FR2570046A1 - Dismantleable boat with a plurality of inflatable hulls - Google Patents

Abstract

Dismantleable boat with a plurality of inflatable hulls connected by a rigid frame formed by longitudinal and transverse beams, the beams having an inverted U section so that, by means of a set of jigs, they may be slid into one another so as to assemble them and store them compactly and each of the saddles supporting the transverse members forming, by the addition of a second semicylindrical element, a ring around the float allowing the streamlining of the quick works using several elements which are short and easy to manipulate or store but of sufficient span to cover the space from one ring to the next and the ends of the float. Each saddle is further provided with parallel projections to allow it to be rigidly connected with a transverse beam which is reinforced by two dismantleable support elements, by screwing in a dowel. Deck boards covering the length of the frame and the overall width of the boat make the boat a platform capable of supporting relatively heavy loads allowing the addition of a tent, the transport of equipment and various other uses.

Description

 The present invention relates to multi-hulled boats having inflatable hulls and more especially but not exclusively catamaran type.

 Inflatable catamarans have already been proposed, the hulls of which consist of single or paired flanges on each side of a bridge structure and serving as a support for a wing.

 Such machines are studied for other light and powerful under sail.

 Catamaran-type boats with inflatable hulls, substantially parallel or joined to form a bow, whose rigid central structure forms a flat deck or a caisson-cockpit and which can store equipped with an engine or other means of propulsion, are also known. including systems that work with the user's muscular energy.

 Such boats do not have a bridge structure that allows them to withstand a relatively heavy payload, nor are they designed for others built in multiple sizes without significant changes in the design of this structure.

 An object of the present invention is to allow the construction of boats of different sizes with several inflatable hulls, more specifically of the catamaran type, supporting a platform structure1 the whole -constituant a solid and rigid assembly capable of withstanding heavy loads and by therefore likely to adapt to many forms of use.

 Another object of the present invention is to allow the construction of boats with the characteristics described above which will be more easily removable and a small footprint in their disassembled form and ready for storage. The following description completed with drawings will make it possible to clearly present the invention and to visualize its assembly.

 It is a catamaran-type boat comprising two parallel inflatable hulls of a conventional type whose manufacture is known and used by many manufacturers of inflatable boats.

 These hulls of the so-called nboudin type (1) are united by a frame structure consisting of three longitudinal elements (4) carried by 2 to 4 transverse elements (3) along the length of the catamaran, to which they are screwed in several points through from the contact surface of one element to the other.

 The transverse elements, or beams (3), which maintain the spacing of the shells are made integral with the latter by their fixing at each end on a rigid support or saddle matching the shape of the coil and enclosing it as a saddle ( 2).

 The ends of the saddle are inserted into strong calipers hard rubber (8) which they exceed to be joined one to another from below the strands by means of a strap. The stirrups are of course glued on the inflatable envelope during its manufacture.

 Each end of the saddle is pierced with a slot for the passage of the strap.

 Another way of adjusting the saddles on the strands is obtained by means of a second semi-cylindrical member of width width that the saddle, attached thereto so as to form a ring which encloses the float tel4).

 Fixing this element on the ends of the saddle is made after passing them from the stirrups, using the same slots provided for the strap passages; for example by means of hooks passed through the slots on the inner flank of the float, the other end of the element can be provided with one or 2 lever-type fasteners used for ski boots.

 It is of course possible to envisage other systems for attaching a semi-cylindrical element to the other, the result being the wrapping of the bead by a kind of ring forming a body with this bead after inflation thereof, the ring being surcrott maintained by the stirrups.

 The use of this method of securing the saddles on the strands by a second semi-cylindrical element to form a ring offers the advantage of presenting on the immersed part of the floats hard surface segments that can be joined to each other by means of elements of a relatively short range (ease of storage) but which is fixed on the segments constitute a fairing of the living work. One of the fairing elements on each side may further be provided with an integrated drift shaft.

 Rubber reinforcements may be provided on the shell of the shell where the stool comes to rest.

 The saddles themselves are provided on their part in contact with the flange, a rubber sole.

 Each saddle is provided with two pairs of protrusions which, when in position on the hull pudding, are located one a little outside the vertical axis of the bead on the upper part of the latter. other on its inner side and at the end of its horizontal diameter (5).

 The two parallel projections located on the top of the saddle, the latter being in position on the float, are separated from each other by a space corresponding to the width of the transverse beam whose end is placed between they.

 A threaded pin passes through the beam-projecting assembly and holds it secured by a self-locking screwing (6).

 The two parallel projections located on the bottom of the saddle, the latter being positioned on the float, receive the end of an element whose other end is fixed to the transverse beam halfway about the center of the boat. , constituting a second point of support for it and conferring more rigidity to the assembly (7).

 Fixing this element at each of its ends is also done by self-locking threaded pins on the saddle on the one hand and the transverse beam on the other.

 The same fastening system is used at each point of assembly of the beams with the saddles.

 To facilitate their introduction while securely ensuring their function the pins (6) are provided with 2 threads of a different diameter, each screwing inside one of the projections.

 The circumference of each of the ankles will be a little smaller from its protrusion of the first projection in the direction of its introduction.

 The diameter of the threaded holes inside the projections will of course be corresponding.

 This allows a quick introduction and simultaneous screwing of the two threads.

 Only the buttress element, at its point of attachment with the crossbar will be provided with a pin provided with a wing bolt for example (7a), the beams to be free from any projection in order to their storage inside each other during the storage of which we speak further.

 The pins (6) will be drilled at their head with opposite holes to allow their clamping with a metal rod.

 The dowel head can also be four-sided to also allow tightening with a wrench.

 At this point it should be noted that all elements of the frame and the bridge are preferably made of aluminum material offering, besides its rigidity, its lightness and its resistance to corrosion, the possibility of using a U-shape which increases the resistance of the beams to vertical thrust and torsion while allowing a storage system of the assembled platform, designed to occupy a small volume.

 The U-shape also allows the assembly pins to pass through holes in the walls of the U and the embedding of the elements.

 Longitudinal beams of 3, 1 central and 2 that we will call longitudinal shells, are screwed across the transverse in blocks of wood or any other compact and lightweight material that the U-shape of these can contain and which while providing a solid screw reinforce beams at intersections and provide support on the saddles (13).

 Notches in the walls of the beams are necessary for the intersection and securing of a beam with another at each passage from 1 to 1 another.

 To overcome the weakness caused by the breach in the walls of the longitudinal beams at the intersection points with the transverse, blocks of wood (13) of a template equal to the internal width of the transverse beams are placed therein during mounting and held in place by screwing the beams together.

These blocks will therefore be pierced with corresponding holes provided with a thread for self-locking screwing.

 They shall be of a length equal to or greater than the width of the longitudinal elements which they reinforce by their position in the transverse beams at the places where they pass through the notches made in the longitudinal beams.

 Blocks of wood (or other material) will also be placed in the transverse beams at their ends (13). They will be pierced with a hole for the passage of the fixing pin to the saddle and, by their thickness greater than the height of the walls between which they will be inserted, will rest on the saddle avoiding a direct contact of the beam with its surface support. They will also be equipped with a rubber sole.

The U-shaped buttresses (7) are also provided at their ends with passage tunnels for the anchors (7jazz
These elements are of a width a little less than that of the transverse beam inside which each comes to house one of its ends at the place provided for the passage of the ankle, the other end resting on the saddle on the inner flank of the pudding.

 The width of the beams depends on their location in the assembled structure.

 Thus the central longitudinal beam consists of 2 elements in the example chosen to illustrate the invention (a smaller catamaran can receive only 4 stools, 2 per float, and therefore will be provided with longitudinal beams each consisting of a single element) , has its widest element located at the rear of the boat; the other element, located at the front can slide inside the previous one.

This allows an easy and solid assembly of one element with the other by partial sliding from one to the other until superposition of the common screw holes (10).

 In addition, it is possible to slide them completely into each other for storage after disassembly.

 The narrowest of these two elements, however, is of sufficient width in its interior to receive, during storage, placed side by side, the longitudinal elements of shells carried by the rear halves thereof. These last elements completed by those located on the halves before the floats form as we have seen for the central longitudinal beam, the total length of the longitudinal beams of hulls, the elements placed on the front also slide inside of those placed behind them, for assembly and storage.

 This design stores all the longitudinal elements of the frame inside the wider of them to form when storing a single package.

 As a result, the transverse beam at the back is just a little wider than the middle beam, which is wider than the front one.

 Rows by embedding them into each other they will also form a single package.

The much greater width of the central longitudinal beam provides, in addition to the advantage of compact storage of disassembled elements, more rigidity to the entire frame, and allows a reduction in the length of the deck panels (Q). 9
These, pierced with holes for the evacuation of batten, are placed on either side of the central longitudinal, their length arranged in the direction of the width of the boat.

 This division of the bridge itself into relatively small panels, if it involves longer handling, allows for easier storage.

 Preferably made of aluminum, they are rectangular with ledges led inwards by two right angles to form a bearing strip on the outline of the panel.

 This support strip allows them to rest by one of their narrow sides on a cornice (11) which is provided with the central longitudinal beam along its entire length on each side.

 The central beam will affect, in profile section, the shape of a staircase with 2 steps.

 The vertical edge of the support strip of the panels, in contact with the upper vertical part of the rim of the central beam, is provided with 2 short peaks (9a) which are introduced into the wall of this rim by corresponding holes .

 The edge constituting the support strip of the panels is notched at the location of the passage of the transverse beams.

 The panels completely cover the saddles and end at the vertical plumb of the outer point of the circumference of the flange according to the horizontal diameter of the latter.

 They are fixed on this side, flat on the longitudinal beams of floats by a rapid system of locking and locking spring (9a).

 It may be for example a pair of small hooks separated by a spring, arranged in the deck panel, that is pressed against each other by pinching with the fingers to release them after having introduced into the corresponding orifice formed in the longitudinal float beam.

 There are 2 pairs of hooks per panel.

 At all contact surfaces of the panels with the frame it is necessary to provide rubber or nylon soles glued on the panels.

 It should be noted that the deck panels have their usable surface exactly level with that of the central beam given tools are placed on a cornice of this beam passing under the height of their edges.

 However at the other end they completely cover the float and therefore pass over the longitudinal float beams.

 The difference of the order of 10 mm corresponds to the thickness of the aluminum plate and the contact flange.

 This minimal unevenness can be either neglected or overcome by a slight step in the manufacture of the panels to allow a perfect fit.

 Similarly, because of the slight narrowing of the longitudinal elements of the frame at the front compared to those of the rear (in the case presented here, of a platform whose length requires the use of more than 2 saddles on each float), the panels placed on the front elements will be slightly longer (about 1 centimeter) and provided with notches for the passage of longitudinal hulls slightly modified in their situation and their size.

 The platform can be covered with a rubber mat in one or more sections, pierced with orifices corresponding to those made in the panels for the flow of air.

 The section of carpet covering the central beam is pierced with orifices of a size a little larger than the template of the bolt tests used to secure the assembly to allow the outcrop of these heads which without this precaution would protrude by lifting a little carpet causing local wear of it.

 A transom (15) is securely attached to the rear ends of the longitudinal beams, with notches provided in the deck panels for attachment purposes.

 On this board is installed the outboard motor.

 In the case where two engines would be used, each one having to be placed between the space between one of the floats and the central beam, the frame of the board would be provided with a sleeve serving as an extension of the tunnel of the solidarity of the bow-buttress saddle-beam transverse element.

 The ankle used would then be longer (16) and the table benefiting from this strong additional support would offer a more than adequate rigidity against the thrust of the engines.

 The divisible table in three parts may consist of plywood panels sliding in support corridors on the frame elements fixed to the frame of the platform.

 Many uses can be envisaged for this type of catamaran platform capable of supporting relatively heavy loads.

 We can mention two in particular as a non-limiting example and to complete the description of this platform.

 A tent can be mounted on the platform giving the user the opportunity to have, on a boat of very modest size, a large living area fig. 3.

 This allows to consider living on board several days in camping formula without having to do without elements of comfort impractical ordinary camping and that while walking in places inaccessible boats whose size allows comfort but Excludes the versatility of navigation, landing or storage of the catamaran that we describe and whose maintenance price are of course incommensurate with those of the moored catamaran.

 Here again, we have patents describing inflatable floating equipment with tent but a more modest ambition and not benefiting from the same installation system.

 The tent has a semi-cylindrical shape with less wind resistance, given by an armature constituted by the assembly of 3 circular hoops, each divisible into 3 elements with telescopic attachment to each other fig. 3.

 The hoops are assembled by introducing their bases in sockable sleeves of a height of about 15 to 20 cm, themselves fixed to their base by the same fastening bolts of the longitudinal beams with the transverse.

 Ports are present in the deck hatches and the mat where the sleeves pass.

 Light tubes attached horizontally to the rollbars to the upper third of the tent's height, maintain the spacing of the tent and provide rigidity in the upper part of the frame.

 A waterproof and insulating synthetic fabric (it may be further covered with an aluminum foil) is then fixed on the armature.

 This fabric can roll completely backwards, but also partially by rolling the walls for example to leave only the roof portion through a rack and pinion system.

 Similarly, if you want the tent to occupy only half of the platform, you can remove the front rollbar and attach it to the rear one by small belts riveted to it.

 The canvas is equipped with transparent panels that can be rolled upward to reveal a mosquito net panel itself that can be rolled for full opening.

 At the back as before the facade panels also provided with transparent sections, can other open completely or completely closed.

 In the closed state, a bellows sleeve provided in the fabric makes it possible to tighten it, by elastic or cord, around the dampness direction bar behind the control handle.

This ensures a good seal without inhibiting the maneuver.

 A waterproof floor mat inherent to the tent goes up along the walls of it for about twenty centimeters and is fixed to avoid the insinuations of water.

 One can have a rim or light rail of twenty centimeters of current height along the outer edge of the longitudinal beams of floats.

 The plywood beams forming this rail are slidably placed in brackets screwed into the deck panels.

 One panel out of two is sufficient for fixing a support bracket.

 Orifices are made in the carpet covering the platform for the passage of supports.

 This rail is immediately outside the tent when it is placed but it is independent of it.

A range of approximately 25 cm wide (plus or minus depending on the size of the platform) runs the full length of the platform outside the rail allowing for example to stow out of the tent, the latter having been mounted, all that is not necessary inside: additional tanks of fuel, water or any other item of equipment (toolbox, fishing equipment or even small generator or compressor etc ...)
Rings or lugs may be provided along the vertical outer edge of the panels for lashing by straps, the rail being used on the other hand.

 For another mode of use of the platform-catamaran we use the sockets used for the maintenance of the arches of tent when this one is not in place, for the fixing of a balustrade allowing the stowage of objects when transporting parcels or materials.

Claims (5)

REvIINDICATI S  1. Removable boat with several inflatable hulls joined by a rigid frame formed of longitudinal and transverse beams, characterized in that the beams have an inverted u-shaped section allowing, by a set of templates, the sliding of each into the other to ensure their assembly and compact storage and that each of the saddles (2) supporting the transverse (3) forms by the addition of a second semi-cylindrical element (14) a ring around the float (i) allowing a fairing of the live works by several short elements which are easy to handle or store but which have a sufficient range to cover the space included from one ring to the other and the ends of the float (1), each saddle (2) being furthermore provided parallel projections (5) to ensure by screwing an anchor (6) its attachment to a transverse beam (3) which is reinforced by 2 support elements (7) removable whose arrangement in the asse mblage ensures, in collaboration with those of the points of attachment of the ends of the transverse stool (a>, a good distribution of thrusts from top to bottom.  2. removable boat with several inflatable hulls joined by a rigid frame, according to claim 1 characterized in that the ends of the saddles (2) are threaded into stirrups (8) inherent to the hull.  3. removable boat with several inflatable hulls joined by a rigid frame according to claim 1 characterized in that the longitudinal beams (4) being provided with gauges calibrated for intersections with the transverse (3), calibrated blocks (13) of wood or other compact and lightweight material, are embedded, during assembly, in the transverse (3) to form a reinforcement longitudinal (i) at intersections, while allowing to ensure the screwing beams between them, the blocks (13) placed in the ends of the crosspieces (3) furthermore serving as seats for those on the saddles (2),  4. removable boat with several inflatable hulls joined by a rigid frame according to any preceding claim characterized in that rectangular bridge panels (9), placed on either side of the central longitudinal beam, completely cover the frame and the points of assembly with the floats to constitute a platform of the same width as the horstout width of the boat and in that the central longitudinal beam is much wider than the longitudinal hulls ensuring more rigidity to the entire frame and allowing a reduction in the length of the deck panels (9) and that the said longitudinal central is provided with a cornice (11) of each side running along its entire length for support and attachment, by one of their sides panels (II), which are also fixed flat on the longitudinal hulls.  5. Removable boat with several inflatable hulls joined by a rigid frame according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sockets serable sleeves (12) using the same attachment points (10) of longitudinal hulls (4) to transversal (3) allowing the implementation of a tent frame whose characteristics can be as varied as multipies, or a ramp usable for securing during transport.  It is understood that the structure and assembly characteristics of the present invention allow its construction in different sizes as well as modifications, additions or combinations of elements, depending on the intended uses, without departing from its principles. Design.