Sean C Gallagher

US Patent:

7621230, Nov 24, 2009

Filed:

Apr 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/789125

Inventors:

Robert W. Anderson - Alexandria VA, US
Stuart G. Ullman - Kensington MD, US
Kellie L. Redcay - Pottstown PA, US
Ryan T. Hayleck - Fulton MD, US
John F. O'Dea - Laurel MD, US
Sean M. Gallagher - Philadelphia PA, US
Christopher J. Doyle - Panama City Beach FL, US
Donald R. Jacobson - Virginia Beach VA, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B63B 35/40

US Classification:

114258, 114259

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for cargo transfer at sea, more particularly, a flow-through vessel and related method for the at-sea and underway launching and loading of air-cushion vehicles. The vessel includes a hull having a forward end and an aft end, a continuous deck extending from the forward end to the aft end of the hull, a forward ramp attached to the continuous deck at the forward end of the hull, and an aft ramp attached to the continuous deck at the aft end of the hull. At least a portion of the continuous deck is uncovered and accessible from above the deck.

US Patent:

7793374, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Apr 20, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/788422

Inventors:

Robert W. Anderson - Alexandria VA, US
Sean M. Gallagher - Philadelphia PA, US
Kellie L. Redcay - Pottstown PA, US
Ryan T. Hayleck - Fulton MD, US
John F. O'Dea - Laurel MD, US
Stuart G. Ullman - Kensington MD, US

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Washington DC

International Classification:

B63B 17/00

US Classification:

14 695, 114362

Abstract:

As typically embodied, the inventive ramp system for bridging between structures (e. g. , marine vessels) includes a hydraulic elevator device and a ramp unit. The ramp unit includes three adjoining planar members, the ramp member (the main ramp body) being pivotably connected at each end to one of the two platform members. The hydraulic elevator device includes the coaxial combination of a cylinder and a piston, the piston being translatable along and pivotable about the axis. The cylinder-piston combination is secured, axis vertical, to a first structure, with one of the ramp unit's platform members attached atop the piston. In order to position the other (unattached) platform member upon a selected (e. g. , horizontal) location of a second structure, the ramp unit is configurable in terms of the attached platform member's height, the ramp unit's horizontal rotation angle, and the respective vertical rotation angles of the ramp unit's two pivotable connections.