JP7660986B2 - Cross-linking device - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a bridge device, and more specifically, to a mechanism for preventing people from falling off a bridge when transferring from a ship to an offshore facility.

A movable pier is known that has a top plate supported by a six-degree-of-freedom motion base and a bridge girder section extending laterally from the top surface of the top plate as a mechanism for suppressing the rocking of the bridge girder section and maintaining stability when transferring from a ship to an offshore facility in a rough wave environment. The bridge girder section is configured by connecting multiple segments in the longitudinal direction, and has at least one horizontal rotation mechanism that connects adjacent segments in the longitudinal direction and at least one vertical rotation mechanism that connects adjacent segments in the longitudinal direction, allowing the segments connected via the horizontal rotation mechanism to rotate horizontally around the horizontal rotation mechanism and allowing the segments connected via the vertical rotation mechanism to rotate vertically around the vertical rotation mechanism, and further connecting the magnets attached to the tip of the bridge girder section to the offshore facility by attraction (Patent Document 1).

JP 2015-137451 A

However, in the case of the movable pier of Patent Document 1, when irregular and sudden waves occur, there is a risk that the tip of the bridge girder or the connection between the sections may be damaged because the tip of the bridge girder is connected to the offshore equipment by a magnet. In that case, there is a problem that workers attempting to get on may fall off or the tip of the bridge girder may collide with the offshore equipment.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a bridge device that can prevent the tip of the bridge from detaching from the target facility and prevent workers from falling off even when momentary, irregular movements occur due to the effects of waves or other factors.

In order to solve the above problems, the bridging device according to the present invention has a bridging section, one end of which is supported by a shaft and can tilt upward and downward, an access section connected to the other end of the bridging section so that they can tilt freely relative to each other, and a tilt control mechanism that controls the tilt of the access section relative to the bridging section to keep the angle of the access section relative to the horizontal direction constant, and is characterized in that the access section has a fixed stage connected to the other end of the bridging section, a mobile stage that can move in the forward and backward directions relative to the fixed stage, and a biasing means interposed between the fixed stage and the mobile stage for biasing the mobile stage forward so that it protrudes forward from the fixed stage.

The bridge device according to the present invention may have a tilt control mechanism that includes a parallel link that is arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bridge section and has one end on the same side as the one end of the bridge section supported by a shaft, and that tilts upward and downward while remaining parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bridge section, and a link front end connecting post that is rotatably connected to the other end of the bridge section and to the other end of the parallel link, so that the tilt angle relative to the horizontal direction is kept constant when the bridge section and the parallel link tilt, and the angle of tilt of the access section relative to the link front end connecting post may be fixed at a predetermined angle.

The bridging device according to the present invention may have a tilt control mechanism that includes a cylinder tube and a piston rod that can move back and forth relative to the cylinder tube, a telescopic actuator that is attached to the bridging section, and a link member that connects the piston rod to the fixed stage, and the telescopic actuator extends and retracts in response to the tilting movement of the bridging section, thereby causing the access section to tilt relative to the bridging section via the link member.

The bridging device according to the present invention may further include a shock absorbing means interposed between the fixed stage and the biasing means for absorbing a backward load acting on the biasing means due to an external force acting on the moving stage.

The bridging device according to the present invention may be configured so that at least one of a cushion member and a roller is attached to the front end of the moving stage.

The bridging device according to the present invention may be equipped with at least one of a light and a speaker that is activated when the amount of movement of the movable stage in the forward and backward directions relative to the fixed stage approaches or reaches the maximum amount of movement possible.

The bridging device according to the present invention may be equipped with at least one of a light and a speaker that operates in conjunction with whether or not the tip of the moving stage is in contact with the target facility.

According to the bridge device of the present invention, the access section has a fixed stage connected to the other end of the bridge section, a mobile stage that can move in the fore-and-aft direction relative to the fixed stage, and a biasing means that is interposed between the fixed stage and the mobile stage and biases the mobile stage forward so that it projects forward from the fixed stage. Therefore, when the hull is momentarily and irregularly shaken by irregular and sudden waves and the fore-and-aft distance between the access section and the landing target of the offshore facility changes, the mobile stage can move forward and backward relative to the fixed stage in response to the change in the fore-and-aft distance, maintaining a state in which it is pressed against the landing target. This prevents the access section from detaching from the landing target, creating a gap between the mobile stage and the landing target, which could cause a worker to lose his footing or even fall, ensuring the safety of the transfer to the landing target, and also prevents a situation in which the access section hits (or is stuck on) the landing target and the bridge section cannot tilt upward or downward.

According to the bridge device of this invention, if the angle of inclination of the access section relative to the front end connecting column of the link, which maintains a constant angle of inclination relative to the horizontal direction when the bridge section and parallel links are tilted, is fixed at a predetermined angle, the stage of the access section can be always kept in a constant position when the bridge section and parallel links are tilted, and the plate surface of the stage can always be kept horizontal, for example. This makes it possible to prevent the access section stage from tilting, causing the worker to lose balance, fall, or lean forward and collide with the landing target, or even fall, and ensures the safety of transferring to the landing target.

According to the bridge device of the present invention, when the telescopic actuator telescopically moves in response to the tilting movement of the bridge section, causing the access section to tilt relative to the bridge section, the stage of the access section can be kept in a constant position when the bridge section tilts, and the plate surface of the stage can be kept, for example, always horizontal. This prevents the access section stage from tilting, causing the worker to lose balance, fall, or lean forward and collide with the landing target, or even fall, ensuring the safety of the worker when transferring to the landing target.

When the bridging device of this invention has a shock absorbing means for absorbing the backward load acting on the biasing means, it is possible to prevent excessive load from acting on the biasing means provided between the fixed stage and the moving stage, thereby preventing damage to the biasing means, thereby maintaining the integrity of the bridging device and ensuring the safety of workers attempting to move from the access section to the landing target.

When the bridge device of this invention is provided with a cushioning member or rollers at the front end of the moving stage, it is possible to prevent damage to the access part and the landing target or offshore equipment when they come into contact with each other, and it is possible to ensure the sliding properties of the access part and the landing target or offshore equipment when they move relative to each other in the vertical direction while in contact with each other, thereby preventing damage to each of them. This in turn maintains the integrity of the bridge device and ensures the safety of workers attempting to move from the access part to the landing target.

When the bridging device of this invention is equipped with lights and speakers that operate according to the amount of forward and backward movement of the moving stage, it can notify workers when there is no room for movement of the moving stage or when said movement has reached its maximum, making it possible to further ensure the safety of workers.

If the bridging device of this invention is equipped with a light and a speaker that operate in conjunction with whether or not the tip of the moving stage is in contact with the target equipment, it can notify the worker whether or not the tip of the moving stage is in contact with the target equipment, making it possible to further ensure the safety of the worker.

1 is a front right upper perspective view showing an overall structure of a bridging device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear left upper perspective view of the bridging device of FIG. 1 . 2 is a side view of the bridging device of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the longitudinal direction of the bridging portion is aligned horizontally and the movable stage of the access portion is in a retracted position above the fixed stage. FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the bridging portion of the bridging device of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the bridging portion has been tilted upward from the state of FIG. 3; FIG. 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the bridging portion of the bridging device of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the bridging portion has been tilted downward from the state of FIG. 3; FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the front end of the bridge portion and the access portion of the bridge device of FIG. 1 . 4 is a side view for explaining the operation of the access part of the bridging device of FIG. 1, showing a state in which the moving stage of the access part has moved forward from the state of FIG. 3; FIG. FIG. 8 is a front right upper perspective view of the state shown in FIG. 7 . FIG. 8 is a rear left upper perspective view of the state shown in FIG. 7 . FIG. 11 is a side view showing the overall structure of a bridging device according to embodiment 2 of the present invention, in which the longitudinal direction of the bridging section is aligned horizontally and the movable stage of the access section is in a retracted position above the fixed stage. 11 is a side view for explaining the operation of the bridging portion of the bridging device of FIG. 10, showing a state in which the bridging portion has been tilted upward from the state of FIG. 10; FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view showing the overall structure of a bridging device according to embodiment 3 of the present invention, in which the longitudinal direction of the bridging section is aligned horizontally and the movable stage of the access section is in a retracted position above the fixed stage. 13 is a side view for explaining the operation of the bridging portion of the bridging device of FIG. 12, showing a state in which the bridging portion has been tilted upward from the state of FIG. 12. FIG.

The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiment. In the following embodiment, the case where the bridge device 1 according to the present invention is installed on a ship will be described as an example. In the following description, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions are defined according to the directions of the arrows along the axes of a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system, as shown in each figure.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are perspective views showing the overall structure of a bridging device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The bridging device 1 is a mechanism that is bridged between a ship and a landing target of an offshore facility and is used when workers transfer from the ship to the offshore facility. Specific examples of the offshore facility include offshore wind power generation facilities and seabed mineral drilling platforms that are installed on the sea. Specific examples of the landing target of the offshore facility (in other words, the target facility) include a vertical ladder installed on the offshore facility and a wall of the offshore facility.

The bridge device 1 according to this embodiment 1 mainly comprises a motion compensation mechanism 2 installed on the deck of the ship, a main table 3 installed on top of the motion compensation mechanism 2, a bridge section 4 connected to the main table 3, a swing operation mechanism 5 for tilting (in other words, swinging) the bridge section 4, an access section 6 connected to the front end (in other words, the tip) of the bridge section 4, and a link mechanism 7 for controlling the tilt of the access section 6 relative to the bridge section 4. Note that the following description is based on the assumption that the longitudinal direction of the bridge section 4 is aligned with the fore-aft direction.

The motion compensation mechanism 2 has a hexapod-type configuration and is a mechanism for compensating for the motion (particularly the tilt) of the vessel caused by the influence of waves and other factors, thereby keeping the main table 3 horizontal.

The motion compensation mechanism 2 has a base frame 21 that is fixed to the deck of the ship, and six extendable actuators 22, one end of which is connected to the base frame 21 via a universal joint and the other end of which is connected to the main table 3 via a universal joint.

The base frame 21 is made, for example, of steel and is firmly fixed in position to the deck of the ship.

Each actuator 22 is, for example, an electric cylinder, and is controlled by a control device (not shown) to extend or retract.

The six actuators 22 allow the motion compensation mechanism 2 to operate as a six-axis device with six degrees of freedom. Specifically, when the hull is affected by waves or other factors and moves in the roll, pitch, and yaw directions, the motion compensation mechanism 2 operates to keep the main table 3 horizontal by controlling the extension and contraction of each actuator 22.

The main table 3 is formed into a polygonal plate shape in a plan view, and is supported so that the direction and degree of inclination of the plate surface can be controlled by expanding and contracting the six actuators 22 of the sway correction mechanism 2.

In the example shown in FIG. 1 etc., an auxiliary table 31 is attached to expand the space above the main table 3. Table handrails 32 are attached to the left and right edges of the top surface of the main table 3 and the auxiliary table 31, straddling the main table 3 and the auxiliary table 31. It is preferable that the main table 3 and the auxiliary table 31 are made lightweight, for example by using an aluminum frame or adopting a honeycomb structure.

The bridge section 4 functions as a passageway (in other words, a bridge girder) that spans between the main table 3 and the landing target of the offshore facility, and is formed in the shape of a long plate. Bridge handrails 41 are attached to the left and right edges of the upper surface of the bridge section 4.

The bridging portion 4 is rotatably connected to the front end of the main table 3 by being supported at its end on the main table 3 side (i.e., the rear end) via the bridging rear end rotation shaft 71 arranged along the left-right direction. As a result, the bridging portion 4 is attached to the main table 3 so that it can tilt upward with respect to the plate surface of the main table 3 (in this case, it tilts at an elevation angle when viewed from the main table 3) and downward (in this case, it tilts at a depression angle when viewed from the main table 3) with the bridging rear end rotation shaft 71 as the center of rotation. The bridging portion 4 is preferably formed to be lightweight, for example by using aluminum or fiber-reinforced plastic.

The swing operation mechanism 5 is a mechanism for tilting the bridge section 4 relative to the main table 3 so as to correct the swaying (particularly the up and down movement) of the vessel caused by the influence of waves and the like, and to align the relative positional relationship in the up and down direction between the access section 6 connected to the front end (tip) of the bridge section 4 and the landing target of the offshore facility, thereby eliminating the difference in height between the two. The swing operation mechanism 5 has an operation arm 51 and a drive device 52 that operates the operation arm 51.

The operating arm 51 is formed in a mountain shape (in other words, an upside-down V shape) with a bent portion 511 in a side view, and has a first arm 512 on the front side and a second arm 513 on the rear side, sandwiching the bent portion 511. The tip end (front end, lower end) of the first arm 512 is fixed and attached at a position toward the center in the longitudinal direction of the bridge portion 4, and the tip end (lower end) of the second arm 513 is rotatably connected to the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71.

The drive unit 52 is a drive source for operating the operating arm 51 to tilt the bridge portion 4 relative to the main table 3. The drive unit 52 is, for example, composed of an electric cylinder, and is controlled by a control device (not shown) to perform an extending and retracting operation, thereby rotating the operating arm 51. The drive unit 52 has a cylinder tube 521 and a piston rod 522 that can freely advance and retreat (in other words, can freely move in and out) relative to the cylinder tube 521.

The drive unit 52 is disposed between the main table 3 and the bent portion 511 of the operating arm 51. The cylinder tube 521 of the drive unit 52 is inclined with the piston rod 522 side facing upward, and the rear end (lower end) is axially supported via a rotating shaft arranged along the left-right direction relative to the main table 3 (including the auxiliary table 31) so as to be freely swingable. The piston rod 522 of the drive unit 52 has a tip end (upper end) axially supported via a rotating shaft arranged along the left-right direction by the bent portion 511 of the operating arm 51, and the two are connected to be freely rotatable relative to each other.

For example, when the drive unit 52 contracts from a state in which the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridge portion 4 is aligned horizontally (FIG. 3), the bent portion 511 of the operating arm 51 is pulled backward (in other words, retracted), the operating arm 51 rotates around the tip end (lower end) of the second arm 513 connected to the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71 as the center of rotation, and the bridge portion 4 to which the tip end (front end, lower end) of the first arm 512 is fixed is tilted upward relative to the surface of the main table 3 (FIG. 4).

On the other hand, for example, when the driving device 52 extends from a state in which the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4 is aligned horizontally (FIG. 3), the bent portion 511 of the operating arm 51 is pushed forward, the operating arm 51 rotates around the tip end (lower end) of the second arm 513 connected to the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71 as the center of rotation, and the bridging portion 4 to which the tip end (front end, lower end) of the first arm 512 is fixed tilts downward relative to the surface of the main table 3 (FIG. 5).

When the vessel sways vertically due to the effects of waves or the like, the swing operation mechanism 5 controls the extension and contraction of the drive unit 52 to align the relative vertical positional relationship between the access section 6 connected to the front end (tip) of the bridge section 4 and the landing target of the offshore facility, thereby eliminating the difference in height between the two.

A control device (not shown) controls the actuators 22 of the motion compensation mechanism 2 and the drive unit 52 of the swing operation mechanism 5 in response to the motion of the vessel caused by waves and other factors, thereby maintaining the main table 3 horizontal while maintaining the height of the access section 6 connected to the front end (tip) of the bridge section 4 at an appropriate position relative to the landing target of the offshore facility. The height of the access section 6 is adjusted by the swing operation mechanism 5 while the main table 3 is primarily maintained horizontal by the motion compensation mechanism 2.

The attitude of the main table 3 is controlled by, for example, using a gyro sensor to detect the swaying (particularly the tilt) of the hull caused by the influence of waves and the like, and the control device operates the sway correction mechanism 2 to correct the swaying (particularly the tilt) of the hull based on the signal output from the gyro sensor, thereby maintaining the main table 3 horizontal.

The degree of inclination of the bridge section 4 (and thus the height of the access section 6) is controlled, for example, by using a non-contact sensing mechanism to detect the swaying (particularly vertical movement) of the hull caused by the influence of waves and the like, and the control device operates the swaying operation mechanism 5 to correct the swaying (particularly vertical movement) of the hull based on the signal output from the non-contact sensing mechanism, thereby maintaining the height of the access section 6 at an appropriate position relative to the landing target of the offshore facility.

The mechanism for non-contact sensing is configured as a system including a camera, millimeter wave radar, or Lidar (short for Light detection and ranging) (not shown) as a non-contact sensor, for example, installed on the main table 3.

The non-contact sensing mechanism is configured to operate in cooperation with a control device so that the non-contact sensor senses the shape of a target marker of a specific shape installed on the offshore facility or a specific part of a structure or equipment on the offshore facility, measures the relative vertical positional relationship with the landing target of the offshore facility, and maintains the height of the access section 6 connected to the front end (tip) of the bridge section 4 at an appropriate position relative to the landing target of the offshore facility (in other words, maintains the height difference between the access section 6 and the landing target within an appropriate range).

In addition, by installing the non-contact sensor on the main table 3, errors in the measurement values caused by the rocking of the ship's hull are prevented.

The control device intends to maintain the height of the access section 6 at an appropriate position relative to the landing target of the offshore facility, for example, by repeatedly performing the following process at predetermined time intervals.
1) The elevation difference between the landing target of the offshore facility and the access section 6 measured by the non-contact sensor is compared with a predetermined tolerance range for said elevation difference.
2) If the elevation difference measured in 1) above is outside the above-mentioned allowable range, the operation of the swing operation mechanism 5 is calculated so that the elevation difference falls within the above-mentioned allowable range.
3) Based on the result of the calculation in 2) above, a drive instruction signal is output to the drive device 52 of the swing operation mechanism 5.

Then, the drive device 52 expands and contracts in accordance with the drive instruction signal, causing the bridge section 4 to tilt upward/downward, thereby adjusting the height of the access section 6 relative to the landing target of the offshore facility.

The upper and lower limits that specify the allowable range for the elevation difference mentioned above are not limited to specific values, but are set appropriately after taking into consideration various conditions such as the shape and structure of the ship, the structure of the landing target of the offshore facility, and the state of the waves.

The horizontal positional relationship (specifically, the distance in the forward and backward directions and the distance in the left and right directions) between the landing target of the offshore facility and the access section 6 may be adjusted by the sway compensation mechanism 2 that operates/controls the attitude of the main table 3. In this case, for example, a drive instruction signal may be output to the sway compensation mechanism 2 based on the measurement results of the non-contact sensor, and each of the six actuators 22 may expand and contract to move the main table 3 in the forward and backward directions and the left and right directions, thereby adjusting the horizontal positional relationship between the landing target of the offshore facility and the access section 6.

For example, when transferring from a ship with the bridge device 1 installed on the forward deck to a landing target at an offshore facility, the ship usually moves forward and presses its bow against the landing target or structures or equipment (e.g., boat bumpers) around the landing target to prevent the distance between the ship and the landing target from changing. However, if the ship's hull is momentarily and irregularly swayed by irregular and sudden waves, causing the bow to move away from the landing target or structures or equipment (referred to as "landing target or offshore equipment") around the landing target, the access part 6 may detach from the landing target, creating a gap between the access part 6 and the landing target, which may cause workers to lose their footing or even fall off, or there may be a collision after the access part 6 detaches from the landing target.

Even if the ship is moving forward and the bow remains pressed against the landing target or offshore facility, when the bridge section 4 tilts upward/downward relative to the surface of the main table 3, the access section 6 moves on an arc with the bridge rear end rotation axis 71 as the center of rotation, so the fore-aft distance between the access section 6 and the landing target changes, resulting in a gap between the access section 6 and the landing target, or the access section 6 hitting (or getting stuck on) the landing target and preventing the bridge section 4 from tilting upward/downward.

Therefore, the bridging device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a bridging section 4 having one end supported by a shaft and tilting upward and downward, and a bridging section 5 arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging section 4 and having one end on the same side as the one end of the bridging section 4 supported by a shaft and tilting in the longitudinal direction L4 of the bridging section 4. ₄ , a link front end connecting post 75 which is rotatably connected to the other end of the bridging section 4 and to the other end of the parallel link 77 so that the angle of inclination relative to the horizontal direction is kept constant when the bridging section 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt, and an access section 6 which is connected to the other end of the bridging section 4 so that they can be tilted freely relative to each other and whose angle of inclination relative to the link front end connecting post 75 is fixed at a predetermined angle, and the access section 6 has a fixed stage 61 connected to the other end of the bridging section 4, a movable stage 62 which is movable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the fixed stage 61, and a biasing means which is interposed between the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62 and biases the movable stage 62 forward so as to protrude forward from the fixed stage 61.

The access section 6 has a flat stage for workers to stand on and is connected to the front end (in other words, the tip) of the bridge section 4. It also has the ability to expand and contract in the fore-and-aft direction, and is a mechanism that is positioned between the bridge section 4 and the landing target of the offshore facility to make it easier for workers to move onto the landing target.

The access unit 6 has a fixed stage 61 formed as a roughly rectangular flat plate in a plan view, a movable stage 62 formed as a roughly rectangular flat plate in a plan view and disposed on the upper surface side of the fixed stage 61, and rails 63 interposed between the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62 for moving the movable stage 62 in the forward and backward directions relative to the fixed stage 61. Fixed part handrails 64 are attached to the left and right edges of the upper surface of the fixed stage 61, and movable part handrails 65 are attached to the left and right edges of the upper surface of the movable stage 62, respectively.

In the example shown in the figure, a pair of left and right rails 63, 63 are provided at the left and right ends of the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62, respectively, and are parallel to each other along the front-to-rear direction and are interposed between the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62 (see Figures 7, 8, and 9).

The fixed stage 61 is rotatably connected to the front end of the bridge section 4 by being supported at its end on the bridge section 4 side (i.e., the rear end) via the bridge front end rotation shaft 72 arranged along the left-right direction. As a result, the fixed stage 61 is attached to the bridge section 4 so that it can rotate relative to the plate surface of the bridge section 4 with the bridge front end rotation shaft 72 as the center of rotation.

The movable stage 62 is configured so that it can be extended forward from a position where it overlaps with the fixed stage 61 in the vertical direction relative to the fixed stage 61, or retracted to a position where it overlaps with the fixed stage 61 in the vertical direction, by a pair of left and right rails 63, 63 that run along the front-to-rear direction and are provided at the left and right ends respectively so as to be interposed between the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62, that is, so that it can be freely advanced and retreated relative to the fixed stage 61.

The fixed stage 61 and the moving stage 62 are not limited to any particular dimensions, but are set to appropriate dimensions, taking into consideration, for example, the structure of the bridge section 4 and the landing target of the offshore facility. As just one example, the front-to-rear dimensions of the fixed stage 61 and the moving stage 62 can be set to, for example, about 80 to 120 cm.

The amount of movement (in other words, the amount of displacement, stroke) of the moving stage 62 in the forward and backward directions relative to the fixed stage 61 is not limited to a specific value, but is set appropriately, for example, taking into consideration the structure of the access section 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility. As just one example, the amount of movement of the moving stage 62 in the forward and backward directions relative to the fixed stage 61 can be set to, for example, about 60 to 100 cm.

In order to prevent damage to the access part 6 when it comes into contact with the landing target or offshore equipment, and to ensure sliding properties when the access part 6 and the landing target or offshore equipment move relative to each other in the up-down direction while in contact with each other, a resin cushion member 621 and rollers 622 with rotation axes arranged in the left-right direction are attached to the front end of the moving stage 62 (see FIG. 6). Note that only one of the cushion member 621 and rollers 622 may be provided.

The mobile stage 62 is biased forward so as to protrude forward from the fixed stage 61 by a biasing means (not shown) interposed between the fixed stage 61 and the mobile stage 62, so that the mobile stage 62 is pressed against a landing target of the offshore facility, such as a vertical ladder.

The biasing means for biasing the fixed stage 61 forward is not limited to a specific mechanism, but an appropriate mechanism is appropriately selected, taking into consideration that when the hull of the vessel moves due to the influence of waves or the like, changing the longitudinal distance between the landing target of the offshore facility and the access section 6, the mobile stage 62 can be biased to an extent that prevents the mobile stage 62 from coming off the landing target, and the mobile stage 62 can be pressed against the landing target.

Specific examples of the biasing means that can be used include a pneumatic actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder, an electric actuator such as an electric cylinder, or a spring such as a compression coil spring.

When an actuator is used as the biasing means, a switch may be provided for an operator to operate in order to control the start of operation of the actuator, or a non-contact sensor such as a pressure sensor or ultrasonic sensor may be provided at the tip of the moving stage 62 of the access section 6 (specifically, for example, the cushion member 621 attached to the front end of the moving stage 62).

In addition, for example, the initial state is a state in which the mobile stage 62 is located at an intermediate position (called the "center position") between the position of the mobile stage 62 shown in Figure 3 and the position of the mobile stage 62 shown in Figure 7, and when the tip of the mobile stage 62 of the access unit 6 approaches a vertical ladder or the like serving as a landing target for the offshore facility, an operator operates a switch to start the actuator and start the forward bias of the mobile stage 62 so that it extends forward from the fixed stage 61, or when the tip of the mobile stage 62 of the access unit 6 comes into contact with or approaches a vertical ladder or the like serving as a landing target for the offshore facility, an actuator starts to operate based on a signal output from a pressure sensor or a non-contact sensor, and start the forward bias of the mobile stage 62 so that it extends forward from the fixed stage 61.

When the hull sways due to the effects of waves or the like, increasing the fore-and-aft distance between the access part 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility, the mobile stage 62 moves forward so as to jut out from the fixed stage 61 and is pressed against the landing target of the offshore facility. This prevents the access part 6 from detaching from the landing target of the offshore facility, creating a gap between the access part 6 and the landing target, which could cause a worker to lose his footing or even fall.

In addition, when the hull sways due to the effects of waves or the like, shortening the fore-and-aft distance between the access section 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility, the mobile stage 62 moves backwards so as to be pulled toward the fixed stage 61, preventing excessive load from acting on the bridge device 1.

On the other hand, when a spring is used as the biasing means, for example, the initial state is set to a state in which the moving stage 62 is in the position shown in FIG. 7, and the position of the access part 6 is adjusted by adjusting the position of the ship or adjusting the position of the main table 3 (and thus the position of the bridge part 4) by the sway correction mechanism 2 so that the tip of the moving stage 62 of the access part 6 comes into contact with a vertical ladder or the like as a landing target for the offshore facility.

Then, in response to changes in the longitudinal distance between the access part 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility caused by the swaying of the vessel's hull due to the effects of waves and the like, the mobile stage 62 moves forward and backward relative to the fixed stage 61, maintaining a state in which it is pressed against the landing target of the offshore facility. This prevents the access part 6 from detaching from the landing target of the offshore facility, creating a gap between the access part 6 and the landing target, which could cause a worker to lose his footing or even fall, and also prevents excessive load from being applied to the bridge device 1.

Shock absorbing means may be provided to prevent excessive load from acting on the biasing means (not shown) provided between the fixed stage 61 and the moving stage 62, thereby preventing damage to the biasing means. Specifically, for example, shock absorbing means including a shock absorber/damper such as a cylindrical type may be provided between the fixed stage 61 and the biasing means to absorb the backward load acting on the biasing means due to an external force acting on the moving stage 62 when the moving stage 62 collides, etc., so as to reduce the impact when the moving stage 62 suddenly collides with a landing target of the offshore facility or with offshore facilities.

A stroke sensor such as a linear displacement sensor that measures the degree of movement/displacement of the movable stage 62 relative to the fixed stage 61 (in other words, the amount of expansion and contraction of the access section 6) may also be installed. Then, based on the measurement results of the movement/displacement of the movable stage 62 relative to the fixed stage 61 by the stroke sensor, when the forward movement/displacement of the movable stage 62 approaches or reaches the maximum possible forward movement, or when the backward movement/displacement of the movable stage 62 approaches or reaches the maximum possible backward movement, a light may be turned on or an alarm may be sounded from a speaker to notify the operator.

A pressure sensor may also be attached to the tip of the mobile stage 62 of the access unit 6 (specifically, for example, the cushion member 621 attached to the front end of the mobile stage 62). Then, based on the result of detection by the pressure sensor of the contact force of the tip of the mobile stage 62 against the landing target of the offshore facility, for example, a light may turn red or an alarm may sound from a speaker when the tip of the mobile stage 62 is not in contact with the landing target of the offshore facility (in other words, not being pressed against it), and a light may turn blue or a safety sound may sound from a speaker when the tip of the mobile stage 62 is in contact with the landing target of the offshore facility (in other words, pressed against it).

The link mechanism 7 is a mechanism for realizing a four-joint parallel link and controlling the inclination of the access section 6 relative to the bridge section 4 to keep the posture of the fixed stage 61 and the moving stage 62 (these two stages are also collectively referred to as "stages 61, 62") constant. That is, in the first embodiment, the link mechanism 7 functions as an inclination control mechanism that controls the inclination of the access section 6 relative to the bridge section 4 to keep the angle of the access section 6 relative to the horizontal direction constant.

The link mechanism 7 has a bridge rear end rotating shaft 71, a bridge front end rotating shaft 72, a link rear end connecting post 73, a link rear end rotating shaft 74, a link front end connecting post 75, a link front end rotating shaft 76, and a parallel link 77.

The link rear end connecting posts 73 are provided vertically to the top surface of the main table 3. In the example shown in the figure, a pair of left and right link rear end connecting posts 73, 73 are arranged facing each other at a distance in the left-right direction that is wider than the left-right width of the bridge portion 4, at a position near the front end of the main table 3 (see Figures 1, 2, 8, and 9 in particular).

A link rear end rotation shaft 74 is provided at the upper end of each of the pair of left and right link rear end connecting posts 73, 73, and is arranged in the left-right direction.

The lower end of the link front end connecting post 75 is axially supported by a bridge front end rotating shaft 72 disposed at the front end of the bridge section 4, and is rotatably connected to the front end of the bridge section 4. In the example shown in the figure, a pair of left and right link front end connecting posts 75, 75 are disposed facing each other while being spaced apart in the left-right direction by a distance wider than the left-right width of the bridge section 4 (see particularly Figures 1, 2, 6, 8, and 9).

A link front end rotation shaft 76 is provided at the upper end of each of the pair of left and right link front end connecting posts 75, 75, and is arranged in the left-right direction.

The parallel link 77 is a link that is provided such that its longitudinal direction/axial direction _L77 is parallel to the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4 and swings upward and downward (in other words, tilts) with respect to the main table 3, and constitutes a set of parallel links in combination with the bridging portion 4. In the example shown in the figures, a pair of left and right parallel links 77, 77 are disposed above the bridging portion 4, facing each other and spaced apart in the left-right direction by an interval wider than the left-right width of the bridging portion 4 (see particularly Figures 1, 2, 6, 8, and 9).

The ends (i.e., rear ends) of each of the pair of left and right parallel links 77, 77 on the main table 3 side are axially supported via a link rear end rotation shaft 74 provided at the upper end of the link rear end connecting column 73, and are rotatably connected to the link rear end connecting column 73.

The ends (i.e., front ends) of the pair of left and right parallel links 77, 77 on the access section 6 side are axially supported via a link front end rotation shaft 76 provided at the upper end of the link front end connecting column 75, and are connected to the link front end connecting column 75 so as to be mutually rotatable.

Here, the distance in a side view from the rotation axis center of the bridge rear end rotating shaft 71 related to the bridge section 4 to the rotation axis center of the bridge front end rotating shaft 72 and the distance in a side view from the rotation axis center of the link rear end rotating shaft 74 related to the parallel link 77 to the rotation axis center of the link front end rotating shaft 76 are set to the same dimension.

In addition, the distance from the rotation axis of the bridge rear end rotating shaft 71 to the rotation axis of the link rear end rotating shaft 74 in a side view and the distance from the rotation axis of the bridge front end rotating shaft 72 to the rotation axis of the link front end rotating shaft 76 in a side view are set to the same dimension.

In other words, the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71, bridge front end rotation shaft 72, link rear end rotation shaft 74, and link front end rotation shaft 76 function as each joint (rotation shaft) of the four-joint parallel link. In addition, the bridge section 4 and the parallel link 77 form a set of parallel links, and the link rear end connecting post 73 and link front end connecting post 75 form a set of parallel links.

As a result, the bridging portion 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt with their respective longitudinal directions _L4 and longitudinal/axial directions _L77 remaining parallel to each other, and when the bridging portion 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt, the longitudinal/axial direction _L75 of the link front end connecting post 75 is maintained in a state parallel to the longitudinal/axial direction L73 of the link rear end connecting post ₇₃ .

The access section 6 is configured so that it can freely tilt relative to the plate surface of the bridge section 4, while the angle of tilt relative to the link front end connecting post 75 is fixed at a predetermined angle.

In the example shown in the figures, the inclined fixed section 8 is attached spanning between the upper end of the link front end connecting column 75 and a position near the front end of the fixed stage 61 of the access section 6, and the access section 6 is fixed in a position in which the plate surfaces of the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62 are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction/axial direction _L75 of the link front end connecting column 75 (see, for example, Figures 1, 2 and 3).

In the example shown in the figure, the link rear end connecting post 73 is arranged to stand perpendicular to the upper surface of the main table 3, and the link front end connecting post 75 is maintained parallel to the link rear end connecting post 73. Furthermore, the access section 6 is fixed by the inclined fixing section 8 in an orientation in which the plate surfaces of the stages 61, 62 are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction/axial direction L75 of the link front end connecting post ₇₅ , so that when the bridge section 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt, the plate surfaces of the stages 61, 62 of the access section 6 are always maintained horizontal (see Figures 3, 4 and 5).

The angle of inclination of the plate surfaces of the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 can be adjusted and changed to any angle by changing the length of the inclined fixing section 8, changing the fixing position of the upper end of the inclined fixing section 8 relative to the link front end connecting column 75, or changing the fixing position of the lower end of the inclined fixing section 8 relative to the fixed stage 61 of the access section 6, or by changing the offset amount in the front-to-rear direction of the link rear end rotating shaft 74 relative to the bridge rear end rotating shaft 71 in a side view.

The tilt fixing part 8 may be made of a rigid material so that it does not deform or expand or contract, or it may be made of a material that deforms and expands to an extent that the stages 61, 62 of the access part 6 do not tilt significantly when a worker is on it, but can absorb some of the impact on the stages 61, 62 when the access part 6 comes into contact with a landing target or offshore equipment.

The inclined fixing part 8 is not limited to a rod-shaped member as in the example shown in FIG. 1, etc., and may be any member or structure that can fix the angle of inclination of the access part 6 relative to the link front end connecting post 75 at a predetermined angle. The inclined fixing part 8 may be, for example, a member that is formed in a triangle when viewed from the side, with an edge of one of the three sides fixed to the link front end connecting post 75 and an edge of the other side fixed to the fixed stage 61 of the access part 6, thereby fixing the angle of inclination of the access part 6 relative to the link front end connecting post 75 at a predetermined angle.

Next, we will explain the operation of the bridging device 1 of embodiment 1 having the above configuration.

For example, when the bridging portion 4 tilts upward around the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71 from a state in which the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4 is aligned with the horizontal direction (FIG. 3), the link front end connecting pillar 75 connected to the front end of the bridging portion 4 moves upward, and the parallel link 77 connected to the upper end of the link front end connecting pillar 75 also tilts upward (FIG. 4). Also, when the bridging portion 4 tilts downward around the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71 from a state in which the longitudinal direction L4 of the bridging portion ₄ is aligned with the horizontal direction (FIG. 3), the link front end connecting pillar 75 connected to the front end of the bridging portion 4 moves downward, and the parallel link 77 connected to the upper end of the link front end connecting pillar 75 also tilts downward (FIG. 5).

When the bridge section 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt, the bridge rear end rotation shaft 71, the bridge front end rotation shaft 72, the link rear end rotation shaft 74, and the link front end rotation shaft 76 function as each joint (rotation shaft) of the four-joint parallel link, and the bridge section 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt while remaining parallel to each other. With this configuration, the link front end connecting column 75 remains parallel to the link rear end connecting column 73 regardless of the inclination angle of the bridge section 4, that is, the degree of inclination of the link front end connecting column 75 (in other words, the inclination angle relative to the horizontal direction) does not change, and therefore the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 are always maintained in a constant posture (see Figures 3, 4, and 5). Therefore, regardless of the inclination angle of the bridge section 4, the degree of inclination of the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 does not change, and the footing of the worker who is trying to move from the access section 6 to the landing target of the offshore facility is stable.

In addition, if the longitudinal distance between the access part 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility becomes long due to the motion of the vessel caused by irregular and sudden waves, the mobile stage 62 moves forward so as to protrude forward from the fixed stage 61 (Figures 7, 8, and 9). This prevents a gap from occurring between the access part 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility, ensuring a foothold for workers attempting to move from the access part 6 to the landing target.

In addition, if the longitudinal distance between the access section 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility becomes shorter due to the motion of the vessel caused by irregular and sudden waves, the mobile stage 62 moves backwards so as to be pulled toward the fixed stage 61 (Figure 3). This prevents excessive load from being applied to the bridge device 1, preventing damage to the bridge device 1 and maintaining its integrity, thereby ensuring the safety of workers attempting to move from the access section 6 to the landing target.

According to the bridging device 1 of the first embodiment, the access section 6 has a fixed stage 61 connected to the other end of the bridging section 4, a movable stage 62 movable in the fore-and-aft direction relative to the fixed stage 61, and a biasing means interposed between the fixed stage 61 and the movable stage 62 and biasing the movable stage 62 forward so as to protrude forward from the fixed stage 61. Therefore, when the hull is instantaneously and irregularly rocked due to irregular and sudden waves and the fore-and-aft distance between the access section 6 and the landing target of the offshore facility changes, the movable stage 62 can move forward and backward relative to the fixed stage 61 in accordance with the change in the fore-and-aft distance, thereby maintaining a state in which it is pressed against the landing target. This makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the access section 6 separates from the landing target and a gap is generated between the movable stage 62 and the landing target, causing a worker to lose his footing or even fall, thereby ensuring the safety of transferring to the landing target, and also makes it possible to prevent a situation in which the access section 6 hits (in other words, gets stuck on) the landing target and the bridging section 4 cannot tilt upward/downward.

According to the bridge device 1 of the first embodiment, the angle of inclination of the access section 6 relative to the link front end connecting column 75, which maintains a constant inclination angle relative to the horizontal direction when the bridge section 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt, is fixed at a predetermined angle. Therefore, when the bridge section 4 and the parallel link 77 tilt, the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 can be always kept in a constant posture, and the plate surfaces of the stages 61 and 62 can always be kept horizontal, for example. This makes it possible to prevent the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 from tilting, causing the worker to lose balance, fall, or lean forward and collide with the landing target, or even fall, thereby ensuring the safety of the transition to the landing target.

The bridging device 1 according to the first embodiment also has a shock absorbing means for absorbing the backward load acting on the biasing means, which prevents excessive load from acting on the biasing means provided between the fixed stage 61 and the moving stage 62, thereby preventing damage to the biasing means. This in turn maintains the integrity of the bridging device 1 and ensures the safety of workers attempting to move from the access section 6 to the landing target.

According to the bridging device 1 of the first embodiment, the cushion member 621 and roller 622 are attached to the front end of the moving stage 62, which makes it possible to prevent the access part 6 from being damaged when it comes into contact with the landing target or offshore equipment, and also ensures the sliding properties of the access part 6 when it comes into contact with the landing target or offshore equipment and moves relative to them in the vertical direction, thereby preventing damage to each of them. This in turn makes it possible to maintain the soundness of the bridging device 1 and ensure the safety of workers attempting to move from the access part 6 to the landing target.

The bridge device 1 according to the first embodiment is also equipped with lights and speakers that operate according to the amount of movement of the moving stage 62 in the forward and backward directions, so that the worker can be informed that there is no room for movement of the moving stage 62 or that the amount of movement has reached its maximum, making it possible to further ensure the safety of the worker.

The bridge device 1 according to the first embodiment is also equipped with lights and speakers that operate in conjunction with whether or not the tip of the moving stage 62 is in contact with the target equipment, so that the worker can be informed of whether or not the tip of the moving stage 62 is in contact with the target equipment, making it possible to further ensure the safety of the worker.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 10 is a side view showing the overall structure of a bridging device 1A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment 2 differs from the above-mentioned embodiment 1 in that it does not have the link rear end connecting post 73, link rear end rotating shaft 74, link front end connecting post 75, link front end rotating shaft 76, and parallel link 77 that constitute the link mechanism 7, nor the tilt fixing part 8, but has a tilt control mechanism 9A. However, the other configurations are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, so the same reference numerals are used for the configurations that are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, and their description will be omitted.

In the second embodiment, instead of the link mechanism 7, a tilt control mechanism 9A is provided between the bridge portion 4 and the access portion 6 as a mechanism for controlling the tilt of the access portion 6 relative to the bridge portion 4 to keep the posture of the stages 61, 62 constant (in other words, the angle of the access portion 6 relative to the horizontal direction). The tilt control mechanism 9A has an expandable actuator 91 and a connecting link 92.

The telescopic actuator 91 is a drive source for tilting the access section 6 relative to the plate surface of the bridge section 4 via the connecting link 92. The telescopic actuator 91 has a cylinder tube 911 and a piston rod 912 that can move forward and backward (in other words, can move in and out) relative to the cylinder tube 911.

The telescopic actuator 91 is disposed so that its axial direction is along the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4, and the cylinder tube 911 is fixed to a position near the front end (in other words, the tip) of the underside of the bridging portion 4, and the piston rod 912 is attached so as to telescope in front of the cylinder tube 911 (i.e., in the space on the access portion 6 side). In other words, the telescopic actuator 91 is provided so that its telescopic direction is along the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4.

The connecting link 92 is provided between the telescopic actuator 91 and the access portion 6, connecting the telescopic actuator 91 and the access portion 6.

The connecting link 92 is specifically a link member that connects the piston rod 912 and the fixed stage 61; its rear end is connected to the tip end (in other words, the front end) of the piston rod 912 of the telescopic actuator 91 via a connecting shaft so that they can rotate freely relative to each other, and its front end is supported via a rotating shaft and attached so that it can swing freely at a middle position in the front-to-rear direction on the underside of the fixed stage 61 of the access section 6.

The telescopic movement of the telescopic actuator 91 is controlled by a control device (not shown) that controls the telescopic movement of the drive unit 52, which is the drive source for operating the operating arm 51 to tilt the bridge unit 4 relative to the main table 3, so as to keep the posture of the stages 61, 62 of the access unit 6 constant in response to the tilting movement of the bridge unit 4.

For example, when the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4 is aligned horizontally (FIG. 10), the drive device 52 contracts under the control of a control device (not shown), the operating arm 51 rotates, and the bridging portion 4 tilts upward relative to the plate surface of the main table 3. In this case, the telescopic actuator 91 contracts appropriately under control of the control device corresponding to the contraction of the drive device 52, so that the plate surfaces of the stages 61, 62 of the access portion 6 are always maintained in a horizontal state (see FIG. 11).

The plate surfaces of the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 are not limited to being maintained in a horizontal state, but may be maintained in a state inclined at any predetermined angle by giving in advance to a control device (not shown) the degree of deviation from the horizontal (in other words, the degree of inclination).

According to the bridge device 1A of the second embodiment, the same action and effect as the bridge device 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained, and in particular, the telescopic actuator 91 is appropriately telescopically operated in response to the tilting operation of the bridge section 4, so that the access section 6 tilts relative to the bridge section 4. Therefore, when the bridge section 4 tilts, the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 can be always kept in a constant posture, and the plate surfaces of the stages 61 and 62 can always be kept horizontal, for example. This makes it possible to prevent the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 from tilting, causing the worker to lose balance, fall, or lean forward and collide with the landing target, or even fall, and ensure the safety of the transition to the landing target.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 12 is a side view showing the overall structure of a bridging device 1B according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

This embodiment 3 differs from the above-mentioned embodiment 1 in that it does not have the link rear end connecting post 73, link rear end rotating shaft 74, link front end connecting post 75, link front end rotating shaft 76, and parallel link 77 that constitute the link mechanism 7, nor the tilt fixing part 8, but has a tilt control mechanism 9B. However, the other configurations are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, and therefore the same reference numerals are used for the configurations that are the same as those of the above-mentioned embodiment 1, and their description will be omitted.

In the third embodiment, instead of the link mechanism 7, a tilt control mechanism 9B is provided between the bridge portion 4 and the access portion 6 as a mechanism for controlling the tilt of the access portion 6 relative to the bridge portion 4 to keep the posture of the stages 61, 62 constant (in other words, the angle of the access portion 6 relative to the horizontal direction). The tilt control mechanism 9B has an expandable actuator 93, a first link 94, and a second link 95.

The telescopic actuator 93 is a drive source for tilting the access section 6 relative to the plate surface of the bridge section 4 via the first link 94 and the second link 95. The telescopic actuator 93 has a cylinder tube 931 and a piston rod 932 that can move forward and backward (in other words, can move in and out) relative to the cylinder tube 931.

The telescopic actuator 93 is inclined with the piston rod 932 facing upward, and the rear end (lower end) of the cylinder tube 931 is axially supported by a rotating shaft 96 at a position near the front end (in other words, the tip) of the side of the bridge portion 4 so that it can swing freely.

The first link 94 and the second link 95 are provided between the telescopic actuator 93 and the access portion 6, and connect the telescopic actuator 93 and the access portion 6.

The first link 94 is a link member that connects the piston rod 932 and the fixed stage 61; its rear/upper end is connected to the tip end (in other words, the front end) of the piston rod 932 of the telescopic actuator 93 via a connecting shaft 97 so that they can rotate freely relative to each other, and its front/lower end is attached to the side of the fixed stage 61 of the access section 6 at a midpoint in the fore-and-aft direction via a connecting shaft.

The upper end of the second link 95 is connected to the tip end (in other words, the front end) of the piston rod 932 of the telescopic actuator 93 via a connecting shaft 97 so that they can rotate freely, and the lower end is connected to the bridge front end rotation shaft 72.

When viewed from the side, the telescopic actuator 93 and the first link 94 are arranged in a mountain shape (in other words, an upside-down V shape) with the connecting shaft 97, which is the connecting part, at the top. Also, when viewed from the side, the first link 94 and the second link 95 are arranged in a mountain shape (in other words, an upside-down V shape) with the connecting shaft 97, which is the connecting part, at the top.

The telescopic movement of the telescopic actuator 93 is controlled by a control device (not shown) that controls the telescopic movement of the drive unit 52, which is the driving source for operating the operating arm 51 to tilt the bridge unit 4 relative to the main table 3, so as to keep the posture of the stages 61, 62 of the access unit 6 constant in response to the tilting movement of the bridge unit 4.

For example, when the longitudinal direction _L4 of the bridging portion 4 is aligned horizontally (FIG. 12), the drive device 52 contracts under the control of a control device (not shown), the operating arm 51 rotates, and the bridging portion 4 tilts upward relative to the plate surface of the main table 3. Then, the telescopic actuator 93 appropriately extends under control of the control device corresponding to the contraction of the drive device 52, so that the plate surfaces of the stages 61, 62 of the access portion 6 are always maintained in a horizontal state (see FIG. 13).

The plate surfaces of the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 are not limited to being maintained in a horizontal state, but may be maintained in a state inclined at any predetermined angle by giving in advance to a control device (not shown) the degree of deviation from the horizontal (in other words, the degree of inclination).

According to the bridge device 1B of the third embodiment, the same action and effect as the bridge device 1 of the first embodiment can be obtained, and in particular, the telescopic actuator 93 is appropriately telescopically operated in response to the tilting operation of the bridge section 4, so that the access section 6 tilts relative to the bridge section 4. Therefore, when the bridge section 4 tilts, the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 can be always kept in a constant posture, and the plate surfaces of the stages 61 and 62 can always be kept horizontal, for example. This makes it possible to prevent the stages 61 and 62 of the access section 6 from tilting, causing the worker to lose balance, fall, or lean forward and collide with the landing target, or even fall, and ensure the safety of the transfer to the landing target.

The above describes an embodiment of the present invention, but the specific configuration is not limited to the above embodiment, and even if there are design changes within the scope of the invention that do not deviate from the gist of the invention, they are still included in the invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, the technical concept of the bridging device 1 according to the present invention is mainly applied to a bridging device mounted on a ship, but the subject to which the technical concept of the bridging device 1 according to the present invention can be applied is not limited to a bridging device mounted on a ship, and the technical concept of the bridging device 1 according to the present invention can also be applied to, for example, the ladder device of a fire ladder truck and various gangways. In the above embodiment, the main table 3 is structured to accommodate people, but the main table 3 may be structured as a base to which the bridging section 4 is connected and not accommodate people.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the sway correction mechanism 2 is used, which operates as a six-axis device with six degrees of freedom so that the main table 3 can be kept horizontal. However, the mechanism for supporting the main table 3 of the bridge device according to the present invention is not limited to the six-axis device in the above embodiment, and may be a two-axis device with two degrees of freedom, a three-axis device with three degrees of freedom, or a simple support leg or support base that does not have the function of keeping the main table 3 horizontal.

1. Cross-linking device (embodiment 1)
2 Unsteadiness correction mechanism 21 Base frame 22 Actuator 3 Main table 31 Auxiliary table 32 Table handrail 4 Bridge section 41 Bridge handrail 5 Swing operation mechanism 51 Operation arm 511 Bending section 512 First arm 513 Second arm 52 Driving device 521 Cylinder tube 522 Piston rod 6 Access section 61 Fixed stage 62 Moving stage 621 Cushion member 622 Roller 63 Rail 64 Fixed section handrail 65 Moving section handrail 7 Link mechanism 71 Bridge rear end rotation shaft 72 Bridge front end rotation shaft 73 Link rear end connecting column 74 Link rear end rotation shaft 75 Link front end connecting column 76 Link front end rotation shaft 77 Parallel link 8 Tilt fixed section 1A Bridge device (embodiment 2)
9A Tilt control mechanism (embodiment 2)
91 Telescopic actuator 911 Cylinder tube 912 Piston rod 92 Connecting link 1B Bridging device (third embodiment)
9B Tilt control mechanism (third embodiment)
93 Telescopic actuator 931 Cylinder tube 932 Piston rod 94 First link 95 Second link 96 Rotating shaft 97 Connecting shaft

Claims (7)

A bridge portion having one end supported by a shaft and capable of tilting upward and downward;
an access portion connected to the other end of the bridge portion so as to be mutually inclined;
and a tilt control mechanism for controlling the tilt of the access portion with respect to the bridge portion to keep the angle of the access portion with respect to the horizontal direction constant,
The access portion is
a fixed stage connected to the other end of the bridge portion;
a movable stage that is movable in a forward and backward direction relative to the fixed stage;
and a biasing means interposed between the fixed stage and the movable stage for biasing the movable stage forward so as to protrude forward from the fixed stage.
A cross-linking device comprising: The tilt control mechanism includes:
a parallel link arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bridge portion, one end of which is on the same side as the one end of the bridge portion and is supported by a shaft, and which tilts upward and downward while remaining parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bridge portion;
a link front end connecting post that is rotatably connected to the other end of the bridge portion and to the other end of the parallel link, so that a tilt angle with respect to the horizontal direction is kept constant when the bridge portion and the parallel link perform a tilting operation,
The angle of inclination of the access portion with respect to the link front end connecting pillar is fixed at a predetermined angle.
2. The cross-linking device according to claim 1 . The tilt control mechanism includes:
a telescopic actuator including a cylinder tube and a piston rod movable forward and backward relative to the cylinder tube and attached to the bridge portion;
a link member connecting the piston rod and the fixed stage,
The telescopic actuator performs telescopic motion in response to the tilting motion of the bridge portion, whereby the access portion performs a tilting motion relative to the bridge portion via the link member.
2. The cross-linking device according to claim 1 . The movable stage further includes a shock absorbing means interposed between the fixed stage and the biasing means for absorbing a backward load acting on the biasing means due to an external force acting on the movable stage.
4. A cross-linking device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking device is a bridging device. At least one of a cushion member and a roller is provided at the front end of the moving stage.
5. A cross-linking device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking device is a bridging device. at least one of a light and a speaker that operates when the amount of movement of the movable stage in the forward and backward directions relative to the fixed stage approaches or reaches a maximum amount of movement,
6. A cross-linking device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking device is a bridging device. At least one of a light and a speaker that operates in conjunction with whether or not the tip of the moving stage is in contact with the target facility is provided.
7. A cross-linking device according to claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking device is a bridging device.

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