Steerable tug-and-barge linkage
OwnerMasasuke Kawasakiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method are disclosed for increasing the low speed maneuverability and the stability of sea-going vessels. The apparatus includes a linkage assembly which connects a primary vessel or sub-vessel to a secondary, steering vessel or sub-vessel such that the steering vessel or sub-vessel may yaw with respect to the primary vessel. In preferred embodiments, the linkage assembly includes a pair of linkage arms that are pivotally connected to the primary and secondary vessels, one linkage arm on each side of the secondary vessel. The apparatus may further provide elements to actuate and control the yawing motion of the steering vessel or sub-vessel.
Claims35
Marine transport apparatus, comprising:
- a first vessel having a bow, a stern, and port and starboard sides;
- a second vessel which follows and pushes the first vessel during normal operations, the second vessel having a bow, a stern, and port and starboard sides;
- a port linkage arm having a first end, a second end, and an axis, the first end of the port linkage arm being pivotally connected to the port side of the first vessel's stern, the second end of the port linkage arm being pivotally connected to the port side of the second vessel's bow;
- a starboard linkage arm having a first end, a second end, and an axis, the first end of the starboard linkage arm being pivotally connected to the starboard side of the first vessel's stern, the second end of the starboard linkage arm being pivotally connected to the starboard side of the second vessel's bow;
- and,
- a pivot point defined by a point of intersection of lines extending along the axes of the port and starboard linkage arms, the pivot point being positioned such that no external force is required to eliminate an undesired yaw angle between the first and second vessel when the vessels are underway.
Marine transport apparatus comprising:
- a first steered vessel having a bow, a stern and a centerline;
- a steering vessel having a bow, a stern and a centerline;
- coupling means coupling the bow of the steering vessel and the stern of the first steered vessel to form a combined center of gravity located in the first steered vessel;
- said coupling means including a first linkage arm pivotally connected at opposite ends to the port sides of the steering vessel and said first steered vessel, respectively, and a second linkage arm pivotally connected at opposite ends to the starboard sides of the two vessels, respectively, such that the axes of the two linkage arms intersect along the centerline of the first steered vessel and the steering vessel when the two vessels are in centerline alignment.
Marine transport apparatus, comprising:
- a first vessel having a bow, a stern, and port and starboard sides;
- a second vessel having a bow, a stern, and port and starboard sides;
- a port linkage arm having a first end, a second end, and an axis, the first end of the port linkage arm being pivotally connected to the port side of the first vessel's stern, the second end of the port linkage arm being pivotally connected to the port side of the second vessel's bow;
- a starboard linkage arm having a first end, a second end, and an axis, the first end of the starboard linkage arm being pivotally connected to the starboard side of the first vessel's stern, the second end of the starboard linkage arm being pivotally connected to the starboard side of the second vessel's bow;
- and,
- a pivot point defined by a point of intersection of lines extending along the axes of the port and starboard linkage arms, the pivot point being positioned between the second vessel's bow and stern.
A marine transport apparatus, comprising:
- a first vessel having a bow and a stern;
- a second vessel which follows and pushes the first vessel during normal operations, the second vessel having a bow and a stern;
- at least two linkage arms being pivotally connected to the first vessel's stern and the second vessel's bow, the linkage arms configured to allow the first and second vessels to move laterally in the yaw plane with respect to each other.
Marine transport apparatus comprising:
- a steering vessel having a bow, stern, centerline and center of gravity;
- one or more steered vessels, each said steered vessel having a bow, stern, centerline and center of gravity and defining a linear array with said steering vessel with the stern of a first said steered vessel proximate the bow of the steering vessel and each additional steered vessel leading the first said steered vessel and having its stern proximate the bow of its next trailing steered vessel and its bow proximate the stern of its next leading steered vessel;
- separate coupling means coupling the bow of each said steered vessel with the stern of the next leading steered vessel, each said coupling means comprising a first linkage arm of a pair of linkage arms pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the port sides of its respective two vessels and a second linkage arm of said pair pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the starboard sides of said its respective two steered vessels, each said pair of said first and second linkage arms defining longitudinal axes which intersect along the centerline of said linear array when the steered vessels are in centerline alignment to define a pivot point forward of the center of gravity of the leading steered vessel of the two said respective steered vessels.
A method for enhancing the lateral flexibility of oceangoing tug and barge flotillas, comprising pivotally connecting a tug to a first barge such that rudder action alone is sufficient to maintain a yaw angle between the tug and the first barge when the flotilla is underway.
A method for enhancing the lateral flexibility of connected nonsteerable vessels, comprising:
- pivotally connecting a first nonsteerable vessel to a second nonsteerable vessel such that the first and second nonsteerable vessels can yaw with respect to each other;
- preventing jackknifing between the first and second nonsteerable vessels;
- and eliminating undesirable yaw angles between the first and second nonsteerable vessels without the use of external force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.