WO2015069174A1

WO2015069174A1 - Locking device for vehicle decks supported by ships

Info

Publication number: WO2015069174A1
Application number: PCT/SE2014/051299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henrik Westermark; Torbjörn PERSSON
Original assignee: Tts Marine Ab
Priority date: 2013-11-08
Filing date: 2014-11-04
Publication date: 2015-05-14
Also published as: SE542142C2; SE1351322A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for vehicle decks supported by ships, which decks are movably operatable to separate supporting levels (3) for the locking thereto using actuatable lock members (4). According to the invention, the locking of the respective vehicle deck (2) is provided by means of a mechanism (5), which is supported by said vehicle deck (2) and which comprises a lock plunger (8) movable in a straight line (6) and actuatable by an electric actuator (7) via a connected linkage.

Description

Locking device for vehicle decks supported by ships

The present invention concerns a device for vehicle decks, or vehicle deck panels, supported by ships, which decks are movably operatable to separate supporting levels for the locking thereto using actuatable lock members .

There are desires to, among other things, try to decrease the height between the deck levels since then weight will be saved and thereby also the total fuel consumption of the ship will be lowered. This is provided by decreasing the design volume of the ship decks, in which the design depth of the panels, the margins in question, construction tolerances, deflections, and the sweep of the movable lock members in question are

included. Better stability of the ship is then also obtained, which in turn makes it possible to decrease the ballast and thereby also decrease the total weight of the ship.

Known vehicle decks, which are lifted by means of a vehicle deck lifters, which is driven in under the vehicle deck in question that is desired to be lifted or lowered to desired level, and which are locked by means of turnably mounted stop members therefor, have to be lifted to a higher level than what the stop members are acting on so that the vehicle deck in question first should be possible to be lifted before it can be lowered down after deactivation of the appurtenant stop members. This implies, as an example, for a ship having five movable vehicle decks, that each one has a sweep of between 25 and 35 mm. If this sweep could be decreased by, say, 25 mm/vehicle deck, the total decrease of the sweep and also of the height of the ship, would become about 125 mm. This could give a fuel saving of up to 0,2 %.

Known turnably mounted stop members for vehicle decks are delivered and welded in place directly on board the ship on pillars, which are welded to the fixed deck of the ship. There will often be numerous stop members collected on common pillars, which makes that there may be limited space on the pillars. The weight of the pillars with all stop members attached thereto will also be considerable, and there will be many welding operations on board the ship, as well as a large quantity of ropes if the stop members should be operated with ropes from the first deck. The pillars may also risk warping because of the welding operation.

Therefore, the main object of the present invention is, among other things, to solve above said problems simply, efficiently, reliably, and cost-saving.

Said object is achieved by means of a device according to the present invention, which

essentially is characterized in that the locking of the respective vehicle deck is provided by means of a

mechanism supported by said vehicle deck and comprising a lock plunger, which is movably actuatable along a straight line and actuatable by an electric actuator via a

connected linkage, with a turnably mounted link, included in said linkage, being arranged between the lock plunger and the actuator, the lock plunger having a groove, which extends transversely to its direction of motion and is co- operatable with said link.

The device previously known by

JPH 11348875A lacks the features defined in the

characterizing clause of claim 1 and therefore novelty is present. Also inventive step and technical effect are present .

The invention is described below in the form of a preferred embodiment example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1-3 show in perspective a device and in different positions, having the appurtenant lock plunger,

Fig. 4 shows different views of a said device with the lock plunger in projected locking

position,

Fig. 5 shows the lock plunger in different views , and

Figs. 6 and 7 show an additional pair of alternative solutions of the mechanism of lock plungers and the included linkage thereof as seen in active projected locking position.

A device 1 according to the present invention, and which is arranged to be applied in

hoistable vehicle decks 2 supported by ships, which decks are movably operatable to and from separate supporting levels 3 for the locking of the vehicle deck 2 in question thereto using actuatable lock members 4, comprises means allowing that the locking of the respective vehicle deck 2 is provided by means of a mechanism 5, which is supported by said vehicle deck 2 and which comprises a lock plunger 8 movable in a straight line 6 and actuatable by an electric actuator 7 via a connected linkage 9.

According to an embodiment example of the device, according to the invention, a turnably mounted linkage 9 is arranged between the lock plunger 8 and the actuator 7. In that connection, said lock plunger 8 has, at the rear end 8A of the lock plunger , a groove 11, which extends transversely to its direction of motion 10 and which is co-operatable with said link 9.

A said mechanism 5 is formed, for

instance, as shown in Figs. 1-2 of a triangular link mechanism 9 having hinge connections 12; 13; 14, which are arranged and intended to be connected to the hoistable vehicle deck 2 in question, to the lock plunger 8, and to the actuator 7 in the respective corner portions 15; 16; 17 of said triangular link body. Said actuator 7 is connected with the link 9 with its one end 7A and which in turn is connected with a fixed part 18 in the form of paired fastening ears, which between themselves support said triangular link 9, which may be formed of double interconnected parts 9A, 9B. The other end 7B of the actuator is connected with a bearing housing 23. In the locking position LL of said lock plunger 8, the actuator 7 with the piston type cylinder 19 thereof becomes situated in a so-called over-center position OL and in that connection prevents, in said position, the lock plunger 8 from impermissibly being brought from its projecting locking position LL to retracted position IL, in which position the vehicle deck 2 is allowed to be hoisted freely. The bottom 20 of said transverse groove 11 in the link 9 is enlarged laterally 21 in relation to the hinge connection 13 of the mechanism received therein and is arranged to automatically actuate the hinge connection 13 to be forced down into the over-center position OL. In Figs. 6 and 7, examples are shown of a pair of formed as well as acting linkages 9¹, 9² having another shape and motion pattern. These are shown in positions where the lock plunger 8¹, 8² is situated in projected locking position LL and in retracted position IL, respectively. Also in these cases, the interaction between said respective linkage 9¹, 9² and lock plunger 8¹, 8² occurs via transverse ll¹, ll² grooves in the piston or in a part connected therewith after actuation via actuator 7, even if the connection points of these and other parts are varied. The nature and function thereof is not described in more detail but should easily be appreciated with the aid of the figures in Figs. 6 and 7.

Alternatives may, for instance, be to instead of grooves in the piston utilise a linkage

comprising a number of jointed links, which are straight and/or curved for pushing actuation of the lock plunger 8.

Possibility of, at desired occasions, hoisting the vehicle decks 2 in question is arranged to be achieved after actuation of the mechanism 5 by means of a radio receiver in the panel in question in a way known from other applications.

A stop 22, which is arranged to prevent the lock plunger 8 from being extended too long a distance out of the appurtenant bearing housing 23 may, for

instance, consist of an extension situated at the rear lower portion 8A of the lock plunger.

The entire device 1 is supported and restrained by a rigid framework 23 therefor, which is contained in said hoistable vehicle deck 2 in its

interior.

In realisation of the invention where the respective hoistable vehicle deck 2 is provided with means allowing said deck panels 2 in question to be lifted by a vehicle deck lifter, not shown in the drawings, which is situated on a separate level below a hoistable vehicle deck 2 in question, there are means 24, 25, 26, such as a passive RFID chip or another sensor for recognition, which is arranged so that, only after a said vehicle deck lifter, not shown, is situated below said vehicle deck 2, the lock members of this vehicle deck are arranged to be activated. The vehicle deck 2 is interlocked by known technique when a claw lifter lifts the same.

Limit sensors are arranged to

automatically be able to stop the continued operation of the actuator 7 after normal completed motion of the lock plunger 8 and all of said limit sensors are arranged to transmit a signal to the control station 30 of an operator 29 in question and thereby feed back the motion

information about the vehicle decks 2 back to the operator and thereby communicate in which positions all lock plungers 8 of intended vehicle deck 2 are situated.

Light and/or sound information is

furthermore arranged to indicate the positions of the lock plungers 8 to further increase the safety.

Thanks to the essentially horizontal displacement motion 10 of the lock plungers, in the transverse direction of the ship, it is now possible to handle the vehicle decks 2 hoistable in the vertical direction in line with each other and said vehicle deck 2 now does not have to be lifted over to a level situated above the supports thereof. Thus, previous large sweeps are essentially eliminated thanks to the invention as it has been described above whereby different parameters of the ship can be changed, namely:

* The vehicle deck can be formed with a greater design depth, which saves weight,

* The fixed deck can get increased design depth, which also saves weight,

* The entire ship can be lowered down, e.g., 25 mm per deck, which increases the stability of the ship. Thus, savings of a number of different parameters are achieved and there will be several other advantages, such as;

* Decreased extra work in the shipbuilding yard,

* Easier to find room for necessary supports to the movable deck panels on board thanks to prefabricated supporting pillars,

* Lower weight on board,

* Less sources of error on board,

* No human mistakes possible,

* Reliable indication of positions, and

* Faster adjustment of supports.

The function of a device 1 in question may be according to the following:

A. The operator lifts up the vehicle deck 2 in question by the deck lifter from a loaded lower level when it is desired to stow the panel against the cargo deck above .

B. When the panel is lifted, the lockings, in this case, the horizontal lock plungers 8, are run toward free. The mechanism 5 now pushes the linkage 9 and gets it to act. The shaft 12 of the linkage 9 slides for instance in the elongate hole 11 of the lock plunger 8 and actuates the same toward free position. Mechanisms shown in Fig. 6 work in a similar way while the mechanism shown in Fig. 7 has an actuation part in the inner end part of the lock plunger 8².

a. Limit sensors automatically switch off the mechanism when the lock plunger 8 is entirely in, and signal the control station 30 of the operator. This may be a unit that is coupled to the intensity of the radio control and may be inductive or function via radio control. When all lock plungers 8 are inside, the operator receives "green light" and knows that it is clear to proceed upward. It is common to have 4 lock plungers 8 per panel 2. This operation may be carried out in parallel with lifts for the operator who is experienced. It takes about 10 s to run from an entirely "locked" to an entirely "free" position. C. The operator runs the deck lifter to the top toward the deck above and then stops. The operator may now select to run the lockings toward the position locked. The actuator 7 retracts its appurtenant piston rod and the triangle link now moves clockwise. The shaft 13

slides/rotates in the elongate hole 11 and the lock plunger 8 is pushed out.

D. This motion continues until the actuator 7 has reached its innermost limit position and then stops automatically. When all lock plungers 8 are in, the operator gets green light for "locked". In this position, two of the shafts of the triangle link are essentially situated on the same level in the vertical direction.

E. The operator now lowers the vehicle deck 2 on the supports 31 thereof and the panel 2 now rests on these supports that are welded on the pillar in the ship or in the side of the ship.

F. The deck lifter is then driven away to another panel or at all events from this panel.

G. The ship sails away. There is rough sea and the panel tends to slide on its lock plungers 8 out on the supports 31. This gives rise to frictional forces, which aim to act on the lock plungers 8. This effect is usually denominated "the drawer effect" when a variable action is generated and the movable object in that

connection moves with one side before the opposite side because of vertical forces on the lock plunger.

a. If the forces are directed so that they aim to pull out the lock plunger 8 from the framework 23, there may be a mechanical stop 22 on the lock plunger 8, which stops it from leaving the appurtenant

framework 23 without giving force into the actuator, which is not desirable since it may then be damaged. The forces may otherwise be transferred directly to the actuator 7. For that reason the unique shape in the bottom 20 of the groove 11. This shape gives a certain latitude to move the lock plunger without pulling the triangle link.

b. If the forces are directed so that they aim to push in the lock plunger 8, the lock plunger 8 in the elongate groove 11 will touch on the shaft 13 of the triangle link 9. Because of the unique shape of the bottom 20 of the groove 11, the triangle link 9 is forced downward and to over-center position, and irrespective of whether the actuator 7 is situated there or not, it is impossible to push the lock plunger 8 neither in nor out by external forces . The tolerances are such that the force is mediated via the triangle link 9 into a link bracket, which resists this motion. Thus, it is important to disengage the actuator from forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the lock plunger and make sure the lock plunger becomes free from external forces .

The function and nature of the device 1 should have been understood by what has been mentioned and shown. 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 technique, without departing from the protection area of the invention, such as it is defined in the claims.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. Device (1) for vehicle decks (2) supported by ships, which decks are movably operatable to separate supporting levels (3) for the locking thereto using actuatable lock members (4), characterized in that the locking of the respective vehicle deck (2) is provided by means of a mechanism (5) supported by said vehicle deck (2) and comprising a lock plunger (8) , which is movably actuatable along a straight line (6) and actuatable by an electric actuator (7) via a connected linkage (9; 9¹, 9²) , with a turnably mounted link, included in said linkage (9) , being arranged between the lock plunger (8) and the actuator (7) , the lock plunger (8) having a groove (11) , which extends transversely to its direction of motion (10) and is co-operatable with said link.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuator (7) is, with its one end (7A) , connected with said linkage (9) and with its other end (7B) connected with a fixed part (18) of the appurtenant vehicle deck (2) so that, in the locking position (LL) of said lock plunger (8) , the actuator (7) becomes situated in a so-called over-center position (OL) , preventing the lock plunger (8) from impermissibly being brought from its projecting locking position (LL) to retracted position (IL) allowing the vehicle deck (2) to be hoisted.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that bottom (20) of the groove (11) in the linkage (9) is enlarged laterally (21) in relation to the connection (13) of the mechanism received therein, actuating the hinge connection (13) to be forced down into over-center position (OL) .

4. Device (1) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the linkage (9) comprises a number of straight and/or curved link arms for pushing actuation of the lock plunger (8) .

5. Device according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the actuation of the mechanism (5) is arranged to be effected by means of a radio receiver in the panel (2) in question.

6. Device according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the mechanism (5) is formed of a body (9) having a hinge connection (12-14) to the vehicle deck (2) , the lock plunger (8) , and the actuator (7) , in the respective corner portions (15-17) of the body, for instance in a triangular body.

7. Device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that a stop (22) is arranged to prevent the lock plunger (8) from being extended too long a distance out of the appurtenant bearing housing (23) , for instance an extension at the rear lower portion (8A) of the lock plunger (8) .

8. Device according to any one of the above claims, the respective hoistable deck (2) being allowed to be lifted by a vehicle deck lifter, which is situated on a separate level below a hoistable vehicle deck (2) in question, characterized in that, in the deck, there are means (24, 25, 26) , and a passive RFID chip (26) or another sensor for recognition, which is arranged so that, only after a said vehicle deck lifter is situated below said vehicle deck (2) , the lock members of this vehicle deck are arranged to be activated.

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that limit sensors are arranged to automatically stop the continued operation of the actuator (7) after

completed motion of the lock plunger (8) .

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said limit sensors are arranged to transmit a signal to the radio control apparatus (30) of an operator (29) in question about in which positions all lock

plungers are situated.

11. Device according to claim 10,

characterized in that light information and/or sound information is arranged to indicate the positions of the lock plungers (8) .