EP2204317A1

EP2204317A1 - Composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing

Info

Publication number: EP2204317A1
Application number: EP09425491A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giorgio Besenzoni
Original assignee: B FINANCIAL Srl
Current assignee: B FINANCIAL Srl
Priority date: 2008-11-28
Filing date: 2009-11-27
Publication date: 2010-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-27
Also published as: ITVI20080286A1; IT1392273B1; EP2204317B1; ES2428737T3

Abstract

A composite equipment (1) for moving fenders (P) suitable for the protection of boats (B), especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing comprising orientation means (2) which are fixed to the boat (B) and support the fender (P), driving means (3), operatively connected with the orientation means (2) in order to move the orientation means (2) between a work position in which they place the fender (P) at least partially laterally protruding from the boat (B) and a rest position in which they place the fender (P) within the dimensions defined by the boat (B).

Description

The present invention concerns a composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protecting of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing at the port, pier or quay.
As known, the docking or berthing for the mooring of a boat, such as a sailboat, is a somewhat difficult and in any case not always easy manoeuvre, especially if in the park area other boats or various structures are present to which the moving boat must be necessarily placed side by side.
Think of when a boat is docking at a pier or a quay of a port or also when it must moor close to other boats already parked, in particular in a specific and limited area included between two of them.
The difficulty is mainly determined by the combination of two reasons: the unstable nature of the surface on which the boat moves, which is the water, and the gear direction with which those means of transport are moved in such occasions, almost always the reverse gear, in order to get a replacing as much correct, effective and rapid as possible.
Therefore, despite the care taken by the driver in the manoeuvres, the boat in motion collides accidentally against neighbouring bodies, with the obvious problems that this causes for the structural integrity mainly of the first one but also of the other ones.
Furthermore, in order to limit the aforesaid risky implications, the driver performs slowly or repeats frequently the manoeuvres, lengthening the time for their completion.
Problems related to the ruinous effects of the accidental collisions are also found in case the boat is already completely stopped, moored.
Actually, for this situation various types of equipments and components are available on the market, mainly inflatable type or filled with spongy material fender elements, which eliminate or strongly limit the risk related to accidental and uncontrolled collisions between boats.
Fenders, sometimes protruding from the boat hull sometimes directly fixed to the pier or quay, offer some protection to the boat from accidental collisions only when the boat is already moored, being not properly suitable for situations in which the same is still moving.
Recently, however, the same applicant of the present invention has proposed on the market fender elements of more studied and articulated constructive planning, including shock-absorbing bodies, sliding rollers and/or bumpers which allow to the fenders, once arranged protruding from the boat, to effectively carry out their function even when the boat is docking, then still in motion.
However, the protection fenders of the known type present some recognized drawbacks.
The main drawback of the known art derives from the fact that the positioning of the aforesaid protection elements protruding sideways from the boat is rather laborious, articulated and time extended, especially because usually performed manually.
A second drawback of the known technique is constituted by some instability of the protection elements while they still remain projecting sideways in order to protect the boat from accidental collisions.
A last but not least drawback of the state of the art in question is represented by the fact that, under non-use conditions, the fenders obstruct the deck or other premises or areas of the boat.
The fenders are permanently installed only on motorized boat and provided with a hull of a certain hardy structure and given dimensions such as yachts, motorboats and the like.
The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art listed above.
In particular, main purpose of the invention is to provide a composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing through which it is possible to reduce compared to known technique the time required to position such fenders at effective protection of the boat itself.
It is a further purpose of the present invention to offer to a boat fenders a stability greater than the equivalent known art while in use.
It is another purpose of the invention to make available a composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing rather compact and provided with high mechanical strength, able to give to the fenders during use a stability greater than the equipments of the known type.
It is a last but not least purpose of the invention to indicate a composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing which can be permanently installed even on boats commonly acknowledged as smaller ones in the nautical field, such as sailboats.
The aforesaid purposes are achieved through a composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing as the attached claim 1, to which they refer for the sake of brevity.
Other features of detail of the composite equipment according to the invention are set forth in the corresponding dependent claims.
Advantageously, the composite equipment according to the invention allows to position outside the boat fenders of protection against accidental collisions more quickly and with less laborious manoeuvres than the known art.
Still advantageously, the composite equipment of the invention gives to the boats fenders, in use conditions, a stability greater than what allowed by known equipments or elements.
Equally advantageously, the invention allows to use the same fenders both in movement and mooring conditions.
In advantageous manner, in addition, the composite equipment of the invention can be installed also in already existing rooms of specific boats such as those sail ones, remaining visible even when at rest, without affecting the aesthetic impact of the boat.
In particular, the composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats during mooring and/or landing is mounted at stern of the sailboats.
The composite equipment of the invention can be also mounted even in boats of reduced dimensions thanks to its high compactness and limited bulk which allows to contain within the hull of these boats constructive components more unpleasant under the aesthetic point of view, such as connecting cables and at least part of the bearing structures and driving means.
Said purposes and advantages will result better from the description that follows related to a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by illustrative, but not limiting, way with reference to the attached drawing tables, in which:

figure 1 is a first simplified perspective view of the equipment of the invention in a possible operating condition;
figure 2 is a second simplified perspective view of the equipment of figure 1;
figure 3 is a simplified view in longitudinal section of the equipment offigures 1 and 2;
figure 4 is a simplified enlargement of a first glimpse of figure 1;
figure 5 is a simplified enlargement of a second glimpse of figure 1;
figure 6 is a simplified enlargement of a third glimpse of figure 1;
figure 7 is an applicative perspective view of the equipment of figures 1-3 in rest conditions;
figures 8-15 are applicative perspective views of the composite equipment of figures 1-3 in different operating conditions.

The composite equipment of the invention is illustrated in figure 1, where it is globally indicated with 1.
The composite equipment 1 is suitable for moving a fender P suitable to protect the boat B, especially of the sailing type and shown starting from figure 7, during mooring and/or, more generally, landing at a park such as a pier, a quay or a wharf of a port.
According to the invention, the composite equipment 1 includes orientation means, as a whole indicated with 2, which are connected with the fender P and fixed to the boat B, and driving means, overall reported with 3, operatively connected with the orientation means 2 in order to move the latter between a work position in which they place the fender P protruding laterally from the boat B, and a rest position in which they place the fender P inside the dimensions defined by the boat B, for example in a room V made at stern A of the boat B itself.
In preferred manner, the orientation means 2 include:

a base group, as a whole reported with 4, which is coupled with the boat B so as to be substantially contained within the boat B;
an auxiliary group, overall indicated with 5 and coupled with the base group 4, suitable to remain completely outside the boat B and to be connected with the fender P.

In this case, the base group 4 comprises:

a shaped guide bush 6, shown in figure 3 and made for example of brass, which is coupled through first fastening means, not shown and of the type in itself known, with the boat B in order to turn towards the inside of the boat B itself;
a tubular shaft 7 defining a first longitudinal axis Z and inserted by precision into the shaped bush 6 from which protrudes for a terminal portion 7a;
an interface collar 8 arranged close to a circular area 161 of the outer surface 6a of the shaped bush 6;
a support trellis 9, provided with a first end 9a coupled with the interface collar 8 and a second end 9b which is coupled with the inner wall of the boat B through second fastening means, only partly visible in the appended drawings and generically referred with 10.

In particular, the support trellis 9, of parallelepiped box shape, presents at an edge an arched bevelling at which the support trellis 9 is welded to the outer surface 8a of the interface collar 8.
The second fastening means 10 comprise in the case at issue a shaped flange 11 which is permanently coupled with the inner wall of the boat B through screws, bolts or similar mechanical fastening members.
The driving means 3 comprise, preferably but not necessarily, a first linear actuator 12, at one side coupled with the second end 9b of the support trellis 9 through first union means, as a whole indicated with 13, and at the other side operatively connected with the tubular shaft 7 through second union means, as a whole numbered with 14.
The first actuator 12 puts in rotation the tubular shaft 7 around the first axis Z of an angle between 0° and 90° in order to move the fender P from the rest position to the work position and vice versa.
More in detail, the first linear actuator 12 comprises an oil or water hydraulic cylinder, fitted with a jacket 15, connected with the first union means 13 and through the latter with the support trellis 9, and with a stem 16 connected with the second union means 14 and through these with the tubular shaft 7.
As better highlighted in figure 4, the first union means 13 comprise a pin 16' inserted into two through holes 17, 18 coaxial each other, shown in figure 3, made in a first end 12a of the first actuator 12 and into two through holes, not shown, made in the second end 9b of the support trellis 9.
The through holes present in the support trellis 9 are coaxial each other and with the through holes 17, 18.
The second union means 14 comprise in turn:

a connecting ring 19, arranged externally and coaxially close to the terminal portion 7a of the tubular shaft 7 to which is made integral through locking means, as a whole numbered with 20;
a pair of shaped wings 21, 22 one equal, facing and spaced to the other, each of which welded to the outer wall 19a of the connecting ring 19;
a connecting peg 23, coupled with the second end 12b of the first actuator 12 and provided with terminal appendixes inserted into two through openings 24, 25 coaxial each other made one for each free end 21 a, 22a of the shaped wings 21, 22.

In practice, therefore, in the embodiment here described in which the first actuator 12 is a hydraulic cylinder, the connection peg 23 is arranged at the free end of the stem 16 with which it is monolithic.
Preferably, the locking means 20 include a longitudinal key, not shown, introduced into a pair of linear grooves 26, 27 facing and opposite each other, one made in the inner surface of the connecting ring 19 and the other one in the outer surface of the tubular shaft 7.
In relation to the auxiliary group 5, it includes a substantially L-shaped connecting sleeve 28.
The tubular sleeve 28 is composed of a first tubular portion 29, coaxial to the tubular shaft 7 to which is made integral through junction means, for example a welding seam, and a second tubular portion 30, isolated and orthogonally projecting from the first portion 29.
The figures cited so far show that, advantageously, the auxiliary group 5 also comprises gear means, overall indicated with 31, coupled with the second tubular portion 30 of the connecting sleeve 28 through support means, overall indicated with 32.
Specifically, the support means 32 include a tubular thickening body 33, coupled inside the second tubular portion 30 through third fastening means, as a whole indicated with 34.
In addition, the support means 32 include a bearing plate 35, provided with a lower face 35a coupled with the perimetric edge of the second portion 30 through joining means, for example a welding seam, and positioned close to the thickening tubular body 33.
The third fastening means are of the type in itself known, especially screws means, not shown, engaging with screw nuts, which can be seen in figure 3 where they're indicated with 36, made coaxially in the second tubular portion 30 and the thickening tubular body 33.
More specifically, the support plate 35 has an annular stretch 35c laterally projecting from the second tubular portion 30.
In a preferred but not exclusive manner, the auxiliary group 5 of the composite equipment 1 comprises a mainly longitudinal development tubular protective casing 37 made, for example, of metallic material such as steel.
Figures 1-3 point out that, at a first side edge, not shown, the tubular casing 37 is arranged close and coupled to the upper face 35b of the bearing plate 35.
Near such a first side edge, the tubular casing 37 contains a central head 38, protruding from the upper face 35b of the bearing plate 35, and a locking ring nut 39' interposed between the central head 38 and the tubular casing 37, as the figures 3-5 show.
The tubular casing 37 encloses also the gear means 31 connected with the support means 32.
In addition, the tubular casing 37 is provided at a second side edge with a laminar lid 39 which presents a through slot 40 which puts in communication the inner volume of the tubular casing 37 with the outside.
At purely preferential way, the gear means 31 previously introduced includes a bevel gear pair 41 which can be better seen in figure 5.
The bevel gear pair 41 is formed by a fixed pinion 42, coupled with the central head 38 of the bearing plate 35 and defining a second longitudinal axis X, and a toothed wheel 43, engaging with the fixed pinion 42, coupled with a first cross peg 44 defining a longitudinal direction Y₁ orthogonal to the second axis X.
The first peg 44 is provided with ends fixed to the inner wall 37a of the tubular casing 37.
Beyond the aforesaid first actuator 12, the driving means 3 includes a second linear actuator 45, contained in the tubular casing 37, at one side coupled with the inner wall 37a of the tubular casing 37 through third union means, on the whole indicated with 46, and at the other side operatively connected with the toothed wheel 43 through constraint means, overall marked with 47.
The second actuator 45, preferably a hydraulic cylinder as in the case of the first actuator 12, puts in rotation the toothed wheel 43 around the second axis X defined by the fixed pinion 42 of an angle between 0° and 90° so as the fender P turns on itself once reached a work position.
The third union means 46 comprise a second cross peg 48, shown in figure 6, which defines a second longitudinal direction Y₂, parallel to the first direction Y₁ defined by the first peg 44, and is equipped with ends fixed to the inner wall 37a of the tubular casing 37.
On their hand, the constraint means 47 include a manoeuvre rod 49, connected on one side with the second actuator 45 and on the other side with the first cross peg 44 frontally to the toothed wheel 43.
More precisely, the manoeuvre rod 49 is connected with the end of the stem 50 of the hydraulic cylinder which constitutes the second actuator 45 and whose jacket 51 is coupled with the second cross peg 48.
According to the preferred embodiment of the invention described herein, the auxiliary group 5 also comprises leverage means, on the whole indicated with 52, partially contained within the tubular casing 37 and inserted into the through slot 40 in order to protrude from the tubular casing 37, as can be seen in figure 6.
The leverage means 52 are coupled with the inner wall 37a of the tubular casing 37 through fulcrum means, as a whole reported with 53, which include a third cross peg 54 defining a third longitudinal axis Y orthogonal to the second axis X and provided with ends fixed to the inner wall 37a of the tubular protective casing 37.
The leverage means 52, instead, include a shaped bracket 55 made up of a first part 56, contained within the tubular casing 37 and having a first through hole 57 into which the third peg 54 is partially inserted, and a second part 58, positioned outside the tubular casing 37 and suitable to be coupled with the fender P through attach means, as a whole numbered with 59.
Preferably but not necessarily, the attach means 59 includes an elastic shock absorbing joint 60, made of anti-vibrations rubber, which is interposed between the fender P and the shaped bracket 55.
The elastic joint 60, having substantially the shape of a smooth wheel, is combined with the shaped bracket 55 through gain means, on the whole indicated with 61 and including, for example, a strike plate 62, integral with the end section of the second part 58 of the shaped bracket 55.
The strike plate 62 is also firmly inserted into a surface cavity, not shown, made in a first face 60a, frontal to the laminar lid 39, of the elastic shock absorbing joint 60.
Advantageously, the attach means 59 include pivot means, not shown for the sake of convenience, which contribute with the flexible joint 60 to absorb the accidental collisions suffered by the fender P and prevent the detachment of the flexible joint 60 in case of breakages of the gain means 61 too.
In a preferred but not binding way, the pivot means include a stem coupled with the second part 58 of the shaped bracket 55 and provided with a spherical body engaged onto an articulation seat made in the midpoint of the first face 60a of the elastic joint 60.
The presence of the leverage means 52 requires to the operation means 3 of including a third linear actuator 63, also contained inside the tubular casing 37.
The third actuator 63 is coupled at one side with the inner wall 37a of the tubular casing 37 through fourth union means, overall indicated with 64, and at the other side operatively connected with the shaped bracket 55 through rotation means, overall reported with 65.
The third linear actuator 63, as for the first actuator 12 and the second actuator 45 preferably consisting of a hydraulic cylinder, puts in rotation the shaped bracket 55 around the third axis Y of an acute angle so that mainly the fender P revolves upwards or downwards after having reached a work position.
In detail, the fourth union means 64, similar to the third union means 46, include a fourth cross peg 66 which, as figure 5 shows, defines a third longitudinal direction Y₃, parallel to the first direction Y₁ defined by the first peg 44 and to the second direction Y₂ defined by the second peg 48.
Furthermore, the fourth cross peg 66 is equipped with ends fixed to the inner wall 37a of the tubular casing 37 and is coupled with a first end 63a of the third actuator 63.
The rotation means 65 comprise a terminal pin 67 inserted into two through holes coaxial each other, not shown, made one in the first part 56 of the shaped bracket 55 and the other one in a second end 63b of the third actuator 63.
More precisely, the terminal pin 67 is monolithic with the appendix of the stem 68 of the hydraulic cylinder which forms the third actuator 63 and whose jacket 69 is coupled with the fourth cross peg 66.
Advantageously, the composite equipment 1 comprises control means, in this case, for example a hydraulic control unit, operatively connected with the driving means 3 in order to manage the operation thereof.
Figures 7-15 show schematically the operation of the composite equipment 1, giving different and consecutive operative situations taken by it and, conversely, by the fender P.
Based on the constructive details which form the composite equipment 1 of the invention, the movements associated with it are the following:

a) rotation of the tubular shaft 7 around the first longitudinal axis Z impressed by the first linear actuator 12 through the locking means 20;
b) rotation of the tubular casing 37 and the components internal and integral with it, belonging to the auxiliary group 5, around the second longitudinal axis X impressed by the second linear actuator 45 through the gear means 31;
c) rotation of the shaped bracket 55 around the third axis Y impressed by the third linear actuator 63 through the rotation means 65.

The rotation around the first axis Z referred to in point a) establishes a 90° rotation of the auxiliary group 5 and with it of the fender P which is thus arranged from the rest position of figure 7 to the final work position of figure 10 passing through intermediate positions, two of which shown in figures 8, 9.
Under the work condition of figure 10 of the fender P, the stem 16 of the hydraulic cylinder 12 is in the end-of-stroke position, completely inside the jacket 15.
If the position of the fender P in figure 10 is not adequate to effectively protect the sailboat from the inevitable collisions with the other structures adjacent in a pier or the like, the operator, by manoeuvring the control means, drives the second linear actuator 45 putting in rotation the tubular casing 37.
It follows that the fender P rotates around itself according to what shown, for example, by the sequence of figures 11-13, until it assumes the work condition more suitable for the incidental situation.
The rotation of the tubular casing 37 around the second axis X referred to in the aforesaid point b) occurs according to angles not wider than 90°, in either direction of rotation, depending on the initial settings of the operating parameters.
When from the position of figure 10 the rotation around the second axis X has reached the value of 90°, the stem 50 of the hydraulic cylinder 45 is in the end-of-stroke position, totally retracted into the jacket 51.
The composite equipment 1 of the invention allows a further adjustment in case, for example, the sailboats on which it is mounted are, with respect to the free mooring water surface, lower or higher than other adjacent structures or boats.
In this case, the command of the control means causes the drive of the third actuator 63 which puts in rotation around the third axis Y the shaped bracket 55 so that the fender P rotates assuming work conditions as those ones shown in figures 13-15.
In particular, figure 13 shows the work conditions of the fender P suitable to the case in which the boat B must be protected from the potential collisions with neighbouring structures lower than the free water surface, while the work condition of the fender P of figure 14 (and the enlargement of figure 15) is suitable when these neighbouring structures, such as yachts, are higher than the boat B with respect to the free water surface.
Obviously, the moving of the fender P may occur by operating only part of or all the driving means 3 and the corresponding orientation means 2 of the composite equipment 1 and each of the rotations around the respective axis X, Y and Z may be stopped at points which differ from those ones indicated in the figures, according to application needs.
Unlike equivalent equipments of the known type, then, the composite equipment 1 of the invention allows to perform several adjustments of the position of the fender P.
It is possible to say quite reasonably that the composite equipment 1 of the invention allows to orient substantially at will the fender P and lay it to protect the boat B against accidental collisions in any situation: this mostly thanks to the multiple adjustments offered by the orientation means 2 and the driving means 3.
By virtue of what set forth above, it is understood, therefore, that the composite equipment for moving fenders suitable for the protection of boats, especially sailboats, during mooring and/or landing, object of the invention, reaches the purposes and achieves the benefits previously mentioned.
In execution phase, changes can be made to the composite equipment of the invention consisting, for example, of a constructive settlement of the orientation means different from that one described above and illustrated in the drawings which follow.
Beyond this, there will be other solutions of the invention in which the driving means are different from those ones previously mentioned, for example linear actuators of pneumatic type.
Moreover, the driving means can be controlled in different way from that one indicated above, which does not affect the advantage provided by the present patent.
The composite equipment of the invention can be mounted on any boat, not necessarily sail one, and not exclusively at stern, but at any position suitable for the purpose and in any number of models too, depending on the size of the boat itself and the constructive choices.
It is, finally, clear that many other variations can be made to the composite equipment in question, without for this reason going out of the novelty principles inherent to the inventive idea, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, materials, shapes and sizes of the illustrated details can be any, depending on the needs, and may be replaced with others technically equivalent.

Claims

Composite equipment (1) for moving fenders (P) suitable for the protection of boats (B), especially sailboats, during the mooring and/or landing characterized in that it comprises:
- orientation means (2) suitable to be coupled with said boat (B) and support said fender (P);

- driving means (3), operatively connected with said orientation means (2) in order to move said orientation means (2) between at least a work position in which they place said fender (P) at least partially laterally protruding from said boat (B) and at least a rest position in which place said fender (P) inside the dimensions defined by said boat (B).
Equipment (1) as claim 1) characterized in that said orientation means (2) include:
- a base group (4) suitable to be coupled with said boat (B) so as be substantially contained within said boat (B);

- an auxiliary group (5), coupled with said base group (4), suitable to remain completely outside said boat (B) and to be connected with said fender (P).
Equipment (1) as claim 2) characterized in that said base group (4) comprises:
- a shaped guide bush (6) suitable to be coupled through first fastening means with said boat (B) in order to turn towards the inside of said boat (B);

- a tubular shaft (7) defining a first longitudinal axis (Z) and inserted by precision into said shaped bush (6) from which protrudes for a terminal portion (7a);

- an interface collar (8) arranged close to a circular area (161) of the outer surface (6a) of said shaped bush (6);

- a support trellis (9), provided with a first end (9a) coupled with said interface collar (8) and a second end (9b) suitable to be coupled with the inner wall of said boat (B) through second fastening means (10).
Equipment (1) as claim 3) characterized in that said driving means (3) include a first linear actuator (12), on one side coupled with said second end (9b) of said support trellis (9) through first union means (13) and on the other side operatively connected with said tubular shaft (7) through second union means (14), said first actuator (12) being suitable to put in rotation said tubular shaft (7) around said first axis (Z) of an angle between 0° and 90° in order to move said fender (P) from said rest position to said work position and vice versa.
Equipment (1) as claim 4) characterized in that said first union means (13) include a pin (16') inserted into through holes (17, 18) coaxial each other made in a first end (12a) of said first actuator (12) and in said second end (9b) of said support trellis (9).
Equipment (1) as claim 4) or 5) characterized in that said second union means (14) comprise:
- a connecting ring (19), arranged externally and coaxially close to said terminal portion (7a) of said tubular shaft (7) to which is made integral through locking means (20);

- a pair of shaped wings (21, 22) one equal, facing and spaced to the other, each of which welded to the outer wall (19a) of said connecting ring (19);

- a connecting peg (23), coupled with said second end (12b) of said first actuator (12) and provided with terminal appendixes inserted into two through openings (24, 25) one coaxial to the other obtained one for each free end (21 a, 22a) of said shaped wings (21, 22).
Equipment (1) as any of the claims from 3) to 6) characterized in that said auxiliary group (5) includes a substantially L-shaped connecting sleeve (28), composed of a first tubular portion (29), coaxial to said tubular shaft (7) to which is made integral through junction means, and of a second tubular portion (30), isolated and orthogonally projecting from said first portion (29).
Equipment (1) as claim 7) characterized in that said auxiliary group (5) comprises gear means (31) coupled with said second tubular portion (30) of said connecting sleeve (28) by support means (32).
Equipment (1) as claim 8) characterized in that said support means (32) include:
- a tubular thickening body (33), coupled inside said second tubular portion (30) through third fastening means (34);

- a bearing plate (35), provided with a lower face (35a) coupled with the perimetric edge of said second portion (30) through junction means and positioned close to said tubular thickening body (33), the bearing plate (35) having an annular stretch (35c) laterally protruding from said second tubular portion (30).
Equipment (1) as claim 9) characterized in that said auxiliary group (5) comprises a tubular protective casing (37) coupled at a first side edge to the upper face (35b) of said bearing plate (35) and provided at a second side edge with a laminar lid (39) which presents a through slot (40) suitable to put in communication the inner volume of said tubular casing (37) with the outside.
Equipment (1) as claim 10) characterized in that said gear means (31) include a bevel gear pair (41) composed of a fixed pinion (42), coupled with said upper face (35a) of said bearing plate (35) and defining a second longitudinal axis (X), and of a toothed wheel (43), engaging with said fixed pinion (42) and coupled with a first cross peg (44) defining a longitudinal direction (Y₁) orthogonal to said second axis (X) and provided with ends fixed to the inner wall (37a) of said tubular casing (37).
Equipment (1) as claim 11) characterized in that said driving means (3) comprise a second linear actuator (45), contained in said tubular casing (37), at one side coupled with said inner wall (37a) of said tubular casing (37) through third union means (46) and at the other side operatively connected with said toothed wheel (43) through constraint means (47), said second actuator (45) being suitable to put in rotation said toothed wheel (43) around said second axis (X) of an angle between 0° and 90° so as said fender (P) turns on itself once reached said work position.
Equipment (1) as claim 12) characterized in that said constraint means (47) include a manoeuvre rod (49), connected on one side with said second actuator (45) and on the other side with said first cross peg (44) frontally to said toothed wheel (43).
Equipment (1) as any of the claims from 10) to 13) characterized in that said auxiliary group (5) comprises leverage means (52), partially contained in said tubular casing (37) and inserted into said through slot (40) in order to protrude from said tubular casing (37), said leverage means (52) being coupled with the inner wall (37a) of said tubular casing (37) through fulcrum means (53).
Equipment (1) as claim 14) characterized in that the fulcrum means (53) comprise a third cross peg (54) defining a third longitudinal axis (Y) orthogonal to said second axis (X) and provided with ends fixed to said inner wall (37a) of said tubular casing (37).
Equipment (1) as claim 15) characterized in that said leverage means (52) comprise a shaped bracket (55) made up of a first part (56), contained in said tubular casing (37) and presenting a first through hole (57) into which said third peg (54) is partially inserted, and of a second part (58), positioned outside said tubular casing (37) and suitable to be coupled with said fender (P) through attach means (59).
Equipment (1) as claim 16) characterized in that said attach means (59) include an elastic shock absorbing joint (60), suitable to be interposed between said fenders (P) and said shaped bracket (55), combined with said shaped bracket (55) through gain means (61).
Equipment (1) as claim 16) or 17) characterized in that said driving means (3) include a third linear actuator (63), contained in said tubular casing (37), at one side coupled with said inner wall (37a) of said tubular casing (37) through fourth union means (64) and at the other side operatively connected with said shaped bracket (55) through rotation means (65), said third actuator (63) being suitable to put in rotation said shaped bracket (55) around said third axis (Y) of an acute angle so that said fender (P) revolves after reaching said work position.