Abstract
A vessel and method for the production, transport, and deployment of additively-manufactured objects is disclosed, where the vessel and method permit the efficient fabrication and deployment of additively manufactured objects on and into a body of water. Additively manufactured objects are manufactured and/or fabricated directly on a vessel which can lower itself into the water, thereby facilitating the deployment of said objects.
Claims
1. A fabrication vessel for additively manufacturing and deploying objects while said fabrication vessel resides in a body of water, comprising: a manufacturing dock disposed at a first vertical position with respect to a waterline of the body of water; a transport dock receivable on the manufacturing dock for egress and ingress to the manufacturing dock; an additive manufacturing device mounted on the vessel proximal to the transport dock for constructing an additively manufactured object on the transport dock; wherein lowering the manufacturing dock to a second vertical position facilitates egress of the transportation dock resulting from at least a partial submergence of the transportation dock below the waterline.
2. The fabrication vessel of claim 1, wherein the second vertical position results in the transportation dock separating from the manufacturing dock due to the buoyancy of the transportation dock.
3. The fabrication vessel of claim 1, wherein the additively manufactured object is buoyant.
4. The fabrication vessel of claim 1, wherein the transport dock can propel to a remote location.
5. A fabrication vessel for additively manufacturing and deploying objects while said fabrication vessel resides in a body of water, comprising: a manufacturing dock disposed at a first vertical position with respect to a waterline of the body of water; and an additive manufacturing device mounted on the vessel proximal to the manufacturing dock for constructing an additively manufactured object on the manufacturing dock; wherein lowering the manufacturing dock to a second vertical position facilitates removal of the additively manufactured object resulting from at least a partial submergence of the additively manufactured object below the waterline.
6. The fabrication vessel of claim 5, wherein the additive manufacturing device constructs multiple additively manufactured objects simultaneously.
7. The fabrication vessel of claim 5, wherein the additively manufactured objects are deployed directly into the body of water.
8. A method for deploying an additively manufactured object, comprising: providing a vessel on a body of water having an additive manufacturing device located on the vessel; positioning a first dock of the vessel at a first vertical position; using the additive manufacturing device to generate an additively manufactured object on the first dock; lowering the first dock until a force required to deploy the additively manufactured object is reduced; and deploying the additively manufactured object into the body of water.
9. The method for deploying an additively manufactured object of claim 8, wherein the additively manufactured object is a component of a wave energy generator.
10. The method for deploying an additively manufactured object of claim 8, wherein the first dock is separable from the vessel, and wherein the first dock rests on a larger second dock during the generation of the additively manufactured object.
11. The method for deploying an additively manufactured object of claim 8, wherein a material used to generate the additively manufactured object is cement.
12. The method for deploying an additively manufactured object of claim 8, further comprising the step of supplying material to the additive manufacturing device with a second vessel adjacent the first vessel.
13. The method for deploying an additively manufactured object of claim 10, wherein the larger second dock accommodates a plurality of smaller docks.
14. The method for deploying an additively manufactured object of claim 8, wherein the additive manufacturing device generates multiple additively manufactured objects simultaneously and multiple additively manufactured objects can be deployed simultaneously.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in a subsequent stage;
[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in another subsequent stage;
[0042] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in yet another subsequent stage;
[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in still another subsequent stage;
[0044] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in another subsequent stage;
[0045] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in yet another subsequent stage;
[0046] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in still another subsequent stage;
[0047] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in another subsequent stage;
[0048] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 in yet another subsequent stage;
[0049] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;
[0050] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in a subsequent stage;
[0051] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in another subsequent stage;
[0052] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 11 in a yet another subsequent stage; and
[0053] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the current disclosure. A large floating dry dock 100 is floating in a body of water 101 with waterline 102. The waterline 102 is the position of the dock 100 relative to the surface of body of water 101, and corresponds with a depth sufficient to keep the dock afloat, but not high enough to submerge its deck 103.
[0055] Upon the deck 103 of the larger floating dry dock 100 rests two smaller floating dry docks 104. The large dock 100 has mounted upon it two additive manufacturing devices 105, which include a material deposition strut 106, a trolley 105, and a gantry 107. Material deposition struts 106 extend along one axis relative to their respective trolleys 105, i.e., up and down relative to the horizontal deck 103 of the large floating dry dock 100. The trolleys 105 are constrained to and are able to move along one axis relative to their respective gantries 107, i.e., port to starboard relative to the large floating dry dock 100. The gantries 107 move along axes normal to their respective trolleys 105, i.e., fore and aft relative to the large floating dry dock 100.
[0056] With respect to this embodiment, material for the additive material devices is supplied via barges 108 through pipes or hoses 109 into the large floating dry dock 100. Deposition struts 106 construct and/or fabricate additively manufactured objects upon small floating dry docks 104. Additively manufactured objects 110 are under construction while additively manufactured objects 111 are complete.
[0057] FIG. 2 depicts the embodiment of FIG. 1 configured in a manner representative of a subsequent step of the AMO fabrication process. Large floating dry dock 100 has increased its net weight (and/or decreased its buoyancy) such that it is the floating deeper in the body of water 101, i.e., waterline 102 has moved higher on large floating dry dock 100. In the illustrated configuration, waterline 102 has risen to the point that the deck 103 of large floating dry dock 100 is now submerged. Waterline 102 is also high enough that the smaller floating dry docks 104 are now floating in the body of water 101 and are no longer in contact with the deck 103 of large floating dry dock 100. The material deposition struts 106, trolleys 105, and gantries 107 have all moved along their respective axes, and/or degrees of freedom, to positions where they are farthest away from the additively manufactured objects 111.
[0058] FIG. 3 shows the small floating dry docks 104 (i.e., the transport docks) floating and not in contact with the deck 103 (i.e., the manufacturing deck) of the large floating dry dock 100, and are able to move (or to be moved) away from large floating dry dock 100. In other embodiments (not shown), as aforementioned, a vertical separation between the keels of the small floating dry docks and the deck of the large floating dry dock is achieved not by the lowering of the large floating dry dock, but by the raising of the small floating dry docks.
[0059] FIG. 4 shows the small floating dry docks 104 containing the constructed additively manufactured objects 111 continue to move away from large floating dry dock 100. Two empty small floating dry docks 112 move toward large floating dry dock 100 to replace the launched floating dry docks 104.
[0060] FIG. 5 shows the smaller empty floating dry docks 112 floating at a depth in body of water 101 with a shallow enough waterline 102 such that they are able to move into position on and/or above the deck 103 of the large floating dry dock 100 without making contact therewith.
[0061] In FIG. 6, the smaller floating dry docks 112 have positioned their hulls over the deck 103 of the large floating dry dock 100. The large floating dry dock 100 has decreased its net weight (and/or increased its buoyancy) sufficiently so as to cause the waterline 102 to be positioned below the deck 103 of the large floating dry dock 100 on which the smaller floating dry docks 112 rest. Because the deck 103 of the large floating dry dock 100 has risen beneath them, the bottom surfaces of the small floating dry docks (i.e. their keels) have come to rest on the deck of large floating dry dock 100. Material deposition struts 106 on additively manufacturing devices 105, located on large floating dry dock 100, have begun to fabricate additively manufactured objects 110 on the decks 113 of the small floating dry docks 112. In this manner, the additively manufactured objects are being 3-D printed on the decks of the small floating dry docks. In one manner of 3-D printing, a material such as cement is deposited by a nozzle in a linear and layered fashion, i.e. the movement of the nozzle defines contours, and the extrusion of material from the nozzle as it moves allows a structure to be built up. In some embodiments, said formed structure contains interior hollow voids so that the structure is buoyant.
[0062] FIG. 7 shows the small floating dry dock 104 with eight additively manufactured objects 111 that have been fabricated on its deck 113. The small floating dry dock 104 is floating at a depth relative to the surface of body of water 101 such that the waterline 102 is below the deck 113 upon which the additively manufactured objects 111 have been fabricated.
[0063] FIG. 8 shows the small floating dry dock 104 with eight additively manufactured objects 111 that have been fabricated on its deck 113. The eight additively manufactured objects 111 are now partially submerged adjacent to the surface of the water 101. The small floating dry dock 104 has increased its net weight (and/or decreased its buoyancy) so as to cause the surface of the body of water 101 to now be located above the upper surface of the deck 113 of the small floating dry dock 104. The deck 113 of the small floating dry dock 104 has lowered sufficiently into the water, and/or waterline 102 is sufficiently high, with respect to the additively manufactured objects 111 so that they are now floating in the water and no longer in contact with the deck 113 of the small floating dry dock 104.
[0064] FIG. 9 shows the additively manufactured objects 111 that had been fabricated on to the upper deck 113 of the small floating dry dock 104 have moved themselves or been moved by external force(s) away from small floating dry dock 104. Structures aboard the small floating dry dock can facilitate this motion, e.g. mechanical arms, tracks, winches, rails, conveyors, cranes, etc.
[0065] In FIG. 10, the additively manufactured objects 111 have all been offloaded from the small floating dry dock 104. Following the discharge of the additively manufactured objects, the small floating dry dock 104 has decreased its net weight (and/or increased its buoyancy) so as to move the waterline and thereby cause its deck 113 to rise from, and/or out of, the water. Small floating dry dock 104 is now ready to behave like the small floating dry docks 112 in FIG. 4, and move back to large floating dry dock 100 to begin a repetition of the disclosed process again.
[0066] In FIG. 11, floating dry dock 200 is floating with a waterline 201. Waterline 201 demarks the depth, and/or vertical position, of the floating dry dock 200 relative to the surface of body of water 203 at which it is neutrally buoyant. Waterline 201 is sufficient to keep floating dry dock 200 afloat, but not high enough to submerge its deck 204. Floating dry dock 200 has installed/mounted upon it four additively manufacturing devices 205 that are comprised of material deposition struts 206, trolleys 205, gantries 207, and beams 208. The beams 208 force the deposition struts 206 to move in unison.
[0067] The deposition struts 206 can move along one axis relative to their respective trolleys 205 (i.e. up/down relative to floating dry dock 200). The trolleys 205 are constrained to and able to move along one axis relative to their respective gantries 207 (i.e. port/starboard relative to floating dry dock 200). The gantries 207 can move along an axis normal to their respective trolleys 205 (i.e. fore/aft relative to floating dry dock 200).
[0068] The material consumed by the additively manufacturing devices 205 during the fabrication process, is supplied through pipes/hoses 209 from respective tanks 210 internal to floating dry dock 200 (e.g. inside the vertical walls such as 211).
[0069] The deposition struts 206 are constructing additively manufactured objects 212 on the deck 204 of floating dry dock 200. Some of the additively manufactured objects, e.g. 213, illustrated in FIG. 11 are under construction, while others, e.g. 212, are complete.
[0070] FIG. 12 shows floating dry dock 200 has increased its net weight (and/or decreased its buoyancy) so as to cause it to float deeper in the body of water 203.
[0071] In the illustrated configuration and/or fabrication step, waterline 201 is high enough so as to cause the deck 204 of floating dry dock 200 to be submerged. The waterline 201 is also high enough that the fabricated additively manufactured objects 212 are now floating in the body of water 203 and are no longer in contact with the upper surface of the deck 204. The material deposition struts 206 have moved upward and away from the deck of floating dry dock 200 to a position where they are above, and cannot contact, the additively manufactured objects 212.
[0072] FIG. 13 depicts the floating and/or launched additively manufactured objects 212 have moved themselves or been moved by external force(s) away from floating dry dock 200.
[0073] FIG. 14 shows the floating and/or launched additively manufactured objects 212 have been deployed into desired positions. Floating dry dock 200 has subsequently decreased its net weight (and/or increased its buoyancy) so as to cause its waterline 201 to be positioned below floating dry dock 200's deck 204, i.e., the deck 204 is now above the waterline and above the surface of the water. The material deposition struts 206 on floating dry dock 200 have begun to fabricate additional additively manufactured objects 213 on the deck of the floating dry dock 200.
[0074] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the current disclosure. Body of water 300 is accessible within channels or apertures 301 within dock 302. The dock 302 may also be a wharf, pier, jetty, quay, land mass, etc. Three additively manufacturing devices 303 are shown on dock 302 and move along axes parallel to and/or over channels 301 in dock 302 via tracks/wheels/etc. The motions of the AMDs 303 and the respective material deposition struts 305 are similar to those described in connection with the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0075] FIG. 15 shows three additively manufacturing devices 303, and respective channels 301, where it is understood that the number of AMDs and channels is arbitrary and not limited. Floating dry docks 306 can position themselves in channels 304 in such a way that the deposition struts 305 can construct additively manufactured objects 307 on the decks 303 of the floating dry docks 306. The material consumed during the fabrication process is supplied through pipes/hoses 308 from respective tanks 309. These tanks can be mounted aboard vehicles or vessels, e.g., trucks, rail cars, ships, or barges. Some of the illustrated additively manufactured objects, e.g. 311 are under construction, while others, e.g. 307, are complete. Floating dry docks 310 with completed additively manufactured objects may leave the dock 302 so as to transport the completed additively manufactured objects thereon to one or more new locations.
