Vessel racking system

Abstract

A vessel racking device comprising a wheeled material handling system that rides on a ground based track system which lies between a staging area and a storage area. The storage area is made up of a plurality of cells positioned above, at or below ground level. Through a set of fixed longitudinal rails, the ground based track system enables the wheeled towerless material handling system to move between the water's edge and the storage area in a reproducible manner by a moderately skilled operator. The wheeled towerless material handling system is capable of lifting a vessel out of the water and placing it in a cell. The wheeled towerless material handling system is capable of altering its vertical profile to avoid and/or clear overhead obstructions.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A vessel racking device, comprising: 
 a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;    a storage area comprising a lattice structure having a plurality of cells, each of said cells adapted to receive and hold said vessel;    a ground based track system fixed to the ground and positioned adjacent to and spanning the distance between said staging area and said storage area;    a wheeled towerless material handling system riding on a portion of said ground based track system, said wheeled towerless material handling system configured to selectively alter the vertical profile of said wheeled towerless material handling system and selectively move said vessel between said staging area and said storage; and    a power system of sufficient power operatively connected to distribute sufficient power to said wheeled towerless material handling system to enable handling, loading and discharging said vessel from said storage area and said staging area.    
     
     
         2 . The vessel racking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wheeled towerless material handling system further comprises: 
 an existing excavator configured with bogies to ride on said portion of said ground based track system;    a telescoping lift system operatively mounted to said existing excavator; said telescoping lift system configured to handle said vessel and selectively alter said vertical profile; and    a counterforce member located on said existing excavator to enhance stability of said wheeled towerless material handling system.    
     
     
         3 . The vessel racking device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wheeled towerless material handling system further comprises: 
 an existing telehandler comprising a telescopic boom, said existing telehandler configured with bogies to ride on said portion of said ground based track system; and    a telescoping lift system operatively mounted to a distal end of said telescopic boom; said telescoping lift system configured to handle said vessel and selectively alter said vertical profile; and    a counterforce member located on said existing telehandler to enhance stability of said wheeled towerless material handling system.    
     
     
         4 . A vessel racking device as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising an alignment system configured to facilitate handling of said vessel.  
     
     
         5 . A vessel racking device, comprising: 
 a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;    a storage area having a plurality of cells configured to receive and hold said vessel;    a ground based track system comprising at least two longitudinal rails fixed to the ground and substantially parallel to each other, said ground based track system positioned adjacent to and spanning the distance between said staging area and said storage area;    a towerless material handling system having a carriage, body, telescoping lift system, and a counterforce member, wherein said telescoping lift is operatively attached to said body to allow pickup, handling and discharge of said vessel, said body is rotatably fixed to said carriage to allow rotation of said body about a substantially vertical axis, said carriage is engaged to said ground based track system by a set of carriage bogies to allow movement of said towerless material handling system about said ground based track system, and said counterforce member configured and positioned on said towerless material handling system to enhance stability of said towerless material handling system especially during handling of said vessel; and    a power system of sufficient power operatively connected to distribute sufficient power to said towerless telescoping material handling system to enable handling said vessel at and between said staging area and said storage area.    
     
     
         6 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said ground based track system further comprises a transverse rail system and a set of rail bogies, said transverse rail system comprises at least two transverse rails configured to engage said carriage bogies, each of said transverse rails engages at least a portion of said longitudinal rails by said set of rail bogies, and said transverse rail system is driven by said power system to allow selectively positioning said transverse rail system about said longitudinal rails.  
     
     
         7 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said towerless telescoping material handling system further comprises a telescopic boom operatively fixed at a first end to said body and operatively fixed at a second end to said telescoping lift system, said telescopic boom configured to selectively articulate said telescopic lift system into a variety of positions conducive to loading, handling and discharging said vessel.  
     
     
         8 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said towerless telescoping material handling system further comprises a telescopic boom operatively fixed at a first end to said body and operatively fixed at a second end to said telescoping lift system, said telescopic boom configured to selectively articulate said telescopic lift system into a variety of positions conducive to loading, handling and discharging said vessel.  
     
     
         9 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said counterforce member is a mass of sufficient weight located on said body opposite from said telescoping lift system.  
     
     
         10 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said counterforce member engages, at least during handling of said vessel, an unobstructed under region of at least one rail of said ground based track system.  
     
     
         11 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said counterforce member comprises at least one counterforce bogie in contact with said unobstructed under region.  
     
     
         12 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said counterforce member comprises a “J” shaped post fixed to said carriage, said “J” shaped post extends vertically down from and below said carriage and at least engages said unobstructed lower region when said towerless material handling system begins to become unstable thus significantly reducing the chance of rollover.  
     
     
         13 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said power system is positioned at a power generation area located adjacent to said ground based track system.  
     
     
         14 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said mass comprises said power system.  
     
     
         15 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said towerless material handling system further comprises a set of operator controls located on said towerless material handling system near said telescopic lift to allow an operator to handle said vessel from a position on said towerless material handling system.  
     
     
         16 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said vessel racking device further comprises a set of operator controls remotely located from said towerless material handling system to allow an operator to remotely handle said vessel with said racking device.  
     
     
         17 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein at least one tine is operatively attached to said telescoping lift, said at least one tine is configured to support said vessel.  
     
     
         18 . The racking device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said longitudinal rails are recessed into said ground to significantly reduce the profile of said ground based track system.  
     
     
         19 . A vessel racking device, comprising: 
 a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;    a storage area having a plurality of cells configured to receive and hold said vessel;    a ground based track system comprising at least two longitudinal rails fixed to the ground and substantially parallel to each other, and at least two transverse rails engaged by a set of rail bogies to at least a portion of said longitudinal rails to allow selective positioning of said at least two transverse rails about said ground based track system;    a telescopic lift system operatively fixed to an existing hydraulic excavator to allow pickup, handling and discharge of said vessel, said existing hydraulic excavator is fitted with a set of carriage bogies and a counterforce member to engage at least a portion of said at least two transverse rails, and said existing hydraulic excavator configured to operatively provide power to said set of rail bogies.    
     
     
         20 . A vessel racking device, comprising: 
 a staging area configured to temporarily position a vessel for transfer by said vessel racking device;    a storage area having a plurality of cells configured to receive and hold said vessel;    a ground based track system comprising at least two longitudinal rails fixed to the ground and substantially parallel to each other;    a telescopic lift system operatively fixed to a telescoping boom of an existing telehandler to allow pickup, handling and discharge of said vessel, said existing telehandler is fitted with carriage bogies and a counterforce member to engage at least a portion of said ground based track system to allow selective positioning of said existing telehandler about said ground based track system and secure handling of said vessel.    
     
     
         21 . A method of handling a vessel with a vessel racking device comprising the steps of: 
 providing and distributing sufficient power to said vessel racking device to handle said vessel;    positioning a tracked material handling system in a position to receive a vessel;    receiving said vessel by said tracked material handling system;    supporting said vessel by at least one tine operatively connected to said tracked material handling system;    reducing the vertical profile of said tracked material handling system to avoid obstacles, if present, and increase said tracked material handling system's stability during support of said vessel;    moving said tracked material handling system to a pre-selected discharge position adjacent to a pre-selected discharge location configured to receive said vessel; and    discharging said vessel to said pre-selected discharge location.    
     
     
         22 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of using an alignment system to accurately and in a reproduceable manner receive, support, move, handle and discharge said vessel.  
     
     
         23 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of operating said tracked material handling system from a fixed location on said tracked material handling system.  
     
     
         24 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of operating said vessel racking system from at least one fixed position located adjacent to said vessel racking device.  
     
     
         25 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of operating said tracked material handling system by a movable remote control device.  
     
     
         26 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of providing and distributing said power from at least one power source located on said tracked material handling system.  
     
     
         27 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , further comprising the step of providing and distributing said power from at least one power source located adjacent to said vessel racking device.  
     
     
         28 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said at least one power source is hydraulic.  
     
     
         29 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said discharge location is water of sufficient depth to receive said vessel.  
     
     
         30 . The method of handling a vessel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said discharge location is a storage cell.