Buffer systems for ships

Claim 2

A buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships having a plurality of mooring lines interconnecting said ships, comprising: A. means for spacing one of said ships from the other of said ships, said spacing means having I. at least one vertically oriented guide track positioned on the outside hull portion of one of said ships; II. a structural framework adapted to move vertically along said vertically oriented guide track; III. means for providing lateral stability of said spacing means, comprising a plurality of guide elements positioned on said framework, and coacting with said guide track; IV. means for vertically positioning said framework along said guide track; VI. a buffer element comprising: a. a bellcrank pivotably mounted on said framework; b. at least one soft-inflated tire, mounted on the outboard end of said bellcrank, for rotation in vertical plane, for rotating along said other ships hull as the relative vertical positions of said ships change in a rough sea.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 including a. impact-minimizing means, comprising a gas/fluid snubber mounted between the inboard end of said bellcrank, and said framework, for producing a long stroke absorption of the impact energy due to the relative sidewise motions of said ships in a rough sea, the impact forces caUsing the fluid of said snubber to flow through apertures, and compressing the gas of said snubber; b. minimized-rebound means for urging said tire outwardly toward the other ship for establishing a separation distance between said ships, said urging means comprising said gas/fluid snubber for causing said buffer element to have a triple action produced by one-sided tire compression, by snubber action, and by two-sided tire compression.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said inflatable tire is about 8 feet in diameter.

Claim 5

A buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships comprising: A. a first ship; B. a second ship; C. a plurality of mooring lines interconnecting said ships; D. means for spacing said first ship from said second ship, said spacing means having I. a plurality of sponsons affixed to the outside hull portion of one of said ships; II. set of vertically oriented guide tracks positioned on respective sponsons; III. a plurality of structural frameworks, respective frameworks positioned along respective sets of said vertically oriented guide tracks, each of said framework having a plurality of guide elements positioned to coact with respective guide tracks; IV. means for vertically positioning said frameworks along respective said guide tracks; VI. a buffer element positioned on each said framework, comprising: a. a bellcrank mounted on each said framework; b. at least one inflatable tire mounted on the outboard end of each of said bellcranks, for tire rotation in a vertical plane; c. means for urging said tires outwardly toward the other ship for establishing a separation distance between said ships, said urging means comprising an air-fluid snubber mounted between the inboard end of said bellcrank and said framework; d. minimized-rebound means for absorbing impact energy due to relative sidewise motion of said ships in a rough sea, said absorbing means comprising said air-fluid snubbers.

Claim 6

A buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships comprising: A. a first ship; B. a second ship; C. a plurality of mooring lines interconnecting said ships; D. means for spacing said first ship from said second ship, said spacing means having I. a plurality of sponsons affixed to the outside hull portion of one of said ships; II. set of vertically oriented guide tracks positioned on respective sponsons; III. a plurality of structural frameworks, respective frameworks positioned along respective sets of said vertically oriented guide tracks, each of said framework having a plurality of guide elements positioned to coact with respective guide tracks; IV. means for vertically positioning said frameworks along respective said guide tracks; VI. a buffer element positioned on each said framework, comprising: a. a bellcrank mounted on each said framework; b. at least one inflatable tire mounted on the outboard end of each of said bellcranks, for tire rotation in a vertical plane; c. means for urging said tires outwardly toward the other ship for establishing a separation distance between said ships, said urging means comprising an air-fluid snubber mounted between the inboard end of said bellcrank and said framework; d. minimized-rebound means for absorbing impact energy due to relative sidewise motion of said ships in a rough sea, said absorbing means comprising said air-fluid snubbers.

Claim 7

In a buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships having a plurality of mooring lines interconnecting said ships, and having at least one vertically oriented guide track positioned on the outside hull portion of one of said ships, the combination comprising: carriage means, movably mounted on the track, for movement therealong, said carriage including a portion extending along the track; a bellcrank pivoted to the carriage means, said bellcrank having a first arm and a second arm fixed to and angulated from the first arm; a resilient bumper mounted on the end of said first arm of said bellcrank; and a shock absorber, having one end pivotally connected to the end of said second arm of said bellcrank, and having its other end pivotally connected to said carriage means, said shock absorber being at a position substantially displaced from the pivotal connection between the bellcrank and carriage means.

Claim 8

In a buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships having a plurality of mooring lines interconnecting said ships, and having at least one vertically oriented guide track positioned on the outside hull portion of one of said ships, the combination comprising: carriage means, movably mounted on the track, for movement therealong, said carriage including a portion extending along the track; a bellcrank pivoted to the carriage means, said bellcrank having a first arm and a second arm fixed to and angulated from the first arm; a resilient bumper mounted on the end of said first arm of said bellcrank; and a shock absorber, having one end pivotally connected to the end of said second arm of said bellcrank, and having its other end pivotally connected to said carriage means, said shock absorber being at a position substantially displaced from the pivotal connection between the bellcrank and carriage means.

Claim 9

A buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships having a plurality of mooring lines connecting said ships, comprising: A. means for spacing one of said ships from the other of said ships, said spacing means having I. a sponson affixed to the outside hull portion of one of said ships; II. a set of vertically oriented guide tracks positioned on said sponson; III. carriage means, comprising a first and a second guide element, movably mounted on said track for movement along said track, said carriage means comprising a first bracket and a second bracket; IV. a bellcrank, having a first arm and a second arm fixed to and angulated from the first arm, pivotally mounted by means of a bellcrank axle on one of said brackets; V. a resilient bumper mounted on the end of said first arm of said bellcrank, said resilient bumper comprising an inflatable tire mounted for rotation in a vertical plane for rotating along other ships'' hull as the relative vertical positions of said ships chaNge in a rough sea; VI. a pair of secondary struts positioned between the end of said first arm and respective ends of said bellcrank axle; VII. a guide element positioned between respective ends of said bellcrank axle and said sponson for providing lateral stability; VIII. a pair of tertiary struts positioned between respective ends of said bellcrank axle and said carriage means; IX. impact-minimizing means, comprising a shock absorber having one end pivotally connected to said second arm of said bellcrank, and having its other end pivotally connected to said second bracket, said second bracket and said shock absorber being at a position substantially within said sponson; and X. motor means for vertically positioning said carriage means along said guide.

Claim 10

A buffer system for rough sea alongside mooring of two ships having a plurality of mooring lines connecting said ships, comprising: A. means for spacing one of said ships from the other of said ships, said spacing means having I. a sponson affixed to the outside hull portion of one of said ships; II. a set of vertically oriented guide tracks positioned on said sponson; III. carriage means, comprising a first and a second guide element, movably mounted on said track for movement along said track, said carriage means comprising a first bracket and a second bracket; IV. a bellcrank, having a first arm and a second arm fixed to and angulated from the first arm, pivotally mounted by means of a bellcrank axle on one of said brackets; V. a resilient bumper mounted on the end of said first arm of said bellcrank, said resilient bumper comprising an inflatable tire mounted for rotation in a vertical plane for rotating along other ships'' hull as the relative vertical positions of said ships chaNge in a rough sea; VI. a pair of secondary struts positioned between the end of said first arm and respective ends of said bellcrank axle; VII. a guide element positioned between respective ends of said bellcrank axle and said sponson for providing lateral stability; VIII. a pair of tertiary struts positioned between respective ends of said bellcrank axle and said carriage means; IX. impact-minimizing means, comprising a shock absorber having one end pivotally connected to said second arm of said bellcrank, and having its other end pivotally connected to said second bracket, said second bracket and said shock absorber being at a position substantially within said sponson; and X. motor means for vertically positioning said carriage means along said guide.