Aspects of the present invention relate to the release and capture of smaller vessels such as boats from larger vessels while at sea.
It is desired by some to have a large vessel, such as but not limited to a ship, transport a smaller vessel to a desired location at which point the smaller vessel, such as but not limited to a boat, can then be deployed, perform a task, and then return back to the larger vessel for transportation and deployment at another location.
It is desired by some to have a large vessel, such as but not limited to a ship, transport a smaller vessel to a desired location at which point the smaller vessel, such as but not limited to a boat, can then be deployed, perform a task, and then return back to the larger vessel for transportation and deployment at another location.
An aspect of the invention comprises a deployment and recovery assembly for use on a vessel that includes a tiltable ramp section mountable to a vessel to tilt into and out of the water. The ramp section is configured to support the craft. A capture and release assembly that includes a rotatable tire and wheel assembly is mounted to the ramp section to tilt therewith and is disposed on the ramp section so as to engage a hull of the craft. The capture and release assembly further includes a one-way clutch assembly coupled to the tire and wheel assembly allowing free rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in a first direction and retarding or inhibiting rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction.
Another aspect of the invention is a vessel having a deployment and recovery assembly as described above.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of recovering a small craft from the water. The method includes lowering a ramp section from the vessel proximate the water such that the craft engages the ramp section so as to be loaded on the vessel. The ramp section includes a capture and release assembly comprising a rotatable tire and wheel assembly mounted to the ramp section to move therewith and being disposed on the ramp section so as to engage a hull of the craft; and a one-way clutch assembly coupled to the tire and wheel assembly allowing free rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in a first direction and retarding or inhibiting rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction. The method further includes moving the craft on to the ramp so as to engage the capture and release assembly causing rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in the first direction wherein movement of the craft in a direction off the ramp due to rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in the second direction is retarded or inhibited.
Another aspect of the invention is a method of recovering a small craft from the water. The method includes lowering a ramp section from the vessel proximate the water such that the craft engages the ramp section so as to be loaded on the vessel. The ramp section includes a capture and release assembly comprising a rotatable tire and wheel assembly mounted to the ramp section to move therewith and being disposed on the ramp section so as to engage a hull of the craft; and a one-way clutch assembly coupled to the tire and wheel assembly allowing free rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in a first direction and retarding or inhibiting rotation in a second direction opposite the first direction. The method further includes moving the craft on to the ramp so as to engage the capture and release assembly causing rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in the first direction wherein movement of the craft in a direction off the ramp due to rotation of the tire and wheel assembly in the second direction is retarded or inhibited.
The ramp section 16 includes a support structure 17 having opposed guiding structures 22 that are further apart at the remote end 20 and narrower proximate the stern 14 of the vessel 10 to guide the smaller craft off and onto the ramp section 16. In the embodiment illustrated, lateral supports 19A and 19B extend transversely between the guiding structures 22, wherein each lateral support 19A,19B is generally U-shaped so as to provide clearance for portions of the vessel such as portions of a drive unit. Structural parameters of the ramp section 16 such as its overall length, extent of deployment under the water, inclination of the guiding structures, width between and profile of the guiding structures 22, etc. vary depending upon the small craft(s) to be deployed and recovered using the ramp section 16 and the amount of clearance desired between the hull of the smaller craft and the stern 14. These parameters are configured so as to capture, align and/or lift the hull of the smaller craft above the edge 15 of the stern 14 of the vessel 10 and position the small craft so as to allow deployment and recovery through the stern 14 and onto the second ramp section 18. Float(s) can be provided on the ramp section 16. In the embodiment illustrated, a float 25 is secured to each side of the ramp section 16. In
The support structure 17 and hence the ramp section 16 pivots about an axis 23. A drive unit 27 having a drive motor (e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic, electric) a gear reducer, if desired, pivots (raises and lowers) the ramp section 16 about the pivot axis 23. Although illustrated wherein the ramp section 16 pivots about a fixed pivot axis 23, it should be noted that this is but one embodiment and aspects of the invention should not be considered as being limited to this type of movement. In other words, aspects of the invention can be included on other forms of ramp sections that move in a different manner such as but not limited to translation in addition to pivoting motion. The ramp section 16 includes capture and release assemblies 30, typically at least one disposed on each side of the second ramp section 16 to engage and support the small craft for transfer off and onto the second ramp section 18. One or more of the capture and release assemblies 30 are mounted to the support structure 17 so as to move therewith.
Capture and release assembly 30 includes a rotatable support element 32 herein a tire and wheel assembly. Although, in this embodiment a plurality of capture and release assemblies are depicted on each side of the ramp section 16 generally opposite each other so as to be organized in pairs, it should be understood that this should not be considered limiting. In particular, more or less capture and release assemblies 30 can be used where each capture and release assembly 30 is disposed on each side of the ramp 16 as desired. In addition capture and release assemblies 30 can be disposed at other locations along the deployment and recovery assembly 12 such as within the vessel (
In the illustrative embodiment provided herein as illustrated in
In one embodiment, it should be noted that the tire 41 on the tire wheel assembly 32 can be an aircraft tire which can support a small craft weighing approximately 19,000 pounds, while still being of a relatively compact size such as 16 inches in diameter. Of course, this is but one embodiment of a tire wherein other tires can be used if desired. It should be noted due to the relatively stiff characteristics of such tires, the split rim assembly 37 may be necessary for mounting the tire 41. An O-ring 43 is provided between the split rim halves in order to maintain an airtight seal for the pneumatic tire.
In one embodiment illustrated, the wheel clutch shaft 36 is operably coupled to a drive motor 58 (e.g. hydraulic, pneumatic or electric). A gear reducer 60 can be coupled between the drive motor 58 and the wheel clutch shaft 36, if desired. The drive motor 58 is selectively operated so as to control movement of the small craft as it is captured and/or deployed. For instance, during capture, the tire and wheel assembly 32 rotates freely as the small craft enters the ramp section 16 due to the inclusion of the one-way clutch assembly 31. Once the clutch assembly 31 has been engaged, the drive motor 58 can be operated so as to pull the small craft from the water and into the vessel 10 onto ramp section 18.
A brake 64 for inhibiting rotation of the tire and wheel assembly 32, gear reducer 60 and motor 58 can also be provided with or without the drive motor 58. Although the one-way clutch assembly 31 retards rotation in one direction, the brake 64 may be necessary to ensure that no rotation exists. In operation, brake 64 is first applied to ensure no rotation of tire and wheel assembly 32, the motor 58 and/or gear reducer 60. Engagement of the small craft with the tire and wheel assembly 32 causes free rotation of the tire and wheel assembly 32 until counter rotation is about to begin at which point the one-way clutch assembly 31 engages and the brake 64 holds the small craft stationary. The brake 64 can take any number of forms but generally involves inhibiting rotation of the tire and wheel assembly 32. For instance, the brake 64 can include surfaces that selectively engage each other. In
Instead of individual motors for each powered capture and release assembly 30,
If desired, the second ramp section 18 can pivot about the pivot axis proximate the stern 14 and/or capture and release assembly 32. Thereby allowing ramp rails of the ramp section 18 to pivot upwardly upon engagement of the small craft with the ramp section 18 which can help inhibit forward motion of the small craft during recovery. A suitable lift mechanism such as an actuator (electric, pneumatic, hydraulic), chains, cables, levers, etc. is/are operably coupled to selectively tilt the ramp section 18.
During deployment of the small craft, the second section 18 can be pivotable about an axis proximate the ramp section 16 which enables the ramp section 18 to lift the small craft to an inclined position. Rather than letting the small craft unpredictably slide down the ramp section 18, the ramp section 18 can be inclined to a position where static friction would be overcome; however, one or more of the capture and release assemblies 30 with corresponding engagement of the tire 41 upon the hull of the small craft retards or inhibits downward movement of the small craft upon the ramp section 18. Commonly, the brake(s) 64 would be activated to inhibit rotation of the tire and wheel assemblies 32. When desired, the brake(s) can be released (if it has been previously actuated) and the drive motor(s) 58 or common drive 70 can be operated in a controlled manner so as to drive the one-way clutch assembly 31 in a manner so as to deploy the small craft from the vessel 10 and onto capture and release assemblies 30 on the first ramp section 16 and, from there out to sea.
During recovery of the small craft, the small craft contacts the capture and release assemblies 30 on the ramp section 16. In one embodiment as illustrated in
It has been found that the angle of inclination of the support structure 17 can be important in efficiently launching and retrieving the small craft. In addition, the optimum angle of inclination for launching and recovery can vary from craft to craft. In one embodiment, a sensor 29 is provided on the ramp section 16 to measure the angle of inclination (e.g. relative to smooth or flat surface of the water and/or a portion of the vessel 10). The sensor 29 directly measures the angle of inclination as opposed to ascertaining the angle of inclination through monitoring operation of the drive 27. Typically, the drive 27 includes additional gearing so that ramp section 16 moves in a relative slow manner. However, the gearing introduces error, through for example backlash between the gears, which may not allow precise compensation to be ascertained. It has been found that very small changes in the angle of inclination, for example, on the order of one-two degrees can affect how efficiently the small craft is launched and/or recovered.
In one embodiment, sensor 29 comprises an inclinometer 29 that is mounted to the ramp section 16 (
In one mode of operation, the user interface 35 provides input(s) to controller 33 indicating launching or recovery of the small craft. The controller 33 operates drive 27 so as to obtain the desired angle of inclination based on the output received from sensor 29.
In yet a further embodiment, the user interface 35 receives input(s) indicative of a desired angle of inclination based on, for example, type, size, model, etc. of small craft that is going to be launched or recovered. Although the angle of inclination for each small craft can be entered via the user interface 35, in another embodiment, the controller 33 can access a predetermined value for the angle of inclination based on for example, type, size, model, etc. of small craft, which for example, is stored in memory of, or accessible to, the controller 33. In this manner, the user need not know the actual value of the angle of inclination, but rather only which small craft is being launched or recovered. The controller 33 then operates drive 27 so as to obtain the predetermined angle of inclination based on the specific small craft being launched or recovered. The controller 33 can include a microprocessor, storage media, analog and/or digital processing circuitry. The controller 27 can be a standalone or dedicated device or be used to control other aspects of the vessel 10.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above as has been held by the courts. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/657,022, filed Oct. 22, 2012; which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application entitled “STERN DEPLOYMENT AND RECOVERY ASSEMBLY FOR A SMALL CRAFT ON A LARGER VESSEL” having Ser. No. 61/549,228, and filed Oct. 20, 2011, the contents of both are also incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
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Entry |
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U.S. Patent Office issued prosecution history for U.S. Appl. No. 13/657,022, filed Oct. 22, 2012, including: Notice of Allowance issued Dec. 31, 2015, 9 pages; Final Rejection issued Mar. 11, 2015, 26 pages; and Non-Final Rejection issued Jul. 31, 2014, 12 pages; 47 pages total. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61549228 | Oct 2011 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 13657022 | Oct 2012 | US |
Child | 15086446 | US |