US20240083547A1

US20240083547A1 - Ship

Info

Publication number: US20240083547A1
Application number: US18/271,932
Authority: US
Inventors: Tsunetake Noma
Original assignee: Everblue Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Everblue Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-01-12
Filing date: 2021-01-12
Publication date: 2024-03-14
Also published as: JPWO2022153370A1; EP4279373A1; WO2022153370A1

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to reduce a restriction caused by a water depth of an area available for sailing. The ship has a hull part and is configured to be able to sail on water. The hull part has: a fuselage extending in the longitudinal direction of the hull part; a keel and a rudder arranged on the fuselage to receive water flow when the ship sails; a first posture switching mechanism for switching the postures of the keel and the rudder between a first posture and a second posture; and a first power source. The first posture is in the keel and the rudder respectively extending to the lower side of the fuselage. Compared with the first posture, the second posture is shorter in the length of the keel and the rudder when extending toward the lower side of the fuselage.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a ship.

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY

There has been known a ship in which parts such as a keel or a rudder are arranged in water, and the forward direction of the ship is adjusted by using these parts to receive water flow. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a ship with a fin-type keel protruding downward from the bottom of the ship.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

Patent Literature

- Patent Document 1: JP-A-2004-66987

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In the above-mentioned ship, keel is fixed at the bottom of the ship. Therefore, for example, in shallow water, keel is apt to interfere with the bottom of the water, so that an available water area for the ship is apt to be limited by the water depth.
Therefore, it is an object of the ship according to the present invention to reduce the restriction caused by the water depth in an available water area.

Means for Solving Problems

A ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a hull part (1) and can sail on water, characterized in that the hull part (1) includes:

- a fuselage (10) extending in fore-and-aft direction of the hull part (1);
- navigation members (20), which are arranged on the fuselage (10) and receive water flow when the ship (100) sails;
- a posture switching mechanism (30) for switching the postures of the navigation members (20) between at least a first posture and a second posture;
- wherein
- the first posture is a posture in which the navigation members (20) are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage (10);
- the second posture is a posture in which the lengths of the navigation members (20) extending toward the lower side of the fuselage (10) is shorter than that of the first posture.

According to the ship (100), the posture of the navigation members (20) provided on the fuselage (10) can be switched between their first postures and their second postures depending on an actual situation at the time. Here, the first posture is a posture in which the navigation members (20) are extending to the lower side of the fuselage (10). Therefore, upon having the navigation members (20) in their first postures, the ship (100) can effectively receive the water flow when sailing. On the other hand, compared with the first posture, the second posture is a posture in which the navigation members (20) are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage (10) with a shorter length. Accordingly, if putting the navigation members (20) in their second postures, it is possible to inhibit the navigation members (20) from coming into collision with the water bottom in a water area with a shallow water depth. In this way, it is possible for the ship (100) to reduce a restriction caused by the water depth of a water area available for sailing.
Regarding the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the navigation members (20) may each be in the shape of a long strip. Therefore, among the first posture and the second posture, the lengths of the navigation members (20) extending toward the lower side of the fuselage (10) can be greatly different from each other, while making it possible to effectively receive the water flow.
Regarding the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the posture switching mechanism (30) can pivot the navigation members (20) about the axes (A1, A2) at one end (21 a, 22 a) of the navigation members (20), thereby switching the postures of the navigation members (20). In this way, it is possible for the ship (100) to provide improved functions and effects.
Regarding the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the posture switching mechanism (30) includes: power sources (32, 36) for outputting a power for switching the postures of the navigation members (20); worm gears (33, 43A) interposed between the power sources (32, 36) and the navigation members (20); wherein: a power output from the power sources (32, 36) is transmitted to the navigation members (20) via the worm gears (33, 43A), thereby pivoting the navigation members (20) about the axes (A1, A2). Thus, by stopping the driving of the worm gears (33, 43A), a braking force can be generated on the navigation members (20), and unexpected posture changes of the navigation members (20) can be suppressed.
Regarding the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the second posture may be a posture in which the navigation members (20) are extending in the fore-and-aft direction (D) of the hull part (1). Accordingly, it is possible for the ship (100) to provide improved functions and effects.
Regarding the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fuselage (10) has a groove portion (13) on the lower surface (12) of the fuselage (10), and when the navigation members (20) are in their second postures, one navigation member (20) may be accommodated in the groove portion (13). Thus, when the navigation members (20) are in their second postures, it is possible to inhibit the navigation members (20) from protruding downward from the lower surface (12) of the fuselage (10), and thus it is possible to shorten the length of the navigation members (20) extending downward from the fuselage (10).
In the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the posture switching mechanism (30) may be provided more inward than the outer wall (11) of the fuselage (10). As a result, the contact of the posture switching mechanism (30) with water is suppressed, thereby making it possible to reduce an influence of a deterioration (due to water) of the posture switching mechanism (30).
In the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the posture switching mechanism (30) may be disposed on the upper side of the waterline of the ship (100). As a result, the contact of the posture switching mechanism (30) with water is suppressed, so that it is possible to reduce the influence of the deterioration (due to water) of the posture switching mechanism (30).
In the ship (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, the navigation member (20) may be at least one of a keel (21) and a rudder (22). Accordingly, it is possible for the ship (100) to provide improved functions and effects.
In addition, the above-mentioned reference numerals in brackets represent the constituent elements of the embodiments (serving as examples of the present invention) which will be described later, while the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments.

Effect of the Invention

In this way, the ship according to the present invention can reduce the restriction caused by the water depth in a water area available for sailing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire ship according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the ship when its navigation members are in their first postures.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the ship when its navigation members are in their second postures.

FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing the internal structure of a first posture switching mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a view when the keel in its second posture is observed along the front-rear direction of the hull part.

FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing an internal structure of the second posture switching mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a connection relationship between the second posture switching mechanism and the rudder.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a ship according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing an internal structure of the second posture switching mechanism.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. On the other hand, the same or equivalent parts in each drawing are marked with the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the whole of a ship 100 according to a first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1 , the ship 100 is constructed as a speedboat that can sail in the sea, river, lakes and other water areas against the wind. The ship 100 is an unmanned boat without crew, and can sail on the water by operating all parts through automatic driving or remote operation. In addition, the ship 100 may also be configured so that passengers can board on it. In this case, the ship 100 can be manually steered. Besides, the ship 100 is not limited to yachts, but can also be various ships that can sail without using wind. In detail, the ship 100 includes a hull part 1, a sail mounting part 2, a pair of floats 3, 3, and a control part (not shown).
The sail mounting part 2 is a mechanism for obtaining a propulsion for the ship 100 against the wind. Specifically, the sail mounting part 2 causes the ship 100 to sail with a developed sail. The sail mounting part 2 is arranged on the upper side of the hull part 1. In detail, the sail mounting part 2 has a mast 50 and a sail 60.
The mast 50 is a structure erected on the upper side of the hull part 1 to support the sail 60. The mast 50 is a long cylindrical rod (column). Sail 60 is a sheet like member facing the wind when sailing. The sail 60 is formed in a substantially triangular shape, with one side thereof extending along the mast 50 and is connected to the mast 50. On the other hand, the sail 60 can also include boom and bar.
A pair of floats 3, 3 are floating bodies respectively extending along the fore-and-aft direction D of the hull part 1. Here, the pair of floats 3, 3 are arranged on the left and right sides of the hull part 1, separated from the hull part 1 by approximately an equal distance, and are extending approximately parallel to the hull part 1. Further, the pair of floats 3,3 are arranged at approximately the same position as the hull part 1 in the vertical direction. Thus, when the ship 100 is sailing, the hull part 1 and the pair of floats 3, 3 are all in a submerged state. Each float 3 is in a streamlined shape in the fore-and-aft direction D of the hull part 1, and widens in the left-and-right direction (width direction) from the front end to the rear thereof. Each float 3 has laterally extending struts 3 a, 3 a, and their positional relationships with the hull part 1 are defined by fixing the stays 3 a, 3 a to the hull part 1.
The control unit is a controller (computer) that controls the actions of various parts of the ship 100. The controller can also control the operation of the posture switching mechanism 30 (including a first posture switching mechanism 31 and a second posture switching mechanism 35).
The control unit is physically configured as an arithmetic device, and can send and receive information between the storage device and the input/output device. Further, the control unit is composed of, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and performs arithmetic processing and controls the storage device, as well as the input/output device. The storage device includes, for example, a main storage device and an auxiliary storage device. The main storage device is composed of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory). In addition, the auxiliary storage device is composed of, for example, ROM (Read Only Memory). The input/output device includes, for example, an input device that inputs data from the outside and sends it to the storage device, and also includes an output device that outputs an operation result first operated in the arithmetic device and then stored in the storage device. For example, the control unit performs predetermined processing by reading a program stored in ROM into RAM and executing the program read into RAM. In addition, the control unit may also be configured as a controller for controlling the operation of various sections of the ship 100, or it may be configured differently from the above-discussed configuration.
Next, the hull part 1 will be described. FIG. 2 is a side view of the ship 100 with the navigation members 20 in their first postures. FIG. 3 is a side view of the ship 100 with the navigation members 20 in their second postures. As shown in FIGS. 1-3 , the hull part 1 is a part that constitutes the main body of the ship 100. As described above, the mast 50 is erected on the upper side of the hull part 1, while the struts 3 a, 3 a are fixed to extend to one side of the hull part 1. The hull part 1 includes a fuselage 10, navigation members 20, and a posture switching mechanism 30.
The fuselage 10 is a structural body extending in the fore-and-aft direction D of the hull part 1. The fuselage 10 is in a streamlined shape in the fore-and-aft direction D of the hull part 1, and widens in the left-and-right direction (width direction) from the front end to the rear thereof. At least the lower surface 12 and side surface of the fuselage 10 are closed by the outer wall 11, and the fuselage 10 itself also functions as a float when the hull part 1 floats on the water. Further, the fuselage 10 has a groove portion 13 (see FIG. 5 ) on the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10.
The groove portion 13 extends along the fore-and-aft direction D of the hull part 1 in a substantially central position of the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10. Specifically, the groove portion 13 is formed in a shape and size capable of accommodating the keel 21 when the posture of the keel 21 becomes the second posture, as will be described later. Here, “accommodating the keel” may mean that the whole keel 21 is stored in the groove portion 13 so that the keel 21 itself is not exposed from the groove portion 13, or may mean that a part of the keel 21 is stored in the groove portion 13 while the rest of the keel 21 is exposed from the groove portion 13.
The navigation members 20 include structures provided on the fuselage 10 and will receive the water flow when the ship 100 sails. Here, the navigation members 20 include the keel 21 and the rudder 22.
The keel 21 has a movable fin-like structure arranged on the lower side (i.e., the lower surface 12 side) of the fuselage 10, and has a long plate shape. Here, the keel 21 is a so-called center board which suppresses a cross flow of the ship 100 when sailing. In addition, the keel 21 contains a weight at its front end, which functions as a ballast.
The posture of the keel 21 can be switched between the first posture and the second posture by a posture switching mechanism 30 (more specifically, a first posture switching mechanism 31) which will be described later. The “first posture” is a posture in which the navigation members 20 are extending to the lower side of the fuselage 10. In addition, the “second posture” is a posture in which the lengths of the navigation members 20 extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10 is shorter than that of the first posture, for example, a posture in which the navigation member 20 (the longitudinal direction of the navigation member 20) extends along the longitudinal direction D of the hull part 1. Here, the first posture of the keel 21 serving as the navigation member 20 refers to a posture in which the keel 21 (the longitudinal direction of the keel 21) are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10. Further, the second posture of the keel 21 serving as the navigation member 20 refers to a posture in which the length of the keel 21 (in the longitudinal direction of the keel 21) extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10 is shorter than that of the first posture of the keel 21, for example, the keel 21 (the longitudinal direction of the keel 21) is along the longitudinal direction D of the hull 1. Moreover, the “length of the navigation member extending toward the lower side of the fuselage” may also mean a distance between the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10 and the lower end of the navigation member 20 in the up-down direction.
The keel 21, at least when it is in its first posture, extends in the vertical direction below the waterline of the hull part 1 in sailing. More specifically, the keel 21 extends below the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10. Here, the “waterline” refers to a height (line) of the water surface relative to the outer surface of the ship 100 when the ship 100 is floating on the water. Further, the waterline may mean a waterline in a state where the ship 100 is loaded with various weights (for example, equipment, luggage, and passengers).
The keel 21, at least when it is in its second posture, is accommodated in the groove portion 13 formed on the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10 (see FIG. 5 ). On the other hand, a part of the keel 21 may be accommodated in the groove portion 13 even when this posture is the first posture. In other words, when the posture of the keel 21 is in its second posture, more parts of the keel 21 can be accommodated in the groove portion 13 than in the case of the first posture.
The rudder 22 is in a structure for adjusting the traveling direction of the ship 100 when sailing. In fact, the rudder 22 is a structural body installed at the rear end of the fuselage 10, and is in the shape of a long strip. The rudder 22 controls the yawing behavior of the ship 100 when sailing, by being pivoted around the rotation axis extending in the up-and-down direction. The rudder behavior 22 can also be controlled by, for example, the control unit.
The rudder 22 may be switched in its posture between the first posture and the second posture by a posture switching mechanism 30 (more specifically, a second posture switching mechanism 35) which will be described later. Here, the first posture of the rudder 22 serving as the navigation member 20 is a posture in which the rudder 22 (the longitudinal direction of the rudder 22) are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10. In addition, the second posture of the rudder 22 serving as the navigation member 20 refers to a posture in which the length of the rudder 22 (the longitudinal direction of the rudder 22) extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10 is shorter than in the first posture of the rudder 22, for example, the rudder 22 (the longitudinal direction of the rudder 22) is along the front-rear direction D of the hull part 1.
The rudder 22, at least when it is in its first posture, is extending in the vertical direction below the waterline of the hull part 1 in sailing. In more detail, the rudder 22 extends below the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10.
The rudder 22, when in its second posture, is in a state of further protruding backward from the rear end of the fuselage 10. On the other hand, when the rudder 22 is in its second posture, it is also possible for the rudder 22 to extend forwardly from the rear end of the fuselage 10. Namely, when the rudder 22 is switched from the first posture to the second posture, the rudder 22 can pivot in a direction opposite to that shown in FIG. 3 (in the front of the fuselage 10), rather than in the direction shown in FIG. 3 (in the rear of the fuselage 10).
In this way, when the rudder 22 in its second posture is extending forward from the rear end of the fuselage 10, it is possible for the fuselage 10 to further have a groove portion 13 at the rear end of the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10, and it is also possible for the rudder 22 in its second posture to be accommodated in the groove portion 13. Thus, the groove portion 13 is allowed to extend in the longitudinal direction D of the hull part 1, and may be formed in a shape and size capable of accommodating the rudder 22 when the posture of the rudder 22 is in its second posture. Here, “accommodating the rudder” may also mean that the whole rudder 22 is accommodated in the groove portion 13 so that the rudder 22 is not exposed from the groove portion 13, or mean that a part of the rudder 22 is accommodated in the groove portion 13 while the rest of the rudder 22 is exposed from the groove portion 13. On the other hand, the groove portion 13 for accommodating the keel 21 and the groove portion 13 for accommodating the rudder 22 may be continuous grooves. Namely, both the keel 21 and the rudder 22 can be accommodated in a single groove portion 13.
The posture switching mechanism 30 is a mechanism for switching the posture of the navigation member 20 between at least a first posture and a second posture. The posture switching mechanism 30 includes a first posture switching mechanism 31 and a second posture switching mechanism 35.
FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing an internal structure of the first posture switching mechanism 31. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating that the keel 21 in its second posture can be seen along the front-rear direction D of the hull part 1. As shown in FIGS. 4-5 , the first posture switching mechanism 31 switches the posture of the keel 21 (serving as the navigation member 20) between the first posture of the keel 21 and the second posture of the keel 21.
The first posture switching mechanism 31 switches the posture of the keel 21 between the first posture and the second posture, by pivoting the keel 21 about a first axis A1 at one end 21 a of the keel 21 when viewed in the longitudinal direction. Among the two ends in the longitudinal direction of the keel 21, one end 21 a of the keel 21 is an end located on the upper side of keel 21 (the side close to the fuselage 10) when the posture of the keel 21 is its first posture. The first axis A1 is an imaginary axis extending perpendicularly to the plate-shaped keel 21 (with respect to the two wide surfaces of the keel 21). The first axis A1 is extending in the left-right direction of the hull part 1. Here, the keel 21 is fixed on a shaft 33 a extending coaxially with the first axis A1, and pivots about the first axis A1 together with the rotation of the shaft 33 a. The shaft 33 a will be described later.
The first posture switching mechanism 31 includes a first power source 32, a first worm gear 33, and a first housing 34. The first housing 34 is a casing for housing the first power source 32 and the first worm gear 33. The first housing 34 is fixed to the fuselage 10 of the hull part 1. Specifically, the first housing 34 is disposed inwardly from the outer wall 11 of the fuselage 10. In particular, the first housing 34 is arranged above the waterline of the ship 100. Therefore, in other words, the first posture switching mechanism 31 is arranged inwardly from the outer wall 11 of the fuselage 10 and above the waterline of the ship 100.
The first power source 32 is a device that outputs a power for switching the posture of the keel 21. Here, the first power source 32 may be, for example, a servo motor. In this case, the first power source 32 is powered by an electric power supply provided separately on the ship 100 to be rotationally driven. Specifically, the power supply source can be, for example, a battery, a photovoltaic cell, a generator, or the like. In addition, if the first power source 32 is a servo motor, the first power source 32 may perform a so-called servo infinite rotation control to switch the posture of the keel 21. The rotational driving force output from the first power source 32 is input to the worm 33 b of the first worm gear 33. As shown in the figure, a gear may be interposed between the first power source 32 and the worm 33 b of the first worm gear 33, so that the rotation speed of the first power source 32 can be changed.
The first worm gear 33 is interposed between the first power source 32 and the keel 21. When the worm 33 b of the first worm gear 33 is rotationally driven by the first power source 32, the worm wheel 33 c of the first worm gear 33 engaged with the worm 33 b is rotationally driven. The first worm gear 33 includes a shaft 33 a serving as a rotation shaft of the worm wheel 33 c of the first worm gear 33. As described above, the shaft 33 a is extending coaxially with the first axis A1 and is fixed to the keel 21. According to this structure, the power (rotational driving force) output from the first power source 32 is transmitted to the keel 21 via the first worm gear 33, so that the keel 21 can pivot about the first axis A1.
FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing the internal structure of the second posture switching mechanism 35. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the connection relationship between the second posture switching mechanism 35 and the rudder 22. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 6 and 7 , the second posture switching mechanism 35 is a mechanism for switching the posture of the rudder 22 (serving as the navigation member 20) between the first posture of the rudder 22 and the second posture of the rudder 22. In addition, the second posture switching mechanism 35, in order to control the yawing behavior of the ship 100 when sailing, also has a function of pivoting the rudder 22 about a pivoting axis extending in the vertical direction.
The second posture switching mechanism 35 switches the posture of the rudder 22 between its first posture and its second posture, by pivoting the rudder 22 about a second axis A2 at one end 22 a of the rudder 22 (when viewed in the longitudinal direction thereof). Among the two ends in the longitudinal direction of the rudder 22, one end 22 a of the rudder 22 is the end located on the upper side when the posture of the ladder 22 is its first posture. The second axis A2 is an imaginary axis extending perpendicularly to the plate-shaped rudder 22 (with respect to the two wider surfaces of the rudder 22). The second axis A2 is extending in the left-right direction of the hull part 1. The rudder 22 is fixed on a shaft 41 extending coaxially with the second axis A2, and pivots about the second axis A2 as the shaft 41 pivots.
The second posture switching mechanism 35 includes a second power source 36, a posture switching winch 37, a third power source 38, a steering winch 39, and a second housing 40. The second housing 40 is a casing for accommodating the second power source 36 and the third power source 38. The second housing 40 is fixed to the fuselage 10 of the hull part 1. Specifically, the second housing 40 is provided in the vicinity of the upper surface of the fuselage 10, in such a manner that a part of the second housing 40 is exposed from the upper surface. Namely, a part of the second housing 40 is disposed more inward than the outer wall 11. In particular, the second housing 40 is arranged above the waterline of the ship 100. Therefore, in other words, the second posture switching mechanism 35 is arranged near the upper surface of the fuselage 10 and above the waterline of the ship 100. On the other hand, the second housing 40 may also be entirely disposed more inward than the outer wall 11, or the second posture switching mechanism 35 may be entirely disposed more inward than the outer wall 11.
The second power source 36 is a device that outputs power for switching the posture of the rudder 22. Here, the second power source 36 may also be, for example, a servo motor. In such a case, the second power source 36 is powered by a power supply separately provided on the ship 100, thereby effecting a rotational driving. The power supply source can be, for example, a battery, a photovoltaic cell, a generator, or the like. If the second power source 36 is a servo motor, the second power source 36 can perform a so-called servo infinite rotation control to switch the posture of the rudder 22. The rotational driving force output from the second power source 36 can rotate the posture switching winch 37 through gears.
The third power source 38 is a device that outputs a power for pivoting the rudder 22 about a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction. The third power source 38 may be, for example, a servo motor. In such a case, the third power source 38 is powered by an electric power supply separately provided on the ship 100 so as to effect a rotational driving. The power supply source can be, for example, a battery, a photovoltaic cell, a generator, or the like. In addition, if the third power source 38 is a servo motor, the second power source 36 can perform a normal servo control to steer the rudder 22. A rotation driving force output from the third power source 38 rotates the steering winch 39 through gears. A rope S2 connected to the rudder 22 is wound around the steering winch 39. Using such a structure, the power (rotational driving force) output from the third power source 38 can rotate the steering winch 39, and the rope S2 is sent out and returned back, so that the rudder 22 can be pivoted about the rotation axis extending in the vertical direction, thereby making it possible to perform a steering.

Second Embodiment

Next, description will be given to a ship 100A according to a second embodiment. The ship 100A according to the second embodiment is different from the ship 100 according to the first embodiment in view of the structure of the posture switching mechanism 30A of the hull part 1A, with the other parts being the same as each other among all embodiments. Hereinafter, description will be mainly given to explain the differences between the ship 100A and the ship 100.
The posture switching mechanism 30A is a mechanism for switching the posture of the navigation member 20 between at least a first posture and a second posture. The posture switching mechanism 30A includes a first posture switching mechanism 31A and a second posture switching mechanism 35A.
FIG. 8 is a side view showing the ship 100A according to the second embodiment. The first posture switching mechanism 31A shown in FIG. 8 is a mechanism for switching the posture of the keel 21 (serving as the navigation member 20) between the first posture of the keel 21 and the second posture of the keel 21.
The first posture switching mechanism 31A switches the posture of the keel 21 between the first posture and the second posture, by pivoting the keel 21 about a first axis A1 at one end 21 a (when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the keel 21). The first attitude switching mechanism 31A includes a first power source 32, a winch 42 rotated by a power (rotational driving force) output from the first power source, and a first housing 34. A rope S3 connected to the keel 21 is wound around the winch 42. Using such a structure, the power (rotational driving force) output from the first power source 32 rotates the winch 42, and the rope S3 is drawn out and returned back, so that the keel 21 can pivot about the first axis A1. The first posture switching mechanism 31A is provided on the upper surface of the fuselage 10 and above the waterline of the ship 100.
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the internal structure of the second posture switching mechanism 35A. The second posture switching mechanism 35A shown in FIG. 9 is a mechanism for switching the posture of the rudder 22 (serving as the navigation member 20) between the first posture of the rudder 22 and the second posture of the rudder 22. In addition, the second posture switching mechanism 35A also has a function of pivoting the rudder 22 about a pivoting axis extending in the vertical direction, so as to control the yawing behavior of the ship 100 when sailing.
The second posture switching mechanism 35A switches the posture of the rudder 22 between the first posture and the second posture, by pivoting the rudder 22 about a second axis A2 at one end 22 a (when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the rudder 22). The second posture switching mechanism 35A includes a second power source 36, a second worm gear 43A, a posture switching winch 37, a third power source 38, a steering winch 39, and a second housing 40. The second power source 36 is connected to the posture switching winch 37 through the second worm gear 43A. The rope S1 connected to the rudder 22 is wound around the posture switching winch 37. On the other hand, the third power source 38 is directly connected to the steering winch 39 without going through a gear or other mechanism. The rope S2 connected to the rudder 22 is wound around the steering winch 39.

Function and Effect

As described above, the ships 100, 100 are ships 100, 100 that are equipped with hull parts 1, la and can sail on water. The hull parts 1, la each include: a fuselage 10 extending in the fore-and-aft direction D of the hull parts 1, la; a keel 21 and a ladder 22, which are arranged on the fuselage 10 and receive water flow when the ships 100 and 100 are on sailing; and a first posture switching mechanism 31 for switching the postures of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 between at least a first posture and a second posture; and a first power source 32. The first posture is a posture in which the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10, and the second posture is a posture in which the length of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10 is shorter than in the first posture.
According to the ships 100 and 100A, the postures of the keels 21 and rudders 22 provided in the fuselage 10 can be switched between the first posture and the second posture depending on an actual situation at the time. Here, the first posture is a posture in which the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10. Therefore, when the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are in the first posture, the ships 100 and 100A can effectively receive the water flow when sailing. On the other hand, compared with the first posture, the second posture is a posture in which the keel 21 and the rudder extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10 has a shorter length. Therefore, putting the keel 21 and the rudder 22 in the second posture, it is possible for the keel 21 and the rudder 22 not to come into collision with the water bottom even if in a shallow water area. In this way, the ships 100, 100A can reduce a restriction caused by a water depth in an available area for sailing. As a result, it is easy for the ship 100 to be launched into water from a sea beach if not from a quay wall.
The ships 100, 100A according to one embodiment of the present invention are such that their keels 21 and their rudders 22 are all in a shape of long strips. Therefore, through a comparison between the first posture and the second posture, it is understood that the lengths of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 extending toward the lower side of the fuselage 10 can be greatly different from the first posture to the second posture, and it is possible for the keel 21 and the rudder 22 to effectively receive the water flow.
Further, the ships 100, 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention are such that their first posture switching mechanism 31 and second posture switching mechanism 35 can switch the postures of the keel 21 and the rudder 22, by pivoting the keel 21 and the rudder 22 about the axes A1, A2 at one end 21 a, 22 a of the keel 21 and the rudder 22. In this way, it is possible for the ships 100, 100A to more effectively provide their functions and effects.
The ships 100 and 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention, are such that their first posture switching mechanism 31 and second posture switching mechanism 35 each include: the first power source 32 and the second power source 36, each outputting a power for switching the postures of the keel 21 and the rudder 22; a first worm gear 33 and a second worm gear 43A respectively interposed between the first power source 32, the second power source 36 on one hand and the keel 21, the rudder 22 on the other. In this way, a power output from the first power source 32 and a power output from the second power source 36 are respectively transmitted to the keel 21 and the rudder 22 through the first worm gear 33 and the second worm gear 43A, so that the keel 21 and the rudder 22 can pivot about the axis A1. Therefore, if the driving of the first worm gear 33 and the second worm gear 43A is stopped, a braking force can be generated on the keel 21 and the rudder 22, and unintentional posture changes of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 can be suppressed.
In the ships 100, 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention, the second posture is a posture in which the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are extending in the front-rear direction D of the hull parts 1, la. Accordingly, the functions and effects of the ships 100 and 100A can be well exerted.
In the ships 100 and 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention, the fuselage 10 has a groove portion 13 on the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10, and the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are accommodated in the groove portion 13 when the postures of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are in their second postures. Thus, when the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are in the second postures, it is possible to prevent the keel 21 and the rudder 22 from protruding downward from the lower surface 12 of the fuselage 10, and the length of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 extending downward from the fuselage 10 can be further shortened.
In the ships 100, 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention, a first posture switching mechanism 31 and a second posture switching mechanism 35 are provided more inwardly than the outer wall 11 of the fuselage 10. As a result, it is possible to inhibit the contacts of the first posture switching mechanism 31 and the second posture switching mechanism 35 with water, thereby reducing the influence of water on the deterioration of the first posture switching mechanism 31 and the second posture switching mechanism 35.
In the ships 100, 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention, the first posture switching mechanism 31 and the second posture switching mechanism 35 are disposed above the waterline of the ships 100, 100A. In this way, it is possible to inhibit the contacts of the first posture switching mechanism 31 and the second posture switching mechanism 35 with water, thereby reducing the influence of water on the deterioration of the first posture switching mechanism 31 and the second posture switching mechanism 35.
In the ships 100, 100A according to another embodiment of the present invention, the navigation members 20 include a keel 21 and a rudder 22. In this way, it is possible for the ships 100, 100A to provide more improved functions and effects.

Modified Embodiment

The above-discussed embodiments can be implemented in various ways which have been changed or improved according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.
For example, in the above embodiments, both the keel 21 and the rudder 22 correspond to the navigation member 20 of the present invention. However, the keel 21 and the rudder 22 are not necessarily required to have the same structure and function as the navigation member 20, or only one of the keel 21 and the rudder 22 is required to correspond to the navigation member 20. Alternatively, neither the keel 21 nor the rudder 22 is required to correspond to the navigation member 20, or the navigation member 20 may have a different structure from the keel 21 and the rudder 22.
Further, in the above-discussed embodiments, the posture of the keel 21 can be switched between the first posture and the second posture by the first posture switching mechanisms 31, 31 a. However, the keel 21 may also be switched between other postures (i.e., a third posture different from the first posture and the second posture, or the like) by the first posture switching mechanisms 31, 31A.
Similarly, in the above-discussed embodiments, the posture of the rudder 22 may be switched between the first posture and the second posture by the second posture switching mechanisms 35, 35A. However, the rudder 22 may also be switched between further other postures (i.e., a third posture different from the first posture and the second posture) by using the second posture switching mechanisms 35, 35A.

Claims

1. A ship, which has a hull part and can sail on water, characterized in that

the hull part includes:

a fuselage extending in fore-and-aft direction of the hull part;

navigation members, which are arranged on the fuselage and receive water flow when the ship sails; and

posture switching mechanisms for switching the postures of the navigation members between at least a first posture and a second posture;

wherein

the first posture is a posture in which the navigation members are extending toward the lower side of the fuselage;

the second posture is a posture in which the lengths of the navigation members extending toward the lower side of the fuselage are shorter than those in the first posture.

2. The ship according to claim 1, wherein the navigation members are each in the shape of a long strip.

3. The ship according to claim 1, wherein the posture switching mechanism switches the postures of the navigation members by pivoting the navigation members about axes each positioned at one end of a navigation member.

4. The ship according to claim 3, wherein the posture switching mechanisms each include:

power sources each for outputting a power for switching the postures of the navigation members;

worm gears interposed between the power sources and the navigation members;

wherein

a power output from a power source is transmitted to a navigation member via a worm gear, thereby pivoting a navigation member about an axis.

5. The ship according to claim 1, wherein the second posture is a posture in which the navigation members are extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the hull part.

6. The ship according to claim 1, wherein

the fuselage has a groove portion on the lower surface thereof,

when the posture of a navigation member is the second posture, the navigation member is accommodated in the groove portion.

7. The ship according to claim 1, wherein the posture switching mechanisms are arranged more inward than the outer wall of the fuselage.

8. The ship according to claim 1, wherein the posture switching mechanisms are arranged above the waterline of the ship.

9. The ship according to claim 1, wherein a navigation member is at least one of a keel and a rudder.