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BR-112020006992-B1 - RECOVERY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING A VESSEL

BR112020006992B1BR 112020006992 B1BR112020006992 B1BR 112020006992B1BR-112020006992-B1

Abstract

DEVICE FOR RECOVERING AND METHOD FOR RECOVERING A VESSEL. The present invention relates to a device and a method for recovering a vessel (1). A ramp (10) can be moved relative to a stationary support device (2) between a recovery position and a parking position. The ramp (10) comprises a frame (4) and a deformable body (5), which is fixed to the frame (4). When the ramp (10) is in the recovery position, the deformable body (5) faces the vessel (1) to be recovered and is at least partially above the water surface (WO). The vessel (1) moves along the ramp (10) and deforms the deformable body (5) from above. The vessel (1) is pulled out of the water and placed on the support device (2).

Inventors

  • Stefan König

Assignees

  • THYSSENKRUPP MARINE SYSTEMS GMBH
  • THYSSENKRUPP AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20181009
Priority Date
20171026

Claims (14)

  1. 1. Receiving device for receiving at least one vessel (1), wherein the receiving device comprises • a stationary support device (2) and • a ramp (10) movable relative to the stationary support device (2), wherein the support device (2) is designed to support the vessel (1) to be received and wherein the ramp (10) is movable to at least one receiving position, in which the ramp (10) is at least partially below the water surface (WO) and a vessel (1) to be received can move on the ramp (10) and wherein the receiving device is designed to lift the vessel (1) out of the water and guide it over the support device (2), wherein the ramp (10) has • a frame (4, 9.r) and • a deformable body (5), wherein the deformable body (5) is fixed to the frame (4, 9.r), such that the deformable body (5) is facing towards a vessel (1) that is in the water, when the ramp (10) is in or at a receiving position, and the receiving device is designed to keep the deformable body (5) at least partially above the water surface (WO) when the ramp (10) is in or at a receiving position, the deformable body (5) comprising at least one cavity (13.l, 13.r) that can be filled with a gas, the cavity (13.l, 13.r) being surrounded by an enclosure made of a deformable material, characterized in that the receiving device has a collection chamber (AK), the collection chamber (AK) being configured such that the deformable body (5) can be moved into the collection chamber (AK) when the ramp (10) is moved to a parking position, and the deformable body (5) can be deformed from above by a vessel (1) to be received that moves on the ramp (10).
  2. 2. Receiving device, according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving device comprises a conveyor, which is designed to transport gas under pressure to the cavity (13.l, 13.r).
  3. 3. Receiving device, according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the cavity (13.l, 13.r) can be enlarged to a maximum volume by filling with gas and the deformable body (5), at least when the cavity (13.l, 13.r) has reached the maximum volume, is floating in water.
  4. 4. Receiving device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving device comprises a support device, which is designed to support the ramp (10) that is in or at a receiving position, such that the deformable body (5) is at least partially above the surface of the water (WO).
  5. 5. Receiving device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable body (5) is attached to the frame (4, 9.r) in a connection area (VB), wherein the extent of the connection area (VB) in the direction of movement (FR) of a vessel (1) to be received is less than the extent of the frame (4, 9.r) in the direction of movement (FR), and the deformable body (5) is always, or in at least one state (5.a), floating in the water, wherein, when the ramp (10) is in or in a receiving position, • the deformable body (5) floats in the water, • the frame (4, 9.r) of the ramp (10) is, at least temporarily, completely under the surface of the water (WO), and • outside the connection area (VB) there is a vertical distance between the floating deformable body (5) and the frame (4, 9.r).
  6. 6. Receiving device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable body (5) has a lining element that • is removablely connected to the rest of the deformable body (5) and • when the ramp (10) is in or at a receiving position, is facing a vessel (1) that is in the water and is to be received.
  7. 7. Receiving device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ramp (10) is movable from or to a receiving position to at least one parking position, wherein, when the ramp (10) is in the parking position, the deformable body (5) is located • between the frame (4, 9.r) of the ramp (10) and • the stationary support device (2).
  8. 8. Receiving device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ramp (10) is movable from or to a receiving position to at least one parking position, and the receiving device has a collection chamber (AK), which is designed to, when the ramp (10) is in or at a parking position, receive the deformable body (5).
  9. 9. Receiving device, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the deformable body (5) is permanently in a state or can be placed in a state (5.a), in which the buoyancy of the deformable body (5) causes the ramp (10) that is in or at a receiving position to float in the water.
  10. 10. Method for receiving at least one vessel (1) using a receiving device with • a stationary support device (2) and • a ramp (10) movable relative to the stationary support device (2), wherein the method comprises the steps in which • the ramp (10) is moved to a receiving position relative to the support device (2) in which the ramp (10) is at least partially below the water surface (WO), • the vessel (1) moves over the ramp (10) which is in the receiving position and • the vessel (1) is lifted out of the water and guided over the support device (2), wherein the ramp (10) has • a frame (4, 9.r) and • a deformable body (5) fixed to the frame (4, 9.r), wherein the deformable body comprises at least one cavity (13.l, 13.r) that can be filled with a gas, wherein the cavity (13.l, 13. r) is surrounded by an enclosure made of a deformable material, wherein the step of moving the ramp (10) to or a receiving position causes the deformable body (5) to be facing the vessel (1) which is in the water, wherein when the ramp (10) is moved to the receiving position, the deformable body (5) is kept, at least partially, above the water surface (WO), and wherein the step in which the vessel (1) moves over the ramp (10) triggers the process in which the vessel (1) deforms the deformable body (5) from above, characterized by the deformable body (5) being displaced to a collection chamber (AK) when the ramp (10) is displaced to a parking position.
  11. 11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the deformable body (5) comprises at least one cavity (13.l, 13.r) that can be filled with a gas, wherein the method comprises the additional steps that gas is transported to the cavity (13.l, 13.r) and wherein the step of transporting the gas to the cavity (13.l, 13.r) is completed at most when the vessel (1) reaches the ramp (10).
  12. 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the step of moving the ramp (10) to a receiving position or position and the step of transporting gas to the cavity (13.l, 13.r) are performed in overlapping moments.
  13. 13. Method, according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the step of moving the ramp (10) to or a receiving position additionally causes the deformable body (5) to float in the water, and the step in which the vessel (1) moves over the ramp (10) is performed while the deformable body (5) floats in the water.
  14. 14. Method, according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized by the step of moving the ramp (10) to or a receiving position additionally causes • the frame (4, 9.r) to be held in a fixed position relative to the support structure (2) underwater, and • at least part of the deformable body (5) to move upwards relative to the frame (4, 9.r), which is held underwater, of the ramp (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a retrieval device for retrieving at least one vessel, in particular, a retrieval device for a dinghy aboard a mother ship. [0002] Often a ship carries at least one lifeboat while the ship is moving through the water. This lifeboat is often lowered into the water and later retrieved and brought back onto the ship. One way to retrieve the lifeboat is by using a crane on board the ship to lift it out of the water and lower it onto the ship. To save on crane costs, the ship is often equipped with a ramp, which is positioned just above the water's surface. The lifeboat either climbs the ramp under its own power or is pulled onto it. Then the lifeboat is moved to a desired position on the ramp and held there. Because the ramp is steep, if necessary the lifeboat can quickly slide back into the water. Such an arrangement is used, for example, on board maritime rescue cruisers. [0003] US Patent Document 2016/0 375 965 A1 discloses a launch, recovery, and handling system (LRHS) for vessels (in D1: launch, recovery, and handling system, LRHS), which is installed aboard a vessel 14. This launch, recovery, and handling system can support two vessels (waterborne vessels, RHIB 201 and RHIB 202). RHIB stands for Rigid-Hull Inflatable Boat. The launch, recovery, and handling system comprises three support devices, which can support one vessel each: a rear support device viewed in the direction of movement of the vessel (aft cradle 15), a central support device (transfer cradle 16), and a forward support device (forward cradle 17). The rear support device 15 can be transported to a rear zone, in which it is partially below the water surface (water mission zone area, WMZ area 22). The front support device 17 is in a storage area (storage area 24). [0004] In US patent document 2008/0202405 A1, a mother ship (vessel or host ship 5) is described, which can optionally retrieve an inflatable boat 20 or a submersible vessel 25 from the water and move it aboard, compare with figure 1. A launch/recovery device 10 aboard the mother ship can optionally rotate to position A, in which the launch/recovery device 10 is partially below the water surface, or to position B, in which the launch/recovery device 10 is fully underwater. In position A, the launch/recovery device 10 can retrieve a rubber boat 20. In position B, the launch/recovery device 10 can retrieve a submersible vessel. A vessel 20, 25 to be retrieved moves towards transport unit 10. Transport unit 10 pulls vessel 20, 25 out of the water and transports it to a stationary ramp on board the mother ship 5. In one embodiment, transport unit 10 pulls vessel 20, 25 out of the water with the aid of a bar chain conveyor with traction members 55 and end pieces 60, compare with figures 2A to 2D. In the embodiment of Figure 3A and Figure 3B, vessel 20, 25 moves towards a V-shaped element 55 with a surface 90. This surface 90 causes a large amount of friction between the V-shaped element 55 and vessel 20, 25. The V-shaped element 55 with vessel 20, 25 moves and pulls vessel 20, 25 out of the water. Figure 5 and Figure 6 show a guide and drive unit for V-shaped elements of this type. Figure 13 shows how two quantities of inclined bars 455 form the V-shaped elements of the ramp. [0005] Universal patent document WO 2008/098393 A1 discloses a platform 1 that can be lowered, which is articulately fixed to the stern 8 of a vessel 10, and by means of a lifting mechanism 3 can be raised and lowered, compare with fig. 1. Below the platform 1 is mounted a buoyancy body 2 with a hollow body 43. In the embodiment according to fig. 5, a tender retraction 23 is mounted on the platform 1, which can support a tender boat 27. With the aid of a pair of rollers 25, the tender retraction 23 can be moved towards the vessel 10 in the horizontal direction relative to the platform 1. Fig. 6 shows an embodiment with several modular buoyancy bodies 2a, which are adapted to a drive of the vessel 10 projecting into the water. [0006] Figure 1 of German patent document DE 102011109092 A1 shows a system 1, which is mounted on board a ship 8, and can retrieve a submersible vessel 2. By means of a cable 50, the submersible vessel 2 is pulled to a retrieval ramp 12 of the system 1. On this retrieval ramp 12 is mounted a wave compensation ramp 24, such that the wave compensation ramp 24 can move up and down relative to the retrieval ramp 12 around a horizontal axis of rotation S. The forward end 26 of the wave compensation ramp 24 – viewed in the direction of movement of the submersible vessel 2 – is connected to the retrieval ramp 12 via a joint 28. Near its free rear end 34 are mounted two floating bodies 36, 38, compare with Figure 1 and Figure 4. The rear floating body 38 is mounted on a retrieval device 40 for the submersible vessel 2, compare with Figure 4. The submersible vessel 2 approaches two guide rails 130, 132 extended for the rescue ramp 12, compare with Figure 7, and is held