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US 11,541,967 B2Granted
Maritime automated alignment and connection system
AssigneeHuntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.
InventorsRonald A. McClellan, Conlan Hsu, Ross Buck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A maritime alignment and connection system allows a boat to be recovered and docked while a host vessel is underway. Components form a cradle to guide and slow an approaching boat into a desirable orientation such that the boat will be held in place in the cradle. Once captured, the boat can be locked in position to prevent it from inadvertently slipping its berth.
Claims20
A system for capturing and docking a boat, comprising:
- a plurality of cradle arms, each of the plurality of cradle arms coupled to an aft surface of a roll plate and comprising:
- at least one pocket configured to receive one or more alignment arms;
- and
- at least one articulating component configured to extend the one or more alignment arms angularly outward from an inner-facing surface of each cradle arm;
- a plurality of alignment arms, each alignment arm of the plurality of alignment arms coupled to a cradle arm of the plurality of cradle arms at a first end of each alignment arm and comprising at least one roller coupled to a second end of the alignment arm, the second end opposite the first end;
- and
- an alignment ramp coupled to the roll plate, the alignment ramp extending aft at a downward angle from the roll plate,
- wherein the roll plate comprises a hard capture port, the hard capture port comprising:
- an aperture centered on the roll plate between each of the plurality of cradle arms;
- and
- one or more retention components, the one or more retention components coupled to a forward surface of the roll plate at the aperture.
8 more elements
A system for capturing and docking a boat, comprising:
- a plurality of cradle arms, each of the plurality of cradle arms coupled to an aft surface of a roll plate and comprising:
- at least one pocket configured to receive one or more alignment arms;
- and
- at least one articulating component configured to extend the one or more alignment arms angularly outward from an inner-facing surface of each cradle arm and configured to releasably hold a docked boat in a predetermined position;
- and
- a plurality of alignment arms, each alignment arm of the plurality of alignment arms coupled to a cradle arm of the plurality of cradle arms at a first end of each alignment arm and comprising at least one roller coupled to a second end of the alignment arm, the second end opposite the first end;
- and
- an alignment ramp coupled to the roll plate, the alignment ramp extending aft at a downward angle from the roll plate.
5 more elements
A shipborne recovery system comprising:
- an alignment and connection system comprising:
- a plurality of cradle arms, each of the plurality of cradle arms coupled to an aft surface of a roll plate;
- and
- an alignment ramp coupled to the roll plate, the alignment ramp extending aft at a downward angle from the roll plate,
- wherein the roll plate comprises a hard capture port, the hard capture port comprising:
- an aperture centered on the roll plate between each of the plurality of cradle arms;
- and
- one or more retention components, the one or more retention components coupled to a forward surface of the roll plate at the aperture;
- and
- a host ship.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.