EP0849163A1 - Self-righting, inflatable liferaft - Google Patents

Abstract

The life raft comprises a base (3), a surround (2) made from at least one inflatable tube, and at least two parallel vertical inflatable arches (4). Each arch has a reserve chamber (8) of gas on the outside at an angle corresponding to approximately 30-60 degrees above the horizontal, with the assembly formed by the arch and reserve chamber being asymmetrical relative to the vertical median plane of the raft. Along the side which has the reserve chambers the raft also has one or more weights (6,7) which can be used as storage containers for inflation equipment, armaments or survival materials. The arches are made from a number of straight sections in a polygonal shape and can be equipped with a cover forming a shelter for survivors.

Description

The present invention relates to improvements brought to inflatable, self-righting liferafts, having a peripheral edge consisting of at least an inflatable tube surrounding a bottom secured so waterproof to said tube, at least one inflatable tubular arch extending above the raft between two opposite sides of the inflatable tube.

We already know different realizations of rafts rescue equipment thus arranged (see for example the documents US 4,998,900, FR 2,467,770, GB 2,060,509).

However, in these known structures, the arches, two in number, extend in vertical planes intersecting and form a domed arrangement above the raft. Such an arrangement can only be suitable for rafts having a substantially collected shape (contour square, polygonal - notably hexagonal or octagonal -, rectangular with low elongation, circular) and relatively small dimensions. He cannot agree for elongated rafts and especially for very large rafts (large or very large capacity, for example for 50, 100 or 150 people) that are currently in demand for equipment ships (such as cruise ships, car ferries) in which we are looking for extreme speed for passenger evacuation: on the one hand, the arrangement in dome of intersecting arches could not be transposed on large rafts and, moreover, a such an arrangement associated with an elongated shape (overall rectangular) of the raft defines two "dead" positions at from which the raft lying on its side or especially on one end cannot manage to complete its tilting.

The object of the invention is essentially to remedy to the aforementioned drawbacks of known structures and offer an improved solution that provides turnaround ensured of the raft from a position initially returned, and which is applicable and effective whatever the shape and size of the raft, including for elongated and / or large capacity rafts.

• il est prévu au moins deux arceaux sensiblement parallèles,
• chaque arceau est équipé d'une réserve de gaz en saillie sur le côté externe de l'arceau et dans une zone de celui-ci située sous un angle (a) d'approximativement 30 à 60° au-dessus de l'horizontale, l'ensemble constitué par l'arceau et la réserve étant asymétrique par rapport au plan vertical médian du radeau, et
• une masse pesante est solidarisée au radeau le long du bord de celui-ci situé du côté des susdites réserves.

For these purposes, a self-righting liferaft as mentioned in the preamble is essentially characterized, being arranged in accordance with the invention, by the combination of the following provisions:

• at least two substantially parallel arches are provided,
• each hoop is equipped with a gas reserve projecting from the external side of the hoop and in a zone thereof situated at an angle (a) of approximately 30 to 60 ° above the horizontal, the assembly constituted by the roll bar and the reserve being asymmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane of the raft, and
• a heavy mass is secured to the raft along the edge thereof located on the side of the above reserves.

The arrangement with two parallel arches allows to bring with certainty the raft, initially arranged upside down, in an intermediate position from which its complete tilting is obtained so assured. The reserve provided on the hoop defines, in conjunction with the peripheral flange, a bearing surface on water such that the raft lying on its side spreads approximately vertically or even tilted slightly beyond the vertical so that in conjunction with the action of the heavy mass present on the same side of the raft, completion of the tilting of the raft to its normal upright position is obtained with certainty. At worst, in the presence of particularly circumstances unfavorable, especially from a headwind hindering completion of the raft tilting, a person in the water can, by grabbing the raft, reach the one to provoke the completion of the changeover without any difficulty.

According to a first possible embodiment, the reserve consists of at least one pocket attached to the outer side of the hoop. According to another embodiment possible, the reserve is made up of a portion of the arch deformed and offset towards the outside with respect to at the corresponding foot of the arch, said arch being asymmetrical with respect to the vertical central plane of the raft.

Advantageously, the weight includes a inflating equipment for the raft, in particular located outside under the raft in the immediate vicinity of the outer edge of the raft, and / or the heavy mass includes an armament material and / or survival fitted to the raft, located inside the raft along the inside edge of the inflatable tube.

To strengthen the raft, we can plan at least a reinforcement cross member constituted by an inflatable tube internally extending to the raft on the bottom and between two opposite sides of the inflatable edge to which it is united.

In a particular arrangement, we can do so that the respective feet of the arches are located at the inside of the peripheral edge inflatable tube and extend approximately to the above bottom.

A preferred embodiment of the life raft of the invention consists in combining the two arrangements previous and to make sure that the sleepers are in number equal to that of the arches and each extend between the opposite legs of a hoop to which they are joined together, so that the hoops and crosspieces together form stiffening rings for the raft.

If the raft is elongated, it is easy to make it has arches, in number greater than two, distributed over the length of the raft, especially at approximately regular intervals others.

• la figure 1 est une vue très schématique en coupe transversale illustrant un premier mode de réalisation d'un radeau de sauvetage autoredressable agencé conformément à l'invention ;
• la figure 1A est une vue très schématique montrant le radeau de la figure 1 en position couchée sur le côté en cours de redressement ;
• la figure 2 est une vue très schématique en coupe transversale illustrant un second mode de réalisation d'un radeau de sauvetage autoredressable agencé conformément à l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue très schématique en coupe transversale illustrant une variante des modes de réalisation des figures 1 et 2 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue schématique de dessus correspondant aux modes de réalisation des figures 1 et 2;
• la figure 5 est une vue très schématique, en coupe transversale, illustrant un mode de réalisation préféré de l'agencement montré à la figure 2 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue très schématique de côté du mode de réalisation préféré de la figure 5, et
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective illustrant un radeau conforme à l'invention en situation d'embarquement.

   En se reportant à la figure 1 tout d'abord, il y est représenté de façon très schématique, en coupe transversale, un premier mode de réalisation d'un radeau de sauvetage agencé conformément à l'invention. Le radeau de sauvetage, désigné dans son ensemble par la référence 1, comporte essentiellement un bord périphérique 2 constitué de toute façon souhaitable par au moins un boudin gonflable de flottabilité (notamment soit un gros boudin unique, soit plusieurs -deux ou trois notamment- boudins superposés). Le bord 2 entoure un fond central 3 qui lui est solidarisé de façon étanche sur son pourtour. L'agencement précis du radeau peut être quelconque et n'entre pas en ligne de compte dans le cadre de la présente invention.The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows of certain preferred embodiments which are given for illustrative purposes only. In this description, reference is made to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a very schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a first embodiment of a self-righting liferaft arranged in accordance with the invention;
• Figure 1A is a very schematic view showing the raft of Figure 1 in the supine position on the side being straightened;
• Figure 2 is a very schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a second embodiment of a self-righting liferaft arranged in accordance with the invention;
• Figure 3 is a very schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a variant of the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 4 is a schematic top view corresponding to the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2;
• Figure 5 is a very schematic view, in cross section, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the arrangement shown in Figure 2;
• FIG. 6 is a very schematic side view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 5, and
• Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating a raft according to the invention in boarding situation.

Referring to Figure 1 first, there is shown very schematically, in cross section, a first embodiment of a liferaft arranged in accordance with the invention. The liferaft, designated as a whole by the reference 1, essentially comprises a peripheral edge 2 constituted in any case desirable by at least one inflatable buoyancy tube (in particular either a single large tube, or several -two or three in particular-tubes superimposed). The edge 2 surrounds a central bottom 3 which is secured to it in a sealed manner around its periphery. The precise arrangement of the raft can be arbitrary and is not taken into account in the context of the present invention.

At least two of them are above the raft hoops 4 substantially parallel to each other, the number is appropriate depending on the length of the raft. Each hoop 4 is constituted by an inflatable tube curvilinear, or in rectilinear sections abutted as shown in Figure 1, which extends from an edge region peripheral 2 to an opposite region of said edge. In if the raft is elongated, the hoops extend substantially transversely to the median plane longitudinal 5 of the raft.

If, during launching and inflation, the raft is in the inverted position, the presence of hoops being inflated, distributed over its entire length and preventing the raft from finding a position inverted stable, causes the raft to tilt to the side.

• chaque arceau 4 est équipé d'une réserve de gaz en saillie sur un côté externe de l'arceau et dans une zone de celui-ci située sous un angle a d'approximativement 30° à 60° au-dessus de l'horizontale, l'ensemble gonflé constitué par l'arceau et ladite réserve étant asymétrique par rapport au plan médian vertical 5 du radeau ;
• une masse pesante est solidarisée au radeau le long du bord de celui-ci situé du côté des susdites réserves ; en pratique la masse pesante peut être constituée, comme montré à la figure 1, d'une part, par le matériel de gonflage du radeau 6 situé sous celui-ci le plus près possible du bord extérieur et, d'autre part, du matériel d'armement et éventuellement du matériel de survie, désignés par la référence 7, situé dans le radeau immédiatement contre le bord surmonté des réserves de gaz précitées 8.

So that this position lying on the side is an unstable position and that the raft is forced to continue its tilting to come on the water in correct position, the center of flotation and the center of gravity of the raft should be in positions mutuals as they generate a torque. To this end, two arrangements are combined in accordance with the invention:

• each hoop 4 is equipped with a reserve of gas projecting from an external side of the hoop and in a zone thereof situated at an angle α of approximately 30 ° to 60 ° above the horizontal, the inflated assembly constituted by the arch and said reserve being asymmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane 5 of the raft;
• a heavy mass is secured to the raft along the edge thereof located on the side of the above reserves; in practice the heavy mass can be constituted, as shown in FIG. 1, on the one hand, by the inflating material of the raft 6 situated under it as close as possible to the outer edge and, on the other hand, weapons and possibly survival equipment, designated by the reference 7, located in the raft immediately against the edge surmounted by the aforementioned gas reserves 8.

In FIG. 1A, the raft of the figure 1 in the supine position, fully inflated including reserves 8, and we have shown approximately the position of the buoyancy center with the buoyancy force F, vertical and directed upwards, as well as the position of the center of gravity with the weight P, vertical and directed downwards, the center of gravity being shifted towards the bottom of the raft and above it relative to the center of flotation. The two forces F and P thus arranged generate a torque which tends to tip the raft (to the left on the Figure 1: arrow 9) and bring it to the correct position on the water.

In the embodiment more particularly shown in Figures 1 and 1A, each reserve 8 is consisting of a pocket attached to an external side of the hoop 4, the pocket 8 preferably being in communication with the roll bar 4 so as to inflate at the same time as this one.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the raft is arranged, as a whole, in the same way as that of FIG. 1, except that the reserve 8 is formed by an outward deformation of the arch 4 itself: for this purpose, the arch 4 is no longer symmetrical with respect to the median plane 5, but is arranged so that, at inflated state, it protrudes outward and overlooks the peripheral flange 2.

It may be desirable that each reserve 8, whatever its design and shape, extends outward substantially beyond the outer contour of the inflatable tube 2 so that in the lying position on the side of the raft illustrated in FIG. 1A, the bottom 3 does not does not extend vertically above the water surface, but be slightly inclined (to the left in fig. 1A): this provision, which is added to the offset 3mutual centers of gravity and flotation, facilitates and accelerates the final tilting of the raft.

To facilitate understanding of the layout according to the invention, there is shown in Figure 3, a view schematic from above of the raft of Figures 1 and 2.

In FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 3, the arches 4 have been represented with their feet arranged internally at the peripheral tube 2 and extending approximately to the bottom 3. Although such an arrangement may present a particular advantage that will appear later, it is not however not exclusive and other configurations may be considered in the context of the invention. As example, Figure 4 illustrates another embodiment in which the poles rest directly on the back upper of the peripheral flange 2, the raft being, for the remains, identical to what has been described above and shown Figures 1 and 1A (solid line) and Figure 2 (in dashes).

It is desirable, especially when it comes to large capacity and therefore large rafts, to provide one or more reinforcing crosspieces 10 formed by an inflatable tube internally extending to the raft, on the bottom 3 and between two opposite sides of the edge inflatable 2 to which it is secured. Such an arrangement is illustrated in Figure 5, in a raft configuration identical to that of figure 2. It is then interesting to have several sleepers 10 in correspondence with the hoops 4, these crosspieces extending between the feet respective opposites of each hoop 4 and being integral with these and in communication with them. We then form rings (polygonal in the case illustrated in Figure 5) stiffening the raft.

Figure 6 is a schematic side view drawn up in correspondence with figure 5.

To fix the ideas, figure 7 is a view in perspective showing, in situation, a large raft 1 capacity (for example for about 100 people) arranged according to the invention. This raft, elongated, is designed with the arrangements shown in Figure 1 and comprises four arches 4, with corresponding crosspieces 10, distributed along the length of the raft and serving by also support for two shelters 11. The pockets 8 are arranged externally on the angle formed by each hoop.

As it goes without saying and as it already results from this above, the invention is in no way limited to those of its modes of application and embodiments which have been more particularly envisaged; on the contrary, she embraces all variants.

Claims (11)

Self-righting inflatable liferaft (1), comprising a peripheral edge (2) consisting of at least one inflatable tube surrounding a bottom (3) which is tightly secured to said tube, at least one inflatable tubular arch (4) extending to the -above the raft between two opposite sides of the inflatable tube (2),
characterized in that at least two substantially parallel arches (4) are provided, each hoop (4) is equipped with a gas reserve (8) projecting from the outer side of the hoop (4) and in an area thereof at an angle (a) of approximately 30 to 60 ° above the horizontal, the assembly constituted by the arch (4) and the reserve (8) being asymmetrical with respect to the vertical median plane (5) of the raft, and a heavy mass (6, 7) is secured to the raft along the edge thereof located on the side of the above reserves (8). Life raft according to claim 1, characterized in that the reserve (8) consists of at minus a pocket attached to the external side of the roll bar (4). Life raft according to claim 1, characterized in that the reserve (8) consists of a portion of the arch (4) deformed and offset towards the outside relative to the corresponding leg of the arch, said hoop (4) being asymmetrical with respect to the central plane vertical (5) of the raft. Life raft according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that the mass heavy includes inflating equipment (6) for the raft, especially located externally under the raft in the vicinity immediately from the outer edge of the raft. Life raft according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that the mass heavy includes equipment (7) for armament and / or survival (7) fitted to the raft, located inside the raft on along the inside edge of the inflatable tube (2). Life raft according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one reinforcement crosspiece (10) constituted by a inflatable tube internally extending to the raft on the bottom (3) and between two opposite sides of the inflatable edge (2) to which it is united. Life raft according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that the feet respective arches (4) are located inside the inflatable ring of the peripheral edge (2) and extend approximately to the above bottom (3). Life raft according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the crosspieces (10) are numerous equal to that of the poles (4) and each extend between the opposite feet of a hoop (4) to which they are secured, so that the hoops and crosspieces form set of raft stiffening rings. Large capacity liferaft according to any of the preceding claims, this raft being of substantially elongated shape, characterized in that that it comprises arches (14), in number greater than two distributed along the length of the raft, especially at intervals approximately regular to each other. Life raft according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that each hoop (4) consists of substantially rectilinear sections connected one after the other according to a open polygonal outline. Life raft according to any one of previous claims, characterized in that the hoops (4) support at least one canvas to define at minus a shelter (11) for those on board.

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