SE543411C2 - Hoistable car deck panel - Google Patents

Abstract

A deck panel arrangement (100) for a ship (1), wherein the deck panel arrangement (100) comprises a deck panel (110) provided to be displaced between a lower and an upper position, a winching arrangement (120), a plurality of deck panel attachment points (130) provided at the deck panel (110), and a plurality of upper attachment points (131) adapted to be provided at a fixed structure (112) of the ship (1). The winching arrangement (120) comprises a plurality of winching restraints (123), which each are arranged to a respective drum (122) and between one allocated deck panel attachment point (130) and one allocated upper attachment point (131) such that the winching restraints (123) can be winded about and unwinded from its respective drum (122) and thereby displace the deck panel (110) between its lower and upper position.

Description

HOISTABLE CAR DECK PANEL Technical field The present invention relates generally to a displaceable deck panel arrangementfor a ship, where the deck panel of the deck panel arrangement is displaceable between a lower and an upper position. r: .;:'"*iš':::::' :"::š:::>ï:::: io :1 . ;.,.\,,\.\ _. s N _.\_.\»_. _.\,.\_.\ at: __\-.«.-\,.\.« ^ tw-.w-wfizfl»\\«\'\~\ >'\\\ \.^' \v\ >'\v~\ _\v~\.\~\\~'\ \.\..__-.\\ \J... -\\\ Background Displaceable deck panels for cargo on board ships, are used to support cargo ondesired levels in cargo spaces on board the ship and are formed by a plurality ofvertically displaceable deck panels for cargo. Displaceable deck panels aredisplaced to their desired position, where they can be positioned upon andsupported by deck panel stops. There are two main types of displaceable deckpanels for cargo on ships, hoistable and liftable deck panels.

The simplest displaceable deck panel is the liftable deck panel, which is displacedto desired height by means of devices for lifting deck panels, normally in the formof mobile scissor lifts. The devices for lifting deck panels are driven on the deckpanel located below the displaceable deck panel. A liftable deck panel is a simpleand cost-effective construction. Exemplary drawbacks of a liftable deck panel isthat it is very time consuming to relocate a larger amount of deck panels, and thatthe deck panel lifts commonly is driven by combustion engines and therebycausing a loud and in general unhealthy working environment for the lift operatorand other personnel working in the cargo space. An exemplary liftable deck panelis disclosed in JP 2005 067277A.

The alternative displaceable deck panel type, i.e. hoistable deck panel is normallyprovided with one centrally arranged actuator and hoisting wires arranged in acomplex structure out to the four corners of the deck panel, to allow an evenhoisting of the deck panel. Exemplary drawbacks of a hoistable deck panel is thatit is a complex solution and high in price, additionally, the wires need to begreased, which requires additional maintenance and risk for grease spill on sensitive cargo, such as cars. An exemplary hoistable deck panel arrangement isdisclosed in WO 2002 079025A1.

Flexible solutions for ships are often based on several levels of displaceable deckpanels in combination with stationary deck panels. A ship owner therefore has thechoice of deck panels that are cost effective to produce and install, but areineffective when the deck panels needs to be displaced, which is extra problematicif a large number of deck panels needs to be relocated, or choose deck panelsthat can relocate faster, but instead are expensive, which high maintenance and risk of causing damages on the cargo.

SUMMARY An object of this disclosure is to at least partially to overcome the above problems,i.e. to suggest a displaceable deck panel are more cost effective than existinghoistable deck panels and more efficient than a liftable deck panel. Another objectof this disclosure is to suggest a cost-effective system of displaceable deck panelarrangements. A third object of this disclosure is to suggest a method forupgrading an existing liftable deck panel arrangement to a hoistable deck panel arrangement.

The first object is solved through a deck panel arrangement for a ship, wherein the deck panel arrangement comprising - a deck panel provided to be displaced between a lower and an upperposition, - a winching arrangement, - a plurality of deck panel attachment points provided at the deck panel - a plurality of upper attachment points adapted to be provided at a fixedstructureg '" " ' , wherein = _~ f., _ . ,v . : . ..::= . Ng,_ __\_,\,~__~\_-;_\§_-; -n _\_-\\ _~\\ _ .Ä-\\«~\_-_§»\\ ~\_~_\§ _~\_~_ __"\-\ ._\~\~\ »~'\~Q,v~" _~u; ivw: :\-:_.~\_~ :E U: :: :RQ ::__~~\\'\.-':_.~'\.~Lš\~\.- u; KA: :: :lå m: 1.: :"\.-: \.~É.~" ~ "~. I.__. ._ .SLÄ: Eks a plurality of winching apparatuses, which each comprises a drive unit, a drum and . . . _ .« __- _ ,. _ _ _ .- _ \.»\;»\.»\~ ;:-\¿¿»_ ,_~__-;_,-.¿§ _ .mq _» Qm _.-_.»~_~_-.~ .» .» m_- -__» _ p __ __, _ __ _ _8 wlnChlng feStfalnt, ann: >.:=\.- \.:==\_~:_. :mot z _ .=~ ~~~~-:= ~ :::~-: :~ . _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ __ _'~*~\\ _* r: ~~\ _* : fm* ' *fi-w = -\-\ š-w -\ »*\' W ~ <>\-\ -°\ v: m' *'š-\ ~*\_- - »w .« fw' ~ N ~'\: ~*\ »*\ ^: \~:-\ ~^\ vw' -\ _~\".- _~\ N ~-\ >~ I l-\ -'\\\* * -' « ~*\ e-\ WW I ~*\\ .\ _* av*_~ ~_ - ~._\.~~. \..\.« N. »_ _.. _ .__ ~ - ~ - ~___.~_.~ _. .~ ._..~\.-_ _\.-_._~_:.~~ \.~..~_\ ___» .~__ As.. _ .~..~ .~_ With displaceable between a lower and an upper position is meant that the deckpanel can be displaced by the winching arrangement to any position between thelower and the upper position. Additionally can the deck panels have a lower andan upper resting position, whereby in order for the deck panel to be positionedupon e.g. deck panel stoppers at its upper resting position, the deck panel must bedisplaced higher than its upper resting position, in order to be lowered down to thestoppers at the resting position. Additional resting points can be provided in-between the deck panels upper and lower position. Hence, with displaceablebetween a lower and upper position merely defines that the deck panel can bedisplaced in the vertical direction not limiting a specific upper and lower position asthe only possible positions to which the deck panel can be displaced.

The deck panel attachment points are attachments points at the deck panel wherethe winching restraints interacts with the deck panel in order to induce a lifting force upon the deck panel during its displacement.

The upper attachment points are attachment points that are adapted to beprovided at a fixed structure in order to act as a support for the lifting force that lifts the deck panel. The fixed structure is part of or fixedly connected to the shipstructure or ship hull.

An exemplary effect of the disclosed deck panel arrangement is that it is flexible inwhere the winching apparatuses can be arranged, e.g. on the fixed structure, onthe deck panel or even in or below the deck panel and keep a simple allocation ofall winching restraint support points.

An exemplary simple allocation of the winching restraints is that respectivewinching restraint extends between the drum, the deck panel attachment point andthe upper attachment point in one plane defined. Due to the plurality of attachmentpoints all the planes of the winching restraints are arranged parallel to each other,whereby a simple force distribution upon the deck panel is achieved. The winchingapparatuses can also be arranged such that all the planes are parallel with theedges of the deck panel.

One exemplary embodiment provides that one upper attachment point is adaptedto be arranged essentially aligned with one respective deck panel attachment pointin a direction perpendicular to the plane of the deck panel. An exemplary effectthereof is that winching restraints can be arranged such that during displacementof the deck panel arrangement essentially only vertical forces acts on theattachment points, whereby less stress is induced in the whole arrangement.

One exemplary embodiment provides that a rotational axis of the drive unit and thedrum is coaxial. One exemplary effect thereof is that an easy configuration andcompact radial installation space is achieved.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement, thewinching restraint is a strap. A strap can among others also be named sling, webstrap, belt, band, in this disclosure will however strap be used and is defined as awinching restraint with a distinct extension in one plane, i.e. a flat winchingrestraint. Exemplary straps are made of a polymer textile, nature fiber textile andcomposite textile, i.e. from polymers, nature and/or metallic fibers. Exemplaryeffects of having a strap as a winching restraint is no grease is needed and thereby reduced risk of damaging cargo, a reduced drum diameter can be used,due to the flexibility of the straps flat side, whereby the whole installation can be made more compact.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement, the driveunit is an electric motor. ln one exemplary embodiment, the drive unit is asynchronous reluctance motor. An exemplary effect of having an electric motor asa drive unit, is that the electric motor can be made compact and an exact controlcan be easily facilitated. ln additional exemplary effect of having synchronous reluctance motors as driveunits, is that the synchronous reluctance motors can be arranged to be controlledin a master/slave configuration, whereby a maintained exact control without anyadditional sensors is achieved. Such a configuration realizes an easy control of allthe drive units, due to that only one motor needs to be controlled.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement, thewinching arrangement comprises two winching apparatuses, each provided atopposite deck panel sides, whereby each winching apparatus is provided with two drums with respective winching restraints.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement, thewinching arrangement comprises four winching apparatuses, each provided in arespective corner of the deck panel, e.g. at respective deck panel attachment pointor in pairs of two, anywhere along opposite deck panel sides, e.g. such that thedeck panel attachment point, the upper attachment points and the drive unit arearranged in one plane parallel with a side of the deck panel.

An exemplary effect of having four winching apparatuses is that more flexibility isachieved, due to that one winching apparatus can be allocated to each corner andthat relatively small drive units can be used, whereby a high flexibility in where toallocate the winching arrangement is achieved.

One exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement provides that morethat four winching apparatuses is provided, whereby the flexibility and smallness of the winching apparatuses is maintained, simultaneously as the lifting capacity isincreased. Exemplary none-limiting embodiments comprises six, eight or ten winching apparatuses.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement one ofthe attachment points is a roll and the winching restraint extends between theother attachment point via the roll and back to the other attachment point. Oneexemplary effect thereof is that a higher lifting force is achieved.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the deck panel arrangement, thewinching apparatuses is arranged at the deck panel attachment points or the upper attachment points. One exemplary effect thereof is a high flexibility of the deck panel arrangement.

One aspect of this disclosure concerns a method to convert a liftable deck panel ofa ship to a hoistable deck panel of a ship, wherein the method comprises the steps of: o providing deck panel attachment points in the respective corner of the deck paneL o providing upper attachment points on the supporting construction of theship, o providing at least two winching apparatuses at two opposite sides of thedeck panel allocated to either the deck panel or the supporting constructionof the ship, o arranging winching restraints between a respective drum of a winchingapparatus, one deck panel attachment point and one upper attachmentpoint, such that the deck panel can be displaced between a lower positionand an upper position by winding and unwinding the winching restraintsabout respectively from their respective drum.

One exemplary effect of the method is that a liftable deck panel of a ship can beconverted to a more flexible hoistable deck panel fast, to a low cost and with the deck panel still at its position in the ship.An exemplary embodiment of the method further comprises the steps of:o providing a control cabinet upon the support structure of the ship, and o connecting the winching apparatuses to the control cabinet such that thecontrol cabinet can electronically control the winching apparatuses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying schematic drawings, in which: Fig. 1 discloses a schematic drawing of ship.Fig. 2 a-c discloses schematic drawings of displacement of a deck panel.

Fig. 3 a and b discloses schematic drawings of exemplary deck panel arrangements Fig. 4 discloses a schematic drawing of an exemplary panel arrangements¿;~;¿;j;§¿ Fig. 5 and b disclose schematic drawings of exemplary arrangement of thewinching apparatuses of the deck panel arrangements.

A person skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various features disclosed inthe description may be modified, and that various embodiments disclosed and/or claimed may be combined without departing from the scope of the disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION ln the following, a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the deckpanel arrangement, winching apparatuses and system of deck panelarrangements will be disclosed. lt should be emphasised that the embodimentsshown are used as examples only and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 discloses a schematic drawing of a ship 1 in which the deck panelarrangement 100 can be provided. Displaceable deck panel arrangements 100 are typically found roro-ships.

Fig. 2 a-c discloses a deck panel arrangement 100 with a displaceable deck panel110 in its upper position (Fig. 2a), an in-between position (Fig. 2b) and a lowerposition (Fig. 2c). The displaceable deck panel 110 can be displaced between thelower and upper position by actuating a winching arrangement 120 arranged toactuate a lifting force between the deck panel 110 and the fixed structure 112 ofthe ship 1. The lifting force supports the deck panel 110 when it is between itsresting positions, i.e. between the stoppers 111. ln its upper and lower position,the deck panel 110 is arranged upon stoppers 111, such that the winchingarrangement 120 is unloaded when the deck panel 100 is arranged at it upper andlower position. The winching arrangement 120 is provided with winching restraints123, which transmits the lifting force between the fixed structure 112 of the ship 1and the deck panel 110.

The deck panel arrangement 100 is controlled from a control cabinet 210 Fig. 5,which at least is provided with a control for controlling the upwards anddownwards displacement of the deck panel 110. The control cabinet 210 is therefore provided with electronic communication means 211 with the winchingarrangements 120 of respective deck panel 110. The electronic communication means 211 can be wired or wireless.

The displacement of the deck panel 110 is done by a winching arrangement 120, which is disclosed in more detailed in conjunction with Fig. 3, 4 and 5.

Fig. 3 a and b discloses two exemplary embodiments of a deck panel arrangement100. The deck panel arrangement 100 in Fig. 3a is provided with a winchingarrangement 120 with two drive units 121 and the deck panel arrangement 100 inFig. 3b is provided with a winching arrangement 120 with four drive units 121. lnboth exemplary embodiments the deck panel arrangement 100 is provided with adeck panel 110, a winching arrangement 120, a plurality of deck panel attachmentpoints provided at the deck panel 110 and a plurality of upper attachment points131. The upper attachment points 131 are arranged at the fixed structure 112 ofthe ship 1.

The winching arrangement 120 comprises a plurality of winching apparatuses 129.Each winching apparatus 129 comprises at least one winching restraint andtherefor allocated drum 122. ln the exemplary embodiment disclosed in Fig. 3aeach winching apparatus 129 is provided with one drive unit 121, which drives twodrums 122, where respective drum is allocated to one winching restraint 123 each.The drive units are provided in the middle of opposite sides of the deck panel 110,whereby the winching restraints 123 extends along the deck panel sides towardsthe deck panel attachment points. lt is preferred that the drive unit 121, the drums122 and that the extension of the winching restraints 123 between the drum 122and the deck panel attachment point 130 are arranged below the deck panelsurface. ln the exemplary embodiment disclosed in Fig. 3b each winching apparatus 129 isprovided with one drive unit 121, which drive one drum 122, and where respectivedrum 122 is allocated one winching restraint 123 each. ln both the exemplary embodiments disclosed in Fig. 3 a and b the drive units 121are arranged upon the deck panel 120, however in an alternative arrangement thedrive units 121 or some of the drive units can be arranged on the fixed structure112 ofthe ship 1. ln both exemplary embodiments of the deck panel arrangement 100 disclosed inFig. 3a and 3b the winching restraints extends between the deck panel attachmentpoints 130 and the upper attachment points 131. The winching restraints arefurther attached to a respective drum 122 provided in drive connection with thedrive unit 121 of the winching apparatuses 129. The winching restraints 123 canbe arranged to extend one or several times between the deck panel attachmentpoint 130 and the upper attachment point 131 without departing from the scope ofthis disclosure. »¿-\.-\-\- .~,^\_~\~.- «--.-\«,\.-\\.w ««\.\.- \c-axvï: ššrsc-:x štšzsl mi» d :Q \.,. ' mFig. 4 oss 200 of deck panel arrangements The ^= system 200 comprises: of four deck panels 110_1, 110_2,110_3, 110_4, which can be individually controlled from the control cabinet 210.The control cabinet 210 is in electronic control connection with the winchingarrangement 120 of the respective deck panel 110_1 - 110_4. The control cabinet210 comprises a deck panel selection control unit 220, which can select whichdeck panel 110_1 - 110_4 that should be controlled. The control cabinet 210further comprises at least an upwards and a downwards displacement button 230,240, which by actuation, controls the upwards and downwards movements of thedeck panel 110_1 - 110_4 that is selected by the deck panel selection control unit220. The control cabinet is preferably arranged upon the fixed structure 112 of the ship 1.

Fig. 5 a and b disclose partial view of a deck panel 110, where exemplaryarrangements of the winching apparatus 129. The winching apparatus 129comprises a drive unit 121 and the drum 122. The drive unit 121 drives the drum122, which in the disclosed embodiments coaxially arranged with the drive unit121. The drum 122 is attached to the winching restraints 123 of the winchingarrangement 120. such that the winching restraints 123 can be winded about and 11 unwinded from the drum 122 upon actuation of the drive unit 121. The winchingarrangement 120 comprises a plurality of winching apparatuses 129 and a pluralityof winching restraints 123, whereby only one winching apparatus 120 andwinching restraint 123 is shown in respective Fig. 5a and b. ln Fig. 5a the drive unit 121 of the winching apparatus 129 is arranged upon thefixed structure 112 of the ship at the upper attachment point 131. The winchingrestraint 123 extends from the drum 122 down to the deck panel attachment point130 and back up to the upper attachment point 131 _ At the deck panel attachmentpoint 130 a roll 134 is arranged about which the winching restraint 123 isredirected back up to the upper attachment point 131. At the upper attachmentpoint 131 the winching restraint is fixedly attached, such that when the winchingrestraint 123 is winded about the drum 122 the deck panel 110 is lifted by thewinching restraint 123. ln the embodiment in Fig. 5b the winching apparatus 129 is instead arranged atthe deck panel attachment point 130 and a roll is thereby placed at the upperattachment point about which the winching restraint 123 can be redirected.

The two exemplary embodiments disclosed in Fig. 5 a and b shows the flexibility ofthe disclosed deck panel arrangement 100. The location of the winching apparatus129 can thereby be selected dependent on the general ship layout when retrofitting an existing liftable deck panel to a deck panel arrangement according100 to this disclosure. ln the same ship 1 or even at the same deck panel, thewinching apparatuses 129 can be arranged at either or both deck panelattachment points 130 and upper attachment points 131 depending on the spaceavailable at the respective pair of attachment points.

The winching apparatus 129 can be provided with a gearbox 124 between thedrum 122 and the drive unit 121.

The high flexibility is realized through the unique combinations of features of the disclosed deck panel arrangements: 12 First the use of a plurality of winching apparatuses 129, which allows for smallerdrive units 121, which can be arranged at different positions at the deck paneland/or the fixed structure 112 of the ship 1.

Additional flexibility and even smaller drive units is realized by having one drive unit in each corner.

Another flexibility and compactness enhancer is the exemplary embodiment wherethe winching restraints 123 are straps. A strap allows for a small diameter of thedrum 122, due to the high flexibility of a strap in the direction perpendicular to thestrap's extension plane. This in turn allows for a compact winching apparatus, which requires even less installation space.

Claims (10)

1. A deck panel arrangement (100) for a ship (1), wherein the deck panel arrangement (100) comprising - a deck panel (110) provided to be displaced between a lower and an upperposition, - a winching arrangement (120), - a plurality of deck panel attachment points (130) provided at the deck panel(110) - a plurality of upper attachment points (131) adapted to be provided at afixed structure (112) ofthe ship (1), wherein the winching arrangement (120) comprises a plurality of winching restraints (123), which each are arranged to a respectivedrum (122) and between one allocated deck panel attachment point (130) and oneallocated upper attachment point (131) such that the winching restraints (123) canbe winded about and unwinded from its respective drum (122) and therebydisplace the deck panel (110) between its lower and upper position, wherein thewinching arrangement (120) comprises a plurality of winching apparatuses (129), which each comprises a drive unit (121 ),a drum (122) and a winching restraint (123), and the drive unit (121) is in driveconnection with its respective drum (122).

2. Deck panel arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the winching restraint(123) is a strap.

3. Deck panel arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein thedrive units are electric motors and preferably a synchronous reluctance motor.

4. Deck panel arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the electric motors (121) are arranged to be controlled in a master/slave configuration.

5. Deck panel arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein thewinching arrangement (120) comprises four winching apparatuses (129) eachprovided in a respective corner of the deck panel (110).

6. Deck panel arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein oneof the attachment points (130, 131) is a roll (133) and the winching restraintextends between the other attachment point (130/131) via the roll (133) and backto the other attachment point (130/131).

7. Deck panel arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, wherein thewinching apparatuses (129) is arranged at the deck panel attachment points (130)or the upper attachment points (131 ).

8. Deck panel arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinthe winching restraint (123) is flat winching restraint.

9. A method to convert a liftable deck panel of a ship (1) to a hoistable deck panel (100) of a ship (1 ), wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing deck panel attachment points (130) in the respective corner of thedeck panel (110), o providing fixed upper attachment points (131) on the supportingconstruction of the ship (1 ), o providing at least two winching apparatuses (129) at two opposite sides ofthe deck panel (100) allocated to either the deck panel (110) or thesupporting construction of the ship (1), o arranging winching restraints (123) between a respective drum (122) ofawinching apparatus (129), one deck panel attachment point (130) and oneupper attachment point (131), such that the deck panel (110) can bedisplaced between a lower position and an upper position by winding andunwinding the winching restraints (123) about respectively from theirrespective drum (122).

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the method further comprises the stepsof: o providing a control Cabinet (210) upon the support structure of the ship (1), and o connecting the winching apparatuses (129) to the control cabinet (210)such that the control cabinet (210) can electronically control the winching apparatuses (129).