Lift systems and methods for launching and recovering structures in a marine environment
AssigneeBardex Corporation
InventorRobert Taylor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for assembling, launching, retrieving, and maintaining floating wind foundations including tower, nacelle, and blades with two-way operability are disclosed. The systems include a dock having a lift platform and a first plurality of chain jacks configured to lift and lower the lift platform. The lift platform has a width and length with a span sufficient to receive, lower, and lift a floating wind foundation. The lift platform includes an upper deck and a plurality of box truss girders supporting the upper deck. The box truss girders extend across the span of the width of the lift platform and are of sufficient strength to support a floating wind foundation.
Claims41
A floating lift system for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the floating lift system comprising:
- a lift platform, wherein the lift platform has a width of at least sixty meters and a length of at least sixty meters, and wherein the lift platform comprises an upper deck supported by a plurality of girders;
- a plurality of lifts, wherein the lifts are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform.
2-18. (canceled)
A method of deploying and retrieving marine equipment, the method comprising:
- positioning marine equipment on a lift platform of a floating lift system, wherein the lift platform has a width of at least sixty meters and a length of at least sixty meters, and wherein the lift platform comprises an upper deck supported by a plurality of girders;
- raising the lift platform with a plurality of lifts to retrieve the marine equipment, or lowering the lift platform with the plurality of lifts to deploy the marine equipment.
20-22. (canceled)
(canceled)
A floating dock system for deploying and retrieving marine equipment, the floating dock system comprising:
- a floating dock;
- a plurality of lifts on the floating dock;
- a lift platform positioned adjacent the floating dock, wherein the lift platform comprises an upper deck supported by a plurality of girders;
- wherein the lifts are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the floating dock.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A wind farm system, the system comprising:
- a wind farm positioned at a first offshore site, the wind farm comprises a plurality of offshore wind turbines;
- a floating dock moored at a second offshore site, wherein the second offshore site is in close proximity to the first offshore site;
- a plurality of lifts on the floating dock;
- a lift platform positioned adjacent the floating dock, wherein the lift platform comprises an upper deck supported by a plurality of girders;
- wherein the lifts are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the floating dock.
(canceled)
A method of assembling, maintaining, and decommissioning a wind farm, the method comprising:
- mooring a floating dock at a first offshore site;
- assembling an offshore wind turbine or components thereof on the floating dock;
- deploying the offshore wind turbine or components thereof into water at the first offshore site, wherein the deploying comprises positioning the offshore wind turbine or components thereof on a lift platform of the floating dock and lowering the lift platform into the water;
- and
- transporting the offshore wind turbine or components thereof from the first offshore site to a second offshore site and installing the offshore wind turbine or components thereof at the second offshore site to form a wind farm at the second offshore site.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.