WO2015004343A1

WO2015004343A1 - Lifting hook assembly having a quick load release and lifeboat launching device incorporating such an assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2015004343A1
Application number: PCT/FR2014/000208
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paul-Henry VIMBERT
Original assignee: Ecole Nationale Superieure Maritime
Priority date: 2013-07-12
Filing date: 2014-09-12
Publication date: 2015-01-15
Also published as: FR3008377B1; FR3008377A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a lifting hook assembly having a quick load release. The invention is characterized in that the one-piece lifting hook (13), which is intended for engaging a hookable means such as a head link (2), is substantially in the shape of an η (eta) the short end of which is closed by a movable latch (8), the long side of the η being provided with a breaking area (18) which makes it possible to quickly release the hookable means (2). The invention applies in particular to the handling of boats or of loads.

Description

FAST-LOAD LIFTING LIFTING HOOK ASSEMBLY AND LIFTING-BOAT LAUNCHING DEVICE INTEGRATING THE SAME

Application fields

The present invention relates to a load lifting device. The invention can be used to handle lifeboats between a support vessel or an off-shore platform and the sea. The invention could also be used for any load handling action.

Context of the invention

Ships and off-shore platforms are equipped with lifeboats to allow for emergency evacuation. These boats are handled by davits installed aboard the ship or the platform. The davits ensure the overflow of the lifeboat and its descent to the surface of the sea. This descent is carried out by means of two support cables operated by a winch (installed aboard the support vessel and linked to the davit) . These two carrying cables are connected to the lifeboat by means of two fangs arranged at the front and the rear of the lifeboat. The hooks must be able to be opened when the lifeboat is flooded and no load is exerted on the carrying cables. In addition, the regulations (SOLAS Convention, IMO regulations) require that the hooks allow a "load dumping", and can open while the lifeboat is still supported by the carrying cables. This regulatory requirement is the cause of many accidents.

These accidents occur, overwhelmingly, during exercises, maintenance actions or regulatory inspections. They have been identified as the number one cause of deaths on board commercial vessels (MAIB, "Review of Lifeboat and Launching Systems Accidents" 2001). Thus 2 young French officers died on April 15, 2011 while they are carrying out an abandonment exercise of the ship "CMA-CGM Christophe Colomb". The seaman who accompanies them will be seriously injured.

For more than 10 years, numerous studies have analyzed the causes of these accidents. More than 58% of fatal accidents are related to an unexpected opening of the dropping hooks (MAIB "Review of lifeboat and launching Systems accidents" 2001).

State of the prior art Devices have been developed to enable "load dumping" and are commonly identified by the term "On-load Release Systems". The principle, very widely retained, combines mobility fangs and misalignment of the point of suspension and the axis of rotation of the movable part. This misalignment creates a lever arm that tends to open the hook under the effect of the tension of the carrying cables. By design, the fangs have become "unstable" and allow for an accidental release of the lifeboat.

Mechanical locking devices are supposed to prevent any accidental opening of the hooks. They are maneuvers to open or rearm fangs. The technical solutions used are numerous and involve a large number of moving mechanical parts; in 2007, there were 72 different fang systems and more than a dozen operating logics (GARD SA "Loss Prevention Circular No. 02-08, Lifeboat accidents with on-load release hooks"). This mechanical complexity implies heavy maintenance, introduces a high failure rate and does not favor the training of crews.

European Patent EP 1,512,621 B1 and German Utility Model DE 20 2010 001 993 U1 show examples of this widely used technical solution which produces "unstable" moving fangs by shifting the point of suspension and the axis of rotation. of the moving part.

European patent EP 1 908 681 B1 is an alternative solution although using a mobile hook. Here the point of suspension of the mesh No. 14 and the axis of rotation No. 33 are aligned. This arrangement ensures the closed position of the hook as long as the carrying cables are under tension. The openings of the "load" and "no load" hooks are ensured by a mechanical control of the hook via a "teleflex" cable type device. Here again many moving mechanical parts are present and directly touch the parts carrying the hook. To allow the opening of the hook "in charge" the radius of curvature of the beak of the hook n ° 36 is very important; this feature does not ensure optimum maintenance of the mesh No. 14 inside the fang. The mesh n ° 4 can under certain conditions be driven from the hook. Canadian patent application CA 2 765 515 represents another alternative solution to the logic presented above. A sphere No. 25 is positioned in a footprint No. 5; the design of the impression and a pawl n ° 120 ensure the maintenance of the sphere during a tensioning of the carrying cable n ° 26. The clearance of the sphere of the impression is provided by two actuators (No. 1 10 and No. 2) exerting a horizontal force that tends to drive the sphere of the impression. One actuator ensures the release without load and the second ensures the release in load. This solution uses a large number of moving mechanical parts (actuators, control chains of the actuators) and represents a lifting device not mastered by the crews. This technical peculiarity can be a source of incomprehension and exploitation error.

Brief presentation of the invention

The invention consists of:

- 1 monoblock lifting hook form substantially η (eta) and having in the lower part of the long side of the η of a notch;

- 1 propulsion system of a means of impact to the face opposite to that of the notch on the long side of the η ensuring the rapid rupture of the lifting hook and the release of the load;

- 1 mobile latch having two degrees of freedom and can be operated by a remote control system with flexible cables;

- A control lever for flexible cables;

- An assembly providing the remote control of the propulsion system of the impacting means.

The invention presented here complies with all the regulatory obligations devolving on fangs, including that of opening in charge while ensuring the highest level of safety for crews and passengers.

It proposes a system of hooking of the boat of simple design and whose implementation rests on principles of handling largely controlled by the majority. This hanging system consists of simple mechanical elements, reliable and widespread. Mechanical simplification thus reduces the risk of serious failures.

The invention is completely free from the design principle of existing hooks. Thus the fangs are no longer mobile and the tension in the carrier cables no longer causes opening on load. They are by design "stable".

These fangs are therefore also free of locking devices and their operating systems. This mechanical simplification of the parts carrying the hook is made possible thanks to the use of a set of energy cutting which allows the release in load in case of need.

The dump is carried out by the owner of the boat or any other person having received the order of the owner of the boat. It is conditional on the realization of a succession of simple actions guaranteeing a quick release but never inadvertently; these actions may be:

- Lifting a protective cover for access to the control device - Action on control device for release

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Although this invention may be embodied in a variety of forms, one embodiment will be illustrated by diagrams and described in detail, it being understood that the present description should be considered as an example of the principles of the invention. and is not intended to limit the invention to the illustrated and described embodiment.

By way of example only, the "lifeboat dump device" embodiment of the present invention will now be described with the aid of attached diagrams in which the numbered indicia indicate the various constituent parts of the present invention. The attached drawings are as follows:

Fig. 1 is an isometric perspective view of the present invention according to the embodiment "lifeboat launching device". The lifeboat and carrying cables are not shown.

FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view of a sub-assembly quick-drop lifting hook assembly of the assembly shown in FIG. 1. The lifting hook is shown in the "closed" position. A flange has been deposited to facilitate the description.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the subassembly quick-release jack hook assembly in the open position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the quick-release jack lifting assembly subassembly in the open position and showing the release of the head mesh.

Figure 5 is an isometric perspective view of the subassembly with quick-release jack hook lifting assembly in the presentation phase of the head mesh. A flange has been deposited to facilitate the description.

FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view of the fast load dump jack assembly in the "load" release phase. A flange has been deposited to facilitate the description.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the subassembly with quick-release lifting hook assembly under load. Detailed presentation of the realization

Fig. 1 shows a pair of quick-release jack hook assemblies (1) in their "closed" position. A head mesh (2) is engaged in each of the two assemblies (1). The carrying cables connected to these head meshes (2) and ensuring the handling operations of the lifeboat (hauling and landscaping) are not shown. Figure 1 also shows a control box (3) connected to the assemblies (1) by two cable bundles (4). Each of the two beams (4) is composed of one or more electrical cables (5) and a flexible cable (6) capable of transmitting tensile and compressive forces from the control box (3) to the assemblies (1). ).

The control box (3) has a control lever (7) shown in Figure 1 in its "closed" position. This control lever (7) can rotate clockwise to pull the cables (6) and cause the opening of the mobile latches (8). It thus causes the release of the mesh of heads (2). This control lever (7) is used in the so-called "no-load" release situation in which the lifeboat has been brought to the surface of the water and floats; the carrying cables and the head meshes (2) are then no longer energized. An energy cutting device makes it possible, if necessary, to drop the lifeboat while it is still suspended from the head mesh (2) and the carrying cables are under tension; this emergency procedure is called the "loaded" drop procedure. The release in charge is caused by a manual action on the push button (9). This pushbutton (9) must be protected by devices such as a locking pin, a protective cover or any other means to prevent any undesired action. These protective devices are not represented.

The assemblies (1) are shown in detail in FIGS. 2 to 7. Each assembly (1) comprises a pair of lateral flanges (10). The two side flanges (10) are connected to each other by screwing. One of the two side flanges (10) is attached by welding on a support plate (11). The support plate (11) is connected to the lifeboat by bolting. The side flanges (10) are connected to the lifeboat by bolting through two bores (12) made in their lower region. Between the two side flanges (10) is a one-piece lifting hook (3) connected to the side flanges (10) by bolting through the bores (12). This one-piece lifting hook (13) has a substantially η-shaped and has in the lower region of its largest side, called break zone (18), a notch (14). We observe that the carrying parts of the subassembly (1) have no moving parts, which gives the invention its high level of reliability. Three horizontal guides (19) also take place between the flanges (10). A U-carriage (20) is slidably mounted between the horizontal guides (19). The pawl (8) and its counterweight (21) pivot about an axis (22) inside the U-carriage (20). Under the effect of gravity, the counterweight (21) ensures the so-called "closed" high position of the pawl (8) as seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7. The head mesh (2) is thus trapped inside the one-piece lifting hook (13). The so-called "open" high position of the pawl (8) is obtained during the insertion of the head mesh 2 into the one-piece lifting hook (13). Figure 5 illustrates this situation. Once the mesh head (2) inserted, the counterweight (21) reduces, under the effect of gravity, the pawl (8) in the high position called "closed". The succession of high positions "open" then "closed" allow to hang up the lifeboat to his support vessel after a launch exercise by release "no load". The U-carriage (20) can be actuated in vertical translation by means of the flexible cables (6). Clockwise rotation of the control lever (7) causes tensioning of the flexible cables (6). These traction forces are transmitted to the U-carriage (20) and cause its vertical translation downwards; the pawl (8) then takes its low position and the one-piece lifting hook (13) is called "open". Figures 3 and 4 illustrate this situation. This action will be carried out in the case of the "no load" drop of the boat. In this case, once the pawls (8) in the low position, the release of the mesh of heads (2) will be obtained by sliding under the effect of the gravity of the mesh of heads (2) on the upper and lower release ramps respectively (23) and (24). This sliding release of the head mesh (2) is shown in Figure 4. The closure of the monoblock lifting hook (13) can then be obtained by a rotation of the control lever (7) in the counterclockwise direction. This rotation causes a vertical translation upwards of the U-shaped carriage (20) and the engagement of the pawl (8) in the so-called "closed" up position.

Between the side flanges (10) takes place a sealed housing (15) in which are housed an actuator (16), the rupture zone (18) and an anvil (17). These parts will be implemented during the release "in charge" of the lifeboat.

In an emergency situation, the "laden" dump will be carried out by a rapid rupture of the zone (18) at the level of the notch (14). This rupture of the zone (18) is obtained by the application of a mechanical shock to the right of the notch (14). This shock is produced by an impacting means propelled by a fluid that can come from a high pressure reservoir (gas or hydraulic) or the decomposition of an energetic material (powder or propellant). The actuator (16) propels the impacting means. An action on the pushbutton (9) triggers the propulsion process of the impacting means towards the rupture zone (18). Following the impact of the impact means on the rupture zone (18) it breaks by propagation of the notch (14). This rupture causes the separation of the upper part of the one-piece lifting hook (13) and the head mesh (2) from the rest of the device: the lifeboat is thus released from its fangs. The anvil (17) is intended to absorb the residual kinetic energy of the impacting means after rupture. In the case of a plurality of assemblies (1) the breaking commands and / or the control of the latches (8) are synchronized. The "loaded" drop is represented by FIGS. 6 and 7.

Claims

claims

1. Assembly with a quick-release lifting hook characterized in that the one-piece lifting hook (13) intended to cooperate with a hooking means such as a head mesh (2) has a shape substantially in the form of η ( eta) whose shorter end is closed by a movable pawl (8), the longest side of the η being provided with a rupture zone (18), allowing the quick release of the hooking means (2) .

Fast-charge dump lifting hook assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the breaking zone (18) is located in the inner part of the longer side of the η.

A quick-release lifting hook assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the breaking zone (18) is located so that 1/4 <H1 / H <2/3 , H1 being the height of the position of the notch relative to the low end of the long side of the η and H the height of the long side of the η.

4. The quick-release lifting jack hook assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the rupture zone (18) carries a notch (14) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the largest side of the J on the total width of the side of the largest side of the η.

5. The quick-release jack hook assembly according to claim 4 characterized in that it comprises a means of impact ensuring a rapid rupture and positioned to the right of the rupture zone (18) on the opposite face of the notch (14).

6. The quick-release lifting hook assembly according to claim 5 characterized in that the impact means is propelled by an actuator (16) of the pyrotechnic, pneumatic or hydraulic type.

7. The quick-release lifting hook assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an anvil (17) intended to absorb the residual kinetic energy of the impacting means after breaking is positioned in contact with the the rupture zone (18).

8. The quick-release jack hook assembly according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the latch (8) has two degrees of freedom, one in rotation about an axis (22) and the other in vertical translation, allowing the latch (8) to take three distinct positions, a high position said closed, a second high position called "open", and a third low position called "open".

9. The quick-release lifting hook-and-pile assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises clearance ramps (23) and (24) inclined so as to allow the non-loaded release of the means of delivery. hung (2) under the effect of gravity.

10. Rescue boat release device including for ships, oil platforms, drilling platform and other off-shore work support means incorporating at least one assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the pawl (8) and triggering the break.

11. Rescue boat release devices according to claim 10 characterized in that in case of plurality of assemblies (1) the breaking commands and / or the control of the latches (8) are synchronized.

12. Rescue boat release devices according to claim 11 characterized in that the actuation of the pawl (8) is formed by flexible cables ensuring the transmission of tensile forces and / or compression.