WO2008113442A2

WO2008113442A2 - Floating pontoon of an offshore container transfer station

Info

Publication number: WO2008113442A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/001146
Authority: WO
Inventors: Moustafa Abdel-Maksoud; Wolfgang Wichner
Original assignee: Universität Duisburg-Essen
Priority date: 2007-03-20
Filing date: 2008-02-15
Publication date: 2008-09-25
Also published as: WO2008113442A3; DE102007013861A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a floating pontoon of an offshore container transfer station. Said floating pontoon comprises at least one barge channel that is arranged under at least one container crane and is used to transfer containers from a container ship to barges or river boats and vice versa. Said floating pontoon is characterised in that it consists of steel components and concrete components that can float individually and can also be assembled together in the field of application. The steel components and the concrete components remain in situ.

Description

"Floating pontoon of an offshore container transfer station"

The invention relates to a floating pontoon for an offshore container transfer station, wherein the floating pontoon has at least one barge channel, which is arranged under at least one container crane, wherein the container crane is used for reloading containers from a container ship to barges or inland vessels or vice versa.

For transshipment of containers from a container ship to barges or barges or vice versa

Usually posted on a quay used conventional container cranes, which initially unload the containers from the container ship. Then the usual distribution of the containers takes place on the different means of transport, be it inland waterway vessels, barges, railway wagons or trucks. Furthermore, it is known to reload the containers directly with conventional floating cranes directly from the container ships to barges or inland vessels, with each Kranspiel only one spreader is used on the floating crane hook. Double hull crane platforms have also been proposed which handle the handling of containers from a container ship to barges or inland vessels. However, these have not yet prevailed. All of the aforementioned procedures and facilities for reloading containers on barges or inland vessels are either very expensive or very betriebszextaufwandig. It is the object of the invention to specify a floating pontoon of an offshore container transfer station, with which ublxche, ie a container handling system arranged on the quay, corresponding transfer times can be achieved, whereby only slightly fugally modified standard container kaiser cranes are to be used. For this purpose, a Schwimmponton is provided, which consists of steel components and concrete components that are individually buoyant and assembled in the field of use, the steel components connect the concrete components together. So it is possible to create a floating base for standard container cranes, which is particularly cost-effective and in particular the high cost of the deployment can be avoided to the place of use by high-sea tug. The tow to the place of use is common, for example, for pontoons on which conventional harbor cranes are mounted.

It is particularly advantageous provided that the

Steel components form a skeleton for the concrete components, which preferably take the major part of the buoyancy of the pontoon, wherein the steel components are designed as an exoskeleton for the concrete components. This results in a floating pontoon that can be inexpensively assembled on site. Also, its items can be made near the site and the usual towing, which takes weeks or even months, can be omitted. In addition, the construction costs are significantly reduced. The floating pontoon according to the invention and the joining of the individual parts results from the following construction and figure description.

The offshore container transshipment pontoon is constructed such that it can be assembled in the modular system and also disassembled without a dock is required. The plant according to the invention is assembled from both steel and concrete components. Each individual component can float and has sufficient ballast tank capacity to affect draft and stability.

Joining elements are used to assemble the steel components. Between steel and concrete components no fasteners are needed because the steel parts completely surround the concrete parts. The floating pontoon has at least one channel through which the barge can load and unload containers (see Figures 1 to 3).

In detail:

The deck of the floating body of the floating pontoon consists of three longitudinal beams no. 2, 3, while the barges with no. 1 be ^¬ draws.

The double bottom No. 5 and the longitudinally arranged regularly vertical buoyancy parts No. 8 are made of steel. These parts make the connection between side rails and raised floor. All steel parts below the waterline are designed as buoyancy parts. - A -

In the raised floor in long channel No. 22 move the balance weights No. 6, which compensate for the forces resulting from the raising and lowering of the loads and wind forces. In the steel buoyancy components no. 8 there are transverse channels no. 15 in which dxe balancing weights no. 9 are running.

The buoyancy bodies of concrete No. 4 are located between the steel components mentioned above. The height of these buoyancy bodies is lower than that of the steel components, so that they can be removed and installed as desired after completion of the installation. In order to compensate for this height difference, the lower sides of the long-span girders are designed so that they contain downwardly movable floor elements in the area of the concrete parts in order to create a flat contact between the concrete parts and the deck girders.

While Figure 1 shows a cross-section of the floating pontoon, Figures 2 and 3 show a side view and a top view showing the arrangement of buoyancy bodies of steel and concrete (shown in gray). The arrangement of the bow and stern sections, which are also designed as a superstructure body, at the two ends of the transfer station No. 10 and the 360 ° rotatable drives No. 7 are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows the main components of the floating pontoon. The components are manufactured individually and then assembled on site. The location is quiet bays, river mouths and reeds, so anchor places, which is not to be expected with a high swell. Figure 4 shows the main component of the floating pontoon. As already stated, the components are manufactured individually and then assembled.

Figure 5 shows the steel parts of the floating pontoon, which, as can be seen from the claims, from which even more inventive details can be taken, also forming buoyancy bodies. The side tanks and the center tank are marked with numbers 17 and 18. The connection to the cover elements and the false floor is made by means of the connecting elements no. 16. Here also the cross balance weights no. 9 and their channels no. 15 are shown.

Figure 6 shows the buoyancy bodies to be made of concrete with side tanks no. 19, mid tank no. 20 and bottom tanks no. 21. The raised floor is shown in figure 7. Here are the long balancing weights No. 6 and their channels No. 22 can be seen. Between the long channels numerous ballast tanks no. 24 are present. So that the crane operation can be carried out at high speed and undisturbed, the floating pontoon must be in a horizontal position. This horizontal position is achieved by balancing weights and ballast tanks.

To take into account the space required for the drives of the floating pontoon recesses no. 23 are provided at the two ends of the double bottom. The buoyancy bodies at both ends are shown in Figure 8. Here are also the corresponding ballast tanks No. 25 included. The long components 2, 3 and 5 are made of steel and have a box shape. (Figure 9) Each component can be divided longitudinally into individual sections, which can be, for example, 60 meters long. These parts can swim and have sufficient ballast tank capacity to control the draft. In the water, the individual floating parts can be welded together.

After production of the long bearer for the deck and the double floor, the installation of the transfer station can begin.

Figures 9 to 26 give an overview of the course of the assembly. First, the distances between the deck components Nos. 2 and 3 are held by means of the mounting elements No. 11 (see Figure 9). These elements are only mounted on one side for mounting on the opposite side.

The first steel buoyancy body is mounted on No. 13 Hydraulic Mounting Cylinders attached to No. 12 mounting pontoon. These mounting pontoons have their own drive and are only shown schematically. Thereafter, the steel buoyancy body is filled with ballast water, so that the weight and buoyancy are the same, ie, in this floating state, the steel buoyancy body is weightless. Thereafter, with the aid of the hydraulic cylinders, the superstructure body is lowered so far that its uppermost edge lies lower than the lowest edge of the floating deck longitudinal beams. The mounting pontoons bring the buoyancy body to its mounting position under the decklong bearing. Subsequently, with the aid of the hydraulic cylinders, the lifting of the steel body is carried out until contact with the lower surfaces of the longitudinal components of the deck is achieved. Then, a connection is made between the decklong supports and the steel buoyancy block using the fasteners (see Figure 10).

The next step is repeated, as described above, except that the assembly is a concrete body rather than a steel body. The buoyancy body is brought into position and provisionally attached to the long-haul carrier of the deck (see Figures 11 and 12). By attaching the next steel buoyancy body, the concrete part is held in position.

These two processes are repeated until all the steel and concrete buoyancy bodies on one side of the transfer station, with the exception of the end parts, have reached their final position. With the removal of the mounting elements No. 11, the assembly of the steel and concrete buoyancy bodies on this side is possible. Thereafter, the steel and concrete bodies are assembled as described above (see Figures 13 and 14).

Figure 15 shows the composite parts of the floating body (deck-beam and steel and concrete buoyancy bodies). The No. 12 mounting pontoons are on one side to clear the way for the next steps of assembling the false floor and buoyancy bodies at the ends of the transfer station.

The double bottom No. 5 is attached to the hydraulic cylinder No. 13 of the mounting pontoons (see Figure 16). there the mounting pontoons are located on the two long sides of the double floor. Thereafter, the ballast tanks in the raised floor are so far filled with water that it acts weight neutral in the floating state. The raised floor is lowered and held by means of the hydraulic cylinder No. 13 (see Figure 17). The buoyant steel bodies at the ends of the floats are attached to the mounting pontoon (Figure 18). Afterwards, these buoyancy components (bow and tail section) are assembled with the raised floor using assembly elements no. 16 (Figure 19).

Figure 20 shows the raised floor and the end parts of the floating body after assembly in the lowered state. They are held at the ends with the mounting pontoon (Figure 21). With the help of the mounting pontoon, the part A formed of raised floor and buoyancy bodies at the ends of the transfer station is moved in the direction of the other part B consisting of deck and buoyancy bodies (see arrow no. 14 in Figure 22). Mounting is done by sliding part A under part B (Figure 23).

The assembled system is shown in Figure 24. After pumping out the ballast water, the operating draft is reached (see Figure 2).

The connecting elements between two steel components are shown in Figures 25a, 25b and 26.

A connecting element consists of two cylindrical parts no. 26 and 27 on the top and bottom. These are accommodated in the components to be connected. Be on a ^¬ te is a cylindrical latch no. 28, provided with a chamfered edge. On the opposite side is a depression. The locking element is moved by means of a hydraulic motor No. 29 and a push rod No. 30 (see Figure 25b). After snapping the latching element, tighten screw # 32. The seals No. 31 are to prevent the ingress of water. The stiffening elements no. 33 provide for the transmission of the forces from the connecting element into the surrounding structure.

The invention described above is functionally related to German patent application 10 2006 042 904.4, which has not been published in advance. The currently claimed floating pontoon is to form the basis for the container handling system described in the non-prepublished application. The disclosure of the non-prepublished patent application is intended to supplement the disclosure in the patent application.

A use of the inventive floating pontoon for other maritime purposes, such as for the temporary storage of building materials in port construction, or to create additional container bins in a port oa, (in this case, of course, eliminates the Bargenkanale) should therefore be included in the invention. - 14 -

Atb 1 to 26 show the following components

Claims

- 10 -PATENT TESTS

1. floating pontoon an offshore container transfer station, the floating pontoon has at least one barge channel, which is arranged under at least one container crane and for reloading containers from a container ship on barges or inland vessels or vice versa, characterized in that it consists of steel components and Concrete components which are individually floatable and can be assembled in the field of application, with the steel components holding the concrete components in place.

2. floating pontoon according to claim 1, characterized in that the steel components form a skeleton for the concrete components, which preferably take over the main part of the buoyancy of the pontoon.

3. floating pontoon according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the steel components are designed as an exoskeleton for the concrete components.

4. floating pontoon according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the steel components consist of hollow carriers in welded construction, which are in particular individually buoyant and provided with ballast tanks.

5. floating pontoon according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that the concrete components are designed as reinforced concrete hollow body, which are in particular individually floatable and provided with ballast tanks. - 11 -

6. floating pontoon according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the reinforced concrete hollow bodies are arranged formschlüssig inside the steel skeleton, wherein the steel skeleton surrounds the concrete hollow body such that there is a fixation of Betonhohlkorper.

7. floating pontoon according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container cranes are arranged to be movable on the upper side of the steel skeleton.

8. floating pontoon according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the steel skeleton tracks for balancing weights and drives for the balancing weights are arranged.

9. Schwimmponton according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the steel skeleton drive units, e.g. PODs, for which movement of the floating pontoons are arranged.

10. Schwimmponton according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the upper side of the steel skeletons Bugsiereinrichtungen for the barges are arranged, for. Hydraulic arms or cable units.

11. Schwimmponton according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the steel skeleton diesel generator units for the supply of floating pontoons and container cranes with electric energy and fuel tanks, storage rooms, etc., are arranged. - 12 -

12. Schwimmponton according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that connecting elements are arranged between the individual parts of the steel skeleton, which connect the steel parts together.

13. Schwimmponton according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises long-carrier, cross member, bow and tail parts and a raised floor, which together form a skeleton, are inserted into the Stahlbetonhohlkorper.

14. Schwimmponton according to claim 13, characterized in that the height of the Stahlbetonkorper is less than the inner height of the steel skeleton.

15. Schwimmponton according to claim 13, characterized in that it comprises bow and stern members made of steel, which receive the technical components and energy required components, such as POD drives, motor-generator sets and switching and security systems.

16. Use of concrete floats in conjunction with a steel skeleton for an offshore container transfer station.

17. Use of prefabricated, especially individually buoyant steel or concrete components in modular system training for mounting a floating pontoon for container cranes at the site.