NO344156B1 - RESCUE STAIRS FOR AN AQUACULTURE FACILITY - Google Patents

Description

Introduction.

The solution relates to man-overboard situations on marine aquaculture facilities equipped with flotation collars and walkways located on the sea surface, and describes a rescue ladder, particularly inflatable, which is stored in a storage box mounted on the aquaculture facility's walkway. The solution can also be suitable for floating piers with decks that lie on the sea surface. The rescue ladder comprises an inflatable flotation element that carries grab loops and straps with steps. When the inflation mechanism is activated by a person in the sea, the floating element will be filled with air and the steps will be placed in the sea. The invention provides advantageous buoyancy and secure footing for a person who has fallen into the sea from the breeding facility, so that the person can easily perform self-rescue and without significant use of their own strength can safely get out of the sea and back to dry land at the breeding facility, also under significant sea walk.

If you fall into the sea, and especially cold sea, you will experience a rapid cooling of skin and muscle temperature and it is important to make arrangements for quick rescue to safe ground.

Today's breeding facilities often have round cage edges without fixed grip points, which can make it difficult to get onto land with your own help.

Known technology includes WO 2009/116920 A1, describes a rescue staircase with an inflatable rescue device which, among other things, has two elongated parallel side pieces, at least two back pieces/stair steps arranged between the inner part of the side pieces, which is mainly oriented perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the side pieces and a stair coupling device for connecting the escape ladder of a facility arranged on the water.

Known technology also includes US 6375 529 B1, which shows a reversible lifeboat which, among other things, comprises a collapsible ladder with flexible straps, where one strap is arranged tightly and the other hangs loosely.

Known art also includes GB 2284 391 A, GB 1379 640 A and US 6769 378 B1, all of which show devices for rescuing a person staying in the water, where the person must get out of the water on their own.

An inflatable rescue ladder has many advantages in a breeding facility and, among other things, takes up little space for storage and is not an obstacle to boat facilities along the edge of the cage or an obstacle to the use of perma skirts and de-lice tarpaulins. As the solution is compressible, it is also not a significant obstacle in the walkway. The invention described can also be easily retrofitted to walkways on existing breeding cages, which is considered advantageous.

General description of invention.

The present invention provides a fold-out rescue ladder device for an aquaculture facility at sea, characterized by the features stated in patent claim 1.

Features of embodiments of the invention's fold-out rescue ladder device according to patent claim 1 are stated in patent claims 2 - 10.

The present invention provides a rescue ladder assembly for an aquaculture facility at sea comprising at least one fold-out rescue ladder device according to one of claims 1 - 6, which rescue ladder assembly is characterized by the features specified in patent claim 11.

Features of embodiments of the invention's fold-out rescue ladder assembly according to patent claim 11 are stated in patent claims 12 - 17.

The drawings.

The following text is a more detailed description of the invention with examples and illustrations:

Figure 1 shows the rescue ladder with inflated floating element, seen from above.

Figure 2 shows the rescue ladder with inflated flotation element, seen from the side.

Figure 3 shows the rescue ladder with inflated floating element, seen obliquely from the front.

Figure 4 shows the rescue ladder with inflated flotation element, seen from the front

Figure 5 shows the rescue ladder when the flotation element is not inflated, seen from above.

Figures 6A and 6B show an outline of the material parts that form the floating element in the rescue ladder

Figure 7 shows an outline of the material parts that form the steps in the rescue ladder Figure 7A shows a variant of the steps in the rescue ladder

Figure 8 shows the storage box and rear part of float element with fastening straps Figure 9 shows the storage box, front cover, uninflated float element and the inflation mechanism

Figure 10A shows the storage box in relation to a section of walkway elements and floating collars on a breeding facility, seen from above

Figure 10B shows the storage box in relation to the walkway element and floating collars on a breeding facility, seen from the side

Figure 11 shows a section of a breeding facility with three storage boxes mounted on the facility's walkway

Figures 12A– 12E show another embodiment of a storage box for the rescue ladder

Figure 13 shows another design example of the rescue ladder without an inflatable flotation element, seen from the front

Figure 14 shows a cross-section of the walkway element and pull-out plate belonging to another design example of the rescue staircase, seen from above

Figure 15 shows the walkway element belonging to the second design example of the rescue staircase

Figure 16 shows the first variant of the walkway element belonging to the second design example of the rescue staircase

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention.

First design example of the rescue ladder.

As shown in figures 1-4, the floating element comprises left chamber 1, right chamber 2 and a rear chamber 3. Chambers 1, 2 and 3 are formed from two material parts; an upper material part 17 (fig. 6A) and a lower material part 18 (fig. 6B). Upper material part 17 and lower material part 18 are placed on top of each other and connected along the edge with welding, so that chambers 1, 2 and 3 with airtight walls are obtained. Figure 5 shows the floating element with the rescue ladder in an uninflated state, seen from above. A prototype made as an example used tightly woven polyamide fabric that was TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) coated on one side. Upper material part 17 and lower material part 18 were placed on top of each other so that the TPU coating faced each other, and then welded together along the edge with HF welding (high frequency)/RF welding (Radio Frequency). In a variant of the design example, upper material part 17 and lower material part 18 can consist of other tightly woven textiles that are coated with material that enables joining with, for example, ultrasound, heat wedges or glue, so that a chamber with airtight walls can be obtained. Upper material part 17 has hole outlets 54 and 55 for passage of valve 4 and blow-in tube 7, respectively. Valve 4 is located on the upper side and on the right side of rear chamber 3. Blow-in tube 7 is located on the upper side and on the outer part of right chamber 2. Valve 4 and the blow-in tube 7 is welded to the TPU-coated side of the upper material part 17 with HF welding. Upper material part 17 has hole outlets 56, 57 and 58 for the passage of central eyelet 52, left eyelet 60 and right eyelet 59, respectively. Lower material part 18 has corresponding hole outlets for eyelets 52, 60 and 59. Center eyelet 52 is positioned centrally on the front edge of the rear chamber 3. Right eyelet 59 is placed on the rear edge of rear chamber 3 and towards the right side. Left eyelet 60 is placed on the rear edge of rear chamber 3 and towards the left side. Links 52, 59 and 60 are welded to the TPU coating on upper material part 17 and lower material part 18 with HF welding. Lower material part 18 has four hole outlets 19, 20, 43 and 44 for carrying attachment points (eng: cleats) 15, 16, 21 and 22, respectively. The underside of the right chamber 2 carries the front attachment point 15 and the rear attachment point 16. The underside of the left chamber 1 carries front attachment point 22 and rear attachment point 21.

Figure 1 shows that the left chamber 1 and the right chamber 2 narrow where they meet the rear chamber 3, and become almost as narrow as chamber 3. This means that the floating element has a flatter profile in the inflated state in the narrow parts. A flat profile is appropriate when a person has to climb out of the stairs and has to get over the rear chamber 3. The largest volume and buoyancy in the inflated state is in the front part of the left chamber 1, which carries the front attachment point 22 and the rear attachment point 21, and in the front part of the right chamber 2 which carries the front attachment point 15 and the rear attachment point 16. Between the left chamber 1 and the right chamber 2 runs a transverse band. The belt lies parallel to rear chamber 3 and the distance from the inner edge of the belt to the front edge of rear chamber 3 is approx. 15-20 cm. The band limits the left chamber 1 and the right chamber 2 from splitting apart during use of the stairs. In a preferred embodiment, the band is cut out as part of upper material part 17 and lower material part 18 (figures 6A and 6B).

The rear chamber 3 carries an inflation system formed by a cylinder of compressed gas 5, a valve 4 leading into the rear chamber 3 and a release cord 6 to activate the valve 4. The valve may additionally or alternatively include a component of a known type (not shown) for automatic activation of the valve 4 when the valve 4 comes into contact with water. Upon activation of the valve 4, compressed gas from cylinder 5 can flow through the valve 4 and into the rear chamber 3. In addition, the right chamber 2 carries an inflation tube 7 which enables a person to blow in extra air or inflate the float element manually by blow into the tube 7. In a variant to the embodiment example with automatic activation, valve 4 can be moved to the front part of the underside of either left chamber 1 or right chamber 2 to ensure that valve 4 comes into contact with water when the floating element is placed in the sea.

Left chamber 1 carries a front grab loop 14 and a rear grab loop 51. Right chamber 2 carries front grab loop 13 and rear grab loop 50. Grab loop 14 carries a light source 10 which is attached to the grab loop with a clip. In the prototype made as an example, the grab loops 13, 14, 50 and 51 were made of flat woven polypropylene straps with a width of 40 mm which were attached to the welded edges of the floating element with seams. In a first variant of the design example, the straps in the front grab loop 14 and rear grab loop 51 can be attached to the left chamber 1 by making parallel hole openings and attaching eyelets to the left and right welding edges of the left chamber 1. One hole opening and one eyelet on each side of the left chamber 1 for front grab loop 14 and one hole outlet and an eyelet on each side of the left chamber 1 for rear grab loop 51. The straps are threaded through the eyelets and secured with a seam, weld or buckle. In a similar way, parallel hole extractions are made with the welding of eyelets to the left and right welding edge of the right chamber 2 for attaching straps to the front grab loop 13 and rear grab loop 50.

In another variant of the embodiment, the grip loops 13, 14, 50 and 51 are made of woven polyamide material which is TPU-coated on both sides. The grip loops can then be welded to the edges of the floating element, between upper material part 17 and lower material part 18, with HF welding. A third variant of the design example is to thread a flat strap through the front attachment point 22 and rear attachment point 21 respectively and around the left chamber 1 and fasten the straps with seams or buckles so that a front grab loop and a rear grab loop are attached to the left chamber 1 In a similar way, a flat strap can be threaded through the front attachment point 15 and rear attachment point 16 respectively and around the right chamber 2 and fasten the straps with seams or buckles so that a front grab loop and a rear grab loop are attached to the right chamber 2.

In a fourth variant, the front grab loop 13 on the right chamber 2 and the front grab loop 14 on the left chamber 1 are replaced with a hole outlet in the welded edge of the end of the left chamber 1 and a hole outlet at the end of the right chamber 2 (not shown). The hole sockets are large enough to fit the fingers of a hand through them. The welding edge at the end of the left chamber 1 and the right chamber 2 will be made approx. 5 cm wider in such a design example, so that there is room for the hole outlet.

As shown in Figure 1 and Figure 5, the left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 are threaded through respectively the left eyelet 60 and the right eyelet 59, which sit in the extension of the rear edge of the rear chamber 3. The left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 end in buckles of a known type (not shown) which are used for fastening, for example ladder locks for webbing straps. The straps and buckles also have a tightening function. In the embodiment example, the left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 were made of flat woven polypropylene bands. In a variant of the design example, the left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 can be attached to the floating element with a seam, without the use of eyelets. The underside of the right chamber 2 carries front attachment point 15 and rear attachment point 16 (fig.

2). The underside of the left chamber 1 carries front attachment point 22 and rear attachment point 21 (fig. 3). In the prototype that was made as an example, the attachment points 15, 16, 21 and 22 were made of PVC/PUR material (polyvinyl chloride/polyurethane) which could be welded to the TPU-coated side of the lower material part 18 with HF welding. The number of attachment points on left chamber 1 and right chamber 2 can vary if the rescue ladder is scaled up or down in size.

Through the opening in the front attachment point 15 on the right chamber 2 is threaded a strap 23 which is attached with a seam 24. The strap 23 runs vertically down from the attachment point 15 and is threaded through the right stair link 72 on the outer step and is attached with a seam 66. Through the opening in the front attachment point 22 on the left chamber 1 is threaded a strap 65 which is attached with seam 26. The strap 65 runs vertically down from attachment point 22 and is threaded through the left stair loop 71 on the outer step and is attached with seam 67. Straps 23 and 65 have the same length as that the step becomes horizontal when straps 23 and 65 have their maximum extent. Straps 23 and 65 have a length that means that a person floating in the water gets large parts of the upper body above the surface of the water by stepping on the outer step and kicking off. Strap 23 carries a light source 10' which illuminates the stairs underwater, and this is attached to the strap with a clip.

Through the opening in the rear attachment point 16 on the right chamber 2 is threaded a strap 25 which is attached with a seam 30. The strap 25 runs vertically down from the attachment point 16 and is threaded through the right stair link 74 on the inner step and is attached with a seam 68. Through the opening in the rear attachment point 21 on the left chamber 1 is threaded a strap 64 which is attached with seam 70. The strap 64 runs vertically down from attachment point 21 and is threaded through the left stair link 73 on the inner step and is attached with seam 69. Straps 25 and 64 have the same length as that the step becomes horizontal when straps 25 and 64 have their maximum extent. Straps 25 and 64 are shorter than straps 23 and 65, so that the inner step is closer to the floating element than the outer step. Straps 25 and 64 have a length that makes it possible for a person in the stairs to place, for example, a knee on the breeding facility's floating collar or walkway by stepping on the inner tin and kicking off, and then further moving onto safe ground. In a variant to the design example, seams 24, 30, 64, 66, 68 and 70 can be replaced with plastic or metal buckles as a fastening device for the straps, for example ladder locks for webbing straps (not shown). This enables easy adjustment of the length of the straps 24, 25, 64 and 65. In another variant of the design example, the straps 23, 25, 64 and 65 are attached directly to the outer and inner steps with a seam, without the use of eyelets 69, 71, 72 and 74 (not shown).

In the prototype made as an example, the straps 23, 25, 64 and 65 were made of flat polypropylene bands with a width of 40 mm, but other widths and other flat bands may also be suitable. For example, polyester tape. In the prototype, straps 23 and 65 had a length of approx. 75 cm, measured from the center of the right stair loop 72 on the outer step to the center of the opening on the front attachment point 15 on the right chamber 2. Straps 25 and 64 had a length of approx. 45 cm, measured from the center of the right stair link 74 on the inner step to the center of the opening on the rear attachment point 16 on the right chamber 2.

In a variant to the design example, polypropylene bands 23, 25, 64 and 65 can be replaced with, for example, polyamide cloth which is TPU-coated on both sides or PVC-coated cloth. In such an embodiment, seams 24, 30, 64, 66, 68 and 70 can be replaced with, for example, HF welding. In the design example with TPU-coated polyamide fabric, the loops 69, 71, 72 and 74 can also be omitted and the straps 23, 25, 64 and 65 welded directly to the materials in the bottom part 27 and 32 and friction material 28 and 31 in the inner and outer steps with HF - weld. In another variation to the design example, the polypropylene band is replaced with a metal chain, dimensioned to withstand the load of a person using the stairs. The chain can, for example, be made of acid-resistant metal and PVC-coated to limit corrosion and wear against the textile in the floating element. In such a design example, hooks of a known type are used, for example shackle, pelican hook/karabiner hook or splits in the transition between straps and attachment points on the floating element and in the transition between straps and right and left stair loops on the outer and inner steps. By replacing polypropylene bands with metal chains, you can, for example, achieve faster time to the maximum extent of the bands after the floating element has been inflated and placed in the sea. Increased specific weight in the bands can also make a positive contribution in that the bands are less affected by forces from ocean currents. In a third variant of the design example, polypropylene bands are replaced with metal wire which is dimensioned to withstand the load of a person using the stairs. The wire can, for example, be PVC-coated to limit corrosion and wear against the textile in the floating element. In such a design example, hooks of a known type are used, for example shackle, pelican hook/karabiner hook or splits in the transition between straps and attachment points on the floating element and in the transition between straps and right and left stair loops on the outer and inner steps. Shackle, pelican hook/karabiner hook or splits are attached to the wire using wire clamps or wire locks. In a fourth variant to the design example, the polypropylene tape is replaced with cords or sinker cords in, for example, polypropylene, polyester or nylon. In such an embodiment, the cords are attached to attachment points and stair links with knots, wire clamps or wire locks. A bottom strap 33 is threaded through the bottom strap loop 79 on the outer step, which is attached with a seam 63. The bottom strap 33 runs up to the center link 52 on the rear chamber 3, threaded through this and secured with a seam 61. Through the bottom strap loop 80 on the inner step a bottom strap 34 is threaded, which is attached with seam 62. Bottom strap 34 runs approximately horizontally into bottom strap 33 and is attached to this with seam 53. In a prototype that was made as an example, the material in bottom straps 33 and 34 was polypropylene tape with a width of 40 mm, but other widths may also be suitable in the solution. In a variant to the design example, polypropylene bands 33 and 34 can be replaced with, for example, PVC fabric or polyamide fabric that is TPU-coated on both sides. In such an embodiment, seams 53, 61, 62 and 63 can be replaced with, for example, HF welding. In another variant to the design example with TPU-coated polyamide cloth as material in bottom straps 33 and 34, center loop 52, bottom strap loop 79 and bottom strap loop 80 can be omitted, and bottom straps 33 and 34 are attached to the materials in rear chamber 3, outer step and internal steps with HF welding.

Outer steps comprise three layers of material (figure 7). First, a lower material 27 of tightly woven polyamide fabric which is TPU-coated on both sides. On top of the lower material 27 is an elongated stiffening element 75. The stiffening element should help the weight of a person stepping on the step to be transferred to the bands 23 and 65 and to the inflated left chamber 1 and right chamber 2. On top of the stiffening element 75, an upper TPU-coated friction material 28 is placed, which will prevent a person using the stairs from slipping. Examples of suitable friction material can be PU cloth or PVC cloth with a coarse-grained texture on the surface, EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene monomer) or nitrile rubber. The stiffening element 75 is slightly narrower than the width of the lower material 27, and slightly shorter in length so that the stiffening element 75 can be closed in a pocket between the lower material 27 and the upper friction material 28 with a HF weld along the edge of the stiffening the element 75 and along the edge of the upper friction material 28. Lower material 27 has a hole outlet 76 on the left short side, a hole outlet 77 on the right short side and a hole outlet 78 centered on the inner long side, for the passage of the left stair loop 71, right stair loop 72 and bottom strap loop 79 respectively Upper friction material 28 has corresponding hole outlets for left stair eyelet 71, right stair eyelet 72 and bottom strap eyelet 79. The eyelets are attached to the TPU-coated side of lower material 27 and upper friction material 28 with HF welding. Inner steps are produced according to the same description as for outer steps, and include lower material 32, upper friction material 31 and stiffening element 81 (not visible in illustrations). Lower material 32 and upper friction material 31 have hole outlets for left stair link 73, right stair link 74 and bottom strap link 80.

Self-weight of the stiffening element 75, 81 and/or the bands 23, 25, 64 and 65 must cause the bands 23, 25, 64 and 65 to extend to their full length within less than 4 seconds from the inflation of the floating element with chambers 1, 2, 3 and placed in the sea. In a prototype that was made as an example, stiffening elements 75 and 81 were made of flat steel with a length of 40 cm and a depth of 10 cm. Each of the flat steels had a weight of approx. 2 kg.

In a variant of the design example, lower material 27 and upper friction material 28 are made of other coated textile materials that can be welded with HF welding, heat wedge or UL welding, for example tightly woven PVC fabric. In another variation to the design example, the outer step comprises a rectangular stiffening element with an elongated hole outlet near the edge of each short side for the passage of straps 23 and 65, and an elongated hole outlet centered on the inner long side for the passage of bottom strap 33. The inner step comprises a rectangular stiffening element with elongated hole outlet near the edge of each short side for the passage of straps 25 and 64, and an elongated hole outlet centered on the inner long side for the passage of bottom strap 34. The stiffening elements have a specific gravity that is higher than water, and the upper side of the element can be coated with material that increases friction, for example tape with coated with mineral grains.

Examples of suitable stiffening elements can be metal plates and plates in PE or PVC. In a third variant of the design example, the outer and inner steps comprise a stiffening element in the form of a tube 75' (figure 7A). In such an embodiment, for example, straps 23 and 65 can be continuous and extended by a length corresponding to the length of the pipe. The continuous strap is threaded through the tube before being threaded through the front attachment point 15 on the right chamber 2 and through the front attachment point 22 on the left chamber 1, and secured with a seam. Bottom strap 33 is looped around the tube before it is fixed with a seam.

Examples of suitable pipe materials can be metal pipes, PE pipes or PVC pipes.

Figure 8 shows how the left attachment strap 12 and the right attachment strap 11 which spring out from the rear chamber 3 are threaded through the left eye attachment 36 and the right eye attachment 37 respectively inside the storage box 35 and are attached with buckles of a known type (not shown). The left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 are fastened with buckles so that the distance between the center of the right eyelet 59 and the center of the right eyelet 37 and the distance between the center of the left eyelet 60 and the center of the left eyelet 36 can be a maximum of approx. 5-10 cm.

This attachment limits how much the inflated rescue ladder can move out of the breeding facility. In a variant of the design example, the floating element is attached to the storage box 35 by threading the left eyelet 60 and the right eyelet 59 over the left eyelet 36 and the right eyelet 37 respectively. The floating element is then locked by threading, for example, ropes or self-locking dowel pins/ring pins, locking pins or hairpin splinters through the openings in the left eyelet 36 and the right eyelet 37 which protrude through the left eyelet 60 and the right eyelet 59. The variant assumes that eyelets and eyelets with dimensions that match each other are used, and that the distance between the holes in the left eyelet 60 and the right eyelet 59 is the same as the distance between the left eye mount 36 and the right eye mount 37.

Figure 9 shows how the rescue ladder is stored in a non-inflated state inside the storage box 35 with front cover 38. The non-inflated rescue ladder is folded and packed so that all components of the solution are inside the box 35, while the inflation system with cylinder 5, valve 4 and release cord 6 is visible from the front (fig.9). The storage box 35 has a front cover 38 which can be removed by pulling the handle 39. The front cover 38 is attached to the storage box 35 with snap functionality 42 along the edge of the front cover 38 (not shown). In a variant of the design example, the front cover 38 is attached to the storage box 35 with one or two snap locks in stainless metal or PE plastic (not shown). Before the front cover 38 is placed on the storage box 35, the release cord 6 is threaded through an eyelet (not shown) on the back of the front cover 38, and secured with ties, buckles or hooks of a known type, for example split or carabiner. The length of the release cord 6 is adjusted so that it is possible to remove the front cover 38 to inspect the cylinder 5 and valve 4, without the cord being tightened so much that the valve 4 is activated. In a preferred embodiment, storage box 35 and front cover 38 are injection molded in PE (polyethylene).

Figures 10A and 10B show a known principle for mounting walkway elements to marine breeding cages comprising floating collars 83, 84 and clamp units 48. PE pipes 46 and 47 are threaded through holes in the clamp unit (not shown) and through holes 44 and 45 in the walkway element 49. The walkway element is prevented from sliding sideways by screwing one or more screws through the plastic on the walkway element 49 and into the PE pipes 46 and 47. Walkway elements for marine aquaculture facilities are often produced in injection-moulded PE, and usually have an open lattice structure or grates that make up the cover.

Storage box 35 comprising inflatable rescue ladder and front cover 38, is mounted on top of walkway element 49 against the edge facing the sea outside the breeding facility. Front cover 38 roughly aligns with the edge of the walkway element 49. At the rear edge of the storage box 35, there is a mounting plate 43 with continuous slits 82 that run in different directions, both horizontally, vertically and diagonally. Slots 82 in different directions enable installation on walkway elements of different types and with different grid structures. Along the edge of the underside of the storage box 35 runs a 5 mm high and 5 mm wide edge (not visible in illustrations). This edge means that almost the entire underside of the storage box 35 is lifted 5mm up from the deck on the walkway. Many existing walkway elements have plastic knobs of 3-4 mm on top of the grid structure to make the walkways more slip-resistant. By lifting almost the entire underside of the storage box 35 by 5 mm, a flat and stable connection to the ground is ensured, even if the storage box 35 were to be mounted on top of one or more studs on the walkway. The storage box 35 is attached to the walkway element 49 using one or more hooks of a known type (not shown), for example J-hook in three parts; J-hook, washer and nut. The J-hook is passed through one of the slots 82 on the mounting plate 43 and hooked to the underside of the grid structure on the walkway element 49 and tightened with a washer and nut on the upper side of the mounting plate 43. In a variant of the design example, the storage box 35 is attached to the walkway element 49 using one or more clamps of known type for use on gratings, for example clamps in four parts; upper part, lower part, screw and nut. In another variant of the design example, the storage box 35 is attached to the walkway element 49 with one or more screws. For example, by inserting screws through back plate 43, through plastic material on walkway element 49 and possibly into PE pipe 45. In a third variant to the design example, the storage box 35 is attached to walkway element 49 using tensioning bands, straps or ropes.

The rescue ladder is rolled out from its stored state when the inflation mechanism is activated. Activation of the inflation mechanism occurs by the front cover 38 of the storage box 35 being pulled off, for example by the person 40 who is in the water grabbing the handle 39 and pulling off the front cover 38. Then the release cord 6 is tightened which in turn opens the valve 4 so that it allows the air from cylinder 5 to flow into chambers 1, 2 and 3 and inflate the float element. Since the storage box only has an opening in the direction facing from the walkway of the rearing cage and towards the sea outside the rearing cage, and the left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 of the floating element are attached respectively to the left eye attachment 36 and the right eye attachment 37 in the storage box 35, the left chamber 1 and the right expand chamber 2 in the direction towards the sea. As the floating element is filled with air, the left chamber 1 and the right chamber 2 expand into an elongated shape, thus pulling the bands 23, 25, 64 and 65 out of the box and into the water. The own weight of stiffening elements 75 and 81, and possibly the own weight of the bands 23, 25, 64 and 65, causes the maximum extension of the bands 23, 25, 64 and 65 and positions the outer and inner steps at heights that make it possible to climb out of the sea and onto safe ground to the breeding pen's walkway 49. Figure 12 shows a section of a marine breeding facility with three storage boxes 35 including inflatable rescue ladder (not visible in illustration) and front cover 38, mounted along the edge of the walkway. In a preferred embodiment, there is an inflatable rescue ladder available every twenty meters along the outer edge of the rearing pen. The distance between each storage box with rescue ladder can vary, depending on the size and circumference of the cage.

In a first variant of the design example, the storage box 35 is an integral part of the walkway element 49, for example by the walkway element 49 and the storage box 35 being injection molded in PE as a unit (not shown). In such an embodiment, the mounting surface 43 of the storage box 35 can be omitted.

Figures 12A-12E show another design example, where the storage box comprises a combination of waterproof cloth material and plastic sheets, for example PVC cloth and plastic sheets in PE or PVC. Examples of other suitable canvas materials are tightly woven PU (polyurethane). The plastic plates, with the exception of plate 114, can for example be 2-3 mm thick, and help to stiffen the side walls of the storage box. Plastic sheet 114 can, for example, be between five and ten millimeters thick. In the preferred embodiment, the plastic plates 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118 have rounded corners. The storage box comprises the fabric parts 107, 108, 109, 110, 111 and 112 and the plastic plates 113, 114, 115, 116, 117 and 118 (figures 12A and 12B). Cloth 108 comprises left eye attachment 120 and right eye attachment 119 in PVC/PUR, which are attached to the cloth with HF welding, and five hole outlets 121. Cloth 107 has five corresponding and equally sized hole outlets 122. Plastic plate 114 has five hole outlets 123 in the same position as the hole outlets 121 and 122. However, hole outlet 123 is slightly larger than 121 and 122, so that fabric 107 and 108 can be welded to each other through the opening in hole outlet 123 with HF welding. Plastic sheets 113, 114 and 115 are placed on cloth 107 as shown in figure 12A. Cloth 108 is placed on top of the plastic sheets and edge to edge with the rear part of cloth 107 (figure 12A'). The plastic plates are closed in pockets by welding cloth 107 and 108 to each other with HF welding along the outline of plate 113, 114 and 115. Cloth 107 and cloth 108 are further attached to each other with HF welding along the edge of cloth 108.

Plastic sheets 116 and 117 are placed on cloth 109 (figure 12B). Cloth 110 is placed on top of plastic sheet 116, 117 and edge to edge with the rear part of cloth 109 (figure 12B'). Plastic plates 116 and 117 are closed in pockets by welding cloth 109 and 110 to each other with HF welding along the outline of plates 116 and 117 (figure 12B'). Cloth 109 is further welded to cloth 110 with HF welding along the edge of cloth 110. Plastic sheet 118 is closed inside a pocket by welding cloth 111 and 112 to each other with HF welding along the outline of plastic sheet 118 (figure 12B'). Cloth 112 and 111 are further attached to each other by welding with HF welding along the edge of cloth 111.

Figure 12A' shows that the welded fabric comprising fabric 107 and 108 has edges A, B, C, D, E and F. Figure 12B' shows that the welded fabric comprising fabric 109 and 110 has edges G, H and I. The welded fabric comprising fabric 111 and 112 has edges J, K, L and M. Figures 12C, 12D and 12E show how the parts described above are welded together by HF welding along the edges of a storage box. Edge K is attached to canvas 108 along the line between edges C and D. Edge L is attached to edge C. Edge J is attached to edge D. Edge A is attached to edge I. Edge F is attached to edge G. The lower part of a waterproof zipper 127 is attached along edges B, M and E. The upper part of the zipper 127 is attached along edge H and parts of edges G and I. The zipper 127 is attached with HF welding and can, for example, be made of PVC material. The zipper 127 makes it possible to open the rear part of the storage box for inspection of cylinder 5 and valve 4 (figure 12E).

This variant of the design example is mounted to the walkway element 49 according to the same principle as for the first design example, for example with hooks or clamps which are passed through the hole sockets 121, 122 and 123 and attached to the underside of the walkway element 49. The inflatable floating element is attached to this variant of the design example according to the same principle as for the first design example, for example in that the left fastening strap 12 and the right fastening strap 11 which spring from the rear chamber 3 are threaded through the left eye fasteners 120 and the right eye fastener 120 which are located inside the storage box, respectively, and are secured with buckles of a known type, for example with a ladder -locks for webbing straps. In this embodiment, however, the release cord 6 from the first embodiment is replaced with a long release loop 126, alternatively a long cord with a handle at the end (not shown). The non-inflated rescue ladder is folded and packed so that all components of the solution are inside the storage box (figure 12E), while the inflation system with cylinder 5, valve 4 and release loop 126 is visible from the opening in the front. The release loop 126 extends from valve 4 out through the opening in front of the storage box. Before mounting on the walkway element 49, the opening of the storage box is folded in folds of 3-4 cm as shown in figure 12D, until you meet the plastic parts 113, 114, 115 and 116 in the rear part of the box. To make folding easier, you can sew a webbing band with a width of 40 mm along the edge of the opening (not shown). It should be folded at least three times to get a tight closure of the storage box. The length of the trigger loop 126 is adapted so that the trigger loop 126 is still visible from the outside when the opening is folded to the maximum. A locking strap 125 which is welded to the underside of cloth 107 is attached to a fastening device 124 on the upper side of cloth 109 to prevent the opening from being folded up again. The fastening device 124 can be, for example, a Velcro fastener, press button, buckle or buckle with magnetic snap functionality.

The material in the locking strap 125 can be, for example, PVC fabric. The locking strap can be made wider than shown in illustration 12D, for example almost as wide as the width of the storage box. In a variant of the design example, there are two or more locking straps 125 and fastening devices 124 attached to cloth 109 and cloth 107.

In another variant of the design example, the storage box is produced without plastic sheet 113, 115, 116, 117 and 118. In such a design, cloth 110 and 111 can be omitted. In a third variant of the design example, the storage box is produced without a zip 127. In a fourth variant, cloth 109 comprises a transparent plastic window (not shown) so that valve 4 and cylinder 5 can be seen without opening the zip 127 or without opening the fold in the front . In a fifth variant of the design example, plastic plates 113, 115, 116, 117 and 118 are replaced with plates made of foam material, for example PE foam with a closed cell structure. PE foam with a closed cell structure can provide advantageous buoyancy for the storage box if you should accidentally lose it at sea during, for example, assembly. In a sixth variant, the storage box is produced without plastic sheet 114.

In the version with a storage box comprising waterproof canvas material and plastic sheets, the rescue ladder is activated by a person in the sea by releasing the locking strap 125 from the fastening device 124. The release loop 126 is then pulled, which activates the valve 4 so that compressed gas from cylinder 5 can flow through the valve 4 and into chamber 3.

Another design example of the rescue ladder, without inflatable flotation element.

Figure 13 shows another design example of the rescue ladder without an inflatable floating element. The solution comprises an adapted walkway element 85 with a continuous opening 93 which accommodates a retractable plate with left outrigger 95, right outrigger 94 and back piece 86. The opening 93 has a height that is marginally higher than the retractable plate and a width that is marginally wider than the width of the plate . This is so that the plate can easily be pushed in and out of the opening, without wedging. The left outrigger 95 has a front attachment point 91 and a rear attachment point 90 for the passage of bands 65 and 64 respectively. The outrigger 94 has a front attachment point 88 and a rear attachment point 87 for the passage of bands 23 and 25 respectively. Each attachment point 87, 88, 90 and 91 consists of two parallel and continuous slits, where the bands are led up one slit and down the other, before being attached with a seam. Centered on the front edge of the back piece 86, there is an attachment point 107' for the passage of the bottom strap 33. At the outer end of the outrigger 95 there is a hole outlet 89. At the outer end of the outrigger 94 there is a hole outlet 92. Hole outlets 89 and 92 function as grab handles and is used to extract the plate from its stored position inside the walkway element's opening 93. Figure 14 shows a cross-section of the plate and the walkway element when it has been pushed maximally into the walkway element 85, and when it has been maximally pulled out of the walkway element 85. When the plate is pushed in maximum, the hole sockets (grip sockets) 89 and 92 will protrude from the opening 93, so that they are accessible to a person lying in the sea.

The plate comprising outriggers 94, 95 and back piece 86 is preferably produced in PE, but other materials may also be suitable. The size of the walkway element 85 and plate will have to be adapted to the size of the cage, but in an exemplary embodiment the walkway element has an external length of 120 cm and a width of 80 cm. The plate comprising outriggers 94, 95 and back piece 86 has a thickness of approx. 30 mm.

The walkway element 85 has a through hole 97 on the upper side of the deck (fig. 13 and fig. 15). The plate has a longitudinal slot 96 on the back piece 86 which limits how much the plate can be pushed in and out of the opening 93. The plate's movement is limited by a bolt 98 being guided down into the hole 97 and through the slot 96, before being fixed with a washer and nut on the underside of the walkway element 85. The width of the outer and inner steps is adapted in this design example so that they can be laid lengthwise parallel to the opening 93, in the space between the outriggers 94 and 95 inside the walkway element 85 when the plate has been pushed maximally into the opening 93. In a preferred design example, the steps have a width of approx. 35 cm. When the plate is pulled out, the bands 23, 25, 64 and 65 will follow, and in turn place the steps in the sea. The solution can comprise removable canvas material which fully or partially covers the opening 93 (not shown) and prevents the plate or step from being pushed out involuntarily, for example by waves hitting the walkway. The removable cloth material can, for example, be attached to the walkway element 85 with Velcro, press studs or buckles.

Figure 15 shows that the walkway element 85 has two through holes 99, 100 on the long side, so that this can be mounted to breeding cages comprising floating collars and clamp units by using PE pipes, according to the same principle as illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B.

In a preferred embodiment, walkway element 85 is injection molded in PE, but other materials suitable for injection molding may also be relevant. In a variant to the design example, and as an alternative to injection molding, the walkway element 85 is made up of PE sheets 101, 102, 103, 104, 105 and 106 of different thicknesses which are joined by welding, glue, bolts or screws (fig. 16).

Claims (17)

Patent claims 1. Deployable rescue ladder device for an aquaculture facility at sea or for floating docks with a deck located on the sea surface, comprising a deployable stair step support device unit formed by two elongated and essentially parallel outriggers (1, 2) spaced apart and with respective outer and inner ends and at least one back piece (3) between the inner ends of the outriggers oriented mainly perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of the outriggers and provided with a ladder coupling device (11, 12) for connecting the rescue ladder device to the aquaculture facility or the floating jetty, where the rescue ladder device is characterized by an outer (27, 75) and an inner (32, 81) elongate step with central portions connected to each other and to a central portion of the back piece (3) by an elongate flexible band means (33, 34) extending from the outer step to the the inner step and from the inner step to the back piece, in which first and second outer ends of the outer step are connected to respective outer portions of the outriggers by respective elongated flexible bands (23, 65) of a first length, and first and second outer ends of the inner step are connected to respective inner portions of the outriggers by respective elongated flexible bands (25, 64) of a second length shorter than the first length. 2. Fold-out escape ladder device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the outer step and the inner step is formed of a textile with an elongated inner cavity, and comprises an elongated and plate-shaped bracing element (75, 81) adapted to and placed in the elongated inner cavity. 3. Fold-out escape ladder device according to claim 1 or 2, in which stiffener element (75, 81) comprises or constitutes a weight element. 4. Fold-out escape ladder device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, in which at least one of the outer step (27, 75) and the inner step (32, 81) is formed by a pipe element (75'), and the respective elongated flexible band of the at least one step is passed through the pipe. 5. Fold-out rescue ladder device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a grab loop (13) is arranged on or near at least one of the outer parts of the outriggers. 6. A folding escape ladder device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a bridge of a flexible material between the outriggers, arranged in the vicinity of but at a distance from the back piece. 7. Deployable rescue stair device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the stair step support device unit is flexible and inflatable, and comprises a deployment device with a container of gas under pressure (5) and a valve (4) connected to the stair step support device, and an activatable trigger comprising a handle with a coupling (6) to the valve. 8. Fold-out rescue ladder device according to claim 7, wherein the stair step support device unit's elongated outriggers are made up of an outer part and an inner part, and the outer part is shaped to create greater buoyancy in water than the inner part. 9. Fold-out rescue stair device according to claim 8, wherein the elongated outrigger outer part of the stair step support device unit has a larger cross-section than the inner part. 10. Fold-out rescue ladder device according to one of claims 1 - 6, in which the stair step support device unit is rigid and extendable, and comprises a fold-out device with an extension actuator connected between the step support device unit and the aquaculture facility, and an activatable trigger comprising a handle with a connection to an actuator driver in the extension actuator. 11. Rescue ladder assembly for an aquaculture facility at sea, comprising at least one fold-out rescue ladder device according to one of claims 1 - 6, characterized in that it comprises a ladder storage device (35; 85) with fastening device for fastening the rescue ladder assembly at a walkway area (49) of the aquaculture facility, and the at least one fold-out rescue ladder device connected to the ladder storage device and arranged to occupy both a storage position where the fold-out rescue ladder device in the the most important thing is the space inside the stair storage device and a deployment position where the fold-out rescue stair device is essentially unfolded outside the stair storage device (35). 12. Rescue ladder assembly according to claim 11, comprising a deployment device with an activatable trigger (6, 38), arranged so that the deployable rescue ladder device is moved from a storage position in the ladder storage device to a deployment position outside the ladder storage device upon activation of the trigger (6, 38; 39, 89, 92). 13. Rescue stair assembly according to one of claims 11 - 12, in which the stair step support device unit is flexible and inflatable, and comprises a deployment device with a container of gas under pressure (5) and a valve (4) connected to the stair step support device, and an activatable release comprising a handle (39) with a connection to the valve. 14. Rescue ladder assembly according to claim 13, wherein the stair step support device unit's elongated outriggers are made up of an outer part and an inner part, and the outer part is shaped to create greater buoyancy in water than the inner part. 15. Rescue stair assembly according to claim 14, wherein the outer part of the stair step support device unit's elongated outriggers has a larger cross-section than the inner part. 16. Rescue stair assembly according to one of claims 11 - 12, wherein the stair step support device unit is rigid and extendable, and comprises a deployment device with an extension actuator connected between the stair step support device unit and the stair storage device, and an activatable trigger comprising a handle (89, 92) with a connection to an actuator driver in the ejection actuator. 17. Rescue ladder assembly according to one of claims 11 - 16, in which the ladder storage device comprises, constitutes or forms part of the walkway area of the aquaculture facility.