Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~ ~31~
The present invention relates to a mooring means for
retaining a pontoon at a quay independantly of the occa-
sional variation in water level.
When loading and unloading Ro-Ro-ships in ports, where
there are considerable variations in tide water levels,
it is difficult to drive vehicles directly from the quay
into the ship, and vice versa, by way of a ramp to the ship.
Similar difficulties, although to a lesser degree, are en-
countered by the variations in the loaded depth of the
ship, as the loading and unloading, respectively, pro-
ceeds.
It has been proposed to moor a pontoon, or a barge
along the quay, to serve as an intermediary between the
ship and the quay, and as the transfer then will occur in
twos~ages it is easier to cope with differences in level
between the ship's deck and the quay.
It is, however, necessary to moor the pontoon in such
a manner that it can follow changes in the water level
without moving noticeably from its position at the quay.
The present invention provides a mooring arrangement,
which permits its exact positioning in relation to the
quay, while simultaneously providing a fully satisfactory
adjustability to variations in tide water level.
The mooring means according to the invention comprises
at least two pillars projecting above the deck of the
pontoon, at the side thereof adjacent to the quay, and a
vertically displaceable trolley, carried by each pillar
and provided with an arm extending horizontally towards
the quay and having means for attachment to a bollard at
the quay.
~ 1 -
~.
~ ~B3148
Each arm is preferably formed as a link comprising
components joined by pivots having alternate horizontal and
vertical axes.
A rigid bracket is preferably provided, projecting
from the top side of the trolley and having at its distal
end a sliding piece for engagement with the quay or with
a porti.on of the arm between the bollard and the pivot ad-
jacent thereto.
.
- la -
2 ~314~
The pillars are preferably fi-tted in -the re-
cesses in the side wall of the pontoon, which are sunk be-
low the level of the deck of the pontoon, and are formed
in such a manner that the trolley associated with the pil-
lar may be substantially fully received within the recess.
Each arm is preferably stayed sidewardly with
réspect to the associated pillar by means of an elasti-
c`ally biased wire.
The invention will below be described wi-th re-
ference to the accompanying drawings~ in whichFigure 1 shows a pon-toon provided with mooring means
according -to the invention,
Figure 2 shows the mooring means more in detail~ ~
Figure 3 shows, on a larger scale, the trolley with the
arm and its bracket fitted to a bollard, and
Figure 4 shows the same view as in Figure 3~ as seen from
above.
Figure 1 very schematically shows a pontoon 10
moored at a quay 11 for serving as an intermediary link
~20 between the latter and a ship (not shown), which is C~K_~ -
to be tied along the quay so a ramp at the stem or the
stern of the ship can be folded down to rest upon the deck
of the pontoon, at the end thereof turned towards the left
in the drawing.
The p~n~oon is provided with a ramp 12, which is
hinged to the deck of the pontoon and is carried by two
posts 13, provided with counterweights 14. Suitable means
(not shown) are provided to alter the inclina-tion of the
ramp 12 in response to changes in the water level. This
~ 30 ramp will form the second stage in the runway between the
; ship and the quay.
The means for mooring the pontoon 10 comprises
two, spaced apart pillars 15 located at the side of the
pontoon ~-~o turned towards the quay. Each pillar 15 car-
ries a trolley 16 and an arm 17, projecting therefrom.Each arm is, in use, rigidly connected to a bollard 18 at
the quay, and is further stayed sidewardly by means of a
3~4~
wire 19, which by a resilient device 20 is attached to a
further bollard 21.
The arm 17 will be supported by the quay and
will retain the trolley 16 at the level thereof, indepen-
dently of how the pontoon rises or sinks, following chan-
ges in the water level. The pillars 15 will, in other
- - words, slide in relation to the trolleys which are statio-
n`ary at the quay, and the arms have sufficient transverse
rigidity to prevent the pontoon from moving along the
quay. The design of the trolley and the arm will be evident
from Figures 2 - 4.
As is best seen in Figure 4, each pillar 15 in-
cludes two parallel, tubular beams l5a, having rectangu-
lar cross section, which at their upper ends are intercon-
nected by a cross-piece 15b, while their lower ends are
mounted at the pontoon. Each pillar is fitted in a recess
22 in the side wall of the pontoon, extending a consider-
able distance below the deck 23 of the pontoon. Each re-
cess has sufficient width to accomodate a trolley 16.
A trolIey 16 comprises a frame 24 upon which
two pairs of wheels 25 are mounted for running along one
side face of each pillar beam 15a. Within the frame there
are two further pairs of wheels 26, the axes of which are
arranged perpendicularly with respect of those of the first
mentioned wheels 25, and which are adapted to run along
the transverse sides of the pillar beams 15a.
The trolley will in this manner be efficiently
guided in relation to the pillar, and there is no risk of`
the trollwy being jammed.
The arm 17 comprises an articulated link 36
and a rigid bracket 27. One end of the link is rigidly con-
nected to the trolley 16, and comprises components which
are interconnected by a horizontal pivot 28 and a vertical
pivot 29. The opposite end of the link 36 is adapted to be
attached to the bollard 18 by means of a bolted clamp 30,
and also comprises components which are interconnected by
a horizontal pivot 31 and a vertical pivot 32. The two
~ ~3~
1~
horizontal pivots 28 and 31 are located adjacent to the
ends of the link. This connection between the trolley and
the quay is -thus not fully rigid, but permits smaller,
occasional changes in the position.
- The bracket 27 is, however, completely rigid
and is attached to the upper face of the trolley 16, from
which it cantileverwise extends above the link 36 almost
t`o the bollard 18~ A strut 33 extends downwardly from -the
distal end of the bracket and carries a sliding piece 34,
which rests upon an enlarged portion 35 of the end of the
arm link, adjacent to the bollard. The bracket rnay, alter-
natively, be supported directly by the bollard, or by some
other part of the quay. ~
The strength of the mooring means rests with
the link 36, and the bracket 27 will rapidly even out pos-
sible changes in positions at the pivots 28, 31.
Figure 2 shows the pontoon and the mooring
means at a rather low water level, but it is evident that
the arrangement will work even if the level should sink to
a still lower level. Brooken lines denote the position of
the trolley and the arm at a high water level. As mentioned
above the recess 22 in the side wall of the pontoon is suf-
ficien~ywide to accomodate the main part of the trolley.
At a very high water level the deck 23 of the pontoon may
rise above the plane of the quay.
Each arm is, as mentioned above~ stayed side-
wardly by means of a wire 19, which is attached to a bol-
lard 21, which may be located a distance away from the ad-
jacent end of the pontoon. One end of the wire 19 is at-
tached to the arm 17 close by the pillar 15, and inside ofpivot 28. The resilient device 20 contains a packet of
springs and may include means,which permits a tightening
of the wire during the mounting thereof, and the two,
oppositely directed wires 19, which are attached close to
the pillars 15,will efficiently retain the pon-toon in the
intended position.
1 4 8
,
The ramp of the pon-to~n may be designed and arranged
in many wa~s, for instance so it extends transversely with
respect to -the longitudinal sides of the pontoon. That may
influence the positionin~ of the pillars 15, and it is
evident that ~t, which long pontoons, may be favourable to
use more than two pillars 15.
.0
