GB2335393A - Water borne vessels, particularly life rafts - Google Patents

Water borne vessels, particularly life rafts Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2335393A
GB2335393A GB9805542A GB9805542A GB2335393A GB 2335393 A GB2335393 A GB 2335393A GB 9805542 A GB9805542 A GB 9805542A GB 9805542 A GB9805542 A GB 9805542A GB 2335393 A GB2335393 A GB 2335393A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
life raft
raft
life
buoyancy
volume
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9805542A
Other versions
GB9805542D0 (en
Inventor
Terence Hayward
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9805542A priority Critical patent/GB2335393A/en
Publication of GB9805542D0 publication Critical patent/GB9805542D0/en
Priority to EP99302048A priority patent/EP0943538A3/en
Publication of GB2335393A publication Critical patent/GB2335393A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/02—Lifeboats, life-rafts or the like, specially adapted for life-saving
    • B63C9/04—Life-rafts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/02—Lifeboats, life-rafts or the like, specially adapted for life-saving
    • B63C9/04—Life-rafts
    • B63C2009/042—Life-rafts inflatable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/02—Lifeboats, life-rafts or the like, specially adapted for life-saving
    • B63C9/04—Life-rafts
    • B63C2009/044—Life-rafts covered

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Prostheses (AREA)

Abstract

A life raft 10 comprising a base 11 attached to at least one inflatable buoyant tubular member 12a,12b,12c,12d the buoyant tubular member forming the sides and/or ends of the raft 10, characterised in that the life raft 10 is substantially trapezoid in shape with one end being greater in volume and buoyancy than the other end. The life raft is also provided with a canopy 13 and a water pocket 14.

Description

1 2335393 IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WATER BORNE VESSELS The present
invention relates to improvements in or relating to water borri,- vessels. In particular, the present invention relates t_o improvements in or relating to life rafts.
Generally, life rafts are designed to seat people facing one another. The s-1ze and shape of such life rafts are generally dependent on the amount of people to be accommodated by the life raft in use. Up until now, there have been no life rafts specifically designed for side by side seating. In this connection, the skilled person will realise that such side by side seating is particularly desirable for thermal and/or ergonomic and/ or volumetric reasons.
According to the present invention there is provided a life raft COM1Drising a base attached to at least one inflatable buoyant tub,.-.lar member, the buoyant tubular member forming the s i de s and/or ends of the raft, characterised in that ore end of the life raft is greater in volume and buoyancy thar, the other end and the sides of the life raft taper from s:lid one end of the life raft to said other end.
According to the present invention there is provided a life raft compri3ing a base attached to at least one inflatable buoyant tubi.lar member, the buoyant tubular member forming the sJ.d--s and/or ends of the raft, characterised in that the life raft is substantially trapezoid in shape with end being greater in volume and buoyancy than the other end.
The present invf-,,ition provides a life raft where side by side seating s desirable for thermal and/or ergonomic and/or volumetric reasons. Additionally, by - 2 providing a substantially trapezoid- shaped life raft, one end of which is greater in volume and buoyancy than the other, provides a life raft which overcomes the problems of uneven distribution of body weight caused by side -,:o side seating, and a life raft which is easier to board, as well as being more stable during high speed winds.
In a preferred embodiment, the life raft in accordance with the present invention further comprises a canopy and a water pocket.
Further preferably, and as regards the differEnce in volume of one end from the other, one end of the life raft will be 50% greater in volume than the other end.
A number of embodiments of the present invent.io,--. will now be described by way of reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side perspective view of a life rafc in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2A is a side view of a life raft in accordance with the present invention with persons located therein; Figure 2B is a rear view of the life raft of Fig.
2A; and 2A.
Tiqure 2C is a front view of the life raft of Fiz.
As illustrated in Figure 1, a life raft 10 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 11, attached to four buoyancy tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, such buoyan-i tubes, making up the sides and ends of the li-fe raft 10.
The buoyancy tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d are inflatable via valve means (not illustrated). As the manner in which such buoyancy tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d of life rafts and other like buoyancy aids may be inflatable is well known, it shall not be described further in the present application.
The life raft 10 further comprises a canopy 13 and a large water pocket 14. The canopy 13 is supported by a support member 15. Such support member 15 may be an inflatable thwart tube extending from the buoyancy tube 12d. Alternatively, the canopy 13 may be a self righting canopy or a self supporting inflatable canopy. It is to be understood that any other known means for supporting the canopy 13 may be used.
The buoyancy tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, base 11, canopy 13 and thwart tube 15 may be made from a suitable polyurethane coated, and/or any suitable natural or synthetic rubber compound fabric. High frequency welding, sewing techniques and cold cured adhesive bonding techniques may be used for the construction of the buoyancy tubes 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, base 11, canopy 13, and thwart tube 15.
As illustrated in Fig.1, the life raft 10 is substantially trapezoid in shape with one end being of greater volume and buoyancy than the other end.
As illustrated in Figures 2A-C, in use, persons are seated with their backs against the end having the greater volume and hence, buoyancy, with their feet pointing towards the end having a lesser volume and buoyancy. Such an arrangement makes it easier to board the life raft 10 from the seaway, and provides greatei buoyancy at the end which is intended to support the greater body weight. moreover, and as the life raft 10 in Figs. 2A-C has no canopy or water pocket, same has particular application as a man- overboard survival platform.
The life raft 10 of the present invention may also be provided with an emergency pack in accordance with RORC recommendations. Additionally, the life raft 10 of the present application may be stowed in a purpose built container.
Although the present invention has been described by way of exampe to a life raft, it is to be understood that same can be applied to any water borne vessel where side by side seating is desirable for thermal and/or ergonomic and/or volumetric reasons. Moreover, it is to be understood that the sides of a life raft in accordance with the present invention may comprise a plurality of buoyancy tubes securely muunted on top of one another to accommodate extra payload, or mandatory requirements for multiple independent buoyancy.
W 1 -

Claims (5)

1. A life raft comprising a base attached to at least one inflatable buoyant tubular member, the buoyant tubular member forming the sides and/or ends of the ratt, characterised in that one end of the life raft is greater in volume and buoyancy than the other end and the sides of the life raft taper from said one end of the life raft to said other end.
2. A life raft comprising a base attached to at least one inflatable buoyant tubular member, the buoyant tubular member forming the sides andjor ends of the raft, characterised in that the life raft is substantially trapezoid in shape with one end being greater in volume and buoyancy than the other end.
3. A life raft as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further characterised in that the life raft further comprises a canopy and a water pocket.
4. A life raft as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further characterised in the one end of the life raft will be 50% greater in volume than the other end.
5. A life raft substantiallv as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9805542A 1998-03-17 1998-03-17 Water borne vessels, particularly life rafts Withdrawn GB2335393A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9805542A GB2335393A (en) 1998-03-17 1998-03-17 Water borne vessels, particularly life rafts
EP99302048A EP0943538A3 (en) 1998-03-17 1999-03-17 Life raft

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9805542A GB2335393A (en) 1998-03-17 1998-03-17 Water borne vessels, particularly life rafts

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9805542D0 GB9805542D0 (en) 1998-05-13
GB2335393A true GB2335393A (en) 1999-09-22

Family

ID=10828621

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9805542A Withdrawn GB2335393A (en) 1998-03-17 1998-03-17 Water borne vessels, particularly life rafts

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0943538A3 (en)
GB (1) GB2335393A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU168043U1 (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-01-17 Акционерное общество "Уфимский завод эластомерных материалов, изделий и конструкций" Single life raft
RU2719043C1 (en) * 2019-11-07 2020-04-16 Сергей Германович Ельшанский Universal transport-and-rescue facility

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB0111148D0 (en) * 2001-05-08 2001-06-27 Lanarkshire Technology And Inn Improved ocean survival unit
CN113401318B (en) * 2021-05-20 2022-11-01 浙江启明海洋电力工程有限公司 Inflatable life raft for marine rescue

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1686366A (en) * 1926-04-02 1928-10-02 Airships Inc Inflatable boat
GB2314046A (en) * 1996-06-13 1997-12-17 Wardle Storeys Ltd Liferaft

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3058127A (en) * 1958-02-04 1962-10-16 Ballonfabrik Augsburg Vorm A R Inflatable life-saving dinghies
US3155992A (en) * 1962-09-05 1964-11-10 Glenn A Shewmake Life raft
DE2411425A1 (en) * 1974-03-09 1975-09-11 Scheibert Dt Schlauchbootfab Inflatable multi-purpose boat - with profiled bows and detachable inflatable roof for use as liferaft
DE3015620A1 (en) * 1980-04-23 1981-10-29 Ballonfabrik See- und Luftausrüstung GmbH & Co KG, 8900 Augsburg Capsize preventer for inflatable boat with underslung stabilisers - consists of material swelling largely in water, used as stabiliser-body for filling

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1686366A (en) * 1926-04-02 1928-10-02 Airships Inc Inflatable boat
GB2314046A (en) * 1996-06-13 1997-12-17 Wardle Storeys Ltd Liferaft

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
RU168043U1 (en) * 2016-05-05 2017-01-17 Акционерное общество "Уфимский завод эластомерных материалов, изделий и конструкций" Single life raft
RU2719043C1 (en) * 2019-11-07 2020-04-16 Сергей Германович Ельшанский Universal transport-and-rescue facility

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9805542D0 (en) 1998-05-13
EP0943538A3 (en) 2001-02-07
EP0943538A2 (en) 1999-09-22

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)