The present invention relates to a cover member for covering an opening in a cargo space, e.g., openings for receiving

removable or foldable tweendeck supports of a cargo ship. Multi-purpose vessels can be used for bulk cargo as well as general cargo or for a combination of both. To this end such vessels can be provided with removable tweendeck pontoons. If the tweendeck pontoons are in place the ship can be used for transporting various kinds of cargoes in various combinations. If the tweendeck pontoons are removed the ship can carry bulk cargo. These tweendeck pontoons are supported by removable or foldable tweendeck consoles. These consoles are provided in openings in the inner wall of the ships cargo space. When the tweendecks are removed, the cargo space can be divided into a number of spaces by bulkheads . To prevent that the consoles are impacted by moving tweendeck pontoons or used equipment when the bulkheads are placed, the consoles should be moved out of the way. To that end, in some types of ships the bulkheads are folded into their respective openings . In other types of cargo ships the consoles can be removed out of their openings . In both cases, the openings should be closed off to prevent penetration of the carried bulk mass . Hitherto, these openings are presently closed off by metal sheet plates using clips and a rotatable lock . In practice these plates do not seal

effectively. The clips tend to break off and the plates are sensitive to corrosion under the influence of moisture and the carried bulk materials . It is an obj ect of the invention to provide an effectively sealing closing member for openings in a wall of a cargo space in a ship, in particular openings for tweendeck consoles, which plates can easily and quickly be placed and removed.

The ob ect of the invention is achieved with a cove member provided with a front side having a flat surface and a back side comprising a sliding member matching the width of the opening. Such a cover can be easily placed and can form a tight and sealing fit with the opening. The flat front surface makes it possible to position the cover member in such a way that it is flush with the cargo space wall or does at least not

protrude from the cargo space wa11. This reduced the risk of exposure to impact loads , e.g., when tweendecks or bulkheads are moved to be put in place .

In a first embodiment the sliding member can have a shape matching with the circumference of the opening, so the sliding member can simply be plugged into the ope ing to be covered . Such a cover plug is particularly useful for openings for receiving removable tweendeck consoles.

In an alternative embodiment , more suitable for openings for foldable tweendeck supports , the cover member may

comprise one flat side and an opposite side provided with a first end with a gripping member and an opposite second end provided with the sliding member, wherein the gripping member has a recess facing away from the sliding member and forming a first contact surface of a width corresponding to the thickness of the wall at the edge of the opening wherein the sliding member comprises a second contact surface facing away from the gripping member, wherein the first and second contact surfaces are configured to form a tight fit between opposite edges of the opening. Such a cover member can be easily placed by positioning it in such way that the recess of the gripping member grips around a first edge of the opening. Subsequently the plate is tilted to slide the sliding member into the opening to have it clamped against an edge of the opening opposite to the edge cooperating with the gripping member .

Preferably, the cover member is at least partly made of a plastic material, such as polyca bonate or a fibre reinforced plastic or any other suitable type of plastic. Polycarbonate has the advantage of a very high impact strength . Optionally, the plastic cover member may comprise a steel plate core .

Alternatively, the cover member can wholly or partly be made of steel, aluminium, wood or the like .

In order to save weight, t e cover member can be hollo . To improve mechanical strength and stiffness of the cover member, it can for example be filled with a foam.

The cover member can for instance be produced by rotational moulding, by injection moulding and/or by machining . Other suitable production methods can also be used . To secure the cover member in its position the grip and/or the sliding member can be provided with one or more resilient sealing elements , such as rubber sealing strips . Sealing strips of other elastomeric materials, or inflatable strips can also be used .

Alternatively, or additionally, the contact surface of the sliding member can be provided with one or more magnets. To reduce the risk of exposure to impact loads, e.g., by tweendeck pontoons or bulkheads which are moved to be

positioned, the cover member should be flush with the

surrounding wall of the cargo space. This can for example be achieved if the edge of the cover member is received in a matching recess bordering at least a part of the opening . To this end the back side of the cover member can for example comprise a flat peripheral edge section, in such a way that the sliding member and the gripping member are at a distance from the outer edge , wherein the opening to be sealed is bordered by a matching recess for receiving the flat edge section . To improve sealing the peripheral edge section can be provided with a rubber strip at the back side of the cover member . The invention does not only relate to the cover member as such but also to a ship provided with one or more of such cover members , either on stock or fitted in corresponding openings . o reduce the isk of impact loads impacting the cover members , cover members should be used which are flush with the

respective wall of the cargo space after being positioned.

The invention also pertains to a method of covering an opening in a wall of a cargo space using the covering plates described above .

The present invention will be elucidated with reference to the figures wherein :

Figure 1A: shows in side view an exemplary embodiment of a cover member according to the invention;

Figure IB : shows the cover member of Figure 1A in plan

view; shows in cross section an opening in a wall of a cargo space sealed by the cover member of Figure 1 with a tweendeck console in a folded position; shows the opening of Figure 2A with an expanded tweendeck console;

shows in perspective view an alternative

embodiment of a cover member;

shows in side view the cover member of Figure 3; shows a further embodiment of a cover member arranged with an opening of a ship wall ;

shows a further embodiment of a cover member .

Figure 1A and IB show a cover member 1 for covering an opening in a wall of a cargo space . The cover member 1 comprises a plate 2 with a flat front surface and a back side 3 with a first end 4 with a gripping member 5. At the opposite second end 6 the back side 3 is provided with a sliding member 7. In plan view the gripping member 5 and the sliding member 7 have a rectangular shape. The gripping member 5 has a recess 8 facing away from the sliding member 7. The bottom of the recess 8 carries a rubber strip 9. When the cover member 1 is positioned in an opening (see Figure 2A) the rubber strip 9 pushes the cover member down in a resilient member. The side 10 of the gripping member 5 opposite the side with the recess 8 is chamfered . The sliding member 7 is triangular in cross section and has a slanting surface 11 facing the gripping member 5, and a flat contact surface 12 which is substantially under right angles with the surface of the back side 3. The flat contact surface 12 can be provided with a rubber strip 13.

Alternatively, or additionally, the contact surface 12 can be provided with one or more magnets . A peripheral edge section 14 of the hack side 3 is left free by the gripper member 5 and the sliding member 7. The edge section 14 runs along the full outline of the back side 3 and can be provided with a rubber strip 15.

The cover member 1 as shown in Figures 1A and IB with the gripping member 5 and sliding member 7 is a single integral part moulded of a plastic material. Alternatively, it can be assembled of a number of separate parts.

In an alternative embodiment, the cover member of Figure 1 can be provided with a grip .

Figure 2A shows the cover member 1 in use, sealing an opening 20 in a wall 21 of a cargo space 22 of a shi . The opening 20 gives access to a foidable support 23, which can be folded about a pivot axis 24 to a position for supporting a tweendeck pontoon 25, as shown in Figure 2B . The opening 20 is bordered by a recess 26 for receiving the edge section 14 of the cover member 1 in such a way that the front side 2 of the cover member 1 is flush with the wall 21 of the ship . This way exposure to impact loads , e.g., by a tweendeck pontoon or bulkhead which is moved to be positioned, is substantially reduced .

The recess 8 of the cover member 1 forms a contact surface of a width corresponding to the local thickness of the wail 21 at the edge of the opening 20. The contact surface of the recess 8 and the contact surface 12 of the sliding member 7 a e

configured to form a tight fit between opposite edges of the opening 20. The rubber strip 9 in the recess 8 and the rubber strip 13 on the contact surface 12 of the sliding member 7 clamp between the edges of the opening 20.

In another embodiment, the rubber strip 13 on the contact surface 12 of the sliding number can be combined with, or replaced by one or more magnets .

Figure 3 shows a perspective representation of an alternative cover member 30, shown in side view in Figure 4. This

embodiment is particularly suitable for closing openings for removable tweendeck consoles . The cover membe 30 is provided with a front side 31 having a flat surface and a back side 32 comprising a sliding member 33 matching the width and height of the opening to be covered to form a tight, but releasable fit. This way, the cover member 30 can be plugged into the opening to be covered after removal of the tweendeck console. The sliding member 33 comprises a first rectangular section 34 capped by a back section 35 shaped to fill up the major part of the opening to be plugged . The back section 35 is enforced by ribs 36.

The front side of the cover member 30 is provided with a cavity 37, which is semi-cylindrical in this embodiment but which may have any other suitable shape . The cavity is bridged by a grip bar 38 allowing a firm and easy grip for a user positioning or removing the cover member 30.

The front side 31 and the sliding member 33 are spaced by a circumferential recess 39 for receiving a sealing strip 48 with a resilient sealing lip 49. To save weight the cover member 30 can be hollow. The cover member 30 can for instance be of a rigid plastic material , such as a polyethylene or a polypropylene, e.g., by injection moulding or rotational moulding.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a cover member 40 which is similar to the cover member in Figure 3, but has a

differently shaped back section 41, profiled to follow the shape of the abutting ship wall part 42 within the opening 43 in the ship wail 44. The cover member 40 comprises a front plate 45 and a sliding member 46 separated by a peripheral seal strip 47, e.g., of an elastomeric or rubber material , for sealing off the opening 43 after positioning the cover member 40.

Figure 6 shows in side view a further embodiment of a cover plate 50, which is similar to the cover plate of Figure 1A, with the difference that it is provided with a sliding member 51 having a recess 52 in its lower contact surface 53 and its side surfaces 54. The recess 52 is filled with a rubber sealing strip 55 comprising a resilient sealing lip 56 extending towards the front of the cover plate 50.

Similarly, the sliding member 58 is provided with a recess 59 extending along upper contact face 60 and side faces 61. The recess 59 is filled with a rubber sealing strip 62 comprising a resilient sealing lip 65 extending towards the f ont of the cover plate 50.

Optionally, the cover plate 50 can be provided with a grip for ease of handling .