Automated dock removal and replacement system and methods of constructing and operating the system

A dock system for lakes and other bodies of water comprising:

• a. a shore base carrying a disengageable locking element for receiving and retaining a dock on a front end thereof;
• b. a train of floatable dock module components releasably connected to said locking element and forming a walkway extending forwardly from said base;
• c. said dock module components comprising modules with connector assemblies at the ends of said modules;
• and disengageable locking elements on said connector assemblies and said modules to retain said modules coupled in train disposition;
• d. laterally spaced posts, with lake bed engaging dock supporting base parts, on which said module components are vertically slidably received to be movable from a lower position in which said modules float to a raised position in which said modules are safely above the water;
• and disengagable mechanism for retaining said module components in raised position;
• and
• e. a module transport device connected with said shore base and operable to move said modules sequentially forwardly to form a train as said modules are sequentially locked together or to move said modules sequentially rearwardly to detrain them and remove them to shore as said modules are sequentially unlocked.

A method of disassembling and removing a dock system comprising a shore base carrying disengageable locking elements for receiving and retaining a dock on a front end thereof;

• a train of dock module components extending forwardly from said base;
• said module components comprising floatable modules with connector assemblies at the ends of said modules;
• laterally spaced posts, with lake bed engaging dock supporting base parts, on which said module components are vertically slidably received to be movable from a lower position in which said modules float to a raised position in which said modules are safely above the water;
• disengagable mechanism for holding said module components in raised position;
• disengageable locking elements on said connector assemblies and modules to retain said modules coupled in train disposition;
• and a module transport device operable to engage and move said modules sequentially forwardly to form a train as said modules are sequentially locked or to move said modules sequentially rearwardly to detrain them and remove them to shore as said modules are sequentially unlocked;
• said method comprising:
• a. disengaging said mechanism for holding said module components in raised position above the water and permitting them to lower to float;
• b. unlocking said dock module adjacent said base and engaging said transport device with said adjacent module to move said adjacent module and train rearwardly to bring said adjacent module onto said base and said other modules closer to shore;
• c. unlocking said adjacent module from said next adjacent module;
• and engaging said transport device with said next adjacent module to move said next adjacent module and remaining modules in said train rearwardly to bring said next adjacent module to said base and said remaining modules closer to shore;
• and
• d. repeating part c, as required, for said remaining modules.

A method of assembling a dock system comprising a shore base carrying a disengageable locking element for receiving and retaining a dock on a front end thereof;

• a train of floatable dock module components extending forwardly from said base:
• said module components comprising floatable modules incorporating connector assemblies at the ends of said modules with laterally spaced posts with lake bottom engaging dock supporting base parts on which said module components are vertically slidably received to be movable from a lower position in which said modules float to a raised position in which said modules are well above the water;
• disengagable mechanism for holding said modules in raised position;
• and disengageable locking elements on said connector assemblies for disengageably coupling with locking elements on said modules to retain said modules coupled in train disposition;
• and a module transport device operable to support a module and move said modules sequentially forwardly to form a train as said modules are sequentially locked to said module supporting connector assemblies;
• the method comprising:
• a. moving a module to be foremost in said train forwardly to be supported by said transport device and attaching a connector assembly to the rear end of said module to be foremost in said train;
• b. supporting said module to be foremost while a next foremost module is disengageably locked to the rear end of said module to be foremost;
• c. operating said transport device to move said next foremost module forwardly to a position in which it can be supported while a connector assembly is attached and said module to be foremost can float;
• d. repeating parts b and c with respect to subsequent modules to form the train desired:
• e. coupling said train to said base locking elements;
• and
• f. raising each module from a floating position on said posts to a position safely above said water level and retaining said modules in raised position.

A dock system for lakes and other bodies of water adapted to extend from a shore base out into the body of water comprising:

• a. a train of floatable dock modules having confronting front and rear ends forming a walkway extending forwardly from a retained position on shore;
• b. connector assemblies having post guides and forwardly and rearwardly extending disengageable coupling mechanisms disengageably coupling to said ends of adjacent pairs of said modules to retain said modules coupled in train disposition;
• c. laterally spaced posts, with lake bed engaging base parts, on which said connector assemblies guide and said connector assemblies are vertically slideably received to be movable from a lower position on said posts in which said modules float to a raised position on said posts in which said modules are safely above the water;
• and
• d. disengageable retention mechanism for retaining said modules in said raised position.