NO20240482A1 - - Google Patents

Description

REEL HANDLING ARRANGEMENT

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to handling of elongated bodies on board a seagoing deployment vessel. More specifically it relates to handling of spooled ropes, cables, wires, umbilicals, pipes or similar that are to be deployed into the sea from the vessel or recovered from the sea to the vessel. In particular, the invention concerns handling of a plurality of reels on board the vessel.

Background Art

[0002] When floating structures, such as oil installations and wind turbines, are deployed at sea such structures must be moored to the seabed. This involves deploying anchors and mooring lines to connect the anchors with the floating structure. When decommissioning, the mooring lines must be recovered.

[0003] When such structures are installed at deeper depths, it is convenient to use fibre ropes as a substantial part of or as the whole length of the mooring lines. Fibre ropes are lightweight compared to chains or various types of wire, and thus preferred whenever possible.

[0004] A substantial length of fibre rope is required for an installation. The rope is spooled onto large transport reels which are transported to the quay. At the quay, the rope is spooled off the transport reel and onto vessel winches on board the vessel. The vessel may have more than one vessel winch to accommodate more rope.

When the vessel winches have been filled with rope, the vessel sails to the installation site, and the rope is spooled off the winches for deployment directly into the sea. If more rope is needed than can be accommodated on the vessel winches, the vessel has to return to the quay and retrieve more rope. An example of a vessel that can be used for such deployment tasks is shown in WO2018080304.

[0005] Attempts have been made to increase the amount of rope that can be carried on board the vessel. US20110278520 shows a vessel having a rack with a plurality of reels for storing rope arranged at an upper level. At a lower level the rack contains one or more primary winches and a traction winch. The traction winch is used to spool rope off of the storage reel when the rope is to be deployed.

[0006] When rope is to be spooled off, the outer rope end has to be brought around the sheaves of the traction winch. There are manipulators described in this reference that supposedly will perform this task without human interference. These are, however, not described in detail, and it is likely that they may fail to perform this task on occasions. If this happens, someone has to creep into the rack and pull the rope end towards the traction winch and around the sheaves. Such an operation in a limited space is difficult and will also involve hazard. The alternative is to go to shore to have the problem fixed. That means delay of the operation and a substantial monetary loss.

[0007] The rope is spooled onto the storage reels also by the traction winch while the vessel is at port.

[0008] The rack of reels and winches is arranged at the fore end of the deck. The multi-level arrangement ensures as much deck space as possible available for the deployment operations. However, as indicated above, the stacking of the reels and winches results in the reels and winches becoming accessible only with great difficulty.

[0009] It is therefore a need for an arrangement that allows a greater quantity of rope to be brought on board the vessel and at where the rope can be utilized without great difficulty. This need is inter alia driven by the installation of offshore wind parks with floating wind turbines, where the needed length of mooring lines is substantial.

Summary of invention

[0010] There is disclosed a reel handling arrangement comprising a at least one base body, a first and second arm connected to the base body and with a reel interface and a reel lifting device. The reel handling arrangement further comprises a rail interface. The first and second arms are configured to move between a retracted mode and a lifting mode.

[0011] With the term rail interface is meant a part connected to or connectable to a rail of a ship, such as a cargo rail extending along the gunwale of a vessel, in such manner that it can be moved along the rail to a desired position. One advantage of the disclosed solution is that existing vessel can be retrofitted with such reel handling arrangements without large modifications of the vessel.

[0012] Moreover, the reel handling arrangement can be used with existing reels.

[0013] When installed to the cargo rail on a vessel, such as a deployment vessel, the reel handling arrangement can be moved along the cargo rail and thus engage and lift a reel at any position along the cargo rail. One may install the reel handling arrangement on one side of the vessel, or both sides. Furthermore, since the reel handling arrangement is retractable from the lifting mode to a retracted mode, it will not unnecessarily occupy deck space when not in use. In particular, it could be stowed at a dedicated stowage area leaving the cargo rail free for other operations.

[0014] It shall be understood that the base body can be one single body, or an arrangement assembled by several parts. In some embodiments, the reel handling arrangement can comprise two separately movable base bodies, wherein the respective first and second arms connect to the respective base bodies.

[0015] The first and second arms can be pivotally connected to the base body at a first arm base and a second arm base, respectively. This enables moving the arms between the lifting mode and the retracted mode with a pivoting movement.

[0016] The first arm base can connect to and can be movable along an adjustment profile of the base body. In this manner, the mutual distance between the first and second arms can be adjusted. This enables the reel handling arrangement to handle reels of different sizes.

[0017] The first and second arms may comprise a first arm part and a second arm part, wherein the second arm part is attached to the first arm part with a hinged joint. An angle between the first arm part and the second arm part can then be larger when in the lifting mode than when in the retracted mode.

[0018] Advantageously, the reel handling arrangement can further comprise an arm part pivot control arrangement. This enables control of the mutual angle between the first and second arm parts.

[0019] Preferably, when in the retracted mode, the first and second arm parts can be substantially parallel and extend in a vertical direction. They may then extend vertically upwards from the gunwale of the vessel and hence avoid occupation of deck space.

[0020] The first and second arms can each comprise a reel lifting device. The reel lifting devices are configured to move a reel vertically upwards when the reel handling arrangement is in the lifting mode and in engagement with the reel.

[0021] The reel handling arrangement can further comprise a retraction arrangement connected to the first and second arms. With the retraction arrangement, the operator can move the reel handling arrangement from the lifting mode to the retracted mode. Preferably, the retraction arrangement can also be used for moving from the retracted mode into the lifting mode.

[0022] The reel handling arrangement can further comprise a distribution control arrangement with a distribution sheave. With the distribution control arrangement, the operator can control the distribution of rope or similar when reeling it onto a reel. This results in an orderly and compact storage of rope on the reel.

[0023] There is also disclosed a vessel with a deck and a cargo rail extending along a gunwale at a side of the deck of the vessel. A reel handling arrangement as discussed above is movably attached to the cargo rail.

[0024] The vessel can have a cargo rail at each longitudinal side of the deck, a reel handling arrangement connected to each of said cargo rails, a row of reels arranged adjacent one cargo rail and another row of reels arranged adjacent the other cargo rail. In this manner, the vessel can carry and unreel a significant length of rope from the reels without moving the reels (except, of course, lifting the reel clear off deck from their resting position on the deck for the spooling purpose).

Detailed description of the invention

[0025] A non-limiting and more detailed example embodiment will be presented in the following with reference to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a deck of a deployment vessel in planar view;

Fig. 2 shows a reel handling arrangement with an isometric view, holding a reel; Fig. 3 shows the reel handling arrangement, without the reel;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing the engagement between a cargo rail of the deployment vessel and the reel handling arrangement;

Fig. 5 is s schematic illustration of a reel lifting device in form of a roller screw;

Fig. 6 is a schematic side-view of the reel handling arrangement when in a lifting mode;

Fig. 6a is a schematic side-view similar to Fig.6, however illustrating some additional components; and

Fig. 7 is a schematic side-view of the reel handling arrangement when in a retracted mode.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows the deck 1 of a deployment vessel 10 in planar view. The aft end is denoted by 2 and the fore end is denoted by 3. Along the sides of most of the length of the deck 1 are so-called cargo rails 4. These are rails intended for a travelling cargo crane that can be used to handle goods and equipment on the deck. Two such cargo cranes, on at each side of the deployment vessel 10, are shown in US20110278520. In this reference they are shown to be used when two rope ends are to be connected on the deck. The cargo rail allows the cargo cranes to travel along the length of the deck. As the cargo rails are integrated into the gunwale of the deployment vessel, the cranes will not take up much of the available deck space.

[0027] In the arrangement shown in Fig.1, the cargo cranes have been replaced or supplemented by a reel handling arrangement 5. A reel handling arrangement 5 can be arranged at each longitudinal side of the deck space and can thus be arranged to opposite cargo rails 4. Alternatively, only one of the cargo rails 4 can be provided with a reel handling arrangement 5.

[0028] Although deck space is valuable, it has been found that the deck space closest to the gunwales can be used to store reels 7 of rope 39. Hence, a plurality of reels 7 are shown in a row on each side of the deck 1. The reels 7 are in the shown embodiment arranged with their rotation axes parallel with the cargo rails 4.

[0029] The reels 7 are placed on a support (not shown) that prevents them from rolling, such as cradles with a flat underside and a curved upper side. The cradles may be placed directly onto the deck surface. Conveniently, conventional cargo securing equipment can also be used to hold the reels against the gunwale or deck.

[0030] At the fore end 3 of the deck 1 is a set of vessel winches to receive rope 39 that is to be deployed. The vessel winches 8 can be conventional winches commonly used for this purpose.

[0031] At the aft end 2 there are arranged a stern roller 9, capstans 11, and other types of equipment necessary for the deployment of the rope 39 into the sea. These items are typically part of a conventional deployment vessel. After respooling of the ropes 39 to the vessel winches 8, the ropes 39 are deployed into sea the conventional way.

[0032] Fig. 2 and Fig.3 are perspective views of a reel handling arrangement 5, with and without, respectively, a fiber rope reel 7.

[0033] The reel handling arrangement 5 comprises a base body 13. The base body 13 is attached to the cargo rail 4 in a slidable manner. This is shown in better detail in the enlarged view of Fig.4. The base body 13 comprises a rail interface, which in the shown embodiment is in form of a sliding profile 15 that engages the cargo rail 4.

[0034] The handling arrangement 5 comprises a locking device (not shown) to fix the reel handling arrangement 5 to the cargo rail 4 during spooling operations.

[0035] The reel handling arrangement 5 further comprises two arms, namely a first arm 17 and a second arm 19.

[0036] As shown in Fig.4, the first arm 17 is movable with respect to the base body 13 to suit several sizes of reels 7. The base body 13 comprises an adjustment profile 14 to which an arm base 21 is slidably attached. Hence, the first arm 17 is movably attached to the base body 13 via the arm base 21.

[0037] To provide movement of the first base arm 21 with respect to the base body 13, one may provide the base body 13 with a tooth rack (not shown) that engages a toothed wheel operated by an electric motor (not shown). Other means are also possible, for instance a hydraulic cylinder connected between the base body 13 and the first arm base 21.

[0038] The reel handling arrangement 5 further comprises a second arm base 23, through which the second arm 19 connects to the base body 13. Thus, the first and second arms 17, 19 will move with respect to the cargo rail 4 when the base body 13 is moved. Moreover, the mutual distance between the first and second arms 17, 19 can be adjusted by moving the first arm base 21 along the adjustment profile 14 of the base body 13.

[0039] As shown in Fig.2 and Fig.3, the first and second arms 17, 19 comprise a first arm part 25 and a second arm part 27. The first and second arm parts 25, 27 are connected with a hinged joint 29.

[0040] Furthermore, a retraction arrangement, which in the shown embodiment is in the form of a hydraulic cylinder 31, is connected to the first arm part 25. The hydraulic cylinders 31 are further connected to the first arm base 21 and the second arm base 23, respectively. Hence, when the hydraulic cylinder 31 retracts, the first arm parts 25 will pivot upwardly, as they are pivotally attached to the first and second arm bases 21, 23, respectively.

[0041] Furthermore, referring to Fig.3, when the first arm parts 25 are elevated by their upwardly pivoting movements, the second arm parts 27 will follow. Since the second arm parts 27 connect to the respective first arm parts 25 with hinged joints 29, they will substantially maintain their vertical orientation while being lifted up from the deck 1. When the first arm parts 25 are pivoted upwardly to a substantially vertical orientation, the second arm parts 27 will hang down from the hinged joints 29 substantially parallel with the first arm parts 25. Thus, in this retracted position, the first and second arms 17, 19 will extend substantially vertically above the base body 13 and will not be arranged above the deck 1 but rather above the cargo rail 4.

[0042] It is conceivable to arrange a hinge between the first arm part 25 and the first arm base 21, so that the arms 17, 19 can be folded down to a position substantially parallel to the cargo rail, and thereby avoid having the arms 17, 19 extending up.

[0043] The reel handling arrangement 5 comprises a reel interface. In the shown embodiment, the reel interface is in form of respective reel engagement element 33. The first and second arms 17, 19 each comprises one reel engagement element 33. The reel engagement elements 33 are configured to engage the reel 7 in such manner that the reel 7 can be lifted up off the deck 1 and be able to rotate.

Advantageously, the reel engagement elements 33 are releasably attached to the first and second arms 17, 19. In this manner, they can be replaced with different types of reel engagement elements 33 to accommodate various types of reels 7.

[0044] The reel engagement elements 33 are carried by a respective elevation flange 35. The elevation flanges 35 are movably connected to the second arm parts 27, such that they can be moved vertically up and down. In the shown embodiment, the elevation flanges 35 connect to a reel lifting device 36 (Fig.5) arranged within the second arm parts 27. The elevation flanges 35 connect to the reel lifting device through a slit 37 arranged in the respective second arm parts 27.

[0045] While the present embodiment comprises two reel engagement elements 33 that engage the reel 7 from opposite sides, other embodiments may comprise one reel engagement element, for instance a rod extending a distance into the centrally arranged rotation axis of the reel 7.

[0046] The reel lifting device 36 can be made in various forms. For instance, the reel lifting device can comprise a hydraulic piston, wherein one end of the hydraulic piston connects to the elevation flange 35. Alternatively, if the reel lifting device is electrically operated, the reel lifting device can for instance comprise a roller screw connected to an electric motor.

[0047] The skilled reader will appreciate that the connection between the reel lifting device 36 and the reel engagement element 33 can be in another form than the shown elevation flange 35.

[0048] An example of a reel lifting device in the form of a roller screw 36 is shown with the schematic illustration of Fig.5. The roller screw 36 has a screw shaft 36a and a nut 36b that is rotationally fixed such that it moves up and down as the screw shaft 36a rotates. The nut 36b connects to the elevation flange 35, which further supports the reel engagement element 33.

[0049] The reel engagement elements 33 can connect to a reel 7 by moving into a receiving aperture (not shown) of the reel 7. As will be appreciated by the above discussion, the reel engagement element 33 of the second arm 19 can be moved into engagement with the reel 7 by movement of the base body 13 along the cargo rail 4.

The reel engagement element 33 of the first arm 17 can be moved into engagement with the reel 7 by moving the first arm base 21 with respect to the base body 13.

[0050] Once the reel engagement elements 33 are connected to the reel 7, the elevation flanges 35 can be moved upwards to lift the reel 7 off the deck 1 (or off possible support means, as discussed above). This will enable rotation of the reel 7, such that the fiber rope 39 (or other elongate member) stored on the reel 7 can be spooled off it, as shown in Fig.1. During the lifting process, the lower ends of the second arm parts 27 will be supported by the deck 1. A deck reinforcement 1a is indicated in Fig.3, configured to absorb the weight from the second arm parts 27 during lifting of the reel 7, if needed.

[0051] Fig. 6 and Fig.7 are simplified schematic side views of the reel handling arrangement 5 when in a lifting mode and when in a retracted mode, respectively. The lifting mode shown in Fig.6 corresponds to the mode shown in Fig.2 and Fig.3. In the lifting position, the arms are shown to be at right angles. They may also be set at an angle smaller or larger than 90 degrees. If the second arm parts 27 are made longer, the lifting device may lift reels with a larger diameter.

[0052] As appears from Fig.7, when the reel handling arrangement 5 is in the retracted position, it occupies substantially no space above the deck 1 of the vessel. It can be parked at the forward part of the cargo rail 4 to free up space for cargo rail cranes.

[0053] In the shown embodiment, when in the lifting mode, the second arm part 27 has a vertical or substantially vertical orientation. In other words, the downwardly directed force stemming from the wight of the reel 7 is substantially directly above the lower end of the second arm part 27. In this manner, the weight of the reel 7 does not cause significant horizontal forces in the first arm part 25.

[0054] The reel handling arrangement 5 can also comprise an arm part pivot control arrangement 41 that controls the mutual angular position between the first and second arm parts 25, 27. Such an arm part pivot control arrangement 41 can for instance be in the form of a hydraulic cylinder or electric linear actuator connected to both arm parts 25, 27.

[0055] As schematically shown in Fig.6a, the reel handling arrangement 5 may also comprise a reel rotation motor 43 to rotate the reel 7 either during spooling off of the elongate member or spooling elongate member onto the reel 7. Actively rotating the reel 7 when reeling off, reduces the strain on the elongate member. This may be convenient if the elongate member for instance is a thin fibre optic cable or similar. The possibility of being able to spool elongate member onto the reel 7, makes it possible to use the reel 7 and reel handling arrangement 5 to retrieve elongate members from the sea, such as moorings that have to be replaced or electronic cables that have been used for a limited time for specific purposes, such as surveys or for decommissioning purposes.

[0056] There may also be arranged a reel breaking arrangement 45, to prevent rotation of the reel 7, cf. Fig.6a. Thus, in some embodiments, one may use the reel rotation motor 43 to obtain a breaking function when reeling off the reel 7. Instead, or in addition, one may use the reel breaking arrangement 45 to obtain the breaking function. The breaking arrangement 45 can for instance be in form of a common break based on friction between a rotating and a non-rotating part.

[0057] The reel handling arrangement 5 may be realized in other ways that explained above. It may for instance comprise telescopic arm parts. The first and second arms 15, 17 may also be arranged on separate base bodies, so that they can move independently along the cargo rail 4.

[0058] In some embodiments, the reel handling arrangement 5 can further comprise a distribution control arrangement 50, of which one is schematically depicted in Fig. 8. The distribution control arrangement 50 is configured for controlling the rope 39 when reeling it onto a reel 7, such as with the reel rotation motor 43. The distribution control arrangement 50 comprises a distribution sheave 51 that can be moved laterally during the reeling process. The distribution sheave 51 engages the rope 39. In this manner, the distribution of rope 39 on the reel 7 can be controlled.

[0059] In the shown embodiment, the distribution sheeve 51 is arranged on a hydraulically operated arm 53 that can be moved back and forth. The arm 53 is supported by a support 55 that can be mounted to the deck 1. Instead of a hydraulically operated arm 53, one could also use an electrically operated arm, for instance with a toothed rack and an electric drive.

Claims (11)

Claims

1. A reel handling arrangement (5) comprising at least one base body (13), a first and second arm (17, 19) connected to the at least one base body (13), said first and second arm (17, 19) having a reel interface (33) and a reel lifting device (36), wherein the reel handling arrangement (5) further comprises a rail interface (15), and wherein the first and second arms (17, 19) are configured to move between a retracted mode and a lifting mode.

2. A reel handling arrangement (5) according to claim 1, wherein the first and second arms (17, 19) pivotally connect to the base body (13) at a first arm base (21) and a second arm base (23), respectively.

3. A reel handling arrangement (5) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first arm base (21) connects to and is movable along an adjustment profile (14) of the base body (13).

4. A reel handling arrangement (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second arms (17, 19) comprise a first arm part (25) and a second arm part (27), wherein the second arm part (27) is attached to the first arm part (25) with a hinged joint (29), and wherein an angle between the first arm part (25) and the second arm part (27) is larger when in the lifting mode than when in the retracted mode.

5. A reel handling arrangement (5) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first and second arms (17, 19) comprise a reel lifting device (36).

6. A reel handling arrangement (5) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a retraction arrangement (31) connected to the first and second arms (17, 19).

7. A reel handling arrangement (5) according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising a distribution control arrangement (50) with a distribution sheave (51).

8. A vessel (10) with a deck (1) and a cargo rail (4) extending along a gunwale at a side of the deck (1), wherein a reel handling arrangement (5) according to one of the preceding claims is movably attached to the cargo rail (4).

9. The vessel of claim 8, wherein a deck space along the gunwale is configured to store reels (7) with their reel axes parallel to the gunwale.

10. The vessel (10) according to claim 8 or 9, comprising at one or both longitudinal sides of the deck (1):

- a cargo rail (4), a reel handling arrangement (5) connected to the cargo rail (4), and a row of reels (7) arranged adjacent the cargo rail (4).

11. The vessel according to claim 10, wherein said reel handling arrangement (5) is configured to lift a reel (7) to a position where it may rotate and that a longitudinal element is spooled off or on said reel (7) when in said lifted position.