Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Apparatus for hauling or hoisting load – including driven... – Device includes rotatably driven – cable contacting drum
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-22
2001-07-31
Marcelo, Emmanuel M. (Department: 3653)
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Apparatus for hauling or hoisting load, including driven...
Device includes rotatably driven, cable contacting drum
C191S01220R, C242S406000, C414S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267356
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to apparatus for use in handling a. load which is capable of raising and lowering, or of towing, a load and also handling service cables and/or hoses connected to the load. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable to the handling of subsea equipment such as grabs.
Hitherto, providing services to underwater equipment has required the provision of a specific bundle of cable(s) and/or hose(s) dedicated to each application. For some applications, it is known to incorporate the Service bundle within an armoured hoist rope. This approach has a number of deficiencies. The resulting rope is costly, gives inferior hoisting properties, and by virtue of limitations on the diameter of rope which can be handled the services which can be incorporated are limited. Further, in practice it is impossible with this arrangement to add to the length of the rope or to join different types of materials, for example wire ropes with fibre ropes.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, apparatus for use in handling a load comprises a load-bearing rope, a mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope, a drum for holding a service cable with a length of the service cable extending therefrom, and a wrapping device for rotating said length of service cable around the rope as the rope is payed out to wrap the service cable around the rope, and to unwrap the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of handling a load comprises paying out a load-bearing rope and wrapping a service cable around the rope as it is payed out, and subsequently unwrapping the service cable from the rope as the rope is recovered.
The term “service cable” is used herein to denote a flexible elongate member used for conveying power or data, such as an electrical cable, a fibre optic cable, or a pneumatic or hydraulic hose.
Preferably, the service cable is wrapped helically around the rope.
Typically, the load-bearing rope will be a hoist rope used for raising and lowering a load Alternatively, the load-bearing rope may be a towing rope used for saying out, towing and recovering a load such as a marine sensor array.
The apparatus may include a plurality of service cables each extending from a respective drum.
Preferably, the mechanism for paying out and recovering the rope comprises a rope winch, from which the rope passes over a rope sheave and thereafter extends to the load along a substantially straight axis.
The wrapping device may comprise the or each service cable drum being arranged for rotation about a drum axis which coincides with said axis, the drum typically having a central aperture through which the load-bearing rope passes, said length of service cable preferably passing over a service cable sheave which is mounted for movement in a circular path around said axis.
Alternatively, the or each service cable drum may be rotatable on a structural member which is arranged for movement in a circular path about said axis.
The hoist rope winch, the or each service cable drum, and the wrapping device may conveniently each have a respective driving motor; they could however be driven by a single source through appropriate mechanical linkages.
Examples of apparatus and a method for use in handling a load in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view illustrating the principle of operation of a first example of the invention;
FIG. 2
is a more detailed side view, partly in section, of an apparatus used in the example of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a view similar to
FIG. 1
illustrating a modification of the arrangement of
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 4
is a schematic perspective view illustrating a second example of the invention;
FIG. 5
is a side view of an apparatus used in the example of
FIG. 4
;
FIG. 6
is a schematic perspective view illustrating a third example similar to that of
FIG. 1
but modified for towing rather than lifting;
FIG. 7
illustrates a fourth example similar to that of
FIG. 4
but modified for towing rather than lifting;
FIG. 8
a
is a schematic side view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8
b
is a close up view of the
FIG. 8
a
embodiment;
FIG. 8
c
shows in side sectional view some of the components of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 8
d
shows a further component of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 9
a
shows a side sectional view of an arm assembly of the fifth embodiment;
FIG. 9
b
shows a side sectional view of a further arm assembly of the fifth embodiment;
FIGS. 10
a
and
10
b
show a side and top view respectively of a sixth embodiment;
FIG. 11
shows a side view of a sleeve and bearing of the sixth embodiment;
FIG. 12
shows a plan view of a main support plate of the sixth embodiment;
FIGS. 13
a
and
b
show plan views of bearings used in the sixth embodiment;
FIGS. 14
a, b
and
c
show plan views of gears used in the sixth embodiment;
FIGS. 15
a, b
and
c
show plan views of further gears used in the sixth embodiment;
FIG. 16
shows an exploded side view of the drive train in the sixth embodiment; and
FIG. 17
shows a side view of a gearbox of the sixth embodiment.
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patent: 3973656 (1976-08-01), Zumbro
patent: 4384688 (1983-05-01), Smith
patent: 4659276 (1987-04-01), Billett
patent: 5240092 (1993-08-01), Eachus
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patent: 908876 (1949-07-01), None
patent: 2 350 352 (1975-04-01), None
patent: 3 741 192 (1989-06-01), None
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patent: 2 519 181 (1983-07-01), None
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Moya Crawford, “A Railroad to the Seabed”, from Bridge Newsletter No. 12, Apr./May 1997 (as presently understood), pp. 4-7.
“Work Starts on final link in the £40m network”, Nov. 15, 1994 (as presently understood).
Deep Tek Limited
Marcelo Emmanuel M.
Ratner & Prestia
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