Apparatus And Method For Heave Compensation
First Claim
1. A load movement control system for a winch or crane system located on a vessel, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the load movement control system comprising:
- a) a control means to permit an operator to instruct the winch or crane system to at least raise, hold or lower the lift wire;
b) a vessel motion detection means for detecting heave acting upon the vessel and winch or crane system;
c) lift wire resonance prevention means for measuring and/or predicting the tension in the lift wire; and
a control device capable of i) receiving outputs from the a) operator control means, b) vessel motion detection and c) lift wire resonance prevention means and;
ii) controlling the winch or crane system in response to said outputs.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heave compensation apparatus and method for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system preferably for a vessel and including a lift wire for attachment to a load. The apparatus includes a vessel motion measurement device which may be in the form of a motion reference unit for measuring the motion of the vessel, and a control device or computer capable of receiving an output from the vessel motion measurement device and controlling the winch or crane system according to the movement of the vessel, so as to stabilise the load. The apparatus may further optionally include one or more of a lift wire tension measuring device for measuring the tension in the lift wire; a lift wire distance measurement device which measures the length of lift wire that has been paid out; and a load motion measurement device for measuring the motion of the load.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A load movement control system for a winch or crane system located on a vessel, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the load movement control system comprising:
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a) a control means to permit an operator to instruct the winch or crane system to at least raise, hold or lower the lift wire;
b) a vessel motion detection means for detecting heave acting upon the vessel and winch or crane system;
c) lift wire resonance prevention means for measuring and/or predicting the tension in the lift wire; and
a control device capable of i) receiving outputs from the a) operator control means, b) vessel motion detection and c) lift wire resonance prevention means and;
ii) controlling the winch or crane system in response to said outputs. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of controlling the movement of a load raised or lowered by a winch or crane system provided on a vessel, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing an output from an operator control means which indicates if an operator instructs raising, holding or lowering of the lift wire;
b) providing an output indicative of heave acting upon the vessel and winch or crane system;
c) providing an output indicative of a prediction and/or measurement of resonance generated in the lift wire; and
d) adjusting the pay out or recovery of the lift wire in response to the said outputs a) to c).
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5. A heave compensation apparatus for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the apparatus comprising:
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a lift wire tension measuring device for measuring the tension in the lift wire;
and a control device capable of receiving an output from the lift wire tension measuring device and controlling the winch or crane system according to the changes in tension in the lift wire, so as to stabilise the load. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of heave compensation for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the tension in the lift wire; and
adjusting the pay out or recovery of the lift wire to compensate for the changes in the measured tension. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A heave compensation apparatus for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system including a lift wire for attachment to a load, the apparatus comprising:
a load motion measurement device for measuring the motion of the load, and a control device capable of receiving an output from the load motion measurement device and controlling the winch or crane system according to the movement of the load, so as to stabilise the load. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of heave compensation for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the movement of a load suspended by the lift wire; and
adjusting the pay out or recovery of the lift wire to compensate for the movement of the load.
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17. A heave compensation apparatus for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system including a lift wire for attachment to a load, the apparatus comprising:
a lift wire distance measurement device which measures the length of lift wire that has been paid out, and a control device capable of receiving an output from the lift wire distance measurement device and controlling the winch or crane system according to the distance measured, so as to stabilise the load.
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18. A method of heave compensation for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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measuring the length of lift wire paid out; and
adjusting the pay out or recovery of the lift wire to stabilise the load.
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19. A heave compensation apparatus for a winch or crane system, the winch or crane system being provided on a vessel and including a lift wire for attachment to a load, the apparatus comprising:
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a vessel motion measurement device for measuring the motion of the vessel;
and a control device capable of receiving an output from the vessel motion measurement device and controlling the winch or crane system according to the movement of the vessel, so as to stabilise the load;
wherein the apparatus further comprises at least one of;
a) a lift wire tension measuring device for measuring the tension in the lift wire;
b) a lift wire distance measurement device which measures the length of lift wire that has been paid out; and
c) a load motion measurement device for measuring the motion of the load. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of heave compensation for a winch or crane system provided on a vessel, the winch or crane system including a lift wire, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring the motion of the vessel and controlling the winch or crane system according to the movement of the vessel by adjusting the pay out or recovery of the lift wire to stabilise the load;
and further comprising at least one of the following steps;
a) measuring the tension in the lift wire;
b) measuring the length of lift wire that has been paid out; and
c) measuring the motion of the load. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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Specification