WO1992016405A1

WO1992016405A1 - Variable geometry vessel hull

Info

Publication number: WO1992016405A1
Application number: PCT/FR1992/000253
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marc Neyrinck
Original assignee: Francois, Denis
Priority date: 1991-03-19
Filing date: 1992-03-19
Publication date: 1992-10-01
Also published as: FR2674210A1; FR2674210B1; AU1983392A

Abstract

This hull comprises a central section (2) on the two longitudinal edges of which are hinged two lateral sections in the form of floats (5) mounted so as to swivel in an adjustable manner between a position in which they are located below the central section (2) and a position in which they are located outwardly of the central section (2). Application to the manufacture of pleasure boats.

Description

VARIABLE GEOMETRY SHIP

The present invention relates to a boat hull with variable geometry.

There are different types of boat hull shapes, among which it is possible to identify two main categories, deep U-shaped or V-shaped hulls and planing hulls.

The main disadvantages of deep hulls are that they are limited in speed, the speed limit of a deep hull being linked to its length, to move a lot of water, to have a large draft, and to heel when it is a sailboat. Their main advantages are a passage in the wave without "typing", and not requiring a large drift plan for a sailboat.

The main advantage of planing hulls is that they allow planing from a certain speed, which ensures sliding on the water, and consequently, exceeding the speed limit of deep hulls. The main disadvantages of planing hulls are the need for large drift plans for sailboats, to be less

"stiff to the canvas", so to lodge more easily, and finally, whether sailboats or motor boats, to "hit" on the wave. There are also several kinds of boats which can be grouped into two families, monohulls and multihulls.

Monohulls made with planing or deep hulls have the advantages and disadvantages described above.

In addition, for sailboats which are subject to a heeling phenomenon under the action of the wind, the shape and volume of the submerged part of the hull are modified, so that the hydrodynamic qualities of the hull vary according to the heeling angle, and are deteriorated compared to the hydrodynamic qualities of a "flat" hull. This lodging is also a source of unpleasant discomfort in the long run for users.

However, it is easy to give a monohull an excellent pendular stability thanks to a ballast placed under the keel or associated with the fin, with the disadvantage that this ballast makes the assembly more heavy and therefore increases the displacement of water. Multihulls, catamarans or trimarans have, for an equal length, a speed limit which is substantially double that of a monohull. They have the advantage of great shape stability, that is to say, heel little, and are very stiff to the canvas.

However, in the event of a strong gale, a multihull sailboat risks capsizing, and the overturning of the boat is irreversible, since it does not have pendular stability. These hulls generally have a slight displacement and are subjected to significant constraints at the level of the connections between the various hulls or floats, because each of them follows the movements of the waves which are only very rarely in phase of a float at the 'other. Finally, multihulls have a large width, which has a drawback, especially when crossing narrow passes, and also when parking in ports where they occupy a width that can be equal to double, or even triple that of a monohull of equivalent length.

The object of the invention is to provide a variable geometry boat hull, making it possible, depending on the conditions, to have a deep hull, or a planing hull, in order to optimize the operation of the boat as a function of the state of the sea and the force of the wind, and to have a variable draft.

Another object of the invention is to have a hull with variable geometry to facilitate beaching on beaches, and to reduce the overall dimensions of the hull in the width direction during port maneuvers or during navigation. in a narrow pass.

For this purpose, the shell which it relates to, comprises a central part along the two longitudinal edges of which are articulated two lateral parts in the form of floats, pivotally mounted and adjustable between a position in which they are positioned under the part central, and a position in which they are located outside the central part.

When this boat must navigate in narrow passes, or in port, the floats are folded under the central part, which considerably limits the width of the whole.

On the contrary, during navigation, the floats are more or less pivoted outwards, in order to obtain a form of catamaran, or trimaran if the central part also plays the role of a partially submerged hull, the angle formed by each float allowing it to have a deep V behavior, or on the contrary the behavior of a planing hull. According to one embodiment of this hull, the face of each float turned towards the side of the central part, when the float is in the folded position under the central part, has a shape substantially complementary to that of the zone of the central part against which it comes to support.

Thus, when each float is in the folded position under the central part, it comes to bear perfectly against the latter.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the face of each float turned downwards when the float is in the folded position is substantially flat and arranged horizontally.

This structure allows, when the floats are in the folded position under the central part, to achieve grounding in excellent conditions, because the two floats form a substantially flat surface capable of bearing on a beach for example. According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for controlling the pivoting movement of the two floats are independent of each other. It is thus possible, at certain navigation speeds, to have a float forming a deep V hull, and a float forming a planing hull. ι According to another characteristic of the invention, the means for controlling the pivoting movement of the two floats are constituted, for each float, by at least one jack whose body and rod are articulated respectively on the central part and on a float .

The cylinders in question can be hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or mechanical, and possibly include a locking system.

It should be noted that the side floats can be equipped with ballasts in order to improve the stability of the boat and to help the recovery of the latter in the event of overturning. Advantageously, the means for controlling the pivoting movement of each float are constituted by a jack mounted on the rear end faces of the central part and of the float.

This arrangement allows a pivoting movement of a very large amplitude between the folded position of each float and the position in which the float is most extended outwards. This pivoting angle can be of the order of 180 °.

Advantageously in this case, the central part is in the form of - shell, and the pivot angle of the floats is such that in the pivoted outward position, the face of each of these which, in the folded position, comes to rest under the central part, is then in the extension of the surface of the shell constituting the central part. It is thus possible, for example when the sea conditions are bad and the boat is on the run, to pivot the two floats outwards as much as possible, these then ensuring the continuity of the hull, and possibly covering , for safety reasons, the portholes likely to be provided in the superstructure of the central part.

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawings showing, by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of this shell: Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a boat comprising a hull according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a very schematic view of the rear during navigation;

Figure 3 is a view in the folded position of the floats, for example at the port;

Figure is a view in the extreme exit position of the floats, for example in the event of a storm;

Figures 5 and 6 are end views of two other embodiments of this shell. The boat shown in Figure 1 has a central portion 2 in the form of a hull, having a living space, surmounted by a superstructure 3 in which are portholes. Along its two rectilinear longitudinal edges, the central part 2 is equipped with two lateral parts 5 in the form of floats, mounted articulated around the two longitudinal axes of the central part around an axis 6 by means of hinges 7. The rear ends of the central part 2 and the floats 5 being arranged in the same plane, the connection between the rear panels of these three elements is carried out by means of two jacks 8. The body 9 of each jack is mounted articulated around a longitudinal axis on the central part 2, while the free end of the rod of each cylinder is mounted articulated about a longitudinal axis on the rear panel of a float 5. The cylinders of which these can be hydraulic cylinders, electric cylinders, mechanical cylinders or pneumatic cylinders.

As shown in the drawings, the central hull is a V-shaped hull, the bottom of which is delimited by two surfaces 12 extending from a central edge 13. Each float 5 for its part has a flat surface 1 intended, in the folded position floats shown in FIG. 3, coming substantially to bear against a corresponding surface 12 of the shell 2. This surface 1 is extended by an inclined surface 15 forming a closed V, this surface 15 itself being extended by a surface 16 , which surface 16 is connected to the surface 14 by a surface 17, which, in the fully extended position of the considered float, is found to overlap the surface 18 belonging to the superstructure of the central hull.

During navigation, it is possible, as shown in Figure 2, to arrange the two floats 5 so that the two hulls behave like hulls with deep V allowing in particular, when it is a sailboat to go upwind well. During a narrow passage or port maneuvers, it is advantageous that the floats are folded under the central hull 2, as shown in Figure 3. When in navigation period island boat meets a storm, and seeks to benefit from maximum stability, the two floats 5 are tilted outwards as much as possible, so that their surfaces 14 are substantially in line with the surfaces 12 of the central shell 2, and that their surfaces 17 cover the surfaces 18 of the superstructure in which the portholes are formed 4.

It appears from the above that, depending on the different positions of the floats, it is also possible to vary the draft.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the central part consists of a simple platform 19 on which two floats 20 are hinged.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 6, the central hull 22 and the two floats 23 are shaped, that is to say made from curved surfaces, and the two floats folded under the hull, come to contact of it to form a monocoque. As appears from the above, the invention brings a great improvement to the existing technique, by providing a boat hull, of simple structure, allowing a rapid variation of its geometry to modify different parameters such as width and draft, and to vary behavior characteristics of the hull, allowing to pass from a planing hull to a deep hull and vice versa. As it goes without saying, the invention is not limited to the sole embodiments of this shell described above by way of examples, on the contrary it embraces all of the variant embodiments thereof. Thus, in particular, this device can be applied just as well to motor boats as to sailing boats, cruise ships or beach machines.

Claims

1.- hull of boat with variable geometry, characterized in that it comprises a central part (2) along the two longitudinal edges of which are articulated two lateral parts in the form of floats (5), pivotally mounted and so adjustable and continuous between a position in which they are positioned under the central part (2), and a position in which they are located outside and extend the central part (2).

2. A hull according to claim 1, characterized in that the face (14) of each float (5) turned towards the side of the central part, when the float is in the folded position under the central part, has a shape substantially complementary to that of the area of the central part against which it comes to bear.

3.- Hull according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the face (16) of each float (5) turned downward when the float is in the folded position is substantially flat and arranged horizontally.

4.- Hull according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for controlling the pivoting movement of the two floats (5) are independent of one another.

5. Hull according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for controlling the pivoting movement of the two floats (5) are constituted, for each float, by at least one jack (8), the body (9) and the rod (10) are articulated respectively on the central part (2) and on a float (5).

6. Hull according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for controlling the pivoting movement of each float (5) are constituted by a jack (8) mounted on the rear end faces of the central part and of the float .

7. Hull according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the central part (2) is in the form of a hull, and the pivoting angle of the floats (5) is such that in the pivoted position towards the outside, the face (1) of each of these which, in the folded position, comes to bear under the central part (2), is then in the extension of the surface (12) of the shell constituting the central part.