Accommodation ladder arrangements

Accommodation ladder having a first flight of steps of adjustable length with one end adapted for connection to a ship while its opposite end is pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis at a given level above the quayside. This flight of steps is also mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis passing between its opposite ends at a location substantially spaced from its horizontal pivotal axis. A second flight of steps is adapted for mounting at one end adjacent the quayside to pivot about the vertical axis and extends upwardly from this mounting to interconnect with the first flight of steps enabling joint pivoting with the latter about this axis.

This invention relates to accommodation ladder arrangements of the kind 
having a length-regulatable first flight of steps one end of which is 
adapted to be connected to a ship and the other end of which is pivotably 
mounted about a horizontal axis at a certain level above the quayside, and 
a second flight of steps or a set of flights of steps connecting the first 
flight of steps to the quayside. 
A similar construction is known in which said other end of the 
accommodation ladder is mounted about the horizontal axis at the top of a 
straight, upwardly inclined post. The known construction is slightly 
flexible in use so that one often gets an undesired steep path of the said 
first flight of steps. Besides, one is also dependent upon a relatively 
accurate positioning of the ship relative to the construction in order to 
be able to connect the latter in a favourable manner to the ship. 
According to the present invention an accommodation ladder comprises a 
first flight of steps having an adjustable length with one end adapted for 
connection to a ship while its opposite end is pivotably mounted about a 
horizontal axis at a given level above the quayside, said flight of steps 
also being mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis passing 
between its opposite ends at a location substantially spaced from its 
horizontal pivotal axis, and a second flight of steps adapted for mounting 
at one end adjacent said quayside to pivot about said vertical axis and 
extending upwardly from its pivotal mounting to interconnect with said 
first flight of steps enabling joint pivoting with the latter about said 
vertical axis. 
In the solution according to the invention, the accommodation ladder can be 
adjusted into various desired angular positions against the side of the 
ship so that one is less dependent upon the exact position of the ship 
relative to the gangway construction. In addition, with a definite 
fastening point on the quay there is achieved a possibility for arranging 
the horizontal pivotal axis of the first flight of steps at a greater 
distance from the side of the ship so that one can avoid thereby steep 
inclinations of the first flight of steps. The second flight of steps or 
the uppermost flight of steps of a series or set of flights of steps can 
extend in direct connection with the first flight of steps in order to 
provide a shortest possible connection with the flights of steps. This is 
made possible by swinging the second flight of steps or the series or set 
of flights of steps together with the first flight of steps about the 
vertical axis. The second flight of steps can thus extend in a straight 
line obliquely upwards from the vertical axis to the lower end of the 
first flight of steps or the series or set of flights of steps can extend 
correspondingly in a zig-zag path or in another suitable fashion from the 
vertical pivotal axis and upwards to the lower end of the first flight of 
steps. 
In practice, it is preferred that the opposite end of the first flight of 
steps is supported in a fork-shaped support arm extending obliquely 
upwards and outwards from an upstanding support post mounted to pivot 
about the vertical axis and the second flight of steps is disposed outside 
the support arm with its upper end fastened to the arm and its opposite 
and lower end fastened to the support post, joint pivoting of the two 
flights of steps being effected by causing the support post to pivot about 
the vertical axis.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a deck portion 10 of a ship 
having a horizontal pivot bearing 11 for the one angled end 12 of a first 
flight of steps 13, 14. The pivot bearing 11 can itself be pivotable about 
a vertical axis. The other end 15 of the first flight of steps is 
pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis in a pivot bearing 16 fastened 
to the upper end 17 of a fork-shaped support arm 18 which projects 
obliquely upwards from a support post 19 which is pivotably mounted about 
a vertical axis in a socket 20 secured to the top of a quay 21. The first 
flight of steps 13, 14 is arranged within in forked engagement on the 
support arm 18, while a second flight of steps 22 is arranged on the outer 
side of the support arm 18. One end 22a of the second flight of steps is 
stationarily fastened to the support arm 18 and its other end 22b is 
stationarily fastened to the support post 19. End 22a is provided with a 
platform portion 23 which connects the flight of steps 22 to the flight of 
steps 13, 14. 
The first flight of steps 13, 14 consists of two longitudinally 
(telescopically) regulatable flight of steps portion 13 and 14, in which 
the one portion 13 is displaceable within the other portion 14 in a manner 
known per se. The displacement of the portions relative to each other is 
effected by means of a first pressure medium cylinder 24 which is fastened 
to the portion 14, while its piston rod 25 is jointed to a bracket 26 of 
the portion 13. At 27, there is shown an outer flight of steps portion 
which forms a connection between the flight of steps portion 13 and the 
deck of the ship and which can be swung about a horizontal axis at the 
outer end of the flight of steps portion 13. 
The first flight of steps 13, 14 is swingable about the horizontal axis at 
the outer end of the support arm 18 by means of a pressure medium cylinder 
28. The pressure medium cylinder 28 is, in turn, pivotably mounted about a 
joint location 29 in a bracket 30 on the support arm 18. The piston rod 31 
is jointed to a bracket 32 of the portion 14. 
In a box 33 on the under side of the platform part 23, there is arranged 
hydraulic equipment for the operation of the pressure medium cylinders 24 
and 28. For the sake of clarity, the conduit connections from the 
hydraulic equipment to the respective pressure medium cylinders have been 
omitted. At 34, there is shown a control panel for actuating the hydraulic 
equipment for the respective pressure medium cylinders, and for a rotary 
motor (not shown) for rotating the support post 19 in the socket 20. 
FIG. 1 shows how the first flight of steps can be adjusted into various 
inclined positions, as is indicated by the full lines, broken lines and 
chain lines respectively, at various levels on the respective ships' deck 
at different tide levels or deviations produced by loading and unloading. 
After the first flight of steps is arranged in position on the ship's deck 
in jointed connection with the latter and after the pressure medium 
actuation of the said pressure medium cylinders 24, 28 is broken off, the 
first flight of steps can be freely swung between the illustrated 
positions in step with the vertical movements of the ship relative to the 
quay. 
FIG. 2 shows how the first flight of steps can be adjusted into various use 
positions considered in a horizontal plane, as is indicated by the full 
and broken lines respectively. In addition, the accommodation ladder can 
be swung to a parked inactive position parallel to the side of the ship as 
is indicated by the chain lines. In the last-mentioned position, the first 
flight of steps can be allowed to rest with the outer end 12 and the 
flight of steps portion 27 against the top of the quay. 
The second flight of steps 22 is shown with a rectilinear path, but in 
practice can also be designed in another manner, for example with a 
zig-zag path.