GB2321435A

GB2321435A - Vessel Buoyancy Aid

Info

Publication number: GB2321435A
Application number: GB9701678A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christian Hawkins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-01-28
Filing date: 1997-01-28
Publication date: 1998-07-29
Also published as: GB9701678D0

Abstract

A marine vessel, eg a yacht, is provided with at least one inflatable buoyancy member 5 disposed along each side of the vessel, the buoyancy members being normally stored in a deflated state in streamlined covers 6. When an emergency situation is detected compressed air from cylinders 4 is supplied to inflate the buoyancy members 5 forcing open the protective covers 6. As shown activation of air supply is via a device 1 situated at the helm which operates an electric valve switch 3. Additionally devices measuring excessive roll or sensing water present may be fitted to automatically actuate the air supply.

Description

YACHT BUOYANCY AID THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A YACHT BUOYANCY AID.

IT IS WELL KNOWN TAHT THE OCEAN CAN BE DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICT ABLE. IF A YACHT GETS INTO TROUBLE, (HULLBREACH, CAPSIZED) THE CREW RADIO FOR HELP (TIME PERMITTING), AND THEN ABANDONS SHIP USING A LIFE RAFT, LEAVING THE VESSEL TO SINK. THIS DEVICE WILL NOT ALLOW THE VESSEL TO SINK, GIVING THE CREW THE OPPORTUNIZY TO KEEP USING THE RADIO, OR EVEN TO SAIL, IF THE MAST IS STILL INTACT AND IF NOT TOO FAR FROM SHORE. THE DEVICE WILL KEEP THE DECK OF THE YACHT ABOVE THE WATER, SO TAHT THE CREW CAN STILL WORK THE YACHT. A SALVAGE SHIP COULD EASILY TOW THE YACHT BACK TO SHORE, IF THE CREW HAVE TO ABANDON IT DUE TO VERY BAD WEATHER.

(THIS DEVICE IS NOT DESIGNED TO REPLECE CONVENTIONAL LIFE RAFT).

LARGER DEVICES COLUD BE MADE TO FIT LARGER, HEAVIER CRAFT, SUCH AS MOTOR CRUISERS, OR EVEN ON A HUGE SCALE SUCH AS FERRIES. OR MINIATURE VERSIONS FOR SMALL BOATS.

THE DEVICE MAY INCORPORATE A DEVICE THAT MEASURES ROLL, SO THAT IF THE YACHT CAPSIZED SUDDENLY, AND THE HELMSMAN DID NOT HAVE TIME TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM, THE DEVICE WILL ACTIVATE ITSELF.

THE DEVICE CONSISTS OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WHICH ARE READILY AVAILABLE, SUCH AS DETONATION WIRE, DETONATION CHARGES, AIR CYLINDERS, VALVES, HOSES, PRESSURE GAUGES, KARABINERS, AND IN FLATABLE BUOYS.

A SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION WILL NOW BE DESCRIBED BY WAY OF EXAMPLE WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS IN WHICH : FIGURE 1 SHOWS THE DEVICES SITUATED INACTIVE ON THE HULL.

FIGURE 2 SHOWS HOW THE DEVICES ARE SITUATED WHEN ACTIVATED.

THE DIFFERENT USES ACCORDING TO CRAFT SIZE ARE AS FOLLOWS: PAGE FIVE SHOWS TWO DEVICES ATTACHED TO A SMALL CRAFT.

PAGE SIX SHOWS FOUR DEVICES ATTACHED TO A LARGER CRAFT.

PAGE SEVEN THE POSSIBILITY OF A HULL LENGTH DEVICE.

REFERING TO THE DRAWINGS, THE DEVICE COMPRISES OF TWO OR MORE BUOYS 5 WHICH ARE ATTACHED BY PIERCING THE SKIN AND SECURING TO THE RIBS OF THE VESSEL (NOT SHOWN).

IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM, A SMALL DETONATION CHARGER 1 SITUATED AT THE HELM, IS ACTIVATED BY THE HELMSMAN. AN ELEC TRIC CHARGE IS THEN SENT DOWN THE DETONATION WIRE 2 TO AN ELECTRIC VALVE SWITCH 3. WHICH IS ATTACHED TO AN AIR CYLINDER 4, ALSO FITTED WITH MANUAL VALVE + PRESSURE GAUGE (NOT SHOWN), WHICH CONTAINS COMPRESSED AIR. THE CYLINDERS VALVE IS THEN OPENED, ALLOWING THE AIR, VIA A HOSE, TO ENTER THE BUOY S.

ON INFLATION, THE OUTER COVER 6 ~ S OPENED BY THE FORCE OF THE INFLATING BUOY. THE BUOY IS ATTACHED TO THE BACKPLATE OF THE COVER ASSEMBLY USING STRONG METAL AND RUBBER "EYES2 CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH KARABINERS (NOT SHOWN).

IN ORDER FOR THE SYSTEM TO PERFORM EFFECTIVELY. THE SYSTEM WOULD NEED TO BE SPEEDY, ESPECIALLY IN A CAPSIZE SITUATION.

IN THE CASE OF A CAPSIZE OR A MAJOR HULL BREACH, THE HELMSMAN MAY BE UNABLE TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM. IN THE CASE OF A MAJOR SUDDEN HULL BREACH, WATER SENSORS COULD BE SITUATED DOWN BELOW, SAY HALFWAY BETWEEN THE KEEL AND THE DECK, SO THAT WHEN THESE SENSORS ARE SUBMERGED, THE SYSTEM ACTIVATES ITSELF. IN THE CASE OF A CAPSIZE, A DEVICE, MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL. THAT MEASURES ROLL COULD BE FITTED, SIMILAR TO THAT USED IN AIRCRAFT PERHAPS, OR MAYBE A MERCURY SWITCH, SO THAT WHEN THE YACHT HAS PASSED ITS USUAL DEGREE OF LEANING. SAY 80 OR 90 DEGREES. THE SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE ONE OR BOTH SIDES, RETUNING THE # YACHT TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION.

ONCE THE CREW HAVE CLIMBED BACK ABOARD, THEY COULD ACTIVATE THE VESSELS PUMP IF STILL OPERATIONAL, OR BAIL THE HULL OF WATER. THE BUOYS COULD BE FITTED WITH SEPERATE OUTLET VALVES, SO THAT THE BUOYS COULD BE DEFLATED (IF SAFE TO DO SO), DETACHED FROM THE COVER ASSEMBLY, AND HAULED ONTO DECK. THIS WOULD ONLY BE ATTEMP TED IF THE YACHT COULD SAIL OR IF THE ENGINE WAS OPERATIONAL, AND THE HULL UNDAMAGED. THE YACHT MAY THEN CONTINUE ON ITS JOURNEY IF STILL NAVIGATIONAL.

(THIS DEVICE IS NOT DESIGNED TO REPLACE CONVENTIONAL LIFE RAFT).

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A YACHT BUOYANCY AID COMPRISING TWO OR MORE INFLATABLE BUOYS, STREAMLINED COVER/BACK PLATE ASSEMBLIES, BANS OF DETAC HING INFLATABLE BUOYS FROM THE COVER/BACK PLATE ASSEMBLIES, AIR CYLINDERS FITTED WITH AN ELECTRIC VALVE SWITCH, MANUAL OVERRIDE VALVE, AND PRESSURE GAUGE, AIR HOSE FOR CONNECTION BETWEEN THE AIR CYLINDER AND THE BUOY, AND DETONATION WIRE, WHICH CONNECTS THE ELECTRIC VALVE SkITCH TO THE DETONATOR CHARGER.
2 A YACHT BUOYANCY AID AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN AN INSTRUMENT WHICH MEASURES ROLL IS FITTED IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY IF THE YACHT EXCEEDS IT USUAL DEGREE OF LEANING.
3 A YACHT BUOYANCY AID AS CLAIMED IN CLAIM 1 WHEREIN WATER SENSORS ARE FITTED IN THE YACHT IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE THE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE SENSORS ARE SUBMERGED IN WATER.
4 A YACHT BUOYANCY kID SUBSTANTIALLY AS DESCRIBED HEREIN WITH REFERENCE TO FIGURES 1-2 OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS.