GB2335613A - Reducing dead weight - Google Patents

Abstract

A compartment 10 with an access cover 14 mounted outside the hull of a ship or model boat or ship in such a way that it can carry some of the heavy items 9 normally mounted within the hull. It includes a method of running supplies and communications from the compartment back into the hull. By lowering the centre of gravity in this way less dead weight is required to balance the riding trim. The heavy items may be the batteries which are connected to equipment such as receiver 5 and servo 3, in the hull.

Description

1 1 PATENT APPLICATION 1 TITLE Method of Reducing Dead Weight in Model

Ships and Boats.

2335613 DESCRIEPTION This invention relates to the problem of having to add extra weight to ships and boats in order to control trim, rolling and heeling.

It is well known that extra ballast within the hull of powered vessels and the fitting of heavy or weighted keels on sailing and wind powered ships is used to control trim, rolling and heeling.

The disadvantages of these methods are lack of room within hulls and the need to increase the vessels overall weight which impairs its performance on the water. Another disadvantage is that launching and recovery becomes much more difficult.

This invention overcomes these problems by allowing some of the weighty components that are normally carried within the hull to be carried underneath it. This is especially useful with wind powered vessels as it lowers the centre of gravity, without adding extra weight, controlling the heeling of the vessel holding it in a more upright position reducing the risk of capsizing.

This invention consists of a compartment which may be airtight, with a removable cover for access preferably mounted under the vessel outside the hull. It includes a way of mounting the compartment under the vessel and running communications, services and supplies etc. back into the hull to connect with the various servos, winches, motors, radios etc.

The specific example shown and described is typical of how the invention might be used on a sailing or wind powered boat. It describes with the Figures how batteries, normally the heaviest weights on board, can be carried in the compartment on the keel and the supplies connected back into the main body of the hull. Depending on the size and design of the compartment it would be possible to mount other heavy objects such as the propulsion engines and hydraulic pumps in it and further improve the vessels resistance to rolling and heeling. Riding trim can be varied by moving the compartment back and forth and side to side.

The invention will now be described with reference to the following Figures.

1 Figure 1 a general side view and Figure 2 an enlargement of the area showing the C corner end detail of the compartment, Figure3 shows a streamlined access cover and Figure 4 shows how the diameters of the compartment and the access cover can be C the same diameter.

With reference to Ficure 1, the hull 1 has a rudder 2 pivotally mounted on it at the c stern. The rudder 2 is turned by a servo 3 via a connecting link 4. 5 is a signal receiver which operates the servo when it receives a signal, normally from a radio transmitter. The receiver 5 and the servo 3 communicate by wires 6. In this example both the receiver and the servo are electrically driven from electric storage batteries 9 which are carried in the airtight compartment 10 at the end of the keel 11. The electrical supplies from the battery to the receiver and servo are carried by two conductors 7 and 8. In this example conductor 7 is connected directly to the battery 9 but conductor 8 is connected to a stud 12 inside the hull and to a conductor 13 in the airtight compartment which is then connected to the battery. The stud 12 holds the keel 11 to the hull 1 at the top and holds the airtight compartment 10 at the bottom, drawing the whole assembly tightly together. 14 is the access cover which snaps onto the end of the compartment 10 making an airtight seal. This can be seen in more detail in Figure 2.

In Fi-ure 2 it can be seen that the snap on cover fits tightly on a fiange 15 around c C c the end of the compartment.

Figure 3 shows an example of how the access cover if it is positioned at the end of c' the compartment may be shaped to afford some streamlining and reduce drag. 10 is the compartment and 16 is the new access cover which is shaped to produce less drag.

Figure 4 is a close up of the assembly where the access cover engages which the compartment and it shows that the outside diameters of the compartment 10 and the access cover 16 have been made substantially the same, this further reduces drag.

1

Claims (9)

1. Claims 1 A hull of a vessel carrying a compartment adapted to carry loads

   externally.
2. 2 A hull as in claim 1 where a compartment is mounted under the hull of a boat.
3. 3 A compartment as claimed in claim 1 and 2 which is preferably airtight with a removable cover to provide access.
4. 4 A compartment as claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3 in which can be mounted components and equipment that are normally positioned within the hull.
5. A compartment with a cover mounted under the hull of a boat as claimed in the above claims where services can be run back into the bull.
6. 6 A compartment as claimed in the above claims which can be mounted under the hull in a position such that it improves the riding characteristics of a vessel minimising the need to add extra ballast.
7. 7 A compartment as claimed in the above claims which when fixed to a sailing or c wind powered vessels keel has services running through the keel connecting back into the hull.
8. 8 A compartment as claimed in the above claims in which some services may be run back into the hull using the attachment fixings.
9. 9 A hull and compartment arrangement substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1, 2,3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

   c