RU2792073C2 - Flat-bottom river transport vessel containing inflatable buoyancy tanks - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: shipbuilding.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a flat-bottom river transport vessel containing inflatable buoyancy tanks consisting of at least one pair of left-side and right-side inflatable tanks. The specified paired inflatable tanks are interconnected by means of one or more pressure alignment means. The vessel also contains a means for modifying the ratio of W/D, where W is the maximum width of the vessel, and D is draught; the specified modification means controls inflation of the specified buoyancy tanks to reduce draught and deflation of the specified buoyancy tanks to reduce a vessel transverse size.

EFFECT: sufficient flexibility for adaptation to all arising circumstances is provided for a vessel navigating mainly through channels and rivers od small size, passing through floodgates, and periodically navigating through reservoirs with a low water level.

7 cl, 4 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to the field of self-propelled or non-self-propelled barges for transporting cargo through canals, in particular canals or rivers of the so-called "Freysinet dimensions", as well as for occasional use in shallow waters. More specifically, it refers to ships that are primarily intended for river navigation and occasionally for navigation on inland seas or lakes.

Cargo, generally dry, is stored in a non-specialized compartment, which is accessible and closed by sliding and removable panels (hold covers).

The most common variant of the state of the art self-propelled barge, which is currently made of steel, is called the Freycinet barge. Her dimensions are 38.50 m long by 5.05 m wide and at her stern she has a wheelhouse above the engine compartment which is accessed through a similar engine hatch leading to the level of the wheelhouse.

The self-propelled barge has its own propulsion system of a simple design to allow easy mooring and self-orientation of the hull in a suitable manner. The self-propelled barge contains an engine room with a traction engine located at the stern of the hull and providing self-propelling. The deck and cabin are located in front of the hull compartment, which corresponds to the engine room, to allow access to the berth and orientation of the hull.

A non-self-propelled barge is a non-motorized, flat-bottomed vessel not steered by a rudder and designed to store and move cargo, generally dry, stored in a non-specialized compartment that is accessible and possibly covered by sliding and removable panels (hold covers).

Existing non-self-propelled barges are pushed by powerful motorized vessels known as "pusher boats".

More specifically, the invention relates to self-propelled or non-self-propelled barges equipped with inflatable elements that provide increased buoyancy when the available side space for navigation allows them to be deployed.

State of the art

Known patent GB 2284577, which discloses a system for controlling the distribution of the carrying capacity of flexible inflatable buoyancy tanks. This system makes it possible to increase the lateral capacity of ships by stopping the inflation of damaged elements by means of pressure drop detection elements located in tanks constantly under pressure, due to signals generated by a pressure sensor. It concerns a vessel for navigation on the high seas, not a river vessel. Tanks are designed to reduce the risk of flooding and not for normal use.

Utility model CN 105711771 relates to a device that can prevent the sinking of a sea vessel in case of accidental damage to the hull of the vessel and water entering the vessel through holes in the hull during navigation, or it prevents the vessel from capsizing so that the vessel does not sink if the stability of the vessel is violated under the influence wind.

It provides for gas storage and a charging system, as well as a gas supply pipeline system installed on the ship's hull; one fixed type inflatable tank and one non-fixed type inflatable tank installed and stored in the ship's cabin. The buoyancy elements are connected to the air supply system. Buoyancy elements are not used under normal conditions; when the ship is in danger, the inflatable tanks are activated.

The patent application GB 2354487 describes another example of a vessel which has longitudinal inflatable tanks installed along both sides. The containers can be attached to an existing housing or located in a recess made in a new housing. The container inflation device may include gas reservoirs, a pressure supply and supply adjustment device, which in turn delivers gas to the container inflation pipe through one-way valves. The air tanks can be protected by a rubber casing 5 when the inflatable chambers are inflated. The chambers may be manually inflated in response to hydrostatic activation or in response to a remote signal.

Patent GB 2369803 A relates to a ship containing an inflatable buoyancy device located on the ship in such a way that, when inflated by means of inflation, it would be able to maintain the buoyancy of the ship at water level in the event that some water enters the ship, which otherwise would result in the sinking of the vessel.

CN 106628044 describes an air tank system to prevent a vessel from capsizing and to prevent flooding. Thanks to the buoyancy of the air tanks, which can be quickly and automatically deployed and inflated, the boat is prevented from capsizing or sinking. The ship's air tank system to prevent capsizing and to prevent flooding is a study in the field of ship safety. According to the drawings, the ship's air tank system for preventing capsizing and for preventing flooding is characterized in that the sensitive electronic control device decides whether to command and activate the corresponding safety air tanks by collecting and processing data including the degree of the ship's roll. and a degree of flooding, which are obtained by the gravity tilt angle sensor and the water sensor.

Disadvantages of the prior art

The solutions of the prior art refer to solutions aimed at preventing the ship from sinking in the event of a shipwreck and, consequently, a significant loss of buoyancy.

These solutions result in excess lateral dimension and weight due to the buoyancy elements and associated mechanical elements, which reduces the carrying capacity.

In the case of transport ships that travel primarily on small canals and rivers, passing through locks, and periodically crossing water bodies with low water levels, the solutions of the prior art do not provide sufficient flexibility to adapt to all emerging circumstances.

Solution provided by the invention

To overcome these disadvantages, the present invention in its most general sense relates to a river transport vessel containing inflatable buoyancy tanks, consisting of at least one pair of port and starboard inflatable watertight tanks, which will be called inflatable bladders or containers, characterized in that said bladders are inflatable in pairs with pressure equalization means.

For the purposes of this patent, a "river transport vessel" is understood to be a vessel designed exclusively or in part for the transport of goods on inland waterways, whether they are suitable for navigating along channels, possibly equipped, or, for example, artificial channels. In the context of this patent, "river transport vessel" does not include a seagoing vessel intended for navigation on the high seas or coastal navigation at sea.

A flat-bottomed "coastal" type vessel that can navigate the sea or river is referred to as a "river transport vessel" in the context of this patent.

In technical terms, river transport vessels differ from sea vessels in their dimensions, which are influenced by the size of waterways.

Advantageously, each of said inflatable containers has a prismatic shape with a cross-section expanding upwards.

According to the options, taken individually or in any technically feasible combination:

it further comprises a semi-rigid plate covering the outer side of said sealed chamber, said rigid plate being rotatable by means of a longitudinal hinged hinge located under said inflatable chamber;

the specified semi-rigid plate, among other things, may be made of titanium sheet;

it further comprises a rigid plate covering the outer side of said inflatable containers, said rigid plate being rotatable by means of a longitudinal hinged hinge located under said inflatable container;

the specified rigid plate, among other things, may be made of a material with shape memory;

the upper side of said inflatable bladder has at least one mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic shape control means;

the upper side of said inflatable container has at least one electronic shape control;

the upper side of the specified inflatable chamber has at least one means of engagement with a hook for the holder, the opposite end of which is attached to the upper edge of the hull of the specified vessel;

these inflatable containers are made of neoprene fabric.

Detailed description of a non-limiting example of the invention

The present invention will become better understood upon reading the detailed description of the non-limiting example of the invention, which is presented below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

- in Fig. 1 shows a three-quarter front view of a vessel according to the invention;

- in Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of buoyancy elements in accordance with the invention;

- in Fig. 3 shows a deflated chamber;

- in Fig. 4 shows an inflated chamber.

General description of the vessel

On FIG. 1 shows a general view of a vessel in accordance with the invention. It consists of a body (1) with a flat bottom carrying inflatable containers (2, 3) on its sides. These inflatable containers (2, 3) consist of an airtight shell made of, for example, neoprene fabric and form port-starboard pairs that are symmetrical with respect to the median plane of the ship.

In the described example, the body (1) contains two pairs of inflatable containers (2, 3), one in front, the other behind.

These inflatable tanks (2, 3) are not designed to compensate for the loss of buoyancy, for example, in the event of a shipwreck, but to modify the nominal buoyancy regime between the first regime, limiting the transverse size (tanks deflated), and the second regime, limiting the draft (tanks (2, 3) inflated) in a balanced manner for tanks located on each side of the center line of the ship.

The transition between the two modes of navigation of a river vessel in accordance with the invention is provided by modifying the W/O ratio, where W denotes the maximum width of the vessel and D denotes the draft.

This modification is carried out by controlling the inflation of tanks (2, 3) containing buoyancy tanks to reduce draft, or, conversely, by controlling the deflating of tanks (2, 3) to reduce the transverse size of the vessel.

Description of cameras

In this example, the inflatable containers (2, 4) have an elongated prismatic shape. The inner side (7) of each inflatable container (2, 4) has a shape corresponding to the outer surface of the body.

The outer side has a convex shape with a lower bend running along the body. The upper part (9) has an arcuate shape and can be folded to reduce the width.

Two inflatable containers (2, 4) of a pair are connected by one or more paths (5) to ensure pressure equalization in the two inflatable containers. Inflation is carried out using a pump (6) included in the path (5) connecting two inflatable containers (2, 4).

The maximum total volume V of the inflatable tanks is determined to provide the difference AL in the draft between the mode with the minimum transverse dimension and the mode with the minimum draft, so that without inflating the draft is nominal and corresponding to the depth of channels or waterways, and when inflated, the water level corresponds to the highest zones and allowable lateral dimension.

Alternatively, the electronic circuitry can control in real time the inflation/deflation of each inflatable container of the pair to maintain balance at all times.

This pump (6) inflates the inflatable tanks to ensure their deployment symmetrically relative to the longitudinal plane of the vessel due to pressure balancing, as well as blowing off to reduce the midship. This inflation is controlled pneumatically by connecting two paired inflatable containers via an open path or electronically by controlling the inflation pumps for each of the paired inflatable containers.

Each inflatable container (2, 4) has the shape of a port-side and starboard half-hull, respectively.

The bottom (10) of the inflatable container is edged and has a width substantially limited by the thickness of the chamber shell. The inflatable container then becomes wider due to the changing bulge (12) closed in its upper part.

On FIG. 3 and 4 show the inflatable containers, respectively, in the collapsed position and in the expanded position.

The outer surface of the chamber (2) is covered with a sheet of metal (11), for example made of titanium, spring steel, composite or any other material with high shape memory. This sheet is rotatable in its lower part by means of a hinged hinge (14). The edged bottom (10) of the inflatable container (2) can be enclosed in a longitudinal cavity (12). The upper edge of the chamber may have a hook (13) to be connected with holders to the upper point of the vessel.

Claims (7)

1. A river vessel for transporting goods, containing inflatable buoyancy tanks, consisting of at least one pair of port and starboard inflatable tanks (2, 3), characterized in that these paired inflatable tanks (2, 3) are connected by one or more equalization means pressure, as well as the fact that the specified vessel contains a means for modifying the W / O ratio, where W denotes the maximum width of the vessel, and O denotes draft; said modification means controls inflation of said buoyancy tanks to reduce draft and deflating said buoyancy tanks to reduce transverse size of the vessel. 2. A river vessel for the transportation of goods according to claim 1, characterized in that each of these inflatable containers (2, 3) has a prismatic shape with a cross section expanding upwards. 3. A river vessel for transporting goods according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally contains a rigid plate (11) covering the outer side of said inflatable tanks (2, 3), said rigid plate is rotatable by means of a longitudinal hinged hinge (14), located under the specified inflatable capacity. 4. River vessel for transporting goods according to the previous paragraph, characterized in that said rigid plate (11) is made of a shape memory material. 5. A river vessel for transporting goods according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper side of said inflatable container (2, 3) has at least one hydraulic or pneumatic mechanical shape control. 6. A river vessel for transporting goods according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper side of said inflatable container (2, 3) has at least one electronic shape control. 7. A river vessel for transporting goods according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper side of said inflatable container (2, 3) has a means of engagement with a hook for a holder, the opposite end of which is attached to the upper edge of the hull of said vessel.

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