Rope Stopper System

Abstract

A rope stopper system for a fibre rope ( 30 ) is described, where a rope stopper ( 10 ) is placed on a deck of an anchor handling vessel ( 50 ) or the like, and is arranged to grip and secure the fibre rope ( 30 ), that runs through the rope stopper ( 10 ), in connection with reshackling and the like. The rope stopper ( 10 ) comprises a frame ( 12 ) equipped with at least three rotary stopper elements ( 14 ), where the stopper elements ( 14 ) are arranged in an opening ( 16 ) in the frame ( 12 ), said opening ( 16 ) is a through-running opening to receive the fibre rope ( 30 ), and where the stopper elements ( 14 ) in the opening are placed about the through-running fibre rope ( 30 ), and also that the surface of said stopper elements ( 14 ) is equipped with a contact surface ( 24 ) which, during rotation of the stopper elements, is arranged to lock the fibre rope ( 30 ) and that the contact surface is arranged at a point on the outer surface ( 26 ) that lies further away from the bearing point ( 20 ) of the stopper element than at least the most of the other points in the outer surface ( 26 ) of the stopper element.

1 . Rope stopper system for a fibre rope ( 30 ), where a rope stopper ( 10 ) is placed on a deck of an anchor handling vessel ( 50 ), and is arranged to grip and secure the fibre rope ( 30 ), that runs through the rope stopper ( 10 ), in connection with reshackling, wherein
 the rope stopper ( 10 ) comprises a frame ( 12 ) equipped with at least three rotary stopper elements ( 14 ), where the stopper elements ( 14 ) are arranged in an opening ( 16 ) in the frame ( 12 ), said opening ( 16 ) being a through-running opening to receive the fibre rope ( 30 ), and where the stopper elements ( 14 ) in the opening are placed about the through-running fibre rope ( 30 ), and also   that an outer surface of said stopper elements ( 14 ) is equipped with a contact surface ( 24 ) which, during rotation of the stopper elements, is arranged to lock the fibre rope ( 30 ), and that the contact surface is arranged at a point on the outer surface ( 26 ) that lies further away from the bearing point ( 20 ) of the stopper element than at least the most of the other points in the outer surface ( 26 ) of the stopper element.   
     
     
         2 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein said stopper element ( 14 ) is supported ( 20 ) eccentrically with regard to the contact surface ( 24 ) of the stopper element ( 14 ) with the fibre rope ( 16 ). 
     
     
         3 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper element ( 14 ) has an eccentric shape or an oval shape. 
     
     
         4 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface ( 24 ) is shaped externally with an arched radius. 
     
     
         5 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the contact surface ( 24 ) is equipped with a rubber covering. 
     
     
         6 . System according to  claim 4 , wherein the arched shape of the contact surface ( 24 ), or the rubber covering, changes around the circumference about the stopper element ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame ( 12 ) is equipped with a number of back supports ( 22 ), whereby the rope stopper ( 10 ) is arranged to be placed next to other equipment on the deck ( 54 ) of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . System according to  claim 7 , wherein said back supports ( 22 ) are arranged to be placed between the cylinders ( 40   a,    40   b ) of a towing pin ( 40 ). 
     
     
         9 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper elements ( 14 ) are arranged for synchronous rotation. 
     
     
         10 . System according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a motor ( 32 ) connected to one of the stopper elements ( 14 ) and that said stopper element is connected via a drive unit with the other stopper elements. 
     
     
         11 . System according to  claim 5 , wherein the arched shape of the contact surface ( 24 ), or the rubber covering, changes around the circumference about the stopper element ( 14 ).