WO2003024776A1

WO2003024776A1 - Boat-anchoring equipment

Info

Publication number: WO2003024776A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000485
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro Vismara
Original assignee: M.A.S. Marine Advanced Services S.A.S. Di Vismara Alessandro
Priority date: 2001-09-21
Filing date: 2001-09-21
Publication date: 2003-03-27
Also published as: AU2001295878A1; WO2003024776A8

Abstract

The present invention relates to boat-anchoring equipment (1) comprising an anchor (2), members (50) for moving the anchor from a raised position on the boat to a lowered position, and a box-like element (42) which houses the anchor and is accommodated in an openable compartment of the boat, preferably in the forepeak (8) delimited by the prow portion (9) of the boat. When the forepeak is closed, the anchor (2), the box-like element (42), the members (50) for moving the anchor, and the means (26) for moving the prow portion (9) are concealed from view to confer on the boat a more sporty and lighter appearance.

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Boat-anchoring equipment"

The present invention relates to boat-anchoring equipment and, in particular, to anchoring equipment for pleasure craft, sailing or motor boats, cruising boats, or racing boats.

There is a tendency, in the boat-building field, to adopt some structural solutions which can provide boats with an ever more pleasing and attractive appearance.

In particular, in the field of the construction of boat hulls, particularly for racing use, the tendency is to provide the hulls with particularly smooth lines so that they adopt an aggressive appearance, at the same time giving an impression of lightness.

The tendency has therefore become established to construct hulls having outer skins which are defined by smooth surfaces, without discontinuities in the lines joining the surfaces, and which, above all, are free of openings interrupting their continuity.

At the same time, however, there is a need to provide the boat with some devices which are necessary for its handling and which, owing to their structural configuration and their functional purpose, need to project from the outer skin of the hull. This requirement relates in particular to the anchor and to the equipment for handling it.

In arrangements known in the field, there are various solutions with regard to the positioning and to the support of the anchor. However, these solutions keep the anchor in a position such that it remains in view or is housed in visible housings when the boat is under way. In a typical arrangement, when the boat is under way, the anchor remains suspended on the side of the hull, hanging on a chain or cable and, in some arrangements, secured in position by restraining means. The anchor chain extends into the hull through openings formed in its outer skin and is wound on an anchor winch, which is generally driven by electric motors.

Clearly, a solution of this type involves the need to leave the anchor in view when the boat is under way or, in some arrangements, to provide a box-like element which may have various configurations but, in any case, is positioned in view, outside the hull.

Moreover, in the arrangements mentioned, it is necessary to provide openings in the outer skin of the hull in order to bring the anchor chain or cable below decks. All of this clearly involves the disadvantage of giving the hull a heavier appearance which is more marked the larger are the dimensions of the anchor. Moreover, the openings in the outer skin interrupt the continuity of the external surfaces, which detracts from the sporty appearance given to the outer skin by an absence of openings therein.

There is therefore a need to provide boat-anchoring equipment which does not detract from the appearance of the boat and which, at the same time, does not have openings in the hull which interrupt the continuity of the surfaces of its outer skin.

The object of the present invention is to provide boat-anchoring equipment which can solve the above- mentioned problem and at the same time overcome the disadvantages mentioned with reference to the prior art.

This problem is solved by boat-anchoring equipment comprising at least an anchor, members for moving the anchor from a raised position on the boat to a lowered position, and anchor-stowage means, characterized in that the stowage means comprise an openable compartment of the boat, the anchor being concealed from the exterior in the raised position when the compartment is in the closed condition, and a passageway being created for the lowering of the anchor when the compartment is in the open condition.

Further characteristics and the advantages of the anchoring equipment according to the present invention will become clear from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given by way of non- limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view showing, in section, boat- anchoring equipment with the forepeak closed and the ■ anchor in the raised position,

Figure 2 is a side view showing, in section, the equipment of Figure 1 with the forepeak open and the anchor in the lowered position,

Figure 3 shows -a hinge of the equipment of Figure 1 for the pivoting of the prow portion,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bow region of the boat with the hinge of Figure 3 and means for moving the prow portion,

Figure 5 shows fixing plates of the hinge of Figure 3, in plan, in a side view, and in a front view,

Figure 6 shows a movable plate of the hinge of Figure 3, in plan, in a side view, and in a front view,

Figure 7 shows a box-like element for housing the anchor, in plan and in a side view, and Figure 8 shows the equipment of Figure 1 during the anchoring stages.

With reference to the appended drawings, the whole boat-anchoring equipment is indicated 1.

The equipment comprises at least one anchor 2 which can anchor the boat.

The description given below relates to a preferred embodiment of the anchoring equipment 1 in which the equipment is disposed in the bow of the boat. This description represents purely a non-limiting example since the equipment is also suitable to be disposed, with similar structural and functional characteristics, in regions of the hull of the boat other than the bow.

The hull 3 of the boat preferably has a double- walled structure in the bow region. An inner wall 4 constitutes a load-bearing structure for the hull, whereas an external wall 5 constitutes a portion of the outer skin 6 of the hull 3.

The inner wall 4 and the external wall 5 of the hull 3, -as well as a portion 7' of the deck 7, bound a compartment known as the forepeak 8.

In other words, the forepeak is bounded by the inner wall 4 of the hull 3, by the external wall 5 of the outer skin 6 and, at the top, by a portion 7' of the deck 7. The external wall 5 of the hull 3 comprises a movable portion which can form an opening through the anchor-stowage compartment.

In a preferred embodiment, the movable portion of the external wall 5 of the hull 3 is a prow portion 9 of ■ the boat. The prow portion is movable so as to open the anchor-stowage compartment and, preferably, is pivotable .

The prow portion is preferably hinged to the external wall 5 of the outer skin 6 of the hull by means of a hinge 10 which can operatively connect the prow portion to the outer skin so as to allow the prow portion 9 to pivot, forming an opening of the forepeak 8

(Figures 3 and 4) .•

The hinge 10 comprises fixing plates 11 and 11' and a movable plate 12. In a preferred embodiment, the fixing plates 11 and 11' are L-shaped and have holes 13 suitable for housing connecting elements 14 such as bolts, screws, or the like.

The fixing plates 11 and 11' are provided, preferably at one end, with respective cylindrical, eyelet-like seats 15 and 15' extending along an articulation axis X-X of the fixing plates 11 and 11'.

The movable plate 12 comprises a connecting base 16 which, preferably, is flat and lies in a plane of pivoting R. At one end 17, the connecting base has a tubular seat 18 which extends along a pivot axis Y-Y lying in the pivoting plane R of the connecting base 16. At its opposite end 17 ' , the connecting base is fixed firmly to a drive piece 19 connected to the connecting base 16 at right angles. The drive piece terminates in two arms 20 and 20' arranged in the manner of a fork and having respective cylindrical seats 21 and 21' .

The cylindrical seats 21 and 21' extend along a movement axis Z-Z. In a preferred embodiment, the movement axis Z-Z is inclined to the line r of the pivoting plane R of the connecting base 16. .The inclination of the movement axis Z-Z to the line 4 of the pivoting plane R is between 5 and 25° and preferably substantially 15°.

The connecting base 16 of the movable plate 12 is fixed firmly to a projection 22 which is connected to the base at right angles and lies on the side of the pivoting plane R of the connecting base 16 remote from the drive piece 19.

The projection 22 has holes 23 for housing connecting elements 24 such as bolts, screws, or the like. The projection is reinforced by means of a rib 24' . The hinge 10 further comprises an elongate pin 25 which can be fitted in the eyelet-like seats 15 and 15' of the fixing plates 11 and 11' and in the tubular seat 18 of the connecting base 16 (Figure 3) .

The fixing plates 11 and 11' are mounted side by side on the deck of the hull of the boat, in the upper region of the forepeak 8, by means of the connecting elements 14 housed in the holes 13, so as to be coupled with a form fit with the edge of the portion 7 ' of the deck 7 which defines the forepeak 8, by virtue of their L-shaped configuration.

The movable plate 12 is connected to the prow portion 9 by means of the connecting elements 24 housed in the holes 23 of the projection 22.

The fixing plates 11 and 11' and the movable plate 12 are mounted in a manner such that the articulation axis X-X of the eyelet-like seats 15 and 15' of the fixing plates 11 and 11' coincides substantially with the pivot axis Y-Y of the tubular seat 18 of the movable plate 12 (Figure 3) . The drive piece 19 of the movable plate 12 is operatively connected, by means of the cylindrical seats 21 and 21', to means 26 for moving the prow portion 9; the means 26 can move the prow portion by causing it to pivot about the pivot axis Y-Y (Figures 1 and 4) . The means 26 for moving the prow portion 9 comprise an arm 26' and a linear actuator 27. The arm 26' is telescopic and is operatively connected to the linear actuator 27, which is preferably electric. The telescopic arm and the actuator are housed in the forepeak 8 of the hull 3 (Figure 4).

The telescopic arm 26' is connected to the drive piece 19 by means of a transverse pin 28 which engages the cylindrical seats 21 and 21' of the piece 19 so that the axis of the transverse pin 28 coincides substantially with the axis of movement Z-Z of the cylindrical seats 21 and 21' of the movable plate 12.

The telescopic arm 26', which is connected to the movable plate 12, is arranged perpendicular to the axis of movement Z-Z of the cylindrical seats 21 and 21' of the movable plate 12 and is therefore inclined to a longitudinal axis K-K of the hull.

The anchor-stowage means also comprise an anchor housing member which is disposed inside the forepeak 8 and can house the anchor 2 in a raised position as well as bringing it to an extended position for lowering, whilst preventing interference with the outer skin of the hull. The housing is preferably articulated at a pivot point C so as to be pivotable relative to that point (Figures 1 and 2) . The configuration of the housing is suitable for housing an anchor comprising a shank 30 having a ring 31 for connection to a chain 33, and a neck 34 for connection to at least one anchor fluke 35.

The anchor is operatively connected to an anchor winch 32, located below decks and preferably of the type with a vertical axis, by means of the chain 33 which is guided to the anchor winch by means of guide pulleys.

The housing 29 for the anchor 2 comprises a track 36 formed by two guide frames 37 and 37' which are formed by a single element or by several connected portions, in known manner (Figure 7) .

The guide frames 37 and 37' are arranged parallel to one another and mounted side by side, and are connected by connecting elements such as pins, bolts, or the like. The spacing at which the frames are mounted is such as to house the shank 30 of the anchor 2.

Each guide frame 37 or 37' has a substantially straight portion 38 or 38' of an extent such as to house the shank 30 of the anchor substantially throughout its length. Moreover, the frames have respective end portions 39 and 39' which are preferably inclined to conform to the inclination of the neck 34 of the anchor 2.

The housing 29 preferably comprises a guide plate 40 connected to the guide frames 37 and 37'. The guide plate, which comprises a lead-in abutment 41, preferably formed by an inclined portion, is connected to the guide frames 37 and 37' in a manner such as to be perpendicular to the frames which are arranged side by side and parallel to one another.

In other words, the guide plate 40, together with the two frames 37 and 37 ' , particularly the straight portions of the frames, forms a box-like element 42, preferably open at one side, for housing the boat's anchor 2. In particular, the guide plate 40 is mounted on the guide frames 37 and 37 ' in a manner such that the lead-in abutment 41 projects from the box-like element 42.

The guide plate 40 guides the exit of the anchor 2 during the • anchoring operation, preventing the unbalancing of the anchor by the flukes 35, which are heavier than the shank 30, from causing the anchor to strike the bow. Moreover, upon completion of the anchor-raising operation, the guide plate forms a lead- in, by means of the lead-in abutment 41, for guiding the shank of the anchor into the box-like element 42, to facilitate the stowage of the anchor 2 in the element.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing 29 comprises a plurality of rolling bushes 43 and 43' arranged between the guide frames 37 and 37' of the box-like element 42. The rolling bushes are preferably arranged in the region of end portions 39 and 39' of the guide f ames .

The rolling bushes 43 and 43' facilitate the sliding of the shank 30 of the anchor 2 during the movement of the anchor, facilitating the stowage of the shank inside the box-like element 42.

In a preferred embodiment, the housing 29 comprises a further sliding bush 43'' which is disposed on a movable frame 44, articulated in the region of the inclined portions 39 and 39' of the guide frames 37 and

37' of the box-like element 42.

The movable frame 44 and the sliding bush 43'' form a portal-like element 45, hinged in the region of the end portion of the box-like element 42.

The dimensions of the portal-like element are such as to form a window 46 delimited thereby for housing the cross-section of the shank 30 of the anchor 2 or of the neck 34 of the anchor in an anchor-stowage configuration and for facilitating the expulsion of the anchor by virtue of the inclination which the portal-like element can adopt relative to the box-like element 42, as will be explained in detail below.

The housing 29 is moved by housing-movement members 50 which are operatively connected to the housing and can cause it to adopt a retracted, anchor-stowage limit configuration and an extended anchor-expulsion configuration (Figure 8).

The movement members are preferably located in the lower region of the forepeak 8, beneath the anchor housing 29, which generally occupies the central portion of the forepeak 8, whilst the upper region of the forepeak is occupied by the flukes 35 of the anchor 2 in the raised, stowage position. In other words, the movement members 50 of the housing 29 for the anchor 2 can move the housing, which is disposed in the central region of the forepeak, whilst themselves being located in the lower region of the forepeak. In a preferred embodiment, the movement members 50 of the housing 29 for the anchor 2 comprise a linear actuator 51, preferably an electric actuator, operatively connected to a rod 52 which can be advanced and retracted under the driving action of the linear actuator.

The movement of the rod 52 is rectilinear, and is guided by a channel in which a connecting pin 53 slides, the connecting pin 53 connecting the rod 52 to a transmission rod 54. One end of the transmission rod is connected to the rod 52 by means of the connecting pin 53. The opposite end of the transmission rod 54 is operatively connected to the movement apparatus, preferably by means of a further connecting pin 55 fitted in aligned eyes 56 and 56' provided in the guide frames 37 and 37' of the box-like element 42.

The working stroke of the rod 52 connected to the electric linear actuator 51 is such that, when the rod is extended to its travel limit, it causes the housing 29 of the anchor 2 to pivot, about the pivot point C at which the housing is articulated, to the anchor- expulsion configuration in which the housing is in a substantially horizontal position or is inclined below the horizontal plane of the boat.

Moreover, when the rod 52 is fully retracted, that is, in the starting position of its travel, it ensures that the housing 29 for the anchor 2 is pivoted, about the pivot point C at which the member is articulated, to the raised, anchor-stowage position, in which the housing is in a substantially vertical position. Whilst the boat is under way, or in any case, is not anchored, the prow portion 9 of the outer skin 6 of the boat, which can be moved by the means 26 for moving the prow portion, is normally lowered. In other words, the lowered prow portion 9 closes the forepeak 8. In this non-anchored condition of the boat, the forepeak 8 houses the anchor 2, accommodated in the anchor-housing member 29, the means 26 for moving the prow portion 9, as well as the members 50 for moving the housing for the anchor 2. In the above-described condition, with the prow portion 9 lowered, both the anchor 2 and the means 50 for moving the anchor-housing 29, as well as the means 26 for moving the prow portion 9 are concealed from the view of any observer disposed outside the forepeak. In particular, with the prow portion 9 lowered, the anchor 2 of the boat is enclosed in the forepeak 8 and is therefore not visible.

In a preferred embodiment of the equipment, the anchor-stowage compartment is watertight. The equipment thus forms a collapsible compartment which constitutes a further anti-sinking device since the stowage compartment can absorb some of the energy of any impact of the boat.

The anchoring operation can be performed by means of a first step of opening the prow portion 9, a second step of tipping-over the housing 29 of the anchor 2, and a third step of letting-go the anchor 2.

During the step of the opening of the prow portion, the operation of the linear actuator 27 of the prow- portion movement means 26 causes the arm 26' to extend (Figure 4 and Figure 8) .

The arm is brought from a starting position of its travel, in which it is fully retracted, to a final position of its travel, in which it is fully extended. During its extension, the arm 26' pushes the drive piece 19 of the hinge 10 so as to cause the movable plate 12 of the hinge to pivot about the pivot axis Y-Y of the hinge.

The projection 22 of the movable plate 12 of the hinge 10 is mounted firmly on the prow portion 9 which is therefore pivoted about the pivot axis Y-Y of the hinge 10.

In other words, an extension of the arm 26' of the movement means 26, brought about by the operation of the linear actuator 27, results in a pivoting of the prow portion 9 about a fixed pivot axis, by means of the hinge 10.

The pivoting of the prow portion 9 stops in the fully-open configuration corresponding to the travel limit point of the arm 26'.

The step of the tipping-over of the housing 29 of the anchor 2 is performed by the operation of the linear actuator 51 of the means 50 for moving the housing 29 of the anchor 2. In the configuration for the stowage of the anchor 2, the rod 52 of the movement members 50 is in the fully retracted, starting configuration of its travel. The box-like element 42 which houses the anchor 2 is correspondingly in a substantially vertical position. The operation of the linear actuator 51 brings the rod 52 to the fully-extended, or travel-limit configuration. The transmission rod 54, which is connected to the rod 52 and to the box-like element 42, pulls the box-like element along, causing it to pivot about the pivot point C.

In the configuration for the tipping-over of the anchor 2, the rod 52 is substantially at its travel limit and the box-like element 42 is inclined below the horizontal plane of the boat. In the stowage configuration of the anchor 2, the portal-like element 45 of the housing 29 of the anchor 2, which is articulated to the box-like element, is in the retracted, limit, stowage configuration in which the portal-like element is substantially perpendicular to the box-like element 42.

In the retracted, stowage configuration, the portal-like element 45 can house the shank 30 or the neck 34 of the anchor 2 and prevent the anchor from tipping over towards the interior of the forepeak. In the anchor-tipping configuration, the portal- like element 45 is in an extended, expulsion, limit configuration in which the portal-like element is inclined towards the bow, relative to the box-like element 42. In the extended, expulsion configuration, the inclination adopted by the portal-like element allows the shank 30 of the anchor to slide through the window 46 delimited by the portal-like element, and conforms to the various inclinations adopted by the shank 30 of the anchor in the course of the expulsion of the anchor, at the same time, avoiding interference of the shank with the portal-like element.

The anchor 2 is let go, starting from the tipped- over configuration of the housing 29 of the anchor 2, by suitable operation of the anchor winch, so that the chain 33 is eased away and the anchor 2 is immersed by gravity.

The operation to weigh the anchor 2 is performed by means of a first step of rewinding of the chain 33, a second step of the pulling-in of the anchor housing 29, and a third step of the lowering of the prow portion 9 of the boat.

The chain is rewound by the operation of the anchor winch and the rewinding of the chain 33. During the period for which the boat remains anchored, its hull may be positioned transversely relative to the anchor, because of currents or winds.

In this situation, it would be difficult to rewind the chain 33 if the chain 33 were not suitably guided. During the rewinding, the chain 33 passes through the box-like element 42 which guides the chain 33 by means of the guide frames 37 and 37 ' and the guide plate 40 as well as by means of the portal-like element 45, so as to facilitate its passage through the guide pulleys and its rewinding on the anchor winch.

During the rewinding of the chain 33, the shank 30 of the anchor passes through the window 46 of the portal-like element 45, which is in its extended, expulsion configuration, and the shaft is partially housed in the box-like element 42, guided by the guide plate 40.

The housing 29 for the anchor 2 is pulled in by the operation of the linear actuator 51 of the movement members 50. The rod 52 is returned to its starting travel configuration and the housing 29 is returned to the raised stowage position.

When the box-like element 42 reaches a substantially vertical position, the shank 30 of the anchor 2 settles into the box-like element by gravity. The prow portion 9 is lowered by the operation of the linear actuator 27 of the movement means 26, returning the arm 26' of the movement means 26 to the initial travel position.

The movable plate 12 of the hinge 10 pivots about the pivot axis Y-Y, withdrawing the prow portion 9, to which it is firmly fixed, until the forepeak 8 is closed.

Unusually, the equipment according to the present invention does not detract from the appearance of the^' boat and, at the same time, does not require openings in the hull which interrupt the continuity of the surfaces of the outer skin.

Moreover, the above-described equipment advantageously permits stable stowage of the anchor which, whilst the boat is under way, is housed in a manner such as to prevent oscillations and impacts against the outer skin of the boat.

The equipment according to the invention has the further advantage that the anchor chain is guided during^' the rewinding of the chain onto the anchor winch so that the rewinding takes place in the correct manner, even when the anchor is arranged transversely relative to the hull.

In other words, the equipment according to the invention has the advantage of enabling the anchor to be rewound in a manner such that the anchor is wound on the drum of the anchor winch whilst approaching the drum in a perpendicular direction.

Finally, the equipment has the further advantage that it constitutes a further anti-sinking device since it forms, within the forepeak, a collapsible structure which can absorb some of the energy of an impact.

Naturally, in order to satisfy contingent and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the above-described equipment many modifications and variations all of which, however, are included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. Boat-anchoring equipment comprising at least one anchor, members for moving the anchor from a raised position on the boat to a lowered position, and anchor- stowage means, characterized in that the stowage means comprise an openable compartment of the boat, the anchor being ^■ concealed from the exterior in the raised position when the compartment is in the closed condition, and a passageway being created for the lowering of the anchor when the compartment is in the open condition.

2. Equipment according to Claim 1 in which the compartment of the anchor-stowage means is the forepeak of the boat.

3. Equipment according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the compartment of the anchor-stowage means is bounded by walls comprising a portion of the prow of the boat .

4. Equipment according to Claim 3 in which the prow portion of the boat can be moved in order to open the anchor-stowage compartment.

5. Equipment according to Claim 4 in which the prow portion of the boat can pivot in order to open the anchor-stowage compartment.

6. Equipment according to Claim 5 in which the prow portion of the boat is operatively connected to a portion of the deck of the boat by means of^" a hinge, the hinge allowing the prow portion to pivot.

7. Equipment according to Claim 6 in which the hinge comprises fixing plates connected to the deck of the boat and a movable plate connectible pivotably to the fixing plates and mounted firmly on the prow portion of the boat.

8. Equipment according to Claim 7 in which the movable plate of the hinge is operatively connected to an arm of the movement means, the arm pushing the movable plate of the hinge in order to open the anchor- stowage compartment and the arm pulling the movable plate in order to close the compartment.

9. Equipment according to Claim 8 in which the means for moving the prow portion comprise a linear actuator.

10. Equipment according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 in which the anchor-stowage means comprise a box-like element which can house the anchor in the raised position on the boat and is suitablr for dropping the anchor in an extended position.

11. Equipment according to Claim 10 in which the box-like element comprises guide frames connected to one another in a manner such as to house a portion of the anchor in the space between the frames .

12. Equipment according to Claim 11 in which the guide frames comprise a straight portion for housing the anchor and an inclined end portion suitable for lowering the anchor.

13. Equipment according to any one of Claims 10 to 12 in which a portal-like element is hinged pivotably to the box-like element in a manner such that, in the raised, anchor-stowage position, the portal-like element is in a retracted configuration suitable for preventing the anchor from tipping over and, in the extended position of the anchor for anchoring, is in an extended configuration suitable for permitting discharge of the anchor.

14. Equipment according to Claim 10 in which the box-like element is operatively connected to movement members which can pivot the box-like element from the raised anchor-stowage position to _λ the extended anchor- lowering position.

15. Equipment according to Claim 14 in which the movement members comprise a telescopic rod, the rod being extended in order to bring the box-like element to the extended, position of the anchor, for anchoring, and the rod being contracted in order to bring the box-like element to the raised, anchor-stowage position.

2.5

16. Equipment according to Claim 15 in which the movement members comprise a transmission rod connected to the telescopic rod and to the box-like element in order to transmit the outward or return movement of the rod to the box-like element.

17. Equipment according to any one of Claims 14 to 16 in which the movement members comprise an electric linear actuator.

18. Equipment according to Claim 1 in which the anchor-stowage compartment is watertight on the wall which separates it from the hull of the boat in order to form an anti-sinking compartment.