Telescopic Gangway Boarding for Variable Air Draft Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for accessing dump scows from dredges are unsafe and cumbersome due to varying air drafts, weather conditions, and sea states, and traditional gangways are too complex and space-consuming for dredging environments.
Innovation Solution
A boarding system with a pivotally connected gangway and winch system that adjusts to different air drafts and conditions, eliminating the need for manual handling of ladders, featuring a tower, stairway, and platform with support columns and siderails for safe passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinged ladder is used to access the dump scow, then passage is possible, but the ladder becomes unstable and unsafe due to varying air draft and weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The gangway is designed with a winch system that allows it to be dynamically adjusted in length and angle to accommodate varying air draft conditions. The gangway can be extended or retracted and positioned at different angles to maintain stability regardless of the scow's load status or sea conditions, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameters of the passage route by using a telescopic gangway with adjustable length and angle. The winch system modifies the gangway's deployment parameters in real-time to match varying air draft conditions, ensuring stable and safe passage regardless of external conditions.
2Reliability
If a traditional gangway is used to provide stable passage, then safety is improved, but the system becomes too complex and requires excessive deck space
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into a single integrated system: the gangway structure, the winch mechanism, and the telescopic sections are combined into one compact unit. This integration provides stable and safe passage while minimizing deck space requirements and reducing overall system complexity compared to traditional gangways.
Solution Approach 2:
The gangway employs telescopic sections that nest within each other when retracted, allowing the structure to be compact during storage while extending to the necessary length for safe passage. This nesting principle reduces the space required on deck while maintaining the safety and stability of the passage route.
3Device complexity
If manual handling of a ladder is used, then the system is simple, but it requires excessive manual effort and is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The winch system is designed to be self-operating or easily controllable, allowing the gangway to be deployed and adjusted with minimal manual effort. The mechanical advantage provided by the winch mechanism enables automatic or semi-automatic adjustment of the gangway position and length, eliminating the need for heavy manual handling while keeping the system relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
A boarding system for passage from one vessel to an adjacent vessel comprises a platform, a plurality of support columns secured to the platform, a stairway attached to the platform, and a gangway pivotally connected to the platform and configured to pivot between a storage position and a deployed position. When the gangway is in the storage position, the gangway is in an upward position and when the gangway is in the deployed position, a distal portion of the gangway engages with the adjacent vessel at an angle corresponding to a condition of the adjacent vessel.