Marine lifting apparatus
View Patent ↗A catamaran lifting apparatus is disclosed for lifting objects in a marine environment. The apparatus includes first and second vessels that are spaced apart during use. A first frame spans between the vessels. A second frame spans between the vessels. The frames are spaced apart and connected to the vessels in a configuration that spaces the vessels apart. The first frame connects to the first vessel with a universal joint and to the second vessel with a hinged connection. The second frame connects to the second vessel with a universal joint and to the first vessel with a hinged or pinned connection. Each of the frames extends upwardly in an inverted u-shape, providing a space under the frame and in between the barges that enables a marine vessel to be positioned in between the barges and under the frames.
1. A method of salvaging an underwater object, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing first and second floating hulls having
a first frame
spanning between the first and second floating hulls, and
a second frame
spanning between the first and second floating hulls,
the first and second frames
causing the first and second floating hulls to be in a spaced apart configuration, and
the first and second frames each
extending upwardly and
providing a space
under the first and second frames and
in between the first and second floating hulls wherein:
(i) the first frame having
not more than a single axis of rotation
relative to the first floating hull and
two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the second floating hull;
(ii) the second frame having
two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the first floating hull and
not more than a single axis of rotation
relative to the second floating hull;
(iii) cabling that extends downwardly from the first and second frames;
(b) lifting the underwater object with the downwardly extending cabling
while the first or second floating hull moves relative to the first or second frame wherein, in responding to wave action,
(i) the first frame moves relative to the first floating hull
about not more than its single axis of rotation
relative to the first floating hull
while simultaneously,
the second frame moves relative to the first floating hull
about its two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the first floating hull;
(ii) the second frame moves relative to the second floating hull
about not more than its single axis of rotation
relative to the second floating hull
while simultaneously,
the first frame moves relative to the second floating hull
about its two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the second floating hull; and
(iii) with the first and second frames
moving independently of each other and
assuming differing orientations relative to each other.
2. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein in step (a)
the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame
relative to the second floating hull
form a first universal joint, wherein the first universal joint includes a first shaft forming one of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame relative to the second floating hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame relative to the second floating hull, wherein the first shaft of the first universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the first universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the first universal joint via the bore, and
the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame
relative to the first floating hull
form a second universal joint, wherein the second universal joint includes a first shaft for the second frame forming one of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame relative to the first floating hull, and a second shaft for the second frame forming the other of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame relative to the first floating hull, wherein the first shaft of the second universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the second universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the second universal joint via the bore.
3. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein the underwater object to be salvaged
is a platform structure having a deck with deck openings and
further comprising the step of
extending rigging through the deck
via one or more of the deck openings and
connecting the rigging to the platform structure under the deck.
4. The method of claim 3 ,
wherein the rigging extends between
the object to be salvaged and
an upper end portion of the first and second frames.
5. The method of claim 1 ,
further comprising
mounting a winch and cabling
on the combination of first and second floating hulls and first and second frames, and further comprising
lifting the object to be salvaged with the winch and cabling.
6. The method of claim 5 ,
further comprising
attaching rigging that includes
a hook suspended from the cabling and
one or more slings attached to the object to be salvaged and to the hook.
7. The method of claim 1 ,
wherein in step “b”,
the cabling includes
more than one lifting line
along with multiple winds of cabling
rigged to a block and tackle pulley arrangement.
8. The method of claim 1 ,
further comprising the step of
spanning one or more beams between the first and second frames of step “a”, and
in step “b”
the cabling depends from the beams.
9. A method of salvaging an underwater object, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing first and second floating hulls having
a first frame
spanning between the first and second floating hulls, and
a second frame
spanning between the first and second floating hulls,
the first and second frames
causing the first and second floating hulls to be in a spaced apart configuration, and
the first and second frames each
extending upwardly and
providing a space
under the first and second frames and
in between the first and second floating hulls
wherein:
(i) the first frame having
not more than a single degree of freedom
relative to the first floating hull and
two degrees of freedom
relative to the second floating hull;
(ii) the second frame having
two degrees of freedom
relative to the first floating hull and
not more than a single degree of freedom
relative to the second floating hull;
(iii) cabling that extends downwardly from the first and second frames;
(b) lifting the underwater object with the downwardly extending cabling
wherein, in responding to wave action
(i) the first frame's movement relative to the first floating hull
has not more than a single degree of freedom
while simultaneously,
the second frame's movement relative to the first floating hull
has two degrees of freedom;
(ii) the second frame's movement relative to the second floating hull
has not more than a single degree of freedom
while simultaneously,
the first frame's movement relative to the second floating hull
has two degrees of freedom; and
(iii) with the first and second frames
moving independently of each other and
assuming differing orientations relative to each other.
10. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein in step (a)
the first frame has
not more than a first single rotational axis
relative to first floating hull, and
a first set of non-parallel rotational axes
relative to the second floating hull, and
the second frame has
not more than a second single rotational axis
relative to the second floating hull, and
a second set of non-parallel rotational axes
relative to the first floating hull.
11. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein in step (b)
the first set of non-parallel rotational axes
form a first universal joint of the first frame relative to the second floating hull, wherein the first universal joint includes a first shaft providing one of the first frame's two degrees of freedom relative to the second floating hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the first frame's two degrees of freedom relative to the second floating hull, wherein the first shaft of the first universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the first universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the first universal joint via the bore, and
the second set of non-parallel rotational axes
form a second universal joint of the second frame relative to the first floating hull, wherein the second universal joint includes a first shaft providing one of the second frame's two degrees of freedom relative to the first floating hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the second frame's two degrees of freedom relative to the first floating hull, wherein the first shaft of the second universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the second universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the second universal joint via the bore.
12. The method of claim 9 ,
wherein the underwater object to be salvaged
is a platform structure having a deck with deck openings and
further comprising the step of
extending rigging through the deck
via one or more of the deck openings and
connecting the rigging to the platform structure under the deck.
13. The method of claim 12 ,
wherein the rigging extends between
the object to be salvaged and
an upper end portion of the first and second frames.
14. The method of claim 10 ,
further comprising
mounting a winch and cabling
on the combination of first and second floating hulls and first and second frames, and further comprising
lifting the object to be salvaged with the winch and cabling.
15. The method of claim 14 ,
further comprising
attaching rigging that includes
a hook suspended from the cabling and
one or more slings attached to the object to be salvaged and to the hook.
16. The method of claim 10 ,
wherein in step “b”,
the cabling includes
more than one lifting line
along with multiple winds of cabling
rigged to a block and tackle pulley arrangement.
17. The method of claim 10 ,
further comprising the step of
spanning one or more beams between the first and second frames of step “a”, and
in step “b”
the cabling depends from the beams.
18. A method of raising an object from a seabed area in a marine locale comprising the steps of:
(a) transporting a floating catamaran support structure to the marine locale that includes
first and second catamaran hulls having
a first arched frame
spanning between the first and second catamaran hulls, and
a second arched frame
spanning between the first and second catamaran hulls,
the first and second arched frames
causing the first and second catamaran hulls to be in a spaced apart configuration, and
the first and second arched frames each
extending upwardly and
providing a space under the first and second arched frames and
in between the first and second catamaran hulls wherein:
(i) the first arched frame having
not more than a single axis of rotation
relative to the first catamaran hull and
two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the second catamaran hull;
(ii) the second arched frame having
two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the first catamaran hull and
not more than a single axis of rotation
relative to the second catamaran hull;
(b) lifting a submerged object from the seabed area
with rigging that is supported by the combination of
the floating catamaran support structure and
the first and second arched frames; and
(c) wherein the object lifted in step “b”
is lifted to the space under the first and second arched frames of step “a” wherein, in responding to wave action,
(i) the first arched frame moves relative to the first catamaran hull
about not more than its single axis of rotation
relative to the first catamaran hull
while simultaneously,
the second arched frame moves relative to the first catamaran hull
about its two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the first catamaran hull;
(ii) the second arched frame moves relative to the second catamaran hull
about not more than its single axis of rotation
relative to the second catamaran hull
while simultaneously,
the first arched frame moves relative to the second catamaran hull
about its two non-parallel axes of rotation
relative to the second catamaran hull; and
(iii) with the first and second arched frames
moving independently of each other and
assuming differing orientations relative to each other.
19. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein in step (c)
the two non-parallel axes of rotation of
the first arched frame relative to the second catamaran hull
form a first universal joint, and
the two non-parallel axes of rotation of
the second arched frame relative to the first catamaran hull
form a second universal joint,
wherein
(i) the first universal joint includes a first shaft forming one of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame relative to the second catamaran hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame relative to the second catamaran hull, wherein the first shaft of the first universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the first universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the first universal joint via the bore; and
(ii) the second universal joint includes a first shaft forming one of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame relative to the first catamaran hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame relative to the first catamaran hull, wherein the first shaft of the first universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the first universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the first universal joint via the bore.
20. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein the submerged object to be salvaged
is a platform structure having a deck with deck openings and
further comprising the step of
extending rigging through the deck
via one or more of the deck openings and
connecting the rigging to the platform structure under the deck.
21. The method of claim 20 ,
wherein the rigging extends between
the object to be salvaged and
an upper end portion of the first and second arched frames.
22. The method of claim 18 ,
further comprising
mounting a winch and cabling
on the combination of
the first and second catamaran hulls and
the first and second arched frames, and
further comprising
lifting the object to be salvaged with the winch and cabling.
23. The method of claim 22 ,
further comprising
attaching rigging that includes
a hook suspended from the cabling and
one or more slings attached to the object to be salvaged and to the hook.
24. The method of claim 18 ,
wherein in step “b”,
the rigging includes
more than one lifting line
along with multiple winds of cabling
rigged to a block and tackle pulley arrangement.
25. The method of claim 18 ,
further comprising the step of
spanning one or more beams between the first and second arched frames of step “a”, and
in step “b”
the rigging depends from the beams.
26. A method of salvaging an underwater object, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing first and second floating hulls having
a first frame
spanning between the first and second floating hulls, and
a second frame
spanning between the first and second floating hulls,
the first and second frames
causing the first and second floating hulls to be in a spaced apart configuration, and
the first and second frames each
extending upwardly and
providing a space under the first and second frames and in between the first and second floating hulls
wherein:
(i) the first frame having
a first set of axes of rotation
connecting it to the first floating hull and
a second set of axes of rotation
connecting it to the second floating hull,
wherein
the second set of axes of rotation includes
a greater number of axes of rotation
than the first set of axes of rotation;
(ii) the second frame having
a third set of axes of rotation
connecting it to the first floating hull and
a fourth set of axes of rotation
connecting it to the second floating hull,
wherein
the third set of axes of rotation includes
a greater number of axes of rotation
than the fourth set of axes of rotation;
wherein
the third set of axes of rotation includes
a greater number of axes of rotation
than the first set of axes of rotation; and
the second set of axes of rotation includes
a greater number of axes of rotation
than the fourth set of axes of rotation; and
(iii) cabling that extends downwardly from the first and second frames;
(b) lifting the underwater object
with the downwardly extending cabling
wherein, wave action causing
(i) the first frame to move relative to the first floating hull
about its first set of axes of rotation
while simultaneously
moving relative to the second floating hull
about its second set of axes of rotation
and independent from the first frame, and
while simultaneously the wave action causing
(ii) the second frame to move relative to the first floating hull
about its third set of axes of rotation
while simultaneously
moving relative to the second floating hull
about its fourth set of axes of rotation.
27. The method of claim 26 ,
wherein in step (b)
the rotational axes of the second set of rotational axes, and
the rotational axes of the third set of rotational axes
are not parallel to each other.
28. The method of claim 26 ,
wherein in step (b)
the rotational axes of the second set of rotational axes
form a first universal joint, and
the rotational axes of the third set of rotational axes
form a second universal joint
wherein
(i) the first universal joint includes a first shaft forming one of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame relative to the second floating hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the first frame relative to the second floating hull, wherein the first shaft of the first universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the first universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the first universal joint via the bore; and
(ii) the second universal joint includes a first shaft forming one of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame relative to the first floating hull, and a second shaft forming the other of the two non-parallel axes of rotation of the second frame relative to the first floating hull, wherein the first shaft of the first universal joint includes a bore and the second shaft of the first universal joint is pivotally connected to the first shaft of the first universal joint via the bore.