Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/06—Floating substructures as supports
  • E02F9/062—Advancing equipment, e.g. spuds for floating dredgers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a spud-handling device for manoeuvring a spud between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position.
• NL 23582 discloses a spud-tilting device in which the spud pile is provided with a removable shaft, by means of which the spud rests in a seat attached to a spud carriage and which makes it possible to tilt the spud into a horizontal position.
• a drawback of this known spud-tilting device is that the tilting operation requires a relatively large amount of manual handling and is therefore laborious.
• the removable shaft is difficult to handle manually due to its weight, in particular when tilting heavy spuds.
• the tilting operation is relatively uncontrolled, in particular when the spud is pulled over in a customary manner by means of a winch.
• fitting a removable shaft in holes in the spud causes cracks to form in the spud at the location of the holes.
• DE 2708693 A I relates to a pontoon provided with an opening, a so-called port, through which a spud can be passed in a sliding manner.
• a lifting device is provided to lift the spud into the port and lower it.
• a tilting device is connected to the port for tilting the spud.
• One drawback is the fact that the facilities for tilting and lifting the spud are relatively complex and large.
• JP 60035684 A relates to a vessel without a dedicated propulsion installation.
• the vessel is provided with a spud.
• This spud is tilted through a limited revolution by means of a tilting device for moving the vessel over a short distance.
• the tilting device has clamps which are fixedly connected to the tilting device.
• JP 61092992 A relates to a spud-tilting device.
• the tilting device has two gear racks, both of which are moved to and fro by a driving wheel which is connected to a hydraulic cylinder.
• the spud is tilted by cables which are attached selectively to the gear racks and the racks are fixed selectively.
• One drawback is the fact that the tilting device is relatively complex and requires many operations in order to tilt a spud.
• JP 55094882 A relates to a ship provided with a spud and a crane.
• the spud is brought into a horizontal position by means of cables.
• One drawback is that due to the fact that cables are used for tilting, the process can not be controlled to a sufficient degree.
• JP 55094881 A relates to a lifting device for a spud.
• the entire lifting device When tilting the spud, the entire lifting device also tilts in the same direction, which makes it a difficult and complex procedure.
• JP 048084 A relates to a lifting device for a spud.
• a cylinder is fixedly connected to the lifting device for tilting the entire lifting device with spud, which makes it a difficult and complex procedure.
• Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a spud-handling device by means of which a spud can be tilted in a relatively simple and controlled way. Controlling the tilting process is of great importance as a spud can, in practice, weigh from tens of tons to hundreds of tons.
• the invention provides a spud-handling device for manoeuvring a spud between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, the spud-handling device comprising:
• a lifting device which is fixedly connected to a lifting frame in order to move a spud in its vertical position substantially vertically between a highest and a lowest position
• a tilting frame which is connected to the lifting frame in order to determine a tilting axle about which the spud can be tilted
• a tilting device which is connected to the tilting frame in order to tilt the spud about the tilting axle
• the tilting device is designed so as, in use, to engage with the lifting device for tilting a spud.
• the engagement of the tilting device with the lifting device offers possibilities for synergy, such as for example dual use of functional parts, as well as possibilities for improved ease of handling of the spud.
• Means which are required in order to engage with the heavy spud for tilting a spud are in this case partly incorporated in the lifting device, which offers significant advantages.
• the savings in terms of material and therefore weight are advantageous.
• more extensive automation is possible, thus further avoiding manual labour.
• the lifting device comprises a lifting clamp, with the tilting device, in use, engaging with the lifting clamp in order to tilt a spud.
• the lifting device comprises a holding clamp connected to the lifting frame in order to hold a spud in an intermediate position between the highest and the lowest positions, with the tilting device, in use, engaging with the holding clamp in order to tilt a spud.
• the tilting device for tilting a spud only engages with the lifting clamp and the holding clamp of the lifting device.
• a spud can be tilted without intervention of other parts which are difficult to handle.
• the lifting device for the rest does not tilt along with the spud, thus simplifying the tilting of the spud.
• one of either the lifting device or the tilting device engages with the holding clamp and the lifting clamp, the tilting device in order to tilt the spud about the tilting axle, the lining device in order to move the spud in its vertical position substantially vertically between a highest and a lowest position.
• the tilting device Since only either the lifting device or the tilting device engages with the lifting clamp and the holding clamp, in the first case the tilting device is not lifted concomitantly and in the second case the lining device is not tilted concomitantly, which is very advantageous when using the handling device.
• the spud- handling device comprises a tilting arm which is hingedly connected to the tilting frame.
• the use of a tilting arm offers the possibility for the holding clamp and the lining clamp to engage the spud at a distance apart. This makes it possible to bring the tilting axle closer to the centre of gravity of the spud, thus simplifying tilting of the spud.
• the tilting arm is, at its end, connected to the tilting frame, and in one embodiment the tilting arm is hingedly connected to the tilting device at an opposite end. In this way, the length of the tilting arm is used in an optimum manner.
• the tilting device in use, engages with the lifting device by means of a connection.
• connection comprises a pin which extends substantially in a recess. Forces for tilting are then transmitted through the pin.
• a first pin in use, extends in the length direction of a spud and a second pin extends substantially transversely with respect to the length direction of a spud.
• This orientation of the first and second pins results in a degree of freedom which makes it possible to handle the spud and then to transmit the forces to a spud in a predictable manner in order to tilt a spud.
• the tilting arm and/or the lifting clamp comprises the recess and the first or second pin.
• both the tilting frame and the lifting clamp comprise a recess, with both recesses forming part of the connection for transmitting forces in order to tilt a spud.
• the tilting device comprises a drive device and the drive device comprises a hydraulic cylinder.
• the hydraulic cylinder comprises a measuring element for controlling the handling of a spud.
• the measuring element comprises one or more sensors from the group comprising pressure sensors, displacement sensors and speed sensors.
• the invention furthermore provides a vessel provided with a spud-handling device according to the invention.
• the invention furthermore provides an assembly of a spud and a spud-handling device according to the invention.
• the invention furthermore provides a method for tilting a spud between a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, comprising engaging, by means of a tilting device, with a lifting device for tilting the spud.
• only one of either the lifting device or the tilting device engages with a holding clamp and a lifting clamp, the tilting device in order to tilt the spud about a tilting axle, the lifting device in order to move the spud in its vertical position substantially vertically between a highest and a lowest position.
• either the lifting device or the spud-tilting device engages with the spud by means of the holding clamp and the lifting clamp.
• the invention furthermore provides a device provided with one or more of the characterizing measures which are described in the attached description and/or illustrated in the attached drawings.
• the invention furthermore provides a method comprising one or more of the characterizing steps described in the attached description and/or illustrated in the attached drawings.
• Fig. la shows a side view of a vessel provided with a known spud
• Fig. lb shows a top view of the vessel from Fig. la;
• Figs. 2a-f show a side view of the spud-handling device according to the invention in different stages during tilting of a spud;
• Fig. 3a shows a side view of a lifting clamp
• Fig. 3b shows a top view of the lifting clamp from Fig. 3a;
• Fig. 4a shows a top view of a holding clamp
• Fig. 4b shows a front view of the holding clamp from Fig. 4a;
• Fig. 4c shows a side view of the holding clamp from Fig. 4a. Description of embodiments
• Fig. la shows a side view of a vessel 1 provided with a known spud 3
• Fig. lb shows a top view of the vessel 1 from Fig. la.
• the dredging vessel 1 is provided with a dredging device 4, in this case comprising a cutter head 5 and a suction line 6.
• the force which is required at the cutter head 5 is transmitted via the spud pile 3.
• the spud 3 is held by a spud carriage 8, here illustrated diagrammatically.
• the spud carriage 8 is advanced, by means of a diagrammatically and partly illustrated spud carriage drive 7, in the U-shaped recess 2 in the dredging vessel 1.
• Figures 2a-f show a side view of the spud-handling device 11 according to the invention in various stages of tilting a spud 3.
• Fig. 2a shows the spud 3 in its vertical position.
• the spud 3 can be manoeuvred in its vertical position by means of a lifting device 9.
• the lifting device 9 is connected to the spud carriage 8, also referred to as pile carriage 8, by means of a lifting frame 45.
• the lifting frame 45 extends from the spud carriage 8 up to the level of the lifting platform 18.
• the lifting device 9 here comprises a lifting cylinder 49 which is fixedly connected to the lifting frame 45 and which engages with the spud 3 by means of a running wheel 50, also referred to as cable pulley 50, a cable and a lifting clamp 15 in order to manoeuvre the spud 3 in a vertical position between a highest position and a lowest position. In the lowest position, the spud 3 engages with the bottom.
• the lifting device 9 furthermore comprises a holding clamp 14 which is connected to the lifting frame 45 and rests on the latter. The holding clamp 14 engages with the spud 3 in order to keep the latter in a fixed position between two lifting stages or, for example, when the spud carriage 8 is travelling.
• the spud-handling device 11 furthermore comprises a spud-tilting device 10 in order to tilt the spud 3 between a vertical position and a horizontal position.
• the spud-tilting device 10 comprises a tilting frame 24, also referred to as tilting tower 24, which is fixedly connected to the spud carriage 8.
• the tilting frame 24 extends upwards from the spud carriage 8, and in this case extends beyond the lifting frame 45 up to the level of the tilting platform 12.
• the tilting frame 24 determines the tilting axle 13 about which the spud 3 tilts.
• the tilting device 10 furthermore comprises a tilting arm 16. In the horizontal position, the tilting arm 16 rests on the tilting platform 12 of the tilting frame 24.
• the tilting arm 16 is hingedly connected to the tilting frame 24 by means of a bearing means which is known per se. This bearing means determines the tilting axle 13.
• the tilting arm 16 is provided with engagement means 21, 22, 23 for engaging with the lifting device 9.
• these engagement means 21, 22, 23 form part of the connection 52 between the tilting arm 16 and the lifting device 9 for transmitting forces to the spud 3 in order to tilt the latter.
• the engagement means 21, 22, 23 are provided near the tilting axle 13 and near the end of the tilting arm 16 which is situated opposite the tilting axle 13.
• the engagement means 21, 22, 23 here consist of a hook 22 which is situated near the tilting axle 13 and comprises a receiving space 23 and a pin 21.
• the receiving space 23 is suitable for receiving a pin 43 which extends substantially transversely to the length direction of the spud 3.
• the pin 43 forms part of the lifting device 9.
• the pin 21 which is situated near the end of the tilting arm 16 opposite the tilting axle 13 here extends in the length direction of the spud 3 and engages with a hole 38 which forms part of the lifting device 9.
• the holding clamp 14 and the lifting clamp 15 together form a clamping device for a spud 3 which clamping device forms part of the lifting device 9 and cooperates with the remainder of the lifting device 9.
• the clamping device is provided with means which are suitable for being engaged with or within the lifting device 9 and with the spud-tilting device 10.
• the lifting device 9 engages directly with the clamping device for lifting a spud 3
• the spud-tilting device 10 engages directly with the clamping device for tilting the spud 3.
• the spud-tilting device 10 or the lifting device 9 engages with the spud 3 by means of the clamping device, specifically only by means of the clamping device.
• Figs. 2a to 2f show the spud-handling device 11 in various stages of tilting between a vertical position and a horizontal position. The following steps are taken successively.
• the spud 3 Before the spud 3 is tilted, the spud 3 has been lifted in position.
• the tilting arm 16 is in the horizontal position and rests on the tilting platform 12.
• the holding clamp 14 is connected to the spud 3 in a clamping manner.
• the spud 3 is lifted up, together with the holding clamp 14, by the lifting device 9. In this case, the holding clamp 14 comes away from the lifting platform 18.
• the spud 3 is lifted to a position in which the holding clamp 14 is situated beyond the tilting arm 16.
• the tilting arm 16 is now tilted, by means of hydraulic cylinder 17, about the tilting axle 13 to the spud 3 with space being left between the tilting arm 16 and the spud 3 so that the lifting clamp 15 can pass.
• the spud 3 with the holding clamp 14 is then lowered (Fig. 2b) so that pin 43 from Fig. 4a-c drops into the receiving space 23 of the hook 22.
• the lifting clamp 15 is lifted up, in this case without spud 3, beyond the tilting arm 16.
• the tilting arm 16 is tilted as far as the spud 3 (Fig. 2c).
• the lifting clamp, here without spud 3 is then lowered, with the pin 21 engaging with the lifting clamp 15.
• the pin 21 here engages with a hole 38 from Fig.
• a securing device is provided in the form of a cable 19 which ensures that the lifting clamp 15 remains in clamping engagement with the spud 3 (Fig. 2d).
• Fig. 2e is a detail of Fig. 2d.
• the spud 3 is then tilted about tilting axle 13 from its vertical position to its horizontal position by means of the hydraulic cylinder 17 (Fig. 2f).
• the spud 3 is handled in such a manner that the point of gravity of the spud 3 is at the tilting axle 13, preferably inside the length of the tilting arm 16.
• Fig. 3a shows a side view of a lifting clamp 15.
• Fig. 3b shows a top view of the lifting clamp 15.
• the lifting clamp 15 consists of two clamping halves 25, 26 and folding arms 27.
• the lifting cable (not shown) is attached to the lifting eye 35 which is provided in the lip 34.
• the two clamping halves 25, 26 are connected to one another by means of two folding arms 27.
• the two folding arms 27 are hingedly connected to the clamping halves 25, 26. If a lifting force is exerted on the lifting eye 35, this lifting force is amplified by the lever effect of the folding arms 27 exerted by means of the clamping halves 25, 26 on the outer periphery 46 of the spud 3.
• the clamping halves 25, 26 are here divided into clamping quarters 28a, 28b, and 29a, 29b which pivot with respect to one another.
• the lifting clamp 15 is provided with clamping shoes 36a-d on the clamping quarters 28a, 28b, 29a and 29b in order to improve the engagement of the lifting clamp 15 with the spud 3 further.
• the lifting clamp 15 here comprises two holes 38 for engagement of the tilting device 10 with the lifting device 9 from Fig. 2a-e.
• the hole 13 is provided here by arranging a hollow cylindrical pipe part 37 in a clamping half 26.
• the steel pipe part 37 and the lifting clamp 15 are in this case connected to one another by means of welding techniques.
• Figs. 4a-c respectively show a top view of the holding clamp 14, a front view of the holding clamp 14 and a side view of the holding clamp 14.
• the holding clamp 14 forms part of the lifting device 9 from Figs. 2a-e.
• the holding clamp 14 consists of two clamping halves 40, 41.
• the clamping halves 40, 41 are connected to one another by means of two short-stroke hydraulic cylinders 39 which move the clamping halves 40, 41 with respect to one another between a position in which the spud 3 is clamped and a position in which the spud 3 is released.
• the hydraulic cylinders 39 are hingedly connected to the clamping halves 40, 41.
• the clamping halves 40, 41 are divided into mutually hinging clamping quarters 47a, 47b, 48a and 48b which pivot with respect to one another and are connected by means of hinges 42 and the hydraulic cylinders 39 in order to further improve engagement of the holding clamp 14 with the spud 3.
• the holding clamp 14 is provided here with clamping shoes 44a-d on the clamping quarters 47a, 47b, 48a and 48b in order to improve the engagement of the holding clamp 14 with the spud 3 in the position clamping the spud 3 still further.
• the holding clamp 14 here comprises two pins 43 with which the tilting device 10 from Figs. 2a-f engages.
• the pins 43 are provided here on two adjacent clamping quarters 47b, 48b.
• the pins 43 partly extend beyond the periphery of the clamping quarters 47b, 48b.
• the pins 43 are connected to the clamping quarters 47b, 48b by means of welding techniques.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Placing Or Removing Of Piles Or Sheet Piles, Or Accessories Thereof (AREA)
• Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)
• Forklifts And Lifting Vehicles (AREA)
• Load-Engaging Elements For Cranes (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Fish Paste Products (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (3)

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Citations (10)

• 2009
  • 2009-09-28 NL NL2003557A patent/NL2003557C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2010
  • 2010-09-27 IN IN2662DEN2012 patent/IN2012DN02662A/en unknown
  • 2010-09-27 CN CN201080043317.3A patent/CN102597380B/zh active Active
  • 2010-09-27 EP EP10763053.5A patent/EP2483481B1/en active Active
  • 2010-09-27 WO PCT/NL2010/050624 patent/WO2011043653A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-09-27 ES ES10763053T patent/ES2716234T3/es active Active
  • 2010-09-27 MY MYPI2012001380A patent/MY165818A/en unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-02-07 HR HRP20190254TT patent/HRP20190254T1/hr unknown

Patent Citations (10)

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