Device for connecting power lines to a ship

Abstract

Device for connecting lines (2) between a stationary supplier in the port area and a ship whose position is initially not precisely determinable, but can later be essentially fixed in a stationary position, in particular at different berths of a quay facility, wherein the lines (2) are laid in at least one energy supply chain (3), the ends of the lines (2) are connected to a connection unit (16) movable parallel to the energy supply chain (3) and the movable connection unit (16) is connectable to the ship, wherein the device has a separate support structure (6) and wherein the connection unit (16) is mounted on a carriage (10) and is movably guided on or along this support structure (6), characterized in thatthat the energy supply chain (3) is held in the separate support structure (6) and that the connection unit (16) is mounted on top of the carriage (10) and the carriage (10) is movable on or along the support structure (6), the travel path of the carriage (10) running on top of the support structure (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for connecting cables between a stationary utility in the port area and a ship whose position is initially not precisely determinable but can later be fixed in a substantially stationary position, wherein the cables are laid in at least one energy supply chain, the ends of the cables are connected to a connection unit that is movable parallel to the energy supply chain, and the movable connection unit can be connected to the ship. The device has a support structure.

[0002] In a known device of this type (Stemmann-Technik - website), the energy supply chain is laid in a trench along a quayside, which is closed off by multiple cover flaps. A connecting carriage, linked to the energy lines, travels alongside the trench on a concrete path and lifts the cover flaps within its working area. The carriage stops at the respective ship's connection point and is connected to the ship's plugs.

[0003] Such a known device is suitable only as a shore power connection. Furthermore, it has the disadvantage that a separate lane must be kept clear for the connecting vehicle, and finally, in the event of extreme flooding, the ditch housing the energy supply chain may be flooded, rendering the system unusable.

[0004] Furthermore, WO 2012 / 116 914 A2 discloses a power supply device for a ship moored at a berth in a port. The power supply device has a stand located on land, on which at least one electrical contact element for a plug of the ship's power supply line is arranged. The contact element is electrically connectable to a shore-based power supply network. The contact element is horizontally displaceable on the stand.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a versatile and safe connection option that is suitable not only for the transmission of energy but also for the transmission of other media and has a reliable and compact design.

[0006] According to the invention, this problem is solved by holding the energy chain in a separate support structure and by mounting the connection unit on top of a carriage, and by making the carriage movable on or along the support structure, with the carriage's travel path running along the top of the support structure.

[0007] The connection device according to the invention enables the connection between a supplier and the ship with respect to lines for all media. Furthermore, the device requires little effort and space, especially since the connection device according to the invention can be completely prepared and installed by the manufacturer.

[0008] Earthworks and separate paths for a connecting vehicle are not required.

[0009] The support structure can be constructed from basic elements assembled in the form of C, L, or U profiles. Such a support structure has the advantage that it can be assembled from prefabricated parts, some of which are readily available on the market.

[0010] Preferably, the support structure is surrounded along its entire length by a hood-shaped roof, wherein the passage area inside the roof is higher than the highest point of the movable connecting unit.

[0011] The entire device is protected from the weather by such a roof, and the connection unit can be freely moved along the entire length of the device to any laterally offset positions.

[0012] The canopy has an access point along its entire length from the connection unit to the intended vessel as the consumer.

[0013] The connection unit has, for example, side plug parts, and the hood-shaped roof is open at the sides in the area of ​​the plug parts, so that connection to the ship is easily possible.

[0014] The connection unit is preferably mounted on a carriage whose wheels are guided on or against the support structure.

[0015] The carriage of the connecting unit preferably runs along the top of the support structure, with the carriage's various wheels bearing against corresponding guide surfaces of the support structure from above, laterally, and, if necessary, also from below. These measures ensure that the carriage is guided securely and does not tip over on the support structure.

[0016] A circulating cable drive can be provided as a drive for the carriage of the connecting unit, which can be selectively driven to move the carriage.

[0017] Alternatively, it is also possible that the connecting unit's carriage has its own drive system, whereby at least one wheel of the carriage is driven by a motor or, for example, a gear is driven which meshes with a rack arranged along the track.

[0018] If the device according to the invention is to be used in areas at risk of flooding, it is possible to mount the support structure on stilts, whereby the travel path for the carriage of the connecting unit on the support structure is maintained.

[0019] In port areas, the stilts can also be erected on a flood protection wall.

[0020] In the latter cases, where the support structure is mounted on stilts and / or flood walls, a ladder carried on the vehicle may be provided as access for a technician.

[0021] In another embodiment of the invention, the support structure, including the energy chain, is also covered along its entire length by a hood-shaped canopy. However, the carriage carrying the connection unit is portal-shaped and extends over the hood-shaped canopy, allowing the carriage with the connection unit mounted on it to move freely over the canopy.

[0022] The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for use in port areas for supplying ships that moor at different berths of a quay, the device extending along the berths. In this way, the quay can be optimally utilized by allowing ships of different lengths and sizes to moor one after the other. With the device according to the invention, the connection unit can then move to the connection plugs of the respective ship and connect there.

[0023] The device according to the invention is preferably used to supply ships with energy, media, data and the like.

[0024] Furthermore, it is also possible to use the device according to the invention for supplying ships with water or for disposing of wastewater.

[0025] The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawing and described in detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1: a section through a first embodiment of the connection device according to the invention, Fig. 2: A reduced-scale side view of the device according to the invention in the direction of arrow II. Fig. 1, Fig. 3: A view of the connection device, mounted on stilts, on an even smaller scale. Fig. 4: an excerpt from Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale, Fig. 5: a sectional view in the direction of arrow V from Fig. 4 and Fig. 6: a section through a second embodiment of the connection device according to the invention.

[0026] The embodiments shown in the drawing relate to movable shore connections in the area of ​​quays, where ships of different sizes moor at different times and in different positions. The connection devices according to the invention are intended for servicing container ships, passenger ships and other ships that moor one after the other at the quays in larger ports.

[0027] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a section through such a connection device 1, which in the present case serves to supply the ships with shore power.

[0028] The electrical conductors 2 are mounted in an energy supply chain 3, from which in Fig. 1 the upper trum 4 and the lower trum 5 can be seen.

[0029] The energy chain 3 is held in a separate support structure 6. The support structure 6 is composed of commercially available or easily manufactured basic elements in the form of C, L and / or U profiles 7.

[0030] The support structure 6 can be attached to the base 8 of the quay.

[0031] At the in Fig. 1 and Fig. In the illustrated embodiment 2, C-profiles 9 are provided to support the support structure 6. These C-profiles are arranged at intervals and laid transversely to the support structure 6. The C-profiles 9 rest on the bottom 8 of the quay, and the support structure 6 is fastened to these C-profiles 9 by means of screws.

[0032] A connection unit 16 is movable along the longitudinal direction of the energy chain 3 on the support structure 6. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the connection unit is mounted on a carriage 10, which is guided on the support structure 6 so as to move along the energy chain 3.

[0033] To support the carriage 10 on the support structure 6, pairs of wheels 11, 12, 13 are mounted on both sides. These wheels are supported on different guide surfaces of the profiles 7 of the support structure 6. The upper wheels 11 run on a horizontal flange 14 of the support structure 6, and the lower wheels 12 rest against the underside of this flange 14, thus ensuring optimal vertical guidance of the carriage 10. The other lateral wheels 13 are positioned at a 90° angle to the wheels 11 and 12. These wheels 13 run along a vertical surface 15 of the support structure 6, thus also ensuring lateral horizontal guidance of the carriage 10.

[0034] The connection unit 16, which is equipped with a side plug part 17, is located on top of the carriage 10.

[0035] The cables 2 laid in the energy supply chain 3 lead into the connection unit 16 and are connected inside the connection unit 16 to the plug part 17.

[0036] The plug part 17 is located on the side of the connection unit 16 which points towards the water side of the quay and can be connected there to the connecting cables of the ships.

[0037] The support structure 6 is provided with a hood-shaped roof 18 along its entire length. The passage area in the interior 19 of the roof 18 is higher than the highest point of the movable connecting unit, so that the car 10, including the connecting unit 16, can move freely under the roof 18.

[0038] To ensure that the connector parts 17 are freely accessible to the ships' connection cables, the hood-shaped canopy 18 has a lateral access point 20 along its entire length, from which the connector parts 17 protrude towards the connection cables of the respective ships. The hood-shaped canopy 18 is therefore open towards the water side of the quayside.

[0039] The carriage 10 is driven by a circulating cable pull 21, the lower part of which is connected to the carriage 10 and the upper part of which is guided in the opposite direction in the upper area of ​​the hood-shaped roof 18.

[0040] Alternatively, any other drive systems are conceivable, for example in the form of a self-propulsion system using an electric motor, which either drives at least one of the wheels 11, 12, 13 or is connected, for example, to a gear which meshes with a stationary rack arranged along the hood-shaped roof 18.

[0041] If the connection unit according to the invention is to be installed and used in port facilities at risk of flooding, the support structure 6 can be attached to stilts 22, which, as shown in Fig. 3 to 5 are shown, arranged at intervals parallel to the quay wall and support the supporting structure 6.

[0042] If the quay is already equipped with a flood protection wall 23, the stilts 22 can alternatively be mounted on the flood protection wall 23.

[0043] However, if the flood protection wall 23 is high enough, the connection device according to the invention can also be attached directly to the flood protection wall 23.

[0044] In order to be able to service the connection device, in the version with the arranged stilts 22 on the carriage 10 a ladder 29 is arranged, which is provided as access for a fitter.

[0045] Further diverse embodiments of the connection device according to the invention are conceivable, particularly if heavy-duty versions are involved. In the case of the Fig.In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, for example, the carriage 24, which carries the connection unit 16 with the plug parts 17, runs on rails 25 that run directly alongside the support structure 6 on both sides. The wheels 26 provided on the carriage 24 of the connection unit 16 run directly on the top surface of the rails 25. In addition, wheels 27 are provided on both sides, offset by 90°, which bear against the side surfaces of the rails 25 to stabilize the carriage 24 laterally.

[0046] In this embodiment, the hood-shaped roof 18 extends only over the support structure 6, which accommodates the energy supply chain 3.

[0047] Car 24 has a portal-like design and is large enough to span the hood-shaped canopy 18. A support arm 28 is provided inside car 24 to connect the connection unit 16 to the ends of the cables 2. This support arm extends through the side opening 20 of the hood-shaped canopy 18 and receives the end of the energy chain 3. From there, the cables 2 are connected to the plug connectors 17 via the connection unit 16.

[0048] As already explained, the connection device according to the invention is particularly suitable for supplying ships with shore power. Furthermore, it is possible to supply ships with other media such as compressed air, hydraulics, and data. Water supply and wastewater disposal can also be established in this way.

[0049] The connection device according to the invention is by no means limited to the supply and disposal of goods to ships in port facilities. The device according to the invention can be used wherever a consumer is to be supplied from a stationary supplier, the consumer's position of which is initially not precisely determinable but can later be fixed in a substantially stationary position. Reference symbol list 1 Connection device 2 lines 3 Energy supply chain 4 upper trum 5 lower tower 6 Support structure 7 Profile 8. Quay floor 9 C, L and U profiles 10 cars 11 wheels 12 wheels 13 wheels 14 horizontal flange 15 vertical surface 16 connection unit 17 connector parts 18 hood-shaped roofs 19 Interior of the roof 18 20 side access 21 cable pull 22 stilts 23 Flood protection wall 24 cars 25 rails 26 wheels 27 side support wheels 28 support arm 29 leaders

Claims

[1] Device for connecting lines (2) between a stationary supplier in the port area and a ship whose position is initially not precisely determinable, but can later be essentially fixed in a stationary position, in particular at different berths of a quay facility, wherein the lines (2) are laid in at least one energy supply chain (3), the ends of the lines (2) are connected to a connection unit (16) movable parallel to the energy supply chain (3) and the movable connection unit (16) is connectable to the ship, wherein the device has a separate support structure (6) and wherein the connection unit (16) is mounted on a carriage (10) and is movably guided on or along this support structure (6), characterized by, that the energy supply chain (3) is held in the separate support structure (6) and that the connection unit (16) is mounted on top of the carriage (10) and the carriage (10) is movable on or along the support structure (6), the travel path of the carriage (10) running on top of the support structure (6). [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the supporting structure (6) is composed of basic elements in the form of C, L or U profiles (7). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support structure (6) including the energy supply chain (3) is covered over its entire length by a hood-shaped roof (18) and that the passage area in the interior (19) of the roof (18) is higher than the highest point of the movable connection unit (16). [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized bythat the canopy (18) has access from the connecting unit (16) to the ship along its entire length. [5] Device according to claim 4, characterized by , that the connection unit (16) has lateral plug parts (17) and that the hood-shaped roof (18) is open laterally in the area of ​​the plug parts (17). [6] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the carriage (10) has wheels (11, 12, 13) which are guided on or by the support structure (6). [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by , that the various wheels (11, 12, 13) of the carriage (10) bear against corresponding guide surfaces of the support structure (6) from above and from the sides and, if necessary, also from below. [8] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by, that to support the carriage (10) on the support structure (6) pairs of wheels (11, 12, 13) serve which are supported on guide surfaces of profiles (7) of the support structure (6), wherein the energy supply chain (3) is arranged to be movable between two of these profiles (7). [9] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by that the carriage (10) of the connecting unit (16) has its own drive or that a circulating cable pull (21) is provided as a drive for the carriage (10) of the connecting unit (16). [10] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the vehicle (10) has an electric motor as its own propulsion. [11] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the support structure (6) is mounted on stilts (22). [12] Device according to claim 11, characterized by that the stilts (22) are to be erected or have been erected on a flood protection wall (23). [13] Device according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized by , that a ladder (29) carried on the vehicle (10) is provided as access for a fitter. [14] Device according to one of claims 1, 2 and 6, characterized by , that the support structure (6) including the energy supply chain (3) is covered over its entire length by a hood-shaped roof (18) and that the carriage (10) of the connecting unit (16) is portal-shaped and overlaps the hood-shaped roof (18). [15] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the device extends along the berths of a quay facility and / or wherein the device is designed to supply ships with energy, media and / or data.

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