AU778613B2 - Self-righting water craft - Google Patents

Description

P/00/0 1 1 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: SELF-RIGHTING WATER CRAFT Applicant: Pierre Robert Donat 6% 9 0 including the best method of performing it known to me: Y:\JdeArevSecA10l4-02 T6-Bouy Sell Righting Vessel front sheet dc 2 SELF-RIGHTING WATER CRAFT The present invention relates to a self-righting water craft.

Water craft, such as hydrofoils and engine driven catamarans, are susceptible to capsizing in rough or choppy sea conditions. Once capsized, water craft of this kind are difficult to right, while the safety of occupants aboard the water craft can be severely compromised in the event of capsizing. It is therefore desirable, in the event of capsizing occurring, that a water craft can be righted with minimum delay.

According to the present invention there is provided a self-righting water craft, including a craft body which is arranged to float upright on a body of water in a floating position, the craft body having a longitudinal axis between front and rear ends thereof, propulsion means located outside of said water craft and offset from said longitudinal axis and being arranged to be immersed in said body of water upon said water craft overturning to a capsized position and said propulsion means being operable to propel said watercraft generally about said longitudinal axis to return said water craft from said capsized position to said floating position.

Preferably the propulsion means is fixed relative to the craft body and travels through the body of water in an arcuate path while propelling the water craft generally about the longitudinal axis. The propulsion would continue until such time as the water craft had been returned to the floating position.

It is preferred that propulsion means be separately provided on each side of the water craft. By this arrangement, the water craft may be returned from a capsized position to the floating position by the most appropriate propulsion means. Thus, one propulsion means may be immersed further in the body of water than the propulsion means on the other side of the water craft so that return to the floating position will be more quickly achieved by propulsion with the earlier of the propulsion means.

C e Y:Uie)Anarx SpelO184-02 Th-Bwy Se Rgpming Vessel.doc 3 In the event that propulsion means are provided on either side of the water craft, it is preferable that each propulsion means be movable between retracted and extended positions relative to the side of the craft body.

Preferably the propulsion means is positioned adjacent the craft body in the retracted position and is spaced away from the craft body in the extended position. In this arrangement, the water craft may be returned from the capsized position by placing one of the propulsion means in the extended position and the other in the retracted position and propelling the water craft by the propulsion means in the extended position.

In the above arrangement, a strut arrangement which is pivotably connected to the craft body may be employed to movably mount the propulsion means relative to the craft body. The strut arrangement can include first and second struts each of which is pivotably connected at one end to the craft body and at the other end to a member, which can be a third strut, or a lateral float (as hereinafter described), and preferably the first and second struts and the member general form a parallelogram with the craft body with the struts and the member being relatively pivotable between retracted and extended conditions.

The first and second struts can be connected to a pivotable linkage member which is connected to drive means to drive the linkage member to pivot so as to simultaneously pivot one of the first and second struts. The remaining strut arrangement is pivoted by the pivoting of either of the first and second 2 struts so that the propulsion means can be moved between the extended and retracted positions.

It is preferred that the propulsion means include a driveable propeller which has an axis of rotation which is generally vertical when the water craft is in a floating position. In that orientation, slight submersing of the propeller within the body of water is sufficient for the propeller to commence driving of the water craft about its longitudinal axis to return it to the floating position. As the water craft is rotated about its longitudinal axis, the orientation of the axis of the pl 0 propeller will also change.

00 Y.vurtsuAreASpep ll84-02 Tt-&oy Se Righting Vesel.doc 4 It is preferred that the water craft include a pair of lateral floats which are disposed on either side of the longitudinal axis of the craft and on which the craft is at least partially floatable. Each of the floats is preferably separately movable between retracted positions in which the floats are positioned adjacent the craft body and extended positions in which the floats are spaced from the craft body. In the floating position, each of the lateral floats would normally be positioned in the extended position, while when the water craft capsizes, at least one of the lateral floats is moved to the retracted position prior to the propulsion means driving the water craft about the longitudinal access. The lateral float that remains in the extended position is driven through the body of water as the water craft is rotated from the capsized position and the lateral float which is retracted is returned to the extended position when the water craft is ready for return to the floating position. Preferably, the propulsion means are attached to each of the lateral floats.

The water craft can further include a central float which is spaced longitudinally from the lateral floats and which has first and second float portions which are pivotably connected to the craft body. The float portions preferably are generally the same shape and are pivotable from a first position in which, in the floating position, they extend downwardly into the body of water, to a second position in which they are closely adjacent to the craft body and in which position rotation of the water craft from the capsized position to the floating position can commence. Once the water craft returns to the floating position, .:the first and second float portions can be returned to the downwardly extended oooo° S 25 position.

S" The first and second float portions can have longitudinal inner and outer surfaces with the inner surfaces being closely adjacent in the downwardly o extending position and the outer surfaces being closely adjacent to the craft o" 0 body in the second position.

0 In the preferred form of the invention, the central float is positioned towards the front end of the craft body while the lateral floats are positioned towards the rear ends.

V Ukeo nro'SpecAlOl84-02 Tr~&y Se" Rightin Vesel.doc Preferably, the drive means includes a pair of propellers, one each of which is connected to respective first and second float portions, preferably the outer surfaces of those float portions. In one arrangement, the outer surfaces of the first and second float portions are shaped generally complementary to the craft body while the craft body outer surface includes a pair of recesses to respectively accommodate each of the pair of propellers.

It is preferable that a water craft according to the invention include drive means for driving the water craft over a body of water. The drive means can include an engine for propelling the water craft and the engine is preferably rotatably mounted on a mounting arrangement such that the centre of mass of the engine is below the access about when the engine can rotate.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be performed, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a water craft according to the present invention Figure 2 is a front view of a water craft according to the present invention Figure 3 is a further front view of a water craft according to the present invention Figure 4 is a top view of a water craft according to the present invention 2 inFigure 5 is a further top view of a water craft according to the present invention Figures 6 to 15 are front views of a water craft according to the present invention at various stages in the operation of the righting sequence.

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of the mounting of the engine for a water craft according to the present invention.

30 Figure 17 is a perspective view of the mounting of the engine for a water craft according to the present invention.

C °0 Figures 1 to 5 show a self-righting water craft 10 according to the present invention. The craft 10 includes a generally elongate body 11 having a Y:Uie revScnUAOtB42 Th-oy Sell Rightinr Vessdedoc 6 longitudinal axis. As shown, the body 11 forms a generally enclosed cabin 12, the cabin 12 having a number of side windows 13 and a front window 14. The front window 14 may have a window wiper 15. The cabin 12 also has at least one side entry in the form of a door 16. The cabin 12 may also be provided with a number of ventilation assemblies (not shown) for allowing air into and out of the cabin 12. The windows 13, 14, entries 16 and ventilation assemblies of the cabin 12 may each be closed to form a substantially watertight seal so as to make the interior of the cabin 12 substantially watertight. The craft 10 further includes means (not shown) for closing each of the windows 13, 14, entries 16 and ventilation means to form the watertight seal.

The craft 10 also includes a pair of lateral floats 17, 18 which are mounted laterally of the craft 10. The lateral floats 17, 18 are mounted to the body 11 by a supporting arrangement including front and rear lateral supports 19, 20 disposed generally one in front of the other. As shown, each front and rear lateral support 19, 20 includes an upper and lower support strut, 21, 22.

One end of each support strut 21, 22 is pivotably mounted to the body 11, while the other end is pivotably mounted to a respective float 17, 18 so as to form a pivoting parallelogram structure.

Referring to Figure 4, the craft 10 includes a pair of hydraulic cylinders 23. A first end of each cylinder 23 is pivotably mounted to the body 11 of the craft 10, while a second end is pivotably connected to a first end of a linkage **member 24, with each linkage member 24 being pivotably mounted, at a S 25 second end thereof, to the body 11 at the pivotable mount of a respective front o lateral support 19. Each linkage member 24 is fixedly connected to the respective front lateral support 19 and operable to pivot therewith. Each cylinder 23 is operable to pivot a respective linkage member 24 and therefore is also eIa*i operable to pivot the corresponding front lateral support 19. Due to the pivoting parallelogram structure, pivoting of the front lateral supports 19 is operable to cause corresponding pivoting of the rear lateral supports 20. The pivoting of the lateral supports 19, 20 is further operable to move each of the floats 17, 18 between a retracted position shown in figure 4 and an extended position shown Sin figure 5. While the positions shown in figures 4 and 5 show both of the floats Y:UtejndepeaaoiB4-02 T-Buoy SO$ Rihting Vessl.doc 7 17, 18 in a retracted and extended position respectively, it is to be appreciated that the hydraulic cylinders 23 may be operated independently such that each of the floats 17, 18 may be independently moved between the two positions.

The craft 10 also includes propulsion means, in the form of propellers 26, mounted to the respective lateral floats 17, 18. As can best be seen in figures 4 and 5, the propellers 25, 26 are arranged to rotate about a generally vertical axis when the craft 10 is disposed in a normal floating orientation, as shown in figures 2 and 3. As will become apparent later, the propulsion means forms a critical part of the present invention.

The craft 10 also includes steering means, in the form of rudders 27, mounted to the lateral floats 17, 18, as can be seen in figures 1 and The craft 10 further includes a central float 28. The central float 28 includes a pair of central float members 29 and each central float member 29 is pivotably mounted to the body 11 about pivots 30. The float members 29 are generally elongate in cross-section, having an inside surface 31 and an outside surface 32. The float members 29 are pivotable between an extended position, as shown in figure 2, and a retracted position as shown in figure 3. In the extended position, the float members 29 are disposed with their respective inside surfaces 31 substantially together to present a generally unitary central }'•float 28 having a profile generally corresponding to that of the lateral floats 17, •o 18. In the retracted position, each of the float members 29 is disposed with their 25 respective outside surfaces 32 generally adjacent to, and preferably in contact with the outer surface of, the body 11 of the craft 9..

It will be appreciated that the water craft 10 described above includes the O00l lateral floats 17, 18, and the central float 28 for buoyancy purposes and it is 30 intended that when the craft 10 is moving at a coasting speed, the body 11 will be elevated above the surface of the water supported by the buoyancy of the floats and the craft 10 will plane on the floats. Even at lower speeds of when the 0 craft 10 is stationary, it is intended that the body 11 will be elevated above the surface of the water supported by the buoyancy of the floats.

Y.ULAMrieA speAlRO184- Tri-uoy Sef Righinr VesWdoc The craft 10 also includes drive means, in the form of propellers 33, to drive the craft 10 across the surface of a body 11 of water. As shown, the craft includes a pair of propellers 33, each of which is mounted to a respective float member 29. The propellers 33 are mounted to the outside surface 32 of the respective float members 29. As can best be seen in figures 2 and 3, the propellers 33 are arranged to rotate about an axis generally parallel to the axis of the body 11 of the craft The body 11 of the craft 10 further includes propeller recesses 34, for accommodating the propellers 33 when the float members 29 are in the retracted position, as shown in figure 3.

The craft 10 further includes an engine 35 rotatably mounted to the body 11 for maintaining the correct orientation of the engine 35, regardless of the rotation of the body 11 about its longitudinal axis. Referring to figures 3 and 17, the engine 35 is mounted to the craft 10 by a mounting frame 36. The frame 36 includes frame supports 37, each having a first and second end. The respective second ends of the frame supports are fixedly mounted to the craft 10. The frame further includes a rod 38, the ends of which are rotationally mounted to respective first ends of the frame supports 37 whereby the rod 38 may rotate about its longitudinal axis relative to the frame supports 37. The engine 35 is **fixedly mounted to the rod 38. Accordingly, the engine 35 can rotate correspondingly with the rod 38 about the axis thereof. The engine 35 is configured such that its centre of mass lies at a point spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the rod 38. The engine 35 is further configured such that it is in the correct operational orientation when its centre of mass is generally vertically beneath the axis of rotation.

The operation of the self-righting function of the water craft 10 according to the present invention will now be described with reference to figures 6 to o.i Figure 6 shows the craft 10 in its normal operational orientation, hereinafter referred to as its upright position. As shown, the lateral supports 19, YIJhmeAnreASpedAIOt84-o2 T6Bwuoy Se Righting Veswl.doc 9 have been pivoted so that the lateral floats 17, 18 are in the extended position and the central float members 29 have been pivoted so as to be in the extended position. In the upright position, the body 11 of the craft 10 is generally maintained above the surface of the water by the buoyancy of the central float 28 and the pair of lateral floats 17, 18. As can be seen, the engine is oriented such that its centre of mass is generally vertically beneath the axis of rotation of the rod 38, and is therefore in the correct operational orientation.

Figures 7 and 8 show the craft 10 in two different non-upright positions, hereinafter generally referred to as capsized positions. As shown, the lateral floats 17, 18 and the central float members 29 remain in their respective extended positions. When the craft 10 is in a capsized position, the body 11 of the craft 10 is partially submerged beneath the surface of the water. In order that water does not infiltrate the body 11, and in particular the cabin 12, the means for closing each of the windows 13, 14, entries 16 and ventilation means are activated, either manually or automatically, so as to make the interior of the cabin 12 substantially watertight. With the body 11, and in particular the cabin 12 substantially watertight, the body 11 is itself generally buoyant. Further as shown, one of the two lateral floats 17, 18 is at least partially submerged below the water surface, while the other of the lateral floats 17, 18 is spaced apart from and above the water surface. The buoyancy of the body 11 and that of the partially submerged lateral float cause the craft 10 to remain afloat. Accordingly, even when the craft 10 is place in a capsized position it is not caused to be totally submerged.

Still referring to figures 7 and 8, is can be seen that despite the craft being in a capsized position, the engine 35 is in the correct operational orientation. The movement of the craft 10 from an upright position to a capsized 30 position may cause the engine 35 to be temporarily orientated other than in the correct operational orientation. However, as the engine 35 is configured such that its centre of mass lies at a point spaced apart from the axis of rotation of the rod 38, the action of gravity will cause the engine 35 and rod 38 to rotate until the centre of mass is again generally vertically beneath the axis of rotation Y.Q~jseAndreMp 01 84-02 Tr-Btoy Self RlghUng Vessel.doc of the rod 38. Accordingly, the engine 35 is generally maintained in the correct operational orientation despite changes in position of the craft The remainder of the operation of the self-righting function of the water craft 10 will be described in relation to the capsized position as shown in figure 8, however it is to be appreciated that the operation would be generally the same where the craft 10 is in the capsized position shown in figure 7.

Referring to figure 9 the craft 10 is shown in largely the same position as in figure 8, however the central float members 29 have now been partially pivoted away from the extended position toward the retracted position.

Referring to figure 10, the craft 10 is shown having the central float members 29 pivoted fully into the retracted position and disposed with their respective outside surfaces 32 generally adjacent to the body 11 of the craft As shown, the propellers 33 are each accommodated in a respective propeller recess 34. Still referring to figure 10 the lateral float 17 spaced apart from and above the surface of the water has also been pivoted to the retracted position by operation of the respective hydraulic cylinder 24. The partially submerged lateral float 18 remains in the extended position. Further, the propeller 26 of the partially submerged lateral float 18 has now been activated. Due to the lateral float 18 being partially submerged, the propeller 26 of that float is also **submerged beneath the surface of the water.

Referring to figures 10 to 13, it can be seen that the force in the direction of arrow A generated by the submerged propeller 26 is sufficient to overcome the buoyancy of its respective lateral float 18. Accordingly, the craft 10 is caused to rotate about an axis passing through its centre of buoyancy and *generally parallel to its longitudinal axis. The rotation of the craft 10 progresses 30 through the positions shown in figures 11 and 12 until craft 10 reaches the loll position shown in figure 13. As shown, throughout the rotation of the craft from the position shown in figure 10 to the position shown in figure 13, the engine 35 rotates and thus is maintained generally in the correct operational orientation, and may thus reliably power the propeller.

Y:uie\AreSpecdIl\084-2 Tn-Bmy Self Righting Vesseidoc 11 Referring again to figure 13, it can be seen that the rotation of the craft has cause it to be returned to a generally upright position. In this position the extended lateral float 18 is again partially submerged and the buoyancy thereof acts with the buoyancy of the body 11 to maintain the craft 10 afloat.

Referring to figures 14 and 15, the retracted lateral float 17 and the central float members 29 are now pivoted back to their respective extended positions. Accordingly, the craft 10 is returned to an upright position substantially corresponding to the upright position shown in figure 6.

It will be appreciated that the self-righting function of the invention, and the rotating engine 35 mount, provides an important advantage over water craft which are not self-righting. For such water craft, the craft occupant can be trapped within the craft when it capsizes. While the craft may not sink, it will then be necessary for emergency assistance to arrive for rescue purposes.

Also, the craft may have to be attended to by salvage personnel.

The present invention however, provides a further advantage in that the position of the floats 17, 18, 28 can enhance the smoothness of the travel of the craft 10 over a water surface. Referring to figures 1 to 5, the operation of the propellers 33 of the central float 28, to drive the craft 10 over a surface of a body 11 of water, causes a wake to be formed. By pivoting the lateral floats 17, *i18 so as to adjust the lateral position of those floats such that they run in the calmer part of the formed wake, the travel of craft 10 over the water surface may be made generally smoother.

The invention described herein is susceptible to variations, modifications and/or additions other than those specifically described and it is to be l••l understood that the invention includes all such variations, modifications and/or 30 additions which fall within the spirit and scope of the above description.

e Y.QJu1r~rvASpeA1O184-02 T6-8uoy Seff Rogmtng VesWe~doe

Claims (21)

1. A self-righting water craft, including a craft body which is arranged to float upright on a body of water in a floating position, the craft body having a longitudinal axis between front and rear ends thereof, propulsion means located outside of said water craft and offset from said longitudinal axis and being arranged to be immersed in said body of water upon said water craft overturning to a capsized position and said propulsion means being operable to propel said watercraft generally about said longitudinal axis to return said water craft from said capsized position to said floating position.

2. A water craft according to claim 1, said propulsion means being fixed relative to said craft body and travelling through said body of water in an arcuate path while propelling said water craft generally about said longitudinal axis.

3. A water craft according to claim 1 or 2, said propulsion means being separately provided on each side of said water craft.

4. A water craft according to claim 3, said propulsion means being movable between retracted and extended positions relative to the side of said craft body, wherein said propulsion means is positioned adjacent said craft body in said i retracted position and is spaced away from said craft body in said extended position, and whereby to return said water craft from said capsized position to said floating position, one of said propulsion means is in said extended position and the other is in said retracted position and the propulsion means which is in said extended position is operable to propel said water craft generally about said longitudinal axis.

5. A water craft according to claim 4, said propulsion means being movable on a strut arrangement which is pivotably connected to said craft body.

6. A water craft according to claim 5, said strut arrangement including first and second struts, each of which is pivotably connected at one end to said craft Y:UheWrrewvSped\l01 84-02 Trt-Buy Self PigMing Veswl.doe 13 body and at the other end to a member, said first and second struts and said member generally forming a parallelogram with said craft body, with said struts and said member being relatively pivotable between retracted and extended conditions.

7. A water craft according to claim 6, wherein said member is a third strut.

8. A water craft according to claim 6 or 7, wherein one of said first and second struts is connected to a pivotable linkage member and wherein said linkage member is connected to drive means to drive said linkage member to pivot so as to simultaneously pivot said one of said first and second struts.

9. A water craft according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said propulsion means including a drivable propeller which has an axis of rotation which is generally vertical when said water craft is in said floating position.

A water craft according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said water craft including a pair of lateral floats disposed on either side of said longitudinal axis and on which said water craft is at least partially floatable, each of said floats being separately movable between retracted positions in which said floats are positioned adjacent said craft body and extended positions in which said floats are spaced from said craft body, wherein in said floating position, each of said l lateral floats are normally in said extended position and wherein when said water craft is in said capsized position at least one of said lateral floats is moved from said extended position to said retracted position, and whereby said propulsion means drives in a manner to displace said lateral float which remains in said extended condition through said body of water and whereby when said water craft has been rotated from said capsized position, said float which has been moved to said retracted position is returned to said extended position to 30 return said water craft to said floating position.

11. A water craft according to claim 10 when dependent on any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said member is a lateral float. Tri-Buoy Self Rlhting Vese.doc 14

12. A water craft according to claim 10 or 11, said water craft further including a central float spaced longitudinally from said lateral floats, said central float having first and second float portions which are pivotably connected to said craft body, said float portions being of generally the same shape and being pivotable from a first position in which, in the floating position, they each extend downwardly into said body of water, to a second position closely adjacent said craft body for rotation of said water craft from said capsized position to said floating position, whereafter said first and second float portions can be returned to said first downwardly extending position.

13. A water craft according to claim 12, wherein said first and second float portions have longitudinal inner and outer surfaces, said inner surfaces being closely adjacent in said first downwardly extending position, and said outer surfaces being closely adjacent said craft body in said second position.

14. A water craft according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further including drive means for driving said water craft over said body of water.

A water craft according to claim 14 when dependent on claim 13, said drive means including a pair of propellers, one each of which is connected to said respective first and second float portions.

16. A water craft according to claim 15, said pair of propellers being connected respectively to said outer surfaces of said first and second float portions.

17. A water craft according to claim 16, the outer surface of said craft body and said outer surfaces of said first and second float portions being shaped generally complementary, and said craft body outer surface including a pair of 30 recesses to respectively accommodate said pair of propellers.

18. A water craft according to any one of claims 12 to 17, wherein said central float is positioned toward said front end of said craft body and said lateral floats are positioned toward said rear ends. Y:UteeAPndrreMSpec 01 8402 T4-BLy Sel Righting Vessel diC

19. A water craft according to any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein said propulsion means are attached to each of said lateral floats.

A water craft according to any one of claims 14 to 17, said drive means including an engine for propelling said water craft, said engine being rotatably mounted on a mounting arrangement such that the centre of mass of said engine is below the axis about which the engine can rotate.

21. A water craft according to any one of claims 1 to 20 said craft body being generally cylindrical. DATED: 28 September 2004 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: PIERRE ROBERT DONAT Olk 0 0 0 0 0@ 0* 0 S* 00 0 0* vY.JieVWrevASpeAl184-02 Th-oy Self Riphtng Vssewdoc