Craft with device for movement of a stern platform provided with integrated steps

Abstract

Craft including hull having stern with mobile platform having first work position where it is extracted from water, and second work position where it is immersed in water, device for platform movement having a pantograph, a structure with an articulated quadrilateral connected to the mobile platform, said movement and a unit for actuating movement of this structure, which unit allows moving the platform from the first to second work position and vice versa. The structure with articulated quadrilateral folded back onto hull when platform is in first position, and extended when platform is in second position. The movement device includes a body distinct from hull. The structure with articulated quadrilateral integral with, but mobile relative to body. The body secured on hull stern and having at least one fixed step, at least one second step inside the structure with articulated quadrilateral, which step moveable and foldable back with the structure.

Claims

1. A craft comprising: a hull having a stern with a mobile platform which can adopt at least two positions of work, in a first one of which the platform is extracted from the water, and in the second one of which it is immersed in the water, at least one movement device being provided for movement of the platform, said movement device being of the type with a pantograph, and having a structure with an articulated quadrilateral connected to the mobile platform, said movement device comprising a unit for actuation of the movement of the structure with the articulated quadrilateral, which unit can allow the platform to move from the first position of work to the second and vice versa, said structure with the articulated quadrilateral being folded back onto the hull when the platform is in the first position of work, and being extended when the platform is in the second position of work, wherein said movement device comprises a body which is distinct from the hull, the structure with the articulated quadrilateral being integral with, but mobile relative to the body, said body being secured on the hull and having at least one fixed step, at least one second step being disposed inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral, the second step can be moved and folded back together with said structure, said steps being contained inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral when the platform is in its first position of work, wherein said body secured on the hull comprises a frame which supports each fixed step, the structure with the articulated quadrilateral being hinged on said frame, wherein the structure with the articulated quadrilateral comprises external arms with first and second ends which are hinged respectively on the frame of the body secured on the hull, and are hinged on a plate which is secured on the platform, internal arms which support the second step being hinged on said frame, said internal arms being rotatable around said hinges which connect the arms to the frame of the body which is secured on the hull when the movement device is actuated.

2. The craft according to claim 1, wherein said movement device is pre-assembled before being connected to the hull.

3. The craft according to claim 1, wherein the body of the movement device is inserted and secured inside a seat provided in the stern of the hull.

4. The craft according to claim 1, wherein said internal arms are hinged on the plate which is connected to the platform.

5. The craft according to claim 1, wherein the unit for actuation of the movement device is inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral.

6. The craft according to claim 1, wherein the unit for actuation is functionally connected to the internal arms.

7. The craft according to claim 1, wherein said at least one movement device comprises a plurality of movement devices to move the mobile platform, which devices are actuated by a single said unit for actuation.

8. The craft according to claim 1, wherein the step which is integral with the structure with the articulated quadrilateral has a flat part which is placed in the vicinity of the hull when the platform is in its first position of work, said flat part being placed parallel to the flat part of each step associated with the body secured on the hull when the platform is in its second position of work.

9. The craft according to claim 1, wherein the craft is a watercraft.

10. The craft according to claim 1, wherein the craft is a boat.

11. A craft comprising: a hull having a stern with a mobile platform which can adopt at least two positions of work, in a first one of which the platform is extracted from the water, and in the second one of which it is immersed in the water, at least one movement device being provided for movement of the platform, said movement device being of the type with a pantograph, and having a structure with an articulated quadrilateral connected to the mobile platform, said movement device comprising a unit for actuation of the movement of the structure with the articulated quadrilateral, which unit can allow the platform to move from the first position of work to the second and vice versa, said structure with the articulated quadrilateral being folded back onto the hull when the platform is in the first position of work, and being extended when the platform is in the second position of work, wherein said movement device comprises a body which is distinct from the hull, the structure with the articulated quadrilateral being integral with, but mobile relative to the body, said body being secured on the hull and having at least one fixed step, at least one second step being disposed inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral, the second step can be moved and folded back together with said structure, said steps being contained inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral when the platform is in its first position of work, wherein said at least one movement device comprises a plurality of movement devices to move the mobile platform, which devices are actuated by a single said unit for actuation.

12. The craft according to claim 11, wherein said movement device is pre-assembled before being connected to the hull.

13. The craft according to claim 11, wherein the body of the movement device is inserted and secured inside a seat provided in the stern of the hull.

14. The craft according to claim 11, wherein the unit for actuation of the movement device is inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral.

15. The craft according to claim 11, wherein the step which is integral with the structure with the articulated quadrilateral has a flat part which is placed in the vicinity of the hull when the platform is in its first position of work, said flat part being placed parallel to the flat part of each step associated with the body secured on the hull when the platform is in its second position of work.

16. The craft according to claim 11, wherein the craft is a watercraft.

17. The craft according to claim 11, wherein the craft is a boat.

18. A craft comprising: a hull having a stern with a mobile platform which can adopt at least two positions of work, in a first one of which the platform is extracted from the water, and in the second one of which it is immersed in the water, at least one movement device being provided for movement of the platform, said movement device being of the type with a pantograph, and having a structure with an articulated quadrilateral connected to the mobile platform, said movement device comprising a unit for actuation of the movement of the structure with the articulated quadrilateral, which unit can allow the platform to move from the first position of work to the second and vice versa, said structure with the articulated quadrilateral being folded back onto the hull when the platform is in the first position of work, and being extended when the platform is in the second position of work, wherein said movement device comprises a body which is distinct from the hull, the structure with the articulated quadrilateral being integral with, but mobile relative to the body, said body being secured on the hull and having at least one fixed step, at least one second step being disposed inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral, the second step can be moved and folded back together with said structure, said steps being contained inside the structure with the articulated quadrilateral when the platform is in its first position of work, wherein the body of the movement device is inserted and secured inside a seat provided in the stern of the hull.

19. The craft according to claim 18, wherein said movement device is pre-assembled before being connected to the hull.

20. The craft according to claim 18, wherein the body of the movement device is inserted and secured inside a seat provided in the stern of the hull.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For better understanding of the present invention, purely by way of non-limiting example, the following drawings are appended, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows an example of a perspective view of the stern of a craft (in particular a watercraft) produced according to the invention, with a mobile platform in a first position of work;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from below of the stern of the craft in FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the stern of the craft in FIG. 1, but with the platform in the second position of work;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view similar to that of FIG. 1, exploded and with some parts removed the sake of greater clarity;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of a part of the craft in FIG. 1; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view from below of a variant of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) With reference to the aforementioned figures, a craft according to the invention is generally indicated as 1, and comprises a hull 2 with a stern and an aft area 4. In the stern 3 there is advantageously provided an aperture 5 which leads to an aft opening 6 preferably placed below a bridge 7. The aperture 5 of the aft opening is closed at the bottom in the embodiment shown by a hatch 8 associated with a mobile stern platform 9.

(9) This platform can adopt at least two positions of work: in a first position (FIGS. 1 and 2) the platform is substantially extracted from the water (or is placed slightly above the surface of the water) on which the boat is placed, and in this case, the hatch 8, placed below the platform (see FIG. 2), closes the aperture 5 at the bottom. It should be noted that the hatch 8 has an end part 10 which is formed such as to obtain lower adherent closure of this aperture 5, in particular by means of an end position 11 thereof. It will be appreciated that the aperture 5 is closed at the top by another hatch 8A (shown closed in FIGS. 1 and 3) which is mobile in any known manner. In a second position of work (FIG. 3), the platform 9 is immersed in the water and is placed below the aperture 5 of the opening 6, with reference to the level of the water, which can thus at least reach a lower edge of the aperture 5 (in a direction parallel to the stern 3) and permit entry into the water and extraction therefrom of any tender (not shown) which may be admitted into the opening 6.

(10) The platform 9 moves relative to the hull by means of at least one movement device 15 (two in the figures) of the pantograph type, i.e. of the type which distances said platform from the hull 2 when it is open. The number of movement devices depends on the dimensions of the platform 9, and on whether it is completely mobile, or alternatively only a part of it can be moved relative to another part which is secured on the hull.

(11) In order to reach the platform in its second position of work, at least one of the movement devices 15 (both in the figures) comprises a fixed body 16 with at least one fixed step 17 (two in the figures), at least one second step 18 (which is mobile) being present in a structure 19 with an articulated quadrilateral of the movement device 15 with a pantograph supporting the platform 9 directly; said structure 19 is integral with this body 16 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).

(12) In other words, said movement device contains in itself the steps which make it possible to reach the platform 9 when it is immersed in the water, said steps being accessible when the device with a pantograph extends, and being covered by the structure 19 with an articulated quadrilateral when the device 15 is folded back.

(13) This makes it possible to obtain a simple and compact structure for providing the steps for access to the platform 9 in the second position of work. It should also be noted that these steps 17 and 18 are placed in line with fixed steps 22 provided directly in the stern 3, and which make it possible to reach the platform 9 when it is in the first position of work (from the bridge 7). In other words, the steps 17 and 18 follows the fixed steps 22 consecutively.

(14) More particularly, each movement device 15 shown in the figures comprises the body 16 which is altogether distinct and autonomous relative to the structure (and therefore with respect to the hull 2) of the craft 1 (see FIG. 4) and is secured inside a recess or seat 26 of the stern 3 by any known means. In the figures, the body 16 comprises a frame 29 which supports the fixed steps 17. The frame 29 supports hinged external arms 30 which have first and second ends 31 and 32; the end 31 is hinged at 33 on the frame 29 and the (second) end 32 is hinged at 34 on a plate 35 which is secured on the platform 9.

(15) With the frame 29 there are associated internal arms 36 supporting the mobile step 18. These arms, which are connected by a plate 38, are hinged at 39, by means of a first end 40, on the frame 29, and by means of a second end 43 they are hinged at 44 on the plate 35. Small intermediate arms 46 can connect the external arms to the internal arms when the kinematics of the system necessitate this.

(16) In the case presented, the plate 35 supports a transverse pin 50, to which there is connected an actuator unit 51, such as an oleodynamic or pneumatic or hydro-pneumatic cylinder, or a cylinder of another type such as electrical or with a rotary mechanism. In particular, a first part of this unit 51 (for example a piston) is connected to this pin 50, whereas the second part (for example the cylinder) is connected to a transverse pin 53 connecting the internal arms 36.

(17) In the variant in FIG. 6, the plate 35 is common to the two devices 15 represented, and below it is placed a single actuator 51 for both said devices 15.

(18) The external arms 30 and the internal arms 36 define the structure 19 with an articulated quadrilateral previously referred to.

(19) At the moment of actuation of each actuator unit 51 in order to move the platform from the first position of work (FIGS. 1 and 2) to the second position of work (FIG. 3), the arms 30 and 36 rotate around the hinges or pins 33 and 39 (respectively) which connect them to the fixed frame 29, whereas the platform 9 is detached from the hull 2 supported by each plate 35 (on which there are hinged the arms 30 and 36). With the rotation of the two arms 30 and 36, including also the one containing the step 18, around the pins 33 and 39 of the body 16, the translation with a circular trajectory of the platform 9 is transmitted by means of hinging at 34 and 44. When the platform 9 reaches the second position of work, the step is then positioned in line with the fixed steps 17 of the body 16 (i.e. with their flat part 62 in the position of use parallel to the flat parts 61 of the fixed steps 22). Vice versa, when the platform 9 is taken to the first position of work, the rotation of the arms of the articulated quadrilateral 19 takes the flat part 60 of the mobile step 18 into the vicinity of the hull 2, whereas said structure 19 is positioned in the vicinity of the hull, accommodating the fixed steps inside itself.

(20) Thanks to the above-described solution, there is a simple and compact embodiment of steps which make it possible to reach the platform 9 easily when it is in its second position of work, by coming down from the bridge 7 (and vice versa) by using the space of the movement device. This device thus incorporates steps for reaching this platform.

(21) The above-described solution can be applied to stern spaces which do not have enough room to accommodate elsewhere the steps or also their stern space without a storage unit.

(22) Finally, it should be noted that the movement device 15 can be pre-assembled, and then be connected to the hull only after the device has been obtained. This facilitates the creation of the actuator device “with incorporated steps” and implementation of the normal “unloaded” operating tests without the presence of the platform (or the hull).

(23) A preferred embodiment of the invention has been described. However, others can also be provided, such as those which have additional mobile and/or fixed steps, or which have components selected according to the type of boat on which the invention is applied. These solutions are also considered to be included in the scope of the present document.