ITPI20120041A1 - CATAMARAN FOR INTERNAL WATERS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Description of the invention entitled: Catamaran for inland waters

The present invention relates to a catamaran for protected or coastal inland waters of the type specified in the preamble of the first claim.

In particular, the invention relates to a catamaran suitable for navigation along the waterway, ie a river, a lake or other navigable channel or a port, of natural or artificial origin, which can be used to manage ship traffic.

As is known, currently the types of boats used for tourism and for the nautical profession on inland and coastal waters are mainly powerfully motorized ships and boats, whose dimensions vary with the variation of the characteristics of the operational mission and of the waterway, such as large lakes or canals. These boats are normally made up of monohulls, that is, a single hull constituting the structure, suitable for accommodating people / objects and one or more engines arranged in the rear part and able to move the boat. This type of boat, being characterized by a high draft, ie having a particularly significant part immersed in the water, can encounter difficulties in navigating in waterways that are not particularly deep. Furthermore, these boats require engines with particularly high power and, therefore, create flows of water which, by hitting the bottom and / or the banks of the waterway, cause significant environmental damage.

One possible way to make navigation more ecological and sustainable is the use of catamarans, that is means consisting of two hulls, a structure capable of connecting the two hulls and accommodating people and / or objects for their transport. The catamarans are equipped with one or more engines arranged in the rear part of the boat and, in particular, tied to the stern so as to maximize the thrust and, therefore, the efficiency of the engines themselves. These catamarans, thanks to their particular shape, have a limited draft, require a more reduced operating power than monohulls and therefore are suitable for the use of engines that may be less powerful such as, for example, gas outboards or engines. electrical.

The prior art mentioned above has some important drawbacks.

A first important defect is represented by the fact that catamarans, while representing a marked improvement compared to other boats, still create a particularly important outflow of water and, therefore, capable of creating damage to the vegetation and flora of the waterway. .

Another important defect is represented by the fact that the boats currently in use and, above all, the catamarans have a poor maneuverability and, in particular, are very difficult to maneuver especially in narrow waters such as canals and ports. This defect is particularly evident in catamarans for inland waters where, due to the limited space, maneuvering operations are extremely complex. A not secondary defect is represented by the high consumption of catamarans and other boats.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a catamaran for inland waters capable of substantially obviating the aforementioned drawbacks.

Within the scope of said technical task, an important object of the invention is to obtain a catamaran for inland waters which is easy to maneuver.

Another object of the invention is to devise a catamaran for inland, protected and coastal waters having an extremely low outgoing water flow. A further object of the invention is, therefore, to produce a catamaran with a reduced environmental impact.

The technical task and the specified aims are achieved by an inland water catamaran as claimed in the attached Claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are highlighted in the sub-claims.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clarified below by the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an inland water catamaran according to the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates section II-II of the inland water catamaran;

Fig. 3 shows a view, according to section I-I, of the catamaran.

With reference to the aforementioned Figures, the catamaran for inland waters according to the invention is globally indicated with the number 1.

In particular, catamaran 1 constitutes a boat for inland, protected and coastal waters which, below, we will uniquely call inland waters. In particular, the expression inland waters identifies a coast, a river, a port, a lake or any other waterway, that is a navigable canal or a port, of natural or artificial origin.

The catamaran 1 for inland waters comprises two lateral hulls 2, each of which defining a prevalent direction of development 2a, suitably spaced and able to be at least partially immersed in water; a bearing structure 3 adapted to connect the hulls 2 and defining a bearing surface 3a.

Catamaran 1 for inland waters is powered exclusively by one or more propulsion engines 4, preferably two, defining a direction of advance la of catamaran 1, i.e. direction and direction of movement of catamaran 1, and includes a control unit , not shown in the figure, identifiable in a computer or other similar device suitable for controlling the operation of the various components of the catamaran 1.

The hulls 2 have a suitably angular displacement hull. In particular, as can be seen from Fig. 1, the hulls 2 have a shape having an external face, that is, facing away from the channel defined by the hulls 2, substantially flat and the internal face having a converging and a diverging section respectively in correspondence with the bow and stern. More particularly, said internal face has a substantially arched profile without rectilinear areas, having a concavity preferably facing away from the aforementioned channel and with an appropriate profiling.

The propulsion motors 4 are constrained to the supporting structure 3 and, in particular, are constrained below the waterline, as shown in the figures. More specifically, the propulsion motors 4 are constrained to the supporting structure 3 in such a way as to protrude at least partially from the same structure 3 and, in some cases, to protrude completely from the structure 3 and, preferably, from the hulls 2 and from the structure 3.

The propulsion motors 4 are identifiable in azimuth propulsion motors and, more preferably, in electric azimuth propulsion motors powered through a power supply system, for example a battery and / or photovoltaic panels, bound to the supporting structure 3.

Such propulsion motors 4, per se known, comprise a propeller 4a adapted to rotate around a thrust axis 4b, preferably substantially parallel to the supporting surface 3a, and a casing 4c placed in correspondence with the propeller 4a and housing inside it a propeller, preferably electric, able to rotate the propeller 4a and, suitably, an anti-condensation fluid, in particular dielectric oil, able to avoid the formation of condensation in the crankcase 4c.

Advantageously, the propulsion motors 4 are placed on opposite sides with respect to; to a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the directions of development 2a and substantially passing through the center of gravity of the catamaran 1, that is, the center of gravity of the unladen mass of the catamaran 1, that is, the mass of the catamaran 1 when devoid of load, fuel and people. They can have different or substantially equal distances to the barycentral plane and, preferably, have substantially equal distance from the barycentral plane, ie they are in substantially symmetrical positions to the transverse plane.

For this reason, in the catamaran 1 for inland waters a propulsion motor 4 arranged at the stern and a propulsion motor 4 at the bow can be identified. Furthermore, the two propulsion motors 4 are suitably arranged between the prevailing development directions 2a (Figs. 1-3) and, in particular, arranged so as to have substantially the same distances from the two prevailing development directions 2a so that, when the advancement direction la is substantially parallel to the prevailing development directions 2a, they have substantially coincident thrust axes 4b. More specifically, the propulsion engines 4 are substantially equidistant from the development directions 2a and, therefore, from the hulls 2.

Preferably, the propulsion motors 4 are substantially equidistant from the transverse plane and from the prevailing development directions 2a.

In order to control the motors 4 and, therefore, to vary the direction of advancement 1a, the catamaran 1 provides a guide member 5 controlled by the steering unit and adapted to modify the direction of advancement by moving it and, preferably, by rotating at least one of the propulsion motors 4 with respect to a rotation axis 5a. In particular, the rotation axis 5a is substantially perpendicular to the thrust axis 4b and, more particularly, it is substantially perpendicular to the support surface 3a.

Conveniently, the catamaran 1 provides a single driving member 5 adapted to simultaneously move said propulsion motors 4 or, preferably, it provides two driving members 5 each of which is associated with one of the propulsion motors 4 so as to move them independently from each other. .

In particular, the guide members 5 rotate the propulsion motors 4 around rotation axes 5a substantially parallel to each other and, more particularly, around axes 5a lying on a sagittal plane substantially perpendicular to the transverse plane. Preferably, the rotation axes 5a lie on a sagittal plane substantially perpendicular to the support surface 3a and passing through the center of gravity of the catamaran 1, in other words passing through the center of gravity of the empty mass of the catamaran 1. More preferably, the rotation axes 5a lie on said sagittal plane and are substantially equidistant from the transverse plane described above.

Each guide member 5, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a rotary motor 5b, preferably of the electric type, housed inside a compartment 3b obtained in the bearing structure 3; a connector 5c adapted to connect the rotary motor 5b to the propulsion motor 4 allowing the rotary motor 5a to rotate the propulsion motor 4; one or more bearings 5d or other similar elements also housed in the compartment 3b and able to support the connector 5c allowing its rotation with respect to the supporting structure 3; and a gasket 5e, for example an o-ring, bound to the bearing structure 3 so as to avoid the entry of water or other impurities into the compartment 3b.

The connector 5c is substantially constituted by a section having a direction; preferred expansion substantially coinciding with the rotation axis 5a. In detail, it has an ogive section, that is, tapered so as to present the minor section in correspondence with the propeller 4a and, therefore, minimize its opposition to the forward motion of the catamaran 1, increasing the efficiency and driveability of the catamaran 1 itself.

Finally, the inland water catamaran 1 can have a regulation apparatus 6 designed to decrease the pitching of the catamaran 1 and, preferably, reduce the wave produced by the propulsion engines 4. The regulation apparatus 7 is arranged in correspondence to one of the propulsion motors 4 and, in particular, to the propulsion motor 4 located in correspondence with the bow of the catamaran 1. More specifically, the adjustment apparatus 6 is placed on the opposite side to the casing 4c with respect to the Propeller 4a (Fig. 3) or, alternatively, on the opposite side to the propeller 4a with respect to the crankcase 4c.

It comprises an airfoil 6a constrained to the lateral hulls 2 and having an extension direction 6b substantially parallel to the support surface 3a and almost perpendicular to the development directions 2a; hinges 6c, for example bearings, adapted to loosely constrain the wing profile 6a to the side hulls 2; sensors, not shown in the figure, for example accelerometers, suitable for detecting the pitching of the catamaran 1; 6d gaskets designed to prevent water and impurities from entering the hulls 2; and an actuator 6e adapted to rotate the airfoil 6 around an axis substantially parallel to the surface 3a and, in particular, around an axis almost parallel to the direction of extension 6b.

In particular, the airfoil 6a (Fig. 3) is placed below the waterline and, preferably, between the waterline and the thrust axis 4b.

The operation of the inland water catamaran, described above in a structural sense, is as follows. During the normal advancement of the catamaran 1, a wave is generated which is enclosed between the side hulls 2. The wave thus produced, being contained between the side hulls 2, generates flows of water which, hitting against the hulls side 2, return to the central part of the catamaran 1 limiting the angle of expansion of the wave produced by the bow motor 4.

This wave then reaches the stern engine 4 where a new wave is generated which, thanks to the presence of the aforementioned flows, reduce the angle of expansion and, therefore, the tendency to extend of the wave exiting this propulsion engine 4, that is, from catamaran 1.

When a maneuver is made, for example a turn or a docking, the operator, through the control unit, commands the guide members 5 to rotate at least one of the propulsion motors 4 around the axis of rotation 5a so as to allow the catamaran 1 to change the direction of advance la.

For example, when docking on a platform is required, the drive unit commands the control elements 5 to rotate both propulsion motors 4. around the rotation axis 5a so that the thrust axes 4b of the motors 4 are substantially perpendicular to the prevailing directions of development 2a and, therefore, the catamaran 1 has a direction of advance substantially perpendicular to the direction of water flow in the waterway, with a considerable increase in maneuvering efficiency.

Finally, if the speed of the catamaran 1 exceeds a certain value, there are forces that cause the catamaran 1 to oscillate around an axis perpendicular to the prevailing directions of development 2a and, therefore, cause an undesired change in attitude which leads it to beating progressively, i.e. at a lowering of the bow with respect to the stern of the catamaran 1.

The attitude change is detected by the sensors of the regulation apparatus 6 which, through the control unit, command the actuator to rotate the airfoil 6a so that the action of the water on it profile 6a generates a balancing force for the forces acting on catamaran 1, canceling the pitching of catamaran 1.

The invention allows important advantages.

A first important advantage is represented by the fact that the catamaran 1 for inland waters, thanks to the particular profiling of the hull, to the particular shape of the catamaran at the waterline and to the arrangement of the propulsion engines 4, allows to produce a wave particularly reduced aft of the catamaran.

Another advantage is obtained by the effect of the submerged motor bodies produced by arranging the propulsion motors 4 on opposite sides to the transverse plane, it allows to avoid that the waves generated by the propulsion motors 4 do not overlap and, therefore, have a reduced impact. on the coasts.

Furthermore, since the propulsion motors 4 are placed between the prevailing directions of development 2a and, therefore, between the lateral hulls 2, the wave produced by the propulsion motors 4 is enclosed between the hulls 2 which, as described above, generate flows that limit the amplitude of the wave and, therefore, make its action on the coasts almost nil and, therefore, the environmental impact.

This reduced width is also guaranteed by the presence of the regulation apparatus 6 and, in particular, of the airfoil 6a.

In fact, thanks to its shape, the flow of water creates an overpressure on the belly and a depression on the back of the airfoil 6a which crush the wave on the same profile 6a and, therefore, reduce its amplitude.

An advantage is represented by the high maneuverability of the catamaran 1; in fact, since the propulsion motors 4 are on the opposite side to the aforesaid transverse plane and, in particular, between the development directions 2a and in the presence of the guide members 5, the catamaran 1 is able to move in any direction. In particular, unlike the known catamarans, the catamaran 1 for inland waters, as described above, is able to perform parallel, perpendicular or transverse translations to the development directions 2a and, therefore, to the side hulls 2.

An important advantage is given by the fact that the wave produced by the catamaran 1, thanks to the arrangement of the propulsion engines 4 to the particular floating figure of the catamaran 1, thanks to the effect of its particular three-dimensional development, is of a smaller entity, aft of the catamaran, compared to the corresponding wave of a conventional catamaran, which is, moreover, less than that produced by a monohull with the same waterline length and displacement characteristics. Furthermore, this wave then benefits from the beneficial effect; of the particular profile of the lateral hulls 2 and of the immersed axial symmetrical bodies constituted by the azimuth motors, ie by the propulsion motors 4, which, as described above, determine a further lowering of the height of the wave crest. Finally, the damping effect on the wave, especially when the catamaran 1 moves at high speeds, is given by the immersed airfoil 6a at incidence, which, in its function of contrasting the pitching motion, determines a development of pressures that decrease the height of the crest of the forward wave.

A further advantage is represented by the high stability of catamaran 1 and, therefore, by the remarkable sensation of comfort of catamaran 1.

This advantage has been obtained thanks to the regulation apparatus 6 which, allowing to eliminate the pitching of the catamaran 1, guarantees high stability regardless of the speed of the catamaran 1. In particular, the regulation apparatus 6, by rotating the wing profile 6a, allows you to vary the intensity of the force applied by the airfoil 6a to catamaran 1 so as to adapt it to the speed of catamaran 1 and, therefore, eliminate the pitching of catamaran 1.

A not secondary advantage is represented by the fact that the catamaran 1 for inland waters, thanks to the 5e and 6d seals, is characterized by an almost perfect stagnation and, therefore, by a high reliability and durability.

The invention is susceptible of variants falling within the scope of the inventive concept. All the elements described and claimed can be replaced by equivalent elements and the details, materials, shapes and dimensions can be any.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Catamaran (1) for inland waters comprising two lateral hulls (2), each of which defining a prevalent direction of development (2a), spaced apart and capable of being at least partially immersed in water; a bearing structure (3) adapted to connect said lateral hulls (2) and defining a supporting surface (3a); and characterized in that it comprises two propulsion engines (4) adapted to move said catamaran (1) defining a direction of advancement (la) and located substantially on opposite sides with respect to a transverse plane passing through the center of gravity of said catamaran (1) and perpendicular to said prevailing directions of development (2a). Catamaran (1) according to claim 1, wherein said propulsion engines (4) are arranged between said prevailing directions of development (2a). 3. Catamaran (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said propulsion engines (4) are substantially equidistant from said prevailing directions of development (2a) and substantially equidistant from the transverse plane 4. Catamaran (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said propulsion engines (4) protrude at least partially from said supporting structure (3). 5. Catamaran (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one guide member (5) adapted to modify said movement direction (la) by rotating one of said propulsion motors (4) around a rotation axis ( 5a). 6. Catamaran (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said axis of rotation (5a) is substantially perpendicular to said supporting surface (3a). Catamaran (1) according to one or more of claims 5-6, comprising two of said at least one driving member (5) so as to move said two propulsion engines (4) independently from each other. Catamaran (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein said driving member (5) move said propulsion motors (4) around rotation axes (5a) substantially parallel to each other. Catamaran (1) according to the preceding claim, in which said guide members (5) move said propulsion motors (4) around rotation axes (5a) lying on a sagittal plane substantially perpendicular to said support surface (3a ) and passing through said center of gravity of said catamaran (1). 10. Catamaran (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising, an adjustment apparatus (6) which comprises a wing profile (6a) loosely constrained to said lateral hulls (2) so as to rotate around a substantially parallel axis to said support surface (3a).