Open water transport system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10220916-B2
Application number	US-201715623152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Jun 14, 2017
Publication date	Mar 5, 2019
Grant date	Mar 5, 2019

Abstract

An open water transport system for payloads and a method for transporting payloads. The system includes two sponsons substantially parallel to the other. The sponsons are spaced apart from each other and extending in a forward direction. A deck plate module is detachably mounted on top of each sponson. A superstructure may be detachably mounted to the deck plate modules. The superstructure may bear a weight of one or more payloads. The carriage assembly couples to the payload(s). The carriage assembly has an adjustment mechanism that permits an operator to redistribute the weight of a payload. The open water transport system is towed by another vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An open water transport system, comprising:
a plurality of sponsons substantially parallel to each other;
a plurality of deck plate modules each deck plate module configured to be detachably mounted on top of each sponson;
at least one superstructure detachably mounted to the deck plate modules and configured to bear a weight of at least one payload;
a carriage assembly having an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the weight of the at least one payload to be redistributed, the carriage assembly being further configured to couple the open water transport system to the at least one payload; and
a clamp assembly including a half-arc that facilitates coupling such that the half-arc causes the clamp assembly to close when the clamp assembly contacts the at least one payload, wherein the contact comprises pushing the half-arc to overcome a force of internal torsion and compression springs that normally cause the clamp assembly to remain open,
wherein the open water transport system is configured to be under tow by another vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the clamp assembly is configured to engage an outer circumference of the at least one payload.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one superstructure comprises a first superstructure and a second superstructure.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cross brace detachably coupled to the at least one superstructure.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one superstructure is composed of metal tubing.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second story structure detachably mounted on top of the superstructure, wherein the second story structure is configured to bear a weight of at least one payload.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein each sponson is interchangeable with each other sponson, and each deck plate module is interchangeable with each other deck plate module.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein each sponson is inflatable.

9. A method for transporting a payload over open water, comprising the steps of:
providing an open water transport system that includes:
a plurality of sponsons substantially parallel to each other;
a plurality of deck plate modules, each deck plate module capable of being detachably coupled to each sponson;
at least one superstructure detachably coupled to the deck plate modules configured to bear a weight of one or more payloads;
a carriage assembly configured to slideably couple to the at least one superstructure to permit the weight of the one or more payloads to be redistributed; and
a clamp assembly including a half-arc that facilitates coupling such that the half-arc causes the clamp assembly to close when the clamp assembly contacts the one or more payloads, wherein the contact comprises pushing the half-arc to overcome a force of internal torsion and compression springs that normally cause the clamp assembly to remain open, and
towing the open water transport system with another vehicle from a first location to a second location.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one superstructure comprises a first superstructure and a second superstructure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the open water transport system further comprises a cross brace detachably coupled to the first superstructure and the second superstructure.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one superstructure is composed of metal tubing.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the open water transport system further comprises:
a second story structure configured to be detachably mounted on top of the at least one superstructure.

14. An open water transport system, comprising:
a first sponson substantially parallel to a second sponson, the first and second sponsons being spaced apart and extending in a forward direction;
a first deck plate module substantially parallel to a second deck plate module, the first and second deck plate modules being spaced apart and extending in the forward direction, wherein the deck plate modules are detachably mounted on top of the sponsons;
first and second superstructures composed of metal tubing and detachably coupled to the deck plate modules;
a cross brace that connects the first superstructure to the second superstructure,
wherein the cross brace and the superstructures are configured to bear a weight of one or more payloads that are attachable on top or on bottom of the superstructures; and
at least one carriage assembly that includes:
a clamp assembly including a half-arc that facilitates coupling such that the half-arc causes the clamp assembly to close when the clamp assembly contacts the one or more payloads, wherein the contact comprises pushing the half-arc to overcome a force of internal torsion and compression springs that normally cause the clamp assembly to remain open, and
an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the weight of the one or more payloads to be balanced,
wherein the at least one carriage assembly is configured to slideably couple to the superstructures,
wherein the open water transport system is configured to transport the one or more payloads and to be under tow by another vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a second story structure configured to be detachably mounted on top of the superstructures.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein each sponson is interchangeable with each other sponson, and each deck plate module is interchangeable with each other deck plate module.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein each sponson is inflatable.

Assignees

• Spawar Systems Ct Pacific
• Us Navy

Inventors

• Hooper Ralph D
• Chambers William A
• Gilchrist Jeffery T

Classifications

• B63B2035/405

  for carrying submarines · CPC title

• B63B2027/165

  Deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts or hoists · CPC title

• B63B35/40

  for transporting marine vessels {(load accommodation for floating barges and the like B63B25/006)} · CPC title

• B63G2008/005

  remotely controlled · CPC title

• B63B2211/02

  Oceanography · CPC title