US20060081170A1

US20060081170A1 - Auxiliary vessel lifting, launching, and carrying system

Info

Publication number: US20060081170A1
Application number: US10/964,193
Authority: US
Inventors: William Wesley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-14
Filing date: 2004-10-14
Publication date: 2006-04-20

Abstract

A system for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel, using at least one support frame, with a connected auxiliary vessel support platform, mounted for rotational and translational movement in Cartesian coordinate directions. The support platform may be inclined to proximate the water level to facilitate launch and retrieval operations.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The related field are methods and systems for retrieving and lifting an auxiliary vessel from the water, into a storage and carrying position and for launching the vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The world of watercraft may be separated into two general categories of ships and boats, boats being the smaller vessels, usually pleasure or recreational craft, or yachts. Boats may range in size from an auxiliary vessel, a dinghy for example, carried on with a larger boat, and used to ferry passengers from an anchorage to shore and back. The size of the auxiliary and of the main vessel, carrying the auxiliary dinghy may vary, depending on the application and need.
As ships and boats may travel to destinations lacking embarking or disembarking facilities, for example, docks, wharfs, or slips, the auxiliary vessel is carried on the main vessel and launched when needed. When use is completed, the auxiliary vessel may be retrieved and stored in a suitable arrangement for travel with the main vessel.
Auxiliary vessels, even though small, may present a challenge in launching and retrieving, considering the weight, shape, and distribution of its mass. For example, one popular type of auxiliary vessel is the inflatable generally U shaped pontoon boat which opens rearwardly and has a transom extending between the legs of the pontoons adjacent the rear free ends thereof. This transom is conventionally utilized for mounting a small outboard motor. Another type of auxiliary vessel is the personal water craft.
Hauling an auxiliary vessel that is wide, bulky or heavy, for example, loaded or imbalanced with an attached outboard motor, on to the main vessel, for example one with a high freeboard relative to the length of the auxiliary vessel, makes impractical, sliding or pushing or dragging the auxiliary vessel on board. Usually required to lift and place the auxiliary vessel on board, is a lifting device with davits, or a cradle for holding the auxiliary vessel and lifting it from the water, and holding it in its lifted position, for swinging it out board of the main vessel, or swinging it on to the main vessel to a storage position.
Many devices, for example the devices shown in issued U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,783, 5,018,473, and 4,864,951, disclose devices for holding, or lifting, an auxiliary vessel from its floating position, but none are able to accomplish the method of sliding or pushing or pulling, an auxiliary vessel onto or off, a storage platform and moving the storage platform from its retrieving position into its storage position in the process or retrieving the auxiliary vessel or moving the vessel from its storage position into its launch position, in the process of moving the auxiliary vessel off the storage platform and toward the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and system for easily retrieving an auxiliary vessel from its floating position, by sliding the auxiliary vessel on board onto a support platform or into the water, without the use of lifting davits or the use of other arrangements for elevating the auxiliary vessel from its floating position.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method and system for transferring an auxiliary vessel from its floating position on to a storage or support platform, positioned in an inclined position with one end toward the open water, for easy movement of the auxiliary vessel onto the lower edge of the platform, and by sliding the auxiliary vessel onto the platform, toward its upper end or by sliding the auxiliary vessel toward the support platform lower end and into the water.
It is another object of the invention, to move the support platform into a storage carry position which may be a horizontal storage position, under the force applied to move the auxiliary vessel on the platform or with the weight of the support platform or the auxiliary vessel, as it is moved or when it is moved, from its starting position at the lower end of the inclined platform, onto the platform and to the upper end of the platform.
It is another object of the invention, to move the platform into a storage position by a complex rotational movement of a pivoted jointed polygon, for example a parallelogram, about one of its pivoting joints and translational movement of of the pivoting joints of the polygon.
It is another object of this invention to provide a full or partial docking or locking system for holding the support platform in position when in its storage position and restraining it securely for transit and for limiting the travel of the support platform when it reaches its storage or launch positions.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of the invention in this Summary and in the Detailed Description. The invention, as shown in a preferred embodiment, uses the principles of an expanding/collapsing support, for example a scissors jack in the form of a polygon with rotating joints connecting its support legs, and for the example shown in a preferred embodiment, four supports, forming a four sided parallelogram polygon, with each support leg joined at the four respective ends for pivoting movement. The support frame or support frame, in a preferred embodiment, uses two parallel support frames or support frames connected by transverse supports to form a box for stability, with the two parallel support frames forming the sides of the expanding/collapsing support scissors jack.
As shown in a preferred embodiment, the support frame or support frame jack or jack frame, as may be alternatively or interchangeably identified, is connected to a base platform, by a base pivoting joint mounted on a base platform. As shown in a preferred embodiment the base platform is mounted on a main or carrying vessel and proximate the water line to facilitate retrieving and launching an auxiliary vessel. As shown in a preferred embodiment, the supporting base is a platform attached to the transom of the carrying boat or vessel and with an end opposed to the open water. As would be apparent to those skilled in the art, the supporting base or the method or structure used to attach the support frame to the supporting base, may be varied without departing from the disclosed inventive principles.
Mounted for pivoting movement on the support frames, at, or proximate, a support leg pivoting or pivot joint connecting adjacent support legs, shown for a preferred embodiment at the pivoting joint opposed to the base joint along an axis of the support frame, is a support launch/carrying platform. The platform may be mounted at an opposed pivoting joint or on an extension of one of the support frame supports or legs connected by the pivoting joint and extending outside the support frame or may be mounted on the support frame, between the pivoting joints, or by an extension of a support leg inside the support frame.
According to the disclosed inventive principles as shown for a preferred embodiment, the support platform supported by the expanding/collapsing support, is translated by a physical displacement between a launch retrieve position and to a storage carrying position. In the launch retrieve position, the support launch/carrying platform is inclined with a first edge positioned proximate the water line and proximate the edge of the base support opposed to the open water, to facilitate launching and retrieval.
In the storage carrying position, the support launch/carrying platform is translated from its inclined launch and retrieve position, to a carrying position, shown in a preferred embodiment as substantially horizontal.
According to the disclosed inventive principles, as shown for a preferred embodiment, a support frame rotates about its respective base joint, while the respective support frame or support frame supports or legs, pivotly linked to each other, rotate about the pivot joints at their respective support leg ends to translate the support frame axes, passing through respective opposed corners of the support frame, from a parallelogram as shown in a preferred embodiment, through a square or rectangular position, depending on the relative lengths of the support frame legs and through a central position. In a preferred embodiment, where the support frame is a parallelogram with at least equal lengths for the opposed support legs, the support frame rotates about the base pivot joint while the axes of the parallelogram support frame rotate about a central point within the support frame and through a central position or center vertical position, as shown in a preferred embodiment, wherein the process, the shape of the support frame is translated to a square or rectangular to where the support frame axes are aligned in an opposite direction, for example relative to the vertical.
In a preferred embodiment, the support frame may be used in its storage carry position or its launch support position, on one side of its central position, and without rotation through a center vertical or central position.
The result of this complex movement, as shown and disclosed according to a preferred embodiment, is to move the support launch carrying platform from its carrying position on the main or carrying vessel to its launch position where the support launch carrying platform is translated proximate the open water with an inclined end, proximate and opposed to the open water and the open water end of the base platform, and then back to its storage carrying position.
In the disclosed preferred embodiment, the base platform for the support is a platform extending from the transom of the main or carrying vessel and arranged with an end opposed to the open water. However, as would be understood by those skilled in the art, the invention as shown according to its disclosed inventive principles, may be placed on the port or starboard of a main or carrying vessel or in a forward position, without departing from the disclosed inventive principles.
In operation, when the auxiliary vessel is launched, the support platform, is displaced toward its launch position, shifting the weight of the support platform and displacing its weight over the support frame central position, which may be the center vertical, where the rotational direction of the torque developed by the weight of the support platform is redirected in an opposite direction, from a direction toward the storage carrying position to the launch retrieval position.
The reverse occurs when translating the support platform from its launch retrieval position to its storage carrying position. Retrieving the auxiliary vessel is the reverse process with the support frames being translated through over the support frame central position, which may be the center vertical position and with the weight of the support platform producing a torque rotating the support platform to its storage carrying position, upon passing through the support frame central or vertical center position.
What is shown and described is a system for carrying an auxiliary vessel on a main vessel in a support carry position and for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel and for transferring the auxiliary vessel between the support carry position and the launch retrieve position, comprising, a) first means for a support platform for storing an auxiliary vessel in a storage carry position and for launching or retrieving said auxiliary vessel in a launch retrieval position; b) second means for supporting said first means and for displacing said first means by translational movement between said storage carry position and said launch support position.
The system as described above, may be arranges so that c) said second means includes means for a support frame, including means for support legs and means for connecting said means for support legs for rotational movement, and means for connecting said support frame to a base for rotational movement of said support frame, or wherein, d) at least one said means for support legs includes means for supporting said first means for translating said first means from a substantially horizontal position to a substantially inclined position. These and other features of the disclosed inventive principles may be seen in the following detailed description.
The invention disclosed, is described as a system for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel, comprising, at least one support frame, an auxiliary vessel support platform, said auxiliary vessel support platform connected to said at least one support frame for rotational movement, a base, said at least one support frame is mounted for pivoting movement about said base, said at least one support frame including support legs connected by pivoting joints for rotational movement, and interconnected in the form of a polygon or wherein said at least one support frame is a parallelogram and said support frame is mounted for translational movement, in response to said pivoting movement of said at least one support frame about said base, or wherein said parallelogram includes a major axis and a cross axis and said at least one support frame support legs are connected for contraction of said support frame along said major axis and rotation of said major axis, in response to said translational movement or wherein said at least one support frame is mounted for rotation about said base through a central or center vertical position.
The disclosed invention is described as a method for carrying an auxiliary vessel on a main vessel in a support carry position and for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel and for transferring the auxiliary vessel between the support carry position and the launch retrieve position, comprising the steps of, a) mounting a support frame with pivoted connected support legs on a base for rotational movement about a base; b)mounting a support platform for rotational movement on said support frame; c) translationally displacing said support platform and said support frame between said support carry position and said launch support position, and inclining said support platform proximate the open water in said launch support position or rotating said support platform from said launch support position to said support carry position or including the step of displacing said support platform or said support frame through a central or center vertical position; or including the step developing a torque driving said support frame to said support carry position when relative to one side of said central or center vertical position or to said launch support position relative to the opposite side of said central or center vertical position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the expanding/collapsing support frame scissors jack in a view toward the port side of the main vessel and showing the port side support frame and the support platform in its storage carrying position.
FIG. 1 a, is a partial view of FIG. 1 showing the support frame in a central or center vertical position where the rotational direction of the torque on the support frame under the weight of the support platform, can change from a direction toward the storage carrying position to the launch retrieval position.
FIG. 2 shows the support frame as shown in FIG. 1, rotated from the storage carrying position or to the launch retrieval position, and in translation where the support frames may pass through a square or rectangle, shape.
FIG. 3 shows the support frame, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, viewed from the port side, with the port support frame of FIG. 1, rotated to its launch retrieve position, and with the support platform inclined with a lower end proximate the open water and extending beyond the open end of the base platform.
FIG. 3 a, shows a variation of the support frame of FIG. 3, with an extension to one of the support frame support legs mounting the support platform on a pivoting support and outside the support frame, and with a stop for stopping the rotational movement of the support frame at its intended launch retrieve position.
FIG. 4 shows in a front view, looking aft toward the open end of the base platform and toward the open water, two support frames, in the process of translational movement as shown in FIG. 2, and with the expanding/collapsing support frame scissors jack box frames connected with a cross member connecting port and starboard support frames, with the support platform mounted on the outside or exterior to the support box frame, and shown with the storage carry platform in the launch retrieve position.
FIG. 5 is FIG. 1 modified to show the port support frame of the support frame scissors jack in a storage position with the support frame axis on the launch retrieve side of the support frame central or center vertical position, as shown and described with reference to FIG. 1, and with limit and restraining stops, to stop the support frame and the support platform from over traveling its storage carrying position and with supports for holding the support platform in it storage position and against the torque produced by the support platform about the support frame pivot joint toward the launch retrieve position.
FIG. 6 is FIGS. 3 and 3 a, modified to show the support platform mounted for pivoting movement on a support frame support leg extension and in its launch retrieval position, with limit stops to prevent the support frame from over-traveling its launch retrieval position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown mounted in a fore and aft direction proximate the stern of a carrying or main vessel and with two parallel support frames connected to form a box with the support frames placed on the port and starboard sides, relative to the main vessel's fore and aft line. The same numerals are used in the Figures to show the same or similarly operating parts and particularly for the port and starboard support frames. “Pivoted,” as used means arranged for pivoting or rotational movement about an axis. The terms support frame or support frame or scissors jack, as used herein, refer to the support frame 21, shown in the preferred embodiment in the form of a parallelogram scissors jack.
The invention is shown in FIG. 1, and in a preferred embodiment, generally by numeral 11, in its storage carry position, viewed from the port side of the main or carrying vessel 9. The invention, according to its disclosed inventive principles is shown mounted on a base platform 13 attached to the transom 15 of a main or carrying vessel 9, at location 15 a, and proximate the water line 17. The base 13 or base platform 13, is shown as having an open end 19, opposed to the open water, as indicated by arrow 20.
The disclosed invention as viewed from the port side of main vessel 9, comprises a box frame, comprised of two scissors jack frames 21, port and starboard, shown as 21 p and 21 s in for the forward aft arrangement of the invention, as shown in FIG. 4. The port and starboard jack frames are expanding/collapsing support scissors jack frames 21, the port side jack frame shown in FIG. 1, for a preferred embodiment, with four legs connected as shown by pivoting or rotating connectors 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, and 21 d. Rotating pivot joint 21 d is connected to the jack frame base 23, which is mounted on the base platform or base 13. Any suitable arrangement may be used to fix the expanding/collapsing support scissors jack frame 21 onto a suitable base 13 as would be known to those skilled in the art and these arrangements do not form part of the disclosed invention or would alter the disclosed inventive principles.
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the disclosure with regard to the port jack frame applies to the starboard jack frame, as shown in a preferred embodiment in FIG. 4.
Attached to the support frame 21 at pivot joint 21 a is support platform 31. An auxiliary vessel 37 is shown supported by the support platform 31 in its storage carrying position. The support frame 21 axis 29, through the center 22 of the parallelogram support frame 21, not shown in FIG. 1 and represented by parallel arrow 29′ relatively displaced from the support frame for purpose of explanation, at an angle with the vertical center 27. The support frame 21 axis 29, represented in FIG. 1 by arrow 29′, in the direction of the storage carry position is under the effect of weight 33 of the support platform producing a torque driving the support platform toward the storage carrying position in the direction of arrow 28.
FIG. 1 a shows the support frame 21 in a support frame central position or center vertical position for a preferred embodiment, over center with regard to the vertical 27 and the axis 29, 29′, of the support frame 21.
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, and as shown in FIG. 1 a, the term “over center,” is used for a preferred embodiment to show a point in the rotational travel of the support frame 21, about rotational axis 21 d, in the directions as shown by arrows 28 or 30, toward the support carry or launch retrieve, position, where the weight of the platform 31, with or without an auxiliary vessel 37, through the pivoting joint 21 a, on support frame 21, develops no torque in the direction of arrow 28, toward the support carry position as shown in FIG. 1 or in the direction of arrow 30, towards its launch retrieve position as shown in FIG. 3.
As would be known to those skilled in the art, the central or center vertical position is used to illustrate a position in the travel of the support frame 21 where the torque on the support frame changes direction. As would be known to those skilled in the art, the central or vertical center, position of the support frame 21 where the torque changes direction may be varied by the size and shape of the support frames, the location of the support platform relative to the support frame 21 and the placement of the auxiliary vessel on the support platform 31.
In FIG. 1 a, the position of pivot joint 21 d is shown on the base support 23 with respect to the view toward the port side of the main vessel.
As shown for the preferred embodiment in FIG. 1, there is a docking fixture 41 with interlocking parts 41 a and 41 b. As shown in a preferred embodiment, the docking fixture uses a stud 41 b aligned to fit into receptor 41 a. Docking fixture 41 is intended to prevent the platform 31 from moving in the direction of bi-directional arrow 34, past the intended storage carry position or towards the center and the launch positions, as shown in FIG. 1 a and FIGS. 3 and 6. Another docking fixture 45 may cooperate with transom 15 of the carrying vessel 9, to prevent the support frame 21 and platform. 31 from moving under the weight 33 of the support platform 31 and the auxiliary vessel 37, in the rotational direction as shown by arrow 28, past its intended alignment position in the support carry position as shown by the alignment of the axis 29′, of the support frame 21. The locking or docking devices 41 and 45 serve as limits to the travel of the support frame 21 and as restraining or retention devices to hold the support frame 21 and the support platform in position. As would be known to those skilled in the art, other suitable devises as now or hereafter known, may be used to hold the storage platform 31 in its store carry or launch retrieve, positions.
As would be apparent to one skilled in the art, the various means or devices for docking and to hold the platform 31 and support frame 21, aligned with its intended support carry position, may be varied and any suitable means may be used, without departing from the disclosed principles of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, the support frame 21 is shown at a point in its physical displacement or translation to or from its support carry or launch retrieve, final position, as represented by directional arrows 28 and 30. As may be seen from FIGS. 1, 1 a, 2, and 3, the support platform 31 undergoes a translational movement as it is translated by a complex motion combining movement in a Cartesian coordinate direction, shown in a preferred embodiment in a substantially horizontal and vertical direction or, for example,in a direction from the support carry position to the launch retrieve position, and rotational movement about an axis, of the support frame 21, as the support frame 21 contracts in going from one position, and expands along the main axis to the other position, going through a support frame central or center vertical position as shown for a preferred embodiment.
In its translational movement, the parallelogram support frame 21, as shown in a preferred embodiment, expands along its cross axis 29 a and contracts along its main axis 29, as the support frame is translated from its support carry position or launch retrieve positions, to where the support frame 21 may be a square or rectangle, as shown in FIG. 2, and then contracts along its cross axis 29 a, and expands along its main axis 29, as the support frame 21 rotates to final launch retrieve or support carry positions, respectively. Similarly, the support frame 21 would contract and then expand along its axis 29, as the support frame 21 is displaced or passes through its central or center vertical position.
The translational movement of the support frame 21 displaces the support frame by rotation about axis 21 d in base 23 and displaces the support frame 21 and the support platform 31 in its Cartesian or linear directions, shown in the preferred embodiment, as approximate the horizontal with reference to the water line and the vertical with reference to arrow 27, to extend the support platform 31 to the launch retrieve position or the support carry position.
As would be apparent to one skilled in the art, the complex movement by rotation and in the Cartesian coordinate system, describing the translational movement of the support frame, reduces the displacement of the support platform 31, mounted on the support frame 21, in the vertical direction and horizontal direction, as compared to a displacement limited rotation only about a rotational axis, for example, 21 d as shown in a preferred embodiment. The complex translational movement in the linear and rotational, directions raises and lowers the support platform 31 while displacing the support frame substantially in a direction along a Cartesian coordinate, or linear direction to extend the support platform 31 to its support carry or launch retrieve, positions while rotating the support platform through its central position.
Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 3A, the platform 31 and the support frame 21 are shown for a preferred embodiment, in the launch retrieve position with the auxiliary vessel 37 in the water opposed to the open water end 19 of base 13, and the inclined end 24 of the support platform 31. The support 21 frame and platform 31, are held in this position and prevented from movement toward the water by frame stop 62 shown mounted on support leg 21 g on support frame 21 and in contact with an adjacent leg 21 f, as shown in FIG. 3A. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the frame stop 62 is not limited to a stopping member extending from one leg of the support frame 21 to an adjoining member but may be used with any of the frame 21 support legs.
Additionally, other suitable means may be used to stop the travel of the support frame 21, whenin its storage carry position, as shown for a preferred embodiment, in FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the translational movement of support frame 21, is limited to the quadrant on the launch retrieve side of the vertical center 27, as shown in FIG. 1 a, and where the torque on the support frame 21 from the weight of the support platform 31 is in the direction of arrow 30. In a preferred embodiment, suitable means like auxiliary support 92 cooperating with stop 94 on leg 21 g, may be used to hold the support frame in position. The support 92 as shown in a preferred embodiment, may be mounted for rotational movement, in or out of operation with support frame 21, by pivot joint 98 in auxiliary support base 96 on base 13. Support frame 21 main axis 29, is shown for purpose of explanation, parallel to but displaced from the center of the support frame 21.
Any suitable means may be used to dock or restrain movement of, the support platform 31 and the support frame 21, at the intended limit of travel from one of its positions to another or at any between location, including electrical or mechanical limit switches and mechanically operated or electrically operated stops, as would be now or in the future, known to those skilled in the art.
FIG. 4, shows the support frame 21 and support platform 31 from the front looking aft and in the launch retrieve position. Pivot joint 21 a is shown for explanation purpose, as it would appear in its position aft or behind pivot joint 21 c, as may be seen in FIG. 2, to show the connection of the support frame to the support platform 31. As may be seen in a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the support box frame 48 is formed by the connector 51, connecting the port support frame and starboard support frame, respectively identified by 21 p and 21 s to distinguish their respective locations on the base platform 13. The box frame 48, is connected by the support frames 21 s and 21 p, to the respective support frame bases 23 s and 23 p at base pivot joints 21 d. The support frame 31 is shown, in the position shown in FIG. 2, and in the launch retrieve position with end 24, not shown behind the base 13, shown in cross section, and opposed to the open water end 19 (not shown), of base 13.
The support frame 31 is shown in FIG. 4, mounted in outside the support support frames 21 p and 21 s, and as would be known to those skilled in the art, the support frame 31 may be mounted inside or outside the support box frame box, 48, without departing from the disclosed inventive principles. Numerals 55 and 57 show the attached location of the port and starboard support frames 21 p and 21 s, to the base 13.
FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention with the support frame 21 and platform 31 in the support carry position. In FIG. 5, the support frame 21 is on the launch retrieve side of the vertical center, as shown in FIG. 1 a, and the weight 33 of the platform 31 drives the platform and its auxiliary vessel 37 into the engagement device 41.
Separately shown in FIG. 5 is a support frame stop 58 mounted on a leg 21 h and which rotates with leg 21 h about support base pivot joint 21 d to engage with base mounted stop 60 to prevent movement of the platform 31 and the support 21 past the limit of its support carry position. Other suitable stops may be used as would be known to those skilled in the art. The docking means 41 is shown in a preferred embodiment with a single cooperating stop 41 b to limit movement of the storage platform 31 toward the launch retrieve position in the direction of arrow 30. As would be known to those skilled in the art, other suitable locking or docking devices may be used.
FIG. 6 shows in a preferred embodiment, the support 21 and platform 31 with leg 21 g of the support 21 extending beyond pivot joint 21, and supporting the platform 31 outside the support frame 21 by means of extension 66 on support frame leg 21 g. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the support platform 31 may be placed on a support leg within the support frame and between the support frame joints 21 d, 21 a, 21 b, 21 c, without departing from the disclosed inventive principles.
FIG. 6 shows the operation of the limit stop 62, shown in a preferred embodiment mounted on frame support leg 21 g and in contact with frame support leg 21 f, preventing it movement toward support leg 21 g and translation of the support frame 21 and the support platform beyond the intended stop launch retrieve stop position. As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the stop 62 may be placed on any of the other support legs and any other suitable stop may be used as would be known to those skilled in the art.
As would be understood by those skilled in the art, the disclosed inventive principles may be varied as is now or hereafter known, without departing from the disclosed invention principles.

Claims

1-18. (canceled)

19. A system for carrying an auxiliary vessel on a main vessel in a support carry position and for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel and for transferring the auxiliary vessel between the support carry position and the launch retrieve position, comprising,

a) first means for supporting an auxiliary vessel in a storage carry position and for launching or retrieving said auxiliary vessel in a launch retrieval position;

b) second means for supporting said first means and displacing said first means by translational movement comprising vertical and horizontal movement, in a path between said storage carry position and said launch support position;

c) said second means comprising third means for displacing said second means in said path through a center vertical position;

d) said first means comprising means for producing a torque toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position in response to said second means displacement through said center vertical position.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein.

e)) said third means comprises fourth means for connecting said second means to a base connected to a main vessel, for rotational movement of said second means through said path and said first means comprises means for producing a torque about said fourth means toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position in response to said displacement of said second means in said path through said center vertical position.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein said third means comprises fifth means for connecting said second means to a base for said rotational movement through said vertical center, in a fore aft direction, relative to a main vessel, and said first means comprises means for producing said torque toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position, in response to said displacement of said first means in said path in said fore aft direction and about said fifth means.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said second means comprises sixth means for supporting said first means by a plurality of pivotly linked support legs; and said third means comprises a means for supporting said second means by at least a first plurality of said plurality of pivotly linked support legs, connected for rotation to said third means.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein said sixth means comprises means for a parallelogram with a major axis and a cross axis; said sixth means comprising means for connecting said parallelogram for rotation to said first means, by a second plurality of pivotly linked support legs; and wherein said major axis extends from said first plurality of pivotly linked support legs to said second plurality of pivotly linked support legs; and said sixth means comprises means for rotating said major axis through said center vertical position in response to said displacement of said second means in said path through said center vertical position.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein said means for producing a torque produces no torque at a location in said path toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position, in response to said second means displacement through said center vertical position.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein said sixth means comprises means for expanding said major axis in response to said displacement of said second means from said storage carry position toward said center vertical and for contracting said major axis in response to said displacement of said second means from said center vertical to said launch retrieval position.

26 The system of claim 22, wherein said second means comprises at least a second plurality of piviotly linked support legs for rotational connection of said first means to said second means, proximate said at least a second plurality of pivotly linked support legs.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein said second means comprises eighth means for rotational connection of said first means to said second means and for placing said first means in an incline when in said launch retrieval position, with said incline from a higher to a lower position relative to said forward to aft direction, respectively.

28. A system for launching or retrieving an auxiliary vessel from a main vessel, comprising,

a base mounted on a main vessel;

at least one support frame mounted to said base by a first pivoting joint, for rotational movement in a path through a center vertical position;

a support platform mounted to said support frame opposed to said first pivoting joint, and positioned to develop a torque toward said support carry position or said launch support position, in response to said support frame movement in said path through said center vertical position.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said at least one support frame is a parallelogram comprising pivotly linked support arms; said support frame is mounted for translational movement, in a horizontal and in a vertical direction, respectively, in response to said pivoting movement of said support frame in said path through said center vertical position.

30 The system of claim 29, wherein said parallelogram includes a major axis and a cross axis and said major axis expands in response to said pivoting movement of said support frame in said path toward said center vertical position, and contracts in response to said pivoting movement of said support frame from said center vertical to said storage carry position or to said launch retrieval position, respectively.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein said rotational movement of said support frame is in a fore aft direction relative to the main vessel.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein.

said support platform is mounted to said support frame for rotational movement from a horizontal position to an inclined position, when in it launch retrieval position, with said incline from a higher to a lower position relative to said for to aft direction, respectively or said storage carry and launch retrieval positions, respectively.

33. The system of claim 28, comprising,

at least two support frames;

at least one cross connector,

said at least one cross connector attached to a first of said at least two support frames at a first end and connected to a second of said at least two support frames at a second end and forming a box frame.

34. The system of claim 28, wherein,

said at least one support frame is a parallelogram comprising pivotly linked support arms; a first pivoting joint at first pivotly linked support arms connected for rotation to a base pivoting joint and a second pivoting joint at second pivotly linked support arms, said second pivoting joint opposed to said first pivoting joint of said parallelogram; and said support platform mounted on a respective linked support arm of said second pivotly linked support arms and proximate said second pivoting joint.

35. The system of claim 34, comprising,

a limit stop mounted on at least one of said support legs, and a cooperating limit stop mounted to engage said limit stop when said support frame is in its launch retrieve position.

36 A method for carrying and launching an auxiliary vessel from a main carrying comprising the steps of,

a) supporting an auxiliary vessel in a storage carry position and for launching or retrieving said auxiliary vessel in a launch retrieval position;

b) displacing said auxiliary vessel by translational movement comprising vertical and horizontal movement, in a path between said storage carry position and said launch support position, in a path through a center vertical position;

d) producing a torque toward said storage carry position or toward said launch retrieval position in response to said displacement through said center vertical position.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said step of displacing includes the step of displacing said auxiliary vessel in a fore aft direction relative to a main carrying vessel.

38. The method of claim 36, including the step of rotating said auxiliary vessel into an incline with a lower end of said incline in the aft direction relative to the for aft direction of said main carrying vessel.