Azimuth Friction Free Towing Point

Abstract

A tug boat having at least one towing winch and a movable towing point apparatus, wherein said towing point apparatus can guide a towing cable from a towing winch to a vessel to be assisted, comprising a rotating element that at least partly guides the towing cable such that the pulling force on said cable is transmitted to the tug boat at least partly through said rotating element when in use, said rotating element pivoting freely around a first axis and said first axis fixed to an arm which in turn can pivot about a second axis, said second axis being spaced apart from said first axis and the second axis being non-parallel.

1 . A tug boat having at least one towing winch and a movable towing point apparatus, wherein said towing point apparatus can guide a towing cable from a towing winch to a vessel to be assisted, comprising a rotating element that at least partly guides the towing cable such that the pulling force on said cable is transmitted to the tug boat at least partly through said rotating element when in use, said rotating element pivoting freely around a first axis and said first axis being fixed to an arm which in turn can pivot about a second axis, said second axis being spaced apart from said first axis and the second and the first axis being non-parallel. 
     
     
         2 . The tug boat of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is to a movable member, wherein said movable member can move along a curve in a plane. 
     
     
         3 . The tug boat of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is fixed to a movable member, wherein said movable member can move along a substantial straight line in a plane. 
     
     
         4 . The tug boat of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is fixed to a movable member, wherein said movable member can move partly along a straight line and partly along an curve in a plane. 
     
     
         5 . The tug boat of  claim 1 , wherein a guiding apparatus is provided, guiding the towing cable onto the rotating element, wherein said guiding apparatus is attached to an arm pivoting freely about the first axis. 
     
     
         6 . The tug boat of  claim 5  wherein said guiding apparatus comprises four or more rotating elements. 
     
     
         7 . The tug boat  claim 5  wherein said guiding apparatus comprises at least one of a towing eyelet, fairlead, chock or similar device. 
     
     
         8 . The tug boat of  claim 7 , with a balancing system for at least the arm. 
     
     
         9 . The tug boat of  claim 1  further comprising an additional rotating element attached to the arm between the towing cable and the second axis with said additional rotating element pivoting freely along an axis substantially parallel to first axis. 
     
     
         10 . The tugboat of  claim 1  wherein said rotating element can pivot freely around a further axis, which further axis can extend at least one of:
 substantially parallel to the arm; 
 substantially parallel to a line crossing both the second axis and the first axis; or 
 crossing the first axis substantially perpendicularly when the arm is in a substantially upright mid position. 
 
     
     
         11 . The tugboat according to  claim 10  further comprising an additional guiding apparatus between rotating element and towing winch that freely pivots around an axis substantially parallel to or coinciding with first axis. 
     
     
         12 . The tugboat according to  claim 1 , wherein the winch is a render and recovery winch. 
     
     
         13 . A movable towing point apparatus for use in a tugboat according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for assisting a vessel by a tug boat by connecting a towing cable between a winch on the tug boat and the vessel, wherein on the tugboat the towing cable is guided by a movable towing point, such that the position of the towing is adjusted relative to the tugboat depending on the position of the vessel relative to the tug boat, wherein the towing cable is guided by and/or over the towing point substantially friction free. 
     
     
         15 . A method for assisting a vessel with a tug boat, by connecting a towing cable between a winch on the tug boat and the vessel, wherein on the tugboat the towing cable is guided by a movable towing point, and wherein the position of the towing point is adjusted relative to the tugboat depending on the position of the vessel relative to the tug boat, wherein the towing cable is guided over a rotating element of the towing point or forming the towing point, which rotating element is rotated on an axis which is moved relative the tug boat. 
     
     
         16 . The tug boat of  claim 2 , wherein the plane is substantially parallel to a deck of the tug boat. 
     
     
         17 . The tug boat of  claim 3 , wherein the plane is substantially parallel to a deck of the tug boat. 
     
     
         18 . The tug boat of  claim 1 , wherein the second axis is fixed to a movable member, wherein said movable member can move partly along a straight line and partly along a curve in a plane substantially parallel to a deck of the tug boat. 
     
     
         19 . The tug boat of  claim 1 , wherein a guiding apparatus is provided, guiding the towing cable onto the rotating element, wherein said guiding apparatus is attached to an arm pivoting freely about the first axis, parallel to and coinciding with the first axis. 
     
     
         20 . The tug boat of  claim 8 , the balancing system comprising a counter weight attached to the arm juxtaposed to the rotating element with respect to the pivot axis. 
     
     
         21 . A tug boat having at least one towing winch and a movable towing point apparatus, wherein a towing cable extends over said towing point apparatus from a towing winch to a vessel to be assisted, comprising a rotating element that at least partly guides the towing cable such that a pulling force on said cable is transmitted to the tug boat at least partly through said rotating element, said rotating element mounted such that it can pivot freely around a first axis, and said first axis fixed to an arm which is mounted to pivot about a second axis, said second axis being spaced apart from said first axis and the second and the first axis being non-parallel. 
     
     
         22 . Assembly of a vessel and a tug boat, the tug boat having at least one towing winch and a movable towing point apparatus, wherein a towing cable extends over said towing point apparatus from a towing winch to the vessel, the towing point apparatus comprising a rotating element by which the towing cable is guided such that a pulling force on said cable is transmitted to the tug boat at least partly through said rotating element, said rotating element mounted such that it can pivot freely around a first axis, said first axis fixed to an arm which is mounted to pivot about a second axis, said second axis being spaced apart from said first axis. 
     
     
         23 . Assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the second and the first axis are non-parallel.