| US 7,481,176 B2 | ||
| Transportable flotation system | ||
| James N. Pratt, Vicksburg, Miss. (US); Tommy L. Bevins, Vicksburg, Miss. (US); Bob E. Walker, Vicksburg, Miss. (US); James C. Ray, Clinton, Miss. (US); Michael J. Plackett, Corvallis, Oreg. (US); Donald T. Resio, Vicksburg, Miss. (US); Frank E. Sargent, Vicksburg, Miss. (US); Zeki Demirbilek, Vicksburg, Miss. (US); and Jimmy E. Fowler, Vicksburg, Miss. (US) | ||
| Assigned to United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, D.C. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jun. 01, 2007, as Appl. No. 11/806,532. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/810643, filed on Jun. 05, 2006. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0295258 A1, Dec. 27, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. B63B 35/44 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 114—264 [14/27] | 23 Claims |
| 19. A transporter for carrying a compliant flotation system for supporting conveyances above a fluid, said flotation system
comprising multiple sections each said section having a top incorporating at least decking, a bottom, two sides and two ends,
said top parallel to said bottom, said sides parallel one to the other and said ends parallel one to the other, each said
section connected one to another via connectors at each end of said top of each said section and flexible fabric coupling
elements selected from the group consisting of straps, ropes, cables and combinations thereof, each said section further comprising
at least two inflatable devices in operable communication with said bottom of said section, said inflatable devices oriented
approximately perpendicular to the resultant length of said system,
wherein each said coupling element is tensioned via said slidable connectors prior to use of said system, and
wherein each said flexible fabric coupling element is in operable communication with two said sections for the purpose of
supporting said sections in tension, and
wherein said flotation system is supported in compression by at least said decking and said decking support, and
wherein said system may be deployed in conditions up to at least sea state 3.
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