WO2009064175A2

WO2009064175A2 - Ship's hatch, ship provided with a ship's hatch and method for the manufacture thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2009064175A2
Application number: PCT/NL2008/000251
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wout Schipper; Anne Max Duursma; Nicolaas Petrus Frederikus Maria Smit
Original assignee: W.N. Smit Groep B.V.
Priority date: 2007-11-14
Filing date: 2008-11-14
Publication date: 2009-05-22
Also published as: DE112008003103T5; NO20100833L; WO2009064175A3; NL2001006C2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a ship's hatch for sealing an opening in at least one deck to a hold of a ship, such as a seagoing vessel, wherein the hatch is provided with: - a composite structure provided with at least one substantially fibre-reinforced plastic layer; - mounting means for mounting the hatch on the ship; and - sealing means for substantially watertight sealing of the opening to the hold.

Description

Ship's hatch, ship provided with a ship's hatch and method for the manufacture thereof

The present invention relates to a ship' s hatch for sealing an opening in a deck to a hold of a ship, such as a seagoing vessel.

Ships, including seagoing vessels intended for transport of cargo such as containers and bulk, make use of, among other locations, the ship' s hold. Openings are provided in the deck of such a ship for this purpose. So-called ship' s hatches are provided in order to prevent water being able to enter the hold. These hatches can completely seal these openings. With correct dimensioning of the ship' s hatches it is then possible to place further cargo, such as containers, on these hatches . The ship' s hatches have for instance a dimension of 11 by 6 metres. Ship' s hatches of steel are provided so as to absorb the loads occurring as a result of, among other factors, the goods placed on the hatch, wind, waves and ship movements .

As a result of the use of steel for ship' s hatches these hatches become relatively heavy. This makes greater demands of, among other components, the cranes for displacing such hatches. The great weight of these hatches also has a relatively great influence on the stability and loading capacity of the ship. In addition, this also has a great influence on the fuel consumption of a ship and the associated environmental impact. In order to ensure that such ship' s hatches also meet with requirements during use they are overdimensioned such that for instance rusting and/or wear of the hatches is compensated. Such misting and/or wear will weaken the hatches, and the overdimensioning is required for this purpose. This rusting is significant due to the moist environment in which these hatches normally operate. In addition, frequent inspection and maintenance are required. These relate to, among other parts, the seals required between the hatches and between the hatches and the ship.

The present invention has for its object to wholly or partially obviate the above stated problems and drawbacks .

This object is achieved with a ship' s hatch according to the invention, which hatch serves to seal an opening in at least one deck to a hold of a ship, such as a seagoing vessel, wherein the hatch is provided with: a composite structure provided with at least one substantially fibre-reinforced plastic layer; - mounting means for mounting the hatch on the ship; and sealing means for substantially watertight sealing of the opening in the deck to the hold. A composite structure for the ship' s hatch is manufactured by providing a hatch with at least one substantially fibre-reinforced plastic layer. The hatches can hereby be given a much lighter construction. This weight reduction can amount to several thousand kilograms for a normal seagoing vessel . A weight reduction is realized due to this construction. The cargo capacity for instance is hereby increased. In addition, the stability of the ship is improved. The fuel consumption of the ship is further also reduced, whereby the ship can be used more efficiently. Additional advantages of this lighter construction are the possibility of giving a lighter form to, among other parts, the cranes which are used to displace the hatches. The handling of for instance hydraulic folding hatches is also simplified. Mounting means for mounting the hatch on the ship or on other hatches can also be given a lighter form. This also applies to pick-up points at which a crane can lift a hatch, wherein these pick-up points are given a lighter form. In addition, it is no longer necessary because of the weight reduction to provide an overdimensioning of the hatches for the purpose, among others, of correcting corrosion. It is further possible to give the hatches a larger dimension at the same weight. For the manufacture of the fibre-reinforced plastic layer use is preferably made of a plurality of mats or layers which are connected to each other in per se known manner. As a result of the reduced weight other, and much lighter, sealing means can further be provided for the purpose of sealing the space between the hatches and ship. In the case seals are used which are the same as seals used with steel ship' s hatches, the number of inspections and the level of maintenance can be reduced due to the more limited load on these seals. The fibre- reinforced plastic layer is preferably a polyester layer. An epoxy layer is also a possibility. The insert parts for pick-up of the hatches by a crane and/or connecting of the hatches to the ship are preferably provided integrally in the hatch. These stated advantages are particularly relevant for seagoing vessels. It is noted that the ship' s hatches according to the invention can also be applied to form a middle deck, i.e. to seal an opening of the size of such a middle deck.

In a preferred embodiment according to the present invention at least a part or some of the insert parts is or are provided with a fibre-reinforced plastic. Through the use of fibre-reinforced plastic material for the insert parts for the purpose, among others, of lifting the hatches with a crane and/or the mounting means for connecting the hatches to the ship, the overall weight of such a hatch is further reduced. Through the use of fibre- reinforced plastic for these insert parts the overdimensioning for the purpose of compensating the effects of rusting is not required. In an embodiment according to the present invention the ship' s hatch is provided with fixation means for fixing at least some of the goods placed on or close to the hatch.

By providing fixation means cargo, for instance containers, can be placed on or close to the hatches. These hatches can herein be arranged on the opening in a deck to the hold of the ship. In order to secure these goods to the ship during travel they are connected to for instance the ship' s hatch. These fixation means are preferably also provided with fibre-reinforced plastic. Likewise in preference the fixation means are provided integrated with the hatch. For instance the assembly of the final ship' s hatch is hereby simplified.

In a further embodiment according to the present invention the ship' s hatch is provided with strengthening ribs.

By providing strengthening ribs the hatch can be adapted to the occurring loads to be anticipated as a result of, among other factors, the weight of the goods, wind load, wave loads and ship movements. Large overdimensioning of the whole ship' s hatch is therefore not required. The strengthening ribs can also serve to distribute occurring loads over a larger area. These loads include the point load occurring when a container is placed on a hatch. The dimensions of the hatch can hereby remain limited, while relatively large loads can be absorbed. The strengthening ribs are preferably provided with fibre-reinforced plastic. This achieves, among other things, that the weight of the hatch remains limited. In an advantageous preferred embodiment according to the present invention the ship' s hatch comprises an upper plate of glass/polyester resin with embedded laminated steel, a lower plate of glass/ (polyester) resin with embedded laminated steel and intermediate ribs of glass/ (polyester) resin. Good properties such as sagging, rigidity and fire resistance are realized with such a ship' s hatch according to the invention.

The invention further relates to a ship provided with the above stated ship' s hatch. Such a ship provides the same effects and advantages as those stated with reference to the ship' s hatch .

The invention further relates to a method, which is characterized according to the invention as comprising the steps of : manufacturing a composite structure provided with at least one substantially fibre-reinforced plastic layer, such as polyester; providing mounting means on the composite structure for the purpose of mounting the ship' s hatch on a ship ; and providing sealing means on the composite structure for the purpose of substantially watertight sealing of a hold of the ship. Fixation means are preferably also provided for fixing at least a part of the cargo placed on or close to the ship' s hatch.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: figure 1 is a side view of a ship provided with ship' s hatches according to the invention; figure 2 is a top view of a part of the ship of figure

1; figure 3 is a side view of a hatch of figure 2 ; figure 4 is a side view of another hatch of figure 2,- and figure 5 shows a view in transverse direction of a further hatch of figure 2.

A ship 2, for instance a seagoing vessel (figure 1), consists of, among other parts, a hull 4, a bridge 6, a drive 8 and rudder 10. The hold of ship 2, formed by hull 4, is covered using ship' s hatches 12,13. Containers 14 or other goods can be placed on these hatches 12,13. Hatches 12,13 and/or goods placed on these hatches 12 can be lifted and displaced using a displaceable crane 16. Crane 16 can travel for this purpose via rails along both sides of hatches 12,13. In the shown embodiment of ship 2 the hatches 13 close off a forward opening to the hold of ship 2. Likewise in the shown embodiment hatches 12 close off a main opening to this hold of ship 2. In the shown embodiment the forward opening closed by hatches 13 have a dimension in lengthwise direction of ship 2 of about 12 metres . The main opening closed by hatches 12 has a dimension in lengthwise direction of ship 2 of about 55 metres. The width of both openings in tx'ansverse direction of ship 2 amounts to about 11.5 metres. In the shown embodiment the dimensions of a single hatch 12,13 amount to about 11.47 metres in transverse direction of ship 2 and 6.122 metres in lengthwise direction of the ship. The height or thickness of a hatch amounts in the shown embodiment to 0.385 metre. Other dimensions are of course possible. Hatches 12,13 are mutually connected (figure 2) for the purpose of closing the hold of ship 2. On the short side the hatches 12,13 are connected to deck 18 of ship 2. Hatches 12,13 are provided for this purpose with mounting means 20. The long sides of a first hatch 12a lying in transverse direction of ship 2 are likewise connected to deck 18 of ship 2. The other long side of hatch 12a is then connected to a first long side of the adjacent hatch 12b via connection 22. The other side of this hatch 12b is connected to a first long side of hatch 12c.

A hatch 12a (figure 3) has mounting means 24. These are placed on the short side of hatch 12a in lengthwise direction of ship 2. Hatch 12 is connected fixedly to ship 2 through connection of mounting means 24. In the shown embodiment three mounting means 24 are provided on each short side of hatch 12a. Hatch 12a is provided on the first long side with a mounting means 2β for connection of this side to deck 18 of ship 2. Hatch 12a is further provided with pick-up hooks 28 with which crane 16 can displace hatches 12,13. In the shown embodiment two of these hooks 28 are provided on a transverse side of hatch 12a. The other long side is provided with a seal 30 and mounting edge 32. The first long side of hatch 12b (figure 4) is provided with a connecting line 34 which, when hatches 12,13 are placed in the position for sealing the hold, lies against seal 30 of hatch 12a. A number of strips 36 are provided on the top side of hatch 12,13 for the purpose of placing goods and other articles. A cross-section of hatch 12c (figure 5) shows the sealing of hold 38 of ship 2 using hatches 12,13. Hatch 12c is provided for this purpose with a seal 40 placed between side edge 42 of hatch 12c and a seal holder 44. Hatch 12c lies on a support surface 46 and is connected therewith to wall 48 of ship 2. Crane rails 50 are provided on deck 18 for displacing crane 16 with which hatches 12,13 can be displaced. The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged. Instead of having the form shown in the figures, the ship' s hatch can also be embodied as a so-called folding hatch. The same advantages apply here as are described above. It is also a possibility to use the ship' s hatches according to the invention not only for seagoing vessels . Applications for inland waterway vessels or for sealing wells or collecting basins, which are also subject to a relatively high load, are likewise possible. It is also possible to provide strengthening ribs on or in the hatch for the purpose of distributing for instance a point load imposed for instance by a container placed on such a hatch. These strengthening ribs can be manufactured from a fibre-reinforced plastic material, although also from a metal such as steel. Among other reasons as a result of the reduced weight of a ship' s hatch according to the invention it is also possible to provide pick-up hooks 28 of for instance a fibre-reinforced plastic material instead of a metal such as steel. Owing to the realized weight reduction it is also possible to provide hatches according to the invention with other, preferably larger dimensions . The number of operations required during loading and unloading can hereby be reduced.

Claims

1. Ship' s hatch for sealing an opening in at least one deck to a hold of a ship, such as a seagoing vessel, wherein the hatch is provided with:

- a composite structure provided with at least one substantially fibre-reinforced plastic layer;

- mounting means for mounting the hatch on the ship; and

- sealing means for substantially watertight sealing of the opening to the hold.

2. Hatch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic layer is a polyester layer.

3. Hatch as claimed in claim 1 or 2 , wherein the hatch is provided with insert parts for the purpose of lifting the hatches and/or connecting the hatches to the ship.

4. Hatch as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least a part or some of the insert parts is or are provided with plastic.

5. Hatch as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-4, wherein the hatch is provided with fixation means for fixing at least some of the goods placed on or close to the hatch.

6. Hatch as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-5, wherein the hatch is provided with strengthening ribs .

7. Hatch as claimed in claim 5, wherein the strengthening ribs are provided with plastic.

8. Ship provided with a ship' s hatch as claimed in one or more of the claims 1-7.

9. Method for manufacturing a ship' s hatch, comprising the steps of :

- manufacturing a composite structure provided with at least one substantially fibre-reinforced plastic layer, such as polyester;

- providing mounting means on the composite structure for the purpose of mounting the ship' s hatch on a ship; and

- providing sealing means on the composite structure for the purpose of substantially watertight sealing of a hold of the ship.

10. Method as claimed in claim 9, wherein fixation means are provided for fixing at least a part of a cargo placed on or close to the ship' s hatch.