Transport, launch and recovery craft
AssigneeColumbia Research Corporation
InventorNorman C. Witbeck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A transport, launch and recovery marine craft is provided that is capable of transporting, deploying and retrieving cargo at sea, either while idle or while underway. A hinged well deck selectively lowers the cargo into the water, and lifts the cargo out of the water during retrieval. Means for raising and lowering the well deck include hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders connected between the well deck and an overhead support. A winch may be used for loading and unloading the cargo.
Claims35
A marine craft, comprising:
- an open hull portion at the stern of said craft, a well deck hingedly connected at one end thereof to the hull adjacent said open hull portion, and means for selectively raising and lowering a stern end of said well deck about said one end, said one end being generally opposite said stern end, said open hull portion defined by a pair of spaced apart buoyant structures extending rearwardly from opposite lateral sides of the bow of said craft, said well deck further comprising an exterior bottom that is substantially aligned with the exterior surface of the hull when said well deck is in a raised position and a stern gate hingedly secured to said stern end, said well deck configured to receive and support cargo therein.
A marine craft, comprising:
- an open hull portion at the stern of said craft, a well deck hingedly connected at one end thereof to the hull adjacent said open hull portion, and means for selectively raising and lowering a stern end of said well deck about said one end, said one end being generally opposite said stern end, said open hull portion defined by a pair of spaced apart buoyant structures extending rearwardly from opposite lateral sides of the bow of said craft, said well deck further comprising an exterior bottom that is substantially aligned with the exterior surface of the hull when said well deck is in a raised position and a stern gate hingedly secured to said stern end, said well deck configured to receive and support cargo therein, said well deck further comprising a substantially upwardly facing bottom surface, laterally opposite sides connecting said one end and said stern end, and upstanding walls extending from said one end and each of said laterally opposite sides, said means for selectively raising and lowering said stern end comprising at least two hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders extending between an overhead support and said well deck, said overhead support extending between said pair of buoyant structures and comprising first and second upright portions and a structural bridge extending between said upright portions, said first upright portion extending substantially upwardly from one of said pair of buoyant structures, said second upright portion extending substantially upwardly from the other of said pair of buoyant structures, each said cylinder having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end of one of said cylinders being connected to said structural bridge substantially adjacent said first upright portion, said upper end of another of said cylinders being connected to said structural bridge substantially adjacent said second upright portion, said craft further comprising at least one engine secured within the hull of said craft, each said engine coupled to at least one jet drive and comprising a 6-cylinder in-line diesel engine rated at about 420 bhp having a fuel capacity of about 1,000 gallons, a cruising range of about 500 nautical miles and a maximum speed of about 26 knots, at least one said engine being secured within each said buoyant structure, each said buoyant structure further comprising a jet drive extending substantially rearward.
A marine craft comprising a pair of spaced apart hull portions joined together by a decking area, said craft having an open hull portion at the stern of said craft, a well deck hingedly connected to said craft at one end thereof to the hull adjacent said open hull portion, and means for selectively raising and lowering a stern end of said well deck about said one end between said hull portions, said one end being generally opposite said stern end, a stern gate hingedly secured to said stern end, said well deck configured to receive and support cargo therein, said well deck having an upwardly facing bottom surface, said one end and said stern end being connected by a laterally opposite sides, and upstanding walls extending from said one end and each of said laterally opposite sides.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.