GB2157627A - Watercraft - Google Patents

Abstract

A watercraft comprising a hull 10 and a propulsion device 12, such as a propeller, and/or a rudder 13, the hull being provided with a vertical trunking 14 having its upper end 15 opening into the interior of the hull above the water line 11 and its lower end 16 opening adjacent the propulsion device and/or rudder. This enables a person within the hull to gain access to the propulsion device and/or rudder, to remove any fouling thereof. Means are provided to close the lower opening of the trunking to continue the line of the hull. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Watercraft The present invention relates to power driven watercraft.

Power driven watercraft are usually driven by a motor or engine which may drive a propeller or propellers. Another arrangement of propulsion device is for water to be drawn in near the front of the watercraft through an inlet opening and pumped out through an outlet opening towards the rear of the craft to give a form of jet propulsion device. In either event, the proplusion device is susceptible to fouling particulary in inland and coastel waters. For example the propeller may have weed, rags or lines wrapped around it which can cause the propeller to stop and the inlet to the jet propulsion device can often become blocked with any form of debris. This is particularly unsatisfactory and it necessitates a person diving under the watercraft to remove any fouling.

It is now proposed, according to the present invention, to provide a watercraft comprising a hull and a propulsion device and/or rudder, the hull being provided with vertical trunking having its upper end opening into the interior of the hull above the water line and its lower end opening adjacent to the propulsion device and!or rudder to enable a person within the hull to gain access to the propulsion device and!or rudder to remove any fouling thereof, and means to close the level opening of the trunking.

It will be apparent that with such an arrangement it is relatively easy for a person within the hull to remove the means to close the lower opening of the trunking and then to gain access to the propeller or to the inlet to the jet propulsion device, to remove any object which is causing fouling. Equally one can carry out minor maintenance tasks,for example replacement of a shear pin from within the hull,without there being any need to dive under the watercraft. Furthermore this operation can be carried out in very shallow water, when it would in fact be impossible for a diver to get underneath the hull.

The means to close the lower opening may take many forms. For example it could be provided by a hinged panel which can be hinged up into the trunking.

In an alternative arrangement a block can be insertable into the trunking from the interior of the hull and can have a lower surface shaped to conform to the shape of the lower opening.

The trunking may be parallel sided but it is advantageously wider at its upper end than its lower end and tapers uniformly, thus facilitating the person within the hull getting at the problem below.

In order to save weight, the block is preferably hollow. Since a problem can arise in inserting the block into the trunking, because it will have to displace a substantial amount of water, particularly on a relatively large vessel, advantageously an inlet is provided to allow the block to fill at least partly with water as the block is inserted into the trunking.

The inlet may be provided with a pipe extending into the interior of the block, the pipe having a valve which can close off the flow.

The block can be made open topped so that having become partly filled with water it can be pumped out, for example using the bilge pump of the watercraft.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given, merely by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side elevation, in section, through the stern portion of one embodiment of watercraft according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of a further form of watercraft with twin screws; Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-section of one embodiment of trunking and block as suitable for use with a watercraft of the invention; and Figure 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figure 1 there is illustrated in side elevation and section one embodiment of watercraft comprising a hull 10 of which the water line is indicated by the line 11. The watercraft includes a propeller 12 and a rudder 13 of perfectly conventional design. Formed within the hull, either during manufacture of by subsequent fitting, is a vertical trunking 14 which is open at the other end 15 and is provided with means 16 for closing the lower end, these means being arranged so as to be substantially flush with the lower part of the hull to provide a continuous smooth hull line. It will be noted from Figure 2 that the trunking is displaced slightly to one side of the longitudinal centre line 17 of the hull so that the structure of the hull is not weakened by the inclusion of the trunking 14.

Figure 3 illustrates a similar arrangement and like parts have been indicated by like reference numerals. However, in this construction there are two propellers.

One actual form of the trunking is shown in Figures 4 and 5. The hull bottom is indicated by the reference numeral 18 and this has upstanding therefrom the trunking which is trapezium shaped in side elevation and substantially square in end elevation and thus has a peripheral wall 19 provided with an outwardly extending flange 20 at its upper end 21. Inserted into the trunking is a block 22 of substantially identical shape and having a hollow interior 23. The block 22 is also provided with a peripheral flange 24 which can be secured to the flange 20 by bolts 25. A gasket may be interposed between the two flanges 20 and 24 for sealing purposes.

Mounted within the upper part of the block are four lifting lugs 26.

The lower part of the block 22 is formed by a lower wall 27 which is designed for continuation of the lower part 18 of the hull. In this lower wall 27 is an inlet port 28 connected to a pipe 29 having a valve 30 therein with a discharge port 31. The valve may be opened and closed by a hand wheel 32 within the interior 23 of the block.

The relative dimensions of the trunking and the block are such as to leave a small gap therebetween so that the block can be lifted without any noticeable suction effect.

If the block is relatively large, then one needs to open the valve 30 when one is inserting the block to allow water to flow in through the inlet 28 into the interior 23 of the block to facilitate insertion of the block. When the water has risen to the load water line 11, the valve can be closed by operating the hand wheel 32 and the interior can then be pumped out, for example by using the bilge pump of the boat.

Subsequently when one wishes to remove fouling from the propeller, one undoes the nuts and bolts 25 and lifts out the block if necessary using lifting tackle. One can then gain direct access to the propeller to carry out work thereon. Since the upper end of the trunking 20 is significantly above the water line 11 there will be no fear of water entering into the interior of the hull.

If the rudder is positioned adjacent to the propeller then the trunking can be made sufficiently large to enable one to gain access to the rudder also. It is also contemplated that one could have additional trunking for this purpose if the rudder is at a considerable distance from the propeller.

Claims (11)

1. A watercraft comprising a hull and a propulsion device andor rudder the hull being provided with vertical trunking having its upper end opening into the interior of the hull above the water line and its lower end opening adjacent to the propulsion device andíor rudder to enable a person within the hull to gain access to the propulsion device and'or rudder to remove any fouling thereof, and means to close the level opening of the trunking.

2. A watercraft according to claim 1, wherein the means to close the lower opening comprise a hinged panel.

3. A watercaft accordding to claim 1, wherein the means to close the lower opening comprise a block insertable into the trunking, from the interior of the hull, and having a lower surface shaped to conform to the shape of the lower opening.

4. A watercraft according to claim 3, wherein the block is hollow.

5. A watercraft according to claim 4, wherein the block is provided with an inlet to allow the block to fill, at least partly, with water as the block is inserted into the trunking.

6. A watercraft according to claim 5, wherein the inlet is provided with a pipe extending into the interior of the block, the pipe having a valve enabling the flow of water from the inlet to be cut off.

7. A watercraft according to claim 3, 4, 5 or 6, wherein the block is open topped.

8. A watercraft according to any one of claims 3 to 7 wherein the block is provided with means to secure it to the trunking.

9. A watercraft according to claim 8, wherein said means to secure the block to the trunking comprise a peripheral flange on the upper end of the block adapted to overlie the upper end of the trunking, the dimensioning being such that the lower end of the block is then flush with the lower part of the hull surrounding the lower opening to the trunking.

10. A watercraft according to any preceding claim, wherein the trunking is wider at its upper end that its lower end and tapers uniformly.

11. A watercraft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.