The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1992
Filed:
Apr. 11, 1990
Donald E Lee, Abington, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An advanced automated vessel cargo transfer system for loading and unloading of ships and lighters. It includes an articulated manipulator arm mounted on a frame. The arm is provided with a spreader bar at the distal end thereof. The spreader bar is provided with facilities for grasping cargo. Sensors track the movement of the vessel, and automatically responsive controllers adjust the motion and position of the spreader bar to follow the motion of the vessel. Berthing modules are provided to aid in controlling the motion of the vessel. In a major embodiment, the manipulator arm is mounted on a transverse frame that bridges spaced-apart floating barges, and provisions are made for serving vessels both on the outboard and inboard sides of the barges. In another embodiment, the manipulator arm is shore-based.