DEVICE AT A LOADING RAMP ON SHIPS

Abstract: Arrangement for a pivotally mounted loading ramp (4) on a ship, where the loading ramp is mounted pivotally between a raised stowed position and a lowered opening position. The loading ramp is divided, with a supporting strut (2) attached to the outer (3) of the aforementioned ramp parts (3, 5, 6) and connected to the ship (9). A hydraulic cylinder (1) is connected to the aforementioned supporting strut (2) and is arranged as an extension part for the supporting strut (2).

Description: Device at a loading ramp on ships The present invention relates to an arrangement for a pivotally mounted loading ramp on a ship, where the loading ramp is mounted pivotally between a raised stowed position and a lowered opening position, in conjunction with which the loading ramp is divided, with a supporting strut attached to the outer of the aforementioned ramp parts and connected to the ship . Ramps of the kind in question exhibit a supporting strut which is positioned under the outer ramp section and the purpose of which is to retain the aforementioned outer ramp section in its intended position. Problems are encountered in reaching as far as required on occasion, however, due to the nature and function of the aforementioned supporting strut, for example in the case of a quay in an elevated position. A previously disclosed ramp of this kind with rigid supporting struts in the form of uprights which are pivotally mounted on the frame of the ship is shown in SE 507.496 C2 , for example. The principal object of the present invention is thus, in the first instance, to solve the aforementioned problems simply and effectively. The aforementioned object is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that a hydraulic cylinder is connected to the aforementioned supporting strut and is arranged as an extension part for the supporting strut, in conjunction with which the hydraulic cylinder is attached to the supporting strut at its one end and to the frame of the ship at its other end. An example of the invention and its application and function is described and illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a section of a loading ramp with associated supporting struts in accordance with the invention in two different end positions marked respectively with solid and dotted-and-dashed lines; Fig. 2 shows an example of supporting struts grouped in pairs and positioned centrally in a ramp; Fig. 3 shows an example of the high-reach position of the ramp; Fig. 4 shows a side view of the ramp in a fully extended lower loading position; and Figs. 5 and 6 show the supporting strut as a partially sectioned view seen along two different planes. The invention as such relates to hydraulic cylinders 1, l 1 , the task of which is to extend supporting struts 2, 2 1 of a conventional kind, which are positioned under the outer 3 ramp section 3, 5, 6 included in a ramp 4. Thanks to the change in the length of the supporting struts 2, 2 1 in accordance with the invention, the ramp 4 is now able, when in a certain position, to reach a quay 7 in a more elevated position than it was previously able to reach without the presence of any cylinders. The problems associated with reaching the quay were, on the one hand, that the outer ramp part 3 was not able, when in the half-angled position, to slide out over the quay, and, on the other hand, that the cylinders needed to be retracted again because the loading exerted in the extended position of the ramp 3 would have been too high. These problems have now been resolved thanks to the present simple invention. An arrangement 8 in accordance with the present invention for a loading ramp 4 on board a ship 9, where the loading ramp 4 is mounted pivotally between a raised stowed position I and a lowered opening position II for loading and unloading of the ship 9 in question, in conjunction with which the loading ramp 4 is divided and provided with a supporting strut 2 attached to the outer 3 of the aforementioned ramp sections 3, 4, 5 and is connected to the ship 9 via a fixed pivot bearing 10, has a hydraulic cylinder 1 connected to the aforementioned supporting strut 2 and is so arranged as to function as an extension part for the aforementioned supporting strut 2 in question. The hydraulic cylinder 1, l 1 is attached in such a way as to extend in a linear fashion along the longitudinal axis 11 of the supporting strut and is attached to the supporting strut 2, 2 1 at least at one of its ends 2A, 2B; 2A 1 , 2B 1 . In the illustrative example of the invention, the hydraulic cylinder 1 is attached to the lower end 2A, 2A 1 of the supporting strut with its one end 1A, 1A 1 and to the frame 12 of the ship with its other end IB, IB 1 . The supporting strut 2, 2 1 is preferably attached to the loading ramp 4 via a moving bearing 13, which can be constituted by a transverse link 14, for example in the form of a shaft, which is accommodated in such a way as to be capable of displacement in an elongated slot-shaped opening 15 in the upper end 2B, 2B 1 of the supporting strut. The shaft 14 is accommodated in attachment lugs 16 on the under side 3A of the outer ramp supporting part 3 and at the rear part 3B of the aforementioned ramp supporting part 3 in the vicinity of its articulated connection 17 between the intermediate ramp part 5 and the aforementioned outer ramp driving part 3. Illustrated schematically in Fig. 6 are the different end positions for the shaft 14 when the hydraulic cylinder 1 has been caused to be displaced into its extended and retracted position respectively. In the example of the invention shown in Fig. 2, pairs of supporting struts 2, 2 1 are connected to the under side 3A of the aforementioned ramp part 3 and on its centre line 18, although they can also be situated on the side edges of the aforementioned ramp part. In the case of the arrangement of pairs of supporting struts 2, 2 1 , each of these is arranged with its associated hydraulic cylinder 1, l 1 at a mutual distance X from one another and are attached to the aforementioned outer ramp part 3 and to the frame 12 of the ship. The attachment to the frame 12 of the ship is preferably in the form of attachment lugs 19 and with transverse bearing shafts 20 accommodated therein. Hydraulic cylinders may alternatively be arranged at the upper ends 2B, 2B 1 of the supporting struts, if this is possible. The aforementioned supporting struts 2, 2 1 are preferably in the form of an upright, and the aforementioned outer loading ramp part 3 is formed by a unit which, although separate from an inner ramp part 6, is capable of connection to an intermediate part 5. In the stowed position I, the outer ramp part 3 is held in a raised parallel position III along the deck essentially perpendicular to the vertical raised inner ramp part 6, which, in the aforementioned raised position I, functions as a watertight bulkhead. The aforementioned intermediate ramp part 5 is mounted about a bearing shaft 30 which is situated on the frame 12 of the ship between the outer bearing shaft 10 for the supporting strut 2 and a bearing 21 for the inner ramp part 6. The ramp part 5 and 6 can be so arranged as to be actuated by means of, for example, hydraulic jacks 22, 23 or by other driving means, and the function of the movement of the ramp 4 can be appreciated clearly from Figs. 3 and 4. The aforementioned supporting strut/s 2, 2 1 is/are thus so arranged as to extend essentially parallel with the aforementioned inner ramp part 5, which as a minimum exhibits a fairly small section of carriageway 24 intended to bridge the gap between the other two ramp parts 3, 6 and together to form an uninterrupted driving ramp 4 in the extended driving position II. Reference is also made to SE, 507.496, C2 , in order to understand the function and nature of the ramp parts, although these do not constitute part of this invention and are referred to here only by way of explanation. The procedure when extending and retracting the ramp 4 is so arranged as to be executed automatically with a system of hydraulic cylinders 22, 23, solenoid valves and magnetic sensors, which are interconnected in such a way as to cause the following movements in the constituent parts. The following movements are preferably so arranged as to be executed automatically: A) the battens and locks of the ramp are released; B) the ramp is extended through about 10° from its stowed position; C) the quay flap 24 of the ramp, which is so arranged as to be capable of being caused to pivot by means of a jack 31 at the outermost point 3C of the outer ramp part 3, is manoeuvred to its highest level; D) the supporting strut cylinders 1, l 1 of the ramp are extended to their maximum length; E) the ramp 3 is then extended further until it reaches a quay 7 in question; F) the supporting strut cylinders 1, l 1 are then retracted, i.e. they are drawn together into their shortest position, the quay flap 24 of the ramp is lowered onto the quay 7, and the reverse procedure is followed when retracting the ramp 4. The invention is not restricted to the illustrative example described above or illustrated in the drawings, but may be varied within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention.

Claims: K78 P20PCT LG/KOE P a t e n t C l a i m s 1. Arrangement (1) for a pivotally mounted loading ramp (4) on a ship, where the loading ramp (4) is mounted pivotally between a raised stowed position (I) and a lowered opening position (II) , in conjunction with which the loading ramp (4) is divided, with a supporting strut (2) attached to the outer (3) of the aforementioned ramp parts (3, 5, 6) and connected to the ship (9), characterized in that a hydraulic cylinder (1) is connected to the aforementioned supporting strut (2) and is arranged as an extension part for the supporting strut (2), in conjunction with which the hydraulic cylinder (1) is attached to the supporting strut (2) at its one end (1A) and to the frame (12) of the ship at its other end (IB) . 2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the hydraulic cylinder (1) is attached in line with the longitudinal axis (11) of the supporting strut (2) . 3. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent Claims 1-2, characterized in that the supporting strut (2) is attached to the loading ramp (4) via a moving bearing (13) . 4. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 3, characterized in that the aforementioned moving bearing (13) is constituted by a transverse link (14) in the form of a transverse shaft (14) , which is accommodated in such a way as to be capable of displacement in an elongated slot-shaped opening (15) . 5. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent Claims 1-4, characterized in that the aforementioned supporting strut (2) is connected to the under side (3A) of the aforementioned ramp part (3) and is situated on its centre line or on its edges. 6. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of Patent Claims 1-5, in conjunction with which pairs of supporting struts (2, 2 1 )are arranged, characterized in that the aforementioned pairs of supporting struts (2, 2 1 ) , each with its associated hydraulic cylinder (1, l 1 ) , are arranged at a mutual distance (X) from one another and are attached to the outer ramp part (3) and to the frame (12) of the ship. 7. Arrangement in accordance with one or other of the above Patent Claims, in conjunction with which the aforementioned supporting struts (2) are in the form of an upright, and the aforementioned outer loading ramp part (3) is in the form of a part (3) separate from an inner ramp part (5), and which, when in the stowed position III, are retained in a stowed position at a distance from one another, characterized in that the aforementioned supporting strut/s (2) is/are so arranged as to extend essentially parallel with the aforementioned ramp part (5) , which at least exhibits a fairly small section of carriageway (24) . 8. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 7, characterized in that the procedure when extending and retracting the ramp is so arranged as to be executed automatically with a system of hydraulic cylinders (22, 23), solenoid valves and magnetic sensors, which are interconnected in such a way as to cause movements in the constituent parts.

Inventors: EURENIUS TOMAS, EURENIUS, TOMAS
Applicants: EURENIUS TOMAS, HAMWORTHY KSE AB, EURENIUS, TOMAS
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B63B27
IPC codes: B63B27