GB2037355A - Ship's Accommodation Ladder - Google Patents

Abstract

A ship's accommodation ladder 19 is receivable when stowed in a housing 13 and has a bottom plate 20 which closes the housing when the ladder is stowed. A stowing davit 22 is also received in the housing, and the ladder together with a top platform 17 is lowered, raised and stowed by means of a winch hauling on a line 23 reeved over pulleys on the platform, ladder and davit substantially in the manner described in U.K. Patent Specification 1309096. Additionally, a platform 31 at the foot of the ladder is adjustable to a level disposition irrespective of the inclination of the ladder 19. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Accommodation Ladder Stowed on Deck This invention relates to improvements in and relating to ships accommodation ladders, that is ladders stowable against the side of the ship and lowerable to gain access to the ship from a quayside or boat alongside.

It is the usual practice to stow an accommodation ladder in a recess provided in the ships side or above the maindeck along the side rail. To lower the ladder, a top platform and lowering davit are first swung from a vertical stowed position to a horizontal, protruding position and then the lower end of the ladder lowered using ropes reeved over pulleys on the davit. The stowing operation is the reverse of this.

The known practice in stowing the ladder whilst simple, has the disadvantage that the ladder is exposed on the side of the ship, and is therefore susceptible to storm damage, since heavy seas will tend to exert damaging pressure on any irregular or exposed surFace such as that offered by the treads of the ladder, or the upper stringer.

It is accordingly, an object of the invention to improve the stowage of accommodation ladders without in any way complicating the procedure for lowering and stowing the ladder.

In accordance with the invention, a housing for stowing a ships accommodation ladder is provided which has a top side, ends, and an inboard side defining a cavity open towards the side of the ship, and a ladder raisable and lowerable in known manner, having a plate below the treads to define an outboard wall for the cavity when the ladder is stowed so that the stowed ladder is completely housed and protected.

The stowing and lowering of the ladder may be accomplished by the apparatus described in our prior British Patent Specification No. 1 309096.

An adjustable platform may be provided at the lower end of the ladder, and is of use when being used for access from a boat alongside.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an accommodation ladder according to the invention stowed, and Fig. 2 shows the ladder lowered.

As shown, an accommodation ladder assembly 10 is mounted on the main deck 11 of the ship parallel and adjacent the ships side 12. The assembly comprises a housing 1 3 with a vertical inboard wall 14, end wall 15, and a top side 16 as well as a top platform 17 which serves as a barrier when the ladder is stowed, a winch 1 8 and a ladder 1 9 with a plate 20 on its underside below the treads 21. Also provided is a stowing arm or davit 22 on which lines 23, 24 are reeved, line 24 being attached to the inboard side of the ladder 19, and line 23 reeved on a pulley 25 on the outboard side, and running up the side of the ladder 19 about pulleys 26, 27 on the top platform 17, and further pulleys 28, 29 on a port or stanchion 30, to winch 1 8.

An adjustable hinged bottom platform 31 is provided which can be fitted after lowering the ladder.

In raising and stowing of the ladder 1 9, winch 18 is operated to haul in line 23, causing the ladder to be pulled up to davit 22, after which further hauling in of the line causes the top platform 16, ladder 19 and davit 22 to be pivoted on their inboard sides upwardly to lie in the plane of the ships side. Davit 22 is received in the housing 13, as is the ladder 19, and the bottom plate 20 of the ladder closes the cavity of the housing to protect the ladder against storm damage by providing a surface fiush with the side of the ship with no major protrusions for waves to grip.

Claims

1. A ships accommodation ladder construction, comprising a lowerable, raisable and stowable ladder with a housing in or on a ships' side having walls defining a cavity open on the outboard side, for receiving the ladder and the ladder having a bottom plate below its treads for closing the cavity when the ladder is stowed.

2. A ladder construction according to Claim 1 having at its lower end region a platform adjustable to a level or substantially level disposition irrespective of the inclination of the ladder.

3. A ladder construction according to either preceding claim wherein a stowing davit is provided which is received in the cavity with the ladder 4. A ships accommodation ladder, construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Accommodation Ladder Stowed on Deck This invention relates to improvements in and relating to ships accommodation ladders, that is ladders stowable against the side of the ship and lowerable to gain access to the ship from a quayside or boat alongside. It is the usual practice to stow an accommodation ladder in a recess provided in the ships side or above the maindeck along the side rail. To lower the ladder, a top platform and lowering davit are first swung from a vertical stowed position to a horizontal, protruding position and then the lower end of the ladder lowered using ropes reeved over pulleys on the davit. The stowing operation is the reverse of this. The known practice in stowing the ladder whilst simple, has the disadvantage that the ladder is exposed on the side of the ship, and is therefore susceptible to storm damage, since heavy seas will tend to exert damaging pressure on any irregular or exposed surFace such as that offered by the treads of the ladder, or the upper stringer. It is accordingly, an object of the invention to improve the stowage of accommodation ladders without in any way complicating the procedure for lowering and stowing the ladder. In accordance with the invention, a housing for stowing a ships accommodation ladder is provided which has a top side, ends, and an inboard side defining a cavity open towards the side of the ship, and a ladder raisable and lowerable in known manner, having a plate below the treads to define an outboard wall for the cavity when the ladder is stowed so that the stowed ladder is completely housed and protected. The stowing and lowering of the ladder may be accomplished by the apparatus described in our prior British Patent Specification No. 1 309096. An adjustable platform may be provided at the lower end of the ladder, and is of use when being used for access from a boat alongside. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 shows an accommodation ladder according to the invention stowed, and Fig. 2 shows the ladder lowered. As shown, an accommodation ladder assembly 10 is mounted on the main deck 11 of the ship parallel and adjacent the ships side 12. The assembly comprises a housing 1 3 with a vertical inboard wall 14, end wall 15, and a top side 16 as well as a top platform 17 which serves as a barrier when the ladder is stowed, a winch 1 8 and a ladder 1 9 with a plate 20 on its underside below the treads 21. Also provided is a stowing arm or davit 22 on which lines 23, 24 are reeved, line 24 being attached to the inboard side of the ladder 19, and line 23 reeved on a pulley 25 on the outboard side, and running up the side of the ladder 19 about pulleys 26, 27 on the top platform 17, and further pulleys 28, 29 on a port or stanchion 30, to winch 1 8. An adjustable hinged bottom platform 31 is provided which can be fitted after lowering the ladder. In raising and stowing of the ladder 1 9, winch 18 is operated to haul in line 23, causing the ladder to be pulled up to davit 22, after which further hauling in of the line causes the top platform 16, ladder 19 and davit 22 to be pivoted on their inboard sides upwardly to lie in the plane of the ships side. Davit 22 is received in the housing 13, as is the ladder 19, and the bottom plate 20 of the ladder closes the cavity of the housing to protect the ladder against storm damage by providing a surface fiush with the side of the ship with no major protrusions for waves to grip. Claims

1. A ships accommodation ladder construction, comprising a lowerable, raisable and stowable ladder with a housing in or on a ships' side having walls defining a cavity open on the outboard side, for receiving the ladder and the ladder having a bottom plate below its treads for closing the cavity when the ladder is stowed.

2. A ladder construction according to Claim 1 having at its lower end region a platform adjustable to a level or substantially level disposition irrespective of the inclination of the ladder.

3. A ladder construction according to either preceding claim wherein a stowing davit is provided which is received in the cavity with the ladder

4. A ships accommodation ladder, construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.