NO342151B1

NO342151B1 - En desinfeksjonsflåte

Info

Publication number: NO342151B1
Application number: NO20151513A
Authority: NO
Inventors: Stian Teige
Original assignee: Oilcraft AS
Priority date: 2015-11-06
Filing date: 2015-11-06
Publication date: 2018-04-03
Also published as: NO20151513A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a disinfection floating stage comprising: a main floating stage part (180), at least two outriggers extending out from the main floating stage part where each of the at least two outriggers are provided with at least one lifting device (117) and where the outriggers are substantially parallel, at least one tarpaulin (111, 114) arranged between two opposing outriggers, engagement means (110) for engagement between the at least one lifting device (117) on each of the two outriggers and the tarpaulin (111,114) for lowering and lifting the tarpaulin (111,114), and sinking means in engagement with the tarpaulin (111, 114) for immersing the tarpaulin into the sea.The present invention discloses a disinfection floating stage comprising: a main floating stage part (180), at least two outriggers extending out from the main floating stage part where each of the at least two outriggers are provided with at least one lifting device (117) and where the outriggers are substantially parallel, at least one tarpaulin (111, 114) arranged between two opposing outriggers, engagement means (110) for engagement between the at least one lifting device (117) on each of the two outriggers and the tarpaulin ( 111,114) for lowering and lifting the tarpaulin (111,114), and sinking means in engagement with the tarpaulin (111, 114) for immersing the tarpaulin into the sea.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention concerns disinfection/cleaning of ship hulls, vessels, ballast tanks and similar objects.

Background Art

[0002] Disinfection of vessel hull is time consuming; still it is a requirement in many situations. Within fish farming it is often necessary to clean hulls of vessels, the same may apply where boats/ships is moved between areas with different microbial population, moreover ballast tanks needs regularly to be cleaned.

[0003] Normally cleaning takes place on shore as vessels are transported to an on shore facility where tarpaulins are arranged around the hull or ballast tank, a disinfection medium is filled into the tarpaulin, hence the hull is bathed in the disinfection medium.

[0004] A method and device for cleaning and disinfecting the outside of a hull whilst partly or completely submerged in water is known from WO 2011/068416 A1.

Disclosure of Invention

[0005] The main object according to the present invention is achieved by a disinfection-floating device having means for automatically disinfecting and/or cleaning bodies off shore. In particular it is provided a disinfection floating stage comprising:

a. a main floating stage part,

b. at least two outriggers extending out from the main floating stage part where each of the at least two outriggers are provided with at least one lifting device and where the outriggers are substantially parallel,

c. at least one tarpaulin arranged between two opposing outriggers, d. engagement means for engagement between the at least one lifting device on each of the two outriggers and the tarpaulin for lowering and lifting the tarpaulin, and

e. sinking means in engagement with the tarpaulin for immersing the tarpaulin into the sea.

[0006] In one aspect of the invention the main floating stage part further comprises at least one tank for chemical fluids, where the at least one tank for chemical fluids maybe in fluid connection with at least one pump and where the at least one pump can be in fluid connection with at least one hose for draining and/or filling fluid into at least one tarpaulin.

[0007] The disinfection floating stage is also provided with at least one thruster for manoeuvring of the disinfection floating stage.

[0008] The floating stage part 180 may further comprise a control and monitoring cabin.

[0009] The at least one lifting device can be a barrel winch and where at least one of the barrel winches drives cable drums with wires for engagement with the tarpaulin. The lifting devices, which is indirectly in engagement with the same tarpaulin, can run dependently of each other.

[0010] Other advantageous features appears from the appended independent claims, whereas particular embodiments of the present invention appears from the appended dependent claims

Brief Description of Drawings

[0011] In order to make the invention more readily understandable, the discussion that follows will refer to the accompanying drawings, in which

[0012] Fig. 1 shows a disinfection floating stage seen with one immersed tarpaulin and one suspended above sea level,

[0013] Fig 2 shows the disinfection floating stage in figure 1 from a different angle;

[0014] Fig 3 shows the disinfection floating stage in figure 1 and 2 from another angle;

[0015] Fig 4 shows the disinfection floating stage in figure 1 - 3 from above;

[0016] Fig 5 shows the disinfection floating stage with a vessel;

[0017] Fig 6 shows an example of a disinfection float with several basins;

[0018] Fig 7 shows a schematically view of a lifting device; and

[0019] Fig 8 shows a telescope crane tower.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] The present invention relates to disinfection/cleaning of ship hulls, vessels, ballast tanks and similar objects. In the following discussion, it will be adhered to the accompanying drawings; however, the drawings are not necessarily to scale nor are all features shown in the drawings mandatory, also, some of the features may be excluded. The drawings are meant to ease understanding of the present invention.

[0021] In the following discussion, the following word may be used interchangeably: wire, rope or line. The wire/line/rope 110 used for engagement between tarpaulins and lifting device may also include wires having a desired elasticity.

[0022] There are several features that characterises the present disinfection floating stage firstly on a superior level it provides a scalable solution for disinfecting large bodies off shore in an automatic or semiautomatic way, this is achieved by providing a main floating stage 180 from which at least two outriggers expands. Between the at least two outriggers a sea basin with one open end will appear. Several lifting devices 117can be provided on opposite outriggers in rows, between the lifting devices 117 a tarpaulin 111, 114 can be provided. The tarpaulin can be lifted and lowered by the lifting devices 117 using for example wires 110 which is fed from the lifting devices and which is releasably secured to the tarpaulin.

[0023] The tarpaulin can be provided with “sinking means”, that is means which ensures that when a tarpaulin is lowered from the lifting devices 117 it will be immersed in the sea water within the sea basin between two opposite outriggers. The means may be provided as weights, which can be attached to the tarpaulin. The tarpaulin can be provided with openings, which can be closed to facilitate immersing the tarpaulin.

[0024] In another aspect of the invention, the tarpaulins are lowered by the lifting devices while simultaneously being pulled down by wires/ropes/lines connected to the underside of the tarpaulin. The wires may be thread around submersed sheaves, which are secured to the floating stage by a framework. The wires/lines/ropes may be fed from winches on the floating stage above sea level.

[0025] The tarpaulin can be a simple tarpaulin having eyes or attachment lugs on two opposite sides for connection with wires 110 from the lifting devices 117. The wires can be releasably attached to the tarpaulin 111, 114 using spring hooks / safety hook or shackles. The spring hooks may be of the lockable type.

[0026] The present disinfection floating stage may be provided with thrusters, which can be used to ensure that the disinfection floating stage is kept in a more or less fixed position, moreover the disinfection stage 10 can also be provided with engines for propulsion of the floating stage 10.

[0027] In another aspect, the disinfection floating stage 10 is dragged by a tugboat and kept in a more or less fixed position. Also, a tugboat may move the disinfection floating stage to a desired place and the disinfection floating stage may be anchored at this place. Hence, the disinfection floating stage can be provided with one or more anchors.

[0028] The disinfection floating stage can be provided with one or more tanks 130, 131 which can contain the disinfection medium.

[0029] A housing for personnel and control 181 can be provided onto the main floating stage 180.

[0030] Lifting and immersing of the tarpaulin may be carried out using a remote controller. Either a wired remote controller, which controls the process of lifting and lowering of the tarpaulins 111, 114, or with a wireless control. The lifting devices 117 are wirelessly or by wire in connection with a central processing unit that controls the process of lowering and lifting the tarpaulins.

[0031] If a body is to be disinfected, one of the tarpaulins 111, 114 is immersed in the sea. The two short ends of the tarpaulins may be lifted in an upward direction/vertical direction to ensure that fluid in the tarpaulin is not poured into surrounding water. Having lowered the tarpaulin automatically or semi automatically the body to be disinfected can be manoeuvred in between the two relevant outriggers above the immersed tarpaulin. Thereafter the seawater in the tarpaulin have to be drained out. Draining may be facilitated using pumps such as one or more bilge pumps connected with one or more hoses/tubes which is used to transport fluid to the

surrounding sea. Simultaneously with the draining process the tarpaulin is automatically lifted by the surrounding lifting devices 117.

[0032] Having drained out all of the water in the tarpaulin with the body to be disinfected a disinfection medium / cleaning medium is pumped into the tarpaulin 111, 114 between the body 501 and the surrounding tarpaulin. After a set period the disinfection/cleaning process is finished and the disinfection medium / cleaning medium can be pumped into a waste tank or recycling tank 130, 131. When the tarpaulin is considered emptied the tarpaulin is immersed in the sea again by lowering it, surrounding water will then fill the tarpaulin again and the disinfected/cleaned body can be manoeuvred out again.

[0033] It shall be appreciated that the whole of the process or several of the steps for cleaning/disinfection can be carried out automatically. Furthermore, many basins for cleaning can be provided (se fig.6), and disinfection/cleaning can be carried out in parallel in different basins independently of each other.

[0034] According to another algorithm, the cleaning is carried out in accordance with a priority plan where the processes of cleaning between different basins are not independent. For example there might be a limited number of draining pumps/draining hoses/tubes or a limited number of hoses/tubes for filling disinfection/cleaning medium into the tarpaulin etc.

[0035]

A first embodiment of the present invention

[0036] The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0037] Figure 1 - 5 shows an example of a disinfection floating stage 10 with four outriggers 113, 120,112, 115. The four outriggers defines two independent basins, one between the first outrigger 113 and the second outrigger 120 and the second basin between the third outrigger 112 and the fourth outrigger 115. In figure on the first and the second outrigger have substantially the same length, whilst the outrigger 112 and 115 have substantially the same length.

[0038] The outriggers shown in figure 1 are parallel to each other. The outriggers extends from a main floating stage 180. The main floating stage 180 carries the control room/cabin 181. The control room 181 may be provided with controllers and displays for surveillance of the disinfection floating stage. Moreover, the processes of immersing tarpaulins 111,114, emptying, filling, disinfecting and immersing the tarpaulin 111, 114 again can be monitored by at least one camera that transfers its data to display means in the control room 181. Personnel on board may be provided with handheld devices which can be used for control and monitoring the same processes as those that can be controlled and monitored from the control room 181.

[0039] The main floating stage 180 is shown with a first 130 and a second tank 131. The first tank 130 can be used for non-used chemicals whilst the second tank 131 can be used as a tank for used chemicals. The main floating stage 180 is shown with two tanks 130, 131, obviously, it can contain more tanks, thus making the disinfection floating stage 10 scalable.

[0040] Each of the outriggers shown in figure 1 shows several lifting devices 117.

The lifting devices are arranged in rows on each outrigger facing lifting devices on an opposite outrigger. That is the first outrigger 113 is opposite the second outrigger 120 and the third outrigger 112 is opposite of the fourth outrigger 115. The lifting devices can be materialised as a crane. In its simplest form it might be materialised as a winch with one or more sheaves which feeds wires 110 for lifting and lowering the tarpaulin.

[0041] In figure 1 – 5 it is shown two basins with two dedicated tarpaulins a first tarpaulin 114 between the first and the second outrigger and a second tarpaulin 111 between the third and fourth outrigger. The second tarpaulin is bigger than the first tarpaulin.

[0042] Figure 1 shows the first tarpaulin 114 in an idle position / lifted position.

That is the lifting devices 117 have spooled in the wires 110, thereby lifting the tarpaulin 114.

[0043] The second tarpaulin 111 is immersed, that is lowered as the lifting devices 117 have winded out wire 110.

[0044] Figure 2 shows the same state as figure 1 however seen from another angle.

[0045] Figure 3 shows the disinfection floating stage 10 from the open end of the basins, i.e. the entrance side for bodies to be cleaned/disinfected. The state is as for figure 1 and 2.

[0046] Figure 4 shows the disinfection floating stage 10 from above.

[0047] Figure 5 shows the disinfection floating stage 10 with a vessel 501 in one of the basins with the second tarpaulin 111 surrounding it.

An aspect of the first embodiment of the invention

[0048] According to one aspect of the invention the disinfection float 10 can be provided with several basins for disinfection/cleaning, hence the principle according to the present invention is very scalable.

[0049] One example of several basins is shown in figure 6. Figure six shows eight basins, where each basin can be provided with tarpaulins.

[0050] In figure ten, outriggers extend from a main floating stage having a length Y1 and a width X3. Obviously increasing the length Y1 can increase the number of outriggers or the distance Y2 between neighbouring outriggers or a combination thereof.

[0051] The length X2 and X2 of the outriggers can be different. Moreover, short and long outriggers can be attached next to each other as is shown in figure 1 – 5 for the second and the third outriggers. This solution will provide neighbouring basins with different length X2 or X1.

[0052] In the particular aspect of the embodiment shown in figure 6 the main floating stage 60 is shown as a rectangular floating stage.

[0053] In one aspect, the main floating stage can be circular, elliptic, super elliptic or have other shapes. Thereby facilitating a disinfection float having for example a number of outriggers in a fan shaped fashion.

A simple example of lifting devices

[0054] Figure 7 shows a schematically view of a lifting device. For ease of understanding, the framework which carries the components of the lifting device 117 is not shown.

[0055] A winch 703 is fixed to a base/framework, which again is fixed to the floor of an outrigger or is integrated into an outrigger.

[0056] The winch 703 is configured to rotate around an axis of rotation in both directions. Wire 110 is spooled onto the winch. It shall be understood that several lifting devices 117 are arranged in a row, and that they may move synchronously. Synchronicity may be achieved by having several drums with wires, which are driven by the same source via a common axle, or by transmission between the drums. Thus, it shall be understood that in a row of lifting devices it might be one master lifting device 117 with driving means for rotation of the drum / winch and several slave lifting devices, which is synchronously driven by the master lifting device.

[0057] In the figure shown it is disclosed a second sheave 701 which may or may not be used in combination with the lower drum/winch 703.

[0058] The sheave may be used to extend the height of the lifting device 117. In one aspect, the distance between the sheave 701 and the drum 703 can be varied.

[0059] It shall be understood that all lifting devices handling the same tarpaulin is advantageously not running independently of each other, advantageously they are running synchronously. The winches/drums that are in engagement with the two short ends of the tarpaulin may be driven independently or may have a gear ratio that is not 1:1 with the lifting devices between. Different feeding speeds can be achieved by having different diameter on the sheaves and/or drums, or by adding mechanical gears.

[0060] In figure 7, it is shown a ring 702 that indicates a fastening means for securing the wire 110 to a tarpaulin. The ring 702 may be a carabiner/spring lock a shackle or any other common fastening means.

An aspect of the previous embodiments of the invention

[0061] According to an aspect of the invention, the lifting towers 117 may be provided as cranes with height expandable towers. The reasoning behind this is that it might be an advantage with height expandable towers, as this will ensure that it is easy to lift the tarpaulin 111, 114 above sea level.

[0062] There are several ways of achieving height expandable towers; one of them is to use a telescopic solution. This ensures that the solution is compact and the footprint on the outriggers 111, 112, 113, 115 is relatively small, thereby being well adapted to outriggers with a limited width.

[0063] Such a variant is shown in Fig.8a and Fig.8b. The telescope crane tower 117 comprises several telescopic elements 106a, 106b, 106c and 106d. Four telescopic elements is only used as an example it might be fewer or more telescopic elements in a height adjustable crane tower 117. In one example, the inner tube 106a will be provided with a stopping edge 103a. The stopping edge 103a can be configured as a disc and may be used as a base for an upper framework including an upper sheave 701 for feeding wire 110 in and out. The stopping edge will also make sure the top shelf plate does not slide downwardly in an expanded position and keep shelves located below at a fixed distance from the top shelf plate. The outermost tube 106d can be provided base plate 103b. The number of links of a telescoping tower 106 is a matter of design choice. The distances y1, y2, y3, and y4determine the traveling distance of one telescopic element.

Claims

1. A disinfection floating stage comprising:

a. a main floating stage part (180),

b. at least two outriggers extending out from the main floating stage part where each of the at least two outriggers are provided with at least one lifting device (117) and where the outriggers are substantially parallel,

c. at least one tarpaulin (111, 114) arranged between two opposing outriggers,

d. engagement means (110) for engagement between the at least one lifting device (117) on each of the two outriggers and the tarpaulin (111,114) for lowering and lifting the tarpaulin (111,114), and e. sinking means in engagement with the tarpaulin (111, 114) for immersing the tarpaulin into the sea, where the main floating stage is provided with at least one thruster for manoeuvring of the disinfection floating stage.

2. A disinfection floating stage according to claim 1, where the main floating stage part further comprises at least one tank (130, 131) for chemical fluids.

3. A disinfection floating stage according to claim 2, where the at least one tank (130, 131) for chemical fluids is in fluid connection with at least one pump and where the at least one pump is in fluid connection with at least one hose for draining and/or filling fluid into at least one tarpaulin (111, 114).

4. A disinfection floating stage according to any of the claims 1 – 3, where the floating stage part (180) further comprises a control and monitoring cabin (181).

5. A disinfection floating stage according to any of the claims 1 – 4, where the at least one lifting device is a barrel winch and where at least one of the barrel winches drives cable drums with wires (110) for engagement with the tarpaulin.

6. A disinfection floating stage according to any of the claims 1 – 4 wherein the lifting devices (117) which are indirectly in engagement with the same tarpaulin (111, 114) runs dependently of each other.

7. A disinfection floating stage according to any of the claims 1 – 6, wherein the engagement means at least comprises a wire (110) in engagement with a lifting device (117) and with a tarpaulin (111, 114) to which the wire (110) is connected via connecting means (702) to eyes in the tarpaulin.

8. A disinfection floating stage according to claim 7 wherein the connecting means is one of a carabiner or a shackle.