Ships – Building
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-19
2001-05-01
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Ships
Building
C114S072000, C114S07700R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223669
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to marine vessels and methods of construction therefor, and more particularly, to multi-purpose amphibious support vessels having a plurality of optional operational modular structures for carrying out a variety of missions.
BACKGROUND ART
There are a large number of classes of amphibious ships around the world with each having its basic specialized mission. For example, the U.S. Navy has (LCC) Amphibious Command Ship, (LHA) Amphibious Assault Ship (General Purpose), (LED) Amphibious Assault Ship (Multi-Purpose), (LKA) Amphibious Cargo Ship, (LPA) Amphibious Transport, (LPD) Amphibious Transport Dock, (LPH) Amphibious Assault Ship (Helicopter), (LSD) Dock Landing Ship, and (LST) Tank Landing Ship. Other amphibious ships are used commercially in missions such as Roll On/Roll Off (RO/RO) vehicle carriers, container carriers, and break bulk in open top containers.
The primary drawback of each of the above mentioned vessels is that each class of vessels is optimized for only a single specific mission. Many classes of vessels would be required to fulfill all the possible specific needs. The purchase cost for each vessel can be prohibitive as well as the maintenance and ongoing costs associated with each vessel. A need exists for a single vessel capable of carrying out all of the above described missions, or a selected combination thereof.
Furthermore, typically before construction, each amphibious support vessel must be custom configured depending upon its chosen mission. A need exists for a standardized multi-purpose amphibious support vessel having a standardized hull capable of having a plurality of optional operational structures for carrying out a variety of missions, and capable of receiving a plurality of modular habitable containers for supporting troops and the like. Because of the standardized hull design the optional operational features advantageously can be readily integrated into the vessel so that the vessel will be capable of carrying out a wide variety of operational missions with the optional operational structures selected before the vessel is constructed.
This standardized vessel would be of modular construction with areas of the vessel set aside to receive particular optional desired operational structures. The areas would be spaced apart allowing each of the operational structures to be incorporated into the vessel without interfering with each other.
The standardized amphibious support vessel would also simplify a post-construction modification should the need arise to change the configuration of the vessel for a different mission.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of this invention to overcome to a large extent the above-mentioned needs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a vessel which can carry out a wide variety of missions.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a vessel capable of having a plurality of operational structures.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a standardized modularized vessel in which a customer can select one or more of a variety of operational structures so that the vessel can be outfitted to perform desired missions.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vessel capable of receiving a plurality of modular habitable containers.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a vessel capable of having a plurality of the following structures. The vessel includes a hull having a cavity for receiving a plurality of modular containers. The vessel includes one or more of the following structures:
a bow ramp with clam shell doors;
side port doors and ramps;
internal overhead container handling system with transverse jib booms;
container stowage compartment;
exterior container crane;
forward pallet elevators;
aft pellet elevators;
a helicopter flight deck;
a helicopter hangar;
a cargo/helicopter elevator(s);
a stern ramp/gate;
a wet/dry well deck;
a dry beach deck;
a wet well ballast system;
a bow grounding ballast system.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method for structuring a vessel capable of having a plurality of the following structures. A hull is formed having a cavity for receiving a plurality of containers. One or more of the following structures are selected:
a bow ramp with clam shell doors;
side port doors and ramps;
internal overhead container handling system with transverse jib booms;
container stowage compartment;
exterior container crane;
forward pallet elevators;
aft pallet elevators;
a helicopter flight deck;
a helicopter hangar;
a cargo/helicopter elevators;
a stern ramp/gate;
a wet/dry well deck;
a dry beach deck;
a wet well ballast system;
a bow grounding ballast system.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiments of the invention are shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modification in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2141181 (1938-12-01), Geddes
patent: 3138131 (1964-06-01), Szychlinski
patent: 3602730 (1971-08-01), Cushing
patent: 3785316 (1974-01-01), Leming et al.
patent: 4476798 (1984-10-01), Backus
patent: 4715308 (1987-12-01), Denison et al.
patent: 4732103 (1988-03-01), Culbertson
patent: 5924377 (1999-07-01), Rausch et al.
patent: 1573981 (1969-07-01), None
Ingalls Shipbuilding Inc.
Lowe Hauptman & Gilman & Berner LLP
Swinehart Ed
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