Hoisting device, with compensator built into hoisting cable system

• US 6,595,494 B1
• Filed: 07/02/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Itrec BV (Ace Innovation Holding BV)
• Original Assignee: Huisman Special Lifting Equipment B.V.
• Inventors: Roodenburg, Joop, Rodenburg, Adriaan Jan
• Primary Examiner(s): Matecki, Kathy
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, SANG K
• Application Number:
  US09/807,078
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 254/900, 254/277, 254/377, 254/290-291, 254/285, 254/387
• US Class Current: 254/277
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/02 Devices for facilitating retrieval of floating objects, e.g. for recovering crafts from water handling live-boats B63B; salvaging, or hauling-out on slipways, waterborne vessels B63C; winding mechanism controls B66D1/52
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/06 with more than one pulley
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/008 Winding units, specially adapted for drilling operations
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 19/09 specially adapted for drilling underwater formations from a floating support using heave compensators supporting the drill string
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 254/90 Cable pulling drum having wave motion responsive actuator for operating drive or rotation retarding means

Abstract

The invention is a hoisting device for a vessel with a mast in the form of a tube or sleeve with fixed cable blocks on the top side, a trolley with moveable pulleys, a feature on the bottom side for gripping a load, a hoisting system with at least a hoisting cable and a winch, wherein the hoisting cable is guided over the cable blocks and pulleys of both the mast and the trolley in order to move the trolley relative to the mast with the aid of the hoisting system, and a compensator located in the mast in the form of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder for damping movements of the vessel as a result of heave and beating of the waves characterized in that the hoisting cable is guided over cable pulleys that are connected to the ends of the compensator.

Claims

1. A hoisting device (1) for a vessel comprising:

a mast (2) on the top side provided with fixed cable blocks;

a trolley (10) including pulleys, which are moveable, and on the bottom side is provided with means (12) for gripping a load;

hoisting means, at least equipped with a hoisting cable (16) and a winch (18), the hoisting cable (16) being guided over the cable blocks and pulleys of both the mast and the trolley, to move the trolley (10) relative to the mast (2) with the aid of the hoisting means; and

at least two compensators in the form of pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, for damping movements of the vessel (70) as a result of heave and beating of the waves, characterized in that the hoisting cable (16) is guided over cable pulleys (20) which are connected to the ends of the compensators, the mast is designed in the form of a tube or sleeve, and in that the compensator (21) is placed in the mast (2) and each of said compensators are connected to cable pulleys (20) at its end.

2. A hoisting device (1) for a vessel comprising a mast (2) on the top side provided with fixed cable blocks;

a trolley (10) including pulleys which are moveable, and on the bottom side is provided with means (12) for gripping a load;

hoisting means, at least equipped with a hoisting cable (16) and a winch (18,19), the hoisting cable (16) being guided over the cable blocks and pulleys of both the mast and the trolley, to move the trolley (10) relative to the mast (2) with the aid of the hoisting means; and

a compensator (21) in the form of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, for damping movements of the vessel (70) as a result of heave and beating of the waves, characterized in that the hoisting cable (16) is guided over cable pulleys (20) which are connected to the ends of the compensator (21), the mast is designed in the form of a tube or sleeve, and the compensator (21) is placed in the mast (2).

3. The hoisting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the hoisting means are provided with two winches, (18, 19) each end of the hoisting cable (16) being wound into a separate winch (18, 19).

4. The hoisting device according to claim 3, characterized in that the winches (18, 19) are driven by a plurality of motors with low inertia.

5. The hoisting device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the hoisting cable (16) is also guided over the pulley wherein the pulley further comprises at least one loose pulley (17) which is movable between a first position, in which the loose pulley (17) is connected to the mast (2), and a second position, in which the loose pulley is connected to the trolley (10).

6. The hoisting device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one pulley is fitted relative to the center of the mast (2).

7. The hoisting device according to claim 5, characterized in that the at least one pulley is accommodated in a housing (53), which at least on the bottom side is provided with locking elements (104) for fixing the at least one pulley on the trolley (10).

8. The hoisting device according to claim 7, characterized in that the locking elements (104) are equipped with a hydraulic actuation device.

9. The hoisting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the hoisting device is provided with a connecting cable (105), for connecting the vessel to a stationary section, such as a top side of a riser (78), which connecting cable (105) is guided over the cable pulleys (20) connected to the end of the compensator (21), in order to be able to exert a force upon the compensator (21) with the connecting cable.

10. The hoisting device according to claim 9, characterized in that each end of the hoisting cable (16) is wound onto a separate winch (106, 107).

11. The hoisting device according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of the winches (106, 107) is provided with a slip brake, for paying out the connecting cable (105) when a maximum pulling force in the connecting cable (105) is exceeded.

12. The hoisting device according to claim 9, characterized in that the connecting cable (105) is also guided over loose pulleys, which are movable between a first position, in which the loose pulleys are connected to the mast (2), and a second position, in which the loose pulleys are connected to a stationary section, such as the top side of the riser (78).

13. The hoisting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the mast (2) is provided at the top side, on both sides of the hoisting cable (16), with a fastening (101) for attaching a pull rod or pull cable (102).