GB2044183A

GB2044183A - Marine vessels

Info

Publication number: GB2044183A
Application number: GB7943360A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-03-21
Filing date: 1979-12-17
Publication date: 1980-10-15

Abstract

To rapidly increase the bouyancy of a marine vessel which suffers a loss of its inherent bouyancy, one or more inflatable bags are stowed in a deflated state on the vessel, the bags being connected to a source of compressed gas by pipelines and pressure reducing valves. The emergency bouyancy means can be built in to the vessel during construction or it can be fitted as an accessory to existing vessels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to marine vessels This invention reiates to marine vessels and emergency buoyancy means therefor. The hulls of marine vessels such as yachts and motor yachts can become rapidly flooded in a variety of ways, i.e. in heavy seas or impact with another vessel or submerged rocks. Little or no time is usually left for the occupants of the vessel to use whatever emergency escape means are provided, such as lifejackets, life-rafts and life boats and to gather together any emergency stores.

If sufficient time were available when a disaster strikes, many lives could be saved and the present invention seeks to provide a means whereby a vessel which is in danger of sinking can either be kept afloat indefinitely or for a sufficient length of time for the vessel occupants to make a safe escape.

According to the present invention there is provided a marine vessel having emergency buoyancy means comprising one or more inflatable bags stowed aboard the vessel, the or each bag being connected to a source of compressed gas, and means for releasing the gas into the or each bag. The or each bag may be stowed in a packed and deflated condition and secured to a convenient part of the vessel by releasable securing means, such as VEL CRO (Registered Trade Mark) strips. The compressed gas may be compressed air and the or each bag can have a pressure reducing valve in the pipeline connecting it with the compressed gas.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided emergency buoyancy means including one or more inflatable bags, the or each bag being connected to or connectable to a source of compressed gas and means for releasing the gas into the or each bag, the emergency buoyancy means being arranged for securing to a marine vessel.The present invention wi[l now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically one form of marine vessel according ta the present invention incorporating the emergency buoyancy means according to the invention, Figure 2 is a section of line 2-2 in Figure 2 stowing two of the bags of the buoyancy means in the inflated position Figure 3 shows a detail of one of the buoyancy bags secured in position to the marine vessel and Figure 4 shows the buoyancy bag of Figure 3 in a partially inflated position.

Referring to the Figures a marine vessel 10 has a hull 12 divided up by a number of bulk heads 14, and on each bulk head two inflatable bags 16 and 18 are mounted on the port and starboard sides respective ly Each group af bags 16 and 18 is connected to a respective compressed air cylinder 20, 22 by pipelines 24, 26 and each bag 16, 18 has a pressure reducing valve 28. The bags, which can be of natural or synthetic rubber any other suitable material are secured to the bulkheads by straps 30 of VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) material or by any suitable rapid releasing means, which are preferably actuated by the inflation of the bags.

In operation, if the vessel 10 is in danger due to lack of buoyancy, the emergency buoyancy means can be brought into action by opening the contral valves 32 of the compressed air cylinders 20, 22 and the air inflates all the buoyancy bags 16, 18 the inflating process automatically releasing the straps 30 allowing the bags to inflate to their fullest extent, in order to restrain the bags when they are inflated, straps 34 as shown in Figure 2 can be provided. The extra buoyancy thus obtained will keep the vessel afloat for a period of time depending on the displacement of the vessel, the amount of extra buoyancy and the existing buoyancy of the vessel which depends on the damage sustained.

The number of buoyancy bags and compressed air cylinders or cylinders of other buoyancy providing gas can be varied to suit the vessel and the control valves of the gas cylinders are preferably of the rapid release type.

The bags can be located in any convenient part of the vessel and are preferably arranged so that when they are all inflated, the vessel remains stable, e.g.

there are no resultant rolling or pitching moments.

The emergency buoyency means can be built in to the vessel as if is being constructed or it can be fitted as a kit to an existing vessel.

1 marine vessel having emergency buoyancy means comprising one or more inflatable bags stowed aboard the vessel, the or each bag being connected to a source of compressed gas and means for releasing the gas into the or each bag.

2. A marine vessel as claimed in claim 1 in which the or each bag is stowed in a packed and deflated condition and secured to a convenient part of the vessel by releasable securing means.

3. A marine vessel as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the or each bag is formed from natural of synthetic rubber.

4. A marine vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or each bag has a pressure reducing valve in the pipeline connecting it with the source of compressed gas.

5. A marine vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the compressed gas comprises compressed air.

6. A marine vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the emergency buoyancy means comprises a plurality of inflatable bags and at least two containers of compressed air comprising the source of compressed gas, each container being connected to one or more of said inflatable bags via a pipeline and a pressure reducing valve associated with each bag, each container and its associated inflatable bags being independent of the remaining container or containers and it or their associated bags.

7. A marine vessel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the or each bag is so mounted in relation to the beam of the vessel as to produce little or no rolling effect when inflated.

8. Emergency buoyancy means including one or

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to marine vessels This invention reiates to marine vessels and emergency buoyancy means therefor. The hulls of marine vessels such as yachts and motor yachts can become rapidly flooded in a variety of ways, i.e. in heavy seas or impact with another vessel or submerged rocks. Little or no time is usually left for the occupants of the vessel to use whatever emergency escape means are provided, such as lifejackets, life-rafts and life boats and to gather together any emergency stores. If sufficient time were available when a disaster strikes, many lives could be saved and the present invention seeks to provide a means whereby a vessel which is in danger of sinking can either be kept afloat indefinitely or for a sufficient length of time for the vessel occupants to make a safe escape. According to the present invention there is provided a marine vessel having emergency buoyancy means comprising one or more inflatable bags stowed aboard the vessel, the or each bag being connected to a source of compressed gas, and means for releasing the gas into the or each bag. The or each bag may be stowed in a packed and deflated condition and secured to a convenient part of the vessel by releasable securing means, such as VEL CRO (Registered Trade Mark) strips. The compressed gas may be compressed air and the or each bag can have a pressure reducing valve in the pipeline connecting it with the compressed gas. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided emergency buoyancy means including one or more inflatable bags, the or each bag being connected to or connectable to a source of compressed gas and means for releasing the gas into the or each bag, the emergency buoyancy means being arranged for securing to a marine vessel.The present invention wi[l now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically one form of marine vessel according ta the present invention incorporating the emergency buoyancy means according to the invention, Figure 2 is a section of line 2-2 in Figure 2 stowing two of the bags of the buoyancy means in the inflated position Figure 3 shows a detail of one of the buoyancy bags secured in position to the marine vessel and Figure 4 shows the buoyancy bag of Figure 3 in a partially inflated position. Referring to the Figures a marine vessel 10 has a hull 12 divided up by a number of bulk heads 14, and on each bulk head two inflatable bags 16 and 18 are mounted on the port and starboard sides respective ly Each group af bags 16 and 18 is connected to a respective compressed air cylinder 20, 22 by pipelines 24, 26 and each bag 16, 18 has a pressure reducing valve 28. The bags, which can be of natural or synthetic rubber any other suitable material are secured to the bulkheads by straps 30 of VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark) material or by any suitable rapid releasing means, which are preferably actuated by the inflation of the bags. In operation, if the vessel 10 is in danger due to lack of buoyancy, the emergency buoyancy means can be brought into action by opening the contral valves 32 of the compressed air cylinders 20, 22 and the air inflates all the buoyancy bags 16, 18 the inflating process automatically releasing the straps 30 allowing the bags to inflate to their fullest extent, in order to restrain the bags when they are inflated, straps 34 as shown in Figure 2 can be provided. The extra buoyancy thus obtained will keep the vessel afloat for a period of time depending on the displacement of the vessel, the amount of extra buoyancy and the existing buoyancy of the vessel which depends on the damage sustained. The number of buoyancy bags and compressed air cylinders or cylinders of other buoyancy providing gas can be varied to suit the vessel and the control valves of the gas cylinders are preferably of the rapid release type. The bags can be located in any convenient part of the vessel and are preferably arranged so that when they are all inflated, the vessel remains stable, e.g. there are no resultant rolling or pitching moments. The emergency buoyency means can be built in to the vessel as if is being constructed or it can be fitted as a kit to an existing vessel. CLAIMS

8. Emergency buoyancy means including one or more inflatable bags, the or each bag being connected to or connectable to a source of compressed gas and means for releasing the gas into the or each bag, the emergency buoyancy means being arranged for securing to a marine vessel.

9. Emergency buoyancy means as claimed in claim 8 comprising a plurality of inflatable bags in the deflated condition one or more containers of compressed gas, lengths of tubing to connect the inflatable bags to one or more of the compressed gas containers, pressure reducing valves to be connected between each inflatable bag and the respective compressed gas container and means for attaching the emergency buoyancy means to a marine vessel.

10. A marine vessel having emergency buoyancy means constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.