U.S. patent application number 13/514603 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-20 for universal refloating and launching system and method of operation.
This patent application is currently assigned to URBANIZACION LA QUINTA- Bicararera 15, vivienda 39. Invention is credited to Cesar del Campo y Ruiz de Almodovar.
Application Number | 20120321387 13/514603 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44123100 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120321387 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
del Campo y Ruiz de Almodovar;
Cesar |
December 20, 2012 |
UNIVERSAL REFLOATING AND LAUNCHING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF
OPERATION
Abstract
Universal refloating and launching system and method comprising
one or several platforms on which the load desired to be immersed
or extracted from the sea will be placed. For introducing a load in
water, the platform has to be fixed to the dock, through a system
that allows it to move up and down in height, then fixing it to the
bottom, through pillars and piles, and finally placing the load
thereon. With the load placed, the platform is lowered so that the
load is slightly immersed and may float. If the aim is to extract a
load from the water, the operations will be reversed: starting with
the immersed platform, the load is placed above and then the
platform is lifted, so that the load can be moved to the dock.
Inventors: |
del Campo y Ruiz de Almodovar;
Cesar; (El Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz), ES) |
Assignee: |
URBANIZACION LA QUINTA- Bicararera
15, vivienda 39
Tenerife- Islas Canarias
ES
|
Family ID: |
44123100 |
Appl. No.: |
13/514603 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
December 10, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/ES10/00503 |
371 Date: |
August 24, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63C 3/06 20130101; E02C
5/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/1 |
International
Class: |
B63C 3/00 20060101
B63C003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 11, 2009 |
ES |
P200902310 |
Claims
1. Universal refloating and launching system characterized in that
it comprises one or several platforms for supporting the load
having the capacity of being lifted or immersed in water through a
vertical guides system (7) connecting the platform to the dock and
to telescopic pillars (2) serving as support on the bottom.
2. Universal refloating and launching system according to claim 1,
characterized in that the vertical guides (7) are screwed to the
dock in a direction perpendicular to the water surface, and are
composed of two U-section rails between which a cylinder having the
ends of larger diameter than the center rod is fitted, so that said
ends are those engaging the U-shaped guides and sliding along them,
being able of moving up and down.
3. Universal refloating and launching system according to claim 2,
characterized in that an axis connecting the support platform to
the dock is articulated at the center of the cylinder by a ball
joint or equivalent joint.
4. Universal refloating and launching system according to claim 1,
characterized in that each support platform comprises a load beam
of box type (3) stiffened with an internal structure (5), sliding
rails (6) being located at the top of the beam (3) so that the load
to be refloated slides along them until placing in the required
place.
5. Universal refloating and launching system according to claim 4,
characterized in that each beam (3) has a series of supports of the
pillar telescopic type (2) base of which is formed by a plate
so-called support plate (1) having a series of drill-holes,
so-called auxiliary pilot tubes (4) matching with many other
through drill-holes or auxiliary tubes (4) that the beam (3) has
around the pillar.
6. Method of operation of the universal refloating and launching
system according to that described in preceding claims comprising
the following steps: Previous and built designing the appropriate
platforms, in terms of the intended use. Then the vertical
displacement guides of each platform are fixed to the dock edge.
For this purposes, two U-shaped guides are screwed, with steel and
epoxy raw plugs, perpendicular to the water surface, at the dock,
and through which a cylinder (with the ends of larger diameter)
sliding along the guides, moving up and down, is introduced. In the
center of the cylinder an axis connecting the support platform with
the guides (7) and, consequently, with the dock is held by a joint.
Once the support platform is fixed to dock, water is introduced
through valves into the pillars (2), which by being telescopic,
will be unfolding and moving down until the support plate (1),
which is in their base, rests on the bottom. If this were not
enough consistent, piles would be driven and injected to the
required depth in the seabed and coronation of which will be at the
level of support plate, for this purpose through tubes (4)
specially designed for this end would be used on the platform. At
this time the structure is already fixed and guided to the dock and
supported on piles or on the bottom, then, seawater is injected
until leveling the platform with the dock. The load desired to be
refloated is moved on the platforms, using specially arranged
support roads. With the load placed, the platform is lowered, by
simply opening the valves retaining the water inside the pillars
(2). Then the valves of the ballast tanks of the launching
platform, which aim to keep it immersed under the load floating
level are opened, so that said load loses contact with the
platform, starts floating and can be towed. Once the load has been
refloated, the water is completely taken out from the pillars (2)
using a pump. Support platforms can remain afloat, joined to the
dock and with the telescopic pillars (2) lifted.
7. Method of operation of the universal refloating and launching
system according to claim 6 characterized in that if the pillars
(2) will be extended over a long period of time these are protected
with some type of sheath in order to avoid their deterioration.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The technical field wherein the invention belongs is that
corresponding to different systems for refloating and launching
ships or platforms, either in sea or inland waters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Currently, there are four main systems for launching and
hoisting different types of ships or floating platforms. [0003]
Slipway: it is the more primitive system, currently used for
smaller ships of small burden. It consists of an inclined plane on
which the object to be immersed or lifted is moved. [0004] Dry
dock: it is a lock wherein the ship is introduced, and once closed
the water is pumped from inside until placing the boat on a bed or
keel block. [0005] Floating dock: This is a naval appliance that by
flooding tanks, it sinks the structure allowing the boat to be
repaired or built to pass through. Once in place, these tanks get
smaller causing the elevation of the assembly, thus achieving the
put into dry dock. [0006] Sincrolift: it is a system of articulated
beams or winches having mechanical hooks at their ends. The
assembly can be synchronously operated generating a lifting
platform for large burden. [0007] There is another system that only
serves for launching ships or floating appliances, which is the
slip that is nothing more than an inclined plane on which the ship
or appliance to be refloated is built on lubricated skids.
[0008] All these systems are expensive and not very flexible or
versatile and above all there are few facilities, whereby
refloating ships and appliances of new construction or repairing or
performing maintenance woks on those existing, must necessarily be
therein wherein there are long distances towards the final
installation site or from the usual workplaces. An economical and
simple installation that can be installed on any existing dock
extraordinarily eases the performing the reparation or maintenance
works on resident or operating fleet around, and manufacturing
production platforms and floating appliances of any kind around the
installation site.
[0009] Therefore, the present invention is intended for describing
a refloating device that allows refloating or launching to the
water any structure or boat, regardless of size or weight thereof,
nor the type of soil of the location, and which would be done in an
economically viable manner.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The launching system object of the present invention
provides a fully flexible and multi-purpose system.
[0011] This system comprises one or several platforms on which the
load (boat, platform or floating structure . . . ) desired to be
immersed or removed from the sea will be supported. If it is a
large size or weight cargo, two or more platforms may be installed
in parallel and with sufficient length for said load. On the other
hand, for example if a small boat is desired to be launched, a
single platform not too long would be enough.
[0012] In order to introduce a load into the water, the platform
has to be fixed to the dock at the first place, through a system
that allows it to be lifted and lowered in height, and comprises
vertical slide guides fixed to the edge thereof.
[0013] Then the platform is supported on the bed, through
telescopic pillars. If the bottom of the dock is sludge or a
material with little load capacity, the system has tubes for
driving and automatically inserting the piles, on which the base of
each column of telescopic tubes will be supported in the future
ensuring the load capacity and eliminating uneven settlements.
Platform is supported on the ground on piles previously executed,
by simply injecting water into the cylinders making up the set for
telescopic supporting on the ground. Under pressure water is
continuously injected until the pillars move down and the platform
moves up until leveling the dock.
[0014] Once the platform(s) are leveled with the dock, the load is
put on them with a load transfer system.
[0015] With the load placed, the platform is lowered, by simply
opening the valves retaining the water inside the cylinders. Then
the valves of the ballast tanks of the launching platform are
opened, which aim to keep it immersed under the load floating
level, so that said load loses contact with the platform, starts
floating and is capable of being towed.
[0016] If the aim is to extract a load from water, the operations
will be reversed: starting with the immersed platform, the load is
placed above and then the platform is lifted, first by emptying the
ballast tanks and then by injecting water under pressure inside the
telescopic hydraulic cylinders, until leveling it with dock and the
load can be transferred to land through the previously installed
load transfer system.
[0017] In the detailed description the structural details of the
claimed invention are described in detail.
[0018] Addressing the problems mentioned in the previous section,
the solution that has been developed and which protection is
requested has the following advantages over that existing in the
state of art: [0019] Multi-purpose: since it serves for all types
of loads, regardless of weight or size. [0020] Easy to be mounted
and demounted. [0021] Reusable and transferable to another port
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0022] In order to complete the description being made and for
helping to a better understanding of the features of the invention,
a set of drawings is accompanied, wherein with an illustrative and
nit limitative manner, the following has been representative:
[0023] FIG. 1: Perspective of the refloating system with two
support platforms.
[0024] FIG. 2: Elevation of the refloating system.
[0025] FIG. 3: Plant of the refloating system.
[0026] FIG. 4: Details of the connection to the dock of the
refloating system.
[0027] FIG. 5: Platform with two rows of support pillars.
[0028] A list of references used in the figures is provided bellow:
[0029] (1) Support plate [0030] (2) Telescopic pillars [0031] (3)
Load beam [0032] (4) Auxiliary pilot tubes [0033] (5) Internal
structure [0034] (6) Sliding rails [0035] (7) Guides in the
dock
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] In order to achieve a better understanding of the invention
the claimed refloating and launching system is now described based
on the presented figures.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, the system consists of one or several
support platforms (two shown in the figure) of the length that is
required depending on the size of the load. On these support
platforms the load desired to be set afloat will be placed. For
larger loads, platforms can have two or more rows of telescopic
pillars, such as shown in FIG. 5.
[0038] These support platforms are fixed to the dock through
vertical guides (7) screwed in a direction perpendicular to the
water surface. Guides (7) are composed of two U-section rails
between which a cylinder having the ends of larger in diameter than
the center bar (i.e., dumbbell-shaped) is fitted. The objective
pursued when the cylinder is thus designed is that those wider ends
be those engaging the U-shaped guides and sliding along them, being
able of moving up and down. In the center of the cylinder an axis
that will connect the support platform to the dock is articulated
by a ball-joint or equivalent joint. The fact that said axis is
connected by a joint, gives the support platform one degree of
freedom, so that the movement thereof has a game letting it
slightly oscillates from up to down.
[0039] Moreover the support platform may go up and down, as will be
explained later, to any height desired by sliding along the guides
(7) fixed to the dock.
[0040] Each support platform comprises a load beam of the box type
(3) stiffened with an internal structure (5). At the top of the
beam (3) sliding rails (6) are located, which will allow the load
to be refloated slides along them until placing at the required
location.
[0041] Each beam (3) has a series of supports of the telescopic
pillar type (2) base of which is formed by a plate so-called
support plate (1).
[0042] This support plate (1) has a series of drill-holes (in FIG.
3 four are shown) so-called auxiliary pilot tubes (4) that are
matched with as many through drill-holes or auxiliary tubes (4)
that the beam (3) has around the pillar.
[0043] The objective of said auxiliary tubes (4) is to introduce
through them, from the beam (3), some piles for being driven and
inject into the bottom to the depth needed to create a firm base
for the plate support of the structure when working, preventing
differential settlements regardless of the type of ground.
[0044] Now what would be the method of operation of the device in
case introducing a boat, platform or any kind of structure in the
sea is explained. The method comprises the following steps: [0045]
For any installation, the appropriate platforms have been
previously designed and built, depending on their intended use: if
they are to repair and maintenance the operative fleet around its
characteristics and whether these are for manufacturing platforms
or appliance, depending on their weights and dimensions. [0046]
Then the vertical displacement guides of each platform are fixed to
the dock edge. For this purposes, two U-shaped guides are screwed,
with steel and epoxy raw plugs, perpendicular to the water surface,
at the dock and through which a cylinder (with the ends of larger
diameter) sliding along the guides, moving up and down is
introduced. [0047] In the center of the cylinder an axis connecting
the support platform with the guides (7) and, consequently, with
the dock is held by a joint. [0048] Once the support platform is
fixed to dock, water is introduced through valves into the pillars
(2), which by being telescopic, will be unfolding and moving down
until the support plate (1), which is in their base, rests on the
bottom. If this were not enough consistent, piles would be driven
and injected to the required depth in the seabed and coronation of
which will be at the level of support plate, for this purpose
through tubes (4) specially designed for this end would be used on
the platform. [0049] At this time the structure is already fixed
and guided to the dock and supported on piles or on the bottom,
then, seawater is injected until leveling the platform with the
dock. The roads previously installed on the dock and platform will
be perfectly aligned and at the same level. [0050] The load desired
to be refloated is moved on the platforms, using specially arranged
support roads. The placement is done very quickly and easily by
using a sliding system based on rolling (6), which is installed
along the load beam (3). [0051] With the load placed, the platform
is lowered, by simply opening the valves retaining the water inside
the pillars (2). Then the valves of the ballast tanks of the
launching platform, which aim to keep it immersed under the load
floating level are opened, so that said load loses contact with the
platform, starts floating and can be towed. [0052] Once the load
has been refloated, the water is completely taken out the pillars
(2) using a pump.
[0053] Support platforms can remain afloat, joined to the dock and
with the telescopic pillars (2) lifted. The fact that the axis
connecting to the dock allows an up and down game because of the
joint, is designed for this position, wherein the support platform
floats on the water surface and can oscillate with the waves.
[0054] The pillars folded with some sort of sheath to prevent their
damage can be protected, if they are to be extended over a long
period of time.
[0055] With this the method for refloating any type of facility or
boat at sea is detailed.
[0056] If the aim is to extract a load from the sea, operations
would be the same but starting with the pillars (2) and the
platform immersed in water, so that the load can put thereon, once
the load is supported, the pillars (2) are filled with water using
valves, so that the support platform rises to the desired level and
it is removed from the water thought the load sliding system
(6).
[0057] As you can see, this system is completely valid for
refloating or extracting any type of boat or structure, regardless
of its sizes, since only the number of support platforms, the
number of telescopic pillars, which as mentioned can have two,
three or even more rows of telescopic pillars parallel or spaced,
or the diameter of the pillars have to be varied in order to adapt
to the type of load desired to be immersed or extracted from the
water.
* * * * *