Marine Floating Fender Yokohama Type Pneumatic Natural Rubber Black Fender

Pneumatic Rubber Fender

The Pneumatic Rubber Fender is an air-inflated fender that is widely used in marine and offshore applications for ship-to-ship and ship-to-dock operations. It is also known as Pneumatic Cushion Fender or Pneumatic Rubber Fender, and is designed to absorb the impact energy between the ship and the dock or between two ships, thereby protecting the vessels and the dock from damage.

Size

The size of the Pneumatic Rubber Fender can be customized according to the specific needs of the customers. This ensures that the fender fits perfectly with the different sizes and types of vessels, providing maximum protection.

Compared with general elastic rubber fenders (such as waste tires, solid rubber fenders, etc.), it has the advantages of large impact energy absorption, low pressure per unit area acting on ships, excellent impact fatigue resistance, and easy installation.

Since it was put into use in the market, with its excellent elasticity and wear resistance, the inflatable rubber fender has been used as a buffer medium for ship berthing and ship berthing, and is widely used in ship-to-ship operations and ship mooring operations.

The advantages of the Pneumatic Rubber Fends:

1. Guaranteed energy absorption
2. Thick skin construction
3. Good angular performance
4. Less surface pressure onto the side wall of ships. (The capability of accepting surface pressure of the fender is up to 14 ton/m2).
5. No reduction on the performance of compression when inclined.
6. Especially in mooring of large scale ships in sea docks and lightering.

Pneumatic Rubber Fender Introduction

1 Outer rubber

The outer rubber layers that covers the outside of fender protects the cord layers and the inner rubber from abrasion and other external forces. This compound has sufficient tensile and tear strength to withstand any weather condition and hard usage. Standard color is black, but other colors are available on request.

2 Inner rubber

The liner of a rubber membrane seals the pressurized air inside the fenders.

3 Synthetic tire cord layers for reinforcement

The reinforcement layers, which are made of synthetic tire cord commonly used in tires, are arranged at ideal angles to hold the internal pressure and to distribute the stress evenly providing strong efficient reinforcement.

Pneumatic rubber fender features

1 Safety and Reliability

Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders are constructed of several layers of strong tire-cord, and are thus resistant to pressure and cutting. The safety factor adopted in the design of this fender is based on accepted theory and has been proven by extensive experimentation. Operational experience over a long period of time attests to its high safety and reliability, and hydraulic pressure tests have proven the strength to be suitable.

2 No Deterioration or Variation in Performance

Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders utilize the compressive elasticity of air, therefore performance deterioration due to fatigue is absent. In the case of solid rubber fenders or foam-filled fenders, based on data were taken from comparison tests of Yokohama Fenders, there are variations in performance. Such performance variations are associated to changes of rubber or foam hardness occurring as a result of cyclic compression and temperature change. The good performance of the Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders remains unchanged even at temperatures under -50 degrees Centigrade (-58 degrees Fahrenheit).

3 Advantages at Inclined Berthing

Ships usually make initial contact with the dock or another ship on STS operations at an oblique angle. In the case of Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders, energy absorption does not decrease at inclined compression up to 15 degrees.

4 Most Cost Competitive System

The utilization of the compressive elasticity of air, unlike other fenders which need protector panels, provides completely uniform surface pressure on contact. The surface pressure is equal to the internal air pressure

5 Stronger against Shearing Force

After contacting a dock, a ship is usually shifted to the correct mooring position. The shifting exerts shearing and compression forces on the fenders. This combined force is very severe in the case of solid rubber fenders because they are not reinforced against such force. In contrast, Yokohama Pneumatic Rubber Fenders are adequately reinforced using strong tire-cord to cope against such forces as well as internal pressure.

Pneumatic Rubber Fender Application

The are two typical installation type: ship to ship operation and ship to dock operation.

a. ship to ship operation

Generally speaking, two contact points are enough for the light duty ship to ship operation. But 1 or 2 extra pneumatic rubber fender should be used as the primary fender to absorb the berthing energy for the heavy duty ship to ship operation, and keep proper stand-off distance between two ships. Meanwhile, two or more small-size fenders can be hung on the ship hull as the secondary fender.

b. ship to dock operation

Pneumatic fenders are often used for the ship to quay operation because of its excellent performance. The pneumatic fenders are anchored with quay by the guy chain and shackles. Meanwhile, the pneumatic fender can be floated on the water surface depend on the change of tide.

Contact information:

Angus Zhang

Tel: +86-15794525751

E-mail:angus@hengergroup.com