A ship-hauling system and method for a ship lift capable of hauling a ship with a long distance and a large fluctuation of water level
By designing a traction system for ships entering and exiting the ship lift that can adapt to long distances and large water level fluctuations, and by using electric pushers, guidance and braking systems, the safety risks and low efficiency problems of ships waiting to be traction when entering and exiting the ship lift have been solved, achieving fast and safe ship entry and exit, and reducing pollution and operating costs.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202211378586.6
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-11-04
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-25
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-11-04
AI Technical Summary
In the existing technology, there are problems such as electrical faults causing navigation interruptions, mechanical system failures, safety risks due to inconsistent driving skills, collisions with equipment, and low efficiency of self-propelled entry and exit when a vessel is towed into or out of the lift cabin.
A ship traction system adapted to long distances and large water level fluctuations for entering and exiting ship lift cabins was designed, including an electric pusher wheel, a guiding system, a braking system, and a quick connection device. Through remote centralized control and an automatic navigation system, the system enables unmanned operation and rapid, safe entry and exit of ships from and from ship lift cabins.
It improves the safety and efficiency of ship lift navigation, reduces ship exhaust and noise pollution, shortens the time for entering and exiting the ship chamber, reduces operating costs, and provides emergency operation means in case of failure.
Smart Images

Figure CN115748640B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of traction of vessels awaiting traction in navigation, specifically to a traction system and method for vessels awaiting traction to enter and exit the lift cabin over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations. Background Technology
[0002] The following factors currently affect the safety and efficiency of ship lift operations: 1) Electrical and mechanical system failures of the vessels to be towed can prevent them from navigating and block the ship lift's channel, causing the ship lift to shut down; 2) Currently, the braking method for vessels to be towed entering and exiting the ship lift chambers relies solely on the vessels' own braking. If a vessel loses control during this process, there is no effective way to handle it, posing a significant safety risk; 3) Due to varying levels of skill among the vessels to be towed, collisions and interference with the ship lift equipment and facilities can occur when the vessels pass through the lift. Damage to the equipment and facilities caused by collisions is difficult to repair and time-consuming; 4) The self-propelled speed of vessels entering and exiting the ship lift chambers is controlled at 0.5 m / s, resulting in long entry and exit times and low efficiency. Summary of the Invention
[0003] To address the problems of long travel time, low efficiency, and severe exhaust and noise pollution associated with ship lifts, this invention aims to provide a traction system and method for ships entering and exiting ship lift cabins over long distances and under significant water level fluctuations. This method integrates a traction power system, a guidance system, a braking system, and a rapid connection device between the power system and the passing ship, further improving navigation safety and efficiency of ship lifts.
[0004] The technical solution adopted in this invention is: a traction system for a vessel to be hauled in and out of a ship lift chamber that is adapted to long distances and large fluctuations in water level, comprising: an electric pusher wheel for pushing the vessel to be hauled, a guidance system with anti-collision guidance and mooring function for the vessel to be hauled, a braking system, a charging device for charging the electric pusher wheel, and a quick connection device for quickly connecting the pusher wheel and the vessel to be hauled.
[0005] The guidance system is arranged along the navigation walls on both sides of the ship lift cabin and on both upstream and downstream sides. It includes a first guidance device and a second guidance device. The first guidance device is evenly arranged on the navigation walls on both upstream and downstream sides along the water flow direction. The first guidance device is a float-type guidance device that can float up and down in the vertical direction with the fluctuation of the water level in the ship lift channel. The second guidance device is symmetrically arranged along the longitudinal centerline of the cabin, and is densely arranged at the upstream and downstream ends of the cabin in the direction of water flow, and sparsely arranged in the middle section.
[0006] The braking system includes multiple wire rope winch-type braking devices installed on both sides of the navigation wall near the upstream and downstream ends of the ship chamber, which can float up and down with the fluctuation of the water level in the ship lift channel and have a damping effect, and two cable-driven braking devices installed in the middle of both sides of the ship chamber for emergency use by out-of-control vessels awaiting towing.
[0007] Furthermore, the electric tugboat is an unmanned, automatically navigating, and remotely centrally controlled electrically powered vessel to be towed. A propulsion system is installed at both the bow and stern, and an electric tugboat is positioned in the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift. The electric tugboat includes an electric tugboat hull, a power battery pack, a remote central control system, a navigation control system, and an information acquisition system. The remote central control system includes a manual navigation subsystem and an automatic navigation subsystem, with remote central control...
[0008] The system communicates with the ship lift's database of vessels awaiting towing, acquiring and precisely adjusting the male end height of the quick-connect device between the electric pusher and the vessel based on data such as the vessel's dimensions, draft, and freeboard. This enables rapid docking and disengagement between the pusher and the vessel. The manual and automatic navigation subsystems communicate wirelessly. The manual navigation subsystem monitors the automatic navigation subsystem's operational data and the electric pusher's navigation status in real time. Located in the ship lift's central control room, the manual navigation subsystem is used for starting, stopping, and emergency braking of the electric pusher in emergency situations. When the automatic navigation subsystem fails, the remote centralized control system switches to the manual navigation subsystem, allowing remote operation of the electric pusher. The automatic navigation subsystem is mounted on the electric pusher. The automatic navigation subsystem can analyze and process information such as the pre-set database of vessels to be towed, environmental information, route planning, and meteorological and obstacle information obtained from the information acquisition system, and issue instructions to the navigation control system. The electric pusher then performs actions such as docking with the vessel to be towed, towing the vessel to be towed into and out of the cabin, detaching from the vessel to be towed, and sailing the electric pusher to the charging dock for charging.
[0009] Furthermore, the guidance system includes multiple sets of first guidance devices arranged on the navigation walls on both the upstream and downstream sides and multiple sets of second guidance devices on both sides of the ship compartment;
[0010] The guiding device includes a pontoon, guide wheels, guide wheel hinge seats, mooring bollards, and a pontoon well. The pontoon includes a pontoon body and multiple sets of guide roller assemblies. Each pontoon body has three sets of guide roller assemblies arranged at equal intervals, and each set of guide roller assemblies has four guide rollers, symmetrically arranged along the transverse and longitudinal centerlines of the pontoon. Each guide wheel consists of a guide wheel body, a deep groove ball bearing, a guide support, a sliding plate, a disc spring assembly, and an adjusting nut. One end of the sliding plate is connected to a screw, and a disc spring assembly is fitted onto the screw. The screw passes through... The holes on the guide support are locked by adjusting nuts; each first guide device has three guide wheels arranged at equal intervals on the pontoon side of the channel. The guide wheel hinge seat is fixedly welded to the pontoon. The guide wheel is installed on the guide wheel hinge seat through the guide wheel shaft. A mooring bollard is fixedly welded to the guide wheel hinge seat at the top of the pontoon. The pontoon can float up and down in the pontoon well with pre-embedded track as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift fluctuates, so as to adapt to the guidance and emergency mooring of the ship to be towed in and out of the compartment under the condition of large water level fluctuation.
[0011] The guiding device includes a mounting frame, guide wheels, guide wheel hinge seats, and mooring bollards. Multiple sets of guide wheels are arranged at equal intervals on the inner side of the mounting frame of each second guiding device. The guide wheel hinge seats are fixedly welded to the columns at both ends of the mounting frame and the longitudinal beams. The guide wheels are mounted on the guide wheel hinge seats through guide wheel shafts. Mooring bollards are fixedly installed on the columns at both ends of the mounting frame and on the deck of the ship compartment between every two first guiding devices, which can adapt to the mooring requirements of ships to be towed at different freeboard heights.
[0012] Furthermore, the wire rope winch-type braking device includes a buoy, a buoy well, a wire rope winch system, a wire rope, and a guide pulley. The wire rope winch system includes a frame, a wire rope drum, a drive motor and its control system, a reducer, and a brake, arranged inside the cavity of the buoy. The output shaft of the drive motor and the input shaft of the reducer are connected by a coupling. The output shaft of the reducer is connected to the wire rope drum, and the other end of the wire rope drum is connected to the brake disc of the brake. The brake is bolted to the frame. One end of the wire rope is fixed to the wire rope drum, and the other end is a cable loop. The wire rope passes through the guide pulley fixed outside the buoy and is wound around the wire rope drum. The cable-operated braking device consists of two large-tonnage cable bollards fixedly welded to the middle section of the deck on both sides of the ship's cabin. When the wire rope winch-type braking device fails and the vessel to be towed is out of control, the cable thrown from the vessel to be towed is attached to the large-tonnage cable bollards for cable-operated braking.
[0013] Furthermore, there are two sets of the pusher charging device, which are respectively installed on the pontoons arranged near the upstream and downstream navigation walls of the ship lift. The charging device is connected to the power supply and distribution room of the ship lift via a cable.
[0014] A single pusher charging unit includes a pontoon and a charging dock; the pontoon includes a rectangular hollow steel structure and guide columns. The rectangular hollow steel structure can float vertically up and down along the guide columns as the water level in the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift changes.
[0015] The charging dock has a U-shaped structure, including a male charging connector and a female charging connector. The charging dock is connected to the end of a rectangular hollow steel structure and can move with the rectangular hollow steel structure. The female charging connector is installed on the charging dock, and the male charging connector is installed on an electric push wheel.
[0016] Furthermore, the quick-connect device includes a male and a female connector. The male connector is mounted on the electric push wheel, and the female connector is fixedly mounted on the vessel to be towed via the ship lift. The male connector includes a connecting frame, two telescopic cylinders, two locking pins, two locking blocks, and two telescopic joints. The connecting frame includes a triangular bracket and two adjusting cylinders. The cylinder body of the adjusting cylinder is hinged to the electric push wheel, and the piston rods of the two adjusting cylinders are connected to the triangular bracket beam. The height of the connecting frame can be adjusted by extending and retracting the adjusting cylinders to accommodate the rapid docking of the electric push wheel with vessels of different freeboard heights. The head is connected to the locking pin with screws, and the locking pin flange is installed at the end of the movable outer sleeve of the expansion joint; a groove is opened in the locking pin, and the telescopic cylinder can push the locking block to move in the locking pin; the expansion joint includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve, the inner sleeve is fixedly installed at the end of the connecting frame, and the outer sleeve can slide on the inner sleeve. A guide key, a sealing device and a lubrication device are provided between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. To ensure accurate positioning of the male and female heads, a guide slider is installed on the outer surface of the expansion joint, and two U-shaped channel steels are set as guide rails on the female head structure at the stern of the vessel to be towed.
[0017] As another aspect of the present invention, a traction method for towing vessels entering and exiting a ship lift chamber over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations is also provided, comprising the following steps:
[0018] Step 1): According to the scheduling plan of ships waiting to be towed through the ship lift, the operators use the ship lift scheduling system to direct the ships waiting to be towed to sail from the upstream or downstream pilot channel of the ship lift to the upstream or downstream berthing pier (12) for mooring and mooring.
[0019] Step 2): After the vessel waiting to be towed has moored and stopped at the pier upstream or downstream of the ship lift, the ship lift operator starts the upstream or downstream electric pusher through the remote centralized control system and issues the command to move the vessel waiting to be towed into the pier. The navigation control system controls the upstream or downstream electric pusher to sail to the upstream or downstream vessel waiting to be towed. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame of the quick connection device between the electric pusher and the vessel waiting to be towed is adjusted according to the information of the vessel waiting to be towed obtained from the vessel waiting to be towed database.
[0020] Step 3): The electric pusher wheel travels to the location of the vessel to be towed and the height of the connecting frame is adjusted, and the electric pusher wheel is quickly docked with the vessel to be towed;
[0021] Step 4): After the electric pusher wheel is docked with the vessel to be towed and the vessel to be towed is unmoored, the electric pusher wheel pushes the vessel to be towed into the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel to be towed entering the compartment, the navigation wall and the guidance system arranged on the compartment can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time.
[0022] Step 5): When the vessel to be towed sails to the stern and reaches the wire rope winch brake device arranged on the upstream or downstream navigation wall, the electric push wheel begins to brake and decelerate, and hangs the wire rope cable ring of the wire rope winch brake device on the mooring bollard at the stern of the vessel to be towed, thus driving the vessel to be towed to begin to decelerate.
[0023] Step 6): The vessel to be towed slows down and stops. After the mooring is completed in the vessel compartment, the wire rope cable ring is removed from the stern of the vessel to be towed. The wire rope winch system drives the wire rope to retract and wind it onto the wire rope drum. At the same time, the electric push wheel is disconnected from the vessel to be towed.
[0024] Step 7): After the electric pusher is disconnected from the vessel to be towed, the lift operator issues an order for the upstream or downstream electric pusher to return to the upstream or downstream charging dock and berth. The electric pusher then sails to the charging dock, berths, and charges the power battery pack.
[0025] Step 8): After the electric pusher wheel exits the cabin, the cabin is disconnected from the upper or lower lock head and begins to move downward or upward to connect with the lower or upper lock head.
[0026] Step 9): After the ship compartment is connected to the lower or upper lock head, the ship lift operator starts the downstream or upstream electric pusher wheel through the remote centralized control system and issues the command to pull the ship out of the compartment. The navigation control system controls the downstream or upstream electric pusher wheel to travel to the ship to be pulled in the compartment. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame of the quick connection device between the electric pusher wheel and the ship to be pulled is adjusted according to the ship information obtained from the ship database.
[0027] Step 10): The electric pusher wheel travels to the location of the vessel to be towed inside the ship compartment and the height of the connecting frame is adjusted. The electric pusher wheel is then quickly docked with the vessel to be towed.
[0028] Step 11): After the electric pusher wheel is docked with the vessel to be towed and the vessel to be towed is unmoored, the electric pusher wheel pulls the vessel to be towed out of the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel to be towed out of the compartment, the guiding device arranged on the navigation wall and the compartment can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time.
[0029] Step 12): When the vessel to be towed sails to the stern of the vessel to be towed and reaches the downstream or upstream navigation wall of the ship lift, the electric push wheel begins to brake and decelerate, causing the vessel to be towed out of the lift to begin to decelerate.
[0030] Step 13): Once the vessel to be towed reaches the downstream or upstream dock and comes to a stop, the electric pusher wheel is disconnected from the vessel to be towed.
[0031] Step 14): After the electric pusher wheel is disconnected from the vessel to be towed, the vessel to be towed starts its engine and heads downstream or upstream of the pilot channel. The ship lift operator issues an order for the electric pusher wheel to return to the downstream or upstream charging dock and berth. The electric pusher wheel sails to the charging dock, berths, and charges the power battery pack.
[0032] Step 15): The process of towing the vessel downstream or upstream via the ship lift is completed.
[0033] Furthermore, the pontoons of the first guiding device and the wire rope winch-type braking device arranged on the navigation wall in steps 4), 5), 6) and 12) move up and down in the pontoon well as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift changes. This can meet the guidance and braking needs of the traction system for guiding the ship to be towed into and out of the ship lift cabin under the condition of large fluctuations in the water level of the channel.
[0034] Furthermore, in steps 4) and 11), the guidance systems arranged on both sides of the navigation walls and the sides of the ship's compartment are arranged along the length of the navigation walls and the ship's compartment.
[0035] Furthermore, the length of the wire rope in the wire rope winch-type braking device described in steps 5) and 6) is determined based on the main dimensions of the vessel to be towed and the length of the hull. The guiding system and the wire rope winch-type braking device can adapt to the guidance and braking of the vessel to be towed during long-distance towing into and out of the hull of the ship lift.
[0036] The beneficial effects and features of this invention are:
[0037] 1. The present invention provides a traction system for tractioning vessels entering and exiting the ship lift chamber over long distances and with large fluctuations in water level. The first guiding device of the guiding system and the float of the wire rope winch-type braking device move up and down in the float well as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift changes, thus solving the problem of guiding and braking the traction system for tractioning vessels entering and exiting the ship lift chamber under the condition of large fluctuations in the channel water level of the hub ship lift.
[0038] 2. The present invention provides a traction system for long-distance, water-level-fluctuation vessels entering and exiting the ship lift chamber. The guidance system can be arranged along the route according to the navigation wall and the length of the chamber. The length of the wire rope in the wire rope winch braking device can be determined according to the main dimensions of the vessel to be traction and the length of the chamber, thus solving the guidance and braking problems of long-distance traction of vessels entering and exiting the ship lift chamber.
[0039] 3. The traction system of the present invention, which is adapted to long-distance and large-scale water level fluctuations for ships to enter and exit the ship lift, is equipped with a hydraulic buffer braking device and a cable braking device in addition to the electric push wheel of the traction system itself being able to brake. Compared with self-propelled ships to be traction having only their own braking devices, the present invention greatly improves the safety of ships to be traction passing through the ship lift.
[0040] 4. The present invention provides a traction system for vessels to enter and exit the lift cabin over long distances and in waters with significant fluctuations. The guide wheel of the traction system is mounted on the guide wheel support hinge via a guide wheel shaft. Compared with the traditional steel fenders welded to the cabin structure, the guide wheel of the traction system is easy to disassemble and replace after damage. The outer ring of the guide wheel is made of solid rubber, and the guide wheel can rotate smoothly around the guide wheel shaft, resulting in better guidance and anti-collision performance. Both the cabin and the upper part of the navigation wall guide device are equipped with 25t single-eave mooring bollards. One set of devices realizes both guidance and anti-collision functions as well as mooring, saving construction costs.
[0041] 5. The present invention provides a traction system for ships to enter and exit the ship lift cabin over long distances and with large fluctuations in water level. The hydraulic buffer brake device of the traction system uses a load-limiting connector. When the traction force of the ship to be towed exceeds the maximum traction force of the load-limiting connector, the connector breaks, ensuring that the structure of the ship lift cabin and the structure of the hydraulic buffer brake device are not damaged, thus improving the traction quality.
[0042] 6. The present invention provides a traction system for ships to be tractioned over long distances and with large fluctuations in water level. The layout scheme has little impact on the structure of the ship lift, gate, etc., and is highly feasible. The traction process is convenient and reliable, and can smoothly complete the entire process of traction for ships to be tractioned to enter and exit the ship lift.
[0043] 7. The present invention provides a traction system for towing vessels that are towed over long distances and under significant water level fluctuations. The main body of the ship lift is usually a tall, narrow, and enclosed space. When the vessel to be towed enters or exits the ship lift by self-propelled means, the exhaust gas and noise pollution from the vessel to be towed are severe. The present invention develops an unmanned electric pusher wheel to tow the vessel to be towed through the ship lift. The engine stops when the vessel to be towed enters or exits the ship lift, which not only reduces exhaust gas and noise pollution from the vessel to be towed, but also lowers the operating costs for the ship owner.
[0044] 8. The present invention provides a traction system for vessels to be towed over long distances and under significant water level fluctuations, allowing them to enter and exit the ship lift chamber. When vessels are to be towed, traffic management departments typically limit their speed to 0.5 m / s. This invention, by developing a traction system for vessels to be towed through the ship lift, achieves a maximum speed of v_traction = 3 m / s using an electric pusher wheel. This significantly increases the speed at which vessels enter and exit the ship lift chamber, reduces the time required for entry and exit, and substantially improves the operating efficiency of the ship lift.
[0045] 9. The present invention provides a traction system for vessels to be hauled in and out of a ship lift cabin over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations. The traction system includes an electric pusher wheel and a remote centralized control system comprising a manual navigation subsystem and an automatic navigation subsystem. When the automatic navigation subsystem fails, the remote centralized control system is switched to the manual navigation subsystem, allowing remote operation of the electric pusher wheel. This provides an emergency measure for operation under electric pusher wheel failure conditions and improves the reliability of the traction system. Attached Figure Description
[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0047] Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 (Lower and middle structure);
[0048] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Side view structural diagram;
[0049] Figure 4 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 (Right-side structure)
[0050] Figure 5 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 (Middle and upper structure);
[0051] Figure 6 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure along the dotted line on the left;
[0052] Figure 7 for Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the structure at the dotted line on the right;
[0053] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the electric push wheel control principle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0054] Figure 9 for Figure 1 Enlarged schematic diagram at point II (partial structural schematic diagram of the first guide device);
[0055] Figure 10 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the first guiding device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0056] Figure 11 for Figure 9 Schematic diagram of a multi-group guide roller assembly;
[0057] Figure 12 for Figure 4 Enlarged schematic diagram at point III (partial structural schematic diagram of the second guide device);
[0058] Figure 13 for Figure 1 An enlarged schematic diagram of point I in the middle;
[0059] Figure 14 for Figure 4 Enlarged schematic diagram at point IV (partial structural schematic diagram of the cable braking device);
[0060] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the wire rope winch-type braking device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0061] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pusher charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0062] Figure 17 This is a schematic diagram of the quick connection device in use according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0063] Figure 18 for Figure 17 Enlarged structural diagram of the area indicated by the dashed line;
[0064] Figure 19 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the quick connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0065] Figure 20 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the quick connection device according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0066] Figure 21 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the female head in an embodiment of the present invention;
[0067] The labels in the diagram represent: 1-Electric pusher wheel, 101-Hyster for pushing the electric pusher wheel, 102-Power battery pack, 103-Remote centralized control system, 103-1-Navigation subsystem, 103-2-Automatic navigation subsystem, 104-Navigation control system, 105-Information acquisition system, 2-Guidance system, 2-1-First guidance device, 2-101-Float, 2-1011-Float body, 2-1012-Multiple sets of guide rollers, 2-102-Guide wheel, 2-103-Guide wheel hinge seat, 2-104-Single-eave mooring bollard, 2- 105-Floating well, 2-2-Second guiding device, 3-Braking system, 3-1-Wire rope winch-type braking device, 3-101-Wire rope winch system, 3-102-Wire rope, 3-103-Guide pulley, 3-2-Cable braking device, 4-Push wheel charging device, 401-Charging device floating box structure, 4011-Rectangular cavity steel structure, 402-Charging dock; 5-Quick connection device, 501-Male connector, 502-Female connector, 504-Locking block, 6-Boat box, 7-Navigation wall, 7-1-Upstream navigation wall, 7-2-Downstream navigation wall, 8-Floating box, 10-Vessel to be towed. Detailed Implementation
[0068] This invention designs a traction system for vessels to enter and exit a ship lift chamber over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations. It integrates a traction power system, a guidance system, a braking system, and a method for quickly connecting the power system with the vessel to be traction, thereby improving the safety and efficiency of vessels passing through the ship lift.
[0069] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0070] Example 1:
[0071] Please refer to Figures 1-7 This invention relates to a traction system for a vessel to be towed over long distances and with large fluctuations in water level, which includes: an electric pusher wheel 1, a guiding system 2, a braking system 3, a pusher wheel charging device 4, and a quick connection device between the pusher wheel and the vessel to be towed 5.
[0072] Please refer to Figure 8The electric pusher 1 is used to push the vessel to be towed. It is an electric-driven vessel with unmanned automatic navigation and remote centralized control. A propulsion system is installed at the bow and stern respectively. One set of electric pushers 1 is arranged in the upstream and downstream channels of the Three Gorges Ship Lift. As a preferred embodiment, the electric pusher 1 specifically includes: a hull 101 for pushing the electric pusher 1, a power battery pack 102, a remote centralized control system 103, a navigation control system 104, and an information acquisition system 105. The remote centralized control system 103 includes a manual navigation subsystem 103-1 and an automatic navigation subsystem 103-2. The remote centralized control system 103 communicates with the database 11 of vessels to be towed in the ship lift and can acquire and accurately adjust the equipment installed on the electric pusher 1 according to the size, draft, freeboard, and other data of the vessel to be towed. The height of the male end 501 of the quick connection device 5 between the electric pusher 1 and the vessel to be towed 10 enables rapid docking and disengagement between the electric pusher 1 and the vessel to be towed 10. The manual navigation subsystem 103-1 and the automatic navigation subsystem 103-2 can communicate wirelessly. The manual navigation subsystem 103-1 can monitor the operating data of the automatic navigation subsystem 103-2 and the navigation status of the electric pusher 1 in real time. The manual navigation subsystem 103-1 is located in the ship lift's centralized control room and is used for starting, stopping, and emergency braking of the electric pusher 1 in emergency situations. When the automatic navigation subsystem 103-2 fails, the remote control will be activated. The central control system 103 switches to the manual operation navigation subsystem 103-1, which can remotely operate the electric push wheel 1 for navigation; the automatic navigation subsystem 103-2 is deployed on the electric push wheel 1. The automatic navigation subsystem 103-2 can analyze and process the pre-set database information of the vessel to be towed, environmental information, route planning, and meteorological and obstacle information obtained from the information acquisition system 105, and issue instructions to the navigation control system 104. The electric push wheel 1 performs actions such as docking with the vessel to be towed 10, towing the vessel to be towed into and out of the cabin, disengaging from the vessel to be towed 10, and sailing to the charging dock 402 for charging.
[0073] Please refer to Figures 9-11 The guidance system 2 is arranged along the sides of the ship lift cabin 6 and the upstream and downstream navigation walls 7. The guidance system 2 has the functions of anti-collision guidance and mooring of ships to be towed. It is divided into two structures. The first guidance device 2-1 is evenly arranged on the upstream and downstream navigation walls 7 along the water flow direction. The first guidance device 2-1 is a float-type guidance device that can float up and down with the water level fluctuation of the ship lift channel. The second guidance device 2-2 is symmetrically arranged on the side wall of the cabin 6 along the longitudinal center line of the cabin 6, and follows the principle of denser arrangement at the upstream and downstream ends of the cabin 6 and sparser arrangement in the middle section along the water flow direction.
[0074] Specifically, the first guiding device 2-1 includes a buoy 2-101, a guide wheel 2-102, a guide wheel hinge seat 2-103, a 25T single-eave mooring bollard 2-104, and a buoy well 2-105; the buoy 2-101 The system includes a pontoon body 2-1011 and multiple sets of guide roller assemblies 2-1012. Each pontoon body 2-1011 has three sets of guide roller assemblies 2-1012 arranged at equal intervals, and each set of guide roller assemblies 2-1012 has four guide rollers. They are symmetrically arranged along the transverse and longitudinal centerlines of the pontoon 2-101. Each guide roller consists of a guide roller body, a deep groove ball bearing, a guide support, a sliding plate, a disc spring assembly, and an adjusting nut. One end of the sliding plate is connected to a screw, and a disc spring assembly is fitted on the screw. The screw passes through a hole on the guide support and is locked by the adjusting nut. Each first guide device 2-1 has three guide rollers 2-102 arranged at equal intervals on the channel side of the pontoon 2-101. Guide roller hinge seats 2-103 are fixedly welded to the pontoon 2-101. The guide rollers 2-102 are mounted on the guide roller hinge seats 2-103 through guide roller shafts. The guide roller hinge seats 2-103 are located at the top of the pontoon 2-101. The upper part is fixedly welded with a 25T single-eave mooring bollard 2-104. The pontoon 2-101 can float up and down in the pontoon well 2-105 with pre-embedded track as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift fluctuates, so as to adapt to the guidance and emergency mooring of the ship to be towed in and out of the compartment under the condition of large water level fluctuation.
[0075] Please refer to Figure 12 The second guiding device 2-2 includes a mounting frame 2-201, guide wheels 2-102, guide wheel hinge seats 2-103, and single-eave mooring bollards 2-104 (25T). Each first guiding device 2-2 has 3 sets of guide wheels 2-102 arranged at equal intervals on the inner side of the mounting frame 2-201. Each set has 3 guide wheels 2-102. The guide wheel hinge seats 2-103 are fixedly welded to the columns at both ends of the mounting frame 2-201 and the longitudinal beam. The guide wheels 2-102 are mounted on the guide wheel hinge seats 2-103 through guide wheel shafts. 48 single-eave mooring bollards (e.g., 25T single-eave mooring bollards) are fixedly installed on the columns at both ends of the mounting frame 2-201 and on the deck of the ship compartment 6 between every two second guiding devices 2-2, which can adapt to the mooring requirements of ships to be towed at different freeboard heights.
[0076] Please refer to Figures 13-15The braking system 3 consists of multiple wire rope winch-type braking devices 3-1 installed on both sides of the navigation wall 7 near the upstream and downstream ends of the ship chamber, which can float up and down with the fluctuation of the water level in the ship lift channel and have a damping effect; and two cable-operated braking devices 3-2 installed in the middle of both sides of the ship chamber for emergency use on out-of-control vessels awaiting towing. The wire rope winch-type braking device 3-1 includes a buoy 2-101, a buoy well 2-105, a wire rope winch system 3-101, a wire rope 3-102, and a guide pulley 3-103. One wire rope winch-type braking device 3-1 is arranged on each of the upstream and downstream sections of the deck on both sides of the ship chamber 6. There are four in total. The wire rope winch system 3-101 includes a frame, a wire rope drum, a drive motor and its control system, a reducer, and a brake, arranged inside the cavity of the pontoon 2-101. The output shaft of the drive motor and the input shaft of the reducer are connected by a coupling. The output shaft of the reducer is connected to the wire rope drum, and the other end of the wire rope drum is connected to the brake disc of the brake. The brake is mounted on the frame by bolts. One end of the wire rope 3-102 is fixed to the wire rope drum, and the other end is a cable loop. The wire rope passes through the guide pulley 3-103 fixed to the outside of the pontoon 2-101 and then winds around the wire rope drum. The cable-operated braking device 3-2 consists of two 55T single-eave mooring bollards fixedly welded to the middle section of the deck on both sides of the ship's compartment. When the wire rope winch braking device 3-1 fails and the vessel to be towed is out of control, the cable thrown from the vessel to be towed is attached to the 55T single-eave mooring bollard 3-201 for cable-operated braking.
[0077] Please refer to Figure 16 As a preferred embodiment, there are two sets of the pusher charging device 4, which are respectively installed on the pontoons 8 arranged near the upstream and downstream navigation walls 7 of the ship lift. The charging device 4 is connected to the power supply and distribution room of the ship lift via a cable.
[0078] Specifically, the pusher wheel charging device 4 includes: a charging device float structure 401 and a charging dock 402; the charging device float structure 401 includes a rectangular hollow steel structure 4011 and a guide column 4012. The rectangular hollow steel structure 4011 can float vertically up and down along the guide column 4012 as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift changes. The charging dock 402 is a U-shaped structure, including a charging male connector 4021 and a charging female connector 4022. The charging dock 402 is connected to the end of the rectangular hollow steel structure 4011 and can move with the rectangular hollow steel structure 4011. The charging female connector 4022 is installed on the charging dock 402, and the charging male connector 4021 is installed on the electric pusher wheel 1.
[0079] Please refer to Figures 17-21As a preferred embodiment, the electric pusher wheel and the vessel to be towed quick connection device 5 includes a male head 501 and a female head 502. The male head 501 is mounted on the electric pusher wheel 1, and the female head 502 is fixedly mounted on the vessel to be towed 10 via the ship lift. The pusher wheel and the vessel to be towed quick connection device 5 includes: a male head 501 and a female head 502; the male head 501 includes a connecting frame 5011, two telescopic cylinders 5012, two second locking pins 5013, two locking blocks 504, and two telescopic joints 5015; the connecting frame 5011 includes a triangular bracket and two adjusting cylinders. The cylinder body end of the adjusting cylinder is hinged to the electric pusher wheel 1, and the piston rod ends of the two adjusting cylinders are connected to the triangular bracket beam. The height of the connecting frame 5011 can be adjusted by extending and retracting the adjusting cylinders to adapt to the quick docking of the electric pusher wheel 1 with vessels 10 at different freeboard heights. The cylinder head of the telescopic cylinder 5012 is connected to the second locking pin 5013 with screws. The flange of the second locking pin 5013 is installed at the end of the movable outer sleeve of the telescopic joint 5015. A groove is opened in the first locking pin 503, and the telescopic cylinder 5012 can push the locking block 504 to move within the first locking pin 503. The telescopic joint 5015 includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is fixedly installed at the end of the connecting frame 5011, and the outer sleeve can slide on the inner sleeve. A guide key, a sealing device, and a lubrication device are provided between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. To ensure accurate positioning of the male head 501 and the female head 502, a guide slider is installed on the outer surface of the telescopic joint 5015. Two U-shaped channel steels are provided as guide rails on the structure of the female head 502 at the stern of the vessel to be towed 10.
[0080] As another aspect of the present invention, relying on the above-described system, a method for a vessel to be towed to move downstream by being towed into or out of a ship lift includes the following steps:
[0081] Step 1): According to the schedule of ships waiting to be towed through the ship lift, the operators use VHF to direct the ship waiting to be towed 10 to navigate from the upstream pilot channel of the ship lift to the upstream berthing pier 12-1 for mooring.
[0082] Step 2): After the vessel 10 waiting to be towed by the ship lift has moored and stopped at the upstream dock 12-1, the ship lift operator starts the upstream electric push wheel 1 through the remote centralized control system 103 and issues a command to move the vessel waiting to be towed into the container. The navigation control system 104 controls the upstream electric push wheel 1 to sail to the upstream vessel 10 waiting to be towed by the ship lift. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame 5011 of the electric push wheel and the quick connection device 5 of the vessel waiting to be towed by the ship lift is adjusted according to the information of the vessel waiting to be towed by the ship lift database 11.
[0083] Step 3): The upstream electric push wheel 1 sails to the location of the vessel 10 waiting to be towed and the height of the connecting frame 5011 is adjusted, and the electric push wheel 1 quickly docks with the vessel 10 waiting to be towed.
[0084] Step 4): After the electric push wheel 1 is docked with the vessel 10 to be towed, the vessel 10 to be towed is unmoored. The electric push wheel 1 pushes the vessel 10 to be towed into the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel to be towed entering the compartment, the guide system 2 arranged on the upstream navigation wall 7-1 and the compartment 6 can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time.
[0085] Step 5): When the vessel to be towed 10 sails to the stern and reaches the wire rope winch brake device 3-1 arranged on the upstream navigation wall 7-1, the electric push wheel 1 starts to brake and decelerate, and hangs the wire rope 3-102 cable ring of the wire rope winch brake device 3-1 on the stern of the vessel to be towed 10 on the mooring bollard, thus driving the vessel to be towed 10 to begin to decelerate.
[0086] Step 6): The vessel 10 to be towed slows down and stops. After the mooring is completed in the 6th compartment, the cable ring of the wire rope 3-102 is removed from the stern of the vessel 10 to be towed. The wire rope winch system 3-101 drives the wire rope 3-102 to retract and wind onto the wire rope drum. At the same time, the electric push wheel 1 is disconnected from the vessel 10 to be towed.
[0087] Step 7): After the connection between the electric push wheel 1 and the vessel 10 to be towed is disconnected, the ship lift operator issues an order for the upstream electric push wheel 1 to return to the upstream charging dock 402 for berthing. The electric push wheel 1 sails to the upstream charging dock 402 for berthing and charges the power battery pack 102 of the electric push wheel 1.
[0088] Step 8): After the electric pusher wheel 1 exits the ship chamber 6, the ship chamber 6 begins to disconnect from the upper lock head and begins to descend to connect with the lower lock head;
[0089] Step 9): After the ship compartment is connected to the lower lock head, the ship lift operator starts the downstream electric push wheel 1 through the remote centralized control system 103 and issues a command to move the ship waiting to be towed out of the compartment. The navigation control system 104 controls the downstream electric push wheel 1 to sail to the ship waiting to be towed 10 inside the ship compartment. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame 5011 of the electric push wheel and the quick connection device 5 for the ship waiting to be towed is adjusted according to the information of the ship waiting to be towed 10 obtained from the ship waiting to be towed database 11.
[0090] Step 10): The downstream electric push wheel 1 travels to the location of the vessel 10 to be towed inside the ship compartment and the height of the connecting frame 5011 is adjusted, and the electric push wheel 1 quickly docks with the vessel 10 to be towed.
[0091] Step 11): After the electric push wheel 1 is docked with the vessel 10 to be towed, the vessel 10 to be towed is unmoored. The electric push wheel 1 pulls the vessel 10 out of the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel 10 to be towed out of the compartment, the guide system 2 arranged on the downstream navigation wall 7-2 and the compartment 6 can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time.
[0092] Step 12): When the vessel to be towed 10 sails to the stern of the vessel to be towed and reaches the downstream navigation wall 7-2 of the ship lift, the electric push wheel 1 begins to brake and decelerate, driving the vessel to be towed 10 out of the box to begin to decelerate.
[0093] Step 13): The vessel 10 to be towed reaches the downstream berth 12-2 and decelerates to a stop. The electric push wheel 1 is disconnected from the vessel 10 to be towed.
[0094] Step 14): After the connection between the electric push wheel 1 and the vessel 10 to be towed is released, the vessel 10 to be towed starts its engine and heads downstream to the pilot channel. The ship lift operator issues an order for the downstream electric push wheel 1 to return to the downstream charging dock 402 and berth. The electric push wheel 1 sails to the downstream charging dock 402, berths, and charges the power battery pack 102 of the electric push wheel 1.
[0095] Step 15): The process of towing vessel 10 descending via the ship lift is completed.
[0096] As another aspect of the present invention, relying on the above-described system, a method for a vessel to be towed to move upstream and be towed into or out of a ship lift includes the following steps:
[0097] Step 1): According to the schedule of ships waiting to be towed through the ship lift, the operators use VHF to direct the upstream ship waiting to be towed 10 to navigate from the downstream pilot channel of the ship lift to the downstream berthing pier 12-2 for mooring.
[0098] Step 2): After the vessel 10 waiting to be towed by the ship lift has moored and stopped at the pier 12-2 downstream of the ship lift, the ship lift operator starts the downstream electric push wheel 1 through the remote centralized control system 103 and issues an order for the vessel waiting to be towed to enter the pier for towing. The navigation control system 104 controls the downstream electric push wheel 1 to sail to the downstream vessel 10 waiting to be towed by the ship lift. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame 5011 of the electric push wheel and the quick connection device 5 of the vessel waiting to be towed by the ship lift is adjusted according to the information of the vessel waiting to be towed by the ship lift database 11.
[0099] Step 3): The downstream electric push wheel 1 sails to the location of the vessel 10 waiting to be towed and the height of the connecting frame 5011 is adjusted, and the electric push wheel 1 quickly docks with the vessel 10 waiting to be towed.
[0100] Step 4): After the electric push wheel 1 is connected to the vessel 10 to be towed, the vessel 10 to be towed is unmoored. The electric push wheel 1 pushes the vessel 10 to be towed into the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel to be towed entering the compartment, the guide system 2 arranged on the downstream navigation wall 7-2 and the compartment 6 can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time.
[0101] Step 5): When the vessel to be towed 10 sails to the stern and reaches the wire rope winch brake device 3-1 arranged on the downstream navigation wall 7-2, the electric push wheel 1 starts to brake and decelerate, and hangs the wire rope 3-102 cable ring of the wire rope winch brake device 3-1 on the stern of the vessel to be towed 10 on the mooring bollard, thus driving the vessel to be towed 10 to begin to decelerate.
[0102] Step 6): The vessel 10 to be towed slows down and stops. After the mooring is completed in the 6th compartment, the cable ring of the wire rope 3-102 is removed from the stern of the vessel 10 to be towed. The wire rope winch system 3-101 drives the wire rope 3-102 to retract and wind onto the wire rope drum. At the same time, the electric push wheel 1 is disconnected from the vessel 10 to be towed.
[0103] Step 7): After the connection between the electric push wheel 1 and the vessel 10 to be towed is disconnected, the ship lift operator issues an order for the downstream electric push wheel 1 to return to the downstream charging dock 402 for berthing. The electric push wheel 1 sails to the downstream charging dock 402 for berthing and charges the power battery pack 102 of the electric push wheel 1.
[0104] Step 8): After the electric pusher wheel 1 exits the ship chamber 6, the ship chamber 6 begins to disconnect from the lower lock head and begins to move upward to connect with the upper lock head.
[0105] Step 9): After the ship compartment is connected to the upper lock head, the ship lift operator starts the upstream electric push wheel 1 through the remote centralized control system 103 and issues an order to move the ship 10 to be towed out of the compartment. The navigation control system 104 controls the upstream electric push wheel 1 to sail to the ship 10 to be towed out of the compartment. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame 5011 of the electric push wheel and the quick connection device 5 of the ship 10 to be towed is adjusted according to the information of the ship 10 to be towed in the compartment obtained from the ship database 11.
[0106] Step 11): The upstream electric push wheel 1 travels to the location of the vessel 10 to be towed inside the ship compartment and the height of the connecting frame 5011 is adjusted, and the electric push wheel 1 is quickly docked with the vessel 10 to be towed.
[0107] Step 12): After the electric push wheel 1 is docked with the vessel 10 to be towed, the vessel 10 to be towed is unmoored. The electric push wheel 1 pulls the vessel 10 out of the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel 10 to be towed out of the compartment, the guiding system 2 arranged on the upstream navigation wall 7-1 and the compartment 6 can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time.
[0108] Step 13): When the vessel to be towed 10 sails to the stern of the vessel to be towed and reaches the upstream navigation wall 7-1 of the ship lift, the electric push wheel 1 begins to brake and decelerate, driving the vessel to be towed 10 out of the box to begin to decelerate.
[0109] Step 14): The vessel 10 to be towed reaches the upstream berth 12-1, completes deceleration and stops, and the electric push wheel 1 is disconnected from the vessel 10 to be towed.
[0110] Step 15): After the connection between the electric push wheel 1 and the vessel 10 to be towed is released, the vessel 10 to be towed starts its engine and heads towards the upstream pilot channel. The ship lift operator issues an order for the upstream electric push wheel 1 to return to the upstream charging dock 402 for berthing. The electric push wheel 1 sails to the upstream charging dock 402 for berthing and charges the power battery pack 102 of the electric push wheel 1.
[0111] Step 16): The process of towing vessel 10 going uphill through the ship lift is completed.
[0112] Preferably, in steps 4), 5), 6), and 12), the pontoons 2-101 of the first guiding device 2-1 and the wire rope winch-type braking device 3-1 arranged on the navigation wall 7 move up and down in the pontoon well 2-105 according to the water level changes of the upstream and downstream channels of the Three Gorges ship lift. This can meet the guidance and braking needs of the traction system for guiding the ship to be towed into and out of the ship lift cabin when the upstream channel water level fluctuates within a range of 30m (elevation) from 145m to 175m and the downstream channel water level fluctuates within a range of 11.8m (elevation) from 62m to 73.8m.
[0113] Preferably, the guidance system (2) arranged on both sides of the navigation wall 7 and the ship compartment 6 in steps 4) and 11) can be arranged along the route according to the length of the navigation wall 7 and the ship compartment 6 being 345.5m. The length of the wire rope 3-102 of the wire rope winch brake device 3-1 in steps 5) and 6) can be determined to be 50m according to the main dimensions of the ship to be towed and the length of the ship compartment. The guidance system 2 and the wire rope winch brake device 3-1 can be adapted to the guidance and braking of the ship to be towed when entering and leaving the ship compartment of the Three Gorges ship lift over a long distance.
[0114] Preferably, the maximum speed of the electric tractor 1 when towing the vessel to be towed in and out of the compartment is v_tw = 3ms, and the maximum speed of the electric tractor 1 when unloaded is v_tw = 8ms. The electric tractor 1 can adjust its speed according to the preset route and external information obtained during the navigation process.
[0115] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely illustrative of the structural relationships and principles of the invention. Various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed.
Claims
1. A traction system for hauling vessels entering and exiting a ship lift chamber over long distances and under significant water level fluctuations, characterized in that... For, including: An electric pusher wheel (1) for pushing a vessel to be towed, a guidance system (2) with anti-collision guidance and mooring function for the vessel to be towed, a braking system (3), a charging device (4) for charging the electric pusher wheel, and a quick connection device (5) for quick connection between the pusher wheel and the vessel to be towed. The guidance system (2) is arranged along the sides of the ship lift cabin (6) and the upstream and downstream navigation walls (7), including a first guidance device (2-1) and a second guidance device (2-2). The first guidance device (2-1) is evenly arranged on the upstream and downstream navigation walls (7) along the water flow direction. The first guidance device (2-1) is a float-type guidance device that can float up and down in the vertical direction with the fluctuation of the water level in the ship lift channel. The second guidance device (2-2) is symmetrically arranged along the longitudinal centerline of the cabin (6), and is densely arranged at the upstream and downstream ends of the cabin (6) along the water flow direction, and sparsely arranged in the middle section. The braking system (3) includes multiple wire rope winch-type braking devices (3-1) installed on both sides of the navigation wall (7) near the upstream and downstream ends of the ship compartment, which can float up and down with the fluctuation of the water level in the ship lift channel and have a damping effect, and two cable-driven braking devices (3-2) installed in the middle of both sides of the ship compartment for emergency use of out-of-control ships waiting to be towed. The electric pusher (1) is an unmanned, automatically navigating, and remotely centrally controlled electrically driven vessel to be towed. A propulsion system is installed at the bow and stern, and an electric pusher (1) is arranged in the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift. The electric pusher (1) includes an electric pusher hull (101), a power battery pack (102), a remote central control system (103), a navigation control system (104), and an information acquisition system (105). The remote central control system (103) includes a manual navigation subsystem (103-1) and an automatic navigation subsystem (103-2). The remote central control system (103) communicates with the ship lift's database of vessels to be towed, and can obtain and precisely adjust the height of the male end (501) of the quick connection device (5) between the pusher (1) and the vessel to be towed based on the vessel's size, draft, and freeboard data, thus achieving the connection between the pusher (1) and the vessel to be towed. (10) Quick docking and disengagement; the manual navigation subsystem (103-1) and the automatic navigation subsystem (103-2) can communicate wirelessly. The manual navigation subsystem (103-1) can monitor the operation data of the automatic navigation subsystem (103-2) and the navigation status of the electric pusher (1) in real time. The manual navigation subsystem (103-1) is located in the ship lift control room and is used for starting, stopping and emergency braking of the electric pusher (1) in emergency situations. When the automatic navigation subsystem (103-2) fails, the remote centralized control system (103) is switched to the manual navigation subsystem (103-1) to remotely operate the electric pusher (1). The automatic navigation subsystem (103-2) is located on the electric pusher (1). The automatic navigation subsystem (103-2) can operate the electric pusher (1) according to the pre-set information of the database (11) of ships to be towed, environmental information, The route planning and meteorological and obstacle information obtained from the information collection system (105) are analyzed and processed, and instructions are issued to the navigation control system (104). The electric push wheel (1) performs the following actions: docking with the vessel to be towed (10), towing the vessel to be towed into and out of the cabin, disengaging from the vessel to be towed (10), and sailing to the charging dock (402) for charging.
2. The traction system for hauling vessels entering and exiting a ship lift cabin over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: The wire rope winch-type braking device (3-1) includes a pontoon (2-101), a pontoon well (2-105), a wire rope winch system (3-101), a wire rope (3-102), and a guide pulley (3-103). The wire rope winch system (3-101) includes a frame, a wire rope drum, a drive motor and its control system, a reducer, and a brake. The wire rope winch system (3-101) is arranged in the internal cavity of the pontoon (2-101). The output shaft of the drive motor and the input shaft of the reducer are connected by a coupling. The output shaft of the reducer is connected to the wire rope drum. The other end of the wire rope drum is connected to the brake disc of the brake. The brake is mounted on the frame by bolts. One end of the wire rope (3-102) is fixed to the wire rope drum, and the other end is a cable ring. The wire rope passes through the guide pulley (3-103) fixed to the outside of the buoy (2-101) and is wound around the wire rope drum. The cable braking device (3-2) consists of two large-tonnage cable bollards (3-201) fixedly welded to the middle section of the deck on both sides of the ship compartment. When the wire rope winch braking device (3-1) fails and the ship to be towed is out of control, the cable thrown out by the ship to be towed is hung on the large-tonnage cable bollards (3-201) for cable braking.
3. The traction system for transporting vessels to and from a ship lift cabin over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations, as described in claim 1, is characterized in that: There are two sets of pusher charging devices (4), which are installed on the pontoons (8) arranged near the upstream and downstream navigation walls (7) of the ship lift. The charging devices (4) are connected to the power supply and distribution room of the ship lift by cables. The single-set pusher charging device (4) includes a charging device float structure (401) and a charging dock (402); the charging device float structure (401) includes a rectangular hollow steel structure (4011) and a guide column (4012). The rectangular hollow steel structure (4011) can float up and down in the vertical direction along the guide column (4012) as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift changes. The charging dock (402) is a U-shaped structure, including a charging male head (4021) and a charging female head (4022). The charging dock (402) is connected to the end of the rectangular hollow steel structure (4011) and can move with the rectangular hollow steel structure (4011). The charging female head (4022) is installed on the charging dock (402), and the charging male head (4021) is installed on the electric pusher (1).
4. The traction system for transporting vessels to and from a ship lift cabin over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations, as described in claim 2, is characterized in that: The quick-connection device (5) includes a male head (501) and a female head (502). The male head (501) is mounted on the electric push wheel (1), and the female head (502) is fixedly mounted on the vessel (10) to be towed via the ship lift. The male head (501) includes a connecting frame (5011), two telescopic cylinders (5012), two locking pins (5013), two locking blocks (504), and two telescopic joints (5015). The connecting frame (5011) includes a triangular bracket and two adjusting cylinders. The cylinder body of the adjusting cylinder is hinged to the electric push wheel (1), and the piston rods of the two adjusting cylinders are connected to the triangular bracket beam. The height of the connecting frame (5011) can be adjusted by extending and retracting the adjusting cylinders to adapt to the quick docking of the electric push wheel (1) with vessels (10) to be towed at different freeboard heights. The telescopic cylinders (5011) are also included. 12) The cylinder head is connected to the second locking pin (5013) with screws. The flange of the second locking pin (5013) is installed at the end of the movable outer sleeve of the expansion joint (5015). A groove is opened in the first locking pin (503). The telescopic cylinder (5012) can push the locking block (504) to move in the first locking pin (503). The expansion joint (5015) includes an inner sleeve and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve is fixedly installed at the end of the connecting frame (5011). The outer sleeve can slide on the inner sleeve. A guide key, a sealing device and a lubrication device are set between the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve. In order to ensure the accurate positioning of the male head (501) and the female head (502), a guide slider is installed on the outer surface of the expansion joint (5015). Two U-shaped channel steels are set as guide rails on the structure of the female head (502) at the stern of the vessel to be towed (10).
5. A traction method according to claim 4 for accommodating long-distance, high-level water flow vessels entering and exiting a ship lift cabin system, comprising the following steps: Step 1): According to the scheduling plan of ships waiting to be towed through the ship lift, the operators use the ship lift scheduling system to direct the ships waiting to be towed (10) to sail from the upstream or downstream pilot channel of the ship lift to the upstream or downstream berthing pier (12) for mooring and mooring. Step 2): After the vessel (10) waiting to be towed by the lift is moored and stopped at the berth (12) upstream or downstream of the lift, the lift operator starts the upstream or downstream electric push wheel (1) through the remote centralized control system (103) and issues the command for the vessel to be towed to enter the berth for towing. The navigation control system (104) controls the upstream or downstream electric push wheel (1) to sail to the upstream or downstream vessel (10) waiting to be towed by the lift. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame (5011) of the quick connection device (5) between the electric push wheel and the vessel to be towed is adjusted according to the information of the vessel (10) waiting to be towed by the lift obtained from the vessel database (11). Step 3): The electric push wheel (1) sails to the location of the vessel (10) to be towed and the height of the connecting frame (5011) is adjusted, and the electric push wheel (1) is quickly docked with the vessel (10) to be towed. Step 4): After the electric push wheel (1) is docked with the vessel to be towed (10), the vessel to be towed (10) is unmoored. The electric push wheel (1) pushes the vessel to be towed (10) into the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel to be towed entering the compartment, the guidance system (2) arranged on the navigation wall (7) and the compartment (6) can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time. Step 5): When the vessel to be towed (10) sails to the stern and reaches the wire rope winch brake device (3-1) arranged on the upstream or downstream navigation wall (7), the electric push wheel (1) starts to brake and decelerate, and hangs the wire rope (3-102) cable ring of the wire rope winch brake device (3-1) on the stern of the vessel to be towed (10) on the mooring pile, which drives the vessel to be towed (10) to start to decelerate. Step 6): The vessel (10) to be towed enters the compartment and slows down to a stop. After the mooring is completed in the compartment (6), the cable ring of the wire rope (3-102) is removed from the stern of the vessel (10) to be towed. The wire rope winch system (3-101) drives the wire rope (3-102) to retract and wind around the wire rope drum. At the same time, the electric push wheel (1) is disconnected from the vessel (10) to be towed. Step 7): After the electric push wheel (1) is disconnected from the vessel (10) to be towed, the ship lift operator issues an order for the upstream or downstream electric push wheel (1) to return to the upstream or downstream charging dock (402) for berthing. The electric push wheel (1) sails to the charging dock (402) for berthing and charges the power battery pack (102). Step 8): After the electric pusher (1) exits the cabin (6), the cabin (6) is disconnected from the upper or lower gate and begins to move downward or upward to connect with the lower or upper gate. Step 9): After the ship compartment (6) is connected to the lower or upper lock head, the ship lift operator starts the downstream or upstream electric push wheel (1) through the remote centralized control system (103) and issues a command to pull the ship out of the compartment. The navigation control system (104) controls the downstream or upstream electric push wheel (1) to sail to the ship to be pulled (10) in the ship compartment. At the same time, the height of the connecting frame (5011) of the electric push wheel and the quick connection device (5) of the ship to be pulled is adjusted according to the information of the ship to be pulled (10) obtained from the ship to be pulled database (11). Step 10): The electric push wheel (1) travels to the vessel (10) to be towed inside the ship compartment and the height of the connecting frame (5011) is adjusted, and the electric push wheel (1) is quickly docked with the vessel (10) to be towed. Step 11): After the electric push wheel (1) is docked with the vessel to be towed (10), the vessel to be towed (10) is unmoored. The electric push wheel (1) pulls the vessel to be towed (10) out of the compartment according to the preset route. During the process of the vessel to be towed (10) leaving the compartment, the guidance system (2) arranged on the navigation wall (7) and the compartment (6) can adjust the position of the vessel to be towed at any time. Step 12): When the vessel to be towed (10) sails to the stern of the vessel to be towed and reaches the downstream or upstream navigation wall (7) of the ship lift, the electric push wheel (1) begins to brake and decelerate, driving the vessel to be towed (10) out of the box to begin to decelerate. Step 13): When the vessel (10) waiting to be towed reaches the downstream or upstream dock (12) and comes to a stop, the electric push wheel (1) is disconnected from the vessel (10) waiting to be towed. Step 14): After the electric push wheel (1) is disconnected from the vessel to be towed (10), the vessel to be towed (10) starts its engine and heads downstream or upstream of the pilot channel. The ship lift operator issues an order for the electric push wheel (1) to return to the downstream or upstream charging dock (402) for berthing. The electric push wheel (1) sails to the charging dock (402) for berthing and charges the power battery pack (102). Step 15): The process of towing the vessel (10) going down or up via the ship lift is completed.
6. The traction method according to claim 5 for a vessel to be hauled over long distances and with significant water level fluctuations entering and exiting a ship lift cabin system, characterized in that: In steps 4), 5), 6) and 12), the pontoons (2-101) of the first guiding device (2-1) and the wire rope winch braking device (3-1) arranged on the navigation wall (7) move up and down in the pontoon well (2-105) as the water level of the upstream and downstream channels of the ship lift changes.
7. The traction method for adapting to long-distance, large-level water fluctuations when a vessel is to be hauled into or out of a ship lift cabin system, as described in claim 6, is characterized in that: In steps 4) and 11), the guidance system (2) arranged on both sides of the navigation wall (7) and the cabin (6) is arranged along the length of the navigation wall (7) and the cabin (6).
8. A traction method for adapting to long-distance, large-level water fluctuations when a vessel is to be hauled into or out of a ship lift cabin system, as described in claim 7, characterized in that: The length of the wire rope (3-102) of the wire rope winch-type braking device (3-1) in steps 5) and 6) is determined according to the main dimensions of the ship to be towed by the ship lift and the length of the ship compartment.
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Ship berthing system
CN105539731A
Ship lift ship chamber butt joint method adapting to rapid water level fluctuation
CN111424628A