Technical field

The present invention generally concerns the field of providing utilities such as electric power from shore to floating vessels.

More particularly, it relates in some examples to apparatus including a cable management system for storing electrical cables. Examples may have particular use in applications for feeding power from an onshore power grid through flexible cables to a floating vessel. In various examples, the apparatus may perform both at surface splash zone and for subsurface and subsea applications.

Background

Shore power is established to achieve a greener, less polluted, and less noisy port environment. It is applied in ports around the world, and has a significant positive effect on local C02, particular matter SOT and NOX emissions. This environmental benefit happens as the vessels can turn off their onboard diesel power generator, when connected to onshore clean power supply.

Quays are often congested spaces with a lot of activity ongoing both when floating vessels are moored and in cases where vessel is not present. An increased demand for shore power to floating vessels is imposed by governments all around the world. Today this is normally done by installing equipment such as cabinets, cable reels and cable towers on the quay front. This often diminishes the quay flexibility and often make standard operation such as craning and forklift operations difficult to perform due to obstacles on the quay.

At present there are several systems available on the market that can provide shore power to floating vessels, these systems are normally placed on top of the quay, such as cable reels, cabinets and cable towers and is used for storing cables that shall be lifted onboard the floating vessel. Equipment placed on the quay will often be an obstacle for the ongoing activities on the quay.

Published patent application number US 2013/0341 144 A1 describes a power supply device for a ship stationed on a mooring of a harbor and includes a land-based, horizontally displaceable carriage, on which a power supply line with a plug is disposed for supplying ship with electrical energy.

The publication by Cavotec entitled“Ports & Maritime”, Market Unit Brochure, May 2011 , describes a system for storing a cable in a duct integrated into the quay.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for providing power or/and other utility from shore to a floating vessel, as set out in claim 1 of the claims appended hereto.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transferring at least one utility between a vessel and shore, as set out in claim 22 of the claims appended hereto.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for providing power or/and other utility from shore to a floating vessel through at least one flexible elongate member, as set out in claim 23 of the claims appended hereto.

Various objectives and advantages that may be associated with one or more embodiments of the various aspects of the invention are identified in the following. One major objective is to manage one or more flexible electric cables, from shore to and from a floating vessel. To vessels moored in the harbour, free floating, or at anchored inshore in a fjord or harbour. Some embodiments can be designed for feeding electric power through mentioned flexible cables, from an onshore power grid, to the vessels, without taking up any valuable quay space, improving greatly existing reel and tower-based cable feed solutions, on the market today. Some embodiments can be designed to achieve a better, no space demanding front- end shore power distribution system.

Another major objective is to feed power to the vessels without any power derating, as the cables are not spooled onto a reel. This can provide a clear advantage compared to a reel- based system that has a significant heat derating and resulting power loss.

Some embodiments can include using a tube/well system can be applied from 0-90 degrees on the water line, as the local conditions in the port, fjord or open harbour dictates. For example, it can be built below, or into quay structures, or in some cases mounted on top of the quay deck. Some embodiments can include using an internal electric powered cable injector system, and a corresponding electric powered cable“zip-lock” system for a controlled feeding sequence of cable, in and out of the tube/well, and for securing the cable in a tailor made ducting system, during cable storage situations.

Some embodiments can be electrically operated and have internal control and power drive system, that will operate the cable in and out, and store the cables automatically, with very little or no service demand. All based on existing proven and secure industrial servo drive control solutions

Some embodiments of invention are distinguished from existing reel or tower-based systems with a unique and totally different design. It will require no deck space on the quay. Only a quay hatch will be visible, where the cables come out from below the quay structure, in desired cable lengths. No obstacles for trucks and cranes, carrying goods, as all quay space will be intact for regular port logistics.

Some embodiments of the invention can also be used as an anchored floating version. Typically anchored in the open sea, in open water in a harbour, or in a fjord. Attached to a floating raft or just a floating power buoy, so a vessel can attach to floating shore power, while at anchor in a fjord, or just waiting for mooring and slot time in a busy harbour.

A primary objective is to provide a system for feeding electric power through mentioned flexible cables, from an onshore power grid, to the vessels, without taking up any valuable quay space.

Another primary objective is to provide a solution intended for this shore power market. It is designed to store and administrate on or more flexible electric cables, from shore, to and from floating vessels. Vessels moored in the harbour, free floating, or at anchor in the sea. This multiple power cable feed device is unique among existing cable management systems known in the market.

Another primary objective is to provide a, cable feed system below or integrated in the quay, submerged or partly submerged, that store and manage the cable lengths inside a cable tube, or cable well. One or more cables can be applied in the tube, as dictated by the harbour application power demand, based again on the vessel(s) power demand. Another primary objective is to provide a sea water tight unit, that can withstand outside water pressure, provided the other open-end reach above the water line. This make the design very flexible, and an ideal solution for shore power feed to free floating cruise vessels in fjords.

Another primary objective is to provide a tube/well that has an open duct, where the cable(s) goes in and out of the tube/well. An opening that can be run through the quay deck and be secured in the quay deck through a bolted flange. This flange can be applied with a top hatch, to cap and secure the device from unintended incidents, and act as a weather seal. Embodiments of the invention segregates itself from existing reel or tower-based systems with a unique design, that will require no deck space on the quay. Only a quay hatch may be sufficient, where the cables can come out from below the quay, in desired lengths. No obstacles for trucks and cranes, carrying goods, as all quay space will be intact for regular port logistics.

In embodiments of the invention, the apparatus will not appear on the quay, and can be built below, or into quay structures and the cable duct system will be hidden away, and has a tube/well that has an open end, where the cable(s) go in and out of the tube/well, and an opening that can be run through the quay deck and be secured in the quay deck through a bolted flange.

Various further objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become more apparent by reference to the following description and drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts.

Description and drawings

The various abovementioned aspects of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective representation of apparatus including a shore power cable management device installed under a quay;

Figure 2 is perspective cut away representation of the apparatus of Figure 1 showing the interior of the cable management device;

Figure 3 is another side perspective cut away representation of the cable management device of apparatus of Figure 1 showing the interior of the cable management device; Figure 4 is a close-up view of the circled area A of Figure 3, showing in particular a cable feeder system comprising a cable injector;

Figure 5 is a close-up view of the circled area B of Figure 3, showing in particular a travel device comprising a cable sheave wheel;

Figure 6 is a side sectional representation of the apparatus of Figure 1 with the shore power cable management device installed under the quay;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional representation along the line X-X of Figure 7, in larger scale;

Figure 8 is a close-up view of the circled area C of Figure 6; and

Figure 9 is a close-up view of the circled area D of Figure 6.

With reference first to Figures 1 and 2, apparatus 100 for providing at least one utility between shore and a vessel is generally depicted. The apparatus 100 includes a well 1 which is mounted to the underside of the quay 20. The apparatus includes a cable 10 for providing the utility between the shore and the vessel, which at one end is provided with a connector 9, and at its other end is connected to a utility supply, in this example through a junction box 4. The well 1 has an elongate main structure 1 , extending from a first end 41 to a second end 42. The cable 10 takes a path through the main structure and is fed through a tower so that the connectors can be pushed upward from the tower and extend as necessary to allow connection to the vessel. The path of the cable in the well 1 can be configured to determine the amount of extension of the cable 10 from the well 1 above the quay.

To this end, the well 1 is provided with a cable management system, which includes a feed device in the form of an injector 1 1 for feeding the cable in or out of the main structure 1 m, a travel device in the form of a sheave wheel 17 arranged to travel along an inside of the main structure 1 m for controlling the path of the cable inside the main structure 1 m, and ducting in which the cable 10 is located and supported for guiding the cable inside the main structure 1 m between the injector 1 1 and the travel device 17.

The utility referred to in various examples herein is electrical power, but other services or utility could be deliverable through suitable cables in same or similar manner, and multiple such services or utility could be delivered through the same cable 10, e.g. the cable could have one or more fluid conduits for supplying fluid, e.g. hydraulics for power or control, one or more electrical conductors for conveying electrical power, and/or one or more optical fiber members for communicating data along the cable. Figure 3 illustrates the shore power cable management system installed under a quay 20. The quay may for instance have a concrete deck structure and quay pillar system 21. The sea level 22 will vary with tide water and the main structure 1 m of the well 1 containing the shore power cable management system may in some cases be fully submerged. The main structure 1 m of the well 1 is configured to be water tight so as to avoid seawater ingress to the shore power cable management system.

In Figures 3 to 5, a typical layout of the cable management system within a cable well 1 is depicted with its cable injector system (A) and cable sheave wheel system (B). The cable well 1 is in some examples installed and secured at the underside of a quay 20, such as in Figures 6 to 9 in which the cable well 1 can be secured as shown using one or more quay mounting brackets 5 and quay attachment supports 6. As can be seen, the cable well 1 is also equipped with one or more ducts 2 used for entrance into the cable well from the quay. The cable ducts 2 also function as an attachment structure for attachment to the quay 20. Section X-X in Figure 6 shows the cable well device 1 in front view with its cable injector device 1 1 and cable duct 2 penetrating the quay 20.

Referring additionally now to Figures 6 to 9, the cable feeder junction box 4 feeds electrical power from an inshore power grid through the cables. The cables 10 penetrate from the junction box 4 through a duct 2 into the cable well main structure 1 m. The junction box 4 is in this case fixed in position. From the cable feeder junction box 4 the cable 10 is captured in the upper cable storage duct 18 and runs along the inside of the main structure 1 m to the cable sheave wheel 16, and further from the cable sheave wheel 16 through the lower cable duct 15, and into the cable injector device 1 1. From the cable injector device 1 1 the cable enters the cable tower 8 and ends in an electrical connector 9. The cable connector, e.g. plug, provides the interface to the floating vessel, e.g. a ship.

In Figure 7, the front end of the shore power cable management device can be seen in further detail. The cable inlet from junction box 4 is seen entering into a cable bend restrictor system before entering the upper cable duct zip lock system 18. In Figure 8, the cable injector device 1 1 is shown in further detail. The injector device 1 1 includes the injector rollers with integrated motors 12 and the injector tension rollers 13 used to feed the cable in and out of the cable well 1. The injector 1 1 roller system is formed in a way to prevent damage to the cable 10 and may have friction type of coating or materials attached. The injector device 1 1 also include a utility power box 19 for feeding power and communication to the cable injector device 1 1 . The power and control cable are connected to the power junction box 4. In Figure 9, the cable sheave wheel 16 and components are seen in further detail. The cable sheave wheel 16 is secured inside the cable well 1 by a rail system rolling on top of the upper cable storage duct 18. The rolling system contains a plurality of guide wheels 17 that follow a track and enable the cable sheave wheel 16 to move in forward and reverse directions along the track inside the cable well 1 , toward or away from the first end 41 . The shore power cable 10 is laid around the cable sheave wheel 16 in a 180-degree circle or arc, enabling the cable 10 to enter into the lower cable duct system 14 and 15. To secure the cable 10 around the cable sheave wheel 16 a plurality of rollers 23 are attached to the cable sheave wheel 16. In this way, the cable 10 is kept in position against the arc for the cable defined by the sheave wheel 16, yet allows the cable to move longitudinally around the sheave wheel as it is moved toward or away from the first end 41.

As the injector 1 1 is operated via the rollers to drive the cable 10 out of the well, the sheave wheel 16 the toward the first end 41 and the cable 10 which is passed around it is urged toward the first end 41 . The cable is urged through the injector device 1 1 , up through the opening of the well tower 8 and upward out of the well to a desired length of extension above the quay 20. In order to retract the cable 9 back into the well 1 , the injector may be operated in the opposite direction, the cable 10 and sheave wheel 16 is urged in the opposite direction, e.g. so that it travels toward the second end 42.

It may be understood that when operating the cable injector device 1 1 , e.g. via motors, and at the same time lifting the electrical connector 9 as an example onto a floating vessel for feeding of shore power, that the cable sheave wheel 16 will move towards the cable injector 1 1 at the first end 41 . The cable sheave wheel 1 1 rotates due to the fixed length of the cable between the cable junction box 4 and cable sheave wheel 16. Dependent on length of cable feed to the floating vessel the sheave wheel 16 may in some cases move all the way to the cable injector, or if less cable is required the cable sheave wheel 14 is moved to a position somewhere between the parking position as illustrated in Figure 6 and the cable injector 1 1.

The description above reflects the movement of one sheave wheel 16 and one cable 10. Flowever, this cable management system may include several cables and sheave wheels in the same cable well 1 all independently operated by separate cable injector 1 1 , sheave wheel 16, and upper and lower cable ducts 15 and 18. The cable may therefore be operated so that each can have a different amount of extension. Shore power systems for large floating vessels such as cruise ships may require several shore power cables, typically four or more to give sufficient power supply. In various examples an upper cable storage duct 18 is used. The upper cable storage duct 18 has a zip lock system for retaining the cable inside the duct 18. This may be done by using spring activated mechanism. The release mechanism for the zip lock system and to remove the cable 10 in and out of the upper cable storage duct 18 is managed by the moving sheave wheel 16. When the sheave wheel 16 is moving towards the cable injector 1 1 the sheave wheel trolley 17 will release the cable 10 from the upper cable storage duct 18 as it travels towards the cable injector 1 1 . The opposite takes place, when the sheave wheel 16 is moving away from the cable injector 1 1 the sheave wheel trolley 17 will open the cable securing device inside the upper cable storage duct 18 and the sheave wheel 16 will during horizontal movement away from the cable injector 1 1 push the cable into the upper duct cable storage duct 18.

In various examples a lower cable duct device 14 and 15 is used. The lower cable duct includes duct sidewalls 14 held together by a plurality of cable duct rollers 15. The lower cable duct 14 controls the cable between the cable injector 1 1 and the sheave wheel 16 as the injector 1 1 pushes or pulls the cable 10 in or out of the cable well 1 .

The apparatus also includes access for maintenance. Illustration of separate maintenance ducts 7 with manhole covers are shown.

In use, a vessel such as a ship is moored to the quay 20. The ship typically then requires access to shore power or other utilities, which is supplied through the cable 10 to the ship from an onshore supply, e.g. via junction box 4. The ship has connection points for connection to the appropriate cables from quayside. The injector 1 1 and/or the sheave wheel 16 is operated to urge the end of the cable 10 fitted with the connector 9 out of the well 1 to the necessary length, and the connector 9 is connected to the appropriate connection point on the ship. Power, data, chemicals, fluid, water and/or other utility is communicated between the shore and ship through the cable 10 which runs through the well 1 1 mounted underneath the quay. Before the ship departs, the connector 9 is disconnected, and the cable 10 is retracted by operation of the injector 1 1 and/or the sheave wheel 16 to allow the cable to be pulled back into the well 1 1 .

In an alternative, the sheave wheel 16 may be motorised to drive, or help the injector 1 1 to drive, the movement of the cable 10 into or out of the well 1 . The injector and/or the sheave wheel may be operated using a control system, e.g. from the quay. It can be appreciated that the injector 1 1 is an example of a feed device that operates by rollers that are driven to rotate and act upon the cable 10 to urge it longitudinally out of or into the well 1. The sheave wheel 16 is an example of a travel device which in other examples could be implemented without a rotatable sheave wheel. For instance, the travel device may comprise an arc track against which the cablel O is held against, but in which the cable is slidable longitudinally along the track around the arc as it is moved toward or away from the first end 41.

Various variants and modifications are conceivable within the scope of the subsequent patent claims.

The cable duct can be used, for example, not only to conduct electric cabling, but also for other components, for example optic fibers and water hoses. The invention may also be used in other applications where quays are not available, such as in a variant to provide shore power to a vessel in a fjord. The well 1 with shore power cable management system may in such case be installed on a floating raft device on the sea in mid water or put at the seabed. In such examples, the access ducts 7, 8 to the well 1 extend through the water column to free air. The cable duct could in other variants alternatively be arranged vertically, e.g. a longitudinal axis of the main structure 1 m from first to second ends 41 , 42, is vertical or at any angle between horizontal or vertical, depending upon

requirements, e.g. space constraints.

The cable of the examples above may in other variants be replaced by a flexible elongate member such as flexible tubing, hose, pipe, rod. This can depend on the utility sought to be communicated through the flexible elongate member.