NZ299227A - Hatch enclosure for loading/unloading cargo has a framework and covering with top aperture and side opening - Google Patents

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 299227 PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 23.08.1996 Complete Specification Filed: 23.09.1997 Classification:^) B63B27/00; B65G67/60; B63B19/14,19,203,21 f ..blication date: 26 January 1998 Journal No.: 1424 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: FACILITY FOR MOVING CARGO AND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: LAWRENCE IAN SHIRKEY, P O Box 5075, Invercargill, New Zealand 29922 n.z. patent office 2 3 SEP 1897 RECEIVED Patents Form No. 5 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FACILITY FOR MOVING CARGO AND ENCLOSURE THEREFOR I, LAWRENCE IAN SHIRKEY, a New Zealand citizen of 795 North Rd, RD, Invercargill, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: 2992 This invention relates to cargo moving facilities. More particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a hatch enclosure and an all weather cargo handling facility at a seaport Conventional facilities at seaports generally use ship's derricks and cranes to load and unload cargo to and from a cargo hold through a hatch opening. A disadvantage with this arrangement is that the ship hatch, in use, can be open to adverse weather conditions. When the weather conditions are wet, rain can enter the cargo hold during loading and/or unloading which is undesirable.

An object of the invention is to provide a cargo hatch enclosure which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cargo handling apparatus which overcomes at least some of the abovementioned problems, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a hatch enclosure for use in a cargo handling facility comprising a framework secured over a ship's cargo hatch opening to support a covering means, the covering means having an aperture provided substantially along the top section of the covering means and a side opening in the enclosure, in use, to allow cargo to be moved through the side opening into and from a said hatch opening.

Desirably the aperture is a slot Preferably the covering means includes a retractably extendable sheet which is extendable outwardly of the framework to the edge of a said hatch opening. Preferably the retractably extendable sheet has an anchoring means to secure the sheet adjacent to the edge of the hatch opening.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for 299227 handling cargo comprising an enclosure having a framework to support a covering means over a ship's cargo hatch opening above a cargo hold and the covering means, the enclosure having a side opening, in use, to allow cargo to be moved therethrough, and further comprising a substantially horizontally .disposed rail positionable through the side opening and being supported to allow a hoist to be mounted thereupon which, in use, is movable between a said hatch opening and a cargo loading or unloading area so as to move cargo to and/or from a said ship's cargo hold.

Preferably the rail is supported by rail supporting members, the rail supporting members being substantially vertically disposed and being slidably adjustable along the rail. Desirably the rail is retractably extendable from a stowed retracted position equidistantly disposed relative to the enclosure, to an extended position, wherein one end of the rail is adjacent the hatch opening and the other end is above the loading or unloading area of cargo.

Desirably the covering means includes a retractably extendable sheet which is extendable outwardly of the framework to the edge of a hatch opening.

Advantageously the hoist is remote activated by remote activation means.

The invention will now be described by way of example only of two embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: illustrates a perspective view of a hatch enclosure according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2: illustrates the hatch enclosure of figure 1 in use with a shore based cargo handling facility; Figure 3: illustrates a cargo handling apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention; and ?Q922 Figure 4: illustrates a side view of the hatch enclosure of figure 3.

Referring to figure 1, a hatch enclosure, generally referred to as 1, according to a first embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The hatch enclosure 1 in use is positioned over the hatch opening in a ship's cargo hold. The hatch enclosure 1 can be positioned by way of a shore crane or a ship's derricks or crane. The enclosure 1 includes a framework 2 for supporting a covering means in the form of weather resistant material such as, for example, canvas, aluminium and the like. The size of the framework 2 is determined by the overall dimensions of the largest hatch opening of a ship or cargo vessel expected to use the enclosure 1 for loading and unloading cargo. This is about 9 metres athwartships and 14 metres fore and aft.

The framework 2, preferably made of steel, includes bracing 3 which provides a cantilever arrangement to support the enclosure 1 and more particularly allow a side opening 9 to be exposed.

Covering means includes cladding 4 secured to the framework 2 to keep out adverse weather conditions from the cargo hold. Retractably extendable sheets in the form of tarpaulins 6 are associated with respective winches 7 such that each tarpaulin 6 is retractably extendable by the respective winch 7 to retractably extend over the area of a hatch opening in a ship's cargo hold that the framework 2 does not cover. The tarpaulin 6 can be secured in an extended position to a ship's deck or structure by anchoring means in the form of tiedowns 8. Alternatively, a clip or hook arrangement can be used. It is seen then that the enclosure 1 can be used for a variety of sizes of hatch openings.

The top section of the framework 2 comprises two covers 10 which, when in position, define an aperture in the form of a slot 11 therebetween to allow shoreside crane lifting cables 24 (as shown in figure 2) to pass or move between. The covers 10 are 299227 pivotable about the outside edge by use of hinges 12. The covers 10 are spring loaded by use of a catch 5 such that, in the event the cables 24 are raised too high and a pallet cage (not shown) hits the covers 10, the catch 5 will activate to release the covers 10 to prevent or minimise damage to the enclosure 1.

It will be appreciated the slot 11 can be weathered in by use of rubber flaps extending across the slot from the end of the covers 10.

Doors 13 can be pivotably attached to the framework 2 to be opened during loading and unloading, and closed when the enclosure 1 is not in use. The doors can alternatively be removed before use of the enclosure 1. Side opening covers 14 are attached to an edge of the covers 10 and the tops of the doors 13 to provide additional protection against adverse weather conditions. These covers 14 also act as a guide to direct the lifting cables 24 of the crane through the slot 11.

The covering means therefore includes the cladding 4, the covers 10, the tarpaulin 6, the door 13, and side opening covers 14. Additionally the rubber flaps (not shown) can also be included.

Lifting lugs IS are provided at the corners of the covers 10 in a suitable configuration to permit the enclosure 1 to be lifted into and out of position by a container frame, slings, chains or other lifting arrangement (not shown).

Referring now to figure 2, the hatch enclosure 1 in use with a cargo loading and unloading facility is illustrated.

Before use, the enclosure 1 is aligned over the hatch opening 20 in the cargo hold of a ship 21. This can be achieved by use of a shore crane 22 to hoist the enclosure 1 into position from storage onshore 23 or from the ship 21. After the enclosure 1 is in position and secured, the shore crane 22 is manoeuvred so that lifting cables 24 can move cargo through the side opening 9 in the enclosure 1 and between the slot 11 in 299227 the covers 10 to load or unload the cargo to or from the cargo hold in the ship 21.

It is seen that if the weather conditions are adverse, the cargo hold of a ship 21 will not be fully exposed to the elements as only the side opening 9 is exposed when cargo is being loaded or unloaded.

Referring to figures 3 and 4, a cargo handling apparatus, generally indicated by 30, which includes a hatch enclosure according to a second embodiment of the invention, is illustrated.

The facility 30 includes an enclosure 31 which has similar features to the enclosure 1 in the first embodiment, except the covering means in this embodiment does not have pivotable covers on the top with a slot but has a permanently attached top section. The cladding on the top section of the enclosure 31 is desirably aluminium cladding. As seen in figure 4, the framework 31a provides the overall shape and support for the enclosure 31.

A rail 32 in the form of an "I" beam is mounted underneath the top section of the enclosure 31. The rail 32 is desirably mounted by the top flange to rollers 33 located at both ends of the enclosure 30. The rollers 33 are pivotably attached to the framework 31a and configured and arranged to support the rail 32 and allow it to slidably move through the side opening. The rail 32 is oriented parallel to the direction of movement of cargo. The rollers 33 are desirably arranged at both tnds of the framework 31a to enable the rail 32 to be moved from a retracted position to an extended position. The extended position is where the distal end of the rail 32 extends over the loading or unloading cargo area, generally beyond the side of a ship out over the shore 36, and retracted during installation or storage of the enclosure 31 when not in use. An open link chain drive system 44 drives the rollers 33 to extend and retract the rail 32.

Rail supporting members in the form of props 34 support the rail 32 when in an 299227 extended position. The props 34 are slidably attached to the rail by rollers 45 located on either side of the top flange of the rail 32. The props 34 are capable of being repositioned at appropriate supporting points on a ship's deck or structure along the rail 32 to fully support the loads being moved therealong.

The props 34 are adjustable in length to accommodate different height requirements on a ship's structure to ensure the rail 32 is properly in position and supported underneath the top section of the framework 31a during use. Foot pads 34a at the base of the props are provided to allow load stresses to be distributed over a ship's structure. The foot pads 34a can be secured to a ship's structure by locking pins (not shown).

Cargo is moved by use of a hoist 35 which runs on the bottom flange of the rail 32. The hoist 35 can move along the rail 32 to load or unload cargo 37 to the ship's hold 38. The hoist 35 is remote controlled by remote activation means (not shown) so that a user can stand at the edge of the ship's deck at point A and control the loading or unloading of cargo, and move the hoist 35 through the side opening of the enclosure 31 to load or unload the respective cargo 37.

A system of hatch flaps 41 can be used to cover the hatch opening 39 when cargo is not being loaded or unloaded. The flaps 41 are desirably winch operated (not shown) and pivot about hinges 41a when being opened or closed. This system is used to retain the temperature and conditions in the cargo hold 38.

As seen in figure 4, retractably extendable sheets in the form of a tarpaulin 42 and a winch 43 are configured and arranged on the enclosure 31 to cover a hatch opening 39. The tarpaulin 42 can be secured when in an extended position by tiedowns 43.

It will be appreciated the hoist 35 can be actuated remotely by remote activation means in the form of an infrared hand held remote control (not shown). The hoist can additionally be actuated by a push button control unit mounted against the 299227 framework 31a of the enclosure 31.

In operation, for example unloading cargo from a ship's hold, the enclosure 31 is erected and the rail 32 is positioned on props 34. The hoist 35 travels along the rail 32 until it is positioned over the hatch opening 39. The lifting cables 40 are lowered into the hold 38 and pallet cage 37 is secured to the cables 40 before being used to hoist cargo from the ship's hold 38. The hoist 35 is then moved with the cargo out through the side opening in the enclosure 31 to the end of the rail 32 where the cargo is then lowered to shore 36. It will be appreciated the reverse sequence is used for loading cargo into a ship's hold from shore.

After loading or unloading has taken place, the enclosure is simply moved by using known jockey wheels (not shown) or other moving method. It will be appreciated the facility 30 can be provided with standard lifting lugs (not shown) to facilitate the installation and removal of the facility 30. The enclosure may be constructed to be easily dismantled, or simply moved to another part of the ship's structure, onshore or otherwise.

It will be appreciated the facility according to the second embodiment of the invention can be used to unload or load cargo from a first ship or vessel to a second ship or vessel alongside.

Wherein the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by a way of example of possible embodiments, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (6)

299227 What I claim is:

1. A hatch enclosure for use in a cargo handling facility comprising a framework secured over a ship's cargo hatch opening to support a covering means, the covering means having an aperture provided substantially along the top section of the covering means and a side opening in the enclosure, in use, to allow cargo to be moved through the side opening into and from a said hatch opening.

2. An enclosure according to claim 1 wherein the aperture is a slot

3. An enclosure according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the covering means includes a retractably extendable sheet which is extendable outwardly of the framework to the edge of the said hatch opening.

4. An enclosure according to claim 3 wherein the retractably extendable sheet has an anchoring means to secure the sheet adjacent to the edge of the hatch opening.

5. An apparatus for handling cargo comprising an enclosure having a framework tc support a covering means over a ship's hatch opening above a cargo hold and the covering means, the enclosure having a side opening, in use, to allow cargo to be moved therethrough, and further comprising a substantially horizontally disposed rail positionable through the side opening and being supported to allow a hoist to be mounted thereupon which, in use, is movable between a said hatch opening and a cargo loading or unloading area so as to move cargo to and/or from a said ship's cargo hold.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the rail is supported by rail supporting members, the rail supporting members being substantially vertically disposed and being slidably adjustable along the rail. - 10- 299227 An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the rail is retractably extendable from a stowed retracted position equidistantly disposed relative to the enclosure, to an extended position, wherein .one end of the rail is adjacent the hatch opening and the other end is above the loading or unloading area of cargo. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the covering means includes a retractably extendable sheet which is extendable outwardly of the framework to the edge of a hatch opening. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the hoist is remote activated by remote activation means. A hatch enclosure for use with a cargo handling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. An apparatus for handling cargo substantially as herein described with reference to figures 3 and 4. n.z. patent office END OF CLAIMS