The invention relates to a walkway installation, comprising a base intended to be fastened to a support construction, such as the deck of a ship, a base bridge part that is connected to the base at one end so it can rotate around an upright base axis of rotation, a main bridge part at the other end of the base bridge part as well as a hinge construction between the base bridge part and the main bridge part, wherein the hinge construction comprises an upright main axis of rotation and an auxiliary axis of rotation aligned transversely to the upright main axis of rotation as well as transversely to the main bridge part.
Such a walkway installation is known from SU-A-494306. The base bridge part of the same is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation and a horizontal axis of rotation in such a way that the extremity of the same can be positioned next to an object, such as a platform. The walkway installation may be brought, in the desired rotational position, between a vessel and an adjacent object by means of cables. Given the vessel must remain at a safe distance from the object, the base bridge part and the main bridge part must be able to be rotated quite far outwards. Furthermore, it is necessary to be able to respond quickly with these movements to the movements of the vessel, in such a way that undesirable impact loads between the main bridge part and the object can be avoided.
The disadvantage of such a known walkway installation is that it is difficult to displace the walkway installation reliably and at the desired speed. The aim of the invention, therefore, is to create a walkway installation of the type mentioned above that can better respond to the mutual movements of, for example, a vessel and an adjacent object. The aim is achieved by the base bridge part being able to rotate around only the upright base axis of rotation. The walking surface of the base bridge part may be flat or level, or provided with steps. The walking surface may run essentially horizontally (at rest), but it is also possible to provide an inclined walking surface. In the latter case, as an alternative a staircase with step-shaped surface can be applied.
In the walkway installation in accordance with the invention, the differences in movement can be responded to quickly by manipulating the base bridge part around only the base axis of rotation of the same. After the base bridge part is thus brought into a certain desired position, the main bridge part can be rotated around the auxiliary axis of rotation so as to bring it to the desired height in relation to the object to be approached, such as a fixed platform or another vessel. The main bridge part can also be rotated around the main axis of rotation of the same. The rotations may be implemented reliably and quickly so that, by a suitable choice of rotations around the base axis of rotation and the main axis of rotation the desired position, more or less pointing outwards from the free end of the main bridge part, can be ensured. In setting the height alignment of the main bridge part around the auxiliary axis of rotation, only the mass of that main bridge part plays a role. As a result of this, for a certain power of the adjustment drive, the adjustment of the main bridge part can be done faster, given that the mass of the base bridge part has no effect on this.
The free end of the main bridge part can therefore be positioned precisely on an object such as a vessel or a quay, platform and similar. With the aim of simplifying the transfer, on the end of the main bridge part away from the hinge construction, a platform that can be rotated about an axis of rotation is suspended which is essentially parallel to the auxiliary axis of rotation. A floating body may be provided on the platform in connection with the transfer from a small boat or to rescue a person from drowning.
The hinge construction may comprise a gangplank intermediate piece or intermediate platform that operates together via the main axis of rotation with the base bridge part and via the auxiliary axis of rotation with the main bridge part. The gangplank intermediate piece may be embodied as a platform, through which the main bridge part and the base bridge part are connected to each other in such a way that is it possible to walk freely over the entire walkway installation.
To adjust the walkway installation, various drives may be provided. Between the gangplank intermediate piece and the main bridge part, a main drive, such as a hydraulic piston/cylinder unit, may be provided to adjust the main bridge part around the main axis of rotation. Between the gangplank intermediate piece and the main bridge part, an auxiliary drive, such as one or more hydraulic piston/cylinder mechanisms, may be provided in between to adjust the main bridge part around the auxiliary axis of rotation. Furthermore, between the base and the base bridge part, a base drive, such as a hydraulic piston/cylinder mechanism, may be provided to adjust the base bridge part around the base axis of rotation.
In a simple embodiment, the base axis of rotation and the main axis of rotation are parallel. In particular, the base axis of rotation and the main axis of rotation may be aligned essentially vertically and the auxiliary axis of rotation may be essentially aligned horizontally.
Furthermore, an operating mechanism may be provided, comprising a movement reference unit to establish relative movements of the free end of the main bridge part in relation to an object, as well as a control unit for controlling the main drive and/or the auxiliary drive and/or the base drive on the basis of the control signals given by the movement reference unit.
The main bridge part may consist of a single part, but it is also possible to implement the main bridge part telescopically. The adjustment to the position of the object can also be achieved by extending/contracting the telescopic main bridge part. Furthermore, the base bridge part and the main bridge part may both be provided on each side with a barrier. The gangplank intermediate piece may also be provided with barrier.
When the walkway installation is not in use, the various hinge options can be used to give it a limited volume for storage. To achieve this, the main axis of rotation is preferably arranged eccentrically in relation to the base bridge part and the main bridge part in such a way that the base bridge part and the main bridge part can be brought parallel next to each other in a collapsed condition. In that case, the barrier of the gangplank intermediate piece is essentially concentric in relation to the main axis of rotation.
The walkway installation may be arranged permanently, yet an implementation is also conceivable in which the walkway installation is mobile or interchangeable. In that case, the base is preferably implemented with dimensions in accordance with those of the base of an ISO container, and ISO connectors are attached to the four corners. By means of these connectors, the walkway installation can be easily fixed to corresponding positions on the deck of a vessel and similar, or can be removed therefrom after temporary use.
The invention further relates to a vessel, comprising a walkway installation such as described above.The base of the walkway installation may, for example, be attached to the hull, such as to the deck, the superstructure and similar of the vessel.
A walkway installation can also be understood to be a gangplank installation. Such a walkway installation may exhibit a part that is implemented as a plank. Furthermore, a part in the form of a staircase or also in the form of a plank may be present.
The invention shall be described further using the embodiment represented in the figures.
The walkway installation represented in
The main bridge part 4 is a staircase with rotating steps 26 in the represented illustrative example. Furthermore, the main bridge part 4 is implemented telescopically with the two parts 15, 16. By extending part 16, together with the aforementioned rotational movements, the extremity of the walkway installation may be held next to an object, such as the leg 17 of a platform, for example. As represented in
Onto the base bridge part 2 and the main bridge part 4, barriers 10 are attached. The intermediate platform 3 supports a barrier 14 that is concentric in relation to the main axis of rotation 12. As represented in
As represented in
The base 1 consists of a frame 19 with ISO connectors 20 on the four corners, by means of which the walkway installation can be connected to the corresponding connectors on the deck 5 of the vessel 6. However, a different, permanent arrangement is also possible. The entire walkway installation may be provided with a closed container shell 21 as reproduced in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2011603 | Oct 2013 | NL | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/NL2014/050713 | 10/14/2014 | WO | 00 |