The present invention relates to tugboats for assisting marine vessels to manoeuvre.
A tugboat helps to manoeuvre another vessel by pushing or towing the other vessel. For example, the other vessel may not be permitted to move under its own propulsion, such as a container ship in a crowded harbour or a narrow canal, or may be unable to move under its own propulsion, such as a disabled ship.
In order for a tugboat to be able to tow another vessel (such as a container ship), a tow line must extend between, and be secured to, the tugboat and the other vessel. One way of providing this tow line involves the successive exchange of lines of increasing strength (and, usually, diameter) between the vessels. For example, it is known for the end of a heaving line (e.g. of 12-millimetre diameter) to be thrown to the tugboat from the other vessel, such as from the fore or the aft of the other vessel. The end of the heaving line is typically thrown from the other vessel to an able-bodied seaman (AB) on the tugboat, such as on the deck of the tugboat. The AB catches the heaving line and ties it to a messenger line (e.g. of 24-millimetre diameter) that is stored on the tugboat. The messenger line is attached to a tow line (e.g. of 76-millimetre diameter) that is also stored on, and attached to, the tugboat. The heaving line, and thereafter the messenger line and then the tow line, is then pulled up to the other vessel, for example using a capstan of the other vessel. The tow line is then attached to the other vessel, such as by being placed over a bollard on the other vessel. The tugboat is then able to manoeuvre the other vessel using the tow line extending between them.
The heaving line of the other vessel is often lightweight and sensitive to wind, and so it can be difficult to throw the heaving line accurately towards the tugboat. Therefore, it is known to increase the weight of an end of the heaving line to be thrown, such as by tying a large knot (known as a “monkey paw” or a “monkey's fist”) in the heaving line. An example monkey's fist knot is shown in
Furthermore, conditions at sea or even in large harbours can make it difficult for tugboat crew members to get hold of a line of the tugboat, such as a messenger line, or to align and tie the line of the tugboat to a line of the other vessel, such as a heaving line.
Embodiments of the present invention aim to address the aforementioned problems.
The present invention provides a tugboat for assisting a marine vessel to manoeuvre, the tugboat comprising: a hull having a perimeter, and a line handling system comprising a line guide mechanism that protrudes, or is positionable to protrude, away from the hull for guiding a line of the marine vessel towards a predetermined region of the perimeter.
Since the line guide mechanism is for guiding the line of the marine vessel towards the predetermined region of the perimeter, it is possible for the line (such as a heaving line) to be thrown towards the line guide mechanism, rather than towards a deck of the tugboat or an AB or other crew member standing on the deck. Accordingly, crew members on the tugboat are less likely to be injured, and the tugboat itself it less likely to be damaged, by a line thrown from the marine vessel.
Optionally, the line handling system comprises a line engager for engaging with the line of the marine vessel when the line of the marine vessel is at the predetermined region of the perimeter.
Optionally, the line guide mechanism comprises at least one guide device, the or each guide device comprising a guide arm that protrudes, or is positionable to protrude, away from the hull.
Optionally, the guide arm is moveable relative to the hull.
Optionally, the guide arm is rotatable relative to the hull. Optionally, the guide arm is rotatable relative to the hull about a pivot point so as to move an end of the guide arm distal to the pivot point towards and away from an axis that extends in a fore and aft direction of the tugboat.
Optionally, the at least one guide device comprises first and second such guide devices. Further optionally, the first and second guide devices are arranged so that the respective guide arms of the first and second guide devices are movable towards and away from each other.
Optionally, the or each guide device comprises a secondary guide that is movable relative to the guide arm of the respective guide device to drive the line along the guide arm of the respective guide device towards the predetermined region of the perimeter.
Optionally, the secondary guide is rotatable relative to the guide arm of the respective guide device to drive the line along the guide arm of the respective guide device towards the predetermined region of the perimeter.
Optionally, the at least one guide device comprises first and second such guide devices arranged so that the respective secondary guides of the first and second guide devices are movable towards each other and relative to the hull.
Optionally, during movement of the respective secondary guides of the first and second guide devices relative to the hull, the secondary guides cross over each other at a cross over point that moves along one or both of the secondary guides.
Optionally, each of the respective secondary guides of the first and second guide devices has a parabolic shape.
Optionally, the guide arm is moveable relative to the hull, and the line guide mechanism comprises a drive mechanism for driving movement of the guide arm relative to the hull.
Optionally, the line guide mechanism comprises a user operable controller for controlling the drive mechanism.
Optionally, the tugboat comprises a drive device for driving movement the secondary guide relative to the hull and the guide arm of the respective guide device.
Optionally, the tugboat comprises a user operable controller for controlling the drive device.
Optionally, the line guide mechanism is movable relative to the hull between a deployed position, at which the line guide mechanism protrudes away from the hull for guiding the line of the marine vessel towards the predetermined region of the perimeter, and a stowed position, at which the line guide mechanism does not protrude away from the hull or protrudes away from the hull to a lesser extent than in the deployed position.
Optionally, the line handling system comprises an actuatable coupling mechanism for coupling the line of the marine vessel to a second line when the line of the marine vessel is at the predetermined region of the perimeter.
Optionally, the actuatable coupling mechanism is for coupling the line of the marine vessel to the second line by applying a connector to the line of the marine vessel and the second line.
Optionally, the line guide mechanism is movable relative to the hull to an operation position, at which the line guide mechanism is for guiding movement of a portion of a line of the tugboat towards the predetermined region of the perimeter.
Optionally, the second line is the line of the tugboat.
Optionally, the line handling system is movable relative to the hull so as to vary the predetermined region of the perimeter towards which the line guide mechanism is able to guide the line of the marine vessel. Further optionally, the line handling system is rotatable relative to the hull about an axis that passes through the hull so as to vary the predetermined region of the perimeter towards which the line guide mechanism is able to guide the line of the marine vessel. Optionally, the axis is substantially parallel to a yaw axis of the tugboat.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
The tugboat 1 includes a hull 11 that has a perimeter P. In some embodiments, at least part of the perimeter P of the hull 11 may be defined by a fender of the tugboat 1, but in other embodiments the fender could be omitted. The tugboat 1 also has a deck 12 within the perimeter P and a wheelhouse 18 on the deck 12. The tugboat 1 further has a pair of line stores 16 for storing lines 15. In this embodiment, each of the line stores 16 is in the form of a winch, but in other embodiments one or other of the line stores 16 could take any other suitable form, such as a spool or any other suitable supply. In this embodiment, the line stores 16 are located on the deck 12, but in other embodiments the line stores 16 could be located elsewhere, such as below deck. In some embodiments, there may be more than two line stores 16, or only one or no line stores 16. In some embodiments, when out of use, the line(s) 15 is/are simply stored on the deck 12 itself.
In this embodiment, the lines 15 stored by the line stores 16 are tow lines 15 (also known in the art as towing lines). The tow lines 15 may be any commercially available tow lines 15, and may be of a synthetic material that is both strong and light enough to float. The tow lines 15 may, for example, have respective diameters of 76 millimetres. Although not shown in the Figures, respective free ends of the tow lines 15 may have an eye, such as a splice eye, for aiding attachment of the free ends of the tow lines 15 to bollards of a marine vessel to be assisted, for example. Further details of the tow lines 15 will not be provided here, for brevity.
The tugboat 1 also carries a further line 13, which in this embodiment is a messenger line 13. The messenger line 13 may, for example, have a diameter of 24 millimetres. The messenger line 13 is for use in the process of hauling a tow line 15 from the tugboat 1 to a marine vessel that is to be assisted by the tugboat 1. In this embodiment, when out of use, the messenger line 13 is stored on the deck 12 itself. However, in other embodiments, the messenger line 13 may be stored elsewhere, such as in a line store on the deck 12 or below deck. In
The opposite, second end of the messenger line 13 is shown in
The second end of the messenger line 13 may comprise a buoyant element to aid floating of the second end of the messenger line 13. Moreover, in some embodiments, a portion of the messenger line 13 may be coloured so as to be highly visible. This portion of the messenger line 13 may extend for a certain distance (e.g. approximately one metre) from the second end of the messenger line 13. This highly visible portion of the messenger line 13 may help an AB or other member of the crew of the tugboat 1 to identify the position of the messenger line 13, and particularly whether the messenger line 13 is correctly stowed when out of use. In other embodiments, the buoyant element and/or the highly visible portion of the messenger line 13 may be omitted.
In
The tugboat 1 also has a line handling system 10. The line handling system 10 comprises a line guide mechanism 100 that is movable relative to the hull 11 to an operation position, as shown in
In this embodiment, the predetermined region R of the perimeter P is at the bow end of the hull 11 on a central axis A-A that extends in a fore and aft direction of the tugboat 11. However, in other embodiments, the predetermined region R of the perimeter P may be, for example, at the stern of the tugboat 1 or on the port or starboard side of the tugboat 1. When the predetermined region R of the perimeter P is at a location other than that of this embodiment, the line handling system 10 may be relocated elsewhere relative to the hull 11, or otherwise modified to accommodate the difference in location of the predetermined region R of the perimeter P, accordingly. In some embodiments, the line handling system 10 may be movable, such as rotatable e.g. about an axis that passes through the hull 11, relative to the hull 11 so as to vary the predetermined region R of the perimeter P towards which the line guide mechanism 100 is able to guide the line of the tugboat 1. Such an axis may pass through the deck 12. The axis may be substantially parallel to a yaw axis of the tugboat 1. The line handling system 100 may be moveable in this way while the tugboat 1 moves relative to the marine vessel to be assisted by the tugboat 1. This movability of the line handling system may be useful for enabling the line handling system 10 to guide the line of the tugboat 1 towards a particular part of the perimeter P that will facilitate subsequent coupling of the line of the tugboat 1 to the line of the marine vessel. The part of the perimeter P may, for example, be the part of the perimeter P that is closest to the marine vessel.
In
In this embodiment, the line guide mechanism 100 comprises first and second guide devices 110, 120 and an intermediate portion 130 between the first and second guide devices 110, 120. In this embodiment, the first guide device 110 is located on the port side and the second guide device 120 is located on the starboard side. However, in other embodiments the first and second guide devices 110, 120 may be arranged otherwise, such as both on the port or starboard side. In some embodiments, one or other of the first and second guide devices 110, 120 may be omitted, so that the line guide mechanism 100 comprises only one guide device 110, 120.
In this embodiment, the first guide device 110 comprises a first guide arm 111, and the second guide device 120 comprises a second guide arm 121. Moreover, in this embodiment, each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 has a distal end 111d, 121d that is distal from the intermediate portion 130, an opposite proximate end that is adjacent the intermediate portion 130, and each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 is curved so as to bow outwards away from the other of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 between the proximate and distal ends. However, in other embodiments, one or each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 could be shaped differently. For example, in some embodiments, one or each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may follow another non-linear path, or may be straight or substantially straight.
In this embodiment, the line guide mechanism 100 is movable relative to the hull 11 between the stowed position of
In this embodiment, and as indicated in
When the line guide mechanism 100 is at the operation position of
In this embodiment, the configuration of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 that encourages this movement comprises the geometry and surface properties of the first and second guide arms 111, 121, and the positioning of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 relative to the hull 11. More specifically, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 are shaped so as to avoid or reduce hinderance to movement of lines along them. Moreover, each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 is smooth, to facilitate sliding, rolling or other movement of lines along them. Indeed, it is preferable for all surfaces along which the lines may move to be smoothly curved and free from sharp or pointed features, so as to avoid the lines catching. Furthermore, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 are aligned relative to the hull 11 so that movement of a part of a line along either of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 is movement towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. In other embodiments, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may have any or all of these characteristics, and/or may have other characteristics that help to encourage this line movement towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P.
As mentioned above, in this embodiment the second end of the messenger line 13 is shown in
It will be noted that, in this embodiment, respective secondary guides 112, 122 of the first and second guide devices 110, 120, which will be described in more detail below, overlay the first and second guide arms 111, 121 when the line guide mechanism 100 is at the stowed position. This is to help make the line guide mechanism 100 relatively compact when in the stowed position, and to avoid the secondary guides 112, 122 otherwise contacting or interfering with the rim of the hull 11 during movement of the line guide mechanism 100 between the stowed and operation positions. The secondary guides 112, 122 are moved relative to the first and second guide arms 111, 121 of the respective guide devices 110, 120 before or after the line guide mechanism 100 has reached the operation position, so as to reduce the chance of movement of the line (in this embodiment, the messenger line 13) along one or other of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 being blocked by the secondary guides 112, 122.
In this embodiment, each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 is rotatable relative to the hull 11 about a respective pivot point 111p, 121p. In this embodiment, such rotation moves the respective distal ends 111d, 121d of the guide arms 111, 121 distal to the pivot points 111p, 121p towards and away from the central axis A-A that extends in a fore and aft direction of the tugboat 1. In embodiments in which the line guide mechanism 100 is located elsewhere on the tugboat 1, the rotation of the guide arms 111, 121 relative to the hull 11 may move the distal ends 111d, 121d towards and away from an axis that extends in a different direction of the tugboat 1. In some embodiments, each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may instead be movable relative to the hull 11 in a different manner, such as by translation or a combination of rotation and translation.
In this embodiment, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 are movable towards and away from each other. More specifically, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 are rotatable relative to the hull 11 about the respective pivot points 111p, 121p, so as to move the distal ends 111d, 121d of the guide arms 111, 121 towards and away from each other. The ability of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 to move in this way can provide several benefits, such as helping to make the line guide mechanism 100 relatively compact when in the stowed position, permitting the angle of inclination of the guide arms 111, 121 to be adjusted to control the rate at which the line of the tugboat 1 moves along one or other of the guide arms 111, 121 when the line guide mechanism 100 is at the operation position, and aiding the capture of a line of the marine vessel to be assisted when the line guide mechanism 100 is at a deployed position, as will be discussed below.
In this embodiment, when the line guide mechanism 100 is at the operation position, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 and the intermediate portion 130 of the line guide mechanism 100 together substantially define a U-shape. However, in some embodiments in which the intermediate portion 130 is relatively small, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 and the intermediate portion 130 may together substantially define a V-shape. Similarly, in embodiments in which the intermediate portion 130 is omitted, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may together substantially define a V-shape.
In this embodiment, the line handling system 100 comprises a line engager 230 for engaging with the line of the tugboat 1 when the line of the tugboat 1 is at the predetermined region R of the perimeter P of the hull 11. In this embodiment, the line engager 230 defines a coupling zone 250 into which a portion of the line of the tugboat 1 is insertable. The line engager 230 in this embodiment is part of an actuatable coupling mechanism 200, which will be described in more detail below. However, in other embodiments, the line engager 230 may take a different form to that of this embodiment.
The line guide mechanism 100 of this embodiment is movable relative to the hull 11 between the operation position and a deployed position.
Since the line guide mechanism 100 is for guiding the line of the marine vessel towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P, it is possible for the line (such as a heaving line) of the marine vessel to be thrown towards the line guide mechanism 100, rather than towards the deck 12 of the tugboat 1 or an AB or other crew member standing on the deck 12. Accordingly, crew members on the tugboat 1 are less likely to be injured, and the tugboat 1 itself it less likely to be damaged, by lines thrown from the marine vessel.
In some embodiments, the line handling system 10 may be movable, such as rotatable e.g. about an axis that passes through the hull 11, relative to the hull 11 so as to vary the predetermined region R of the perimeter P towards which the line guide mechanism 100 is able to guide the line of the marine vessel. Such an axis may pass through the deck 12. The axis may be substantially parallel to a yaw axis of the tugboat 1. This movability of the line handling system may facilitate successful throwing of the line of the marine vessel to the tugboat 1, since the visible “target” defined by the line guide mechanism 100, and more specifically by the guide arms 111, 121, may be positioned to face the marine vessel. The line handling system 100 may be moveable in this way while the tugboat 1 and the marine vessel move relative to each other, so that the “target” remains the same from the perspective of the marine vessel irrespective of the position of the tugboat 1 relative to the marine vessel.
The line guide mechanism 100 of this embodiment is movable relative to the hull 11 between the deployed and stowed positions shown in
In this embodiment, the line guide mechanism 100 is rotatable between the operation and deployed positions about the axis B-B that is substantially parallel to the deck 12 and the width of the tugboat 1. However, as noted above, in other embodiments, the axis B-B may be non-parallel to the tugboat 1 width and/or the deck 12. In some embodiments, the rotation between the operation and deployed positions may be about an axis other than the axis B-B. Moreover, in some embodiments, movement of the line guide mechanism 100 relative to the hull 11 between the operation and deployed positions may be other than a rotation, such as a translation or a combination of rotation and translation. In this embodiment, the driver 140 is for driving movement of the line guide mechanism 100 to and from the deployed position relative to the hull 11 under the control of the user operable controller 19, but in other embodiments the line guide mechanism 100 may be caused to move in some other way. In some embodiments, the line guide mechanism 100 may be manually moveable to and from the deployed position, such as between the operation and deployed positions.
As discussed above, the line guide mechanism 100 of this embodiment comprises first and second guide devices 110, 120, each of which comprises a respective one of the guide arms 111, 121. The guide arms 111, 121 protrude away from the hull 11 when the line guide mechanism 100 is at the deployed position. Furthermore, as also discussed above, each of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 of this embodiment is rotatable relative to the hull 11 about the respective pivot points 111p, 121p, so as to move the respective distal ends 111d, 121d of the guide arms 111, 121 towards and away from each other. In this embodiment, when the line guide mechanism 100 is at the deployed position, the pivot points 111p, 121p are located inwardly of the perimeter P of the hull 11. In other embodiments, the pivot points 111p, 121p may be located on or outwardly of the perimeter P of the hull 11. The line (such as a heaving line) of the marine vessel is intended to be received between the first and second guide arms 111, 121. Moving the distal ends 111d, 121d away from each other increases the width of an area the guide arms 111, 121 are able to sweep during movement of the tugboat 1. In turn, this increases the area into which the line of the marine vessel may be thrown, while still subsequently being guidable by the line guide mechanism 100 towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P of the hull 11.
In this embodiment, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 are movable independently of each other relative to the hull 11. However, in other embodiments, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may be movable dependently of each other relative to the hull 11. In this embodiment, and as indicated in
In some further embodiments, the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may be immovable or substantially immovable relative to the hull 11 when the line guide mechanism 100 is at the deployed position. In such embodiments, the line of the marine vessel can be urged to move towards the line engager 230 by moving the tugboat 1 relative to the line of the marine vessel.
In
In
More specifically, and with reference to
The heaving line 20 is then guided still closer to the predetermined region R of the perimeter P of the hull 11 by the secondary guides 112, 122 of the line guide mechanism 100, which were briefly discussed above. Each of the guide devices 110, 120 of the line guide mechanism 100 comprises a respective one of the secondary guides 112, 122. The first secondary guide 112 is movable relative to the first guide arm 111 for driving a line along the first guide arm 111 towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. Similarly, the second secondary guide 122 is movable relative to the second guide arm 121 for driving a line along the second guide arm 121 towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. Still further, in this embodiment the movement of the secondary guides 112, 122 of the first and second guide devices 110, 120 relative to the hull 11 comprises movement of the secondary guides 112, 122 towards each other.
In this embodiment, the secondary guides 112, 122 are rotatable relative to the guide arms 111, 121, but in other embodiments the movement of the secondary guides 112, 122 relative to the guide arms 111, 121 may be other than rotations, such as translations or a combination of rotations and translations. In this embodiment, the rotations of the secondary guides 112, 122 are about the same respective axes as the rotations of the guide arms 111, 121 relative to the hull 11. That is, the secondary guides 112, 122 are rotatable about the same pivot points 111p, 121p as the first and second guide arms 111, 121. However, in other embodiments, the secondary guides 112, 122 may be rotatable about pivot points other than the pivot points 111p, 121p of the first and second guide arms 111, 121.
In some embodiments, the first and second secondary guides 112, 122 are movable independently of each other relative to the hull 11 and the respective guide arms 111, 121. However, in other embodiments, the first and second secondary guides 112, 122 may be movable dependently of each other relative to the hull 11 and the respective guide arms 111, 121. In this embodiment, and as indicated in
In this embodiment, the first guide arm 111 comprises an indicator or marker M that is located part way along the first guide arm 111. The indicator or marker M indicates a position or region on the first guide arm 111. More specifically, the indicator or marker M indicates a position or region on the first guide arm 111 at which the line 20 of the marine vessel 2 should be located before the first secondary guide 112 is moved to drive the line 20 along the first guide arm 111 towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. The region may be that between the indicator or marker M and the pivot point 111p of the first guide arm 111. A crew member is able to visually monitor the position or progress of the line 20 relative to the indicator or marker M. When they note that the line 20 is at the position or region on the first guide arm 111 indicated by the indicator or marker M, they cause movement of the first secondary guide 112 to drive the line 20 along the first guide arm 111 towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. This causation may be due to the crew member's operation of the user operable controller for controlling the drive device 144, or due to the crew member's manual movement of the first secondary guide 112. Accordingly, the indicator or marker M helps to ensure that the line 20 is correctly positioned on the first guide arm 111 for successful subsequent driving of the line 20 along the first guide arm 111 by the first secondary guide 112.
In this embodiment, the indicator or marker M is located closer to the pivot point 111p of the first guide arm 111 than to the distal end 111d of the first guide arm 111. However, in other embodiments, depending on the geometry of the line guide mechanism 100, the indicator or marker M may be located midway between the pivot point 111p and the distal end 111d of the first guide arm 111, or may be located closer to the distal end 111d of the first guide arm 111 than to the pivot point 111p of the first guide arm 111.
The indicator or marker M may take any suitable form. For example, the indicator or marker M may be a marking applied (such as by painting) at a point on the first guide arm 111, or may be a point on the first guide arm 111 at which two portions of the first guide arm 111 with different appearances (such as colours) meet. The indicator or marker M preferably does not interfere with movement of the line 20 along the first guide arm 111.
In this embodiment, the second guide arm 121 also comprises such an indicator or marker M that is located part way along the second guide arm 121 for indicating a position or region of the second guide arm 121 at which a line of a marine vessel should be located before the second secondary guide 122 is moved to drive the line along the second guide arm 121 towards the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. In other embodiments, only one (or none) of the first and second guide arms 111, 121 may comprise such an indicator or marker M.
With reference to
With reference to
It will be noted from
In the situation in
In this embodiment, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is for coupling together a line of the tugboat 1 and a line of the marine vessel 2 by applying a connector to the lines when actuated. More specifically, in this embodiment, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is for coupling the messenger line 13 of the tugboat 1 to the heaving line 20 of the marine vessel 2 when the messenger line 13 of the tugboat 1 and the heaving line 20 of the marine vessel 2 are at the predetermined region R of the perimeter P.
As mentioned above, in some embodiments the line handling system 10 is movable (e.g. rotatable) relative to the hull 11. Such movement is usable to vary the predetermined region R of the perimeter P at which the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is suitable for coupling together the lines 13, 20.
As briefly mentioned above, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 comprises the line engager 230, which defines a coupling zone 250. In this embodiment, the line engager 230 comprises a fork having two prongs 231, 232, and the coupling zone 250 is defined by and between the prongs 231, 232. In other embodiments, the line engager 230 may take a different form. The line engager 230 is for engaging with the heaving line 20 of the marine vessel 2 when the heaving line 20 of the marine vessel 2 is at the predetermined region R of the perimeter P. The coupling zone 250 is for receiving the lines 13, 20 to be coupled. The actuatable coupling mechanism 200 of this embodiment is actuatable to apply the connector to the lines 13, 20 when the lines 13, 20 are in the coupling zone 250. In other embodiments, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may not include a line engager 230 that defines a coupling zone 250, as such. For example, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may have sufficient freedom of movement that it is usable to couple lines 13, 20 at one of many locations on or around the tugboat 1.
In this embodiment, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 comprises a support 240 for supporting the line engager 230, and the line engager 230 is movable relative to the support 240 for aiding alignment of the coupling zone 250 with the lines 13, 20. It can be seen in
The actuatable coupling mechanism 200 of this embodiment has a sensor 260 for detecting a presence of the lines 13, 20 in the coupling zone 250, and for outputting a signal in dependence on the presence of the lines 13, 20 in the coupling zone 250. The sensor 260 may be a touch sensor and/or a proximity sensor, for example. Moreover, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is actuatable to apply the connector to the lines 13, 20 on the basis of the signal. In some embodiments, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may comprise a controller for receiving the signal and for causing actuation of the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 on the basis of the signal. For example, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may be configured to automatically actuate to apply the connector to the lines 13, 20 to couple together the lines 13, 20, when the signal indicates the presence of the lines 13, 20 in the coupling zone 250. Alternatively or additionally, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may be selectively actuatable by a user to apply the connector to the lines 13, 20 to couple together the lines 13, 20. For example, actuation of the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may be controllable by a user from the user operable controller 19, in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may have a controller that permits such selective actuation of the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 by a user on the basis of the signal from the sensor 260, such as only when the signal indicates the presence of the lines 13, 20 in the coupling zone 250.
The connector to be used for coupling together the messenger line 13 and the heaving line 20 may take one of many forms, such as for example a clip, a clamp, a pin or a strap. In this embodiment, the connector 210 is a length of wire. Moreover, in this embodiment, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 comprises a supply 220 of wire, and is configured to cut the connector 210 from the supply 220. The wire may, for example, have a diameter of between 1 and 3 millimetres, such as between 1.5 and 2 millimetres, e.g. 1.8 millimetres. The supply 220 may hold, for example, 1 metre, 10 metres, or 100 metres of wire from which successive connectors 210 can be cut.
In this embodiment, the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is configured to wrap the connector 210 around the lines 13, 20 when the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is actuated. In this embodiment, the wrapping of the connector 210 around the lines 13, 20 involves causing the connector 210 to encircle the bundle of the lines 13, 20 only once, but in other embodiments the connector 210 may encircle the bundle of the lines 13, 20 more than once. The actuatable coupling mechanism 200 of this embodiment is also configured to twist together free ends 211, 212 of the connector 210 after wrapping the connector 210 around the lines 13, 20. This helps to hold the connector 210 in position relative to the lines 13, 20, and by consequence helps to hold the lines 13, 20 in position relative to each other.
The final arrangement of the connector 210 coupling the messenger line 13 and the heaving line 20 in accordance with this embodiment is shown in
When the lines 13, 20 have been coupled together, the secondary guides 112, 122 may be moved apart from each other and the guide arms 111, 121 may be moved apart from each other. This releases the heaving line 20 and coupled messenger line 13 from the space surrounded by the secondary guides 112, 122 and the hull 11, so that the messenger line 13 can be pulled up to the marine vessel 2 using the heaving line 20. Optionally thereafter, an end of at least one of the tow lines 15 can be pulled up to the marine vessel 2 using the messenger line 13, and further optionally an opposite end of the at least one of the tow lines 15 can be attached to the bitt or guide 14 of the tugboat 1.
When the line guide mechanism 100 is no longer required, in this embodiment the line guide mechanism 100 can be returned from the deployed position to the stowed position. Moreover, when the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 is no longer needed, in this embodiment the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 can be moved from the position shown in
While in the above described embodiments the line handling system 10 comprises the actuatable coupling mechanism 200, in some other embodiments the actuatable coupling mechanism 200 may be omitted so that the line handling system 10 is free from an actuatable coupling mechanism.
While in the above described embodiments the line guide mechanism 100 is movable relative to the hull 11 to an operation position at which the line guide mechanism 100 is for guiding movement of a portion of a line of the tugboat towards a predetermined region of the perimeter, in other embodiments the line guide mechanism 100 is not movable relative to the hull 11 to an operation position at which the line guide mechanism 100 is for guiding movement of a portion of a line of the tugboat towards a predetermined region of the perimeter. For example, the line guide mechanism 100 may be immovable from the deployed position relative to the hull 11.
In other embodiments, two or more of the above described embodiments may be combined. In other embodiments, features of one embodiment may be combined with features of one or more other embodiments.
Embodiments of the present invention have been discussed with particular reference to the examples illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the examples described within the scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1719228 | Nov 2017 | GB | national |
This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. § 120 of U.S. Ser. No. 16/879,402 filed May 20, 2020, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/081818, filed Nov. 19, 2018 which claims priority to UK Application No. GB 1719228.7, filed Nov. 20, 2017, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a). Each of the above referenced patent applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3280784 | Stainbrook | Oct 1966 | A |
3507243 | Brown | Apr 1970 | A |
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Child | 17860541 | US | |
Parent | PCT/EP2018/081818 | Nov 2018 | US |
Child | 16879402 | US |