Watercraft dry dock storage system and method

Abstract

There is provided a storage system for storing and retrieving watercraft or other items to or from a storage position in a storage area as part of an enclosure having a plurality of storage areas. The storage system may include at least one carrier to support the item during movement to or from a storage position, and a positioning system to move the carrier system. An elevator system is usable to move the positioning system and carrier system to and from a storage area, and a control system is usable to control the positioning system to move the carrier system and item into and out of its storage position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A system for storage of watercraft comprising:
 a building structure having a plurality of storage areas, including upper storage areas arranged vertically, each for receiving and supporting a plurality of watercraft,   at least one carrier system on which a watercraft is supported for movement,   at least one tug system configured to support and move the at least one carrier system with or without a watercraft thereon,   a traveling lift system for supporting and moving the at least one tug system with or without a watercraft and its cradle system to and from an upper storage area,   a control system for controlling the at least one tug system and at least one elevator system to move the watercraft to and from a storage area,   wherein the each carrier system is configured to support a watercraft based on the characteristics of a watercraft to be supported, wherein the at least one tug system has a body portion and at least one drive member to engage and drive the body portion in association with a guide system, and further comprises lifting members that are configured to extend into engagement with the at least one carrier system based on the characteristics of the at least one carrier system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one carrier system for a watercraft to be stored is configured to support a particular watercraft based on at least its size, weight, hull shape, and center of gravity. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of storage areas are formed as berths having a polygonal shape defining an opening with storage areas configured to have an opening of different sizes or configurations than others for watercraft of different sizes or configurations. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traveling lift system being configured as a tower structure with a rectangular lift platform configured for the at least one tug system to move onto and off of the lift platform with the at least one carrier and positioned in an aisle between a plurality of storage areas, and moves in the aisle using a plurality of drive members at each side of the tower structure that cooperate with drive guides positioned in the aisle. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system tracks the location of each watercraft and the position of the at least one tug system to support the at least one carrier system. 
     
     
         6 . A system for storage of watercraft comprising:
 a building structure having a plurality of storage areas, including upper storage areas arranged vertically, with at least some storage areas having different size or configuration to accommodate watercraft of substantially different size or configuration for receiving and supporting at least one watercraft,
 at least one carrier system on which a watercraft is supported for movement, 
 at least one tug system configured to support and move the at least one cradle system with or without a watercraft thereon, 
 a traveling elevator system for supporting and moving the at least one tug system with or without a watercraft and its carrier system to and from an upper storage area, and 
 a control system for controlling the at least one tug system and traveling elevator system to move the watercraft to and from a storage area, 
 wherein the each at least one carrier system is configured to a watercraft for supporting that watercraft, wherein the at least one tug system has a body portion and at least one drive member to engage and drive the body portion in association with a guide system wherein the at least one tug system is configured to lift and support different carrier systems. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one tug system moves in association with a guide system for predetermined movement in relation to the building structure, and to and from a watercraft lift system that moves a watercraft to and from a body of water. 
     
     
         8 . A system for storage of watercraft comprising:
 a building structure having a plurality of storage areas, including upper storage areas arranged vertically, for receiving and supporting watercraft of different sizes,   at least one tug system configured to support and move watercraft of different sizes,   a traveling lift system for supporting and moving the at least one tug system to and from a storage area,   and a control system for controlling the at least one tug system and traveling elevator system to move different sized watercraft to and from a storage area, wherein the at least one tug system has a body portion and at least one drive member to engage and drive the body portion in association with a guide system building structure and lift systems configured to support different sized watercraft.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each storage area includes a guide system for interfacing with the at least one tug system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one elevator includes a guide system for interfacing with the at least one tug system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the tower structure includes at least four corner posts and the lift platform is guided by the four corner posts to maintain its position with respect to the tower structure as it is raised and lowered. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a lift platform drive engages at least opposing sides of the lift platform to uniformly raise and lower the lift platform. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control system is used to move the tug system to at least one carrier system sized for a watercraft to be stored and moves the at least one carrier to have that watercraft placed thereon for movement, and moves the watercraft and at least one carrier to a predetermined position in a storage area, wherein the at least one carrier is positioned in the storage area to position the watercraft in the predetermined position. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the control system operates the at least one tug system to move the at least one tug system to a position exterior to the building structure to receive a watercraft for storage. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the lift systems of the at least one tug system engage a hull of a watercraft in a manner to support that watercraft for movement. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the traveling lift system has a lift platform for a watercraft that is movable up and down by separate lift systems engaged to the lift platform. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the traveling lift system is configured as a tower structure with a plurality of drive systems operated synchronously to move the tower structure in association with drive guides. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the tower drive system includes a drive member positioned at each corner of the tower structure that engage a guide rail. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the traveling lift system drive system includes drive systems for driving upper and lower portions of the tower structure. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 8 , the traveling lift system having guide systems at an upper portion of the lift system.