COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR AN INNOVATION PATENT Applicants : P.M.Freeman & P.G. Fisher Address for Service : 74 Manor Road Hornsby N.S.W. Australia 2077 Title Dual Function House Boat/Caravan Date : 16November 2010 The following statement is a full description of this invention, Including the best method of performing it known to us: DUAL FUNCTION HOUSE BOAT/CARAVAN Field of invention The invention generally relates to a trailer able houseboat that can also be 5 used on land as a caravan, Object of the invention The present invention seeks to provide an affordable trailer-able house 10 boat/caravan with low operating costs. The houseboat and trailer should be simple to operate and safe for a novice with limited boating experience. Accordingly design seeks to keep operating costs to a minimum by the use of solar energy and efficient electric propulsion system and hull design, with a 15 simple but functional low cost interior layout and keeping the overall size and weight of the house boat to a minimum. Summary of the invention 20 In accordance with the invention the interior of the vessel is such that the outer dimensions comply with the Australian regulations regarding width of trailer vehicles while the living space is comparable with a mid size caravan. Preferably a narrow tri-hull configuration with a sharp arrow shape bows, not 25 only provides stability in choppy water, but also creates less bow wave drag requiring less energy. 30 <1 - -2 Preferably the flat angular shape of the center and outer hulls simplifies fabrication requiring no bending or twisting of panels when fabricated from sheet metaL. Preferably two electric motor driven propeller pods are positioned between 5 the outer and center of the said tri-hulls such that they are above the lowermost portion of the hull. This together with the shallow draft of the tri hull configuration, allows the vessel to navigate shallow water without damage to the propellers should the vessel be grounded or hit an object. 10 Preferably to limit the overall length of the vessel, the rear deck is hinged where it abuts the aft of the vessel such that it can be raised to fold flat and lock against the rear face of the vessel in the transportable mode or lowered to a horizontal position clear of the water line by hydraulic arms located either side of the deck platform when in. an in-use mode 15 Preferably the said rear deck platform is provided with fixed balustrade railing and access gate. Preferably to make the interior of the vessel space efficient, without reducing 20 the amenity of the vessel, the captain's and co-pilot's seats in the driving mode can also be used as lounge chairs, or dining chairs by their positioning and by allowing them to rotate and also recline. A fold down table fixed between the two chairs serves as a dining table. 25 Preferably a combined shower and toilet as well as a full kitchen is provided with refrigerator, microwave oven, sink and a bench top that can be extended with a lift-up flap. Preferably twin beds are provided which can be made to bunk bedswith an 30 optional layout. -2- -3 Preferably storage tanks for clean water, waste water, and fuel for the diesel generator, are accommodated below the floor of the cabin and in the center hull below. 5 Preferably, operating costs are kept to a minimum by providing electricity from solar collector panels on the roof of the house boat, to charge high performance AGM [absorbed glass mat] storage batteries on board, which in turn supply electricity to the pod mounted electric motors driving the propellers. A mains power battery charger.is provided for on-shore charging 10 from outlets at home or a caravan park Preferably an onboard marine engine driving an electric generator is used to supply electricity for either charging the on-board batteries or directly to the said motors. The provision of both battery power and diesel generator power 15 provides for the event of a failure of either one of these systems. Preferably there is savings in both energy consumption and costs, by the use of electric motors as they provide greater power and torque regardless of speed, when compared with outboard and inboard engines of the same rated 20 horse power. Additionally there are preferably also savings in ongoing maintenance due to the limited use of the on-board generator and with minimal maintenance required for the electric propeller motors 25 Preferably the steering and control system provided with the said house boat differ from that of the traditional steering wheel rudder/control and separate throttle speed controls, used for twin drive outboard or inboard motors, in that the steering is achieved by creating a speed difference and direction between 30 -3- -4 the two electric motor driven propellers, via a steering wheel connected to an electric control module. Preferably the steering wheel connects to the said control panel module such 5 that when the steering wheel is turned in one direction, it allows one propeller motor to remain at constant speed, while the second propeller motor reduces speed. By turning the steering wheel further it causes the second propeller motor direction to be reversed, with the motor gradually speeding up to a full astern mode, creating a push pull effect. 10 Preferably in a similar action, when the steering wheel is turned in the opposite direction the same changes to motor speed and direction cause the craft to turn in the opposite direction. 15 Preferably foot accelerator peddle attached electrically to the motor control unit, provides variable power, such that steering is achieved at any speed level. Preferably the control panel is provided with gauges and meters to monitor 20 the various systems, as will as a switch of similar appearance to a gear shift knob, on the control panel, electrically connected to a change over relay, which gives a forward or reverse direction to both electric propeller motors at the same time. 25 Preferably all of the said speed, reversing and steering control circuits operate via motor controllers to the electric motor driven propellers to convert control circuit voltage and current to motor voltage and current from the batteries. Preferably the combination of the said steering wheel control, foot accelerator 30 and forward/reverse lever, mimic the controls of a motor vehicle, providing a simple easy to operate system, suitable for a novice to water craft. -4- -5 Detailed descripton of the Invention Referring to Figure 1, is shown illustrated a longitude section view through the outer hull 12 of house boat 10, with internal living space 13 supported on 5 a center hull 11, not shown and outer hulls 12. The rear deck 14 of said house boat 10 is shown pivotly hinged 15 to the rear of the living space 13 in the in-use mode. The said rear deck 14 can be raised or lowered by gas lift struts 16, which are located on either side of said rear 10 deck 14. The said rear deck 14 is provided with flotation pontoons 17 such that when in an in-use mode, they abut the outer hulls 12, and as they are the same profile as the outer hulls 12, they provide an extension of the said outer hulls. 15 The said rear deck 14 is provided with fixed balustrade railings18 which are provided with an access gate 19, not shown, which in an on-land camping mode is provided with folding access steps, not shown. At the bow 21 of the house boat 10 is shown propane gas bottle enclosure 22. 20 The roof of the living space 13 is shown with solar electric collector panels 23 which supply charging electricity to the electric storage batteries 24 not shown, which in turn provide power to the electric driven propeller pods 20. 25 The shower and toilet cubicle 25 is shown together with the beds 26 and steering control module 27, steering wheel 28, foot accelerator peddle 29 and the captain's chair 30, fixed to raised floor 31, and shown in the driving mode. 30 -5- -6 Referring to figure 2 is a longitude sectional view of house boat 10, through center hull 11, which shows the rear deck 14 hinged at 15, in the transportable mode. The kitchen bench 36 is shown with the extension flap 37 in the raised in-use mode and the co-pilots chairs 30 in the driving mode. 5 Also shown are the electric storage batteries 24, diesel generator 32, fresh water tank 34, waste water tank 33 and fuel tank 35 in the void space of center hull 11 which is below the floor of living space 13. 10 Referring now to figure 3 is shown a view of the underside of house boat 10 with the rear deck 14 hinged 15 in the lowered in-use mode. The rear deck pontoons 17 are shown abutting the outer hulls 12 such as to provide a continuous flotation chamber with a common profile. 15 Fixed balustrade railings 18 are fixed to the exterior of the rear deck and bow 21 up-stands with hinged gates 19, fixed to said railings. Referring now to figure 4 is shown a rear elevation of house boat 10 rear deck 14, shown in the lowered in-use mode, locked in position by gas lift struts 16. 20 The fixed balustrade railing 18 is shown with access gate 19. Now referring to figure 5 is shown a rear elevation of house boat 10 with the rear deck 14, which is attached to flotation pontoons 17I in the raised transportable mode. 25 Between the outer hulls 12 and the center hull 11, of house boat 10, electric driven propeller pods 20, are attached to the underside of said houseboat 10, such that the propellers of the said electric propeller pods, are positioned above the lowest portion of the center hull 11 and outer hulls 12, thus 30 avoiding any damage from under water -6- -7 Now referring to figure 6 is a sectional view through house boat 10 showing the captain's and co-pilot's chairs 30 in the dining mode with the folding table dining table 38 shown in the in-use mode with folding flaps 39 in the raised position. The diesel generator 32 is shown below the raised floor 31. 5 Referring to Figure 7 is shown a plan view of the furniture and fixtures.layout of the living space 13 with toilet shower cubicle 25, beds 26 and the kitchen bench 36 with an extension flap 37 in the stored position. The fold down dining table 38 is in the stored position, and pilot's and co-pilot's chairs 30 10 are shown in the cruising position. Referring to Figure 8 is shown the same furniture and fixtures layout as in Figure 7, but with the kitchen bench flap 37 in the raised in-use position, and the captain's and co-pilots chair's 30 are in the dining position, with flaps 39 15 of the fold down table 38 in the raised in-use position. Referring to figure 9 is shown the same furniture and fixtures layout as in figure 7 but with the captain's and co-pilot's chairs 30 in the lounge or television viewing mode. 20 The invention has been described by way of non-limiting example only many modifications and variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention described. 25 The reference in this specification to any prior publication [or information derived from it], or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication [or information derived from it] or known matter forms part of the general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification 30. relates. -7- List of Parts 10 House Boat 11 Center Hull 12 Outer hulls 13 Living Space 5 14 Rear Deck 15 Rear Deck Hinge 16 Gas Struts 17 Flotation Pontoons 18 Fixed Balustrade Railing 10 19 Access Gate 20 Electric Driven Propeller Pods 21 Bow of the Boat 22 Propane Gas Bottle Enclosure 23 Solar Electric Collector Panels 15 24 Electric Storage Batteries 25 Toilet and Shower Cubicle 26 Beds 27 Steering Control Module 28 Steering Wheel 20 29 Foot Accelerator Peddle 30 Captain's and Copilot's Chairs 31 Raised Floor 32 Diesel Generator 33 Fresh water Tank 25 34 Waste Water Tank 35 Fuel Tank 36 Kitchen Bench 37 Bench Extension Flap 38 Fold Down Dining Table 30 39 Fold Down Dining Table Flaps - 8-