Modular floating lift systems with gravity based systems
OwnerNick Atallah, Robert Taylor +1inventors
InventorsNick Atallah, Robert Taylor, Elchanan Dov Safier
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for assembling, launching, retrieving, and maintaining marine vessels, structures, renewables and equipment, either floating or fixed bottom, are disclosed. The systems include a floating dock, either extendable modular or monolithic, made of steel or concrete or combination thereof, and including a lift platform which may be locked to the dock to create a combined structure. The floating dock can be selectively supported by the seabed.
Claims31
A system for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the system comprising:
- a dock;
- a plurality of hoists coupled with the dock;
- a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the dock;
- and
- a ballasting system coupled with the dock, wherein the ballasting system is adjustable to a floating configuration wherein the dock is positively buoyant and floats in water, and wherein the ballasting system is adjustable to a sunken configuration wherein the dock is negatively buoyant and the dock is engaged with and supported on the seabed.
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12-56. (canceled)
A method for launching and recovering marine equipment, the method comprising:
- providing a hub, the hub including a dock, a plurality of hoists coupled with the dock, and a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the dock;
- floating the hub in water to a site, wherein during the floating the hub is positively buoyant and floats in the water;
- at the site, adjusting buoyancy of the hub until the hub is negatively buoyant and sinks until the dock is engaged with and supported on the seabed;
- and
- launching and recovering marine equipment at the site including raising and lowering the lift platform.
64-93. (canceled)
A modular system for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the system comprising:
- a modular dock, the modular dock comprising a plurality of modules coupled together;
- a plurality of hoists coupled with the dock;
- and
- a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the dock;
- wherein the modules are configured to accept additional modules to increase a size of the dock, and wherein the modules of the plurality of modules are selectively removable from the dock to decrease a size of the dock.
95-108. (canceled)
A method of making a modular dock for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the method comprising:
- coupling a plurality of modules together to form a modular dock;
- coupling a plurality of hoists with the modular dock;
- coupling a lift platform with the modular dock and the plurality of hoists, wherein the plurality of hoists are configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the modular dock;
- and
- increasing a size of the modular dock, including coupling an additional module to the plurality of modules or decreasing a size of the modular dock, including removing a module of the plurality of modules from the dock.
111-113. (canceled)
A system for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the system comprising:
- a dock, the dock including a body at a first longitudinal end of the dock, a first arm extending from the body to a second longitudinal end of the dock, and a second arm extending from the body to the second longitudinal end of the dock, wherein space is defined between the first and second arms, and wherein an opening into the space is positioned at the second longitudinal end of the dock;
- a plurality of hoists coupled with the dock;
- a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the dock;
- and
- a structural member selectively attachable to and detachable from the first and second arms at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the dock across the opening:
- wherein the structural member is movable between two positions including a first position wherein the structural member is attached to the first and second arms at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the dock across the opening, stabilizing the dock, and a second position wherein the structural member is detached from the first and second arms at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the dock across the opening, facilitating entry and egress through the opening.
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A method for launch and recovery of marine equipment, the method comprising:
- providing a dock, the dock including a body at a first longitudinal end of the dock, a first arm extending from the body to a second longitudinal end of the dock, and a second arm extending from the body to the second longitudinal end of the dock, wherein space is defined between the first and second arms, and wherein an opening into the space is positioned at the second longitudinal end of the dock;
- providing a plurality of hoists coupled with the dock;
- providing a lift platform, wherein the plurality of hoists are coupled with the lift platform and configured to raise and lower the lift platform relative to the dock;
- and
- launching and recovering marine equipment onto and from the dock, including raising and lowering the lift platform;
- stabilizing the dock by coupling a structural member between the first and second arms at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the dock across the opening;
- and
- facilitating entry and egress through the opening by removing the structural member from the first and second arms at or proximate the second longitudinal end of the dock.
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.