US4630561A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ship having standardized access ways
Assignee: Blohm and Voss GmbH
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Filing: 1985-03-27
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Granted: 1986-12-23
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Expires: 2005-03-27
Abstract
Abstract On a ship, the longitudinal beams and the framework girders of different decks or of the inside bottom are arranged in identical vertical planes. In at least some of the rectangles defined by the longitudinal beams and the framework girders, there are access openings located vertically above one another. The openings in a vertical group are practically all the same size and aligned with one another vertically. Between corresponding junction points of the longitudinal beams and the framework girders above one another, vertical props running intercostally are located at the corners of each access opening. At least the third and subsequent access openings from the top are closed, preferably in a water-tight manner, by identically-sized removable access covers having at least two pieces each.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans-Joachim Franz
- 👤 Willy Schmidt
- 👤 Karl O. Sadler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:24
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B19/00; B63B19/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
372 words
In a ship having a plurality of vertically spaced decks and a ship bottom within a hull, said decks comprising an uppermost deck and lower decks, said hull having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, an assembly arrangement for equipment and apparatus, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal load bearing elements comprising a plurality of longitudinal members substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction and a plurality of transverse members transverse to said longitudinal members, substantially parallel to said transverse direction, said longitudinal members and said transverse members supporting said plurality of decks; at least a substantial portion of said longitudinal members defining a plurality of vertical longitudinal planes and being disposed in said longitudinal planes; at least a substantial portion of said transverse members defining a plurality of vertical transverse planes and being disposed in said transverse planes; said vertical planes forming substantially horizontal rectangles on each deck and said bottom; said horizontal load bearing elements being disposed such that at least some of said horizontal rectangles are disposed one above the other and aligned vertically; said horizontal rectangles being disposed one above another for forming a plurality of adjacent vertical groups of rectangles, having rectangles within each said group aligned vertically one above another; vertical access ways being disposed in at least some of sAid vertical groups of rectangles; each of said access ways comprising access openings in said uppermost deck and at least in some of said lower decks in each corresponding vertical group; an uppermost of said access openings of each said access way being at least as large as a lower one of said access openings in said corresponding access way in its corresponding vertical group; second deck access openings of said access openings being directly under an uppermost of said openings of each of said vertical access ways in its corresponding vertical group; said second deck access openings having means for receiving a water tight cover; and said uppermost of said access openings having a watertight load-bearing cover and an apparatus installed on said watertight cover, at least some of said lower deck access openings being provided with watertight load-bearing covers and including equipment bearing containers installed on at least some of said covers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
372 words
In a ship having a plurality of vertically spaced decks and a ship bottom within a hull, said decks comprising an uppermost deck and lower decks, said hull having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, an assembly arrangement for equipment and apparatus, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal load bearing elements comprising a plurality of longitudinal members substantially parallel to said longitudinal direction and a plurality of transverse members transverse to said longitudinal members, substantially parallel to said transverse direction, said longitudinal members and said transverse members supporting said plurality of decks; at least a substantial portion of said longitudinal members defining a plurality of vertical longitudinal planes and being disposed in said longitudinal planes; at least a substantial portion of said transverse members defining a plurality of vertical transverse planes and being disposed in said transverse planes; said vertical planes forming substantially horizontal rectangles on each deck and said bottom; said horizontal load bearing elements being disposed such that at least some of said horizontal rectangles are disposed one above the other and aligned vertically; said horizontal rectangles being disposed one above another for forming a plurality of adjacent vertical groups of rectangles, having rectangles within each said group aligned vertically one above another; vertical access ways being disposed in at least some of sAid vertical groups of rectangles; each of said access ways comprising access openings in said uppermost deck and at least in some of said lower decks in each corresponding vertical group; an uppermost of said access openings of each said access way being at least as large as a lower one of said access openings in said corresponding access way in its corresponding vertical group; second deck access openings of said access openings being directly under an uppermost of said openings of each of said vertical access ways in its corresponding vertical group; said second deck access openings having means for receiving a water tight cover; and said uppermost of said access openings having a watertight load-bearing cover and an apparatus installed on said watertight cover, at least some of said lower deck access openings being provided with watertight load-bearing covers and including equipment bearing containers installed on at least some of said covers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a water-tight cover comprises means for receiving a cover comprising at least one piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ship according to claim 2 wherein said means for receiving a cover being in at least one piece comprises means for receiving a cover being in at least two pieces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A ship according to claim 2 wherein said access openings on said uppermost deck have means for receiving one-piece covers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein said access openings on said uppermost deck have means for receiving one-piece covers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A ship according to claim 5 wherein decks lower than an uppermost deck of said lower decks have a shortened partial cover in a first portion and an adapted cover in a second portion in each corresponding access opening.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ship according to claim 6 wherein each said adapter has three sides for flush installation along in its access opening and on a fourth side a hatch beam for supporting one side of said partial cover.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A ship according to claim 6 wherein said partial cover and said adapter each have a short horizontal dimension, a ratio of said short dimensions being substantially 2 to 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein said ship has at least three decks and wherein said access openings of a group below its corresponding uppermost opening are of substantially equal size.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A ship according to claim 9 wherein access openings two decks below said uppermost deck have two-piece removable access covers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A ship according to claim 10 wherein said two-piece removable access covers are water-tight when installed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A ship according to claim 11 wherein said access openings on said uppermost deck have means for receiving one-piece covers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein said longitudinal members and said transverse members are joined at a plurality of junction means and further including a plurality of vertical columns each connecting said plurality of junction means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A ship according to claim 13 including shock absorbers disposed between said bottom and a portion of said vertical columns lying above said bottom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A ship according to claim 13 wherein at least some of said vertical columns are temporarily removable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A ship according to claim 13 including a plurality of bulkheads and wherein at least one vertical group being disposed between any two of said bulkheads.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A ship according to claim 16 including a bulwark and wherein said vertical columns comprise sole load bearing elements between said bulwark and said bulkheads.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ship according to claim 17 wherein said ship has at least three decks and wherein said access openings of a group below its corresponding uppermost opening are of substantially equal size.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein said uppermost access openings of each of said vertical groups being larger than its corresponding lower access openings whereby a cover from a lower access opening will pass through said uppermost access opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ship according to claim 19 wherein said apparatus comprises a naval deck unit, and wherein said uppermost access openings have upward projecting means for receiving a foundation for said naval deck unit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ship according to claim 20 wherein said access openings located in said lower decks each has an access opening having sides flush with and rigidly mounted to its corresponding deck.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ship according to claim 21 wherein said ship has at least three decks and wherein said access openings of a group below its corresponding uppermost opening are of substantially equal size.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein a portion of said access openings being disposed along a longitudinal axis of said ship are all of substantially equal dimensions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ship according to claim 23 wherein said ship has at least three decks and wherein said access openings of a group below its corresponding uppermost opening are of substantially equal size.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
A ship according to claim 1 wherein said decks have longitudinal and transverse reinforcements and covers with longitudinal and transverse reinforcements, all of said reinforcements of a deck and its covers lie in a plane, said longitudinal reinforcements of both said decks and said covers are substantially parallel, and said transverse reinforcements of both said decks and said covers are substantially parallel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
A ship according to claim 25 wherein said longitudinal and said transverse reinforcements intersect at intersection means and height adjusting means being disposed at said intersection means for vertical height adjustment of said intersection means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
A ship according to claim 26 including transporter rails disposed above said height adjusting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A ship according to claim 27 wherein said ship has at least three decks and wherein said access openings of a group below its corresponding uppermost opening are of substantially equal size.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
288 words
In combination, an assembly arrangement for equipment and apparatus in a ship having a plurality of vertically-spaced decks and a ship bottom with a hull which has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal longitudinal load-bearing members supporting each said deck, including a top deck; at least several of said plurality of longitudinal load-bearing members of each said deck lying in vertical planes in which lie correspondingly-located load-bearing members of other decks, so that each said deck contains a plurality of rectangles formed by said vertical planes; each of said plurality of decks including rectangles which have vertically-aligned corresponding rectangles in other decks; said vertically-aligned rectangles of said decks, at least at one location, including vertically-aligned access openings to form vertical shafts running from said top deck to at least a lower deck of said ship; said arrangement including vertical columns disposed bridging superjacent decks in an area of each of at least one of said access openings; an uppermost one of said access openings of at least one of said shafts being disposed on said top deck and having a watertight load-bearing cover on which is installed a naval deck unit; at least one of said access openings, which are located on decks other then said top deck, including watertight load-bearing covers which are flush with associated deck surfaces and which are provided with equipment-bearing containers disposed thereon; at least one of said vertical columns being provided with resilient means for shock absorption in a vertical direction; at least one of said vertical columes being temporarily removable; and an uppermost access opening of each said shaft being larger than other access openings which are below said uppermost access opening.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
288 words
In combination, an assembly arrangement for equipment and apparatus in a ship having a plurality of vertically-spaced decks and a ship bottom with a hull which has a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, said arrangement comprising: a plurality of substantially horizontal longitudinal load-bearing members supporting each said deck, including a top deck; at least several of said plurality of longitudinal load-bearing members of each said deck lying in vertical planes in which lie correspondingly-located load-bearing members of other decks, so that each said deck contains a plurality of rectangles formed by said vertical planes; each of said plurality of decks including rectangles which have vertically-aligned corresponding rectangles in other decks; said vertically-aligned rectangles of said decks, at least at one location, including vertically-aligned access openings to form vertical shafts running from said top deck to at least a lower deck of said ship; said arrangement including vertical columns disposed bridging superjacent decks in an area of each of at least one of said access openings; an uppermost one of said access openings of at least one of said shafts being disposed on said top deck and having a watertight load-bearing cover on which is installed a naval deck unit; at least one of said access openings, which are located on decks other then said top deck, including watertight load-bearing covers which are flush with associated deck surfaces and which are provided with equipment-bearing containers disposed thereon; at least one of said vertical columns being provided with resilient means for shock absorption in a vertical direction; at least one of said vertical columes being temporarily removable; and an uppermost access opening of each said shaft being larger than other access openings which are below said uppermost access opening.
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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) | 1989-12-22 | 1990-06-23 | 1990-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-22 | 1994-06-23 | 1994-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-22 | 1998-06-23 | 1998-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |