FR2739828A1 - Manufacturing procedure for transparent sections of boat hulls used for underwater viewing for industrial or leisure purposes - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure, designed for use in the manufacture of a boat hull (2) with a free shape and no exterior projections, consists of fixing transparent components (4) into pre-shaped recesses (5) in the hull with the aid of a mastic adhesive (7) and with no mechanical fixings. The transparent components can be made with developable surfaces or surfaces which can be hot or cold moulded. Some sections (8) of the hull can be left non-transparent, while the boat's framework can be made wholly or partly from transparent materials. In a variant of the design the hull can be hot-moulded in one piece. The transparent components are preferably made from a material with a high resistance to impact and breakage, with the mastic adhesive selected according to the material used and applied in a quantity sufficient to absorb the differences in expansion rates between the materials.

Description

The invention relates to the manufacture of transparent hulls for boats.

It is intended to allow the realization of boats offering the possibility of underwater vision for industrial or leisure activities.

Devices allowing underwater observation from a surface boat are the subject of oriented applications
-or on the principle of portholes of variable sizes and shapes fixed
mechanically on a shell and more or less spherical and protruding.

This system requires having a hull large enough to accommodate
the observers. The fragility of the protruding transparent parts prohibited
the developments in the irregular small bottoms, the most interesting for the
vision, and requires sustained attention during port maneuvers.

- or on systems that can be retracted when you want to ensure good
boat operation (such as patent number 2 609 959). This system limits the surface
vision, is uncomfortable for the observer, requires implementation
during the vision and maintenance of sensitive parts (seals).

- either on flat bottoms consisting of a plate anchored in an extension
side of the boat (such as patent application no. 2 544 685).
device trapping a volume of water under the bottom of the boat hinders
developments in the free way boat.

These systems are subject to the problems of aging of the mechanical fixings of the transparent parts on the shell.

The invention eliminates these drawbacks and makes it possible to produce a smooth hull of any shape, in shape or with chines. It is formed by the combination of a frame welcoming the border of the transparent elements constituting the hull. The contours delimited by the frame which should receive the edges of the transparent elements are made such that they have a recess allowing the fixing of the transparent elements without creating any roughness on the outside of the hull. The transparent elements are preferably fixed without mechanical element using a sealant suitable for the materials present.

This method in no way prevents the boat from being normally equipped according to its vocation.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 shows a possibility of arrangement of the transparent elements on
the frame integral with the hull.

Figure 2 shows in vertical half-section a possible hull according to
the invention.

Figure 3 shows in horizontal half-section a possible shell according to
the invention.

With reference to these drawings, the embodiment consists of a frame (1), part of the hull of the boat (2), having recesses (3) having a contour corresponding to the contours of the transparent elements (4) finalizing the hull and receiving them.

The periphery of the recesses (3) has a recess (5) allowing the fixing of the transparent elements (4) without harming the external shape of the shell.

The frame (1) is made of metal elements but can also be made of transparent elements if the size of the boat allows.

This frame (1) can serve as intermediate supports (6) for transparent surfaces (4) if their dimensions require it. This arrangement allows the use of large transparent elements in order to increase the surfaces without fixing fittings.

The transparent elements (4) are preferably made of polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate having a high resistance to impact and breakage.

They are preferably fixed with a sealant (7) adapted to the materials present. The quantity deposited is fixed in order to allow the difference in expansion of the two materials to be absorbed.

According to particular embodiments:
-The hulls may include non-transparent parts (8) made of
in a conventional manner, in particular the front and rear areas which may be subjected to
stronger forces or shocks, or areas of no interest to
underwater vision, for example hidden from view by accommodation
of the boat such as chain wells, engine compartments, seats,
storage, etc ...

- Conversely, the transparent parts can go back above the line
buoyancy to facilitate construction.

-The transparent surfaces (4) can be developable surfaces, for example
example of chines hulls, or hot or cold formed.

A transparent flat bottom is a particular embodiment not shown.
for a monohull or multi-float boat ensuring the comfort of
the observer who can then be seated, in the open air, in the boat.

Another mode is a boat made hot with a transparent element
particular embodiment not shown.

In these two cases a bottom protection is to be provided to prevent its
friction when dry, for example using spacers.

This is why the shapes, dimensions and arrangements of the various elements may vary within the limit of the equivalents without thereby changing the general conception of the invention which has just been described.

Claims (5)

1 / Device for manufacturing transparent hulls for boats making it possible to produce free-form hulls without external roughness, characterized in that it comprises transparent elements (4) fixed by adhesive sealant (7), without mechanical element, in the recesses provided for this purpose (5) of the frame (1) of the boat (2). 2 / device for manufacturing hulls according to claim 1 characterized in that the transparent elements (4) can be developable surfaces or hot or cold formed. 3 / device for manufacturing hulls according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that certain parts of the shell (2) may remain non-transparent (8). 4 / device for manufacturing hulls according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the frame can be made, in whole or in part, with transparent materials. 5 / Hull manufacturing device according to claim 2 characterized in that the boat can be made hot in a single element.