EP2360088A1

EP2360088A1 - Bow port

Info

Publication number: EP2360088A1
Application number: EP11154127A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karl-Erik Wargh
Original assignee: Kewatec AluBoat Oy AB
Current assignee: Kewatec AluBoat Oy AB
Priority date: 2010-02-12
Filing date: 2011-02-11
Publication date: 2011-08-24
Also published as: FI20105147A0; FI122772B; FI20105147A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bow visor (1) for a boat hull (2). Such a solution is thus characterized in that the boat hull (2) has a pointed fore (3), whereby the bow visor (1) constitutes a part of a forebody such that a joint (4) of a freeboard (5) of the boat resides more or less parallel with a centre plane of the boat. This joint further divides a surface between a bottom (6) and the freeboard, a bilge (7), so that the part of the bilge that is located closer to the fore coincides with a lower edge (8) of the bow visor, and the joint then continues towards a stempost along a line where the bilge meets the bottom.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1.

PROBLEM DEFINITION

The present invention enables the problems with the known solutions to be substantially avoided. This object is solved according to the invention by providing a bow visor according to the invention with the characteristic features set forth in claim 1. Suitable further developments and respective variations of the invention that further improve its operation are disclosed in the subsequent dependent claims.
The basic idea of a bow visor according to the present design is that it should be applicable to a boat hull which has a pointed fore. The bow visor thus constitutes a part of a forebody such that a joint of a freeboard of the boat resides more or less parallel with with a centre plane of the boat. The joint further divides the bilge, i.e. a surface between a bottom of the boat and its freeboard, so that the the part of the bilge located closer to the fore belongs to a bow visor unit. The joint then continues towards a stempost along a line where the bilge meets the bottom surface, so the bottom in its entirety belongs to the hull.
The arrangement/method according to the present invention enables many significant advantages over the prior art to be achieved.
Owing to the inventive construction, the pointed fore provides e.g. a smoother travel on water. A fore construction equipped with the present bow visor is also clearly better in splitting waves than the previous square bow constructions, which results in stresses on the bow visor becoming relatively small.
By placing a hinge for the bow visor in the joint where the bilge is divided, the axis of rotation is provided with such movement on the bow visor itself that it forms a gangway of optimum height and angle for embarkation. This also provides a strong and firm construction.
Further advantages and details of the invention are disclosed in closer detail in the description below.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the following, the invention is described in closer detail and with reference to the drawing, in which

Figures 1 to 3 show a boat with a closed bow visor,
Figures 4 to 6 show a boat with an opened bow visor,
Figures 7 and 12 to 15 show solutions concerning construction technology, and
Figures 8 to 11 and 16 to 23 schematically show functioning of the present bow visor.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The aforementioned figures do not show the bow visor in scale, but are only intended to illustrate the constructional solutions of the preferred embodiments and the functioning of the embodiments. Herein, the constructional parts shown in the figures and designated by reference numerals correspond with the respective constructional solutions set forth in the description below and hereby at the same time indicated by reference number.
As can be seen e.g. in Figure 1, the present bow visor 1 is applied to a boat hull 2 which has a pointed fore 3. The bow visor hereby constitutes a part of a forebody such that a joint 4 of a freeboard 5 of the boat resides more or less parallel with a centre plane of the boat, as can be seen e.g. in Figure 2. The joint further divides a surface between a bottom 6 and the freeboard, a bilge 7, so that the part of the bilge that is located closer to the fore coincides with a lower edge 8 of the bow visor 1. The joint then continues towards a stempost along a line where the bilge meets the bottom; thus, the bottom in its entirety belongs to the hull.
Figures 7 to 12 schematically show the construction and functioning of the bow visor 1. Herein hinges 9 for the bow visor 1 are placed in the joint where the bilge 7 is divided. Cf. Figure 7. The reasons for this placement are that the axis of rotation 10 provides the visor itself with such movement that it forms a gangway of optimum height and angle for embarkation and, moreover, a strong and firm construction is achieved.
The bilge 7, which has an ascending line towards the fore, bends at the hinge 9, and the direction ahead thereafter becomes 5 to 10° downward sloping, according to Figure 8. The reason for this is that when the bow visor 1 is opened, the inner metal surface 12 of the bow visor itself becomes lowered onto the 5 to 10° downward sloping part 13 of the hull in order to provide the gangway with optimum inclination for embarkation. The function is illustrated e.g. in Figures 8 and 9. The geometry of the forebody is also particularly designed so as to enable the bow visor itself to rotate and have room outside the hull when it is bent down and opened. Cf. Figure 9.
The joint 4 between the freeboard 5 and the bow visor 1 is sealed with a rubber packing 14, preferably having a circular cross-section, fastened to the hull, see Figures 13 and 15. The packing is pressed together between two parallel metal surfaces 15 and 16, sealing the joint when the bow visor is closed. The bow visor may be locked by a mechanical clamping lock with the safety pin above the gunwale, or in another manner known per se. The locking mechanism may even be automatic.
The joint 17 between the bow visor 1 and the bottom 6 of the boat is sealed with a rubber strip 18 fastened to a bow visor unit, see Figure 15. The rubber strip becomes pressed against the bottom when the bow visor is closed, thus effectively sealing the joint.
Preferably, the construction is provided with one or more gas cylinders 19 located under the bow visor 1 in order to reduce its weight so that it slowly moves lower upon opening and is easy to close. The opening and closing of the bow visor may be arranged to be carried out manually by means of a rope which e.g. runs through two blocks. The rope may be locked with a sheet lock. The gas cylinders and the blocks make the manoeuvre light.
In connection with ships, wherein the bow visor 1 is heavier, the gas cylinders 19 may advantageously be replaced by electric, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. In such a case, opening and closing take place through these actuators.
The spreading out of the two outer gangway plates 20 and 21 constituting a continuation of the gangway is in the first place designed to be carried out manually. However, electric, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders or actuators may by all means be utilized for the purpose. The first of these parts of the gangway is constructed such that one side is provided with one or more reinforcements 22, 23, 24. Preferably, one of these reinforcements 22 at the same time forms a step or a seat when the bow visor 1 is closed. In a lowered position, the purpose of the reinforcement is to support the gangway.
A bow visor unit according to the present preferred construction thus comprises the most forward part of the hull of the boat. The bow visor unit is substantially pointed. The figures show a fore which is somewhat blunt in form, but a gunwale 25 may by all means form an acute angle in the fore. The bow visor unit has outer plane surfaces that form continuations of respective freeboards. In the joint between the hull 2 and the bow visor 1 a unit of flanges is provided, which contribute to sealing a connecting surface between the hull and the bow visor. Between the joints 4 on an inner side of the hull, the bow visor unit is provided with a preferably three-piece gangway construction. This gangway construction may extend from a boat floor 26 all the way to the gunwale. The gangway construction may also come to an end before the gunwale in order to form a step 27, according e.g. to Figure 17.
The gangway construction is folded up such that the outermost gangway plate 21 of the gangway resides out-of-the-way between a base 28 of the gangway and the first gangway plate 20. Herein the middle part 20 is provided with the aforementioned reinforcements 22 to 24 on its surface oriented from the outermost part.
When the bow visor is opened, the bow visor unit thus rotates around the axis 10 all the way to the base 28, or a constructional part arranged therein comes into contact with the sloping part 13 of the hull. Subsequently, the first gangway plate 20 and the outer gangway plate 21 fastened thereto unfold. The parts hereby rotate around hinges or corresponding members that fasten the parts 28 and 20 to one another. When the gangway plate 20 has obtained a position where it is substantially parallel with the base of the gangway, the reinforcement 22 comes to bear on the constructions of the bow visor and thus rest in its place. Finally, the outer part 21 of the gangway is unfolded. This part also rotates around hinges or corresponding members that fasten the plates 20 and 21 to one another. This gangway plate is thought to bear on the shore or pier to enable disembarkation from the ship.
The above description and the related figures are only intended to illustrate the present solution for the construction of a bow visor. The solution is thus not limited to the embodiment described above or in the attached claims, but many variations or alternative embodiments are possible within the idea described in the attached claims.

Claims

A bow visor (1) for a boat hull (2),
characterized in that
the boat hull (2) has a pointed fore (3), whereby
the bow visor (1) constitutes a part of a forebody such that a joint (4) of a freeboard (5) of the boat resides more or less parallel with a centre plane of the boat, and
the joint further divides a surface between a bottom (6) and the freeboard, a bilge (7), so that the part of the bilge that is located closer to the fore coincides with a lower edge (8) of the bow visor, and
the joint then continues towards a stempost along a line where the bilge meets the bottom.
A bow visor unit for providing an aforementioned bow visor (1), characterized in that
the bow visor unit comprises the substantially pointed part of the hull of the boat which resides closest to the fore, whereby
the bow visor unit has outer plane surfaces which form continuations of respective freeboards, and
in the joint between the hull (2) and the bow visor (1) is provided a unit of flanges which contribute to sealing a connecting surface between the hull and the bow visor.
A bow visor unit as claimed in claim 1,
characterized in that
between the joints (4) on an inner side of the hull, the bow visor unit is provided with a preferably three-piece gangway construction.