Patent Application
20170283011
The present invention generally relates to a life safety lowering system, and more particularly relates to a system to convey a living being from a vessel to a jetty, dock, dolphin or other surface next to the vessel while the vessel is stationary, slowing or underway at low speed.
Landing booms typically are located close to the forecastle deck, close to the ship side or close to the “break” of the forecastle deck, on each side of a ship. Landing booms must be capable of swinging out board on their own. The bow landing booms typically swing from aft to forward.
Conventionally, when landing boom operations are finished, the crew person makes fast the landing boom so that the landing boom is ready for transit. If the landing boom is not rigged or canted correctly, there is an increased risk to the safety of the crew person. Before lowering a crew person, the landing rope must be flaked correctly on the deck, which is important to for ensuring proper function.
Prior art systems lack industry standard safety features such as passing the “whistle test” and do not provide for adequate safety of the worker under workplace safety regulations as the ropes are controlled manually by workers. Therefore, there is a need for a system to manage or control this operation in as safe a manner as possible while maintaining operational viability.
In addition, prior art systems neglect to properly and adequately ensure the crew member's safety during the evolution.
There is a need for a simplified system and method of operation to overcome the above stated problems.
A system for transferring or conveying a load from a vessel to a surface is provided substantially as shown in, and/or described in connection with, at least one of the figures.
According to embodiments illustrated herein, there is provided a system for transferring or conveying a load from a vessel to a surface. The system includes a rod assembly, a rope or ropes, a plurality of swiveling pulleys, a plurality of carabiners, a wire rope sling, a descent control device, a chair assembly, a hook unit and a rope bag unit.
The rod assembly is canted downward from the kingpost approximately 1-2 degrees to facilitate the landing boom deploying by itself under load. It has a movable proximal end and a distal end. In one embodiment, the proximal end is anchored on the vessel. The rope has a first end and a second end. The plurality of pulleys support movement and change of direction of the rope. In one embodiment, the second end of the rope passes through the plurality of pulleys.
A first carabiner is coupled to the distal end of the rod assembly. In one embodiment, a first pulley is detachably coupled to the first carabiner to support the movement of the passing rope.
A second carabiner is coupled to the proximal end of the rod assembly to allow the rope to pass there through. The wire rope sling is detachably coupled around secure points on the vessel. In one embodiment, the wire rope sling has a snap hook and a steel O-shaped ring. A third carabiner is coupled to a second pulley to redirect the rope.
In one embodiment, the wire rope sling secures the third carabiner through the steel O-shaped ring connected to the snap hook. The descent control device is configured for controlling the movement of the rope from the vessel to the surface. In an embodiment, the descent control device is coupled with a stainless steel anchor ring detachably attached to the vessel and creating a primary anchor point.
A fourth carabiner allows a first knotting of the partial first end of the rope. A Bosun's chair assembly receives the load and is coupled to the fourth carabiner at a pre-defined distance from the first end of the rope, creating a primary connection point to the harness being worn by a crewperson. The hook unit is configured with the fourth carabiner through the rope.
In one embodiment, the present invention is a load transferring system to raise and lower a load up to and down from the vessel.
In one embodiment, the hook unit allows a second knotting of the first end of the rope and is further detachably coupled to secure a harness in order to transfer the load from the vessel to the surface.
These and other features and advantages of the present disclosure may be appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the present disclosure, along with the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the various embodiments of systems, methods, and other aspects of the disclosure. Any person with ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the boundaries. In some examples, one element may be designed as multiple elements, or multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an element shown as an internal component of one element may be implemented as an external component in another, and vice versa. Further, the elements may not be drawn to scale.
Various embodiments will hereinafter be described in accordance with the appended drawings, which are provided to illustrate and not to limit the scope in any manner, wherein similar designations denote similar elements, and in which:
The present disclosure is best understood with reference to the detailed figures and description set forth herein. Various embodiments are discussed below with reference to the figures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed descriptions given herein with respect to the figures are simply for explanatory purposes as the methods and systems may extend beyond the described embodiments. For example, the teachings presented and the needs of a particular application may yield multiple alternative and suitable approaches to implement the functionality of any detail described herein. Therefore, any approach may extend beyond the particular implementation choices in the following embodiments described and shown.
References to “one embodiment,” “at least one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “one example,” “an example,” “for example,” and so on indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation but that not every embodiment or example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.
It is also noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “and”, and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the claims, the terms “first,” “second”, and so forth are to be interpreted merely as ordinal designations they shall not be limited in themselves. Further, the use of exclusive terminology such as “solely,” “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of any claim element is contemplated. Also, it is contemplated that any element indicated to be optional herein may be specifically excluded from a given claim by way of a “negative” limitation. Finally, it is contemplated that any optional feature of the inventive variation(s) described herein may be set forth and claimed independently or in combination with any one or more of the features described herein.
The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings set forth below.
The term ‘load’ as may be used herein and in the claims means personnel or crewperson or landing boom crew operating or serving aboard a ship or vessel. The landing boom crew often consists of the officer in charge of controlling the landing rope (officer holding the landing rope) or crew member controlling the swing and the landing boom swing, and the crew member to be lowered ashore. Other vessels may have different compositions of landing boom crews.
As used herein, the term ‘rod assembly’ or ‘landing boom’ may be used herein and in the claims means a long spar that extends from the mast or kingpost.
The terms “comprising”, “having”, “including”, and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The terms “connected” and “coupled” are to be construed as partly or wholly contained within, attached to, or joined together, even if there is something intervening.
The recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein.
All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not impose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed.
The aforementioned components of the system 100 are designed in such a way that the selected components are easy to install and operate while providing an increased level of safety during landing boom operations.
When not in operation, the rod assembly 200 is in a stowed or ready position along with the rope 102, a plurality of pulleys 104a, and 104b, carabiners 106, 108, 112, and 116, the wire rope sling 110, the control device 114, the chair assembly 118, and the hook unit 120.
After transferring the load from the vessel, the rod assembly 200 is moved back to a ready position above the deck. In one embodiment, the rod assembly 200, the descent control device 114, the carabiners 106, 108, 112, and 116, the pulleys 104a, and 104b, and the rope 102 are assembled when in use and disassembled when not in use.
As shown in
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The third carabiner 112 is coupled to a second pulley 104b to redirect the rope 102. The location of the third carabiner 112 may vary depending on the configuration of the vessel. Once third carabiner 112 is in place, the rope 102 may be threaded and the pulley sheave secured. The rope 102 and rope bag unit 122 may then be brought to the primary anchor point. The system can be rigged forwards or backwards.
In one embodiment, the wire rope sling 110 secures the third carabiner 112 through the steel O shaped ring 110b connected to the snap hook 110a.
Further, if a stainless steel anchor ring 124 is not available, then the descent control device 114 may be coupled to any structure fixed to the vessel such as a pole, rail, cleat, or other secure anchor point. The primary anchor point may have a stainless steel anchor ring 124 bolted or welded/fixed by another means to the ship structure. In this case, the descent control device 114 may be coupled directly to the anchor ring with a suitable connector. Alternatively, an anchor point may be improvised using a wire rope sling 110 and a suitable connector.
For example, returning to the tip of the landing boom area and attach the Bosun's chair to the fourth carabiner 116 approximately six feet of the rope. The fourth carabiner 116 should face down and secure the screw locking gate of the fourth carabiner 116 check to make sure the MGO hook 120 on the end of the rope 102 is properly secured in the second knot 128 and does not put the rope in tension back to the Bosun's chair connection point at knot 113 and at carabiner 116.
Prior to operating the system 100, a system safety check is preferably performed to ensure proper assembly and operation of the components. This secondary check is a redundant safety check and is to be performed by a competent person trained in the setup and use of the system. In one embodiment, the person performing the safety check is not to be the same person who initially rigged the components.
Thereafter, personnel check all the anchor points for proper installation and orientation and check that all the carabiner gates are oriented properly and locked using a touch check. Personnel then check the connection points to the Bosun's chair and the MGO Hook. Further one should conduct a harness and PPE check and conduct a pull test on the descent control device.
Lastly, it is recommended to perform a trial run on/above the deck to verify all components are operating properly. If there are any deficiencies found during the safety check, they must be corrected immediately by the crewperson conducting the check.
The system operations are described below: when approaching the landing area, a hazard assessment shall take place to ensure the safety of the crewman being lowered. Hazards include weather conditions, human factors, and manmade natural barriers and may include others, not defined herein.
The landing boom lowering system should not be left in place when not in use as it is a life safety system. In order to prolong the life of the life safety system and to maintain the highest level of safety, it is assembled for use and disassembled when not in use during long periods of transit when not required to be operational.
The rope 102 is loaded into the descent control device 114 and the face place is locked in place. The pull check is performed to ensure proper loading and operation of the descent control device 114.
To operate the descent control device 114 in lowering mode, the user has to keep the brake hand in place and squeeze the rope while pulling back on the handle with the other hand gently, relax the grip on the brake hand to allow the rope to pay through or increase the grip strength to slow the lowering of the load. When the load is approximately eight feet or less from the surface, the user increases the grip on the rope to slow the lowering as the load approaches the surface.
The MGO hook connects to the “ventral D ring” of the harness 142 with the point facing out. The crewman sits comfortably in the Bosun's chair and may hold on to the two front webbing straps, looking down to estimate the approximate landing area on the surface.
Thereafter, begin the disconnection of the MGO hook safety line when the user is approximately eight feet or less from the landing area.
Further, to lower a second crewman, the Bosun's chair must be pulled back to the vessel or ship's deck, open the face plate on the descent control device to remove the rope. Pull the chair up to the deck hand over hand on the rope and reload the device so it is ready for the second (or subsequent) lower.
Furthermore, turn the device to the side and then operate the safety latch and open the face plate. Add a bight to the rope carefully and close the face plate fully so that safety latch closes around the anchor carabiner, repeat the pull test after closing the face place to ensure the proper loading of the device.
Thus the present system 100 provides an increased level of control over the lowering or transferring operation while significantly improving the level of safety during the operation. In an embodiment, the present invention relates to the load transferring system to raise and lower load up to and down from the vessel.
Some regulations require ships of more than 50 meter in overall length to be equipped with at least one landing boom on each side. These regulations recommend that a safe working load (SWL) of minimum 100 kilograms be used for the landing booms.
Further, it is important that the landing booms be maintained in good working condition because the lives of the crew members being landed depend on such maintenance.
Any doubtful items of equipment are preferably changed and replaced immediately. Landing booms must be capable of swinging outboard on their own. To facilitate this, the boom is usually canted downward one to two degrees. An opening in the deck railing or bulwark may be required if other suitable methods or arrangements are unavailable.
No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention. There is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms enclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
