EP1685021B1 - Floating vessel comprising hulls which are articulated essentially under the effect of hydrostatic forces - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus has two plates (2) pivotally articulated to a platform (1). The plates have a water ballast tank (5), pump (6) to empty or fill the tank, and two conduits (8A, 8B) connected with a three way control valve (7) to move the plates between two fixed flotation positions by hydrostatic force. A locking axle locks the displacement of the plates. A central control unit (4) controls the locking unit, tank, pump and valve. The apparatus in one flotation position is in catamaran configuration and in another flotation position is in floating dock configuration.

Description

The present invention relates to a floating machine of the type having a floating structure consisting of a platform providing the connection between two hulls, said hulls being articulated pivotally to the platform to be able to move in particular between at least two flotation positions predetermined, one in which they are aligned with the plane of the platform, the other in which they extend substantially at right angles to said platform, these shells being provided with ballast / deballasting means and means for immobilizing or locking in each of their flotation positions.

Such floating machines with variable geometry are known from the state of the art as illustrated in particular by the patent FR-A-2674210 in which it is described a hull of variable geometry vessel allowing, according to the conditions, to have a planing hull to optimize the running of the boat according to the state of the sea and the force of the wind and to have a variable draft. This boat hull is thus provided with a central portion along the two longitudinal edges of which are articulated two lateral parts in the form of floats pivotally mounted and adjustably between a position in which they are positioned under the central portion and a position in which they are located outside the central part. The displacement of these lateral floats requires the presence of extremely powerful hydraulic cylinders. As a result, such a solution is unsuitable for large vehicles without having to have a power hydraulic extremely powerful and therefore extremely expensive.

A similar solution is described in the patent US Patent 4,223,623 where instead of side floats, it is used boxes connected to each other by means of hinge type joints. Again, the drive means for moving a housing consist of cylinders and a cable system.

It is the same in the patent US Patent 5,237,947 where ballast hulls are connected via arms to a connecting platform. The arms and ballast hulls are hinged to the connecting platform and are controlled on the move by means of a gear system. Again, the result is the need for strong control members to cause such pivotal movement on large machines.

Other floating machines are also described in the patents US 5967072 , DE-101114 or US 4494472 .

An object of the present invention is therefore to provide a floating machine whose design eliminates high power member for the pivotal movement of the hulls using essentially the hydrostatic forces in the presence.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a floating machine whose design allows to have at least three flotation positions each corresponding to a particular function of said machine to make the latter versatile.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a floating machine whose design makes it possible to move from one flotation position to another in an extremely short time, including in the absence of powerful energy sources and / or powerful control devices.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a floating craft of the type having a floating structure consisting of a platform providing the connection between two hulls, said hulls being articulated pivotally to the platform to be able to move in particular between at least two predetermined flotation positions, one in which they are aligned with the plane of the platform, the other in which they extend substantially at right angles to said platform, these shells being provided with ballast / deballasting means and means of immobilization or locking in each of their flotation positions, the platform linkage being a floating element characterized in that the hulls provided with pumped ballast / deballasting means are moved from one flotation position to another at least by the ballast / deballasting means of said hulls cooperating with the immobilization means the latter, ballasting / deballasting means and immobilization means being controlled in operation from a central unit controlling, in a succession of predetermined sequences, said means simultaneously and / or alternately to cause a displacement to pivoting hulls essentially under the effect of hydrostatic forces.

• les figures 1 à 13 représentent des vues schématiques de l'engin dans différentes configurations au cours du passage de l'engin d'une configuration catamaran à la configuration barge (figures 1 à 6), et de la configuration barge à la configuration dock flottant (figures 7 à 13) ;
• la figure 14 représente une vue ¾ avant d'un engin conforme à l'invention en configuration catamaran ;
• la figure 15 représente une vue ¾ avant de ce même engin en position barge tandis que la figure 16 représente une vue ¾ avant de ce même engin en configuration dock flottant;
• la figure 17 représente une vue ¾ avant schématique de l'engin en configuration catamaran avec le détail des moyens de ballastage/déballastage et
• la figure 18 représente une vue de détail de la liaison pivot de type charnière entre coque et plate-forme de liaison.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figures 1 to 13 show schematic views of the craft in different configurations during the passage of the craft from a catamaran configuration to the barge configuration (Figures 1 to 6), and from the barge configuration to the floating dock configuration (Figures 7 to 13);
• Figure 14 shows a front view of a vehicle according to the invention in catamaran configuration;
• FIG. 15 represents a front view of this same machine in the barge position while FIG. 16 represents a front view of this same machine in a floating dock configuration;
• FIG. 17 represents a schematic front view of the machine in a catamaran configuration with details of ballast / deballasting means and
• Figure 18 shows a detail view of the pivot connection hinge type between shell and connecting platform.

As mentioned above, the floating apparatus, object of the invention, has a floating structure consisting of a platform 1 providing the connection between two shells 2. These shells are pivotally articulated to the platform to be able to to move in particular between at least two flotation positions: one in which they are aligned with the plane of the platform, as illustrated in Figure 15, the other in which they extend substantially at right angles to said platform, as illustrated in Figures 14 and 16. These shells 2 are provided with ballasting / deballasting means shown in 5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B in the figures. Indeed, these ballasting means comprise at least one tank or ballast 5 arranged in the hull of the machine, a pump 6 to allow the emptying or filling of such tanks and a three-way valve 7 to which are connected two lines 8A , 8B forming water intakes, these pipes opening into two opposite locations of the tank corresponding to a high point and a low point of the tank when the hulls extend substantially at right angles to the platform 1 of connection. Thus, as illustrated in the figures, it can be considered that the hulls affect the form of fins, the lines 8A and 8B being positioned in the vicinity of each of the longitudinal edges of the fin. The positioning of these lines 8A, 8B and their outlet in the tanks 5 allows in particular the emptying of the tanks 5 hulls regardless of the position occupied by the hulls as will be described in more detail below. These shells 2 are further provided with means for immobilizing or locking in at least two predetermined flotation positions. Thus, in the examples shown, the hulls are connected to the connecting platform 1 by a hinge type pivot connection 3 mechanically lockable in each of the flotation positions of said hulls. The detail of this hinge 3 is shown in FIG. 18. The locking means are in this case constituted by integral locking pins 11 of a hinge element 3A itself coupled for example to the platform 1 while the other element 3B hinge coupled to the shell 2 comprises a housing for receive the locking pin 11. Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 18, the hinge element 3A coupled to the platform 1 comprises two locking pins 11 while the hinge element 3B coupled to the shell 2 comprises two housings each intended for receive a locking pin 11. In the position shown in Figure 18, the hinge 3 is locked in a position in which the shell 2 extends perpendicular to the platform 1 and below the latter, this position corresponding to a catamaran position of the gear which will be described in more detail below. When the two locking pins are housed in the two housings, the position occupied by the hull is an alignment position with the platform corresponding to a configuration of the machine called barge type configuration. Finally, when the locking pin, shown most above in FIG. 18, comes into the housing of the lower part of the hinge element 3B, the hinge is then locked in a position of the shell 2 corresponding to a so-called floating dock configuration of the machine.

In a manner characteristic of the invention, the platform 1 for connecting the machine is a floating element. In addition, the hulls 2, which are provided with pumped ballast / deballasting means as described above, are moved from one flotation position to another at least by the means of ballasting / deballasting the hulls cooperating with the means. immobilization of the latter. Means for ballasting / deballasting and immobilizing means are thus controlled in operation from a central unit 4 controlling, in a succession of predetermined sequences, said means simultaneously and / or alternately to cause pivoting of the hulls essentially. under the effect of hydrostatic forces in the presence. In other words, this central unit 4 controls, on the one hand, the ballasting / deballasting means, on the other hand, the actuation of the means for immobilizing the hulls locking the hull-deck connection in each flotation position in front of to be taken by the hulls. Thanks to the succession of predetermined sequences of the operations of ballasting / deballasting hulls and lock operations of the hull-platform link, it results in a displacement in automatic pivoting of the hulls to bring them from one position to another. To allow this sequence of predetermined sequences to be respected, the machine further comprises means capable of providing information relating to the relative position of the hulls and the connecting platform and / or the water level in the tanks. ballast of the craft. This information is transmitted to the central control unit 4 to allow the passage from one sequence to another following the succession of predetermined sequences. Thus, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises on the one hand means for detecting the relative position of the hulls and the connecting platform consisting of force and position sensors of the device type. rotary steering positioned on the hinge-type hinge 3 between the hull 2 and the connecting platform 1, on the other hand means for detecting the water level in the ballast tanks 5, these means for detecting the level of d water preferably operating by ultrasound, all of these detection means transmitting, preferably in real time and continuously, their signals to the central control unit 4 which, from the received signals, is able to control operation on the one hand the means of ballasting / déballasting, on the other hand the immobilization means hulls.

In a preferred embodiment, the connecting platform 1 is a floating element equipped with means 9, 10 for ballasting / deballasting. Again, these means consist of reservoirs 9 that can be filled or drained via pumps 10. All of these ballasting means are connected to the central control unit 4 preferably positioned on the platform. form 1 linkage at the wheelhouse 12 of the machine, this wheelhouse 12 is located at the rear of the platform 1. It can also be provided in the vicinity of this wheelhouse 12, a chimney 13 and 14. The platform 1 can also be equipped with a liftable ramp shown in 15 in the figures. Thanks to the presence of these means 9, 10 of ballasting / deballasting in the connecting platform, the machine comprises at least three flotation positions, one said barge configuration in which the shells 2 are aligned with the plane of the platform 1 of connection, the other two positions, respectively called catamaran configuration and floating dock configuration respectively corresponding to positions in which the shells 2 extend substantially at right angles to the platform 1 of connection and are positioned by extending either at below deck 1 (catamaran configuration), or above said platform 1 so as to form a floating dock type craft. The passage from one configuration to another is more particularly described in FIGS. 1 to 13. In general, the sequences for the passage of the position in the catamaran configuration to the position in barge configuration comprise a ballast sequence of the hulls 2 kept locked. in order to cause a lowering of the connecting platform 1 to the level of the water followed by a sequence of unlocking the hulls 2 associated with a deballasting sequence of the hulls 2 in order to cause a pivotal movement of hulls to a position in which the hulls 2 are aligned with the connecting platform 1 and locked in said position. Thus, as illustrated in more detail in FIG. 1, in the catamaran configuration, the ballast tanks 5 of the hulls 2 and the platform 1 are empty and the hulls 2 are locked in a position in which they extend substantially. at right angles and below the connecting platform. Initially, the hulls are ballasted in order to allow the platform 1 to be lowered to the position in which it reaches the water level in order to float. The hulls 2 are then unlocked and a progressive deballasting of the hulls 2 is engaged. The hulls 2 then tend to rise to the horizontal. When an angular sensor positioned at the hinges 3 detects a predetermined value corresponding to an alignment of the hulls with the platform, it is considered that the hulls 2 occupy a horizontal position and the control by the central unit 4 of the organs 11 locking hinges 3 is then performed to ensure a new locking hulls. Once the hulls are locked in this way, a complete deballasting of the tanks 5 of the hulls 2 can be carried out in order to obtain a minimum draft. When the connecting platform 1 is also equipped with ballast tanks 9, some of these tanks are filled to give the entire apparatus a base. rear adapted to reduce the draft before. Of course, to obtain the passage of the barge configuration to the catamaran configuration, the same succession of sequences is carried out in an inverse order. In the case where the connecting platform 1 is equipped with ballast tanks and has a buoyancy greater than the hulls, the hulls can not be found horizontally and it is then necessary to ballast the platform in order to bring in the alignment of the two shells and thus be able to lock the hinges.

The ballasting / deballasting sequences for the passage of the position in barge configuration to the floating dock position comprise at least one ballasting sequence of the connecting platform 1 in order to cause the immersion of the latter in parallel with an unlocking of said hulls 2 until a positioning of the hulls 2 perpendicular to said connecting platform 1, a hull locking sequence 2 followed by a ballast sequence of the hulls 2 to a depth depending on the draft of the ship or floating load to ship.

Once the load has been loaded, the hulls and / or the connecting platform are deballasted until a complete emptying of the hull and deck tanks is achieved, depending on the desired flotation position for the craft. These different sequences are more particularly shown in FIGS. 7 to 13. Thus, in FIG. 7, the machine is in a barge configuration, in which configuration the hulls are locked and the tanks of the hulls and of the platform are emptied. Figure 8 shows the ballast step of the hulls and / or the platform to obtain a zero moment on the hinge. The hulls are then unlocked as shown in Figure 9 to allow a rise of said hulls. In parallel, these hulls are unpacked while the ballasting operation of the connecting platform is engaged. The hulls continue to re-show, as illustrated in Figures 9, 10 and 11 to a position in which the hulls occupy a position substantially perpendicular to the connecting platform and extend above this last. In this position, the hulls must be locked again. The hull tanks can be filled as shown in Figure 12 to allow the loading of a vessel. Then, again, we proceed to a deballasting of the hulls and the platform to allow a rise of the platform to the desired level. Obviously, all of these sequences can be performed automatically thanks to the central unit 4 which is able to go from one sequence to another thanks to the means for detecting the relative position of the shells and the platform. form and means for the detection of water levels in the different tanks. It may further be provided assistance means to control the displacement of the hulls. These assistance means are active when the hulls 2 occupy a position close to the predetermined flotation position in which they are immobilized by actuation of immobilization means locking the hull connection-platform connection. These means of assistance can affect various and varied forms. They are simply intended to refine the position of the hulls at the end of the race in the vicinity of the predetermined position of flotation to be occupied by the hull relative to the connecting platform. Finally, of course, such a machine is equipped with propulsion means. Preferably, the hulls 2 incorporate these means of propulsion of the vehicle, these propulsion means being preferably constituted by water boosters whose water supply intakes are arranged on the internal faces facing the hulls in configuration catamaran of the craft. Thus, it is provided in the hulls on the one hand an electric motor, on the other hand a water jet propellant, electric motor and water jet propellant being connected to a generator for the power supply of the engine . This generator is preferably positioned on the connecting platform. The pumps 6 means for ballasting / deballasting the hulls 2 are fed from the generators used for feeding the propulsion means of the machine. In fact, the generators used for carrying out the ballasting / deballasting operations of the hulls can also be used for the propulsion of the machine insofar as the ballasting / deballasting operations are carried out at zero speed and thus function alternated with means of propulsion of the craft. As illustrated by the sequences described above, it can be seen that such a machine is capable of fulfilling several functions, namely a barge function, a gear function able to navigate at high speed in a catamaran configuration and a machine suitable for use as a floating dock for the maintenance or repair of other vessels. This versatility can be achieved in the absence of an impressive hydraulic power, thanks to an optimal use of the hydrostatic forces in the presence.

Claims (11)

1. Floating craft presenting a floating structure consisting of a central platform (1) securing the link between two hulls (2), said hulls being pivoting articulated with respect to the platform (1) being moved between at least two predetermined floating positions, one wherein they are aligned with the plane of the platform (1), the other wherein they extend sensitively at right angle from the platform (1), said hulls (2) being equipped with ballasting means and means (11) to immobilise or lock them in each floating positions,
   Characterised in that the platform (1) is a floating element and in that the hulls (2) equipped with ballasting means (5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B) are moved from one floating position to the other by pumping and draining water in the ballasting means (5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B) and the locking means (11) being controlled by a central unit (4) controlling, in predetermined sequences, said ballasting means (5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B) simultaneously and/or alternatively to enable a pivoting movement of the hulls (2) essentially under the effect of hydrostatic forces.
2. Floating craft according to claim 1,
   Characterised in that he comprises means to give information concerning the relative positions of the hulls (2) and the platform (1) and/or concerning the level of water in the ballast tanks of the craft, these information being transmitted to a central control unit (4) to enable the movement from one floating position to the other according to predetermined sequences.
3. Floating craft according to claim 2
   Characterised in that the craft comprises means to determine the relative position of the hulls (2) and the platform (1), these means being constraint sensors positioned on the pivoting articulation of the type hinge (3) between the hulls (2) and the platform (1), and further comprising means to detect the level of water in the ballast tanks (5), preferably by ultra sound wave, these position and water level detecting means transmitting the information real-time and continuously to the central control unit (4).
4. Floating craft according to claims 1 to 3
   Characterised in that the platform (1) is equipped with ballasting means (9, 10) controlled by the central unit of control (4).
5. Floating craft according to claims 1 to 4
   Characterised in that the pumps (6) of the ballasting means of the hulls (2) are also the pumps used for the propulsion of the craft.
6. Floating craft according to claim 4
   Characterised in that it comprises at least three floating positions, one being a barge configuration wherein the hulls (2) are aligned in the plane of the platform (1), the two other positions, being respectively a catamaran configuration and a floating dock configuration respectively corresponding in hull (2) positions wherein they extend at right angle with respect to the plane of the platform (1) and in a direction either above the platform to form a floating dock or under the plane of the platform to form a catamaran.
7. Floating craft according to claim 6
   Characterised in that the sequences from the position in the catamaran configuration to the position of the barge configuration contain a ballasting sequence of the hulls (2) which are maintained locked to provoke the lowering of the platform down to the water level, followed by a sequence of unlocking the hulls (2) combined with a sequence of unballasting the hulls to provoke the pivoting of the hulls (2) to a position wherein they are aligned with the platform and locked in the achieved position.
8. Floating craft according to claims 6 and 7
   Characterised in that the sequences from the position in barge configuration to the position of a floating dock configuration contain a sequence of ballasting the platform (1) to provoke the immersion of the platform and at the same time unlocking the hulls to positioned them perpendicular to the platform (1), followed by the locking of the hulls (2) in the achieved position and finally followed by a sequence of ballasting the hulls to the desired depth, depending on the weight of the payload.
9. Floating craft according to claims 1 to 8
   Characterised in that the hulls (2) are attached to the platform (1) by a pivoting link of the hinge type (3) mechanically lockable in each floating positions of said hulls (2).
10. Floating craft according to claims 1 to 9,
    Characterised in that the hulls (2) integrate the propulsion means of the said floating craft, those propulsion means being preferably of the type water jet propulsion.
11. Floating craft according to claims 1 to 10
    Characterised in that it comprises assisting means of the pivoting movement of the hulls, these assisting means being active when the hulls are in a position close to the predetermined flotation position in which they are immobilised under the action of immobilisation or locking means.

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