GB2204535A - Escape apparatus for ships - Google Patents

Abstract

A ship has fixed in directions athwartships with respect to the decks, and vertically with respect to transverse bulkhead and/or other transverse partitioning wall structures of the vessel, a multiplicity of series of elements P1-P2 each of which offers purchase for hand and foot, the said multiplicity of series of elements P1 -P2 being distributed throughout the vessel and the vessel being so constructed that the said multiplicity of series of elements P1 -P2 severally or collectively in serially ordered groups constitute, or constitute segments of, a multiplicity of routes through the vessel to the exterior thereof in directions parallel to the planes of the decks, or of the said bulkheads and/or other partitioning walls as the case may be, being routes by way of which, should the vessel keel over to a side stranded or to a capsized position, escape may be sought from various locations of the vessel by climbing hand over hand, foot over foot, from element to element along at least one said series of elements P1-P2. <IMAGE>

Description

Escape Apparatus for Ships This invention relates to an apparatus for installation in ships, being an apparatus offering a means for escape from the region of the ship in which the apparatus is installed in the event of the ship's capsizing or becoming side stranded.

The invention addresses the problem as to how personal tragedies such as those occurring at the recent ferry accident off Zeebrugge may be minimised, and offers means which, if not assuring the safe escape, from vessels so overwhelmed, of the ship's passengers and crew, increases the opportunity for such escape.

Harrowing accounts of various passengers recall that they managed to escape from the Herald of Free Enterprise by clambering from table to table up vertical vessel decking, the ship being now stranded on its side, part submerged.

The fixed character of such furniture doubtless saved the lives of a-number of passengers and it is conjectured that had such structures been available generally through the decks and other parts of the ship, that many more lives might have been saved.

According to the present invention, then, a ship has fixed in directions athwartships with respect to the decks, and vertically with respect to transverse bulkhead and/or other transverse partitioning wall structures of the vessel, a multiplicity of series of elements each of which offers purchase for hand and foot, the said multiplicity of series of elements being distributed throughout the vessel and the vessel being so constructed that the said multiplicity of series of elements severally or collectively in serially ordered groups constitute, or constitute segments of, a multiplicity of routes through the vessel to the exterior thereof in directions parallel to the planes of the decks, or of the said bulkheads and/or other partitioning walls as the case may be, being routes by way of which, should the vessel keel over to a side stranded or to a capsized position, escape may be sought from various locations of the vessel by climbing hand over hand, foot over foot, from element to element along at least one said series of elements.

Preferably, at least one of the said multiplicity of series of elements is a ladder structure.

Preferably, the said at least one ladder structure is in the form of a box structure. Preferably, also, the said at least one box structure is an open box frame having longitudinally extending members and transverse members therebetween at intervals along the said longitudinal members.

Preferably the open box frame has oblique bracing members.

Preferably there are four longitudinal members.

Preferably at least the longitudinal members are angle members.

Preferably the members are welded together to constitute the open box frame.

Preferably the said at least one ladder structure is disposed lengthwise of trunking projecting from deck, bulkhead or other partitioning wall structure.

Preferably the said at least one ladder structure comprises a set of rectangular plates which are serially disposed in the longitudinal direction of the box structure across one face thereof, and the dimensions of which in the said longitudinal direction are such that, normally, the several plates are contiguous with one another so as to appear to offer a substantially unbroken surface; and a subset of the said set of plates, being a subset of plates equispaced in the said longitudinal direction, are hingedly supported with respect to the box structure at or near to corresponding transversely extending edges thereof, the arrangement being such that should the vessel keel over as aforesaid, the hinged plates rotate under gravity to provide a succession of step or ledge portions.Preferably the said subset of plates respectively rotate substantially to a face to face contact position with adjacent plates thereby to permit purchase, by hand and foot as aforesaid, at the now exposed adjacent edges of the said face to face contacting plates. Alternatively the said subset of plates respectively rotate to positions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the box structure to constitute a succession of tread portions.

Preferably in respect of deck structures associated with the said at least one box ladder structure there is a similar said structure extending parallel thereto and side by side therewith, the subsets of plates in one box ladder structure being respectively pivoted at or near corresponding sides opposite to those at or near which the subset of plates of the other box ladder structure are respectively pivoted.

Preferably the said subset or subsets, as the case may be, of plates are alternate plates of the box structure.

Conveniently the plates, both hinged and fixed, have coverings such, for example, as carpet tiles, whereby the box ladder structure appears to form a portion of similarly covered surface contiguous with face of the box ladder structure occupied by the said plates.

Preferably associated with the multiplicity of series of elements there is provided lighting means operable automatically to illuminate the said series of elements.

Preferably respectively associated with the multiplicity of series of elements there are individual, electric circuits each including at least one electric light source, independent electric power supply means, and level switch means operable automatically to complete the circuits thereby to energise the said at least one electric light source when the angle of tilt of the vessel exceeds a certain value.

The invention also extends to a ladder structure in the form of a box structure having the features or any of them herein described.

The foregoing and other features are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating in longitudinal elevation a ladder structure in the process of opening; Fig. 2 is a diagram depicting, in plan, a ladder configuration constituted by two closed side by side ladder structures each as depicted in Figs. 1 and 4 in relation to associated ducting; Fig. 3 is an illustration similar to that of Fig. 2 but showing in plan a pair of side by side ladder structures one of which is open and the other of which is closed; and Fig. 4 is a perspective pictorial representation of the preferred form of ladder structure shown in relation to associated ducting therefor.

A ship (not shown) has, as is commonly the case, a multiplicity of decks at various levels throughout the hull of the vessel and bulkheads and other partitioning walls in planes extending, perpendicular to the decks both thwartships and in the fore and aft direction of the ship. The ship may be a variety of cargo-carrier, but, and perhaps more significant, could be a variety of passenger vessel such, for example, as a passenger ferry.

The ship has, fixed with respect to the aforesaid decks and to the said bulkheads and other partitioning walls a multiplicity of series of elements P1-P2 each such element offering purchase for hand and foot.

The multiplicity of series of elements P1-P2 are distributed throughout the vessel and the vessel is so constructed that the multiplicity of series of elements P1-P2 severally, or collectively in serially ordered groups, constitute a multiplicity of routes through the vessel, being routes leading to the exterior of the vessel by way of, where appropriate, escape hatches or doors closing apertures through aforementioned decks, bulkheads and other partitioning walls and through the ship's hull itself.

The escape routes defined by the multiplicity of series of elements P1-P2 respectively extend thwartships through the vessel in directions parallel to the planes of the decks and transverse bulkheads or other transverse partitioning walls or in the thwartships direction parallel to the planes both of the decks and of the said transverse partitioning walls, as the case may be. The escape routes are so distributed that should the ship keel over to a side stranded position escape may be sought by one transverse route or another parallel to the decks by climbing hand over hand, foot over foot from element to element, along at least one series of elements P1-P2to a door or hatch leading to the ship's exterior.

The said multiplicity of series of elements P1-P2 are respectively constituted by ladder structures which are fixed with respect to decks or partitioning walls as the case requires.

It will be appreciated that in emergency situations of the sort with which the present invention is concerned a large number of trapped persons are likely to be seeking to escape.

The several ladder structures necessarily deployed at various positions of the ship must therefore be strong, permitting perhaps tens of escaping persons simultaneous use of each ladder structure.

The ladder structure proposed is a box structure. More particularly the ladder structure is an open frame box structure 13 as depicted in Fig. 4.

The box frame structure 13 has four longitudinally extending steel members 15, welded to the members 15 a multiplicity of groups of four steel cross members 17, the members 17 in each group being contained on the same plane, the planes so defined being at equispaced intervals along the longitudinal members and, to prevent racking movement, steel diagonal bracing members 19 welded to adjacent longitudinal members.

The longitudinal members 15, the cross members 17 and the bracing members 19 are 900 angle members thereby giving the open frame box structure great strength and rigidity.

Trunking as 21 extends the length of elongate rectangular apertures as 23 formed either between edges of adjacent metal plate members 25 of which the decks transverse bulkheads or other partitioning walls are constructed, or by cutting away metal from existing such metal plate members.

The trunking 21 projects throughout its length inwardly from the said plating at one face thereof.

The open frame box ladder structure 13 as aforedescribed is received in the trunking 21. The ladder structure which has a close fit with the trunking 21 has a multiplicity of rectangular plates P1, P2 the dimensions of which correspond to the dimensions of the rectangles defined by the longitudinal members 15 and the transverse cross members 17. The rectangular plates P1, P2, respectively, occupy the open box structure spaces so defined.

Whilst the plates P1 are fixed, as by being welded, to the said longitudinal and cross members, the plates P2 are hingedly connected at H to the longitudinal members 15 at hinge axes at or near transverse edges 27 of the plate P2.

The plates P1, P2, both hinged P2 and fixed P1, are as illustrated, normally contained in a plane, the plane of the deck or of transverse bulkheads as the case may be, so as to define a substantially unbroken surface. The plates P1, P2, may each be covered e.g. with carpet tiling so as to appear to form part of the adjacent carpet tiled deck 25. Accordingly the plates P1, P2 are, in normal circumstances adapted to be walked upon, and are for all practical purposes to be regarded in normal usage as part of the ship's deck.

However, should the ship keel over on one side to a side stranded position the hinged plates P2 topple under gravity respectively rotating through 1800 to face to face contact with adjacent fixed plates P1. As a result, spaces 29 are created.

The edges P1-P2 of the adjacent plates P1, P2 now constitute the series of elements 13, being ledges permitting purchase hand over hand foot over foot from ledge to ledge up the ladder structure as previously adumbrated, to an escape exit door 31.

A similar open frame box ladder structure 13' provides an escape route or constitutes a portion of such a route should the vessel keel over to a side stranded position on its other side. The ladder structure whilst similar in all essential respects to the previously described structure 13 has its hinged plates P2 rotatable about hinges at or near edges 27 of the plates P2 opposite to edges 27 of the plates P2 of the first mentioned ladder structure 13.

It will be appreciated that depending upon the construction, particularly the internal construction of the ship, an escape route may involve a group of serially ordered ladder structures as described, the ladder structures being successively negotiated by escaping persons to reach an escape door hatch.

Whilst it is necessary to provide deck following ladder structures having hinged plates of opposite rotation in order to provide escape routes should the vessel keel over to a side stranded position in one sense or the other, provision against the capsized condition necessitates the provision of open box ladder structures of one type only.

Accordingly, those open frame box ladder structures and their trunking extending parallel to transverse bulkheads and also similar partitioning walls all have their hinged plates hinged at or near corresponding edges. These respectively rotate through 1800, should the vessel capsize, as before, to face to face contact with adjacent plates.

Whilst the hinge action described is favoured such rotation of the hinged plates might be limited to an angular movement of 900.

So whilst Figs. 1 to 3 represent rotations of the plates P2 through 1800, stop means might be provided preventing rotation beyond the positions represented by the broken lines 31.

It should be appreciated that in the event of a disaster of the sort mentioned the light given by electric power from the ship's generators may fail.

Associated (not shown) respectively with ladder structures, therefore, there are electric circuits each including at least an electric light source, an independent electric power supply, e.g. a battery, and level switch means operable automatically to complete the electric circuit thereby to energise the light source when the angle of tilt of the vessel exceeds a certain value.

It will be appreciated that the several plates P2 of each open frame box ladder structure may be manually swung to the open position; and this may be required if the vessel should be 0 0 side stranded at an angle of less than 90 , - 45 say - an angle at which gravity would be ineffective to cause the plates P2 automatically to swing to face to face contact with the plates P1.

Claims (19)

1. A ship which has fixed in directions athwartships with respect to the decks, and vertically with respect to transverse bulkhead and/or other transverse partitioning wall structures of the vessel, a multiplicity of series of elements each of which offers purchase for hand and foot, the said multiplicity of series of elements being distributed throughout the vessel and the vessel being so constructed that the said multiplicity of series of elements severally or collectively in serially ordered groups constitute, or constitute segments of, a multiplicity of routes through the vessel to the exterior thereof in directions parallel to the planes of the decks, or of the said bulkheads and/or other partitioning walls as the case may be, being routes by way of which, should the vessel keel over to a side stranded or to a capsized position, escape may be sought from various locations of the vessel by climbing hand over hand, foot over foot, from element to element along at least one said series of elements.

2. A ship as claimed in claim 1 in which at least one of the said multiplicity of series of elements is a ladder structure.

3. A ship as claimed in claim 2 in which the said at least one ladder structure is in the form of a box structure.

4. A ship as claimed in claim 3 in which the said at least one box structure is an open box frame having longitudinally extending members and transverse members therebetween at intervals along the said longitudinal members.

5. A ship as claimed in claim 4 in which the open box frame has oblique bracing members.

6. A ship as claimed in claim 3 or 4 in which there are four longitudinal members.

7. A ship as claimed in claims 3, 4, 5 or 6 in which at least the longitudinal members are angle members.

8. A ship as claimed in any of claims 3 to 7 in which the members are welded together to constitute the open box frame.

9. A ship as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8 in which the said at least one ladder structure is disposed lengthwise of the trunking projecting from deck, bulkhead or other partitioning wall structure.

10. A ship as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9 in which the said at least one ladder structure comprises a set of rectangular plates which are serially disposed in the longitudinal direction of the box structure across one face thereof, and the dimensions of which in the said longitudinal direction are such that, normally, the several plates are contiguous with one another so as to appear to offer a substantially unbroken surface; and a subset of the said set of plates, being a subset of plates equispaced in the said longitudinal direction, are hingedly supported with respect to the box structure at or near to corresponding transversely extending edges thereof, the arrangement being such that should the vessel keel over as aforesaid, the hinged plates rotate under gravity to provide a succession of step or ledge portions.

11. A ship as claimed in claim 10 in which the said subset of plates respectively rotate substantially to a face to face contact position with adjacent plates thereby to permit purchase, by hand and foot as aforesaid, at the now exposed adjacent edges of the said face to face contacting plates.

12. A ship as claimed in claim 10 in which the said subset of plates respectively rotate to positions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the box structure to constitute a succession of tread portions.

13. A ship as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12 in which in respect of deck structures associated with the said at least one box ladder structure there is a similar said structure extending parallel thereto and side by side therewith, the subsets of plates in one box ladder structure being respectively pivoted at or near corresponding sides opposite to those at or near which the subset of plates of the other box ladder structure are respectively pivoted.

14. A ship as claimed in claim 10, 11, 12 or 13 in which the said subset or subsets, as the case may be, of plates are alternate plates of the box structure.

15. A ship as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14 in which the plates, both hinged and fixed, have coverings such, for example, as carpet tiles, whereby the box ladder structure appears to form a portion of similarly covered surface contiguous with face of the box ladder structure occupied by the said plates.

16. A ship as claimed in any of claims 10 to 15 in which associated with the multiplicity of series of elements there is provided lighting means operable automatically to illuminate the said series of elements.

17. A ship as claimed in claim 16 in which respectively associated with the multiplicity of series of elements there are individual, electric circuits each including at least one electric light source, independent electric power supply means, and level switch means operable automatically to complete the circuits thereby to energise the said at least one electric light source when the angle of tilt of the vessel exceeds a certain value.

18. A ladder in the form of a box structure as set forth in any of claims 10 to 15.

19. A ladder substantially as hereinbefore described witil reference to the accompanying drawings.