Installation for conveyance of a boat

An installation including on the one hand trolleys equipped each with a hydraulic jack and roller members and on the other hand parallel supporting-beams which support the boat which is arranged so that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to these beams which bear upon the jacks of two trolleys running on two parallel tracks, the jacks forming three groups of jacks connected hydraulically so that the resultants of these groups are located at the corners of a triangle, and it is characterized by the fact that it includes at least three parallel tracks upon which the trolleys run which support the supporting-beams which are arranged so as to form at least two lines of beams which are displaced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the boat.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The invention refers to an installation which enables a boat to be 
transported horizontally over firm ground dry. Such an installation is 
integrated into a more complex installation which enables a boat to be 
transported from the water up onto firm ground and vice versa. 
BACKGROUND 
Certain installations for placing ships high and dry or in the water 
comprise an elevator intended for raising each ship from the water up to 
the level of the ground. Such an elevator comprises a platform raised by 
winches. The boat rests on the platform during transport from the water 
upto the level of the ground, that is to say, upto the position where it 
emerges. Each boat must then be moved horizontally from the elevator over 
to a docking position. 
Horizontal transport of a ship is generally carried out by means of wheeled 
trolleys located under the keel of this ship. This mode of transport lacks 
flexibility for absorbing the unevenesses in the ground and for spreading 
the load of the ship. Furthermore these trolleys serve only one direction, 
which limits the number of boats which can be docked over a given area. 
In order to avoid this disadvantage an installation has been designed for 
transport by trolleys, which enables the boat to be moved along any 
horizontal direction. In this installation the boat rests upon a set of 
beams arranged perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis. Generally the 
boat rests upon each beam by a central chock and side chocks for 
shoring-up. Each beam rests at its ends upon two trolleys which run each 
upon one two-railed track. The different trolleys are arranged along two 
lines and each portion of the boat is supported by way of the beam and the 
trolleys upon four rails, which ensures good distribution of the loads. 
The beams are connected together by cross-bars. The bearing of each beam 
upon each trolley is effected by way of a hydraulic jack. This hydraulic 
jack is double-acting. 
The jacks, when the beams are bearing on the ground, enable the trolleys to 
be raised above the rail and thus to swivel from one track to another 
track. Hence changes in direction may be achieved. The jacks above all 
enable the boat to be supported elastically and isostatically with respect 
to the ground. The jacks supporting the beams are distributed in three 
groups. All of the jacks of one and the same group are connected together 
so that the reactions from these jacks are equal. A first group comprises 
the jacks associated with one fractional part of the trolleys from the 
line of trolleys running upon one of the tracks. The second group 
comprises the jacks associated with one fractional part of the trolleys 
from the line of trolleys running on the other track. The third group 
groups together the jacks associated with the trolleys located at one end 
of each line and running upon the two parallel tracks. Each group of jacks 
is equivalent to an imaginary support at the centre of the geometrical 
figure which they define. The three resultants due to the three groups of 
jacks are located at the corners of an isosceles triangle the main height 
of which is parellel with the longitudinal axis of the boat. 
In certain installations the side chocks for shoring-up bear against the 
beams by way of jacks. These jacks enable the shoring chocks to be 
adjusted for height as a function of the boat to be supported. The 
balancing of the loads between the different chocks is in spite of all 
that imperfect. The shoring-up must be achieved by trial and error and 
necessitates manual interventions. Apart from this disadvantage concerning 
the shoring-up, these known installations do not enable ships to be 
supported which are of heavy tonnage and great width. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The object of the present invention is an installation intended to ensure 
the transport of a ship of heavy tonnage while supporting it 
isostatically. It enables each portion of the ship to be supported 
isostatically by ensuring balancing of the forces upon the different 
chocks located under this portion. The side chocks which ensure the 
stability of the ship when placing it in the water or when leaving the 
water or during travelling are kept in permanent contact against the hull 
of the ship. The shoring-up or chocking is achieved automatically. 
In accordance with the invention this installation includes on the one hand 
trolleys equipped each with a hydraulic jack and roller members and on the 
other hand parallel supporting-beams which support the boat which is 
arranged so that its longitudinal axis is perpendicular to these beams 
which bear upon the jacks of two trolleys running on two parallel tracks, 
the jacks forming three groups of jacks connected hydraulically so that 
the resultants of these groups are located at the corners of a triangle, 
and it is characterized by the fact that it includes at least three 
parallel tracks upon which the trolleys run which support the 
supporting-beams which are arranged so as to form at least two lines of 
beams which are displaced perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the 
boat. 
In accordance with one characteristic of the invention the beams are 
arranged along at least three lines. 
In accordance with another characteristic of the invention at least one of 
the groups of jacks connected hydraulically comprises jacks supporting 
supporting-beams of the central line and jacks supporting supporting-beams 
of a line to one side. 
The invention will now be described in greater detail by referring to 
embodiments given by way of examples and represented by the drawings 
attached.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The installation represented in FIGS. 1 to 8 serves to support and 
transport horizontally a boat 11 over firm ground 12. The boat 11 is moved 
by way of trolleys 41,43,31,33,51,53 which run upon four parallel tracks 
61 to 64 (FIGS. 1 to 3) or upon six tracks 61 to 66 (FIG. 4). The boat 11 
bears on the trolleys by way of supporting beams 3,4 and 5 which are 
arranged in parallel. Each beam rests at its ends upon two trolleys. The 
boat is arranged so that its longitudinal axis 13 is perpendicular to the 
longitudinal axis of the beams which pass through the point of bearing on 
the trolleys. The supporting beams form at least three lines, the 
associated trolleys running upon at least four tracks. The ends of the 
beam in each line are aligned in parallel with the axis 13. The beams 3 
form the central line. The beams 4 and 5 form lateral lines. Preferably 
the central beams 3 have their ends symmetrical with respect to the 
longitudinal axis of the boat. 
The boat bears on the central beams 3 by way of central chocks 21. It bears 
on the side beams 4 and 5 by shoring-chocks 22 and 23 respectively. The 
supporting beams are joined by ties parallel with the axis of the boat, 
which are not shown. The central beams 3 are supported by the trolleys 31 
and 33. The side shoring-beams 4 are supported by the trolleys 41 and 43. 
The side shoring-beams 5 are supported by the trolleys 51 and 53. Each 
supporting beam may rest upon the ground or upon an elevator platform, the 
trolleys being removed. 
The trolleys associated with the beams 3 in the central line run upon the 
central tracks 62 and 63. At least two side tracks are arranged in 
parallel with and on opposite sides of the central tracks. The trolleys 41 
run upon an outer side track 61, the trolleys 53 run upon an outer side 
track 64. Each of the tracks comprises two rails. In the installation 
represented in FIGS. 1 and 2, the trolleys 43 and 51 run respectively on 
the central tracks 62 and 63. In the installation as FIG. 4, the trolleys 
43 and 51 run respectively on side tracks 65 and 66. 
The supporting beams are arranged so as to form three lines of beams 
displaced perpendicularly to the axis 13, because the beams 4 and 5 in the 
lateral lines are associated with trolleys which run upon tracks separated 
from the tracks upon which the trolleys run which are associated with the 
beams 3 in the central line. The centres of the beams 3, that is to say, 
the points located each at equal distances from the points of bearing of a 
beam on the trolleys, are aligned upon an imaginary line located between 
an imaginary line which passes through the centres of the beams 4 of one 
lateral line and an imaginary line which passes through the centres of the 
beams 5 of the other lateral line. The ends of the central beams and of 
the side beams are separated, perpendicularly to the axis 13, with respect 
to one another. 
Each trolley comprises four wheels which run in pairs on the two rails. 
Thus the trolley 31 comprises four wheels 311,312,313,314 which are guided 
in bearings in the bogie frame 315. The supporting-beams are parallel or 
perpendicular to the rails. 
Each trolley includes a hydraulic jack. Each supporting beam bears at its 
ends upon two jacks mounted upon trolleys. Thus each beam 3 bears upon the 
jacks 32 and 34 mounted respectively on the trolleys 31 and 33. Each beam 
4 bears on the jacks 42 and 44 mounted respectively on the trolleys 41 and 
43. Each beam 5 bears on the jacks 52 and 54 mounted respectively on the 
trolleys 51 and 53. 
The jacks 32 and 34, 42 and 44, 52 and 54 form three groups. In each group 
the bottom chambers of the jacks are connected. The hydrostatic pressure 
being the same at any point in the hydraulic circuit of each group, all 
the forces developed by the jacks of this group are equal. Thus in FIGS. 6 
to 8 the broken lines referenced I,II,III, define the jacks belonging to 
the three groups. Each group of jacks is equivalent statically to an 
imaginary point support the resultant of which, referenced R1, R2 or R3, 
is equal to the sum of the (equal) reactions of the jacks of this group. 
The resultants from the three groups of jacks are located at the corners of 
an isosceles triangle the main height of which is parallel with the 
longitudinal axis 13 of the boat. The two groups I and II give two 
resultants which are symmetrical and displaced with respect to the 
longitudinal axis 13 of the boat. The third group III gives a resultant 
which passes approximately through the axis 13 of the boat. One can aim at 
equalizing the loads over all the jacks, that is to say, between the jacks 
belonging to the different groups. For this purpose the centre of gravity 
of the ship must be located at the barycentre of the three imaginary 
points of support, weighted by the number of jacks forming each of these 
points. 
Each of the groups of jacks the resultant of which is displaced comprises 
some jacks supporting central supporting-beams and some jacks supporting 
side beams. Thus in the group I some jacks supporting some central beams 3 
are connected to some jacks supporting some side beams 4. In the group II 
some jacks supporting some central beams 3 are connected to some jacks 
supporting some side beams 5. Certain central beams rest upon a jack 
connected to the other jacks of one of the groups I or II, the other jack 
associated with each of these beams being connected to the jacks of the 
other group. The two supporting jacks of certain central beams form part 
of the group III the resultant of which is on the axis of the boat. The 
two supporting jacks of each side beam generally form part of one and the 
same group. Thus the weight of the boat is transmitted by the chocks 21 
onto the supporting-beams 3 and the jacks 32 and 34 are subjected to 
forces. If the shoring-chocks 22 were not applied against the hull of the 
boat the interconnection between the jacks of the group I would tend to 
make the pistons of the jacks 42 and 44 come out. Similarly if the 
shoring-chocks 23 were not applied against the hull, the interconnection 
between the jacks of the group II would tend to make the pistons of the 
jacks 52 and 54 come out. 
FIGS. 6 to 8 represent various arrangements of the supporting-beams. 
The installation represented in FIG. 6 includes a higher number of central 
supporting-beams than lateral supporting-beams. It is suitable for a boat 
having a central keel. 
The installation represented in FIG. 7 comprises central beams and side 
beams which are more numerous than in the arrangement as FIG. 6. 
The installation represented in FIG. 8 includes in the group III jacks 
which support some central beams 3 and some side beams 4 and 5. 
The installations as FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 ensure automatic shoring-up between 
central chocks and lateral chocks. FIG. 3 shows one variant in which the 
lateral supporting beams 4 and 5 are equipped respectively with jacks 45 
and 55 which serve to displace the shoring-chocks 22 and 23 vertically 
when the hull of the boat is curved. The balancing of the forces between 
the different jacks is effected as previously and the shoring-up is again 
achieved automatically. 
FIG. 5 represents a continuous supporting beam which may be employed in the 
installation. This continuous beam includes a number of supporting beams 
perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the boat. Each beam is hinged to 
the adjacent beam. The side beam 4 is joined to the central beam 3 by the 
hinge 71. The side beam 5 is joined to the central beam 3 by the hinge 72. 
The outer end of the side beam 4 bears by way of a jack on a trolley 41 
having four wheels running on the track 61. The outer end of the beam 5 
bears by way of a jack on a trolley 53 having four wheels running on the 
track 64. The coupled ends of the beams 4 and 3 bear by way of a jack on a 
trolley 31 having four wheels running on the track 62. The coupled ends of 
the beams 3 and 5 bear by way of a jack on a trolley 33 having four wheels 
running on the track 63. 
The installation is equipped as a whole or in part with self-propelling 
trolleys 31,33,41,43,51,53. Each self-propelling trolley such as the 
trolley 31 has at least four independent wheels. Each wheel axle is 
independent of the axle of the coaxial wheel. The axles of the wheels are 
guided in axle boxes fixed to the bogie frame such as 315. Two of the four 
wheels are driving wheels. Each of these driving wheels is coupled to a 
hydraulic motor. Thus the driving wheel 311 is coupled to the motor 316, 
the driving wheel 314 being coupled to the motor 317. Each trolley has one 
driving wheel on each rail. The two driving wheels are symmetrical with 
respect to the axis of the jack, which enables the motors to be easily 
housed. 
Of course without departing from the scope of the invention variants and 
improvements in detail may be conceived of and similarly the use of 
equivalent means may be envisaged. 
The trolleys instead of running on rails might run on tracks which are not 
railway tracks. The installation might include two lines of beams 
associated with trolleys running on at least three tracks.