TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a anti-pirate flushing device for fighting against unauthorized boarding of ships according to the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For centuries, pirates have been a problem to shipping. Pirates have in course of time been using more and more sophisticated methods and systems for attacking and boarding ships. Ships trafficking waters where there is a risk to be attacked by pirates, have tried to reduce this risk by different means. One way to reduce this risk has been to try to get these ships to travel together in convoys. Other attempts have involved escorting the ships by police or military. These measures however, are time-consuming and expensive. During later years, attempts have been made to develop devices and methods which shall render it more difficult for and/or prevent pirates from attacking and boarding a ship. Inter alia, electric elements or fences have been developed for location along the rail of the ship. During attack and risk of being boarded by pirates, the electric arrangement shall give the pirate an electric shock when he or she tries to board the ship. The electric shock should be so powerful that the pirate no longer can board and attack the ship. Another way which has been developed to prevent or obstruct attacking boats to come close to a ship is to let out ropes into the water behind the ship and along the sides thereof. The ropes in the water thereby renders it more difficult for the pirate boats to come close to the ship, since the ropes can get entangled in the propellers of the boats. Thereby, the pirate boats can become unmanageable.

However, said devices and methods for preventing or obstructing an aggressor to attack a ship cause certain problems. One problem with an electrified rail is, inter alia, that the own crew might get electrical shocks if they come too close to the rail. One problem of letting out ropes into the water around the ship is that this can be done only when an attack by pirates is imminent. A further problem with the ropes when they are in the water, is that they can get entangled in the propellers of the own ship. This will be fateful for the ship, since it thereby will be unmanageable and an easy prey for an aggressor.

Attempts have been made to utilize various water flushing systems which can be mounted along the rail of a ship in order to thereby flush away an aggressor. For correct operation, such water flushing or water ejecting systems must be able to generate such high pressures on the water jet that a pirate hit by the water jet is unable to climb over the rail. A problem with these systems has been and is still to maintain a high and reasonably continuous and constant pressure on the ejected water. If the pressure on the ejected water is too low, a pirate can easily board the ship. The reason for the difficulty in maintaining sufficient pressure is that the systems have a tendency to leak. Leakages may occur e.g. between members which are movable relative to each other when pressurized liquid is passing through said members. The leakage in the flushing devices may thereby result in a reduction of the pressure on the water jet ejected by the flushing device. The pirate fighting effect of the water jet may thereby be noticeably reduced or, worse, completely lost because of the low pressure on the ejected water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems.

A further object of the invention is to provide an anti-pirate flushing device which during operation can maintain a continuous high pressure on the ejected liquid.

The above-mentioned and other objects are achieved by means of the anti-pirate flushing device according to the characterizing features of claim 1.

The present invention relates to an anti-pirate flushing device for fighting unauthorized boarding of a ship by spraying flushing liquid in a direction substantially along the side of the ship, said flushing device comprising a supply conduit for feeding a flushing liquid to and into the anti-pirate flushing device, a rotary movement generating means which is provided in the supply conduit and a driving device which is driven by the rotary movement generating means for operating spray nozzles forming part of the anti-pirate flushing device. According to the invention, the driving device comprises a magnetic force coupling with a first body which is provided in the supply conduit in connection with the rotary movement generating means and a second body which is provided outside the supply conduit in connection with the driving device, whereby said first body transfers by magnetic force a rotary movement from the rotary movement generating means to the second body for operating the driving device. Also, according to the invention, the magnetic force coupling is displaceable along with the anti-pirate flushing device relative to an edge of the rail on the ship during movement of the anti-pirate flushing device between an active position outside of the rail edge, in which flushing liquid is sprayed substantially along the side of the ship by means of the spray nozzles, and an inactive position within the rail edge.

An advantage with a flushing device according to claim 1 is that a substantially constant pressure can be generated in the flushing device during operation, said pressure not being affected by leakage. In prior art it is often so, that liquid through the supply conduit can leak at a lead-through for a shaft which connects the rotary movement generating means with the driving device. Such a leakage can promote difficulties to maintain a constant pressure of the ejected flushing liquid. Another advantage is that in the active position, a flushing liquid is ejected from the spray nozzles substantially in parallel with the side of the ship in order to render it more difficult and/or prevent unauthorized boarding of the ship. In the inactive position, the anti-pirate flushing device is displaced in such a way that the spray nozzles can be located within the rail edge of the ship and thereby out of the way when not in use. The nozzles may be configured to either rotate or oscillate back and forth, whereby flushing liquid can be sprayed or ejected out in a flushing plane which runs substantially in parallel with the side of the ship. The nozzles may further be configured such that flushing liquid is ejected only in the directions following the side of the ship. Thereby, it is avoided that flushing liquid is sprayed or ejected upwards into the air or in other upward directions away from the sides of the ship.

According to one embodiment, the displacement of the magnetic force coupling may occur along the extension of a first shaft, said extension running through the rotary movement generating means. The displacement of the rotary movement generating means is achieved due to the displacement of the anti-pirate flushing device between the inactive and active positions. According to one embodiment, a watertight wall portion is provided between the first and second bodies. The watertight wall portion may be detachably mounted in the supply conduit, whereby inspection of the supply conduit is possible. According to one embodiment, a carrier unit in the supply conduit is provided to receive the first body. Furthermore, the first body is located in a recess in the carrier unit. A sealing element is provided over the recess for enclosing the first body between the recess and the sealing element. Thereby, the body can be protected from external influence. The flushing liquid may e.g. contain elements which might influence the body.

According to one embodiment, at least one of said first and second bodies comprises a neodymium magnet. The neodymium magnet is a so called permanent magnet. Such magnets may be stronger than common ferrite magnets. According to one embodiment, the driving device may be configured to be rotatably driven by the rotary movement generating means through a first shaft and configured to rotatably drive or operate a second shaft for operating the spray nozzles, and the rotary relationship between the speed of rotation of the first and second shafts may be variable. The first shaft is by means of flowing flushing liquid brought to hold a high speed of rotation. The high speed of rotation can by means of the driving device be reduced to a slower speed of rotation of the second shaft.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the rotary relationship between the speed of rotation of the first and second shafts may be constant. Thereby, one shaft may rotate with a constant speed and the other shaft with a corresponding or other constant speed.

According to one embodiment, the first body rotates in a first plane and the spray nozzles of the anti-pirate flushing device in a second plane, and said first plane runs in parallel with said second plane. Said planes may be oriented in a substantially vertical direction. Since the first body rotates in a substantially vertical plane, dirt, particles and other elements have difficulties in attaching to the body or the carrier unit because the attraction of gravity sees to that they fall off the carrier unit. Thereby, a higher safety of operation is achieved for the magnetic force coupling and the anti-pirate flushing device. According to one embodiment, a nozzle housing may be rotatably provided relative to a flushing pipe in the anti-pirate flushing device. The spray nozzles are attached to the nozzle housing. Since the nozzle housing may be rotatably provided relative to the flushing pipe, said flushing pipe may be fixedly attached to the ship and its rail or rail edge around the ship without affecting the rotation of the spray nozzles and the nozzle housing. The nozzle housing is connected to the second shaft such that they can rotate with a common angular speed.

According to one embodiment, at least one of said bodies may have an annular shape. Thereby, a structurally advantageous shape is achieved, since the bodies are provided for rotation about a shaft. The number of bodies for location in a circle around the shaft to create the circular shape around the shaft may thereby be reduced. According to one embodiment, at least one of the bodies may consist of a multi-pole magnet. By using multi-pole magnets, the number of magnets can be reduced, whereby the number of components in the anti-pirate flushing device can be reduced. Further according to an embodiment, at least one of the bodies may be a magnetic body.

According to one embodiment, the rotary movement generating means may be

adjustable. Thereby, it is possible to adjust the speed of rotation of the rotary movement generating means, whereby the speed of rotation of the spray nozzles may be varied and/or adjusted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which only illustrate details necessary for the understanding of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a view of an anti-pirate flushing device with a magnetic force coupling according to the invention and where the anti-pirate flushing device is provided on the rail of a ship.

Fig. 2 is a view of the magnetic force coupling located in a portion of a supply conduit of the anti-pirate flushing device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 illustrates an anti-pirate flushing device A for fighting or obstructing unauthorized boarding of a ship B. The anti-pirate flushing device A comprises a supply conduit 1. Flushing liquid is fed to and into the anti-pirate flushing device A through the supply conduit 1. In the supply conduit 1 there is provided a rotary movement generating means 2 for operating a driving device 3 of the anti-pirate flushing device A. The driving device 3 comprises a magnetic force coupling 4. The magnetic force coupling 4 consists of a first body 5 which is located in the supply conduit 1 and a second body 6 which is located outside the supply conduit 1. The first body 5 and the rotary movement generating means 2 are in the supply conduit 1 connected to each other. During rotation of the rotary movement generating means 2, the first body 5 is also rotated. The first body 5 transfers by means of magnetic force a rotary movement from the rotary movement generating means 6 to the second body 6 located outside the supply conduit 1. The second body 6 is connected to the driving device 3 for driving or operation thereof. By means of the magnetic force coupling 4, the driving device 3 can be operated and at the same time be separated by a watertight seal from the supply conduit 1.

The anti-pirate flushing device A is configured for location at a rail edge of the ship B. The anti-pirate flushing device A is connected to the ship B such that it is displaceable relative to the rail edge 7 between an active position and an inactive position. In fig. 1 , the anti- pirate flushing device A is illustrated connected to and provided with a rack C. The rack C runs around the rail of the ship B. Except being able to carry at least one anti-pirate flushing device A, the rack may also prevent persons and/or objects from falling overboard.

In the active position, the anti-pirate flushing device A is configured such that flushing liquid can be sprayed or ejected from the anti-pirate flushing device A in a direction which substantially follows the side of the ship B. The flushing liquid is ejected from spray nozzles 16. The spray nozzles 16 can be configured to either rotate or oscillate back and forth, whereby flushing liquid is ejected in a spray or flushing plane. This flushing plane runs substantially in parallel with the side of the ship and can be compared to a curtain of liquid along the sides of the ship B. The nozzles 16 of the anti-pirate flushing device A may further be configured such that the flushing liquid is ejected only in the directions following the side of the ship B. Thereby, it is avoided that flushing liquid is sprayed or ejected upwards into the air or in other upward directions away from the sides of the ship B.

During displacement of the anti-pirate flushing device A from the inactive to the active position or from the active to the inactive position, the magnetic force coupling 4 is displaced or moved along an extension 9 of a first shaft 8. This extension 9 runs through the rotary movement generating means 2 and is in the drawing figure represented by a broken line. Fig. 2 illustrates a part of the anti-pirate flushing device A according to the invention, where the first and second bodies 5, 6 are provided each on one side of a watertight wall portion 10. The watertight wall portion 10 constitutes a part of the supply conduit if directly connected to the anti-pirate flushing device A. The watertight wall portion 10 may by means of attachment elements be detachably connected to the supply conduit 1. This for being able to inspect the supply conduit 1 for inspection of e.g. the rotary movement generating means 2 or the first body 5 therein.

The watertight wall portion 10 has an inner side and an outer side. The inner side is facing the supply conduit 1 and is the side in contact with the flushing liquid flowing through the supply conduit 1. The outer side is opposite to the inner side and is facing the driving device 3. In the supply conduit 1 , facing the inner side of the wall portion 10, there is provided a carrier unit 11 for receiving and locating the first body 5.

The first body 5 is provided in a recess 12 in the carrier unit 11. A sealing element 13 is provided over the recess 12 for enclosing the first body 5 between the recess 12 and the sealing element 13. The first body 5 can be removed from its position in the recess 12. This may be relevant if the magnetic force is deteriorating or e.g. if the first body 5 is damaged or worn. The material in at least one of the first and second bodies 5, 6 may be a neodymium magnet. At the illustrated embodiment, the first and second bodies 5, 6 are both neodymium magnets.

The first shaft 8 has a rotary relationship to a second shaft 14 in such a way that the speed of rotation of each shaft 8, 14 relative to each other can be variable. The first shaft 8 is configured to bring the driving device 3 to rotate and operate through the magnetic force coupling 4. The driving device 3 is provided to bring the second shaft 14 to rotate. The driving device 3 comprises a gear system which renders it possible to transfer the rotation from the first shaft 8 to the second shaft 14. The gear system can be provided to 5 permit varying rotary relationship between the first and second shafts 8, 14. At the illustrated embodiment, the first shaft 8 with the rotary movement generating means 2 rotates faster than the second shaft 14. The gear system in the driving device 3 can, at the illustrated embodiment, reduce the speed of rotation of the first shaft 8 to a slower speed of rotation for the second shaft 14.

10

According to one embodiment of the invention, the rotary relationship between the first shaft 8 and the second shaft 14 may be constant. Thereby, one shaft can rotate at a constant speed and the other shaft at a corresponding or another constant speed.

15 During operation, the first body 5 rotates in a first plane 15. The spray nozzles 16 are provided at an end of the anti-pirate flushing device A opposite to the driving device 3. During operation, the spray nozzles 16 are configured to rotate in a second plane 17 of the anti-pirate flushing device A. The first plane 15 runs in parallel with the second plane 17. The first and second planes 15, 17 may be oriented in a substantially vertical

20 direction. Since the first body can rotate in a substantially vertical plane, dirt, particles and other elements in the flushing liquid may during contact with the carrier unit 11 have difficulties in attaching thereto. Since the carrier unit 11 with the first body 5 can be vertically oriented, said dirt, particles and/or other elements may fall off the carrier unit 11.

25 The second body 6 rotates, in a corresponding way as the first body 5, in parallel with said first body 5 on the opposite side of the watertight wall portion 10. Since the bodies 5, 6 of the magnetic force coupling 4 can rotate in substantially vertical planes, the safety of operation of said magnetic force coupling increases. This is due to that dirt and/or other elements which might attach to the magnetic force coupling will fall off because of the

30 attraction of gravity. The rotation of the magnetic force coupling 4 and the transfer of the rotary movement between the bodies 5, 6 need not thereby be negatively affected or deteriorated.

With the spray nozzles 16 there is provided a nozzle housing 18 against a flushing pipe detachably connected to the nozzle housing 18. The nozzle housing 18 can be rotatable relative to the flushing pipe 19. The second shaft 14 may run from the driving device 3, through the flushing pipe 19 to the nozzle housing 18. During rotation of the second shaft 14, the nozzle housing 18 is brought to rotate, whereby the spray nozzles 16 are also brought to rotate around a centre axis 20 through the flushing pipe 19 and the second shaft 14.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the nozzle housing 18 is connected to the second shaft 14 such that they can rotate with a common angular speed. This is achieved by fixedly connecting the second shaft to the nozzle housing 18.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, at least one of said bodies 5, 6 may have an annular shape. This can be a structural advantage since the bodies 5, 6 are configured to be able to rotate around the extension 9 of the first shaft 8. A further advantage with annular bodies is a more uniform symmetric rotation and force and weight distribution during the rotation compared to prior art, where a plurality of separate bodies are provided to define a circle around a corresponding shaft.

According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, at least one of the bodies 5, 6 may consist of a multi-pole magnet. A multi-pole magnet is a magnet with more than two poles. By using multi-pole magnets, the number of magnets can be reduced and thus, the number of components in the anti-pirate flushing device A. According to one embodiment, at least one of the bodies 5, 6 may consist of a magnetic body. According to the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the rotary movement generating means 2 may be adjustable. The adjustability may be that said rotary movement generating means 2 can be moved along the extension 9 of the first shaft 8 in an inlet area feeding the flushing liquid into the flushing pipe 19. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment but may be varied and modified within the scope of the subsequent claims, which in part has been described above.