A double station tow strap reverter

Abstract

This utility model discloses a dual-position towing reversing device, relating to the field of tugboat towing cable technology. Its structure includes a base, a rotating drum, an upper end seat, and idlers. Six rotating mounting posts are fixed to the base in a cross-shaped arrangement. A rotating drum is rotatably mounted on each of the six rotating mounting posts. Two idlers are mounted on the base. The upper end seat is mounted on the upper end of the six rotating mounting posts and also has two idlers mounted on it. This utility model can precisely limit the movement range of the towing cable on the tugboat to a narrow angle, saving stern space, reducing interference with other equipment, and facilitating personnel operation. The rotating drum can rotate freely, effectively buffering the impact when the towing cable breaks, reducing the risk of damage to crew and ship components. Simultaneously, it can automatically adjust the direction of the towing cable, ensuring uniform and stable force distribution, preventing damage due to sudden force changes, and significantly improving the safety and stability of tugboat towing operations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of tugboat towing cable technology, and in particular relates to a dual-station towing commutator. Background Technology

[0002] Tugboats play a vital role in shipping, marine engineering, and maritime rescue, undertaking a variety of tasks such as assisting ships in and out of ports, guiding navigation, towing unpowered vessels and platforms, and participating in rescue operations. The smooth operation of tugboats is crucial to safety and efficiency in many aspects.

[0003] However, traditional towing systems present significant problems for tugboats equipped with two or more tow cranes. On one hand, the tow cable's range of movement at the stern is difficult to control. Factors such as navigation, turning, and the movement of the towed object cause the tow cable to swing erratically at the stern, occupying valuable space, interfering with the normal operation of other stern equipment (such as colliding with rudder and propellers), affecting maneuverability, hindering operator work, increasing difficulty and risk, and reducing operational efficiency.

[0004] On the other hand, the safety hazards when the tow cable breaks are enormous. Traditional systems cannot restrain a broken tow cable, which will shoot out over a wide area of ​​the ship at high speed, easily hitting crew members, causing fractures or even endangering their lives; it will also damage ship components, affecting subsequent operations and navigation safety, and causing huge economic losses.

[0005] In addition, the towline is subject to unstable stress. The movement of the towed object, ocean currents, and waves cause the direction and magnitude of the towline tension to change constantly. Traditional systems lack buffering and adjustment mechanisms, resulting in uneven stress on the towline, which is prone to fatigue damage and breakage. It also affects the stability of the tugboat and the towed object, making it difficult for the tugboat to sail along the predetermined route, and the towed object may drift out of control.

[0006] The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of this utility model and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that the information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0007] The purpose of this utility model is to provide a dual-station towing reversing device, which precisely limits the movement range of the towing cable on the tugboat through a specific arrangement of rotating drums and upper and lower idler rollers. Combined with the free rotation of the rotating drums to buffer the impact of the towing, it solves the problems of messy towing cable movement, large safety hazards of towing cable breakage, and unstable towing cable force in the existing tugboat towing system.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model is achieved through the following technical solution:

[0009] This utility model relates to a dual-station towing reversing device, comprising a base, rotating drums, an upper end seat, and idler rollers. Six rotating mounting columns are arranged in a cross shape on the base. Each of the six rotating mounting columns has a rotating drum rotatably mounted on it. Two idler rollers are mounted on the base. The upper end seat is mounted on the upper end of the six rotating mounting columns and also has two idler rollers mounted on it. The two vertically mounted rotating drums and the two horizontally mounted idler rollers between them constitute a towing reversing station. Two additional vertically mounted rotating drums are positioned one in front of the other to support the towing belt during large-angle turns of the tugboat, reducing the possibility of contact between the two towing belts.

[0010] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the base includes a solid rectangular base; a plurality of lugs are arranged around the solid rectangular base; a first solid rectangular support is fixed at each end of the upper surface of the solid rectangular base; a second solid rectangular support is fixed at the middle of the upper surface of the solid rectangular base; a mounting groove for mounting the idler roller spindle is opened at the top center of the opposite side of the first and second solid rectangular supports; solid horizontal support seats are symmetrically arranged on the front and rear side walls of the upper end of the second solid rectangular support; a rotating mounting column is fixed at the upper end of the first solid rectangular support; two rotating mounting columns are fixed at the upper end of the second solid rectangular support; a rotating mounting column is fixed at the upper end of the solid horizontal support; a reinforcing rib is provided between the solid horizontal support and the side wall of the second solid rectangular support.

[0011] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the rotating mounting column includes a disc base; a coaxially arranged cylindrical rod is fixed on the upper surface of the disc base; and a threaded blind hole is provided at the upper end of the cylindrical rod.

[0012] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the rotating drum includes a cylinder; both the upper and lower ends of the cylinder are provided with annular grooves for installing bearings.

[0013] As a preferred embodiment of this utility model, the upper end seat includes a cross seat plate; the cross seat plate has a through hole that aligns with the six threaded blind holes; the cross seat plate has two rectangular through holes; the idler roller is mounted on the cross seat plate via a bearing with a seat, and the idler roller body passes through the rectangular through hole; the rectangular through hole is located directly above the idler roller mounted on the base.

[0014] This utility model has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] 1. This utility model, through the specific arrangement of the rotating drums and the setting of two sets of upper and lower idlers, restricts the range of movement of the tow cable on the tugboat to a narrow angle. This effectively reduces the movement space of the tow cable at the stern, avoids the tow cable swinging arbitrarily and causing significant interference to the surrounding area at the stern, and provides a more spacious and safer space for the normal operation of other equipment and personnel at the stern.

[0016] 2. In the event of a tow cable breakage emergency, the dual-position tow commutator of this invention acts as a crucial buffer zone. It confines the broken tow cable to a relatively small area around the commutator, preventing the tow cable from flaring across the ship, greatly reducing the risk of damage to the personal safety of the crew and other ship components, and ensuring the safety of tugboat operations.

[0017] 3. This utility model makes the movement of the tow cable more stable under the guidance of the commutator, reducing the impact of tow cable swaying and jumping on the tugboat's navigation and towing operations, enabling the tugboat to perform tasks more smoothly, and improving the continuity and stability of the operation.

[0018] 4. The overall structure of this utility model's dual-station drag commutator is simple and clear, with reasonable connections and installation methods for each component, resulting in high reliability and stability. The simple structure also makes the device easier and faster to manufacture, install, and maintain, reducing production costs and maintenance difficulty.

[0019] Of course, any product implementing this utility model does not necessarily need to achieve all of the advantages described above at the same time. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this utility model. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the dual-station drag commutator of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The front view.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the base structure.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the rotating drum.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the upper end seat.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a partial schematic diagram of a tugboat towing another tugboat at a small angle.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a partial schematic diagram of a tugboat towing another tugboat at a large angle.

[0028] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0029] 1-Base, 2-Rotating cylinder, 3-Upper end seat, 4-Impeding roller, 5-Rotating mounting column, 11-Solid rectangular base, 12-Support lug, 13-First solid rectangular support column, 14-Second solid rectangular support column, 15-Mounting groove, 16-Solid horizontal support seat, 17-Reinforcing rib plate, 21-Cylinder, 22-Annular groove, 31-Cross seat plate, 32-Circular through hole, 33-Rectangular through hole, 51-Disc base, 52-Cylindrical rod, 53-Threaded blind hole. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The technical solutions of the present utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present utility model, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present utility model. Specific Implementation Example 1:

[0032] Please see Figure 1-7 As shown, this utility model is a dual-position towing reversing device, which aims to limit the range of movement of the towing cable on the tugboat to a narrow angle, reduce the interference range to the stern, and at the same time act as a buffer zone in the event of towing cable breakage, effectively reducing the damage to crew members and other components caused by large-scale towing cable breakage on the ship.

[0033] Its structure specifically includes a base 1, a rotating drum 2, an upper end seat 3, and a roller 4. The base 1 is made of high-strength steel to ensure sufficient stability and load-bearing capacity in the complex working environment of the tugboat. It includes a solid rectangular base 11, with several lugs 12 arranged around it. These lugs 12 are used to firmly install the base 1 at a designated position at the stern of the tugboat, and are tightly connected to the stern structure by bolts and other fasteners, and welding is used when necessary.

[0034] A first solid rectangular support column 13 is fixed at each end of the upper surface of the solid rectangular base 11, and a second solid rectangular support column 14 is fixed in the middle of the upper surface. The top center of the opposite side of the first solid rectangular support column 13 and the second solid rectangular support column 14 is provided with a mounting groove 15 for mounting the main shaft of the idler roller 4. The dimensions of the mounting groove 15 are precisely designed to achieve a good fit with the main shaft of the idler roller 4, ensuring the stability and operational flexibility of the idler roller 4 after installation.

[0035] The upper end of the second solid rectangular support column 14 is symmetrically provided with solid horizontal support seats 16 on its front and rear side walls to increase structural strength and provide additional installation positions. The upper end of the first solid rectangular support column 13 has a rotating mounting column 5 fixed, the upper end of the second solid rectangular support column 14 has two rotating mounting columns 5 fixed, and the upper end of the solid horizontal support seat 16 also has a rotating mounting column 5 fixed. Furthermore, a reinforcing rib 17 is provided between the solid horizontal support seat 16 and the side wall of the second solid rectangular support column 14 to further enhance the structural stability and prevent deformation or damage when the tow cable is under stress. The rotating mounting column 5 includes a disc base 51, on the upper surface of which a coaxially arranged cylindrical rod 52 is fixed. The upper end of the cylindrical rod 52 has a threaded blind hole 53. The disc base 51 increases the contact area with the base 1, improving installation stability, while the threaded blind hole 53 is used for connection and fixation with the upper end seat 3. The rotating drum 2 includes a cylinder 21 made of wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant material to withstand long-term friction of the tow cable and erosion from the marine environment. Both the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 21 are provided with annular grooves 22 for installing bearings. By installing bearings, the rotating cylinder 2 can rotate freely around the rotating mounting column 5, reducing the friction of the tow cable during movement and making the movement of the tow cable smoother. The upper end seat 3 includes a cross seat plate 31, which is made of high-strength alloy material and has sufficient rigidity and strength. The cross seat plate 31 has through holes 32 that align with six threaded blind holes 53. Bolts are used to connect the through holes 32 to the threaded blind holes 53, and the upper end seat 3 is firmly installed on the upper end of the six rotating mounting columns 5. The cross seat plate 31 has two rectangular through holes 33. The idler roller 4 is installed on the cross seat plate 31 through a seated bearing, and the body of the idler roller 4 passes through the rectangular through holes 33. The rectangular through holes 33 are located directly above the idler roller 4 installed on the base 1. This design allows the tow cable to move stably between the upper and lower sets of idler rollers 4, while limiting the range of movement of the tow cable. The idler roller 4 is made of high-quality steel with a specially treated surface, resulting in a smooth surface and good wear resistance. Mounted on the upper end seat 3 and base 1 via a bearing, the idler roller 4 can rotate freely around its own axis, providing support and guidance for the movement of the tow cable. During tugboat operations, a dual-position tow reversing device is installed at a designated position at the stern of the tugboat. After the tow cable is drawn from the tow winch, it passes over the idler roller 4 on base 1, then around the rotating drum 2 or the idler roller 4, and finally connects to the towed object.

[0036] Because the rotating drum 2 can rotate freely on the rotating mounting column 5, when the tugboat's attitude changes during navigation or the movement of the towed object causes a change in the direction of the tow cable's tension, the rotating drum 2 will rotate accordingly, automatically adjusting the direction of the tow cable so that the portion of the tow cable on the tugboat always moves along a relatively stable path. Simultaneously, the upper and lower sets of idler rollers 4 limit the tow cable's vertical movement range, while the arrangement of the rotating drum 2 limits the tow cable's horizontal movement angle, confining the tow cable's movement range on the tugboat to a narrow angle, effectively reducing interference to the stern.

[0037] In the event of a tow cable breakage emergency, the dual-position tow cable reversing device plays a crucial buffering role. Because the movement range of the tow cable on the reversing device is restricted, the broken cable does not spread widely across the ship but is confined to a relatively small area around the reversing device, thus significantly reducing the risk of injury to crew members and other components. In actual tugboat operation tests, tugboats equipped with this dual-position tow cable reversing device demonstrated significant advantages. During normal operation, the movement of the tow cable was more stable, interference with equipment around the stern was significantly reduced, and the overall operational efficiency and safety of the tugboat were improved. In multiple simulated tow cable breakage tests, the reversing device successfully confined the broken cable within a controllable range, causing no damage to crew members or ship components, fully verifying the effectiveness and reliability of this design.

[0038] Furthermore, this dual-station towing commutator has advantages such as simple structure, convenient installation, and low maintenance cost, and can be widely used on various tugboats equipped with two or more towing winches, providing safer and more efficient protection for tugboat operations. In the description of this specification, the reference to terms such as "an embodiment," "example," "specific example," etc., means that the specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this utility model. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0039] The preferred embodiments of this utility model disclosed above are merely illustrative of the present utility model. These preferred embodiments do not exhaustively describe all details, nor do they limit the utility model to the specific implementations described. Clearly, many modifications and variations can be made based on the content of this specification. This specification selects and specifically describes these embodiments to better explain the principles and practical applications of this utility model, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to better understand and utilize it. This utility model is limited only by the claims and their full scope and equivalents.

Claims

1. A dual-station drive commutator, characterized in that: It includes a base (1), a rotating drum (2), an upper end seat (3), and a roller (4); The base (1) has six rotating mounting columns (5) arranged in a cross shape and fixed thereon; a rotating cylinder (2) is mounted on each of the six rotating mounting columns (5). Two idler rollers (4) are installed on the base (1). The upper end seat (3) is installed on the upper end of the six rotating mounting columns (5); Two idler rollers (4) are installed on the upper end seat (3).

2. The dual-station drag commutator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The base (1) includes a solid rectangular base (11); a plurality of lugs (12) are arranged around the solid rectangular base (11); a first solid rectangular support column (13) is fixed at each end of the upper surface of the solid rectangular base (11); a second solid rectangular support column (14) is fixed in the middle of the upper surface of the solid rectangular base (11); an installation groove (15) for installing the main shaft of the idler roller (4) is opened at the center of the top of the first solid rectangular support column (13) and the second solid rectangular support column (14); solid horizontal support seats (16) are symmetrically arranged on the front and rear side walls of the upper end of the second solid rectangular support column (14); a rotating mounting column (5) is fixed at the upper end of the first solid rectangular support column (13); two rotating mounting columns (5) are fixed at the upper end of the second solid rectangular support column (14); a rotating mounting column (5) is fixed at the upper end of the solid horizontal support seat (16); a reinforcing rib plate (17) is arranged between the solid horizontal support seat (16) and the side wall of the second solid rectangular support column (14).

3. The dual-station drag commutator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating mounting column (5) includes a disc base (51); a coaxial cylindrical rod (52) is fixed on the upper surface of the disc base (51); and a threaded blind hole (53) is opened at the upper end of the cylindrical rod (52).

4. The dual-station drag commutator according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating drum (2) includes a cylindrical drum (21); the upper and lower ends of the cylindrical drum (21) are provided with annular grooves (22) for installing bearings.

5. The dual-station drag commutator according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper end seat (3) includes a cross seat plate (31); the cross seat plate (31) has a round through hole (32) that aligns with the six threaded blind holes (53); the cross seat plate (31) has two rectangular through holes (33); the idler roller (4) is mounted on the cross seat plate (31) by a seated bearing, and the main body of the idler roller (4) passes through the rectangular through hole (33); the rectangular through hole (33) is located directly above the idler roller (4) mounted on the base (1).

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