SHOCK PROTECTING FENDER FOR A SHIP HULL

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fender comprising a textile envelop surrounding an inflatable chamber, a valve for inflating/deflating said chamber. According to the invention, said textile envelop comprises a central part for receiving said valve and two longitudinal side parts, said side parts being linked together on at least one portion of their length by a junction zone.

Claims

1. Fender comprising a textile envelop surrounding an inflatable chamber, a valve for inflating/deflating said inflatable chamber wherein said textile envelop comprises a central part for receiving said valve and two longitudinal side parts, said side parts being linked together on at least one portion of their length by a junction zone.

2. Fender according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side parts is folded and wherein said two side parts are linked together by an additional junction zone.

3. Fender according to claim 1, wherein said junction zone is a knitted textile and wherein said junction zone is sewed to said textile envelop.

4. Fender according to claim 1, wherein said junction zone is a flat textile strip extending essentially along the length of the side parts.

5. Fender according to claim 1 wherein said junction zone has an increasing width between the two end portions of said two side parts.

6. Fender according to claim 1, wherein said junction zone comprises two faces and a strap attached on said two faces, said strap enabling to increase the stiffness of said junction zone.

7. Fender according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a fixation member attached on said junction zone, said fixation member being able to cooperate with a groove provided in a ship's hull.

8. Fender according to claim 1, wherein said inflatable chamber is welded and wherein it comprises a rounded weld on the rounded portions of said chamber, said rounded weld facilitating positioning said inflatable chamber inside said textile envelop and limiting efforts on said weld.

9. Fender according to claim 8 wherein said weld is a weld bead forming a circular arc.

10. Fender according to claim 1 wherein said inflatable chamber is made of a polyurethane type polymer having a coefficient of elasticity of more than 300%.

11. Fender according to claim 1 wherein said textile chamber is made of a textile having a coefficient of elasticity comprised between 5 and 15%, thus enabling said inflatable chamber to further inflate when heated.

Description

FIGURES

[0016] The present invention and its advantages will be understood based on the following description of two particular embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first particular embodiment of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along A-A of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the invention.

EXAMPLES

[0020] The present invention relates to a fender 1 usable for a ship's hull. This fender 1 can also be directly attached to the ship or to the dock, pontoon or similar platform where the ship is stowed.

[0021] The fender 1 comprises a textile envelop 2. The textile envelop receives an inflatable chamber 3. For inflating/deflating the inflatable chamber 3, it comprises a valve 4.

[0022] According to a first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the textile envelop 2 comprises a central part 5 receiving the valve 4 and two longitudinal side parts 6.

[0023] Advantageously, the central part 5 comprises a neck. The valve 4 is provided on the neck or integrated to the neck. The junction between the neck of the fender and the remaining part of the fender is a barrier preventing mechanical transmission of traction between said neck and the remaining part of the fender. Accordingly, the textile cannot be removed. The structure of this neck is described in FR 3004417 the content of which is incorporated in the present application by reference.

[0024] The two side parts 6 are longitudinal as above-mentioned. Accordingly, these side parts are longer than the other dimensions of the fender. The textile envelop 2 has preferably a spherical section or an oblong section in its two side parts 6.

[0025] As shown in the figures, the side parts 6 are linked together by a junction zone or junction portion 7. The junction 7 extends along the length of the side parts 6 or along only one portion of their length.

[0026] Preferably, the junction 7 is a knitted textile attached to the textile envelop 2 by stitching. However, the invention is not limited to this embodiment. It is also possible according to the invention to knit the textile envelop and the junction zone 7 in a single piece by modifying the meshing when knitting the textile envelop 2 or the junction zone 7.

[0027] In the embodiments shown in the enclosed figures, the junction zone 7 is a slat textile strap 8. This strap extends essentially along the length of the side parts 6.

[0028] However, the junction zone 7 can also be made of one or several pieces of strap attached between the side parts 6 at their ends 9a and 9b.

[0029] When inflating the inflatable chamber 3, the side parts expands and spread apart until the junction 7 is stretched.

[0030] In the enclosed figures, the junction zone has a constant width. However, the junction zone can have a decreasing or increasing width. For instance, the junction zone can have a width that increases between its two ends 9a and 9b, according to its length. In such an embodiment, the junction zone creates an angle between the side parts 6. This is particularly interesting because the resulting fender enables to protect a larger surface of the hull. For example, the side parts can form together an angle of 0 to 60 (0 and 60 included).

[0031] According to FIG. 2, the junction zone 7 comprises a strip 10. The strip 10 is attached on the two opposed faces of the junction zone 7. The strip 10 increase the stiffness of the junction zone 7. The strip 10 strengthens the junction zone 7 towards the forces applied to the junction 7 by the side parts 6. 7.

[0032] In FIG. 2, a fixation member 11 is provided. This fixation member 11 is attached to the junction zone 7. This fixation member is able to cooperate with a groove provided in the ship hull to removably connect the hull to the fender or to another element.

[0033] For example, it is possible to attach the fender 1 to pontoons or other platforms when they are equipped with slits.

[0034] The fender 1 has a wider contact surface with the hull compared with to known spherical inflatable fender or rubber molded fenders. In the same time, the fender 1 is smaller and less thick than known spherical fenders. Moreover, the contact surface is wider and more homogeneously distributed on the hull. This enables to highly decrease the maximal charge par surface unit applied on the hull.

[0035] On the basis of FIG. 3, the side parts 6 are folded. The folded side parts are linked together by an additional junction zones or additional junction portions 12.

[0036] These additional junction zones 12 have the same features and functionalities as the junction part 7. They can be made of slat textile straps having a constant or increasing width and extending on one part or all the length of the side parts 6. The connection between these additional junction zones 12 with the fender is advantageously the same as described in reference to the junction 7 with regard to side parts 6.

[0037] In FIG. 3, both of the side parts 6 are folded once. However, it is possible to fold twice each of the side parts. It is also possible to fold only one side part 6 once or twice. It is also possible to fold several times one or the two side parts 6.

[0038] Accordingly, the fender provides a large contact surface with the ship's hull despite the fact it is relatively small and particularly has a small thickness compared to spherical fender. Consequently, the maximal charge per surface unit is decreased owing to the fender according to the present invention.

[0039] Moreover, the fender 1 enables to protect a huge length of the hull only with one fender

[0040] In order to enable a homogeneous inflating of the inflatable chamber 4 inside the textile envelop 2, the inflatable chamber 4 is made of a plastic polymer material like a polyurethane like material, for instance. This polymer material can have a coefficient of elasticity of more than 300%.

[0041] The inflatable chamber 4 is advantageously obtained by welding a sheet of plastic polymer. The shape and the size of the inflatable chamber 4 depending on the size and geometry of the textile envelop 2.

[0042] according to one advantageous aspect of the invention, the inflatable chamber 4 has rounded welds 13 corresponding to the regions where the inflatable chamber has an important radius of curvature. These rounded welds 13 enables to easily introduced and position the inflatable chamber 4 into the textile envelop 2. Further, they limit compressive stress on the weld in the above-mentioned regions. These regions are, for example, the inside passage 14 between the longitudinal portions and the additional inside passage 15 between the additional longitudinal portions.

[0043] Advantageously, the rounded weld is a weld bead forming a circular arc and having a width comprised between 1 and 3 cm.

[0044] When the fender is heated, by the sun, for example, the inflatable chamber can further inflate due to the expansion of the air located inside the inflatable chamber 4. To avoid problems due this phenomenon, the textile envelop 2 is preferably made of a material having a coefficient of elasticity between 5 and 15%. This feature prevents form providing an overpressure valve.