Convertible vessel
AssigneeConstructions Industrielles de la Mediterranee - CNIM
InventorFrancis Lucas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vessel includes an heavy loaded catamaran, one or several movable buoyant roll-on/roll-off platform(s) (3); a moving element is provided for draft variation in heavy deep seas so that the platform(s) (3) may be raised or lowered between the hulls thereby selectively changing the flotation of the vessel. In the upper position, the vessel is a deep-sea catamaran, in an intermediate position the platform(s) is buoyant and a canal is formed between platform bottom and catamaran keels, in the lower position, platform bottom and catamaran are even-keel converting the catamaran in a shallow water craft, in the lowest position, the catamaran is raised above water for docking.
Claims38
A convertible vessel, with draft variation when sailing at constant displacement, for loading loads on unequipped shorelines or onto an logistic vessel in high seas, comprising:
- a catamaran having two hulls permanently assembled at their upper part by decks or beams,
- a propulsion and steering system of the catamaran, designed to sail either with reduced draft in shallow waters or with deep draft, and
- at least one buoyant mobile platform between the two hulls of the catamaran,
- wherein the platform is linked to the catamaran in an articulated manner by an articulated linkage, wherein the articulated linkage allows the platform to move between high and low positions with respect to the catamaran, and also to move transversely with respect to at least one of the hulls when the catamaran is not subject to transverse deformation, so as to prevent wedging of the platform relative to the two lateral hulls when the platform is moved between high and low positions even if the catamaran is subject to transverse deformation.
A convertible vessel, with draft variation when sailing at constant displacement, for loading loads on unequipped shorelines or onto an logistic vessel in high seas, comprising:
- a catamaran having two hulls permanently assembled at their upper part by decks or beams,
- a propulsion and steering system of the catamaran, designed to sail either with reduced draft in shallow waters or with deep draft, and
- at least one buoyant mobile platform between the two hulls of the catamaran,
- wherein the platform is linked to the catamaran in an articulated manner so that the platform is capable of moving between high and low positions with respect to the catamaran, and the platform is also capable of freely moving transversely with respect to at least one of the hulls, to prevent wedging of the platform relative to the two lateral hulls when the platform is moved between high and low positions even if the catamaran is subject to transverse deformation,
- wherein the platform is linked in an articulated manner to the catamaran by moving means for moving the platform between high and low positions, said moving means comprising a guide system and at least three lifting points, each of the lifting points being articulated at both extremities.
A convertible vessel, with draft variation when sailing at constant displacement, for loading loads on unequipped shorelines or onto an logistic vessel in high seas, comprising:
- a catamaran having two hulls permanently assembled at their upper part by decks or beams,
- a propulsion and steering system of the catamaran, designed to sail either with reduced draft in shallow waters or with deep draft, and
- at least one buoyant mobile platform between the two hulls of the catamaran,
- wherein the platform is linked to the catamaran in an articulated manner so that the platform is capable of moving between high and low positions with respect to the catamaran, and the platform is also capable of freely moving transversely with respect to at least one of the hulls, to prevent wedging of the platform relative to the two lateral hulls when the platform is moved between high and low positions even if the catamaran is subject to transverse deformation,
- wherein the hulls are further connected at their bottom part by transversally situated fore and aft wing-shaped cross members that are received within indentations formed on the underside of the platform when the platform is lowered into the contact with water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.