ES1271044U - ELECTRIC AIRBOAT WITH ENHANCED MANEUVERABILITY (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Electric airboat with improved maneuverability characterized by an aerial propulsion mechanism driven by an electric motor, and not needing rudders, as it implements a mechanically or hydraulically actuated turning mechanism (360 °) for the maneuvering of air-powered boats that comprises a propulsion assembly composed of a motor and propeller arranged around a pivoting perpendicular axis to the plane of the deck of the vessel for angular rotation of said pivoting assembly

Description

DESCRIPTION

Electric Airboat with Enhanced Maneuverability

Object of the invention

The present invention, as expressed in the wording of this specification, refers to a vessel of the type called airboat, which has been conceived and carried out in order to obtain numerous and notable advantages over other existing means of similar purposes.

This "electric airboat with improved maneuverability" is an unsinkable boat of scalable dimensions with a flat bottom, it is designed so that the material of the boat's hull with the molten polymer adhered to the aluminum allows to navigate on any type of bottom without suffering damage. and it can navigate in areas where the hull touches the bottom, or even crawls or slides through dry areas without suffering any deformation that prevents its buoyancy, it is propelled by an aviation propeller driven by an electric motor that pivots on itself. himself doing both the propulsion and steering functions of the boat.

This means that the handling is not achieved by the usual technical execution in these boats.

The normal way to steer the boat is done by passing forced air through attached mechanisms (vertical rudders) that pivot on the axes positioned at the rear (stern) of the boat (FIG. 1). In the "airboats" executions carried out to date, the engine with its propeller generates an air current on the vertical axes of rotation of the rudders (FIG. 2A), to change the direction of the boat through a mobile mechanism annex, the rudders are rotated that change the direction of the air and cause the boat to rotate (FIG. 2B).

In the new invented model, the motor together with the propeller are those that pivot with respect to a vertical axis (FIG. 3) causing the boat to change direction without requiring other attached mechanisms (FIG. 4A and 4B).

Thus, this boat lacks the steering mechanism called rudder in its traditional configuration since the change in the direction of the air flow is not done by turning a rudder but by turning the entire engine itself (FIG. 5). In addition, it has other characteristics such as , the possibility of folding down the bow to load vehicles, or the possibility of folding the propeller and the control console to pass under low bridges or the installation of the control console of the boat to port, starboard or centered (FIG. 8A and 8B).

Background of the invention

The reason why we have decided to carry out this invention is because the current airboats are mostly built with engines that in no case would obtain the approval in Europe for civil use, and their turning maneuverability during navigation by the vast majority of Spanish and European rivers in narrow spaces make their navigation ineffective, and in addition to using conventional combustion engines in the natural areas in which we intend to carry out our activity, the use of said engines would be unacceptable due to their effect polluting the environment and above all having viable alternatives.

The sector to which this innovation belongs is that of shipbuilding and professional nautical, and within this sector the subsector or secondary sector of cleaning, inspection, channel maintenance and hydraulic works vessels.

More and more Public Administrations and citizens are demanding solutions for the problem caused by plastics in the sea, and that is why in developed countries we find small boats dedicated to the removal of waste in ports.

Small boats, mostly, with combustion engines that do their work in ports, bays or roads where there is significant competition between the different builders with their different models and solutions.

Currently the shipyards are realizing that in order to be competitive against Public Administrations and especially against the guidelines set by the European Union they have to start developing new models powered by clean energy.

Likewise, a lot of resources are being devoted to finding solutions at sea with plastic ships of another size to go out into the ocean, or waste collection facilities that are left adrift doing the work in a natural way. Also in some places it is the fishermen themselves who collect waste that comes mixed with their catches and that once in port they deliver them in exchange for some compensation, usually economic.

It is important to note that a new economic activity is beginning to emerge, namely waste collection and reuse (circular economy), which is already underway and which will become increasingly significant in developed countries.

Within this framework, there is a space in which viable solutions have not yet been found both economically and environmentally and that is the reason why we have developed our idea to help solve part of the problem posed by plastics in the sea.

There are already studies that support that more than 80% of the solid waste in the sea comes from rivers, every time there is a large flood of waste, it is washed away by the water ending up in the oceans, many of that waste before Going out to sea, they are caught in the riverside vegetation and to this day, except on rare occasions, this waste is not collected, and on the few occasions that this work has been carried out it has been with volunteers.

The problem is that if these residues are not collected, they will inevitably end up in the sea, with the aggravating circumstance that they will also be fragmented into small parts due to the fact that they are hooked on the branches, growing after flooding they decompose into smaller pieces due to the flag effect. , and once in the sea they end up being eaten by marine fauna, mistaking them for food.

The collection of these fragmented waste, sometimes in the form of microplastics, is very difficult once they have reached the sea, and it is important to note that a study by the University of Minnesota has detected that, worldwide, 82% of the drinking water we consume is contaminated with microplastics.

For all of the above, carrying out this type of cleaning is necessary not only because we will prevent part of the waste from reaching the sea, but also because we will clean up the river ecosystem itself, we will return materials to the production process through recycling, and therefore we will avoid the great visual and environmental impact caused by these residues in the river beds.

Finally, also mention that this type of boat can be very useful for other activities apart from waste collection, since it can access spaces from the channel where it is necessary to carry out other activities such as reforestation, removal of invasive species, hydraulic works, sampling, etc.

In some countries, it is very common to see this type of boat performing different activities, both civil protection, different jobs, even recreational ones, but always with combustion engines that mostly do not meet the requirements to obtain the CE marking.

Once the problem has been analyzed, it has been exhaustively studied which would be the most appropriate tool to undertake the activity, resulting in that the most appropriate is to do it from the riverbed itself, with a boat that gives us the necessary benefits both at the level of navigation (stability, maneuvering, draft, propulsion ...), as well as at an environmental level (CO2 emissions, noise ...).

If we look at the characteristics of most of our rivers, we can see that they are small rivers, with low drafts and difficult access from land, and in the case of large rivers they also feed on smaller tributaries with the same characteristics that we have mentioned.

It is evident that the tasks will need to be carried out in sections, since many rivers have waterfalls or rapids where navigation will be impossible, so the first characteristic that our boat must have is that it can be transported by road in a truck or trailer and lower it to the channel with the truck's own boom or by a ramp.

Another reason why we have designed this boat with reduced dimensions is that with it it can be accessed in narrow spaces but also in wide spaces, which on the contrary would be unfeasible, but the size can be scalable and build the boat of the right size to the function it will have and the area where it will operate.

Being a small boat, the idea is that the waste collected is dumped in floating containers and these are moved by trailer through the water to the collection point, so that the boom truck can lift them and empty them in the carts to its subsequent selection and recycling.

The engine must have sufficient power to carry out these tasks, to develop the necessary torque, combustion engines with very high displacements (8,000-9,000 cc.) That develop a power of 280-300 hp can be used, this option is unfeasible in Europe because these engines are not approved for civil use, so we have discarded them.

In addition, in many of these areas where we are going to work, the legislation itself establishes the prohibition of sailing with combustion engines or gasoline, for which we have implemented a battery powered propulsion system with an electric motor that is managed by a high performance electronic controller.

It is important to mention that an electric motor has a much higher torque than a combustion engine and they make much less noise, which is important in the environments where we are going to move.

As these are shallow areas, the prototype we have built has a flat bottom coated with a 50D shore hardness polymer that allows the boat to pass over obstacles without the impact affecting the hull structure, being able to navigate in 8 cm of Water.

Also, as it is air propulsion and is above the waterline, it allows navigating through areas where there is aquatic vegetation or where there are invisible obstacles such as the remains of trees or others without affecting the safety of the boat.

Another improvement that we have implemented and that totally differentiates it from existing boats is an axial direction that pivots on the motor itself, its propulsion being the one that allows the boat to rotate, being axial it allows the boat to rotate on itself. same providing a much improved maneuverability over the currently existing conventional directions (Figure 6) and that will be very necessary in the places where we are going to move (shallow, narrow areas and often with some currents).

The material in which it has been built is naval aluminum, mainly because it is very suitable to receive blows without posing a problem for navigation and because it is light, especially considering areas of difficult access where the activity is going to develop, but depending on From the use to which the boat is destined, the hull will also be built with other materials (steel, wood, fiberglass, ...).

The boat has not been manufactured in carbon fiber because any blow can break the structure of the hull, supposing a serious compromise of safety of the boat, especially if the waterway occurs in any of the watertight departments that make it unsinkable, in change a blow to the aluminum the only thing that causes is a dent that does not pose any risk, however, as we have said in the previous paragraph, depending on the use to which the boat is intended, it can be built with other materials.

The engine that has been implemented in this new utility model boat with improved maneuverability is in this case the EMRAX 268 with a nominal 107 kW that gives peaks of 200 kW and a nominal torque of 250 Nm with peaks of up to 500 Nm.

At this moment we have technology that would allow us to implement motors from 30 kW to 1,200 kW, and as the research in this area is going today, very soon we will be above those values.

In short, the prototype we have built is an example of the type of boat that is necessary to be able to navigate shallow rivers and has the great advantage that it is scalable in terms of size, power, design, etc ..., always depending on the function for which it is intended.

As we have indicated previously, to tackle the problem of navigation in shallow areas, at first we contemplated the possibility of using very suitable for navigation in rivers and swamps, called "airboats". These boats are initially suitable because they have very shallow draft and are reinforced on the flat bottom to absorb blows from stones.

When deepening our research, we observe that there is not a single manufacturer that manufactures these boats with the possibility of obtaining a European homologation certificate (CE marking), therefore, their use for the cleaning and collection of waste from river channels It is not feasible, since they have aircraft engines or large car engines, combustion and displacement of 8,000 cc, with excessive fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and noise (sound) and unacceptable for the sustainable development of the environment .

As for their shipbuilding, the US legislation allows them to drill the live work of the hull to rivet a polymer sheet on the flat bottom that absorbs shocks, while in Europe this is not possible, so to solve this technical difficulty , we decided to project the hot melt polymer onto the aluminum hull with total adhesion and a hardness of 50D shore.

Numerous flat-bottomed boats are known propelled by an aviation propeller mounted on an internal combustion engine since in 1920 the first airboat with shape and technical executions in terms of its propulsion and direction was registered in the United States until now with hardly any variation.

The applicants, taking inspiration from the “airboats” used with great frequency in the southern United States, and their ingenuity and multidisciplinary specialization, are investigating to develop and innovate the construction of a new model of boat that navigates through deep or shallow inland waters. deep, that slides through almost dry areas and is suitable for the collection and transport of waste existing in European riverbeds and people.

With regard to Europe, we only find two builders of "airboats", one in Italy that builds them with the American philosophy and is intended for use by civil protection (fire, police, rescue, etc.), and that do not need to comply with the regulations and another in Finland that manufactures them with light aviation engines, also four-stroke combustion, and with low power.

The latter comply with European regulations since the engines are homologated, and are manufactured and built mainly to slide on water or ice, but as we have said before, since they are combustion and need enough space for their maneuverability, they are not suitable for the activity to which we propose.

In all the investigations that we have carried out, we have not found any shipyard worldwide that manufactures these boats with an electric motor, nor with an axial steering system that significantly improves maneuverability in confined spaces.

Description of the invention

The electric airboat model with improved maneuverability designed and built by the applicants is developed to operate in any area or plate of water or low draft river and carry out cleaning and inspection tasks in places where other boats cannot navigate, especially to be able to collect and transport the waste collected from the banks where after important fairies they are saturated with plastics and other residues that get caught in the riverside vegetation, such as personnel and industrial machinery.

The main aspects to highlight of this built boat are the following:

Hull Materials

The hull of the boat is built taking into account resistance to permanent indentation under static or dynamic loads (penetration hardness), energy absorption under impact or dynamic loads (rebound hardness), abrasion resistance (wear hardness) and scratch resistance (scratch hardness) in 4 mm AW5754-H111 naval aluminum sheet, with 10 mm sheet metal reinforcement in AW5083-H111 naval aluminum, adding for greater guarantee to the resistance and friction wear of the material protected by a hot melt polymer with total adhesion and hardness of 50D shore, allowing the boat to slide on any type of terrain, in case of dry sliding or in shallow draft areas, given its characteristics, design, weight, resistance and coefficient of friction.

The material used for the hull of the boat and its design allows it to navigate and be dragged on any type of bottom without damaging the aluminum, navigate in areas where the hull touches the bottom, and even drag / slide through dry areas without suffering any deformation that prevents buoyancy.

Nowadays, the technology available allows the boat to be manufactured by compartmentalizing the hull in watertight spaces so that it is unsinkable, so that even through an accidental waterway (very unlikely in an aluminum hull) only one of the compartments and the rest keep the boat afloat.

The lining of the symmetrical transverse structural pieces of the keel, frames, stern, the stringer, the beams (beam mode remain firm on the sides), the rail and aluminum bulkheads are joined by welding with aluminum cords to the hull of the ship.

As we have indicated previously, it is important to point out that the beam and length of the boat are scalable, and the propeller support as well as the control console can be fixed or foldable and the control console installed in the center; to port; to starboard; or in the bow (FIG. 8A), like the bow platform it can be fixed or folding (FIG. 8B), and the hull of the boat can be built with other (recyclable) materials.

Motorization

The propulsion system is electric composed of:

■ Electric motor with a nominal power of 107 kW, to which the propeller is directly coupled to propel the boat (for this type and model of boat, motors from 30 kW can be used in boats that do not need much power, up to 1,200 kW) .

■ An electric motor controller responsible for controlling and monitoring the electric motor, which receives the commands and sends the information to the ship's control panel.

■ A set of batteries with an intelligent management system that powers the electric motor through the controller (in a watertight compartment).

■ A boat propulsion system control panel.

In terms of motorization it is also important to point out that there is a growing range of this type of motors, with powers that reach 1,200 kW and that will soon exceed them, the point is that being electric we also have the possibility of connecting to The boat designed two motors in line (twin), thus being able to increase the torque with a single controller.

Direction

To provide the boat with maneuver, a system has been implemented in which using a high-speed mechanical, electric or hydraulic motor adapted to a low-pressure orbitrol allows the propulsion propeller to be moved 180 degrees to each band, giving us much superior maneuverability. Like any conventional boat, the propeller can be moved 360 degrees.

The propulsion system and omnidirectional axial direction integrated in the boat allows the rotation of the propulsion with respect to a vertical axis, in such a way that an improved maneuverability is achieved with respect to the state of the currently known art, in which the propulsion lacks the ability to turn, and the ability to tilt the propulsion, as it rotates with respect to the vertical axis, manages to "take off" the boat from the water and this offers less resistance to the maneuvering of the boat, facilitating it, that is, the motor with its propeller is the one who rotates, this rotation implies the change of the direction of the air flow so that the boat rotates, not being necessary to force the air to pass through any mechanism to direct the boat, such as it happens in all the "airboats" nowadays.

Propeller

The multi-blade propeller that we have implemented for the model is a "conventional" E-PROPS brand, model EXCALIBUR-6, it is made of carbon fiber and has 6 blades.

Currently on the market it will be one of the aviation propellers with the highest thrust with the characteristics of the engine we have chosen, but we know that in the American market there are "unconventional" blades designed expressly for "airboat" that can be made of carbon fiber or aluminum and are always available on the market depending on the characteristics of the engine (power, torque, revolutions, etc.).

Architecture

1. Both the electric controller, the motor and the carbon multi-blade propeller are installed on the deck at the stern base of the boat and rotate 360 ° on their own axis.

2. The motor and the propeller are protected by an aluminum ring (this ring can also be made of fiberglass, carbon, stainless steel) and stainless steel mesh (it can also be built with other materials - fiberglass, carbon , galvanized, aluminum) rotating on its own axis together with the other elements (FIG.

6) having a stainless steel shackle externally installed for added safety (FIG. 7), although as we indicated for the ring it can also be built with other materials (fiberglass, carbon, PVC, aluminum, etc.).

3. The control panel integrated in the boat's control panel on the deck has a real-time monitoring system of the equipment that informs the boat operator to ensure correct operation and safety in operations. 4. Batteries built into the watertight compartment in the lower rear part of the boat to retard the boat's center of gravity and make it more efficient while cruising. 5. The operation of the boat is normally carried out at low power, thus achieving the necessary autonomy for a full working day. On the other hand, the maximum power of 107 kW of the propulsion system (prototype) is available for operations that require high thrust.

As we have indicated previously, the innovation model presents a new type of electric motor with a new arrangement that allows it to turn on itself not previously used in this type of boat.

The use of an electric motor implies the non-emission of polluting gases and a significant weight reduction to one fifth compared to conventional aviation or automotive engines of similar power to the electric one.

The new arrangement of the pivoting motor on its own axis means that rudders are not required and that significantly improves the maneuverability of the boat.

In the case that we contemplate and developed by the requesting personnel, it is the entire motor that rotates (FIG. 3), this rotation implies a change in the direction of the air flow so that the ship rotates (FIG. 4B), not being necessary force the air to pass through any attached mobile mechanism as occurs in current airboats to steer the boat (FIG. 2B).

The novelty that the engine together with the propeller pivots on itself represents an important technological advance in improving maneuverability, being able to turn even on itself (FIG. 5), a fact that none of the current "airboats" models comply with. .

This is because the pivoting motor arrangement reduces the distance to the ship's instantaneous center of rotation.

In view of this, the boat described in this study allows turning in places where current airboats cannot do it, as these boats require more space to turn.

Another great advantage of this innovation is the elimination of the rudders, which implies a construction simplification by reducing the movable mechanical elements of the boat and consequent weight savings.

Undoubtedly the electric motorization of this type of air-powered boat (airboat) together with the axial direction with notably improved maneuverability to the current ones is the main innovation and invention developed, and its implementation so that both the propeller support and the The boat's control console can be folded down (FIG. 8A) and can pass under low bridges, as well as a bow swing platform for machine tool access (Fig. 8B) and / or people.

Other data of interest

Both the design and the construction of the model have been endorsed by "LASA NAVAL" naval engineering, strictly complying with European regulations, the prototype tests have been carried out with a sea captain's intern, respecting the regulations at all times. Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 Traditional model of airboats with vertical rudders

In traditional airboats, their maneuverability is very limited for directing them, making it necessary to travel large spaces to direct it to a specific area, this is due to the air propulsion system, attached mobile mechanisms and rudder.

Figure 2 Maneuverability of the traditional airboat model with rudders

In the "airboats" executions carried out to date, the motor with its propeller generates an air current over the vertical axes of rotation of the rudders (FIG. 2A), to change the direction of the boat, the rudders are rotated through of its attached mechanisms so that the air flow produced by the propeller and the engine changes the direction of the propelled air and causes the ship to rotate (FIG. 2B).

Figure 3 Novel airboat model with motor turn without rudder

In the case we are considering, it is the electric motor with the propeller that rotates with a new type of arrangement, this rotation implies a change in the direction of the air flow so that the boat rotates, even on itself, not being necessary to force the air to pass through any attached mechanism, this represents a great technological advance in the improvement of the maneuverability to direct this type of air-propelled boats.

The elimination of the rudders implies the construction simplification by reducing the mobile mechanical elements of the boat and the consequent weight saving.

Figure 4 Technological advance in the maneuverability of the boat:

Rectilinear trajectory and curved trajectory of the boat (C.I.R.) of the axial steering system with rotation of the air flow on its axis and greater maneuverability of the boat without a rudder.

The novelty that the engine together with the propeller pivots on itself (FIG. 4A) represents an important technological advance in the improvement of maneuverability since this new electric air propulsion boat can rotate on itself, a fact that does not comply current "airboats" models.

This is explained because the pivoting motor arrangement reduces distance to the ship's instantaneous center of rotation (FIG. 4B).

Figure 5 Turning the boat around itself

The innovated airboat model allows turning in places where current executions cannot, as these boats require more space to turn.

Another advantage of the new airboat model with improved maneuverability is the elimination of the rudders and construction simplification by reducing the movable mechanical elements of the boat and consequent weight savings.

Figure 6 Architecture of the new electric airboat with improved maneuverability

The electric controller, the motor and the propeller are installed on the deck on the stern base of the boat, rotating 360 ° on its axis.

Control panel integrated into the boat's control panel that has a real-time monitoring system of the equipment that informs the boat operator to ensure correct operation and safety in operations.

Batteries integrated in the stern in a watertight compartment in the lower rear part of the boat to delay the center of gravity of the boat and make it more efficient during the cruise.

Figure 7 Boat protection and safety system

The material of the hull of the boat with the polymer fused in aluminum allows it to be able to navigate in areas where the hull touches the bottom, and even drag or slide through dry areas without suffering any deformation that prevents its buoyancy.

The engine and the propeller are protected by an aluminum ring and stainless steel mesh that rotates on its own axis along with the other elements, all the elements being integrated into the stern base protected with a stainless steel aluminum bow and mesh.

Figure 8 Folding parts of the boat

The propeller support as well as the control console of the boat can be foldable to navigate under low height areas, and the swinging bow platform to become a ramp for loading and unloading waste, machinery, vehicles , people.

Claims (2)

1. Electric airboat with improved maneuverability characterized by an electric motor driven aerial propulsion mechanism, and not requiring rudders, by implementing a mechanically or hydraulically actuated (360 °) turning mechanism for the maneuvering of air propulsion vessels comprising a compound propulsion assembly by motor and propeller arranged around a pivoting perpendicular axis to the plane of the deck of the vessel for the angular rotation of said pivoting assembly. 2. The electric airboat with improved maneuverability according to claim 1 characterized by the motor and the propeller are protected by a ring and mesh that rotates on its own axis along with the other elements, all the elements being integrated in the stern base protected with a bow and mesh, and both the propulsion system support, the propeller, the control console and the bow platform of the boat can be foldable.