HK1173117A - A device of a bulk ship for sand transport and fluidized unloading - Google Patents

Description

Device for a bulk carrier for sand transport and fluidized unloading

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bulk carrier for sand transportation and fluidized unloading. More particularly, the present invention relates to a bulk carrier for sand transportation and fluidized unloading, wherein the unloading pipe is in communication with at least one hold of the bulk carrier.

Background

Hereinafter, the term "bulk carrier" refers to the generic term "bulk dry carrier" in english.

When filling in the sea area for land, large amounts of material are often required. According to the prior art, so-called self-unloading dredgers TSHD (trailing suction dredgers) are generally used. During transport from the loading site to the unloading site, the material is located in silo-like hold on board the ship. The material can be unloaded by opening an opening in the bottom of the vessel, for example by a hull formed of two parts constructed in such a way that the two parts are allowed to move relative to each other.

However, ships of the type in question are not particularly suitable for transporting large quantities of material over long distances, in particular when problems are encountered during transport through open sea. The reason for this relates to economic problems, considering that ships are relatively expensive to build and operate, and also because their load-bearing capacity is relatively limited.

It is known to fluidize material before and during unloading. Likewise, U.S. patent No.3445008 describes a method and apparatus in which the lower portion of the ship's cargo hold is filled with water prior to the extraction of the water and material.

It is known from us patent No.4033470 to use nozzles and water under pressure to fluidize the cargo.

The transport of material in a cargo hold normally requires that the hold must be closed and requires that the cargo must be classified as dry goods during transport in open sea.

The use of bulk carriers for transporting dredged material has been proposed and patent application No.19986101 describes unloading devices arranged on the surface of the cargo, which devices are constructed in such a way that they can fluidize and extract the cargo. However, the unloading capacity of this solution has proved to be insufficient.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to remedy or reduce at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features disclosed in the following description and in the appended claims.

A bulk carrier for sand transportation and fluidized unloading is provided, wherein an unloading pipe is in communication with at least one hold of the bulk carrier, and wherein the bulk carrier is characterized in that the unloading pipe is connected to an underwater pipe connector.

This type of bulk carrier is relatively deep in draught, which results in a relatively large height from the floor of the hold (often termed the "interior floor") up to the deck. By providing the connector under water, the offloading pipe can be connected to an external mud pump without having to cross the offloading pipe across the deck of the vessel.

Depending on the circumstances, the pipe connector may be provided at the side, bottom or some other suitable location of the bulk carrier for connection to a sand receiver, which is preferably provided with an underwater mud pump.

The tube connector may include: a first connector portion connected to the bulk carrier; and a second releasable connector portion connected to the sand receptacle.

The second connector portion, which is releasable, may be provided with a cord, cable, chain or similar form of cord that is connected to the connector portion and which is typically used to pull the second connector portion onto the first connector portion.

The releasable second connector portion may also be moved onto or into the first connector portion by means of a robotic arm (manipulator arm) located outside the bulk carrier.

The releasable second connector portion may be shaped in a complementary manner to fit into a lead-in on a bulk carrier. For example, the lead-in may be funnel-shaped or it may comprise a guide.

The unloading pipe may optionally be connected to the seawater inlet. For example, a seawater inlet may be used to fill the cargo hold with seawater prior to the start of unloading, and to flush through the unloading pipe during the start of the slurry pump.

The unloading pipe is optionally connected to a drain in at least one cargo hold. Thus, the unloading pipe may be used to drain excess water from the hold during the loading of the fluidised sand. The unloading pipe is optionally connected to a drain pump for transporting excess water from the cargo hold to the exterior of the bulk carrier. Advantageously, the drain pump may be provided on the deck of the bulk carrier.

The bulk carrier may be provided with closable drainage openings at the sides of the vessel, through which the water can drain when the water in the hold reaches a given height.

The loading tubes extending along the bulk carrier are selectively connected to a plurality of cargo holds. The fluidized sand is supplied from the dredge through the loading connector and transported into the desired hold where it is spread out by means of the spreader device.

The loading tube is optionally connected to a fluidisation tube located in the lower part of the cargo hold. Thus, water for fluidization of sand during unloading may be supplied forward through the loading connector and the loading pipe into the cargo hold for unloading.

The apparatus according to the invention may use external slurry pumps during the unloading of the fluidised sand from the bulk carrier. The invention thus helps to make long-distance transportation of sand economically feasible, which can be prepared at relatively modest expense in the context of conventional bulk carriers.

Drawings

Examples of preferred embodiments will now be described, which examples are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a side view of the middle part of a bulk carrier prepared according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a plan view of the bulk carrier of figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line IIa-IIa of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view along line I-I of FIG. 1;

fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view along the line iib-iib of fig. 2 on a slightly larger scale;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view along line IIc-IIc of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along line IId-IId of FIG. 2;

fig. 8 shows on a larger scale a tube connector according to the invention, which moves the second connector part into the first connector part;

FIG. 9 shows the tube connector of FIG. 8, but after moving the second connector portion to the first connector portion;

fig. 10 shows the sectional view of fig. 9 on a larger scale; and

fig. 11 shows an alternative embodiment of a tube connector.

Detailed Description

In the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a bulk carrier comprising a cargo hold 2 with a hatch 4, wherein the cargo hold 2 is separated by means of a bulkhead 6. The hatch 4 may also be closed during loading and unloading.

A loading tube 8 connected to a loading connector 10 (of a design known per se) extends along the bulk carrier 1 above the hold 2. The loading tube 8 is provided with a loading valve 12 for each cargo compartment 2. Some cargo holds 2 are not used for loading cargo. The reason for this may be due to some conditions related to loading, or the cargo holds are used for holding technical equipment.

A distributor plate 14 is provided below each loading valve 12 in order to distribute the inflowing fluidized sand in the hold 2.

Via a fluidisation valve 16 and a downpipe (down pipe) 18, the loading pipe 8 is connected to a fluidisation pipe 20 (of a design known per se) on an inner bottom plate 22.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the unloading pipe 24 is provided on the inner floor 22 to extend along the bulk carrier 1 through the bulkhead 6. The unloading pipe 24 communicates with the hold 2 for sand cargo via a respective unloading valve 26. At the middle of the unloader tube 24, and through the connector valve 28, the unloader tube 24 is connected to a tube connector 30. At the end of the unloader tube 24, and through an inlet valve 32, the unloader tube 24 is connected to a seawater inlet 34.

Via a drain valve 36, the unloading pipe 24 is connected to a drain 38 in the form of a drain tower (the design of which is known per se).

The drain pump 40 is connected to the unloading pipe 24 and to a pump inlet 43 of the seawater via a three-way pump valve 42. The outlet 44 of the drain pump 40 discharges into the water or underwater outside the bulk carrier 1. Referring to fig. 3 and 5, the outlet 44 is connected to the loading pipe 8 through a three-way valve 45 and an intermediate pipe 47 so that the fluidized water is carried to the cargo compartment 2.

In this preferred embodiment, the pipe connector 30 is arranged at a side portion 46 of the bulk carrier 1, the first connector portion 48 being connected to the side portion 46 by means of a funnel-shaped lead-in portion 50.

The second connector portion 52 is connected to a sand receptacle (not shown) via a flexible tube 54, for example in the form of tubing. The second connector portion 52 is configured to be pulled into the first connector portion 48 by a guide cord 56.

Via the connector valve 28, the unloader tube 24 is connected to the first connector portion 48. The first connector portion 48 includes a main tube 58 having an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the unloader tube 24. The main tube 58 extends forward from a fastening sleeve (connection sleeve) 60 to the introduction portion 50, and the unloading tube 24 is connected to this fastening sleeve 60. The main pipe 58 forms a sealed connection between the unloading pipe 24 and the side 46 of the vessel.

The guide cord 56 extends in a movable manner through the fastening sleeve 60, see fig. 10, preferably via two stuffing boxes 62. Advantageously, leak detectors (not shown) may be mounted between the stuffing boxes.

The end of the unloader tube 24 faces the first connector portion 48, and the unloader tube 24 is formed with a conical sealing surface 64.

The interior of the main tube 58 is provided with two annular sealing seats 66, preferably with an expandable annular seal 68. The guide sleeve 70 is disposed between the annular seal seats 66.

Each actuator 74 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder is connected to a respective pull-in hook 76 and is disposed in a recess 72 in the guide sleeve 70. The draw-in hook 76, which bears against a tilting stop (dog)78, is constructed in such a way that: that is, when moving toward the unloader tube 24 in the main tube 58, the draw-in hook 76 is moved radially inward relative to the main tube 58.

The second connector portion 52 includes an outer conduit 80 and an inner tube 82 connected to the flexible tube 54. At its forward end, the second connector portion 52 is formed with an internal conical end ring 84 for mounting in a complementary manner to the conical sealing surface 64 of the unloader tube 24. An end ring 84 connects the outer conduit 80 to the inner tube 82 and is provided with an accessory member 86 for the guide cord 56. The shackle 88 is formed in such a manner that it is gripped by the pull-in hook 76 and surrounds the conduit 80.

When the bulk carrier 1 is loaded, a dredge (not shown) is connected to the loading connector 10. The loading valve 12 corresponding to the cargo hold 2 to be loaded is opened, after which fluidized sand is pumped into the cargo hold 2 via the loading connector 10, the loading pipe 8 and the specific loading valve 12. The fluidised sand falls onto the distributor plate 14 and is spread out in the hold 2. At the same time, excess water flows from the cargo hold 2 through the drain pipe 38, drain valve 36, unloading pipe 24, pump valve 42, drain pump 40 and outlet 44 to the ocean. If loading has been completed, the drain valve 36 and the pump valve 42 are closed, and the drain pump 40 is also stopped.

Prior to unloading, one or more cargo holds 2 may be supplied with water through a seawater inlet 34, an inlet valve 32, the unloading pipe 24, and an unloading valve 26. If the cargo compartment has been filled with the desired amount of water, the unloading valve 26 is closed.

The guide line 56 extends through the first connector portion 48 and up the side 46 when not in use, and the guide line 56 is connected to the end ring 84 of the second connector portion 52 by an attachment member 86.

Thereafter, the second connector part 52 is pulled in by means of the guide cord 56 through the lead-in 50 and the first connector part 48, as shown in fig. 8, wherein the second connector part 52 is pulled in to the guide sleeve 70. In fig. 9, the second connector portion 52 is in its connected position in the first connector portion 48, the actuators 74 have moved their respective pull-in hooks 76 against the shackle 88, and the conical end ring 84 is moved to seal against the conical sealing surface 64. The annular seal 68 has been activated to seal against the conduit 80. Leak detectors (not shown) may be provided between the annular seals 68.

Thereafter, the connector valve 28 may be opened and a mud pump (not shown) may be activated. Thus, water circulates from the seawater inlet 34 through the unloader tube 24, the connector valve 28, the tube connector 30, and the flexible tube 54. When the inlet valve 32 is closed and the particular unloading valve 26 is open, the fluidized sand flows from the hold 2 through the unloading valve 26, the unloading pipe 24, the connector valve 28 and the pipe connector 30 out of the bulk carrier 1.

Seawater for the fluidisation of the sand in the hold 2 is pumped in (drawn in) through the loading connector 10, the loading pipe 8, the special fluidisation valve 16, the downpipe 18 and the fluidisation pipe 20. Alternatively, the seawater for fluidization may be pumped into the loading pipe 8 through the pump inlet 43, the pump valve 42, the drain pump 40, the three-way valve 45, and the intermediate pipe 47.

If unloading has been performed, the second connector portion 52 is disconnected from the first connector portion 48 as described above, but in the reverse order.

In an alternative embodiment, see fig. 11, the pipe connector 30 is formed with a second connector portion 52, the second connector portion 52 being provided with a pipe flange 90. The pipe flange 90 is movable in a guide-shaped lead-in 92 fixed to the side portion 46 of the vessel. The pipe flange 90 corresponds to a seal 94 on the first connector portion 48, wherein the seal 94 includes an inflatable seal 96. The pilot-shaped lead-in 92 at the sealing 94 is deflectable in the direction towards the ship side 46.

When the second connector portion 52 according to this alternative embodiment is connected to the first connector portion 48, the pipe flange 90 is moved into engagement with the lead-in portion 92, after which the second connector portion 52 is moved along the lead-in portion until the pipe flange 90 corresponds to the sealing portion 94, whereupon the sealing member 96 is activated. The disconnection is performed in the reverse order.

Claims (10)

1. An arrangement in a bulk carrier (1) for sand transportation and fluidized unloading, wherein an unloading pipe (24) communicates with at least one hold (2) of the bulk carrier (1), characterized in that the unloading pipe (24) is connected to an underwater pipe connector (30).

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe connector (30) is arranged at a side portion (46) of the bulk carrier (1).

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe connector (30) is arranged at the bottom of the bulk carrier (1).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the pipe connector (30) comprises: a first connector portion (48) connected to the bulk carrier (1); and a second releasable connector portion (52) connected to a receptacle for sand.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the second releasable connector portion (52) is provided with a guide cord (56).

6. An arrangement according to claim 4, characterised in that the second releasable connector part (52) is fitted in a complementary manner into a lead-in (50, 92) on the bulk carrier (1).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the unloading pipe (24) is selectively connectable to the seawater inlet (34).

8. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the unloading pipe (24) is selectively connected to a drain pipe (38) in at least one cargo hold (2).

9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the unloading duct (24) is optionally connected to a drain pump (40).

10. An arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that the drain pump (40) is arranged in the bulk carrier (1).