초록 ▼

A system is provided for rigidly attaching a supply ship to a receiving ship to facilitate efficient transport of materials there-between even when the vessels are subject to heavy seas and weather. A telescoping truss assembly is provided on the first ship, and has a distal end configured to mate

A system is provided for rigidly attaching a supply ship to a receiving ship to facilitate efficient transport of materials there-between even when the vessels are subject to heavy seas and weather. A telescoping truss assembly is provided on the first ship, and has a distal end configured to mate with a receptacle assembly on the second ship. Cables are disposed within the truss and are used to draw the truss and receptacle assemblies into engagement with each other. Once the assemblies are engaged, a hydraulic system is used to draw the two ships together, rigidifying the truss assembly and fixing the two ships in a "catamaran" arrangement. Subsequent transfers of materials between the ships can be carried out without the need to compensate for the relative dynamic vertical and horizontal displacements between the ships due to wind and waves.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A system for connecting first and second floating bodies, the system comprising: a truss assembly associated with the first floating body, the truss assembly having a plurality of telescoping truss portions and a longitudinal axis, a first truss portion of the plurality

The invention claimed is: 1. A system for connecting first and second floating bodies, the system comprising: a truss assembly associated with the first floating body, the truss assembly having a plurality of telescoping truss portions and a longitudinal axis, a first truss portion of the plurality of telescoping truss portions being slidably connected to a second truss portion of the plurality of telescoping truss portions for motion in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the second truss portion being connected at a proximal end thereof to the first floating structure via an adjustment assembly, the adjustment assembly being configured to allow the truss assembly to rotate about three mutually perpendicular axes with respect to the first floating body; and a receptacle assembly connected to the second floating body; wherein the first truss portion further has a coupling disposed at a distal end thereof and the receptacle assembly further comprises a receptacle for receiving the coupling to connect the first and second floating bodies together; and wherein the truss assembly has an extended position with a first length and a retracted position with a second length, the truss assembly being configurable in the extended position for engaging the receptacle assembly connected to the second floating body, the truss assembly further being configurable to the retracted position for locking the first and second floating bodies together to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween; wherein the coupling of the first truss portion comprises a plurality of coupling elements and the receptacle assembly comprises a plurality of corresponding recesses configured to receive the coupling elements. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second truss portions comprises at least a pair of longitudinal structural elements connected by a plurality of brace elements. 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cable and winch, the cable being associated with one of the coupling elements, the cable further being receivable within one of the recesses to guide the coupling element into engagement with the recess using the winch. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the truss assembly is movable between the extended and retracted positions by a hydraulic ram system. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the receptacle assembly further comprises an adjustment assembly, the adjustment assembly being configured to allow the receptacle assembly to rotate about three mutually perpendicular axes with respect to the second floating body. 6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a laser guidance system for automatically controlling the position of the truss assembly, the laser guidance system comprising a laser scanner connected to the first floating body and a reflective target connected to the receptacle assembly; wherein the laser scanner measures the distance and angle to each target and provides coordinates to a control program to enable adjustment of the position of the truss assembly to place the coupling members into engagement with the receptacles. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the truss assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinal structure members, the assembly having a central opening substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the assembly, the central opening being sized to allow personnel to pass between the first and second floating structures via the opening. 8. A system for connecting first and second floating bodies, the system comprising: a truss portion connected to the first floating body via a first adjustable assembly, and a receptacle portion connected to the second body via a second adjustable assembly; wherein the truss portion further comprises first and second truss members, the first truss member having a first end slidably engaged with the second truss member and a second end having a coupling element for engaging a corresponding recess in the receptacle portion; wherein the first and second adjustable assemblies are each configured to allow movement about three mutually perpendicular axes; and wherein the truss portion has an extended position with a first length and a retracted position with a second length, the truss portion being configurable in the extended position for engaging the receptacle portion connected to the second floating body, the truss portion further being configurable to the retracted position for locking the first and second floating bodies together to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first truss member comprises a plurality of coupling elements and the receptacle portion comprises a plurality of corresponding recesses configured to engage the plurality of coupling elements. 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising a cable and winch, the cable being disposed adjacent one of the coupling elements, the cable further being receivable within one of the recesses to guide the coupling element into engagement with the recess using the winch. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the truss portion is movable between the extended and retracted positions by a hydraulic ram. 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the receptacle portion further comprises an adjustment assembly, the adjustment assembly being configured to allow the receptacle portion to rotate about three mutually perpendicular axes with respect to the second floating body. 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a laser guidance system for automatically controlling the position of the truss assembly, the laser guidance system comprising a laser scanner connected to the first floating body and a reflective target connected to the receptacle assembly; wherein the laser scanner measures the distance and angle to each target and provides coordinates to a control program to enable adjustment of the position of the truss assembly to place the coupling members into engagement with the receptacles. 14. The system of claim 8, wherein the truss assembly comprises a plurality of longitudinal structure members, the assembly having a central opening substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the assembly, the central opening being sized to allow personnel to pass between the first and second floating structures via the opening. 15. A method of connecting first and second floating bodies, comprising: providing a first ship with a truss assembly comprising first and second telescopically interrelated truss members, the truss assembly having an extended position and a retracted position; providing a second ship with a receptacle assembly comprising an engaging member for engaging the truss assembly; configuring the truss assembly to the extended position; engaging the truss assembly with the engaging member of the receptacle assembly; locking the truss assembly to the receptacle assembly; and configuring the truss assembly to the retracted position, thereby locking the first and second floating bodies together to prevent substantial relative movement therebetween; wherein the truss assembly further comprises an adjustment assembly to allow the truss assembly to move about three mutually perpendicular axes with respect to the first ship; and the receptacle assembly further comprises an adjustment assembly to allow the receptacle assembly to move about three mutually perpendicular axes with respect to the second ship. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the engaging step comprises engaging a cable with a distal end of the truss assembly, engaging the cable with the engaging member of the receptacle assembly, and using a winch to draw the distal end of the truss assembly into engagement with the engaging member. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the first and second telescopically interrelated truss members comprises at least a pair of longitudinal structural elements connected by a plurality of brace elements. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the engaging step comprises using a laser guiding system to guide the truss assembly into engagement with the engaging member of the receptacle assembly. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the truss assembly is movable between the extended and retracted positions by a hydraulic ram. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the truss assembly has a central opening substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the assembly, the central opening being sized to allow personnel to pass between the first and second floating structures via the opening.