Catamaran with hinged underwing

Abstract

A catamaran has a pair of spaced-apart pontoons, each having a forward tapered end and a rearward end. An underwing is affixed to the pontoons and spans therebetween. The underwing has a forward end and a rearward end. A platform is pivotally connected to the underwing forward end and/or rearward end. The platform also has a forward end. A power assembly (e.g., oil hydraulic, air hydraulic, cable lift, chain lift, spring loaded, gear-driven, and other lifting mechanisms) is connected to the platform for one or more of lowering or raising the platform from a stowed position to a plurality of working positions—including positions below the waterline—of the catamaran and for one or more of raising or lowering the platform back to the stowed position.

1 . A catamaran, which comprises: 
 (a) a pair of spaced-apart pontoons, each having a forward tapered end and a rearward end;    (b) an underwing affixed to said pontoons and spanning therebetween, said underwing having a forward end and a rearward end;    (c) a platform pivotally connected to one or more of said underwing forward end or said underwing rearward end and having a forward end, said platform accessible by personnel from said underwing; and    (d) a power assembly connected to said platform for one or more of lowering or raising said platform from a stowed position to an extended working position where the platform forward end is under water, and to a plurality of working positions therebetween.    
   
   
       2 . The catamaran of  claim 1 , wherein said platform carries an extension movable from a stowed position to an extended position.  
   
   
       3 . The catamaran of  claim 2 , wherein said extension is pivotally connected to said platform forward end.  
   
   
       4 . The catamaran of  claim 2 , wherein said extension is under water when extended and said platform lowered.  
   
   
       5 . The catamaran of  claim 1 , wherein said platform carries railings.  
   
   
       6 . The catamaran of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said platform or said extension is louvered.  
   
   
       7 . The catamaran of  claim 3 , wherein said extension is movable to a position about 90° from the horizontal and adjustable to keep level for a crew to stand on.  
   
   
       8 . The catamaran of  claim 3 , wherein said platform is pivotally connected to said underwing forward end.  
   
   
       10 . The catamaran of  claim 1 , which additionally comprises a bumper assembly carried by said catamaran adjacent to said pivotal platform.  
   
   
       11 . The catamaran of  claim 10 , wherein said bumper assembly comprises a vertically oriented plate affixed to said catamaran forward end and terminated by an elastic bladder.  
   
   
       12 . A method for one or more of insertion or extraction of one or more of people, articles, or equipment at sea, which comprises: 
 (a) providing a catamaran, which comprises: 
 (i) a pair of spaced-apart pontoons, each having a forward tapered end and a rearward end;  
 (ii) an underwing affixed to said pontoons and spanning therebetween, said underwing having a forward end and a rearward end;  
 (iii) a platform pivotally connected to one or more of said underwing forward end or said underwing rearward end, said platform having a forward end, said platform accessible by personnel from said underwing; and  
 (iv) a power assembly connected to said platform for one or more of lowering or raising said platform from a stowed position to an extended working position where the platform forward end is under water, and to a plurality of working positions therebetween;  
   (b) one or more of lowering or raising said platform to a position adjacent to said one or more people, articles, or equipment; and    (c) a crewperson accessing said platform to accomplish said one or more of insertion or extraction.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said extension is moved into an operable position to aid in said accessing said one or more of insertion or extraction.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said one or more of insertion or extraction of one or more of people, articles, or equipment at sea, comprises one or more of into or from the water, or onto or from the land, or onto or from rock piles, rock jetties, or break walls; insertion or extraction of submarines into or from the water; assisting in the efforts of homeland security, military, police and law enforcement, fire-fighting, or rescue operations; assist in high speed rescue excursions or under-fire personnel recovery; assist in turbulent and turbid water rescue; assist in aircraft and aircraft personnel recovery; assist in the interdiction of illegal watercraft and their personnel, contrabands, or materials; assist in buoy and wall servicing at the proper height; provide for the roll on and roll off capabilities of wheelchairs, carts with wheels, and rescue operation designed gurneys.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said extension is pivotally connected to said platform forward end.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said extension is under water when extended and said platform lowered.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein one or more of said platform or said extension is louvered.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said extension is movable to a position about 90° from the horizontal and adjustable to keep level for the crew to stand on.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein platform is pivotally connected to said underwing forward end.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said catamaran additionally comprises a bumper assembly carried by said catamaran adjacent to said pivotal platform.