Auxiliary vessel lifting, launching, and carrying system

Abstract

A system for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel, using at least one support frame, with a connected auxiliary vessel support platform, mounted for rotational and translational movement in Cartesian coordinate directions. The support platform may be inclined to proximate the water level to facilitate launch and retrieval operations.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
   
   
       19 . A system for carrying an auxiliary vessel on a main vessel in a support carry position and for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel and for transferring the auxiliary vessel between the support carry position and the launch retrieve position, comprising, 
 a) first means for supporting an auxiliary vessel in a storage carry position and for launching or retrieving said auxiliary vessel in a launch retrieval position;    b) second means for supporting said first means and displacing said first means by translational movement comprising vertical and horizontal movement, in a path between said storage carry position and said launch support position;    c) said second means comprising third means for displacing said second means in said path through a center vertical position;    d) said first means comprising means for producing a torque toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position in response to said second means displacement through said center vertical position.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein. 
 e)) said third means comprises fourth means for connecting said second means to a base connected to a main vessel, for rotational movement of said second means through said path and said first means comprises means for producing a torque about said fourth means toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position in response to said displacement of said second means in said path through said center vertical position.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said third means comprises fifth means for connecting said second means to a base for said rotational movement through said vertical center, in a fore aft direction, relative to a main vessel, and said first means comprises means for producing said torque toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position, in response to said displacement of said first means in said path in said fore aft direction and about said fifth means.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said second means comprises sixth means for supporting said first means by a plurality of pivotly linked support legs; and said third means comprises a means for supporting said second means by at least a first plurality of said plurality of pivotly linked support legs, connected for rotation to said third means.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said sixth means comprises means for a parallelogram with a major axis and a cross axis; said sixth means comprising means for connecting said parallelogram for rotation to said first means, by a second plurality of pivotly linked support legs; and wherein said major axis extends from said first plurality of pivotly linked support legs to said second plurality of pivotly linked support legs; and said sixth means comprises means for rotating said major axis through said center vertical position in response to said displacement of said second means in said path through said center vertical position.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein said means for producing a torque produces no torque at a location in said path toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position, in response to said second means displacement through said center vertical position.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said sixth means comprises means for expanding said major axis in response to said displacement of said second means from said storage carry position toward said center vertical and for contracting said major axis in response to said displacement of said second means from said center vertical to said launch retrieval position.  
   
   
       26  The system of  claim 22 , wherein said second means comprises at least a second plurality of piviotly linked support legs for rotational connection of said first means to said second means, proximate said at least a second plurality of pivotly linked support legs.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said second means comprises eighth means for rotational connection of said first means to said second means and for placing said first means in an incline when in said launch retrieval position, with said incline from a higher to a lower position relative to said forward to aft direction, respectively.  
   
   
       28 . A system for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel from a main vessel, comprising, 
 a base mounted on a main vessel;    at least one support frame mounted to said base by a first pivoting joint, for rotational movement in a path through a center vertical position;    a support platform mounted to said support frame opposed to said first pivoting joint, and positioned to develop a torque toward said support carry position or said launch support position, in response to said support frame movement in said path through said center vertical position.    
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein said at least one support frame is a parallelogram comprising pivotly linked support arms; said support frame is mounted for translational movement, in a horizontal and in a vertical direction, respectively, in response to said pivoting movement of said support frame in said path through said center vertical position.  
   
   
       30  The system of  claim 29 , wherein said parallelogram includes a major axis and a cross axis and said major axis expands in response to said pivoting movement of said support frame in said path toward said center vertical position, and contracts in response to said pivoting movement of said support frame from said center vertical to said storage carry position or to said launch retrieval position, respectively.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein said rotational movement of said support frame is in a fore aft direction relative to the main vessel.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein. 
 said support platform is mounted to said support frame for rotational movement from a horizontal position to an inclined position, when in it launch retrieval position, with said incline from a higher to a lower position relative to said for to aft direction, respectively or said storage carry and launch retrieval positions, respectively.    
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 28 , comprising, 
 at least two support frames;    at least one cross connector,    said at least one cross connector attached to a first of said at least two support frames at a first end and connected to a second of said at least two support frames at a second end and forming a box frame.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein, 
 said at least one support frame is a parallelogram comprising pivotly linked support arms; a first pivoting joint at first pivotly linked support arms connected for rotation to a base pivoting joint and a second pivoting joint at second pivotly linked support arms, said second pivoting joint opposed to said first pivoting joint of said parallelogram; and said support platform mounted on a respective linked support arm of said second pivotly linked support arms and proximate said second pivoting joint.    
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34 , comprising, 
 a limit stop mounted on at least one of said support legs, and a cooperating limit stop mounted to engage said limit stop when said support frame is in its launch retrieve position.    
   
   
       36  A method for carrying and launching an auxiliary vessel from a main carrying comprising the steps of, 
 a) supporting an auxiliary vessel in a storage carry position and for launching or retrieving said auxiliary vessel in a launch retrieval position;    b) displacing said auxiliary vessel by translational movement comprising vertical and horizontal movement, in a path between said storage carry position and said launch support position, in a path through a center vertical position;    d) producing a torque toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position in response to said displacement through said center vertical position.    
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said step of displacing includes the step of displacing said auxiliary vessel in a fore aft direction relative to a main carrying vessel.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 36 , including the step of rotating said auxiliary vessel into an incline with a lower end of said incline in the aft direction relative to the for aft direction of said main carrying vessel.