Single Davit Boat Handling with Movable Cradles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies for launching and recovering daughter boats from mother vessels are complex, inefficient, and often result in safety hazards due to the need for multiple davits and transversely movable cradles, which limit deck space and increase the risk of collision or detachment.
Innovation Solution
A system featuring a single davit assembly positioned atop a stationary cradle, with a plurality of longitudinally movable cradles that interact with a transversely movable cradle, allowing for secure handling, lifting, and lowering of multiple daughter boats using a limited number of davits, thereby simplifying the process and maintaining a clear deck.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple davit assemblies and transversely movable cradles are deployed to handle daughter boats, then the capability to launch and retrieve boats is improved, but the device complexity increases and deck space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
A single davit assembly is designed to perform multiple functions: it can launch and retrieve multiple daughter boats sequentially, replace what would traditionally require multiple davit assemblies. The davit works in conjunction with a longitudinally movable cradle and a transversely movable cradle to handle different boats at different positions, making the single davit universally applicable for all boat handling operations on the deck.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs movable cradles that can dynamically reposition along the deck. The longitudinally movable cradle moves boats from their stowed positions toward the davit, while the transverse cradle moves boats laterally to position them for launching or retrieval. This dynamic repositioning capability allows a single davit to access multiple boat locations without requiring fixed davit assemblies at each position.
2Productivity
If multiple davit assemblies are used to handle daughter boats, then the launching and retrieval capability is improved, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The single davit assembly is designed as a multi-functional unit that can handle all daughter boats sequentially, replacing the need for multiple expensive davit assemblies. By consolidating the boat handling function into one davit that works with movable cradles, the system reduces material costs, manufacturing complexity, and maintenance requirements while maintaining full operational capability.
3Device complexity
If traditional davit methods are used to hoist boats, then the launching process is simplified, but the safety is reduced due to detachment risks and time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cradles serve as intermediary devices between the daughter boats and the single davit assembly. The cradles securely hold multiple boats simultaneously and transport them to the davit in a controlled manner. This intermediary system eliminates the need for direct hoisting of each boat by the davit, reducing detachment risks and providing a more secure, controlled launching and retrieval process.
4Reliability
If ramp deployment is used to launch daughter boats, then the safety against detachment is improved, but the risk of collision increases
Solution Approach 1:
The movable cradles act as intermediary transport devices that controlledly move boats to the davit assembly. Unlike ramps that create uncontrolled sliding motions potentially leading to collisions, the cradles provide stable, controlled transport. The cradles secure boats during movement and position them precisely for davit engagement, eliminating collision risks while maintaining safety against detachment.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c~1d
AI summary
An apparatus (1) for handling daughter boats (2) on a mother vessel comprising one davit assembly positioned atop a stationary cradle (5), each of which is located near a side edge (11a, 11b) of a deck (11) of the vessel for launching and retrieving the boats (2) from and onto the stationary cradle (5) characterised in that the apparatus has a plurality of longitudinally movable cradles (7) on the deck (11) of the vessel for securedly holding plurality of boats thereon and in that the longitudinally movable cradles can move back and forth longitudinally and lift up vertically to transfer a boat (2) onto or to receive a boat (2) from, one transversely movable cradle (4) which can transversely move back and forth for placing a boat (2) onto or for receiving a boat (2) from, the longitudinal cradles (7) and any one stationary cradle (5). The invention also relates to a method for launching and retrieving boats from a mother vessel.