Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E01—CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS, RAILWAYS, OR BRIDGES
  • E01D—CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, ELEVATED ROADWAYS OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES
  • E01D15/00—Movable or portable bridges; Floating bridges
  • E01D15/24—Bridges or similar structures, based on land or on a fixed structure and designed to give access to ships or other floating structures

Definitions

• the present invention refers to a loading ramp for vehicular ferries or the like and of the type consisting of two articulatedly interconnected sections, an inner section, which is elastically connected to a quay abutment and an outer section, which is supported by a floating element, and which outer section by means of actuators is pivotable in a direction towards and away from the floating element.
• Loading ramps of the type mentioned above are commonly adjustable vertically away from and towards a ferry and are pivotable about a pivot at the quay abutment.
• the ramp is movable relative to fixed pillars or pillars supported by floating members on each side of the ramp, which pillars may incorporate counter-weights for balancing the ramp.
• This type of loading ramp requires a very stable structure, as it beside the load from the vehicles also must be able to take up horizontal impulse forces from the ferry. Due to the fact that the ramp and the ferry may move independently, a major part of the weight of the ramp at its free end will be transferred to the ferry in spite of the balancing device.
• the purpose of the present invention is to provide a loading ramp of a considerably lighter design than earlier, which is less sensible to the movements in the water due to swell and waves, which transfers a certain part of the weight of the ramp to the ferry, and which in spite of its light design may transfer horizontal impulse forces from the ferry to the quay abutment.
• the inner section is provided with longitudinal side beams arranged to extend with an extended portion over a substantial part of the outer section, that the floating elements via pillars are connected to the extended portions of the side beams, and that the actuators are arranged between the extended portions of the side beams and the front part of the outer section, thus that this can be caused to exert a pressure against the ferry under simultaneous raising of the side beams and thereby of the floating elements.
• Fig. 1 shows a section through the loading ramp according to the invention along line I-I in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 2 shows the loading ramp according to Fig. 1 in a view from above.
• Fig. 3 shows the loading ramp as seen from the seaward side.
• Fig.s 4 and 5 show in bigger scale a side view of the actuators of the ramp in two different end positions.
• Fig. 6 shows a section along line VI-VI in Fig. 7.
• Fig. 7 shows a view from above of one quay abutment of the ramp.
• Fig. 8 shows in perspective the loading ramp according to the invention.
• the loading ramp according to the invention consists of a ramp portion 11, the inner end 12 of which is elastically connected to a quay abutment 14, whereas the outer end of the ramp portion 11 via coarse side beams 15 is supported by pillars 16 provided on both sides of the ramp and fixedly mounted in floating members 17.
• The- outer part of the ramp 11 consists of a ramp-shaped section 18, which via a pivot 19 is pivotably connected to the outer edge 13 of the ramp.
• the longitudinal side beams 15 of the ramp portion 11 are provided with an extended cantilever portion 15a, which extends on one hand beyond the front edge 13 of the ramp portion and on the other hand along a substantial part of the lenght of the section 18 and preferably at an angle obliquely upwards relative to the carriage-way 20 of the ramp portion.
• the upper end of the pillars 16 are fixedly connected to the extended portions 15a of the side beams.
• actuators 21 consisting e.g. of a hydraulic cylinder 22, pivotably connected to the side beam portion 15a and the piston bar 23 of which is connected to a brace 26 consisting of two links 24 and 25.
• the link 24 is designed as a lever, articulatedly supported in the side beam portion 15a and the pivotal movement of which is limited by a stop 27.
• the lever link 24 is, via a toggle joint 28, connected to the other link 25, which in turn is pivotably connected to the section 18.
• the stop 27 is located so that the toggle joint 28 has moved beyond a line through the pivot axis 29 of the lever link 24 and the pivot axis 30 of the link 25 before the lever link 24 abuts said stop 27.
• the hydraulic member 22, 23 is relieved from load and big forces may be transferred from the side beams 15 of the ramp to the section 18 such as shown in Fig. 4.
• Fig. 5 shows the section 18 pulled up against the side beam portion 15a.
• the quay abutment 14 of the loading ramp 11 consists of at least one vertical shaft journal 31 attached to the inner end 13 of the ramp, and which shaft journal cooperates with a pressure distributor 32, which transfers the horizontal movement of the ramp to an energy absorber 33, which e.g. may be av rubber block.
• At least one fender 34 is provided separate from the section 18 and below this, which fender extends in the form of a beam structure in the longitudinal direction of the ramp cantilever-wise below the section 18.
• the fender 34 is attached to the supporting structure of the ramp portion thus , that impulse forces from the ferry may be transferred to this.
• the floating element 17 is designed as ballast tanks, which can be filled or emptied thus that their level in the water is adjustable due to increase or reduction of the water ballast.
• the floating elements 17 are dimensioned thus in relation to the weight of the loading ramp that they normally are immersed so deep below the surface of the water that the sub-water pontoon is in practice uneffected by the movements in the surface water.
• the section 18 When the ferry 35 lands at the loading ramp the section is in its raised position and any impulse forces from the ferry against the ramp are absorbed by the fender 34 ⁇ which transfers the movement to the damping device 33.
• the actuators 21 By means of the actuators 21 the section 18 is lowered towards the ferry 35, which is preferably designed with an end shelf 36, on which the outer hook-formed end 37 of the section may be inserted.
• the actuators 21 exert such a big pressure against the ferry that a safe hooking is obtained, which means that the floating elements 17 may be lifted somewhat. Due to the particular design of the braces 26 the section 18 is mechanically locked to the loading ramp, whereby the hydraulic cylinders 22 are relieved from load.
• pivotable brackets 38 are provided for this purpose at the inner end of the loading ramp side beams ' 15, to which are fitted floating bodies 39.
• a rigging screw 40 it is possible to pivot the bracket 38 with the floating body 39 to active position, such as shown in the right hand side in Fig. 3, in which position the loading ramp is afloat and may be towed to another place.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Architecture (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Antibodies Or Antigens For Use As Internal Diagnostic Agents (AREA)
• Steroid Compounds (AREA)
• Ship Loading And Unloading (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=19889823

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Cited By (7)

Citations (6)

• 1987
  • 1987-03-30 NO NO871330A patent/NO161747C/no unknown
• 1988
  • 1988-03-28 WO PCT/SE1988/000151 patent/WO1988007605A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events