VEHICLE FOR HAULING AND LAUNCHING BOATS

Abstract

A vehicle for hauling and launching boats is provided and includes a lower frame provided with a pair of longitudinal beams inferiorly associated to handling devices and mutually connected by at least one crossbar, an upper support structure adapted to support the hull of a boat relative to the frame, the structure being provided with a pair of longitudinal bars equipped with transverse slings for carrying the hull, and telescopic posts hinged inferiorly to the beams of the frame and superiorly to the bars of the support structure. The support structure is articulated to the frame and is capable of varying its distance and/or inclination relative to the frame depending on the extension and inclination of the posts.

Claims

1. A vehicle (11) for hauling and launching boats comprising: a lower frame (13) provided with a pair of longitudinal beams (15,17) inferiorly associated to handling devices (21) and mutually connected by means of at least one cross-bar (19); an upper support structure (25) adapted to support the hull of a boat relative to the frame (13), said structure (25) being provided with a pair of longitudinal bars (27,29) equipped with transverse slings (31) for carrying said hull; telescopic posts (33) hinged inferiorly to the beams (15,17) of the frame (13) and superiorly to the bars (27,29) of the support structure (25), whereby the support structure (25) is articulated to the frame (13) and is capable of varying its distance and/or inclination relative to the frame (13) depending on the extension and inclination of the posts (33).

2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein at least two of said posts (33) for each side of the vehicle (11) are telescopic.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the posts (33) are three in number for each side of the vehicle (11) and wherein the two posts (33a,33c) arranged at the ends are telescopic and the middle post (33c) has a fixed length.

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the posts (33) are inferiorly and upperly hinged to corresponding hinge pins (35a,35b,35c,37a,37b,37c) and wherein the distance between the lower hinge pin (35b) of the middle post (33b) and the lower hinge pin (35a) of a first post (33a) is substantially the same as the distance between the upper hinge pins (37a,37b) of said posts (33a,33b) and wherein the distance between the lower hinge pin (35b) of the middle post (33b) and the lower hinge pin (35c) of the third post (33c) is substantially thrice the distance between the upper hinge pins (37b,37c) of said posts.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each of the telescopic posts (33) incorporates at least one hydraulic cylinder.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the handling devices (21) comprise carriages tilting around hubs (23) relative to the frame (13) and equipped with hydraulically driven crawler tracks (22).

7. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the frame (13) has a substantially U-like or H-like shape and comprises at least one transverse stiffening tie rod (39).

8. The vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the hydraulic cylinders are driven by an electronic unit controlled by means of a remote-control device.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the handling devices (21) are in a total number of four, two for each side of the vehicle (11).

10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the handling devices (21) comprise corresponding carriages hinged to the beams (15,17) at hubs (23), said devices (21) being therefore tilting relative to the frame (13) depending on the inclination of the ground traveled by the vehicle (11).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Some preferred embodiments of the invention will be described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with the support structure completely lowered;

[0020] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1, with the support structure completely lowered;

[0022] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1, with the support structure in an intermediate inclined configuration;

[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial side view of the vehicle of FIG. 1, with the support structure in its hoisted configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a first embodiment of a vehicle 11 for hauling and launching boats made in accordance with the invention is shown. The vehicle 11 mainly comprises a lower frame 13 provided with a pair of longitudinal beams 15,17.

[0025] In addition, the longitudinal beams 15,17 are mutually connected by a cross-bar 19, arranged at one of the ends of the frame 13. By convention this end will be assumed to be the rear end of vehicle 11. The frame 13 is lowerly associated to handling devices 21. In the embodiment example shown, the devices 21 are in a total number of four, two for each side of the vehicle 11. The devices 21 comprise corresponding carriages hinged to the beams 15, 17 at hubs 23. Said devices 21 are therefore tilting relative to the frame 13 depending on the inclination of the ground travelled by the vehicle 11. The tilting of the devices 21 around the hubs 23 can be either idle or hydraulically controlled. The tilting is effected preferably about an axis perpendicular to the beams 15, 17, i.e. transverse relative to the frame 13 of the vehicle.

[0026] In a variant embodiment, the cross-bar 19 is of a hydraulically controlled telescopic type so as to reduce the tread spacing, i.e. the transverse dimension of the vehicle 11, for example to minimize the space for storing.

[0027] Still referring to the example shown, the devices 21 are arranged along the beams 15,17 so as to define a rear cantilever portion 13a of the frame 13. The devices 21 are provided with hydraulically controlled crawler tracks 22 for the advancing, backing and steering the vehicle 11. The vehicle further comprises a support structure 25 adapted to support the hull of a boat (not shown) relative to the frame 13. The structure 25 is provided with a pair of longitudinal bars 27,29 equipped with transverse slings 31. The slings 31 cooperate with the bars 27,29 for supporting the hull of the boat and, to this aim, the inner part of the bars 27,29 is preferably provided with deformable members 28, made, for example, of plastic material. The members 28 function as supports for the hull of the boat.

[0028] Posts 33 inferiorly hinged to the beams 15,17 of the frame 13 and upperly to the bars 27,29 of the support structure 25 are interposed between the frame 13 and the support structure 25. In the illustrated example, the posts are three in number for each side of the vehicle 11 and the two posts 33a,33c located at the ends are telescopic, whereas the middle post 33b has a fixed length. In the illustrated embodiment, each side of the vehicle 11 therefore comprises three posts 33, a corresponding beam 15,17 and a corresponding bar 27,29. The posts 33 are hinged by means of corresponding lower hinge pins 35a,35b,35c and upper hinge pins 37a,37b,37c. Said lower hinge pins 35a,35b,35c and upper hinge pins 37a,37b,37c are substantially perpendicular to the posts 33, the beams 15,17 and the bars 27,29 and are therefore transverse relative to the vehicle 11.

[0029] The support structure 25 is therefore articulated to the frame 13 so as to vary its distance and/or inclination relative to the frame 13 depending on the extension and inclination of the posts 33.

[0030] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance between the lower hinge pin 35b of the middle post 33b and the lower hinge pin 35a of the rear post 33a is substantially the same as the distance between the upper hinge pins 37a, 37b of said posts 33a,33b. The distance between the lower hinge pin 35b of the middle post 33b and the lower hinge pin 35c of the front post 33c, instead, is substantially thrice the distance between the upper hinge pins 37b,37c of said posts 33b,33c.

[0031] The posts 33a,33c are preferably hollow and incorporate inside them a corresponding hydraulic cylinder capable of causing the extension and shortening of the posts 33a,33c. In other embodiments, the hydraulic cylinder may be provided outside the post.

[0032] The frame 13 is stiffened by at least one transverse tie rod 39 and rearly holds a pair of cabinets 41,43, in which the motors that actuate the hydraulic control circuit of the devices 21 and of the hydraulic cylinders are accommodated.

[0033] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic cylinders are manually controlled by an operator through an electronic control unit, preferably by means of a radio control. In this way, the operator can maintain the desired height and inclination of the bars 27,29 of the support structure 25 relative to the frame 13 and, consequently, with respect to the ground traveled by the vehicle 11. In particular, the inclination can be manually maintained at an angle such that the hull of the boat received on the support structure 25 is substantially parallel to the water plane of the basin where the vehicle is effecting the hauling and/or launching.

[0034] In a second embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic cylinders capable of causing the extension and shortening of the posts 33a, 33c are controlled by an electronic control unit programmed to control said cylinders according to the signal generated by at least one electronic level or similar inclination measuring sensor. According to this embodiment of the invention, the hull of the boat is maintained with the desired inclination with respect to the plane on which the vehicle travels. In particular, such inclination can be maintained automatically at an angle such that the hull is substantially parallel to the water plane of the basin where the vehicle is effecting the hauling and/or launching.