Material or article handling – Marine loading or unloading system – Marine vessel to/from shore
Patent
1998-08-18
2000-10-24
Morse, Gregory A.
Material or article handling
Marine loading or unloading system
Marine vessel to/from shore
89 1805, 4141379, 414803, B66C 1306
Patent
active
061356956
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The invention concerns a method for vertically lifting a horizontally arranged cylindrical object, especially a rocket, from a base by means of one or more lifting yokes which are suspended in a lifting device, preferably comprising one or more lifting wires which are suspended from a crane beam.
The invention also concerns a device for use in the method, wherein a horizontally arranged cylindrical object, especially a rocket, is lifted from a base by means of one or more lifting yokes which are suspended in a lifting device, preferably comprising one or more lifting wires which are suspended from a crane beam.
Large rockets for transport of payloads into space may be 50 m or more in length. Such rockets contain a number of sophisticated technical systems, such as mechanical, electrical and optical systems, and both the rocket's technical systems and structural design are highly optimized with regard to weight. On account of this optimization the rockets are principally designed in order to withstand the loads to which they are exposed during launching, while they are only designed for small external stresses, such as stresses generated by wave movement and weather conditions.
The actual rocket consists of several stages and a payload, which, e.g., may be a satellite. The different stages and the payload are built separately and subsequently brought to an assembly location.
Due to the earth's rotation the equator is the most favourable place for launching rockets. However, the assembly and preparation of a large rocket require substantial resources both in the form of expertise and material, and the availability of such resources is best in areas which are not situated at the equator.
Norwegian patent applications 951693, 951694 and 951695 describe the assembly and launch of rockets where the rocket is assembled in a horizontal position on board a vessel, and subsequently brought aboard a transportable floating platform for transport to a launch site and launching. The rocket can thereby be launched at the equator, while at the same time all the technical aids and technical expertise are easily available, since the aids and expertise can be present on board the vessel or platform. The above-mentioned patent applications do not, however, describe how the rocket is transferred from the vessel to the platform.
A vessel and a floating structure, such as a launch platform for a rocket, will normally have different movements in the water. The movements are mainly due to the influence of the waves, and the differences in movement are due to the fact that the vessel and the floating structure have different shapes and masses, and also that the influence of the waves on the vessel and the floating structure will be displaced in time in relation to each other. When objects are transferred between two vessels at sea where the objects are lifted by means of a lifting device on one vessel, this difference in movement is a recognized problem, since the objects can bump against the other vessel and be damaged.
NO-A-171446 discloses a method for vertically lifting a horizontally arranged object from a base by means of a lifting device comprising lifting wires. The method comprises the following stages: for the lift; weight of the object from the jacks to the lifting wires;
The object of the invention is to provide a method and a device for vertically lifting a horizontally arranged cylindrical object, especially a rocket, from a base, where the lift is effected by one or more lifting yokes by means of a lifting device, preferably comprising one or more lifting wires, which lift should not be encumbered with the disadvantage that the difference in movement between the base and the lifting device damages the rocket during the introductory phase of the lift.
The object is achieved according to the invention with a method and a device of the type mentioned in the introduction, characterized by the features which are indicated in the claims.
Thus the invention consists in the object, for example a horizontally extending rocket
REFERENCES:
patent: H683 (1989-10-01), Brubaker
patent: 4174188 (1979-11-01), Brun
patent: 5577874 (1996-11-01), Olson
patent: 5918306 (1999-06-01), Kristensen et al.
Kindem Bj.o slashed.rn
Th.o slashed.mt Egil
Kvaerner Maritime A.S.
Morse Gregory A.
LandOfFree
Method for vertically lifting a horizontally arranged cylindrica does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method for vertically lifting a horizontally arranged cylindrica, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method for vertically lifting a horizontally arranged cylindrica will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1957765