Rope management system

Abstract

An apparatus for automated rope management on a vessel is described. The apparatus may include a first retraction unit configured to provide rotation about a first rotational axis, a second retraction unit connected to the first retraction unit and configured to provide rotation about a second rotational axis, and a base plate coupled to the first retraction unit and configured for mounting the apparatus to the vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rope management apparatus, comprising:
 a first retraction unit comprising a first fixed carrier and a first rotating carrier, the first rotating carrier configured to rotate with respect to the first fixed carrier about a first axis between a first position and a second position, the first rotating carrier biased along the first axis in the first position, wherein the first rotating carrier comprises a rope sleeve;   a tow point configured for retaining an end of a tow rope; and   a second retraction unit comprising a second fixed carrier and a second rotating carrier, the second rotating carrier coaxially aligned with the tow point and coupled to the first retraction unit via the first fixed carrier, the second rotating carrier and the first retraction unit configured to rotate with respect to the tow point about a second axis between a third position and a fourth position, the second rotating carrier biased in the third position.   
     
     
         2 . The rope management apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second retraction unit is repositionable between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein when the second retraction unit is positioned in the first orientation, the second rotating carrier and the first retraction unit are configured to rotate between the third position and the fourth position. 
     
     
         3 . The rope management apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein when the second retraction unit is positioned in the second orientation, the second rotating carrier and the first retraction unit are configured to rotate between the fourth position and a fifth position, the second rotating carrier biased along the second axis in the fifth position when in the second orientation. 
     
     
         4 . The rope management apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first resistive mechanism with a first end coupled to the first rotating carrier and a second end coupled to the first fixed carrier. 
     
     
         5 . The rope management apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising a second resistive mechanism with a first end coupled to the second rotating carrier and a second end coupled to the second fixed carrier. 
     
     
         6 . A rope management system, comprising:
 a base plate configured to mount a rope management apparatus to a tower unit of a vessel;   the rope management apparatus, comprising:
 a first retraction unit configured to provide rotation about a first rotational axis, wherein the first retraction unit is biased along the first rotational axis in a first position; 
 a second retraction unit connected to the first retraction unit and the base plate, the second retraction unit configured to provide rotation about a second rotational axis that is different from the first rotational axis, wherein the second retraction unit is biased along the second rotational axis in a second position; and 
 a tow point coaxially mounted with respect to the second retraction unit and connected to the base plate, the tow point configured to support a rope; and a boom pole connectable to the first retraction unit and configured to receive the rope. 
   
     
     
         7 . The rope management system of  claim 6 , wherein the second retraction unit is repositionable between at least a first orientation and a second orientation, wherein when the second retraction unit is positioned in the first orientation, a portion of the second retraction unit and the first retraction unit are configured to rotate between the second position and a third position. 
     
     
         8 . The rope management system of  claim 7 , wherein when the second retraction unit is positioned in the second orientation, the portion of the second retraction unit and the first retraction unit are configured to rotate between the third position and a fourth position, the second retraction unit biased along the second rotational axis in the fourth position. 
     
     
         9 . The rope management system of  claim 6 , wherein the first retraction unit further comprises a first fixed carrier and a first rotating carrier, wherein the second retraction unit further comprises a second rotating carrier. 
     
     
         10 . The rope management system of  claim 9 , wherein the first fixed carrier comprises at least a first plate and a second plate, wherein the first plate and the second plate are connected to the second rotating carrier in a parallel orientation and are configured to support the first rotating carrier. 
     
     
         11 . The rope management system of  claim 10 , further comprising a first resistive mechanism and a second resistive mechanism, wherein a first end of the first resistive mechanism is coupled to the first plate and a second end of the first resistive mechanism is coupled to the first rotating carrier, wherein a first end of the second resistive mechanism is coupled to the second plate and a second end of the second resistive mechanism is coupled to the first rotating carrier. 
     
     
         12 . The rope management system of  claim 6 , wherein the base plate comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein when the base plate is mounted to the tower unit, the base plate connects to the tower unit at the first portion and connects to the tow point at the second portion laterally offset from the first portion and the tower unit. 
     
     
         13 . A rope management system, comprising:
 a base plate configured to mount a rope management apparatus to a tower unit of a vessel; and   the rope management apparatus, comprising:
 a first retraction unit connected to a rotatable part of a second retraction unit and configured to rotate about a first rotational axis from a first stowed position to a first deployed position in response to an application of force; and 
 the second retraction unit connected to the base plate, the second retraction unit configured to rotate about a second rotational axis that is different from the first rotational axis from a second stowed position to a second deployed position in response to the application of force, wherein the first retraction unit and the second retraction unit are each configured to return to the first and second stowed positions in response to removal of the application of force. 
   
     
     
         14 . The rope management system of  claim 13 , wherein the rope management apparatus further comprises a tow point coaxially aligned with the second rotational axis and connected to the base plate via the second retraction unit. 
     
     
         15 . The rope management system of  claim 14 , wherein the first retraction unit is characterized by a rope sleeve that extends transversely through the first rotational axis. 
     
     
         16 . The rope management system of  claim 15 , further comprising a boom pole connectable to the first retraction unit and configured to receive a rope that passes through the boom pole and the rope sleeve. 
     
     
         17 . The rope management system of  claim 16 , wherein the application of force is applied to the first retraction unit and the second retraction unit via the rope. 
     
     
         18 . The rope management system of  claim 13 , wherein the second retraction unit further comprises a resistive mechanism that causes the second retraction unit to return to the second stowed position in response to removal of the application of force. 
     
     
         19 . The rope management system of  claim 14 , wherein, when the rope management apparatus is mounted to the tower unit of the vessel, the tow point is offset from a fixed tow point on the tower unit of the vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The rope management system of  claim 19 , wherein, when the rope management apparatus is mounted to the tower unit of the vessel, a connecting portion of the base plate is received around the fixed tow point on the tower unit and secured to the fixed tow point with at least a ring coupled to the base plate and a plurality of bolts.