327results about "Hulls from prefabricated subunits" patented technology

The technical disclosure herein describes an autonomous water-borne vehicle having a segmented non-planing hull with free flood fore and aft sections and a sealed center section. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having a fixed longitudinal thruster and a fixed lateral thruster for changing the heading of the vehicle. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having an autonomous mission system, an autonomous navigation system, and a web-based command and control system. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a submersible winch. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle wherein the sealed center section is of substantially rectangular cross section. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a wheeled battery tray.

A storage and retrieval system is provided that automates the process of handling a mixed inventory of palletized and containerized items. The invention is particularly useful in handling cargo and weapons within a ship's hold or magazine. When used on a ship, the invention provides for the stowing and unstowing of loads quickly and efficiently, to automatically secure such payloads for sea and to achieve high stowage density, while retaining the capability to select and retrieve any ordered payload, move it to and load it on elevator trays under computer control.

A floating structure has an annular support as an underwater support with a buoyant body. A tower penetrates the annular support centrally and is connected to the annular support at a location underneath the annular support by slantedly outwardly ascending tension spokes and at a location above the annular support by slantedly outwardly descending tension spokes. Anchors on the ocean floor are connected by tension elements with the annular support. The structure is built by the steps of supporting by auxiliary devices the annular support on a floor of a basin that can be flooded; positioning the tower at the center of the annular support in vertical position; attaching the tension spokes at the annular support and at the tower; flooding the basin; towing the structure to its desired final position; and lowering and anchoring the structure in a submerged floating position.

A floating boat lift has a platform, first and second parallel spaced apart arms and a boat holding region defined therebetween, the defined boatholding region having a linking strip of half-blocks with an aligned groove for accepting and guiding a boat keel. The lift includes adjustable buoyancy.

A floating drive-on watercraft dock comprises a one-piece molded body defining a watercraft receiving area. The watercraft receiving area includes roller assemblies on the bottom of the watercraft receiving area and glide assemblies on the sides of the watercraft receiving area. The roller and glide assemblies can be easily removed and replaced for servicing of the watercraft dock. An extension unit is provided which can be connected to the watercraft dock body. The extension unit includes an extension body and a tongue extending from the extension body. The tongue is sized and shaped to have a bottom surface complementary to the entrance to the watercraft receiving area of the watercraft dock body. The extension unit also includes a watercraft receiving area, which, when the extension unit is connected to the watercraft dock, increases the length of the watercraft receiving area.

An encapsulated module (14) for an unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) (V) is formed with an operational component (16) and encapsulating material (60). The encapsulant (60) forms a rigid capsule surrounding the operational component (16). The capsule (14) has a least one exterior surface (18) that assists in forming the exterior surface (26) of the UUV (V) when the capsule (14) is combined into the UUV (V).

The present document describes a dock unit attachable to another dock unit with a fastener for forming a floating dock. The dock unit comprises a floating body having a mating surface and an attachment adapted to receive the fastener. Thereby attaching the floating body is able to be attached to the other dock unit. The dock unit further comprises a cover for covering the mating surface, the cover having a contact surface adapted to contact the fastener. In use, the contact surface is positioned proximate the attachment so that, when the attachment receives the fastener, the contact surface is contacted by the fastener, thereby limiting the movement of the cover with respect to the floating body.

A modular buoyant support apparatus is comprised of buoyant support modules of inflatable pontoons. The pontoons comprise inflatable tubular chambers, typically fabricated of polymer coated fabric sheet material. A buoyant support module comprises a rigid frame connected to an inflatable pontoon. A means is provided to interconnect buoyant support modules to form a modular buoyant support apparatus of varied support area and configuration. Means are provided to attach an appropriately configured dock surface to the modular buoyant support apparatus.

A marine vessel is defined by multiple modular floatation modules, each of which is defined by a float captured in a frame. Plural floatation modules may be interconnected in a variety of configurations to vary the size and shape of the vessel. A deck is supported on the floatation modules and superstructures may be supported on the deck. The vessel is operable in a first on water mode in which the beam of the vessel is a first width, and in a second on land mode in which the beam is a second width that is narrower than the first width and preferably within the width allowable for towing on roadways. Wheels may be incorporated on the vessel in either the first or second modes or the vessel may be loaded onto a trailer. In one embodiment the vessel has wheels attached to the hull (either permanently or removably) and a trailer hitch assembly is located at the stern of the vessel so the vessel is towed stern-first when towed on land.

A stable floating barge-platform for offshore operations and a method for assembling same. The barge-platform is assembled from a plurality of substantially identical, buoyant modules, all of which have substantially the same outer configuration. The buoyant modules are constructed onshore and transported to an offshore location where they are positioned and connected together to form the platform. When connected, an opening will be present through the center of the platform. This opening reduces the bottom area of the platform and accordingly substantially reduces the wave forces on the platform.

A pontoon for floating a watercraft, wherein the pontoon has a skin forming a closed body, a foam coupled to the skin within the closed body, and integral features formed by the skin. The integral features may include a support structure for mounting a watercraft structure.

This floating support (1) for an offshore structure, in particular such as a wind turbine, of the type including means in the form of a support mast (2), the upper part of which is associated with the structure and the lower part of which is associated with means in the form a float (3), is characterized in that the means in the form a float (3) comprise means in the form of a cage (9, 10, 11) for receiving buoyancy tanks (12).

A float which may be utilized individually or which may be joined to other such floats or used with other elements to provide flotation for a deck or dock unit. Though the particular shapes and attributes of the float may vary for the particular use, the basic float consists of a hollow, preferably rotocast, unit which combines an exterior skin with attachment accommodations having a selectable top surface and a first and second flotation concept. The first flotation is provided by the buoyancy of the hollow structure with the second achieved through a plurality of selectively shaped and positioned cavities extending upwardly from the bottom surface of the float to a location at or adjacent the upper surface of the float. With this dual flotation provision, should the exterior skin of the float be pierced, allowing water to fill the interior thereof, flotation is provided by air entrapment within the formed cavities. The float provides for selective upper surface arrangements dependent upon the desire of the user and may include a flat, or otherwise formed surface.

The present invention provides a connecting link assembly and socket arrangement for assembling modular dock and / or deck elements into walkways, decks and drive-on docks.

A multi-purpose catamaran is disclosed in the present invention, comprising hulls and deck, wherein the hulls are two hulls, the central of the deck is arranged a movable deck, a detachable crane is set over the movable deck for hanging a fishing net or a fishing cage. The catamaran according invention can be easily disassembly and assembly, and expediently be carried and used. The fishing net or the fishing cage can be immerged in water for transiting live fish carried in it, can conveniently transfer to the deep water region for cultivating or to the shallow water region to disembark, removing the hoop can easily hoist it to the dock and can be easily transferred to a truck. The present invention has multi-purpose, except for using to retract and place fishing cage, to transfer aquatic products or personnel, or be as small-sized tow net, also can be used for selling, fishing etc. The present invention manufacturing method is simple, and can easily manufacture the catamaran without a model, suitable for fisherfolks to manufacture the catamaran by themselves, and the catamaran has lower cost.

A temporary platform or roadway is created using one or a plurality of optionally connected support components to form a top surface upon which panels are placed. The support components are comprised of gabion containers having one or a plurality of compartments into which a filler material is inserted. The filler material can optionally be composed of a buoyant material such as expanded polystyrene to enable flotation. A method for constructing the roadway or platform of the present invention is also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a multidirectional floating element. The multidirectional floating element is preferably a polyhedron in overall shape including a first generally planar surface adapted for use a deck, a second surface having a V-shaped channel adapted for receiving and guiding a watercraft keel and a plurality of side walls for adjoining and maintaining spacing between the first surface and the second surface.

The present document describes a dock unit attachable to another dock unit with a fastener for forming a floating dock. The dock unit comprises a floating body having a mating surface and an attachment adapted to receive the fastener. Thereby attaching the floating body is able to be attached to the other dock unit. The dock unit further comprises a cover for covering the mating surface, the cover having a contact surface adapted to contact the fastener. In use, the contact surface is positioned proximate the attachment so that, when the attachment receives the fastener, the contact surface is contacted by the fastener, thereby limiting the movement of the cover with respect to the floating body.

A ship hull structure includes a main hull and a movable rearbody having an engine and a propeller. The movable rearbody is located at a lower side of a stern of the main hull, connected with an aft of the main hull to form an integral unit by a hinge linking device allowing the rearbody to pivot up and down. By a block, a crane or a winch and through a chain or a hanging wire, a pivoting angle of the movable rearbody with respect to the main hull can be adjusted and controlled. A bottom of the hull can be provided with at least one, usually plural, air cushion recess, which is filled with pressurized air to reduce a viscous force between a bottom of the ship and water. When a ship of this kind of structure is sailing, the rearbody can be lifted up by the block or the winch, allowing part of the propeller to be separated from a water surface to reduce resistance in the water that the engine can achieve a required rotational speed (RPM) in a short time. Next, the rearbody is laid down slowly, allowing the propeller to be put into the water, thereby increasing propulsion and quickly achieving a cruising speed. When the ship is sailing and encounters with wind wave, the stern will ascend by longitudinal pitching; at this time, the rearbody can descend by its own weight, with a hinge axis as a center, preventing the propeller to leave the water surface to rotate idly. On the other hand, when a bow ascends (that is, the stern descends), the rearbody will maintain a normal draught height by buoyancy of the water and the force between the water and running propeller Therefore, for the entire ship, a wetted surface area of the propeller can be adjusted automatically to keep at a best sailing condition, which can further save fuel consumption significantly. In another embodiment that the bottom of the ship is formed with the air cushion recesses, a friction force of the water can be reduced to increase a ship speed by the air cushion effect formed at the bottom of the ship.

A foldable rigid frame attachment system for portable, inflatable pontoon boats including first and second inflatable elongated pontoons arranged to be approximately parallel to each other. The pontoons include pairs of upwardly extending strips formed in a longitudinal direction on both sides of the centerline on the top of each of the pontoons. Transversal slats connect the pontoons, and the bottom of each slat includes engaging means to engage the strips of the pontoons. The pontoon boat is held rigid by first and second underbars. The first underbar is positioned in a longitudinal direction on the top of the first pontoon in between the pairs of strips and below the slats, the second underbar is positioned in a longitudinal direction on the top of the second pontoon in between the pairs of strips and below the slats. As the pontoon boat is inflated, the underbars are locked into position between the pontoons and the slats.

The invention relates to the technical field of unmanned remote measuring and provides a quick disassembling and assembling shallow diving line type unmanned ship which comprises a main hull, two shallow diving line type floating body modules, two underwater power propulsion modules, and an instrument carrying and central control module which are connected through a rotatable and slidable combined connecting device which has the function of rotation, flexibility and translation. The quick disassembling and assembling shallow diving line type unmanned ship has the advantages that the big quality water surface unmanned ship which has powerful capacity of resisting wind waves and larger bearing capacity is decentralized, the requirements of convenient transportation are met, what is more important is that the easy and accurate adjustment of the centre of gravity and buoyancy of the ship can be realized according to different water area working conditions and the changeable loading conditions, the sailing optimized posture of the hull is guaranteed, and the requirements of carrying various instruments and equipment and normal operation on the unmanned ship are met.

An improved stern design for many types of small watercraft to eliminate “tail dragging”, porpoising, oversteer and “slide out”, improve longitudinal tracking, and provide faster planing at lower speeds. This hull extension, consisting of two buoyant sponsons extending astern of the motor output, supports the weight of the entire motor propulsion unit, extends the planing surface, shifts the center of buoyancy rearward, resulting in an ability to maintain an even fore-aft keel in a very lightweight hull. Under acceleration and cruising, high pressure under the extensions along with an improved center of gravity keeps the boat from tail dragging. Interior chines formed as part of the inner lower surface of the sponsons provide straight tracking under power, even without other hydrodynamic aids, and provide resistance to oversteer or “slideout” in turns. The long sponson extensions protect an outdrive system from contact at the stern or sides of the boat.

The technical disclosure herein describes an autonomous water-borne vehicle having a segmented non-planing hull with free flood fore and aft sections and a sealed center section. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having a fixed longitudinal thruster and a fixed lateral thruster for changing the heading of the vehicle. The disclosure also described such a vehicle having an autonomous mission system, an autonomous navigation system, and a web-based command and control system. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a submersible winch. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle wherein the sealed center section is of substantially rectangular cross section. The disclosure also describes such a vehicle having a wheeled battery tray.

A multi hulled vessel in which its two outermost hulls are parallel and have a configuration such that one hull is a mirror image of the other and are double ended, each hull is characterized by its stern part; beneath the waterline in which there is a continuation to the stern of the hulls bottom and one side surface without aftward convergence to the waterline or the fore and the aft axis, and in which the hulls other side surface converges towards the two said surfaces.

An unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) (V) includes a steering unit (10) for directional control of the UUV (V) with an exterior surface (12) and at least one interchangeable module component (14) for housing a desired operational unit (16) appropriate for a chosen mission profile. The interchangeable module (14) has an exterior surface (18) preferably impervious to the intrusion of water (20). A frontal portion (22) may be adapted for fluid flow. The exterior surfaces (10, 18, and 24) of the steering unit (10), the interchangeable module component (14) and the frontal portion (22) form a substantially smooth surface envelope (26).

A ship and associated methods of operation. In an example embodiment, a method of operating a ship includes providing multiple vessels each having a first deck attached to two spaced-apart hull sections. The deck and hull sections define a cavity when the vessel is afloat. A plurality of like coupling mechanisms are provided, each suitable for joining two of the vessels. First and second vessels are joined along starboard and port sides of the deck of the second vessel with one of the coupling mechanisms. Joining is effected by attaching a first of the hull sections on the first vessel to the deck of the second vessel along the port side of the second vessel, and attaching a second of the hull sections on the first vessel to the deck of the second vessel along the starboard side of the second vessel. When coupled to one another the deck of the second vessel is positioned between the first and second hull sections of the first vessel. Attaching of the first vessel to the second vessel includes positioning of a first pin between the first hull section and the deck of the second vessel and positioning of a second pin between the second hull section and the deck of the second vessel. The first coupling mechanism limits movement of the first and second vessels, with respect to one another, to movement about a single axis of rotation, this permitting the first vessel to undergo changes in pitch relative to the second vessel.

A rigid hull inflatable style boat constructed of rigid-shell modules. Modular gunwale sections are mounted to the trailing ends of a modular bow section to form the a flotation collar. Boats having greater / shorter lengths can be constructed by increasing or decreasing the number of gunwale modules. The bow and gunwale modules may be formed of molded polyethylene filled with hydrophobic foam material. The floor / hull module can be mounted at varying heights within the flotation collar to alter the performance characteristics of the craft. The hull module may have a V-shaped hydrodynamic contour, so that when the hull module is mounted relatively high within the collar the boat has a sponson-type hull form, and when the hull module is mounted relatively low within the flotation collar the boat has a V-type hull configuration. The flotation modules have a generally D-shaped configuration, with flat, vertically extending inboard walls that mate with a vertically-extending flange on the floor / hull module so that the latter can be adjusted to a higher or lower position within the collar during assembly.