Automatic mooring apparatus for watercraft

Abstract

A mooring apparatus (10) for automatic mooring and parking a 10-70 feet long watercraft that is built from two dock-finger units (20) fixed to the dock (2). The dock-finger units (20) are equipped with flexible tentacle elements (80) for positioning the watercraft (4) by keeping continuous contact with the hull (6). and they are also equipped with automatic-operated locking mechanisms (40) for catching and locking the watercraft (4), The mooring apparatus (10) has a control panel (90) with a built-in programmable processor (98) and a communication unit (98) that can be accessed from anywhere by communication means, and connected to the harbour IT system.

1 . A mooring apparatus ( 10 ) comprising two dock-finger units ( 20 ) fixed to a dock ( 2 ) and floating on the water, wherein each dock-finger unit ( 20 ) is provided with an automatic locking mechanism ( 40 ) for catching and securing a watercraft ( 4 ) during mooring and parking,
 characterized in that   each automatic locking mechanism ( 40 ) comprises
 an arm ( 42 ) pivotably coupled to a respective dock-finger unit ( 20 ), 
 a spring ( 44 ) for turning the arm ( 42 ) towards the hull of the watercraft ( 4 ); 
 a remotely controlled motor ( 46 ) arranged on the dock-finger unit ( 20 ) for rotating the arm ( 42 ) away from the hull of the watercraft ( 4 ), and 
 a fixing unit ( 50 ) pivotably mounted to one end of said arm ( 42 ) with a horizontal axis (B) of rotation, 
   wherein the fixing unit ( 50 ) has a vertical standby position and comprises a fixing rod ( 62 ) secured between a head element ( 56 ) and a bottom element ( 58 ), said fixing rod ( 62 ) being configured to be locked in a catching unit ( 70 ) of a watercraft ( 4 ).   
     
     
         2 . The mooring apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the head element ( 56 ) and the bottom element ( 58 ) are provided with collar elements ( 60 ) covered with soft coverage ( 34 ), wherein said collar elements ( 60 ) are adapted to freely rotate around a longitudinal axis (C) of the fixing unit ( 50 ) perpendicular to said horizontal axis (B) of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The mooring apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that said fixing rod ( 62 ) is made of steel. 
     
     
         4 . The mooring apparatus ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the mooring apparatus further comprises a control panel ( 90 ) for remotely control the motor ( 46 ) of the arm ( 42 ). 
     
     
         5 . A catching unit ( 70 ) for use with the mooring apparatus ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the catching unit comprises:
 a pedestal ( 72 ) adapted for securing to a hull ( 6 ) of a watercraft ( 4 ) in a horizontal position,   a wedge-type hook ( 74 ) arranged at one end of said pedestal ( 72 ) and configured to retain the fixing rod ( 62 ) of the mooring apparatus ( 70 ) when locked in the catching unit ( 70 ), and   a horizontal cover element ( 76 ) flexibly coupled, at is one end, to another end of the pedestal ( 72 ), wherein the other end of the cover element ( 76 ) is in contact with the wedge-type hook ( 74 ) of said pedestal ( 72 ) in an idle state of the catching unit ( 70 ).   
     
     
         6 . The catching unit ( 70 ) of  claim 5 , characterized in that said catching unit ( 70 ) is made of silicone. 
     
     
         7 - 10 . (canceled)