Self-propelled mobile cradle for boats

A self-propelled mobile cradle for boats, said cradle comprising:

• a frame having transversely spaced, longitudinally extending side members interconnected at their forward ends to form an opening extending inwardly from the rear end of the frame;
• caster means for supporting the forward end of said frame, said caster means including a generally U-shaped yoke, a trunion pivotably attached to each end of the U of said U-shaped yoke and forward wheel means rotatably disposed on each of said trunions, said forward wheel means being revolvable about an X-axis;
• steering means for turning said caster means about a Y-axis, said Y-axis being generally normal to said X-axis and being spaced from said X-axis;
• a front beam disposed between said trunions, and an extendable cylinder disposed between said front beam and said yoke whereby to raise or lower the forward end of said frame;
• rear wheel means disposed at the rear of the frame for supporting the rear of the frame, said rear wheel means comprising at least one rear wheel disposed on each side of said frame, each of said rear wheels being independently operable from the other to raise or lower a respective side of said frame;
• rear motive means for raising or lowering said frame relative to said rear wheels, said rear motive means comprising an independently operable suspension for each of said rear wheel means;
• means for driving said forward wheel means and means for powering said forward and said rear motive means;
• engaging means attached to and disposed on each side of said longitudinally extending side members to engage the bottom of a boat and hold it stationary relative to said cradle.

A self-propelled mobile cradle for boats, said cradle comprising:

• a frame having transversely spaced, longitudinally extending side members interconnected at their forward ends to form an opening extending inwardly from the rear end of the frame;
• forward wheel means for supporting the forward end of said frame;
• rear wheel means disposed at the rear of the frame, said rear wheel means comprising a set of at least two wheels on each side of said frame and a trunion supporting each wheel, the trunions of each set being rotatable in opposite directions from a central support and connected by a rear motive means for raising or lowering said frame relative to said rear wheel means, each set being independently operable from the other whereby a respective side of said frame can be raised or lowered relative to the other side of said frame;
• forward motive means for raising or lowering the forward end of said frame relative to said forward wheel means, said forward motive means including a U-shaped yoke and a trunion pivotably attached to each end of the U of said U-shaped yoke, said forward wheel means being rotatably disposed on each of said trunions;
• means for driving said mobile cradle and power means for each of said forward and said rear motive means;
• engaging means attached to and disposed on each side of said longitudinally extending side members to engage the bottom of a boat and hold it stationary relative to said cradle.