WO2017050726A1

WO2017050726A1 - Method and device for transporting persons and/or goods on the water

Info

Publication number: WO2017050726A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/072233
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael THIEMKE; Niels SEECK
Original assignee: Hochschule Flensburg
Priority date: 2015-09-24
Filing date: 2016-09-20
Publication date: 2017-03-30
Also published as: DE102015012485A1; WO2017050726A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a device 100 for transporting persons and/or goods on the water from a starting region on or at a starting object 1 to a target region on or at a target object 2, comprising a transport device 110 which is provided for moving from the starting region on or at the starting object 1 to the target region on or at the target object 2; at least one loading region for receiving persons and/or goods, said loading region being arranged on and/or in the transport device 110; a plurality of water-powered thrust devices 112 which are arranged on and/or in the transport device 110; a pressure generating device 120 which is provided for supplying pressurized water; a connecting device 130 which is provided for connecting the pressure generating device 120 to the water-powered thrust devices 112 of the transport device 110 so as to conduct water; and a controller which is provided for actuating the thrust devices 112.

Description

Method and device for transporting persons and / or goods

on the water

The invention relates to a method and a device for transport, and in particular for transport over a short distance, of persons and / or goods on the water, hereinafter also referred to as "transfer" or "offset".

For the supply of objects located at sea, such as platforms, wind turbines, ships or pontoons, supply vessels, offset boats, helicopters or cranes are usually used for the displacement of persons and material. The use of these offset systems is limited by waves and wind.

The height movements to which an object on the sea is subjected due to the waves can be considerable (up to 20 meters and more), in particular in the case of rapid succession of wave crests and valleys, this can lead to movement conditions that ensure safe transfer of the transported goods (one or more persons and / or goods) no longer guarantee.

When using passive transport systems such as ropes, rails or cranes, for establishing the connection between a loading point and an unloading point, there is also a load on the connection points in the presence of a position-compensating connection due to the relative movement.

The Influence of the waves and the loads of connection points are in the use of aircraft such. As helicopters, minimized during the striding of the transport route. Disadvantages of this transport method are the high costs, the space requirement of the aircraft during take-off and landing and the limited use for safety reasons in extreme sea conditions and / or strong wind. From DE 27 48 674 A1 and DE 27 24 288 A1 it is known to counteract the problem of the relative movement generated by the sea state by vertical lifting and / or lowering when transferring the load. However, in extremely unfavorable sea conditions and strong winds, the use of such systems is limited. A correction of the wind-related postponements is not made.

DE 60 2005 002 143 T2 relates to a marine engine assembly having a nacelle attachable under a hull, and more particularly to an engine assembly for a ship, comprising at least one engine hull mechanically connected to a support strut adapted to be mounted under the keel of a ship and a propeller provided on the rear side of the drive hull and having at least two blades and rotatably provided with a transmission shaft connected to a motor.

From WO 2012/083177 A1, in particular from FIGS. 4 to 6 and the associated description in paragraphs [050] to [052], a transport device in the form of a watercraft is known which has a cabin and a deck above a water surface, which are connected via a front and a rear vertical spar fixed to a located below the water surface hull in which a controllable float is arranged. However, the firm connection of the cabin and deck by means of the vertical spars to the hull below the water surface, persons and / or goods inside the cabin and / or on the deck are always exposed to considerable impact from waves. This attempts to compensate for WO 2012/083 417 A1, in that there is on the hull a propulsion device array ("array of propulsive elements"), which in the form of a propeller in the direction of travel behind, in the form of propellers on the sides of the fuselage and in shape of propellers (see Fig. 7 of WO 2012/083 417 A1, reference number 241) are arranged transversely to the direction of travel in the two spars via the propulsion device array together with the controllable float by a buoyancy control system at least a limited counterforce to the acting swell Due to the large number of parameters to be taken into account, this control system is very complex and, owing to the rapidly changing acting force vectors and the only moderately responsive propellers, can only be operated in a controlled manner. limited extent to compensate. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method and a device which make it possible to transport persons and goods on the water from a starting area on or at a starting object to a destination area on or at a target object, the influence the swell and / or wind is at least partially compensated.

A device according to the invention for transporting persons and / or goods on the water from a starting area on or at a start object to a destination area on or at a destination object, comprises:

(a) a transport device intended to move away from the

Starting area on or at the start object to the target area on or at the target object to move;

(B) at least one cargo area for receiving persons and / or goods, which is arranged on and / or in the transport device;

(c) a plurality of water powered recoil devices disposed on and / or within the transport device;

(d) pressure generating means arranged to supply pressurized water;

(e) a connecting device which is provided for water-conducting connection of the pressure-generating device with the water-driven recoil devices of the transport device; and

(F) a control device, which is intended to control the recoil devices in such a way that the transport device moves from the start area on or on the start object to the target area on or at the target object.

The basic idea of the present invention is, with the aid of a pressure generating device located in the water and / or arranged on or in an object, to convey the required water flow to the transport device during a transport process via a connecting device and via the repulsion devices arranged on or in the transport device, by ejecting water jets according to the Recoil principle (impulse set) generate thrust, to allow a floating movement of the transport device. The recoil devices have both the task of compensating for the force acting on the conveyor gravity and to achieve desired movements of the floating conveyor and disturbances, such as. B. may occur by wind and sea state, at least partially compensate. The volumetric flow required for the water-jet drive in the form of the majority of water-operated recoil devices is provided by the pressure-generating device and transmitted via the connecting device to the transport device. The device according to the invention is advantageous because an influence of the swell and / or wind is at least partially compensated, while people and / or goods are transported on the water or over the water from a starting object to a target object. In this case, it is particularly advantageous that the device according to a preferred embodiment, at least during a portion of the transport phase is mechanically connected to neither the starting object nor with the target object in a manner. In this way, large distances between the objects can be overcome, at least substantially independent of swell and wind.

The abovementioned advantages also apply if the transport device is mechanically connected to at least one of the two objects in such a way that no more than 40%, preferably 30%, very particularly preferably less, via this mechanical connection, in particular in the case of a scheduled translation when 10% of the weight of the transport device is transmitted via said mechanical connection to at least one of the two objects. This includes in particular the constellation when the pressure supply device is arranged on or in one of the two objects and / or the two objects are connected to each other, for example via a safety line, which while not receiving any significant weight of the transport device during regular transport, but in case of failure greater damage from the transport device and / or the objects and / or the transported goods and / or conveyed persons. Another advantage of the device according to the invention lies in the small footprint of the device. The device may in particular be provided on or on objects which have no place for offset boats, helicopters, cranes or the like. The choice of water as the driving medium, no increased safety standards, such as in the use of combustible propellants, be taken into account, which makes the handling of the device, the training of operators and / or the storage of the transport device simple. A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that the property of the water can be used as at least substantially incompressible medium for providing a highly efficient and rapid position and / or position control which is capable of responding to the rapidly changing conditions, especially on the high seas, especially in strong waves and / or storm gusts to respond. As a result, a transport of people and / or goods between two objects on the water or over the water in a very wide range of environmental conditions is possible.

For the purposes of the present invention, a "device for transporting persons and / or goods" is to be understood in particular as an apparatus which is provided for this purpose, in particular being furnished, persons and / or goods on or via the water The device according to the invention uses water as the driving medium to generate a recoil, which is why the device in the present disclosure is also used analogously as a water jet transport system (short: WSTS) ) designated.

For the purposes of the present invention, "goods" are understood in particular to be solid, liquid or gaseous goods, plants and / or animal life forms. <br /><br/> Goods within the meaning of the present invention are, for example, food, spare parts, tools, equipment and the like. In particular, a "target object" is to be understood as a device arranged on and / or on a water-bearing area, eg sea, lake or river A start object or target object in the sense of the present invention is, for example, a platform, in particular one A "start region" in the sense of the present invention is to be understood in particular as meaning an area on and / or on and / or in the starting object, in which the transport device is transported before the start thereof and in particular is fixed, For example, during the approach of the starting object in the form of a ship from a port to a target object.

According to a preferred embodiment, the starting region further comprises starting means, which are provided, in particular adapted, for supporting, in particular moving and / or guiding, the transport device during the starting process.

A "target area" in the sense of the present invention is to be understood in particular as an area on and / or on and / or in the target object on which the transport device lands after being translated and in particular is fixed in order to prevent it from slipping and / or tilting during the process According to a preferred embodiment, the target area further comprises catching means which are provided, in particular adapted, for picking up and / or directing and / or catching and / or fixing the transporting device during the landing phase According to a preferred embodiment, the starting object and the target object are formed by one and the same object and / or the starting area and the destination area are formed by one and the same area the transport device between two objects out un Moving from here, starting from the same area in which she landed. A "transport device" in the sense of the present invention is to be understood in particular as a device which is provided, in particular adapted, to transport persons and / or goods, in particular above the water surface, from a starting object to a target object as well as in the opposite direction. In the course of the present disclosure, the term "water jet transport container" (WSTB short) is used analogously.

A "loading area" in the sense of the present invention is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a section of the transport device which is provided for the transport of persons and / or goods, in particular, the loading area can be, for example, spatially into a transport space for the transport of goods and a Person room to be divided for the transport of persons. The starting and / or the target object can be static in all six degrees of freedom of the three-dimensional space, ie, immovable or fixed, such as, for example, a landing dock anchored to the mainland or a platform firmly anchored to the seabed. Furthermore, however, 1, 2, 3. 4, 5 or all six degrees of freedom of the starting and / or the target object can be dynamically variable, for example a non-anchored ship on the high seas.

In the context of the present invention, a "water-driven recoil device" is to be understood as meaning a device which uses water as the driving medium and generates a force from the recoil device due to the escape of the driving medium, which generates a feed on the basis of the pulse train By way of example, it should be noted that propellers, in particular the propellers of WO 2012/083 417 A1, are not water-powered recoil devices in the sense of the present invention, since the present invention is an outlet opening of a hose or pipe, a nozzle or the like. thrust is not generated by the water itself, such as at the outlet of a nozzle, but by the example pneumatically or electrically operated propeller, which can already be derived from the term propeller, which is derived from the Latin propeller propeller, what drive forward bed eutet.

A "pressure generating means ^'' in the sense of the present invention is understood in particular to a device which is intended in particular arranged with

To provide pressurized water. For this purpose, the pressure-generating device sucks the water from its surroundings and / or from a container, pressurizes it, in particular by means of a pump, and provides this to the connecting device. In particular, the pump is selected from a group consisting of displacement pumps, in particular diaphragm pumps, rotary piston pumps, eccentric screw pumps, screw pumps, impeller pumps, chain pumps, piston pumps and the like, as well as flow pumps, in particular axial pumps, diagonal pumps and radial pumps.

For the purposes of the present invention, "water" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a liquid which consists at least essentially of a chemical compound having the empirical formula H ₂ O, in particular at least substantially more than 80% by weight Invention is water, for example, sea water, brackish water, fresh water, salt water or fresh water, the water each interspersed with extraneous liquid materials and / or solids and / or living things, in particular polluted, may be.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure-generating device is provided, in particular set up, at least temporarily, in particular permanently, to be operated with or in salt water.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure generating device on the suction side upstream cleaning devices, in particular grid, filters and the like, for protection against ice, pollution and damage.

By "connecting ^device" within the meaning of the present invention is understood in particular a device which is intended in particular arranged to transmit the volume of water flow or water pressure from the pressure generating means necessary to the recoil means to said recoil means. The connecting device in the sense of the present invention is, for example, a hose which is flexible or movable at least to a certain extent and / or a tube which is flexible or movable at least to a certain degree and which, in particular by supporting structures, is designed for tensile forces to endure, which can occur during transport operation.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressurized water provided by the pressure generating device is transmitted to the transport device via a plurality of hoses and / or tubes, which are arranged in particular in parallel, in order to increase the reliability in the sense of redundancy and / or one to realize separate control of individual recoil devices and / or recoil device groups.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device, in particular a mast, which is provided, in particular adapted, to absorb the weight of the connecting device at least during a phase of transport, in particular the starting phase, in particular partially, and / or by a supply of To realize pressure of pressurized water from above.

According to a further embodiment, the connecting device may further comprise at least one guide for receiving further hoses, pipes, cables, lines and / or lines. According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting device has at least one predetermined breaking point in order to separate the transport device from at least part of the connecting device and the pressure generating device in the event of an accident.

A "control device" in the sense of the present invention is in particular a device which receives and processes data and generates and transmits therefrom a drive signal for at least one of the water-driven recoil devices Sensor devices in the sense of the present invention are, for example, position and / or position sensors, antennas for receiving external control commands, GPS receivers, DGPS receivers (DGPS: Differential Global Positioning system), laser, echosounder, image recognition technology, radar or the like, on the basis of such measurements, a controlled lifting as well as a controlled approach to the target object can take place and the movement specifications, the recoil devices are controlled to set the desired direction, speed, position and height of the conveyor.

According to one embodiment, the control device may be provided, in particular configured, to regulate the relative position and / or the relative movement of the transport device at least partially automatically based on the data of the sensor devices and / or external or internal control commands, in particular to regulate fully automatically. In such a regulation, setpoints may for example be predefined or predetermined via external control signals. Such an at least partially automated control allows a high level of operating comfort and the operation of the device even by little to no trained personnel.

After execution at least partially automated controls in the event of detection of a collision risk, a self-evading the WSTB and optional other security measures such. As the triggering visual and / or audible alarms causes. According to one embodiment, the transport device and / or at least one object from the group consisting of start object and target object, at least one reference surface and / or a reference point, or by the respective other component metrologically, for. B. via laser, depth sounder, image recognition system or radar is detected. According to a preferred embodiment, the WSTS can at least substantially independently move from the starting object to the target object, with which it adjusts, in particular quasi continuously, the distances and the direction between its position and at least one position of starting object and / or target object. According to a preferred embodiment, the control device can be provided, in particular configured, to maintain a predefined, in particular safe, distance between the WSTS and the water surface. If z. B. the WSTS is just above a wave crest and shortly thereafter a trough, the controller should adjust the distance to the water surface such that in the case of a wave crest below the WSTB a safety distance is not exceeded, via troughs but also no unnecessarily high distance occurs ,

According to a preferred embodiment, the movements of the starting object and the target object when starting or landing as disturbances with respect to the target position of the WSTB during the transport process from. Seagull movements of a watercraft can be described by a superimposition of stochastic movements with periodic movement patterns. By measuring the relative movements of the objects participating in the take-off or landing to the WSTB and analyzing the periodic motion components, their procedures for the takeoff and landing can be at least partially predicted. According to a preferred embodiment, the control device is provided for this, in particular configured to use this information to z. B. the start and landing each in a favorable moment, in particular near the highest vertical position of a start or finish to start or complete. This limits the impact and high acceleration values of the WSTB. According to a preferred embodiment, the control device is provided as a further measure against the disturbing effect of the wind, in particular set up, the wind speed and direction occurring on the WSTB metrologically, z. B. to detect by pressure measurements to calculate their force and to compensate before the actual deviation of the WSTB from its desired position by supplementing a corresponding thrust portion of the pressure generating device, the wind power effect with little delay. According to a preferred embodiment, thrust and / or thrust direction of at least one recoil device are designed to be controllable with respect to the center of gravity of the transport device.

For this purpose, the at least one recoil device is rotatable and / or pivotable and / or variable in terms of a diameter, in particular the diameter of a water outlet opening.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure-generating device may be provided, in particular adapted, to use variable delivery volumes and / or variable delivery pressures and / or variable input speeds for partial or complete control of at least one water powered recoil device.

According to a preferred embodiment, water within the water-operated recoil devices at least at times has a higher, in particular controllable, pressure than the ambient pressure at the transport device and / or the recoil device in each case has at least one opening which is provided to deliver water to the surroundings of the transport device ,

According to a preferred embodiment, the transport device has a structure which is sufficiently stable with respect to collisions and / or an at least weather-resistant lining. In the case of the simultaneous transport of persons and material, a spatial separation of persons and material is preferably provided, in particular in order to prevent damage to persons by transported material in the event of a fall.

In the case of simultaneous transport of persons and material, the cargo area is spatially separated into a passenger compartment and a transport compartment.

The transport space is preferably an open or closed storage space for the transport of goods. Preferably, the transport space is sealed against water penetration. In a preferred embodiment, the transport space contains devices for the protection and / or attachment of the transported goods. In a further preferred embodiment, the transport space may be divided into several rooms, which may be open or closed. In air-tight design of the transport spaces or these can also act as buoyant body. The person room is preferred for the

Recording one or more persons to be transported with or without objects provided, in particular set up, and preferably also serves to protect the persons to be transported. Preferably, the people room has at least one of the following facilities:

• Fixation / mounting of persons / cargo in the room, eg. By handles, brackets, seats or straps,

• lighting (emergency lighting),

• protection against water / waves / wind,

• Heater,

• Ventilation, and / or

· Survival equipment, especially buoyant survival equipment as emergency insurance.

According to a preferred embodiment, the cargo area is both transport space and passenger space. This is particularly advantageous in order to adapt the transport device flexibly to the respective composition of the load. According to a further preferred embodiment, the transport device further comprises a technical room, which receives the required control technology. Preferably, the technology room is sealed against water penetration. It is also preferred that the technical room for receiving sensors, for. B. for determining inclinations, accelerations, position detection, water pressure and / or wind and the devices for the signal processing of the central control device for independent movement, communication means and other safety technology to use.

According to a preferred embodiment, the water jet transport system is equipped with safety devices and / or connected to meet requirements for safe material and / or passenger transport. Safety devices can be divided into three categories: safety devices of the first category are arranged on and / or on one or both objects between which the transport takes place. Safety devices of the second category permanently connect the two objects during transport and safety devices of the third category are implemented as part of the WSTS. According to a preferred embodiment, safety devices of the first category may also be used in combination with other devices, such as e.g. B. a crane to suspend and / or mountains of the WSTB be usable. They can be effective as a permanent physical backup and / or only as a backup during a phase of the transport process between one of the objects and the WSTS. The safety devices of the first category include, for example, reticulated safety devices which cushion or dampen a collision between the target object and the WSTB during landing. The first category securing means may also include, in a preferred embodiment, guides for the control and / or utility lines, the safety and recovery lines, recovery facilities for the WSTB, and connecting security means, such as security services. As lines, cables, hoses belong. It may also be preferred for safety reasons to provide the power and / or water jet generation via the connection means in the form of a cable, a line and / or a connection from one of the objects for the WSTB.

Safety devices of the second category are preferably a safety line, which influences the transport as little as possible, but in the case of failure of propulsion or control of the WSTS but allows a secure landing of the WSTB.

According to a preferred embodiment, the safety devices of the second category include rope-like connections between the start object or the target object and the WSTB in order to secure the transport and / or recover the transport device.

In this case, it may be advantageous if the cable is elastic at least to a certain extent and, in order to ensure safety at the same time and not hinder the movement of the WSTB, track it so that the point fixed at the start or target object is always above the attachment point is located at the WSTB and the rope has just enough free length that it is not tensioned during a normal movement sequence of the WSTS, but in case of a crash it is taut in time before a collision of the WSTB with an object or the water surface. Further possible safety devices of the second category are the transmission of control commands and sensor data, the transmission of the power supply of the WSTB and / or the supply of the WSTB with conditioned fresh air.

Safety devices of the third category may include signaling devices, buoyancy survivors, swimming aids, restraints (eg straps) for securing people or objects, upholstery, airbags and / or sunshades. Further possible safety devices of the third category are sensors which serve for distance and position determination, the fastening devices for safety lines, control cables and supply lines and devices for the recoil devices. According to a preferred embodiment, the transport device has a closed shell. In a further preferred embodiment, the WSTS is buoyant and waterproof. On the one hand, these safety devices can serve to protect the contents of the WSTB from falling in the event of a failure of the propulsion system and, on the other hand, help ensure safe dewatering and subsequent recovery of the WSTB in the event of a fall. Since the WSTB usually has the smallest distance from other fixed objects at take-off and landing and since the objects on which take-off and landing take place can be mobile, these two phases present a significantly higher risk of collision than during the return of the transport route is the case.

For take-off and landing, additional arrangements should therefore be provided as needed to help make these operations safer. These include z. As the use of a take-off and landing on or on the objects and control systems that support the start and landing by automation. Preferably, the construction of the WSTB is made lightweight. This can be achieved by using lightweight materials, such. As aluminum or the use of composite materials can be achieved. In order to maintain and / or selectively alter the position and attitude of the WSTB, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of recoil devices on the WSTB, which may be rigid and / or rotatable. The recoil devices can be arranged at different locations. Depending on the arrangement of the recoil devices with respect to the center of gravity of the WSTB, a different stability of the WSTB can be achieved with respect to undesired rotational movements about horizontal axes.

A change in velocity of the water jet and concomitantly a change in the thrust-generating pulse can be realized by changing the water mass flow rate but also by changing a diameter of at least one recoil device.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one of the plurality of water-driven recoil devices is provided for this purpose, in particular configured to balance the WSTB's weight and / or allow vertical movement of the WSTB.

According to a further embodiment, at least one of the plurality of water-driven recoil devices is provided therefor, in particular adapted to allow lateral movements of the WSTB and / or to allow or limit rotations of the WSTB in a desired manner. In other words, at least a portion of the water-powered recoil devices are designed to allow, in particular, set up translational and rotational movements of the WSTB with respect to all three mutually perpendicular spatial axes X, Y and Z, or to contribute to limiting such movements.

The recoil devices produce directional jets of water with a thrust action. For this purpose, they are supplied by the pressure-generating device via the connecting device with a pressurized water flow rate. The triggering of the recoil devices is dependent on the position of the WSTB, in the case of start and landing also depending on the movement of the start or target object of the desired direction of movement and the height above the water and in response to external influences such as swell or wind.

According to a preferred embodiment, it suffices for a sufficient number and suitable arrangement of the recoil devices, the thrust of individual nozzles, z. B. by throttling to the respective requirements to be able to produce the variable in all required directions of space force components for movement. Another possibility is to make the direction of the thrust vector variable by means of directionally variable recoil devices and thus possibly to reduce the number of required recoil devices. Combinations of rigidly arranged and directionally movable recoil devices are also possible.

For the detection of the position and position of the WSTB, according to a preferred embodiment, as required for absolute or relative size with respect to the target and / or starting object required for sensor technology is used. Depending on the degree of automation of the transport device, the measurement results are preferably displayed visually and / or also used to control at least one recoil device.

A regulation of the pressure generating means useful for the regulation of the thrust required at the recoil devices may be e.g. B. via a bypass, a Dros- tion, a speed control and / or an adjustable pump geometry can be achieved.

Depending on requirements, the generation of water pressure for all recoil devices via one or more water pressure generating means. In this case, an increase in operational reliability can be achieved by redundant systems and / or a distribution of the water delivery of individual recoil devices or recoil device groups can be distributed to separately controllable pressure generating devices, thereby reducing the control engineering effort in the WSTB.

The transport of the water from the water pressure generation to the WSTB takes place, depending on the number and function of the water pressure generating devices, preferably via one or more bundled hose connections.

According to a further embodiment, the recoil devices are at least partially rotatable and / or pivotable.

According to a further embodiment, one of the plurality of water-operated rear shock devices on an adjustable, in particular effective, flow cross-section.

According to a preferred embodiment, the recoil devices are subdivided into carrier jets, which primarily hold the position and height, and control jets for targeted movement and / or motion compensation. A "nozzle" in the sense of the present invention is in particular a tubular device which has the same surface area, can widen, taper or have other complex shapes over its entire length A confuser in which, due to a necking, the velocity of the fluid is increased, thereby converting pressure to kinetic energy, the water nozzles in question use water as the driving medium to produce recoil according to the physical principle of the momentum set.

According to a preferred embodiment, device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure generating device is located on and / or under the water surface, in particular at least substantially without mechanical connection to the start object and / or the target object; and / or in or on the start object and / or in or on the target object.

The pressure generating device of the first variant of the last paragraph is particularly suitable for overcoming the bridging of a comparatively large distance between starting and target object, since it is not necessary to use other elements, such. B. a safety rope or a support means for receiving at least a portion of the weight of the connecting device to provide. If the pressure generating device according to the second variant of the last paragraph is arranged in or on the starting object and / or in or on the target object, the water is preferably obtained from a container on or in the object arranged water-carrying container, wherein the

Water is preferably purified to the extent that clogging and / or damaging of the pressure generating device during suction is low.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure generating device and the

Transport means connected in a manner such that kinetic energy is transmitted from the transport device to the pressure generating means; and / or the pressure generating device comprises drive means which are provided for moving the pressure-generating device on and / or below the water surface, in particular to maneuver it.

In particular, if the pressure generating device is configured as a device arranged on and / or in the water, the water can be removed very easily from the environment. To increase the reliability and reliability, it may be advisable to provide in front of an opening through which the water is sucked in, grids and / or filter devices to the downstream seen in the direction of flow pump pollution and / or damage, especially by flotsam or ice to preserve.

The transmission of kinetic energy from the transport device to the pressure generating device allows a simple structural design of the correspondingly formed pressure generating device, whereas an actively driven

Pressure generating device provided therefor, in particular is arranged to provide the feed for itself and at least a part of the connecting device in the direction of movement of the transport device. The actively driven pressure generating device has, in particular controllable, preferably controllable, drive means and / or means for changing direction. After a preferred Design, the drive means are designed as at least substantially rotatable propeller pods, called pods.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressure-generating device is provided, in particular adapted, to take the water from the environment, in particular from this suck, and / or from a, in particular on or in the starting object and / or on or in the target object, arranged container to remove to suck in particular.

The arrangement of the pressure generating means in or on the starting or target object eliminates the risk of loss of the pressure generating device, for example, in case of ditching the pressure generating device of the transport device, in particular via a predetermined breaking point, is separated.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device has at least two pressure-generating devices, which in particular are assigned to one another such that in the event of a malfunction of one of the pressure-generating devices, another assumes its tasks at least partially; and / or at least two of the recoil devices are assigned to one another such that in the event of a fault of one of the recoil devices, the other at least partially takes over their tasks.

According to a preferred embodiment, individual recoil devices or groups of recoil devices are hydraulically connected to different pressure generating devices.

This is particularly advantageous in order to reduce a control effort within the transport device, since the volume flow required for position and / or position control is already controlled, in particular regulated, in at least one of the pressure generating devices, and the transport device preferably only supplies the volume flow provided to the latter Recovers repellent devices, in particular without self-controlling, in particular regulating, to act.

According to a preferred embodiment, the device further comprises a settling device which is arranged in the starting region of the starting object and / or a capturing device which is arranged in the target region of the target object.

The settling device is, for example, a crane and / or a mast and / or another device which is provided, in particular furnished, for transporting the goods. direction of a stop position in which it is preferably releasably connected to the start or target object to transfer to a start position in which the recoil devices begin to produce a corresponding feed. A safety gear is for example a safety net, a padded bulge, a padded landing surface, a safety rope and the like.

According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting device, in particular by means of floats, at least partially, in particular sections, designed buoyant.

According to a preferred embodiment, the floating bodies are arranged inside or outside the connecting device. Floats arranged within the connection device are, for example, foam sheathings, gas-carrying hollow bodies or the like. The floating bodies preferably extend at least over a region beginning at the connecting device in order preferably to make buoyant at least that part of the connecting device which is in contact with the water surface even at the predefined minimum distance between the water surface and the transport device, in particular in the case of a wave crest. Externally arranged floating bodies are, for example, gas-filled plastic bodies, which are preferably provided at regular intervals along the extension direction of the connecting device. With regard to the expansion at the connecting device, the above applies in the same way for the present embodiment.

According to a preferred embodiment, the connecting device, in particular arranged on the outside, has a helical edge, in particular a scruton helix.

This is particularly advantageous because it reduces the influence of the flow on the side of the connection device facing away from the flow compared to a smooth surface. The helical edge can be designed as a single helix, double helix or multiple helix.

A method according to the invention for transporting persons and / or goods on the water from a starting area on or to a starting object to a destination area on or at a target object by a transporting device, in particular according to one of the embodiments described above, comprises the steps:

(a) lift off a start area of a startup object; (b) covering a transport route: and

(C) Landing in a target area of a target object, wherein the position and position of the transport device at least during the covering of the transport path by controlling a plurality of water-driven recoil devices at least one degree of freedom in three-dimensional space, in particular with respect to all six degrees of freedom in three-dimensional space, regulated.

For the advantages of the method according to the invention reference is made to avoid repetition of the above comments on the device, which apply to the process in the same way.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transport path is adapted to a relative movement of the start object and / or the target object.

According to a preferred embodiment, the transport device is held during the travel of the transport path above the water surface, in particular at a distance from the water surface.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control takes place at least partially, in particular completely, automatically.

In the present method, the start and finish points on the start and the target object are predetermined, but due to the possible movement of the objects relative to each other while traveling the transport path relatively movable in position to each other. The transport path is therefore preferably not fixed and is adapted during transport to the target object, in particular repeatedly. This adaptation can be carried out manually, preferably semi-automatically and particularly preferably fully automatically.

A purely manual control is characterized by its simple design. However, an at least partially automated control which, for example, relieves the operator of compensating for unwanted rotational and translational movements, is easier to control in comparison. The controlling person only specifies the direction and altitude as well as the speed if necessary the required control of the nozzles and holding the balance is preferably taken over by the control device.

According to a preferred embodiment, a fully automatic control also takes over the decision on time, direction and speed, so that no human operator is required. In particular, the start and landing process can be simplified by such automation for users and thus made safer.

With increasing degree of automation additional sensors may be required, the relative and / or absolute position and position deviations of the WSTB and possibly accelerations or other influencing factors relevant for the control, such. B. the wind, capture.

Using suitable measuring equipment such as gyroscopes, gravimetric displacement sensors and acceleration sensors, the current position and position of the WSTB can be recorded and compared with the desired position or position. In the case of a partially or fully automated control of positional stability and positional stability, the results of the target-actual adjustment in all six degrees of freedom are converted into a control of the recoil devices, which aims to reduce the target-actual differences. For further embodiments and advantages, reference is made to the above comments on the device, which apply to the method in the same way.

A use according to the invention relates to the use of a device for transporting persons and / or goods on the water from a starting area on or at a starting object to a target area on or at a target object, the use of a device according to one of the embodiments described above, in particular for implementation a method for transporting people and / or goods on the water from a start area on or at a start object to a destination area on or at a target object according to one of the embodiments described above.

With respect to the embodiments and advantages of the device and / or the implementation of the method described above, reference is made to the above statements, which apply to the use in the same way. Further advantageous developments of the present invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of preferred embodiments. Here shows, partially schematized: 1 shows a device according to the invention for transporting people and / or goods on the water during the travel of a transport path according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows the transport device according to the invention of Figure 1 during the covering of the transport path, once in overcoming a wave trough and once in overcoming a wave crest.

3 shows a modification of the first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, wherein the pressure-generating device is arranged on or in a starting or target object, once in a start or landing position (left) and once after lifting (right) ;

4 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention, once in a start or landing position (left) and once after lifting (right);

5 shows a section of a connecting device with a helical edge; and

Fig. 6 is a highly schematic view of the orientation of three recoil devices in a plane of the transport device.

Fig. 1 shows a device 100 for transporting people and / or goods on the water or over the water according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the device 100 has a transport device 110, a pressure-generating device 120, a connecting device 130 and a control device (arranged in a technical room 1 14 of the transport device 110). The transport device 100 has a plurality of water-driven recoil devices 1 12, a technology room 1 14, a transport space 1 16 and a passenger room 1 18.

The transport device 110 is connected to the pressure generating device 120 via a connecting device 130 in the form of a hose, which is at least partially flexible. The transport device 1 10 shown in solid lines is located on the transport path along a route S between a starting object 1 and a target object 2. At least for a part of the route S, the transport device 1 10 is secured by a crane 1 b and a safety line 1 c. Start object 1 and target object 2 can be found above a water surface W and are subject to dynamic and dynamic position due to swell and wind, position and / or position changes.

The crane 1 b and the safety line 1 c can also be used to receive the transport device 1 10 from a starting area on or in or on the starting object to transfer into a, preferably hanging, start position in which the water-driven recoil devices 1 12 are activated , Depending on the embodiment, the safety line 1 c can be disengaged after activation of the recoil devices 1 12 or remain connected as described above as a safety line for at least part of the distance S. As indicated by the double arrow of the route S, the transport can not only be unidirectional, but the transport device 1 10 can repeatedly move between start object 1 and target object 2, so that the assignment of the objects to the terms start object and target object or You can change the start area and the destination area according to the movement direction. The pressure generating device 120 is designed to float freely and, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, is pulled passively behind the transport device 110 via the connecting device 130. In this case, the pressure-generating device is provided on the suction side with a grid and / or a filter element in order to prevent the downstream of the pump device from blocking and / or damage.

Fig. 2 shows the transport device 1 10 on the way from the starting object 1 to the target object 2 under the strongly changing environmental conditions due to strong swell, indicated by the two waveforms Wi and W _{2 marked} . For adaptation, in particular for automatic adaptation of the distance S to be covered, the transport device has a transmitter and / or receiver device 11 1, which in the illustrated embodiment is connected to transmitter and / or receiver devices of the starting object and the target object, to obtain information about the relative orientation of transport device, start and target object to each other, among other things, to derive therefrom input information for a control algorithm. The connections 1 a, 2 a represented by the dashed lines can be embodied as radio signals, acoustic signals, in particular echosounders, as optical signals, in particular laser signals or the like. It should be noted that it is not possible to make any statements about the number and / or arrangement of recoil devices 12 from the partially highly schematized representations of the figures, since even differences occurring within the figure within the figure are due to the schematic representation. The recoil devices 1 12 can be arranged differently depending on the intended use on the outer shell and / or in the bottom of the transport device 1 10. The recoil devices 1 12 can be rigid and / or at least partially movable. According to a preferred embodiment, redundant systems are provided for the stability of the transport device of the particularly important recoil devices in order to reduce the risk of failure. According to a preferred embodiment, at least two repulsion devices 1 12 are arranged in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the transport device. However, it is also possible to arrange 3, 4, 5 or more recoil devices 12 in one and the same cross-sectional plane. In Fig. 3, right, the transport device 1 10 of the above-described Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown enlarged again. In FIG. 3, left, the starting object 1 or the target object 2 in the form of a ship, which is located in the water, can be seen in a highly schematic manner, wherein a start or target area is located above the water surface B. Deviating from the two figures described above, however, the pressure generating device 120 is arranged on or in the starting or target object 1, 2. In this configuration, the water can either also be sucked in from the surrounding waters and / or removed from a container arranged on or in the starting or target object 1, 2.

4 shows a further embodiment of a transport device 1 10 according to the invention. This embodiment differs from the one illustrated above, in particular in that a part of the recoil devices 12 are arranged at the upper end of the transport device 110 on a yoke 12a. The recoil devices 1 12 of this embodiment are preferably subject to a greater task differentiation than is the case in the above variant. While the recoil devices 1 12 arranged on the yoke 11a are preferably, in particular primarily, provided, in particular designed to overcome the weight force of the transport device 110 and to produce a levitated state, the laterally arranged recoil devices 112 are preferred, in particular predominantly, for this purpose provided, in particular, rotunda onsbewegungen the transport device 1 10 to reduce, in particular to prevent and move the transport device 1 10 along the transport path S. The arranged on the yoke 1 12a recoil devices 1 12 may be preferably rigid to simplified constructions, while the other Rückstoßeinrich- tions 1 12 on the side and / or in the bottom of the transport device 1 10 are preferably at least limited mobility. The connecting device 130 can in this case attack any part of the transport device 110, in particular on the yoke 12a.

FIG. 5 shows a detail of a plurality of connecting devices 130 with a spiral helix on its outside. The helix pulls helically around the circumference of the connecting device 130, in particular in the form of a hose, in a helical fashion, comparable to the threading t of a screw. As shown by the dashed line, this helical edge also continues on the rear side of the connector 130. The task of the Scruton helix is to disturb turbulence on the downstream side in order to reduce vibration loads on the connecting device 130. The edge of the scrutine helix preferably has an at least substantially triangular cross-section and / or a distance from the outermost point of the edge to the surface of the connecting device in the vertical direction of expansion in the range of 1 to 5 cm.

As shown in FIG. 6, according to a preferred embodiment, a plurality of recoil devices 12 can be arranged in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the vertical axis of the transport device 110. These may be either evenly distributed over the circumference of the conveyor or arranged in any other way.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 start object

a transmitter and / or receiver device

b settling device, in particular crane

c safety line

2 target object

a Transmitter and / or receiver device 0 Device for transporting persons and / or goods0 Transport device

1 transmitter and / or receiver device

2 recoil device

a yoke

4 technical room

6 transport room

8 persons room

0 pressure generating device

0 connection device

2 helixformige edge, in particular Scruton helix

S transport route

2 water surface

Claims

P a t e n t a n s r ü c h e

Device (100) for transporting people and/or goods on water from a starting area on or at a starting object (1) to a target area on or at a target object (2), with:

(a) a transport device (110), which is intended to move from the starting area on or on the starting object (1) to the target area on or on the target object (2);

(b) at least one cargo area for accommodating people and/or goods, which is arranged on and/or in the transport device (110);

(c) a plurality of water-powered recoil devices (112) arranged on and/or in the transport device (110);

(d) a pressure generating device (120) which is intended to provide pressurized water;

(e) a connecting device (130), which is intended to

to connect the pressure generating device (120) to the water-operated recoil devices (112) of the transport device (110) in a water-carrying manner; and

(f) a control device which is intended to control the recoil devices (112) in such a way that the transport device (110) moves from the starting area on or on the starting object (1) to the target area on or on the target object

(2) moves.

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water-operated recoil devices (112) each have at least one opening and means which change a cross section of the opening at least substantially perpendicular to the outflow direction.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure generating device (120) is arranged on and/or below the water surface, in particular at least substantially without mechanical connection to the starting object (1) and/or the target object (2); and/or is arranged in or on the starting object (1) and/or in or on the target object (2).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure generating device (120) and the transport device (110) are connected to one another in such a way that kinetic energy is transferred from the transport device (110) to the pressure generating device (120); and/or the pressure generating device (120) has drive means which are intended to move, in particular to maneuver, the pressure generating device (120) on and/or below the water surface.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure generating device (120) is intended to remove the water from the environment, in particular to suck it out of it, and / or from a, in particular on or in the starting object (1) and / or on or to remove the container arranged in the target object (2), in particular to suck it in.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (100) has at least two pressure generating devices (120), which are in particular assigned to one another in such a way that in the event of a malfunction of one of the pressure generating devices (120), another one at least partially takes over its tasks; and or at least two of the recoil devices (112) are assigned to one another in such a way that in the event of a malfunction of one of the recoil devices (112), the other at least partially takes over its tasks.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein individual recoil devices (112) or groups of recoil devices (120) are connected to different pressure generating devices (120) in a water-carrying manner.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a depositing device (1 b), which is arranged in the starting area of the starting object (1); and/or a safety device which is arranged in the target area of the target object (2).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting device (130), in particular by means of floating bodies, is designed to be buoyant in at least one section.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting device (130), in particular arranged on the outside, has a helical edge (132), in particular a Scruton helix.

1 1. Method for transporting people and / or goods on the water from a starting area on or on a starting object (1) to a target area on or on a target object (2) by a transport device (100), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the steps:

(a) lifting a transport device (110) from a starting area of a starting object (1); (b) covering a transport route (S) through the transport device (110); and

(c) Landing the transport device (110) in a target area of a target object (2), the position and position of the transport device (110) being controlled at least during the travel of the (W) by controlling a plurality of water-operated recoil devices (112) at least with respect to one degree of freedom in three-dimensional space, in particular with regard to all six degrees of freedom in three-dimensional space.

12. The method according to claim 1 1, wherein the transport path (W) is adapted to a relative movement of the starting object (1) and / or the target object (2).

13. The method according to any one of claims 1 1 or 12, wherein the transport device (110) while covering the transport path (S) above the water surface (W, Wi, W ₂ ), in particular at a distance from the water surface (W, W _{1 ;} W ₂ ), is held.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the control is at least partially, in particular completely, automated.

15. Use of a device for transporting (100) people and/or goods on the water from a starting area on or on a starting object (1) to a target area on or on a target object (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, in particular for carrying out a method for transporting people and/or goods on water from a starting area on or on a starting object (1) to a target area on or on a target object (2) according to one of claims 1 1 to 14.