Buoyant Transport Device for Watercraft Launching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smaller yachts and boats without suitable launching devices face difficulties in launching watercraft, as attaching lifting straps to the hull can be challenging and may result in unintentional slipping, leading to damage to the watercraft or the vessel, especially when manual launching is required.
Innovation Solution
A transport and carrying device featuring buoyant lateral floats, a connecting front element, a flexible surface-like support structure, and lifting elements that allows for easy and safe launching of watercraft without specialized launching devices, using an external lifting device to manage the watercraft within a receiving area.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If lifting straps are attached to the hull of the watercraft, then the watercraft can be launched by means of a crane, but attaching the slings to the correct location on the hull is difficult and requires experience, and unintentional slipping may occur during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transport and carrying device as an intermediary structure between the lifting device and the watercraft. This device includes a support structure with a receiving area that cradles the watercraft, and lifting elements that attach to the transport device rather than directly to the watercraft hull. This intermediary structure eliminates the need to attach straps directly to the watercraft, solving both the difficulty of finding correct attachment points and the risk of slipping during transport.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual launching is used in smaller yachts and boats without suitable launching devices, then the watercraft can be launched, but the watercraft may hit the superstructure or hull of the yacht or boat during manual launching and damage the former
Solution Approach 1:
The transport and carrying device incorporates buoyant lateral floats that provide upward buoyant force to counterbalance the weight of the watercraft. This allows the watercraft to be supported in water without requiring manual lifting that could cause it to crash onto the yacht or boat. The buoyant floats effectively counteract gravity, enabling safe handling of heavy watercraft even on smaller vessels without specialized launching equipment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If slings are used to launch the watercraft by means of a crane, then launching is possible without suitable attachment points, but unintentional slipping of one or both slings may occur during transport of the watercraft, causing the watercraft to slip out of the loops and crash
Solution Approach 1:
The transport and carrying device is segmented into multiple functional components: lateral floats for buoyancy and stability, a support structure with receiving area for securing the watercraft, and lifting elements for attachment to the crane. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively. The support structure's receiving area provides a secure cradle that prevents slipping, while the lifting elements handle the attachment to the lifting device, separating these functions and improving overall reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy and fast launch of motor-driven watercraft, distributing forces evenly across the hull for stability, preventing unintentional slipping and damage, and providing secure retention even in rough seas.
Implementation Method 1
two lateral floats 6 spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a transport and carrying device (2) for transporting and carrying a watercraft (4). In order to provide a device (2) for a watercraft (4), in particular for a motor-driven watercraft (4), which allows an easy and fast launch of the watercraft (4) even without a special launching device, it is proposed that the device (2) comprises:two lateral floats (6) spaced at a predetermined distance from each other,a connecting front element (8), which interconnects the two lateral floats (6) and keeps them at the predetermined distance from each other,a surface-like support structure (10) attached laterally to the lateral floats (6) and preferably also at the front to the connecting element (8), wherein the support structure (10) has openings through which water can pass,a receiving area (12) for the watercraft (4), between the lateral floats (6) and the connecting front element (8) and above the surface-like support structure (10), andlifting elements (14), for attaching the transport and carrying device (2) to an external lifting device (22) and for lifting and lowering the transport and carrying device (2) by means of the lifting device (22).