AU2008100578A4 - Safety torpedoes - Google Patents

Description

Australia Patents Act 1990 Complete Specification Innovation Patent Safety Torpedoes Name of applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for service: Peter Albert Dutton Peter Albert Dutton Heritage Horse Stud Peter A Dutton 117 Neusavale Road, Wolvi, Qld. 4570 Name of Invention: Safety Torpedoes The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: 00 C SAFETY TORPEDOES

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Background Aluminium and it's alloys have become the preferred material for boat builders world- 00 wide, this is especially evident by the many factory produced small to medium sized power boats being built primarily for the recreational boating industry. The aluminium t planing hull watercraft has many appealing features but the very same features that make 0 10 this watercraft appealing also culminate into the watercrafts major weakness. That is the Swatercraft being lightweight with a low angle of dead-rise results in a high center of 00 gravity. This feature of this type of watercraft results in the watercraft being "tender", that is the watercraft responds quickly and dramatically to the forces acting on and within it. These forces are wind, waves, current and the shifting of loads within the watercraft.

This "tenderness" can be identified by the boats predisposition to "roll and pitch" readily if any of the forces acting on the watercraft are activated. This rolling and pitching is not only uncomfortable for the people on board but can be very dangerous.

This invention has been devised to provide increased lateral and longitudinal stability for planing hull watercraft while underway and at rest, also providing increased safety by the added buoyancy, yet not requiring any mechanical device or manual adjustment to activate the said apparatus and not causing any significant impediment to the watercrafts performance.

Invention Description In accordance with this invention "Safety Torpedoes" comprise of: aluminium buoyancy tubes of equal length, which are longitudinally attached to both sides of a watercraft at the waterline, specifically to the chine member on aluminium planing hull vessels.

(Figures 1, 2 3).

"Safety Torpedoes" are positioned on the outside of the watercrafts hull affixed to the chine member so the underside of each tube is just in contact with the water surface when the watercraft is at rest under a normal load. (Figure 1) The aluminium buoyancy tubes are positioned so as to project aft of the stern transom and forward along the chine member to a point determined by the length and shape of the host watercraft, this point can be anywhere along the waterline of the host watercraft forward of amidships (Figure 1).

In the embodiment represented the "Safety Torpedoes" components are constructed of marine grade aluminium, however other materials can also be used. For example recycled plastic could replace aluminium for the rigid buoyancy tubes and the mounting brackets could be demountable in the form of pre-cast plates that can accommodate removable attachment devices.

One embodiment of the present invention is better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 00 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the "Safety Torpedoes" fitted to a aluminium planing hull ;Zwatercraft, showing the preferred embodiment in relation to the attachment components on the hull being adjacent to internal ribs waterline buoyancy tubes projecting astern of the transom and desired length of tube.

Figure 2 shows an end elevation showing the preferred embodiment in relation to where 00 the buoyancy tubes are located on the outside of the hull of the watercraft attached to the hull and the chine member S SFigure 3 is a cutaway section showing the preferred embodiment with the aluminium 0 attachment components welded in place and how they fulfill the attachment of the buoyancy tubes to an aluminium hull watercraft. The attachment components are numbered W, and with the ascending order representing the preferred order N of attachment but in no way limited to this order. The single bottom attachment component e provides the means to fix the tubes at the appropriate height while also providing a smooth surface in contact with the water surface.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the buoyancy tube and attachment components.

The size and dimensions of the components of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 can vary and is determined by the size and purpose of the host watercraft, for the purpose of understanding the attached drawings fully, in Figures 1 to 4 the tubes have a diameter being 150mm and wall thickness 3mm, but in no way limited to these dimensions.

According to another aspect of the present invention the buoyancy tubes can be of any length and diameter and cross section profile, made buoyant by sealing the ends and or the inclusion of buoyant material within the tubes.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, it will of course be appreciated that the lengths of the buoyancy tubes can be of any length dependent on the length of the host watercraft, however the preferred embodiment is to have the tubes attached to the chine member so as to traverse the maximum length of the waterline as practical while extending past the stern transom a distance determined by the size and purpose of the host watercraft. Optionally the buoyancy tubes are fitted in a straight form or formed to the waterline shape by means of bending or cutting and re-abutting the tubes by welding, but it will be determined by the waterline shape of the host watercraft and is not limited to either embodiment.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, it will of course be appreciated that on some watercraft the rigid buoyancy tubes need not project astern of the transom for reasons that relate to the purpose of that watercraft and in no way does this hinder the functioning of the rigid buoyancy tubes.

00 C A further aspect of this invention is to have the buoyancy tubes removable whereby the Sbuoyancy tubes can be removed and replaced at will, using any attachment means suitable.

A further aspect of this invention is to have the buoyancy tubes adjustable which will provide for movement enabling the raising and lowering of the buoyancy tubes to allow for varying displacement levels caused by varied loads within the watercraft.

00 t-In preferred embodiments of the present invention the apparatus was designed S 10 specifically for use on aluminium planing hull watercraft but in no way restricted to this __type of watercraft. The apparatus can equally be utilized on watercraft of any design and 00 purpose and if used on other watercraft the buoyancy tubes would be attached to the watercraft at the waterline whereby the bottom edge of the buoyancy tubes represents the waterline of the watercraft under normal load. The apparatus is designed to utilize the forces of buoyancy and cohesion to counter the forces causing the watercraft to roll and or pitch.

Claims (2)

1. 4. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1 through to 3 that consists of aluminium buoyancy tubes attached to the hull and chine member of aluminium planing hull watercraft which are formed to follow the waterline shape of the host watercraft. An apparatus as claimed in claims 1 through to 4 whereby the aluminium buoyancy tubes are positioned to a host aluminium planing hull watercraft so as part of the length of the buoyancy tubes project aft of the stern transom.
2. 6. An apparatus as herein before described with reference to figures 1-4 of the accompanying drawings.