TW202108444A - Marine transfer apparatus and method of using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

Marine transfer apparatus for transferring a body (7) between a vessel (6) subjected to waves and an offshore structure (10). The apparatus comprises a transfer cable (1) on which the body (7) can ascend and descend in use. A structure coupling (4) connects a first end of the transfer cable (1) to an attachment point (12) provided on the offshore structure. A vessel coupling (5) connects a second end of the transfer cable (1) to the vessel (6). The transfer cable (1) comprises an elastically extendable region (3) for extending its length when taut between the structure (4) and vessel couplings (5) as the vessel moves in the waves (9). The vessel coupling (5) further comprises a reeling device (8) for reeling the transfer cable (1) between a taut state and a slack state when connected between the structure (4) and vessel couplings (5).

Description

Ship conveying equipment and its use method

The present invention relates to marine conveying equipment and methods for conveying objects between the hull and offshore structures, and more specifically to marine conveying equipment and methods for monopile offshore structures, such as Wind turbine generator with single pile foundation.

Transferring objects (such as people or objects) between a hull (such as a ship) and a fixed offshore structure can be a challenging and dangerous process. Sea waves caused by wind or swells will act on the hull of the ship and move the ship relative to the offshore structure. Specifically, when waves pass, the motion of the hull may be complicated and unpredictable, because the hull can be subjected to both rotational motion (such as overturning, rolling, and yaw) and translational motion (such as heaving, rolling, and longitudinal movement). Impact. In some cases, it may be possible to push the hull onto the base by driving the hull into the embarkation area of the offshore structure, thereby minimizing motions such as rolling, yaw and sway, and longitudinal movement. However, it is difficult to reduce the vertical movement. Such vertical movement is particularly dangerous because when a person tries to transition from the hull to, for example, a static ladder provided on the outside of an offshore structure, there is a risk of trapping the person between the ship and the structure.

Various methods have been used to solve the above-mentioned problems. For example, helicopters can be used in certain situations, such as by landing on a platform on the structure itself or by personnel descending from the helicopter to the platform. However, helicopters are expensive to operate and can only be landed on extremely large platforms, such as those installed on oil drilling platforms. In the case of high air volume and poor visibility, the helicopter is also inappropriate, and these restrictions will be more pronounced when rappelling is necessary. Other solutions include the use of motion-compensated gangways between the hull and the platform, although these gangways are only suitable for large ships and therefore increase the cost and complexity accordingly. Finally, various technologies involving the use of cranes and hoists on offshore platforms are also proposed. In such a system, the cable can be suspended downward from the offshore platform, and objects can be hoisted from the platform by using the cable. This configuration is typically used with a distance control system to control a winch or hoisting mechanism to compensate for the motion of the hull by using laser or ultrasonic sensors to track the motion of the hull. However, such winches or hoisting mechanisms are usually complicated and cannot fully respond to completely reduce the impact of hull motion.

In the case of a conveying system used in a mono-pile foundation structure, and more clearly in the case of an offshore wind turbine structure, the above-mentioned problems will be particularly exacerbated. First, the monopile foundation structure is small, and therefore has a small boarding area and maintenance platform. This makes larger-scale conveyor systems (used to enter and exit users of larger structures such as oil drilling platforms) unsuitable. In addition, since the monopile foundation structure is unmanned, it is difficult to implement a system that relies on the active control of the crane and winch at the platform. For example, controlling these machines from the far end of the hull will lead to new safety and maintenance issues.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved marine conveying equipment to solve the above-mentioned problems (and especially for the specific technical considerations related to the single-pile offshore structure).

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a marine conveying device for conveying objects between a hull affected by waves and an offshore structure. The device includes: a conveying cable, which can be used to convey the object. Ascending and descending; a structural coupling for connecting the transmission cable to an attachment point provided on the offshore structure; a hull coupling for connecting the transmission cable to the hull; and wherein the The transmission cable is elastically extendable, and is used to extend the length of the structure and the hull coupling when the hull is stretched between the structure and the hull coupling when the hull moves on waves; and wherein, the structure and the hull coupling One of them includes a rolling device for rolling the transmission cable between a tensioned state and a relaxed state when the transmission cable is connected between the structure and the hull coupling.

In this way, when the transmission cable is connected between the structure and the hull, the rolling device allows the tension in the cable to be controlled to switch between the tensioned state and the relaxed state. This has the effect of switching the motion reference point from the hull to the offshore structure. To describe it in more detail, in the tensioned state, the elastic extensibility of the transmission cable allows the cable to extend and contract with the movement of the hull in the ocean waves. In this way, when an object is coupled to the transmission cable, the object moves in accordance with the extension and contraction of the cable length, so its motion is coupled with the motion of the hull. In other words, the transmission cable is effectively static with respect to the reference point of the hull. As a result, the object can be safely transferred from the hull of the ship (ascend) to the cable, and can also be safely transferred (descend) to the hull of the ship. Conversely, when the rolling device is operated to place the transmission cable in a relaxed state, the slack at the second end of the cable accommodates the movement of the hull in the waves, and it is not affected by the extension of the cable. adapt. In this way, the transmission cable is suspended downward from the attachment point of the structure without being affected by the movement of the hull. In other words, the transmission cable is effectively static relative to the reference point of the offshore structure. As a result, the object can be safely transferred from the structure's platform (ascend) to the cable, and it can also be safely transferred (descend) to the structure's platform. It should be understood here that even when the rolling device is operated to place the transmission cable in a relaxed state, the section between the object connection point and its attachment to the structure can still be taut, because the weight of the object will inherently Pull the cable tightly. However, as a whole, the transmission cable is in a relaxed state, in which the movement of the hull in the waves is accommodated by the excess cable, rather than by the extended length of the cable.

Accordingly, through the above-mentioned marine transmission equipment, safe entry and exit from the hull (and from the liaison ship of any size) to the offshore structure can be achieved without the use of boarding areas or ladders. It should be understood that the scrolling device can switch the transmission cable between tension and relaxation by retracting the transmission cable of the section, such as by winding the transmission cable on a cylinder or by using a piston actuator such as Pull out the cable by the pulley device.

Preferably, the transmission cable includes an extendable area and an inextensible area. In this way, the extendable area of the cable can provide elastic extension of the overall length of the transmission cable. On the other hand, when the non-extendable area can move with the hull in the tensioned state and be held and loaded by the carrier during the ascent operation, Can resist stretching, making it easier to ascend.

Preferably, the extendable area of the transmission cable is located at or adjacent to the structural coupling. In this way, the extension of the transmission cable is focused on the section of the cable closest to its attachment point to the structure. At the same time, the non-extensible area adjacent to the hull can move together with the hull, and at the same time, non-stretchable materials are provided to promote easier ascent.

Preferably, the extendable area includes an elastic cable section or a spring. In this way, the transmission cable can be composed of two functional parts that are joined to form the length of the cable. Therefore, an elastic material or a spring can be used to form the extendable area in an intuitive manner. The non-extensible zone can then be provided in the form of steel or polymer cables, or mesh belts, etc., and joined to the elastic or spring material of the extensible zone.

Preferably, the rolling device includes a winch. In this way, the retracted section of the transmission cable can be held in a compressed configuration when it is wound on the winch cylinder. At the same time, the rotation position of the winch column can be locked and fixed to maintain the transmission cable in a tensioned state, and quickly release the cable to switch to a slack state.

Preferably, the hull coupling includes the scrolling device. In this way, an actuation that switches between tension and relaxation can be provided on the hull, allowing local control and maintenance.

Preferably, the device further includes a carrier coupled to the transmission cable for moving the object on the transmission cable. In this way, the object can be attached to the carrier, which in turn can be driven up or down the cable. The carrier can be driven manually, such as climbing ascenders/descenders, for example. In other embodiments, the carrier may include a lifting mechanism that is automatically or powered from the hull.

Preferably, the hull coupling includes a release device for quickly releasing the tension in the transmission cable. In this way, in the case where the excessive movement of the hull in the water causes the pulling force of the transmission cable to exceed the pulling force limit, the release device can be operated to quickly release the pulling force. In order to achieve this effect, the release device can quickly release the cable from the rolling device and/or disconnect the transmission cable from the hull. This provides an important safety feature to minimize the risk of personal injury, which may otherwise be caused by damage or failure of the equipment, the hull and/or the components in the offshore structure.

Preferably, the structural coupling includes a distal release mechanism for releasing the transmission cable from the storage position to a release position, in which the second end of the transmission cable can be attached to the ship Body coupling. In this way, the transmission cable can be stored on an offshore structure, coupled to an attachment point, and released by the distal end of the hull when needed. For example, the transmission cable can be stored in a weatherproof box at the attachment point, and then release the cable by activating the latch to open the door and lower the second end of the transmission cable.

Preferably, the offshore structure is a single-pile offshore structure. The embodiments of the present invention are particularly suitable for use with mono-pile offshore structures. For example, the device can be used with smaller hulls, because the control can be implemented on the hull side, so there is no need for personnel on the platform side.

In an embodiment, the marine conveying equipment further includes a secondary rope for hanging from a secondary rope attachment point connected to the offshore structure, the secondary rope being connected to a climbing assist device for driving the object The transmission cable. In this way, when the transmission cable is in a slack state, the secondary rope can be used to drive the ascent operation by using the climbing assist device. Advantageously, since the free end of the secondary rope is not taut, this allows a wider variety of climbing aids to be used in embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the secondary rope attachment point may be part of the structural coupling or may be provided at the same attachment point on the offshore structure to which the transmission cable is coupled. Alternatively, the secondary rope can also be attached to its transmission cable itself, and thereby connected to the offshore structure through the transmission cable. It should also be understood that the mechanism used to drive the object (such as the carrier and/or climbing aid) can be powered or manually operated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring an object from a hull affected by waves to an offshore structure by using the equipment described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising: transferring The cable is connected between the structural coupling and the hull coupling; the rolling device is operated to roll the transmission cable to a tensioned state; the carrier coupled to the transmission cable is operated to move the object on the Transfer cable from the hull to an elevated position; operate the rolling device to roll the transfer cable to a relaxed state; and operate the carrier to move the object from the elevated position to the offshore structure platform.

In this way, when the object first rises from the hull, where the transmission cable is in a tensioned state, the elastic extensibility of the transmission cable allows the cable to extend and contract with respect to the motion of the hull in the waves . In this way, the object can safely rise away from the hull. Once the object reaches a high position, it may be above the platform or not above the platform and above the hull, and the rolling device can then be operated to place the transfer cable in a relaxed state. Under this condition, the transmission cable no longer moves with the hull, allowing the object to safely descend or rise further to reach the platform of the structure. In addition, the action of releasing the transmission cable from the scrolling device can also be used to lift the object. Specifically, by locking the carrier to the transmission cable during tensioning, and then releasing a section of the cable from the rolling device, the corresponding contraction of the extendable area will act to lift the object away from the hull. Once properly raised, the carrier can then be operated to allow the transmission cable to rise further, for example by directly driving the cable or in combination with a climbing aid that engages with a secondary rope.

Preferably, the high position is above the platform on the offshore structure, and the carrier is operated to move the object under the transmission cable from the high position down to the platform on the offshore structure.

Preferably, the method further includes the step of releasing the second end of the transmission cable from the hull coupling. In this way, the hull can be moved away from the structure to complete other operations. Once the reeling device has rolled the conveying cable to a relaxed state, or once the object has been lowered or raised onto the platform from a high position, the second end of the conveying cable can be released.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring objects from an offshore structure to a hull by using the above-mentioned equipment, the method comprising: operating a carrier coupled to the transfer cable, when the transfer cable is in a relaxed state When the object on the transmission cable is moved from the platform on the offshore structure to a high position; once the object is in the high position, the rolling device is operated to roll the transmission cable to a tensioned state, and is connected to the Between the structure and the hull coupling; and, operating the carrier to move the object under the transmission cable, moving down from the high position to the hull.

In this way, when the object is to be transported back to the hull, it is possible to safely climb from the platform to the high position, where the transport cable does not move relative to the platform. Once the object reaches a high position, it may be above the platform or not above the platform and above the hull, and the rolling device can then be operated to place the transmission cable in a tensioned state. Under this condition, the transmission cable moves together with the hull, allowing objects to be safely descended to reach the hull. It should be understood that the transmission cable may be connected to the hull coupling before operating the carrier or once the object has risen to the high position.

Preferably, the high position is above the platform on the offshore structure.

Preferably, the method further includes releasing the second end of the transmission cable from the hull coupling. In this way, once the object has safely reached the hull, the hull can move away from the structure to complete other operations.

In an embodiment, the above method may further include the steps of: setting a secondary rope, which is suspended from a secondary rope attachment point connected to the offshore structure; connecting a climbing aid to the secondary rope; and operating The climbing assist device drives the movement of the object on the transmission cable. In this way, through the use of climbing aids, the secondary rope can be used to drive the ascent. Advantageously, since the free end of the secondary rope is not taut, this allows a wider variety of climbing aids to be used in embodiments of the invention. It should be understood that the secondary rope attachment point may be part of the structural coupling or may be provided at the same attachment point on the offshore structure or on the transmission cable itself to which the transmission cable is coupled.

Preferably, the offshore structure is a single-pile offshore structure. The above method is particularly applicable to single-pile offshore structures.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for transferring objects from a ship hull affected by waves to an offshore structure, the method comprising: connecting the transfer cable between the structural coupling and the hull coupling Operate the reeling device to reel the transmission cable to a tensioned state, wherein the hull coupling includes the reeling device; fix the object to the transmission cable by using a tether; operate the reeling device , To roll the transmission cable to a relaxed state for lifting the object on the transmission cable from the hull to a high position.

According to an alternative solution, a method for transferring objects from a ship's hull affected by waves to an offshore structure is provided. The method includes: connecting a transfer cable between the structural coupling and the hull coupling; and slidably coupling the carrier to The transmission cable for carrying the object; and the carrier is driven along the transmission cable by using a driver. In an example, the transmission cable may be connected between the structural coupling and the hull coupling in a relaxed state for adapting to the movement of the hull. In other examples, the transmission cable may include an extendable section with a spring or a counterweight mechanism for accommodating the movement of the hull. The structural coupling and/or the hull coupling can be separately located above the structural platform and the hull platform. The structural coupling and/or the hull coupling can be placed above each platform at a safe distance to avoid contact between the platform and the object when it is connected to the carrier. Before driving the carrier along the transfer cable, the method may further include lifting the object from the structural platform and/or the hull platform up to the carrier. After driving the carrier along the transmission cable, the method may further include lowering the object from the carrier to the structural platform and/or the hull platform. The carrier may include a lifting mechanism for lifting and/or lowering objects between the carrier and the structural platform and/or the hull platform. In the example, the driver acts on the transmission cable to drive the carrier. In other examples, the method may further include connecting a secondary cable to the offshore structure, wherein the driver acts on the secondary cable to drive the carrier. The secondary cable can be connected between the hull and the offshore structure.

Fig. 1(a) shows a schematic diagram of a marine conveying equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. The marine transfer equipment is used to transfer objects 7 (such as persons or objects) between the hull 6 and the offshore structure 10, which in this case is a monopile wind turbine generator. As will be understood, the hull 6 (such as a boat, ship) is affected by waves in the sea 9, which will cause the hull position to dynamically change with respect to a static reference point (such as a monopile wind turbine generator 10) .

The marine transmission equipment includes a transmission cable 1, and the transmission cable includes an extendable area 3 and a non-extendable area 2. The extendable area 3 is elastically extendable and is located at the first end of the transmission cable 1 and is connected to a hook arm 12 provided on the body of the wind turbine generator 10 above the platform 11 via a coupling 4. As such, the hook arm 12 provides an attachment point for the wind turbine generator 10. The hook arm 12 can be configured as a rocker arm, allowing easier access to the platform 11. In this embodiment, the extendable region 3 is configured as a tension spring, although other embodiments may use other configurations (such as other types of springs, elastic materials, or piston configurations). The non-extensible area 2 is joined to the extendable area 3 and is located at the second end of the transmission cable 1 and is connected to the hull 6 via a coupling 5. In this embodiment, the non-extensible area 2 is configured as a nylon cable, although other embodiments may use other materials, such as other polymer cables or steel wires.

The container coupling 5 connects the second end of the transmission cable 1 to the hull 6, and the container coupling 5 includes a rolling device 8 for rolling the transmission cable 1. In this embodiment, the scrolling device 8 is configured as a winch, although other mechanisms are also contemplated. The rolling device 8 can retract and release the section of the transmission cable 1, such as when the transmission cable 1 is connected between the structural coupling 4 and the hull coupling 5, the cable can be in a tensioned state and a relaxed state To switch between.

When the transmission cable 1 is in a tensioned state, it is tensioned between the structural coupling 4 and the hull coupling 5. However, the elastically extendable zone 3 is sufficiently extendable to accommodate the movement of the hull 6 in the sea 9. In this way, when the hull moves downward relative to the wind turbine generator 10, the elastic stretchable area 3 is further stretched, and when the hull 6 moves upward relative to the wind turbine generator 10, the elastic stretchable area 3 can shrink. Back. In this state, the non-extendable zone 2 therefore moves up and down with the vertical movement of the hull 6.

The ascending operation using the exemplary embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1(a) to (d). As shown in Figure 1(a), the hull 6 can reach the wind turbine generator 10 and can optionally be pushed onto the monopile foundation to minimize its movement. At this stage, a remote trigger can be used to release the transmission cable 1 from the storage position in the weatherproof box provided on the hook arm 12. This will cause the second end of the transmission cable 1 to fall down onto the hull 6, where the first end is connected to the hook arm 12 via the structural coupling 4, and the suspension cable 1 is slack. The second end of the transmission cable 1 can then be connected to the rolling device 8 of the hull coupling 5. It should be understood that although the transmission cable 1 is held at the structural coupling 4 in this embodiment, other configurations are also conceivable. For example, in another embodiment, the transmission cable 1 is held at the hull coupling 5 and the structural coupling 4 is provided with a guide rope for connecting the transmission cable 1. The advantage of using these configurations is that only one transmission cable 1 and one carrier device 13 are required for each hull, and the installation and maintenance required at the wind turbine generator 10 are minimized.

In FIG. 1( b ), the rolling device 8 is driven to wind the transmission cable 1 so that the cable is stretched between the hull coupling 5 and the structural coupling 4. In this state, the non-extensible area 2 moves up and down with the vertical movement of the hull 6, and the elastically extendable area 3 adapts to this movement.

As shown in FIG. 1(c), by using a carrier 13 (such as a climbing ascender/descender), the object 7 can then be moved up the inextensible area 2 of the conveying cable 1. Once the object has risen to a high position above the platform 11, the rolling device 8 can then be operated to roll out the transfer cable 1 to introduce slack between the object 7 and the hull 6.

As shown in Fig. 1(d), since the transmission cable 1 is slack between the object 7 and the hull 6, it no longer moves with the hull 6. In this way, by operating the carrier 13, the object 7 can be safely lowered onto the platform 11.

The lowering operation using the exemplary embodiment will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 2(a) to (d). As shown in Figure 2(a), the hull 6 positions itself at the wind turbine generator 10 and can optionally be pushed onto the monopile foundation to minimize its movement. In this initial stage, the transmission cable 1 is in a relaxed state, whether because it has not been connected to the rolling device 8 or because the rolling device 8 is operated to place the transmission cable 1 in a relaxed state. Fig. 2(a) shows a situation in which the transmission cable 1 has been connected to the rolling device 8 and the rolling device 8 has been operated to place the transmission cable 1 in a relaxed state.

The carrier 13 is then coupled to the slack transfer cable 1, and as shown in FIG. 2( b ), the carrier 13 is operated to lift the object 7 to transfer the cable 1 from the platform 11.

Once the object 7 reaches the high position shown in Fig. 2(c), the rolling device 8 is operated to wind the transmission cable 1 to a tensioned state. It should be understood that if the transmission cable 1 has not been connected to the reeling device 8, it needs to be connected before it can be wound in.

As shown in Fig. 2(d), since the transmission cable 1 is taut, it will move with the hull 6, thereby allowing the object 7 to be safely lowered to the hull 6 from a high position.

Accordingly, by using the above configuration, the movement reference point for the ascending or descending object 7 can be switched between the hull 6 and the offshore structure 10. In this way, when the object 7 is on the transmission cable 1 adjacent to the hull 6, the object will move in unison with the hull 6. In contrast, when the object 7 is on the transmission cable 1 adjacent to the platform 11 of the structure, the object is not affected by the movement of the hull 6. As a result, the object 7 can be safely transferred between the hull 6 and the platform 11 of the structure. Preferably, this can significantly reduce the risk of personal injury, and it can be implemented from a contact boat 6 of any size, without the need for a boarding area or ladder on the offshore structure 10.

It should be understood that the above-described embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and illustrate the application of the present invention. In practice, the present invention can be applied to many different configurations. For those with ordinary knowledge in the technical field, the detailed embodiments should be clearly thought of and implementable.

In this connection, for example, FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein similar reference numbers refer to common features. However, in this embodiment, the device is further provided with a secondary rope 14 which is suspended downward from the clamp on the hook arm 12. The secondary rope 14 is coupled to a climbing aid 15 which is used to drive the ascent when the transmission cable is in a slack state, instead of being driven by a mechanism in the carrier 13. Specifically, the carrier 13 is provided as a fall prevention mechanism attached to an object. During the ascending operation, when the object is not actively driven, the anti-falling mechanism 13 supports the weight of the object. Once the object 7 is not above the hull 6 and the transmission cable 1 is in a relaxed state, the climbing aid 15 can then engage with the secondary rope 14 and be driven to pull the object 7 upwards. During the descending operation, the anti-falling mechanism 13 and/or the climbing assist device 15 can be operated to control the descending speed. As in the first embodiment, depending on whether the object 7 is an adjacent hull 6 or a platform 11 of an adjacent structure, the transmission cable 1 can be switched between a tensioned and a relaxed state. Importantly, through this embodiment, since the secondary rope 14 is not in a tensioned state under the climbing assist device 15, more kinds of ascending devices can be used. For example, some climbing aids rely on the engaging rope to be driven through a vertical path when passing through the rope guide and tensioner assembly of the climbing aid. In this way, the provision of the secondary rope 14 (the free end is suspended from the offshore structure) may allow the embodiment of the present invention to be used in conjunction with this climbing assist device.

In the above example, the attachment point of the secondary rope on the hook arm 12 is separated from the structural coupling 4. However, in other embodiments, these attachment points may be the same or adjacent to each other. In addition, the attachment point of the secondary rope can also be arranged at the junction between the extendable and inextensible section of the transmission cable 1, or on the inextensible section 2 itself.

In this connection, FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a marine transmission device according to a third embodiment of the present invention. This third embodiment is substantially the same as the second embodiment in FIG. 3, except that the secondary rope 14 is attached to the extendable section 3 at the junction of the section. That is, the joint between these functional components includes hook points for attaching the secondary rope 14. In other embodiments, the secondary rope 14 may be further attached downward to the non-extensible section 2. For the purpose of simplifying the description, the secondary rope 14 is drawn to be separated from the inextensible section 2 of the transmission cable 1. However, it should be understood that in practice, the secondary rope 14 and the inextensible section 2 can be hung down substantially parallel to each other, by the carrier 13 coupled to the inextensible section 2 and the climber coupled to the secondary rope 14. The intervals between the auxiliary devices 15 are separated. As in the second embodiment described above, since the secondary rope 14 is not connected to the rolling device, it maintains slack under the climbing assist device 15 regardless of whether the transmission cable 1 is in a tensioned or slack state. This allows a wider variety of climbing aids to be used, while advantageously allowing the secondary rope 14 to move together with the non-extendable section 2 when the transmission cable 1 is in its tensioned state.

As with the transmission cable 1, the secondary rope 14 may be fixed at the hook arm 12, or it may be fixed to the hull and connected to the structure through the use of guide ropes. In addition, the secondary rope 14 may be made of nylon, other polymer ropes and mesh belts, or from steel wire, for example.

It should also be understood that safety and/or guide cables can be additionally used in combination with the above configuration. For example, a fail-safe cable can be provided between the non-extendable section 2 and the hook arm 12 to safely fix the transmission cable 1 in the event that the extendable section 3 fails. That is, the fail-safe cable can be slack enough to allow the extendable section 3 to be used for extension, but it provides a way to connect the non-extendable section 2 and the hook arm 12 when the extendable section 3 is about to break. Bypass connection between. Therefore, this ensures that any person who is climbing the cable will not fall in the event of a cable failure.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a marine conveying equipment according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the transmission cable 1 is made of an elastic extensible material and is connected between the hull 6 and the offshore structure 10. In this embodiment, the structural coupling 4 is provided with a pulley connected to the hook arm 12. The pulley 4 surrounds and feeds the conveying cable 1 down to the hull 6. On the hull, the transmission cable 1 is connected to a coupling member 5, which includes first and second rolling devices 8a and 8b for rolling in and out of the transmission cable 1 of several lengths for changing The tension in the transmission cable connected between the hull coupling 5 and the structural coupling 4.

During the ascending operation, by retracting a section of the transmission cable 1 into the first rolling device 8a, the transmission cable 1 is placed in a tensioned state. At this time, the second rolling device 8b can lock the transmission cable 1 at its end, or retract a section of the transmission cable 1 to further increase the tension between the hull coupling 5 and the structural coupling 4 . In any case, as with the other embodiments, even when the transmission cable 1 is tensioned between the structural coupling 4 and the hull coupling 5, the cable 1 is still flexible enough to extend to fit the ship in the sea 9 6 of the movement. In this way, the transmission cable 1 is further stretched when the hull 6 moves downward relative to the offshore structure 10 and retracts when the hull 6 moves upward relative to the offshore structure 10.

Once the transmission cable 1 is in a tensioned state, the object 7 can be safely secured to the transmission cable 1, for example by using related safety equipment such as a tether 16 and fall prevention. The safety device, such as the tether 16, grabs a part of the transmission cable 1 and locks it on it. At this stage, the first rolling device 8a is operable to pay out the transmission cable 1. When the material of the transmission cable 1 is released, the stretched transmission cable 1 with tension shrinks, so that the part of the transmission cable 1 grasped by the safety device (such as the tether 16) moves upward toward the structural coupling 4. This serves to lift the object 7 away from the hull 6. The ascent rate can be changed by controlling the rate at which the transmission cable is discharged from the first scrolling device 8a. Since the elastic energy stored in the transmission cable is transferred to lift the object 7, the object 7 is lifted to a high position above the platform 11. Once in the high position, the transmission cable 1 will be slack, and the object 7 can be detached from the transmission cable 1. The second reeling device 8b is operable to reel out the conveying cable 1 to introduce further slack to the cable, so as to facilitate the descending of objects onto the platform 11.

During the descent, through the use of related safety equipment such as tether 16 and fall prevention, the object 7 can be similarly and safely fixed to the transmission cable 1, and the first rolling device 8a can be operated to roll into the transmission cable 1 to transfer The cable is converted into a tensioned state, wherein the cable will move with the hull 6.

As in the previous embodiment, the reference point for the movement of the ascending or descending object 7 can be switched between the hull 6 and the offshore structure 10. In this way, when the object 7 is on the transmission cable 1 adjacent to the hull 6, the object will move in unison with the hull 6. In contrast, when the object 7 is on the transmission cable 1 adjacent to the platform 11 of the structure, the object is not affected by the movement of the hull 6. As a result, the object 7 can be safely transferred between the hull 6 and the platform 11 of the structure. Advantageously, this can significantly reduce the risk of personal injury.

It should be understood that the riser/downer can also be used in the configuration shown in FIG. 5. That is, an ascender/descender or a climbing assist device can be attached to the transmission cable 1, and the object 7 can be moved along the transmission cable 1 by using this configuration. The object 7 can then be unhooked from the ascender/descender to reach the platform 11 of the structure or the hull 6 of the structure. The ascender/descender can be self-controlled by the user 7 or controlled from the remote end of the hull 6. As in the previous embodiment, safety and/or guide cables can be additionally used in combination with the above configuration. In addition, as in the previous embodiment, the pod can be adapted to related safety equipment (such as tether 16 and fall prevention) to carry multiple people or other loads, as well as provide additional collision protection.

Figure 6 shows a schematic diagram of a marine conveying device according to an alternative solution. Through this configuration, the transmission cable 1 is connected between the coupling member 5 on the hull 6 and the structural coupling member 4 provided on the hook arm 12. The transmission cable 1 is safely fixed in a relaxed state, or in an alternative configuration, can be provided as an extendable section by using a spring or a counterweight mechanism. In this way, the hull 6 will be able to move relative to the offshore structure 10, and when the movement is absorbed by the slack or extension of the transmission cable 1, the cable 1 will not be damaged. In this illustrative example, the hull coupling 5 is located at the rear half of the hull 6 and in a high position, in this case on the bridge. In this way, a relatively shallow ascent angle to reach the structural platform 11 can be achieved, which thereby reduces the relative movement of the objects 7 connected to the transmission cable 1.

In this aspect, the user or object 7 is connected to the transmission cable 1 by using a climbing aid or a tram 16 which is slidably coupled to the cable 1. In this way, when the transmission cable 1 moves between the hull 6 and the platform 11, the cable carries the load of the object 7. In this example, the secondary rope 14 connected between the hull and the hook arm 12 is further provided to function as a pull wire. That is, the secondary rope 14 can be connected in a relaxed state, and the climbing assist device 15 can be coupled to the secondary rope 14 and act as a driver for driving the movement of the climbing assist device or along the track of the transmission cable 1 Car 16. In the event of a cable failure, this secondary rope 14 also provides redundancy. In other examples, the powered rail car 16 may instead be arranged to propel its own movement along the cable 1.

During use, through the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the user 7 on the hull 6 couples the rail car 16 to the transmission cable 1 and couples the climbing assist device 15 to the secondary rope 14. In this stage, the user will move in phase with the movement of the hull 6. The climbing aid can then be operated to pull the rail car 16 along the transport cable 1 and therefore the user 7 towards the structural coupling 4. Once the railcar 16 reaches the structural coupling 4, it can be locked to the hook arm 12 so that the user 7 can be substantially static with respect to the offshore structure 10, and the user 7 can be unhooked at this point.

Through the above configuration, the hull coupling 5 and the structure coupling 4 can be arranged at an extra height above the respective surfaces of the hull 6 and the offshore structure 10, and the user 7 can rise and fall from the extra height. This provides a safe distance so that once the user 7 is connected to the railcar 16, it can be a sufficient distance from the parts or structure 10 of the hull 6 to reduce the risk of impact on these surfaces due to the movement of the hull 6 . For example, the user may need to ascend vertically, preferably 1 to 2 meters (1-2 m) before the railcar 16 can be released, to allow transport between the hull 6 and the structure 10. A vertical ascending/descending mechanism can be additionally provided for the purpose of raising the user 7 away from the surface during the initial ascending phase, and for lowering the user 7 to the surface when the transfer operation between the hull 6 and the structural platform 11 is completed on. In the same way, the nacelle can be adapted to the rail car 16 to carry multiple people or other loads, as well as to provide additional anti-collision protection.

1: Transmission cable 2: non-extendable area 3: Extensible area 4: Structural coupling 5: Hull coupling 6: Hull 7: Object 8: Scrolling device 8a: The first scrolling device 8b: The second scrolling device 9: sea 10: Wind turbine generator 11: Platform 12: Hook arm 13: carrier device 14: secondary rope 15: Climbing aids 16: Railcar

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [FIG. 1(a) to (d)] show schematic diagrams of a marine transmission equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, which depicts the process of ascending operation from the hull to the monopile wind turbine generator; and [FIG. 2(a) to (d)] show schematic diagrams of the marine transmission equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, which depicts the process of descending operation from the monopile wind turbine generator to the hull; [Fig. 3] A schematic diagram showing a marine conveying equipment according to a second embodiment of the present invention; [FIG. 4] A schematic diagram showing a marine transmission equipment according to a third embodiment of the present invention; [FIG. 5] A schematic diagram showing a marine transmission equipment according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; and [Fig. 6] A schematic diagram showing a marine conveying equipment according to an alternative solution.

1: Transmission cable

2: non-extendable area

3: Extensible area

4: Structural coupling

5: Hull coupling

6: Hull

7: Object

8: Scrolling device

9: sea

10: Wind turbine generator

11: Platform

12: Hook arm

13: carrier device

Claims (15)

A marine conveying device used to convey objects between the hull affected by waves and the offshore structure. The device includes: Transmission cable, the object can be raised and lowered by using the cable; A structural coupling for connecting the transmission cable to an attachment point provided on the offshore structure; A hull coupling for connecting the transmission cable to the hull; and Wherein, the transmission cable is elastically extendable, and is used to extend its length when the structure and the hull coupling are tensioned when the hull moves on waves; and Wherein, one of the structure and the hull coupling includes a rolling device for rolling the transmission cable between a tensioned state and a relaxed state when the transmission cable is connected between the structure and the hull coupling Transmission cable. The marine transmission equipment according to claim 1, wherein the transmission cable includes an extendable area and a non-extendable area. The marine transmission equipment according to claim 2, wherein the extendable area of the transmission cable is located at or adjacent to the structural coupling. The marine conveying equipment according to claim 2, wherein the extendable area includes an elastic cable section or a spring. The marine conveying equipment according to claim 1, wherein the rolling device includes a winch. The marine conveying equipment according to claim 1, wherein the hull coupling includes the scrolling device. The marine conveying equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier coupled to the conveying cable for moving the object on the conveying cable. The marine transmission equipment according to claim 1, wherein the hull coupling includes a release device for quickly releasing tension in the transmission cable. The marine transmission device according to claim 1, wherein the structural coupling includes a remote release mechanism for releasing the transmission cable from the storage position to the release position, in which the second of the transmission cable is The end can be attached to the hull coupling. The marine conveying equipment according to claim 1, wherein the offshore structure is a single-pile offshore structure. The marine transmission equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a secondary rope for hanging from the secondary rope attachment point connected to the offshore structure, and the secondary rope is used for connecting to the climbing assist device for driving The transmission cable on the object. A method for transporting objects from a hull affected by waves to an offshore structure by using the equipment described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising: Connecting the transmission cable between the structural coupling and the hull coupling; Operate the rolling device to roll the transmission cable to a tensioned state; Operate the carrier coupled to the transmission cable to move the transmission cable on the object from the hull to an elevated position; Operate the rolling device to roll the transmission cable to a relaxed state; and The carrier is operated to move the object on the transmission cable from the elevated position to the platform on the offshore structure. A method for transferring objects from an offshore structure to a hull by using the equipment described in any one of claims 1 to 11, the method comprising: When the transmission cable is in a relaxed state, operate the carrier coupled to the transmission cable to move the object from the platform on the offshore structure to a high position; Once the object is in the high position, operate the rolling device to roll the transmission cable to a tensioned state, and the transmission cable is connected between the structure and the hull coupling; and The carrier is operated to move the object under the transmission cable from the high position down to the hull. A method as described in claim 12 or 13, further comprising the following steps: Setting up a secondary rope suspended from the secondary rope attachment point, which is connected to the offshore structure; Connect the climbing aid to the secondary rope; and The climbing assist device is operated to drive the movement of the object on the transmission cable. A method for transporting objects from a hull affected by waves to an offshore structure by using the equipment described in any one of claims 1 to 10, the method comprising: Connecting the transmission cable between the structural coupling and the hull coupling; Operating the rolling device to roll the transmission cable to a tensioned state, wherein the hull coupling includes the rolling device; Secure the object to the transmission cable by using safety equipment; The rolling device is operated to roll the transmission cable to a relaxed state for lifting the object on the transmission cable from the hull to a high position.

Images