Abstract:
A device for the offshore loading and unloading of ships is provided. The device includes a steel bridge ( 1 ), which rests on the head pieces ( 3 ) of individual pile foundations ( 2 ). One or more ship loading or unloading devices ( 5 ) can be displaced along said bridge.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a United States National Phase application of International Application PCT/EP2005/009308 and claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of German Patent Application DE 102004054415.8 filed Nov. 11, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a device for offshore loading and/or unloading of ships.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     At times when high productivity combined with fast transshipment of goods is called for, unloading and loading of ships attain special importance. To minimize cost, the shortest possible demurrage is desired that can only be reached if goods are transshipped at high speed.  
         [0004]     To achieve or improve desired profitability, cargo ships having a high loading capacity have been developed that have a corresponding size. Sometimes, the depth of water at harbor berths fails to be sufficient for the deep draft of such ships or there is no harbor available near the bulk goods storage yard, so that an offshore dispatch lends itself as a suitable alternative. Offshore loading of a ship, however, calls for a ship pier and an appropriate carrying facility for conveyor devices which must be located at a distinct distance to the existing coast. In the past, near-coast ship piers were created that consisted of massive concrete platforms on which rail-bound or wheel-carried chassis can be moved. These massive concrete platforms are usually supported on pile foundations.  
         [0005]     The offshore facilities outlined hereinabove have a drawback in that they are relatively expensive both in terms of their set-up and fabrication, all the more so because concrete grouting work in most cases must be performed locally, that means offshore. And the large number of required pile foundations is also expensive.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     Now, therefore, it is the object of the present invention to create a device for offshore ship loading and/or unloading that overcomes and eliminates these drawbacks outlined hereinabove.  
         [0007]     This object is solved by the device as defined in claim  1  which is comprised of a steel gantry supported on head pieces (preferably concrete heads) of a few single pile foundations and on which one or several ship loaders and/or ship unloaders are arranged that can be moved in longitudinal direction. Each pile foundation is comprised of a group of several suitably arranged single piles that can be driven into the sea bed and the upper ends of which are connected to one another above the water line by means of a head piece consisting, for example, of concrete. The steel gantry is preferably configured as a multispan girder having a large span, and more particularly in a truss design. The steel gantry, even if configured as a full wall or box-type girder, offers special cost benefits. The steel gantry can easily be carried to site either as a whole unit or disassembled into few elements and connected there, if required, to a large span gantry. This gantry equally serves as ship pier and as carrying facility both for the ship loader and/or ship unloader traversible on it in longitudinal direction and for the pier belt conveyor extending over the entire gantry length. While having equal load-bearing capacity, multispan girder steel gantries, e.g. as bend beams with a large spacing between top chord and bottom chord, i.e. as beams with a large height, are constructible with substantially less weight and much larger column spacing than concrete or reinforced concrete gantries. Therefore, the number of pile foundations can be substantially reduced, thus achieving further cost savings. The steel gantry can be of such a configuration that its top chord versus the water level can be arranged higher than with massive concrete building structures without any major expenditure, so that the portal of the ship loader and/or ship unloader with the corresponding jib can be constructed with low height. This in turn offers the benefit of small wheel loads from wind forces.  
         [0008]     In principle, it is possible to arrange on such a gantry both a ship loader and a ship unloader, but in the following, only a ship loader is described in detail. The ship loader can particularly be a coordinate device with a jib formed by an inherently stiff straight horizontal beam that can be displaced transversely to the longitudinal axis of the ship to be loaded and transversely to its own device driveway; it is guided at least at its top side and bottom side between carrier idlers. The designation “coordinate device” originates from the circumstance that the jib tip (the tripper head) can be moved in one direction by longitudinal traversing of the ship loader on the steel gantry and altered in the other coordinate which is vertical to the first one by extending or retracting the jib. In this manner, any point over any open ship loading hatches can be reached with the jib tip.  
         [0009]     The jib preferably comprises a counterweight which can be moved longitudinally, i.e. which is slidable or slewable, and which is particularly supported on rolls or wheels, and which can be moved in a direction opposite to the jib&#39;s direction of travel by drive pinions having different diameters and arranged on a common shaft and which engage in toothed racks or drive gears. The ratio of the drive pinion diameters determines the reciprocal displacement way of the counterweight relative to the travel way of the jib, so that the counterweight is extended by a corresponding ratio in opposite direction when extending the jib. Apart from the described solution of a mechanical compulsory drive by a drive pinion and a toothed rack or the like, which is robust and failsafe in rough sea operation, the counterweight can also be moved by additional electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other mechanical auxiliary means, but which due to their required separate monitoring, control and drive elements call for additional expenditure as compared with a mechanical compulsory coupling of movements.  
         [0010]     Furthermore, at its front-side free end, the jib of the ship loader is comprised of a charging chute which can be retracted in the vertical direction and which is preferably comprised of a head chute, a telescoping outlet pipe, and a guiding scaffold which furthermore is preferably accommodated within a pylon. If required, trim facilities for the bottom end of the outlet pipe can be additionally provided for. The pylon is equipped with hoisting devices by means of which the charging chute and the guidance scaffold can be retracted toward the top so as to be able to guide the charging chute into a position in which it is horizontally slidable above the ship hatch edge, for example in order to move the charging chute out from a ship loading hold and into the next ship loading hold. To this effect, the guidance scaffold within the pylon can be raised and lowered, with the charging chute elements being slidable into one another when raising the guidance scaffold in parts and like a telescope. Instead of a telescoping outlet pipe comprised of cylindrical elements, elements shaped like hoppers can also be arranged which are mounted in a straight line or like a telescope one above another in the form of a cascade.  
         [0011]     Furthermore, the head chute is preferably comprised of a hopper-shaped inflow area, a cover, inner guiding and deflector devices as well as an opening for lateral charging of the conveyed goods transported on the jib preferably via a belt conveyor. This belt conveyor can have a tripper car at the head end, with it being possible to slew-out and pull-off this tripper car from the area of the head chute. The afore mentioned guiding and deflector devices are exchangeable wear parts having a straight or bent contour.  
         [0012]     Alternatively, a ship loader comprised of a superstructure with a jib horizontally slewable around a vertical axis can also be utilized to serve as ship loader. The jib tip describes a pitch circle arc, wherein each point above each ship loading hatch can be reached in connection with the traversability of the ship loader in the longitudinal direction, assuming a corresponding jib length.  
         [0013]     The jib is preferably configured as a swan neck jib that can be slewed around a horizontal axis which lies in the area of the ship skin facing the ship loader. This configuration permits a steep inclination of the front-side jib section, so that the chute arranged there can dive deep into the ship hold, thus allowing for minimizing the height of fall of the goods to be loaded. Unwanted damage to grains in case of bulk goods that might occur otherwise due to the large height of fall, or serious development of dust when loading pulverous bulk goods can thus be largely avoided. To prevent too serious a flexion of the belt conveyor in the transitional area between two hinge-connected jib sections, it is envisaged to support the belt conveyor in the area of the horizontal slewing axis by means of a belt conveyor arc comprised of several single elements which can be traversed against each other, and which are slewable and slidable. For example, in contrast with the spring arcs known from DE 100 02 018 C2, which are difficult to manufacture, and which are bulky as well as expensive, a belt support track which is advantageous in terms of design and cost can be created by means of traversible elements, wherein inadmissibly sharp bend radii are avoided.  
         [0014]     At its outflow end, the charging chute arranged at the end side of the swan neck jib can be provided with a trim device for lateral deflection of the charging goods, whereby it is possible to generate a by and large even charging goods surface in the ship load and, thereby, an optimal filling degree of the bulk goods. In particular, it is possible to ensure optimal trimming of the ship and/or minimizing the risk of displacement in loaded goods in rough sea.  
         [0015]     The chute can preferably be vertically guided and/or maintained via a parallelogram handlebar.  
         [0016]     Utilized for supply of conveying material to the ship loader are a land-bound belt conveyor, a pier belt conveyor and a travelling tripper from where the bulk material is transferred to the ship loader and/or to the belt conveyor located there. The travelling tripper can be integrated into the ship loader.  
         [0017]     The head pieces of the pile foundations are comprised of concrete or steel, depending on the set-up of the pile foundations and the occurring forces that are necessarily to be considered, including but not limited to load-bearing forces.  
         [0018]     On the whole, a particularly low-cost solution to a ship loading or ship unloading facility can be realized by implementing the inventive device. In contrast with state-of-the-art technology of such devices, this is achieved by:  
         [0019]     a light-weight construction and inexpensive erection of the gantry locally on site  
         [0020]     a simple set-up of the ship loader and a small overhang of the jib as compared with radial loaders with advance carriages usually employed in offshore operations  
         [0021]     omission of foundations and causeways for separate ship berths and radial roadways, separate gantry swing bearings, conveying material distribution station between twin loaders, roadways and walkways between pier, radial roadway, distribution station, etc. that are required for usual radial loaders.  
         [0022]     Other advantages and embodiments of the present invention are outlined in the following by way of various drawings. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0023]     In the drawings:  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side schematic view of principle parts of a device according to the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a top schematic view of principle parts of a device according to the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  is an end schematic view of principle parts of a device according to the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  is a schematic side partially sectional view of a belt track girder in the kinking area of a jib;  
         [0028]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side partially sectional view of a parallelogram handlebar guidance for a charging chute;  
         [0029]      FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of a horizontally guidable jib with a vertically retractable charging chute;  
         [0030]      FIG. 6   a  is a schematic detail view of the head area of the charging chute;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6   b  is a schematic detail view of the head area of the charging chute;  
         [0032]      FIG. 6   c  is a schematic detail view of the head area of the charging chute;  
         [0033]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view according to  FIG. 6  with retracted charging chute;  
         [0034]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of a drive pinion/toothed rack drive for a horizontally movable jib;  
         [0035]      FIG. 9  is another schematic view of a drive pinion/toothed rack drive for a horizontally movable jib;  
         [0036]      FIG. 10   a  is a schematic view of different chute component parts;  
         [0037]      FIG. 10   b  is another schematic view of different chute component parts;  
         [0038]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a pylon at the jib head to accommodate the charging chute including guidance scaffold;  
         [0039]      FIG. 12   a  is a schematic view of the telescoping charging chute with a guidance scaffold; and  
         [0040]      FIG. 12   b  is a schematic side view of the lower part of  FIG. 12   a.   
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0041]     Referring to the drawings in particular, it is basically known that the cost of a large-size offshore ship loading and ship unloading facility are not just caused by the ship loading or ship unloading device itself, but frequently and to a much greater extent by the building structures to be erected locally. In particular, this includes but is not limited to the extended ship berth including tossing facilities and fenders, foundation, causeway, and roadway for the transshipment device, and—with radial loaders known from state of the art in technology—the foundation as well as causeway of the swing bearing of this transshipment device as well as—for swivel loaders possibly constructed in twin design—the design and causeway of the bulk material distribution stations standing separately between them for distribution from the incoming main feeder to the two loaders, and the foundation and causeway of the parking and service platform as well as of the connecting roadways and walkways (maintenance and transport routes) between the distribution station, parking and service platform and ship berths. The objective of the present invention is providing an offshore ship loading facility that can be built at low technical expenditure and less costly.  
         [0042]     As shown on  FIG. 1  to  3 , the offshore ship loading unit is comprised of a steel gantry  1  arranged on concrete heads  3  of single pile foundations  2 . Arranged on this steel gantry  1  is a ship loader  5  along side the rail track  4  in longitudinally traversible arrangement. Ship loader  5  is built with a low-head portal  6  and/or  23  (see  FIG. 3  and/or  FIG. 9 ), which is feasible because the top chord of steel gantry  1  can be arranged at a relatively high level as compared with water level  31 . Owing to this “low-level design”, low additional wheel loads result from wind forces. For completeness&#39; sake, this drawing also shows the land-bound belt conveyor  32 , pier belt conveyor  33  and a travelling tripper  34  by means of which the bulk material is transferred to ship loader  5 .  
         [0043]     The jib designated with reference number  35  in  FIG. 2  can be of a different design and configuration, however with it always being ensured that jib  35  at a distinct security distance to the hatch edge can reach any point above and/or within loading hatch  36  of ship  37 . Furthermore, it can be seen in  FIG. 3  that a traversible service and transport platform  8  is arranged between gantry main girders  7  above or below gantry top chord.  
         [0044]     The ship loader shown in  FIG. 3  is comprised of a superstructure  5   a  including a jib horizontally slewable around a vertical axis  5   b , the jib being configured as a swan neck jib  9  which can seesaw around horizontal axis  9   a . To keep the radii of curvature experienced by belt  9   b  in the area above axis  9   a  as large as possible, a belt track arch  10  according to  FIG. 4  has been created which is comprised of a rear-side firmly arranged segment  11  and a front-side hinge-mounted segment  12  as well as a middle segment  13 . All segments  11 ,  12  and  13  are stiff in themselves, with the left-side end of segment  12  shown in  FIG. 4  being fastened to jib  9  in an arrangement slewable around a horizontal axis  12   a , while the other end in the area of segment  11  facing the jib is arranged both slewable around a horizontal axis  12   b  and slidable roughly tangentially to the local supporting contour of segment  11 . Segment  13  with its one end is fastened to segment  12  in an arrangement slewable around a horizontal axis  13   a , and with its other end in the area of segment  11  facing jib  9  it is also arranged slewable around a horizontal axis  13   b  and slidable in an arrangement that roughly follows the contour of segment  11 . As compared with one-partite springy elements like those disclosed for example in DE 100 02 018 A1, the supporting arrangement chosen according to  FIG. 4  has the advantage that it is easier to manufacture and much cheaper, considering the length required for a sufficiently large bending radius.  
         [0045]     In an enhanced view,  FIG. 5  shows the guidance by means of a parallelogram handlebar  15  which keeps charging chute  14  vertical, independently of the vertical slewing angle (seesawing angle) of jib  9 . The horizontal axis  9   a  around which the jib can seesaw lies between the vertical plane formed by ship skin  37   a  and the vertical plane of that part of steel gantry  1  which faces the ship. For a non-loaded or low-loaded ship, in particular, this arrangement of the seesaw axis allows for a steep inclination of jib  9 , thus making it possible for chute  14  to dive deep into the ship hold.  
         [0046]     The variant outlined in  FIG. 6  to  8  shows a ship loader  5  which is comprised of a jib  16  with a belt conveyor  16   a , said jib being horizontally and transversely traversible to the device roadway and the ship&#39;s longitudinal axis. The set-off of the point of gravity of jib  16  that can be displaced horizontally along its longitudinal axis is created by means of counterweight  17  which is mounted at jib  16  in slidable arrangement (of even slewable, if required).  
         [0047]     The embodiment outlined in  FIGS. 8 and 9  shows two drive pinions  19 ,  20  which are arranged on a common shaft  21  and which engage into toothed racks  24  and  25 . Toothed rack  24  is fastened to jib  16 , and toothed rack  25  is fastened to counterweight  17 . Counterweight  17  is supported on rollers  18 . The common shaft  21  is preferably arranged on a bogie  22  linked to portal  23  (to avoid contraction). The displacement path counterweight  17  relative to the travelling way of jib  16  is determined by the ratio of the diameters of the two drive pinions  19 ,  20 . Counterweight  17  is displaced in a direction opposite to jib  16 .  
         [0048]     At its end facing the ship, jib  16  is comprised of a charging chute that is “retractable” toward the top, said chute being comprised of a head chute  26 , a telescoping outlet pipe  27  (provided with a trim facility  27   a ) as well as a guidance scaffold  28  for retraction of the charging chute. Guidance scaffold  28  is guided within a pylon  29 . To get from the charging chute position shown in  FIG. 6  into the position shown in  FIG. 7 , it is required to clear the hoisting path at the head side of jib  16  where the tripper pulley  30  of belt conveyor  16   a  is located which in accordance with  FIGS. 6   a / 6   b  or  6   c  is displaced toward the rear by means of a sliding frame  40  (FIG:  6   a ) or which is laterally or upwardly slewed by means of sliding frame  41 , or which is alternatively located in fixed arrangement, wherein the rear-side chute bottom section  42  is separated from the front-side section  43  and configured in fixed or foldable arrangement as shown, considering the interference edges of the chute to be retracted.  
         [0049]     Instead of a telescoping outlet pipe  27 , hoppers  38  (hopper-in-hopper principle) which are slidable into each other and which are suspended to chains or bands, or chute hoppers  39  arranged in form of a cascade can also be utilized.  
         [0050]      FIG. 11  shows that both jib  16  and pylon  29  which jointly with a hoisting device  29   a  serves for retracting the charging chute can be built, for example, in a full wall design with cross bracings made of a truss work. (Even a mere truss design is feasible and sometimes purposive as the case may be).  
         [0051]      FIG. 12   a  is a front-side view (from the left) onto pylon  29  and the charging chute according to  FIG. 6 . It schematically shows the trim facility  27   a , its fastening to the bottom part (section) of the telescopic outlet pipe  27 , which in turn is fastened to the guidance scaffold  28 , and it also shows the head chute  26  as well as a guidance bearing  28   a  of the guidance scaffold  28  in pylon  29 . Also shown here are the hoisting device  29   a  with hoisting ropes  29   b  which are connected to guidance scaffold  28 .  
         [0052]      FIG. 12   b  is a lateral view on the lower part of  FIG. 12   a.    
         [0053]     While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.