A New Transportation System for the Automatic Handling of Bulk Materials and Suplies in Offshore and Underwater Environments
Authors: Radford Arthur W. , Cooke Frederick A.F. 
Published: October 2008

The capabilities of a new automatic transportation system, The Dashaveyor, for offshore and underwater operations are discussed. The paper discusses how the new system works, what it can do and how it can be applied to Offshore transportation needs.

The system can operate underground, underwater, on the surface, elevated, suspended or in any combination thereof. It is non-derailable, can climb or descend any incline, including the vertical, and can operate in any environment, in any weather, around the clock 365 days a year.

The Dashaveyor consists of individually powered modules which can be operated independently or coupled together in "flights" at speeds up to 80 mph. They operate on a special guideway of parallel I-Beam reails inside a rectangular tube and are completely automatic.

Modular building blocks are utilized (guideway, drive, body, switches and controls) which are provided in various standard configurations (or custom designs when required) to solve virtually any transportation need. For example, Dashaveyor systems are available for mining people-moving, bulk materials, cargo, mail, refuse, etc.

The paper will discuss offshore bulk materials handling and loading of ships where there is no harbor; use of the system in conjunction with tunneling techniques for underwater drilling and oil well servicing; and use of the system in offshore mining operations.

Other applications related to offshore operations are also discussed.

Color slides and a color movie will be used in the presentation to illustrate applications.

TEXT

Situated as we are in the midst of the exploration of the innerspace frontier, we find ourselves challenged by an environment far different from that of the land masses which we call home. Even as we gain more knowledge of the watery regions of this planet, we are forced to gain new perspectives and employ new techniques in order to best utilize this knowledge.

Fortunately, Man's imagination and today's advanced technology are providing us with the necessary tools for full exploitation and development of the ocean's resources. One such device with great potential in many fields of oceanographic technology and industry is the Dashaveyor Total Transportation System.

Modular building blocks are utilized (guideway, drive, body, switches and controls) which are provided in various standard configuration (or custom design when required) to solve virtually any transportation need. For example, Dashaveyor system are available for mining, people-moving, bulk materials, cargo, mail, refuse, etc. (Fig. 1-6)

The Dashaveyor was first conceived by Stanley A. Dashew in the summer of 1963 as a means of facilitating deep-water ship-to-shore cargo transit. After many months of study with top authorities in the fields of mining and industrial logistics, Mr. Dashew was able incorporate into the Dashveyor design those features most highly desired by the industrial leadership.

The first prototype, completed in Venice, California, was a small system designed basically for testing the Dashaveyor concept. Studies proved that the Dashaveyor could indeed meet the unusual demands of offshore loading, and that the system was quite revolutionary in its performance. For the first time, a mode of transport was available which could travel horizontally at high speed, climb a progressive grade, and then proceed vertically, straight up or straight down, without at break in the operating cycle, and without any transference of cargo.