NL2024235B1 - Mooring system - Google Patents

Abstract

Mooring system comprising means for engaging a ship’s hull that are mounted on a movable track. The movable track is a closed round going track. The means for engaging a ship’s hull comprise at least one fender. Further the means for en— gaging a ship’s hull comprise at least one mooring pad which is arranged to attach to the ship’s hull, preferably a vacuum mooring pad or a magnetizable mooring pad.

Description

Mooring system The invention relates to a mooring system comprising means for engaging a ship’s hull.

Such a mooring system is as old as the way to Rome. Conventionally mooring is accomplished using mooring lines. The lines are fixed to deck fittings on the ship at one end, and on the other end to fittings such as bollards, rings, and cleats on shore. It is also known to effect mooring of a ship without lines, using vacuum cups or switchable magnet pads.

Whenever a moored ship needs to be relocated, this involves a lot of manpower and correspondingly high costs for undoing the existing mooring, then moving the ship, and even- tually mooring the ship again on its new location.

It is an object of the invention to alleviate this high burden and to provide an environmentally friendly solu- tion for relocating an already moored ship.

The mooring system of the invention has the features of one or more of the appended claims.

First and foremost according to the invention the means for engaging a ship’s hull are mounted on a movable track. With this feature it is possible to relocate the ship by the movement of the track, whilst the ship remains connect- ed to the means engaging the ship’s hull.

The means engaging the ship’s hull can be embodied in numerous ways. Most of the time it is beneficial that the means for engaging a ship’s hull comprise at least one fender to provide protection against damaging the ship’s hull. To connect the ship and really effectuate its mooring is however preferable that the means for engaging a ship's hull comprise at least one mooring pad which is arranged to attach to the ship’s hull.

In one embodiment the at least one mooring pad com- prises a vacuum mooring pad.

In another embodiment the at least one mooring pad comprises a magnetizable mooring pad.

It is also possible to apply a combination of one or more vacuum mooring pads with one or more magnetizable mooring pads or to apply other mechanical connection means.

To promote the purposes of the invention it is desir- able that the movable track is a closed round going track.

Beneficially the movable track is provided with sup- porting wheels on opposite sides of the movable track so as to be able to observe both push and pull forces that the ship ap- plies on the construction.

Suitably the movable track is guided around guide wheels, which are preferably motorized. These guide wheels then transferred the drive forces on the movable track and consequently on the ship to be moved.

It is preferable that the at least one mooring pad is movable towards and away from the movable track. With this movability the at least one mooring pad can be brought into engagement with the ship’s hull and connected thereto, or be disconnected and moved away from the ship’s hull.

It is desirable that the movable track is height var- iable, so as to be able to follow the tide, but also varying loading conditions of the ship and other causes of ship's mo- tion.

It is also possible that the movable track is sup- ported by a flotation device to make mooring of a ship in open water possible. Another option is of course to have the moor- ing system placed on a quay.

The movable track can be arranged for controlled hor- izontal or vertical movements or simultaneous horizontal and vertical movements. For example in one embodiment the movable track can be mounted on a rotational device to change the ori- entation of the movable track from a horizontal to a vertical position.

The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to the drawing of an exemplary embodiment of a mooring system according to the invention that is not limiting as to the appended claims.

In the drawing: -figure 1 shows a top view of a mooring system ac- cording to the invention; -figure 2 shows a side view of a mooring system ac- cording to the invention; and

-figure 3 shows an isometric look through view of a mooring system according to the invention. Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.

Figure 1 provides a best view at the mooring system 1 of the invention. The shown mooring system 1 comprises a se- ries of means to engage a ship hull, notably fenders 2, and mooring pads 3, 4, which are mounted on a movable track 5.

The mooring pads 3, 4 are arranged to attach to a ship’s hull. The functionality of the mooring pads can be di- verse and is not essential to the invention. It is for in- stance possible to apply one or more vacuum mooring pad 3 and/or to apply one or more magnetizable mooring pads 4. Ac- cordingly it is therefore possible to apply only vacuum moor- ing pads 3, or to apply only magnetizable mooring pads 4 or a combination of such pads 3, 4, or one or more mooring pads that operate in a different way. The manner of operation of the mentioned vacuum mooring pads 3 and magnetizable mooring pads 4 is completely known to the skilled person, and requires therefore no further elucidation. Preferably the mooring pads 3, 4 are movable towards and away from the movable track 5 so as to be able to engage and connect to a ship’s hull and to detach therefrom.

It is shown that the movable track 5 is preferably embodied as a closed round going track. It is further shown that the movable track 5 is provided with supporting wheels §€, 7 on opposite sides of the movable track 5. The supporting wheels 6, 7 absorb the forces of a ship acting on the mooring system 1 of the invention.

Preferably the movable track 5 is guided around guide wheels 8, 9, which are preferably motorized. When the drive of said guide wheels 8, 9 is activated the movable track 5 for instance moves in the direction of arrow A to move a ship con- nected with such an engaged/activated mooring pad 4 (or pads) in the direction of said arrow A. The movement of the movable track 5 can of course also be reversed. When moving in the di- rection of arrow A the leading mooring pad 4 keeps connected to the ship’s hull up to the moment that this leading and ac- tivated mooring pad 4 is going to move around guiding wheel 8,

at which time it is detached from the ship’s hull and arranged to assume a retracted position towards the movable track 5. In figure 1 this retracted disengaged position is shown for both a magnetizable mooring pad 4 and a vacuum mooring pad 3. Like- wise when on the opposite side of the movable track 5 the at that side leading mooring pad 3 is going to move around the guide wheel 9, it will extend in the direction of the ship’s hull so as to be able to get activated and attached to the ship.

Although not further shown in the figures it is pref- erable that the movable track 5 is height variable to be able to follow the tide or the loading condition of the ship that is moored. It is also possible that the movable track 5 is supported by a flotation device.

Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the mooring system of the invention, the invention is not re- stricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the invention. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exem- plary embodiment.

Aspects of the invention are itemized in the follow- ing section.

1. Mooring system (1) comprising means (2, 3, 4) for engaging a ship’s hull, characterized in that the means for engag- ing a ship’s hull are mounted on a movable track (5).

2. Mooring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for engaging a ship’s hull (2, 3, 4) comprise at least one fender (2).

3. Mooring system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for engaging a ship’s hull (2, 3, 4) com-

prise at least one mooring pad (3, 4) which is arranged to attach to the ship’s hull.

4. Mooring system according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one mooring pad (3, 4) comprises a vacuum 5 mooring pad (3).

5. Mooring system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one mooring pad (3, 4) comprises a mag- netizable mooring pad (4).

6. Mooring system according to any one of claims 1 - 5, char- acterized in that the movable track (5) is a closed round going track.

7. Mooring system according to any one of claims 1 - 6, char- acterized in that the movable track (5) is provided with supporting wheels (6, 7) on opposite sides of the movable track (5).

8. Mooring system according to any one of claims 1 - 7, char- acterized in that the movable track (5) is guided around guide wheels (8, 9), which are preferably motorized.

9. Mooring system according to any one of claims 4 - 8, char- acterized in that the at least one mooring pad (3, 4) is movable towards and away from the movable track (5).

10. Mooring system according to any one of claims 1 - 9, char- acterized in that the movable track (5) is height varia- ble.

11. Mooring system according to claim 10, characterized in that the movable track (5) is supported by a flotation de- vice.

Claims (11)

CONCLUSIONS Mooring system (1) comprising means (2, 3, 4) for engaging a ship's hull, characterized in that the means for engaging a ship's hull are mounted on a movable track (5). Mooring system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for engaging a ship's hull (2, 3, 4) comprises at least one fender (2). Mooring system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means for engaging a ship's hull {2, 3, 4) comprise at least one mooring path (3, 4) adapted to be attached to the ship hull. Mooring system according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one mooring path (3, 4) comprises a vacuum mooring path (3). Mooring system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the at least one mooring path (3, 4) comprises a magnetisable mooring path (4). Mooring system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the movable track (5) is a closed circular track. Mooring system according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the movable track (5) is provided with support wheels (6, 7) on opposite sides of the movable track (5). Mooring system according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the movable track (5) is guided around guide wheels (8, 9) which are preferably motorized. Mooring system according to any one of claims 4-8, characterized in that the at least one mooring path (3, 4) is movable towards and away from the movable track (5). Mooring system according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the movable track (5) is variable in height. Mooring system according to claim 10, characterized in that the movable track (5) is supported by a buoyancy device.