System for refloating grounded vessels

摘要

A system for refloating a grounded floatable vessel uses cylinder-shaped inflatable buoyant rollers that are placed under the vessel hull, inflated until they support the bottom hull and then caused to roll seaward while carrying the vessel into the water. An independently propelled vehicle pulls the vessel resting on the rollers into the water. An operator wirelessly controls inflation and deflation of the rollers to ensure stability of the vessel during the refloating operation.

主权项

1. A system for refloating a grounded vessel having a hull, a hull bottom, a deck, and a bow portion, the system comprising:
a plurality of inflatable buoyant rollers positionable under the hull bottom while deflated; a source of pressurized air for inflating the inflatable rollers;
a means for regulating delivery and release of pressurized air into the inflatable rollers, the means for regulating delivery and release of pressurized air comprising at least one air compressor operationally connected to each inflatable buoyant roller by individually operated air delivery conduit, a pressure regulating valve connected to each air delivery conduit, a pressure release valve connected to each air delivery conduit, and a computer-based control unit for controlling operation of each pressure regulating and each air release valve;a means connected to the bow portion for exerting a pulling force on the hull while the vessel is being propelled seaward on inflated inflatable rollers; anda wireless communication means for transmitting control signals from the computer-based control unit to each pressure regulating valve and each air release valve.