The present invention relates to a carrier device according to claim 1 for adjustable displacement of a flushing device between a non-operative position and an operative position for use for obstruct boarding at piracy. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Piracy against ships has been a problem for the shipping trade for several hundred years. Different measures have been taken in order to protect the ships. Sometimes, the protection has consisted in escorting the ships by other armed vessels. Alternatively, the ships themselves have been armed and have had an armed crew onboard the ships. Most of the times however, the ships choose to have no protection whatsoever against pirates.

Recently, flushing devices have been developed at which liquid under high pressure can be flushed along a ship ^' s side and thereby make it more difficult for a pirate to attack and board the ship. Such flushing devices are often rather ungainly and may because of their size and required robustness be heavy and difficult to handle. This has resulted in that ships having such flushing devices often have them permanently positioned outside the rail of the ship, since they may be difficult to remove. This may in turn cause problems when passing through narrow passages, since the flushing devices make the ships wider. Prior art has presented various solutions to the above-mentioned problem. Inter alia; one has tried to position the flushing devices on special wheeled benches for rolling the flushing devices in position for use. This however, is difficult because the benches have moved and sometimes turned over at sea when the ship floats up and down on the waves. Other alternatives have been to position the flushing device on a mechanism which can lift and turn the flushing device over the rail to a position for flushing. A problem at such a mechanism is that a conduit or hose to the flushing device must be disconnected during positioning of the flushing device. This because the conduit or hose is hard to bend and may break after a number of bendings. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a carrier device for carrying a flushing device in order to, by means of the carrier device, be adjustably connected in a horizontal direction over the rail of a ship between a non-operative position and an operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carrier device which renders it possible to adjust a flushing device between a non-operative position and an operative position over the rail of a ship without having to disconnect a conduit or hose to the flushing device.

The above and other objects are achieved by means of the carrier device according to claim 1. The present invention relates to a carrier device for adjustable displacement of a flushing device between a non-operative position and an operative position at the side of a ship for obstructing boarding of said ship. The carrier device comprises at least one attachment member and a flushing device bracket, said flushing device bracket being configured for receiving said flushing device.

According to the invention, the flushing device bracket of the carrier device is statically provided. Said flushing device bracket comprises at least one locking means which is configured such that it in an open position permits displacement between said non-operative and said operative position of the flushing device relative to the flushing device bracket.

The carrier device renders it possible that a flushing device provided on or at a rail side of a ship can be displaced between a non-operative and an operative position without disconnecting the flushing device from a conduit connected thereto.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the carrier device may comprise a plate element. The plate element is a plate with a shape for provision at/against a rail or rail rack on a ship. The plate element comprises recesses and various connecting functions/elements as defined below for location of the plate element on the ship. Structurally, it is an advantage to use a plate element, since the required processing of the shape of the plate element can be performed by means of prior art technique, e.g. punching/drilling and folding/bending.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the plate element may comp- rise at least one flushing device recess. A first flushing device recess may be provided in an upper half of the carrier device. The flushing device recess has such shape that the flushing device or a flushing pipe thereof can be located in said flushing device recess. According to one embodiment, the plate element may comprise at least one second flushing device recess. This second flushing device recess may be provided in a lower half of the carrier device. The second flushing device recess is an alternative to the first flushing device recess. Certain ships may have such a construction that a position for the first flushing device recess is not functional on such a ship. Therefore, the second flushing device recess shall be an alternative to said first flushing device recess, since it has another position in the carrier plate, whereby it allows for an alternative location of the flushing device with the flushing pipe on those ships where the first flushing device recess is not functional.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the carrier device may comprise an attachment member area. The attachment member area may be provided on the plate element. The attachment member area may be a surface which is configured to be soldered, welded or sized against. The carrier device can with this surface be attached or provided in a selected position on the ship. The attachment member area may be an area with recesses as defined below for provision with one or more attachment members. According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the attachment member area may comprise a recess. This recess may be designed as a longitudinal or slotted hole recess. The recess may be provided in the respective corner area of the plate element. The recess may also be located along the respective longitudinal side of the plate element. In one embodiment, the plate element may comprise six recesses. Since the recess has a longitudinal shape, it is possible to control where in the recess an attachment member shall be provided. In one embodiment, the recess is configured to cooperate with the attachment member. The attachment member may be provided in the recess by means of e.g. a bolt connection. The attachment member may be configured to be provided together with a part of the ship, e.g. with a part of the rail rack. The attachment member may at one end be configured with e.g. a clamping connection for provision with or against a part of the rail rack along the rail. At a second end of the attachment member, the bolt connection may be provided for connection with the plate element.

The position of the attachment member in the recess may be varied, whereby the position of the carrier device can be adjusted in height. This is possible because the recess is elongated and thereby permits adjustment of the attachment member within said elongated recess.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the flushing device bracket may be provided with the plate element. The flushing device bracket may be connected to the plate element by means of connecting elements. The connecting elements may comprise e.g. bolt connections or screw connections. The connecting elements thereby fix the flushing device bracket against the plate element. By means of said connection between the flushing device bracket and the plate element, a strong static connection is obtained between said flushing device bracket and said plate element.

According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the flushing device bracket may comprise a surface which extends vertically from a mounting of the flushing device bracket against the plate element. The surface is provided on the flushing device bracket and during engagement of a flushing pipe in the flushing device bracket, this surface is facing the flushing pipe. The flushing device bracket may have a shape reminding of a cylinder which in its longitudinal direction is divided in two halves with one half removed. Since the flushing device bracket in its longitudinal direction is shaped as a half cylinder, a flushing pipe can be located fitting well into said flushing device bracket.

According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the surface in the flushing device bracket may have a horizontal extension. The flushing device bracket may be configured to receive the flushing device in such manner that a flushing pipe is provided horizontally in the flushing device bracket. Since the surface has a horizontal extension, it contributes to the possibility of providing the flushing pipe horizontally in the flushing device bracket. The flushing pipe forms part of the flushing device, having a portion which is connected with a flushing head with associated flushing nozzles. Another portion of the flushing pipe is connected with e.g. a gear box or a driving source for said flushing device. The flushing head and the flushing nozzles may e.g. be rotatably mounted on the flushing pipe. The rotary movement may be generated in that an axis or similar in connection with the driving source or gear box is provided to bring the flushing head and/or the flushing nozzles into rotation. The axis may be provided inside said flushing pipe and thereby connected with the gear box and/or the driving source. Other alternatives for bringing said flushing head and/or flushing nozzles into rotation is that the liquid inside the flushing pipe may affect a rotary element which in turn rotates the flushing head and/or flushing nozzles.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the flushing device bracket may be provided in connection with the flushing device recess of the plate element. The flushing device recess is a recess, or hole recess, in the plate element, making it possible to provide the flushing pipe of the flushing device in said flushing device recess. As already mentioned, a second flushing device recess may be provided in the plate element in the lower half of the carrier device. According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the locking means may be movably connected with the flushing device bracket. The locking means may be a yoke element. The yoke element is attached on the respective side of the flushing device bracket in such manner that a flushing pipe can be provided between the yoke element and the flushing device bracket. According to the embodiment, two or more yoke ele- ments may be provided with the flushing device bracket. The locking means in the form of a yoke element may be provided with threads in one or both ends. During locking of the locking means/yoke element, e.g. a nut or similar element meshing with said threads may be provided and connected through said threads, whereby the locking means/yoke element fixes the flushing pipe in the flushing device bracket.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the locking means may be provided on an upper side of the flushing device bracket. Since the locking means may be located on the upper side of the flushing device bracket, the flushing pipe may, when the locking means is open/released, rest on the flushing device bracket during displacement of the flushing pipe relative to the flushing device bracket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which only illustrate the details necessary for understanding the invention. Fig. 1 is a view of a carrier device according to the invention provided against a part of a rail rack and carrying a flushing device. Fig. 2 is a view of a carrier device according to fig. 1 from an outer side of the rail rack.

Fig. 3 is a side view, in section through the rail rack, of the flushing device in a non-operative position. Fig. 4 is a side view similar to fig. 3 and illustrates the flushing device in operative position.

Fig. 5 is a view of a flushing device bracket with locking means and a flushing pipe provided therein.

Fig. 6 is a view of the flushing device bracket of fig. 5 with the flushing pipe removed.

Fig. 7 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the flushing device bracket with locking means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 illustrates a carrier device 1 along with a flushing device 2. The flushing device 2 according to the present invention is provided for use for preventing or obstructing boarding of a ship which is subjected to an attack from pirates. The carrier device 1 is provided with a number of attachment members 3a-3f for carrying the carrier device against or on the ship. The carrier device 1 comprises a flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' , which is provided with one or more locking means 5, 5 ^' . The flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' is located on a plate element 6 in the carrier device 1. The plate element 6 comprises at least a first flushing device recess 7 and a second flushing device recess 8. Said second flushing device recess 8 is an alternative to the first flushing device recess 7 if the construction of the ship is such that said first flushing device recess 7 does not fit/correspond therewith. The carrier device 1 comprises a number of attachment member areas 9a-9f. The attachment member areas 9a, 9c, 9d, 9f are provided in a respective corner portion of the plate element 6. Furthermore, an attachment member area 9b, 9e is provided on a center portion of a respective longitudinal side of said plate element 6. In respective attachment member area 9a-9f there is provided a recess 10a-10f. The recesses 10a-10f are provided by longitudinal holes through the plate element 6. The carrier device 1 is provided for e.g. connection with a rail rack 11a-11c on the ship by means of said attachment members 3a-3f.

5

The flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' is through connecting elements 12 provided against the plate element 6 of the carrier device 1. Said connecting elements 12 may e.g. consist of bolt connections or similar. The flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' comprises a surface 13 (see fig. 5) which is provided on an inner side of the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' . The flushing

10 device bracket 4, 4 ^' with the surface 13 is through a mounting 14, 14 ^' provided against the plate element 6 in an area with a profile of the flushing device recess 7, 8 configured to coincide with the profile of the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' . The connecting elements 12 are provided in and through said mounting 14, 14 ^' . The profile of the flushing device recess 7, 8 and of the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' is such that a flushing pipe 15 can be

15 provided therein. The flushing pipe 15 may be movably, e.g. rotatably mounted in the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' .

The carrier device 1 is provided for mounting on a ship, e.g. the rail rack 11a-11c thereof. The rail rack 11a-11c is provided on most ships such that it extends along the rail 21 of a 20 ship ^' s deck 20. The rail rack 11a-11c is provided for protecting and preventing persons and objects from falling overboard. The rail rack 11a-11c may be located at a distance from the rail 21 of the ship. This distance may be e.g. about 15-20 cm.

The flushing device 2 is a unit which is provided in such manner that said flushing device 25 2 may be situated on or close to the the ship ^' s deck 20. The flushing device 2 comprises a handle 16 which is configured for use, inter alia, during displacement of said flushing device 2 relative to the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' . The flushing pipe 15 is at one end provided with a flushing head 17. The flushing head 17 is rotatably mounted along with the flushing pipe 15. The flushing head 17 is provided with a number of flushing nozzles 30 18a-18d for ejection of a liquid. A driving source and/or a gear box 19 may be provided at the opposite end of the flushing pipe 15. The driving source and/or gear box 19 may bring the flushing head 17 to rotate, whereby a liquid is ejected from said flushing nozzles 18a-18d during this rotation. Fig. 2 illustrates a carrier device 1 according to fig. 1. The carrier device 1 of fig. 2 is a view from outside the rail rack 11a-11c. The carrier device 1 carries the flushing device 2 in such manner that the flushing pipe 15 has a substantially horizontal position. The carrier device 1 is configured to be releasable and configured for permanent provision against a part of said ship, e.g. against said rail rack 11a-11c.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the flushing device 2 in a non-operative position. The flushing device 2 is in the non-operative position when it is not used. In the non-operative position, a flow of liquid to the flushing device 2 may be cut off. In the non-operative position, the rotation of the flushing head 17 is interrupted. The flushing device 2 is in the non-

-operative position when the ship is in areas where there is no risk for being boarded by pirates. In the non-operative position, the flushing head 17 and the flushing nozzles 18a-18d are located in the area between the rail rack 11a-11c and the rail 21 of the ship. Fig. 4 is a side view of the flushing device 2 in an operative position. In the operative position, the flushing device 2 is provided in such manner that the flushing head 17 and associated flushing nozzles 18a-18d are located on an outer side of the rail 21 of the ship. The operative position of the flushing device 2 can be taken when the ship is in areas and/or situations where there is a risk for being boarded by pirates. When there is no longer a risk for being boarded, or if the ship e.g. is about to sail through a narrow passage or similar, the fixation of the flushing pipe 15 may be released and the flushing pipe displaced to its non-operative position.

Displacement of the flushing device 2 from a non-operative position to an operative position means that the locking means 5, 5 ^' on the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' is released. During release, a clamping force applied by the locking means 5, 5 ^' against the flushing pipe in the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' is removed. This results in that the flushing device 2 can be displaced such that the flushing head 17 and the flushing nozzles 18a-18d can be located outside the rail 21. The displacement of the flushing device 2 is performed in a horizontal direction. The displacement is performed in parallel with or along the extension of the flushing pipe 15. During displacement, the flushing device 2 is moved relative to the carrier device 1. The displacement of the flushing device 2 may be carried through by means of a force affecting the handle 16 in such manner that the flushing device 2 is displaced from the non-operative position to the operative position. When the flushing device 2 is in the operative position, the flushing device may be fixed or locked in this position in the carrier device 1 . Fixation or locking may be carried through by manipulating a screw element forming part of the locking means 5, 5 ^' in such manner that the locking means 5, 5 ^' clamps/fixes the flushing pipe 15 in a fixed position in the flushing device bracket 4, 4 ^' .

With the flushing device 2 in operative position according to fig. 4, a liquid may under rotation be ejected from the flushing nozzles 18a-18d of the flushing device 2. The liquid is ejected from the flushing nozzles 18a-18d in such manner that the liquid is directed substantially along the side of the ship. The liquid ejected from the flushing nozzles 18a-18d may have such power that the liquid can flush away an object or a person on the ship ^' s side, trying to board the ship.

Fig. 5 illustrates the flushing device bracket 4 with locking means 5, said flushing device bracket 4 being provided with the plate element 6. Through the mounting 14, which is a part of the flushing device bracket 4, said flushing device bracket 4 is by means of connecting elements 2 held in a statically connected position with said plate element 6. The flushing device bracket 4 has a partly cylindrical shape in such manner that the flushing device bracket 4 defines a cylinder which in its longitudinal direction is divided into halves with one half removed. The flushing device bracket 4 has an internal surface 13 which is configured to face the flushing pipe 15 when such a flushing pipe is provided in said flushing device bracket 4. The surface 13 extends in a vertical direction from the plate element 6. The flushing device bracket 4 has at an end portion a semicircular shape. The flushing device recess 7 is provided in the plate element 6. This flushing device recess 7 comprises a part which has a profile or shape corresponding with said semicircular shape of the end portion of the flushing device bracket 4. The flushing device bracket 4 is connected with the plate element 6 in such manner that the semicircular shape or profile of said end portion thereby coincide with the semicircular shape of the flushing device recess 7. Fig. 6 illustrates the flushing device bracket 4 with locking means 5 according to fig. 5 and a flushing pipe 15 provided in said flushing device bracket 4. At the embodiment according to fig. 6, the flushing pipe 15 is locked at its position in the flushing device bracket 4 by means of the locking means 5. Said locking means 5 may be defined by e.g. a yokelike bolt connection in which a number of bolts during tightening, locking, bring the flush- ing pipe 15 into a locked, fixed, position against the flushing device bracket 4. Fig. 7 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the flushing device bracket 4 ^' . At this embodiment, the flushing device bracket 4 ^' comprises a locking means 5 ^' consisting of a cover which can be brought over the flushing pipe 15. A locking/connecting element, e.g. a screw element, which may be articulated, or displaceably connected, in a lower part of the flushing device bracket 4 ^' , is attached to a structure on the cover of the locking means 5 ^' . Locking of the locking means 5 ^' is thereafter performed since the locking/connecting element, e.g. the screw element, comprises a screw means which through rotation affects the locking means 5 ^' with a force for locking the flushing pipe 15 against said flushing device bracket 4 ^' .

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but may be varied and modified within the scope of the following claims, which has been partly described above.