Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B23/00—Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like
  • B63B23/30—Devices for guiding boats to water surface
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B23/00—Equipment for handling lifeboats or the like
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C3/00—Launching or hauling-out by landborne slipways; Slipways
  • B63C3/06—Launching or hauling-out by landborne slipways; Slipways by vertical movement of vessel, i.e. by crane
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
  • B63C3/00—Launching or hauling-out by landborne slipways; Slipways
  • B63C3/12—Launching or hauling-out by landborne slipways; Slipways using cradles

Definitions

• the disclosure generally relates to the launch and retrieval of a vessel from a larger structure in water. More specifically, the disclosure relates the launch and retrieval of a vessel from a larger offshore structure, such as an offshore platform or ship.
• the launch of the smaller vessel from the larger structure can be somewhat straightforward.
• the smaller vessel can be deployed generally by being suspended from the larger structure by ropes or cables attached to the bow and stern of the smaller vessel, and the ropes or cables are released after the smaller vessel is lowered and floating on the water.
• the retrieval can be more complicated.
• the different heave motion of the larger structure compared to the smaller vessel can cause difficulties in reattaching the ropes or cables to hoist the smaller vessel up to a storage position with the larger structure.
• an assembly for launching or retrieving a lifeboat, pick-up boat or the like from a ship or a stationary installation includes a boat dock having float bodies. Control wires extending down to the sea from the ship or the stationary installation cooperate with guide means on the boat dock to control the dock during lowering and hoisting. In this manner, the boat dock can float in the sea and follow the wave movements, while at the same time it is stabilized due to the control of the wires. There is a coupling means on the boat dock, which engages with a coupling means on the boat when the boat is in the dock.
• the system shows a boat with a ball on the end of a smaller diameter rod located on top of the boat that engages and disengages the coupling means (sized to fit the ball with the rod so that the ball does not slip through the coupling means) for launch and retrieval from the larger structure.
• the suspended dock with the boat is lowered to the water and the ball with the rod on the boat are released.
• the boat can approach the dock and as the boat passes under the dock horizontal bar, the ball and rod on the top of the boat can engage the horizontal bar to couple the boat with the dock, so that the dock and boat can be raised to a storage position.
• Variations of this system include lowering the boat on a separate line from the dock.
• the concentrated load from the tensile stresses with the ball and rod of the boat structure generally would require extra structural support that adds weight and may interfere with other desirable design features in the boat.
• a dock for launching and recovery of a lifeboat, rescue boat or like small boat on a vessel, a floating platform or a fixed installation.
• the boat is normally stored on the dock.
• the dock is provided with buoyant elements fixed to a frame.
• the boat is supported in a cradle within the frame.
• the dock is lowered to a floating position on the surface of the water.
• a locking device is provided in order to fix the boat to the dock.
• the dock is given rolling and pitching periods which coincide as closely as possible with those of the boat.
• the dock and the boat will thereby behave in approximately the same manner in the water, which makes it relatively simple to run the boat into the dock even in a very heavy sea.
• the boat When the boat has been introduced into the dock, it is in contact with the dock at least two points, and the boat and the dock are then fixed to one another by a locking device to form a cohesive unit.”
• the system provides a frame suspended by lines with floats fixed in elevation relative to the frame. The boat enters the frame and the frame is raised to a storage position with the boat supported by the frame.
• the floats do not adjust in elevation relative to the frame, because of their fixed positions, as stated in the specification.
• the vessel At stages of the launch as the vessel begins to float, it is possible that the vessel might become dislodged and trapped under the floats. Similarly, during retrieval, the vessel might become dislodged and incorrectly supported in the frame.
• the present disclosure provides a vessel launch and retrieval system and method with a cage that can at least partially surround a vessel and a variable elevation float movably coupled with the cage that allows the cage to change elevations relative to the float in the water.
• the variable elevation float allows the vessel in the cage to be guided throughout the process of launch and retrieval, because the float and vessel can remain in a floating elevation while the cage changes elevation to launch and release the vessel within a range of available movement independent of the float elevation.
• the cage with the vessel that is at least partially surrounded by the cage members can be lowered into the water until the vessel is floating above certain cage members sufficiently to allow the vessel to exit the cage.
• variable elevation float guides the vessel as the vessel enters the water and continues to guide as the vessel begins to float and then clear the surrounding members.
• the cage can be raised relative to the float that is floating in the water at the float elevation, so that the floating vessel continues to be guided in the cage by the float until the vessel support of the cage engages the bottom of the vessel. Then, the cage, vessel, and float can be raised from the water surface.
• the disclosure provides a system for launch and retrieval of a vessel in water comprising: a cage comprising a plurality of structural members configurable to at least partially surround the vessel; an opening in at least one portion of the cage configurable to allow the vessel to enter and exit the cage; and at least one float movably coupled to an upright structural member of the cage and configured to be allow movement of the cage between a first elevation and a second elevation relative to the float.
• the disclosure also provides a method of launching or retrieving a vessel in water with a cage comprising a plurality of structural members; an opening in at least one portion of the cage; and at least one float movably coupled to an upright structural member of the cage, the method comprising: lowering the cage and float into the water with the vessel resting on the cage, so that the float is adjacent the vessel and the cage is at a first elevation relative to the float; further lowering the cage into the water to a second elevation relative to the cage that is different from the first elevation with the float continuing to be adjacent the vessel; and allowing the vessel to exit the cage.
• the disclosure also provides a method of launching or retrieving a vessel in water with a cage comprising a plurality of structural members; an opening in at least one portion of the cage; and at least one float movably coupled to an upright structural member of the cage, the method, comprising: establishing the cage in the water at an initial elevation to allow the vessel floating in water to enter the cage through the opening while guiding the vessel in the opening with the at least one float; raising the cage in the water while guiding the vessel with the float at different elevations relative to the cage; and further raising the cage in the water and allowing the vessel to rest on the cage while the at least one float is adjacent the vessel at a final elevation relative to the cage that is different than the initial elevation.
• Figure 1 is a perspective front schematic view of an exemplary vessel launch and retrieval system having a cage with a float that moves in variable elevations relative to the cage, according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a side view of the exemplary system.
• Figure 3 is a top view of the exemplary system.
• Figure 4 is a side view of the exemplary system placed in water with a vessel partially in the cage with the variable elevation float floating at an elevation relative to the vessel support of the cage that allows the vessel to enter the cage.
• Figure 5 is a top view of Figure 4.
• Figure 6 is a side view of the exemplary system shown in Figure 4 with the vessel resting on the cage and at least partially surrounded by the cage with the variable elevation float floating at a lower elevation relative to the cage and therefore the cage being at a higher elevation in the water compared to Figure 4.
• Figure 7 is a top view of Figure 6.
• Figure 8 is an alternative exemplary system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• the present disclosure provides a vessel launch and retrieval system and method with a cage that can at least partially surround a vessel and a variable elevation float that moves relative to the cage.
• the variable elevation float allows the vessel in the cage to be guided throughout the process of launch and retrieval, because the float moves relative to the cage and floats in correspondence with the vessel independent of the cage depth within a range of available movement.
• the cage with the vessel that is at least partially surrounded by the cage members can be lowered into the water until the vessel is floating above the surrounding members of the cage sufficiently to allow the vessel to exit the cage.
• the variable elevation float guides the vessel as the vessel enters the water and continues to guide as the vessel begins to float and then clears the surrounding members.
• the cage On retrieval after the vessel has entered the cage, the cage can be raised by moving relative to the float that is floating in the water, so that the floating vessel is guided in the cage by the float until the vessel support of the cage engages the bottom of the vessel. Then, the cage, float, and vessel can be raised from the water surface.
• FIG 1 is a perspective front schematic view of an exemplary vessel launch and retrieval system having a cage with a float that moves in variable elevations relative to the cage, according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a side view of the exemplary system.
• Figure 3 is a top view of the exemplary system.
• the system 2 generally includes a cage 4 having a series of structural members and at least one float movably coupled with a structural column on the cage.
• the cage includes a plurality of longitudinal members 8 that are coupled to a plurality of lateral members 10.
• a plurality of columns 6 are coupled to longitudinal members and/or lateral members to form a height of the cage 4.
• the term "column" is used broadly herein to indicate a generally upright structural member.
• the cage can be configured to allow at least one opening 12 into the cage.
• the cage can include sufficient clearance as may be appropriate for a particularly sized vessel and any protrusions arising from the vessel.
• the cage 4 can include a bow stop 14.
• the bow stop 14 can be disposed on an end of the cage, where the bow stop might be encountered by a bow of a vessel after it enters the cage 4 through the opening 12.
• the bow stop 14 can include a first lateral member 14A at an upper elevation, a second lateral member 14B at a lower elevation, and an upright member 14C disposed between the lateral members 14A, 14B.
• the lateral members can be curved as might better comport with a typical curve of the bow of a vessel.
• a stern stop 16 can also be included across a lower elevation of the opening 12. The stern stop 16 can be an elevation that corresponds to the bow stop lateral member 14B or other elevations that are generally higher than a bottom of the vessel when the vessel is resting on the cage.
• a vessel support 18 is formed in the cage 4 generally at lower elevations of the cage, such as at the bottom of the cage.
• the vessel support 18 can be angled to correspond generally to an angularly formed hull of a vessel.
• the vessel support 18 can be split across the width to allow a keel of the vessel to be disposed in the vessel support.
• the vessel support 18 can be supported by cage members 19 around the cage at various positions.
• One or more floats 20A, 20B are movably coupled with the columns 6.
• the floats 20A, 20B are aligned longitudinally with the cage 4 to assist in guiding the vessel along the starboard side 40 and the port side 42, shown in Figure 5 .
• a guide surface 32A, 32B can be formed on the floats 20A, 20B to assist in an initial approach of the vessel into the opening 12 alongside the floats 20A, 20B.
• the float 20 moves along the height of the column 6 within a range of elevations relative to the cage 4, as the cage is lowered and raised in the water.
• the float 20 floats on the surface of the water while the cage is raised or lowered into or out of the water and thus the relative elevations between the cage and float change and are not fixed.
• the float 20 maintains a constant guide, such as in a lateral direction across the cage, at the surface of the water for a vessel entering or exiting the opening 12 of the cage 4 independently of the depth of the cage in the water.
• a maximum height of the float (and therefore minimum elevation of the vessel support 18 relative to the float) is limited by the upper float stops 22A, 22B.
• the upper float stop 22 restricts the highest distance that the float 20 can proceed up the column 6 and therefore limits the depth of the stern stop 16 and the vessel support 18 in the water when the cage is supported in the water by the float.
• the minimum height of the float 20 relative to the cage (and therefore maximum elevation of the vessel support 18 of the cage relative to the float) is limited by the lower float stops 24A, 24B.
• the upper and lower float stops determine the range of elevations in which the cage and its structural members can move relative to the float.
• the cage can be supported by structural members on top of the cage.
• a raising member 26, such as a structural frame support, can articulate about a joint 28 as it is folded down against the cage and as it is raised into a raising position.
• the upward maximum articulation of the raising member 26 is restricted by the length of one of more linkages 30 that are attached to a portion of the frame distally from the articulating joint 28.
• the linkages can be lines, such as cables, ropes, chains, and others flexible members, or rigid members such as bars and tubing.
• a hook 46 can be coupled to the raising member 26, so that a line 36 can be coupled to the frame 4.
• the line 36 can be used to raise and lower the cage with the vessel, when the vessel is supported by the cage.
• Figure 4 is a side view of the exemplary system placed in water with a vessel partially in the cage with the variable elevation float floating at an elevation relative to the vessel support of the cage that allows the vessel to enter the cage.
• Figure 5 is a top view of Figure 4.
• the vessel 38 can approach the cage 4 and enter the cage through the opening 12.
• the stern stop 16 and the vessel support 18 can be at an elevation sufficiently below the water surface 34 to provide clearance for the draft of the vessel over the stern stop 16.
• the float 20 can guide the vessel 38 on the starboard side 40 and port side 42, or at other locations as is appropriate for the particular approach of the vessel, as the vessel enters the opening 12 at an initial elevation relative to the vessel support 18.
• the starboard side 40 of the vessel 38 can be guided into the opening 12 with the float 20B and the guide surface 32B.
• the portside 42 can be guided into the opening 12 by the float 20A and the guide surface 32A.
• the vessel 38 can stop entering the cage when it reaches the bow stop 14.
• Figure 6 is a side view of the exemplary system shown in Figure 4 with the vessel resting on the cage and at least partially surrounded by the cage with the variable elevation float floating at a lower elevation relative to the cage and therefore the cage being at a higher elevation in the water compared to Figure 4.
• Figure 7 is a top view of Figure 6.
• the vessel 38 can continue entering the opening 12 until it is stopped by the bow stop 14 and at least partially surrounded by the cage 4.
• the line 36 can be used to raise the cage 4 upward in the water. Because the float 20 can move downward along the column 6 as the cage is being raised, the float 20 can continue to float in the water near or at the water surface 34 and continue to guide the vessel 38 within the opening 12.
• the vessel support 18 can be raised to engage the hull 44 of the vessel 38. If the stern stop 16 is present in a particular embodiment, the vessel 38 can be surrounded by the bow stop 14, stern stop 16, and any longitudinal members between the stops, including the floats 20A, 20B.
• the lower float stop 24 contacts the float 20 at the minimum elevation of the cage relative to the float. Then, as the cage 4 continues to be raised, the float 20 is raised above the water surface 34 along with the cage and the vessel 38, which is supported on the cage by the vessel support 18.
• the system 2, having the cage 4 with the float 20, and vessel 38 can be raised to a storage position on another structure, such as a platform or another vessel.
• Figure 8 is an alternative exemplary system.
• the floats 20A, 20B can be of a cylindrical shape with a conical nose to form the guide surfaces 32A, 32B. This embodiment functions in a similar matter as had been described above.
• the process is generally reversed.
• the system 2 with the vessel 38 at least partially enclosed on the cage is lowered from a storage position into the water.
• the variable elevation float 20 begins to float and the cage continues being lowered while moving relative, such as sliding through, the variable elevation float.
• the float 20 continues to float and self- adjust its elevation relative to the cage to help guide the vessel at different elevations relative to the cage.
• the vessel can exit the cage 4 while being guided by the variable elevation float 20.
• the device or system may be used in a number of directions and orientations.
• the term “coupled,” “coupling,” “coupler,” and like terms are used broadly herein and may include any method or device for securing, binding, bonding, fastening, attaching, joining, inserting therein, forming thereon or therein, communicating, or otherwise associating, for example, mechanically, magnetically, electrically, chemically, operably, directly or indirectly with intermediate elements, one or more pieces of members together and may further include without limitation integrally forming one functional member with another in a unity fashion.
• the coupling may occur in any direction, including rotationally.

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Citations (7)

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• 2012
  • 2012-06-05 NO NO15189822A patent/NO3000808T3/no unknown
• 2014
  • 2014-09-09 EP EP14772024.7A patent/EP3044084B1/de active Active
  • 2014-09-09 WO PCT/US2014/054707 patent/WO2015038517A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2014-09-09 US US14/917,893 patent/US20160221644A1/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (8)

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