Ships – Towing or pushing – Towing by means of cable
Patent
1998-02-23
1999-10-19
Basinger, Sherman
Ships
Towing or pushing
Towing by means of cable
2423965, B63B 2116
Patent
active
059670762
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention relates to an emergency towing device for ships, particularly large ocean vessels, including tankers, as stated in the introduction to claim 1.
BACKGROUND
With increasing seabound transport of oil and similar products, the requirement for safety measures to avoid contamination in disasters is increasing. It is now required that larger vessels have to be provided with emergency towing facilities, which can be operated on a "dead" ship, when other equipment is not operating.
There are several known ways of storing emergency towing wires. One of these is a winch drum arranged at the ships side with a wire guided though a hawsehole, and ready for extension. The exposed wire end is inappropriate for equipment which is in a state of readiness a long time. Additionally, the braking systems of known winch drums have not been satisfactory. None of the prior art has allowed an easy initial extension and heavy braking at the end of the uncoiling operation.
OBJECTS
The main object of the invention is to provide a device for emergency towing, eliminating the above shortcomings in the prior art as far as possible.
It is desirable to have a device with a satisfactory structure and function for storage where active parts are protected against adverse external influence. The device must be ready for use, without the risk jamming or other malfunctions.
Further, it is an object to provide a device which is simple to use, i.e. with easy and rapid activation and extension of the wire on a "dead" ship.
It is also an object to provide a braking arrangement in which the braking of the wire can be conducted with an increasing braking effect, from no breaking to complete braking of the extended wire.
THE INVENTION
The basic improvements are provided with a device as stated in claim 1. Various features and details of this device will appear in the below description of an embodiment below.
In claims 2-10, additional features of the invention are stated.
EXAMPLE
The invention is described further with reference to the drawings, in which
FIG. 1 shows a side view of a device according to the invention,
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the deveice in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 shows a section through a guiding rail of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2,
FIG. 4 shows a side view, partly in section, of the hawsehole for guiding the wire in FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 shows a plan view from above of the hawsehole of FIG. 4,
FIG. 6 shows a side view, partly in section, of the storage unit of FIGS. 1 and 2, while
FIG. 7 shows an axial section of the braking device of the storage unit in FIG. 6.
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device for the emergency towing of ships. For safety reasons, it is required that each ship is provided with such a device. The device according to the example comprises four main parts: a towing wire 11, a hawsehole 12 which is guided on a pair of guiding rails 13, and a storage unit 14 for the wire when it is not in use. The storage unit 14 also serves to pull in the wire after use or testing. The storage unit 14 is preferably provided with a motor which will be described further, but it may also be provided without a motor, but be operable by a mobile motor.
The guiding rails 13 are mounted on the ships deck, perpendicularly to the ships side. In the example, the guiding rails are enclosed by an enclosure 13A in the shape of a channel, which has a cover 15 hinged at the lowermost side of the end of the enclosure at the ships side. The cover 15 has provision (not shown) on its internal side, for holding a buoy 16 which is attached to the end of the wire 11 with a line 17. The end of the wire 11 has a loop 18 (which is placed in the enclosure 13A when the wire is pulled in) to protect it against esternal conditions. The line 17 is coiled up in a container 19 placed at the outer end of the enclosure 13A.
The guiding rails 13 can alternatively be arranged under the ships deck, to avoid the need for an enclosure.
The storage unit 14 for the wire 11 has a wiredrum 20 positioned between two brackets 21A and 21B which extends from a socket mounted
REFERENCES:
patent: 3494443 (1970-02-01), Huffhines
patent: 3780989 (1973-12-01), Peterson
patent: 4455961 (1984-06-01), Hansen et al.
patent: 4597352 (1986-07-01), Norminton
patent: 4846313 (1989-07-01), Sharp
patent: 5263431 (1993-11-01), Wood
patent: 5609120 (1997-03-01), Eronen
Basinger Sherman
Hunn Melvin A.
Muldoon Patrick
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