A vessel type for integrated marine engineering and scientific investigation operations

Abstract

This invention discloses a vessel type integrating marine engineering and scientific research operations. The vessel is equipped with a crossbar mechanism, secondary lifting points, a cable deployment and retrieval device, a basket-type acoustic cabin with mounting interfaces for basket-type acoustic equipment, and a mounting rack. The secondary lifting points are used for scientific research operations, while the primary lifting points are used for marine engineering operations. Depending on the usage, the crossbar mechanism can be switched between an extended and a retracted state to allow for switching between the primary and secondary lifting points. The cable deployment and retrieval device is used to deploy, store, and dehydrate long nylon cables, meeting the needs of ultra-long cables used in marine engineering operations. Based on the requirements of scientific research missions, suitable acoustic equipment is mounted on the hull wall via the mounting interfaces and racks. Integrating buoy deployment and marine research operations onto the same vessel overcomes the technical bias of requiring different types of vessels for these two operations, enabling the integration of marine engineering and scientific research functions and providing stronger comprehensive marine environmental monitoring and support capabilities.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of marine engineering and research vessel design, specifically to a type of vessel that integrates marine engineering and scientific research operations. Background Technology

[0002] Ocean engineering vessels are ships equipped with various engineering equipment for different purposes. The type of engineering equipment carried determines the type of ocean engineering vessel, and its structural design is related to the equipment it carries. Ocean survey vessels, on the other hand, are used for conducting marine hydrological and meteorological surveys, ecological environment surveys, seabed topography and geomorphology surveys, marine geological sampling surveys, and marine geophysical surveys.

[0003] The difference between these two types of vessels lies in the type of work equipment they carry, while they are similar in that they are both equipped with deck work support equipment such as gantry cranes, winches, and hydraulic cranes. However, the type of support equipment varies depending on the specific work objective, making it impossible to meet both types of operational needs simultaneously.

[0004] Although gantry cranes are widely used for deploying and retrieval of marine survey equipment and in marine engineering operations, the lifting height of these cranes is very high. Such high-lifting gantry cranes are unsuitable for lifting marine survey equipment, thus requiring a solution to accommodate the deployment and retrieval of large gantry cranes for scientific surveys. Additionally, marine engineering operations require solutions for deploying, retrieval, storage, and dewatering of 6000m-long deep-sea cables. Marine survey operations also necessitate the installation of hull-mounted acoustic equipment, the appendages required for this installation inevitably impacting the ship's overall performance. Therefore, it is necessary to address the compatibility issues of the acoustic equipment installation and minimize the impact of the acoustic chamber appendages on overall performance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned shortcomings of existing technologies, a new type of vessel integrating marine engineering and scientific research operations is proposed. This vessel integrates buoy deployment and retrieval with marine survey operations on the same ship, overcoming the technical bias that requires different types of vessels for these two operations. This allows the vessel to combine marine engineering and scientific research functions into one, providing a stronger comprehensive marine environmental monitoring and support capability.

[0006] The technical solution adopted by the present invention to solve the above technical problems is:

[0007] A type of vessel integrating marine engineering and scientific research operations includes a hull and a gantry crane, with the gantry crane located at the stern of the hull. The vessel is characterized by further including a crossbar mechanism, a main lifting point, and an auxiliary lifting point. The main lifting point is located at the top center of the gantry crane. The crossbar mechanism is mounted on the supports of the gantry crane and positioned between the two supports. The auxiliary lifting point is located at the end of the crossbar mechanism near the center of the gantry crane. The crossbar mechanism has two states: extended and retracted. When the crossbar mechanism is in the extended state, the auxiliary lifting point moves with the crossbar mechanism to the center of the gantry crane and is suspended below the main lifting point.

[0008] According to the above technical solution, the crossbar mechanism includes a crossbar, a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, and a telescopic actuator. The first connecting rod and the crossbar are both hinged to the column of the gantry crane, and the first connecting rod is located above the crossbar. The other ends of the first connecting rod and the crossbar are respectively hinged to both ends of the second connecting rod. One end of the telescopic actuator is hinged to the column of the gantry crane, and the other end of the telescopic actuator is hinged to the first connecting rod. The telescopic actuator controls the angle between the first connecting rod and the column of the gantry crane through telescopic movement, thereby controlling the switching of the crossbar mechanism between the extended state and the retracted state.

[0009] According to the above technical solution, specifically, when the horizontal bar moves to a horizontal state, the first link and the second link are on the same straight line.

[0010] According to the above technical solution, the telescopic actuator adopts a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.

[0011] According to the above technical solution, a cable winding and unwinding device is also provided on the hull. The cable winding and unwinding device includes a first tensioning device, a cable pressing device, a second tensioning device, a ring guide, a cable unwinding device, and a cable storage area arranged sequentially along the cable direction. The first tensioning device, the cable pressing device, and the second tensioning device are arranged adjacent to each other on the deck. Several ring guides are located between the second tensioning device and the cable storage warehouse on the hull. The last ring guide is located on top of the cable storage warehouse, and the cable unwinding device is located below the last ring guide. The cable storage area is located on the bottom plate of the cable storage warehouse at the bottom of the cable unwinding device. The cable is wound in a ring around the cable storage area under the action of the cable unwinding device.

[0012] According to the above technical solution, the cable is always under tension between the first tensioning device, the rope pressing device, and the second tensioning device.

[0013] According to the above technical solution, a portal frame is provided on the floor of the cable storage warehouse, and the last ring cable guide is located at the top center of the portal frame; the cable storage area consists of a ring-shaped belt structure composed of several uprights, which is divided into an inner ring and an outer ring, and the cable is wound between the inner ring and the outer ring under the action of the cable laying device.

[0014] According to the above technical solution, the ring-shaped structure adopts a square strip structure or a circular strip structure.

[0015] According to the above technical solution, the cable laying device includes a traveling guide rail, a trolley traveling mechanism, a trolley traveling mechanism, and a rope feeder. The traveling guide rail is laid on the floor on both sides of the cable storage area. The trolley traveling mechanism is slidably connected to the traveling guide rail and moves back and forth on the traveling guide rail. A first guide rail is laid on the trolley traveling mechanism, and the first guide rail is perpendicular to the traveling guide rail. The trolley traveling mechanism is slidably connected to the trolley traveling mechanism and moves back and forth on the first guide rail. The rope feeder is fixedly installed on the trolley traveling mechanism. Under the action of the trolley traveling mechanism and the trolley traveling mechanism, the rope feeder moves in the area above the cable storage area.

[0016] According to the above technical solution, a basket-type acoustic cabin is provided at the bottom of the hull, and a detachable basket-type acoustic equipment installation interface and mounting frame are provided on the side wall of the hull of the basket-type acoustic cabin; according to the needs of the scientific investigation mission, suitable acoustic equipment is mounted on the outer wall of the hull through the installation interface and mounting frame.

[0017] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0018] 1. A horizontal support mechanism is installed on the column of the gantry crane. The auxiliary lifting point is located on the horizontal support mechanism and moves with it; the main lifting point is located at the top center of the gantry crane. The auxiliary lifting point is used for scientific research operations, and the main lifting point is used for marine engineering operations. Depending on the usage, the horizontal support mechanism can be switched between an extended state and a retracted state to achieve the switching between the main and auxiliary lifting points, thus organically integrating marine engineering and scientific research operations and possessing both operational capabilities.

[0019] 2. The compartment is equipped with a cable handling device for handling, storing, and squeezing out moisture from long nylon cables. The first and second tensioning devices squeeze out moisture from the cables. The ring cable guide directs the cables into and out of the storage compartment. The coordinated use of the travel rails, trolley travel mechanism, and trolley travel mechanism in the storage compartment allows the cable feeder fixed on the trolley travel mechanism to move in a "U" shape above the cable storage area, thus neatly storing the cables in the storage area. The cable handling operation is achieved by changing the running direction of the travel rails, trolley travel mechanism, and trolley travel mechanism.

[0020] 3. A basket-type acoustic chamber is provided at the bottom of the hull. The side wall of the basket-type acoustic chamber is equipped with a detachable basket-type acoustic equipment installation interface and mounting frame. According to the needs of the scientific investigation mission, suitable acoustic equipment is mounted on the outer wall of the hull through the installation interface and mounting frame. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1This is a schematic diagram of the mechanism for setting a horizontal bar on a portal crane according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the horizontal bar mechanism in its stowed state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the crossbar mechanism in its extended state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the arrangement of the cable reeling and releasing device provided in an embodiment of the present invention on the deck.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a layout diagram of the cable take-up and take-down device provided in an embodiment of the present invention located inside the cable storage warehouse;

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cable routing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the cable laying device provided in the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the cable laying device provided in the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the cable laying device provided in the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 ;

[0030] In the diagram, 1. Hull; 1-1. Deck; 2. Gantry crane; 2-1. Support column; 3. Horizontal support mechanism; 3-1. Horizontal support bar; 3-2. Second connecting rod; 3-3. First connecting rod; 3-4. Telescopic actuator; 4. Main lifting point; 5. Auxiliary lifting point; 6. First tensioning device; 7. Rope pressing device; 8. Second tensioning device; 9. Ring cable guide; 10-1. Traveling guide rail; 10-2. Trolley traveling mechanism; 10-3. Trolley traveling mechanism; 10-4. Rope feeder; 11. Rope storage area; 11-1. Upright pole; 12. Gantry frame; 13. Rope storage warehouse; 14. Rope; 15. Winch. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0032] Reference Figures 1-2As shown, the present invention provides an integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel, comprising a hull 1 and a gantry crane 2, the gantry crane being located at the stern of the hull. It also includes a crossbar mechanism 3, a main lifting point 4, and an auxiliary lifting point 5. The main lifting point is located at the top center of the gantry crane; the crossbar mechanism is mounted on the support column 2-1 of the gantry crane, situated between the two side supports; the auxiliary lifting point is located at the end of the crossbar mechanism near the center of the gantry crane. The crossbar mechanism has two states: extended and retracted. When the crossbar mechanism is in the extended state, the auxiliary lifting point moves with the crossbar mechanism to the center of the gantry crane, and the auxiliary lifting point is suspended below the main lifting point.

[0033] Specifically, the crossbar mechanism includes a crossbar 3-1, a first connecting rod 3-3, a second connecting rod 3-2, and a telescopic actuator 3-4. The first connecting rod and the crossbar are both hinged to the column of the gantry crane, and the first connecting rod is located above the crossbar. The other ends of the first connecting rod and the crossbar are respectively hinged to both ends of the second connecting rod. One end of the telescopic actuator is hinged to the column of the gantry crane (in the embodiment shown in the figure, the hinge point between the telescopic actuator and the column of the gantry crane is located above the first connecting rod), and the other end of the telescopic actuator is hinged to the first connecting rod. The telescopic actuator controls the angle between the first connecting rod and the column of the gantry crane through telescopic movement, thereby controlling the switching of the crossbar mechanism between the extended state and the retracted state.

[0034] When conducting marine engineering operations, the crossbar needs to be retracted to avoid interfering with the work. During scientific research operations, the crossbar is deployed. The crossbar mechanism uses a hydraulic cylinder to retract and deploy the crossbar. The cylinder and connecting rod are hinged, and the connecting rod is hinged to one end of the crossbar. The other ends of the crossbar, connecting rod, and cylinder are all connected to the gantry crane's support. When the cylinder extends, the connecting rod rotates towards the gantry crane's support, causing the connecting rod to move towards the support as well. This, in turn, causes the crossbar to rotate towards the gantry crane until it is retracted beside the support, completing the retraction. When the cylinder retracts, it moves the connecting rod away from the gantry crane's support. Under the combined action of gravity and the cylinder, the connecting rod, connecting rod, and crossbar deploy until the crossbar is in a horizontal position, completing the deployment.

[0035] Furthermore, when the crossbar moves to a horizontal position, the first link and the second link are on the same straight line.

[0036] Preferably, the telescopic actuator is a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.

[0037] Specifically, the hull is also equipped with a cable winding and unwinding device, which includes a first tensioning device 6, a rope pressing device 7, a second tensioning device 8, a ring guide 9, a cable laying device, and a cable storage area 11 arranged sequentially along the direction of the cable 14. The first tensioning device, the rope pressing device, and the second tensioning device are arranged adjacent to each other on the deck 1-1. Several ring guides are arranged between the second tensioning device and the cable storage warehouse on the hull (one or more ring guides can be arranged according to needs). The last ring guide is located on top of the cable storage warehouse, and the cable laying device is located below the last ring guide. The cable storage area is located on the bottom plate of the cable storage warehouse at the bottom of the cable laying device. The cable is wound in a ring around the cable storage area under the action of the cable laying device.

[0038] Furthermore, the cable is always under tension between the first tensioning device, the rope pressing device, and the second tensioning device.

[0039] Specifically, a portal frame 12 is provided on the floor of the cable storage warehouse 13, and the last ring cable guide is located at the top center of the portal frame; the cable storage area consists of a ring-shaped belt structure composed of several uprights 11-1, the ring-shaped belt structure is divided into an inner ring and an outer ring, and the cable is wound between the inner ring and the outer ring under the action of the cable laying device.

[0040] Preferably, the ring-shaped structure adopts a square strip structure or a circular strip structure.

[0041] Specifically, the cable laying device includes a traveling guide rail 10-1, a trolley traveling mechanism 10-2, a trolley traveling mechanism 10-3, and a rope feeder 10-4. The traveling guide rail is laid on the floor on both sides of the cable storage area. The trolley traveling mechanism is slidably connected to the traveling guide rail and moves back and forth on the traveling guide rail. A first guide rail is laid on the trolley traveling mechanism, and the first guide rail is perpendicular to the traveling guide rail. The trolley traveling mechanism is slidably connected to the trolley traveling mechanism and moves back and forth on the first guide rail. The rope feeder is fixedly installed on the trolley traveling mechanism. Under the action of the trolley traveling mechanism and the trolley traveling mechanism, the rope feeder moves in the area above the cable storage area.

[0042] After the cables are fed into the storage compartment, the cable-laying device's trolley and carriage travel mechanism drives the cable feeder in a U-shaped motion, thus arranging the cables in a U-shape at the storage location. The first layer is placed from the outside in, filling the bottom of the storage area with a single layer of cables. Then, another layer is placed upwards from the inside out, and this process is repeated until all cables are stored. This method of arranging the cables neatly saves storage space and reduces the likelihood of knots.

[0043] Cable Retrieval Operation: After the cable is guided by the external winch 15, it is pulled to the cable pressing device by the first tensioning device, and then sent to the cable feeder on the cable laying device by the second tensioning device. The cable pressing device and the cable feeder provide the power for cable retrieval and laying, and the two are synchronized in speed through constant tension control. After the cable retrieval operation begins, the trolley traveling mechanism on the cable laying device drives the cable feeder to travel in a "U" shape. The cable feeder simultaneously retrieves the cable, and the cable begins to be laid at the bottom of the storage tank in this direction of travel. When the cable is laid to the end of the route in this direction, that is, the laying in this direction is completed, then the trolley begins to travel, driving the trolley and the cable feeder to lay the cable in the other direction of the "U" shape until the travel in this direction is completed. Then the trolley moves back and repeats the above process until the laying in this direction is completed. Then the trolley moves back until the laying in this direction is completed, forming a "U" shaped loop. The first loop is laid from the outside to the inside, and the operation is repeated sequentially. The first layer is completed, and the second layer is laid from the inside to the outside, and so on. Finally, this continues until all cables are retrieved. The cable-laying process is the reverse.

[0044] Furthermore, a basket-type acoustic cabin is provided at the bottom of the hull, and a detachable basket-type acoustic equipment installation interface and mounting frame are provided on the side wall of the hull of the basket-type acoustic cabin; according to the needs of the scientific investigation mission, suitable acoustic equipment can be mounted on the outer wall of the hull through the installation interface and mounting frame.

[0045] The gantry crane, equipped with a horizontal support mechanism, organically integrates marine engineering and scientific research operations, possessing both operational capabilities simultaneously. An internal cable deployment and retrieval device facilitates the deployment, storage, and dewatering of long nylon cables. Underwater and bow sections of the hull incorporate space for scientific research, while detachable acoustic equipment attachments on the hull allow for acoustic measurement operations. These designs meet the comprehensive marine environmental monitoring support needs of relevant research institutions.

[0046] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. Therefore, any equivalent changes made in accordance with the claims of the present invention shall still fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A type of vessel integrating marine engineering and scientific research operations, comprising a hull and a gantry crane, wherein the gantry crane is located at the stern of the hull, characterized in that: It also includes a crossbar mechanism, a main lifting point, and an auxiliary lifting point. The main lifting point is located at the top center of the gantry crane. The crossbar mechanism is located on the supports of the gantry crane and between the two supports. The auxiliary lifting point is located at the end of the crossbar mechanism near the middle of the gantry crane. The crossbar mechanism has two states: extended and retracted. When the crossbar mechanism is in the extended state, the auxiliary lifting point moves with the crossbar mechanism to the middle of the gantry crane and is suspended below the main lifting point. The auxiliary lifting point is used for scientific research operations, and the main lifting point is used for marine engineering operations.

2. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 1, characterized in that: The crossbar mechanism includes a crossbar, a first connecting rod, a second connecting rod, and a telescopic actuator. Both the first connecting rod and the crossbar are hinged to the column of the gantry crane, with the first connecting rod located above the crossbar. The other ends of the first connecting rod and the crossbar are respectively hinged to both ends of the second connecting rod. One end of the telescopic actuator is hinged to the column of the gantry crane, and the other end is hinged to the first connecting rod. The telescopic actuator controls the angle between the first connecting rod and the column of the gantry crane through telescopic movement, thereby controlling the switching of the crossbar mechanism between the extended and retracted states.

3. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 2, characterized in that: Specifically, when the crossbar moves to a horizontal position, the first link and the second link are on the same straight line.

4. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 2, characterized in that: The telescopic actuator uses either a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder.

5. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 1, characterized in that: The hull is also equipped with a cable winding and unwinding device, which includes a first tensioning device, a rope pressing device, a second tensioning device, a ring guide, a cable laying device, and a cable storage area arranged sequentially along the cable direction. The first tensioning device, the rope pressing device, and the second tensioning device are arranged adjacent to each other on the deck. Several ring guides are located between the second tensioning device and the cable storage warehouse on the hull. The last ring guide is located on top of the cable storage warehouse, and the cable laying device is located below the last ring guide. The cable storage area is located on the bottom plate of the cable storage warehouse at the bottom of the cable laying device. The cable is wound in a ring around the cable storage area under the action of the cable laying device.

6. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 5, characterized in that: The cable is always under tension between the first tensioning device, the rope pressing device, and the second tensioning device.

7. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 5, characterized in that: A portal frame is installed on the floor of the cable storage warehouse, with the last ring cable guide located at the top center of the portal frame. The cable storage area consists of a ring-shaped structure composed of several uprights, which is divided into an inner ring and an outer ring. The cable is wound between the inner and outer rings under the action of the cable laying device.

8. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 7, characterized in that: The ring-shaped structure adopts either a square strip structure or a circular strip structure.

9. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 5, characterized in that: The cable laying device includes a traveling guide rail, a trolley traveling mechanism, a trolley traveling mechanism, and a rope feeder. The traveling guide rail is laid on the floor on both sides of the cable storage area. The trolley traveling mechanism is slidably connected to the traveling guide rail and moves back and forth on the traveling guide rail. A first guide rail is laid on the trolley traveling mechanism, and the first guide rail is perpendicular to the traveling guide rail. The trolley traveling mechanism is slidably connected to the trolley traveling mechanism and moves back and forth on the first guide rail. The rope feeder is fixedly mounted on the trolley traveling mechanism. Under the action of the trolley traveling mechanism and the trolley traveling mechanism, the rope feeder moves in the area above the cable storage area.

10. The integrated marine engineering and scientific research vessel type according to claim 1, characterized in that: A basket-type acoustic cabin is located at the bottom of the hull, and detachable basket-type acoustic equipment installation interfaces and mounting racks are provided on the side walls of the hull. According to the needs of scientific investigation missions, suitable acoustic equipment can be mounted on the outer wall of the hull through the installation interfaces and mounting racks.

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