US 5,211,125 A · Apparatus and method for performing external surface work on ships' hulls

Abstract

For cleaning and/or painting the exterior of a ship hull while the ship is in dry dock, one or more staging devices are provided. Each includes a metal framework tower supporting a vertically movable elevator assembly that comprises a trolley, from which a variably laterally projecting platform is supported on articulated, cantilevered arms. Adjustable, non-porous shrouds enclose a volume of space between the outside of the tower and an increment of one side of the exterior of the ship hull, from above, fore, aft and outside. Cleaning and painting operations are conducted from the platform on the hull increment, and debris is removed from the dry-dock deck area enclosed by the shroud, after which the device is moved by crane, typically twenty feet (6.1 m), towards the ship's bow or stern. The shrouds are then adjusted so that a further hull increment can be worked on. The trolley and extension-retraction of the platform support arms are operated by electrohydraulic winch and hydraulic cylinders, respectively. The margins of the shroud may be fastened by magnets to the hull. Air drawn through the enclosed volume from above, is drawn out near the dry-dock deck for processing to remove dust and appropriately treat VOCs, if present.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method for servicing a generally vertical surface of substantial horizontal extent, comprising:

(a) selecting an increment of the surface having a given horizontal extent which is less than said substantial extent, and a given vertical extent which ranges downwards to adjacency with a generally horizontal platform;
(b) arranging a generally vertical tower on the platform in confronting relationship to, but spaced from said increment of the surface, said tower having supported thereon a trolley which can be raised and lowered on the tower so as to place the trolley selectively in confronting relation with any selected horizontal strip of said increment, and said trolley having provided thereon a work platform cantilevered from the trolley towards the surface, on an arm structure which permits the work platform to be extended towards and retracted away from the surface;
(c) forming a curtain-enclosed space which includes said tower and said increment of said surface, with said work platform thereby being enclosed with said space;
(d) while supporting at least one work-performing operator on said work platform, causing said operator to successively apply work to a plurality of said bands of said increment of said surface, and, in conjunction therewith, adjusting said arm structure for adjusting the proximity of said operator to said increment of said surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method for performing external surface work on ships' hulls

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method for performing external surface work on ships' hulls

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27