[go: up one dir, main page]

WO1991017915A1 - Appareil de flottaison - Google Patents

Appareil de flottaison Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1991017915A1
WO1991017915A1 PCT/AU1991/000177 AU9100177W WO9117915A1 WO 1991017915 A1 WO1991017915 A1 WO 1991017915A1 AU 9100177 W AU9100177 W AU 9100177W WO 9117915 A1 WO9117915 A1 WO 9117915A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
vessel
chamber
inflatable means
inflatable
secured
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/AU1991/000177
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Bruce Mervyn Webster
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of WO1991017915A1 publication Critical patent/WO1991017915A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B43/00—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for
    • B63B43/02—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking
    • B63B43/10—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving buoyancy
    • B63B43/14—Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for reducing risk of capsizing or sinking by improving buoyancy using outboard floating members

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to a flotation apparatus which is particularly useful as a safety device for any type of seagoing vessel.
  • the invention finds greater use for smaller vessels such as private leisure or fishing boats.
  • the aim of this invention is to provide a flotation apparatus which overcomes, or at least partly alleviates, the above mentioned problems of known safety systems . - 2
  • the present invention provides a flotation apparatus for a vessel, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable means capable of being secured to said vessel; a device for holding said inflatable means , said device being capable of being secured to or being made integral with said vessel; and means to actuate inflation of the inflatable means either manually or in response to a predetermined event; wherein, said holding device comprises a substantially hollow body having a chamber therein and at least one resilient portion which is capable of opening to allow access to the chamber, said at least one resilient portion being urged towards a closed position such that the inflatable means may be retained within the chamber until inflation of the inflatable means is initiated by the actuating means, after which the inflatable means is capable of forcing said at least one resilient portion open to complete inflating outside the chamber.
  • the device for holding the inflatable means is provided by an elongate hollow strip.
  • the hollow strip is preferably rectangular in cross-section, having opposing side walls and top and bottom walls which together define the chamber.
  • the hollow strip may be rigidly secured to the outer surface of the hull of a vessel by any known means, and preferably at a location adjacent the widest point of the hull, running continuously or in a number of finite lengths from the bow of the hull to the stern (on each side) and across the stern. - 3 -
  • the hollow strip is preferably constructed so that attachment to the hull of the vessel may be made via one side wall, so that the other side wall includes the resilient portion referred to above.
  • the side wall is defined by an upper elongate flap extending downwardly to partially overlap or engage with a lower upwardly extending flap. In their at rest positions the overlapping portions of the flaps abut to substantially close the chamber within the hollow strip.
  • the overlapping flaps may be of any configuration, and may engage in any way.
  • the lower flap may be of a width such that a continuous downwardly extending groove may be located therein which is capable of receiving the lower portion of the upper flap in a tongue and groove type relationship.
  • Such a configuration would serve to provide a better closure and may provide a reasonably water tight seal.
  • the material of the hollow strip must at least be such that the part thereof which provides the resilient portion is capable of movement between a closed position and an open position responsive to a predetermined force from within the chamber of the holding device.
  • the hollow strip itself is formed of a heavy rubber.
  • the thickness of the flaps will be determined by the particular grade of rubber as well as by the force exerted from within the chamber by the inflatable means, which force would be dependent upon the particular type of inflatable means together with the particular type of actuating means.
  • any other type of resilient material may be utilised such as silicon or moulded plastics.
  • the device for holding the inflatable means has been described above as being externally locatable about the vessel.
  • the holding device may be located within the vessel, or at virtually any other location that is at a position near or above the waterline of the vessel.
  • the holding device may also be incorporated within the body of the hull.
  • a particular advantage provided by using the preferred form described above is that the hollow strip may be located about the hull in a position whereby it is capable of also acting as a bumper for the vessel. This would then negate the need for additional bumpers on jetties or walls or the like, and also the need for additional bumpers located on the vessel itself.
  • the device for holding the inflatable means also need not be provided about the entire periphery of the vessel, nor must the inflatable means be such as to provide flotation for the entire periphery.
  • the inflatable means it is preferred that regardless of the type or configuration of the inflatable means, it is suitable to keep the vessel substantially afloat if needed.
  • a number of locations may be provided about the vessel for the holding device, providing several areas of release for the inflatable means.
  • the inflatable means of the present invention is preferably secured within the chamber of the holding device, which is in turn secured to the vessel.
  • the inflatable means may be an inflatable bag or an inflatable bladder or the like which is constructed of a relatively tough material such that on inflation the bag or bladder is capable of forcing its way past the resilient portion of the holding device to continue inflating outside the chamber of the holding device.
  • the inflatable means is an elongate inflatable bladder secured along one edge thereof to the inside of the holding device. - 5 -
  • the inflatable means may simply be held within the holding device while not being secured thereto.
  • the inflatable means must of course be otherwise secured to the vessel, such as by a tie-line or rope, or any other type of umbilical line.
  • the tie-line must be relatively short in order for the vessel to be held above water when the inflatable means is actuated and the apparatus of the present invention is utilised.
  • the actuating means of the present invention preferably includes a source of compressed air or gas connected by gas lines to the or each inflatable means together with a valve for releasing the compressed air or gas following a predetermined signal.
  • the actuating means includes a solenoid which is activated by a switch.
  • the switch may either be manually operable by a person within the boat, or may be automatically operable (such as by a water sensing switch or by a flotation switch) which would react to the presence of a predetermined level of water within the vessel or to some other similar warning state.
  • any type of actuating means may be utilised with the apparatus of the present invention, provided that a system is present that can automatically or manually initiate the inflation of the inflatable means.
  • the apparatus of the present invention provides a safety feature for any vessel, which is easily installed in an existing vessel or may be incorporated in the manufacture of new vessels.
  • the apparatus is readily adaptable to any type of vessel, and any shape of vessel, and provides a mechanism which is both life saving and also asset saving.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is capable of keeping a vessel afloat even when that vessel is partially or completely filled with water.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is also easily reusable, simply requiring the inflatable means to be re ⁇ inserted within the holding means, and only requiring maintenance or replacement of the source of inflation, which in the preferred embodiment is illustrated as a source of compressed air.
  • the apparatus also provides the ability to have either or both of a manually operated system or an automatically operated system which may be set to be initiated by predetermined warning levels, which may be different in different circumstances and with different vessels.
  • Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 after activation
  • Figure 4 is a cross-section of the holding means of the embodiment of Figure 1;
  • Figure 5 is a cross-section of the holding means and the inflatable means of the embodiment of Figure 1;
  • Figure 6 is a diagrammatic cross-section of the holding means and the inflatable means of Figure 5 after activation.
  • FIG. 1 Illustrated in Figure 1 is a rudimentary outline of a boat 10 having a bow 12 a stern 14 and a hull 16. Secured to the hull 16 near the top thereat is a folding device in the form of an elongate rubber hollow strip 18 having an inflatable means therein (not shown) connected by a gas- line 20 to an actuating means (not shown) within the boat 10.
  • the hollow strip 18 extends from the bow 12 to the stern 14 in a continuous length, and at a height which allows it to act as a buffer for when the boat is berthed or is alongside another boat.
  • the hollow strip need not be continuous from bow to stern, but may comprise a number of separate lengths either in a continuous line or with breaks therebetween.
  • the gas-line 20 also need not project outside the boat but - 8 -
  • the hollow strip 18 extends about substantially the entire periphery of the hull, and includes a length 18a across the stern 14.
  • the diagrammatic version shown in Figure 2 also shows extra gas-lines 22 and 24 which supply the inflating gas of the compressed air cylinder 26 to the inflatable means (not shown) within the hollow strips 18a and 18b.
  • a valve 28 is activated to an open or closed position by a solenoid which is responsive to a signal from the switch 30.
  • the switch 30 is shown as a flotation switch which may be located near the bottom of the hull so that when water in the boat reaches a certain level, the arm 31 of the flotation switch 30 rises to a point where a signal is sent to the solenoid to open the valve, allowing compressed air to begin inflating the respective inflatable means.
  • any type of switch may be used, and indeed any type or configuration of actuating system may be substituted for that shown.
  • FIG 3 shows diagrammatically the result of inflating the inflatable means. Illustrated are inflatable rubber bladders 32 and 34 of hollow strip 18, bladders 36 and 38 of strip 18b and bladders 40 of strip 18a. These bladders, prior to inflation, were rolled into an "at rest” position and held in their respective holding devices (hollow strips).
  • Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a holding device of the preferred embodiment, having an outwardly facing side wall 42, a rearwardly facing sidewall 44 for connection to the hull of the boat, and top and bottom walls 46, 48. - 9
  • the side wall 42 has two resilient portions which are the upper flap 50 and the lower flap 52.
  • the upper flap 50 includes a downwardly extending tongue 54 which is received by an upwardly opening correspondingly configured groove 56 in lower flap 52. This tongue and groove relationship provides an adequate seal for the purposes of the invention.
  • the inflatable means in the form of an inflatable bladder 60.
  • the bladder 60 is secured to the inside surface of wall 44, and is folded within chamber 51 in such a way that when rapidly inflated the bladder will expand to force against the inside of flaps 50 and 52. When the pressure reaches a certain level the force will be great enough to overcome the resilience of the flaps and to open that side wall to allow the expanding bladder to exit from the chamber.
  • Figure 6 illustrates the bladder 60 when inflated and with flaps 50 and 52 forced open. It will be understood that the join between the bladder 60 and the wall 44 of the hollow strip must be strong enough to prevent the bladder being torn away from the wall when inflated and when floating the vessel.
  • the valve of the compressed air cylinder is closed, the system is opened to allow release of the air, and the bladder may be refolded and reinserted. Any known means of evacuating the air from the bladder may be used to achieve this.
  • the holding device itself may be incorporated within the hull of a boat, and may not be elongate.
  • the resilient portions may be provided by one or more flaps or the like in any type of configuration.
  • the flotation apparatus of the present invention provides safety benefits to the users of seagoing vessels that are not present in the normal personal safety techniques.
  • the present invention can be activated swiftly to prevent a boat from sinking, even when the hull has been breached and the boat is partially or completely full of water, and helps to provide an environment which is safer and easier to locate than simply leaving a person drifting and afloat in open seas.

Landscapes

  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Barrages (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositif servant à empêcher qu'un bateau ne coule et comportant des bandes creuses allongées (18, 18a, 18b) fixées au bateau au-dessus de sa ligne de flottaison. Des sacs (vessies) gonflables sont fixés à l'intérieur des bandes et reliés à une source de gaz comprimé (26) par l'intermédiaire de canalisations de gaz respectives (20, 22, 24). Lorsque les sacs se gonflent, ils sortent hors des bandes à travers une fente longitudinale ménagée dans la paroi de chaque bande et s'élargissent pleinement. On peut gonfler les sacs au moyen d'un dispositif actuateur manuel ou automatique (31), l'automatique pouvant être adapté pour réagir à un niveau d'eau prédéterminé à l'intérieur du bateau.
PCT/AU1991/000177 1990-05-11 1991-05-01 Appareil de flottaison Ceased WO1991017915A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AUPK0094 1990-05-11
AUPK009490 1990-05-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1991017915A1 true WO1991017915A1 (fr) 1991-11-28

Family

ID=3774660

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/AU1991/000177 Ceased WO1991017915A1 (fr) 1990-05-11 1991-05-01 Appareil de flottaison

Country Status (1)

Country Link
WO (1) WO1991017915A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0568501A1 (fr) * 1992-04-27 1993-11-03 Giuseppe Floris Dispositif gonflable pour protéger la coque de navire
GB2332653A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-30 Alangari Abdullah Mihaisen Buoyancy systems for marine craft
WO2000048900A1 (fr) * 1999-02-15 2000-08-24 Smartfloat Pty Ltd Flottaison d'un bateau
GB2369803A (en) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-12 Ebejer Of Westmins Christopher A vessel having emergency inflatable buoyancy means
US6612256B1 (en) * 2002-02-15 2003-09-02 Calford S. Martin Combination boat and distressed boat flotation apparatus and related methods
EP1292493A4 (fr) * 2000-05-26 2005-10-26 Float Rail Inc Dispositif de flottaison pour bateau gonflable automatique

Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3026839A (en) * 1960-08-22 1962-03-27 Clifford V Fridge Boats
US3121888A (en) * 1961-12-14 1964-02-25 Raymond W Morgan Watercraft preserver
US3340842A (en) * 1966-04-06 1967-09-12 Charles A Winslow Marine safety systems
FR2497760A1 (fr) * 1981-01-15 1982-07-16 Hennebutte Georges Perfectionnements aux moyens pour l'insubmersibilite des navires
DE3105427A1 (de) * 1981-02-14 1982-09-02 Martin 6114 Groß-Umstadt Strobel Rettungsgeraet fuer boote
FR2517620A1 (fr) * 1981-12-07 1983-06-10 Hennebutte Georges Perfectionnements aux moyens pour l'insubmersabilite des navires
DE3413483A1 (de) * 1984-04-10 1985-10-17 Geerd 8039 Puchheim Lebuhn Rettungsgeraet zum verhindern des sinkens eines in seenot geratenen schiffes
GB2184401A (en) * 1985-12-06 1987-06-24 Seabass Holdings Limited Buoyancy and stability apparatus
AU7738587A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-02-25 David Nisbet Binks Flotation systems
DE3810546A1 (de) * 1987-04-07 1988-10-27 Bodo Peter Balensiefen Rettungsvorrichtung fuer wasserfahrzeuge
DE3829617A1 (de) * 1988-09-01 1990-03-15 Bruno Wertz Mit gasen auffuellbarer hohlkoerper
AU5027290A (en) * 1989-01-30 1990-08-24 Seabass (Gb) Limited Buoyancy and stability apparatus

Patent Citations (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3026839A (en) * 1960-08-22 1962-03-27 Clifford V Fridge Boats
US3121888A (en) * 1961-12-14 1964-02-25 Raymond W Morgan Watercraft preserver
US3340842A (en) * 1966-04-06 1967-09-12 Charles A Winslow Marine safety systems
FR2497760A1 (fr) * 1981-01-15 1982-07-16 Hennebutte Georges Perfectionnements aux moyens pour l'insubmersibilite des navires
DE3105427A1 (de) * 1981-02-14 1982-09-02 Martin 6114 Groß-Umstadt Strobel Rettungsgeraet fuer boote
FR2517620A1 (fr) * 1981-12-07 1983-06-10 Hennebutte Georges Perfectionnements aux moyens pour l'insubmersabilite des navires
DE3413483A1 (de) * 1984-04-10 1985-10-17 Geerd 8039 Puchheim Lebuhn Rettungsgeraet zum verhindern des sinkens eines in seenot geratenen schiffes
GB2184401A (en) * 1985-12-06 1987-06-24 Seabass Holdings Limited Buoyancy and stability apparatus
AU7738587A (en) * 1986-08-22 1988-02-25 David Nisbet Binks Flotation systems
DE3810546A1 (de) * 1987-04-07 1988-10-27 Bodo Peter Balensiefen Rettungsvorrichtung fuer wasserfahrzeuge
DE3829617A1 (de) * 1988-09-01 1990-03-15 Bruno Wertz Mit gasen auffuellbarer hohlkoerper
AU5027290A (en) * 1989-01-30 1990-08-24 Seabass (Gb) Limited Buoyancy and stability apparatus

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0568501A1 (fr) * 1992-04-27 1993-11-03 Giuseppe Floris Dispositif gonflable pour protéger la coque de navire
GB2332653A (en) * 1997-12-24 1999-06-30 Alangari Abdullah Mihaisen Buoyancy systems for marine craft
WO2000048900A1 (fr) * 1999-02-15 2000-08-24 Smartfloat Pty Ltd Flottaison d'un bateau
EP1292493A4 (fr) * 2000-05-26 2005-10-26 Float Rail Inc Dispositif de flottaison pour bateau gonflable automatique
GB2369803A (en) * 2000-12-06 2002-06-12 Ebejer Of Westmins Christopher A vessel having emergency inflatable buoyancy means
US6612256B1 (en) * 2002-02-15 2003-09-02 Calford S. Martin Combination boat and distressed boat flotation apparatus and related methods

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7056179B2 (en) Combination inflator and manifold assembly
US4864961A (en) Auxiliary flotation system
US7540796B2 (en) Inflatable buoyancy device with water-dependant triggering mechanism
US5022879A (en) Inflatable life belt
US5199374A (en) Aerial location self-actuating emergency sea surface marker for capsized vessels
US7232354B2 (en) Inflatable buoyancy device with water-dependant triggering mechanism
US4063323A (en) Ring buoy with automatic separation of smoke signal buoy from strobe light buoy
US5765500A (en) Life rafts on ships
US5357888A (en) Emergency floatation system for a water craft
CN105711771A (zh) 一种客船救生系统
JPH06211185A (ja) 救命具
US6343562B1 (en) Canoe and kayak mid-point sponsons safety
KR100863845B1 (ko) 개인 휴대용 구명정
US6368174B1 (en) Visible floatation device
US20060249068A1 (en) Emergency encapsulated lift system
US4033002A (en) Life saving equipment for vessels
WO1991017915A1 (fr) Appareil de flottaison
KR101630737B1 (ko) 선박 침몰 방지용 에어백
US5279248A (en) Kayak righting method and apparatus
KR20120035621A (ko) 선박 침몰 방지장치
JP2663964B2 (ja) 遭難沈没用船位置標識装置
CN205524871U (zh) 一种客船救生系统
US3417725A (en) Boat drag
JP4368240B2 (ja) 救命浮き輪
GB2369803A (en) A vessel having emergency inflatable buoyancy means

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AU GB JP US

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GR IT LU NL SE