AU633546B2 - Improvements to water skiing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Form PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. ClI: Application Number: Lodged: Coj4Ip1e Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Rela ted Art: Namei of Applicant: A.Vdras of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT LYLE WILLIAM GILLETT 210 Swan Road, TARINGA Q 4068 LYLE WILLIAM GILLETT John R.1G. Gardner, P0 BOX 443, MUDGEERABA Q 4213 Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: IMPROVEMENTS TO WATER SKIING APPARATUS The following statement Is a full description of this Invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.-* Note: The description Is to be typed In double spacing, pica type face, In an area not exceeding 200 mm In depth and 160 mm In width, on tough white paper of good quality and It Is to be Inserted Inside this form.

14599/78-L 14699/78-LPrinted by C J. TIIomFsoN, Commonwealth Govermecnt Prin.cr, Canberra THIS INVENTION relates to water skiing apparatus and in particular to cable skiing apparatus.

Commonly water skiing is undertaken using a boat to tow a water skier at high speeds over a particular reach or area of water. An alternative to using boats, however, is to use a cable which is supported by respective pylons arranged over an area of water with tow ropes for skiers being selectively coupled to the cable the latter being driven so that a skier may grasp a tow rope and be towed around a course in accordance with the layout of the cable. The above described arrangements, because of their usage of fixed pylons normally requires a dedicated area of water which cannot be used for any other purpose and consequently there is considerable expense in setting up such a system. Generally also such systems are not suitable or approved for commonly used water areas such as rivers because of the space which they occupy.

The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing apparatus for so called cable water skiing which may be used on any water ourse, which does not constitute a permanent obstruction of the 000000 water course and which is portable so as to enable the apparatus to be rapidly transported to a site and subsequently assembled on site. The term "cable" as hereinafter used includes wire cables, ropes or any other equivalent member. Other objects and advantages of the invention wi 1l become apparent from the following description.

With the above and other objects in view the present 0 0 invention provides in a preferred aspect water skiing apparatus A,41 comprising a main drive unit adapted to be mounteo in a fixed position in or adjacent a body of water, at least one floatable outrigger assembly adapted to be disposed on sa 'l u.-Iv of water at a position spaced from said drive unit, main drive cable means adapted to extend between said drive unit ana said outrigger assembly and adapted to be driven by said drive unit and means for coupling a skier or skiers to said drive cable means.In one form said outrigger assembly includes propulsion means adapted to urge said outrigger assembly away from said ive unit whereby to maintain tension in said cable means.

In an alternative form, the outrigger assembly may be anchored by conventional anchoring means such as a submerged anchor or alternatively secured to a pile or the like.

Preferably the drive unit comprises a floating structure having mounted thereon a main drive wheel for imparting motion to said cable means and preferably also the floating structure is formed so as to be readily transported from site to site. Preferably also the floating structure is provided with anchoring means which may be actuated to be urged downwardly from the structure into engagement with the bed of a river or other water area so as to constrain the drive unit against movement from its fixed position. Alternatively the main drive unit may be mounted on a mobile structure such as a vehicle which may be driven to an area adjacent the body of water.

Preferably the apparatus includes a pair of outrigger assemblies, the or each outrigger assembly including a pair of hulls which are pivotally interconnected at their forward ends or bows and which may be pivoted about their pivotal connection between a first folded attitude wherein the hulls are arranged side-by-side and a second operative attitude wherein the hulls extend at an acute angle to each other. Suitably one or both hulls are provided with a propulsion unit for driving a propeller S such that in use the propulsion unit may be operated to urge the outrigger assemblies away from each other and the drive unit and maintain tension in the drive cable means. The outrigger assemblies in their folded attitude are preferably of such a size as to permit their loading onto the main drive unit for transportation to and from a site.

The present invention in a further aspect provides apparatus for selectively coupling and decoupling a skier tow line to drive cable means of cable waterskiing apparatus, said drive cable means including a plurality of stops thereon, catch means secured to said tow line and adapted for location over said cable means and for engagement by said stop means whereby said tow line may be drawn along by said cable means, disengagement means moveable to a position to engage said catch means to _I _Is_ decouple said catch means from said cable means, and means for selectively guiding decoupled said catch means onto said cable means. Other preferred features of the invention will become apparent hereunder.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein: Fig. 1 is a typical layout of the skiing apparatus according to the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the coupling of a skier to the main drive cable of the apparatus; Fig. 3 is; a side elevational view of the main drive unit in operational mode; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drive unit in its operating mode; o 'Fig. 5 is a rear view of the drive unit in operating mode; Figs. 6 and 7 are respective plan and elevational views of an outrigger for the apparatus; Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the main drive unit in transport mode; Figs. 9 and 10 are respective rear elevational view of the main drive unit in transport mode with and without the guide sheaves; Fig. 11 is a schematic side elevation view of a preferred arrangement for coupling and decoupling the skier tow ropes to and from the main drive cable; Fig. 12 is an enlarged end view showing details of the preferred form of coupling hook for engaging the drive cable; and Figs. 13 and 14 illustrate operation of the hook holding and releasing mechanism.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated a typical layout of water skiing apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus 10 includes a main drive unit 11 which is adapted to be located on or L b _IIL~ adjacent the shore line 12 of a river 13 or other body of water and a pair of outriggers 14 arranged on the body of water at positions spaced from the main drive unit 11. Extending about the drive unit 11 and the pair of outriggers 14 are one or more endless cables or ropes 15 which are adapted to be driven from the main drive unit 11. A plurality of ski tow ropes 16 are arranged to be selectively coupled to one of the cables 15 so that a skier 17 may be drawn therealong and about the perimeter of the apparaLus as defined by the cables 15. Preferably respective marker buoys 18 are arranged about the outriggers 14 and about the outer perimeter of the apparatus so as to provide a warning to any craft in the area.

0Cc $J As shown more clearly in Figs. 3 to 5, the main drive unit 11 comnrises a barge like hull 19 upon which is mounted a wheel house 20 from which an outboard motor or motors 21 may be controlled for moving the drive unit 11 over the water to a o- desired site for skiing operations. Supported on the hull 19 are respective upright pylons or spuds 22 which may be driven in a vertical direction into the bed 23 of the river or other body of water where the unit 11 is to be positioned. The spuds 22 may C oo be hydraulically actuated and are preferably provided with a sharpened end so as to facilitate piercing of the bed 23. The hull 19 also carries a main mast 24 which is rigidly mounted to the hull 19 and supported by braces Supported partway along the mast 24 is a main drive wheel or sheave 26 which is arranged to be driven through a right angled gearbox 27 by an electric drive motor 28. Arranged at the upper end of the mast 24 are a pair of spaced apart guide wheels or sheaves 29 A further pair of freely rotatable guide sheaves 30 are supported at the ends of opposite arm assembly 31 which includes a first arm 32 pivotally connected at one end to upstanding columns 33 and pivotally at their other end to a second arm 34, the latter carrying at their free ends the sheaves Hydraulic rams 35 and 36 are disposed between the arms 32 and 34 and arm 32 and column 33, the rams 35 and 36 being actuable to swivel the arm assemblies 31 between their erected position of Figs. 4 to 6 and collapsed position of Figs. 8 _I L e~ and 9.

Thus retraction of the ram 35 folds the arm 34 anticlockwise to lie adjacent the arm 32 whi lst retraction of the ram 36 lowering the folded arms to a horizontal attitude. The columns 35 are pivotally mounted on the hull 19 at their lower ends so that the arms may be pivoted by hand to extend transversely of the unit 11. Arranged adjacent at the base of the mast 24 is a winch 37 which may be operated to wind up the cables 15 at the cessation of operations. As shown, the cable 15 extends about approximately 180 degrees of the drive wheel 26 and is guided to the correct height by means of the sheaves 29 and The hull 19 is also provided at the bow end and on opposite sides thereof with respective fold-out platforms 38 which serve to facilitate boarding of the tunit 11 from the shore.

A further pair of platform assemblies 39 and 40 are arranged on opposite sides of the hull 19 adjacent the platforms 36, the assemblies 39 and 40 being movable between the outwardly extending attitude shown in Fig. 6 and the elevated attitude of Figs. 9 to 11 and comprising a landing platform and starting platform respectively.

The platform assembly 40 include a platform portion 41 supported at opposite ends by respective pairs of arms 42 and 43 which are pivotally connected at opposite ends to the platform portion 41 and the deck 44 of the unit 11 to form a parallelogram assembly. It will thus be apparent that when the arms 42 and 43 are pivoted upwardly, the platform portion 41 will maintain an attitude parallel to the deck 44.

Suitably the arms 42 and 43 are arranged to be pivoted by means of a winch and cable assembly with the cable thereof being wound up to cause pivotal movement of arms 42 and 43 and elevation of the platform portion 41 and unwound to place the platform portion 41 on the outwardly extending attitude of Fig.

In this attitude, the platform portion 41 is supported in cantilever like fashion on the arms 42 and 43 with the arms 42 lying along and being seated on the deck 44. A similar arrangement is provided for the platform assembly 39 except that r the 'latter in operative use is inclined dowrwardly to the surface of the water so as to facilitate movement of skis thereon.

Each outrigger 14 as more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7 includes a pair of hulls 45 pivotally connected at 46 at their forward ends for movement between the operative attitude shown wherein the hulls 45 are arranged at an acute angle to each other and held apart by the collapsible frame assembly 47 and an inoperative position wherein the nulls 45 lie alongside each other. Each hull 45 carries an electric motor 48 which i, connected to a propeller 49 and the direction of thrust from tne propellers 49 can be varied by means of rudder 50. Supported at the forward end of the hulls 45 is an upwardly extending mast 51 which carries a pair of idler or freely rotatable wheels or sheaves 52 about which the cable 15 may be passed and the mast 13 51 is supported in the erected position shown by means of a pair of bracing elements 53. The mast 51 is pivotally mounted to the hulls 45 so as to be movable between the erected position shown and a folded down position as shown in Figs. 7 to 10. The outrigger 14 also incorporates an arm 54 which may be extended downwardly from the hulls 45 and braced in the downwardly extending position so as to define an anchoring point 55 for a positioning rope 56 which extends between the drive unit 11 and respective outriggers 14. The arm 53 may be extended as shown in Fig. 7 or alternatively retracted and the rope 56 rewound if desired for transport purpo'ses. The rope or cable 56 also suitably supports electric cables for supply to the motors 48 and control thereof from the drive unit 11. The rudder 50 may also be controlled from the unit 11.

The apparatus 10 also includes on the mast 24 between the main drive wheel 26 and one guide sheave 29 on the outward run of the cable, a coupling/decoupling mechanism 57 for coupling the tow ropes 16 to the cable 15 or decoupling the tow rope 16 therefrom. The cable 15 as shown in Fig. 11 suitably includes a plurality of towing blocks 58 which are secured to the cable which in this case comprises a 20mm polypropylene rope, the blocks 58 being moulded thereto at spaced positions.

The tow ropes 16 are secured to respective hook I r assemblies 59 (see Fig. 12) which comprise first and second hook portions 60 and 61, the former being adapted to be located over the cable 15 to be engaged by the blocks 58. A pivotal scoop member 62 is pivotally mounted at S3 to the mast 24, the scoop member 62 being adapted to engage the upper hook portions 60 as described below. An hydraulic ram 64 is connected between the mast 24 and scoop member 62 so as to pivot the scoop member 62 between a lowered position adjacent the cable 15 for collection of hook assemblies 59 and a raised position where the collected hook assemblies 59 may slide down the scoop member 62 to be deposited onto a stacking rail 65 where c plurality of such hook assemblies 59 may be arranged in a side by side stacked attitude.

The rail 65 extends downwardly towards the cable 15 to join or be integral with a feeding rail 66 which serves to direct hook assemblies 59 back onto the cable 15 as desired the feeding rail 66 being curved to accelerate the hook assemblies 59 towards 0 the cable 15 and being spring loaded or formed of a resilient material so as not to foul the blocks 58.

Respective solenoids 67 and 68 are provided to control the feed of hook assemblies 59 onto the feeding rail 66 and thence onto the cable 15. The solenoid 67 includes an arm 69 which may be moved inwardly to a position to block movement of e the stacked hook assemblies 59 along the rail 64 whilst the solenoid 68 includes an arm 70 which may be moved to a position 25° adjacent the arm 69 permitting a single hook assembly 59 to be located therebetween.

o0 In use, the scoop member 62 is moved by the ram 64 to a waiting position designated A in Fig. 12. Where it is desired to collect a hook assembly 59, the ram 64 is retracted to move the scoop member 62 towards the cable 15 (position B) so as to engage the hook 61 of the next hook assembly 59 carried by the cable The ram 64 is then extended to move the scoop member 62 to the designated position C where the hook assemblies 59 will slide along the scoop member 62 onto the rail 65 where respective hook assemblies 59 are stacked behind the solenoid arm 69 as shown in Fig. 13. The scoop member 62 is then moved back to its I JI i s waiting mode A. The scoop member 51 suitably includes a main plate 71 having an outwardly directed flange 72 which is provided with a strip 73 of teflon or other friction reducing material to facilitate sliding rovement of the hook assemblies therealong.

Where it is desired to engage a hook assembly 59 with the cable 15 so as to enable a skier to be towed, the solenoid 68 is actuated to isolate the leading hook assembly 59 from the remainder of the stack. The solenoid arm 69 is then retracted to permit the isolated hook assembly 59 to move onto the feed rail 66 and drop onto the cable 15 to be engaged by the next block 58. The solenoids 67 and 68 are then actuated back to the positions of Fig. 14 for feeding the next hook assembly 59 onto the cable In use the main drive unit 11 is positioned and 1 5t anchored adjacent a shoreline and the spuds 22 extended as shown in Figs. 3 to 5. The outrigger units 14 are then moved to their desired positions as for example, shown in Fig. 1, preferably under their own power by means of the electric motors 48 and propellers 49 and as determined by the length of the ropes or cables 56. The arm assemblies 31 are erected to the position of figs. 2 to 5 and if desired stabilizing link 31' may be provided to support the erected arm assemblies 31 to the mast 24. When the outriggers 14 are positioned and the cable 15 located about the sheaves 26, 29 30 and 52, the motors 48 may be driven to drive the propellers 49 so as to maintain tension in the cable Alternatively the outrigger 14 may be anchored in position j by means of submerged concrete blocks, piles or other anchoring means.

Motion may be applied to the cable 15 from the main drive unit 11 via the wheels 26. A skier 17 who initially starts from the starting platform or ramp 40 may grasp a tow rope 16 which is selectively coupled to the cable 15 as described above so that the skier 17 can be drawn along a path defined by the perimeter of the cable 15. At the cessation of the skiing operation the tow rope 16 is released by the skier 17 in the region of the drive unit 11 the rope 16 being detached from the cable 15 as above.

When skiing operations are completed the propulsion motors 48 of the outriggers 14 may be stopped or the outriggers unanchored and the outriggers 14 drawn into the main drive unit 11, for example by winding in the underwater positioning ropes 56 or by towing the outriggers 14 in with the aid of a dingy or the like. Alternatively the outriggers 14 may be driven into the unit 11 under their own power. The outriggers 14 may then be lifted onto the platforms 39 and 40, the mast 51 collapsed and the outrigger hulIs 45 folded towards each other. The platforms 39 and 40 may then be elevated by pivoting the parallel arms 42 and 43 upward which maintains the platforms 39 and 40 horizontal above to position the outriggers 14 as shown in Figs. 8 to The platforms 38 of the main drive unit 11 may also be folded to an upright inoperative position adjacent the wheel house 20. The arm assemblies 31 may then be collapsed as described above and the columns 33 pivoted to position the collapsed arm assemblies transverse of the unit 11. The respective cables or ropes are wound up using the winch 37 and when the spuds 22 are elevated, the unit 11 carrying all the components for cable water skiing can be loaded onto a trailer or other prime mover for transportation purposes. When the unit 11 is moved onto a river or other area of water, the platform assemblies 39 and 40 may be lowered so that the outriggers 14 are also lowered. The outriggers 14 may then be moved from the lowered platform portions 34 onto the water.

Many variations may be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the broad scope and ambit of the invention. For example, the outrigger 14 may comprise single hulls or other hull configuratinns. Furvhermore, only one drive cable 15 may be used rather than two as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Any number of outriggers 14 may also be used for example from one upwards.

In the outrigger arrangement illustrated, the rudders are preferably controlled autorwatically to vary the direction of thrust so as to maintain tension in the main drive cable Suitably the positioning rope or cable 56 passes through eyes at the positioning points 55 so that its loop length remains the same but so that the total permiter shape can be varied to suit the body of water upon which the apparatus 10 is located.

Whilst the drive unit 11 is preferably of the form shown in the drawings, it may be of many different forms which will permit leading of the outriggers 14 thereonto.

Alternatively, the outriggers 14 may be transported separately.

The various actuating and drive mechanisms used in the apparatus may be replaced by equivalently hydraulic, mechanical, electrical or internal combustion power sources.

Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention al 1 such rn:-diftications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims.

Claims (11)

1. Water skiing apparatus comprising a main drive unit adapted to be mounted in a fixed position in or adjacent a body of water, at least one floatable outrigger assembly adapted to be disposed on said body of water at a position spaced from said drive unit, main drive cable means adapted to extend between said drive unit and said outrigger assembly and adapted to be driven by said drive unit, and means for coupling a skier or skiers to said drive cable means.

2. Water skiing apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein said outrigger assembly includes propulsion means adapted to urge said outrigger assembly away from said drive unit whereby to maintain tension in said cable means.

3. Water skiing apparatus according to Claim 1 and including anchoring means for anchoring said outrigger assemjly on said body of water at a desired position relative to said main drive unit.

4. Water skiing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said main drive unit comprises a floating structure having mounted thereon a main drive wheel for imparting motion to said cable means. Water skiirng apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein said floating structure is provided with anchoring means which may be actuated to oe urged downwardly from the structure into engagement with the submerged bed of said body of water so as to constrain the drive unit against movement frum its fixed posicion. Water sKiing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein said main drive unit is mounted on a mobile 30 structure adapted to be located in an area adjacent said body oof water.

7. Water skiing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said o*;srigger assembly includes a pair of hulls pivotally interconnected at their forward end, said hulls being adapted to be pivoted about their pivotal connection between a first folded attitude wherein said hulls i are arranged side by side and a second operative attitude 13 wherein said hulls extend at an acute angle to each other.

8. Water skiing apparatus according to Claim 7 wherein at least one of said hulls includes propulsion means.

9. Water skiing apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8 and including positioning cable means for locating said outrigger assembly at a desired spacing from said main drive unit. Water skiing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said means for coupling a said skier to said drive cable means comprises a tow line, said drive cable means including a plurality of stops with which said tow line may be selectively engaged.

11. Water skiing apparatus according to Claim 10 wherein said tow line is provided with catch means for selective engagement with a said stop.

12. Water skiing apparatus according to Claim 11 and including means for selectively guiding respective said catch means onto said drive cable means.

13. Water skiing apporatus according to C'zim 11 or Claim 20 12 and including means for selectively detaching said catch a:aa means from said drive cable means.

14. Water skiing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore ,o described with reference to the accompanying drawings. o, DATED this seventeenth day of November 1992 "LYLE WILLIAM GILLETT By My Patent Attorney 3 SJON GARDNER S. o