Ships – Vessel raising and docking – Floating dry docks
Patent
1996-03-22
1999-06-22
Sotelo, Jesus D.
Ships
Vessel raising and docking
Floating dry docks
405 3, B63C 102
Patent
active
059132787
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to floating docks, and in particular to docks consisting of two parts which are raised from a submerged condition by air displacement of water.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
In one aspect the invention provides a floating dock comprising: said load supporting raft being selectively attachable to said main ballast vessel, the buoyancy of said main ballast vessel and said load supporting raft being separately variable.
In another aspect the invention consists in a method of dry docking vessels comprising: attachable to each other, said main ballast vessel and said load supporting raft having separately variable buoyancy; supporting raft so as to raise said vessel out of the water, the main ballast vessel at least in part stabilising and supporting said vessel the raising of said load supporting raft occurring simultaneously or alternatively at least in part subsequent to raising said main ballast vessel; and raft; and thus allowing said vessel to be dry-docked to be supported solely by said load supporting raft so that if desired said main ballast vessel can be used with further load supporting rafts.
Preferably said increase in buoyancy of said load supporting raft is increased by allowing at least some of any liquid contained within said vessel supporting raft to egress said load supporting raft as said load supporting raft is raised.
Preferably said vessel is stabilised on said load supporting raft.
Preferably said main ballast vessel is substantially "U" shaped in cross section
Preferably said load supporting raft carrying said vessel and said main ballast vessel can be separated when the said dock is raised to the desired level and the said raft is in a high state of buoyancy.
Preferably said load supporting raft is capable of carrying vessel supported and attached to the upper surface thereof.
Preferably said variable buoyancy is provided by the input of compressed air.
Preferably a number of load supporting rafts are provided.
In yet another aspect the invention consists in apparatus for performing the above method comprising: attachable, said main ballast vessel and said load supporting raft having separately variable buoyancy and separate levelling systems; a vessel to be dry docked when said vessel is being raised out of the water:
Preferably said load supporting raft has means to level and provide support when said load supporting raft and attached vessel are separating from said main ballast vessel.
Preferably said main ballast vessel is substantially "U" shaped in cross section.
Preferably said variable buoyancy is provided by the input of compressed air.
Preferably a number of load supporting rafts are provided.
The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
One preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the floating dock with load supporting raft thereon;
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the floating dock with load supporting raft in a partially submerged condition;
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the floating dock and load supporting raft in a partially submerged condition with the boat to be docked;
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the floating dock with load supporting raft thereon with the vessel to be docked attached to the raft;
FIG. 5 shows the floating dock with load supporting raft thereon and attached vessel to be docked in a raised condition;
FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the raised main ballast vessel and raised load supporting raft with vessel attached, the raised main ballast vessel and load supporting raft being separated;
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the raised floating dock and separated raised load supporting raft with vessels thereon, the raised floating dock having a new load supporting raft attached thereon;
FIG. 8 shows an end elevation of a floating dock with load supporting raft in the fully submerged condition;
REFERENCES:
patent: 5285743 (1994-02-01), Connolly
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