Cradle assembly for boats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10065709-B2
Application number	US-201414895831-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 5, 2013
Publication date	Sep 4, 2018
Grant date	Sep 4, 2018

Abstract

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a cradle assembly for cradling a boat, the cradle assembly comprising: a support, comprising one or more support fenders; one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support; an arrestor located at one end of the support; an open-ended enclosure for a boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A boat comprising a cradle assembly, the boat being capable of cradling a smaller boat in the cradle assembly, the cradle assembly comprising:
a support, comprising one or more support fenders;
one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support;
an arrestor located at one end of the support, the arrestor including an adjuster for adjusting a resistance provided by the arrestor; and
an open-ended enclosure for the smaller boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor,
wherein the one or more enclosure fenders comprise an energy absorbing component configured to absorb impact when the smaller boat enters the enclosure, and
wherein the cradle assembly is configured to be located in a section of the boat, within which section a fluid level is controllable to at least one of
lower the smaller boat on to the support of the cradle assembly and
raise the smaller boat from the support.

2. The boat of claim 1 , wherein at least a part of one or more of the following is deformable or resiliently deformable:
the one or more support fenders;
the one or more enclosure fenders; and
the arrestor.

3. The boat of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support fenders and the enclosure fenders are at least one of controllably inflatable and controllably deflatable.

4. The boat of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support fenders and the enclosure fenders comprise cladding.

5. The boat of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the support fenders, the enclosure fenders, and any cladding thereof, comprise one or more of polychloroprene and chlorosulfonated polyethylene.

6. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the support fenders comprise one or more of a predominantly energy absorbing support fender and a predominantly load bearing support fender.

7. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the support fenders comprise a predominantly energy absorbing support fender and a predominantly load bearing support fender, the energy absorbing support fender covering the load bearing support fender.

8. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the arrestor comprises at least one of a net and one or more kinetic energy recovery elements.

9. The boat of claim 1 , wherein the support comprises first and second support sections, spaced apart from one another along a length of the support, and arranged to support fore and aft sections of the smaller boat.

10. The boat of claim 9 , wherein at least one of a position and orientation of one or more parts of the support is adjustable.

11. The boat of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the enclosure fenders are configured to remain in contact with the smaller boat when the smaller boat is located in the enclosure.

12. The boat of claim 1 , wherein one or more enclosure fenders are provided to form a guide to the open end of the enclosure.

13. A cradle assembly for cradling a first boat, the cradle assembly comprising:
a support, comprising one or more boat support fenders, wherein the support comprises first and second support sections, spaced apart from one another along a length of the support, and arranged to support fore and aft sections of the first boat;
one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support;
an arrestor located at one end of the support, wherein the arrestor comprises an adjuster for adjusting a resistance provided by the arrestor; and
an open-ended enclosure for the first boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more boat support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor;
wherein at least a part of one or more of the following is deformable or resiliently deformable:
the one or more boat support fenders;
the one or more enclosure fenders; and
the arrestor,

wherein the enclosure fenders comprise an energy absorbing component configured to absorb impact when the first boat enters the enclosure, and
wherein the cradle assembly is configured to be located in a section of a second boat, within which section a fluid level is controllable to at least one of
lower the first boat on to the support of the cradle assembly and
to raise the first boat from the support.

14. The cradle assembly of claim 13 , wherein:
at least one of the boat support fenders and the enclosure fenders are at least one of controllably inflatable and controllably deflatable; and
at least one of the boat support fenders and the enclosure fenders comprise cladding.

15. The cradle assembly of claim 13 , wherein the arrestor comprises at least one of a net and one or more kinetic energy recovery elements.

16. The cradle of claim 13 , wherein one or more enclosure fenders are provided to form a guide to the open end of the enclosure.

17. A boat comprising a cradle assembly, the boat being capable of cradling a smaller boat in the cradle assembly, the cradle assembly comprising:
a support, comprising one or more support fenders, the support including first and second support sections, spaced apart from one another along a length of the support, and arranged to support fore and aft sections of the smaller boat;
one or more enclosure fenders extending along opposite lengths of the support;
an arrestor located at one end of the support; and
an open-ended enclosure for the smaller boat being formed between the support, the one or more enclosure fenders and the arrestor, the one or more support fenders facing into the enclosure, and the open end of the open-ended enclosure being opposite the arrestor;
wherein the one or more enclosure fenders comprise an energy absorbing component configured to absorb impact when the smaller boat enters the enclosure, and
wherein the cradle assembly is configured to be located in a section of the boat, within which section a fluid level is controllable to at least one of
lower the first boat on to the support of the cradle assembly and
raise the first boat from the support.

18. The cradle assembly of claim 17 , wherein the arrestor includes at least one of a net and one or more kinetic energy recovery elements, the arrestor configured to arrest motion of the smaller boat when the smaller boat enters into or onto the cradle assembly.

Assignees

• Bae Systems Plc
• Bae System Plc

Inventors

• Goves Dean Michael

Classifications

• B63B27/36

  Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment} for floating cargo {(deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16) · CPC title

• B63B2059/025

  pneumatic, e.g. inflatable · CPC title

• B63B59/02

  Fenders integral with waterborne vessels or specially adapted therefor, {e.g. fenders forming part of the hull or incorporated in the hull}; Rubbing-strakes (fenders on coasts, in harbours or on other fixed marine structures E02B3/26) · CPC title

• B63B23/30 Primary

  Devices for guiding boats to water surface · CPC title

• B63B2019/086

  Stern ports, e.g. for ferries or Ro-Ro-vessels · CPC title