DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM FOR TOWING CABLES/LINES/WIRES

Abstract: Securing/deployment-system for towing cables/lines/wires from a vessel, wherein the system comprises a deployment device (2) for the cable/line/wire (1), and where the towing cable/line/wire (1) at its one end (3) is secured to a braced spot ("strongpoint") (4) on the vessel (5) and where the other end of the cable/line/wire is loosely coiled onto the deployment device (2), where there between the two ends of the towing cable/line/wire is created a loop (6) for capturing the towing cable/line/wire (1). Such a device gives an opportunity for deploying the towing cable/line/wire (1) without it being exposed to squeezing or bending. It is also preferred to equip the system with a capture line (10) with a signalling device (11) being connected to the cable/line/wire (1) via a roller, shoe, hoop, etc. (9), and leading the cable/line/wire (1) via a hawse to give the cable/line/wire a lead when being deployed from the deployment device (2).

Description: DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM FOR TOWING CABLES/LINES/WIRES The present invention concerns a securing/deploying sys¬ tem for towing cables/lines for vessels. For ships in distress it is common to tow the vessel to the closest harbour for repairs. For the towing it has previously been standard to secure the towing cable/li¬ ne/wire to a point on the deck of the shipwrecked vessel, but concerning heavy ships or rough weather, such se¬ curing points on deck have proven to be too poor and to provide too little strength so that the towing cable has become loose or the securing point on deck has been too weak to withstand the load. It has also been suggested to secure the towing cable/line to a better securing point on the ship's hull ("strongpoint") , but such a strongpoint/towing point will then be located at a diffe¬ rent spot, e.g. on the outside of the ship's hull, and the accessability for the towing cable to such a spot will be poor and in addition the handling of the towing cable/line will become difficult, especially in high and rough seas and in bad weather. A prior attempt to solve this problem has been to let the towing line/cable run through a securing point ("strongpoint") of the ship, but previously it has been impossible to pull out a cable/li¬ ne/wire from a drum where one end is secured to a fixed point without the cable/line/wire becoming squeezed or bent at its discharge. Thus there exists a need for a system wherein a towing cable/line/wire on a drum may be secured to a towing point in the ship's hull ("strongpoint") where the hand¬ ling of the towing cable/line/wire simultaneously may be carried out from the deck of the ship without there being created bends on the cable/line/wire when rolling the cable out from the deployment device for the cable/li¬ ne/wire. According to the present invention such a system has now been developed wherein these above-mentioned features have been combined in that the towing point ("strong¬ point") of the ship is located externally, internally in connection with the ship's hull or to the existing se¬ curing point ("strongpoint") , and wherein one end of the towing cable/line/wire is passed via a loop from the towing point to a dispenser device, e.g. a drum on the vessel . The invention will be more thoroughly disclosed infra with reference to the enclosed figures wherein: Fig. 1 shows the device according to the invention in an activated condition, Fig. 2 shows the device according to the invention i a storage position, Fig. 3 shows the device according to the invention in a semi-extended position of a towing cable/line, Fig. 4 shows the device according to the invention at full extension of a towing cable/line, and Fig. 5 shows the towing cable/line at full extension wherein the cable/line is being secured to a towing tug¬ boat. As shown in the enclosed figures the towing system ac¬ cording to the present invention comprises a main towing cable/line/wire 1 running from a storage device, e.g. a drum 2, and which at a second point on the cable/li¬ ne/wire 1, e.g. at its other end 3, is secured at its end securing point, e.g. with a shackle, to a main securing point ("strongpoint") for the vessel 5 so that there between the storage device 2 and the main securing point 4, before extending the cable/line/wire 1, is created a loop 6. The loop 6 is the point of the cable/line/wire 1 being the capture point for the cable/line/wire, and which is extended when the cable/line/wire 1 is used. Thereby the cable/line/wire 1 will run out from the stor¬ age/deployment device 2 until it has reached its full extension. The one end of the cable/line/wire 1 which is not fastened to the securing point of the vessel ("strongpoint") , runs freely so that the cable/line/wire 1 at its full extension has this end outside the ship 5. The cable/line/wire 1 may preferably at its free end be equipped with an end loop 7 to be fastened e.g. on a towing tugboat to a towing vessel 8. It is also preferred that the capture loop 6 of the cab¬ le/line/wire 1 is equipped with a capture device 9, e.g. a roller, clamp, shoe, etc. To the capture device 9 there is also preferably fastened a collecting line 10 which may ease the actual capturing of the main cable/line/wire 1. To the collecting line 10 and/or the roller 9 it is also preferred to secure a signalling device and/or a floatation device, e.g. a capture buoy with a light signalling device (flashing light) and/or sound signalling device (bullhorn) 11. To avoid wearing and bending and ensure the security of the towing cable/line/wire 1, it is also preferred that it runs through a hawse 12. Ensuring security when de- ploying the cable/line/wire 1 is especially important since a directed running direction for the cable ensures that objects and persons on deck or in the vicinity of the drum 2 do not become injured when deploying the cab¬ le/line/wire. The opening of the hawse 12 is large en- ough for the end loop 7 of the towing cable/line/wire to pass through. As shown on the figures, the capture/towing sequence for the depicted embodiment of the towing cable/line/wire will be as follows: The towing cable/line/wire 1 will in a storing condition be coiled onto the drum 2 with a permanent fastening for its one end in the towing point ("strongpoint") 5 of the ship 5, and it will is passed through a hawse 12 (see fig. 2) . The other end of the towing cable/line/wire is formed as a loop 6. To the loop 6 of the towing cab¬ le/line/wire 1, there is, in the depicted embodiment, secured a capture line 10 with an illumination buoy 11 via a roll 9. When the ship is in distress the buoy with the light signal being connected to the capture line 10 will be thrown overboard to be captured by a rescue or towing vessel 8. When extending the capture line 10, the loop 6 of the cable/line/wire 1 will become steadily larger (see figs. 1 and 3) until the loose end of the cable/line/wire passes through the aperture of the hawse 12. The free end of the cable/line/wire 1 being equipped with an ex¬ tended par, e.g. a shackle, loop, knot etc., has a diame¬ ter at its extended end which is small enough to pass through the roller 9. When collecting the capture line 10 the towing cable/li¬ ne/wire 1 will accordingly be passed completely from the deployment device 2 and will in a completely extended position stop against the roller 9. The roller 9 may be equipped with opening devices so that it may be released of the cable/line/wire , or it may be kept on the cab¬ le/line/wire as such. The end loop 7 may be placed over a convenient puller in the towing tugboat 8 , or it may be secured to especial towing equipment on the tugboat 8. The towing cable/line/wire 1 may also be equipped with devices (not shown) tightening possible slacks and pre¬ venting jerks in the cable. Such devices may be of a conventional type, e.g. such devices which are based on a spring-arrangement.

Claims: C l a i m s 1. Device for securing/deploying towing cables/lines/wi¬ res (1) on a vessel (5) comprising a deployment device (2) for the towing cable/line/wire (1) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the towing cab¬ le/line/wire (1) at its one end is secured to a bracing point ("strongpoint") (4) on the vessel (5) and where the other end (7) of the cable/line/wire (1) is loosely coil- ed on the deployment device (2) , where there between the two ends of the towing cable/line/wire (1) is created a loop (6) for collecting the towing cable/line/wire (1) . 2. Device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the towing cab¬ le/line/wire (1) runs through a hawse (12) on the vessel (5) . 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the loop (6) of the towing cable/line/wire (1) is equipped with a capture line (10) . 4. 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 loop (6) of the towing cable/line/wire (1) is equipped with a col¬ lecting device such as a roller, bail, shoe etc. (9) . 5. Device according to claim 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the collecting line (10) is equipped with a signalling device. 6. 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 towing cab- le/line/wire (1) at its free end (7) is equipped with an extension, e.g. in the form of a hawser.

Inventors: LASSEN RAYMOND, RYSTEDT JAN, LASSEN, RAYMOND, RYSTEDT, JAN
Applicants: LASSEN RAYMOND, RYSTEDT JAN, SCANROPE A S, LASSEN, RAYMOND, RYSTEDT, JAN, SCANROPE A/S
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B63B21
IPC codes: B63B21