WO2004018258A2

WO2004018258A2 - A method, a vehicle, and a system for deploying a boat

Info

Publication number: WO2004018258A2
Application number: PCT/IB2003/003391
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benn Arthur Vincent; Andrew Bruce Taylor
Original assignee: Atlantis Marine Projects (Pty) Ltd; Stellenbosch Automotive Engineering (Pty) Ltd; Unistel Technologies (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2002-08-21
Filing date: 2003-08-19
Publication date: 2004-03-04
Also published as: AU2003250415A1; AU2003250415A8; WO2004018258A3

Abstract

A self-propelled vehicle (10) is provided for transporting, launching, and retrieving a boat (16). The vehicle (10) includes a support structure defining support surfaces (14) on which a hullof the boat (16) can be carried, a plurality of wheels (22,24,26), supportingly connected to thesupport structure, and driving means (32,34,36), connected to drive at least one of the wheels(22,24,26), to propel the vehicle (10). A method is provided, of deploying the boat (16) bytransporting it on top of the vehicle (10), within an aircraft (38), unloading the boat (16) on topof the vehicle (10) from within the aircraft (38), and launching the boat (16) by driving the vehicle(10) at least partly into the body of water, and moving the boat (16) from the vehicle (10). Theboat (16) is unloaded and is launched, by driving the vehicle (10) under its own propulsion.

Description

A METHOD, A VEHICLE, AND A SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYING A BOAT

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to the deployment of a boat, such as a boat that needs to be used in a remote location, by transporting, launching, and retrieving the boat. In particular, the invention relates to a method of deploying a boat, a vehicle for transporting, launching, and retrieving a boat, and a deployment system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In applications where a boat is to be transported to a remote location and to be launched, used, and retrieved at the remote location, the space available for transporting the boat, equipment needed for launching, using, and retrieving the boat, and the like, needs to be used optimally. In some applications, boats are transported to remote locations by air, and if the maximum size of boat is used which can be loaded into a load bay of an aircraft, this does typically not allow sufficient space within the same aircraft to load the equipment which may be required for launching, using and retrieving the boat, such as a crane, trailer, drawing vehicle, fuel tanks, etc. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a self-propelled vehicle for transporting, launching, and retrieving a boat, said vehicle including: a support structure defining at least one support surface on which a hull of the boat is supportingly receivable; a plurality of wheels, supportingly connected to the support structure; and driving means, connected to drive at least one of the wheels, to propel the vehicle.

At least one of the wheels may protrude in part above a lowest part of at least one of the support surfaces, when the vehicle is in an upright orientation.

At least one of the support surfaces may be laterally disposed from a centre of the vehicle, and at least one of the wheels may be disposed inwardly from such a lateral support surface. In use, such inwardly disposed wheels may extend in part into a central recess, defined in an underside of the hull of the boat, such as the central longitudinal recess defined in the hull of a catamaran, carried on the support surfaces. The self-propelled vehicle may include at least one wheel disposed in a position longitudinally spaced from a support surface, such as a pair of wheels disposed to a front and/or a rear of a support surface. The vehicle may include a pair of laterally spaced, steerable wheels, disposed rearwardly of the support surfaces, and another set of laterally spaced, steerable wheels in front of the support surfaces.

The support structure may define an elongate, longitudinal support surface, disposed laterally on each side of the centre of the vehicle. The support structure may include two longitudinal beams, and each support surface may be defined on top of one of the longitudinal beams. Each beam may define an internal cavity, which can be used as a fuel tank, for providing fuel to the vehicle's driving means, or for refuelling other equipment, such as a boat.

At least one of the wheels may be upwardly and downwardly displaceable relative to the support structure, by being connected to the support structure via at least one pivotally mounted cantilever arm allowing the wheels to be upwardly or downwardly displaced. At least one of the cantilever arms may be pivotally displaceable, by a hydraulic cylinder. More than one wheel may be connected to the support structure via the same pivot arm.

The hydraulic cylinders may be configured to move each wheel upwards and downwards relative to the support structure, to act as active suspension for the vehicle, while travelling, to smooth the ride of the vehicle over uneven terrain, etc. The hydraulic cylinders may also be configured to control the level or orientation of the vehicle, to aid in loading and unloading the vehicle from an aircraft, or to allow the vehicle to travel over obstacles.

The driving means may include an internal combustion engine, such as a diesel engine, and driving power from the engine may be transferable to at least one of the wheels, by way of a hydraulic compressor, driven in use by the engine, and connected to deliver hydraulic fluid under pressure to drive at least one hydraulic motor, connected to drive at least one of the wheels.

The vehicle may include a boat that can be carried on the support structure, the boat including a hull with an underside that is supportingly receivable on the support surfaces.

The boat may be a catamaran, and may include at least one lifting device, disposed in the longitudinal central recess defined in the underside of its hull, such as a Hysucat® or Hysuwac® hydrofoil.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of deploying a boat, said method including the steps of: transporting the boat by carrying it on top of a self-propelled vehicle, within a craft; unloading the boat on top of the vehicle, from within the craft to a body of water; and launching the boat by driving the vehicle at least partly into the body of water, by way of the self-propulsion of the vehicle, and moving the boat from the vehicle to float on the water; wherein the boat is unloaded from within the craft and is launched, by driving the vehicle under its own propulsion.

The method may include a further step of retrieving the boat from the body of water, by driving the vehicle under its own propulsion at least partly into the body of water and moving the boat onto the vehicle, to be carried on the vehicle.

The method may include the further step of loading the boat into a craft, by driving the vehicle under its own propulsion into the craft, while carrying the boat.

The craft may be an aircraft, such as a cargo carrier, e.g. a Lockhead C130B Hercules, or the like.

The self-propelled vehicle may be used for transportation of loads on land, under its own propulsion, e.g. for carrying fuel, equipment, persons, etc. to and from the boat and/or the craft, while the boat is in the water. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top three-dimensional view of a self-propelled vehicle in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 shows a bottom three dimensional view of the vehicle of Figure 1 , carrying a boat; and

Figure 3 shows a sectional side view of an aircraft into which the vehicle and boat of Figure 2 has been loaded.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, a self-propelled vehicle in the form of a deployment transporter in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The transporter 10 includes a support structure comprising two laterally extending elongate longitudinal beams 12, each defining a support surface or load bearing surface 14 at its top, on which an underside of a boat 16 is supportingly receivable, to be carried as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. The boat 16 is a catamaran, and each of the two lateral lower parts of its hull rests on one of the load bearing surfaces 14, when carried on the transporter 10. Five support arms 18 extend laterally outwardly from each beam 12, to provide additional load bearing support to the boat 16, and each define an upper load bearing surface 20 which is complemental in shape to the hull of the boat 16, to engage the hull and prevent lateral movement of the boat when carried on the transporter 10. Each beam 12 defines an internal cavity, which serves as a fuel tank.

The transporter 10 includes two sets of four wheels 22 each, disposed between the beams 12, with a part of the circumference of each wheel 22 protruding above the lowest parts of the load bearing surfaces 14, so that each wheel 22 extends in part into a central recess 23 defined in the underside of the hull of the boat 16.

The transporter 10 further includes a pair of laterally spaced, steerable rear wheels 24, disposed to a rear of the beams 12 and a pair of laterally spaced, steerable front wheels 26, disposed to a front of the beams 12.

Each of the two sets of centrally disposed wheels 22, the pair of rear wheels 24, and the pair of front wheels 26, are supportingly connected to the free ends of a pair of pivotally mounted cantilever arms 26. Each pair of cantilever arms 26 has a pivot end, which is supportingly, pivotally connected (not shown) to the beams 12, and is connected to a hydraulic cylinder 30, to actuate the cantilever arm to pivot about its pivot end, so that its free end, and the sets of wheels 22, 24, 26, connected to the free end, are upwardly and downwardly displaceable. In use, a gravitational load of the transporter 10 is transferred via the cantilever arms 28 to the wheels 22, 24, 26, and the hydraulic cylinders 30 can regulate the weight distribution between the wheels, as well as controlling a level or orientation of the transporter 10, providing active suspension for the transporter, and allowing the transporter to travel over obstacles or uneven terrain.

The transporter 10 further includes driving means comprising an internal combustion engine in the form of a diesel engine 32, disposed at a front of the transporter, and connected to a hydraulic compressor (not shown), which in turn is connected to hydraulic motors 34. The diesel engine 32 provides power to the hydraulic compressor, which in turn provides hydraulic fluid under pressure to each of the hydraulic motors 34. Each hydraulic motor 34 is connected to a pair of wheels 22, 24, 26 via a transversely extending drive shaft 36.

The transporter 10, in combination with the boat 16, together comprises a deployment system in accordance with the invention. The boat 16 is equipped with lifting devices in the form of hydrofoils extending into the central recess 23 defined in the underside of its hull. The hydrofoils are of the Hysucat® and/or Hysuwac®-type.

In use, when the boat 16 needs to be deployed at a remote location, such as a location where a reconnaissance operation is to be performed, the boat 16 is carried on top of the transporter 10, within the load bay of an aircraft 38, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The aircraft 38 is flown to and lands at a suitable location, near a body of water on which the boat 16 needs to be used, and the boat is unloaded from the aircraft, by being carried on top of the transporter, which drives out of the aircraft, down a ramp 40, under propulsion from its driving means. The boat 16 is launched by driving the transporter 10 partly into the water, until the water level is high enough relative to the boat, for the boat to be moved from the transporter, to float on the water. The boat 16 can then be used on the water, using its own propulsion.

While the boat 16 is being used in the water, the transporter 10 can be used for land transportation, using its own propulsion, for carrying fuel, equipment, persons, etc. to and from the boat and/or the aircraft 38. If desired, the transporter 10 can be driven away from the water, while the boat 16 is in use, to reduce the risk of drawing attention to the use of the boat, such as in reconnaissance operations. The boat 16 is retrieved from the water by driving the transporter 10 under its own propulsion, partly into the water, and moving the boat onto the transporter, e.g. by using the propulsion of the boat. When the boat 16 is positioned on the transporter 10, the transporter drives out of the water under its own propulsion, and transports the boat to the aircraft 38. The boat 16 is loaded into the load bay of the aircraft 38 by driving the transporter 10 under its own propulsion up the ramp 40, while carrying the boat, and can then be transported by the aircraft.

The engine 32 of the transporter 10 uses the same fuel as engines of the boat 16, so that fuel carried in the fuel tanks defined in each beam 12 can be used for driving the transporter 10, or refuelling the boat 16. Preferably, the engine 32 and the engines of the boat should be capable of using fuel used by the aircraft 38, to reduce the risk that the transporter 10 or the boat 16 may run out of fuel, while deployed in a remote location.

The invention illustrated holds the advantage of maximising the space available in the load bay of the aircraft 38, to transport a boat 16 which has the maximum dimensions allowed by dimensional constraints of the load bay, to be transported to a remote location, and deployed, while allowing all the_v equipment necessary for deployment of the boat 16 to be carried within the same aircraft.

Claims

1. A self-propelled vehicle (10) for transporting, launching, and retrieving a boat (16), said vehicle (10) including: a support structure defining at least one support surface (14) on which a hull of the boat (16) is supportingly receivable; a plurality of wheels (22,24,26), supportingly connected to the support structure; and driving means (32,34,36); characterised in that the driving means (32,34,36) is connected to drive at least one of the wheels (22,24,26), to propel the vehicle (10).

2. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that at least one of the wheels (22) protrudes in part above a lowest part of at least one of the support surfaces (14), when the vehicle (10) is in an upright orientation.

3. A vehicle (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the support surfaces (14) is laterally disposed from a centre of the vehicle (10), and at least one of the wheels (22) is disposed inwardly from the lateral support surface (14).

4. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 1 , characterised in that it includes at least one wheel (24,26) disposed in a position longitudinally spaced from a support surface (14).

5. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the vehicle (10) includes a pair of wheels (26) disposed to a front of a support surface (14).

6. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 4, characterised in that the vehicle (10) includes a pair of wheels (24) disposed to a rear of a support surface (14).

7. A vehicle (10) as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6, characterised in that it includes a pair of laterally spaced, steerable wheels (24), disposed rearwardly of the support surfaces (14), and another set of laterally spaced, steerable wheels (26) in front of the support surfaces (14).

8. A vehicle (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the support structure defines an elongate, longitudinal support surface (14), disposed laterally on each side of the centre of the vehicle (10).

9. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 8, characterised in that the support structure includes two longitudinal beams (12), and in that each support surface (14) is defined on top of one of the longitudinal beams (12).

10. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 9, characterised in that each beam (12) defines an internal cavity, which can be used as a fuel tank.

11. A vehicle (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of the wheels (22,24,26) is upwardly and downwardly displaceable relative to the support structure, by being connected to the support structure via at least one pivotally mounted cantilever arm (28).

12. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 11 , characterised in that at least one of the cantilever arms (28) is pivotally displaceable, by a hydraulic cylinder (30).

13. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 12, characterised in that the hydraulically cylinders (30) are configured to move each wheel (22,24,26) upwards and downwards relative to the support structure, to act as active suspension for the vehicle (10).

14. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 12 or Claim 13, characterised in that the hydraulically cylinders (30) are configured to control the orientation of the vehicle (10).

15. A vehicle (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the driving means includes an engine (32), from which driving power is transferable to at least one of the wheels (22,24,26), by way of a hydraulic compressor, driven in use by the engine (32), and connected to deliver hydraulic fluid under pressure to drive at least one hydraulic motor (34), connected to drive at least one of the wheels (22,24,26).

16. A vehicle (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it includes a boat (16) that can be carried on the support structure, the boat (16) including a hull with an underside that is supportingly receivable on the support surfaces (14).

17. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 16, characterised in that the boat (16) is a catamaran that includes at least one lifting device, disposed in the longitudinal central recess (23) defined in the underside of its hull.

18. A method of deploying a boat (16), said method including the steps of: transporting the boat (16) by carrying it on top of a self-propelled vehicle (10), within a craft (38); unloading the boat (16) on top of the vehicle (10), from within the craft (38) to a body of water; and launching the boat (16) by driving the vehicle (10) at least partly into the body of water, and moving the boat (16) from the vehicle (10) to float on the water; characterised in that the boat (16) is unloaded from within the craft (38) and is launched, by driving the vehicle (10) under its own propulsion.

19. A method as claimed in Claim 18, characterised by a further step of retrieving the boat (16) from the body of water, by driving the vehicle (10) under its own propulsion at least partly into the body of water and moving the boat (16) onto the vehicle (10), to be carried on the vehicle (10).

20. A method as claimed in Claim 19, characterised by the further step of loading the boat (16) into a craft (38), by driving the vehicle (10) under its own propulsion into the craft (38), while carrying the boat (16).

21. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 18 to 20, characterised in that the craft (38) is an aircraft.

22. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 18 to 21 , characterised by the transportation with the vehicle (10), under its own propulsion, of loads on land, between the boat (10) and the craft (38), while the boat (16) is in the water.

23. A vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 1 , substantially as herein described and illustrated.

24. A method a claimed in Claim 18, substantially as herein described and illustrated.

25. A new vehicle (10), or a new method of deploying a boat (16), substantially as herein described.