Apparatuses and methods for at-sea cargo handling and rescue
US6588359B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 3, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2001/044
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Apparatuses for handling cargo in a body of water incorporate a high floating slender pylon floating upright in the water. The pylon is maintained afloat by a submerged variable buoyancy chamber carried by the pylon between its ends. Ballast carried by the pylon below the buoyancy chamber creates a righting couple about the buoyancy chamber that maintains the upright orientation of the pylon in the water. In a method of handling cargo, the top of the upright pylon is drawn toward a surface vessel carrying cargo to be transferred using the pylon. Cargo placed on the upper end of the tilted pylon can be supported stably above the water surface when the pylon is allowed to return to an upright orientation. The cargo can then be transferred to another surface vessel by reversing the steps used to place the cargo on the pylon. Among other uses, the pylon can be deployed for rescue at sea.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.