US3826384A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cargo transferring vessel and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-08-07
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Granted: 1974-07-30
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Expires: 1992-08-07
Abstract
Abstract A cargo transferring vessel and method for transferring cargo between a small ship or lighter and a larger ship. The cargo transferring vessel is capable of being partially submerged to various depths to permit a large ship to float over the center portion of its hull and is then capable of increasing its buoyance to bring wheels of wheel assemblies on the center portion of its hull into contact with the hull of the larger ship to eliminate relative pitching, rolling and up and down movements between the larger ship and the cargo transferring vessel which might be caused by waves or rough water. A stabilizing apparatus is provided on the side of the hull of the cargo transferring vessel for exerting a downward force on the hull of the smaller ship for assisting in preventing relative movement between the smaller ship and the combined cargo handling vessel and the larger ship. The wheel assemblies are capable of conforming to the shape of the hull of the larger ship and they permit the cargo transferring vessel to be located at various positions along the hull of the larger ship. The cargo transferring vessel and method permit the transfer of cargo between a large and a small ship without the undesirable pitching, rolling and up and down movements between the large ship, the smaller ship and the cargo transferring vessel.
Inventors
- 👤 R Cecce
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:06
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B27/00; B63C; B63C1/00; B63C1/10; B65; B65G; B65G39/00; B65G39/02; B65G39/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship, means connected to said hull portion for contacting and variably conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, means operatively connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for exerting a downward force against said smaller ship which acts against the buoyancy of said smaller ship for preventing relative motion between said cargo handling vessel and said smaller ship, said force exerting means having a portion thereof extendable outward in the water from the hull of said cargo handling vessel at a level below the hull of said smaller ship as said smaller ship rides in the water and means located on the hull of said cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship, means connected to said hull portion for contacting and variably conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, means operatively connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for exerting a downward force against said smaller ship which acts against the buoyancy of said smaller ship for preventing relative motion between said cargo handling vessel and said smaller ship, said force exerting means having a portion thereof extendable outward in the water from the hull of said cargo handling vessel at a level below the hull of said smaller ship as said smaller ship rides in the water and means located on the hull of said cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising; a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship; means connected to said hull portion for contacting and variably conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship; and cargo transferring means for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships comprising two separated superstructures extending upward from said hull, at least one vertically movable post connected to each superstructure, at least one cross rail connected to the upper ends of said posts, and cargo hoisting means movably connected to said cross rail.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising; a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship; means connected to said hull portion for contacting and variably conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship; and cargo transferring means for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships comprising two separated superstructures extending upward from said hull, at least one vertically movable post connected to each superstructure, at least one cross rail connected to the upper ends of said posts, and cargo hoisting means movably connected to said cross rail.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cargo transferring vessel of claim 2 wherein said cross rail comprises two sections and wherein said two sections are pivotally connected to said posts.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
307 words
A method for transferring cargo between a larger ship and a smaller ship comprising the steps of providing a variably submersible vessel having cargo transferring equipment and means for contacting and variably conforming to a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, partially submerging said variably submersible vessel to a depth in the water at which said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship is located below the depth of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship as it rides in the water, positioning said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship underneath a portion of the bottom of said larger ship, raising the level of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to exert an upward pressure on the bottom of the hull of said larger ship without appreciably raising the hull of said larger ship, bringing said smaller ship into the vicinity of said variably submersible vessel, transferring cargo between said larger ship and said smaller ship through the use of said cargo transferring equipment, and adjusting the depth of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the hull of said larger ship to continue to contact and conform to the bottom of the hull of the larger ship and to exert an upward pressure thereon without tending to appreciably raise the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to compensate for changes in the depth of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship occurring as a result of the transfer of cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
307 words
A method for transferring cargo between a larger ship and a smaller ship comprising the steps of providing a variably submersible vessel having cargo transferring equipment and means for contacting and variably conforming to a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, partially submerging said variably submersible vessel to a depth in the water at which said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship is located below the depth of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship as it rides in the water, positioning said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship underneath a portion of the bottom of said larger ship, raising the level of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to exert an upward pressure on the bottom of the hull of said larger ship without appreciably raising the hull of said larger ship, bringing said smaller ship into the vicinity of said variably submersible vessel, transferring cargo between said larger ship and said smaller ship through the use of said cargo transferring equipment, and adjusting the depth of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the hull of said larger ship to continue to contact and conform to the bottom of the hull of the larger ship and to exert an upward pressure thereon without tending to appreciably raise the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to compensate for changes in the depth of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship occurring as a result of the transfer of cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the steps of providing means on said variably submersible vessel for contacting and variably conforming to the sides of the hull of said larger ship and bring said means for contacting and variably conforming to the sides of the hull of said larger ship into contact with the sides of the hull of said larger ship while raising the level of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to contact and variably conform to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for transferring cargo between a larger ship and a smaller ship comprising the steps of providing a variably submersible vessel having cargo transferring equipment and means having rotatable members for contacting and variably conforming to a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, partially submerging said variably submersible vessel to a depth in the water at which said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said laRger ship is located below the depth of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship as it rides in the water, positioning said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship underneath a portion of the bottom of said larger ship, raising the level of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to exert an upward pressure on the bottom of the hull of said larger ship without appreciably raising the hull of said larger ship, bringing said smaller ship into the vicinity of said variably submersible vessel, transferring cargo between said larger ship and said smaller ship through the use of said cargo transferring equipment, and changing the relative location of said variably submersible vessel and said larger ship while maintaining said rotatable members rotating in contact with a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
248 words
A method for transferring cargo between a larger ship and a smaller ship comprising the steps of providing a variably submersible vessel having cargo transferring equipment and means having rotatable members for contacting and variably conforming to a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, partially submerging said variably submersible vessel to a depth in the water at which said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said laRger ship is located below the depth of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship as it rides in the water, positioning said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship underneath a portion of the bottom of said larger ship, raising the level of said variably submersible vessel in the water to permit said means for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship to exert an upward pressure on the bottom of the hull of said larger ship without appreciably raising the hull of said larger ship, bringing said smaller ship into the vicinity of said variably submersible vessel, transferring cargo between said larger ship and said smaller ship through the use of said cargo transferring equipment, and changing the relative location of said variably submersible vessel and said larger ship while maintaining said rotatable members rotating in contact with a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of changing the relative location of said variably submersible vessel and said larger ship while maintaining said rotatable members in rotating contact with a portion of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship includes adjusting the depth of said variably submersible vessel to compensate for variations in the depth of portions of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship due to hull design.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship, means connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for contacting and conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship comprising at least one wheel assemlby having wheels for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, at least one motor operatively connected to one of the wheels of said wheel assembly for providing power to cause rotation of said wheel, and means located on the hull of said cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
132 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship, means connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for contacting and conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship comprising at least one wheel assemlby having wheels for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, at least one motor operatively connected to one of the wheels of said wheel assembly for providing power to cause rotation of said wheel, and means located on the hull of said cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship, means connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for contacting and variably conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship comprising at least one wheel assembly having wheels for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, means connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for contacting and variably conforming to the sides of the hull of said larger ship, and means located on the hull of said cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
134 words
A cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between a larger and a smaller ship comprising a variably submersible hull, said variably submersible hull having a portion thereof adapted to be submerged below the hull of said larger ship, means connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for contacting and variably conforming to the contours of the bottom of the hull of said larger ship comprising at least one wheel assembly having wheels for contacting and variably conforming to the bottom of the hull of said larger ship, means connected to the hull of said cargo handling vessel for contacting and variably conforming to the sides of the hull of said larger ship, and means located on the hull of said cargo handling vessel for transferring cargo between said larger and smaller ships.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |