Device and method for lifting a watercraft using a chain

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11235840-B2
Application number	US-201816764036-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 12, 2018
Priority date	Nov 23, 2017
Publication date	Feb 1, 2022
Grant date	Feb 1, 2022

Abstract

A recovery apparatus and a recovery method is disclosed for recovering a watercraft, in particular for recovering a boat on board a mother ship. A frame actuator pulls a frame of the recovery apparatus relative to a carrying structure from a recovering position into a parked position. A chain drive moves a chain relative to the frame along a closed curve. The chain comprises at least one driver. A watercraft to be recovered is connected temporarily to the chain and is pulled out of the water by the movement of the frame relative to the carrying structure and by the movement of the chain having the drivers relative to the frame.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A recovery apparatus for recovering at least one watercraft,
wherein the recovery apparatus comprises:
a carrying structure,
a frame held by the carrying structure,
an endless chain with a sequence of drivers, and
a chain drive,
wherein the frame is configured to carry a watercraft to be recovered,
wherein the chain is mechanically connected to the frame and is movable relative to the frame along a closed curve,
wherein the chain drive is configured to move the chain relative to the frame, and
wherein the recovery apparatus is configured to pull a watercraft that is floating on water and is temporarily connected to a driver of the chain out of the water and onto the frame by moving the chain,
wherein the recovery apparatus comprises a frame actuator,
wherein the frame is linearly movable relative to the carrying structure between a recovering position and a parked position,
wherein, when the frame is in the recovering position, the chain is located at least partially under water, and
wherein the frame actuator is configured to pull the frame together with the chain and a watercraft temporarily connected to the chain from the recovering position into the parked position.

2. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 , comprising a first endless chain and a further endless chain, which are each mechanically connected to the frame, each endless chain comprising a sequence of drivers, and each endless chain movable relative to the frame along a closed curve,
wherein the two closed curves are arranged parallel to one another,
wherein the first chain and the further chain—in the direction of movement of the frame into the parked position—are arranged alongside one another, and
wherein the chain drive is configured to move the first chain and the further chain relative to the frame.

3. The recovery apparatus of claim 2 wherein one driver of the first chain and one driver of the further chain—as seen in the direction of movement of the frame into the parked position—are arranged alongside one another at the same height.

4. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recovery apparatus comprises a holding apparatus that is movable relative to the frame between a holding position and a releasing position, wherein the holding apparatus in the holding position prevents a watercraft located on the frame from moving upward relative to the chain and wherein a distance between a watercraft on the frame and the holding apparatus arises in the releasing position.

5. The recovery apparatus of claim 4 wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least one actuator, which pushes a watercraft that is located on the frame downward toward the chain.

6. The recovery apparatus of claim 4 wherein the holding apparatus is mounted on the carrying structure or on the frame and is configured such that a watercraft to be recovered is permitted to move relative to the carrying structure and to the frame in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the frame into the parked position.

7. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the recovery apparatus comprises a ramp guide device, the ramp guide device configured to guide the frame in a movement relative to the carrying structure from the recovering position into the parked position.

8. The recovery apparatus of claim 7 wherein the ramp guide device comprises:
a plurality of running rollers, and
a rail,
wherein the running rollers are mounted on the rail.

9. The recovery apparatus of claim 8 wherein the rail of the ramp guide device is fastened to the carrying structure and the running rollers are fastened to the frame in a rotatable manner.

10. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises a horizontal platform located beneath a watercraft on the frame, wherein an upper segment of the chain is guided along a path above the horizontal platform and a lower segment is guided along a path beneath the horizontal platform.

11. The recovery apparatus of claim 10 wherein the recovery apparatus comprises a chain guide unit for the chain, wherein the chain guide unit is mounted on the frame and the upper segment and/or the lower segment of the chain is guided via the or a chain guide unit.

12. The recovery apparatus of claim 11 , comprising a plurality of chains, each of the plurality of chains comprising a chain guide unit.

13. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the recovery apparatus comprises a watercraft guide device that is mounted on the frame and is configured to guide a watercraft to be recovered along the frame.

14. The recovery apparatus of claim 13 wherein the frame—as seen in the direction of movement—has a U-shaped cross-sectional profile with two lateral carriers, wherein two elements of the watercraft guide device are mounted on the two lateral carriers.

15. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame in the parked position is located entirely above water.

16. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the frame is configured such that a watercraft located on the frame is located entirely above water when the frame is in the parked position.

17. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the extent of the frame in the direction of movement is less than the length of a watercraft to be recovered.

18. The recovery apparatus of claim 1 wherein the chain drive is configured to move the chain relative to the frame selectively in a first direction or in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the recovery apparatus is configured to pull a watercraft out of water by moving the frame out of the recovering position into the parked position and by moving the chain in the first direction, and to introduce the watercraft into water by moving the frame out of the parked position into the recovering position and by moving the chain in the second direction.

19. A system comprising the recovery apparatus of claim 1 , further, comprising:
a watercraft comprising at least one protrusion that is configured to engage the chain of the recovery apparatus,
to be contacted by a driver, and
as a result to temporarily connect the watercraft to the chain.

20. The arrangement as claimed in claim 19 wherein the watercraft comprises at least one further protrusion and the recovery apparatus comprises a further chain with a further sequence of drivers, wherein the protrusion and the further protrusion —as seen in the direction of movement of the frame into the parked position—are arranged alongside one another, and wherein the further protrusion is configured to engage in the further chain,
to be contacted by a further driver, and
as a result to temporarily connect the watercraft to the further chain.

21. A ship having a carrying structure and the recovery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrying structure of the ship is the carrying structure of the recovery apparatus.

22. A method of recovering at least one watercraft using a recovery apparatus having a carrying structure, a frame held by the carrying structure, an endless chain that is mechanically connected to the frame and comprises a sequence of drivers, and a chain drive, wherein the method comprises:
moving, with the chain drive, the chain relative to the frame along a closed curve,
connecting the watercraft floating on water temporarily to a driver of the chain,
pulling, with the recovery apparatus, the temporarily connected watercraft out of water and onto the frame by moving the chain, and
carrying

Assignees

• Thyssenkrupp Marine Sys Gmbh
• Thyssenkrupp Ag

Inventors

• Oesmann Hans
• Halfmann Sebastian
• Bues Ronja

Classifications

• B63B27/22 Primary

  of conveyers, e.g. of endless-belt or screw-type {(arrangements of devices with throwing action B63B27/26; arrangements of chutes B63B27/28)} · CPC title

• B63B23/30

  Devices for guiding boats to water surface · CPC title

• B63B27/36 Primary

  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

• B63B23/40 Primary

  Use of lowering or hoisting gear · CPC title

• B63B35/40

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