Tensioned, belt track based, transport system and method

Abstract

A tramway transport system ( 31 ) including a flexible belt track ( 32 ) which spans between two transport terminals ( 33,34 ) and, a belt anchorage at each of the terminals. The belt track ( 32 ) is not driven to propel the transport vehicle ( 36, 36 a ) but instead is tensioned by a belt tensioning assembly, preferably a belt reel assembly ( 41 ), formed to apply a tension force to the belt ( 32 ). The transport vehicle ( 36, 36 a ) mounted to the belt ( 32 ) for movement along the belt ( 32 ), and is preferably self-propelled. The belt reel assembly ( 41 ) is capable of rapid, substantial, dynamic length adjustments of the belt track ( 32 ), which enables application of the transport system ( 31 ) to underway ship replenishment applications. A method of transporting loads between terminals ( 33,34 ) using a flexible belt track ( 32 ), a tensioning reel ( 41 ) and load-carrying transport vehicle ( 36, 36 a ) also is disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A trackway for transport system comprising: 
 a belt support structure including two terminals; and    a belt having an elongated substantially rectangular transverse cross section mounted in tension to extend between the terminals with the transverse cross section oriented in a generally horizontal orientation.    
     
     
         2 . The trackway as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 the belt is a flexible belt having reinforcing wires running longitudinally in the belt over the span between the terminals.  
 
     
     
         3 . The trackway as defined in  claim 2  wherein, 
 a body of the belt is formed of one of a rubber, synthetic rubber and elastomeric material.  
 
     
     
         4 . The trackway as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 at least one of the terminals includes a belt reel assembly coupled to an end of the belt, said belt reel assembly applying a tension force to the belt.  
 
     
     
         5 . The trackway as defined in  claim 4  wherein, 
 the belt reel assembly applies a substantially constant tension force to the belt.  
 
     
     
         6 . The trackway as defined in  claim 4  wherein, 
 the belt reel assembly applies a variable tension force to the belt.  
 
     
     
         7 . The trackway as defined in  claim 4  wherein, 
 the length of the belt between the terminals is substantially constant.  
 
     
     
         8 . The trackway as defined in  claim 4  wherein, 
 the length of the belt between the terminals varies dynamically as a result of dynamic changes in the position of at least one of the terminals.  
 
     
     
         9 . The trackway as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 the terminals are horizontally spaced apart.  
 
     
     
         10 . The trackway as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 the terminals are vertically spaced apart.  
 
     
     
         11 . A transport system comprising: 
 a flexible belt having a length sufficient to span between two transport terminals;    a belt anchorage assembly coupled to one end of the belt and formed for securement to one of the transport terminals;    a belt reel assembly coupled to an opposite end of the belt and formed for securement to the other of the transport terminals, the belt reel assembly being further formed to apply a tension force to the belt sufficient to maintain a desired tension force in the belt; and    a transport vehicle formed for mounting to the belt for movement along the belt between the transport terminals.    
     
     
         12 . The transport system as defined in  claim 11  wherein, 
 the transport terminals are located on two ships afloat on a body of water, and  
 the belt anchorage assembly is formed for mounting to one of the ships, while the belt reel assembly is formed for mounting to the other of the ships.  
 
     
     
         13 . The transport system as defined in  claim 1  wherein, 
 the distance between transport terminals can change dynamically during movement of the vehicle; and  
 the belt reel assembly is formed to enable rapid and substantial adjustment of the length of the belt between terminals by reeling the belt in and paying the belt out during dynamic changes of the distance between terminals.  
 
     
     
         14 . The transport system as defined in  claim 11  wherein, 
 said flexible belt has a body formed from one of a synthetic and natural rubber with longitudinally extending reinforcing wires.  
 
     
     
         15 . The transport system as defined in  claim 11  wherein, 
 the anchorage assembly and the belt reel assembly suspend the belt between the transport terminals with a transverse cross section of the belt in a near horizontal orientation.  
 
     
     
         16 . The transport system as defined in  claim 15  wherein, 
 the belt reel assembly includes a horizontally oriented tension sheave having a plurality of wraps of the belt extending around the tension sheave, and the belt reel assembly further includes a belt reorienting assembly formed to turn the belt by about 90 degrees from a vertical orientation on the tension sheave to a near horizontal orientation of the transverse cross section of the belt between the transport terminals.  
 
     
     
         17 . The transport system as defined in  claim 12  wherein, 
 the anchorage assembly is provided by a second belt reel assembly.  
 
     
     
         18 . The transport system as defined in  claim 15  wherein, 
 the belt reel assembly is formed to dynamically apply tension to the belt to maintain sufficient tension in the belt to suspend the belt, the transport vehicle and a load above a surface between the transport terminals while the transport vehicle moves between the transport terminals.  
 
     
     
         19 . The transport system as defined in  claim 11  wherein, 
 the transport vehicle is self-propelled and is driven by engagement of the belt by a traction drive assembly carried by the transport vehicle.  
 
     
     
         20 . A ship-to-ship transport system comprising: 
 a first ship afloat on a body of water;    a second ship afloat on the body of water;    a first belt anchorage on the first ship and a second belt anchorage on the second ship;    a flexible belt track coupled proximate one end thereof to the first belt anchorage and coupled proximate the other end thereof to the second belt anchorage; and    a transport vehicle mounted to the belt track for driving along the belt track between the ships for transport of loads between the ships.    
     
     
         21 . The ship-to-ship transport system as defined in  claim 20  wherein, 
 at least one of the first belt anchorage and the second belt anchorage are formed to apply a tension force to the belt track sufficient to dynamically maintain the belt track, transport vehicle and any load in the transport vehicle suspended between the first ship and the second ship above the body of water.  
 
     
     
         22 . The ship-to-ship transport system as defined in  claim 20  wherein, 
 at least one of the first belt anchorage and the second belt anchorage is provided by a belt reel with a length of the belt track being rolled up on the belt reel, and a tension applying assembly coupled to the belt reel to rotate the belt reel in a direction tensioning the belt track between the ships.  
 
     
     
         23 . The ship-to-ship transport system as defined in  claim 22  wherein, 
 the first ship and the second ship are both underway on substantially parallel courses on the body of water in substantially the same direction; and  
 the tension applying assembly is formed to dynamically apply a tension force to the belt reel sufficient to maintain the belt track, transport vehicle and load above the body of water during dynamic movement of the ships.  
 
     
     
         24 . The ship-to-ship transport system as defined in  claim 20  wherein 
 the first belt anchorage and the second belt anchorage are formed to orient the belt track in a near horizontal orientation between the ships.  
 
     
     
         25 . The ship-to-ship transport system as defined in  claim 24  wherein, 
 the transport vehicle is suspended under the belt track and includes a traction drive assembly engaging the belt track to effect driving of the transport vehicle along the belt.  
 
     
     
         26 . A method of transporting loads between terminals comprising the steps of: 
 mounting a flexible belt track to extend between the terminals;    maintaining a predetermined tension force on the belt track;    supporting a load-carrying transport vehicle from the belt track; and    moving the vehicle while supported on the belt track along the belt track between the two terminals.    
     
     
         27 . The method as defined in  claim 26  wherein, 
 the mounting step is accomplished by mounting the belt track to extend between two terminals located on two ships afloat on a body of water.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method as defined in  claim 27  wherein, 
 the maintaining step is accomplished by mounting at least one end of the belt track to a belt reel provided on one of the ships and maintaining a substantially constant torque on the belt reel.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method as defined in  claim 26  wherein, 
 the moving step is accomplished by driving the transport vehicle along the belt track with a traction drive carried by the vehicle and engaging the belt track.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method as defined in  claim 29  wherein, 
 the driving step is accomplished by suspending the vehicle below the belt track by a pinch roller drive assembly.  
 
     
     
         31 . The method as defined in  claim 26  wherein, 
 the mounting step is accomplished by mounting the belt track with a transverse cross section thereof oriented in a generally horizontal orientation.  
 
     
     
         32 . A method of providing a trackway for a transport system which comprises the steps of: 
 mounting a flexible traction belt having an elongated transverse cross section to extend in tension between two support structures.    
     
     
         33 . The method as defined in  claim 32  wherein, 
 the mounting step is accomplished while orienting a longitudinal axis of the elongated transverse cross section in a generally horizontal plane.  
 
     
     
         34 . The method as defined in  claim 32  wherein, 
 the mounting step is accomplished by mounting the traction belt to a tension applying apparatus positioned proximate one of the support structures.  
 
     
     
         35 . The method as defined in  claim 32  wherein, 
 the mounting step is accomplished by mounting the traction belt to apparatus for dynamically adjusting the length of the traction belt.  
 
     
     
         36 . The method as defined in  claim 32  wherein, 
 the mounting step is accomplished by mounting the traction belt in a relatively fixed position to an underlying surface between the towers and an adjustable position at at least one of the towers.