WO1985000334A1

WO1985000334A1 - Amphibian craft with variable floating line

Info

Publication number: WO1985000334A1
Application number: PCT/FR1984/000173
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jack Castagne
Original assignee: Jack Castagne
Priority date: 1983-07-13
Filing date: 1984-07-12
Publication date: 1985-01-31
Also published as: BR8406975A; FR2548971B1; NO850972L; AU3109384A; FR2548971A1; DK113185A; FI850945A0; EP0148916A1; FI850945L; JPS60501802A; OA07963A; DK113185D0

Abstract

Craft of the type comprising a couple of side floats, a deck and a superstructure, the deck (5) being connected to the lower part by means of floats (6) and the upper face of said deck being the floating plane of the craft. An opening provided in the contour of the craft gives access to the sea.

Description

"AMPHIBIOUS CELL WITH VARIABLE FLOAT LINE"

The present invention is in the field of leisure cells, in particular displaceable both on water and on land, and more particularly has for its object a towable cell which can constitute as well a caravan towable by land as a boat displaceable on water.

We generally know multihull boats such as catamaran (double hull) and trimaran (one main hull and two floats); an advantage of these boats compared to monohull boats lies in their very high stability. Based on the known principle of the catamaran, recently proposed boats mainly intended for pleasure craft generally consist of a deck or floor, this deck resting on two or three hulls, or floats, and supporting a habitable cabin of the type popularized under the name caravan.

Thus patent FR 2,227,998 (LANDY) describes a boat comprising a couple of hulls supporting a habitable cabin via a bridge. Thus also patent FR 2,527,159

(FISH) describes a similar boat comprising a central hull and a pair of side hulls which can be separated transversely from the central hull by means of sliding beams; the advantage of this last provision lies in the fact that the transverse size can be reduced during road transport of the boat.

However, the proposed boat is clearly raised above the water, like all those known, which implies that it is necessary to lower an engine into a "well" by means of a "chair" .

Other devices are also known which make it possible to transform road caravans into floating caravans by adding floats.

A general arrangement of the abovementioned devices or cells consists in that the bridge is, like all the other known bridges, a dry place situated above the water line of the boat. Also known as air cushion machines in which an air pressure is created, in a volume located below the machine and delimited peripherally by a flexible skirt; the air pressure is such that air continuously escapes along almost the entire periphery.

The object of the present invention is to provide a mixed vehicle, or amphibious, in particular usable in hot seas for both movement and pleasure. A fairly general characteristic of warm seas such as the seas or oceans of the southern hemisphere, is to be the place of evolution of aggressive or even dangerous fish, such as sharks in particular. It is thus frequent in these latitudes that boaters bathing or fishing around a boat are attacked by these fish; it is therefore important for swimmers subject to such attacks to return as quickly as possible to the interior of the boats; it is then very common for the lower limbs to be subjected to severe bites. Thus, a more particular object of the invention will be to propose a boat allowing very easy access from the sea; another object of the invention is to provide a boat meeting the above-mentioned aims, which is also easily towable by land; another object of the invention is that of a comfortable habitability of the boat; another object of the invention will be to propose means of moving the boat on the water. Another object of the invention, aimed in particular at eliminating the drawbacks of the second patent cited above, linked to the height of the boat above the water, is to lower the center of gravity in order to eliminate the side floats and avoid ballasting.

The aforementioned aims are achieved by a cell of the type comprising a pair of lateral safety floats, a bridge connecting the floats and a superstructure supported by the bridge, said cell being generally characterized in that the bridge is connected to the lower part of the safety floats so that the upper side of the deck is substantially coincident with the waterline, and in that an opening is provided on a part of the periphery of the boat so that by this opening there is direct access from the sea to the interior from the boat and vice versa; preferably, the boat having an elongated shape with a bow, aft and sides, said opening is located at the rear of the boat; more preferably, said opening is closable by a door hinged on the boat; more preferably said door is articulated around a horizontal axis at the rear part of the deck of the boat; more preferably, said door comprises on its inner face means in the form of a step.

It follows from all of these general provisions that swimmers moving around the boat when it is floating, can very quickly access the upper face of the deck where it is known that aggressive fish will not chase them.

As a general secondary characteristic, each safety float consists of two boxes, respectively front box and rear box separated by an intermediate housing open at least on its underside, this housing being intended to at least partially house a wheel; preferably, the upper face of the safety floats is shaped as a bench seat.

According to another general secondary characteristic, the bridge or floor consists of two spaced apart plates, one constituting the upper face of the bridge, the other its lower face; the plate constituting the lower face of the machine defines a shallow cavity limited at least at the front by a rim, and on the sides by the lower inner edge of the boxes, and it is pierced with holes; a compressed air inlet opens into the space between the two plates. According to another secondary general characteristic, the safety floats, the bridge and a front part of the periphery, known as the bow, form an assembly monobloc; advantageously, the superstructure incorporates a roof maintained at an adjustable height above the bridge by a plurality of slides; advantageously still, the roof supports propulsion means of the aerodynamic type. Thanks to these secondary provisions, the cell of the invention can evolve on water as well as be towed on the road; indeed, it will be possible to have in the intermediate boxes wheels connected by an axle passing through the cross below the bridge; the axle and the wheels will form a running gear which can be easily introduced under the cell, when the latter floats in the vicinity of a range; this undercarriage may further include a wheelhouse also passing below the deck and intended for coupling the cell and its undercarriage to a tractor vehicle. Furthermore, aerodynamic propulsion means such as a propeller, advantageously arranged on the roof, will allow the cell to move over water; it will be noted that the rear door when it is open, constitutes by the drag it induces a hydrodynamic means of stabilization of the trajectory of the cell on the water; the course changes can be advantageously made by orienting the axis of the propeller differently.

It will also be noted that, according to the general provisions mentioned above, the shape of such a cell, or boat, allows it to be laid flat on the ground or on a trailer or on a truck or on the platform of a van or van. The advantage of the system is that adult bathers and especially children, even very young children, can board without the need for a ladder or stairs, the floor of this boat being practically a few centimeters from the surface of the water (or fifteen to twenty five centimeters from the ground, the boat out of the water). On the ground you only cross one step. The seats placed longitudinally can be filled with foam of regulatory density to ensure the unsinkability of the wreck when the boat is damaged. We can put a motor on the back of the boat or on its door. In this case, the engine must not interfere with the opening of the door to allow bathers to board. The boat can be surmounted by a classic cockpit. It can also be surmounted by an adjustable roof on vertical or inclined slides consisting of a standard sandwich panel or be molded bare. Between this height-adjustable roof and the hull you can put glazing or transparent plastic or standard panels or panels made for the occasion or a mixture of both. The height of the panes for the same machine can be variable, the user being able to have panes of different height, thickness, color and of different materials according to the use of the moment or the rigors of the climate or the part of the world in which it is located. The rest of the boat and the roof being previously isolated from cold or heat by its construction. As the floor of the boat can be very slightly higher than the water, scooping is eliminated. For the solidity of the machine, it is preferable to build it in a monobloc system so that it can evolve at sea. The advantage of this boat is also that the hull and the roof can be made of two or more different materials, example: reinforced plastic for the hull and carbon fiber for the roof, the periphery being made of standard materials which lowers the cost of production of the assembly and makes it possible to combine the materials of manufacture according to the local materials of the countries of manufacture . The slides can be standard profiles and include housings for glazing or panels, or be specially made to obtain more harmonious shapes. The boat and the roof can have the spaces provided for glazing or panels, or we can add suitable or existing profiles. Handles can be put or molded all around or in certain places to allow manual transport of this ultra light or light machine. The machine, and in particular its cell, is especially designed for countries with draconian legislation for encampments on water, as well as for the various islands bordered by lagoons where movement by water is very easy and whose gently sloping banks allow very easy transport of the craft.

The craft is made up of two flotation chambers serving as seats and comprising storage lockers. A rigid floor separates the two boxes. Storage lockers are at breast height, it's easy to stand up. The interior of the machine can be glazed all around. A bow at the front is provided for traction of the machine at high speed. You can add a roof made of traditional material. A sliding rear plank or two half-doors allow the attachment of an auxiliary motor.

Even in an accident, the craft is unsinkable, thanks to the numerous watertight boxes distributed both at various points on the hull and at various points on the roof, especially at the corners. It is therefore possible to take refuge inside the machine when it is overturned in any position.

The manufacturing materials must be as light as possible, such as plastic, aluminum and alloys, wood, fiberglass, etc.

By way of nonlimiting examples of the use of the machine, mention may be made in particular of use as a fishing, aquaculture or leisure vehicle, construction site hut, secondary residence module, etc.

It is possible to put a table between the two boxes to be able to take meals on board the craft; this table is either collapsible or attached to the front by a quick-release system. The machine can be placed on a trailer for traction on the ground; it is therefore possible to provide for the passage of the wheels inside the storage boxes. These boxes can be closed with glass or transparent plastic when putting the craft in the water for a view of the seabed or divers.

According to other characteristics, the cell of the invention comprises two flotation boxes serving as seats and comprising storage lockers, a rigid floor separating the two boxes and storage lockers being almost at breast height; part of the storage lockers is waterproof allowing the unsinkability of the machine; the rear consists of two half-doors facilitating access when the machine is on the ground and allowing an auxiliary motor to be attached to it; a table fixed inside against the front wall also serves as a flit when placed at the height of the boxes.

The present invention will be better understood and details will be apparent from the description which will be given both of the general characteristics and of particular embodiments of a cell according to the invention, in relation to the figures of the appended plates in which: Fig.1 is a schematic elevation view of a machine cell according to the invention,

Fig.2 is a plan seen from above of the shell of the cell of fig.1,

Fig.3 is a rear view of the shell of Fig.2,

Fig.4 is a section along A A of the shell of Fig.2,

Fig.5 is a section along B B of the same, Fig.6 is a perspective illustration of a particular embodiment of a machine of the invention.

Figs. 7 to 9 are respectively a side elevation, a rear elevation and a plan seen from below of a machine quite similar to that of fig. 6, and

Fig.10 is a perspective illustration of a machine of the invention according to another embodiment. In fig. 1 an amphibious, floating and towable machine, in accordance with the invention essentially consists of a cell itself comprising a Ω H <eh 3 β r H Φ H d TJ rt Φ HH 3 TJ TJ F "XX d Ω F- Ω 3 P. F" TJ Pi P 'H rt P

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It is therefore understandable that it does not matter for the floating that the periphery of the boat is open since either the deck, or alternatively the floats, are sufficient to make the cell float in the manner of a raft.

We also note in the figures that the open part of the perimeter can be closed by a door 9 (case illustrated in fig.1) articulated around a horizontal axis 10 behind the bridge 5. Such a folding door has several utilities: first of all it can constitute, thanks to a step configuration, a quick access ladder inside the cell when it is used, as a pleasure craft for swimming; then it obviously constitutes the means of preventing the waves from entering when it is folded down in the closed position; finally in the open position it induces a hydrodynamic drag which makes it possible to maintain a given heading of the boat, in particular when the latter is stressed by the propulsion means 3. A consequence of the perforated nature of the deck 5 (platform 5 ' ) and the possibility of blowing compressed air, lies in the fact that the layer of air insulating the underside of the shell from the surface of the water considerably lowers the viscosity of the connection between them, which allows the boat to be moved fairly quickly with relatively weak means; this layer of air naturally results from the blowing of air through the perforations of the plate 5 'but also from the fact that the bottom of the boat is shaped into a cavity 13 since the plate 5' is located a little at above the underside of the lateral floats 6, behind a front edge 14.

Returning now to FIGS. 2 and 5 we will describe the structure of the so-called lateral safety floats 6; each lateral float is made up of two boxes such as respectively front 6 'and rear 6 "separated by an intermediate box or said housing 6'''; the boxes 6 '''said housing due to the fact that they are open to their underside so as to allow the passage of the wheels of a transport chassis; it will be noted that although being open to their underside they still participate in the floating of the machine since the air which they contain cannot escape. The front part 11 of the machine can have, like the boxes 6 'and 6 ", a sealed box structure.

In fig.6 a machine according to the invention consists of a shell 1 and a superstructure 2; the hull itself is made up of a pair of lateral floats 6 and a bow or front part 7 which forms the periphery thereof, the rear part of which is open, and a hollow floor 5 whose bottom plate 5 "is located slightly above the underside of the floats 6; each of the floats 6 itself consists of a front box 6 'and a rear box 6 ", an intermediate box 6' '' being located between the latter . A door 9 is hinged at the rear of the machine to be able to close the opening.

Note that the machine in the figure is provided with a fixed superstructure, the upper part of which has, at each of its front and rear angles, safety boxes 15 to 18; these boxes are waterproof boxes filled with foam for example; between these are arranged storage spaces such as 19 and 20.

On fig.7 to 9 a machine has a general structure substantially similar to that of the machine of the previous figure and it has the characteristic features mentioned above, namely a hull 21 with a rear part 22 open, a floor 23 or bridge with double bottom with perforated underside, lateral safety floats 24 with watertight box and safety boxes 25 at the corners of the superstructure.

It differs from it, however, by the existence of a fixed roof 26 and a rear door with two leaves 27, each leaf being articulated on the hull about a vertical axis. Note on the floats grip handles such as 28.

In Fig. 10 a machine similar in these provisions characteristic to those of the previous figures differs from it by a more streamlined general structure. We thus recognize the hull with rear opening at the level of a double bottom floor 30, lateral floats 31 with front and rear watertight casing 32 and 33, a door 34 with a horizontal axis for closing the rear opening and a superstructure with watertight corner boxes such as 35 and 36.

Returning to fig.1 it will be noted that the roof 4 can be supported by pillars 12 of variable length; these pillars, called "slides" for example have a telescopic structure; they make it possible to adjust the height of the roof 4 above the deck 5; they are also removable; it should be noted that this provision is optional and constitutes only a secondary aspect of the invention.

It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in particular in Figures 6 to 10, but that its scope extends to any device consisting of a cell having the characteristics described in particular in relation to the figures of the first board, these characteristics being taken separately or in combination with a view to providing one or more effects which are objects of the objects of the invention.

Claims

1.- Cell of the type comprising a pair of lateral floats, a bridge and a superstructure, characterized: in that the bridge (5) is connected to the lower part of the floats (6) so that the upper face of the bridge is substantially coincident with the water plane, and in that an opening is provided on a part of the periphery of the boat so that through this opening there is direct access from the sea or from the ground inside the 'boat and vice versa;

2. Cell according to claim 1, characterized: in that the bridge or floor (5) consists of two plates (5 ', 5 ") with small spaces, one (5') constituting the upper face of the bridge, the other (5 ") constituting its lower face, the lower plate defining with the inner lower edges of the boxes and a front edge (14), a shallow cavity (13), and in that the lower plate (5") is pierced with holes (8) equally distributed over its surface, means with an air compressor function allowing air to be blown into the space between the plates, and to bring this air out through the holes (8) after flushing the water;

3. Cell according to claim 2, characterized: in that, the boat having an elongated shape with a front, a back and sides, said opening is located at the rear of the boat;

4. Cell according to claim 3, characterized: in that said opening is closable by at least one door (9,27) hinged on the boat;

5. Cell according to claim 4, characterized: in that said door is articulated (9) about a horizontal axis at the rear part of the deck of the boat;

6. Cell according to claim 5, characterized: in that said door comprises on its inner face means in the form of a step;

7.- Cell according to claim 2, characterized: in that each float (6) is constituted by two boxes respectively front box (6 ') and rear box (6 ") separated by an open housing (6' '') at least on its underside, this housing being intended to at least partially house a wheel;

8. Cell according to claim 7, characterized: in that the upper face of the floats is shaped as a bench seat, and in that the floats, the bridge and a front part of the periphery, called the bow, form a monobloc assembly;

9. Cell according to claim 2, characterized: in that the superstructure incorporates a roof. maintained at adjustable height above the bridge by a plurality of slides (12);

10.- Cell according to claim 9, characterized: in that the roof supports propulsion means of the aerodynamic type (3).