A RIGID-INFLATABLE BOAT

Abstract

A rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) includes a solid hull and an inflatable tube, forming a part of a gunwale. The boat includes a tube air filling system with an air conduit arranged to communicate with air pumping system and a tube, where the air conduit extends along at least a portion of the tube. The solid hull includes a gunwale portion, forming a part of the gunwale, where the air conduit is enclosed in the gunwale portion.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) comprising a solid hull, and an inflatable tube forming a part of a gunwale, wherein the solid hull comprises a solid gunwale portion forming a part of the gunwale, wherein the RIB comprises a tube air filling system comprising an air conduit arranged to communicate with air pumping means and a tube, the air conduit extending along at least a portion of the tube, wherein the air conduit is enclosed in the solid gunwale portion.

10. A boat according to claim 9, wherein the air conduit extends at an upper part of the tube.

11. A boat according to claim 9, wherein the air conduit extends along an inner part of the tube.

12. A boat according to claim 9, wherein the tube presents a substantially circular cross-section, wherein the air conduit is located, in a circumferential direction, 30-60 degrees from a top of the tube cross-section.

13. A boat according to claim 9, wherein the tube presents a substantially circular cross-section, wherein the air conduit is located, in a circumferential direction, 45-50 degrees from a top of the tube cross-section

14. A boat according to claim 9, wherein the gunwale portion presents an upper surface which is substantially horizontal as seen in a cross-section of the tube.

15. A boat according to claim 9, wherein the tube presents a plurality of chambers distributed along the tube, wherein the air conduit presents conduit connections to the chambers of the tube.

16. A boat according to claim 15, wherein the gunwale portion presents a plurality of access openings, each for access to a respective of the conduit connections.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Below, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a rigid-inflatable boat, with some hidden parts indicated with broken lines,

[0024] FIG. 2 is a view of a cross-section, oriented as indicated by the arrows II-II in FIG. 1,

[0025] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a hand rail for a RIB, and

[0026] FIG. 4 is a view of a cross-section, oriented as indicated by the arrows IV-IV in FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a top view of a marine surface vessel in the form of a rigid-inflatable boat (RIB) 1. The boat in FIG. 1 comprises a solid hull 201 and an inflatable, flexible tube 202, forming a part of a gunwale 203 of the boat. It is understood that the gunwale is the top edge of the side of a boat. The boat comprises a deck 205. The deck is surrounded by the gunwale 203. The gunwale 203 extends above the level of a deck.

[0028] One end of the tube is provided at a port side of the stern 102 of the boat. The tube extends from said end, to the bow 101 of the boat, and to another end of the tube at a starboard side of the stern 102. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the tube 202 may be provided as two tubes, a starboard tube and a port tube.

[0029] The hull 201 may be made in any suitable material, such as steel, wood, aluminium, or fibre-reinforced plastic, such as glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) composite or carbon fibre reinforced plastic composite. The hull may present a single skin, or it can be a sandwich construction. The hull 201 may be a “deep-V hull”, a “shallow-V” hull, a catamaran hull, or a trimaran hull. The tube may be in any suitable material, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyurethane (PU), or a hypalon and neoprene combination.

[0030] At the stern 102, an outboard engine mounting board is provided, with one or more, in this example two, outboard engines 204. Alternatively, the boat may have one or more inboard engines. The boat further comprises a steering console 206. The steering console presents control devices for a driver of the boat, such as a steering wheel, engine control devices, and instruments. The console 206 may further house equipment for the boat, or for a mission of the boat.

[0031] Reference is made also to FIG. 2. The solid hull 201 comprises a gunwale portion 2011, forming a part of the gunwale 206. The gunwale portion 2011 reaches to the top of the tube 202. Thereby, the solid hull 201 forms an internal part of the gunwale 203. The tube 202 has a substantially circular cross-section. The tube 202 is provided outside of the gunwale portion 2011. More specifically, the tube 202 extends, when inflated, into a recess of the gunwale portion 2011. The recess has a part-circular cross-section, as can be seen in FIG. 2.

[0032] The gunwale portion 2011 extends on top of an inner part of the tube 202. The gunwale portion 2011 presents an upper surface 2012 which is substantially horizontal as seen in a cross-section of the tube. It should be noted though, that in some embodiments, the gunwale portion upper surface may present some other shape, e.d. rounded, and/or concave.

[0033] The boat comprises a tube air filling system. The tube air filling system comprises an air conduit 301. The air conduit extends along the tube 202. The air conduit is arranged to communicate with air pumping means 302. The air pumping means is in this example in the form of an air pump 302. The air pump is located in the console 206. It is understood that the air pumping means may be located somewhere else in the boat. In some embodiments, the air pump may be provided as a unit which is separate from the boat, and removably connectable to the air conduit 301.

[0034] For the communication between the air conduit and the air pumping means 302, a feeding conduit 303 may be provided between the air conduit 301 and the air pumping means 302. In this example, two feeding conduits 303 are provided, one of which connects the air pumping means 302 to a port side portion of the air conduit 301, and the other of which connects the air pumping means 302 to a starboard side portion of the air conduit 301. It is understood that the feeding of the air conduit 301 may be embodied in a variety of ways. For example, a feeding conduit leading from the air pumping means 302 may be divided, e.g. by a T-connection, into two feeding conduits leading up to respective locations of the air conduit. In some embodiments, a single feeding conduit may be provided between the air pumping means 302 and the air conduit 301. The air conduit extends in this example past the bow 101 of the boat. In some embodiments, the air conduit 301 may be provided as two separate air conduits, one of which is provided on a port side of the boat, and the other of which is provided on a starboard side of the boat.

[0035] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the air conduit 301 extends along the tube, at an upper part of the respective tube. Thereby, the air conduit 301 is located above an imaginary horizontal line H extending through the centre of the cross-section of the tube 202. Further, in this embodiment, the air conduit within the vertical extension of the cross-section of the tube. I.e., the air conduit 301 is below the highest point of the cross-section of the tube 202.

[0036] Also, the air conduit 301 extends along an inner part of the tube 202. Thereby, the air conduit 301 is located inside an imaginary vertical line V extending through the centre of the cross-section of the tube 202. Here, inside means towards the inner side of the boat. Further, in this embodiment, the air conduit is within the horizontal extension of the tube. I.e., the air conduit 301 is outside the innermost point of the cross-section of the tube 202.

[0037] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the air conduit is located, in a circumferential direction of the tube 202, about 45 degrees from a top of the tube cross-section, i.e. from the highest point of the tube cross-section.

[0038] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the air conduit 301 is enclosed in the gunwale portion 2011. Thereby, the air conduit extends in an elongated cavity 2013 in the gunwale portion. Said cavity may be elongated, so as to extend along the gunwale 203 (FIG. 1).

[0039] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the tube 202 presents a plurality of chambers 2021 distributed along the tube. The chambers are separated by flexible walls 2022.

[0040] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air conduit 301 presents a conduit connection 304 to each chamber of the tube. The conduit connection is preferably a T-connection. The gunwale 20 portion 2011 presents a plurality access openings. The access openings are covered with a removable hatch 2014. Each access opening is provided for access to a respective of the conduit connections 304. The access openings are provided on an inner surface of the gunwale portion 2011.

[0041] The location of the air conduit, as described above, means that the air conduit 301 elevated from the deck 205 of the boat. This means that a region R (FIG. 2), close to the deck 205, and to the gunwale 203, is available for crew onboard the boat. In particular, a cavity may be provided where the gunwale 203 meets the deck 205. This allows a person to stand on the deck 205, turned so as to face outwards, without any obstacle to the feet of the person. Such a position is often assumed by crew working on a RIB, and the described absence of obstacles to the feet greatly facilitates operations that the boat may be involved with.

[0042] In addition, the air conduit 301 extending along an inner part of the tube 202, makes it easily accessible for maintenance, for a person on the deck 205.

[0043] It should be noted that the boat may present one or more connections, and/or valves, (not shown) for manual filling or emptying of air in the tube. Also, one or more pressure relief valves may be provided for the tube.

[0044] Reference is made to FIG. 3. The boat comprises a plurality of seats (not shown) for passengers and/or crew. The seats are provided with backrests. Each backrest has a supporting structure 4 as shown in FIG. 3. Each supporting structure 4 is mounted to a respective of the seats. The supporting structure 4 comprises an elongated element 401 which is bent to a shape of the letter U. When mounted, the supporting structure 4 has the orientation as depicted in FIG. 3. I.e., the “U” is inverted. The supporting structure 4 is mounted at both free ends of the elongated element 401.

[0045] The supporting structure 4 provides the function of a hand rail for a person, sitting in the seat behind the seat for which the supporting structure provides a back rest.

[0046] Reference is made also to FIG. 4. The elongated element 401 comprises an elongated pipe 402. The pipe has a circular cross-section. Alternative shapes for the cross-section for are possible, e.g. rectangular. The pipe 4 may be made in a variety of materials, but fibre reinforced plastic, e.g. carbon fibre reinforced plastic, is preferred. However, alternatively, the pipe 402 may be made in stainless steel, or some other metal. Inside the pipe 402, an insulating foam 403 is provided. Thus, a hand rail is provided, presenting an elongated pipe 402, wherein a foam material 403 is provided inside the pipe. The foam material may be of a variety of suitable types. Preferably, the foam material is polyurethane. Polyurethane foam presents closed cells, and is therefore not prone to water absorption. The foam material may be an expandable polyurethane foam.

[0047] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.