GB2375370A

GB2375370A - Remote release boat mooring system

Info

Publication number: GB2375370A
Application number: GB0108209A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Charles
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-31
Filing date: 2001-03-31
Publication date: 2002-11-13
Also published as: GB0108209D0

Abstract

A boat mooring system comprising: a locking device 24 attachable to the end of the mooring rope 23 to secure the rope around a bollard 25 or the like; and an electronic control device 15 operable to remotely release the locking device. The mooring rope is then automatically coiled within a mooring rope coiling device ("coiler") 12. The locking device may be permanently attached to the end of the mooring rope; alternatively, it may be attached to the boat, preferably by being built into the coiler. Two or three mooring ropes 20, 23 and locking devices are controlled from the same control device 15.

Description

Boat Mooring System The present invention relates to the mooring of boats, particularly small boats and pleasure craft.

Typically, mooring a boat involves tying the bows and stem of the boat to a pair of bollards or the like by means of a pair of mooring ropes. Each mooring rope has one end attached to a suitable point on the boat and its other end tied around the bollard on the bank or quay. This normally involves bringing the boat alongside the quay, throwing the two mooring ropes onto the quay, and then tying them round their bollards. This is relatively easy if there is a second person standing on the quay, but otherwise involves the sailor jumping from the boat onto the quay (with the rope, or after throwing it onto the quay), tying the rope round the bollard to secure one end of the boat, and then repeating the process for the other end of the boat. Similarly, for a single sailor to release the boat, they have to release the mooring ropes from the bollards and then jump from the quay onto the boat. They then have to pull in the mooring ropes and coil or otherwise stow them on the boat.

The general object of the invention is to provide an improved boat mooring system.

According to the main aspect of the invention there is provided a boat mooring system comprising : a locking device attachable to the end of the mooring rope to secure the rope around a bollard or the like; and an electronic control device operable to remotely release the locking device. Preferably there is also a mooring rope coiling device ("coiler") which automatically coils the mooring rope within itself. The locking device may be permanently attached to the end of the mooring rope; alternatively, it may be attached to the boat, preferably by being built into the coiler.

According to a further aspect, the invention also provides such a coiler per se.

The present system thus provides an improved system for releasing a boat from its mooring.

In a preferred form or application of the invention, a boat has three coilers permanently attached to it, one at the bows and the other two at the port and starboard sides of the stem. The boat can be moored equally easily to the port and the starboard, using the bows mooring rope and the appropriate one of the stem mooring ropes. Each rope has its outer or landward end looped around a bollard and secured back on itself by means of the locking device at its end. To release the boat, the sailor operates the control device and so releases the locking devices at the ends of the mooring ropes. The mooring ropes therefore become free from the bollards, so releasing the boat. The coilers then automatically coil the mooring ropes up in themselves. The sailor thus does not need to leave the boat, or

indeed to move from the cockpit.

Obviously this arrangement can be changed for different boats. For example, a small boat with a narrow stem may need only one coiler at the stern, while it may be convenient to provide two coilers at the bow of a larger boat, one on each side.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of a mooring system embodying the invention, given by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which : Fig. 1 is a general view of a boat incorporating the system; and Fig, 2 is a more detailed view of the outer end of a mooring rope.

Fig. 1 shows a boat 10 with three coilers 11-13. Coiler 11 is mounted at the bows of the boat, and is arranged so that the rope from it can be directed to either side of the boat Coilers 12 and 13 are mounted respectively at the port and starboard sides of the stern, and one or other is used depending on which side the boat is being moored on. (It is of course possible to use a pair of coilers at the bows, or a single coiler at the centre of the stem, or a single stem coiler which can be mounted on either side of the stem as required.)

Coiler 11 has extending from it a mooring rope 20 with a locking device 21 at its end. This rope is looped round a bollard 23 and has its locking device engaged with the main part or bight of the rope, so mooring the bow of the boat to the bank. Coiler 12 has a similar rope 23 with locking device 24 extending from it, being looped round a bollard 25 and with the locking device secured to the bight of the rope, so mooring the stem of the boat. Coiler 13 has a similar mooring rope and locking device, but its mooring rope remains within the coiler and is not used in this mooring configuration.

Fig. 2 shows a convenient form for the locking device 21. The device has a casing 30 of generally rounded elongate form, with a hole 31 at one end through which the end of the mooring rope can be passed and fixed and a groove 32 as shown. A tongue 33 passes across the groove 32, being operated by a mechanical control unit 34 at one end and engaging in a recess 35 on the other side of the groove. A lever 36 can be manually operated to withdraw the tongue to allow the bight of the mooring rope to be passed underneath it. The tongue can then be restored to its position across the groove 32; mechanism 34 will then lock the tongue in position. A receiver 37, powered by a battery 38, is coupled to the mechanism 34 to withdraw the tongue 33 and so release the rope passing beneath it when as suitable control signal is received.

The boat has a cockpit area 14 at which a control device 15 is attached. When this control device is operated, it sends a signal to the locking devices 21 and 24 which causes them to unlock. The mooring ropes are therefore freed from the bollards, releasing the boat from its moorings. Also, the coilers now retract the mooring ropes into themselves. The boat is now free to be sailed away without the sailor having to step onto the quay to release the mooring ropes from the bollards or having to go the bow and stem of the boat to stow the mooring ropes.

Each coiler can conveniently be of the spring loaded reel type. A constant force spring or other means may be incorporated to cause them to provide a substantially constant tension regardless of how much of the mooring rope is extended. Speed restriction means may also be incorporated to limit the speed at which the mooring rope is retracted once it

has been released, to minimize or prevent the mooring rope from flailing about during retraction.

The coiler may also incorporate one or more forms of mechanical locking means.

One purpose of such locking means would be to make it easier to withdraw the mooring rope manually and throw it onto the quay without it tending to withdraw itself into the coiler. Such means may for example comprise a mechanical timer which can be set to lock the rope for a suitable period and then unlock itself automatically, or a mechanism of the type which holds the mooring rope against movement in one direction but automatically releases itself if the rope moves slightly in the other direction. The coiler will normally maintain the mooring rope under substantially fixed tension, allowing it to extend in the event of say a falling tide but automatically reeling it up if it should become slack.

However, a permanent locking means may be provided if desired, to maintain the rope at a fixed length. Such permanent locking means will of course be manually released before the boat is released from its moorings.

Each locking device must of course include the battery 38, the receiver 37, and a locking and release mechanism 34. The release mechanism should be of the type which operates while the locking device is under tension; it may be noted, however, that the tension will normally be the tension imposed by the coiler, and will therefore have a substantially known value. The battery and receiver should of course be in suitably watertight compartments, in view of the marine environment in which the locking device operates and the possibility that it may occasionally become submerged. It is also desirable for the locking device to be buoyant, so that it will float if it falls into the water; its shape may conveniently resemble that of a marine bumper. The locking device may be provided with a switch so that it can be turned on only when unmooring is imminent, and the switch may automatically turn itself to the off position after a suitable period. It may however be preferred for the locking device to be permanently powered; to minimize power consumption and battery drain, it may be effectively powered down and operate to detect signals from the control device only in narrow windows at intervals of a few seconds. (It

may of course remain powered up for an extended interval if it detects a potential signal from the control device.) The control device may be portable and carried manually, but to avoid the possibility of it becoming lost, it can conveniently be fixed to the boat. That will then permit it to be powered from the boat's power supply. The required signalling distance will normally be only a few metres, which is easily achieved. Suitably coded signals will normally be used, to reduce the chance of interference between two similar systems to a negligible level Any convenient form of signalling may be used, such as infra-red, electromagnetic induction, or radio. For radio, there are designated frequency channels for such signalling which may be used relatively freely.

The manner in which the individual locking devices are controlled will depend on the type of signalling and the manner in which the control device and the locking devices are coded. It may be desired to be able to release each locking device individually (or possibly to control the bows and stem devices separately); it may however be preferred to release them all together.

In a modified form of the invention, each coiler has a locking device is built into it, and each mooring rope is terminated in an eye. To moor a boat using the form of the system, the mooring rope is pulled out from the coiler and passed around the bollard and is then brought back to the coiler and has its eye secured to the locking device. To release the boat, the locking devices are unlocked, so releasing the end of each mooring rope. Each rope is therefore pulled, by its coiler, around its bollard until it is free of the bollard and eventually wound fully into its coiler.

With this arrangement the design requirements on the locking devices are less severe (although they must of course still be seaworthy).

With this arrangement, it is possible to extend a mooring rope by tying onto its end an extension having a suitable eye at its other end. The extension, however, will not I I I I normally be wound into the coiler, but will need to be coiled separately.

With this arrangement, also, it is possible to couple the control device to the coilers by fixed wiring.

Claims

Claims 1 A boat mooring system comprising : a locking device attachable to the end of the mooring rope to secure the rope around a bollard or the like; and an electronic control device operable to remotely release the locking device.
2 A system according to claim 1 including a mooring rope coiling device ("coiler") which automatically coils the mooring rope within itself.
3 A system according to either previous claim wherein the locking device is permanently attached to the end of the mooring rope.
4 A system according to either of claims 1 and 2 wherein the locking device is permanently attached to the boat.
5 A system according to claim 4 wherein the locking device is built into the coiler.

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6 A boat mooring system substantially as herein described and illustrated. 7 Any feature of novelty or combination thereof within the meaning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).