WO2012036615A1

WO2012036615A1 - Device at a hoistable loading deck for a cargo ship

Info

Publication number: WO2012036615A1
Application number: PCT/SE2011/051093
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Westermark
Original assignee: Tts Marine Ab
Priority date: 2010-09-13
Filing date: 2011-09-09
Publication date: 2012-03-22
Also published as: SE535189C2; SE1050949A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) at a hoistable loading deck (20) for a cargo ship (21) with supports (22) for releasable holding of the loading deck (20) on intended level. Carried by said hoistable loading deck (20), a number of movable supports (22) are arranged, which can be actuated an co-operate with fixed supports (23) arranged in the ship (21). According to the invention a spring (31) is carried to automatically change position through overcentre function when motionally actuated.

Description

Device at a hoistable loading deck for a cargo ship

The present invention relates to a device at a hoistable loading deck for a cargo ship with supports for releasable holding of the loading deck on intended level, and that, carried by said hoistable loading deck, a number of movable supports are arranged, which can be actuated and co-operate with fixed supports arranged in the ship, whereby said movable supports are formed by pivotally journalled supporting shoulders, which can be actuated by spring force. Background

In ships with adjustable loading decks various arrangements are used today to make it possible to place and lock the loading decks on different levels depending on the type of cargo to be loaded on the decks.

One of the more common arrangements is to use so called semi-auto stoppers, which are mounted in the rigid structure of the ship. These stoppers are retractable and outfoldable, and may be passed by a panel on its way upwards, but have to be retracted manually if you wish to lower a panel from a higher level to a lower level.

This is done by a person walking around in the ship to the positions of all stoppers, where he pulls a rope or a bar in order to retract the stoppers which are to be passed by the panel. A simple construction, but it freguently causes problems because the stoppers do not automatically fall out, but get stuck in retracted position for various reasons. Also, the ropes tend to be many in number, since there are several levels of stoppers on a common pillar in the ship.

A typical ship for transportation of cars may have several adjustable decks, and it is not unusual that a deck consists of up to forty panels. If each panel has four points of support, it will be as much as 160 positions per deck to adjust.

Furthermore, a typical car deck has several levels, often two loading levels and a stowed level at the top under the deck above. Consequently, for such a configuration a support is required for each position, and quickly a large number of semi-auto stoppers will be needed, which all have to be adjusted now and then in retracted or folded out position. This system tends to be rather complex, even if it is a simple solution one by one .

By JP 10167174A a device at hoistable loading decks (2) is previously known, in which movable supports (4, 5), which may be actuated by spring force, are located on the movable loading decks (2), instead of what is the case as far as previously known solutions are concerned, where they are arranged along the path of movement of the loading decks. However, they are still arranged to be actuated manually and not automatically when said loading decks (2) are motionally actuated.

The problem

Consequently, the problem to be solved is to make the manual position adjustment mechanical and automatic by simple, but safely functioning means. Thus, the object is to achieve a solution, which functions safely and efficiently to lift up or lower the panels, without need of manual adjustment. However, one does not want to involve any form of electric or hydraulic control.

The solution

Said object is reached by means of a device as described above, which is substantially characterized in that the spring is carried to automatically change position through overcentre function when motion- ally actuated, that said spring at one of its ends is connected with associated loading deck, and at its

opposite end is coupled to a pivotable arm of motion, and that said arm of motion can co-operate with the supporting shoulder, arranged in such a way that the spring and its shaft can be adjusted in order to actuate the supporting shoulder to be folded out and retracted, respectively.

List of Figures

The invention is described in the following as a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanism according to the invention for automatic actuation and adjustment, and in operative stop position for a hoistable loading deck,

Fig. 2 illustrates schematically the mechanism in a position, in which the loading deck is in a lifted up position,

Fig. 3 illustrates the function of the mechanism in different positions A-H, when the loading deck is moved between different levels downwards to be supported,

Fig. 4 illustrates the function of the mechanism in different positions I-P, when the loading deck is moved between different levels upwards to be supported,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the mechanism in different positions A, C and F, and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the mechanism in different positions G, I, L and O.

The invention

According to the invention a spring in question is mounted to automatically change position through so called overcentre function when motionally actuated when the loading deck is lifted up.

The present invention is a completely automatic stop mechanism, which is mounted in the panels of the loading deck instead of in the rigid structure of the ship. The advantage of this arrangement is that you can have fixed/simple supports in the ship, and this entails that the large number of stops to permit several levels of the loading decks will be of fixed/simple and, thus, inexpensive type.

Now, the manual adjustment is not needed at all, since the mechanism is arranged to automatically change from folded out to retracted position, and vice versa, by means of a device, which through its two spring- loaded positions changes the support when it together with the loading deck is lifted up and caused to pass the fixed supports in the ship, respectively.

General description

The mechanism is based on the fact that the spring and its shaft can be adjusted between two end positions, and in that way by means of an arm of motion actuate a supporting shoulder to be folded out and

retracted, respectively.

In a known manner, the loading deck can be moved between its different levels by means of convention- al car deck lifters, electric or hydraulic winch, or by means of another operating device.

Function

To put the loading deck on its upper level

· The car deck is lifted up above a fixed support. The spring is in a position, in which it pushes the supporting shoulder towards folded out position, and the stop lug of the supporting shoulder abuts against a dolly.

· The car deck is lowered, and the supporting shoulder gets into contact with the fixed support in the ship. • The car deck is lowered further, and through its

weight and the movement downwards the supporting shoulder pushes the main shaft upwards in an oval hole in the support plate.

An arm of motion is journalled on the shaft mentioned above, and its centres of rotation follow the shaft. When the shaft moves upwards a stop dog of the arm of motion gets into contact with a fixed stop and forces it to rotate in counter clockwise direction

according to Figs. 1 and 2.

The spring is compressed and brings the arm of motion to rotate in counter clockwise direction. This entails that the mechanism passes the centre, i.e. the spring, which has been in position I, now changes to position II. When the spring is in position II it strives at retracting the supporting shoulder via the arm of motion. Of course, that is not possible, since the spring force is too small in relation to the weight of the panel. Furthermore, the panel has to be lifted up about 15 mm, so that the supporting shoulder can sweep past the fixed support.

Now, the loading deck is located on the fixed supports.

To take down the loading deck from a higher lever to a lower level

• In order to be able to take down the panel past the fixed supports the supporting shoulder must be retracted. This is effected by lifting up the panel from the support, whereby the spring, which is in position II, pushes the arm of motion, which affects the supporting shoulder towards retracted position. When the panel has been lifted up sufficiently, the supporting shoulder sweeps past the fixed support and is retracted.

· The shaft falls down to the bottom of the oval hole by the gravitation as well as the spring force. The wheels of the arm of motion protrude.

• The car deck is lowered and the supporting shoulder passes the fixed support freely. The wheel of the arm of motion later gets into contact with the upper fixed support.

• When the car deck is lowered further, the fixed

support pushes the wheel, which strives at bringing the arm of motion to rotate. When the panel is lowered further, the shaft strives to lift, but is prevented by the spur, which hooks up at its stop. The panel continues downwards, and the arm of motion rotates in clockwise direction. This clockwise rotation makes the spring and the spring shaft to pass "over centres" from position II into position I. This entails that the spring now affects the arm of motion to push the supporting shoulder towards folded out position. The car deck is lowered completely past the support and the supporting shoulder is folded out completely and stays in that position during the rest of the lowering.

• Now, the car deck has been lowered to the lower

level, and the supporting shoulder, which is in folded out position, now gets into contact with the lower fixed support.

• The car deck is lowered further, and the panel is put down on the supports. The function according to the third point above is repeated, i.e. the spring changes from position I to position II.

Lifting up a panel from a lower level to a higher level

• The car deck is lifted up from its lower fixed

support, and as a result of the fact that the spring is in position II, the supporting shoulder is

retracted according to the fourth point above.

• The shaft falls down to the bottom of the oval hole by the gravitation as well as the spring force. The wheels of the arm of motion protrude.

• The panel is lifted upwards further. Now, the wheels located on the arm of motion get into contact with the ramp of the upper fixed support.

• When the panel is lifted up further the wheel is

affected by a force of reaction perpendicularly towards the surface of the ramp, which rotates the arm of motion in clockwise direction, and causes the spring to change from position II to position I. The spring now affects the arm of motion to push the supporting shoulder towards folded out position.

• The panel is lifted up further, and now the spring, via the arm of motion, exerts a pressure on the supporting shoulder, which is pushed outwards until it hits against the ramp of the upper fixed support.

• The car deck is lifted up further, and the supporting shoulder slides resilxently against the ramp of the upper fixed support until the level is reached, on which the supporting shoulder can sweep out freely towards its folded out position.

• When it has been established by means of ocular

inspection or sensors that all supports around the panel have been folded out, the loading deck may be lowered against its upper fixed support, and the panel may be put down.

From here the entire sequence can be repeated starting with the second point. Detailed description

A device 100 at a hoistable loading deck 20 adapted to be supported in a ship 21, for example intended for the transportation of vehicles or another cargo on required level Nl, N2... , and so on, in the ship 21, comprises supports 22 for carrying loading decks adapted to carry cargo. According to the invention, carried by said hoistable loading deck 20, a number of movable supports 22 are arranged, which can be actuated and co-operate with fixed supports 23, 23¹, ... arranged in the ship 21. This constitutes the mechanism 24 for moving loading decks and keeping the loading deck 22 in question on the intended required stop level Nl, N2, ... Preferably, said fixed supports 23,

23¹, ... are formed by wedge-shaped supports, which are fastened to pillars 25 in the ship 21 and directed inwards towards the cargo space 26 of the ship, in which said loading deck(s) 20 is/are so arranged, that they can be lifted up 27 and lowered 28, respectively. Such a movable support 22, of which there are at least four, preferably so distributed that they are located at the respective corner portions of the loading deck, is formed by

pivotally journalled supporting shoulders, which can be actuated by spring force. Said movable supporting shoulders 22 are arranged to be displaced with their bearing 29, which is formed by a bearing shaft guided along and by the edges of a slot-shaped recess 30 in the associated loading deck 20, on which they are supported. Thereby, the tapering wedge portion of said wedge-shaped fixed supports 23, 23¹ is directed downwards.

A spring 31, which produces said spring force and which, preferably, is formed by a helical pressure spring, which is threaded on a spring support pin 32 extending between bearing joints 33, 34 at its ends 32Ά, 32B, is at one 32A of its ends connected to a portion 35 of the associated loading deck 20, and at its opposite end 32B to a pivotally journalled arm of motion 36. Said arm of motion 36 exhibits a stop dog 37, which can cooperate with a stop 38 on the supporting shoulder 22, arranged in such a way that the spring 31 and its shaft 32 can be changed to actuate the supporting shoulder 22 to be folded out and retracted, respectively, and be pivoted round the shaft 29.

The respective supporting shoulder 22 exhibits a stop lug 39, which can co-operate with a dolly 41 of the loading deck 20, opposite to the end 40 of the supporting shoulder 22, against which the cooperative fixed support 23 can be placed. End position shoulders 42 limiting the pivoting movement of the movable supporting shoulder 22 are arranged on the loading deck.

At the end 44 of the arm of motion 36 a roller element 45 is mounted, which is arranged to cooperate with the preferably wedge-shaped, fixed support 23 of the vertical lateral portion of the ship, extending in the intended hoisting direction 27, 28. The spring 31 is mounted to automatically change position through over- centre function when motionally actuated. Said spring is at one 32A of its ends connected to the associated loading deck 20, and at its opposite end 32B coupled to a pivot- able arm of motion. Said arm of motion 36 can in its turn co-operate with the supporting shoulder 22, arranged in such a way that the spring 31 and its shaft 32 can be changed in order to actuate the supporting shoulder 22 to be folded out and retracted, respectively.

Finally, it is mentioned that a wedge- shaped fixed support 23 is located near an upper

stationary deck 46 of the associated cargo space 26 in order to make it possible to place a loading deck 20 near the upper stationary deck 46 of the ship.

The nature and function of the invention should have been understood of the above description and the drawings .

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Modifications are possible, especially as far as the nature of the different parts is concerned, or by using eguivalent technique, without departing from the scope of the invention as it is defined in the patent claims.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. Device (100) at a hoistable loading deck

(20) for a cargo ship (21) with supports (22) for releas- able holding of the loading deck (20) on intended level, and that, carried by said hoistable loading deck (20), a number of movable supports (22) are arranged, which can be actuated an co-operate with fixed supports (23) arranged in the ship, whereby said movable supports (22) are formed by pivotally journalled supporting shoulders, which can be actuated by spring force, characterized in that the spring (31) is carried to automatically change position through overcentre function when motionally actuated, that said spring (31) at one (32A) of its ends is connected with associated loading deck (20), and at its opposite end (32B) is coupled to a pivotable arm of motion (36), and that said arm of motion (36) can co-operate with the supporting shoulder (22), arranged in such a way that the spring (31) and its shaft (32) can be adjusted in order to actuate the supporting shoulder (22) to be folded out and retracted, respectively.

2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that a number of fixed supports (23) are distributed at a mutual distance from each other, seen along the path of movement of the hoistable loading deck (20) , whereby preferably a wedge-shaped fixed support (23) is located near an upper stationary deck (46) of the associated cargo space (26) .

3. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that at the end (44) of the arm of motion (36) a roller element (45) is mounted, which is arranged to co-operate with the preferably wedge-shaped, fixed support (23) of the vertical lateral portion of the ship, extending in the intended hoisting direction (27, 28).

4. Device according to anyone of the

preceding Claims, characterized in that said movable supporting shoulders (22) are arranged to be displaced with their bearing (29) along a slot-shaped recess (30) in the associated loading deck (20), on which they are supported .

5. Device according to anyone of the

preceding Claims, characterized in that the respective supporting shoulder (22) exhibits a stop lug (39), which can co-operate with a dolly (41) of the loading deck (20), opposite to the end (40) of the supporting shoulder (22), against which the cooperative fixed support (23) can be placed .

6. Device according to anyone of the

preceding Claims, characterized in that end position shoulders (42, 43) limiting the pivoting movement of the supporting shoulder (22) are arranged on the loading deck.