Rubber Airbag for boat, ship, vessel launching process
1. Preparation
1-1. According to the caluculation, prepare enough airbags, towing winches, air comprssor and other instruments neede. Before operation, airbags should be inflated with 1.25 its safety and airtightness. If there is any problm, airbags should be fixed before use.
1-2. Clear all the obstacles and sharp iron nail from launch ramp. Check vessel bottom to ensure no welding scar which may puncture airbags.
1-3. Fasten towing winch with ship.
1-4. Close all vessel's valves, fix the helm and screw propeller.
2. Lifting
2-1. Insert airbags between support blocks and inflate them to lift vessel. When vessel is lifted, people can take out support blocks under the ship.
A. For the light weight ship, small amount of airbags can fully lift the ship at one time then it is easy to remove the blocks and insert left airbags for launch.
B. For the heavy ship, it will be lifted by airbags step by step. First people need to find the best point for airbag lifting. The best position means where airbags can get big contact area with vessel bottom and also far away from vessel's gravity center. People may refer to the right drawing to find lifting condition need to be satified.
When the first batch airbags lift part of vessel away from support blocks peole can take out some blocks in front of airbags. Then insert more airbags to lift vessel, step by step the vessel can be lifted fully by airbags. At the time people can remove all support blocks under vessel.
C. The calculation of airbag lifting is very important. When people use airbag to lift bow first the blocks under stern will bear increasing press. According to calculation if there is possible damage to launch ramp people may increase blocks quantity under stern.
3. Launch
Under some conditions the vessel need to be shifted to near water before launching. But it is not necessary for all launch projects.
3-1. Adjusted the inner pressure of airbags to low down the vessel. Generally the bottom vessel can be 0.5~0.8m above the ground.
3-2. All hte airbags should be centered the ship and upright to the launching direction.
3-3. Start the towing winch to release the ship slowly. When the first airbag rolls out of the tow, move it to the stern and place it at the planned position.
3-4. Repeat the former process and move ship to the right position.
3-5. Clean the launching area. When the water depth is enough for launch people may cut off or release the ropes to launch the ship. If the launching water area is limited, people may use towing winch to release ship slowly into the water.
3-6 Reclaim all airbags after launch.
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