Boat fender docking apparatus and use and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a boat fender mooring device (1) with at least one fender (2) mounted at at least one mooring position and / or bow and / or stern and / or side of a boat for mooring to vertical or nearly vertical structures (3) while at least partially maintaining at least the pitching movements of the boat about the transverse axis and / or diving movement of the boat along the vertical axis and / or rolling movement of the boat about the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one fender (2) is designed for temporarily positioning the boat against a vertical or nearly vertical structure (3), wherein the at least one fender (2) is equipped with at least one controllable drive and / or at least one controllable braking device and with the at least one controllable drive and / or the at least one controllable braking device of the fender (2) assumes aThe invention relates to a boat fender mooring device control method and a use thereof. The invention further relates to a boat fender mooring device control method and a use thereof.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a boat fender mooring device with at least one fender mounted at at least one mooring position, bow and / or stern and / or side, for mooring a boat to vertical or almost vertical structures such as ladder dolphins, masonry, posts, beams, girders, plates, ship walls or sheet pile profiles on fixed or floating offshore and coastal structures and watercraft, such as quay walls, wind turbines, research or work platforms, drilling rigs and ships, wherein the at least one fender is designed for temporarily positioning the boat on a vertical or almost vertical structure.

[0002] The invention further relates to a boat fender docking device control method.

[0003] A boat fender is typically a protective pad attached to the side of a boat to protect it from damage when docking, mooring to other boats, or at a pier. Boat fenders are usually made of durable, waterproof material such as rubber, plastic, or foam and come in various shapes and sizes. Their purpose is to prevent the boat from being scratched or damaged when it comes into contact with other objects. The most common types of boat fenders are ball fenders, round fenders, and roller fenders. They are often found on the sides of a boat or at the corners, depending on the needs and type of boat.

[0004] In maritime terms, a fender is typically a protective cushion, an air-filled bladder, or a device of some other shape and material designed to absorb the kinetic energy of a boat or vessel coming into contact with a dock, quay wall, or another vessel or mooring structure. Fenders are commonly used on all types of vessels, from cargo ships to cruise ships, ferries, and private yachts, to prevent damage to both vessels and moorings. To this end, fenders typically have high energy absorption and low reaction force. The fender itself is usually made of rubber, foam elastomer, or plastic. The most suitable type of fender for a given application depends on many variables, including the vessel's dimensions and displacement, the maximum permissible distance, the mooring structure, tidal variations, and other mooring-specific conditions.

[0005] Catamaran passenger ferries are frequently used to transfer maintenance personnel to offshore structures, such as wind turbines. These ferries are maneuvered head-on into position against the ladder mooring posts of the structure and then pushed against them with increased engine power. The frictional engagement created by the thrust between the fender, particularly at the front of the ferry, and the ladder mooring posts is intended to prevent the wave-induced relative movements between the deck and the ladder, which pose a significant risk of injury to the personnel boarding.The fundamental uncertainties inherent in friction-based connections, such as coefficients of friction at changing temperatures and variable material or surface properties, environmental changes in contact force, and others, pose significant safety risks and, together with the requirement to assume a suitable vertical position on the ladder dolphins, place high demands on the ship's captain.

[0006] According to the current state of the art, unless other techniques such as submarines, helicopters, or similar methods are employed, solutions exist for the docking maneuver of catamaran passenger ferries head-on to the ladder mooring dolphins using straps and grabs. These solutions require significantly greater technical effort for implementation and also place considerably higher demands on the ship's handling during operation. Approaching the ladder mooring dolphins is more difficult with these methods compared to the previously described standard procedure.

[0007] Furthermore, German patent application DE 10 2009 011 039 A1 discloses a method for the safe transfer of personnel from an object designed as a ship to another object, in which the ship is moved relative to the other object by wave motions, particularly in the vertical direction, and optionally, with a corresponding arrangement, a personnel transfer element, which is arranged on one of the two objects and which is movable at least vertically at one end, is coupled to the other object. The personnel transfer element is moved at least at its end due to the relative movement of the objects relative to the first object and with the second object. According to the invention, the personnel transfer element as a whole, upon coupling to the second object, is moved with it and relative to the first object by being released for vertical movement due to the relative movement of the objects.

[0008] The publication DE10 2008 048 609 A1 shows an arrangement for the safe transfer of personnel from a ship to an offshore wind turbine and back, and is characterized in that the wind turbine has a vertically or diagonally movable ladder and the ship has a coupling element to the ladder.

[0009] Furthermore, a device for the safe transfer of personnel or materials from an object designed as a ship to another object moving relative to it is known from publication DE10 2009 016 082 A1. The device comprises a ship-specific loading or unloading device, a transfer element, and a control device for minimizing the relative movement of the transfer element relative to the other object. According to the invention, the loading or unloading device is designed as an industrial robot, and its robot arm is designed as a support arm. The transfer element is attached to the free end of the support arm or is designed to be connectable to the free end of the support arm.

[0010] Furthermore, from publication US 2021 / 0371061 A1, fender arrangements are known which have an arm extension provided between the fender and the ship's hull, which can be adjusted by means of adjusting devices in such a way that the pressure against the support posts of a mooring pier can be adjusted in both the transverse and longitudinal directions using the existing tension arms.

[0011] Furthermore, a ship-mounted impact device is known from publication JP 2005 053284 A, which enables berthing at a pier with a long reach using a fender. In this device, a rotating platform is turned and a swivel arm is pivoted towards the pier while the ship is alongside it. The swivel arm, with the fender mounted on the rotating platform of a broadside section, can be compactly stored on a nearby deck by rotating the platform while underway. It also serves as a contraction damper, with the pivoting movement of the swivel arm, at the tip of which the fender is located, being executed by a hydraulic or electromagnetic brake damper, which can be designed as an axial drive device.

[0012] The problems with the state of the art are essentially that the previously described, common method with frictional engagement generated by thrust between the fender of the ferry or boat and the ladder dolphins presents inherent challenges and risks.

[0013] In particular, the static / frictional force between the fender and the ladder mooring dolphin is unknown. Furthermore, it is also unknown how large the static / frictional force must be at a given sea state to prevent relative movement.

[0014] Furthermore, when docking, it is necessary to switch between sliding and static friction in order to assume a suitable vertical position, which must be achieved via the thrust of the ship's propulsion or the propeller thrust.

[0015] Furthermore, the solutions involving movable ladders at the jetty (DE 10 2009 011 039 A1, DE 10 2008 048 609 A1) or movable platforms on the boat (DE 10 2009 016 082 A1) require a high level of technical effort and are therefore very rarely implemented in practice.

[0016] The present invention is based on several problems.

[0017] The invention aims to increase safety when mooring boats at offshore, shore and floating structures.

[0018] Another task is to reliably prevent the vertical relative movement of a boat's mooring position to a perpendicular or almost perpendicular structure and vice versa when crossing over, and to simplify vertical positioning.

[0019] Another task is to provide a simple, inexpensive device for transferring a boat to a vertical or almost vertical structure, one that can be implemented without high technical effort.

[0020] These tasks are solved with a boat fender mooring device according to claim 1.

[0021] The boat fender mooring device is designed with at least one fender mounted at at least one mooring position and / or bow and / or stern and / or side of a boat for mooring to vertical or nearly vertical structures while at least partially maintaining at least the pitching motion of the boat about the transverse axis and / or diving motion of the boat along the vertical axis and / or rolling motion of the boat about the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one fender is designed for temporarily positioning the boat against a vertical or nearly vertical structure, wherein the at least one fender is equipped with at least one steerable drive and / or at least one steerable braking device, and with the at least one steerable drive and / or the at least one steerable braking device of the fender assumes a position,The vertical position of the mooring position and / or the bow and / or the stern and / or the side of the boat on the vertical or almost vertical structure is at least temporarily secure.

[0022] In a general embodiment, the boat fender mooring device can be designed with at least one fender mounted at at least one mooring position and / or bow and / or stern and / or side of a boat, wherein the at least one fender is designed for temporarily positioning the boat on a vertical or almost vertical structure, and wherein the at least one fender is equipped with at least one steerable drive and / or at least one steerable braking device.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one fender and at least a part of the vertical or almost vertical structure have a geometry that is at least partially complementary, wherein, when positioning the at least one fender on the vertical or almost vertical structure, a positive-locking force transmission in the vertical direction can be formed by interlocking.

[0024] The sectionwise complementary geometries of at least one fender and at least part of the perpendicular or nearly perpendicular structure can be described as toothed rolling element and rack or drive rod and rack be trained.

[0025] Furthermore, in another preferred embodiment, a friction-based force transmission can be formed when the at least one fender is positioned on the vertical or nearly vertical structure. In this case, the at least one fender can be designed, in particular, as a round rolling element and / or as a friction element.

[0026] Furthermore, at least one fender can be designed to be guided by swinging.

[0027] In particular, the boat's pitching movements around the transverse axis and / or diving movements along the vertical axis and / or the roll angle and / or the vertical position of the boat's mooring position during the temporary positioning of the boat against the at least one ladder dolphin and / or against the vertical or almost vertical structure can be adjusted by using the at least one steerable drive and / or the at least one steerable braking device of the fender.

[0028] The boat's propulsion thrust and / or propeller thrust can be adjusted according to the requirements for positioning the boat on the plane. The boat's thrust should, or rather must, remain high, but the requirement for its precise control is significantly lower, as it does not need to be reduced for vertical positioning due to the use of a roller fender.

[0029] In some variants of the device used according to the invention, the boat's propulsion thrust needs to be significantly lower than in conventional mooring methods known in the prior art, such as those used on offshore structures and the like.

[0030] Furthermore, the controllable drive and / or at least one controllable braking device of the fender can be designed to determine the roll angle and / or the vertical position of the boat's docking position when the boat is temporarily positioned against the vertical or nearly vertical structure. A corresponding control system can be provided, which uses sensors and actuators to control the device accordingly.

[0031] In particular, the fender's at least one steerable drive and / or at least one steerable braking device can ensure that the boat maintains a position against the vertical or nearly vertical structure. Specifically, the drive thrust and / or propeller thrust and / or jet thrust, all of which are comparable and used depending on the available drive and the docking side, can, should, or must be used to push, propel, or press the boat against the vertical or nearly vertical structure.

[0032] The braking force or the drive force of the device can be applied in a metered manner and can also be varied during application as needed. Various types of brakes, such as the piston brake, are available as possible metered braking options.

[0033] Both mechanical and hydraulic brakes and / or drives can be used.

[0034] When using hydraulic brakes and / or drives, control can be achieved, among other things, via the appropriately installed valves. The pressure acting on the hydraulic fluid in the cylinder or in a hydraulic actuator, and thus ultimately the applied braking force, is controlled by the valve system.

[0035] The controllable brakes and / or drives used can form a frictional force transmission between fender and boat and / or have a positive force transmission between fender and boat and / or have a holding device, in particular in the form of a claw coupling, for fixing.

[0036] The use of electric drives and / or electric brakes for driving and / or stopping is also a possible application.

[0037] The at least one controllable drive and / or the at least one controllable braking device may also be equipped with artificial intelligence (AI) through integrated electronics.

[0038] In one version, the boat fender docking device can thus regulate the required force for the drive of the device and / or the required braking force for boat positioning through AI, without any human intervention being necessary.

[0039] In addition, at least one fender can be designed as a multi-link design and attached to the boat's docking position.

[0040] The boat fender mooring device according to the invention can be used in particular to increase safety when mooring boats, especially supply and / or ferry boats, to fixed or floating offshore structures and ships, especially when mooring head-on and / or when mooring boats in port.

[0041] It should be noted that a special use is made possible which allows maintenance personnel to access an offshore facility from the boat using the boat fender mooring device according to the invention.

[0042] The design variant of the boat-fender-mooring device with fenders, designed as toothed rolling elements on the boat, each having at least one controllable drive and / or at least one controllable brake device and racks as at least part of the vertical or almost vertical structure, is designed in such a way that, due to the respective complementary geometry, an interlocking for positive force transmission is possible, but at the same time is designed with so much "backlash" that a rolling movement of the boat is possible even in engagement (with the brake released).

[0043] Once the rolling elements are engaged, the roll angle and vertical position of the berthing position can be adjusted as needed, largely decoupled from the propeller thrust, by metered braking of the rolling elements or their positioning drives. The propeller thrust only needs to be aligned with the requirements of positioning in the plane, i.e., for approaching and then holding the berthing position against the racks, and unlike the conventional approach, it does not need to be reduced for vertical positioning of the berthing position. This prevents the berthing from detaching from the vertical or near-vertical structure due to an inadvertently insufficient thrust setting.

[0044] The drives and / or braking devices of the fenders in all versions of the boat fender mooring device must be dimensioned so that a position assumed on the vertical or almost vertical structure can be held securely.

[0045] What is novel compared to the state of the art with frictional engagement strictly coupled to the ship's propulsion is, in particular, the improved controllability of the vertical position of the mooring position of a boat, due to the significantly weaker (or eliminated) coupling of propeller thrust and vertical mobility.

[0046] At the same time, the approach of a boat fender mooring device to increase safety during mooring and transferring is probably the most seaworthy solution to date, since there are no moving components in the construction, especially for offshore use, and the additional components on the ship do not require much technical effort.

[0047] If frictional force transmission between the vertical or nearly vertical structure and at least one fender is desired during docking maneuvers, then preferably an axle made of steel and / or cast material with a coating and / or structure made of an elastomer can be used as the fender material. Elastomer spoke wheels represent one possible embodiment. A second exemplary embodiment is the use of rubber tires mounted on a rotating cylinder. If a brake is used, a piston brake can be employed externally, particularly with a firmer elastomer structure. If, on the other hand, a positive-locking force transmission is used, the preferred embodiments feature metallic materials, especially steel and / or cast materials and / or ferrous materials, as these are both durable and cost-effective.Depending on the material used, measures may need to be taken to prevent corrosion.

[0048] The use of the boat fender mooring device according to the instructions presented here serves in particular to increase safety. when mooring boats at offshore structures and / or when mooring boats in port and / or when mooring boats at free-floating or moored vessels.

[0049] Furthermore, a boat-fender-mooring device control method can be applied with a boat-fender-mooring device according to one of the preceding descriptions, wherein, for the temporary positioning of the boat against the vertical or almost vertical structure, the propulsion thrust and / or propeller thrust of the boat is increased at least temporarily, so that the boat is driven and / or pushed against the vertical or almost vertical structure for the temporary positioning of the boat, and at least the controllable drive and / or at least the controllable braking device of the fender is controlled in such a way that the assumed vertical position of the mooring position and / or the bow and / or the stern and / or the side of the boat against the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) is held securely at least temporarily.

[0050] The boat fender mooring device according to the invention can easily be retrofitted to existing ships.

[0051] The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figure in the figure description, which is intended to illustrate the invention and is not to be considered limiting. It shows: Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a boat mooring maneuver head-on to the ladder dolphins as a vertical or nearly vertical structure of a prior art construction; Figure 2 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a first embodiment of the inventive boat-fender mooring device with a toothed rolling element and rack; Figure 3 shows a second exemplary schematic representation of the first embodiment of the inventive boat-fender mooring device with a toothed rolling element and rack according to Fig. 2Figure 4 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a second embodiment of the boat fender mooring device according to the invention with a drive rod and rack; Figure 5 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a third embodiment of the boat fender mooring device according to the invention with a drive rod guided via a rocker arm and rack; Figure 6 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the boat fender mooring device according to the invention with a round rolling element and ladder pilings as a vertical or almost vertical structure; Figure 7 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the boat fender mooring device according to the invention with a friction element and ladder pilings; Figure 8 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a first embodiment of a vertical or almost vertical structure in the form of a quay wall for mooring a boat with a boat fender mooring device.Figure 9 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a second embodiment of a vertical or nearly vertical structure in the form of a quay wall with racks in duplicate for mooring a boat with a boat fender mooring device; Figure 10 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a third embodiment of a vertical or nearly vertical structure in the form of sheet pile profiles for mooring a boat with a boat fender mooring device; and Figure 11 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a vertical or nearly vertical structure in the form of sheet pile profiles with racks in duplicate for mooring a boat with a boat fender mooring device.

[0052] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a mooring maneuver of a boat facing the ladder dolphins 31 of a state-of-the-art design. A fender made of a rubber-elastic material 21, positioned at the bow of a boat 4, is pressed against a smooth ladder dolphin 31 during a frontal mooring maneuver with increased propulsion power.

[0053] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a first embodiment of the boat fender mooring device 1 according to the invention, with toothed rolling elements 22 at the mooring position, here at the bow, of a boat 4 and racks 32 on the ladder pilings 31 as a vertical or almost vertical structure 3. The toothed rolling elements 22 are each equipped with a controllable drive and / or a controllable braking device and are mounted on a guide receptacle with a drive shaft 26.

[0054] In Fig. 3A second exemplary schematic representation of the first embodiment of the inventive boat fender mooring device 1 with toothed rolling element 22 and rack 32 is shown according to Fig. 2 As shown. Due to the sectionally complementary geometry of the toothed rolling elements 22 and the racks 32, these mesh during a frontal docking maneuver of a boat, thus enabling a positive-locking power transmission. Sufficient backlash is provided to allow the boat to roll even when engaged (with the brake released). If two rolling elements 22 are present according to Fig. 2 With both toothed rolling elements 22 engaged, the roll angle and the vertical position of the bow 4 can be adjusted as required, largely decoupled from the propeller thrust, by metered braking of the toothed rolling elements 22 or by their positioning drives.

[0055] Furthermore, it shows Fig. 4 An exemplary schematic representation of a second embodiment of the boat fender mooring device 1 according to the invention, with linearly guided connecting rods 23 and racks 32. The connecting rods 23 are equipped with a meterable brake and / or drive in the vertical movement, so that the same functionality as with the use of rolling elements according to Fig. 2 This results in the drive and / or brake acting on the linear guide 27.

[0056] Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a third embodiment of the inventive boat fender mooring device 1 with a connecting rod 23 guided over a rocker arm 5 and rack 32.

[0057] In Fig. 6An exemplary schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the boat fender mooring device 1 according to the invention is shown, featuring a round rolling element 24 and a ladder piling 31 as a vertical or nearly vertical structure 3. The round rolling elements 23 are designed for frictional force transmission between the rolling element circumference and the ladder piling 31. The round rolling elements 24 are mounted on a guide receptacle with a drive shaft 26.

[0058] Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the inventive boat fender mooring device 1 with linearly guided friction elements 25 with brake and / or drive for positioning and ladder pilings 31 as a vertical or almost vertical structure 3. The drive and / or brake are located on the linear guide 27. The friction elements 25 can preferably be made of rubber with a substructure or as solid rubber blocks, preferably with perforations.

[0059] A version with friction elements 25 guided on swing arms 5 is also possible, although not shown here.

[0060] Furthermore, in the various embodiments of the boat fender mooring device 1 according to the invention, at least one fender can be designed as a multi-link design attached to the bow of a boat 4.

[0061] Fig. 8 Figure 1 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a first embodiment of a vertical or almost vertical structure 3 in the form of a quay wall for mooring a boat with boat fender mooring device 1.

[0062] In Fig. 9 An exemplary schematic representation of a second embodiment of a vertical or almost vertical structure 3 in the form of a quay wall is shown according to Fig. 8additionally provided with racks 32 in duplicate for mooring a boat with boat fender mooring device 1 for a positive-locking force transmission during holding and positioning shown.

[0063] Furthermore, in Fig. 10 An exemplary schematic representation of a third embodiment of a vertical or almost vertical structure 3 in the form of sheet pile profiles for mooring a boat with boat fender mooring device 1 is shown.

[0064] Fig. 11 shows an exemplary schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a vertical or almost vertical structure 3 in the form of sheet pile profiles according to Fig. 10 additionally provided with toothed rod 32 in duplicate as a part of the vertical or almost vertical structure 3 designed to complement the fender geometry for mooring a boat with boat-fender mooring device 1. Reference symbol list:

[0065] 1 Boat fender mooring device 2 Fender 21 Fender made of rubber-elastic material 22 Toothed rolling element 23 Drive rod 24 Round rolling element 25 Friction element 26 Guide mount with drive shaft 27 Linear guide with drive and / or brake 3 Vertical or nearly vertical structure 31 Ladder mooring post 32 Rack and pinion 4 Bow of a boat 5 Swing arm

Claims

1. Boat fender mooring device (1) with at least one fender (2) mounted at at least one mooring position and / or bow and / or stern and / or side of a boat for mooring to vertical or nearly vertical structures (3) while maintaining at least part of the boat's pitching motion about the transverse axis and / or diving motion of the boat along the vertical axis and / or rolling motion of the boat about the longitudinal axis, wherein the at least one fender (2) is designed for temporarily positioning the boat against a vertical or nearly vertical structure (3), wherein the at least one fender (2) is equipped with at least one steerable drive and / or at least one steerable braking device and with the at least one steerable drive and / or the at least one steerable braking device of the fender (2) assumes avertical position of the mooring position and / or the bow and / or the stern and / or the side of the boat on the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) is at least temporarily secure.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the at least one fender (2) has a section-wise complementary geometry to at least a part of the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) and when the at least one fender (2) is positioned on the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) a positive-locking force transmission in the vertical direction is formed by interlocking.

3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that the section-wise complementary geometries of the at least one fender (2) and of the at least part of the perpendicular or almost perpendicular structure (3) are designed as - toothed rolling element (22) and rack (32) or - drive rod (23) and rack (32).

4. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that When at least one fender (2) is positioned on the vertical or almost vertical structure (3), a frictional force transmission is formed.

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that which at least one fender (2) is designed as a round rolling element (24) and / or as a friction element (25).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that which at least one fender (2) is designed to be guided by swinging (5).

7. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that- Pitching movements of the boat around the transverse axis and / or diving movement of the boat along the vertical axis and / or the roll angle and / or the vertical position of the mooring position of the boat when temporarily positioning the boat against the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) are adjustable by using the at least one controllable drive and / or the at least one controllable braking device of the fender (2) and / or - the drive thrust and / or propeller thrust of the boat is adjustable according to the requirements of positioning the boat in the plane and / or - the at least one controllable drive and / or the at least one controllable braking device of the fender (2) is adjustable to determine the roll angle and / or the vertical position of the mooring position of the boat when temporarily positioning the boat against the vertical or almost vertical structure (3).

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatwhich at least one fender (2) is designed as a multi-link design and is attached to the mooring position of the boat.

9. Use of the boat fender mooring device (1) according to any of the preceding claims to increase safety - when mooring boats to offshore structures and / or - when mooring boats in port and / or - when mooring boats to free-floating or moored vessels.

10. Boat fender mooring device control method with a boat fender mooring device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatFor the temporary positioning of the boat against the vertical or almost vertical structure (3), the propulsion thrust and / or propeller thrust of the boat is increased at least temporarily, so that the boat is driven and / or pushed against the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) for the temporary positioning of the boat, and at least the controllable drive and / or at least the controllable braking device of the fender is controlled in such a way that the assumed vertical position of the mooring position and / or the bow and / or the stern and / or the side of the boat against the vertical or almost vertical structure (3) is held securely at least temporarily.

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