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US 2002/0176767 A1Published application
Vessel racking system
OwnerDave Gisselberginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vessel racking device comprising a wheeled material handling system that rides on a ground based track system which lies between a staging area and a storage area. The storage area is made up of a plurality of cells positioned above, at or below ground level. Through a set of fixed longitudinal rails, the ground based track system enables the wheeled towerless material handling system to move between the water's edge and the storage area in a reproducible manner by a moderately skilled operator. The wheeled towerless material handling system is capable of lifting a vessel out of the water and placing it in a cell. The wheeled towerless material handling system is capable of altering its vertical profile to avoid and/or clear overhead obstructions.
Claims30
A vessel racking device, comprising:
- a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;
- a storage area comprising a lattice structure having a plurality of cells, each of said cells adapted to receive and hold said vessel;
- a ground based track system fixed to the ground and positioned adjacent to and spanning the distance between said staging area and said storage area;
- a wheeled towerless material handling system riding on a portion of said ground based track system, said wheeled towerless material handling system configured to selectively alter the vertical profile of said wheeled towerless material handling system and selectively move said vessel between said staging area and said storage;
- and
- a power system of sufficient power operatively connected to distribute sufficient power to said wheeled towerless material handling system to enable handling, loading and discharging said vessel from said storage area and said staging area.
3 more elements
A vessel racking device, comprising:
- a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;
- a storage area having a plurality of cells configured to receive and hold said vessel;
- a ground based track system comprising at least two longitudinal rails fixed to the ground and substantially parallel to each other, said ground based track system positioned adjacent to and spanning the distance between said staging area and said storage area;
- a towerless material handling system having a carriage, body, telescoping lift system, and a counterforce member, wherein said telescoping lift is operatively attached to said body to allow pickup, handling and discharge of said vessel, said body is rotatably fixed to said carriage to allow rotation of said body about a substantially vertical axis, said carriage is engaged to said ground based track system by a set of carriage bogies to allow movement of said towerless material handling system about said ground based track system, and said counterforce member configured and positioned on said towerless material handling system to enhance stability of said towerless material handling system especially during handling of said vessel;
- and
- a power system of sufficient power operatively connected to distribute sufficient power to said towerless telescoping material handling system to enable handling said vessel at and between said staging area and said storage area.
3 more elements
A vessel racking device, comprising:
- a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;
- a storage area having a plurality of cells configured to receive and hold said vessel;
- a ground based track system comprising at least two longitudinal rails fixed to the ground and substantially parallel to each other, and at least two transverse rails engaged by a set of rail bogies to at least a portion of said longitudinal rails to allow selective positioning of said at least two transverse rails about said ground based track system;
- a telescopic lift system operatively fixed to an existing hydraulic excavator to allow pickup, handling and discharge of said vessel, said existing hydraulic excavator is fitted with a set of carriage bogies and a counterforce member to engage at least a portion of said at least two transverse rails, and said existing hydraulic excavator configured to operatively provide power to said set of rail bogies.
1 more element
A vessel racking device, comprising:
- a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;
- a storage area having a plurality of cells configured to receive and hold said vessel;
- a ground based track system comprising at least two longitudinal rails fixed to the ground and substantially parallel to each other;
- a telescopic lift system operatively fixed to a telescoping boom of an existing telehandler to allow pickup, handling and discharge of said vessel, said existing telehandler is fitted with carriage bogies and a counterforce member to engage at least a portion of said ground based track system to allow selective positioning of said existing telehandler about said ground based track system and secure handling of said vessel.
1 more element
A method of handling a vessel with a vessel racking device comprising the steps of:
- providing and distributing sufficient power to said vessel racking device to handle said vessel;
- positioning a tracked material handling system in a position to receive a vessel;
- receiving said vessel by said tracked material handling system;
- supporting said vessel by at least one tine operatively connected to said tracked material handling system;
- reducing the vertical profile of said tracked material handling system to avoid obstacles, if present, and increase said tracked material handling system's stability during support of said vessel;
- moving said tracked material handling system to a pre-selected discharge position adjacent to a pre-selected discharge location configured to receive said vessel;
- and
- discharging said vessel to said pre-selected discharge location.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.