A DEVICE FOR FASTENING TWO HULLS TO EACH OTHER

Abstract: Device for fastening two hulls to each other, one of the hulls usually being a motor hull and the other a cargo hull. The device includes a first pair of booms (1, 2) extending essentially parallel to each other between the hulls (5, 6) and at least one further boom, preferably one further pair of booms (3, 4) extending, as seen from one side, crosswise in relation to the first pair of booms (1, 2) so that all the booms (1, 2; 3, 4), seen from the side, constitute the diagonals of a quadrangle determined by the fastening points of the booms. Preferably, the booms are fastened to the hulls by means of transversal bars (8, 9) mounted pivotably in horizontal planes on the hulls. At least two of the booms are preferably adjustable as to their length.

Description: A Device for Fastening Two Hulls to Each Other Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for fastening two hulls to each other. In particular, it relates to a device including a pair of booms, attached to the hulls preferably by transverse bars, and eventual steering means for turning of the hulls in relation to each other in the horizontal plane. Background Ar • The most common solutions known in the art are devices which are provided with either one or several booms and by means of which only a stationary attachment between two hulls is usually achieved. The said booms are in a normal case on the same plane, and consequently, the movement of one hull is transmitted to the other hull in only a certain direction. The most conventional solutions in the art are those in which the booms are articulated to the hull via a horizontal axle journal, or ball joints can also be used. As is evident from the above, the devices known in the art have the disadvantage that by means of them it is possible to coordinate the movements between two hulls to each other to a very limited degree, usually in only one direction. It can also be regarded as a disadvantage in the said devices that by means of them it is not possible to adjust the draught between the hulls in any way, and neither is it possible to steer one hull by means of the other. Disclosure of Invention The object of the present invention is to eliminate the deficiencies in the current state of the art, as disclosed above. For this purpose, the invention provides a device of the character once described, which comprises at least one further boom, preferably one pair of further booms extending, as seen from one side, crosswise in relation to the first pair of booms so that the first and second booms constitute, 5 as seen from the side, the diagonals of a quadrangle formed by their fastening points. Thus, it is provided a device by means of which the movements of the hulls are smoothed out in relation to each other. By means of the device according to the invention it is also possible to adjust the difference 10 in draught between the hulls to a certain level and to maintain it at a certain value or, when so desired, also alter the difference in draught. A further object of the device according to the invention is to achieve a controlled steering action. 3.5 Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1 depicts a side view of one preferred embodiment of the device, 20 Figure 2 depicts a top view of the same device, Figure 3 depicts the same device as seen along the longitudinal axis of the hulls, and Figure 4 depicts a schematic side view of the behavior of the device in rough sea, the hulls being in three different 25 draught positions. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention The device advantageously comprises four booms 1, 2, 3, and 4, 30 even though a three-boom system is practicable. The booms constitute, as seen from the side, the diagonals of a quadrangle formed by its fastening points. One diagonal consists of booms 1 and 2, which are mutually parallel, and the other diagonal of booms 3 and 4, which are also mutually 35 parallel. In this preferred embodiment, the booms 3 and 4 are provided with means which enable them to be lengthened and shortened, the means preferably being double-acting hydraulic cylinders. The booms 3 and 4 are attached at one end to the hull 5 by means of fixed lugs 7 and at the other end to the hull 6 by means of a horizontal bar 12. The booms 1 and 2, for their part, are fastened to the hull 5 by means of a horizontal bar 8 and to the hull 6 by means of a horizontal bar 9. All the horizontal bars 8, 9 and 12 are articulated to the hulls by means of vertical axle trunnions. The system also includes members 10 by means of which the steering of the hulls is effected. The members 10 are preferably double-acting hydraulic cylinders, even though a single-acting hydraulic cylinder or other similar device is also suitable for the purpose. Booms 1 and 2 have, in addition, a point, indicated by 11 , which allows the ends of the booms to turn in relation to each other. The device making such turning possible is, for example, a swivel-type device, known in navigation. The system works as follows: .If the device is used for fastening to each other two hulls, of which the hull 6 is preferably the motor hull and the hull 5 the cargo hull, changes occur in the draught in relation to the hulls when the cargo hull is loaded. In this case, the booms 3 and 4 are set, with the aid of their means enabling the shortening and lengthening of the booms to be carried out, to -comply with the changes in the draughts of the hulls. When the loading has been completed, the booms 3 and 4 are made rigid in a position in which the hulls 5 and 6 are in an almost tension-free state in relation to each other. Thereafter the motor hull 6 can be used to push or respectively pull the hull 5 to the desired place. The steering action is produced by lengthening one of the members 10 and by shortening respectively the other, whereby the direction of the longi¬ tudinal axes of the hulls is changed. Since the booms are crosswise as seen from the side, the movements of the hulls are thus completely coordinated with each other. The co¬ ordination in this case means that the movements created ' "ih ' - the hulls by rough sea are smoothed out by the sγ_ according to the invention. The movements created hulls by rough sea are illustrated in Figure 4. It course, evident that tilts of the hulls in relation each other are allowed by the device. For this reaso booms 8, 9, and 12 tilt along with the hulls and the i. comply with the tilt, i.e. members 11 allow the boom t to turn in relation to each other. It is possible to use several variants of the device. 0 such variant is one in which all the booms 1-4 have adjust lengths. This advantageously means that all the booms have hydraulic cylinders. In this case, the distances of the bo from each other can be adjusted when desired, which may provide certain advantages in navigation. In principle, th system can also be used without the steering action, in whi case the members 10 are unnecessary and the booms 1 and 2 a fastened to the hull 6 by means- of fixed lugs. " However, hydraulic cylinders are not necessarily required for adjust the length of the booms, but ordinary manually operated scr threaded devices can well be applied to the adjustment of the length. In practice, it is advantageous that most of the various pa of the system are coupled to the motor hull. In this case, the hulls are fastened to each other advantageously by bringing the motor hull with the device coupled to it close to the cargo hull and by fastening it to the latter. The motor hull 6 must, of course, have members by means of whic the entire device can be supported in a certain position wh the device is not coupled to the other hull. The device ca also be used in such a manner that several cargo hulls are coupled to one motor hull, in which case there is a separat device according to the invention for each of the cargo hul As to the connecting booms, it is evident that in some case a pair of booms can mean just one fork-shaped boom having only one fastening point in the single-arm end. O - Industrial Applicability The invented device can be applied for interconnecting near.l all kinds of vessels to each other, although the general application is to attach a pusher tug to a barge. The devic can operate also in rough sea, where the boom link system serves to smoothen movements of the hulls in relation to eac other.

Claims: Claims 1. A device for fastening to each other two hulls (5,6), one of which is usually a motor hull and the other a cargo hull, the device including a pair of booms (1,2) attached to the hulls (5,6) preferably by transverse bars (8,9), and eventual steering means (10) for turning of the hulls (5,6) in relation to each other in the horizontal plane, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it comprises at least one further boom, preferably one pair of further booms (3,4) extending, as seen from one side, crosswise in relation to the first pair of booms (1,2) so that the first and second booms (1,2; 3,4) constitute, as seen from the side, " the diagonals of the quadrangle formed by their fastening points. 2. A device according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that at least one of the booms (e.g. 3 and 4) is adjustable with reagard to its length (adjustment or draught) 3. A device according to Claim 1 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that it has, in addition, a system (10) by means of which one hull can be turned on the horizontal plane in relation to the other hull (steering control) . 4. A device according to Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the device has four booms (1,2,3,4). 5. A device according to Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the lengths of all the booms (1,2,3,4) are • adjustable. 6. A device according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the adjustment of the boom lengths, as well as the steering, is to be effected by means of hydraulic cylinders. 7. A device according to Claim 6, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the hydraulic cylinders are double-acting. . ■ OMPI 8. A device according to any of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the outermost (1,2) of the booms (1,2,3,4) are mutually parallel and the middle ones (3,4) are mutually parallel when the hulls (5,6) are in a position unturned in relation to each other. OMPI

Inventors: VINNARI R
Applicants: VINNARI R
Application year: 1981
Main classification: B63B21
IPC codes: B63B21, B63B35