Autonomous swimming cargo containers

• US 20040237870A1
• Filed: 05/18/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aeplog, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Engineering & Planning Corporation, Inc.
• Inventors: Clarke, Robert A., Teppig, William M. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 114/259
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/006 for floating containers, barges or other floating cargo for transporting marine vessels B63B35/40
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/19 Other loading or unloading equipment involving an intermittent action, not provided in groups B63B27/04 - B63B27/18
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 27/36 Arrangement of ship-based loading or unloading equipment for floating cargo deployment or recovery of underwater vehicles using lifts of hoists B63B27/16
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/665 Floating propeller units, i.e. a motor and propeller unit mounted in a floating box outboard propulsion units B63H20/00
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/00 Outboard propulsion units, e.g. outboard motors or Z-drives; Arrangements thereof on vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 2025/028 using remote control means, e.g. wireless control; Equipment or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/02 Initiating means for steering , for slowing down, otherwise than by use of propulsive elements, or for dynamic anchoring
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/78 for use in or under water manholes, inspection openings, covers therefor B65D90/10

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus, method and system for delivery of commercial cargo containers shore side without container terminals. The present invention utilizes containers made autonomous by coupling a container with a detachable propulsion system, having a motor and navigation and steering controls, permitting the rapid, controlled, efficient and safe delivery of cargo containers individually by water. Ballast units, deployment systems and control via remote units are also disclosed. These improvements allow the containers, utilizing their inherent buoyancy, to approach a shore autonomously according to a preplanned or remote controlled route to a specific location and in a specific order of arrival, thereby reducing the number of cargo handlers required, speeding the delivery process to the shore, and eliminating the need for high-technology pier-side equipment. The present invention allows the transfer of cargo at primitive shore sites as well modem pier facilities, and expedites the delivery of such cargo wherever needed.

Claims

1. A transporter for moving a commercial container through water, comprising:

a propulsion system, comprising;

a connector apparatus for coupling the transporter to the commercial container;

a propulsion apparatus; and

a control apparatus operable for navigating the transporter.

2. The transporter of claim 1, wherein the control apparatus comprises:

a navigation module;

a propulsion control module; and

a communications module.

3. The transporter of claim 2, wherein the navigation module comprises at least one of the group of a satellite navigation unit, an inertial navigation unit, a directional beacon receiver, a radar, a sonar, and a processor and instructions operably responsive to at least one of position information and propulsion commands.

4. The transporter of claim 2, wherein the propulsion control module comprises at least one of a steering controller, an engine controller, and a processor and instructions operably configured for controlling the position of the transporter.

5. The transporter of claim 2, wherein the communications modules comprises at least one of a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, a wireline receiver, a wireline transmitter, and a processor and instructions operably configured for receiving at least one of external navigation information, cargo information, and transporter commands.

6. The transporter of claim 5, wherein the processor and instructions are further operably configured for sending at least one of transporter navigation information, container identification and contents information, and transporter sensor information.

7. The transporter of claim 2, wherein the propulsion apparatus comprises:

an engine; and

a steering apparatus.

8. The transporter of claim 7, wherein the engine comprises one of a diesel motor, a gas motor, an electric motor, and a hybrid motor, coupled to one of a jet nozzle, a propulsor, an impeller, and a propeller;

and wherein the steering apparatus comprises at least one of a steering vanes, a rudder, fins, and a thruster.

9. The transporter of claim 8, wherein the propulsion system further comprises a snorkel, a navigation light, a fuel tank and fueling port, at least one of a generator and a battery, an electronics access port, a scuttle unit, and a roller.

10. The transporter of claim 1, further comprising a ballast apparatus operable for coupling to an opposite end of the container from the propulsion system.

11. The transporter of claim 10, wherein the ballast apparatus comprises a buoyancy unit, a capture unit, and connectors operable for coupling the ballast apparatus to the container.

12. The transporter of claim 11, wherein the ballast apparatus further comprises a roller and a retrieval bracing coupled to the capture unit, wherein the buoyancy unit comprises one of an inflatable unit, a foam core, a fiberglass, and other fixed-shape unit, and the capture unit comprises one of a fixed or extendable ring, adapter unit, probe, and ball and socket member.

13. The transporter of claim 12, further comprising a retrieval apparatus comprising connectors operable for coupling to at least one of the container, and the propulsion system and ballast apparatus.

14. An autonomous container comprising the transporter of claim 1 coupled to the commercial container.

15. A lift unit for maritime transport of heavy equipment, comprising plural autonomous containers of claim 14 operably coupled together to transport the heavy equipment on the lift.

16. The platform of claim 15, further comprising a top platform apparatus coupled to a top of each autonomous container operable to provide a surface for moving the heavy equipment.

17. A maritime cargo system comprising plural autonomous containers of claim 13.

18. The maritime cargo system of claim 17, further comprising a deployment system including a ship, the ship comprising a deployment preparation apparatus and a launch apparatus.

19. The maritime cargo system of claim 18, wherein the deployment preparation apparatus comprises a data upload unit, a fueling unit, and a start unit operable for uploading one of container and navigation information to the transporter, fueling the transporter, and initiating start of the propulsion system;

and the launch apparatus comprises at least one of a crane, slide, chute, ramp or movable platform.

20. The maritime cargo system of claim 17, further comprising remote control units operable for sending and receiving information from the autonomous containers.

21. The maritime cargo system of claim 20, wherein the remote control units are one of maritime vessel, an airborne unit, a fixed or mobile terrestrial unit, and a space unit, each having a processor unit operably coupled to a communications unit;

and wherein the processor unit comprises instructions configured to perform at least one routine of tracking the movement of, controlling the propulsion system via the control apparatus of, requesting and receiving data from, and providing information to, each of plural of the autonomous containers.

22. The maritime cargo system of claim 17, wherein plural transporters are included as cargo of a commercial container.

23. A self-propelled container (SPC), comprising:

a commercial container;

a maritime transporter coupled to and operable for moving the commercial container through water.

24. The SPC of claim 23, the maritime transporter comprising a propulsion system, the propulsion system comprising a propulsion apparatus and a control apparatus operable for navigating the SPC.

25. The SPC of claim 24, wherein the control apparatus comprises a navigation module, a propulsion control module, and a communications module;

and the propulsion apparatus comprises an engine and a steering apparatus.

26. The SPC of claim 24, the maritime transporter further comprising a ballast apparatus operable for coupling to an opposite end of the container from the propulsion system.

27. The SPC of claim 26, wherein the ballast apparatus comprises a buoyancy unit, a capture unit, connectors operable for coupling the ballast apparatus to the container, a roller and a retrieval bracing coupled to the capture unit.

28. The SPC of claim 27, further comprising a retrieval apparatus comprising connectors operable for coupling to at least one of the container, the propulsion system and ballast apparatus.

29. A lift unit for maritime transport of heavy equipment, comprising plural SPCs of claim 23 operably coupled together to transport the heavy equipment on the lift.

30. A maritime cargo system comprising plural SPCs of claim 23, further comprising a deployment system including a ship, the ship comprising a deployment preparation apparatus and a launch apparatus.

31. The maritime cargo system of claim 30, further comprising remote control units operable for sending and receiving information from the autonomous containers.

32. The maritime cargo system of claim 30, wherein the remote control units are one of maritime vessel, an airborne unit, a fixed or mobile terrestrial unit, and a space unit, each having a processor unit operably coupled to a communications unit;

and wherein the processor unit comprises instructions configured to perform at least one routine of tracking the movement of, controlling the propulsion system via the control apparatus of, requesting and receiving data from, and providing information to, each of plural of the autonomous containers.

33. A method of moving cargo through water comprising:

navigating a self-propelled container (SPC) through water to a first destination using a controller of the SPC, the SPC comprising a commercial container and a maritime transporter coupled to and operable for moving the container.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of navigating is based on outputs from a positioning device on the SPC.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising the controller of the SPC communicating with a remote unit SPC data that is at least one of navigation information, container identification, and container contents data.

36. A method of logistics control of cargo transported by plural SPCs according to claim 35, comprising monitoring navigation information and container contents data for each SPC by a remote unit, and controlling the destination and time of arrival of each SPC by the remote unit.

37. The method of claim 33, the step of navigating comprising the SPC receiving data that is at least one of position information or a navigation command from an external device and adjusting a direction of travel of the SPC based on such data.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising first activating a propulsion unit and controller of the transporter including uploading navigation and container identification information, then launching the SPC from a container ship.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising adjusting a ballast unit of the SPC prior to arrival at a shore to maintain a leading end of the container higher than an opposite end.

40. A method of moving an SPC on land after transportation via water according to claim 33, comprising attaching a cable unit to a capture unit of a ballast unit of the SPC, the ballast unit and maritime transporter both having bottom rollers, and pulling the SPC.

41. A method of moving heavy equipment over water, comprising coupling plural SPCs together, loading the heavy equipment on the SPCs, and navigating each of the plural SPCs together according to claim 33.

42. A method of transporting plural transporters for use in moving SPCs according to claim 33, the method comprising packing the plural transporters in a single container.

43. A maritime cargo container delivery system, comprising:

a transporter that couples to a cargo container, the transporter comprising;

a propulsion system operable to drive the coupled transporter and container through the water, and

a controller operable for communications with remote units and controlling the travel of the container through the water.

44. The system of claim 43, the transporter further comprising a ballast unit coupled to the container opposite the propulsion system.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the controller further comprises a navigation processor operable for determining location and course based on information from one of satellite positioning system or an on-board guidance system.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the transporter is reusable independent of the container, further operable for additional deliveries after first decoupling the transporter from the original container and coupling with a new container with the same or different cargo.