least one protrusion extending from die lower surface thereof for engaging with an adjacent first type of support member and isolating the support member against lateral movement thereof with respect to the adjacent first type of support member.
7. An apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the-at least one protrusion comprises a rib, the rib being positioned so as to eligage an adjacent fit-st type of support member, preferably all end face thereof and prevent lateral movement of the support member with respect to the structural element.
8. An apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 8, wherein the cross-sectional shape of the first and second type of support members correspond to each other and to the shape of a structure on which the first type of support member is to be supported.
9. An apparatus according to Claim 8, wherein the fli-st and second support members are curved.
10. An apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 9, including one more of the fu-st type of support member than the second type of support member.
11. An apparatus according to Claim 10, including three of the first type of support member and two of the second type of support member.
12. A method of retrieving an injured person using the apparatus would invoive: a) Bringing an apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to ii to the vicinity of a person to be retrieved; h) Attaching each of the members to sti-uctual elements of a strucrure and/or to another member; c Placing a person on one of the members at a first end of the assembled apparatus; d) Sliding the person along the members until the second end of the apparatus is reached; e Removing the member or members at or most proximate to the first end; f) Passing those rentoved members to the second end; g) Attaching the members to structual elements and/or other members h) Repeating steps a to g unul the retrieved person is in the vicinity of an exit point of the structure; and i) Lifting the person from the structure.
13. A method according to Claim 12, wherein the apparatus is an *apparats according to any of Claims 2 to ii, and wherein the first type of member is attached to structural elements of the structure and the second type of member is attached to adjacent members of the first type.
14. An apparatus substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings.