Lift for water vehicles

Abstract

A lift for water vehicles comprising a pair of vertical pipes or tracks attached adjacent their upper ends to one side only of a dock structure which is positioned alongside a body of water, a tank assembly having a roller assembly thereon for engaging the sides of the pipes for rolling upwardly and downwardly thereon, the tank assembly having a tank mounted thereon and an upper opening for introducing air into the tank to displace water therefrom through a lower opening at the bottom of the tank so as to cause the tank to rise, the tank assembly having a pair of spaced padded blocks for supporting a water vehicle thereon, the roller assembly having roller thereon adapted to rise along the inboard sides of the pipes when the tank assembly moves vertically in response the introduction of air to and removal of air from the tank, whereby, when a water vehicle is supported on the padded blocks and the tank assembly is in its lowermost position, air can be introduced into the tank while water is forced outwardly from the opening at the bottom of the tank so that the vehicle can be elevated above the body of water.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A line for water vehicles comprising a pair of vertical pipes attached adjacent their upper ends to one side only of a dock structure which is positioned alongside a body of water, a tank assembly having a roller assembly thereon for engaging the sides of the pipes for rolling upwardly and downwardly thereon, the tank assembly having a tank mounted thereon and an upper opening for introducing air into the tank to displace water therefrom through a lower opening at the bottom of the tank so as to cause the tank to rise, the tank assembly having a pair of spaced padded blocks for supporting a water vehicle thereon, the roller assembly having rollers thereon adapted to ride along the inboard sides of the pipes when the tank assembly moves vertically in response to the introduction of air to and removal of air from the tank, whereby, when a water vehicle is supported on the padded blocks and the tank assembly is in lowermost position, air can be introduced into the tank through the upper opening while water is forced outwardly from the lower opening so that the vehicle can be elevated above the body of water. 
     
     
       2. A lift for water vehicles as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pipes are attached to the dock structure by means of a pair of spaced bracket assemblies. 
     
     
       3. A lift for water vehicles as set forth in claim 2 wherein the bracket assemblies are attached to an upper side edge of the dock structure and are also attached to the pipes in such a manner as to permit vertical adjustment of the pipes. 
     
     
       4. A lift for water vehicles as set forth in claim 1 wherein the tank assembly is provided with a frame structure which includes a pair of upper curved bands made of flexible metal straps surrounding an upper portion of the tank adjacent the ends thereof, a pair of lower curved bands surrounding a lower portion of the tank in alignment with the upper bands, the ends of the upper bands being bent outwardly away from the tank to form short horizontal flanges, the ends of the lower bands being similarly bent to form short horizontal flanges which are spaced below the upper flanges, the upper bands being pulled toward the lower bands by means of bolts which pass through the upper and lower flanges and by nuts which are received on the lower ends of the bolts, the nuts being tightened so that the bands will firmly engage the outer circumference of the tank. 
     
     
       5. A lift for water vehicles as set forth in claim 4 wherein the roller assembly is attached to the frame structure. .Iadd. 
     
     
       6.  A lift for water vehicles comprising: means attached to one side only of a dock structure for guiding the direction of movement of the lift upwardly and downwardly in relation to said structure;   a tank having upper and lower openings, said upper opening for introducing air into said tank to displace water therefrom through said lower opening so as to cause said tank to rise;   means mounted on said tank for supporting a water vehicle thereon; and   at least one pair of rollers fixed to said tank and engaged with and adapted for riding along said guiding means for rolling upwardly and downwardly thereon when said tank moves in response to the introduction of air into and the releasing of air from said tank, respectively. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       7.  A lift according to claim 6 having two said pairs of rollers spaced vertically apart on said tank. .Iaddend. .Iadd.8. A lift according to claim 6, said guiding means comprising a pair of parallel members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.9. A lift according to claim 8, said pair of members comprising a pair of pipes. .Iaddend. .Iadd.10. A lift according to claim 9, said pipes being vertical. .Iaddend. .Iadd.11. A lift according to claim 10, said pipes being attached to said dock structure proximate their upper ends. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. A lift according to claim 11, said rollers tracking along inboard portions of said pipes. .Iaddend.