GB2551831A

GB2551831A - Folding mast systems for watercraft

Info

Publication number: GB2551831A
Application number: GB1611515.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Curtis Timothy
Original assignee: Birdon (uk) Ltd
Current assignee: Birdon (uk) Ltd
Priority date: 2016-06-30
Filing date: 2016-06-30
Publication date: 2018-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-30
Also published as: US11130550B2; WO2018005186A1; US20200317296A1; GB201611515D0; GB2551831B

Abstract

A folding mast system 12 for use on a watercraft, such as a bridge erection boat (10, Fig 1), comprises: two mast pole pieces 18 and 20 connected by a mast hinge (40, Fig 4); a centring clamp 22; a mast base 54; a safety locking pin (50, Fig 4); and at least two adjustable stays 62 which can be used to connect the erected mast to the deck of a watercraft. When erected the mast pole pieces are centrally aligned and the centring clamp is installed around and clamps the connection between the two mast pole pieces. The mast may be assembled and disassembled without tools, which also makes the assembly and disassembly quick. The mast is also quickly removable and replaceable. The mast may also incorporate safety features, such as lighting 56 and other devices needed for safe navigation.

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Folding mast systems for watercraft Abstract Title: A hinged folding mast system for a watercraft (57) A folding mast system 12 for use on a watercraft, such as a bridge erection boat (10, Fig 1), comprises: two mast pole pieces 18 and 20 connected by a mast hinge (40, Fig 4); a centring clamp 22; a mast base 54; a safety locking pin (50, Fig 4); and at least two adjustable stays 62 which can be used to connect the erected mast to the deck of a watercraft. When erected the mast pole pieces are centrally aligned and the centring clamp is installed around and clamps the connection between the two mast pole pieces. The mast may be assembled and disassembled without tools, which also makes the assembly and disassembly quick. The mast is also quickly removable and replaceable. The mast may also incorporate safety features, such as lighting 56 and other devices needed for safe navigation.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

04 17

FOLDING MAST SYSTEMS FOR WATERCRAFT

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to folding mast systems that may be used to fly a flag, mount navigation lights, or raise safety equipment on a watercraft.

Background of the Invention

When operating bridge erection boats, it is common for a flag to be flown from the mast of the boat. It is also common to install lighting and other safety and navigational devices on the mast.

Current mast technology for bridge erection boats typically consists of a single piece fold-down mast. This configuration blocks access to critical boat functionality when the mast is stowed and not in use. For bridge erection boats, the single-piece mast blocks the engine hatch and waterjet hatch and blocks use of the main capstan. For some operations, the mast must be 15 removed entirely in order to prevent obstruction of the use.

Summary of the Invention

The invention provides a folding mast system as specified in claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In order that the invention may be well understood, some embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view from above of a bridge erection boat with a folding mast system shown in a stowed position;

Figure 2 shows the folding mast system erected;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clamp of the folding mast system;

Figure 4 shows a hinge and auxiliary safety pin component of the folding mast system;

Figure 5 shows adjustable stays of the folding mast system in a deployed condition; and

Figure 6 is an enlargement of the portion circled in Figure 5.

It is to be understood that in some instances, various aspects of the invention may be shown 15 exaggerated or enlarged to facilitate an understanding of the invention. Therefore, drawings may not be to scale

Detailed Description

The subject matter of the invention is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to necessarily limit the scope of the claims. Rather, the claimed subject matter might be embodied in other ways to include different steps or combinations of steps similar to the ones described herein, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner into one or more embodiments.

Referring to Figure 1, a watercraft in the form of a bridge erection boat 10 comprises a folding mast system 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the folding mast system 12 is disposed on the deck 14 of the boat 10 abaft a wheel house 16. The folding mast system 12 is shown in a folded, or stowed position.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, the folding mast system 12 comprises two mast pole pieces 18, 20 that may be folded for stowage as shown in Figure 1 or erected to define a mast as shown in

Figures 2 to 5. When erected the two mast pole pieces 18, 20 are aligned and clamped to one another by a centring clamp 22. The adjacent ends of the two mast pole pieces 18, 20 may be provided with cooperably engageable mating parts to align and centre the mast pole pieces. One of the mast pole pieces 18, 20 may have a conical female end part while the other of the two 15 mast pole pieces may have a conical male end part that is cooperably engageable with the female end part.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, the adjacent ends of the two mast pole pieces 18, 20 may be provided with respective flanges. A part of the flange 24 of the upper mast pole piece 18 can be seen in Figure 3. The flanges may be configured to mate with a groove (not visible in the drawings) defined by the centring clamp 22. The flanges may comprise oppositely directed tapering, or conical, major surfaces. The mating of the flanges and centring clamp 22 may assist in providing a stable connection and in locating the clamp while it is being tightened to secure the connection between the mast pole pieces 18, 20. The centring clamp 22 may comprise two arcuate arms 26 pivot connected to respective ends of a link 28. The ends 30, 32 of the centring clamp 22 disposed remote from the link 28 are bent radially outwardly with respect to the centre of the clamp such that when the clamp is closed about the mast pole pieces 18, 20, they are disposed in generally parallel spaced apart relation. The centring clamp 22 may further comprise a tightening screw 34 that may be provided with a T-bar 36. The tightening screw 34 is rotatably mounted to the end 30 and can be screwed into a nut 38 pivotally mounted to end

32.

Referring to Figure 4, the mast pole pieces 18, 20 are hinge connected by a hinge 40. The hinge may be a clevis-type hinge comprising an arm 42 secured to the upper mast pole 18, a bifurcated member 44 secured to the lower mast pole 20 and a pivot pin 46 connecting the arm with the bifurcated member. The hinge 40 may be a provided with a safety locking pin 50.

Referring to Figure 5, as indicated generally at 54 the lower end of the lower mast pole piece may be provided with a mast base comprising a flange provided with a part shaped to mate with a cooperable deck fitting secured to the deck 14 of the bridge erection boat 10. The mating parts may be male and female conical parts and the mast base may be secured to the deck fitting by means of a centring clamp the same as, or similar to, the centring clamp 22.

The upper mast pole piece 20 may be provided with lighting 56 (Figures 2 and 5). The mast pole pieces 18, 22 may be hollow so that the lighting 56 can supplied with electrical power conducted by wiring extending through the hollow interior of the mast. Ports may be provided at the ends of the mast pole pieces 18, 20 to allow entry and exit of the wiring. As best seen in

Figure 3, the ports 58 may be formed by tubular projections protruding from the mast pole pieces 18, 20. The ports 58 may be connected by means of flexible tubing or bellows 60 through which the wiring passes between the adjacent ends of the mast pole pieces 18, 20.

In the illustrated embodiment, the folding mast system 12 is used on a bridge erection boat 12.

However, this is not to be taken as limiting as the folding mast system 12 may be used generally on watercraft. The folding mast system includes clamps and other components in order to allow assembly and disassembly without tools, which also makes the assembly and disassembly quick.

The folding mast system is also quickly removable and replaceable. The folding mast system can also incorporate safety features, such as lighting and other devices needed for safe navigation, and is capable of adjusting to accommode fabrication differences.

The folding mast system 12 is capable of bi-folding to permit stowage on deck without 15 obstructing the vessel’s functionality. This is made possible by the hinge 40 on the mast and centring clamp 22. The mast hinge 40 is toleranced loosely to allow the two mast pole pieces

18, 20 to come together with sufficient slop to permit alignment. The mast pole pieces 18, 20 have conical male and female portions configured to align and centre the two mast pole pieces on one another and also carry the shear loading. The centring clamp 22 is installed around the two mast pole piece flanges, and as the clamp is tightened, the flanges draw together and finalise centring. Finally, a backup safety locking pin 50 is installed in the hinge to prevent accidental mast collapse. The centring clamp 22 and hinge 40 are designed to permit quick operation without requiring any tools.

A similar flange and centring clamp arrangement may be provided for securing the mast base to a deck fitting to hold the mast erected. The entire mast can quickly be removed from the vessel by removing the lower pivot pin and unplugging the electrical connection.

The safety pin 50 between the mast pole pieces 18, 20 is designed to support the upper mast pole piece without the use of the centring clamp 22 and prevent the upper mast pole piece from falling down in the event the centring clamp is not installed correctly.

The upper mast pole piece can be folded when the lower mast pole piece is erected. This is particularly useful for when the vessel has to operate underneath a low bridge, but the mast needs to be quickly returned to operational state once clear of the bridge.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, to add additional support and stability to the mast to minimise 15 whipping, two adjustable stays 62 may be used. The stays 62 pivot on the lower mast pole piece from a stowed position to interface with padeyes on the deck 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the stays 62 are clipped into place using respective quick release pins 64. The length of the stays 62 can be adjusted by screwing in or unscrewing the eye 66 to which the quick release pin 64 is fitted and then tightening the jam nut 68 once in the correct location.

This accommodates for fabrication differences, wear and tear on the system, and allows mast in tension to be maintained at all times.

The mast may be fabricated from lightweight aluminium and may be fitted with navigation lights, towing lights, anchoring lights, and other features such as strobe lights required for safe operation. Electric wire and cables are run through the ports 58 and flexible bellows 60 for weather protection and water tightness such that they are not affected by the folding or clamping mechanism.

The illustrated embodiment of a folding mast system 12 has two mast pole pieces 18, 20. Other embodiments may have three or more mast pole pieces provided with respective centring clamp and hinge arrangements the same as or similar to those shown in Figures 3 and 4 to connect and clamp adjacent mast pole pieces to one another.

While the folding mast system was designed for use on watercraft, the features and advantages of this design described in this application can be utilised by a number of different industries.

The described features, advantages, and characteristics of the folding mast system may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognise that the various components of the illustrated embodiment may be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages in other embodiments. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognised in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus the appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Claims

1.

15

2.

20

3.

A folding mast system comprising:

(a) two mast pole pieces erectable to define a mast;

(b) a mast hinge;

(c) a centring clamp;

(d) a mast base;

(e) a safety locking pin; and (f) at least two adjustable stays to connect with the deck of a watercraft when the mast is in an erected position, wherein the mast pole pieces are connected at the mast hinge and when, in use, the mast is erected, the mast pole pieces are centrally aligned and the centring clamp is installed around and clamps the connection between the two mast pole pieces.

A folding mast system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said mast pole pieces has a conical male end part, the other of said mast pole pieces has a conical female end part cooperably engageable with said male end part to align and centre said two mast pole pieces and the centring clamp is configured to clamp around the engaging end parts when said mast is in an erected position.

A folding mast system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said mast pole pieces are hollow.

4. A folding mast system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the interior of the mast pole pieces is watertight.

5 5. A folding mast system as claimed in claim 3 or 4, further comprising safety lighting.

6. A folding mast system as claimed in claim 5, wherein electrical wire to conduct power to the safety lighting is run through the hollow mast pole pieces.

7. A folding mast system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the electrical wire is run between the mast pole pieces through ports and flexible bellows.

8. A folding mast system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein

15 said mast base is disposed at a base end of one of said mast pole pieces and is configured to mate with a fitting provided on a deck of a watercraft.

9. A folding mast system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a said fitting, wherein one of said mast base and said fitting comprises a conical female part

20 and the other of said mast base and said fitting comprises a mating male part.

10. A folding mast system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustable stays are pivotally connected with a said mast pole piece to allow relative pivoting movement when the mast is erected from a folded position.

11. A folding mast system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustable stays are configured to interface with the padeyes on the deck of the watercraft.

12. A folding mast system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjustable stays are configured to be clipped into place on the watercraft deck using quick release pins.

10

13. A folding mast system substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.

14. A watercraft comprising a folding mast system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: Claims searched:

GB1611515.6

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