Ships – Vessel raising and docking
Patent
1998-08-10
2000-10-17
Sotelo, Jesus D.
Ships
Vessel raising and docking
B63C 102
Patent
active
061315281
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to docking apparatus of the type which are capable of lifting marine craft above the surrounding water level for storage or other purposes for example for maintenance or repair purposes.
BACKGROUND ART
A number of different designs of docking apparatus which lift water craft above the surrounding water level are currently available. Docking apparatus of this type normally comprises a pair of spaced apart bodies which can contain air so that the bodies may float and support a water craft above the water level but which may be filled or partially filled with water to sink the bodies to enable the water craft to be launched or to enable a water craft to be located over the apparatus for subsequent lifting. A major disadvantage of the known apparatus is that they are generally rigid structures and therefore usually only suitable for lifting water craft having a hull design which matches the structure unless a series of adjustments are made. Thus docking apparatus of this type, to overcome the above disadvantage, has to be manufactured to suit the particular water craft with which it is to be used.
The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages or at least provide an alternative to known docking apparatus by providing apparatus which is capable of lifting water craft above the water for storage or other purposes which will adjust to suit a range of water craft of different hull configurations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention thus provides docking apparatus including: means, said buoyancy chambers by themselves being able to support the cradle means and the watercraft in the elevated position; apparatus with positive buoyancy when the buoyancy chambers are submerged.
The cradle means may be in the form of at least one resiliently deformable support member which is fixed at opposite ends to the respective buoyancy chambers but which will flex when subject to a load thereon to conform to the shape of the underside of the hull of the water craft.
Typically the at least one support member may be in the form of a semi-stiff sheet or strap extending between the buoyancy chambers. The sheet or strap preferably extends downwardly and inwardly from its opposite ends. The sheet or strap may have a substantially V-shaped configuration to receive the V-shaped hull of the water craft. The sheet or strap is preferably of a material which flexes when subject to the weight of the water craft, whereby the sheet or the strap substantially conforms to the underside of the water craft when supported thereon.
The support members may extend from pedestal members mounted on each said buoyancy chamber. The pedestal members may incline inwardly of said buoyancy chambers. The support members preferably extend from the upper surface of the pedestal members and substantially at right angles to the axis of the pedestal members.
Preferably the buoyancy chambers are joined together by one or more transverse spacing members. The one or more transverse spacing members are joined to a lower portion of each of the buoyance chambers. Preferably the buoyancy chambers are hingedly connected to said buoyancy chambers. The hinge connections provides pivotal movement of said buoyancy chambers about respective longitudinal axes.
Alternatively, the hinged movement may be achieved by live or integral hinges at or adjacent the connection between the transverse spacing members and buoyancy chambers. The hinge connection may also provide for a degree of pivotal movement of the buoyancy chambers about a vertical axis so that the chambers which are normally substantially parallel to each other may adopt other than a substantially parallel attitude, again to match the water craft hull in the fore and aft direction.
Preferably the sheet or strap of the support member is formed of a semi rigid non-corrosive sheet material which is flexible enough to flex when subject to the weight of the water craft. A particularly suitable material is a stiff plastics, for example high dens
REFERENCES:
patent: 4732102 (1988-03-01), Holman et al.
patent: 4934298 (1990-06-01), Pritchett
Marriot Craig Thomas
McKean David Alexander
Meek Michael Kilpatrick
Meek Michael Kilpatrick
Sotelo Jesus D.
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