Electrical connection to supply, by air, two distant objects such as a ship and a quay

Abstract

Overhead electrical connection between a fixed quayside interface (8) and an interface (10), placed on board a ship (11), via one or a plurality of power cables (15) suspended, via trolleys (16) and (18), to a carrying cable (13) stretched between these two interfaces, characterized in that these two interfaces (8) and (10) are pivotable around the pivots (27) and (28) allowing angular movement so that they can align in the vertical plane defined by the cable (13).

Description

Title of the invention: Electrical connection for supplying, by air, two distant objects such as a ship and a quay

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electrical power supply to ships, in particular tankers, when they are in port. Indeed, for ecological or economic reasons, it is increasingly relevant to establish a possibility of exchanging current between these ships and the shore during these port calls, either to avoid pollution of their on-board generator set, or to recharge, in the case of ships with electric or hybrid propulsion, their electrical storage capacities. A first approach is to use manual connectors, which the crew, or the port personnel, manipulate to establish the connection, possibly aided by systems, such as cranes or hoists, supporting the load of said connectors and their cables.Apart from the fact that this approach is obviously costly in terms of labor, generates a loss of time, it can prove, in the case of significant powers, requiring heavy and bulky connectors and cables, dangerous. In addition, see [Fig.l], these ships have the particularity of carrying out their loading / unloading operations of their cargo by relying only in their middle, on a boom (1), which supports the corresponding pipes (2), the rest of the ship being several tens of meters from the bank (3), the latter being held in position, against the boom (1), by a series of moorings (4) connected to dolphins (5), which requires, in the case of the use of manual connectors, to locate this electrical interface (6) on this boom (1), in the immediate vicinity of the pipes (2) for loading / unloading the cargo.This obviously presents an additional danger if the cargo in question is dangerous and presents risks of explosion. It is then necessary to put in place specific arrangements (inerting of equipment etc.) around this electrical interface to reduce, without completely eliminating, this risk. This is the approach that has been adopted, for example, by the port of Gothenburg, for its oil terminal using manual connectors meeting the International Electric Commission 80005 standard.

[0002] The object of the present application is therefore to present an innovative solution to improve this situation, in particular with regard to the risks linked to dangerous cargoes, by locating the electrical interface of the electrical connection (7) not at the level of the unloading pipes, but outside the dangerous zone of the cargo, typically at the front or at the rear of the ship, taking into account the fact that, depending on the size of the ships, the distance of this connection (7) from the jetty (1) can vary while, on the quay side, the position of the power interface (8) is fixed, typically placed between two dolphins (5) which allows the structures of the gangways (9) to be used for its access and to route the power cables supplying the ship to the bank (3). More generally, the innovation relates to a solution allowing the electrical connection, by air, of two objects, mobile or not, distant from each other. To establish this power connection between the interface of the quay (8) and that (10) placed on the ship (11), see [Fig.2], the invention consists of installing between these two interfaces, above the water (12) a carrier cable (13) allowing, to bring a connector (14) and its power cables (15) within reach of the ship, via a system of trolleys (16) and (18).

[0003] To ensure their movement along the carrier cable (13), these trolleys can either be motorized or connected to a back and forth system.

[0004] The connector(s) (14) used may be a manual connector(s), meeting, for example, the International Electric Commission standard 80005. In this case, once within range, the crew will be able to connect it(them) to the vessel.

[0005] However, this manual solution will be difficult, or even dangerous, when, due to a high necessary Amperage, the size, and therefore, the weight of the connector (14), and the stiffness of the power cables (15), are significant. In addition, this type of connector does not allow emergency release if the ship must leave the terminal quickly, which is a safety requirement for some of them, such as LNG carriers, where the ship must be able to free itself from the terminal in a few minutes. In this case, a semi-automatic or automatic connection system will be preferred, avoiding any direct manipulation of the connector (14) and the cables (15) and allowing emergency and remote release. [Fig. 3] presents a solution of this type, based on the semi-automatic connection system described in French patent FR2016051183. It is characterized in that:

[0006] The carrying cable (13), coming from the quay interface (8) once brought on board by the crew via a towline, is moored to a hook (17) placed above the on-board interface room (10);

[0007] Once this carrier cable (13) is tensioned via the winch (26) of the quay interface (8), the garland of power cables (15) can be pulled towards the ship (11), suspended from the follower trolleys (16), the first trolley (18) supporting the connector (14) in a basket (19);

[0008] The interface (10) placed near the hull of the ship (11) is provided with a sliding system (20) allowing the following to be placed outside the hull:

[0009] - A windlass (21) unrolling a chain (or a cable) (22) at the end of which is finds a hook (25) allowing the connector (14) to be lifted from its basket (19) to establish the connection;

[0010] - A base (23) crossed by the chain (22) containing the electrical contacts on which connect those of the connector (14) when the latter docks this base (23) and is connected by the cables (24) to the electrical installation of the ship;

[0011] It will be easily understood that once the slide (20) is removed from the edging and the connector (14) is placed in the basket (19) suspended from the carriage (18) brought below the hook (25), the latter can lock into the connector (14) to hoist it and connect it to the base (23) to establish the connection.

[0012] Reference will be made, as an example, usefully to the aforementioned patent to better understand how this connection can be established. But it should be noted that the invention can be applied to other connector configurations, as long as it allows a remote connection. The invention is characterized by the approach of a garland of cables (15) and a connector (14) via a series of carriages (16) and (18) suspended from one or more carrying cable(s) (13) stretched between the quay (8) and edge (10) interfaces. [Fig. 4] represents the different components of the corresponding interface (8), characterized in that:

[0013] It comprises a winch (26) ensuring the storage, unwinding, tensioning and storage of the carrier cable (13);

[0014] A plurality of follower carriages (16) for storing the cable garland (15) when the interface is not in use, these cables being connected, on one side to the connector (14) and on the other to the electrical network of the terminal; A first carriage (18) supporting, via a suspension system (27), the basket (19) or rests the connector (14).

[0015] It will thus be understood that, by means of a back and forth or motorization system of one or more of the carriages (16) and (18), not shown in the figure for the sake of clarity, it is possible, once the carrier cable (13) is taut, to deploy from this interface (8) the connector (14) followed by the cables (15) to ensure the connection with the interface (10) of the ship (11). And that, when the connection ceases to be used and the carriages (16) and (18) have been brought back into the interface (8), the carrier cable (13) can be slackened, then detached and rewound via the winch (26), the carriages (16) and (18) supporting the cables (15) and the connector (14) then resting on a structure not shown, also for the sake of clarity, in the figure.

[0016] It will be noted that, by construction, the invention is therefore compatible with significant relative movements between the ship and the quay, in particular those due to the tide, waves, wind or variations in the trim or sinking of the ship (11) during cargo loading / unloading operations. These movements that can simply be absorbed by the garland of cables (15). To compensate for the largest of these, the winch (26) can be equipped with a force sensor to adjust the unwinding, and therefore the tension of the cable (13) automatically if necessary.

[0017] However, it is necessary to ensure, due to the fact, among other things, that the position or length of the ships docking at a given terminal may vary, that the alignment of these two interfaces in a single vertical plane can be ensured. For this, the invention is characterized in that the interfaces (8) and (10) are pivotable around a vertical axis, respectively (28) for the ship interface (10) and (29) for the quay interface (8). It will be noted that these two axes (28) and (29) are placed at the rear of the interfaces (8) and (10), at a certain distance back, respectively, from the hook (17) and the traction point of the winch (26). As a result, the traction exerted by the carrying cable (13) will create a restoring torque around the axes (28) and (29) to bring the interfaces (8) and (11) back into the same vertical plane.It is therefore understood that this will give great flexibility to the solution in terms of initial alignment of the two interfaces, the cable (13) once tensioned ensuring the maintenance of the two interfaces in the same plane. Optionally, not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity, the two interfaces could be equipped with mechanisms allowing them to be pre-aligned in this same plane, before putting in place, and tensioning, the carrier cable (13).

[0018] [Fig. 5] shows, on the ship side, another example of embodiment of the invention, characterized in that, when it pivots around the axis (28) towards the outside of the ship, the interface (10), which is placed at the edge of the hull of the ship (11), uncovers outside of it an orifice (30) above which is located the mechanism previously described, consisting of the windlass (21), the chain (22), the base (23) and the hook (25), thus making it possible to make the connection as previously, without using a sliding system (20), hence simplification and reduction of the size of the system.

[0019] [Fig.6] shows, on the platform side, another example of an embodiment of the invention, characterized in that:

[0020] - The interface (8) takes the form of a structure pivoting directly on a pile (36) which could be identical to that used for the Dukes of Alba (5);

[0021] - Once passed a pulley (31), placed in front of the axis of rotation of the interface (8) to ensure the alignment of the latter with that (10) of the ship, the cable (13) passes through a tensioning pulley (33) from which a counterweight (34) is suspended, before joining, via the return pulley (32) the winch (26);

[0022] - When the interface (8) is not used, the carriages (18) and (16) can be brought back above a structure (39) to be deposited there when the cable (13) is slackened, then detached from the hook (17) and finally wound onto the winch (26), ensuring thus the storage of the entire string of conductive cables (15) and the connector (14) when the interface (8) is not in use. It will be understood that thus, once attached to the trolley (17) and tensioned by the winch (26), the suspended counterweight (34) will maintain the tension of the carrier cable (14) constant via the tensioning pulley (33), while compensating for any relative movements between the two interfaces (8) and (10), this without having to operate this winch (26) except, possibly, to compensate for large amplitude movements such as those linked, for example, to the tide or to the variation in the sinking of the ship during cargo loading / unloading operations.

[0023] [Fig.7] represents the implementation of the invention in the case where the connector (14) is a manual connector (37) as considered in the standard of the International Electrical Commission. In this case the interface (10) is provided with a base (47) receiving this connector (37). It will be noted that, thanks to the fact that the interface (10) is pivoting and that the carriage (18) supporting the end of the cable (15) and the connector (37) can be placed above the operator (38), the latter can easily carry out this maneuver. It will be noted [Fig.3] and [Fig.5] that, if a ship equipped with a semi-automatic connection, such as that described in the aforementioned patent, is required to serve a terminal having only manual connector(s) meeting, for example, the standard proposed by the International Electrical Commission, connection can be made possible by inserting a manual connection meeting this standard between the base (23) and the on-board electrical network.In this case, the connector (35) coming from the base (23) can then be disconnected from the base (47) and replaced by the connector coming from the terminal.

[0024] It will also be noted, [Fig.6] that, if a terminal is equipped with a semi-automatic connector, such as that described in the aforementioned patent, is intended to serve a ship having only one base for a manual connector, manual connector(s) meeting, for example, the standard proposed by the International Electrical Commission, it will be possible to enable connection by interposing, on the cable (15) supplying the connector (14) a connector (45) and a base (46). In this case, it will then be possible to disconnect the connector (45) from the base (47) to connect it to the corresponding base of the ship.

[0025] It will be noted that the description given above of the invention is based on the example of tankers, but it can generally be applied to other types of ships or mobiles for which it is desired to establish an overhead electrical connection.

[0026] [Fig.8] illustrates another configuration for the interface (10), characterized in that, in the case where it is appropriate to place it below the upper bridge (40) on which the hook (17) is located, the latter being mechanically secured to the axis of rotation (28) of the interface (10) so that the tension exerted by the cable carrier (13) exerts a restoring torque on the interface (10) ensuring its alignment in the same plane as the interface (8). The end of the slide (20) can be equipped with a watertight door (41) protecting the system during navigation.

[0027] [Fig.9] illustrates another configuration of the interface (10), characterized in that the base (23) is placed just below the pivoting hook (17) itself fixed to the ceiling of the interface (10) while the connector (14) is itself directly placed just below the carriage (18). It will be easily understood that thus when the carriage (18) approaches the hook (17), the base (23) and the connector (14) will be practically aligned and that by means of a fine guide (42), an additional approach of the carriage (18) will ensure the connection. It will be noted that if the hook (17) is not pivoting, it will be possible, as in the other configurations, to pivot the entire interface (10) around the pivot (28) so as to ensure its alignment in the same vertical plane as the interface (8). To ensure the rapprochement of the connector (14) and the base (23) it is possible, for example, to use a winch (44) which pulls it with the cable (45) passing inside the guide (42).

Claims

Claims

1. Overhead electrical connection between a dock or mobile interface (8) and an interface (10), placed on board a ship or other mobile (11), via a garland of power cables (15) suspended, via trolleys (16) and (18), to a carrier cable (13) stretched between these two interfaces, characterized in that these two interfaces (8) and (10) are pivotable around vertical axes (28) and (29) so that they can align in the vertical plane defined by the carrier cable (13).

2. Electrical connection according to claim 1 characterized in that: - the carrier cable (13), coming from the quay interface (8) once brought on board by the crew via a towline, is moored to a hook (17) placed above a room of the on-board interface (10); - once this carrier cable (13) is stretched via a winch (26) of the quay interface (8) the garland of power cables (15) can be pulled towards the ship (11), suspended from the follower trolleys (16), the first trolley (18) supporting a connector (14) in a basket (19); - a windlass (21) unwinding a chain or a cable (22) at the end of which is a hook (25) allows the connector (14) to be lifted from its basket (19) to establish the connection; - a base (23) crossed by the chain (22) contains the electrical contacts to which those of the connector (14) are connected when the latter docks with this base (23) and is connected by cables (24) to the electrical installation of the ship.This is so that once the connector (14) is placed in the basket (19) suspended from the trolley (18) brought below the hook (25), the latter can lock into the connector (14) to hoist it and connect it to the base (23) to establish the connection.

3. Electrical connection according to claim 2 characterized in that the base (23) and the windlass (21) are offset outside the ship's hull (11) by means of a slide system (20). This is so that once the slide (20) is outside the hull and the connector (14) is placed in the basket (19) suspended from the trolley (18) brought below the hook (25), the latter can lock into the connector (14) to hoist it and connect it to the base (23) to establish the connection.

4. Electrical connection according to claim 2 characterized in that when it pivots around the axis (28) towards the outside of the ship, the interface (10), which is placed at the edge of the hull of the ship (11), uncovers outside of the latter an orifice (30) above which is located the mechanism consisting of the windlass (21) of the chain (22), the base (23) and the hook (25).

5. Electrical connection according to claim 1 characterized in that the end of the power cable (15) is provided with a manual connector (47) integral with the first carriage (18) and that the carriage (18) supporting the end of the cable (15) can be placed above the operator (38).

6. Electrical connection according to claim 2 characterized in that: - the base (23) is placed just below the pivoting hook (17) itself fixed to the ceiling of the interface (10) of the ship while the connector (14) is itself directly placed just below the first carriage (18). - that thus when the first carriage (18) approaches the hook (17), the base (23) and the connector (14) are practically aligned and that by means of a fine guide (42), an additional approach of the first carriage (18) ensures the connection.

7. Electrical connection according to claim 6 characterized in that the approach of the connector (14) towards the base (23) is ensured by a cable (45) passing inside the guide (42).

8. Electrical connection according to claim 2 characterized in that: - the dock interface (8) consists of a structure pivoting directly on a pile (36) - when the dock interface (8) is not in use, the trolleys (18) and (16) are brought back above a structure (39) to be deposited there when the carrying cable (13) is slackened, then detached, from the hook (17) and finally wound onto a winch (26), thus ensuring the storage of the entire cable garland (15) and the connector (14)

9. Electrical connection according to claims 2 and 6 characterized in that a manual connector (45) and a manual base (46) are interposed on the power cable (15).

10. Electrical connection according to claims 2 and 6 characterized in that between the base (23) and the on-board electrical network is interposed a manual connector.

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