Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B21/00—Tying-up; Shifting, towing, or pushing equipment; Anchoring
  • B63B21/56—Towing or pushing equipment
  • B63B21/64—Equipment for towing or pushing vessels by vehicles or beings moving forward on ground-based paths along water-way
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
  • B63B35/66—Tugs
  • B63B35/70—Tugs for pushing

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an apparatus for connecting a pusher tug to a barge, which apparatus is a connecting pin mechanism to be located at a side of the pusher tug, - which connecting pin mechanisms are shaft mechanisms to be located in pairs on both sides of the pusher tug,
• shaft mechanisms most preferably comprise a cylinder-like bush, inside of which bush there is an axially movable, cylinder-like connecting pin, which connecting pin can be hydraulically moved in axially opposite directions and locked in a slot in a side structure of the barge,
• ITB integrated tug and barge
• ATB articulated tug and barge
• a pusher vessel is rigidly connected to a barge, i.e. the pusher vessel moves along with the barge due to the effect of waves.
• the pusher tug is driven for almost its entire length into a deep well formed in the stern portion of the barge, in which well there are no less than three connecting points at which the pusher boat and the barge are rigidly connected.
• a pusher boat is connected to a barge, for example, by means of cylinders located on both sides of the pusher boat so that the piston of a cylinder forms a cylinder-like pin that is connected to a matching slot in the barge. Because there is only one connecting pin on each side of the pusher boat, the pins act as articulated joints, about which the pusher boat can pitch relative to the barge.
• connection pin mechanism In known articulated connecting mechanisms, however, there have been problems, for example, with the durability of the connecting pins.
• the cause of problems is often the very great momentary strain exerted on the connecting pin while it is being locked.
• the bending force exerted on the connecting pin may cause the pin to bend, flatten or even break.
• the clearance between the pusher boat and the barge is often too great, and very high torques are thus exerted on the connecting pins and in rough seas, such a joint may become damaged.
• the purpose of the present invention is to create a new connection mechanism between a pusher boat and a barge. It is characteristic for a connection pin mechanism according to the invention
• both the end of the connecting pin and the protrusion at the end of the bush around the connecting pin can bend.
• a perforated plate or a similar structure is arranged in the steel structures of the barge to be pushed, to which perforated plate the connecting pins may be locked in a slot or a hole at a desired height.
• the flexibility in movement required in the connecting pin at the moment of connection is created, for example, by means of a pressure accumulator.
• the external bush in the connecting pin mechanism is supported at a point at a certain distance from the outer end of the external bush, so that the outer end of the external bush can bend in the lateral direction.
• Figure 1 represents an embodiment of a connecting pin mechanism of a pusher vessel as a sectional view and in a situation where the connecting pin is at the starting phase of the connective motion.
• Figure 2 is equivalent to Fig. 1 and represents the connecting pin mechanism in a situation where the connecting pin is at the midway position of the connective motion.
• Figure 3 is equivalent to Fig. 1 and represents the connecting pin mechanism in a situation where the connecting pin is extended, whereby the connecting pin mechanism is connected to the push barge.
• Figure 4 represents another embodiment of the connecting pin mechanism as a schematic, sectional view in a situation where the connecting pin is extended.
• Figure 5 represents a schematic view of the connecting pin mechanism in Fig. 4 in a situation where a lateral force is exerted on the end of the connecting pin.
• Fig. 1 represents a sectional view of a connecting pin mechanism 10 in a pusher vessel.
• the connecting pin mechanism 10 comprises an external bush 12, inside of which bush there is a connecting pin 11 axially movable in opposite directions. Between the external bush 12 and the connecting pin 11 there is a bearing bush 13. Inside the connecting pin 11 there is a hydraulic cylinder cavity 14, in which cavity there is a stationary or fixed piston 15. Furthermore, the connecting pin 11 is made lighter by providing a hollow space 16 inside the pin. Between the hydraulic cylinder cavity 14 and the hollow space 16 there is a partition 17.
• the connecting pin 11 is in a retracted position, i.e. in a situation where the pusher tug is not connected to a barge.
• connecting pin 11 in its extreme position on the left, so that the wall 17 of the connecting pin 11, i.e. the partition of the hydraulic cylinder cavity 14 located at the side of the hollow space 16, is pressed against the stationary or fixed piston 15.
• a protrusion 27 located at the end of a bar 19 attached to the connecting pin 11 acts as a position indicator so that in a position represented in Fig. 1 , it touches a limit switch 1 indicated by the reference number 28a.
• the connecting pin 11 is moved outwards, i.e. to the right in Fig. 1, by conveying hydraulic fluid via a channel 20 passing via a piston rod 18 to the hydraulic cylinder cavity 14, between the stationary piston 15 and the partition 17.
• the connecting pin 11 has proceeded to a midway position between its extreme positions. It can be seen in Fig. 2 that the protrusion 27 located at the end of a bar 19 attached to the connecting pin 11 is between the limit switches 1 and 2, i.e. between the limit switches indicated by the reference numbers 28a and 28b, without touching either of them.
• the connecting pin 11 has proceeded to its extreme position on the right, i.e. it is extended as far out as its path of motion allows. In this position, the connecting pin mechanism 10 of a pusher tug is locked to a barge.
• the protrusion 27 located at the end of a bar 19 generates a corresponding position indication signal in that it is located at the limit switch 2, i.e. at the limit switch indicated with the reference number 28b.
• Fig. 3 shows that the outermost support point of the external bush 12 supported by the hull of the pusher tug is in a position 21.
• the outermost end of the external bush 12 thus remains a non-fixed protrusion, allowing it to slightly bend in a lateral direction due to the effect of any lateral forces.
• the connecting pin 11 located inside the external bush 12 can also bend in a similar fashion, and therefore no excessive peak of bending force will be exerted on the connecting pin 11.
• Fig. 4 represents a schematically simplified view of another embodiment of the connecting pin mechanism 10 so that the connecting pin 11 is represented as a cylinder-like pin of equal thickness throughout its length.
• the bush 12 of the connecting pin mechanism is also cylinder-like in form and is represented in a simplified manner without any bearings or gaskets.
• the figure more clearly demonstrates the support structure of the bush 12 and the behaviour of the support structure when the connecting pin 11 is laterally loaded, as represented in Fig. 5.
• the cylinder-like bush 12 has three, most preferably round flanges 23a, 23b and 23c, by which flanges the bush 12 is attached to the side structure 30 of a pusher tug. It is essential to the structure of the bush 12 that the outermost flange 23c is connected to the bush 12 at a certain distance from the outer end 24 of the bush 12. Thus a kind of protruding beam that supports the connecting pin 11 laterally, is formed at the outer end 24 of the bush 12.
• Fig. 5 represents the connecting pin mechanism 10 of Fig. 4 in a situation where a lateral force F is exerted on the end of the connecting pin 11, which force is further exerted on the side structure 30 of the pusher tug via the bush 12.
• the force F is represented so that it is directed upwards from below.
• the oppositely directed, i.e. downwards from above in Fig. 5, supporting forces in the side structure 30 of the pusher tug are designated N1, N2 and N3.
• this flange 23c will slightly yield due to effect of the lateral load of the bush 12 and bend to a curved shape, as seen in the cross section.
• this part of the flange 23c is shown above the bush 12.
• the protruding beam formed at the outer end 24 of the bush 12 and the connecting pin 11 therewithin similarly bend to a curved shape.
• the portion of the flange 23c on the opposite side of the connecting pin 11 i.e. the portion below the bush 12 in Fig. 5, is also deformed so that the portion which in the cross section is shown as curved is straightened.
• the resilient structure of the connecting pin mechanism 10 represented in Fig. 5 results in the advantageous feature that the non-fixed ends forming the bush 12 and the protruding beam of the connecting pin 11 can bend until the support point 23b in the middle of the bush 12. Bending and deformation of the bush 12 and connecting pin 11 are represented by broken lines and, for the sake of clarity, in an exaggerated way in Fig. 5. In reality, the bending of the connecting pin 11 and bush 12 and deformations of the flange 23c are so minor that they cannot be seen as clearly as here. However, the resilience of the structure is a substantial advantage, which makes it possible to render the structure lighter, but nevertheless more durable. In known rigid solutions, the components have to be dimensioned to be substantially more massive for safety's sake, and even so, uncontrollable load peaks may break the structure.
• protrusion 8 limit switch 0 side structure of the pusher tug

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Actuator (AREA)
• Quick-Acting Or Multi-Walled Pipe Joints (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (5)

• 2003
  • 2003-09-30 FI FI20031406A patent/FI20031406L/fi unknown
• 2004
  • 2004-09-30 WO PCT/FI2004/000570 patent/WO2005030570A1/en not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (5)

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