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US 2024/0286715 A1Published application
Rope management system
AssigneeRope Buddy, LLC.
InventorMichael Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for automated rope management on a vessel is described. The apparatus may include a first retraction unit configured to provide rotation about a first rotational axis, a second retraction unit connected to the first retraction unit and configured to provide rotation about a second rotational axis, and a base plate coupled to the first retraction unit and configured for mounting the apparatus to the vessel.
Claims20
A rope management apparatus, comprising:
- a first retraction unit comprising a first fixed carrier and a first rotating carrier, the first rotating carrier configured to rotate with respect to the first fixed carrier about a first axis between a first position and a second position, the first rotating carrier biased along the first axis in the first position, wherein the first rotating carrier comprises a rope sleeve;
- a tow point configured for retaining an end of a tow rope;
- and
- a second retraction unit comprising a second fixed carrier and a second rotating carrier, the second rotating carrier coaxially aligned with the tow point and coupled to the first retraction unit via the first fixed carrier, the second rotating carrier and the first retraction unit configured to rotate with respect to the tow point about a second axis between a third position and a fourth position, the second rotating carrier biased in the third position.
1 more element
A rope management system, comprising:
- a base plate configured to mount a rope management apparatus to a tower unit of a vessel;
- the rope management apparatus, comprising:
- a first retraction unit configured to provide rotation about a first rotational axis, wherein the first retraction unit is biased along the first rotational axis in a first position;
- a second retraction unit connected to the first retraction unit and the base plate, the second retraction unit configured to provide rotation about a second rotational axis that is different from the first rotational axis, wherein the second retraction unit is biased along the second rotational axis in a second position;
- and
- a tow point coaxially mounted with respect to the second retraction unit and connected to the base plate, the tow point configured to support a rope;
- and a boom pole connectable to the first retraction unit and configured to receive the rope.
4 more elements
A rope management system, comprising:
- a base plate configured to mount a rope management apparatus to a tower unit of a vessel;
- and
- the rope management apparatus, comprising:
- a first retraction unit connected to a rotatable part of a second retraction unit and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis from a first stowed position to a first deployed position in response to an application of force;
- and
- the second retraction unit connected to the base plate, the second retraction unit configured to rotate about a second rotational axis that is different from the first rotational axis from a second stowed position to a second deployed position in response to the application of force, wherein the first retraction unit and the second retraction unit are each configured to return to the first and second stowed positions in response to removal of the application of force.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.