A DEVICE FOR TRANSFER OF PERSONS AND/OR GOODS TO AND/OR FROM A PELAGIC STRUCTURE

Abstract: A device for transfer of persons and/or goods to and/or from a pelagic structure (1), comprising a first bridge (4) which is in pivotal connection with said structure (1) and which at its free end, through a pivotal connection (7, 8, 9, 11), carries a second bridge (14), which at its free end, through a pivotal con­ nection, is coupled to a third bridge (19), in such a manner that the vertical and horizontal distance between the highest point (5) and the lowest point (23) may be varied while maintaining the same angle of inclination relatively to a mean plane of all the footbridge elements. In order to achieve this the connection be­ tween the free end of said first bridge (4) and the second bridge (14) comprises a column (7) equipped with a disc (11) which is rotatable in its own plane about the longitudinal axis of said column (7), and said second bridge (14) is pivotable about an axis parallel to the plane of said disc (11). A piston/cylinder device (12), the length of which may be varied in the longitudi­ nal direction of the column (7), is pivotally connected to a point (24) between the ends of said third bridge (19).

Description: A DEVICE FOR TRANSFER OF PERSONS AND/OR GOODS TO AND/OR FROM A PELAGIC STRUCTURE The present invention relates to a device for transfer of persons and/or goods to and/or from a pelagic structure, said device being designed to permit a safe connection between different kinds of structures, for instance a gravity platform, a mobile platform or a vessel and a floating or fixed member, such as a vessel or a quay. For this purpose different kinds of devices are previously known, for instance a basket connected to a crane, or a flexible, hose-like duct. Moreover, is known an accommodation ladder, of which several ladder sections are interconnected in such a manner that they form a zigzag connection between a vessel and a quay. Said device is, however, not appropriate in cases where the two ends of the device perform mutual movements. The most frequently used method of transfer is to use a helicopter. The present invention relates to a device which is stationary relatively to the pelagic structure, and which comprises a first bridge being pivotally connected to the pelagic structure, said bridge, through a pivotal connection, carrying at its free end a second bridge, said second bridge, through a pivotal connection at its free end, being connected to a third bridge, whereby is achieved a safe and comfortable transfer device permitting variable differences of height between the two ends of the device. The connection between the free end of the first bridge and the second bridge comprises a column equipped with a disc adapted to rotate in its own plane about the longitudinal axis of said column. Said second bridge is pivotally connected for movement about an axis being parallel to the plane of said disc, and a piston/ cylinder device, the length of which may be varied in the longitudinal direction of said column, is pivotally connected to a point between the ends of said third bridge. Further features of the device according to the invention will appear from an embodiment of the invention, which will be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 respectively show side views of the device in two different positions. In the drawings reference numeral 1 is a pelagic structure, for instance a gravity platform or a mobile platform adapted to be used in connection with sub sea production of hydrocarbons, or a deck of a vessel. The structure 1 carries a tower 2, on which a bridge 4 is pivotally mounted through a swivel ring 3 and a hinge 5, thus permitting the bridge to pivot in a vertical and a horizontal plane. The bridge 4 is suspended from the tower through a cable 6 or similar component determining the angular position of said bridge in a vertical plane. At its free end said bridge 4 carries a column 7, being connected to said bridge through an annular platform 8 and a hinge 9. Said column 7 is connected to said tower 2 through a cable, rod or similar component 10 in such a manner that the longitudinal axes of the tower 2 and the column 7, respectively, are always mutually parallel, independently of the angular positions of the bridge 4. Said column 7 carries at its lower end a rotatable disc 11, and is interiorly equipped with a pneumatic or hydraulic piston/cylinder device 12, which in the drawing is merely indicated by means of a dot/dash line. Between the platform 8 and the column 7 is provided a curved stair 13 having its axis in the axis of the column. Moreover, said disc 11 carries a second bridge 14, and a second column 15 is provided at the free end of said second bridge 14 and carries a curved stair 16 having its axis parallel with the column 15. By means of cables, rods or similar components 17 and a gate 18 the second column 15 is always kept parallel with the column 7 and the tower 2. The lower end of the stair 16 is connected to a third bridge 19, which is extended at its free end by means of a ladder 20, which by means of hydraulic means 21 may pivot about a hinge 22 on the bridge 19. The free end of said ladder may be supported against a quay, a deck of a vessel or other pelagic structure by means of a guide member 23. At a location 24 between the ends of the bridge 19, said bridge is suspended in the free end of the piston rod 25 of the piston/cylinder device 12. The rod 25 is guided in a guide 26 on the underside of the disc 11 on the column 7, in order to permit adjustment of the angle between the bridge 19 and the bridge 14. The bridges 4, 14 and 19 are designed in such a manner as to form footbridges for persons or bridges for the transportation of goods. When the device comprising said bridges has been brought properly in place by means of the different adjustment means and the free end of the ladder 20 is supported on a support structure, the various bridges are able to follow the possible movements of said support structure, in that the guide member 23 by means of suitable connecting means, such as for instance ropes or similar, or cybernetics, controls the effective length of the cable 6 and the hydraulic devices 12 and 21, in such a manner that the various bridges assume approximately the same angle of inclination, while the columns 7 and 15 maintain their vertical positions, and simultaneously the horizontal distance between the structure 1 and the end of the ladder 20 may vary, while maintaining continuous footbridges, all of which having the same angle of inclination.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A device for transfer of persons and/or goods to and/or from a pelagic structure, comprising a first bridge (4) being pivotally connected to said structure (1) and carrying at its free end, through a pivotal connection (7,8,9,11), a second bridge (14), said second bridge being, at its free end, connected to a third bridge (19) through a pivotal connection characterized in that the connection between the free end of the first bridge (4) and the second bridge (14) comprises a column (7) equipped with a disc (11) adapted to rotate in its own plane about the longitudinal axis of said column (7), said second bridge (14) being pivotally connected for movement about an axis being parallel to the plane of said disc (11), and that a piston/cylinder device (12), the length of which may be varied in the longitudinal direction of said column (7), is pivotally connected to a point (24) between the ends of said third bridge (19). 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection between the second bridge (14) and the third bridge (19) comprises a second column (15) being connected to said disc (11) by means of cables, rods or similar (17). 3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the disc (11) on the first column (7) comprises a guide (26) for the piston rod (25) of the piston/cylinder device (12), said third bridge (19) being suspended on said rod (25). 4. A device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first column (7) is connected to the pelagic structure (1) by means of at least one cable, rod or similar component (10), in such a manner that the axis of said first column (7) is always kept parallel to an axis of said pelagic structure (1).

Inventors: SLOTNAES, JENS M.
Applicants: KVAERNER BRUG A/S
Application year: 1985
Main classification: E01D15
IPC codes: E01D15, B63B27