Lifting equipment, floating objects, and lifting methods for offshore construction.

Abstract

To provide a slinging device, a floating object, and a lifting method capable of improving the workability of slinging work.SOLUTION: A slinging device 1 includes a pin 30 capable of engaging a lifting tool Wh, a pin hole 12 penetrating substantially horizontally and through which the pin 30 can be freely inserted, and a base 50 provided below a hole axis 13 of the pin hole 12. The base 50 is disposed in a position where the pin 30 can be inserted into the lifting tool Wh with the lifting tool Wh placed thereon.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hooking device for marine construction, a floating object, and a lifting method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in marine construction, there is an operation of suspending a structure to be suspended from a workboat. In such an operation, it is necessary to perform a hooking operation of attaching the lifting tool of the workboat to the structure.

[0003] However, at sea, due to the action of waves and wind, the structure and the lifting tool sway, so the positional relationship between the structure and the lifting tool is unstable. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the workability of the hooking operation of attaching the lifting tool supported by the workboat to the structure.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In view of the problems of the above background art, an object of the present invention is to provide a hooking device, a floating object, and a lifting method that can improve the workability of the hooking operation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The gist of the present invention is as follows.

[0007] The hooking device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a pin capable of locking a lifting tool, a pin hole penetrating in a substantially horizontal direction and through which the pin can be inserted, and a pedestal provided below the hole axis of the pin hole. The pedestal is arranged at a position where the pin can penetrate the lifting tool in a state where the lifting tool is placed.

Effects of the Invention

[0008] According to the present invention, a lifting device, a floating object, and a lifting method can be provided that can improve the work efficiency of lifting operations. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating the situation of suspending an object from a support. [Figure 2] This is an explanatory diagram for guiding the lifting device to the rigging system. [Figure 3] This is an explanatory diagram showing a lifting device with a lifting hook attached, viewed from the side. [Figure 4] This is an explanatory diagram showing a lifting device with a lifting hook attached, viewed from above. [Figure 5] This is a plan view of a lifting device. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A in Figure 5. [Figure 7] This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B in Figure 5. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] (Embodiment) Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the situation of suspending the object S from the support F. Figure 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the process of guiding the lifting device Wh to the rigging device 1. Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the rigging device 1 with the lifting device Wh attached, viewed from the side. Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram of the rigging device 1 with the lifting device Wh attached, viewed from above. Figure 5 is a plan view of the rigging device 1. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow A in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow B in Figure 5.

[0011] As shown in Figure 1, the lifting device 1 according to this embodiment can be used, for example, in offshore construction work, when lifting an object S with an unstable posture, such as a structure like a stinger, from a crane (not shown) supported by an unstable support F such as a workboat, using a lifting device Wh. The object to be lifted S may be a floating object such as a stinger to which the lifting device 1 is attached. A stinger is a rigid frame with buoyancy that supports a pipe passed through it, allowing the pipe to be safely flexed as it is extended from the ship to the seabed. The structure, dimensions, and other specifications of a stinger are selected according to the water depth, pipe size, etc., and they have lengths ranging from approximately 25m to 120m. Stingers are generally stored or moved with their longitudinal direction horizontal, and supported on the seabed with their longitudinal direction vertical. A stinger is a structure in the sea that experiences a buoyancy greater than the gravitational force acting on it.

[0012] The lifting device Wh is the part that connects to the rigging device 1. The lifting device Wh has an annular part (see Figures 2, 7, etc.) such as a steel hook or eye, which is provided at the end of a rope-like body W, such as a steel wire rope. This makes it easier to lock the lifting device Wh to the pin 30 of the rigging device 1.

[0013] Furthermore, the suspension device Wh may be protected by a thimble. Specifically, the thimble is attached to the suspension device Wh along the inside of the annular portion of the suspension device Wh so that the annular portion and the pin 30 do not come into direct contact. The thimble has a predetermined rigidity so as to maintain the shape of the annular portion of the suspension device Wh when the cable-like body W is pulled with the pin 30 passed through the suspension device Wh. It also has a hardness (strength) that is appropriately lower than the hardness (strength) of the annular portion or the pin 30. In this way, since the thimble is interposed between the annular portion of the suspension device Wh and the pin 30, damage to the suspension device Wh or the pin 30 can be suppressed.

[0014] The lifting device 1 has the desired rigidity and strength so as not to be damaged by the load acting between the object to be lifted S and the lifting device Wh during lifting operations. The lifting device 1 is made of steel, for example. The lifting device 1 is attached to the object to be lifted S by appropriate fixing means such as welding or bolts. Multiple lifting devices 1 may be attached to a single object to be lifted S.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 7, the ball hanging device 1 includes a box-shaped portion 10 having an insertion port 11 through which a hanger Wh having an annular portion provided at the tip of the cable-like body W can be inserted. Further, the ball hanging device 1 has an inlet 21 larger than the insertion port 11 connected to the insertion port 11 at the upper part. Furthermore, the ball hanging device 1 includes a pin 30 capable of locking the hanger Wh.

[0016] (Box-shaped portion) The box-shaped portion 10 is open upward and has an insertion port 11 through which a hanger Wh provided at the tip of the cable-like body W can be inserted. The lower part of the box-shaped portion 10 is fixed to the suspension object S by appropriate means such as welding and bolts. The box-shaped portion 10 has an inner surface with an inner dimension capable of surrounding the hanger Wh in the horizontal direction.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5, the box-shaped portion 10 includes, for example, a first side plate 11A and a second side plate 11B that face each other in the axial direction (the moving axis of the pin 30 or the hole axis 13 direction of the pin hole 12) of the hanger Wh, and a third side plate 11C and a fourth side plate 11D that connect the first side plate 11A and the second side plate 11B and face each other in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the hanger Wh. The first side plate 11A and the second side plate 11B can restrict the axial movement of the hanger Wh accommodated in the box-shaped portion 10 in a plan view. Also, the third side plate 11C and the fourth side plate 11D can restrict the movement of the hanger Wh accommodated in the box-shaped portion 10 in a direction perpendicular to the axis in a plan view.

[0018] In a plan view, the insertion port 11 has a shape (for example, a rectangular shape) with an inner dimension having a slight clearance with respect to the outer dimension of the hanger Wh projected onto a plane so that the hanger Wh can be lowered and accommodated from above.

[0019] The box-shaped part 10 penetrates in a substantially horizontal direction and has a pin hole 12 through which the pin 30 can be inserted. Further, the box-shaped part 10 has a pedestal 50 that recesses vertically downward below the hole axis 13 of the pin hole 12. Thus, since the ball-hanging device 1 includes the box-shaped part 10 having the pedestal 50 that recesses vertically downward below the hole axis 13 of the pin hole 12, the sling Wh can be held in a posture and position where the pin 30 can be inserted inside the box-shaped part 10 just by lowering (dropping) the sling Wh from the insertion port 11 of the box-shaped part 10. Therefore, since there is no need to adjust the postures of both in order to connect the sling Wh and the pin 30, the operator does not have to directly touch the contact area between the sling Wh and the pin 30. Accordingly, even in a situation where the posture relationship and position relationship between the sling Wh and the suspended object S are unstable due to the action of waves and wind, such as in offshore construction, the ball-hanging operation can be performed safely and easily. Therefore, the workability of the ball-hanging operation can be improved.

[0020] Further, the pedestal 50 may be arranged at a position where the pin 30 can penetrate through the annular part in a state where the annular part of the sling Wh is placed thereon. Thereby, just by placing the sling Wh on the pedestal 50, the sling Wh can be brought into a posture through which the pin 30 can penetrate. The pedestal 50 may have an inclined surface 51 that is inclined with respect to the vertical plane 14 (see FIG. 7) including the hole axis 13. Thereby, the sling Wh can be slid along the inclined surface 51. Thus, since the pedestal 50 has the inclined surface 51, inside the box-shaped part 10, the sling Wh can be moved to a posture and position where it is easy to insert the pin 30 only by the action of gravity. The inclined surface 51 is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, and it is preferable that the inclined surface 51 is inclined at an angle greater than or equal to the friction angle corresponding to the coefficient of static friction between the sling Wh and the inclined surface 51.

[0021] The inclined surface 51 may have a first inclined surface 51A and a second inclined surface 51B that are symmetrically arranged with respect to the vertical plane 14. Thus, since the inclined surface 51 has the first inclined surface 51A and the second inclined surface 51B, inside the box-shaped part 10, the sling Wh can be moved to a posture and position where it is easy to insert the pin 30 only by the action of gravity, placed on the pedestal 50, and held stationary in that posture and position.

[0022] Specifically, when the lifting device Wh is inserted into the inside of the box-shaped section 10 through the insertion opening 11, the lifting device Wh is restricted from moving horizontally on the inner surface of the box-shaped section 10. As the lifting device Wh is lowered downward, it first comes into contact with one of the inclined surfaces 51, the first inclined surface 51A and the second inclined surface 51B. As the lifting device Wh is lowered further, it moves diagonally downward along the inclined surface 51 while remaining in contact with the first inclined surface 51, until it comes into contact with the other inclined surface 51 of the first inclined surface 51A and the second inclined surface 51B. At this time, the lifting device Wh is supported at two points on the first inclined surface 51A and the second inclined surface 51B, thus restricting its downward movement. The lifting device Wh is then placed on the inclined surface 51 with its horizontal movement restricted on the inner surface of the box-shaped section 10. Therefore, by simply inserting the suspension device Wh into the box-shaped section 10 through the insertion opening 11 and lowering it, the suspension device Wh can be easily maintained inside the box-shaped section 10 in a position that facilitates the insertion of the pin 30.

[0023] The distance d from the hole axis 13 to the inclined surface 51 is greater than or equal to the outer radius R of the annular part. The distance d from the pin 30 to the inclined surface 51 is such that the pin 30 can be inserted through the annular part when the annular part of the suspension device Wh is placed on the base 50. If the annular part is ring-shaped, the distance from the pin 30 to the inclined surface 51 of the base 50 (for example, 10 cm) is the dimension obtained by subtracting the inner radius (for example, 22 cm) from the outer radius (for example, 30 cm) of the annular part of the suspension device Wh (for example, 8 cm) plus a gap (for example, 2 cm). As a result, by simply housing the suspension device Wh in the box-shaped part 10 and placing it on the base 50 and letting gravity take its course, the center of the annular part of the suspension device Wh can be brought closer to the axis of movement of the pin 30 (the extension of the axis of the pin 30). Thus, the suspension device Wh can be positioned in a posture and location in which the pin 30 can be inserted inside the annular part of the suspension device Wh.

[0024] (Guide section) The box-shaped section includes a guide section 20 having a tapered surface 20a that extends from the inlet 21 to the insertion opening 11. The guide section 20 is connected to the insertion opening 11 and has an inlet 21 at its upper part that is larger than the insertion opening 11. Specifically, the guide section 20 has an opening at its lower part that is the same size as the insertion opening 11 of the box-shaped section 10, and an inlet 21 at its upper part that is larger than the insertion opening 11. That is, the outer shape of the inlet 21 is such that, in a plan view, it completely encloses the outer shape of the insertion opening 11. The shape of the inlet 21 may be the same as the shape of the insertion opening 11 in a plan view (for example, both may be rectangular, both elliptical, etc.), or they may be similar. The guide portion 20 has an inner surface that forms a lumen that narrows from top to bottom. The inner surface of the guide portion 20 forms the lumen in a figurine shape, for example. That is, the inner surface of the guide portion 20 is inclined from the inlet 21 toward the insertion opening 11.

[0025] The inner surface of the guide section 20 may be composed of multiple flat tapered surfaces 20a, depending on the shape of the insertion opening 11. For example, as shown in Figure 5, if the shape of the insertion opening 11 is rectangular, the shape of the inlet 21 may be a similar rectangle larger than the shape of the insertion opening 11, and the inner surface may be made into four flat tapered surfaces 20a, depending on the number of sides that make up the shape of the insertion opening 11. The tapered surfaces 20a are inclined with respect to the vertical direction. In this way, the lumen of the guide section 20 widens from bottom to top, so even a suspension device Wh with an unstable posture and position can be reliably guided into the insertion opening 11, which has only a small gap relative to the contour of the vertically projected suspension device Wh, simply by inserting it into the relatively large inlet 21 and lowering it.

[0026] (pin) The pin 30 is, for example, a cylindrical rod-shaped body having the same cross-sectional shape along its axial direction. The pin 30 is, for example, made of steel. The pin 30 is insertable into the annular portion of the lifting device Wh, such as an eye splice. That is, the pin 30 has an outer dimension (e.g., outer diameter) that is smaller than the inner dimension (e.g., inner diameter) of the annular portion of the lifting device Wh.

[0027] The pin 30 is supported so as to be movable along the hole axis 13 of the pin hole 12. Specifically, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the pin 30 is supported so as to be movable between a through position P1 in which it penetrates the pin hole 12 of the box-shaped part 10 so as to be able to lock the lifting device Wh, and a retracted position P2 in which it is retracted from the pin hole 12 of the box-shaped part 10 so as to be able to house or remove the lifting device Wh. As a result, the lifting device Wh housed in the box-shaped part 10 can be locked or unlocked simply by pushing or pulling the pin 30. The pin 30 may be supported by a bracket B fixed to the object to be lifted S, or it may be supported by the box-shaped part 10 of the lifting device 1, for example.

[0028] The pin 30 locks onto the lifting device Wh and is simply supported by the first side plate 11A and the second side plate 11B while passing through the pin hole 12 of the box-shaped part 10. This allows the lifting load acting on the lifting device Wh to be transmitted to the object to be lifted S through the box-shaped part 10 via the pin 30.

[0029] (action) Next, the operation of the lifting device 1 according to this embodiment will be explained in accordance with the situation of lifting a stinger, which is the object to be lifted S, from a work vessel, which is the support vessel F, using a rope-like body W with a lifting device Wh attached to its tip, in a marine construction operation. Furthermore, the method of attaching the lifting device Wh to the lifting device 1 described above and lifting the lifting device Wh at sea will be explained.

[0030] (1) As shown in Figure 1, multiple (in this case, four) lifting devices 1 are attached in advance to appropriate locations on the object to be lifted S where the object to be lifted S and the lifting device Wh of the rope-like body W are connected. Here, the inlet 21 of the guide section 20 of the lifting device 1 is open upward to guide the lifting device Wh. (2) The pin 30 of the lifting device 1 is moved to the retracted position P2. (3) Lower the suspension device Wh and insert it into the inlet 21 of the guide section 20. (4) Next, as the suspension device Wh is lowered further, it passes through the insertion opening and reaches the lumen of the box-shaped part 10. As the suspension device Wh is lowered further, it comes into contact with the base 50. As the suspension device Wh is lowered further from there, it slides diagonally downward along the inclined surface 51 of the base 50 and becomes housed in the lumen of the box-shaped part 10, fitting into the recess of the base. At this point, the horizontal movement of the suspension device Wh is restricted by the inner surface of the box-shaped part 10, and the downward movement is restricted by the inclined surface 51 of the base 50, thus determining the position of the suspension device Wh with respect to the box-shaped part 10. Note that the positional relationship between the box-shaped part 10 and the range of movement of the pin 30 is determined, so once the position of the suspension device Wh with respect to the box-shaped part 10 is determined, the positional relationship between the range of movement of the pin 30 and the suspension device Wh is determined. (5) With the suspension device Wh housed in the cavity of the box-shaped part 10 and placed on the base 50, the pin 30 is moved from the retracted position P2 to the penetrating position P1. That is, the pin 30 is passed through the box-shaped part 10. As a result, the pin 30 passes through the annular portion of the suspension device Wh, and the pin 30 and the annular portion of the suspension device Wh become locked together. Consequently, the pin 30, with the annular portion of the suspension device Wh passed through, is simply supported by the first side plate 11A and the second side plate 11B of the box-shaped part 10. (6) A tensile load is applied to the cable-like body W using the crane on the workboat, and the stinger is lifted up. In this way, the lifting device Wh and the rigging device 1 can be easily and safely connected, and the stinger can be lifted. (7) After lifting the stinger and setting it in the desired position, when removing the lifting device Wh from the lifting device 1, first ensure that no tensile load is acting on the cable W. (8) Then, the pin 30 is moved from the through position P1 to the retracted position P2. This releases the lock between the pin 30 and the suspension device Wh. (9) Raise the suspension device Wh and remove it from the box-shaped section 10. In this way, the lifting device Wh can be easily removed from the rigging device 1.

[0031] (Other embodiments) Although one embodiment has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to that described above, and various design changes are possible.

[0032] The lifting device 1 of this embodiment is attached to the object to be lifted S and has an insertion opening 11 that opens upward and through which a lifting device Wh having an annular portion provided at the end of a rope-like body W can be inserted. It also has a larger inlet 21 at the top that is connected to the insertion opening 11 and comprises a box-shaped part 10 that can surround the lifting device Wh from the horizontal direction. The lifting device 1 is equipped with a pin 30 that can be inserted into the annular portion and can lock the lifting device Wh. The box-shaped part 10 has a pin hole 12 that penetrates substantially horizontally and through which the pin 30 can be inserted, and a base 50 that is recessed vertically downward below the hole axis 13 of the pin hole 12. As a result, the lifting device Wh and the lifting device 1 can be connected simply by dropping the lifting device Wh into the inlet 21 of the guide part 20 and moving the pin 30, making lifting work easy. Therefore, a lifting device that can improve the workability of lifting work can be provided.

[0033] The floating object in this embodiment is equipped with the aforementioned lifting device 1. This allows for easy lifting operations even on a swaying floating object.

[0034] The floating object in this embodiment is a stinger. This allows for easy rigging even when the floating object is a swaying stinger, and facilitates the construction of stingers at sea.

[0035] The method of this embodiment involves attaching the lifting device Wh to the lifting device 1 described above and lifting the lifting device Wh over the sea. This makes lifting operations at sea easier. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0036] 1 Slinging device 10 Box-shaped part 11 Through-hole 11A 1st side plate 11B 2nd side plate 11C 3rd side plate 11D 4th side plate 12 pin holes 13 hole axis 14. Direct 20 Guide section 20a Tapered surface 21 Inlet 30 pins 50 bases 51 Slope 51A 1st slope 51B 2nd slope B bracket d distance F Support P1 penetration position P2 Evacuation position R outer radius S Object to be suspended W cord-like structure Wh Hanging equipment

Claims

1. A pin that can secure the suspension device, A pin hole that penetrates in a substantially horizontal direction and through which the pin can be inserted, The pin hole comprises a base provided below the hole axis of the pin hole, The base is positioned such that the pin can pass through the suspension device when the suspension device is placed on it. When the suspension device is placed on the base, the suspension device is positioned relative to the pin such that the pin can pass through the suspension device. A lifting device characterized by the following features.

2. The pin is supported so as to be movable along the hole axis. The lifting device according to feature 1.

3. The base has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the vertical plane containing the hole axis. A lifting device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The inclined surface has a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface that are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane. The lifting device according to feature 3.

5. The pin is capable of locking the suspension device, which is protected by the thimble. A lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A floating object to which the lifting device described in any one of claims 1 to 5 is attached.

7. The floating object is a stinger. The floating object according to feature 6.

8. A method of attaching the lifting device to the lifting apparatus described in any one of claims 1 to 5, and lifting the lifting device at sea.

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