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US 8,801,327 B2Granted
Marine ropeway
AssigneeHalo Maritime Defense Systems, Inc.
InventorEric G. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for moving a floating or submerged marine structure. Embodiments include a track fixedly mounted near or under the waterline surface, extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure. A riser cable has a first end movably attached to the track between the first and second points, and a second end fixedly attached to the marine structure. A trolley is attached to the first end of the riser cable between the first end and the track, and has a roller for engaging the track for distributing environmental forces of the marine structure to the track. A drive unit is attached to the marine structure (or to the trolley) for moving the marine structure (or the trolley) such that the marine structure or one end of the marine structure moves along the path of the track.
Claims34
An apparatus for moving a marine structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a transport cable disposed under the surface of a body of water, the transport cable extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure, the transport cable being movably mounted such that a riser attachment point on the cable is movable between the first and second points;
- a riser cable having a first end fixedly attached to the riser attachment point of the transport cable, and a second end fixedly attached to the marine structure;
- and
- a drive unit for moving the transport cable such that the riser cable moves between the first and second points and the marine structure moves along the path;
- wherein the marine structure is a gate, and the path of motion is for opening and closing the gate.
2 more elements
An apparatus for moving a marine structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a track fixedly mounted under the surface of a body of water, the track extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure;
- a riser cable having a first end movably attached to the track between the first and second points, and a second end fixedly attached to the marine structure;
- a trolley attached to the first end of the riser cable between the first end and the track, and comprising a roller for engaging the track for distributing environmental forces of the marine structure to the track;
- and
- a drive unit attached to the marine structure for moving the marine structure such that the riser cable moves between the first and second points and the marine structure moves along the path.
2 more elements
An apparatus for moving a marine structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a track fixedly mounted under the surface of a body of water, the track extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure;
- a riser cable having a first end movably attached to the track between the first and second points, and a second end fixedly attached to the marine structure;
- a trolley attached to the first end of the riser cable between the first end and the track, and comprising a roller for engaging the track for distributing environmental forces of the marine structure to the track;
- and
- a drive unit attached to the trolley for moving the trolley such that the riser cable moves between the first and second points and the marine structure moves along the path.
2 more elements
An apparatus for moving a marine structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a track fixedly mounted under the surface of a body of water, the track extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure;
- a first riser cable having a bottom end movably attached to the track between the first and second points, and a top end fixedly attached to the marine structure;
- a first trolley attached to the bottom end of the first riser cable between the bottom end and the track, and comprising a roller for engaging the track for distributing environmental forces of the marine structure to the track;
- a first drive unit attached to the first trolley for moving the first trolley in a first direction along the track;
- a second riser cable having a bottom end movably attached to the track between the first and second points, and a top end fixedly attached to the marine structure;
- a second trolley attached to the bottom end of the second riser cable between the bottom end and the track, and comprising a roller for engaging the track for distributing environmental forces of the marine structure to the track;
- a second drive unit attached to the second trolley for moving the second trolley in a second direction along the track cable, the second direction being opposite the first direction;
- and
- a control system for controlling the first and second drive units, responsive to a measured tension in each of the first and second riser cables, such that the riser cables move between the first and second points and the marine structure moves along the path in one of the first direction and the second direction.
6 more elements
An apparatus for moving a buoyant marine structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a track cable extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure at the surface of a body of water, the track cable having first and second opposing ends, the first point and the second point being between the first and second opposing ends;
- a roller attached to the marine structure for movably engaging the track cable;
- a fixed track cable mount attached to the first end of the track cable;
- a track cable drive unit attached to the second end of the track cable for moving the track cable between a first position where the track cable is proximal the surface of the body of water, and a second position where a portion of the track cable is under the surface of the body of water;
- and
- a marine structure drive unit attached to the marine structure for moving the marine structure, when the track cable is in the first position, such that the roller moves between the first and second points and the marine structure moves along the path.
3 more elements
An apparatus for moving first and second buoyant marine structures in opposing directions, the apparatus comprising:
- a first tow/track cable drive unit mounted at a first fixed point;
- a first tow/track cable having a first end attached to the first tow/track cable drive unit, the first tow/track cable extending along an axis of the first marine structure, movably attached to the first marine structure, and having a second end fixedly attached to the second marine structure;
- a second tow/track cable drive unit mounted at a second fixed point opposite the first fixed point;
- a second tow/track cable having a first end attached to the second tow/track cable drive unit, the second tow/track cable extending along an axis of the second marine structure, movably attached to the second marine structure, and having a second end fixedly attached to the first marine structure;
- wherein the first tow/track cable drive unit is for moving the first tow/track cable between a first position where the first tow/track cable is proximal the surface of the body of water and a second position where a portion of the first tow/track cable is under the surface of the body of water;
- wherein the second tow/track cable drive unit is for moving the second tow/track cable between a first position where the second tow/track cable is proximal the surface of the body of water and a second position where a portion of the second tow/track cable is under the surface of the body of water;
- wherein the first tow/track cable drive unit is for moving the first tow/track cable to move the second marine structure towards a central point between the first and second fixed points when the second tow/track cable is in its first position;
- and
- wherein the second tow/track cable drive unit is for moving the second tow/track cable to move the first marine structure towards the central point when the first tow/track cable is in its first position.
6 more elements
An apparatus for moving a marine structure, the apparatus comprising:
- a transport cable disposed under the surface of a body of water, the transport cable extending from a first point to a second point for defining a path of motion of the marine structure, the transport cable being movably mounted such that a riser attachment point on the cable is movable between the first and second points;
- a riser cable having a first end fixedly attached to the riser attachment point of the transport cable, and a second end fixedly attached to the marine structure;
- and
- a drive unit for moving the transport cable such that the riser cable moves between the first and second points and the marine structure moves along the path;
- wherein the marine structure is an oil containment boom, and the path of motion is for opening and closing the boom.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.