FR2549005A1 - Nautical craft with engine - Google Patents

Abstract

A nautical craft with an engine comprises a hull 1 and a deck 2 comprising a piloting position 9 and means for steering the craft and bringing about its acceleration and deceleration and is characterised in that it comprises, in its central part, a seat 15/16 in the form of a saddle, arranged in the longitudinal axis 1 of the craft and in a cavity forming the piloting position 9, so as to reserve around the seat a pit 9d, the bottom of which constitutes the floor of the position and in which the pilot and his passengers accommodate their legs by gripping the saddle 15/16 tightly with their knees, and in that the control of the means for steering the craft consists of a direction lever 14 which is articulated essentially in the region of the floor of the position and in front of the saddle 15 and the free end 14a of which is situated above the latter and has the shape of a handle, which the pilot grips to steer the craft. Finds its application as pleasure and sports craft.

Description

MOTOR BOATING
The present invention relates to a motorized nautical vehicle.

 The technical sector of the invention relates to the construction of motorized nautical machines in general and relates more particularly to machines for leisure and sports.

 Known aquatic vehicles, such as canoes with a built-in motor or an outboard motor, consist of a hull comprising a housing for the motor. The pilot and the passengers are generally installed in a seated position on benches which extend transversely to the hull or along it. The pilot is installed on a bench or seat located near a steering wheel or even a maneuver bar connected directly to an outboard motor, articulated at the rear of the craft.

 The top speed of these boats varies according to the power of the engine which equips them and also the shape of the hull.

 The present invention aims to propose a new nautical vehicle.

 The objective to be achieved is a fast, highly stable and unsinkable vehicle equipped with an outboard motor and comprising, in its central part, a cockpit capable of receiving a pilot and passengers.

 This objective is achieved by the nautical craft according to the invention comprising a hull and a deck comprising a cockpit and means for steering the craft and causing its acceleration and deceleration, characterized in that it comprises> in its part central, a saddle-shaped seat arranged in the longitudinal axis of the machine and in a cavity forming the cockpit, so as to reserve around the seat a pit whose bottom constitutes the floor of the position and in which the pilot and his passengers lodge their legs by enclosing the saddle with the knees and in that the control of the means for driving the craft consists of a direction lever, articulated substantially at the level of the station floor and in front of the saddle the free end of which is situated above the latter and takes the form of a handle to which the pilot stands to drive the craft.

 To obtain good stability, the width of the machine in the table is at least equal to the width of the master torque R, the latter compared to the overall length of the machine L being equal to the ratio L g of between 1, 8 and 2.5, preferably being 2.12.

 The result of the invention is a fast nautical machine of great stability and unsinkable and with which the pilot and the passengers form a body due to the design of the piloting station. The pilot rides a saddle and stands at said arranged steering lever behind him. Passengers also ride a saddle and stand between them, the first behind the rider holding on to it, as is generally the case on motorcycles. The seats being offset in height by successive recesses from front to back, allow the pilot and passengers to have good visibility to the front. The engine, surrounded by a protective hood, is protected from splashing water, the shape of the hood also making it possible to reduce the wind resistance when the machine is at high speed.

The characteristic shapes of the hull and the arrangement of the ribs allow the machine to reach high speeds safely.

The ribs extending on either side of the median longitudinal axis have a drift function and also give rise to channels forming a nozzle in which the air is engulfed and which has the effect of bringing the gear on the back and raise it above the water level to minimize hydrodynamic resistance.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description of an embodiment of a nautical machine with reference to the appended drawing in which
- Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a motorized nautical vehicle according to the invention;
- Figure 2 is a top view of said machine illustrating in particular the cockpit, the housing of the steering gear connected to the outboard motor, as well as the housing thereof;
- Figure 3 is a bottom view of the hull illustrating the arrangement of the bow, lateral ribs and the central flat;
- Figure 4 is a sectional view IV IV along the median axis, giving the profile of the bow and the flat flowing backwards;
- Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line VV giving the profile of the lateral ribs located near the sides of the hull and the central edge;
- Figure 6 is a sectional view along line VI VI giving the profile of the hull to the transom;
- Figure 7 is a sectional view along line VII VII giving the -prb-wire. from the hull to the right of the bottom of the outboard motor housing;
- Figure 8 is a sectional view along line VII VII;
- Figure 9 is a sectional view along line IX IX;
- Figure 10 is a sectional view along line XX;
- Figure 11 is a sectional view along line XI XI;
- Figure 12 is a sectional view of the lever control of the hydraulic steering device.

 A nautical machine according to the invention also called "Scooter" is composed, as illustrated in FIG. 1, of a hull 1 and a deck 2.

The general shape of the machine is picked up, that is to say that the width is relatively large compared to its length. The ratio of overall length and width to transom 3 is in the range of 1.8 to 2.5. Preferably this ratio is of the order of 2.12. The relative large width of the machine, compared to its length, ensures excellent stability on water.

 The width of the table 3 is substantially equal to that of the master-couple which is located approximately halfway through the length of the machine. As illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the width of the machine is substantially constant over the part extending from said master torque to the transom. The front part extending from said master torque to the bow has several successive necks, for example five, 4, 5, 6 7 and 8, the lateral edges of which converge in pairs symmetrically towards points situated on the longitudinal axis median XX1. The front end 8 is rounded and constitutes the nose of the device. This is profiled and its outer wall, which forms the deck of the craft, progresses from front to rear to reach the cockpit 9. The fairing of the front part 10 receives the fuel tank (not represented). This is independent of the engine which will be discussed later and is embedded in foam preferably closed cell polyurethane foam.

 To meet the safety measures in force, the machine includes a buoyancy reserve made from closed-cell polyurethane foam.

 For a craft having a length of around 3.14 meters and a width of 1.48 meters on the board, the buoyancy reserve is of the order of 600 liters.

 The cockpit 9 is reserved in the central part of the machine and forms a cavity extending partly in the hull 1. It comprises, on the median longitudinal axis XX], a fairing 9a forming a protruding extension from the dashboard 9b to a technical housing 11 intended in particular to receive the jack of the hydraulic steering device which is of a type currently marketed and perfectly known to those skilled in the art.

 This prominence 9a defines, with the side walls 9c of the bridge, pits 9d, which are arranged on either side of the prominence 9a and have the function of receiving the legs of the pilot and (or) passenger (s) . The upper face of the fairing 9a is situated substantially at the level of the lateral edges 9c of the cockpit.

 The machine comprises at the rear a rectangular cutout reserved in the axis XX1> which is open to the right of table 3 and is intended to receive an outboard motor 13 (fig. 1). This is connected to the steering gear installed in the trunk 11 and also to the acceleration / deceleration commands with which the cockpit is equipped, these commands being of a known type and commonly used on nautical motorized vehicles. .

 The cylinder of the steering gear, which is housed in the boot 11 and which causes the articulation of the outboard motor 13, is controlled by a steering lever 14 which extends in a position slightly inclined towards the rear and in front of the dashboard 9b. This lever is articulated substantially at the level of the station floor and moves in a transverse light 9e, so that said lever can be inclined in the port or starboard direction or be kept in neutral position in the vertical plane passing through the axis. XX1. Its upper end comprises a gripping member 14a, for example a handle made of natural or artificial rubber which the pilot can grasp with both hands. The tilting to the left of the lever 14 causes the motor 13 to pivot in this direction and has the effect to propel the craft in the direction onboard. Tilting to the right propels the craft in the opposite starboard direction. In neutral position, the boat follows a straight trajectory. Behind said lever 14, relative to the dashboard 9b, the machine comprises a seat part 15 which is fixed to the central fairing 9a. This seat takes the form of a saddle, of the kind that equips motorcycles, and is intended to receive the pilot. The part 14a of the lever 14 is located above the upper part of the saddle part 15 and is at a height suitable for being gripped by the pilot. The saddle is extended towards the rear by another part 16 which is fixed to an extension 17a of a casing 17 which partially envelops the outboard motor 13.

 The casing 17 adopts the general shape of a dome comprising, at its upper part, a generally circular notch 17b, which surrounds the motor 13 and which is reserved so that the motor can pivot. The dome-shaped part is open at the rear of the housing 17.

 The extension 17a extends at a level lower than the height of the dome. The saddle part 16 is raised relative to the saddle part 15, so that the step formed by the parts 15/16 gives rise to a backrest 18 on which the pilot is supported.

 In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the seat part 16 itself has a recess 16a, so as to form a seat for two passengers. The front part 16b is lower than the part 16c, which comprises at the rear a backrest 16d on which the last passenger is in back support.

 The example described relates to a machine that can receive three people. It is specified that vehicles adapted to receive two people, three or more, come within the scope of the present invention.

 The seat parts 15 / 16b / 16c are thus offset in height which allows the pilot and the passengers to have good visibility towards the front.

 The casing 17 is removable and ensures the protection of the motor from water splashes and, by virtue of its profiled shape, makes it possible to reduce the front and lateral awning intake. The extension 17a constitutes the cover of the technical box 11.

 The passengers and the pilot sit on the saddle parts 15/16 like motorcyclists so that they become one with the machine.

 The cockpit also includes above and in front of the dashboard 9b a windshield 18, for example made of high-strength synthetic glass.

 On either side of the cockpit 9, the deck 2 has planes slightly inclined towards the outside 19 and extending from the cockpit 9 towards the transom 3. Each of the planes 19 has a non-slip coating.

 The junction of the hull 1 and of the deck 2 includes a rubber strip 20 which surrounds the machine up to the transom.

 Referring now to Figures 3 to in of the drawing which illustrate the characteristics of the shell 1 of the machine according to the invention. This comprises, along the longitudinal axis XX1, a central edge 21 which extends to mid-length of the machine. This edge is softened as shown in Figures 8 to 11. Said edge is convex as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and the part which is located on the side of the nose 8 is raised on the side of the bridge 2 in a continuous curve and constitutes the bow of the machine.

 The edge 21 extends rearward along a receding line and terminates at mid-length of the vehicle 22 at a flat 23 which extends from said point 22 to the housing 12 of the outboard motor 13.

 From the edge 21 extend on either side and symmetrically inclined surfaces 24/25 substantially planar and which diverge from the side of the sides 26/27 of the hull.

 These inclined surfaces are delimited by ribs 28/29 which extend in a spindle from front to rear as far as the housing 12. These ribs are of increasing section from front to rear and originate about a quarter forward of the hull and aft of the bow. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the bow is delimited on either side by a slight depression 30/31 which joins a surface 32/33 substantially parallel to the surface 24/25 and which joins the sides 26 / 27. These ribs 28/29 are set back with respect to the sides 26/27 and form, from their birth and gradually up to the housing of the motor 12, depressions 34/35 of a cross section of a generally triangular shape. which constitute with the flat 23 an elongated cavity. The internal walls 28a / 29a of the ribs 28/29 diverge outwards and form a recess which progresses from the front quarter of the hull to the housing 12. The external edges 28b / 29b of said ribs merge at the rear and the side of said housing 12 with other inclined surfaces 36/37 substantially parallel to said surfaces 34/35 composing said central cavity.

 The flat 23 is of a profile (fig. 4) delimited by a continuous concave line and opposite to the profile of the edge 21. This flat forms a curved, concave surface, of a contour of a generally parabolic shape whose summit is directed towards the front of the craft. The inclined surfaces 36/37 are delimited by other ribs 38/39 arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis XX1 and situated between the ribs 28/29 and the sides 26/27. These ribs 38/39 originate in front of the flat part 23 and extend in a spindle pattern towards the rear. Each of the ribs 38/39 is delimited on the one hand by a depression of low height 38a / 39a almost constant over the length of the rib and forming a surface 40/4] which joins the sides 26/27 of the hull, and d 'other by a step 38b / 39b increasing from front to back and which joins said inclined surfaces 36/37.

 The internal walls 38b / 39b of said recesses diverge towards the outside of the shell and are substantially parallel to the internal walls 28a / 29a of the ribs 28/29.

 The surfaces 40/41 are substantially parallel to the faces which delimit the ribs 38/39 at their upper part and together form two bearing surfaces located symmetrically with respect to the axis XX and on which the machine is in support when it moves on the water.

 The combination of the ribs 28/29/38/39 and the flat 23 constitutes a nozzle in which the air is engulfed during the movement of the machine, which has the effect of raising the bow and making the machine on said surfaces 38/39/40/41 in the immediate environment of table 3.

 The ribs 28 / 29-38 / 39 are substantially parallel to each other at the start of table 3, are curved and converge in pairs 28 / 29-38 / 39 towards points located on the axis XXI. The sets of ribs 28/38 and 29/39 are substantially parallel two by two. In addition to giving rise to a nozzle cavity, these ribs 28/29/38/39 constitute drifts which provide the machine with excellent trajectory hold.

 We now refer to Figures 2 and 12 which illustrate the means for steering the machine during its movements on the water.

 These means consist of a lever 14 slightly inclined at the rear and on the side of the saddle 15 on which the pilot settles down.

Said lever comprises, at its free end, a rubber handle 14a and is fixed by its other end to a toothed wheel 42. The connection of the lever 14 and the wheel 42 is made for example by welding. The toothed wheel is dispersed transversely to the cockpit and is rotatably mounted around an axis which is located on the longitudinal axis XXi
The wheel 42 is arranged in a sort of cradle-shaped casing 43 which has two flanges parallel to each other 43a / 43b, which are connected to their lower part by a wall 43c. The wheel 42 is mounted on the side of the open part of the cradle around a shaft 44 by means of a ball bearing or the like 45, which is forced into a bore 42a reserved in the center of the wheel. is threaded at both ends to receive nuts 46.

 Spacers 47 are disposed between the bearing and the flanges 43a / 43b to allow the nuts 46 to be tightened. The toothed wheel 42 cooperates with a pinion 48 rotatably mounted around a ball bearing or the like 49 forced into a circular housing 43d reserved for the lower part of the cradle. The axis 48a of the pinion extends outside the cradle 43 coaxially with the output shaft 49a of the pump 49 which composes the steering gear which equips the machine.

 The coupling of the shafts 48a / 49a is achieved by any known means, for example and as illustrated in the drawing, the axis 48a of the pinion takes the form of a whistle comprising two external surfaces converging at a point located on the axis of the coupling and the pump shaft takes the form of a spout whose walls diverge from the side of the housing and are parallel and in contact with said converging walls of the axis of the pinion.

 The pump 49 is connected to the cradle 43 by means of a support adopting the shape of a U1-50 whose lateral legs are inclined and to which is fixed by any known means, for example by welding, a reinforcing cross member 51 which s 'extends pependicularly to said legs and to the axis XX1 of the machine. The assembly is embedded in the walls of the central prominence 9a of the cockpit 9. The pump 49 is fixed to the support 50 by means of bolts 52. The pump 49 has two connection outlets 49a / 49b, connected by means of fittings with two rigid pipes, for example made of copper 53/54 extending inside two conduits 55/56 arranged symmetrically with respect to the axis XX1 and which connect the front end of the cockpit 9 to the technical boot 11. The tubing 53 extends inside the duct 55, the tubing 54 in the duct 56 The tubings 53/54 open into the trunk 11 and comprises, at their end 53a / 54a, connection means. These pipes are connected to a double-acting hydraulic cylinder 57 mounted on a plate 58, which is fixed by means of bolts to a support 59 secured to the shell. Said support also carries the battery 60 for the electrical supply of the motor 13.

The cylinder 57 is arranged transversely to the machine and is located in a substantially horizontal plane. The cylinder body comprises, at its ex ends, connection means 57a / 57b to allow the circulation of the hydraulic fluid. The connector 57a is connected to the connector 54a by means of an armored flexible tube 61. The connector 57a is connected to the connector 53a by means of an armored flexible tube 62. The steering gear used on the machine according to the invention is of the kind of those marketed under the name "VETUS".

 The rod of the jack 57c comprises, at its free end, a ball joint 63 in which is mounted the spherical ends64a of a connecting bar 64 which communicates the translational movement of the jack 57 to the outboard motor 13 and which causes the pivoting thereof around its axis.

 The motor 13 is fixed in the bottom 12a of the housing 12 and comprises, on the side of the jack 57, a coupling 65 formed by two arms 65a / 65b connected by a crosspiece 65c. This cross 65c is pierced in the middle to receive a hinge pin 66. The connecting bar 64 is bent twice to adopt the general shape of an S in order to compensate for the difference in level of the jack 57 and the hitch 65.

At its end 64b, opposite to that which comprises the sphere 64a, the bar is threaded. This end 64b is passed through a circular orifice reserved in a tab 67 adopting the general shape of an isosceles triangle and the bar is fixed to this tab by means of a nut comprising means to prevent its loosening.

 The lug 67 is pierced at its other end and on its axis of symmetry along a circular orifice in which said articulation axis 66 is freely mounted. The dimensions of the lug 67 are variable, depending on the stroke of the jack and the 'Pivot angle of the motor which it is desired to obtain, in particular the axis of the orifices of the tab 67 is plotted on demand.

 The reduction obtained by the pair of pinion 48 and toothed wheel 42 allows the correct movement of the operating lever 14, which movement is thus increased in the ratio of about 1 / 5ths which is necessary to allow in good conditions the driving the machine by means of the steering lever 14 according to the invention

Claims (16)

 1.A nautical motor vehicle comprising a hull (1) and a deck (2) comprising a cockpit (9) and means for steering the apparatus and causing its acceleration and deceleration, characterized in that it comprises, in its central part, a seat (15/16) in the form of a saddle, arranged in the longitudinal axis (xi1) of the machine and in a cavity forming the cockpit (9) so as to reserve around from the seat a pit (9d) whose bottom constitutes the floor of the station and in which the pilot and his passengers lodge their legs by enclosing the saddle (14/16) with the knees and in that the control of the means for driving the machine consists of a steering lever (14), articulated substantially at the level of the station floor and in front of the saddle (15), the free end (14a) of which is located above it and adopts the shape of a handle in which the pilot stands to drive the craft.  2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the width of the machine in the table (13) is at least equal to the width of the master torque (t), the latter compared to the overall length of the machine  L (L) being equal to the ratio t of between 1.8 and 2.5, preferably 2.12.  3. Machine according to any one of claims 1 or 2, the propulsion means of which consist of an outboard motor (13) embedded in a housing (12) located at the rear end part and in the median axis ( XX1) of the machine, characterized in that the saddle consists of at least two aligned parts (15/16) one of which (15) is mounted on a fixed fairing (9a) forming a prominence in the position of control (9) and the other (16) of which is fixed to an extension (17a) of a removable protective cover (17) which partially surrounds the motor (13), which cover (17) adopts the general shape of a dome the top of which has a notch (17b) which surrounds the upper part of the motor (13).  4. Machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the seat part (16) which is fixed to said extension (17a) of the cover (17) is raised relative to the fixed seat part (15) located in front of the cover (17) and constitutes the backsplash of the front seat (15).  5. Machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the saddle part (16), which is fixed to said extension of the cover (17a) comprises at the rear, at least one recess (16a) in elevation comprising a backrest (16d ) pressing on said cover (17).  6. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the shell (1) -comports a convex edge (21) located in the median longitudinal axis (XXI) of the machine and from which extend on either side and symmetrically inclined surfaces (24/25) which diverge from the side of the sides (26/27) of the hull and which are delimited by ribs (28/29) of increasing width from the front to the rear and located back from the sides (26/27) of the hull and form a recess (28a / 29a) whose walls, which each join the inclined surfaces (24/25) diverge towards the outside of the hull, which detachment takes birth approximately at the front quarter of the machine to form, on each side of the axial ridge (21), depressions (34/35) of a cross section of a shape general triangular which progress from front to rear and in that the axial stop (21) leads to a flat (23) of an outline of a general parabo shape lique and extending from a point (22) taken on the edge (21) substantially mid-length of the hull to the rear housing (12) of the engine (13), which flat (23) forms a depression from the edge along a concave and leaky curved surface on the side of the housing (12) of the motor.  7. Machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said ribs (28/29) are of a cross section of a generally trapezoidal shape and in that at the rear of the hull, said ribs merge with the external face (36/37) of the bottom of the shell (1).  8. Machine according to any one of claims 6 or 7, ca acterized in that the shell (1) further comprises, between said ribs (28/29) and the sides (26/27) of other ribs (38 / 39) originating in front of said flat (23) and extending to the transom (3), which ribs (38/39) are substantially parallel to said first ribs (28/29).  9. Machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the shell (1) comprises, between said first ribs (28/29) and said flanks (26/27), two other ribs (38/39) due to a rib (38/39) between each first rib (28/29) and each of said sides (26/27), which second ribs (38/39) are of increasing width from the front to the table (3) and at the rear form a recess (38b / 39b) in elevation relative to the surface (3qu37) in which said first ribs (28/29) merge, which second ribs (38/39) have a cross section d 'a general trapezoidal shape and approach, at the rear of the machine, the external face (40/41) of the bottom of the hull which joins the sides (26/27).  10. Machine according to any one of claims 6 to 9, ca acted in that the shell (1) comprises, on either side of the median longitudinal axis (XX1) and at the rear, two symmetrical recesses (28a-38b / 29-39b) which determine a nozzle in which the air rushes in when the machine is moving, which has the effect of raising the front and causing the rear of the machine to sink, which is then supported on at least two spans formed by the surfaces (38-40 / 39-41) delimited by the most prominent recesses (38b / 39b) and the sides (26/27) of the hull.  11. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, ca characterized in that the ribs (28-38 / 29-39) are substantially parallel to the start of Table 3, are curved and converge two by two towards points located on the median longitudinal axis (XX1) and in front of the bow (8).  12. Machine according to any one of claims 6 to 11, the shell of which (1) is characterized by shapes conforming to those which are shown in FIGS. 3 to 11.  13. Machine according to claim 1, in which the lever (14) controls a steering device comprising a pump (49) and a hydraulic cylinder (57), characterized in that the steering lever (14) is connected to a reduction (42/48) to obtain large deflections of the lever (14).  14. Machine according to claim 13, characterized in that said direction lever (14) is fixed to a toothed wheel (42), which cooperates with a pinion (48) coupled to the output shaft (49a) of the pump. (49) of the steering gear.  15. Machine according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the gear ratio of the toothed wheel (42) and the pinion (48) is between 1/4 and 1 / 6th, preferably 1 / 5th.  16. Machine according to any one of claims 1 and 13 to 15, characterized in that the movable rod (57c) of the jack (57) is connected to the outboard motor (13) by means of a bar (64) comprising at one of its ends (64a) a ball joint articulated at the end (63) of the rod and is fixed by its other end (64b) to a leg (67) articulated