US3322091A

US3322091A - Method and apparatus for maneuvering ships

Info

Publication number: US3322091A
Application number: US492097A
Authority: US
Inventors: Stanwick Tad
Original assignee: STANWICK CORP
Current assignee: STANWICK CORP
Priority date: 1965-10-01
Filing date: 1965-10-01
Publication date: 1967-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1984-05-30

Description

May 30, 1967 T. STANWICK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANEUVERING SHIPS E Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 1, 1965 INVENTOR TAD STANWICK d xizfi Lmw' W ATTORNEYS May 30, 1967 T. STANWICK METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANEUVERING SHIPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 23 Filed Oct. 1, 1965 INVENTOR TAD STANWICK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,322,091 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANEUVERING SHIPS Tad Stanwick, Washington, D.C., assignor to The Stan- Wick Corporation, Washington, D.C., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 492,097 13 Claims. (Cl. 114-235) The present invention relates generally to a method and suggested apparatus for maneuvering ships. More particularly, the present invention envisions the use of a suctorial attachment mounted upon a tug boat. Maneuvering of the ship by the tug is accomplished by engagement of the suctorial attachment with the ships hull, the result of suction produced by the differential between ambient pressure and the reduced pressure inside the attachment.

The present invention provides for ease in maneuvering ships with tugs. In operation, the tug comes alongside and extends the suctorial attachment, pushing it up against the ships hull. The attachment is made by suction action and the position of attachment fixed or maintained by a pump unit in the tug, which maintains the vacuum against leakage. The ease of attachment resulting from use of the present invention not only saves time, but also reduces the number of personnel required both on the ship and on the tug for line handling. Also, maneuvering of the ship is controlled entirely from the tug. Finally, release of the suctorial attachment from the hull of the ship is easily and rapidly accomplished by simply relieving the air vacuum inside the suction cup.

In operation, the tug applies the maneuvering force to the ship through the suctorial cup, which can be mounted on the tug either forward or aft. Obviously, duplicate installations may provide even more flexibility in operation. The present invention also provides the advantage of the tug being able to work in confined areas without abrasive contact with the ships hull. For close-in maneuvering, the tug can at all times maintain a stand-off position and maneuver clear of the ship, preventing getting caught close-in, with the resulting safety hazard. Since attachment of the suctorial cup to the ships structure is close to the water line, the present invention applies the maneuvering forces at a flatter angle for more effective use of the tugs thrust. This, in contrast, to the situation present when lines are used in close-in work, introducing considerable lift to the tug by the rope connection to the deck bolster.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and suggested device for improved operation in ship maneuvering by tugs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for ease in maneuvering of a ship with the use of a meth- 0d and suggested apparatus employing suction as a means of providing attachment between ships and tugs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a suctorial attachment to be mounted on a tug for attachment to a ship providing for improved operation in ship maneuvering.

Another object of the present invention is to provide for improved ship maneuvering by tugs with the use of a suctorial attachment enabling the tugs to work closein in confined areas without abrasive contact with the ships hull.

Still a further object of the present invention is to employ a suctorial attachment mounted on a tug for improving the operation of ship maneuvering wherein control is completely from the tug.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide improved operation in ship maneuvering by tugs with the use of a suctorial attachment characterized by 3,322,091 Patented.May 30, 1967 its capability of being controlled completely from the tug and ease and speed in being released from the hull of the ship, by simply relieving the air vacuum inside the suction cup.

Yet, other objects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing specification and attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates generally the method of employing the present invention in maneuvering ships;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating in general a suggested suctorial attachment for use in the method of ship maneuvering of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of the rim of a modified suctorial attachment,-serrated to prevent slippage.

The method of employing the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1, wherein the suctorial attachment, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, is positioned against the hull 12 of ship 14 with boom 16 of tug 18, to which suctorial attachment 10 is mounted. The fix of suctorial attachment 10 against hull 12 is maintained by a pump unit located within tug 18, as discussed in detail hereinafter. Similarly, release of suctorial attachment 10 is accomplished merely by relieving the air vacuum within suction cup 20 of attachment 10.

As generally illustrated in FIG. 2 suction cup 20 is pivotably mounted to boom 16 about axis 22 with the use of support 24 through which pin 26 passes. As tip member 28 of boom 16 is attached to pin 26, pivotability about axis 22 is assured.

Boom 16 may be characterized as being of the telescoping tubular steel type, spring loaded. Within corrugated section 30 of boom 16 is located tension/ compression spring 32 which is wrapped around the center piece 34 of boom 16. Lowering and raising of boom 16 is accomplished with the use of hydraulic cylinder 36 and its associated pumping unit 38, all located within housing 40 of tug 18.

In general, the supporting structure for suctorial attachment 10, as envisioned by the present invention, may be similar to that used in aircraft landing gears, such structure being light weight for ease in positioning and capable of withstanding high dynamic loads. Techniques for positioning, extending, retracting, as well as shock mitigation, have been highly developed by the aircraft industry and certainly suitable for application to boom 16 and its related supporting structure. 7

Pumping assembly 42, located within housing 40, maintains the vacuum of cup 20 against loss. Although

air lines

44 and 46 are illustrated in FIG. 2 as being routed inside boom 16, similar air lines located along the outside of boom 16 may also be employed. In either case, air line 44 is tapped into cup 20 at juncture 48 while air line 46 leads directly to pump 42. Of course, appropriate controls to properly vent the system and release suctorial cup 20 may be employed, as desired, such as vacuum tank 50.

As seen in FIG. 2, suction cup 20 of attachment 10 is in the form of a dished head, rimmed with a rubber-type seal or skirt 60 for maintaining a proper seal on hull 12 of ship 14. As skirt 60 is compliant, it will accept the irregularities in the plating of ship 14, as well as variations in hull contour, while still providing sealing action. Although the shape of cup 20 is illustrated as being circular, rectangular or other desired configurations may obviously be employed.

The loads which may be applied through suctorial attachment 10 are, of course, a function of the different be tween ambient pressure and the reduced pressure inside cup 20. For example, a differential of 7 p.s.i. below atmospheric will produce a loading of approximately 1,000 lbs./

3 ft. or 27,000 lbs. for a six foot diameter. This load would be distributed into the ships hull around the rim and for a six foot diameter with a rim length of about 200 inches, the unit loading being approximately 135 lbs. per inch.

In the application of maneuvering loads applied by tug 18 to ship 14, it is necessary to provide for loads applied both normal to the hull as well as parallel. Of particular importance is a load applied parallel to the hull, which introduces shear between hull 12 and suctorial cup 20. There are, of course, several ways to counter any tendency of the suctorial cup 20 to slip from hull 12. As seen in FIG. 3, rim or skirt 60 may be serrated so that the annular grooves will develop considerable shear on the rough surface of hull 12. For an attachment 6 feet in diameter having a rim four inches in width, serrations inch deep and inch in width may be employed, for example.

Manifestly, variation in maneuvering techniques and apparatus for creating suction may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as defined by the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. Method for maneuvering a first vessel with respect to a second vessel, comprising the steps of:

(A) differentiating pressure between an integral portion of said second vessel which is in contact with said first vessel by means of a rigid boom and ambient,

(B) controlling movement of said integral portion of said second vessel about said first vessel through said boom.

2. Method as in claim 1, wherein said suction action is initiated on said second vessel and creates vacuum within that portion of said integral portion of said second vessel in contact with said first vessel.

3. Apparatus for maneuvering ships, comprising:

(A) a suctorial attachment for engagement against the hull of a first vessel;

(B) a boom assembly attached to said suctorial attachment at one end; and pivotally attached to a second vessel at the other end;

(C) suction assembly means located on said second vessel for creating a difierential in pressure between said suctorial attachment and atmosphere at preselected times.

4. Apparatus for maneuvering ships as in claim 3, including means for pivoting said suctorial attachment about said boom.

5. Apparatus as in claim 4, including means for pivoting said boom with respect to said second vessel.

6. Apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said boom is composed of a plurality of segments in telescoping relationship.

7. Apparatus for maneuvering ships, comprising:

(a) A suctorial attachment for engagement against the hull of a first vessel;

(b) a telescoping boom assembly pivotably attached to said suctorial attachment at its outer end and pivotably attached to a second vessel at its other base end;

(0) suction assembly means located on said second vessel for creating a differential in pressure between said suctorial attachment and atmosphere at pro-selected time.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said suctorial attachment includes a dished head portion rimmed with a skirt for direct contact with said hull of said first vessel.

9. Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein said skirt is serrated so as to define a plurality of grooves.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said head portion of said suctorial attachment is circular in configuration.

11. Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein air lines are routed within said boom and connecting said suction assembly with said suctorial attachment.

12. Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said boom and suction assembly means are mounted aft on said second vessel.

13. Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said boom and suction assembly means are mounted forward on said second vessel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,347,491 4/1944 Lente 11451 FOREIGN PATENTS 359,763 2/1906 France.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. METHOD FOR MANEUVERING A FIRST VESSEL WITH RESPECT TO A SECOND VESSEL, COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: (A) DIFFERENTIATING PRESSURE BETWEEN AN INTEGRAL PORTION OF SAID SECOND VESSEL WHICH IS IN CONTACT WITH SAID FIRST VESSEL BY MEANS OF A RIGID BOOM AND AMBIENT, (B) CONTROLLING MOVEMENT OF SAID INTEGRAL PORTION OF SAID SECOND VESSEL ABOUT SAID FIRST VESSEL THROUGH SAID BOOM.