GB2037237A - Improvements in or relating to rescue apparatus for boats or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

Rescue apparatus for boats or the like, which become damaged at sea or spring a leak, comprises a buoyancy device (10) formed by a number of inflatable floats (11 to 14) connected to each other by means of a resilient back wall (16), and which in use, are attachable outboard of the boat's hull where they extend in a longitudinal direction. The back wall (16), which consists of a resilient, rubberized artificial-fibre cloth, is mounted in case of necessity around the boat's hull (34) by means of resilient ropes (20 to 23) or the like, the stern thereby remaining partly free. The device (10) is thus held in close proximity to the hull so that any leak in the hull is sealed by the wall (16) and the buoyancy of the boat is at the same time effectively enhanced by the floats. The apparatus can be used in order to maintain the manoeuvrability of the boat for as long as possible in dangerous situations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to rescue apparatus for boats or the like This invention relates to rescue apparatus for boats or the like, which become damaged at sea or spring a leak, and comprises an inflatable float which is attachable to the boat.

In the case of sea-going boats, for instance sailing boats, motor and sailing yachts, which spring a leak or become damaged by waves, by objects floating in the water or as a result of a collision with another boat, there arises the problem as to how to maintain the manoeuvrability of the boat and to prevent the penetration of water into the interior of the boat as far as possible. Since boats of this size rarely have lockable bulkheads, there is a danger that the boat's hull becomes full of water, at least up to the height of the leak, in which case the draught of the boat increases and its manoeuvrability is reduced, with the result that water further penetrates into the boat which finally has to be abandoned and sinks.

It has therefore been already suggested to arrange hollow bodies in all kinds of positions in the interior of the boat, which bodies are capable of being filled with gas or air in case of necessity in order to thus increase the buoyancy of the boat in the case of damage and to ensure that the boat is kept from sinking for as long as possible. It is obvious that a multiple of such bodies have to be present in the boat in order to practicably produce effective buoyancy for the boat. However, this leads to the problem that these bodies have always to be carried on board for safety's sake and hence always take up space. This, however, presents problems in as far as there is always a shortage of space on sailing boats.

Moreover, such bodies are in no way capable of providing for the sealing of a leak struck in the hull but are merely suitable for enhancing the buoyancy of the boat.

it is furthermore already known to effect the sealing of a leak or a hole sprung in the boat's skin by means of a so-called collision net, which is a mat or a piece of cloth, e.g. canvas, that is applied from the outside, while attempting to seal the leak from the inside by means of a sealing material. Experi ence has shown that in such cases at the most only a makeshift seal can be effected since this seal has to be produced on the inside of the boat, but this, however, is naturally rendered difficult due to instal lations and planking present on board, in particular if the leak is large. Furthermore, difficulties may arise when applying the collision net because a collision net has the tendency to shift on the outer skin of the boat's hull and to allow water to pass through the cloth or between the collision net and the boat's hull.

Moreover, particularly in the vicinity of the keel, the collision net can rarely be tightened so as to produce an effective seal against water penetrating into the boat.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a rescue apparatus for boats having become dam aged at sea or having sprung a leak, by means of which a leak sprung in the boat's hull can be simply and effectively sealed and by means of which the manoeuvrability of the boat is maintained as far as possible.

According to one aspect of the present invention, inflatable rescue apparatus for boats or the like having leaky hulls, comprises a plurality of inflatable cells connected to each other by a resilient backing sheet, disposable outboard of the boat's hull, and means for retaining the backing sheet in close proximity with the hull so as to seal the leak therein, the cells also serving to enhance the buoyancy of the boat.

According to another aspect of the invention, rescue apparatus for boats or the like, which become damaged at sea or spring a leak, comprises a float which is attachable to the boat, characterised in that the float is embodied so as to be V-shaped and consists of a multiple of inflatable float rings, which are rigidly connected to one another, and a resilient back wall connecting said float rings, said back wall being attachable outboard on the boat's hull and being capable of sitting close to the outer skin of the hull by virtue of tightening elements, so that the back wall seals a leak sprung in the hull and the float rings of the float at the same time enhance the buoyancy of the boat.

The inventive rescue apparatus advantageously provides a device which is as effective as it is easy to manipulate and which can be carried on board without any problem and without unnecessarily taking up much space which is otherwise greatly needed.

In a further embodiment of the inventive rescue apparatus the back wall of the float consists of an oil, gasoline and sea water-resistant, rubberized artificial-fibre cloth which exhibits a slip, tear and marresistant coating on its outer side coming to rest against the boat's hull.

With the aid of a back wall embodied in this manner, pollution contained in the water and the corrosive sea water itself are effectively combatted on the one hand, while on the other hand it is ensured that the sharp edges commonly occurring at leaks do not cause damage to the rescue apparatus which would impair its functioning.

It is particularly advantageous if weights are arranged at the lower edge of the float, below the lowest float ring. Such weights facilitate the mounting of the inventive rescue apparatus on a boat without impairing the carrying capacity of the rescue apparatus to any considerable degree.

It is advisable in the case of the inventive rescue apparatus to have the length of the float rings shorter than the perimeter of the boat's hull, while the tightening elements at the stern of the hull adjustably connect each of the ends of the float rings to one another. Thus it can be advantageously achieved that the float rings essentially extend only along the side walls and around the bow of the boat so that the stern remains for the most part free from float rings, which means that the ship's propeller and the rudder are freely movable.

It is particularly advantageous if, in the case of the inventive rescue apparatus, the tightening elements are embodied as resilient ropes or as tightenable belts. In this manner, the adaptation of the inventive rescue apparatus to different-sized boats is possible without any problem, while at the same time allowance is made for the fact that the stern should be free from float rings so as not to impair the manoeuvrability of the boat in this manner.

In a further embodiment of the inventive rescue apparatus, the float is provided, for the purpose of attaching it to the boat's hull, with a supporting angle piece arranged on the bow and/or a multiple of holding belts distributed over its length. An arrangement of this kind facilitates the mounting of the inventive rescue apparatus and prevents the rescue apparatus from drifting away, particularly in rough seas, should it not yet be secured around the boat's hull.

In accordance with a further feature of the inventive rescue apparatus, the tightening elements are sufficiently long so as to ensure that at least one float ring of the float is attachable above the water line of the boat, in which case at least the uppermost float ring situated above the water line is inflatable separate from the other float rings. It is thus advantageously achieved that on the one hand the partially or completely inflated upper float ring facilitates the mounting of the rescue apparatus and ensures that the latter is also arranged so as to be partly above the water line of the boat. On the other hand, the separately inflatable float rings have the advantage that in the case of damage to one of the float rings, not all chambers lose their lifting gas at the same time, which means that the functioning of the apparatus is thus not considerably impaired.

Finally, it is appropriate to provide all of the float rings with check valves and safety discharge valves and to have them inflatable either with pressure gas cylinders, pumps or by mouth, as desired, if necessary via inflation tubes, in order to accommodate for the respective requirements coming to the fore in practical application.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure lisa partial side elevation of the rescue apparatus, Figure 2 is a sectional view of the rescue apparatus, taken on the line Il-Il of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a schematic sectional drawing showing the arrangement of the rescue apparatus on a boat, and Figure 4 is a schematic plan view of a boat provided with the rescue apparatus.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the rescue apparatus basically comprises a V-shaped float 10 consisting of a multiple of inflatable float cells or rings 11, 12, 13 and 14, of elongated form and which are connected rigidly to one another by means of a resilient backing sheet or back wail 16 so as to form a one-piece float 10.

In use, the back wall 16 is used to seal any leak in the hull of a boat by being disposed in close proximity with the outer surface of the hull, and the float rings 11, 12, 13, 14 serve to enhance the buoyancy of the boat.

The walls of the float 10 and particularly the back wall 16, which is intended to provide for the sealing of a leak sprung in the boat's hull 34, appropriately consist of an oil, gasoline and sea water-resistant, rubberized artificial-fibre cloth. The outside of the wall 16, which will come into contact with the boat's skin, appropriately exhibits a slip and tear-resistant coating 16a in order to prevent any shifting of the float 10 on a boat damaged at sea, on the one hand, and to prevent damage being caused to the outside of the float 10 due to sharp edges or the like, on the other hand. This is of importance since the edges of leaks are often sharp and since the water pressure or the suction at the hole of the boat's wall give rise to the fact that the back wall will be at least partially drawn into the leak.

At the sternward ends, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, tightening elements 20,21,22,23 and 31 are attached to fastenings 27, 28, 29 and 30 and are provided to retain the float rings in close proximity with the hull of the boat. These tightening elements are in the form of belts or ropes, being resilient ropes or rubber ropes or belts which can be tightened.

These ropes or belts may be provided, for instance, with a lashing which can be engaged with a buckle on the opposite belt so that the length of the belts joining the float rings is adjustable. Alternatively, an eye 32 may be provided on the opposite rope or belt 31, and the end of the rope 20 is passed through the eye 32, is then pulled taut and secured with a seaman's knot.

Although only the latter possibility is illustrated in Figure 4 for the upper float ring 11, similar tightening elements for connecting the ends of each of the float rings are provided for the other float rings 12, 13 and 14. At the same time, it is possible in another embodiment to use rubber ropes at one of the ends of the float rings 11, 12, 13, and 14 which are provided with hooks, e.g. spring hooks, and which can be hooked into eyes arranged on the opposite ends of the float rings. Of course it is also possible to use different belts and ropes as tightening elements for the various float rings arranged above one another.Care must be taken in each case that the ropes or belts are sufficiently long and sturdy so that the float 10 with its float rings 11,12,13 and 14 can be secured outboard on the boat's hull 34 and can be pulled tight with the tightening elements so as to cling to the outer skin of the hull.

In order to facilitate the mounting of the float 10 on the hull 34 of a boat damaged at sea, at least one supporting angle piece 33 adapted to fit the bow can be provided on the back wall 16 of the float 10. The supporting angle piece 33 can be engaged with the bow of the boat in order to avoid shifting of the float 10 on the hull 34. Moreover, a multiple of holding belts 17, 18 and 19 are appropriately provided and these are distributed along the length of the float 10 and arranged on the float 10 by means of fastenings 24, 25 and 26, in which case it is advisable to accordingly reinforce these parts of the float 10. In this manner, the inflatable float 10 can first of all be attached provisionally to the boat in order to prevent the float 10 from drifting away, this rendering its mounting on the hull difficult.

It is advisable to secure the holding belts 17, 18 and 19 on the deck of the boat, in which case the bow guard, the stern guard, the rail uprights and any other metal fittings available are suitable as mounting supports.

Furthermore, weights 15, which are only schematically illustrated in the drawing, are provided at the lower edge, most suitably below the lowest float ring 14, of the float 10. These weights may, for instance, consist of pieces of lead which are attached at given intervals to the lower edge of the float 10 and which, for example, may be sewn or welded into the artificial-fibre cloth. These weights 15 serve to facilitate the attachment of the rescue apparatus to the boat so that the lower portion of the rescue apparatus descends and may be attached to the boat's hull below the water line 35. Of course, other metals or alloys may be used instead of lead as weights 15.Even ifcontinuousweights 15inthe form of rods or bars are suitable for individual cases, it is generally advisable to use weight pieces so that the whole rescue apparatus can be folded and stowed in a container.

The arrangement of the whole rescue apparatus is appropriately selected in such a manner that the tightening elements 20, 21, 22, 23 and 31, in the form of ropes or belts, are sufficiently long so as to permit the attachment of the upper float ring 11 of the float 10 to the boat above the water line 35, in which case the sometimes rather significant bulging wedge shape of boats must be taken into account, this leading to the fact that the outer perimeter of the hull may increase considerably above the water line.

For reasons of safety and for the practicality of the mounting of the rescue apparatus, at least the uppermost float ring 11, situated above the water line 35, should be capable of being inflated separate from the other float rings 12, 13 and 14. If first of all only the upper float ring 11 is fully or partially inflated when mounting the rescue apparatus, then the ring 11 will float on the surface of the water and automatically ensure that the whole float 10 will assume its essentially vertical position by virtue of the weights 15 and at the same time project above the water line 35 so that at least the upper float ring 11 is above the water where it can be easily attached to the boat's hull 34.It is thus achieved that no constant water pressure acts on the upper edge of the rescue apparatus, which means that the penetration of water between the back wall 16 and the hull 34 is rendered difficult at this position. In order to avoid such penetration of water between the back wall 16 and the hull 34, sealing tape may be provided additionally on the edge of the back wall 16 so as to extend over the whole of its length.

The separate inflation of the float rings 11, 12, 13 and 14 has the advantage that if one chamber is damaged, not all of the float rings lose lifting gas at the same time, which would mean that the desired buoyancy of the damaged boat would not be produced. Of course it is not necessary to embody the float rings 11, 12, 13 and 14 as continuous float rings; instead, they may each consist of two halves extending to both longitudinal sides of the hull 34. In practical application it is sufficient in the majority of cases to have the upper float ring 11 or its two halves, on the one hand, and the three other float rings 12, 13 and 14 or their halves, on the other hand, separately inflatable.

If the float 10 is constructed so as to consist of independent float rings or float ring halves, as the case may be, which are separately inflatable with lifting gas, this doubtlessly increases the safety of the whole of the rescue apparatus but leads at the same time, however, to an increase in the cost of manufacturing the arrangement. Yet this solution with separate chambers is preferable in practical application for reasons of safety, especially since accordingly small gas containers can then be used for each of the float rings. Carbon dioxide is appropriate as a lifting gas since this gas can be liquified when accordingly pressurised, and it then only takes up a very low volume.

While the individual float rings or float ring halves are provided with built-in check valves, an additional valve is provided on each of the steel gas cylinders in order to allow the entry of the lifting gas, if necessary via a pressure reducing valve, into the float rings.

The steel gas cylinders containing the lifting gas are appropriately arranged on the rescue apparatus in such a manner that they are situated abaft when the float 10 is arranged in position. Of course, it is possible to omit the weights 15 at such positions, when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the float 10, at which the steel gas cylinders with the lifting gas are situated, since the weight of the latter provides for sufficient weighting.

In other embodiments, inflation tubes are connected to the intake valves and are connected to steel gas cylinders and/or pumps carried on board, preferably in the cockpit, for inflating the float rings.

The individual inflation tubes and float rings may have, for instance, various colours to facilitate their connection.

The complete arrangement is dimensioned in such a manner that the individual float rings have a height of approximately 20 to 30 cms so that the total height ofthe rescue apparatus amounts to approximately 1 metre. If it is assumed that four float belts, each having a length of 12 metres, are available for a boat with a length of 8 metres and that the float belts each have, for instance, a cross-sectional area of 400 cms2, a buoyancy volume amounting to approximately 2000 litres can be achieved. Yet, such a rescue apparatus can be packed in a plastic container or carrying case when deflated, and it thus takes up a relatively small amount of space on a boat.

Although float rings with semicircular-shaped cross-section are shown in Figures 3 and 4, the novel rescue apparatus is of course, not confined thereto; instead, a multiple of cross-sectional shapes are possible, e.g. lens-shaped, rectangular, trapezoidal or elliptically bulging cross-sections, and the various float rings can exhibit different cross-sectional shapes and/or areas.

In order to mount the float 10 it is appropriate in case of need to proceed in such a manner that the rescue apparatus is laid out on the deck along the rail with the rings 11, 12, 13 and 14 extending longitudinally, and the float 10 secured to metal fittings on the deck by means of the holding ropes or holding belts 17,18 and 19. The rescue apparatus is then thrown overboard and the two rearward ends of the upper float ring 11 connected to each other by means of the tightening elements 20, 31 and 32. Next, the lifting gas is allowed to flow into the upper float ring 11 so that the latter floats on the surface of the water, while the lower edge slowly descends due to the weights 15. The upper float ring is then tightened on the outer skin of the hull 34.The otherfloat rings are then laid around the hull and also tightened by means of the tightening elements and filled with lifting gas. The mounting of the float 10 is appropriately carried out in such a manner that any leak in the boat's hull is well sealed, i.e. the upper edge of the float 10 projects out of the water to a greater or lesser extent, dependent on the position of the leak above or below the water line as the case may be.

Since the tightening elements are embodied as resilient ropes or tightenable belts, this necessity can be taken into account without difficulty and, if necessary, the belts or ropes can be re-tightened in order to ensure proper application of the back wall 16 to the outer skin of the hull.

As already mentioned, steel gas cylinders are provided for inflating the individual float rings, but it advisable to have connection tubes, which are additionally provided with check valves, for each of the float rings in order to be able to inflate these rings with a bellows, a foot-operated pump or the like, if necessary.

When mounting the float 10, care must of course be taken that the belts or ropes functioning as tightening elements on the stern of the boat are laid around the hull in such a manner that they are neither caught in the propeller or impair the mobility of the rudder, so that the manoeuvrability of the boat is fully maintained.

Hence, a leak in the hull of a boat is effectively sealed from outside with the aid of the inventive rescue apparatus, and at the same time the buoyancy of the boat is enhanced so that the leak can be repaired from inside the ship or so that the boat can be sailed ortowed to the nearest harbour in order to repair the leak there. In all events, it is possible with the aid of such a rescue apparatus to keep a boat, which has become damaged at sea or sprung a leak, over water without running the risk of losing the boat, because bilge pumps are generally not sufficlient to prevent the boat from becoming full of water.Although only four float rings are mentioned in the embodiment examples described hereinbefore, the inventive rescue apparatus is on no account limited to this number; instead, further float rings arranged one to another can be provided in keeping with the size of the boat in question, and the height of the float rings can be selected to meet the requirements of each individual case.

The rescue apparatus described above is intended basically for boats or the like, damaged at sea, but it may be also used advantageously in a multitude of other cases. If the individual float rings or at least the upperfloat rings are constructed so asto have the appropriate wall thickness and strength, the apparatus described hereinbefore may be used instead of fenders, for instance in the case of narrow mooring conditions in harbours during the summer months, in order to avoid damage being caused to one's own boat and to neighbouring boats in the case of heavy floods, strong winds or turbulent seas.

Moreover, the rescue apparatus described above may also be used advantageously in sea areas having a multitude of shallows, sand banks or the like, the position of which is liable to change in the course of time due to currents. If, for safety's sake, the rescue apparatus described above is applied in such sea~areas, a large amount of damage caused by sand or stones can be avoided should the boat happen to run aground on such a sand bank or happen to tilt over due to outgoing water (ebb-tide current) and come to rest on its side.

The mounting of the rescue apparatus described above on the stern of a boat is simplified by the fact that a swing-out bathing ladder is provided on most boats from which the tightening of the tightening elements and hence the sure resting of the float against the hull can be effected. The mounting of the rescue apparatus in this manner is naturally simplified if a multiple of holding ropes or holding belts are present by means of which the float is secured to the boat, so that the rescue apparatus is on no account limited to three holding ropes 17, 18 and 19. It is obvious that the tloat is easier to adapt to the shape of the boat in question in the case of a large number of such holding ropes, and this facilitates the lashing of the tightening elements on the stern.

Summarising, it must be pointed out that the rescue apparatus described hereinbefore offers a multitude of possibilities for its application, and in the case of an emergency it not only permits the salvage of the boat but also allows the crew to remain on board the boat so that they do not have to use a raft or rubber dinghy. Furthermore, in the exceptional case where a ship cannot be salvaged despite the rescue apparatus, it is possible to cut or release the ropes or belts of the rescue apparatus from the boat so that in this manner an additional rescue apparatus capable of floating is provided.

Claims (10)

1. Inflatable rescue apparatus for boats or the like having leaky hulls, comprising a plurality of inflatable cells connected to each other by a resilient backing sheet disposable outboard of the boat's hull, and means for retaining the backing sheet in close proximity with the hull so as to seal the leak therein, the cells also serving to enhance the buoyancy of the boat.

2. A rescue apparatus for boats or the like, which become damaged at sea or spring leak, comprising an inflatable float which is attachable to the boat, characterised in that the float is embodied so as to be V-shaped and consists of a multiple of inflatable float rings which are rigidly connected to one another, and a resilient back wall connecting said float rings, said back wall being attachable outboard of the boat's hull and being capable of sitting close to the outer skin of the hull by virtue of tightening elements, so that the back wall seals a leak sprung in the hull and the float rings of the float at the same time enhance the buoyancy of the boat.

3. A rescue apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein the-back wall of the float consists of an oil, gasoline and sea water-resistant, rubberized artificial-fibre cloth which exhibits a slip, tear and marresistant coating on its outer side coming to rest on the hull.

4. A rescue apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein weights are arranged on the lower edge of the float below the lowest float ring.

5. A rescue apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the length of the float rings is shorter than the perimeter of the hull and the tightening elements adjustably connect the ends of the float rings with one another at the stern of the hull.

6. A rescue apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the tightening elements are embodied as resilient ropes or as tightenable belts.

7. A rescue apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the float is provided for attachment to the boat's hull by at least one supporting angle piece arranged on the bow and/or a multiple of holding belts distributed along its length and attachable to the deck.

8. A rescue apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the tightening elements are of sufficient length to allow the attachment of at least one float ring of the float above the water line of the boat, and at least the uppermost float ring, situated above the water line, is inflatable separately from the other float rings.

9. A rescue apparatus according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein all of the float rings are provided with check valves and safety discharge valves and are capable of being inflated either with pressure gas cylinders, pumps or by mouth, as desired, if necessary via inflation tubes.

10. Inflatable rescue apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.