Ships – Towing or pushing
Patent
1996-08-09
1998-08-25
Basinger, Sherman
Ships
Towing or pushing
114253, 2441371, 441 83, B63B 2156
Patent
active
057973431
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a system for establishing a towing connection between a marine casualty and a salvage vessel. The establishing of such a connection is in many instances extremely difficult if not impossible without endangering the lives of personnel. The present invention aims at a system for establishing such a towing connection without the need for salvage personnel being present on board the casualty.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose aimed at by the invention is achieved by means of a loop-forming arrangement, e.g. in the form of a chain, which is held distended in the horizontal plane and which is connected to a towline, the loop-forming arrangement being adapted to be brought in over and around a strong structural member on the casualty by means of a helicopter or the like.
Further features of the invention will appear from the claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention shall be closer described with reference to the drawings, in which FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show three embodiments of the invention. FIGS 4-6 shown specific examples of possible loop-forming arrangements, or parts thereof, according to embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The arrangement according to the invention, such as shown schematically in FIG. 1 of the drawings, comprises an endless chain 1 which by means of stays or ribs 2, 3, 4 and 5 is maintained in a distended state substantially in the horizontal plane and which is brought in over and around a strong structural member on the casualty by a helicopter or the like. The endless chain 1 is connected to a towline 6, 7 in the form of a length of chain 6 connected to a towline proper 7. The towline, possibly in combination with a forerunner, may conveniently be wound on a drum or the like suspended below the helicopter.
The system consisting of the elements 1 to 6 may be lifted by means of a helicopter or the like connected to a central coupling 8 in the system of stays or ribs 2-5, e.g. by means of a separate lifting line or by means of the towline 6, 7. At a convenient moment of time during the positioning of the loop on the casualty, the connection through the coupling 8 is released, and as the lifting power through the coupling 8 is removed, the system of stays or ribs 2-5 looses its distending effect. When the chain 1 is located around the fixed strong structural member on the casualty, the helicopter may move away therefrom, whereby the towline 6, 7 is laid from the endless chain 1, which is now placed around e.g. a windlass, across the railing of the casualty, and the towline and, if appropriate, its forerunner, is rolled out from the drum so that it may be caught by the salvage vessel, e.g. by being laid across or by being picked up by the salvage vessel.
Endless chain 1 could alternatively, for example, be an endless steel or fiber rope. The loop-forming arrangement could be in the form of a noose such as shown in FIG. 4, a chain embedded in a rigid, breakable ring such as shown in FIG. 5, or an endless chain suspended form a rigid ring such as shown in FIG. 6.
The system of stays or ribs (2-5; 2'-4') can be adapted to lose its distending effect when the loop-forming arrangement (1, 1') and the system of stays or ribs (2-5; 2'-4') is lowered to contact with the casualty. The system of stays or ribs (2-5; 2'-4') can be adapted to lose its distending effect when the loop-forming arrangement (1, 1') is subjected to a force through the towline (6, 7; 6', 7).
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the system of the invention comprises a chain length 1' which by means of a system of stays or ribs 2', 3', 4' is kept distended, substantially in the horizontal plane. This system is brought, e.g. by means of a helicopter, over (or "behind") a fixed structure on a casualty. The chain 1' is connected to a towline 6', 7 in the form of a crowfoot chain 6' which in turn is connected to a towline proper 7. The towline and, if appropriate, its forerunner, could conveniently be wou
REFERENCES:
patent: 747102 (1903-12-01), Vance et al.
patent: 4138077 (1979-02-01), Okumura
Derwent's Abstract No. 92-5727/01, Week 9201, abstract of SU, 1625776 (Rost Stapel Assoc), 7 Feb. 1991.
Basinger Sherman
Bukser og Bjergning AS
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