Rapidly deployed pier
First Claim
1. A floating pier comprising:
- a floating pierhead structure adapted to be floated on a body of water adjacent a shoreline, said floating pierhead structure having a generally semicircular shaped bow, said generally semicircular shaped bow having a semicircular shaped rail mounted on the top portion of said semicircular shaped bow;
an elevated approachway having one end thereof connected to said shoreline and an opposite end thereof connected to said floating pierhead structure;
said elevated approachway including a plurality of identical two lane wide roadway spans, a traffic bypass span and a gap closing span;
said traffic bypass span being positioned approximately at a midpoint of said elevated approachway;
said gap closing span being adapted to connect a portion of said elevated approachway extending from said shoreline to another portion of said elevated approachway extending from said floating pierhead structure when installation of said elevated approachway is complete;
a bridge span having one end fixedly connected to said elevated approachway and an opposite end riding on the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow;
said bridge span having a winch assembly communicating with the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow, said winch assembly operating as a drive source to facilitate rotational movement of said floating pierhead structure through a predetermined angle about said elevated approachway.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pier comprising a floating pierhead structure which has transverse thrurs to assist maneuvering operations and four pedestal cranes to move cargo from and to ocean going ships docked at the structure. At the stern of the structure is a stern ramp receiving platform which is used during cargo off loading operations to allow access to the structure from ships equipped with stern ramps. The mooring system for the floating pierhead structure consist of a single point mooring anchor system located at the bow of the structure and four anchor legs located at the stern of the structure. This mooring system ensures minimal movement of the floating pierhead structure at its bow where the floating pierhead structure interfaces with a fixed position approachway, but allows the structure to be rotated over an arc of ninety degrees. The approachway for the rapidly deployed pier is a fixed position roadway connecting the floating pierhead structure to the shore line. The approachway is fabricated from individual spans supported by steel piles which are driven into the ocean floor. A bridge span which connects the approachway to the bow of the floating pierhead structure is capable of motion in six degrees of freedom relative to the approachway.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A floating pier comprising:
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a floating pierhead structure adapted to be floated on a body of water adjacent a shoreline, said floating pierhead structure having a generally semicircular shaped bow, said generally semicircular shaped bow having a semicircular shaped rail mounted on the top portion of said semicircular shaped bow; an elevated approachway having one end thereof connected to said shoreline and an opposite end thereof connected to said floating pierhead structure; said elevated approachway including a plurality of identical two lane wide roadway spans, a traffic bypass span and a gap closing span; said traffic bypass span being positioned approximately at a midpoint of said elevated approachway; said gap closing span being adapted to connect a portion of said elevated approachway extending from said shoreline to another portion of said elevated approachway extending from said floating pierhead structure when installation of said elevated approachway is complete; a bridge span having one end fixedly connected to said elevated approachway and an opposite end riding on the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow; said bridge span having a winch assembly communicating with the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow, said winch assembly operating as a drive source to facilitate rotational movement of said floating pierhead structure through a predetermined angle about said elevated approachway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A floating pier comprising:
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a floating pierhead structure adapted to be floated on a body of water adjacent a shoreline, said floating pierhead structure comprising; a hull floating on said body of water; a weather deck mounted on a top portion of said hull, said weather deck having a generally semicircular shaped bow, said generally semicircular shaped bow including a semicircular shaped rail mounted on the top portion of said semicircular shaped bow; a main deck positioned within said hull below said weather deck; said main deck having a stern ramp receiving platform located at a seaward end of said floating pierhead structure, said stern ramp receiving platform being adapted to receive stern ramps from ocean going vessels equipped with said stern ramps; a ramp communicating with said main deck and said weather deck to allow for a flow of vehicular traffic between said weather deck and said main deck; an elevated approachway having one end thereof connected to said shoreline and an opposite end thereof connected to said floating pierhead structure; said elevated approachway including a plurality of identical two lane wide roadway spans, a traffic bypass span and gap closing span; said traffic bypass span being positioned approximately at a midpoint of said elevated approachway; said gap closing span being adapted to connect a portion of said elevated approachway extending from said shoreline to another portion of said elevated approachway extending from said floating pierhead structure when installation of said elevated approachway is complete; a bridge span having one end fixedly connected to said elevated approachway and an opposite end riding on the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow; said bridge span having a winch assembly communicating with the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow, said winch assembly operating as a drive source to facilitate rotational movement of said floating pierhead structure through a predetermined angle about said elevated approachway. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A floating pier comprising:
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a floating pierhead structure adapted to be floated on a body of water adjacent a shoreline, said floating pierhead structure comprising; a hull floating on said body of water; a weather deck mounted on a top portion of said hull, said weather deck having a generally semicircular shaped bow, said generally semicircular shaped bow including a semicircular shaped rail mounted on the top portion of said semicircular shaped bow; a main deck positioned within said hull below said weather deck; said main deck having a stern ramp receiving platform located at a seaward end of said floating pierhead structure, said stern ramp receiving platform being adapted to receive stern ramps from ocean going vessels equipped with said stern ramps; a ramp communicating with said main deck and said weather deck to allow for a flow of vehicular traffic between said weather deck and said main deck; an elevated approachway having one end thereof connected to said shoreline and an opposite end thereof connected to said floating pierhead structure; said elevated approachway including a plurality of identical two lane wide roadway spans, a traffic bypass span and a gap closing span; said traffic bypass span being positioned approximately at a midpoint of said elevated approachway; said gap closing span being adapted to connect a portion of said elevated approachway extending from said shoreline to another portion of said elevated approachway extending from said floating pierhead structure when installation of said elevated approachway is complete; a bridge span having one end fixedly connected to said elevated approachway and an opposite end riding on the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow; said bridge span having a winch assembly communicating with the semicircular shaped rail of said semicircular shaped bow, said winch assembly operating as a drive source to facilitate rotational movement of said floating pierhead structure through a predetermined angle about said elevated approachway; a single point mooring anchor system located at the semicircular shaped bow of said floating pierhead structure; an adjustable seaward mooring system positioned at the seaward end of said floating pierhead structure, said single point mooring anchor system and said adjustable seaward mooring system allowing for orientation of said floating pierhead structure through said predetermined angle about said elevated approachway; and a plurality of pedestal cranes located on a starboard side of said floating pierhead structure, said plurality of pedestal cranes being mounted on the weather deck of said floating pierhead structure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification