Stable offshore floating depot
First Claim
1. A buoyant structure (10) comprising:
- a hull (12) characterized by an upper frustoconical portion (12c) having inward-sloping walls disposed above a lower frustoconical portion (12d) having outward-sloping walls with a circular keel; and
a tunnel (30) with a tunnel floor (35) formed within said hull at a waterline elevation, said tunnel (30) said tunnel comprising a first opening in said hull opening to an exterior of said hull and dimensioned so as to receive a watercraft (200) therein, a boatlift assembly (40) disposed within said tunnel (30) for lifting the watercraft (200) over the waterline while contained in the tunnel, and a main deck (12a) secured to said hull that completely covers said tunnel (30).
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An offshore depot having a vertically symmetric hull, an upper inwardly-tapered wall and a lower outwardly-tapered wall that produce significant heave damping in response to heavy wave action. Ballast is added to the lower and outermost portions of the hull to lower the center of gravity below the center of buoyancy. The offshore depot includes a tunnel formed within or through the hull at the waterline that provides a sheltered area inside the hull for safe and easy launching/docking of boats and embarkation/debarkation of personnel. When the watertight tunnel doors are all shut, the tunnel may be drained to create a dry dock environment within the hull. The offshore depot includes berthing and dinning accommodations, medical facilities, workshops, machine shops, a heliport, and the like.
67 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A buoyant structure (10) comprising:
- a hull (12) characterized by an upper frustoconical portion (12c) having inward-sloping walls disposed above a lower frustoconical portion (12d) having outward-sloping walls with a circular keel; and
a tunnel (30) with a tunnel floor (35) formed within said hull at a waterline elevation, said tunnel (30) said tunnel comprising a first opening in said hull opening to an exterior of said hull and dimensioned so as to receive a watercraft (200) therein, a boatlift assembly (40) disposed within said tunnel (30) for lifting the watercraft (200) over the waterline while contained in the tunnel, and a main deck (12a) secured to said hull that completely covers said tunnel (30). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 20, 21)
- a hull (12) characterized by an upper frustoconical portion (12c) having inward-sloping walls disposed above a lower frustoconical portion (12d) having outward-sloping walls with a circular keel; and
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8. A buoyant structure (10) comprising:
- a hull (12) characterized by a generally circular horizontal cross-section and a circular keel; and
a tunnel (30) with a tunnel floor (35) formed within said hull at a waterline elevation, said tunnel (30) formed within said circular horizontal cross-section, said tunnel comprising a first opening in said hull opening to an exterior of said hull and dimensioned so as to receive a watercraft (200) therein, and a main deck secured to said hull that completely covers said tunnel (30), wherein said tunnel (30) comprises;
a second opening in said hull to said exterior, first and second branches, wherein each branch has a penetration though the hull (12), and is formed in a cruciform shape and further defines third and fourth openings in said hull to said exterior. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
- a hull (12) characterized by a generally circular horizontal cross-section and a circular keel; and
Specification