RETRACTABLE HULL MOUNTING DATA COLLECTING SYSTEM

Abstract

A watercraft mounting system that embodies a moving mounting platform and a protective hull cavity which provides protection, prevents damage and improves storage of data collection systems.

Claims

1. A watercraft, comprising: a hull defining a downwardly facing cavity; a moveable mounting platform releasably suspended from the hull within the downwardly facing cavity; and a plurality of supports coupling the moveable mounting platform to the hull, the plurality of supports allowing movement of the moveable mounting platform relative to the hull in response to external impact or force.

2. The hull of claim 1, comprising at least four supports.

3. The watercraft of claim 1, the plurality of supports are operable to support movement of the moveable mounting platform in any direction with respect to the hull in response to the external impact or force.

4. The watercraft of claim 3 wherein the plurality of supports are elastic.

5. The watercraft of claim 1, further comprising a rim projecting over a portion of the downwardly facing cavity, wherein the moveable mounting platform is coupled to the rim via the plurality of supports.

6. The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the plurality of supports extend from the rim toward a topside of the watercraft to couple to the moveable mounting platform.

7. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein the moveable mounting platform comprises a kick-up.

8. The watercraft of claim 1 wherein said moveable mounting platform can accept a variety of mountable objects via removable plates and adjustable mounting towers.

9. A watercraft comprising: a hull defining a cavity accessible through a bottom side and top side of the hull; a moveable mounting platform releasably suspended from the hull within the cavity; and a plurality of supports coupling the moveable mounting platform to the hull, the plurality of supports allowing movement of the moveable mounting platform relative to the hull in response to external impact or force.

10. The hull of claim 9, comprising at least four supports.

11. The watercraft of claim 9, the plurality of supports are operable to support movement of the moveable mounting platform in any direction with respect to the hull in response to the external impact or force.

12. The watercraft of claim 11 wherein the plurality of supports are elastic.

13. The watercraft of claim 9, further comprising a rim projecting over a portion of the cavity, wherein the moveable mounting platform is coupled to the rim via the plurality of supports.

14. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the plurality of supports extend from the rim toward a topside of the watercraft to couple to the moveable mounting platform.

15. The watercraft of claim 9 wherein the moveable mounting platform comprises a kick-up.

16. The watercraft of claim 9 wherein said moveable mounting platform can accept a variety of mountable objects via removable plates and adjustable mounting towers.

17. The watercraft of claim 9, further comprising an active retraction mechanism comprising a handle operatively coupled to the moveable mounting platform, and is positioned at a top side of the hull.

18. The watercraft of claim 17, wherein the handle is coupled to the moveable mounting platform via a retraction cord.

19. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the retraction cord is routed to the top side of the hull via pulley.

20. The watercraft of claim 9, wherein a transducer is mounted to the moveable mounting platform.

Description

THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Turning to the drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perpendicular view of the hull shape of a watercraft and the recess cavity in the protective hull.

[0016] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the assembly of the movable mounting platform and the fixed rim.

[0017] FIG. 3 is a view, with parts of the hull removed, taken from below and to the side of the hull showing a side-scan transducer mounted to the bottom of the moveable mounting platform with the platform being in the lowered or deployed position projecting from the protective cavity in the hull.

[0018] FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3, showing a segment of the hull and the moveable mounting platform with the side-scan transducer, the moveable mounting platform being in the raised or retracted position.

[0019] FIG. 5 shows the passive movement of the deployed moveable mounting platform with transducer, upon collision with a foreign object following release of the retraction line.

[0020] FIG. 6 shows the deployed moveable mounting platform carrying a down-scan transducer.

[0021] FIG. 7 shows the deployed moveable mounting platform carrying a side-scan transducer.

[0022] FIG. 8 shows the deployed mounting plate carrying a camera.

[0023] FIG. 9 is a side view of the hull in partial cutaway showing the moveable mounting platform retracted in the cavity and the pulleys and bungee cord.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] Turning to the drawings in more detail:

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates the portion of the hull 1 having recess cavity 2 therein. The cavity allows for a protection area above the bottom of the hull.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates the assembly of the moveable plate 3 and outer rim 6. The assembly comprises a static outer rim 6 which is constrained by offset 18 in cavity 2. The outer static rim 6 contains a bungee cord 5 at each side. The spring force of each bungee cord 5 is attached at knots 15 at the four corners 16 of the mounting plate 3 as shown in FIG. 9. Each bungee cord 5 on rim 6 runs over pulleys 17 which allow for all angle articulation of the moveable mounting platform 3 when the moveable mounting platform is deployed upon release of the retraction cord 4.

[0027] Each bungee cord 5 is stressed, that is, under tension so as to exert downward force on the moveable mounting plate 3, moving it down from the surrounding rim 6 during deployment. For retraction, the cord 4 is used to pull the moveable mounting platform 3 up in the cavity 3 and above rim 6 as shown in FIG. 4. The rim 6 is held in place against upward movement by the projection 18 in hull cavity 2. When it is desired to deploy the device carried on the moveable mounting platform 3, the retraction cord 4 is released or slackened. Each bungee cord 5 then pulls the moveable mounting platform down as shown in FIG. 5. The moveable mounting platform 3 is then free to articulate and angle in any direction while under the spring-like tension of the bungee cord 5.

[0028] FIGS. 3 and 5 display a side-scan transducer 8 mounted to the bottom of the plate 3 when in the deployed position. The mounting plate 3 is sized so that it can pass through static outer rim 6 when upward tension on retraction cord 4 is released. When deployed the transducer 8 sticks proud of the bottom and is vulnerable to damage. In front of the transducer 8 there is a kick-up guard 12 to protect the transducer from impact with external objects.

[0029] FIG. 4 displays the mounting plate 3 and transducer 8 in the retracted position. The mounting plate 3 is actively retracted by upward tension on retraction line 4. The transducer is actively retracted by pulling on the retraction cord 4 which is directed around a pulley 14 and leads to a pull handle somewhere on the watercraft. The pull handle is operated manually. However, power operation of the retraction cord 4 is an obvious alternative. Note that in this position the side-scan transducer 8 is safely recessed in the cavity 2.

[0030] FIG. 5 illustrates the passive retraction feature. In the event of a collision with a foreign object 13, the mounting plate 3 will articulate over the obstruction into the cavity 2 without the need for use of the retraction cord 4.

[0031] FIGS. 6 through 8 illustrate a variety of possible objects that could be mounted to the plate which include a down-scan transducer 9, side-scan transducer 8 and camera 10. In FIG. 6, the electric power for the transducer is provided via electrical connection 19.

[0032] The bungee cord 5 is used in the preferred embodiment to provide durability and corrosion resistance, but other spring systems (coil springs, rubber rod, leaf springs) creating down pressure on the mounting plate 3 can be used in this system.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 6, the optional mounting towers 7 can be joined to the down-scan transducer 9 by bolt or screw connection 20 to provide stability.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2, the moveable mounting platform 3 can optionally have a removeable plate 11 which is connected to the main structure of platform 3 by member 22 which is attached by screws 24.