Self-propelled vehicle system for use in transfer of materials

Claim 1

In a station-to-station supply system, the combination of: first and second stations at least one of which is unstable and subject to random movement during operation of the system to vary the distance between the stations, load line means extending between the stations, load line adjustment means at one station operable to maintain generally constant tension in said load line, a load carrying vehicle supported on said load line means and including a vehicle drive wheel in driving engagement with said load line means and a drive motor operatively connectable to the drive wheel, and control means for the vehicle, said control means including means for detecting movement of said line towards said one station, said detecting means being operatively connected to said motor to reduce the speed of approach of the vehicle to the station when said line is moving towards said station and said line adjustment means is retrieving cable.

Claim 13

An apparatus for conveying material from a supply ship to a receiving ship at sea, which ships are laterally spaced apart by a distance which due to the motion of the sea is subject to random variation, which comprises a cable extending between said ships, one end of said cable being fixedly secured to said receiving ship and the other end of said cable passing through sheave means and being connected to a winch through a ram tensioner mounted on said supply ship, which winch and ram tensioner are adapted to continually release or retrieve cable in accordance with a variation of said distance and thereby maintain a substantially constant tension in said cable, a self-propelled vehicle, including motor means and brake means, arranged to travel along said cable between said ships, said vehicle further including a drive wheel in driving engagement with said cable, means for actuating said motor means and brake means from said supply ship whereby to control the speed and direction of said vehicle along said cable, sensing means adapted to automatically stop said motor means and apply said brake means when said vehicle reaches each ship, a line direction sensing meaNs adapted to automatically reduce the speed of said motor on said vehicle approaching said supply ship during periods in which said winch and ram tensioner is retrieving cable and releasable latch means on the supply ship adapted to retain said vehicle for the loading thereof.

Claim 14

An apparatus for conveying material from a supply ship to a receiving ship at sea, which ships are laterally spaced apart by a distance which due to the motion of the sea is subject to random variation, which comprises a cable extending between said ships, one end of said cable being fixedly secured to said receiving ship and the other end of said cable passing through sheave means and being connected to a winch through a ram tensioner mounted on said supply ship, which winch and ram tensioner are adapted to continually release or retrieve cable in accordance with a variation of said distance and thereby maintain a substantially constant tension in said cable, a self-propelled vehicle, including motor means and brake means, arranged to travel along said cable between said ships, said vehicle further including a drive wheel in driving engagement with said cable, means for actuating said motor means and brake means from said supply ship whereby to control the speed and direction of said vehicle along said cable, sensing means adapted to automatically stop said motor means and apply said brake means when said vehicle reaches each ship, a line direction sensing meaNs adapted to automatically reduce the speed of said motor on said vehicle approaching said supply ship during periods in which said winch and ram tensioner is retrieving cable and releasable latch means on the supply ship adapted to retain said vehicle for the loading thereof.