Machine for gripping, securing and handling underwater vehicles and the like
AssigneeRiva Calzoni S.p.A.
InventorAurelio Ortelli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for gripping and handling underwater vehicles and the like includes a gripping device provided with a guiding member made integral at its upper end, an articulated member connected with a rod sliding inside a guide attached to a free end of a jib of the crane and with floats capable of maintaining the guiding member raised above the water in a preset position of the rod relative to the guide controlled by a sensor imparting movement to the jibs of the crane in order to maintain the gripping device in vertical position relative to the ship.
Claims9
A machine for gripping and handling an underwater vehicle provided with an extension projecting above a water surface, said machine being mounted on a ship and comprising:
- a turret mounted rotatably about a turret axis on a ship;
- a crane mounted on said turret and provided with a pair of jibs pivotally connected with one another, one of said jibs being formed with a free end;
- actuating means for displacing said jibs;
- a guide extending along a guide axis and mounted on said free end of said one of said jibs;
- a rod coaxial with and slidable in said guide, said rod being formed with a respective free end projecting axially toward a water surface from said guide;
- an articulated member mounted rotatably about said guide axis on said free end of said rod, said articulate member swivelling about a swivel axis extending perpendicular to an axis of said guide and being axially fixed to said rod to move therewith axially;
- a gripper mounted rigidly on said articulated member for engaging said extension of a vehicle to be handled;
- retaining means on said gripper for retaining said extension of the vehicle to be handled upon gripping thereof by said gripper;
- floating means mounted on said articulated member and riding in the water for supporting said gripper on the surface;
- controlling means operatively connected with said rod and said guide for controlling a preset axial position of said rod relative to said guide;
- and
- means on said jibs for maintaining said guide axis and said turret axis parallel to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.