Adjustable cradle for transporting and launching a first maritime vehicle via a second maritime vehicle

Abstract

An adjustable cradle for transporting and launching a first maritime vehicle via a second maritime vehicle. The adjustable cradle includes a platform configured to receive and support an underside of the first maritime vehicle, a base configured to be removably secured to the second maritime vehicle, and a lift mechanism connecting the platform and the base such that the platform is movable relative to the base between a launch position and a transport position. The adjustable cradle also includes an actuator assembly coupled to the lift mechanism and configured to cause the lift mechanism to move between a raised position corresponding to the launch position of the platform and a lowered position corresponding to the transport position of the platform. The adjustable cradle further includes an energy absorber secured to the base and configured to substantially absorb shocks and vibrations associated with operation of the second maritime vehicle.

1 . An adjustable cradle for transporting and launching a first maritime vehicle via a second maritime vehicle, the adjustable cradle comprising:
 a platform configured to receive and support an underside of the first maritime vehicle;   a base configured to be removably secured to a deck of the second maritime vehicle;   a lift mechanism connecting the platform and the base such that the platform is movable relative to the base between a launch position and a transport position;   an actuator assembly coupled to the lift mechanism, the actuator assembly configured to cause the lift mechanism to move between a raised position corresponding to the launch position of the platform and a lowered position corresponding to the transport position of the platform; and   an energy absorber secured to the base and configured to substantially absorb shocks and vibrations associated with operation of the second maritime vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 1 , comprising four energy absorbers secured to four different portions of the base. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 2 , wherein the energy absorber comprises a shock absorber and a shock bracket coupled to the shock absorber, wherein a first portion of the energy absorber is secured to the base and a second portion of the energy absorber is secured to the shock bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 3 , wherein each shock bracket engages the platform when the platform is in the transport position. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 3 , wherein each of the platform and the base has a rectangular shape, and wherein the shock bracket has a triangular shape that engages a perimeter surface of the platform when the platform is in the transport position. 
     
     
         6 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator assembly comprises an inlet port adapted to receive pressurized fluid, and wherein the lift mechanism moves from the lowered position to the raised position responsive to receipt of the pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 1 , wherein the lift mechanism comprises a single-point scissor mechanism. 
     
     
         8 . An adjustable cradle for transporting and launching a first maritime vehicle via a second maritime vehicle, the adjustable cradle comprising:
 a platform configured to receive and support an underside of the first maritime vehicle;   a base configured to be removably secured to a deck of the second maritime vehicle;   a lift mechanism connecting the platform and the base such that the platform is movable relative to the base between a launch position and a transport position;   an actuator assembly coupled to the lift mechanism and comprising a cylinder and an inlet port formed in the cylinder and adapted to receive pressurized fluid, wherein responsive to receipt of the pressurized fluid, the actuator assembly causes the lift mechanism to move between a raised position corresponding to the launch position of the platform and a lowered position corresponding to the transport position of the platform; and   a plurality of energy absorbers secured to the base and configured to substantially absorb shocks and vibrations associated with operation of the second maritime vehicle.   
     
     
         9 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 8 , wherein each energy absorber comprises a shock absorber and a shock bracket coupled to the shock absorber, wherein a first portion of the energy absorber is secured to the base and a second portion of the energy absorber is secured to the shock bracket. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 9 , wherein each shock bracket engages the platform when the platform is in the transport position. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 9 , wherein each of the platform and the base has a rectangular shape, and wherein the shock bracket has a triangular shape that engages a perimeter surface of the platform when the platform is in the transport position. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises an actuator pump coupled to the base, and wherein the actuator pump is configured to hold the pressurized fluid and is fluidly connected to the inlet port. 
     
     
         13 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 12 , wherein the actuator pump is removably coupled to a first portion of the base such that the actuator pump can be removed from the first portion of the base and removably coupled to a second portion of the base opposite the first portion of the base. 
     
     
         14 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 13 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises:
 a pump support removably coupled to the first portion of the base, wherein the actuator pump is fixedly coupled to the pump support; and   a pin removably disposed in an aperture formed in the pump support to removably couple the pump support to the first portion of the base.   
     
     
         15 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator assembly further comprises a hydraulic cylinder including a barrel and a piston rod that is telescopically disposed within the barrel, wherein the inlet port is formed in the barrel, and wherein the piston rod moves relative to the barrel responsive to the pressurized fluid received at the inlet port, thereby causing the lift mechanism to move the platform to the launch position. 
     
     
         16 . An adjustable cradle for transporting and launching an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) via a military boat, the adjustable cradle comprising:
 an ASV platform configured to receive and support an underside of the ASV;   a base configured to be removably secured on a deck of the boat;   a lift mechanism connecting the ASV platform and the base such that the ASV platform is movable relative to the base between a launch position and a transport position;   an actuator assembly coupled to the lift mechanism, the actuator assembly configured to cause the lift mechanism to move between a raised position corresponding to the launch position of the platform and a lowered position corresponding to the transport position of the platform; and   one or more energy absorbers secured to the base, wherein the energy absorbers are configured to substantially isolate the ASV from shocks and vibrations associated with operation of the military boat, wherein each of the energy absorbers comprises a shock absorber secured to the base and a shock bracket coupled to the shock absorber.   
     
     
         17 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 16 , wherein the boat comprises a combatant craft assault boat or a combatant craft medium boat. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 16 , wherein the shock absorber comprises a wire rope isolator. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 16 , wherein each shock bracket engages the platform when the platform is in the transport position. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 16 , wherein each of the platform and the base has a rectangular shape, and wherein each shock bracket has a triangular shape that engages a perimeter surface of the platform when the platform is in the transport position. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 16 , further comprising one or more wedges secured to a top surface of the platform, the one or more wedges configured to support the underside of the ASV. 
     
     
         22 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 21 , wherein each of the one or more wedges has a trapezoidal shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         23 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 16 , wherein when the platform is in the launch position, the adjustable cradle has a height that is substantially equal to a height of a gunwale of the military boat, such that the ASV is launchable from the platform over the gunwale of the military boat. 
     
     
         24 . The adjustable cradle of  claim 23 , wherein the platform is symmetrical, such that the ASV is launchable from any side of the platform over the gunwale of the military boat.