Patent ID: 7866274

Claim:
A system for translating and launching a pile for a marine application, comprising: a vessel; at least one rack coupled to the vessel; a first pile disposed on the rack; at least one cart disposed on a travel path lateral to a length of the pile; a first motive force means coupled to the cart and adapted to move the cart along the travel path; a second motive force means coupled to the cart and adapted to raise and lower the cart between a first elevation and a second elevation, the first elevation being lower than an elevation of the pile when disposed on the rack to provide clearance for the cart as the cart moves laterally under the pile, and the second elevation being higher than a height of the rack to provide clearance for the pile as the cart laterally moves the pile over the rack; a first portion of a launch arm assembly rotatably coupled in proximity to a side of the vessel and adapted to receive the pile during a transfer from the cart; and a third motive force means adapted to cause rotation of the first portion of the launch arm assembly between a first position adapted to receive the pile from the cart and a second position adapted to allow the pile to be launched from the first portion of the launch arm assembly.