WO2008102043A1

WO2008102043A1 - Device for attaching perimeter floats

Info

Publication number: WO2008102043A1
Application number: PCT/ES2008/000102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfonso DE LEÓN GARCÍA; Vicente LÓPEZ-PEREA LLOVERES
Original assignee: Kafloat, S.L.
Priority date: 2007-02-23
Filing date: 2008-02-22
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Also published as: ES2304108A1; ES2304108B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for attaching perimeter floats, the device comprising: outside retention means; at least one halyard held in the retention means in such a way as to be slidable and held in such a way that the two cables thereof are accessible; fastening means fixed in at least one (attachment cable) of said halyard cables at a point which is accessible; at least one float assembly comprising a float and fixing means which can be connected to the halyard fastening means; and anchoring means placed in an accessible area for anchoring at least the halyard cable (tensioning cable) which is opposite the attachment cable.

Description

PERIMETER FLOAT PLACEMENT DEVICE

DESCRIPTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a device for placing perimeter floats, for any ship, cargo container or floating structure capable of being on the surface of an aquatic environment, and to the method of use of said device, being said device intended to be used when any situation likely to cause at least partial sinking of said ship, cargo container or floating structure occurs.

The present invention is therefore directed mainly, although not only, to the maritime and river industry, being applicable within this sector to ships, cargo containers or floating structures of any type and size, for example from large ships to vessels of recreation, whether to transport passengers or merchandise; floating structures such as floating docks, oil rigs and the like; or cargo containers carried in the previous ones.

Therefore, in some cases reference may be made here exclusively to ships, but this should not be understood however in a limited way, since the present invention is applicable to ships, cargo containers or floating structures in general, including those that do not they are intended for normal use in an aquatic environment but, as indicated above, they are likely to be found on the surface of an aquatic environment even if it is, for example, such as an aircraft in an emergency landing situation or cargo containers ported by her. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the art there are many buoyancy devices, inflatables and other types, intended to prevent at least temporarily the sinking of the ship in an emergency situation in an aquatic environment, which are mounted on the hull of the ship and are deployed both in its inside (try to recover and / or maintain the buoyancy of the ship) and outside (try to provide the ship with additional buoyancy and stability).

A first common inconvenience to said internal or external deployment buoyancy devices is that the assembly that houses them usually occupies a significant volume within the ship, which represents a disadvantage especially in small vessels in which the space is optimized to the maximum.

Furthermore, when they are based on inflatable elements, the volume of such inflatable elements in an inflated state, and consequently their effectiveness, decreases over time, at a rate that depends on the quality of construction of the element itself and the severity of the circumstances. where he works.

Particularly, interior deployment buoyancy devices are, in most cases, of little use because emergency situations are often accompanied by risks inside the ship, such as fires and sharp elements, which compromise the integrity of the buoyancy device, and because the crew is in different points of the ship, so that the isolation of a part of the ship sometimes produced by the deployment of the buoyancy device can leave part of said crew trapped. On the other hand, the external deployment buoyancy devices, although they overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the internal deployment buoyancy devices, also have certain disadvantages. The fundamental drawback is that, the external deployment buoyancy devices are pre-installed in the hull, which greatly limits the amount of devices that can be mounted on a hull, even more with large ships that require huge buoyancy devices and, therefore, corresponding large areas.

Therefore, external deployment buoyancy devices have been proposed based on inflatable elements called portable (not mounted a priori on the ship), of small size, which are attached to the ship at the time of use and are therefore replaceable.

However, these devices do not provide a total solution since they are either intended to be moored in structural roofing elements, that is, in dead work, so that the inflatable element is above the waterline and its effectiveness for keeping the ship afloat is reduced (at least temporarily the complete sinking of the ship is avoided but not its partial sinking, which prevents or at least greatly hinders the rescue of the crew), or they are intended to be moored on site alive, that is, in a submerged area of the surface of the helmet, so that the placement procedure involves certain difficulties and, even more important, certain personal risks for the operators who perform such placement, increasing said difficulties and said personal risks until inadmissible dimensions in the circumstances that usually They accompany emergency situations (heavy storms and waves, wide rocking of the ship, fast sinking of the ship, etc.). SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is therefore a device for placing perimeter floats for any ship, cargo container or floating structure capable of being on the surface of an aquatic environment, which addresses the aforementioned problems.

The perimeter float placement device of the present invention comprises: retention means located on the outer surface of the ship, cargo container or floating structure, preferably below the intended waterline; at least one halyard slidably retained in said retention means by an intermediate point thereof and laid so that the two resulting halyard ends are accessible from an area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled to human transit; fastening means fixedly arranged in at least one (positioning end) of said halyard ends, at a point accessible from said area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for human transit; at least one float assembly including a float and fastening means connectable to said halyard fastening means; and mooring means arranged in said area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for human transit, to moor at least the halyard line (tension line) opposite to said placement end. Said float of said float assembly may be inflatable, said float assembly then including inflation means.

Said inflation means are either autonomous inflation means or controlled inflation means. In the case of controlled inflation means, said inflation means comprise an extensible fluid connection for connecting fluid of said inflatable float to a separate fluid source; and in the case of autonomous inflation means, said inflation means may comprise an extensible activation connection and an extensible filling fluid connection. Preferably, said retention means are arranged in a corresponding concavity of the external surface of the ship, cargo container or floating structure so that they are essentially fairings with said external surface.

Optionally, said retention means comprise an outer eyebolt or inlay in the said concavity. Optionally, said fastening means are fixedly arranged in said positioning end such that the segment length of said positioning means between said fastening means and the free end of said positioning end is at least essentially equal to the distance between said retention means and said mooring means.

Optionally, the ends of said halyard ends are joined together, forming a closed loop.

In use, said halyard is initially tied, by both ends, to said mooring means. Then, an operator engages at least one float assembly by means of said fixing means to said fastening means and at least partially releasing said end of placing said mooring means, and then throwing said float assembly into the aquatic environment.

If said float of said float assembly is inflatable and said inflation means comprise one or more extensible connections, the operator may hold the free end of said extensible connections.

If said float of said float assembly is inflatable and said inflation means are autonomous inflation means without extensible activation connection, the operator will activate autonomous inflation, which may comprise some known delay system, before launching said float set to the aquatic environment.

In the event that the length of the segment of said positioning means between said fastening means and the free end of said positioning means is at least essentially equal to the distance between said retention means and said mooring means, the operator may maintain subject the free end of said positioning end.

Finally, said operator will pull the tension line until said float is placed at the appropriate depth in the aquatic environment, where it will be maintained by means of tense mooring of said tension line to said mooring means.

Additionally, in the event that the operator has held the free end of said placement end, the operator may also tie said placement end to said mooring means. In the latter case, if it is desired to replace or complement the float assembly already placed with one or more additional float assemblies, the operator, after at least partially releasing the mooring of said rope end. tension, you can pull the installation line to hoist said fastening means and hook in them the additional float assembly (s); in another case, the operator will use a collection means, preferably in the form of a hook-topped rod, to lift said fastening means.

In addition, in case both ends are provided with fastening means, to replace a previously placed float assembly with a new float assembly the operator may hook said new float assembly into the fastening means of the cape that until then acts as a tension line, and thus lowering said new float assembly at the same time as said previous float assembly. In any case, the method of using the perimeter float placement device of the present invention can be motorized, and thus can be remotely operated or even automated to start upon detection of specific parameters. For this purpose, the device will include appropriate drive means.

The float assembly that can be used with the perimeter float placement device according to the present invention can be stored in several places inside the ship, cargo container or floating structure, so that its packing is as little as possible, or It can be supplied by an eventual support group if necessary.

The perimeter float placement device of the present invention is applicable to all types of ships, cargo containers or floating structures that can be found on the surface of an aquatic environment. The positioning device of the present invention may be the only safety means existing in the ship, cargo container or floating structure, or be complemented with one or more of the safety devices existing in the art.

The positioning device of the present invention, due to its special design and simple operation, can also be a very economical safety instrument in the maritime and river industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The main features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof, purely provided by way of illustration and not limitation and given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows an embodiment of the perimeter float placement device according to the present invention, arranged in a ship shown in cross section; and Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a float assembly of the prior art, of controlled inflatable inflatable float, usable with the perimeter float placement device according to the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

For simplicity, reference will now be made to a device of the present invention in combination simply with a "ship", understanding that it represents for descriptive purposes any type of ship, cargo container or floating structure.

In Fig. 1, a device 1 for placing perimeter floats according to a embodiment of the present invention.

Said device 1 for placing perimeter floats according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises means 50 for retaining at least one halyard (only one halyard 10 being shown in the drawings in order to simplify the illustration) provided with means 20 for fastening, mooring means 30 and a float assembly 40.

Said float assembly 40 simply comprises a float 41 and fixing means 43 materialized, for example, in a carabiner.

Said retaining means 50 have a recess 51 in the form of a spherical cap, practiced on the surface of the hull 70 of a ship, in which a rod 53 diametrically traversed in said recess 51 is arranged so as to leave a sufficient gap to thread into said retaining means 50 said halyard 10.

Said halyard 10 is therefore threaded into said retaining means 50, forming a tension end 11 and a placement end 13. In said placing 13, said fastening means 20 are arranged, composed, for example, of a clamp 21 that is fixed immovably to said placing 13 and a ring 23 articulated to said clamp 21, as shown in the detail A of figure 1.

In this embodiment, the length of the segment of said positioning end 13 between said securing means 20 and the free end of said positioning end 13 is greater than the distance between said retaining means 50 and said mooring means 30.

To tie said halyard 10, said mooring means 30 comprise, for example, two twin bits, one for each end 11, 13 interchangeably. On the other hand, in figure 2 an inflatable float assembly 100 is shown, with controlled inflation, with extendable fluid connection, of the prior art, also usable with the perimeter float positioning device 1 according to the present invention.

Said inflatable float assembly 100 comprises a sealed envelope 110, which houses an inflatable float 120 in a folded state. One end of said inflatable float 120 is connected to said extensible fluid connection composed of a unidirectional valve 130 and a retractable helical hose 160, for feeding fluid to said inflatable float 120. The other end of said inflatable float 120 is connected to fixing means composed of a loading halyard 140 that ends in a fixing carabiner 150.

Next, the use of perimeter float placement device 1 according to the present invention will be explained, in combination with the inflatable float assembly 100, controlled inflation, with extendable fluid connection, of the prior art, of Figure 2 , instead of in combination with the float assembly 40 of Figure 1, thus obtaining a more complete explanation. Initially, said halyard 10 is tied, by both ends 11, 13, to said mooring means 30, each end 11, 13 to its respective bit.

When required, an operator breaks said sealed envelope 110, releasing said fixing means 140, 150 and said extensible fluid connection 130, 160.

Then, said carabiner 150 is hooked to said ring 23, the laying end 13 is released at least partially from the respective bit of said means 30 mooring and said inflatable float assembly 100 is thrown into the aquatic environment, holding the free end of said laying end 13 and the free end of said hose 160. Alternatively, the sealed housing 110 of said inflatable float assembly 100 may externally presenting said carabiner 150 'in addition to said end of said hose 160, and being adapted to break automatically by inflation of the float. In this way, an operator will hook said ring 23 to said carabiner 150 ', release at least partially the laying end 13 and throw said inflatable float assembly 100 into the aquatic environment (holding the free end of said laying end 13 and the free end of said hose 160) without previously breaking said watertight shell 110, the latter breaking later during and due to inflation of the float.

Then, said tension line 11 is pulled until said inflatable float 120 is put in position and the mooring of said line 11 is modified until it is left in a tense state.

Finally, said laying end 13 is moored back to its respective bit of said mooring means 30, and said hose 160 is connected to a source of pressurized fluid and said inflatable float 120 is inflated (which can be fed as many times as want).

If it is necessary to replace the float 120 or add one or more floats, said tension line 11 is at least partially released from the respective bit of said mooring means 30 and said fastening means 20 are lifted by pulling said positioning line 13. The desired float (s) 20 are then attached to said fastening means 20 and placed in a similar manner. to the one already described for float 120.

Obviously, it should be understood that the present invention has been described according to specific embodiments thereof, whereby modifications, variations and / or additions can be implemented, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

For example, by way of illustration and not limitation, in the described embodiment said fastening means 20 could include a carabiner instead of said ring 23 or attached to said ring 23; and, in such case, said carabiner 43, 150 could be replaced by a ring. Or said securing means 20 and / or said fixing means 43 could include a rotating joint to prevent twisting.

Likewise, the beams of said mooring means 30 could be different from each other and / or have a distant location to a greater or lesser extent, to better adapt to a specific function and a specific ship structure; or instead of bitas they could be cleats. In any case, the present invention may include drive means suitable for motorized operation, and thus a remote or even automated drive so that it is initiated upon detection of specific parameters. For example, said bitas or cleats can comprise a high transmission ratio engine (which develops an extremely high force) that lowers or cracks halyard, or can be replaced even by said engine. Obviously, said halyard 10 can extend from said retaining means 50 to said mooring means 30 passing through some conduit disposed from the top of the hull to cover, or simply over the overboard or through the railing that occasionally surrounds the deck of the boats and which is schematically represented in figure 1.

Finally, it will be appreciated that said rod 53 of said retention means 50 will preferably be arranged horizontally to favor the sliding of said halyard 10, although in figure 1 it is shown arranged vertically to simplify the illustration.

Claims

1.- Device for placing perimeter floats for any ship, cargo container or floating structure capable of being on the surface of an aquatic environment, characterized in that it comprises: retention means (50) located on the outer surface of the ship, cargo container or floating structure, preferably below the expected waterline; at least one halyard (10) slidably retained in said retaining means (50) by an intermediate point thereof and laid so that the two resulting halyard ends (11, 13) are accessible from an area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for human transit; fastening means (20) fixedly arranged in at least one halyard end (13) of said halyard

(10), at a point accessible from said area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for human transit; at least one float assembly (40; 100) including a float (41; 120) and fixing means (43; 140, 150, 150 ') connectable to said fastening means 20 of said halyard (10); and mooring means (30) arranged in said area of the ship, cargo container or floating structure enabled for human transit, to tie at least the halyard end (11) of said halyard (10) opposite to said end (13 ) of halyard of said halyard (10) in which said fastening means (20) are arranged.

2. - Perimeter float placement device according to claim 1, in the that said retention means (50) are arranged in a corresponding concavity (51) of the external surface (70) of the ship, cargo container or floating structure so that said retention means (50) are essentially fairings with said surface external (70).

3. - Perimeter float placement device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said retention means (50) comprise a eyebolt (53).

4. - Device for placing perimeter floats according to claims 2 and 3, wherein said eyebolt (53) is embedded in said concavity (51).

5. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastening means (20) are fixedly arranged in said embodiment.

(13) halyard so that the length of the segment of said halyard end (13) between said fastening means (20) and the free end of said halyard end (13) is at least essentially equal to the distance between said retaining means (50) and said mooring means (30).

6. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastening means (20) comprise a clamp (21) fixedly fixed to said halyard end (13) and a ring (23) articulated to said clamp (21).

7. - Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said means (43; 140, 150, 150 ') for fixing and / or said fastening means (20) comprise a carabiner.

8. - Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mooring means (30) comprise at least one bit.

9. - Perimeter float placement device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mooring means (30) comprise at least one cleat.

10. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said mooring means (30) comprise drive means.

11. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said drive means comprise at least one motor of high transmission ratio.

12. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fixing means (43; 140, 150, 150 ') and / or said securing means (20) comprise a rotating joint . 13. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said ends (11,

13) halyard of said halyard (10) extends from said retaining means (50) to said mooring means (30) passing through a conduit disposed from the top of the hull (70) to cover.

14.- Float placement device perimetral according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said halyard ends (11, 13) of said halyard (10) extends from said retaining means (50) to said means (30) of tie up overboard.

15. - Perimeter float placement device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of said halyard ends (11, 13) of said halyard (10) extends from said means (50) of retention until said means (30) of mooring passing through a perimeter railing.

16. - Perimeter float placement device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said float (41; 120) of said float assembly (40; 100) is inflatable, and wherein said assembly (40 ; 100; float includes inflation means.

17. Device for placing perimeter floats according to claim 16, wherein said inflation means are controlled inflation means comprising an extensible fluid connection (130, 160) for the fluid connection of said inflatable float (41; 120) to a separate source of fluid.

18.- Perimetr3 'float placement device is according to claim 16, wherein said inflation means are autonomous inflation means.

19. Device for placing perimeter floats according to claim 18, wherein said autonomous inflation means comprise an extensible activation connection and / or a connection Extendable filling fluid.

20. Device for placing perimeter floats according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the ends of said halyard ends are joined together, forming a closed loop.