Ships – Ballasting – Water tanks
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-04-10
Basinger, Sherman (Department: 3617)
Ships
Ballasting
Water tanks
C089S001800, C114S121000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213043
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a method for counteracting heeling of a sea-going vessel due to a movement of first masses on the vessel, by means of movement of second masses thereon, which movements create respective static moments about the vessel's centre of gravity.
2. Description Background Art
From the prior art as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, it is known that semi-submersible platform
100
can be employed as support structure for a rocket
101
which is to be launched, e.g., in order to place a satellite in an orbit around the earth. In this connection some of the preparation work for the rocket
101
is performed while it is located lying in a hangar, i.e. while the rocket's longitudinal axis extends horizontally. The rocket with the mounted satellite is then transported out of the hangar to a launching site on the platform
100
where the rocket
101
is raised to a standing position which is illustrated in
FIG. 1
, in which its longitudinal axis extends vertically, whereupon fuel
102
, i.e. first masses, is pumped from tanks
103
on board the platform
100
to tanks
104
on board the rocket
101
by means of a pump
105
, i.e. a first device for movement of the first masses. The pump
105
may be connected with a control device through an electrical conduit
106
. The rocket
101
is then launched.
In a rocket of this type, its height is relatively great in relation to the diameter of its rear end section whereby it rests on the launch site, and in the event of substantial heeling there is a risk that it may overturn. However, minor heeling must also be avoided, since the hull of the rocket may be overloaded. For example, the heeling should not exceed 0.5 degrees. There is a special need to monitor the heeling when rocket fuel is being pumped on board the rocket from tanks in the platform, since large quantities of fuel are involved.
For controlling the platform's draught, the use is known of a ballast device comprising tanks from which sea water can be filled or emptied. For compensation of a heeling of the platform, it is similarly known that by means of the same ballast device sea water can be pumped from one tank on board the platform to another. This filling and emptying can be performed by means of suitable pumps, valves, etc. However, the angle of heeling is established before, e.g., any heeling compensation takes place.
If a standing rocket as described above is located on a platform of this type, and the rocket is being filled with fuel, an inadmissably high degree of heeling and reduction of the rocket's stability may therefore occur before any compensation of the heeling can take place, nor can the possibility be overlooked that the rocket's stability may be affected by additional forces as a result of wind and waves.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device as mentioned in the introduction, whereby the above-mentioned disadvantages can be avoided and which is not encumbered by the above-mentioned disadvantages.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
FIG. 1
is a schematic view illustratng a conventional semi-submersible platform; and
FIG. 2
is a schematic top view of a piping arrangement for a device according to the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2338147 (1944-01-01), von den Steinen
patent: 3160135 (1964-12-01), De Vries
patent: 4207828 (1980-06-01), Horowitz et al.
patent: 4747334 (1988-05-01), Kuriiwa
patent: 4916999 (1990-04-01), Palmer et al.
patent: 5042358 (1991-08-01), Kuriiwa
patent: 5191162 (1993-03-01), Czimmek
patent: 5908999 (1999-06-01), Kristensen et al.
patent: 5918306 (1999-06-01), Kristensen et al.
patent: 5932830 (1999-08-01), Kristensen et al.
patent: 1213853 (1970-11-01), None
patent: 1468786 (1977-03-01), None
patent: 2162482 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 57-104491 (1982-06-01), None
Japanese Abstract: JPA-58-8490, Jan. 18, 1983.
Japanese Abstract: JPA-62-113687, May 25, 1987.
Japanese Abstract: JPA-58-185392, Oct. 29, 1983.
Japanese Abstract: JPA-62-55289, Mar. 10, 1987.
Basinger Sherman
Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch, LLP.
Kvaerner Maritime AS
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