WO2006013436A1

WO2006013436A1 - An apparatus for moving anchoring equipment in a boat

Info

Publication number: WO2006013436A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/002213
Authority: WO
Inventors: Attilio Antonelli
Original assignee: Pershing S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-07-27
Filing date: 2005-07-06
Publication date: 2006-02-09
Also published as: ITBO20040477A1; EP1771329B1; DE602005010585D1; ATE411938T1; EP1771329A1; TWI344919B; TW200607709A

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a compartment for housing a chain (12) in a gathered condition and chain driving means for extracting the chain from the compartment when the anchor is dropped in the sea and for inserting the chain in the compartment when the anchor is hauled on board. Advantageously, there are retaining means (26) for holding the chain in place when it is gathered in the compartment.

Description

An apparatus for moving anchoring equipment in a boat

Technical field

The present invention relates to an apparatus for moving anchoring equipment in a boat or the like.

Background art

It is known that the equipment for anchoring boats to the sea bed, when the boats are laying off a coastal facility, basically consists of an anchor for mooring to the sea bed, supported by an anchor supporting chain, which is, in turn, suitably connected to the boat.

Apparatuses for moving anchoring equipment in a boat are known, comprising a compartment or peak for housing the chain in a gathered condition, when the latter is hauled on board. This compartment or peak is below deck and the top is open so that it can receive the chain and let it out. It also has side walls and a bottom wall.

Said known apparatuses also comprise suitable chain driving means, in the form of a winch for extracting the chain from the compartment when the anchor is dropped in the sea, and for inserting the chain in the compartment when the anchor is hauled on board.

A disadvantage in these known apparatuses relates to the fact that, while sailing the boat with the anchor hauled up and the chain heaped in the peak, the pitching motion of the boat causes the gathered chain to become tangled, making a subsequent anchoring operation rather difficult. In such situations, while dropping anchor, a person equipped with a special hook or other item for grabbing the chain must lean below deck and attempt to disentangle the chain with suitable movements which are not simple to perform. In practice, in these conditions dropping the anchor in the sea is rather problematic and troublesome, and is also time consuming.

Disclosure of the invention Therefore, an apparatus for moving anchoring equipment in a boat or the like has been provided, the anchoring equipment comprising an anchor for mooring to the sea bed and an anchor supporting chain, which is suitably connected to the boat; the apparatus comprises a compartment for housing the gathered chain, the compartment being open at the top to receive the chain and allow it out of the compartment, the compartment having side walls and a bottom wall. There are chain driving means, for extracting the chain from the compartment when the anchor is dropped in the sea, and for inserting the chain in the compartment when the anchor is hauled on board. The apparatus is characterised in that there are retaining means for holding the chain in place when it is gathered in the compartment.

In this way, the anchor chain does not become twisted during boat journeys.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics and advantageous aspects of the invention are apparent from the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention provided merely by way of example without restricting the scope of the inventive concept, and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the bow of a boat equipped with the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the empty compartment for the chain, of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;

- Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the full compartment for the chain, of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention;

- Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the compartment for the chain, empty but inflated, to illustrate the preferred configuration of the surface which engages with the chain, of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention; - Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the front part of the chain retaining sheet of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 10 denotes as a whole the bow of a boat fitted with the present anchoring equipment (only partially illustrated in Figure 1) .

The anchoring equipment comprises an anchor for mooring to the sea bed (not visible in the accompanying drawings) and an anchor supporting chain 12 with one end suitably connected to the anchor and the opposite end suitably connected to the boat.

As illustrated in Figure 1, and in the way substantially known in the sector, the chain extends outside the boat through an opening 13 and is held, on the opposite side, by a winch 15, which allows the chain to drop below deck through a corresponding opening, not illustrated in Figure 1, since it is protected by the guard 17.

With reference also to the other drawings, it may be seen how the preferred embodiment of a moving apparatus comprises a tank 14, or peak, forming a compartment 16 for housing the chain

12, in a gathered or heaped condition, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The top of the compartment 16 is open so that it can receive the chain and allow the chain out, and it is delimited by side walls 18, 20 and by a bottom wall 21. An upper edge 22 surrounds the upper opening of the peak, being formed by the horizontal upper surface of an upper extension 24, projecting from the below deck surface 24'.

The side walls delimiting the compartment 16 are, in particular, a flat front wall 18 and an opposite large circular or semi-circular wall 20.

The present apparatus comprises chain driving means, consisting of the winch 15, which extract the chain from the compartment 16 when the anchor is dropped in the sea, and insert the chain in the compartment 16 when the anchor is hauled on board.

Advantageously, there are retaining means for holding the chain 12 in place when it is gathered in the compartment 16. In this way, the chain can be held still during journeys, preventing it from becoming tangled.

Another advantage consists of the fact that the retaining means for holding the chain 12 in place are means which can be activated to hold the chain 12 in the compartment 16, and deactivated so that the anchor can be dropped in the sea. In this way, the retaining action can be activated as required.

In particular, the retaining means comprise a surface 26 for engagement with the chain 12, which is mobile between a position in which the chain is engaged and retained and a position in which the chain 12 is disengaged and can move freely.

As illustrated, the engagement surface 26 extends on the outside of the zone in which the chain 12 is gathered. In particular, the engagement surface 26 almost completely surrounds the side of the gathered chain 12 and also extends to engage with the upper part of the gathered chain 12, as illustrated in Figure 3.

Advantageously, there are also means designed to move the engagement surface 26, on command. In particular, these means designed to move the engagement surface 26 may be activated by a pressurised fluid, preferably, as is the case here, being pneumatically activated means.

Advantageously, said means designed to move the engagement surface 26 comprise at least one air actuator chamber. In particular there is a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth chamber 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, illustrated in Figure 5, shaped and arranged as described in more detail below.

Each air chamber can be expanded to secure the chain 12 and retracted to allow the chain to leave the compartment 16, forming, along with the other air chambers, a forward chain 12 engagement configuration for the surface 26, illustrated in Figure 3, and a back configuration in which the surface 26 is disengaged from the chain 12, illustrated in Figure 2.

Therefore, each actuator chamber consists of an elastic body- that is hollow inside made of rubber or the like so that they can be inflated, the volume being freely expanded to a predetermined and desired pressure level. Each air chamber can also be deflated until it takes on a flat configuration.

To push the engagement surface 26 against the chain 12, each actuator chamber is inserted between the corresponding inner side surface of the compartment 16 and the engagement surface. As indicated, there is a plurality of inflatable and retractable chambers for retaining the chain 12. The inflatable and retractable chambers 28, 30, 32, 34, 36 for retaining the chain 12 are arranged in such a way that they are circumferentially aligned to surround the outside of the chain 12. Said inflatable and retractable chambers for retaining the chain 12 consist, as clearly indicated in Figure 5, of a toroidal elastic surface, with an axis of symmetry which, in practice is substantially horizontal or perpendicular to the corresponding side wall of the compartment 16. In particular, a pair of air chambers are positioned in front of the flat front wall 18 of the compartment, whilst the remaining three air chambers are positioned at the semi-circular wall 20, inside the sheet whose outer surface forms the circumferential engagement surface 26, as is better described below.

Obviously, it should be understood that although the present configuration is particularly preferred for the expandable air chambers, other configurations may be imagined. For example, a single air chamber consisting of a single large inflatable body made of elastic material may be used, positioned around the space housing the chain, with its central axis vertical or perpendicular to the bottom. In such a case, the air chamber would preferably be shaped to follow the inner shape of the chain compartment.

The inflatable and retractable chambers for retaining the chain 12, arranged circumferentially to the chain 12, are connected to operating fluid supply means, comprising a compressor, by pipes for the fluid, in particular for air. The pipes preferably communicate with the air chambers using "parallel" connections, to maintain a suitable retaining action, even when one or more air chambers are punctured or unusable. In practice, there is a main pipe 39, from which a plurality of short connections 39' extend, designed to carry the fluid into the respective air chamber.

There are also means, preferably in the form of push¬ buttons, for controlling the retaining device, controlling inflation for engagement and deflation for disengagement. These control means are preferably positioned on a side edge D' - facing upwards - of the door D which gives access to the area below deck, in which the peak or tank 14 which contains the chain 12 is located. However, other configurations in which the operator has an equally good view of or cannot help but see the chain compartment may be imagined.

Advantageously, the engagement surface 26 consists of a sheet 40, made of waterproof material, which is positioned between the actuator means and the chain 12 and extends in such a way that it surrounds the entire chain 12. As illustrated, the sheet 40 is in the form of an extended tubular body and each air chamber is supported by the sheet, being housed in the latter.

In practice, the tubular sheet 40 has a radially inner face 26, forming the chain engagement surface, and a radially outer face 27, forming a surface for contact with the inner side wall of the compartment.

The sheet 40 comprises means for attachment inside the compartment 16. For this purpose, the sheet 40 has a plurality of plate-shaped brackets 42, distributed circumferentially and which can be fixed, with screws or the like, to the corresponding inner wall of the compartment 16. Said brackets 42 extend, as illustrated, from a lower outer edge of the sheet.

The sheet 40 also has a plurality of coupling elements 43, which are circumferentially distributed and can be fixed to a corresponding supporting cable 44, which surrounds the top of the compartment 16 and is fixed to the compartment 16, by ring-shaped brackets 46 extending from the flat upper edge of the compartment 16 or from the inner face of a corresponding wall of the compartment.

The coupling elements on the sheet are in the form of spring catches or the like 43, providing easy coupling and release means. These coupling elements 43 extend from the top of the retaining sheet 40.

The invention described is suitable for evident industrial applications and may be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving anchoring equipment in a boat or the like, the anchoring equipment comprising an anchor for mooring to the sea bed and an anchor supporting chain which is suitably connected to the boat; the apparatus comprising a compartment for housing the chain in a gathered condition, the compartment being open at the top to receive the chain and allow it out of the compartment, the compartment having side walls and a bottom wall; there being chain driving means, for extracting the chain from the compartment when the anchor is dropped in the sea, and for inserting the chain in the compartment when the anchor is hauled on board; the apparatus being characterised in that there are retaining means (26) for holding the chain in place when it is gathered in the compartment.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the retaining means for holding the chain in place are in the form of means which can be activated and deactivated.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterised in that the retaining means for holding the chain in place are in the form of means which can be activated to hold the chain in the compartment and deactivated to allow the anchor to be dropped in the sea.

4. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the retaining means comprise a surface for engagement with the chain which is mobile between a position in which the chain is engaged and retained and a position in which the chain is disengaged and free to move.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the engagement surface extends around the outside of the gathered chain.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the engagement surface surrounds the side of the gathered chain.

7. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 6, characterised in that the engagement surface extends in contact with the upper part of the gathered chain.

8. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 7, characterised in that there are means designed to move the engagement surface on command.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the means designed to move the engagement surface can be activated using a pressurised fluid.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the means designed to move the engagement surface can be activated pneumatically.

11. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 8 to 10, characterised in that the means designed to move the engagement surface comprise at least one actuator chamber.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the actuator chamber can be inflated to secure the chain and retracted to allow the chain to leave the compartment.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the actuator chamber consists of an air chamber which can be inflated and deflated.

14. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 13, characterised in that the actuator chamber is located between the inner side surface of the compartment and the chain.

15. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 14, characterised in that there is a plurality of inflatable and retractable chambers for retaining the chain.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, characterised in that the inflatable and retractable chambers for retaining the chain are circumferentially aligned with one another around the chain.

17. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 16, characterised in that each inflatable and retractable chamber for retaining the chain, circumferential to the chain, is in the form of a toroidal surface with a longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the corresponding side wall of the compartment.

18. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 11 to 17, characterised in that each inflatable and retractable chamber for retaining the chain is connected to operating fluid supply means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, characterised in that the inflatable and retractable chambers for retaining the chain, circumferential to the chain, have parallel connections to the fluid supply means.

20. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 4 to 19, characterised in that the engagement surface consists of a sheet located between the actuator means and the chain.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, characterised in that the sheet surrounds the chain.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20 or 21, characterised in that each air chamber is supported by the sheet.

23. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the compartment contains means for attaching the retaining means which hold the chain in place.

24. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that there is a plurality of brackets which can be fixed to the corresponding wall of the compartment, the brackets extending from an outer edge of the sheet or the retaining means (26) .

25. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 20 to 24, characterised in that there is a plurality of coupling elements which can be fixed to a corresponding retaining cable fixed to the compartment, the coupling elements extending from an outer edge of the sheet or the retaining means (26) .

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, characterised in that the coupling elements are in the form of spring catches.

27. The apparatus according to claim 25 or 26, characterised in that the cable is fixed by brackets extending from an upper edge surrounding the compartment.

28. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims, characterised in that there are control means positioned on a door giving access to the area below deck in which the compartment is located.

29. The apparatus according to any of the foregoing claims from 20 to 28, characterised in that the sheet is in the form of a tubular element, housing the actuator means of the surface which engages with the gathered chain.