Fish pump HOSE crane

Abstract

The invention is a hose crane for a wellboat, comprising a crane arm (130) rotatable at least in the vertical plane on a rotatable swivel base (100), at least one rail (130) along the crane arm (130) for pulleys (140) distributed along the guide rail (132). The pulleys (140) suspend hose brackets (160) distributed along a suction hose (150). The suction hose (150) is arranged to extend from a wellboat's (105) inlet (107) and out to a suction nozzle (152). The suction hose (150) comprises an elongated, flexible inner hose portion (150i) extending from a crane foundation (102) to an elongated, central hose section (150m) with evenly spaced hose brackets (160) which are held underthe pulleys (140) freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane arm (130), and an outer elongated flexible section (150y) with a suction nozzle (152) held in a lifting wire (172) near an outer end of the crane arm (130).

Description

[0001] FISH PUMP HOSE CRANE

[0002] Background technology

[0003] Loading fish on to a wellboat is described in an internet publication downloaded from https: / / brorsnbatvejlederers.no / systembeskrivelse / lasting-systembeskrivelse dated 29.10.2024.

[0004] It specifically describes vacuum loading where a closed well tank is placed under a relatively weak vacuum, sufficient to suck in water with fish from a cage directly to the well tank, both with and without "dewatering". It also describes an alternative method with an intermediate vacuum pump / vacuum tank where the vacuum tank is alternately placed under vacuum to suck up fish, and afterwards placed under pressure to pump the fish further.

[0005] N020201022 A1 describes a boom that can be driven out and in. Furthermore, a number of parallel suction hoses are included that can be hoisted up and down using a winch system at one or more points along the respective hoses.

[0006] FI20165765 A shows a suspension cable with a number of suspensions carrying a transfer hose and where the suspensions are movable alongthe suspension cable.

[0007] Other known solutions are JP2004049053 A, where suction pipes are carried by a number of cranes, US3802214 A which is a crane-suspended fish pump, US2736121 A which describes a boom-suspended suction hose and fish pump on board a vessel, JPS549099U which is also a boom-suspended suction hose and fish pump on board a vessel.

[0008] Fig. 3 is a picture of prior art, a Triplex hose crane. Such are installed on a large part of the wellboat fleet worldwide and are based on a standard crane. There is some difference in design with regard to the placement of winches and the number of hoses, but the picture in Fig. 3 is a ‘Solvtrans boat’ ("Ronja Polaris" in 2015) with a ‘Triplex’ hose crane. It has a columnar crane foundation with a slewing ring and a swivel foot where the main boom extends relatively high up and out to a jib with a pulley block. Suction hoses extend slightly slanted out from the well space through the inclined bulkhead just behind and below the slewing ring. The loading hoses are 15 meters and in the extended position as shown in the picture it is held in a large bend near the middle of the hoses and with a vertex of the bend clearly above the inner end of the hoses, and with a steep slope from the suction nozzles up to the vertex. It is therefore a significant S-bend in the vertical plane and a bend in the horizontal plane. The middle part of the hoses is held by three pairs of cuffs or brackets in long straps, and the cuff straps are held in pairs by three parallel booms in three pairs of straps from a shackle which in turn hangs from a strap in the main boom. The three levels of vertical straps build many meters and are loose. The suction nozzles hang in a somewhat similarwayfrom three pairs of cockfoot straps extending in a wire down from the jib, and where three outer straps is holding close to the mouths of the elongated suction nozzles, and each inner strap holds the inner end of the suction nozzles. The hose crane builds almost as high as it extends its mouth out from the ship's side, and it has a steep pitch and a large bend. The fish are subjected to considerable vertical accelerations. The vacuum necessary to suck up to the top of the suction hoses is considerable to overcome the pitch, and mutual collisions between the hoses must be expected.

[0009] Brief summary of the invention

[0010] The invention is a hose crane for a wellboat, comprising the following features:

[0011] - a crane arm (130) rotatable at least in the vertical plane on a rotatable swivel base (100),

[0012] - at least one guide rail (132) along the crane arm (130) for pulleys (140) distributed along the guide rail (132),

[0013] - where the pulleys (140) each constitute suspension for brackets (160) distributed along a suction hose (150) along the extension of the guide rail (132), wherein the suction hose (150) is arranged to extend from a wellboat's (105) inlet (107) for fish and out to a hose nozzle (152) arranged for the inlet of fish in water, wherein the suction hose (150) comprises an elongated, flexible inner hose portion (150i), which extends from in past a crane foundation (102), an elongated, middle hose section (150m) with evenly spaced hose brackets (160) held underthe pulleys (140) freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane arm (130), and an outer elongated flexible section (150y) with a suction nozzle (152) held in a lifting wire (172) from near an outer end of the crane arm (130).

[0014] Further embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

[0015] Brief description of the figures Fig. 1 is a side view of a deployed hose crane according to the invention, where the hose crane is seen in a cross-section as seen from aft along the starboard side of the wellboat.

[0016] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the hose crane according to the invention as seen from just aft across the starboard side. The hose crane is shown in the deployed position with a bendable outer portion (150y) of the suction hose (150) bent down and lowered into seawater, in a position to suck in fish. A return fish chute (180) according to an embodiment of the invention extends alongthe upper side of the crane arm (130) and can be used in a separate operation for releasing fish to a cage, returning treated fish to a cage, or unloading fish to a receiving area.

[0017] Fig. 3 is a picture of the prior art, a Triplex hose crane.

[0018] Fig. 4 is a deck plan view of a hose crane in the extended and retracted position, (overlapping illustrations), with one hose hanging along and below the rail at the lower right edge of the crane arm.

[0019] About the invention and embodiments of the invention

[0020] The invention provides a hose crane for a wellboat. The hose crane comprises

[0021] - a crane arm (130) rotatable at least in the vertical plane on a rotatable swivel base (100),

[0022] - at least one rail (132) along the crane arm (130) for pulleys (140) distributed along the guide rail (130),

[0023] - where the pulleys (140) constitute suspension or support for hose brackets (160) distributed along a suction hose (150), along the extent of the guide rail (130).

[0024] The term crane arm (130) can also be expressed as crane boom (130), boom (130) and will be understood by a person skilled in the art.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the suction hose (150) extends from the inlet (107) of a wellboat (105) for fish, live fish, via a suction tank with a vacuum pump further to a well tank, or directly to a vacuumed well tank, and out to a hose nozzle (152) arranged for the inlet of fish into water. The hose nozzle is in one embodiment arranged to be lowered into a cage with e.g. farmed salmon, a tank with live fish, etc. The inlet (107) for fish may comprise a vacuum pump or vacuumed well tank in the wellboat, so that fish are sucked from the inner end of the suction hose (150), and indirectly or directly into the well tank.

[0026] The suction hose (150) is essentially continuous to have a substantially smooth inner tube wall so that little friction occurs and where it is avoided that the fish during pumping collides with joints, flange edges and abrupt transitions in diameter.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the suction hose (150) comprises, counted from the innermost to the outermost,

[0028] - an elongated, flexible inner hose portion (150i) arranged to extend from the inlet (107) of the wellboat (105) out to

[0029] - an elongated, middle hose portion (150m) with evenly distributed hose brackets (160) which are held underthe pulleys (140) freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane arm (130), and

[0030] - an outer elongated flexible portion (150y) with a suction nozzle (152).

[0031] In a more specific embodiment of the invention, the suction hose (150) comprises, counted from the innermost to the outermost,

[0032] - an elongated, flexible inner hose portion (150i) extending from the wellboat inlet (107) and outwards past a crane foundation (102),

[0033] - an elongated, middle hose portion (150m) with evenly distributed hose brackets (160) which are held underthe pulleys (140) freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane arm (130), and

[0034] - an outer elongated flexible portion (150y) with a suction nozzle (152).

[0035] - In an embodiment of the invention, the outer elongated portion (150y) with the suction nozzle (152) is arranged so that raising and lowering the suction nozzle from and into the sea occurs by vertical movement of the crane arm itself.

[0036] In one embodiment of the invention, the suction nozzle is held in a lifting wire (172) from near an end of the crane arm (130). In one embodiment of the invention, the lifting wire (172) runs via a pulley on an extendable jib (170) at the end of the crane arm (130). The suction nozzle (152) is arranged to be lowered into the sea via the lifting wire (172).

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the guide rail runs along an underlying portion of the crane arm (130). The pulleys (140) are arranged to run inwardly or outwardly along the guide rail (132) depending on changes in a tension state / length extension of the suction hose (150) due to changes in the position of the crane arm (130), when turningthe crane arm to approximately a right angle out from the ship's side and also when raising / lowering the crane arm from / into the sea.

[0038] The bracket stay wires (142) are relatively short, for example 1 / 2 to 1 in relation to the distance between the rollers, so that the elongated middle hose section (150m) is kept close to the crane arm (150).

[0039] In the case shown in Fig. 2, the hose runs or passes past and around a sector of the crane foundation (102) when the crane arm (130) is turned around the crane foundation (102). In this embodiment, the suction hose (150) is laid in an arc of approximately up to 1 / 4 of a turn around the crane foundation (102). Due to the large diameter and longitudinal rigidity of the suction hose, this can amount to several meters. This apparent change in the length of the suction hose is compensated automatically by the rollers (140) moving to a new position.

[0040] In one embodiment of the invention, the inlet (107) is not necessarily arranged within the crane foundation (102), but close to or slightly outside, depending on the location of the crane foundation and the location of the inlet (107) further out towards the ship's side. In any case, the large bending radius of the innermost part of the hose will cause a displacement of the middle and outer parts of the hose when the crane arm is swung out and in. One can even imagine that the inlet (107) of the suction hose is through the crane foundation (102) with necessary reinforcements of the crane foundation, but the large bending radius will in any case cause a displacement to a significant extent.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, there are three to seven hose brackets (160) arranged along the elongated middle portion (150m). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, there are five hose brackets (160). The number of hose brackets depends on the length of the boom, and particularly the length of the elongated middle portion (150m) of the suction hose (150). A significant advantage of the invention is that one achieves a substantially absent bending of the suction hose alongthis middle portion (150m), and a uniformly rising height of the hose from the suction nozzle (152), here somewhat steeper in the bendable outer portion (150y), via the more gently rising elongated middle portion (150m), and decreasing inwardly along the slightly bent elongated inner portion (150i) and into the inlet (107) of the wellboat's suction pump and / or well. It can be seen from Fig. 2 that in the extended position the outermost pulley (140) is near an outer end of the guide rail (132), while in the retracted position the outermost pulley (140) is pulled far inward alongthe guide rail (132) while the innermost pulley (140) is pulled far inward towards an inner end of the guide rail (132). The pulleys move fairly freely back and forth along the guide rail and move so that no unnecessary tension or axial compression occurs in the suction hose (150) when swinging out and lowering or swinging in and raising the crane arm (130).

[0042] The hose nozzle is designed to be lowered into the sea for pumping fish from the fish pen to the well boat, or to be connected to another suction hose. An essential aspect of the invention is that the suction hose (150) should extend substantially straight and without bends from the hose brackets (160) to avoid pressure changes and damage to the fish. This means that the hose brackets and the pulleys are evenly distributed outwards along the boom and with distances that are sufficiently short that the suction hose (150) does not bend down between the hose brackets. This avoids pressure variations and vertical accelerations up and down for the fish being pumped in. In one embodiment, the hose brackets (150) can be held in short bracket stay cables (142) compared to the distances between the pulleys (140), in another embodiment, the hose brackets (150) can be held directly by the pulleys (140).

[0043] In one embodiment of the invention, a pulley is arranged at the outer part of the crane arm (130) for a lifting wire (172) arranged to raise or lowerthe suction nozzle (152).

[0044] In an embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, one or more jibs (170) are arranged in the outer portion of the crane arm (130), each jib (170) having a jib pulley (171) forthe liftingwire (172) arranged to raise or lowerthe suction nozzle (152).

[0045] In an embodiment of the invention, each jib (170) is arranged to operate its associated suction nozzle (152) of the suction hose (150) independently. In this way, the suction nozzle (152) of one suction hose (150) can be raised out of the sea when a desired amount of fish has been sucked into one well tank, while the other continues to suckfish into anotherwelltank.

[0046] In an embodiment of the invention, each jib (170) is arranged to be pulled inward to a parked position when the crane arm (130) is rotated inward to a parked position parallel to the ship's side, and to be pushed outward to an extended position when the crane arm (130) is rotated out from the ship's side.

[0047] In an embodiment of the invention, a rotary actuator (122) is arranged and arranged to rotate the crane arm (130) about a vertical axis for the slewing ring, i.e. in the horizontal plane, between a parked position at the deck of the wellboat (105), and an extended position out from the ship's side.

[0048] In an embodiment of the invention, the crane arm (130) is equipped with a hydraulic lifting cylinder (120) arranged to raise and lowerthe crane arm (130). This lifting cylinder (120) is attached to a horizontal shaft in a cylinder bracket (112) on the crane arm (130) and in a corresponding cylinder bracket on the swivel foot (100) (called ‘kongen’ in Norwegian).

[0049] In an embodiment of the invention, the top bracket (110) of the swivel foot (100) is arranged at a level close to or just above the main deck. In one embodiment of the invention, the swivel foot (100) is arranged at one end of a recessed suction hose deck at the ship's side where the suction hose and the crane arm can be parked in a passive position.

[0050] In one embodiment of the invention, the top plate (133) of the crane arm extends flat from the inner main bracket (112) (for the top bracket (110) of the swivel foot) and out to the outer part of the crane arm (130). This has several advantages. The crane arm then builds very little above the top bracket (110) on the swivel foot (100), and if the swivel foot is otherwise very low, as for example shown in Fig. 1 and 2, this provides better stability for the wellboat in general and especially in the parked position of the crane arm, and it provides less windage anyway, which is of great importance when using DP during loading and / or unloading.

[0051] In a further embodiment, a fish chute (180) is mounted along the crane arm (130) in essentially its entire length. This fish chute (180) can be used when unloading fish to a cage or a receiving area for slaughter. It is used separately from the suction hoses, because there is little point in unloading fish to a cage being emptied.

[0052] In a further embodiment of the invention, the fish chute (180) is arranged on top of the crane arm (130), alongthe flat top plate of the crane arm (130). The fish chute is arranged to receive fish and water and direct it downwards and outwards alongthe crane arm to its outer end.

[0053] In an embodiment of the invention, the hose brackets (160) and / or pulleys (140) of the suction hose (150) are equipped with quick couplings (143) so that the suction hose (150) is arranged to be disconnected and left in a parked position in cradles on the deck parallel to the ship's side so that the crane arm (130) can be swung out without a suction hose. This is a great advantage when using the fish chute (180) when it is to deliver fish to a reception area as the suction hose could otherwise come into significant conflict with the quay or other structure at the reception area.

[0054] In the embodiment of the invention best illustrated in Fig. 2 the inlet (107) is positioned such that the inner portion of the suction hose (150i) extends over the rack at the first deck above the waterline and thus has a low height. Furthermore, the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 shows that the chute is thus positioned over the second deck so that a desired slope is obtained for the fish chute so that the fish flows easily to a receiving area on land or in a cage.

[0055] In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2, a portion of the inner portion of the suction hose (150i) rests on a portion of the rack, here on a folded-down portion of the rack, so that deflection of the inner portion (150i) is avoided. A horizontal plate can be arranged on the rack to distribute the pressure of the rack against the hose.

[0056] In an embodiment of the invention, where the crane foundation and the slewing ring and thus the outer edge of the slewing foot (100) are positioned close to the longitudinal (here starboard) wall facing the recess in the ship, the crane arm (130) is asymmetrical in relation to the swivel foot (100). Fig. 4 shows a schematic deck plan view of the starboard side of a wellboat, of an embodiment of a hose crane according to the invention in the extended and retracted position, (overlapping illustrations), with one hose hanging along and under the rail at the lower right edge of the crane arm. There may be several parallel hoses as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer end of the crane arm (130) will be rotated out in a quarter circular path to its extended position. The outer end of the suction hose (150), the hose nozzle (152), will, however, according to the invention, swing out in a quarter elliptical path with the long axis across a line parallel to the centerline of the wellboat, and end up in an extended position in relation to the outer end of the crane arm (130), and thus reach much further out. Fig. 4 clearly shows how all the hose brackets (160), from the innerto the outer, movingfrom a retracted position along the crane arm (130) in the swung-in position to an extended position in the swung-out position of the crane arm.

[0057] The invention is in a broader sense a hose crane for a wellboat, comprising

[0058] - a crane arm (130) rotatable at least in the vertical plane on a rotatable swivel base (100),

[0059] - at least one rail (130) alongthe crane arm (130) for running pulleys (140) distributed alongthe rail (130),

[0060] - where the running pulleys (140) each comprise suspension for a suction hose (150), where the running pulleys are distributed along the suction hose (150) along the extension of the rail (130), wherein the suction hose (150) is arranged to extend inside from a wellboat's (105) inlet (107) for fish indirectly or directly to a well tank and out to a hose nozzle (152) designed for the entry of fish in water.

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A hose crane for a wellboat, comprising- a crane arm (130) rotatable at least in the vertical plane on a rotatable swivel base (100) and having a suction hose (150) arranged to extend from a fish inlet (107) of the wellboat (105) and out to a suction nozzle (152) arranged for inlet of fish immersed in water, wherein the suction hose (150) comprises- an elongated, flexible inner hose portion (150i) arranged to extend from the fish inlet (107) of the wellboat (105) out to- an elongated, middle hose portion (150m), and- an outer elongated flexible portion (150y) with a suction nozzle (152) held in a lifting wire (172) from near an end of the crane arm (130), wherein the hose crane comprises- at least one guide rail (132) along the crane arm (130) for pulleys (140) distributed along the guide rail (132),- where the pulleys (140) each constitute suspension for hose brackets (160) evenly distributed along the elongated, middle hose portion (150m) of the suction hose (150) along the extension of the guide rail (132),- such that the elongated, middle hose portion (150m) held underthe pulleys (140) is freely movable in the longitudinal direction of the crane arm (130).

2. The hose crane according to claim 1 ,- where the hose brackets (160) is hanging from bracket stay cables (142) from the pulleys (140).

3. The hose crane according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one or more jibs (170) are arranged in the outer portion of the crane arm (130), each jib (170) having a jib pulley (171) for a lifting wire (172) arranged to raise or lowerthe suction nozzle (152).

4. The hose crane accordingto claim 3, wherein each jib (170) is arranged to operate the suction nozzle (152) of its associated suction hose (150) independently.

5. The hose crane according to claim 3 or 4, wherein each jib (170) is arranged to be pulled inwardly to a parked position when the crane arm (130) is rotated inwardly to a parked position parallel to the ship's side, and to be pushed outwardly to an extended position when the crane arm (130) is rotated out from the ship's side.

6. The hose crane according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a rotary actuator (122) is arranged to rotate the crane arm (130) about a vertical axis, i.e. in the horizontal plane, between a parked position at the deck of the wellboat (105), and an extended position out from the ship's side.

7. The hose crane according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a hydraulic lifting cylinder (120) arranged to raise and lower the crane arm (130).

8. The hose crane accordingto one of the preceding claims, wherein a top plate (133) of the crane arm extends planarlyfrom the inner main bracket (112) and out to the outer portion of the crane arm (130).

9. The hose crane accordingto one of the preceding claims, wherein a return fish chute (180) is mounted along the crane arm (130) in its entire extent.

10. The hose crane accordingto claims 8 and 9, wherein the return fish chute (180) is arranged on top of the crane arm (130), along the flat top plate of the crane arm (130).11 . The hose crane accordingto one of the preceding claims, wherein the hose brackets (160) and / or pulleys (140) of the suction hose (150) are equipped with quick couplings (143) so that the suction hose (150) is arranged to be disconnected and left in a parked position on the deck parallel to the ship's side so that the crane arm (130) is arranged to be swung out without the suction hose.

Images