EP0114906A1 - Spherical float which can be used as a boat - Google Patents

Abstract

The float (1) is designed in such a way that it can if need be serve as a lifeboat. For this purpose, an inner sphere (3a, 3b) is movably mounted in an outer sphere (2a, 2b) via rolling-contact bearings (4, 5) and has a weight arrangement which preferably comprises at least one seat (22) which shifts the centre of gravity downwards relative to the centre point of the sphere (3a, 3b). In this way, the outer sphere (2a, 2b), which can be closed tight by a lid (16), can also be exposed to rough seas, the inner sphere (3a, 3b) always maintaining its upright position. Installation of the inner sphere (3a, 3b) is facilitated if the outer sphere (2a, 2b) is constructed of at least two parts (2a and 2b respectively) which can be tightly connected to one another via a connecting device (9a, 9b, 10).

Description

The invention relates to a floating body with a hollow sphere enclosing a person receiving space, which is accessible through at least one opening and can be connected to the atmosphere via air openings.

Floating bodies of this type have previously been used as diving balls which are accessible from below and whose air openings were connected to the atmosphere via hoses and pumps.

The object of the invention, on the other hand, is to create a floating body which is capable of swimming on the water surface and in which it is ensured, even in unfavorable weather conditions, that the person (s) located inside are not damaged, so that this float can optionally be used as a lifeboat.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the floating body consists of an outer ball and an inner ball which is freely rotatable in this in every direction, the outer ball consisting of at least two parts which can be tightly connected to one another via a connecting device exists and between the outer ball and the inner ball a number of roller bearings are arranged, the height of which corresponds to half the difference between the inner diameter of the outer ball and the outer diameter of the inner ball, and that finally at least the inner ball is provided with a weight arrangement for shifting its center of gravity below the center of the Schwirnmkörper .

It is expedient if at least the outer ball is double-walled and can preferably be sealed by means of a cover.

In the case of diving balls, the bottom opening is generally not closed in order to give the diver the opportunity to carry out work. The penetration of water is avoided in that an overpressure atmosphere is constantly maintained within the person receiving space, which naturally places a heavy burden on the human organism.

It would be theoretically conceivable to construct the inner ball inside the one-piece outer ball from individual parts or by means of a casting compound using a lost mold, as a result of which all sealing problems for the outer ball would be eliminated. However, in view of the fact that inside the inner sphere is usually larger Components are to be accommodated, such as seats, etc., it is more economical in terms of production if at least the outer ball is composed of at least two parts, but also the inner ball is expedient.

The roller bearings are preferably formed by ball bearings, although the use of roller bearings, in particular with pivotably mounted roller cages, is also conceivable and would also have the advantage of a larger support surface compared to ball bearings. On the other hand, the inner ball is more flexible on ball bearings. These rolling bearings can be evenly distributed over the ball surface, but it is advantageous if - due to the shifting of the center of gravity downwards and the stable position achieved at least for the inner ball - they are arranged particularly in the floor area, whereas upwards there are few rolling bearings (and here preferably roller or needle bearings) are sufficient or even missing. This has the further advantage that the aforementioned weight arrangement for shifting the center of gravity downwards also results.

In practice, however, attempts will also be made to stabilize the outer ball as far as possible either by placing such a weight arrangement on it sees (for example, the roller bearing cages attached to it in the floor area) and / or provides a keel sword in the manner of sailing ships, or provides them with lateral floats or outriggers. The weight arrangement on the outer ball can also be achieved in that it is provided in the floor area with an encapsulated motor housing, in particular for an electric motor, and a propeller or a rudder in order to ensure at least a minimal navigation option when used as a lifeboat. This then entails the necessity of housing batteries and the tight passage of at least the electrical wires (if the motor housing is arranged outside) through the wall of the outer ball.

The use of such a weight arrangement for the outer ball is advantageous because it is otherwise conceivable that the outer ball rotates 180 ° after the entry of one or more people in the course of the journey and therefore the exit is difficult. It is still possible, at least through the hatch of the inner ball, preferably through lateral hand holes, to rotate the outer ball relative to the inner ball to such an extent that the hatches are brought back to cover will. A releasable locking mechanism can then even be provided for this position. For easier rotation of the outer ball, recesses can be provided in its inner wall, which offer a hold. If, however, the roller bearing cages are mounted on the outer ball, handles can be arranged between them, the radial height of which must at least not exceed that of the roller bearings. In order to achieve a handy length of the handles, they can therefore be arranged in depressions.

While the known diving balls consisted of pressure-resistant metal due to the high pressure acting on them, for the purposes of the invention it is more favorable to manufacture at least the parts of the outer ball that can be connected to one another, preferably also the inner ball, essentially from plastic, and expediently at least the outer ball to be double-walled. In this way, the floating body according to the invention is relatively light and yet stable, with stiffening ribs, insulating material, but also stabilizing weights in the lower region or a gas, e.g. under pressure, can be accommodated in the upper area.

It is known that the strong cooling effect of water when staying in it for a long time can have negative consequences for health. In order to prevent the person receiving space from being exposed to an excessive cooling effect, the outer ball is preferably made of a material with a coefficient of thermal conductivity below 0.35, preferably around 0.035. These values can be achieved particularly easily if the outer ball is made of plastic in the manner described above.

The space for people is practically limited by the cavity of the inner sphere. The smaller the inner ball, the more stable (if the outer ball is the same size), the rolling bearings can be formed, and the more the dividing line of the outer ball can be shifted upwards from the center, especially when the ball is appropriately stabilized, so that it can be normal if necessary always lies above the waterline and therefore the sealing problems are easier to master. On the other hand, the relationship between the displacement space of the outer ball and the usable interior space can be unfavorable, which can lead to difficulties when storing the boat. It has now been found that a ratio of the inside diameter of the outside ball to the outside diameter of the inner sphere under 9: 7 creates particularly favorable conditions, and an optimum was found at a ratio of 37: 35, the actual dimensions being 1480: 1400 mm.

In such circumstances, however, it is advantageous if the outer ball, possibly also the inner ball, is made up of two ball halves divided along the ball equator.

As mentioned, the entrance hatch is provided on the underside of diving bells. As the outer ball is optionally freely rotatable, the place of the arrangement is undefined its entry opening, although in the case of stabilization of the outer ball, the attachment of these O _e opening in aligned position with that of the inner sphere is indicated. In any case, it is expedient if the entrance hatch or the cover of at least the inner ball or the outer ball is arranged approximately at the interface of the connecting line between the center of gravity and the center of the floating body with the ball wall. It can then be arranged in such a way that its center lies exactly in the extension of the line drawn through the center of gravity and the center of the sphere, but it can also be offset somewhat from it, with a more lateral attachment May facilitate boarding.

It has already been mentioned which measures can be used to offset the center of gravity of the inner sphere from its sphere center. In order to ensure a minimum of comfort for the occupants of the floating body, the weight arrangement of the inner ball preferably comprises at least one seat, preferably below which there is at least one space for storing and / or fastening items of necessity, e.g. of the drive batteries mentioned, for the occupant of the float for the purpose of shifting the center of gravity downwards. These items can then either be parked on a footprint below the seat and / or simply attached by means of lateral holders arranged on the spherical body.

While in the case of diving balls the air openings are connected to the pumps of the associated diving ship via hoses, the floating body according to the invention should be able to serve as a ship on its own. It is therefore expedient if portholes, which may correspond to openings in the inner ball, and / or ventilation openings are provided on the outer ball, preferably the upper half of the ball, the latter of which Valves can be closed, which preferably have a closure body which can be actuated by the dead weight and / or by the external pressure.

Of course, it would also be possible for these valves to be actuated by hand, for example by opening the valve located above the entry hatch and locking it in the open position, this locking preferably being released automatically when the valve moves out relative to the edge of the entry hatch and the valve returns to the closed position under the action of a return spring.

According to the invention, however, the occupants should be relieved of this actuation work, the safety of the actuation being increased by means of the automatic closure body if two closure bodies which can be moved independently of one another, e.g. made of different materials, such as metal and plastic, are provided so that sand grains reaching the area of a closure body, for example, cannot impair the function of the valve. Stainless steel is favorably used as the metal.

One of the uncomfortable phenomena known from snorkel valves is the fact that, despite itself, it works valve can often still penetrate small amounts of water during its closing movement. This can be counteracted so that a siphon-like channel is connected to the air openings, through the curvature of which any water entering a channel section cannot penetrate into the inside of the ball, but instead runs off again during the next movement thereof. In order to be able to keep the size of the valves small, the automatic valve bodies are expediently each housed in a siphon channel section, which then fulfills a double function as a siphon channel and valve seat support.

It should be mentioned that the term “outer sphere” is to be understood in the sense of a spherical interior, whereas the outside can also deviate from the spherical shape, for example for stabilization or signaling purposes. For example, the ball can have lateral floating bodies, for example in the manner of an outrigger boat or in the form of a floating torus arranged in the region of the ball equator or below. Furthermore, the air openings can be connected to floating buoys via hoses in order to allow a load on the ball which submerges it below the water surface. Especially when a drive is attached to the It can be advantageous to give the underside of the outer sphere a streamlined shape on the outside. On the other hand, it is expedient particularly when used as a lifeboat, on the outer ball-signaling devices, such as a signature field ( "SOS"), a flag or at least one L _e uchtfeuer to install.

• Fig. 1 zeigt einen erfindungsgemässen Schwimmkörper im Schnitt, wovon
• Fig. 2 in einer weiteren Schnittdarstellung ein Detail, und zwar eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform eines für die Zwecke der Erfindung günstigen Ventiles veranschaulicht.

Further details of the invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment schematically shown in the drawing:

• Fig. 1 shows a floating body according to the invention in section, of which
• Fig. 2 shows a further sectional view of a detail, namely a preferred embodiment of a valve for the purposes of the invention illustrated.

A floating body 1 has an outer ball 2a, 2b composed of two ball halves 2a and 2b, in which an inner ball 3a and 3b, likewise made up of two ball halves 3a and 3b, is rotatably supported in all directions by balls 5 guided in ball cages 4. For the sake of simplicity, only one ball bearing 4, 5 is shown, but it is understood that at least six will be required to support the inner ball, and in in practice there are many more. The number of these roller bearings depends on the dimensions of the balls 2a, 2b or 3a, 3b and can be fifty in a practical case. It can also be seen that the ball cages are fastened to the outer wall of the inner ball, but - as already explained - it can be more favorable for some applications to fasten the ball cages 4 to the inner wall of the outer ball 2a, 2b. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to distribute the ball bearings unevenly over the ball surface, since - as will be explained later - the position of the inner ball is stabilized and therefore always rests on the inner surface of the outer ball 2a, 2b with the underside shown in FIG. 1 . However, this is only possible if either the ball cages 4 are attached to the outside of the inner ball 3a, 3b, in which case it is sufficient to make ball bearings only up to half the height, but especially in the lower region of the inner ball 2a, 2b; or the outer ball 2a, 2b is also stabilized in the manner discussed at the outset and carries the ball cages in the arrangement just explained. Another possibility is to move a ball bearing ring of smaller diameter to move freely around the underside of the inner ball 3a, 3b lay, whereby manufacturing and assembly costs for fastening the ball cages 4 can be omitted. In practice, however, there is a risk that such a ball bearing ring would slip upward and then the inner ball 3a, 3b would sit on the inner wall of the outer ball 2a, 2b without the interposition of a roller bearing. Therefore, at least two, preferably several, such ball bearing rings would have to be provided.

The balls 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b are preferably made of plastic, e.g. glass fiber reinforced polyester plastic. At least the outer ball 2a, 2b is preferably double-walled in the manner shown, the cavities 6 resulting therebetween being provided with an insulating compound 7, for example foamed. A good insulation value can be achieved in this way. The cavity 6 is however - not least for stiffening - divided by transverse ribs 34 in the manner shown.

If the position of the outer ball 2a, 2b is also to be stabilized, only the lower cavities 6 can be filled with solid insulating material, whereas the upper cavities 6 contain a gas, for example under pressure. This will shift the focus tes reached downwards relative to the center of the sphere. If the float is to be equipped with a drive, the lower cavities can also contain parts of the drive unit or batteries.

Each of the two outer spherical halves has an annular recess 8a or 8b, which together form a groove 8a, 8. In the area of this recess 8a or 8b, each ball half 2a or 2b has a flange 9a or 9b, with the aid of which the ball halves 2a, 2b can be connected to one another by means of screws 10. The arrangement of the flanges 9a, 9b has two reasons. On the one hand, they are protected within the groove 8a, 8b, so that the floating body 1 running up against cliffs, quay walls or the like does not result in any load on the fastening device 9a, 9b and 10. On the other hand, a good seal can be achieved with the aid of a U-shaped rubber profile ring 11, the legs of which resiliently rest against the side walls of the groove 8a, 8b. These side walls can optionally be provided with a sawtooth profile in the manner of fittings.

If the flanges 9a, 9b protrude beyond the surface of the outer ball 2a, 2b, the rubber profile ring 11 can also be designed as a wide rubber bead, the Leg resiliently inward on the flanges 9a, 9b and are anchored there, for example, in ring grooves with engaging beads or rubber teeth (or vice versa: on ring-shaped projections of the flanges with ring grooves of the rubber profile ring 11). If desired, the rubber ring 11 can additionally be glued or welded to the walls of the groove 8a, 8b. In addition, 0-rings can be provided in ring grooves on the mutually facing end faces of the ball halves 2a, 2b. These end faces are preferably graduated and interlocked in such a way that a labyrinth seal also results.

Cylindrical recesses 12 are expediently distributed over the surface of the outer ball, which on the one hand enclose air openings 33 with air valves 13, and on the other hand also enclose portholes 14. The reason for the arrangement of these parts in recesses 12 is the same as described above in connection with the flanges 9a, 9b: the valves 13 and the portholes 14 are to be secured against impacts.

The portholes 14 of the outer ball 2a, 2b correspond to viewing openings 27 of the inner ball 3a, 3b. These viewing openings are preferably dimensioned somewhat larger in order not only to receive light when the windows 14 and 27 are aligned exactly. The storage does not interfere with these recesses, since they are provided on the inner ball only at the top, where the ball bearings 4, 5 do not have to absorb any forces. In the portholes 14 on the underside of the outer ball 2a, 2b it can happen that a ball bearing 4, 5 sitting on the outside of the inner ball 3a, 3b does not find any support, but the other ball bearings then provide appropriate support. In any case, however, this is the reason why the glazing of the portholes 14, as indicated by the broken line, lies approximately in the middle of the axial length of the cylindrical recesses 12. Since the air openings 33 have only a small diameter relative to the portholes 14, in practice there are more air openings 33 than portholes 14, and for example 100 out of 12 recesses 12 can be equipped with valves 13 and the remaining ten with portholes. In terms of production, it is favorable to provide the recesses 12 of the same type and with sealed screw threads, so that valves 13 or portholes 14 can then be screwed in during assembly, as desired. The portholes 14 are therefore usually tightly closed and cannot be opened from the inside.

The upper ball half 2a of the outer ball 2a, 2b has a sealing hatch cover 16 which is provided with a sealing ring 15 and can be pivoted about a watertight hinge 17 and which can be closed by means of three rotary locks 18 (only one is shown). The open position of the cover 16 is indicated by dashed lines. The construction of the cover is of any type in itself, as is known in the relevant art, e.g. of tower closures in submarines, is known, so that a detailed description can be omitted.

The entry hatch of the outer ball 2a, 2b which can be closed by the cover 16 corresponds to an entry opening 21 of the inner ball 3a, 3b. However, while in the illustrated embodiment the outer ball 2a, 2b has an undefined position and therefore its entry hatch cover can also move downwards (based on FIG. 1) due to a relative movement to the inner ball, the entry opening 21 of the inner ball 3a, 3b is always located on the Top because this ball is stabilized in its position.

For this purpose, it has a weight arrangement through which its center of gravity is relative to the ball center is shifted down. This weight arrangement preferably comprises at least one annular seat 22, which is equipped with a floor grating 23. Under the latter is a bilge 24, which is intended to absorb condensation in a known manner. A free space 25 located beneath the seat offers space for accommodating various items, such as food supplies, drinking water tanks, biological toilets, batteries for the drive mentioned or for any emergency lighting or a beacon mounted on the outside, etc.

In addition to the light openings 27 mentioned, the inner ball 3a, 3b can also be provided with air openings 26, the number of which is generally higher. For example, 100 ventilation openings 26 and thirty-six light openings 27 (only one each is shown) can be provided. In addition, it is also possible to provide hand holes (not shown) on the side of the upper inner ball half 3a, if it should become necessary to bring the two entry openings from the outer and inner ball into alignment for the exit. Through these relatively wide hand holes then, for example from recesses in the inner wall of the outer ball 2a, 2b, radially protruding handles are gripped and by means of which the outer ball 2a, 2b are rotated into the corresponding position.

In a practical embodiment, forty-four bolts 10 with the masses 3/8 "x 45 mm was used. The outer ball 2a, 2b has an outer diameter mm by 1736 mm has an inner diameter of 1480. The A ssenwand _and the double-walled construction is l5 mm thick, the inner wall has a thickness of 12 mm.

The inner ball 3a, 3b is formed in the manner shown only with a simple wall of 10 mm thickness, especially since it has practically no insulating function. However, for reasons of stabilization, it may also be advantageous for the inner ball 3a, 3b to have a double-walled design, and in the case of larger dimensions of such a floating body, this double-walled design can also serve to accommodate a stiffening skeleton. In the illustrated two-part design of the inner ball 3a, 3b, the connecting flanges 19a, 19b protrude inwards and are expediently covered there by rubber beads in a manner not shown in order to avoid injuries to the occupants in rough seas. When attaching the ball Cages 4 on the outside of the inner ball 3a, 3b, the flanges 19a, 19b can also be directed outwards, provided that their radial dimension is less than that of the ball bearings 4, 5. This would easily avoid any risk of injury. Both flanges are screwed together again with forty four screws measuring 3/8 "x 45 mm, whereby - as mentioned - the facing end faces interlocked to form a labyrinth seal (not shown) or sealed with O-rings which can be sealed in along the This construction is also suitable for the two halves 2a and 2b of the outer ball 2a, 2b.

The floor grate is made of 50 mm thick pine wood, as is the seat 22, which is only 210 mm high. As a rule, this mass is sufficient, but can be varied if necessary.

The air openings 33 can have a diameter of about 10 mm, whereas the portholes 14 - and in the embodiment shown also the inner light openings 27 - have about ten times the diameter, ie 100 mm.

From the above compositions it is clear that the comparison _h ältnis of the inner diameter of the outer ball 2a, 2b 3b practical for _A ussendurchmesser the inner ball 3a, under 9: 7, and 3b in fact is the inner diameter of the inner ball 3a, in a practical 1390 mm version, with a wall thickness of 10 mm, the outer diameter of the inner ball 3a, 3b with 1410 mm compared to the inner diameter of the outer ball 2a, 2b with 1480 mm is approximately in a ratio of approximately 35:37. In this way, there is an optimal ratio of the usable person receiving space within the inner ball 3a, 3b to the outer dimensions of the outer ball 2a, 2b.

According to FIG. 2, the valve 13 on the inside of A _u ssenkugel 2a, 2b comprises a valve body 28 with a siphon air duct 32, 29, 33. The channel section 29 is conical and contains at least two balls 30, 31 serving as closure bodies, of which the larger ball 30 is made of metal, in particular stainless steel, and the smaller ball 31 is made of plastic. Depending on the position of the valve body 28, with respect to the vertical, the two balls are either at one valve seat under the effect of gravity Forming conical wall of the channel section 29 pressed or they reach the position shown in dashed lines, in which they release the air channel 32, 29, 33. In the position shown with solid lines, not only does gravity act on the balls 30, 31, but these are also loaded by the water pressure from the outside via the channel section 32. Even if contamination should prevent one of the balls 30 or 31 from sealingly seated, at least the other ball will certainly block the channel system, so that water infiltration is prevented in any case.

Claims (10)

l. Hollow spherical floating body, which is accessible through at least one opening, characterized in that the floating body (1) consists of an outer ball (2a, 2b) and an inner ball (3a, 3b) which can be freely rotated in this direction, the outer ball (2a , 2b) consists of at least two parts (2a or 2b) which can be connected tightly to one another via a connecting device (9a, 9b, 10) and mix the outer ball (2a, 2b) and the inner ball (3a, 3b) a number of roller bearings (4 , 5) are arranged, the height of which corresponds to half the difference between the inside diameter of the outside ball (2a, 2b) and the outside diameter of the inside ball (3a, 3b), and that finally at least the inside ball (3a, 3b) with a weight arrangement for moving it Center of gravity is provided below the center of the float. _2nd Floating body according to claim 1, characterized in that at least the outer ball (2a, 2b) is double-walled and can preferably be tightly closed by means of a cover (16). 3. Float according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least the outer ball (2a, 2b) is double-walled and preferably consists of a material which has a thermal conductivity below 0.35. 4. Floating body according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least the outer ball (2a, 2b) is constructed from two spherical halves (2a, or 2b) divided along the spherical equator, preferably one of surfaces of the adjacent spherical parts in the division area (2a or 2b) limited groove (8a, 8b) is provided, into which at least one sealing strip (11), for example a sealing ring, can be used. 5. Float according to claim 4, characterized in that the sealing strip (11) is U-shaped in cross section - and in particular is provided with resiliently abutting legs on the groove walls, - and / or that the legs of the U-shaped sealing strip in cross section ( 11) encompass two flanges (9a, 9b and 19a, 19b) projecting from the spherical parts (2a and 2b; 3a and 3b) which are connected to each other. 6. Floating body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entrance hatch (21) or. the cover (16) of at least the inner ball (3a, 3b) or the outer ball (2a, 2b) is arranged approximately at the interface of the connecting line between the center of gravity and the center of the floating body with the ball wall. 7. Floating body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weight arrangement of the inner ball (3a, 3b) comprises at least one seat (22), and - preferably under the seat (22) at least one free space (25) is provided for parking and / or attaching supplies. 8. Floating body according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - preferably the upper ball half (2a) - the outer ball portholes (14), which openings (27) in the inner ball (3a, 3b) correspond to, and / or ventilation openings (33) are provided, the latter of which can be closed by valves (13), which preferably have a closure body (30, 31) which can be actuated by their own weight and / or by the external pressure. 9. A vessel according to claim 8, characterized in that preferably at least two independently movable V _e rschlusskörper (30 or 31), optionally made of different materials such as metal and plastic, are provided. 10. Float according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that a siphon-like channel (29, 32, 33) is connected to the air openings (33), with the automatically movable closure body (30, 31) each in a siphon section (29) each valve (13) are housed.

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