Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B7/00—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels
  • B63B7/06—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels having parts of non-rigid material
  • B63B7/08—Inflatable
  • B63B7/085—Accessories or mountings specially adapted therefor, e.g. seats, sailing kits, motor mountings
  • B63B7/087—Motor mountings, e.g. transom panels for outboard motors
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B7/00—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels
  • B63B7/06—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels having parts of non-rigid material
  • B63B7/08—Inflatable
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B7/00—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels
  • B63B2007/006—Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels comprising nestable elements

Definitions

• the invention lies in the technical field of shipbuilding and more particularly the manufacture of boats and inflatable craft.
• the process can be used for the production of boats that can be intended for various applications, for example in the military, civil security, fishing, yachting and sports fields.
• the manufacturing technique essentially consists of cutting and assembling pieces of fabric, in particular by gluing or ultrasonic welding to make the floats, the latter ensuring the flotation of the boat.
• the fabric used to make the floats or tubes must satisfy many characteristics because the layer of fabric must have both sealing properties and mechanical and chemical resistance.
• the fabric layer must resist shocks during navigation, or even abrasion and the risk of perforation and cutting.
• the fabric layer must withstand the specific conditions associated with marine use and in particular be resistant to seawater, hydrocarbons or even ultraviolet rays.
• the fabric layer comprises at least one thick elastomer layer, with a thickness greater than 400 microns, the surface of which is treated or covered with another protective layer, in particular by coating.
• the assembly is relatively heavy and occupies, even deflated, a large volume.
• a standard boat of the order of 4.5 to 5 m long weighs for the inflatable part from 120 kg to 140 kg.
• this type of boat requires special know-how and tools for its repair in the event of damage to an inflatable part and in particular in the event of tearing of a float. In the event of significant damage, it may be necessary to completely replace the inflatable part, which involves immobilizing the boat during the work.
• this type of manufacturing allows little variation in shape, particularly given the complexity of assembling the layers together to obtain angles or profile variations.
• the object of the present invention is to eliminate these aforementioned drawbacks and to provide an inflatable boat whose inflatable part is relatively light, easy to replace and allowing the production of mechanically resistant boats, in particular to tears, and which can have various profiles.
• the inflatable boat comprises at least one float which comprises at least one inflatable part providing flotation and a textile envelope, said textile envelope being configured to receive the at least one inflatable part and to ensure the shape and mechanical strength of said float.
• a single inflatable part is housed in the textile envelope. Variants are however possible with two or even more than two inflatable parts housed in the textile envelope, depending on the general shape of the float.
• the textile envelope is in the form of a flexible sleeve which can be deformed in order to reduce its size in stored mode but which is not stretchable, or even possibly slightly stretchable over one or more zones, one or more parts inflatables being inserted into this flexible sleeve.
• the inflatable part or parts increase in volume and press against the internal wall of the non-extensible sleeve, which gives the shape to the float.
• the craft it is of the canoe type.
• Other boats are however possible, for example deck boats with or without mast and able to be propelled by oar, motor or sail, or even inflatable buoys with or without a bottom or floating inflatable mattresses.
• the float is substantially V-shaped or U-shaped with two longitudinal arms, said textile envelope providing reception of the inflatable part and the connection between the two longitudinal arms by a central connection zone.
• Other shapes of floats are possible according to the invention, for example a shape of a torus having a central orifice which is closed by a bottom whose periphery is connected to said torus.
• the textile envelope is made from a flat knitting, warp and weft in three dimensions (3D).
• Other types of knitting could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.
• the textile envelope comprises at least one increase zone to locally allow an increase in the diameter of the inflatable part so as to produce a float profile with a larger section. It is however possible to envisage a textile envelope having a uniform cross-section over the entire length of said textile envelope.
• a bow of the boat comprises an increase zone for seakeeping at the level of said bow of the boat, the textile envelope having a mesh whose size is increased by 2 % to 20% in said increase zone.
• the size of the mesh located at the bow of the boat is increased between 2% and 20% compared to the size of the mesh located outside said bow.
• the textile envelope has at least one section reduction zone with a reduction in the number of meshes per row of between 1% and 20% allowing a lower section float profile.
• a knit of the textile envelope comprises at least at least one flexible zone, at the level of at least one front and/or rear end of the boat, in which the knit is made at from a low elastic tenacity yarn to allow the limitation of overpressures due to thermal expansion. This avoids the addition of overpressure screws on the at least one inflatable part.
• the elastic low tenacity yarn has an elasticity allowing an elongation of between 5% and 15%.
• the central connecting zone comprises means for receiving a floor.
• an apron of the floor is mounted on a pivot, the float comprising means for blocking the apron in a substantially vertical position to ensure reception of a system for supporting and tilting a driving part of an engine.
• the textile envelope comprises means for inserting and removing the inflatable part. This makes it easier to put the inflatable part into place in the textile envelope and, conversely, to release it therefrom, for example when it has to be replaced.
• the insertion and removal means comprise at least two orifices each comprising a cover associated with a link allowing the traction for the passage of the inflatable part in the textile envelope.
• the inflatable boat comprises at least one drift removably mounted on the float. Dismantling the centreboard will make it easier to store the craft when it is deflated, in the form of a bag.
• the float is substantially V-shaped or U-shaped with two longitudinal arms and a central connecting zone connecting the two longitudinal arms.
• said central connecting zone is raised relative to a lower side of the float and comprises on its lower face means for receiving a propulsion device. This allows you to fix a propulsion device under the float while keeping it out of the water.
• the float is substantially V-shaped or U-shaped with two longitudinal arms and includes a lower side.
• at least one reinforcing rib is arranged on the textile envelope in the longitudinal direction of the longitudinal arms, on said lower side and on each of said two longitudinal arms.
• Such longitudinal ribs on the lower side of each longitudinal arm of the float make it possible to frame the boat on irregular, hard and/or rough surfaces, by reducing direct contact with said textile envelope, which limits its degradation.
• the textile envelope is implemented by knitting, said at least one rib on each of said longitudinal arms being implemented directly by knitting said textile envelope.
• the ribs are formed directly on the textile envelope during the knitting of the latter, the textile envelope and the ribs forming a single piece. This avoids adding ribs to the textile envelope by means of glue, welds or seams and therefore offers better resistance to tearing.
• the inflatable boat may implement various variant embodiments comprising all or some of the characteristics described above, while remaining within the scope of the present invention.
• the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an inflatable boat, said method essentially comprising a step of manufacturing by integral knitting with meshes picked from a textile envelope without seams at the level of the general structure of the envelope, a step of manufacturing an inflatable part in the form of a cylinder closed at the ends, a step of inserting the inflatable part into the textile envelope.
• the inflation of the inflatable boat can be carried out subsequently to the manufacture of said boat, at the time of use of the latter, thanks to a step of inflating the inflatable part arranged in the textile part which will allow its deployment and that of the textile envelope until tensioning of the latter.
• a first inflation at the time of manufacture may also be carried out in order to check the conformity of the manufactured boat.
• a first object of the present invention is to solve all or part of the technical problems related to the aforementioned prior art.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable boat whose profile has complex section variations by using an inflatable part of substantially cylindrical section.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable boat whose inflatable part can be easily replaced and/or repaired.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable boat whose weight and storage volume are low and of the order of 40 kg and 50 liters (or dm 3 ) for a boat that can reach up to 5 m in length. .
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable boat in which the inflatable part is protected from the external environment and in particular from the risks of perforation or even ultraviolet rays.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide an inflatable boat in which the float is more resistant to stresses when said boat is dragged on an irregular, hard and/or rough surface, for example when docking on a rocky or rocky surface. by the seaside.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of manufacturing a boat that makes it possible not to carry out cutting and gluing operations of the different layers of fabric for the production of the inflatable part.
• Another object of the present invention is to propose a method of manufacturing a boat making it possible to limit labor and whose textile envelope can be produced without sewing on a 3D weaving loom with picked stitches.
• Figure 1 shows a side view of an embodiment of an inflatable boat according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a top view of the inflatable boat shown in Figure 1, [Fig. 3]
• FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the inflatable boat shown in Figures 1 and 2
• FIG. 4 shows a detail of the floor of the inflatable boat
• FIG. 5 represents a detail of representation denoted A in FIG. 2, according to a first configuration
• FIG. 6 represents a detail of representation denoted A in FIG. 2, according to a second configuration
• FIG. 7 represents a representation detail denoted A in FIG. 2, according to a third configuration
• Figure 8 shows in zoomed view a representation detail denoted B in Figure 2, according to a first configuration
• FIG. 9 shows in zoomed view a representation detail denoted B in FIG. 2, according to a second configuration, [FIG. 10]
• FIG. 10 represents in zoomed view a detail of representation denoted B in FIG. 2, according to a third configuration
• Figure 11 schematizes the presence of longitudinal ribs implemented on the textile envelope, under the longitudinal arms of the boat's float,
• Figure 12 schematically shows in cross section a lower part of a longitudinal arm of the float of the boat.
• the present invention aims to protect an inflatable craft 1, in particular of the canoe type.
• an inflatable craft 1 in particular of the canoe type.
• the boat 1 is not limited to a canoe, namely a small boat without a deck, and it is indeed also possible to make boats, in accordance with the invention, decked with or without a mast and which can be propelled by oar. , engine or sail.
• the boat 1 comprises at least one float 2, said float 2 comprising an inflatable part 3 providing flotation and a textile envelope 4.
• the textile envelope 4 has a geometry making it possible to receive the part inflatable 3, this textile envelope 4 ensures the shape and the mechanical resistance of said float 2.
• the inflatable part 3 is illustrated in dotted lines and is slightly detached from the internal wall of the textile envelope 4, only to visualize this inflatable part 3. Those skilled in the art will understand that in reality the inflatable part 3 is pressed against the internal wall of the textile envelope 4 once inflated.
• the float 2 is substantially V-shaped or U-shaped with two longitudinal arms 5, said textile envelope 4 ensuring the reception of the inflatable part 3 and the connection between the two longitudinal arms 5 by means of a central connecting zone 6.
• closed floats having for example an O shape or an oval shape, for example a life raft, a canoe or a kayak.
• a single inflatable part 3 is provided and also has the shape of a V or U, forming two longitudinal branches 31, 32, so as to be housed in the textile envelope 4
• a variant could be provided with two inflatable parts which are housed in the textile envelope 4, respectively in the two symmetrical parts of the V or U shape of the float 2.
• the textile envelope 4 may be limited to receiving the inflatable part 3, the connection between the longitudinal arms 5 being ensured by other means and for example by a hull, a deck or even a other textile part or not.
• Figure 2 showing a top view of the boat 1, or possibly to Figure 3 showing a bottom view of the boat 1, we see that the central connecting zone 6 is also advantageously linked to the top 7 of the float 2 constituting the bow of the boat 1 and connecting the two longitudinal arms 5.
• the textile envelope 4 made from a rectilinear knitting, warp and weft in 3D, makes it possible to confer complex profile shapes on the float 2 of the boat 1 from a simple and in particular cylindrical shape of the inflatable part. 3.
• This knitting is preferably carried out using a high tenacity polyester yarn.
• the inflation of the inflatable part 3 previously inserted into the textile envelope 4 takes place until the tensioning of the textile envelope 4.
• the inflatable part 3 thus relaxes locally according to the space authorized by the textile envelope 4.
• the knit 11 of the textile envelope 4 comprises at least one increase zone 8 which locally allows an increase in the diameter of the inflatable part 3 at the level of the crown 7 and the front sections of the longitudinal arms 5 of the float 2, so as to produce a float profile 2 of section 10 greater than that defined at the level of the rear sections of the said longitudinal arms 5.
• this at least one zone of increase 8 is implemented by a method of loosening the stitch from knitting. The presence of an increase zone 8 at the bow of the boat 1 allows better stability during navigation.
• the at least one increase zone 8 is obtained by making an increase in the size of the stitch, by adding the length of yarn absorbed per stitch. This technique can be implemented in particular in sections requiring a small increase in section 10.
• an increase zone 8 for seakeeping at the level of the bow of the boat 1 and in which the increase in the size of the mesh is between 2% and 20% of the mesh.
• the at least one increase zone 8 is obtained by creating for each new row columns of additional stitches. Each additional column allowing a local increase in the dimensions of the textile envelope 4 and thus allowing greater expansion of the inflatable part 3 and consequently an increase in the section 10 of the float 2 in said increase zone 8. Provision is thus made an increase zone 8 at the level of the bow of the boat 1.
• the knit 11 of the textile envelope 4 comprises at least one reduction zone 9 of the section 10 which extends the longitudinal arm 5 towards the rear.
• the number of stitches per row of between 1% and 20% is removed, allowing a float profile 2 of section 10 less than that defined at the level of the rear sections of said longitudinal arms 5.
• a reduction zone 9 is thus provided at the level rear ends 13 of the longitudinal arms 5.
• a reduction of 100 and 120 respectively can be made.
• the knit 11 of the textile envelope 4 comprises at least one flexible zone 14, for example on the side of the bow and/or on the side of the stern of the boat 1.
• the flexible zone or zones 14 can be combined with the increase 8 or reduction 9 zones in order to reinforce the effects of elasticity and flexibility.
• the elastic thread has an elasticity allowing an elongation of between 5% and 15% and advantageously of 10%.
• the thread may in particular be made of polyester of the low tenacity type.
• the central connection zone 6 of the textile envelope 4 comprises means 15 for receiving a floor 16.
• the boat 1 comprises two fins 400 (only one visible in Figure 1) which are removably mounted on the central connection zone 6, at the level from the stern of the boat 1 and respectively close to the two longitudinal arms 5 of the textile envelope 4.
• the central connection zone 6 comprises two slots 61, 62 which respectively receive the two fins 400 by snap-fastening.
• the two fins 400 are introduced into the slots 61, 62 by the upper face of the central connection zone 6 before the installation of the floor 16.
• the lower face 63 of the central connection zone 6 comprises a fixing member 64 which will make it possible to attach to this lower face 63 a propulsion device (not shown) of the missile reactor type, which will remain outside of water thanks to the upward offset of the central connection zone 6 with respect to the lower side 2b of the float 2.
• the propulsion engine can be supplied with fuel by the fuel tank (not shown) of the engine 200, thanks to a bypass device making it possible to switch the fuel supply to the engine 200 or to the propulsion engine.
• the floor 16 is placed between the longitudinal arms 5 of the float 2 and rests on the central connecting zone 6.
• the tension exerted by the textile envelope 4 between the longitudinal arms 5 of one hand and the dimensions of the floor 16 on the other hand are sufficient to maintain the latter.
• there are provided at the level of the floor 16 means for securing to the central connection zone 6 and in particular by fastening strips of the loop/hook type more regularly known under the name of Velcro® strip.
• the floor 16 is deformable, in order to allow the entire boat 1 to be stored in the form of a package or a bag (not shown), when the inflatable part 3 is deflated, which will allow easy carrying said package or bag, which will be equipped with straps, handles and/or shoulder straps to carry it with one hand, over the shoulder or on the back.
• the floor 16 is composed on the upper surface of a textile layer 160 offering flexibility and being preferably resistant to high temperatures, and of elongated reinforcing elements 161 arranged transversely and uniformly distributed over the length of the textile layer. 160, as illustrated for example in Figure 2, in order to stiffen the floor 16 in addition to the central connecting zone 6 which is stretched between the two longitudinal arms 5.
• These elongate reinforcing elements 161 are preferably rods made of composite material or other materials.
• an air chamber 162 illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 4, the inflation valve (not shown) of this air chamber 162 being accessible from a plug 163 arranged on the textile layer 160 on the side of the bow of the boat 1, as shown in Figure 2.
• the inflation of this air chamber 162 can be carried out during the inflation of the boat 1 for its use combined with the float 2, or even if necessary when the inflatable part 3 of the float 2 is punctured, in order to transform the punctured boat 1 into a raft thanks to the inflated floor 16.
• the floor 16 comprises an apron 17 designed for example in wood or composite.
• the rear part 164 of the textile layer 160 is secured to the apron 17, the junction edge 18 between said rear part 164 and the apron 17 constituting a hinge allowing the apron 17 to pivot relative to the textile layer 160, as shown in the figures. figures 6 and 7.
• apron 17 which is, according to this embodiment, hinged around the junction edge 18 forming a hinge.
• the apron 17 is composed of two parts 171, 172 hinged together by means of a hinge 173, in order to position them in the same plane as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 or to fold them against each other such than illustrated in FIG. 7 and to double the thickness of the apron 17 on a portion 17a intended to receive the clamp presses of a support and inclination system (not illustrated) of a driving part 201 d a 200 engine.
• two abutment rails 23, 24 are arranged facing each other on the internal sides 5a, 5b of the longitudinal arms 4, these two abutment rails 23, 24 preferably having a transverse section in L and being arranged at the level of the reduction zone 9.
• These two abutment rails 23, 24 are extended towards the front of the boat 1 by two guide rails 25, 26 preferably having a transverse section C forming a groove, these guide rails 25, 26 allowing the sliding reception of the side edges 164a, 164b of the rear part 164 of the textile layer 160 and/or the side edges 17a, 17b of the apron 17 when its two parts 171, 172 are arranged flat in the same horizontal plane, resting against the abutment rails 23, 24.
• the sliding of the apron 17 arranged flat in the two guide rails 25, 26 is possible thanks to the flexibility of the layer textile 160 which allows its deformation during the movement of said apron 17 in said guide rails 25, 26 towards the bow of boat 1.
• the apron 17 is slid into the two guide rails 25, 26, thus leaving an empty space 300 between the ends of the longitudinal edges 5, at the level of the zone of reduction 9, this empty space 300 making it easier for swimmers to board from behind.
• the apron 17 is this time in the flat unfolded position and resting against the stop rails 23, 24, which makes it possible to obtain a maximum floor surface 16, in particular useful for loading equipment from the quay. or the loading pontoon in boat 1.
• the apron 17 has its two parts 171, 173 folded over one another at the hinge 173 and said apron 17 is folded upwards vis-à-vis the rear part 164 of the textile layer 160, so as to bring this deck 17 into a vertical position for fixing the motor 200.
• the rear ends of the two guide rails 25, 26 also serve as a stop so as to prevent the forward pivoting of the deck 17 beyond its vertical position. Provision could be made for additional abutment members fixed to the rear ends of the two guide rails 25, 26 and designed to limit this forward pivoting of the apron 17 beyond its vertical position.
• Locking means make it possible to maintain the apron 17 in a substantially vertical position, this configuration making it possible to ensure the reception of the support and inclination system (not shown) of the driving part 201 of the motor 200.
• Another advantage of this configuration is to allow a close position of the engine with respect to the center of gravity of the boat 1 in order to improve the stability of the boat 1 and, in particular, makes it possible to avoid excessive straightening of the bow when starting the engine or when accelerating during navigation.
• these locking means comprise beads implemented on the textile envelope 4, on the internal sides 5a, 5b of the longitudinal arms 5, these beads constituting locking members 27, 28 (see figures 5 to 7) of the apron 17 when it is in a vertical position with its two parts 171, 172 folded against each other.
• the apron 17 pivots forward in the direction of the arrow 29 and is about to cross the two blocking members 27, 28, the crossing can be done by force thanks to the possible retraction of the members 27, 28, by deformation of the textile envelope 4, which then returns to the normal position once the apron 17 is placed vertically, the locking members 27, 28 then being behind the rear face 171a of the first part 171 of said apron 17.
• These means of insertion and withdrawal 19 comprise at least two orifices 20, one on each longitudinal arm 5, for the passage of the inflatable part 3 in the textile envelope 4.
• the orifices 20 each comprise a cover 21 associated with a link 22 allowing traction and movement of the inflatable part 3 in the textile envelope 4.
• each link 22 forms the junction between the respective cover 21 and a cap 12 arranged at the front end 2a of the float 2 so that when the two longitudinal branches 31, 32 of the inflatable part 3 are respectively subject to the two links 22 , it suffices to pull on the latter to drive said longitudinal branches 31, 32 of the inflatable part 3 into the longitudinal arms 5 of the textile envelope 4.
• the links 22 are slid into the longitudinal arms 5 of the textile casing 4 and the lids 21 are closed.
• an inflation valve 33 of the inflatable part 3 is placed at the level of an opening 40 on the textile envelope 4, said opening allowing the introduction of the inflatable part 3 into the textile envelope 4 by the front end 2a of the float 2, and the plug 12 is screwed onto the inflation valve 33 to ensure its closure and hold the said inflation valve 33 in place at the level of the said opening 40.
• Variants of the boat 1 could include more than two orifices 20 and covers 21 and more than two links 22, in order to have more than one inflatable part 3 in the textile envelope 4.
• the stopper 12 is connected to the two lids 21 via the two links 22 housed respectively in the two longitudinal arms 5 of the textile envelope 4.
• the two plugs similar to the plug 12 and connected respectively to the two covers 21 via the two respective links 22, these plugs then closing two inflation valves similar to the inflation valve 33, arranged respectively on the two inflatable parts and being placed respectively at the level of two openings similar to the opening 40, arranged on the textile envelope 4 at the level of the front end 2a of the float 2.
• the boat 1 comprises ribs 34 which are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the float 2, on its lower side 2b and on each of its two longitudinal arms 5.
• ribs 341, 342, 343 are arranged on each of the two longitudinal arms 5, but this number could be different, for example one, two, four or five ribs could be present on each longitudinal arm 5.
• These ribs 34 are placed in work by knitting directly on the textile envelope 4, when knitting the latter as described above. This provides great robustness to the ribs 34 which are heavily stressed when the craft 1 is dragged or docked quickly on a rocky or rocky seashore.
• the presence of the ribs 34 avoids premature wear of the textile envelope 4 during use of the boat, in particular during sea rescue operations.
• the inflatable part 3 is deliberately illustrated in dotted lines for the distinguish it from the textile envelope 4 against which it is pressed once inflated.
• the present invention further relates to a method of manufacturing an inflatable boat 1 as mentioned above.
• the manufacturing process essentially consists of performing the following steps:
• a step of inflating the inflatable part 3 arranged in the textile part 4 may be provided during the manufacture of the boat 1, in order to control the design. However, this inflation can be provided during the first use of the boat 1. This inflation will ensure the shape and the mechanical structure of the float 2.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Woven Fabrics (AREA)
• Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
• Moulding By Coating Moulds (AREA)
• Air Bags (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (3)

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ID=80595206

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• 2021
  • 2021-07-08 FR FR2107392A patent/FR3125013B1/fr active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-07-06 EP EP22751133.4A patent/EP4367012B1/de active Active
  • 2022-07-06 US US18/577,319 patent/US20240308622A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-07-06 WO PCT/FR2022/051360 patent/WO2023281219A1/fr not_active Ceased

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