672results about "Vessel superstructures" patented technology

The invention relates to an aerodynamic profile element for energy production using traction force, in particular for driving watercraft. The invention further relates to a launch and retrieval arrangement for a profile element, and a drive arrangement for a watercraft including the profile element and the launch and retrieval arrangement.

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.

An apparatus and method for control of at least one of a plurality of semiautonomous marine vessels are provided. The system includes a control station with a communications system for network communication with marine vessels, and provides diagnostics and control for control and monitoring of the marine vessels, according to a mission plan.

A telescoping mast for supporting and raising a load may be telescopically extended by a zipper-action chain extension system further comprising a system for the management of one or more cables, such as power or communication cables traversing the length of the mast, and is capable of being locked into a rigid formation along a range of telescopic lengths.

An attractive wake tower assembly that can be readily pivotally mounted on powerboats of various constructions to enable the wake tower assembly to be pivoted from an upstanding to a lowered position. The wake tower assembly is of a high-strength, simple construction that does not interfere with the visibility of the boat operator. In one form of wake tower assembly, the windshield component and the wake tower component are of a novel unitary construction.

The aerial performance characteristics of a performer using a water sport implement such as a wakeboard, and being towed by a vessel while maintaining stability of the vessel includes a first relatively rigid vertical support fitted to one side of the, a second relatively rigid vertical support fitted structure to an opposing side, and a horizontal bridging portion extending between upper extremities of the first and second vertically extending supports, at a height substantially above a level of the operator station for the vessel. A tow rope is attached to the horizontally extending bridging portion for towing the performer from the horizontally extending bridging portion while operating the vessel in a body of water. By pivotally attaching the first and second supports to the respective sides of the vessel, they can be rotated downwardly so that the vessel may pass underneath a bridge or into a boat house.

Wakeboarding performance is improved using a vessel which is fitted with a skeletal towing frame having spaced supports attached on opposite sides of the vessel while coupling upper extremities of the supports with a horizontal bridging portion, to which a tow rope attachment point is fitted.

A vessel with moonpool capable of being used offshore comprising a monohull with moonpool; a multipurpose tower mounted on the vessel; an equipment handling system removably mounted on the vessel; a movable hatch installed on top of the moonpool; and a hoist system installed inside the vessel, as well as an improved multipurpose tower, a moveable hatch and modular features for the tower. The invention is also a moveable hatch and a multipurpose tower.

A submersible vessel having wing and keel assemblies that are extendable for wind-powered surface operation and retractable to reduce drag for submerged operation or to place the vessel in a more compact configuration. A deployment mechanism including an actuator and linkage pivots the wing and keel assemblies simultaneously between the deployed and retracted configuration. The vessel may have first and second pressure hulls flanking the wing and keel assemblies. A drive mechanism including a motor and a gear train employing pulley-and-cable assemblies rotates either the wing and flap together such that the flap angle relative to the wing is constant, or to change the flap angle relative to the wing with the wing angle of incidence held constant. The invention also provides a retractable wind-powered propulsion apparatus that is mountable to the hull assembly of a submersible or non-submersible vessel.

A fleet of autonomous sailing vessels that are equipped with monitoring and communication equipment for reporting environmental and other conditions. For optimal stability, the autonomous sailing vessels are multi-hulled vessels (catamarans) with self-righting capabilities. Each sailing vessel sends and receives information via one or more satellite links, using solar power to power the communications equipment as well as the monitoring equipment. Each sailing vessel includes an auto-sailtrim system to maintain a desired attack angle with the wind, and electric propulsion for use as required to maintain a desired heading. A modular design is used to support mission-specific payloads.

A multi-purpose boat tower comprising a unitary device with discrete and integral components including a rigid frame cage mounted to a portion of the deck and transom of a boat, a horizontal platform removably mounted to the top of the rigid frame, a plurality of foldable rack structures mounted to the rigid frame, a plurality of fishing rod holders mounted to the rigid frame and a rigid pylon structure mounted to the top of the rigid frame.

A support bracket and method for securing and supporting a superstructure for towing persons behind a vehicle such as a boat is disclosed. The support structure has an arcuate face with a length several times that of a tubular member of the superstructure so that the arcuate face provides support over a portion of the tubular member and so that the face mates with the tubular member. The bracket is removably attached and secured to the vehicle and to the superstructure so that it may be removed, or replaced without altering or damaging the superstructure, and so that weld seams are not used. The arcuate face and a second face of the support structure that secures to the boat are set an angle provides a properly erect angle to the superstructure when the bracket, boat, and superstructure are secured.

A variable-draft vessel. The variable-draft vessel including a center hull; a first side hull coupled to a first side of the center hull; a second side hull coupled to a second side of the center hull; and at least one cross support coupling the first and second side hulls, wherein the center hull is configured to be vertically translated with respect to the first and second side hulls.

An apparatus and method for use to raise and lower a sailboat mast are described. A channel (101) in a base (103) complements and is capable of receiving a guide (105) of a mast (107) that is slideably mounted inside the base (103). A gear (111) having a handle (113) is operably connected to a plurality of teeth (109) that run longitudinally down the length of guide (105). A bracket (115) attaches the gear (111) to the base (103). In an embodiment of the invention, a wheel (409) that is attached to bracket (413) engages a second guide (405) so as to support the mast (407) by acting to counter forces applied to and by the gear (111) during mast (407) raising and lowering.

As one non-limiting example, a foldable mast assembly for a sailing vessel is provided. The foldable mast assembly includes a lower mast section; an intermediate mast section having a lower end foldably coupled to an upper end of the lower mast section; an upper mast section having a lower end foldably coupled to an upper end of the intermediate mast section; and a boom coupled to the lower mast section. A locking device internal the mast assembly is also provided to inhibit folding of the mast assembly.

An automatic rising flag assembly includes a bracket connected to a water vessel and an elongated flagpole. The assembly further includes a mechanism connected to the water vessel and the bracket so that the flagpole can be pivoted and maintained between up and down positions. Such a mechanism includes a plurality of electrical contacts disposed at a ski handle and which send a signal to the mechanism while a skier has a grip around the electrical contacts. When a skier lets go of their grip, the signal is cancelled and causes the mechanism to release the flagpole upwardly for notifying others of the downed skier.

An arch assembly 10 for pivotably mounting on a boat 12, its method of manufacture, and deployment in use. The assembly 10 has an arch 14 with a generally inverted U-shaped configuration, a forward edge region 16 and an aft edge region 18, a laterally extending top portion 20 generally spanning the width of the boat 12 and a pair of downwardly extending leg portions 22, 24 for connection to the boat 12. Each leg portion 22, 24 has a lower basal edge 26, 28. A knuckle joint 30, 32 is provided adjacent to an edge region of the basal edge 26, 28 about which the arch assembly 10 may pivot from a secured upright position through intermediate positions 36 to an extended lower position 38 through a number (R) degrees of arcuate displacement. An anchoring subassembly 40, 41 provided adjacent to another region of the basal edge 26, 28 for releasably securing the arch assembly 10 to the boat 12. Means for influencing 42 pivotable movement 43 of the arch assembly 10 as it moves arcuately are also provided.

A crew boat for transporting personnel to and from an offshore platform is equipped with a passenger capsule and a basket-like cradle, which retains the passenger capsule adjacent a passenger deck during the voyage. The passenger capsule forms a watertight enclosure, which can serve as a life raft in emergency. The passenger capsule is equipped with its own automated heave compensation system, power supply, and stabilization means. The passenger capsule is equipped to be lifted and lowered onto the cradle using platform-mounted cranes.

An automatic outrigger securing assembly, for use on a fishing boat which has structural support members on the vessel. The securing assembly includes a coupler for releasably securing the outrigger in a fixed position, as well as a collar assembly for interfacing with the coupler. The coupler receives and locks the collar means in a select position, and also includes a release mechanism for the collar. When the outrigger is in a laydown or collapsed configuration, the securing assembly automatically receives and safely retains the outrigger in a desired position, and can also automatically release the outrigger.

A telescoping boat tower apparatus attachable atop a deck structure of a boat. The apparatus includes lower and upper frame assemblies each including spaced upright tubular supports, the lower frame assembly supports attachable at a lower end thereof to the deck. The tubular supports of the upper assembly are connected at an upper end to a standing platform positioned above a console of the boat. The upper frame assembly includes spaced upright elongated second tubular supports, which are connected at an upper end thereof to a body support rail and held in telescoping coaxial alignment and registry with corresponding first tubular members whereby the upper frame assembly is slidably movable vertically with respect to the lower frame assembly. An elongated sealed interior chamber defined between at least one pair of corresponding first and second tubular supports is connected to a source of pressurized fluid introducible into the chamber whereby the upper frame assembly is vertically movable with respect to the lower frame assembly.

An apparatus having a composite sea-based structure with a first carbon nanotube infused material and a second carbon nanotube infused material. The first and second carbon nanotube infused materials each having a range of carbon nanotube loading selected to provide different functionalities.

A method for reconfiguring the hull form of a reconfigurable variable-draft vessel having a side hull and a center hull. In a method in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, ballasting and de-ballasting operations assist in the vertical translation of the center hull relative to the side hull.

An application for a boat tower load relief system includes a boat tower support post connected to a receptacle for the boat tower support post by a hinge. The boat tower load relief system includes a torsion spring with a first end, a first winding, a central bend, a second winding and a second end. The central bend pushes on a boat tower support post section of the hinge and the first end and the second end of the torsion spring push on a support plate which is attached to the receptacle for the boat tower post.

The invention relates to a ship used retractable mast, and belongs to the ship construction. The prior mast with fixed height is unlikely to meet the requirements for ships navigating across three water systems of rivers, streams and seas. The retractable mast includes two identical retractable segment groups arranged in the same direction, two drivers respectively collocated to the two retractable segment groups and respectively positioned inside the two retractable segments in such a state that the two drivers can move on the drive-corresponding second mast segment in the vertical direction; a bridge connection body bonded with the tail mast segments is arranged between the two tail mast segments of the two retractable segment groups; and a vertical pole is connected with the bridge connection body. The two retractable segments can retract at the same time under the action of the drivers to lift the bridge connection body and the vertical pole, thus achieving retraction of the entire mast and adjusting the height of the mast to meet the requirement for ships navigating across three water systems of rivers, streams and seas.

The invention discloses a cross foldable automatic retracting and spreading wing type sail. A first fixed pulley is fixed at the upper end of a multi-section main mast, a second fixed pulley is fixed at the right end of a top frame cross rod, and a third fixed pulley is fixed at the right end of a bottom frame cross rod. The left ends of an upper spring telescopic rod and a lower spring telescopic rod are fixedly connected with one corresponding frame cross rod respectively, and the right ends are fixedly connected with one corresponding sliding block in snap grooves respectively. A first sail body fixing mast is arranged close to the right of the multi-section main mast, the upper end of a second sail body fixing mast is fixedly connected with a first sliding block at the top, and the lower end of the second sail body fixing mast is fixedly connected with a second sliding block at the bottom. One end of a first pulling cable is fixedly connected with the lower end of the inside of a base, and the other end is fixedly connected with the first sliding block. One end of a second pulling cable is fixedly connected with the upper end of the inside of the multi-section main mast, and the other end is fixedly connected with the second sliding block. By means of the sail, the sail is driven to be spread and retracted automatically by using hydraulic lifting rods as power, and accordingly, the wind energy utilization rate is improved.

Provided is a method of forming a thru-hole through a composite structure having a plurality of internal compartments. An insert ring is connected to the composite structure to create a protective layer around the periphery of a penetration formed within the composite structure. An adhesive is disposed between the composite structure and the insert ring to create a fluid-tight seal between the insert ring and the internal compartments. In this regard, the fluid-tight seal mitigates fluid flow between the internal compartments.