摘要:
There is provided a method and apparatus for lowering and/or raising a load or structure to or from the bed of a body of water. The apparatus comprises a buoyancy apparatus configured to be coupled to a load, and having positive buoyancy sufficient to lift the load. At least one receptacle is provided on the apparatus for receiving a control weight lowered from a vessel to lower or raise the assembly. The lowering method includes forming an assembly from a buoyancy apparatus and a load and submerging the assembly to a position at a first height above the bed. In a preferred embodiment the assembly is submerged by a clump weight tow system. A control weight is deployed from a vessel to the assembly to overcome the positive buoyancy of the assembly and thereby lower the load from the first height to the bed. The raising method reverses the steps of the lowering method.
摘要:
The present invention's vehicle, suitable for being hoisted while carrying people between destinations, is compactable and de-compactable. As typically embodied, the vehicle includes a box-shaped open frame, plural chairs, and a shock-absorbent base. The frame includes a rectangular floor panel, a rectangular ceiling panel, and four posts connecting the floor and ceiling panels. Each post is foldable via a medial hinge to half its unfolded length, and is attached in a hinged manner at its opposite ends to respective corner portions of the floor panel and the ceiling panel. Each chair is mounted on the floor panel and can be folded down to a position adjacent to the top surface of the floor panel using hinges variously connecting chair components including a seat, a chair back, two side safety restraints, and a chair support. The shock-absorbent base is solid or inflatable and is attached beneath the floor panel.
摘要:
A marine vessel used for loading and offloading vehicles and cargo that has both excellent seakeeping and beaching properties. The vessel is provided with azimuthing or steerable thrusters below the waterline at the bow and stern of the ship, with the stern end thrusters being retractable into the hull during beaching operations. Because the vessel is beached nullstern firstnull the bow may be designed with better wave breaking and seakeeping features than are on prior landing craft designs.
摘要:
A marine loading/unloading system for barges, etc. including a floating transfer vessel of catamaran configuration into and through which strings and tiers of barges and large single barges, empty and loaded with liquid or solid bulk product, are moved and positioned for loading and unloading. The barges are moved and controlled externally by means of moorings on endless cables running to anchor barges situated at appropriate locations upstream and downstream of the transfer vessel; and controlled internally by wheel systems positioned on the internal vertical hulls which alternatively (FIGS. 7A vs. 7B) control the movement of the barges during vertical and horizontal, lateral or longitudinal movements. The bulk product, solid or liquid, is loaded and unloaded through hopper and tank systems in the horizontal, upper bridging hull or structure, from and into vessels or ships, and from and into pipelines and other vessels through processing equipment located in the transfer vessel. A lower, below the water-line bridging structure (FIG. 10) can be included for strength and greater buoyancy. For bulk products such as coal, grain, etc. an internal dust or loose particle collection and storage system (FIG. 8) may be used.
摘要:
A rotatable pontoon includes a floating cylinder provided with watertight compartments and having a hollow interior for receiving one or more vessels adapted to be overturned by rotation of the pontoon. Rotation is achieved by either external power or by successively displacing water from one compartment to another. An external platform attached to the pontoon maintains a normal upright position during rotation of the pontoon and serves to contain accessory equipment. Alternatively, this equipment is attached to a belt surrounding the pontoon and fastened to stationary flotation tanks. Floating roofs are included to allow operation during rainy days and for removing load fractions remaining after a vessel is overturned, pushing panels and helicoidal hatch-feeders are provided.
摘要:
A crane assembly mounted on a buoyant barge has a vertical column with a cross boom, the boom including outer extremities. A trolley is movably mounted on the boom, and has lift means for engagement with articles to be loaded and unloaded. A buoyant counterweight is attached to one of the extremities of the boom by a cable of fixed length, and the other extremity of the boom is secured to the loading and unloading site. The counterweight resists tilt moments on the boom responsive to movement of the weight of the lifted article along the boom, and overturn is prevented in other positions of the article weight by the attachment of the boom to the site.
摘要:
A method of distributing cargo for loading and discharging cargo spaces of unequal size based on information of the cargo volume to be loaded at each loading area and of its destination, or of an estimate of this factor which is gradually adjusted to actual values, consists in loading the same or a larger quantity of cargo in the largest cargo space or spaces as in any of the smaller cargo spaces, and placing during loading the portion of the cargo volume intended for each discharge berth in such a manner that the largest cargo spaces will contain the same or a larger quantity of cargo in this portion of the cargo volume than the smaller cargo spaces. If cargo is lacking to fill all the cargo spaces the loading is carried out in such a manner that the total cargo volume to be loaded in different cargo spaces is distributed among the cargo spaces having the nearest size, and loading and discharge is always carried out in the largest cargo spaces simultaneously with loading and discharging in one or more of the other cargo spaces.
摘要:
A system for handling the covers of floating barges during loading and unloading operations is disclosed. The system includes an overhead crane which travels the length of a crane support structure having side walls which straddle the path along which the barges move during loading and unloading. Additional features of the present invention include a barge puller assembly and a continuous barge fendering assembly.