JP2014156179A - Floating body connection device and ship equipped with connecting body - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a connection device which connects a ship and an offshore wind power generator both of which move irregularly, in which a connecting operation between the ship and the power generator is made easier by connecting without selecting a connection area of the power generator to be connected.SOLUTION: A floating body connection device comprises: a connecting body 30 which is extended from a ship 10, equipped with flexibility capable of absorbing relative movement between the ship 10 and a power generator 20, and through which a person can move; and an electromagnet 40 which is provided on the tip of the connecting body 30 and capable of attaching firmly onto an outer wall 21 of the power generator 20. Because the outer wall 21 is formed of a magnetic body, the electromagnet 40 can be attached firmly on any position, and connection can be performed easily even if the ship 10 and the power generator 20 irregularly move with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a floating body coupling device that couples floating bodies that move irregularly together, and a ship including a coupling body that is coupled to a floating body to transfer a person to the floating body that floats on water.

  Offshore wind power generators (hereinafter simply referred to as “power generators”) are subject to low cost inspection and repair. In particular, transferring workers to the power generation device at low cost is a problem. Patent Document 1 below discloses a technique for transferring an operator to a power generation device using an airship. In this technology, an airship is brought close to a power generator, and the airship and a required place of the power generator are connected by a ladder, and an operator can transfer from the airship to the power generator using the ladder.

European Patent Application Publication No. 2270330

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the position of both the airship and the power generation device moves irregularly, it is not easy to connect the airship and the power generation device with a ladder. This is because it is difficult to stop the airship at the desired position because the wind is strong on the ocean, and the power generator is also moving irregularly by waves while floating on the ocean. In such a state, it is difficult to connect the ladder from the airship to a predetermined position of the power generation device.
In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to facilitate the connecting operation of floating bodies by connecting the floating bodies that move irregularly together without connecting the connecting places on the connecting side. There is.

A first invention of the present invention is a floating body coupling device for coupling a first floating body and a second floating body, which are floating bodies that move irregularly together, and is extended from the first floating body, and relative to each other. A connecting body that is flexible enough to absorb a movement and capable of moving a person, and an adsorbing body that is provided at a tip of the connecting body and can be adsorbed to an outer wall of the second floating body. Features.
According to the first invention, the connecting body of the first floating body can be connected to the second floating body by bringing the tip of the connecting body close to the second floating body and adsorbing the adsorbing body to the outer wall thereof. At this time, the adsorbent can be adsorbed at any place where it can be adsorbed. Therefore, even if floating bodies move irregularly mutually, it can connect easily and a person can transfer easily between a 1st floating body and a 2nd floating body via a coupling body. Moreover, since the coupling body has flexibility, the floating bodies are allowed to move irregularly with each other, and the coupled body after the coupling is separated from the second floating body by receiving a force associated with the relative movement of the floating bodies. This can be suppressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the connection body is a cylindrical body that allows a person to pass through the internal space.
According to the second invention, since the person can move between the first floating body and the second floating body through the cylindrical body, even when the floating bodies move irregularly with each other, the person moves through the coupling body. Can be prevented from falling accidentally.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, the length of the cylindrical body can be expanded and contracted.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cylindrical body can be expanded when used as a connecting body and contracted when stored on the first floating body. Therefore, it can be stored compactly when it is not used as a connector while maintaining its function as a connector.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the cylindrical body has a bellows structure so that the length thereof can be expanded and contracted.
According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the cylindrical body can be expanded and contracted by the bellows structure, even if the floating bodies move relative to each other in a state where the coupling body is coupled to the second floating body, the movement is caused by the bellows structure. It can absorb and it can suppress that the connected body after a connection receives the force accompanying the relative motion of floating bodies, and is separated from a 2nd floating body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect, the cylinder is expanded and contracted by increasing or decreasing an air pressure in the cylinder by supplying and discharging air.
According to the fifth aspect, since the cylinder is expanded and contracted by supplying and discharging air in the cylinder, the cylinder can be expanded and contracted without a mechanism for expansion and contraction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the third or fourth aspect of the invention, the cylindrical body is configured by connecting a plurality of bag bodies in the length direction thereof, and is expanded and contracted by supplying and discharging air to each of the bag bodies. It is characterized by being.
According to the sixth aspect of the invention, when air is supplied to the plurality of bags, each bag is expanded and the cylinder is extended. Conversely, when air is discharged from the plurality of bags, each bag shrinks and the cylinder shrinks. Therefore, the cylinder can be expanded and contracted without a mechanism for expansion and contraction.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the adsorbent is an electromagnet.
According to the seventh aspect, when the outer wall of the second floating body is a magnetic body, the electromagnet as the adsorbing body can be adsorbed regardless of the location on the outer wall. Therefore, even if floating bodies move irregularly mutually, a connection body can be connected easily.

The eighth invention of the present invention is a ship comprising a connecting body connected to the floating body in order to transfer a person to the floating body floating on the water, the connecting body being extended toward the floating body, It is flexible enough to absorb relative movement with the floating body and can move a person. At the tip of the connecting body, an adsorbing body that can be adsorbed to the outer wall of the floating body is provided. It is characterized by that.
According to the eighth invention, the connecting body on the ship can be connected to the floating body by bringing the tip of the connecting body close to the floating body and adsorbing the adsorbing body to the outer wall. At this time, the adsorbent can be adsorbed at any place where it can be adsorbed. Therefore, even if the ship and the floating body move irregularly with each other, the connection can be easily performed, and a person can easily transfer from the ship to the floating body via the connection body. In addition, since the connecting body has flexibility, the ship and the floating body are allowed to move irregularly with each other, and the connected body receives the force accompanying the relative movement between the ship and the floating body from the floating body. Separation can be suppressed.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the eighth aspect, the hull includes a support plate extending along the water surface so as to support the connecting body extended toward the floating body in a state of being separated from the water surface. Features.
According to the ninth aspect, since the coupling body is supported on the support plate extending along the water surface, the coupling body can be stably supported in a state of being separated from the water surface.

It is a side view of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the cylinder which comprises the connection body of the said embodiment. It is a side view of the cylinder similar to FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the use condition of the cylindrical body similar to FIG. It is a front view of the coupling body of the said embodiment. It is explanatory drawing explaining the use condition of the said embodiment. It is a side view of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

<First embodiment>
1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment, the first floating body in the present invention is a ship, the second floating body is an offshore wind power generator, and a connecting body is provided at the tip of the ship.
A connecting body 30 is provided at the tip of the hull 11 of the ship 10. The connecting body 30 has a plurality of cylinders 31 connected in the length direction, and the cylinders 31 are connected to each other by a bellows 32. A fixing portion 62 and a frame body 33 are fixed to the bellows 32 provided at both ends in the length direction of the connecting body 30.
The fixing portion 62 has a rectangular tube shape in which the outer peripheral end portion of the bellows 32 is fixed inside, and is fixed on the hull 11 by the platform 61. A handrail 64 is fixed to an end of the fixing portion 62 opposite to the fixing end of the bellows 32. As shown in FIG. 1, a person P1 steps on the step 61 and passes through the fixing portion 62 to enter the inside of the cylindrical body 31. When entering, the handrail 64 can support the body.
On the other hand, the frame 33 has an opening 34 through which a person can pass, and as shown in FIG. 6, the person P3 passes between the opening 34 and the inside and outside of the frame 33. Have been able to. An opening / closing lid is provided at the opening 34. A tip portion 35 is provided at the end of the frame 33 opposite to the fixed end of the bellows 32, and electromagnets 40 as adsorbers are provided at two locations on the tip side of the tip portion 35. . The distal end side of the distal end portion 35 is closed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the cylindrical body 31 is formed by combining a plurality of U-shaped bag bodies 31 </ b> A and 31 </ b> B in the vertical direction and connecting them in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical body 31. Air pipe connection portions 31C and 31D of the respective bag bodies 31A and 31B are respectively provided at the joint portions at the two end portions of the upper bag body 31A and the lower bag body 31B, and each air pipe connection portion. Air pipes 31E are communicated with 31C and 31D, respectively. Each air pipe 31E is connected to a plurality of bag bodies 31A and 31B connected in the length direction of the cylindrical body 31 so that air can be supplied and discharged simultaneously.
When each bag 31A and 31B is supplied with air from each air pipe 31E and expands, the cylindrical body 31 expands from the contracted state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 as shown by the phantom line in FIG. State. On the contrary, when each bag 31A, 31B is exhausted and contracted by discharging air from each air pipe 31E, the cylindrical body 31 is shown as a solid line in FIG. 1 from the expanded state as shown by the phantom line in FIG. It is in a contracted state.
Although not shown, outer walls that can be deformed along with expansion and contraction of the bag bodies 31A and 31B are provided on both outer sides of the air pipe connection portions 31C and 31D. By this outer wall, the inside of the cylindrical body 31 is shielded from the external environment.
Although not shown, an air pump is connected to the end of the bellows 32 in the fixed portion 62, and each bellows 32 is expanded and contracted by supplying and discharging air into the bellows 32.
As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical body 31 (and the bellows 32) is formed so that a person P4 can pass through the inside, and a rope is fixed inside the cylindrical body 31 although illustration is omitted. The person P4 can grip the rope and move the body stably.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, a pair of tower parts 63 are fixed to the upper part of the fixing part 62 corresponding to both side parts of the cylindrical body 31, and a pulley 52 is fixed to the tip of each tower part 63. Has been. Pulleys 53 are also fixed to both side portions of the fixing portion 62 below each pulley 52, and a cable 51 is interposed between the pulleys 52, 53 and fixing pins 55 on both side portions of the distal end portion 35 of the cylindrical body 31. 54 are routed. Each cable 51, 54 is wound around a drum of a cable driving device 56 via a pulley 53, and the length of the connecting body 30 is adjusted by adjusting the winding amount by the cable driving device 56. I try to adjust it.

According to the first embodiment described above, when air is supplied from the air pump to the end of the bellows 32 in the fixed portion 62 in a state where the connecting body 30 is contracted, as shown by the solid line in FIG. The air pressure in the cylindrical body 31 and the bellows 32 is increased, and the bellows 32 is changed from the contracted state to the expanded state. As a result, the connecting body 30 is extended by the length of the bellows 32.
Next, when air is supplied to the upper and lower bag bodies 31A and 31B via the air pipe 31E, the bag bodies 31A and 31B are inflated, and as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. Expanded first and deployed. At this time, the cables 51 and 54 are pulled out from the drum of the cable driving device 56 to support the connecting body 30 in the unfolded state.
With the connecting body 30 deployed in this manner, when the tip 35 of the connecting body 30 is brought close to the outer wall 21 of the offshore wind power generator 20 and the electromagnet 40 is excited, the outer wall 21 of the offshore wind power generator 20 is magnetic. Therefore, the outer wall 21 is attracted by the electromagnet 40, and the distal end portion 35 of the coupling body 30 is fixed to the outer wall 21. At this time, the electromagnet 40 can be adsorbed at any location on the outer wall 21.
In the state where the tip portion 35 of the connecting body 30 is fixed to the outer wall 21 of the offshore wind power generator 20, the cylinders in which the persons P1, P2, and P3 form the connecting body 30 from the ship 10 as shown in FIGS. The offshore wind power generator 20 can be reached through the body 31.
If the ladder 22 is installed on the outer wall 21 of the offshore wind power generator 20, the person P <b> 3 can reach the bridge 23 of the offshore wind power generator 20 using the ladder 22. Thereafter, the person P3 can perform necessary work such as repair on the offshore wind power generator 20.
When the coupling body 30 is disconnected from the offshore wind power generator 20, the excitation of the electromagnet 40 is released, and at the same time, the air in the bag bodies 31A and 31B forming the cylinder body 31 is discharged, and the air pressure in the cylinder body 31 and the bellows 32 is changed. At the same time, by winding the cables 51 and 54 onto the drum of the cable drive device 56, the connecting body 30 cut off from the offshore wind power generator 20 can be contracted and stored on the hull 11.

As mentioned above, according to 1st Embodiment, if the electromagnet 40 of the front-end | tip part 35 of the connection body 30 is on the outer wall 21 of the offshore wind power generator 20, it can adsorb | suck regardless of a place. Therefore, even if the ship 10 and the offshore wind power generator 20 move irregularly with each other on the water surface S, the connection body 30 can be easily connected to the offshore wind power generation apparatus 20, and the ship 10 is connected via the connection body 30. A person can easily move between the wind turbine generator 20 and the offshore wind power generator 20. Moreover, since the connection body 30 has the bellows 32 between the cylindrical bodies 31, and is set as the structure provided with flexibility, it accept | permits that the ship 10 and the offshore wind power generator 20 move irregularly mutually, It is possible to prevent the connected body 30 after being connected from being separated from the outer wall 21 of the offshore wind power generator 20 by receiving a force accompanying relative movement with the offshore wind power generator 20.
Further, since the person can move between the ship 10 and the offshore wind power generator 20 through the cylinder 31 closed with respect to the external environment, the ship 10 and the offshore wind power generator 20 are irregularly connected to each other. Even if it moves, it can suppress falling accidentally when moving through the coupling body 30.
Further, the cylindrical body 31 can be expanded when used as the connecting body 30 and contracted when stored on the hull 11. Therefore, it can be stored compactly when not used as a connected body while maintaining the function as the connected body 30.
Furthermore, the cylinder 31 is expanded and contracted through the bellows 32 by supplying and discharging air into the cylinder 31, and is expanded and contracted by supplying and discharging air to and from the plurality of bags 31A and 31B. The cylinder can be expanded and contracted without a mechanism for the purpose.

<Second Embodiment>
FIG. 7 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. The feature of the second embodiment over the first embodiment described above is that the support plate 12 is provided at the tip of the hull 11 of the ship 10, and other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.
The support plate 12 is provided along the direction in which the connection body 30 is extended, and has a width and a length that can support many portions other than the tip of the connection body 30.
In the case of the second embodiment, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7, when the connection body 30 is expanded from a contracted state, as shown by a virtual line in FIG. 7, the connection body 30 is a support plate. 12 is supported. Therefore, the cables 51 and 54 for supporting the unfolded connection body 30 provided in the first embodiment and the configuration associated therewith can be omitted.
According to the second embodiment, the connecting body 30 can be stably supported while being separated from the water surface S. In addition, even when the connecting body 30 is not used, it can be left in the unfolded state on the support plate 12, so that a device for moving the connecting body 30 between the unfolded state and the contracted state is unnecessary. it can.

As mentioned above, although specific embodiment was described, this invention is not limited to those external appearances and structures, A various change, addition, and deletion are possible in the range which does not change the summary of this invention. For example,
1. The coupling body may be constituted by a ladder.
2. The cylindrical body constituting the connecting body is a so-called telescopic structure in which a plurality of cylindrical bodies are overlapped in the radial direction, and the length of the entire cylindrical body is expanded and contracted by relatively shifting the cylindrical bodies in the length direction. May be. Further, the cylinder is not limited to a cylinder, but may be a square cylinder.
3. The adsorber may be a suction cup that adsorbs to the outer wall of the floating body with negative pressure. The negative pressure may be generated by a negative pressure compressor or may be generated from compressed air using an ejector.
4). The support plate provided in the hull may be extendable and contractable with respect to the hull.
5. The support plate provided in the hull may be provided on a side portion of the hull.
6). In the above embodiment, the floating body is an offshore wind power generator, but it may be a large hull.

10 Ship (first floating body)
11 Hull 12 Support plate 20 Offshore wind power generator (floating body, second floating body)
21 outer wall 22 ladder 23 bridge 30 connecting body 31 cylinder 31A, 31B bag 31C, 31D air pipe connecting part 31E air pipe 32 bellows 33 frame body 34 opening 35 tip 40 electromagnet (adsorbent)
51, 54 Cable 52, 53 Pulley 55 Fixing pin 56 Cable drive device 61 Step 62 Fixing part 63 Tower part 64 Handrail

Claims (6)

A floating body coupling device that couples a first floating body and a second floating body, both floating bodies moving irregularly,
A connecting body that is extended from the first floating body, has flexibility capable of absorbing relative movement between the floating bodies, and can move a person;
A floating body connecting apparatus comprising: an adsorbing body provided at a tip of the connecting body and capable of being adsorbed on an outer wall of the second floating body. In claim 1,
The connecting body is a cylindrical body that allows a person to pass through an internal space. In claim 2,
The cylinder body is a floating body connecting device characterized in that the length thereof can be expanded and contracted. In claim 2 or 3,
The cylinder is configured by connecting a plurality of bags in the length direction thereof, and is expanded and contracted by supplying and discharging air to each of the bags. In order to transfer a person to a floating body floating on the water, the ship includes a connecting body connected to the floating body,
The connecting body is stretched toward the floating body, has flexibility capable of absorbing relative movement with the floating body, and is capable of moving a person.
A ship provided with a connecting body, wherein an adsorbing body capable of being adsorbed to an outer wall of the floating body is provided at a tip of the connecting body. In claim 5,
A ship including a connecting body, wherein the ship body includes a support plate extending along the water surface so as to support the connecting body extended toward the floating body in a state of being separated from the water surface.

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