DISTANCE SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spacing system for ships relative to other objects, according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Spacing systems are well known for ships and boats, whereby in the usual cases, when mooring to quay walls or when docking next to other ships, fenders are placed on the corresponding side of the ship, which can absorb the movement forces of the ship towards the other object in a dampening manner, so that greater frictional forces and damage to the ship's walls can be avoided.

[0003] However, a disadvantage of these fender systems is that the size or diameter of such fenders is very limited and usually ranges from about 0.5 m to 1.5 m.

[0004] In addition to the fenders mentioned above, boats and ships also have outrigger systems, which normally serve purposes other than absorbing forces of movement between ships or other objects such as quay walls.

[0005] For example, FR 2 810 624 A1 discloses a system in which extendable or retractable stabilizers are provided on the side walls to improve and increase the displacement volume of the ship's hull, thus providing the entire ship with a larger displacement volume and improving the ship's stability.

[0006] Another example of an outrigger system for boats is shown in US 1,127,901. Here, a floating plate can be deployed between two guide rods on the desired side of the boat, thus improving the boat's heeling stability.

[0007] Other outrigger systems are known, for example, from Polynesian boats. However, these systems are rigidly connected to the boat and usually consist of smaller diameter tree trunks, so that they essentially improve the boat's heeling stability.

[0008] From JPH 10 10 92 A a foldable fender for keeping the ship away from other objects is known, whereby with this solution only a relatively small distance between the ship and the other object is achieved.

[0009] DE 10 2012 019 440 A1 also discloses a system of extendable fenders, wherein the distance between the ship's side and another object is determined by the size of the fender. Furthermore, US 3585959 A discloses the preamble of claim 1.

[0010] For tankers and bunkering vessels, the problem and requirement is that the distance between the tanker's hull and the other object, for example, a cruise ship, must be considerably greater, particularly for safety reasons, than could previously be achieved with simple fenders. Specifically for LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) bunkering vessels, there is a need for a greater distance between the LNG bunkering vessel and the vessel being refueled. For example, a distance of approximately 2 to 12 meters.

[0011] The Aufgabe The invention can therefore be seen as creating a distancing system for ships from other objects, in which fenders can be used, but significantly larger distances can be achieved between a ship, for example an LNG bunkering vessel, and a ship to be refueled, for example a cruise ship, due to ship technology and safety requirements.

[0012] To solve this problem and the task at hand, the present invention proposes a spacing system with the features of claim 1.

[0013] In this process, at least one fender is attached to a boom frame, essentially horizontally.

[0014] To support the weight of the fender and the forces acting upon it, as well as to facilitate its extension and retraction from its rest position to its operational position, a boom frame with one or two approximately parallel support arms is provided, which may include transverse stiffeners. The support arm(s) can be lowered from the rest position to the operational position and, for example, raised back to the rest position after bunkering has been completed. For this purpose, the boom frame is rigidly but pivotably connected to the ship.

[0015] The at least one fender, which is expediently cylindrical and shaped like a barrel, is arranged at the outer end of the support arm or between the outer ends of the support arms.

[0016] The design of this spacing system therefore allows distances between a bunkering vessel and a receiving vessel in the range of approximately 2 m to approximately 12 m or more, which, taking into account the relevant ship engineering requirements, is specifically determined by the total weight of the spacing system and the length of the boom frame including the fender diameter.

[0017] The spacing system according to the invention is particularly suitable for ships that, for example, when transferring hazardous materials to other ships, such as when bunkering LNG to a receiving vessel like a cruise ship, must maintain a greater distance of, for example, 10 m between the ship's sides. For cruise ships, for instance, the ship's design or lifeboats projecting beyond the side of the ship may necessitate a greater distance. Especially with LNG bunkering vessels, the transfer of LNG and the required maintenance of a safety zone make a large distance between the ships a mandatory requirement.

[0018] Advantageously, the support arm(s) of the boom frame can be designed to be lowered and raised by means of mechanical means attached to the ship's hull, in particular by means of hydraulic cylinders.

[0019] This also advantageously allows for an inclined arrangement of the boom frame, thus enabling better alignment of the boom frame, including the fender. This measure also allows for more precise alignment of the fender's contact point with the other object or vessel.

[0020] Preferably, two systems are provided on each side of ships equipped with the spacer systems according to the invention. In this case, one spacer system is provided on each side, both in the forward and aft sections. With regard to the weights and forces to be considered in the spacer system according to the invention, an LNG bunkering vessel with a length of approximately 80 to 90 meters is cited as an example. A fender used in the spacer system can advantageously be made of an elastomer or solid rubber. Pneumatic fenders are also suitable. The weight of such a pneumatic fender for a ship length of 90 meters can be approximately 2 tons.

[0021] For a ship's tonnage of approximately 6,000 tons, a suitable fender must be able to absorb a minimum energy of 1,100 kNm. The minimum energy absorption ensured by a fender in the aforementioned example should be around 1,300 kNm. It is advantageous to mount the fender at the outer end of the support arm or, if mounted between the two outer ends of parallel support arms, to allow for better compensation of fluctuating water levels. An arrangement with slight axial displacement also makes it easier to compensate for longitudinal movements of the ship.

[0022] The boom frame, in its lowered functional position, is designed for a distance of approximately 10 m from the ship's side to the other ship or object. In the preceding example of an LNG bunker vessel of approximately 90 m in length, the length of the boom frame can be approximately 10 m to the axis of the fender.

[0023] The design of the support arms with length adjustability and / or angular capability is particularly advantageous. This allows for even better adjustment of the distance between two ship sides or against a quay wall.

[0024] With regard to the pivoting capability of the boom frame, including the corresponding fender, the support arm(s) are rotatably mounted on the outer surface of the ship's hull, particularly slightly above the waterline. Advantageously, two bearings are provided in the side of the hull for this purpose, positioned slightly above the waterline. This allows the boom frame to pivot approximately horizontally above the water's surface at a considerable distance from the ship.

[0025] The point of application for the mechanical means or hydraulic cylinders on the support arm(s) is chosen so that it is located approximately 1 / 3 to 1 / 6 of the length of the support arm from the ship's hull. This design allows the weights and forces emanating from the boom frame to be effectively absorbed and managed.

[0026] The inventive design of the spacer system with boom frame and fender provides that in the phases in which the spacer system is not needed, the fender and the boom frame can be pivoted into their rest position, wherein at least the fender can be placed and stored in a receptacle, which is designed to be approximately pocket-like, on the ship's hull or the ship's superstructure.

[0027] The cross-bracing of the boom frame is expediently designed as diagonal bracing, approximately cross-shaped, between the support arms, so that improved stiffness of the boom frame is achieved with regard to the weight of the fender and the corresponding force and energy absorption.

[0028] The distance system according to the invention, which can also be referred to as a boom system or outrigger system, creates a very flexible device, especially for bunker vessels carrying dangerous liquids or gases that must maintain a required large distance from the receiving vessels, which meets the regulations and requirements for the transfer of dangerous goods.

[0029] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a ship, specifically an LNG bunkering vessel, with two spacer systems on the starboard side; Fig. 2 a top view of a single spacer system with a fender between two support arms; Fig. 3 a partial view of a vertical cross-section of the ship. Fig. 1 Viewed in the longitudinal direction of the ship with the spacer system extended; Fig. 4 a schematic vertical section through a ship according to Fig. 1 with a swiveled-out spacer system relative to the side wall of a fragmentarily depicted ship, in particular a cruise ship; and Fig. 5 a fragmentary top view of the ship according to Fig. 4 with swiveled-out spacing system.

[0030] In the schematic example according to Fig. 1 A perspective view shows a ship 10, specifically an LNG bunkering vessel, with two spacer systems 1 swung outwards on the starboard side. Ship superstructures with a bridge 3 are shown at the stern. Further ship superstructures are visible towards the bow above corresponding tanks 21, which are surrounded by a continuous railing.

[0031] The spacer system 1 according to the invention essentially has two parallel outwardly extending support arms 6, which are connected by a cross-shaped transverse stiffener 14 ( Fig. 2 ) are reinforced to form a boom frame 5. This boom frame 5 is pivotally connected to the ship's hull 12 via corresponding bearings 35 (Fig. 3). On the other hand, the two parallel support arms 6 are connected at a point of application 37 (Fig. 3) to hydraulic cylinders 8, which are fixed to the ship 10.

[0032] At the end of the boom frame 5, the spacing system 1 has a barrel-shaped cylindrical fender 7. In the Fig. 1 In the situation shown, the two starboard-side spacer systems 1 are lowered and shown in functional position 31 or working position. From the in Fig. 1 In the functional position of the spacing system 1 shown, it can be raised or pivoted by means of the hydraulic cylinders 8 acting on the boom frame 5, so that in particular the fender 7 can be raised into a pocket-like receptacle 15 and into a rest position 30 ( Fig. 4 ) arrived.

[0033] In a functionally consistent manner, other spacing systems 1 can also be swung up and into a corresponding rest position from their functional position 31.

[0034] According to the top view Fig. 2 It can be seen from a spacing system 1 that a fender 7 is provided on an axis 9 between the front ends 27 of the support arms 6. With the ship length of approximately 90 m mentioned as an example at the beginning and two spacing systems 1, as in Fig. 1 As shown, the length of the fender 7 can be approximately 5.5 m, and the length of the fender axle can be approximately 6.5 m. The distance A, or the length of the corresponding support arms 6, between the axle 9 of the fender 7 and the pivot bearings 35 (Fig. 3) can be approximately 10 m.

[0035] In the example mentioned above, the weight of the fender, as a pneumatic fender, can be in the range of approximately 2 tons.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows a partial view of a vertical section through the ship 10 in the longitudinal direction of the ship, in front of the forward spacing system 1. Fig. 1 The support arms 6 of the boom frame 5 are swung out and carry a corresponding fender 7 at their front ends in operating position 31. The hydraulic cylinders 8 are articulated at the points of application 37 on the support arms 6. When the hydraulic cylinders 8 retract, the boom frame 5, including the fender 7, is raised to an approximately vertical position. Further mechanical devices then allow the boom frame 5, including the fender 7, to be swung further into the rest position 30 ( Fig. 4 ) will be made possible.

[0037] The bearings 35 of the boom frame 5 are positioned slightly above the waterline 33 on the outer surface of the ship's hull 12. This also allows the boom frame 5, including the fender 7, to be swung out into a substantially horizontal position. Likewise, this arrangement allows the boom frame 5 to be swung up and down relatively easily into its rest position 30 in a corresponding receptacle 15.

[0038] The view according to Fig. 4 The longitudinal section of the two ships 10 and 50 shows a schematic vertical section through the LNG bunker ship 10 with a spacer system 1 swung out in a largely horizontal position with an end fender 7.

[0039] For example, a cruise ship 50 is shown in fragmentary form, its lifeboats 52 projecting considerably beyond the ship's side. Especially when dealing with hazardous materials like LNG and supplying such a ship 50 in port or at sea, the greatest possible distance A between the two side walls 11 and 51 of the ships 10 and 50 is required.

[0040] In the example according to Fig. 4 The spacing system 1 of the LNG bunker vessel 10 is therefore supported by the two fenders 7 extending along the length of the vessel 10 against the hull 51 of the vessel 50. The distance A between the vessels can be, for example, 10 m or more.

[0041] After Fig. 4 On the right side of the ship 10, a spacer system 1 can be seen placed in its rest position 30, with the fender 7 being able to be positioned approximately in the image 15.

[0042] Position 19 of the fender 7 can be set and determined using the hydraulics 8.

[0043] The fragmentary top view according to Fig. 5 shows a section of the in Fig. 4 The LNG bunker vessel shown is depicted. The spacer system 1 according to the invention with end fender 7 can be seen here.

[0044] The fender 7 should be made of a buoyant material so that, in the event of the fender 7 being immersed in water, a supplementary buoyancy force can act on the spacer system 1, thus relieving the pressure on the spacer system 1.

[0045] The spacing system 1 according to the invention can, in principle, be used on very different types of ships, for example, directly on cruise ships or supply vessels. It thus provides an elegant technical solution for applications where a particularly large distance between ships or to other objects is required.

Claims

1. Ship (10), comprising a spacing system (1) with respect to other objects (50), with at least one fender (7), which is placed at least in the region of a ship's side wall (11) and can be lowered from a rest position (30) into a functional position (21), wherein the at least one fender (7) is attached, in particular substantially horizontally, to a boom frame (5), wherein the boom frame (5) comprises one or two approximately parallel supporting arms (6), which may comprise transverse stiffeners (14), wherein the fender (7) is provided at the outer end of the supporting arm (6) or between the outer ends (27) of the supporting arms (6), wherein the supporting arm or arms (6) are connected to the ship (10) so that they can be lowered and raised, wherein the support arm or support arms (6) are rotatably supported in the outer region of the ship's hull (12), in particular slightly above the waterline (33) of the ship (10), characterized in that the boom frame (5) is connected to the ship (10) in a stationary but pivotable manner, and in that the boom frame (5) in the lowered functional position (31) is configured for a distance length A from the ship's side wall (11) of approximately 10 m up to the axis of the fender (7)2. Ship (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting arm or arms (6) can be lowered and raised by means of mechanical elements attached to the ship's hull (12), in particular by means of hydraulic cylinders (8).

3. Ship (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fender (7) is configured cylindrical in the type of a barrel.

4. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fender (7) is arranged rotatably and / or axially displaceably at the end of the supporting arm (6) or between the ends (27) of the supporting arms (6).

5. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fender (7) is made of an elastomer, a solid rubber, or is designed as a pneumatic fender.

6. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the supporting arm or arms (6) are designed adjustable in length and / or angled.

7. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the point of application (37) of the mechanical means or the hydraulic cylinders (8) on the supporting arm or arms (6) is located at a distance from the ship's wall (11) of approximately 1 / 3 to 1 / 6 of the length of the supporting arms (6).

8. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the fender (7) and boom frame (5) can be pivoted into the rest position (30), in which at least the fender (7) can be placed in a receptacle (15) on the ship's hull (12) or the ship's superstructure (3).

9. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the transverse stiffeners (14) of the boom frame (5) are configured as diagonal stiffeners between the supporting arms (6).

10. Ship (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that two systems (1) are each provided on each side of a ship (10).