[0001] 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.
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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 subsea 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
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).