WO2009139696A1

WO2009139696A1 - Device for a hoistable vehicle deck on ships

Info

Publication number: WO2009139696A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/050465
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Westermark; Björn Nyberg; Mats Olsson; Rolf Claesson
Original assignee: Tts Ships Equipment Ab
Priority date: 2008-05-16
Filing date: 2009-04-30
Publication date: 2009-11-19
Also published as: SE533983C2; DE112009001124T5; SMP201000122B; SMAP201000122A; SE0801145L

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for a hoistable (2, 3) vehicle deck (4) on board ships (6) and wherein the hoistable vehicle deck (4) in question is actuatable to be hoisted between a raised storing position (I) and a lowered load position (II) and supported by suspension stays (7). According to the invention, the separate or interconnectable guide-controlled vehicle decks (4) in question are supported by suspension stays (7) situated on mutually opposite sides. Guideways are formed of at least paired guide stays (8) or wires situated at the sides (9, 10) of the vehicle deck.

Description

Device for a hoistable vehicle deck on ships

The present invention relates to a device for a hoistable vehicle deck on board ships and wherein the hoistable vehicle deck in question is actuatable to be hoisted between a hoisted storing position and a lowered load position and supported by suspension stays with the separate or interconnectable vehicle decks in question supported by suspension stays situated on mutually opposite sides.

The holds of ships normally have smooth bulkheads and are normally not used always for transportation of cars and other vehicles. Thus, it is desired to be able to arrange car decks in ships that from the beginning not have been intended for transportation of vehicles but that have transported other cargo than cars in the appurtenant cargo spaces. It is also desired to be able to convert the cargo space so that arranged car decks easily should be removable, if required. All this without excessive reconstructions or other expensive and complicated arrangements on board the ship in question. In order to be able to solve said problems, a new control arrangement is required for hoistable vehicle decks in question.

GB 1,168,185 A shows a system for load platforms on board a ship and wherein the platforms in question can be hoisted between a storing position, see Figs. 3-4, and a load-receiving position, see Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This system comprises hoisting cables for stacking together the platforms, in a similar way as Venetian blind laths. Suspension stays (6, 8 ) in the form of cables and pulleys carry the platforms (1-4) in the load position at one side thereof, while, at the bulkheads of the ship, brackets (9) support the other opposite side thereof. This does not provide smooth bulkheads in the ship.

WO 02/079025 Al shows a hoistable deck (A-C) for ships wherein foldable supports (44) carry the deck in the support position. Neither this provides smooth interior lateral bulkheads .

US 4,109,896 A shows a hoisting device for boats and that comprises hoistable supports (20, 22) and that is controlled by paired scissors assemblies (28) . In that connection, no suspension stays are present.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is primarily to solve said problems and in a secure and cost-effective way by efficiently working means. Said object is attained by means of a device according to the present invention that essentially is characterized in that guideways, which are formed of at least paired stiff guide stays or flexible wires situated at the mutually opposite sides of the hoistable common vehicle deck, are arranged to carry in pairs, thanks to the position thereof, like a stay of a lattice system, tensile forces and keep the car deck panel in the direction of the stays in place.

The invention is described below by way of a number of preferred embodiment examples, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 schematically shows a vehicle deck in an arranged lowered load-prepared position, as seen obliquely from above in perspective,

Figs. 2-4 show in more detail encircled portions in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the arranged lowered position, Fig. 6 shows a section view along the line A-A in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows a section view along the line B-B in Fig. 5, Fig. 8 shows a section view along the line D-D in Fig. 7,

Figs. 9-10 show perspective views of the vehicle deck in a lowered and raised, respectively, position,

Figs. 11-13 show a guideway in the end position of a lowered ramp,

Figs. 14-15 show a guideway in the end position of a hoisted ramp,

Fig. 16 shows a view as seen obliquely from inside the intended deck in the hoisted position, Fig. 17 shows a planar view of a ship having hoistable vehicle decks,

Fig. 18 shows a section view along the outer beam of the ship,

Fig. 19 shows a section view along the intermediate beam of the ship,

Fig. 20 finally shows a planar view of hoistable vehicle decks including shown cable arrangements for the hoisting,

Figs. 21-22 show an arrangement of alternatives to the guide stays, and

Figs. 23-24 show an additional arrangement having guide stays.

The idea of the present construction came about because the holds of the ship have smooth bulkheads, which should not be altered by, e.g., recesses or supports. Moreover, the intention is to entirely remove the car deck panels again within a couple of years. Therefore, the solution is based on allowing the entire car deck, i.e., all panels be suspended in a controlled way in suspension stays underneath the fixed deck above. In addition to the suspension stays, also the hoisting wires, the electric cables and also the guide stays are attached to the underside of the deck above.

In this way, essentially all materials that are to be installed, manufactured and mounted together on the panel can be effected in a common premises therefor, e.g., a workshop, to be transported to the ship where the deck panels are suspended consecutively in place at suspension stay fixing points and connected to the other attachment spots. Moreover, when dealing with ship installations, it is a very efficient installation method to prefabricate all materials before the mounting takes place, since it is, among other things, much more cost-effective to let manufacture and mount ashore and then just apply the unit on board the ship in question.

What is known when it comes to the present suspension solution are suspension stays, lock hooks in stowed position, and a control unit of the type electric winch built- in in car deck panel, and the electric cable transmission. What is new is that the control is effected by guide stays or other guiding means, which are placed in pairs on each side of a car deck panel along the smooth ship bulkheads. In the stowed position of the car deck panel, the shown four guide stays are lying almost horizontally and are attached at the top to a fixed hinge attachment, as well as at the bottom attached to a guide groove. During the manoeuvre from the stowed to the working position of the car deck panel, the attachment of the guide stay in the panel is moved until it has reached the end position thereof. This occurs when the panel is lying in the working position. It is in this position the guide stay has obtained a diagonal location between the deck above and the car deck panel and when it should keep the same in place. Thanks to the position thereof, like a stay of a lattice system, the two guide stays arranged in pairs will carry tensile forces and keep the car deck panel in the direction of the stays in place. The stays are dimensioned for the calculated loads that arise, on one hand from the cargo on the panels, and on the other hand from the motion of the ship in the sea. In the other direction, i.e., transverse to the location of the stays, loads from cargo and high sea can be carried by, e.g., support washers arranged on the panel and bulkheads .

The solution is shown for one load position, but several load positions/vertical positions of the car deck are possible. Also co-ordination of two car decks above each other can be possible to accomplish.

A device 1 for a hoistable 2, 3 vehicle deck 4 on board in a space 5 of a ship 6, and wherein the hoistable vehicle deck 4 in question is arranged actuatably to be possible to be hoisted between a raised storing position I and a lowered load position II, and wherein said vehicle decks are supported by suspension stays 7 of, for instance, known type, comprises a number of guideways .

According to the invention, the separate or interconnectable vehicle deck(s) 4 in question is/are supported by guide-stay controlled suspension stays 7 situated on mutually opposite sides. In that connection, guideways are formed of at least paired stiff guide stays 8 or flexible wires 108 situated at the mutually opposite sides 9, 10 of the hoistable common vehicle deck. Guide stays 8 are, in that connection, arranged with the respective paired one ends 11, 12 connected to a fixed support 13 of a fixed deck 14 and with the respective other ends 15, 16 movably connected to the hoistable vehicle deck in one direction 17 arranged to extend transversely to the hoisting direction 2, 3 of said hoistable vehicle deck.

The respective guide stay may alternatively be arranged in the opposite way, i.e., with the respective paired one ends pivotably connected to the hoistable vehicle deck and with the respective other opposite ends connected to a fixed deck, movably transversely to the hoisting direction of the hoistable vehicle deck.

As an additional alternative, the respective wire 108 may be arranged to be connected, with the respective end 108A, 108B to the hoistable vehicle deck 104 and to an attachment 175, respectively, of a fixed deck 114.

Paired guide stays 8 may be arranged to extend at an angle x, essentially between 90°-120° in the direction from a common attachment 13, as seen when the hoistable vehicle deck 4 is kept in a lowered suspending position. See, for instance, Fig. 6.

Alternatively, at least one pair of paired guide stays 8 may be arranged to extend crosswise in relation to each other, as seen when the hoistable vehicle deck 4 is kept in a lowered suspending position. See, for instance, Fig. 23.

Said guide stays 8 are arranged to extend essentially parallel to said hoistable vehicle deck 4, when said hoistable vehicle deck 4 is arranged in the hoisted position.

In Figs. 23 and 24, in addition, there are shown how hoistable decks 4, 4 are arranged in pairs. The lower hoistable deck 4 is then carried according to the above by the upper hoistable deck 4 and is also controlled by guide stays 8 in the way as in one hoistable vehicle deck.

Guide stay ends 15, 16 are guidably received in a guiding groove 18 each, the respective end portions 19, 20 of said guiding grooves 18 forming end stoppers for the respective end 15, 16 of said guide stays. In that connection, one end portion 20 of said grooves 18 may be formed of a lowered recess while the other end portion 19 may be the final end of said grooves 18.

In order to allow adjustment of the length of said guide stays 8, these may be length-variably settable, for instance by means of screw joints 21, wherein screwing entails that the length of the effective length of the guide stays increases or decreases depending on the screwing direction.

Also, the suspension stays may then be arranged to change the height of the cargo space of the car decks.

Said hoistable vehicle deck 4 may be formed of a number of commonly acting panels 4A, 4B...., which are mutually interconnectable . The appurtenant materials that are intended to be fitted thereto, such as, e.g., hoisting wires, electric cables, guide stays etc., are mounted on said panels before delivery to the ship 6 and their installation therein on board the ship. Efficient, easy and economic manufacture of hoistable car decks 4 is allowed to be attained by the fact that the panels 4 are formed of frames 31 of metal having parallel holed 33 beams 32 of metal for connection with sheets of plywood 34 and for anchorage of cargo using lashing devices.

The alternative with wires 108 that connect each vehicle deck 104 in pairs, and which is shown as example in Figs. 21 and 22, comprises a wire 108 extending in opposite directions 150, 151 from a common elevated attachment 152 to the hoistable deck 104. At the top, the wires 108 may be articulately connected to a respective arm 152, 153, and at the bottom to a respective arm 154 situated at the top of the hoistable deck 104, respectively. Slackened wires 108 are held up by supports 155 therefor. The function of the wire 108 is clearly shown in Figs. 21 and 22 with a hoisted I car deck 104 and a lowered II car deck, respectively. Also in this case, the car deck 104 being hoistable by means of cables 108 is supported by suspension stays 107 and is controlled by said wires 108. In the supporting position II ready for car supporting, the hoistable vehicle deck 104 is lowered from the storing position I so that the wires 108 are extended obliquely upward inward toward the centre of the deck 104 at an acute angle of approx . 30° to the intended attachment 152, 153 of the fixed elevated attachment 175 of the fixed deck 114. The function and nature should have been understood and been made clear from what has been described above and shown in the drawings. By means of hoisting wires 76 that are reversed around wheels 77, the respective hoistable car deck 4; 104 is manoeuvred to a desired level. Common cable centres 78, from which hoisting wires 76 exit to the point of attachment 79 of the respective hoistable vehicle deck 4; 104, are present on board.

The suspension stays 7; 107 and the guide stays 8 or the wires 108 interconnect, in that connection, the hoistable vehicle deck 4; 104 and the fixed superpositioned deck 13; 114, alternatively an upper hoistable additional car deck. The hoistable vehicle deck 4; 104 is efficiently controlled by said guide stays 8 or wires 108, such as is shown illustrated in the drawings. Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are feasible, particularly as for the nature of the different parts, or by using an equivalent technology, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Claims

1. Device (1) for a hoistable (2, 3) vehicle deck

(4: 104) on board ships (6) and wherein the hoistable vehicle deck (4: 104) in question is actuatable to be hoisted between a hoisted storing position (I) and a lowered load position (II) and supported by suspension stays (7: 107) with the separate or interconnectable vehicle decks (4: 104) in question supported by suspension stays (7:107) situated on mutually opposite sides, characterized in that guideways, which are formed of at least paired stiff guide stays (8) or flexible wires (108) situated at the mutually opposite sides (9, 10) of the hoistable common vehicle deck, are arranged to carry in pairs, thanks to the position thereof, like a stay of a lattice system, tensile forces and keep the car deck panel in the direction of the stays in place.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that guide stays (8) are arranged with the respective paired one ends (11, 12) connected to a fixed support (13) of a fixed deck (14) and with the respective other ends (15, 16) thereof movably connected to the hoistable vehicle deck (4) in a direction (17) transverse to the hoisting direction (2, 3) .

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that guide stays are arranged to, with the respective paired one ends thereof, be pivotably connected to the hoistable vehicle deck and are, with the respective other ends thereof, connected to a fixed deck, movably transversely to the hoisting direction.

4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that paired guide stays (8: 108) are arranged to extend at an angle (X) in relation to each other, essentially at an obtuse angle, in the direction from a common attachment (13: 175), as seen when the vehicle deck (4; 104) is kept in a lowered suspending position (II) .

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when guide stays consist of wires (108), the wires (108) are, when the hoistable car deck (104) is lowered in the supporting position (II), arranged so that they are extended obliquely upward inward toward the centre of the deck (104) at an acute angle of approx. 30° to the intended attachment (152, 153) of the fixed elevated attachment (175) of the fixed deck (114), while slackened wires (108) are held up by supports (155) when the hoistable car deck (104) is hoisted to the storing position (I) .

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterized in that paired guide stays (8) are arranged to extend crosswise in relation to each other, as seen when the vehicle deck (4) is kept in a lowered suspending position (II) .

7. Device according to any one of claims 4 or 6, characterized in that said guide stays (8) are arranged to, when said hoistable vehicle deck (4) is arranged in the hoisted position (I), extend essentially parallel to said hoistable vehicle deck (4), or at an angle that is at least 160°.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that guide ends (15, 16) are guidably stay-received in guiding grooves (18), the respective end portions (19, 20) of said guiding grooves (18) forming end stoppers for the respective end (15, 16) of said guide stays.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that one end portion (20) of said grooves is formed of a recess situated on a lower level than said grooves.

10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide stays (8) are length- variably settable, for instance by means of a screw joint (21) and preferably also the suspension stays in order to, e.g., change the height of the cargo spaces of the car decks.