Marine craft engagement
AssigneeMacTaggart, Scott (Holding) Limited
InventorJoseph Charles Urciuoli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engagement apparatus for use in the deployment and recovery of a marine craft from a mother ship comprises a receptacle provided on one of the marine craft and the mother ship and an engagement probe provided on the other of the marine craft and the mother ship. The receptacle has a number of spaced channels which receive the engagement probe, engagement between the probe and the channels facilitating alignment between the marine craft and the mother ship. A locking device is also provided to secure the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship for recovery. The locking device may be activated by full engagement between the probe and the receptacle.
Claims21
An engagement apparatus for use in the recovery of a marine craft to a mother ship, the apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to be coupled to one of a mother ship and a marine craft, the receptacle comprising a plurality of engagement locations, the engagement locations comprising vertically spaced channels;
- an engagement probe adapted to be coupled to the other of the mother ship and the marine craft, wherein the engagement probe is adapted to engage one or more of the engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle;
- and
- a locking device configured to secure the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship for recovery, and wherein at least one of:
- the receptacle comprises at least one ramp for directing the engagement probe into an engagement location;
- and
- the engagement probe comprises at least one probe first portion arranged to initially engage the receptacle, the engagement probe first portion comprising at least one dagger.
A method for engaging a marine craft to a mother ship for recovery, the method comprising:
- providing a receptacle on one of a mother ship and a marine craft, the receptacle comprising a plurality of engagement locations, the engagement locations comprising vertically spaced channels;
- and
- providing an engagement probe on the other of the mother ship and the marine craft;
- engaging the engagement probe with one or more of the engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle;
- and
- securing the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship,
- and wherein at least one of:
- the receptacle comprises at least one ramp for directing the engagement probe into an engagement location;
- and
- the engagement probe comprises at least one probe first portion arranged to initially engage the receptacle, the engagement probe first portion comprising at least one dagger.
An engagement apparatus for use in the recovery of a marine craft to a mother ship, the apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to be coupled to one of a mother ship and a marine craft;
- an engagement probe adapted to be coupled to the other of the mother ship and the marine craft, wherein the engagement probe is adapted to engage one or more engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle;
- and
- a locking device configured to secure the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship for recovery,
- wherein at least one of the receptacle and the engagement probe is provided on a hull engaging apparatus configured to receive at least a portion of a hull of the marine craft.
A method for engaging a marine craft to a mother ship for recovery, the method comprising:
- providing a receptacle on one of a mother ship and a marine craft;
- and
- providing an engagement probe on the other of the mother ship and the marine craft;
- engaging the engagement probe with one or more engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle;
- and
- securing the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship,
- wherein at least one of the receptacle and the engagement probe is provided on a hull engaging apparatus configured to receive at least a portion of a hull of the marine craft.
An engagement apparatus for use in the recovery of a marine craft to a mother ship, the apparatus comprising:
- a receptacle adapted to be coupled to one of a mother ship and a marine craft;
- an engagement probe adapted to be coupled to the other of the mother ship and the marine craft, wherein the engagement probe is adapted to engage one or more engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle;
- and
- a locking device configured to secure the probe to the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship for recovery,
- wherein the locking device comprises at least one hook arm configured to engage a corresponding shoulder in the receptacle.
A method for engaging a marine craft to a mother ship for recovery, the method comprising:
- providing a receptacle on one of a mother ship and a marine craft;
- and
- providing an engagement probe on the other of the mother ship and the marine craft;
- engaging the engagement probe with one or more engagement locations in the receptacle to align the probe with the receptacle;
- and
- securing the probe to the receptacle using a locking device comprising at least one hook arm configured to engage a corresponding shoulder in the receptacle to secure the marine craft to the mother ship.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.