EP0176487B1 - Device for the releasable connexion of a rigid upper deck and hull to the covers of the air chambers of an inflatable boat - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for making the removable connection of an upper deck and a rigid hull to the covers of the inflatable air chambers of an inflatable boat.

Inflatable boats of relatively large dimensions, which have, for example, a length of between four and eight meters, and which are intended to transport an appropriate number of people or proportionate loads and also to sail offshore to a considerable distance from the coast, are provided for the most part, as everyone knows, a floating body, which comprises a number of air chambers inflatable with compressed air which are suitably placed in a protective covering envelope.

As long as the length of the boat does not exceed three - four meters, the task of fulfilling the dual function of "hull" and "upper deck" can advantageously be entrusted to a single planar, rigid or appropriately stiffened element. But if the length of the boat exceeds this value, the use of a single leveling element presents remarkable difficulties.

The object of the present invention is to produce an upper deck - hull group comprising, according to the preamble of claim 1, at least two plate-shaped elements of rigid material (metallic, for example) which together form a completely chamber waterproof (as known for example from patent Fr-A-2 046 606 or from FR-A-2 499 931) which is provided with at least one projecting edge (flange), more or less long, appropriately inclined and such that it may be placed along a longitudinal line against the covers of the existing inner tubes; according to the invention and in accordance with the characterizing part of claim 1 this same edge is provided with a plurality of holes uniformly arranged, so that it can be fixed to the above-mentioned covers by means of bolts which act by the through special pressing elements which can be partially inserted into each other.

The device forming the object of the present invention will be described below in detail for a better understanding with respect to the attached drawings which show it according to the preferred and simplest embodiment. In the above-mentioned drawings:

• - la figure 3 est une section du même bateau tracée suivant la ligne A-A de la figure 1;
• - la figure 4 représente, à échelle plus grande, partiellement en section et selon une vue axonométrique, deux couvertures pour chambres à air auxquelles on trouve fixé l'ensemble formant la chambre étanche, les bord inclinés duquel étant fixés à ces couvertures;
• - les figures 5, 6 et 7 sont des vues qui représentent, à échelle plus grande, les éléments pressants qui permettent, au moyen de boulons appropriés, de presser uniformément sur les couvertures de manière à établir la liaison étanche entre lesdites mêmes couvertures et la chambre étanche;
• - la figure 8, enfin, est une section, à échelle encore plus grande, qui montre partiellement la manière dont on obtient, au moyen d'un boulon et d'un élément pressant, la liaison d'une couverture avec la chambre étanche située au dessous.

- Figures 1 and 2 are two views, respectively from above and from the side, of an inflatable boat according to the invention;

• - Figure 3 is a section of the same boat drawn along line AA of Figure 1;
• - Figure 4 shows, on a larger scale, partially in section and in an axonometric view, two covers for air chambers to which the assembly forming the sealed chamber is found, the inclined edges of which being fixed to these covers;
• - Figures 5, 6 and 7 are views which show, on a larger scale, the pressing elements which allow, by means of suitable bolts, to press uniformly on the covers so as to establish the tight connection between said same covers and the sealed chamber;
• - Figure 8, finally, is a section, on an even larger scale, which partially shows the way in which one obtains, by means of a bolt and a pressing element, the connection of a cover with the sealed chamber situated below.

The device forming the object of the present invention comprises an assembly which constitutes a sealed chamber which is composed, for example and according to the simplest embodiment, of an upper plate 1, preferably metallic, having a plane essentially rectangular and intended to form the "upper deck", and a lower plate 2, also preferably metallic, which has an essentially rectangular plane, is folded at a dihedral angle and is intended to form the "hull"; the same two plates being joined to each other along the edges 3 and 4 (as can be seen in Figures 3 and 4) and the above-mentioned edges, which may be more or less wide, being provided with a plurality of uniformly arranged holes. The edges 3 and 4 are connected to the covers 5 and 6 by means of bolts, such as 8, the rods of which pierce the walls of said covers along longitudinal lines, as can be seen in FIG. 4. Between each bolt and the material of the covers is inserted a special pressing element, such as 10, which has the task of making pressure uniform over a relatively large area.

The aforementioned pressing element 10 essentially consists of a single small rigid block, inscribable in an elongated parallelepiped, and ends at the two opposite opposite ends respectively by a V-shaped projection and also by a V-shaped recess, which allows each pressing element to fit partially into the adjoining element. Figures 5, and 7 show the operation of the pressing element.

In order to ensure perfect sealing between the sealed chamber (1-2) and the covers (5-6) of the air chambers, between the above-mentioned covers and the edges (3-4) of the sealed chamber, provision has been made to use a ribbon-shaped elastomer packing 12, as can be clearly seen in FIG. 8.

In addition, provision has been made for the use of a conical packing 13, preferably of elastomer, to improve the seal between the head of the bolt 8 and the "upper deck - hull" assembly (3-4). It goes without saying that the configuration of the element which is intended to constitute the hull of the boat and to be joined to the element which is intended to constitute the upper deck thereof may be achieved otherwise than what is described and illustrated below. above, that is to say that it can be different from a simple dihedral and that the longitudinal axis of some pressing elements may be, rather than straight, slightly curved to allow the same elements to act effectively on the covers by following their configuration, all without going beyond the limits of patent protection.

It is also obvious, in special cases, that the sealed chamber, which consists of an upper deck and a hull, can be connected directly to the inflatable air chambers with pressurized air.

Claims (2)

1. A device for removably fixing a tight chamber comprising a rigid upper plate substantially rectangular in plan, designed to form a deck (1) for an inflatable boat, and a rigid lower plate substantially rectangular in projection, bent at a dihedral angle and shaped so as to have a concavity directed towards said upper plate, and designed to form a hull (2) for same boat, said plates (1-2) being firmly joined together along their mating and suitably apertured edges (3-4) such as to form a single unit, characterized in that said watertight chamber is fastened to the covere (5-6) of the inflatable boat bladders, or directly to the bladders proper, by the aid of bolts through appropriate gasket means.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said tight chamber is fixed to the covers of the inflatable boat bladders, or directly to the bladders proper, by means of bolts through pressing elements (10) comprising rigid, suitably apertured blocks which are inscribable within elongated parallepipedons and have straight or slightry arcuate longitudinal axes, each said block terminating at the two opposite ends thereof in a V-shaped projection and an inverted V-shaped recess, respectively, which enables each said pressing element (10) to fit, in part. into the adjoning pressing element, thereby to cause pressure to be evenly distributed throughout a relatively extended space.

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