US3672178A

US3672178A - Rotary dock

Info

Publication number: US3672178A
Application number: US91921A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul A Trautwein
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-11-23
Filing date: 1970-11-23
Publication date: 1972-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-27

Abstract

This disclosure relates to the berthing of boats, and to the problem caused by the need for providing maneuvering room to permit the boats to enter their boat slips. This problem is particularly acute for larger boats and for the less experienced skippers. The disclosed invention teaches the use of a rotary dock, somewhat similar to a merry-go-round, having a plurality of boat slips associated therewith. In use, the rotary dock is rotated so that any given one of the plurality of boat slips may be positioned at any desired peripheral location. Thus, in the case of a mooring arrangement in a marina, any boat slip of the rotary dock may therefore be positioned at a peripheral location that facilitates the boat''s entering or leaving the channel, whereas, in the case of a marine service station that is already crowded with boats being serviced, the rotary dock may be rotated so that an emoty boat slip in in location to receive the newly arrived boat. In the case of a boat rental or a boat sales agency having a large inventory of boats, the rotary dock may be rotated so that any desired boat of the inventory may be made available for customer examination or use.

Description

United States Patent Trautwein [54] ROTARY DOCK Paul A. Trautwein, 1906 Holiday Road, Newport Beach, Calif. 92660 [22] Filed: Nov. 23, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 91,921

[72] Inventor:

[52] 0.8. CI ..6l/46, ll4/0.S

51 im. Cl ..E02d 29/06 [58] Field 01' Search 0 61/48, 46; 114/.5 D, .5 BD; 52/65 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,786,598 10/1956 Harris ..61/48 X 2,964,144 12/1960 Wheeler ..52/65 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney-Nienow & Frater [5 7] ABSTRACT This disclosure relates to the berthing of boats, and to the problem caused by the need for providing maneuvering room to permit the boats to enter their boat slips. This problem is particularly acute for larger boats and for the less experienced skippers.

The disclosed invention teaches the use of a rotary dock, somewhat similar to a merry-go-round, having a plurality of boat slips associated therewith. In use, the rotary dock is rotated so that any given one of the plurality of boat slips may be positioned at any desired peripheral location.

Thus, in the case of a mooring arrangement in a marina, any boat slip of the rotary dock may therefore be positioned at a peripheral location that facilitates the boat's entering or leaving the channel, whereas, in the case of a marine service station that is already crowded with boats being serviced, the rotary dock may be rotated so that an emoty boat slip in in location to receive the newly arrived boat. In the case of a boat rental or a boat sales agency having a large inventory of boats, the rotary dock may be rotated so that any desired boat of the inventory may be made available for customer examination or USB.

7 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJum 1912 3, 672. 1 78 sum 10F 5 I2 QFH 2 l2 PRIOR ART I2 PRIOR ART 115-11 INVEN TOR PAUL A. TRAUTWEIN imw ##JI ATTOR NEYS P'A'TEn'TEnJum 1912 SHEET 2 [IF 3 HEW INVENTOR PAUL A. TRAUTWEIN ATTORNEYS Pmmmwm m2 3.672.178

PAUL A. TRAUTWEIN ATTO RNEYS ROTARY DOCK BACKGROUND The ever-increasing popularity of pleasure boats has introduced the associated and ever increasing problems of boat mooring, boat sales, boat display, boat servicing, boat renting, boat storing, boat maintenance, etc. These are caused, in part, by the fact that the many boats must be moored in such a way that each and every one of them is always available for the various functions mentioned above; plus that all important function of always being available to the boat owner for instant use and for instant mooring when he has finished his day of boating.

One present day, admittedly not completely satisfactory, arrangement is to fasten the boat to a floating mooring buoy; and to row between the moored boat and the shore as necessary. This procedure, unfortunately, introduces the problem of provisioning the boat, etc. Another, more prevalent solution, is the use of a marina that is laid out in such a manner that it can accomodate a large plurality of boats. As will be obvious, marinas tend to be very expensive to operate; and there is a constant search for procedures that will make them more efficient. Unfortunately, greatly improved efficiency has not been heretofore realized; the result rather being that marina costs have risen and that mooring rates have skyrocketedwith dissatisfaction on the parts of both the boat owners and the marina operators.

OBJECTS AND DRAWINGS It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved marina.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a more efficient marina.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide more efficient use of the available marina space.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel type of dock for a marina.

It is astill further object of the present invention to provide a rotary dock for use in mooring boats.

The attainment of these objects, and others, will be realized from a study of the following description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, of which:

FIGS. la and 1b show prior art mooring arrangements presently used in marinas;

FIG. 2 shows the basic concept of the disclosed rotary dock;

FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of the novel rotary dock;

FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of the rotary dock;

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the rotary dock;

FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of one rotary dock pivoting means;

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of another rotary dock arrangement;

FIG. 8 shows a novel mooring arrangement using the disclosed rotary dock; and

FIG. 9 shows still another novel mooring arrangement.

SYNOPSIS Broadly stated, the present invention discloses a rotary dock that rotates around a given pivot point; the rotary dock having a plurality of boat slips. In one embodiment, the rotary dock resembles a merry-go-round, and has a plurality of individual boat slips arranged radially. In another embodiment, the rotary dock comprises a spine, and has a plurality of individual boat slips arranged transversely to the spine. In still another embodiment, the spine does not contain individual boat slips, but rather permits side-by-side mooring of a large plurality of boats.

INTRODUCTION As was pointed out above, it is particularly important in laying out a marina to be sure that each and every boat owner has easy access to his boat; and that, in turn, each and every boat has easy access to the channelfor both leaving the boat slip for a cruise, and for returning to the boat slip after the cruise. The latter is especially important, because at that time the crew is tired, hungry, and in a hurry; so that their docking seamanship may not be up to par-and this may result in damage to their boat, to adjacent boats, and perhaps even to the docking pier. Thus, the layout of the marina is very important, and from the boat owners point of view, and it should leave him a lot of maneuvering room for entering and leaving his boat slip.

On the other hand, the marina operator requires an adequate financial income from the rental of space at the marina-in order to maintain the facility, and to show a profit. To him, therefore, the above mentioned maneuvering room is just so much non-income producing dead water; and, to the marine operator, the marina layout must be such that the dead water is kept at a minimum. Therefore, the marina designer is torn between conflicting desires, so he has to compromise in his design.

One such compromise marina design is shown in FIG. la, which shows a portion of a docking arrangement. Here a walkway 10 has a plurality of finger piers 11 jutting therefrom; each pier I], in turn, having a plurality of spaced apart docks 12 that fonn boat slips 13 wherein individual boats may be moored. Boat slips 13 having a clock 12 on at least one side thereof provide improved facilities for working on a boat; and will be designated as individual" boat slips for reasons that will become apparent later.

FIG. la indicates a boat 14 that has left its boat slip and is preparing to enter boat channel 15. It will be realized from FIG. Ia that, as mentioned above, a good deal of maneuvering is necessary for boat 14 to accomplish this result in view of wind, current, tidal effects, etc.; and that if its skipper is not well-qualified, he can do extensive damage to his own boat, to other boats, and even to the pier arrangement.

It is in an effort to minimize the danger of such damage that a large amount of maneuvering room must be left between, and adjacent to, neighboring piers.

FIG. lb shows another prior art pier arrangement, and it will be noted that inthis arrangement the larger-sized boats are berthed closer to the channel 15, and that the smaller more maneuverable boats are moored at the inner portion of the docking arrangement. Even so, an appreciable amount of maneuvering room must be provided for permitting the inner boats to maneuver into and out of their boat slips.

Thus, in summary of prior art pier arrangements, it will be realized that they inherently include a relatively large non-income producing amount of dead water.

DESCRIPTION The basic concept present invention will be understood from FIG. 2. Here it will be seen that the novel disclosed docking arrangement comprises a rotary dock having a central core 17 adapted to rotate around a pivot pointsuch as a king pile 18. The exemplified king pile 18 may be formed in the usual manner of providing a dock pile (i.e., by pile driving, jetting, etc.)

The rotary dock 16a of FIG. 2 shows a plurality of docks 12 extending radially from central core 17; these docks 12 forming a plurality of individual boat slips 13, and providing access between the rotary dock and walkway 10. While eight such radial boat slips 13 are illustrated, boat slips of any convenient number and size may be provided. Docks 12 may, of course, be either integral with central core 17, or affixed thereto.

The overall rotary dock 16a may be formed in the usual manner of building floating docks; i.e., by the use of pontoon supported frameworks, etc. The rotation equipment may take any convenient form, using any of the commercially available apparatus; i.e., bull gears, cables, belts, electric motors, gasoline or diesel engines, splines or slides to adjust to different floating levels, etc.

The operation of the rotary dock 16a is as follows. Assume that a boat owner wants to take his boat out for a cruise; and after making the necessary preparations, finds that the boat slip containing his boat happens to be remote from the boat channel 15. He thereupon activates the dock rotating mechanism, discussed above. This mechanism causes the entire rotary dock 16a and its associated boats to rotate around its pivot point; and when the boat owner finds that his boat is positioned at a peripheral location adjacent the channel, he de-activates the dock rotating mechanism. A brake may be desirable to stop the rotation of the rotary dock; but in general, the dock rotating mechanism, gearing, engines, etc., inherently are such that when the mechanism is de-activated, it acts as a brake against any further rotary motion. Thus the boat owner may now back quickly and easily out into the channel. Thus, the formerly necessary maneuvering and danger therefrom are obviated; and the boat is quickly on its way.

It will be noted that as the rotary dock 16a rotates, it drags all of the moored boats around with it; but this does not cause any problem, as all of them are floating gently in their individual boat slips, and the rotation rate is reasonably slow. It should be realized that even if other boat owners are working on their boats, or are preparing them for a cruise, the slow rotation of the rotary clock will not inconvenience them or their boats in any way, and they can continue with their preparations, until they are ready to leave. At that time, they, in their turn, activate the dock rotating mechanism, as described above, until their boat is at the channel slip location; and they can readily and easily back into the channel, and start their cruise. I

Thus, by the latter part of the day, several of the boat slips may be empty. When one of the cruising boats returns to the rotary dock after completing its cruise, at least one of the boat slips 13 will, of necessity, have to be empty; and in all probability, the empty boat slip will be facing the channel 15, having been left in that location when the latest boat left the rotary dock.

Since all of the boat slips are alike, there is no need to assign them to specific boats or to specific boat owners. Moreover, as indicated in FIG. 2, a plurality of service facilities 19 (work lockers, electrical power outlets, other boat maintenance apparatus, firefighting equipment, etc.) is positioned on the central core 17 of the rotary dock 16a, so that this equipment is readily available to every boat, regardless of which boat slip it happens to occupy. Furthermore, the service facilities 19 located on the central core 17 include individual storage lockers, so that each boat owner has all of his personal equipment readily accessible to him, regardless of which boat slip his boat happens to occupy at any given time. Thus, the newly arrived boat merely noses into any empty and available boat slipin this way obviating the prior maneuvering.

It will eventually happen that when a given boat arrives, the skipper will find that the channel positioned boat slips are all filled, having been taken by earlier arrivals; so that it becomes necessary for the rotary dock 16a to be rotated in order to bring an empty boat slip into the channel position. The dock rotating mechanism may be activated in a number of ways; for example, by remote radio control, by a switch positioned near the channel, by a shore located or dock located switch, by an attendant, etc. In any event, the rotary dock 16a is rotated until an empty boat slip is in the channel position; whereupon the latest arriving boat may nose into this boat slip.

It will, of course, be realized that the rotary clock 16a has a generally circular configuration, so that ordinarily there is some dead water at each comer of the circumscribing square; but it can be shown that the rotary dock concept is much more efficient than prior art marina designs and, moreover, provides tremendous advantages for the relatively larger less maneuverable boats whose owners are only too glad to pay a rental premium for the convenience of individual boat slips that have easy access to the boat channel, and provide freedom from damage.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment, 16b, of the rotary dock; this embodiment being similar to that previously discussedin that it uses the disclosed rotary concept, central core 17, and pivot means 18. However, embodiment 16b comprises a longitudinal spine 21 that may be integral with, or affixed to, the central core 17. A plurality of individual boat slips 13 are positioned adjacent to spine 21; the outer boat slips accomodating somewhat smaller boats. In this embodiment, the boat slips 13 are shown to be transverse to spine 21 rather than being radial as in the previous embodiment. In the arrangement of FIG. 3, half of the boat slips simultaneously have ready access to channel 15; and, if desired, the rotary dock 16b may therefore operate satisfactorily with only two stopping positions.

Attention is now directed to H6. 4, which shows another embodiment 16c of the rotary dock. Here, rotary dock is illustrated as having a plurality of radially extending docks 12 that produce a number of radially positioned boat slips 13; but the boat slips are of different sizes for accomodating various sized boats. Rotary dock 16c also has a central core 17 upon which service facilities may be mounted in the manner previously discussed, or in a manner to be discussed later. In use, rotary dock 16c is rotated as discussed above until a selected one of the boat slips 13 is in the channel position.

It will be seen that the rotary dock 16c is designed to provide the owners of somewhat smaller boats with the ad vantages previously produced for the larger boat.

Another rotary dock embodiment-16d of FIG. 5takes the form of a single spine 21 attached to, or integral with, central core 17; this embodiment also having a pivot point 18. R0- tary dock 16d has a plurality of smaller boats nose-moored to spine 21 in a mass-type side-by-side relation. This arrangement permits more boats to be mooredwhile still retaining the advantages of the rotary dock; the boat owners sacrificing the individual boat slips-but obtaining easier access to the channel, with reduced danger of damage.

FIG. 6 shows, in schematic side view form, one arrangement for mounting the rotary dock on the pivot means. As indicated, rotary dock 16 is shown to have its central core 17 pierced by a king pile 18 whose upper end is mounted in a restraining device (not shown) such as a tube or a bearing that permits free floatation and free rotation. If desired, a tower 25 may be used to enclose the pivot means; tower 25 also being available to enclose the rotation mechanism previously discussed. Service facilities 19 may, if desired, be incorporated into tower 25; and illuminating means 26 may be advantageously mounted atop the tower.

As is well-known to those in the art, in some harbor areas there is a tight water condition; and in situations such as this there is generally a large demand for the boat slips. in such cases, the rotary dock modification shown in the schematic side view of FIG. 7 may be used. This shows a rotary dock structure that is moored, rather than being rotatable; the illustrated rotary dock structure 16 having a central core 17, but the pivot means comprises a king pile 18a that does not extend above the water surface. Rather, a cable 28 is fastened to the top of the pile 18a, and the cable 28 is run over a pulley 29 that is preferably positioned at the center of the rotary dock structure 16. A counterweight 30 is afiixed to the free end of the cable. In this way, the rotary dock structure is securely moored at a desired location, still floats freely on the water surface as the water level changes. Thus, the top of the king pile 18a is deep enough in the water so that it does not hinder boat operations; and the floating dock structure provides a plurality of boat slips, work facilities, etc.

Referring back to FIGS. 10 and 1b, it will be realized that the maneuvering room is needed primarily by the boats that are moored in the inner portions or in the far corners of the pier arrangements; the boats in the boat slips near the channel requiring somewhat less maneuvering room. In cases such as these, it is sometimes advantageous to combine the prior art finger piers with their high income close packing of boats, and an embodiment of the more efficient rotary dock As illustrated in FIG. 8, the finger docks 12 are used at the front of the docking arrangement; and a rotary dock of any desired configuration, such as 16d is used at the back of the docking arrangement.

Under some local marina configurations, there may be to be readily available for rental or demonstration.

SUMMARY The disclosed rotary dock has many advantages over prior prevailing conditions-current, wind, tidal eflects, etc.that 5 an docking arrangements First of a, it provides each boat make it difiicult for some boats to use certain moorings; and FIG. 9 shows a way of overcoming this situation by use of the disclosed rotary dock. Here a rotary dock 16 is positioned at the outer end of a finger pier 11. In this way, those boats having difficulty because of the local conditions may be berthed at the rotary dock, while the other boats may be moored at the finger piers.

The novel disclosed rotary dock is particularly adaptable to a marine service station; and this will be understood from the following discussion. The usual marine service station generally has a rectangular configuration, with straight-sided docks for servicing and fueling the boats; and since it is usually positioned along an edge of the channelout of the way of prevailing boat traffic-it thus usually has only one side thereof available for service functions. it so happens that many of the boat servicing procedures are quite lengthy, for example, some of the boats require about 100 to 1000 gallons of fuel. Therefore, the few available servicing positions of the marine service station are often tied up for appreciable periods of time. This, of course, results in a concentration of moored boats about the most used service facilities.

Thus, when a newly arrived boat nears the service station, there is frequently no room for it to be moored adjacent the desired service facility; and it either has to await its turn by floating around in mid channel, or has to return later. Therefore, there tends to be a constant re-shuffling of boats in order to service them; this re-shuffling being inefiicient and tedious.

The disclosed rotary dock solves the above problem as follows. The marine service station may now be built as a rotary dock, or with a rotary dock as a portion of its structure. Now as a boat arrives for service, the rotary dock is tumedas described above-so that the newly arrived boat can be moored at an available boat slip of the rotary dock. In this way, any number of boats may be serviced simultaneously; or, if necessary, held at their moored location without interfering with channel traffic or the servicing of other boats.

The disclosed rotary dock is also a boon for an agency that rents out boats, and for an agency that sells boats-as both of these agencies must have a large inventory of boats readily available for demonstration or use; the inventory comprising boats that vary in size, power, furnishings, color, etc. The prior art docking arrangement made it difficult to reach boats in the far corners of the docking area; and frequently resulted in an unsatisfactory demonstration or rental, and often resulted in a lost sale.

The disclosed rotary dock permits the maintaining of a large inventory of boats, while permitting any boat of the inventory with easy access to the channel. Second, it accomodates the larger boats that are difficult to berth. Third, it permits boats to come straight in to the dock from the main channel, rather than having to maneuver their way their way through secondary channels. Fourth, it minimizes damage from other boats. Fifth, it provides definite advantages for agencies involved in boat rentals, boat sales, and boat servicing. Sixth, the disclosed rotary dock may be built of standard materials, using standard techniques, in any shape or form. And finally, the disclosed rotary dock increases marina income by about 40 to 60 percent; and provides the boat owners with new, convenient facilities.

lclaim:

1. A rotary boat dock comprising in combination, a dock member rotatably mounted above thesurface of a relatively large body of water, a plurality of individual boat slips formed in said dock radially of the axis of rotation, and a central dock portion in said dock member common to all slips at the axis of rotation, said dock thereby forming interconnecting walkways above the water surface on opposite sides of said slips'and at said axis of rotation.

2. A rotary boat dock according to claim 1 wherein said walkways are contiguously arranged to permit walking from one walkway to another.

3. A rotary boat dock according to claim 2 wherein said rotary clock has a central core and a plurality of service facilities are located therein.

4. A rotary boat dock according to claim 3 wherein rotating means is provided for said dock member, said means comprising a king pile attached to said central dock portion and having a housing above the latter for storing said service facilities.

5. A rotary boat dock according to claim 4 wherein illuminating means is positioned on said housing for illuminating all of said slips at said dock member.

6. A rotary boat dock comprising in combination, a dock member rotatably mounted above the surface of a relatively large body of water, a plurality of individual large boat slips formed in said dock radially of the axis of rotation, a plurality of individual smaller boat slips one each between a pair of adjacent large boat slips, and a central dock portion common to all large boat slips at the axis of rotation, said dock thereby forming interconnecting walkways above the water surface on opposite sides of said slips and at said axis of rotation.

7. A rotary boat dock according to claim 6 wherein said walkways are contiguously arranged to permit walking from one slip to another.

* i i i

Claims

1. A rotary boat dock comprising in combination, a dock member rotatably mounted above the surface of a relatively large body of water, a plurality of individual boat slips formed in said dock radially of the axis of rotation, and a central dock portion in said dock member common to all slips at the axis of rotation, said dock thereby forming interconnecting walkways above the water surface on opposite sides of said slips and at said axis of rotation.

3. A rotary boat dock according to claim 2 wherein said rotary dock has a central core and a plurality of service facilities are located therein.