Machine for gripping, securing and handling underwater vehicles and the like
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine for gripping and handling an underwater vehicle provided with an extension projecting above a water surface, said machine being mounted on a ship and comprising:
- a turret mounted rotatably about a turret axis on a ship;
a crane mounted on said turret and provided with a pair of jibs pivotally connected with one another, one of said jibs being formed with a free end;
actuating means for displacing said jibs;
a guide extending along a guide axis and mounted on said free end of said one of said jibs;
a rod coaxial with and slidable in said guide, said rod being formed with a respective free end projecting axially toward a water surface from said guide;
an articulated member mounted rotatably about said guide axis on said free end of said rod, said articulate member swivelling about a swivel axis extending perpendicular to an axis of said guide and being axially fixed to said rod to move therewith axially;
a gripper mounted rigidly on said articulated member for engaging said extension of a vehicle to be handled;
retaining means on said gripper for retaining said extension of the vehicle to be handled upon gripping thereof by said gripper;
floating means mounted on said articulated member and riding in the water for supporting said gripper on the surface;
controlling means operatively connected with said rod and said guide for controlling a preset axial position of said rod relative to said guide; and
means on said jibs for maintaining said guide axis and said turret axis parallel to one another.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A machine for gripping and handling underwater vehicles and the like includes a gripping device provided with a guiding member made integral at its upper end, an articulated member connected with a rod sliding inside a guide attached to a free end of a jib of the crane and with floats capable of maintaining the guiding member raised above the water in a preset position of the rod relative to the guide controlled by a sensor imparting movement to the jibs of the crane in order to maintain the gripping device in vertical position relative to the ship.
71 Citations
9 Claims
-
1. A machine for gripping and handling an underwater vehicle provided with an extension projecting above a water surface, said machine being mounted on a ship and comprising:
-
a turret mounted rotatably about a turret axis on a ship; a crane mounted on said turret and provided with a pair of jibs pivotally connected with one another, one of said jibs being formed with a free end; actuating means for displacing said jibs; a guide extending along a guide axis and mounted on said free end of said one of said jibs; a rod coaxial with and slidable in said guide, said rod being formed with a respective free end projecting axially toward a water surface from said guide; an articulated member mounted rotatably about said guide axis on said free end of said rod, said articulate member swivelling about a swivel axis extending perpendicular to an axis of said guide and being axially fixed to said rod to move therewith axially; a gripper mounted rigidly on said articulated member for engaging said extension of a vehicle to be handled; retaining means on said gripper for retaining said extension of the vehicle to be handled upon gripping thereof by said gripper; floating means mounted on said articulated member and riding in the water for supporting said gripper on the surface; controlling means operatively connected with said rod and said guide for controlling a preset axial position of said rod relative to said guide; and means on said jibs for maintaining said guide axis and said turret axis parallel to one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
Specification