Transfer system for use between platforms having relative motion between one another

A transfer system comprising:

• a. a first platform;
• b. a second platform movable relative to said first platform;
• c. first uphaul means operatively connected to said first platform;
• d. a carrier adapted to be moved between said first and second platforms, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the first uphaul means, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the first uphaul means by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• e. downhaul means operatively connected between the carrier and the second platform and adapted to pull said carrier to said second platform;
• f. said actuating means being characterized in that it exerts a tension force through said intermediate uphaul means greater than weight of the carrier;
• g. said downhaul means being characterized in that it has a downhaul operating mode where it exerts on said carrier a downhaul force greater than a value which is equal to the tension force less the weight of the carrier;
• h. said actuating means comprising a resilient actuating mechanism comprising an actuating member which is yieldingly urged toward movement in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul means and yieldingly resist movement in a direction to extend said intermediate uphaul means;
• i. said actuating mechanism comprising velocity control means to limit velocity of the actuating member in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul means.

A transfer system comprising:

• a. a first platform;
• b. a second platform movable relative to said first platform;
• c. first uphaul means operatively connected to said first platform;
• d. a carrier adapted to be moved between said first and second platforms, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the first uphaul means, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the first uphaul means by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• e. downhaul means operatively connected between the carrier and the second platform and adapted to pull said carrier to said second platform;
• f. said actuating means comprising a cylinder and piston assembly which comprises piston means and cylinder means, and said intermediate uphaul means comprises an intermediate uphaul line operatively connected to said cylinder and piston assembly in a manner that extension of said cylinder and piston assembly retracts said intermediate uphaul line and retraction of said cylinder and piston assembly permits extension of said intermediate uphaul line;
• g. said cylinder and piston assembly is characterized in that it is actuated by a compressible gas so as to be yieldingly urged toward movement in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line and yieldingly resist movement in a direction to extend said intermediate uphaul line;
• h. said actuating mechanism comprising velocity control means to limit velocity of the cylinder and piston assembly in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line.

A transfer system comprising:

• a. a first platform;
• b. a second platform movable relative to said first platform;
• c. first uphaul means operatively connected to said first platform;
• d. a carrier adapted to be moved between said first and second platforms, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the first uphaul means, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the first uphaul means by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• e. downhaul means operatively connected between the carrier and the second platform and adapted to pull said carrier to said second platform;
• f. said downhaul means comprising a downhaul cable which is retracted to move said carrier to said second platform and extended for movement of said carrier away from said second platform, said downhaul means being characterized in having three operating modes, namely:
• 1. a velocity controlled retracting mode where said downhaul cable is retracted at a controlled velocity;
• 2. a velocity controlled extending mode where said downhaul cable is extended at a controlled velocity;
• 3. a low tension mode where said downhaul cable is extended or retracted selectively to alleviate slack in said cable means where there is oscillating movement between said carrier and said second platform.

A transfer system adapted to effect transfer to and from a platform which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from said platform, said system being adapted to operate in wave conditions where waves are within a predetermined maximum wave height, said system comprising:

• a. a vessel adapted to float on water;
• b. a carrier adapted to be positioned at a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the uphaul mechanism, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the uphaul mechanism by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• c. downhaul means mounted to said vessel and operatively connected between the carrier and the vessel and adapted to pull said carrier to said landing location;
• d. said intermediate uphaul means having a fully retracted position and a fully extended position spaced from said fully retracted position by an extension distance greater than said maximum wave height;
• e. said intermediate uphaul means comprising an intermediate uphaul line having an upper end that is adapted to be attached to the uphaul mechanism, with said line being capable of being extended to said extension distance;
• f. said actuating means being characterized in that it exerts a tension force through said intermediate uphaul line greater than weight of the carrier;
• g. said downhaul means being characterized in that it has a downhaul operating mode where it exerts on said carrier a downhaul force greater than a value which is equal to the tension force less the weight of the carrier;
• h. said actuating means comprising a resilient actuating mechanism comprising an actuating member which is yieldingly urged toward movement in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line and yieldingly resist movement in a direction to extend said intermediate uphaul line;
• i. said actuating mechanism comprising velocity control means to limit velocity of the actuating member in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line.

A transfer system adapted to effect transfer to and from a platform which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from said platform, said system being adapted to operate in wave conditions where waves are within a predetermined maximum wave height, said system comprising:

• a. a vessel adapted to float on water;
• b. a carrier adapted to be positioned at a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the uphaul mechanism, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the uphaul mechanism by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• c. downhaul means mounted to said vessel and operatively connected between the carrier and the vessel and adapted to pull said carrier to said landing location;
• d. said actuating means comprising a cylinder and piston assembly which comprises piston means and cylinder means, and said intermediate uphaul means comprises an intermediate uphaul line operatively connected to said cylinder and piston assembly in a manner that extension of said cylinder and piston assembly retracts said intermediate uphaul line and retraction of said cylinder and piston assembly permits extension of said intermediate uphaul line;
• e. said cylinder and piston assembly is characterized in that it is actuated by a compressible gas so as to be yieldingly urged toward movement in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line and yieldingly resist movement in a direction to extend said intermediate uphaul line;
• f. said actuating mechanism comprising velocity control means to limit velocity of the cylinder and piston assembly in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line.

A transfer system adapted to effect transfer to and from a platform which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from said platform, said system being adapted to operate in wave conditions where waves are within a predetermined maximum wave height, said system comprising:

• a. a vessel adapted to float on water;
• b. a carrier adapted to be positioned at a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the uphaul mechanism, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the uphaul mechanism by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• c. downhaul means mounted to said vessel and operatively connected between the carrier and the vessel and adapted to pull said carrier to said landing location;
• d. said actuating means comprising a cylinder and piston assembly which comprises piston means and cylinder means, and said intermediate uphaul means comprises an intermediate uphaul line operatively connected to said cylinder and piston assembly in a manner that extension of said cylinder and piston assembly retracts said intermediate uphaul line and retraction of said cylinder and piston assembly permits extension of said intermediate uphaul line;
• e. said actuating means further comprising a sheave assembly comprising first sheave means connected to said piston means and second sheave means connected to said cylinder means, said intermediate uphaul line being connected between said first and second sheave means;
• f. said carrier housing having a carrying area to receive objects to be carried, said cylinder and piston assembly and said sheave means being mounted in said carrier housing below said carrying area, said uphaul line extending from said sheave means upwardly through said carrying area and through an upper portion of said carrier housing.

A transfer system adapted to effect transfer to and from a platform which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from said platform, said system being adapted to operate in wave conditions where waves are within a predetermined maximum wave height, said system comprising:

• a. a vessel adapted to float on water;
• b. a carrier adapted to be positioned at a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the uphaul mechanism, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the uphaul mechanism by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• c. downhaul means mounted to said vessel and operatively connected between the carrier and the vessel and adapted to pull said carrier to said landing location;
• d. said intermediate uphaul means having a fully retracted position and a fully extended position spaced from said fully retracted position by an extension distance greater than said maximum wave height;
• e. said downhaul means comprising a downhaul cable which is retracted to move said carrier to said vessel and extended for movement of said carrier away from said vessel, said downhaul means being characterized in having three operating modes, namely:
• 1. a velocity controlled retracting mode where said downhaul cable is retracted at a controlled velocity;
• 2. a velocity controlled extending mode where said downhaul cable is extended at a controlled velocity;
• 3. a low tension mode where said downhaul cable is extended or retracted selectively to alleviate slack in said cable means where there is oscillating movement between said carrier and said second platform.

A carrier adapted to effect transfer between a platform, which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from the platform, and a vessel, which is adapted to float on water and has a downhaul mechanism to effect transfer downwardly to a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising:

• a. a carrier housing having a carrying area adapted to contain transferable objects;
• b. an intermediate uphaul line having one end connected to said carrier and a second end adapted to be connected to said uphaul mechanism;
• c. a cylinder and piston assembly which comprises cylinder means and piston means mounted in said housing;
• d. said intermediate uphaul line operatively connected to said cylinder and piston assembly in a manner that extension of said cylinder and piston assembly retracts said intermediate uphaul line and retraction of said cylinder and piston assembly permits extension of said intermediate uphaul line;
• e. said cylinder and piston assembly being actuated by a compressible gas so as to be yieldingly urged toward movement in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line and yieldingly resist movement in a direction to extend said intermediate uphaul line;
• f. said cylinder and piston assembly comprising velocity control means to limit velocity of the cylinder and piston assembly in a direction to retract said intermediate uphaul line.

A carrier adapted to effect transfer between a platform, which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from the platform, and a vessel, which is adapted to float on water and has a downhaul mechanism to effect transfer downwardly to a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising:

• a. a carrier housing have a carrying area adapted to contain transferable objects;
• b. an intermediate uphaul line having one end connected to said carrier and a second end adapted to be connected to said uphaul mechanism;
• c. a cylinder and piston assembly which comprises cylinder means and piston means mounted in said housing;
• d. said intermediate uphaul line operatively connected to said cylinder and piston assembly in a manner that extension of said cylinder and piston assembly retracts said intermediate uphaul line and retraction of said cylinder and piston assembly permits extension of said intermediate uphaul line;
• e. a sheave assembly comprising first sheave means connected to said piston means and second sheave means connected to said cylinder means, said intermediate uphaul line being connected between said first and second sheave means;
• f. said cylinder and piston assembly and said sheave means being mounted in said carrier housing below said carrying area, said uphaul line extending from said sheave means upwardly through said carrying area and through an upper portion of said carrier housing.

A method of transferring an object from a second platform to a first platform where said second platform moves relative to the first platform, and where said first platform has first uphaul means, said method comprising:

• a. providing a carrier adapted to be moved between said second and first platforms, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the first uphaul means, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the first uphaul means by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• b. providing downhaul means between said second platform and said carrier;
• c. providing at said first platform a docking station comprising a receiving structure to receive said carrier housing, said receiving structure having a laterally open through slot to receive said downhaul means;
• d. initially securing said carrier to said second platform;
• e. attaching said first uphaul means to an upper end of said intermediate uphaul means;
• f. raising said first uphaul means so as to extend said intermediate uphaul means a predetermined distance, while said carrier is secured to said second platform;
• g. releasing said carrier from said second platform and causing said actuating means to retract said intermediate uphaul means to lift said carrier from said second platform toward said first uphaul means;
• h. extending said downhaul means as said carrier is released from said second platform, while maintaining said downhaul means connected between said second platform and said carrier, in a manner that said downhaul means is initially extended at a controlled velocity so as to maintain a proper spacing distance relationship between said carrier and said second platform, with said intermediate uphaul means extending or retracting to compensate for relative motion between the first and second platforms, and said downhaul means is then operated at a low tension mode to permit said intermediate uphaul means to retract and move said carrier upwardly toward said first uphaul means, with said downhaul means maintaining moderate tension;
• i. operating said first uphaul means to move said carrier onto said receiving structure while moving said downhaul means into said slot.

A method to effect transfer to and from a platform which is at a water location and has an uphaul mechanism to effect transfer to and from said platform, said system being adapted to operate in wave conditions where waves are within a predetermined maximum wave height, said method comprising:

• a. providing a vessel adapted to float on water;
• b. providing a carrier adapted to be positioned at a landing location on said vessel, said carrier comprising a carrier housing and extendable and retractable intermediate uphaul means adapted to be connected between said carrier housing and the uphaul mechanism, said intermediate uphaul means including actuating means to raise and lower said carrier housing relative to the uphaul mechanism by retracting and extending said intermediate uphaul means;
• c. providing downhaul means mounted to said vessel and operatively connected between the carrier and the vessel and adapted to pull said carrier to said landing location;
• d. providing said intermediate uphaul means as having a fully retracted position and a fully extended position spaced from said fully retracted position by an extension distance greater than said maximum wave height with said intermediate uphaul means comprising an intermediate uphaul line having an upper end that is adapted to be attached to the uphaul mechanism, with said line being capable of being extended to said extension distance, said actuating means exerting a tension force through said intermediate uphaul line greater than weight of the carrier, said downhaul means having an operating mode where it exerts on said carrier a downhaul force greater than a value which is equal to the tension force less the weight of the carrier;
• e. initially securing said carrier to said vessel;
• f. attaching said intermediate uphaul means to said uphaul mechanism;
• g. raising said uphaul mechanism while the carrier is secured to the vessel, to a height such that said intermediate uphaul means is extended a distance greater than said maximum wave height when said vessel is at a bottom of a wave;
• h. releasing said carrier from said vessel and causing said actuating means to retract said intermediate uphaul means to raise said carrier from said vessel in a manner that said downhaul means is extended at a controlled rate so as to maintain a proper spacing distance relationship between said carrier and said vessel, with the intermediate uphaul means extending or retracting to compensate for relative motion between the platform and the vessel, and said downhaul means is then operated in a low tension mode to permit said intermediate uphaul line to retract and lift said carrier above said maximum wave height;
• i. operating said uphaul mechanism to move said carrier to said platform;
• j. operating said uphaul mechanism to move said carrier from said platform to a location above said vessel and lowering said uphaul mechanism to move said carrier toward said vessel to a location above said maximum wave height, while said intermediate uphaul means remains retracted and said downhaul means is operating at its low tension mode;
• k. then retracting said downhaul means at a controlled velocity so as to extend said intermediate uphaul line as the downhaul means moves the carrier to the first vessel, with said intermediate uphaul line extending or retracting to compensate for relative motion between the first and second platforms and the vessel.