8237results about "Special purpose vessels" patented technology

A monitoring system and method for monitoring a predetermined set of physical characteristics associated with a structure using the monitoring system. The system is distributed in the structure and comprises a distributed optical sensing device (30), further comprising a fiber optic cable (20, 22); a light source (18a) operatively in communication with the fiber optic cable (20, 22); a light detection device (18b), operatively in communication with the fiber optic cable (20, 22), for measuring the light received at the light detection device (18b) from the fiber optic cable (20, 22); and a data processor (18) capable of using the light measured to calculate a predetermined set of physical parameters describing the predetermined set of physical characteristics.

The MULTIBODY AIRCRANE performs relative positioning, predictive control, and ballast control to achieve very heavy-lifting tasks on land or sea. Such tasks allow station keeping and precise transfer of very heavy payloads between ships underway. This scalable multibody system features three subcomponents: AIRSHIP, SKYCRANE and LOADFRAME. This semi-autonomous system combines aerodynamic (kinetic) and aerostatic (buoyancy force) lift with efficient power and propulsion. During low-speed flight, the Airship and Skycrane are decoupled but linked via a reelable Tether Control Line. Beneath the Skycrane, centered on its hull, a patented NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) RoboCrane (featuring a computer controlled six degrees of freedom (DoF) cabling system,) is attached, to precisely suspend and control a Loadframe, with or without payload. During subsonic forward flight, these Airship and Skycrane are coupled as a single airframe (fuselage and delta wing.)

A port storage and distribution system for facilitating the transfer and / or storage of international shipping containers between container ships and ground transport carriers wherein an overhead grid guide track structure is provide that permits overhead transfer units to selectively engage and convey containers as required between the various ships, carriers and storage area without requiring multiple transfers of containers between different handling equipment. The system provides for container scanning and is either fully automated or partially manually controlled.

A method of manufacture of a silicone grip, comprising coating a solution of a silicone composition onto a substrate surface to form a silicone layer, wherein the solution comprises: a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule, and a solvent; and curing the silicone layer to form the silicone grip conformable with the substrate surface, wherein the cured silicone layer has a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60.

The present disclosure provides a harness adjustment system that may be used in various applications including backpacks, windsurf harnesses, kite-board harnesses, mountain climbing harnesses, utility harnesses, backpack shoulder straps, tie-down straps, and various belts for numerous applications. The harness adjustment system includes a first webbing strap, a winding reel, a cable tension member, and a strap lock. The winding reel is secured to a first portion of the strap. The cable is interconnected between a second portion of the strap and the winding reel. The cable loops from the strap to the reel such that winding of the reel retracts the cable to pull the second portion of the strap toward the first portion. The lock is coupled to the first strap second portion. The lock is selectively engageable with the second portion of the strap to relieve tension from the cable. Both cam and plate locks are disclosed.

A silicone grip comprising a cured silicone film layer with a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60 wherein the silicone film layer is formed from a curable silicone composition comprising a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, and an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule. The cured silicone layer is used in combination with an adhesive to provide a flexible and malleable grip, and / or in combination with a backing layer that can be solid or foamed.

The invention relates to a water surface garbage cleaning ship. In the invention, a ship body is of an dual-body design, and the water surface garbage cleaning ship is composed of a detection and navigation system, a collection system, a garbage treatment system, a garbage unloading system and a propulsion system; and the water surface garbage cleaning ship can have three working modes, namely a free navigation mode, a landing operation mode and a non-landing operation mode. The water surface garbage cleaning ship can realize autonomous navigation and work, unmanned operation, full automation, good cleaning effect, strong flexibility, smoothness in working, safety and reliability by using the detection and navigation system to detect a region with garbage on the water surface. A scraper bucket chain network type collection and transmission device designed in the water surface garbage cleaning ship can realize the combination of continuous and intermittent work of recovery, thereby being energy-saving and high-efficient. Simultaneously, the device can change the amplitude up and down by hydraulic drive and fish floating objects in different water depths faster and more effectively.A satellite ship is designed for collaborative collection, thereby having better flexibility and high efficiency. The shoreside water surface floating objects and semi-floating objects are recovered and taken onto the ship by using a hydraulic rotary water spray gun to spray water.

A system and process for improving container flow within a port facility, including improved equipment and software for controlling operation and flow of the equipment in the part facility. The system may include a port facility geographically arranged to separate land operations and water operations. Land operations such as over-the-road missions and rail missions may use landside access areas positioned at one end of a yard including rows of container stacks. Water missions such as loading / discharging a vessel may use waterside access areas positioned at the opposite end of the yard. Automated cranes linked with a terminal operating system may pick / drop / shuffle containers and / or refrigerated containers (“reefers”) within the container stacks. Shuttle trucks may be used to pick / drop containers at quayside access points and the waterside access areas. The shuttle trucks may utilize shared wheelpaths. Software systems may be used to implement various principles of the invention.

A port storage and distribution system for facilitating the transfer and / or storage of international shipping containers between container ships and ground transport carriers wherein an overhead grid guide track structure is provide that permits overhead transfer units to selectively engage and convey containers as required between the various ships, carriers and storage area without requiring multiple transfers of containers between different handling equipment. The system provides for container scanning and is either fully automated or partially manually controlled.

An article comprises a flexible support layer having an exterior surface and an interior surface; and a silicone grip disposed on, conformable, and in contact with the exterior surface of the flexible support layer, wherein the silicone grip comprises: a cured silicone layer with a Shore A Durometer of less than or equal to about 60 and having an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface, wherein the silicone layer is formed from a curable silicone composition comprising a catalyst that promotes cure of the silicone composition, a higher molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, a lower molecular weight organopolysiloxane having at least two alkenyl groups per molecule, and an organopolysiloxane having at least two silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per molecule.

A foot strap and recreational sports board that allows the user to easily tension a foot strap over the top of his or her foot. The foot strap, attached to the board, includes a strap, a cable, and a cable adjuster. The strap has separate first and second sides connected by the cable cinched and uncinched together as the cable is tightened and loosened by the cable adjuster with which it is engaged. A single cable adjuster and cable can be employed to simultaneously adjust two straps, both attached to the sports board. A pull may be included to facilitate exercise of the cable adjuster.

The present invention provides a foot strap binding system for board sports such as water sports that allows the user to easily tension foot strap over the top of his or her foot. The foot strap adjustment device includes a strap hold-down member, a guided cable, and a reel to adjust the cable length. The hold-down member has a first side and a second side. The cable is secured to the first side and the second side of the hold-down member with guide members. The reel is secured to the tension member and to one of the sides of the hold-down member. Rotational movement of the reel selectively tightens or loosens the cable between the first and second sides of the hold-down member. Quick release of the tension on the cable is accomplished with a disengagement of the reel from a ratchet.

An automatic timing measurement system that provides a measure of time of passage of a watercraft through a prescribed course. Algorithms based on inertial or other estimates augmented by GPS speed / position measurements are used to track position of a watercraft. Said position estimates are used to allow the locations of prescribed courses to be mapped and memorized. Algorithms are then used to allow the apparatus to automatically detect passage of a watercraft through mapped courses for the purpose of measuring and reporting time of passage of said watercraft past key points in said course, and for modifying the behavior of the speed control portion of the apparatus if necessary at certain points in the mapped course. A measure of accuracy of driver steering can be provided along with the ability to automatically steer the watercraft through the course if “steer-by-wire” mechanism is available. GPS speed control is augmented with a secondary velocity measurement device that measures speed over water resulting in an optional user selectable real-time compensation for water current. Furthermore, GPS is used as the key input to produce boat speed-based pull-up profiles.

A camera mount is configured to attach a camera to a sports board. A camera is secured to the mount, which is secured to a sports board. The mount can secure to the sports board via an attachment device such as an embedded plug. The mount can be placed at the front or rear of the sports board. Furthermore, the mount can be configured to face either forwards or backwards to capture images and / or video from different viewpoints while participating in the board activity. Moreover, the mount includes a pivoting joint to allow a user to rotate the camera either upward or downward and then secure the camera at a fixed angle to capture images and / or video from different angles.

A system compensates for heave induced pressure fluctuations on a floating rig when a drill string or tubular is lifted off bottom and suspended on the rig, such as when tubular connections are made during MPD, tripping, or when a kick is circulated out during conventional drilling. In one embodiment, a liquid and a gas interface moves along a flow line between a riser and a gas accumulator as the tubular moves up and down. In another embodiment, a pressure relief valve or adjustable choke allows the movement of fluid from the riser when the tubular moves down, and a pump with a pressure regulator moves fluid to the riser when the tubular moves up. In other embodiments, a piston connected with the rig or the riser telescoping joint moves in a fluid container thereby communicating fluid either into or out of the riser annulus.

A sandwich beam including in one example first and second spaced walls, a core configured to maintain a predetermined spacing between the walls when the core is filled with pressurized gas and to resist shear when the beam is loaded in bending and a port for filling the core with gas biasing both walls in tension. The tension tends to increase in the second wall and decrease and cause a compression load in the first wall in response to a sufficiently large applied bending load. A compression element is fixed only with respect to the first wall and is configured (a) to support the compression load so that the beam is stronger at a given gas pressure and (b) to flex sufficiently to allow the beam to be rolled up when the gas is emptied from the core via the port.

A storage area is accessed by automated guided vehicles which receive and unload containerized loads. On the waterside, loads are exchanged between the vehicles and ships using quay cranes. On the ground transportation side, loads are exchanged between the vehicles and truck or rail carriers using semi automated or automated remote-controlled bridge cranes. Within the storage area, loads are exchanged between the vehicles and the storage facilities using automated stacking cranes. The vehicles are adapted to receive a cassette storage platform which in turn receives standard ISO containers. The vehicles also are adapted to receive one or more alternative platforms including a coning platform for workers to manage container coning, a reefer access and maintenance platform, and a worker transport platform.

A port storage and distribution system for facilitating the transfer and / or storage of international shipping containers between container ships and ground transport carriers wherein an overhead grid guide track structure is provide that permits overhead transfer units to selectively engage and convey containers as required between the various ships, carriers and storage area without requiring multiple transfers of containers between different handling equipment. The system provides for container scanning and is either fully automated or partially manually controlled.

The invention discloses a wave, wind and light comprehensive electricity generation ship on the sea in the technical field of development and utilization of ocean renewable energy sources. Floaters are installed on the two sides of a hull respectively, the floaters vibrate up and down under the action of waves, and wave energy is firstly translated into mechanical energy and then translated into high-pressure energy of hydraulic oil through a hydraulic transition system; a perpendicular shaft wind machine is installed on a deck of the hull, wind rotors rotate under the action of blown wind, and wind energy is firstly translated into mechanical energy and then translated into high-pressure energy of the hydraulic oil through the hydraulic transition system; the hydraulic oil carrying the high-pressure energy works through impacting a hydraulic motor and drives a direct driven electric generator to generate electricity; a photovoltaic cell square matrix is installed on the deck of the hull to absorb solar energy and translate the solar energy into electric energy. The wave, wind and light comprehensive electricity generation ship solves the problems that electricity generation with ocean energy resources is high in unit cost, poor in stability and the like, and greatly improves competitive power of the development and utilization of the ocean renewable energy sources due to the high flexibility of a system.

A transfer installation for piece goods, in particular for ISO containers, including a warehouse having individual linear storage modules, and including at least one loading installation which can be displaced transversely to the storage modules and is intended for land-going means of transport, between which a storage and retrieval unit assigned to each storage module operates. The loading installation includes at least two ground-level leading stations for means of transport, to each of which is assigned one intermediate buffer store which is arranged on the second level, located above the means of transport, and has at least one storage location from which the respective means of transport can be manually loaded / unloaded by means of an associated loading crane. The intermediate buffer stores are connected to one another via a transfer transporter and one of the intermediate buffer stores is connected to the warehouse via the storage and retrieval unit.

An amusement ride system and method are described. In some embodiments, an amusement ride system may be generally related to water amusement attractions and rides. Further, the disclosure generally relates to water-powered rides and to a system and method in which participants may be more involved in a water attraction. In some embodiments, an amusement ride system may include a rollable carrier. The rollable carrier may include an exterior rollable surface and an inner area. The inner area may include a participant container. In some embodiments, an amusement ride system may include a water path system. The water path system may function to substantially contain the rollable carrier such that the rollable carrier will remain in the water path system while rolling. In some embodiments, a rollable carrier may function to roll in a water path system while containing a participant in the participant container.

A crane apparatus installed on a pier, wharf, bulkhead wharf or other foundation directly transships containers from a vessel moored alongside the foundation to another transportation mode without ground placement of the containers. The crane apparatus includes a parent crane displaceable along the foundation for unloading containers from the vessel and placing them on a first platform of the parent crane, and a sibling crane displaceable along the foundation independently of displacement of the parent crane for loading containers from the first platform directly onto over-the-ground vehicles or onto another vessel moored alongside the foundation. The parent crane has a first trolley-hoist-spreader movable along an outreach boom for unloading containers from the vessel and placing them on either the first platform or a second platform of the parent crane, and a second trolley-hoist-spreader movable along a backreach boom for loading containers from the second platform onto another vessel or onto over-the-ground vehicles. A container security scanning system may be provided on the second platform for scanning the containers while on the second platform to determine whether one or more preselected chemical, biological, explosive or nuclear materials are present in the containers.

A method and system for transporting an offshore structure such as a wind turbine generator includes a supporting frame in which the offshore structure is assembled on land in an upright configuration. The frame is used for lifting the structure onto a transport vessel, on which it is retained in the upright configuration. At its location of use, the offshore structure is transferred to a pre-prepared foundation. The foundation is provided with a frame which cooperates with the supporting frame. The supporting frame includes a plurality of legs having hydraulically controlled feet. The frame of the foundation includes an equal number of supporting formations on which the feet ultimately rest. The feet are moveable in response to the hydraulic control along a nominally vertical line of action and provide a damping arrangement for the mounting of the offshore structure.

A watercraft includes an improved engine control system that enhances the responsiveness of the watercraft and eases watercraft operation. The watercraft includes a propulsion device, such as a jet propulsion unit, and an engine that powers the propulsion device. The engine control system is configured to maintain or increase engine speed under certain operating conditions.

A water skimmer vessel has two hulls (12, 14) between which a debris collection net or basket-like catcher (22) is arranged. Hinged flaps (68) are provided at each end of the catcher and operate to allow inflow but block outflow of debris from the catcher. Each hull of the vessel is equiped with amoter covered by a guard (28). The vessel may move in either direction and is equipped with sensors (30) on each hulll for effecting the turning and reversing of the vessel upon contact with pool skimmer box inlet (206) and the vessel can be controlled to enter the dock and permit the contents of the catcher to be discharged into the current of pool water flowing into the skimmer box.

The invention discloses a wave energy and solar energy driven unmanned monitoring ship for a marine environment, which comprises a ship body and an unmanned control system, wherein the ship body has a shape of rigid inflatable boat; the unmanned control system comprises a ground remote control system and a ship-loaded system which are coupled with each other through a wireless data link; the ground remote control system comprises a remote control computer, a wireless network bridge and corresponding top-layer application software; the ground remote control system is used for receiving, analyzing and displaying a ground remote control command and data; a serial port of the remote control computer is connected to the wireless network bridge; and the ship-loaded system comprises a navigationcontrol subsystem, a communication subsystem, a navigation information sensing and collecting subsystem, a wave energy and solar energy power generating and supplying subsystem and a data collecting subsystem. No diesel motor is required in the wave energy and solar energy driven unmanned monitoring ship, a wave energy generating system and a solar energy generating device of the ship are directly used for supplying power, the quality of output electric energy is stable and the electromagnetic compatibility is excellent, thereby ensuring the normal work of ship-loaded equipment under a complex marine environment.