WO1991017915A1

WO1991017915A1 - Flotation apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1991017915A1
Application number: PCT/AU1991/000177
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bruce Mervyn Webster
Original assignee: Bruce Mervyn Webster
Priority date: 1990-05-11
Filing date: 1991-05-01
Publication date: 1991-11-28

Abstract

A device for preventing a vessel from sinking comprises elongate hollow strips (18), (18a) and (18b) secured to the vessel above its waterline. Inflatable bags (bladders) are secured inside the strips and connected via respective gas-lines (20), (22) and (24) to a source of compressed gas (26). When the bags are inflated, they force themselves out through a longitudinal flap provided in the wall of each strip and expand to their full extent. The bags can be inflated via manual or automatic actuating means (31), the latter of which can be set to react to a predetermined level of water within the vessel.

Description

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TITLE: "FLOTATION APPARATUS"

THIS INVENTION relates to a flotation apparatus which is particularly useful as a safety device for any type of seagoing vessel. The invention finds greater use for smaller vessels such as private leisure or fishing boats.

Efforts have been traditionally made to increase personal and individual safety aspects of seagoing travel. Devices such as life-jackets, flares, whistles and lights have been designed for use by a person once they have been thrown into the water after a boat has sunk. Little effort has been made to prevent a person from entering the water when a boat sinks, or indeed to prevent the boat itself from sinking.

Clearly little can be done to prevent the wide range of accidents which may cause a boat to sink, such as rupture of hulls, swamping, tipping over or even explosions. However, if the boat could be kept reasonably well afloat, even in the majority of the above circumstances (with the possible exception of explosions), the people on board could be kept out of the water and would not be exposed to the risks of drowning, hypothermia, shark attack, and even the debilitating psychological effect of being separated and alone. There would also be the benefit of not having to salvage a wreck from a submerged position if the wreck remained afloat, hence protecting an often valuable asset and reducing salvage costs. Further, vessels in distress are far easier to locate than are individuals in oceans, and as such. faster rescue times are possible.

The aim of this invention is to provide a flotation apparatus which overcomes, or at least partly alleviates, the above mentioned problems of known safety systems . - 2

The present invention provides a flotation apparatus for a vessel, said apparatus comprising: an inflatable means capable of being secured to said vessel; a device for holding said inflatable means , said device being capable of being secured to or being made integral with said vessel; and means to actuate inflation of the inflatable means either manually or in response to a predetermined event; wherein, said holding device comprises a substantially hollow body having a chamber therein and at least one resilient portion which is capable of opening to allow access to the chamber, said at least one resilient portion being urged towards a closed position such that the inflatable means may be retained within the chamber until inflation of the inflatable means is initiated by the actuating means, after which the inflatable means is capable of forcing said at least one resilient portion open to complete inflating outside the chamber.

In a preferred form the device for holding the inflatable means is provided by an elongate hollow strip. The hollow strip is preferably rectangular in cross-section, having opposing side walls and top and bottom walls which together define the chamber. The hollow strip may be rigidly secured to the outer surface of the hull of a vessel by any known means, and preferably at a location adjacent the widest point of the hull, running continuously or in a number of finite lengths from the bow of the hull to the stern (on each side) and across the stern. - 3 -

The hollow strip is preferably constructed so that attachment to the hull of the vessel may be made via one side wall, so that the other side wall includes the resilient portion referred to above. In this form, the side wall is defined by an upper elongate flap extending downwardly to partially overlap or engage with a lower upwardly extending flap. In their at rest positions the overlapping portions of the flaps abut to substantially close the chamber within the hollow strip.

The overlapping flaps may be of any configuration, and may engage in any way. For example, the lower flap may be of a width such that a continuous downwardly extending groove may be located therein which is capable of receiving the lower portion of the upper flap in a tongue and groove type relationship. Such a configuration would serve to provide a better closure and may provide a reasonably water tight seal.

It will be understood by a person skilled in the art that the material of the hollow strip must at least be such that the part thereof which provides the resilient portion is capable of movement between a closed position and an open position responsive to a predetermined force from within the chamber of the holding device. In a preferred form the hollow strip itself is formed of a heavy rubber. The thickness of the flaps will be determined by the particular grade of rubber as well as by the force exerted from within the chamber by the inflatable means, which force would be dependent upon the particular type of inflatable means together with the particular type of actuating means. Of course, any other type of resilient material may be utilised such as silicon or moulded plastics. - 4 -

The device for holding the inflatable means has been described above as being externally locatable about the vessel. However, the holding device may be located within the vessel, or at virtually any other location that is at a position near or above the waterline of the vessel. The holding device may also be incorporated within the body of the hull. A particular advantage provided by using the preferred form described above is that the hollow strip may be located about the hull in a position whereby it is capable of also acting as a bumper for the vessel. This would then negate the need for additional bumpers on jetties or walls or the like, and also the need for additional bumpers located on the vessel itself.

The device for holding the inflatable means also need not be provided about the entire periphery of the vessel, nor must the inflatable means be such as to provide flotation for the entire periphery. Of course, it is preferred that regardless of the type or configuration of the inflatable means, it is suitable to keep the vessel substantially afloat if needed. Thus, a number of locations may be provided about the vessel for the holding device, providing several areas of release for the inflatable means.

The inflatable means of the present invention is preferably secured within the chamber of the holding device, which is in turn secured to the vessel. The inflatable means may be an inflatable bag or an inflatable bladder or the like which is constructed of a relatively tough material such that on inflation the bag or bladder is capable of forcing its way past the resilient portion of the holding device to continue inflating outside the chamber of the holding device. Preferably, the inflatable means is an elongate inflatable bladder secured along one edge thereof to the inside of the holding device. - 5 -

In an alternative form the inflatable means may simply be held within the holding device while not being secured thereto. In this form the inflatable means must of course be otherwise secured to the vessel, such as by a tie-line or rope, or any other type of umbilical line. In this form, the tie-line must be relatively short in order for the vessel to be held above water when the inflatable means is actuated and the apparatus of the present invention is utilised.

The actuating means of the present invention preferably includes a source of compressed air or gas connected by gas lines to the or each inflatable means together with a valve for releasing the compressed air or gas following a predetermined signal. Preferably, the actuating means includes a solenoid which is activated by a switch. The switch may either be manually operable by a person within the boat, or may be automatically operable (such as by a water sensing switch or by a flotation switch) which would react to the presence of a predetermined level of water within the vessel or to some other similar warning state. Of course, a person skilled in the art will understand that any type of actuating means may be utilised with the apparatus of the present invention, provided that a system is present that can automatically or manually initiate the inflation of the inflatable means.

The apparatus of the present invention provides a safety feature for any vessel, which is easily installed in an existing vessel or may be incorporated in the manufacture of new vessels. The apparatus is readily adaptable to any type of vessel, and any shape of vessel, and provides a mechanism which is both life saving and also asset saving.

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Much time and effort has been spent on developing life saving measures which are personal life saving measures such as life jackets and the like, but little effort has been made on taking those life saving measures a step further and attempting to prevent the sinking of a vessel itself. All too often lives could be saved if after getting into difficulties in various waters people were able to stay with or hold onto an at least only partially submerged vessel. The apparatus of the present invention is capable of keeping a vessel afloat even when that vessel is partially or completely filled with water.

The apparatus of the present invention is also easily reusable, simply requiring the inflatable means to be re¬ inserted within the holding means, and only requiring maintenance or replacement of the source of inflation, which in the preferred embodiment is illustrated as a source of compressed air. The apparatus also provides the ability to have either or both of a manually operated system or an automatically operated system which may be set to be initiated by predetermined warning levels, which may be different in different circumstances and with different vessels.

In order to assist in arriving at an understanding of the present invention a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the attached drawings. However, it should be understood that the following description is illustrative only and should not be taken in any way as a restriction on the generality of the invention as described above.

In the drawings :

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boat incorporating a preferred embodiment of the flotation apparatus of the present invention; - 7 -

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the embodiment of Figure 1 after activation;

Figure 4 is a cross-section of the holding means of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-section of the holding means and the inflatable means of the embodiment of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic cross-section of the holding means and the inflatable means of Figure 5 after activation.

Illustrated in Figure 1 is a rudimentary outline of a boat 10 having a bow 12 a stern 14 and a hull 16. Secured to the hull 16 near the top thereat is a folding device in the form of an elongate rubber hollow strip 18 having an inflatable means therein (not shown) connected by a gas- line 20 to an actuating means (not shown) within the boat 10. The hollow strip 18 extends from the bow 12 to the stern 14 in a continuous length, and at a height which allows it to act as a buffer for when the boat is berthed or is alongside another boat.

It will be evident to a person skilled in the art that the hollow strip need not be continuous from bow to stern, but may comprise a number of separate lengths either in a continuous line or with breaks therebetween. Of course, the gas-line 20 also need not project outside the boat but - 8 -

may in an alternative form be provided through the hull of the boat.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the hollow strip 18 extends about substantially the entire periphery of the hull, and includes a length 18a across the stern 14. The diagrammatic version shown in Figure 2 also shows extra gas-lines 22 and 24 which supply the inflating gas of the compressed air cylinder 26 to the inflatable means (not shown) within the hollow strips 18a and 18b. A valve 28 is activated to an open or closed position by a solenoid which is responsive to a signal from the switch 30. The switch 30 is shown as a flotation switch which may be located near the bottom of the hull so that when water in the boat reaches a certain level, the arm 31 of the flotation switch 30 rises to a point where a signal is sent to the solenoid to open the valve, allowing compressed air to begin inflating the respective inflatable means. As described earlier, any type of switch may be used, and indeed any type or configuration of actuating system may be substituted for that shown.

Figure 3 shows diagrammatically the result of inflating the inflatable means. Illustrated are inflatable rubber bladders 32 and 34 of hollow strip 18, bladders 36 and 38 of strip 18b and bladders 40 of strip 18a. These bladders, prior to inflation, were rolled into an "at rest" position and held in their respective holding devices (hollow strips).

The hollow strips are better illustrated in Figures 4 to 6. Figure 4 shows a cross-section of a holding device of the preferred embodiment, having an outwardly facing side wall 42, a rearwardly facing sidewall 44 for connection to the hull of the boat, and top and bottom walls 46, 48. - 9

Within these walls is chamber 51. The side wall 42 has two resilient portions which are the upper flap 50 and the lower flap 52. The upper flap 50 includes a downwardly extending tongue 54 which is received by an upwardly opening correspondingly configured groove 56 in lower flap 52. This tongue and groove relationship provides an adequate seal for the purposes of the invention.

Within the chamber 51, and as shown in Figure 5 is the inflatable means in the form of an inflatable bladder 60. The bladder 60 is secured to the inside surface of wall 44, and is folded within chamber 51 in such a way that when rapidly inflated the bladder will expand to force against the inside of flaps 50 and 52. When the pressure reaches a certain level the force will be great enough to overcome the resilience of the flaps and to open that side wall to allow the expanding bladder to exit from the chamber.

Figure 6 illustrates the bladder 60 when inflated and with flaps 50 and 52 forced open. It will be understood that the join between the bladder 60 and the wall 44 of the hollow strip must be strong enough to prevent the bladder being torn away from the wall when inflated and when floating the vessel.

When the inflated bladder is no longer required and may be returned to the chamber, the valve of the compressed air cylinder is closed, the system is opened to allow release of the air, and the bladder may be refolded and reinserted. Any known means of evacuating the air from the bladder may be used to achieve this.

A person skilled in the art will understand that variations to the specific configuration of the holding - 10 -

device and its resilient portions may be made, depending upon specific requirements. As described above, the holding device itself may be incorporated within the hull of a boat, and may not be elongate. Further, the resilient portions may be provided by one or more flaps or the like in any type of configuration.

Thus, the flotation apparatus of the present invention provides safety benefits to the users of seagoing vessels that are not present in the normal personal safety techniques. The present invention can be activated swiftly to prevent a boat from sinking, even when the hull has been breached and the boat is partially or completely full of water, and helps to provide an environment which is safer and easier to locate than simply leaving a person drifting and afloat in open seas.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there may be many other variations and modifications of the configurations described herein which are wit the scope of the present invention.

Claims

- 1 1 -THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:

1. A flotation apparatus for a vessel, said apparatus comprising:

an inflatable means capable of being secured to said vessel; a device for holding said inflatable means, said device being capable of being secured to or being made integral with said vessel; and means to actuate inflation of the inflatable means either manually or in response to a predetermined event; wherein, said holding device comprises a substantially hollow body having a chamber therein and at least one resilient portion which is capable of opening to allow access to the chamber, said at least one resilient portion being urged towards a closed position such that the inflatable means may be retained within the chamber until inflation of the inflatable means is initiated by the actuating means, after which the inflatable means is capable of forcing said at least one resilient portion open to complete inflating outside the chamber.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the device for holding the inflatable means is an elongate hollow strip having opposing side walls and bottom walls which together define a chamber.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one side wall of the strip is rigidly secured to an outer surface of the hull of the vessel, extending continuously from bow to stern, along both sides, and across the stern, at a position near the position of maximum width of the hull. - 12 -

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the other side wall includes two resilient portions, one in the form of an upper elongate flap extending downwardly to partially overlap or engage with the other in the form of a lower upwardly extending flap.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the lower flap has an upwardly opening groove which is capable of receiving a correspondingly configured downwardly extending tongue or the upper flap.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the inflatable means is an inflatable bladder secured at one part thereof within the chamber, such that on inflation a majority of the bladder will be forced out of the chamber past the or each resilient portion while being held secure to the holding device.

7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the actuating means comprises a source of compressed gas connected by a gas-line to the inflatable means, and operated by a valve which in turn is operated by a solenoid which receives signals from a switch.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the switch is automatically operated by a flotation or water sensing switch, or is manually operable.