ES2301535T3 - DEVICE FOR CLEANING THE EXTERIOR OF A BOAT'S HELMET. - Google Patents

Abstract

The cleaning device includes a long flexible drive body (5) with a rod (11) on one end. There is a cleaning tool (7) on the flat side (8) of the drive body. A baseplate (10) with a connecting element is fitted to the flat side of the drive body opposite the cleaning tool. The drive body and rod are pivoted to each other by a connecting element (12).

Description

Device for cleaning the exterior of the hull of a ship.

The invention relates to a device for the cleaning the exterior of a ship's hull, consisting of a elongated float, flat as well as flexibly configured with a handle fixed on one end of the float, being arranged preferably replaceable at least one cleaning means on the flat side of the float, a base plate being arranged provided with a connecting element on the flat side of the float opposite to the cleaning medium and being joined together in a way pivoting the float and the handle against each other across the union element.

A cleaning device for the exterior of the a ship's hull is known, for example, from the document DE-U-89 03 485.6. This one is done of an elongated, flat float, being provided as material for the foamed plastic float with enclosed air bubbles, which cause the float to try to rise to the surface at immerse it in water because of buoyancy. For the guidance of cleaning device is fixed a handle on the float Flexiblely configured. On a flat side of the float is fixed a means of cleaning by velcro closures whose shape It corresponds essentially to the shape of the float.

Through a similar cleaning device the exterior of the hull of a ship located under the water surface. For this purpose a person immerses himself in the water the cleaning device from the boat or from a gangway adjacent and scrub the outside of the hull with the cleaning means of the device. Since this is tilted down and since the float tries to rise to the surface of the water, this float press the cleaning medium against the outside of the ship's hull so that the necessary tightening pressure is guaranteed For the cleaning process. In addition, since both the float and also the cleaning means are configured flexibly, these can be essentially adapted to the contour of the exterior of the ship's hull, so that the cleaning element is in contact with the outside of the helmet over the entire length. Through a scrubbing movement can therefore remove the deposits glued on the outside of the helmet, such as seaweed or shells

It is disadvantageous in this known device of cleaning that the handle is rigidly attached to the float. Since the outline of the exterior of the hull of a ship not only changes from the water edge to the keel, that is, in the direction perpendicular, but also from stern to bow of the ship, that is in the longitudinal direction of the ship, exact guidance is not possible of the cleaning medium along the contour of the ship's hull with this rigid connection between the handle and the float. With this device is not possible a complete and uniform cleaning of the outside of the hull due to absent or deficient guidance length of the exact contour of the helmet.

A boat cleaner with a pivoting joint Between the handle and the float is known from US 3,010,420. To generate the ascending force, this known device present an elastic bag that serves as a float on the side posterior opposite to the bristles of the brush that serves as a means of cleaning, which provides after filling with air the force of pressure needed for cleaning. In this known construction it is disadvantageous that the brush provided with the inflated bag only can be pressed with difficulties underwater at the beginning of the cleaning and that the pressure of tightening is not variable.

US 4,102,290 A discloses a boat cleaner in which a rotary brush is attached to Fixed shape with a handle. A float that can be filled with gas at through a system of pipes and valves in the part of handle grip is present on the handle distanced from the brush. This boat cleaner must be expensively manufactured due to the plurality of necessary pieces and it takes up a lot of space. In addition, the boat cleaner cannot adapt to the contour of the Boat hull to clean.

Starting from this the invention has the objective to improve a cleaning device of the type named at the beginning so that with it they can be traversed in an exact, simple and the proper tightening pressure the most different contours, and that It is built simply and compactly.

The solution of this problem is characterized according to the invention because the float is formed by a plastic foamed, because at least one body that can be filled with a gas, in particular air, it is integrated in the float material and because the body that can be filled with gas can be fed with gas through an intake and discharge valve arranged in the handle, particularly in the handle grip part.

Through this pivoting connection of the handle on the float and therefore also in the cleaning medium is it is possible that during the scrubbing movements performed by the service personnel put on the float and cleaning medium exactly in the corresponding outer contour of the helmet of the ship, since the pivoting union with the handle only serves as guided of the cleaning medium and the float being able to adjust, in change, float position and cleaning medium freely to the outer contour of the ship's hull thanks to the housing pivoting In addition to the exact guidance of the float, in the middle The force according to the invention reinforces the force in the float float rise and consequently the clamping pressure in the hull of the ship through the body that can be filled with gas, which clearly supports the natural ascending force of the float. This body that can be filled with gas is configured so Especially advantageous as inflatable hose.

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According to a practical embodiment of the invention, the body that can be filled with gas can be inflated from manually through the intake and discharge valve.

Furthermore, with the invention it is proposed that on the flat side of the float provided with the motherboard is configured a peripheral flange made of float material. This flange peripheral increases the clamping pressure of the cleaning device on the outer contour of the ship's hull because of the buoyancy's reinforced buoyancy, but also also prevents the motherboard from coming into contact with the outside of the ship's hull during the scrubbing movement of the device cleaning, since the peripheral flange forms the side closure of the float.

When using a float configured with a peripheral flange, the body that can be filled with gas is advantageously arranged in the area of this peripheral flange.

According to a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the connecting element is configured as a connection that is made of an essentially rigid rubber material, which on the one hand is connected with the motherboard and on the other hand with the mango. This connection of rigid rubber material allows on the one hand a pivotal movement between the handle and the float, but on the other side is so rigid that the float and the cleaning medium can Control precisely through the handle. Rubber connection preferably allows a deviation of the handle from the position of rest of approximately ± 10 °.

To directly bring the float to a adjacent position in the hull of the ship is further proposed that the handle is fixed angled on the base plate with respect to the float through the connection, the elbow being between the handle and the base plate from 5 to 10, preferably 7.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the joint element is configured as a joint articulated, in particular as a spherical joint. A similar configuration of the articulated joint is especially simple and economical and can be achieved, for example, because in the end of the handle on the side of the joint is configured a articulation sphere that can be inserted into a semi-rider configured on the motherboard.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, the articulated joint has two articulation axes arranged at right angles to each other. A union articulated similar can be configured, for example, as universal joint or cardan. Also with this union configured doubly articulated handle and float or cleaning medium is it is possible that the cleaning medium adapts exactly to Any change of the boat's outline. In front of the joint spherical, the double articulated configuration of the junction articulated has the advantage that the float and the means of cleaning can always be guided in the elongated orientation, while with the use of the spherical joint it is also possible a rotation of the float and the cleaning medium around the longitudinal axis of the handle.

To increase the clamping force generated by the float outside the boat's hull is proposed according to a preferred embodiment of the invention that the handle present at least one lockable swivel joint. Through this Rotating joint configuration on the handle is possible orient the float and the cleaning medium from the beginning approximately parallel to the outer contour of the boat hull Therefore, by the handle guided by the service personnel may additionally apply some pressure Press against the outside of the ship's hull.

In addition, it is proposed with the invention that the handle can be folded and deployed telescopically. Because of this configuration the device according to the invention can be transported very easily and can easily be stored on board a ship, even with limited space conditions.

The handle is made favorably of metal, in particular aluminum. The realization of the aluminum handle has the additional advantage, together with the weight advantage of this metal lightweight, that aluminum is essentially water resistant sea.

In addition, float flexibility and by consequently the adaptation of the cleaning device to the contour from the outside of the helmet during the cleaning process can be improved according to the invention because the float is configured at least one notch that forms tabs in parallel with respect to the flat sides of the front free end. In the case of a float bending change, the float tabs are they therefore move against each other, sliding some facing the adjacent flat sides of the tabs. By this float flexibility only depends essentially on the thickness of individual tabs. With the configuration of the notch in the float is consequently improved as a whole the cleaning behavior thanks to the best adaptation to contour.

To prevent tabs set to the float move so much in front of each other, that the tongue provided with the motherboard can no longer apply any pressure on the tongue provided with the cleaning medium is also proposed with the invention that guide elements are arranged on the surfaces turned towards each other of the tongues.

According to a practical embodiment of the invention, at least one slot is configured in one of the tabs for guiding element configuration, and when less a bulge that meshes with the groove in the other tongue, respectively.

The bulge can be configured in this case of the corresponding tongue material, but can also be made of a material inserted in the corresponding tab, in particular rubber.

The immersion of the cleaning device in the water, as well as the movement of the cleaning device under the water can be improved since the front end of the float and of the cleaning device are configured so rounded.

According to another embodiment, it is proposed with the invention that several are integrated in the cleaning medium brushes spaced apart from each other, which run transversely and protruding on the surface of the cleaning medium. A medium Similar cleaning provided with brushes can be used in Particular for cleaning motorboat boat hulls to extend or clean the profiling nerves that run in the longitudinal direction of the ship's hull. Advantageously the brushes can be inserted replaceably in the middle of cleaning. On the one hand, to replace worn brushes  and, on the other hand, to be able to also use according to the case of application harder and softer brushes.

Finally, it is proposed with the invention that a Sliding piece can be mounted on the front end of the float, seen in the cleaning direction, to be able to follow the live contour transitions, such as in the transition from helmet to orza. This sliding piece presents in this case of advantageous shape of an asymmetric triangle, being able to adjust the angular position of the triangle with respect to the float.

Other features and advantages of the invention they are deduced from the following description of the corresponding drawing in which three examples of schematically are represented embodiment of a cleaning device according to the invention. At drawing shows:

Fig. 1 a schematic view of the hull of a boat with a cleaning device according to the invention for the hull exterior cleaning;

Fig. 2 a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention;

Fig. 3 a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cleaning device according to the invention;

Fig. 4 a perspective view according to the fig. 2, but representing a means of cleaning provided with brushes and

Fig. 5 a schematic view of the hull of a boat with a removable orza.

In fig. 1 a helmet 1 of a boat 2, being able to recognize that the outside of hull 3 is curved approximately in the form of S.

In addition, according to fig. 1 is deducted from the illustration a cleaning device 4 by which you can clean the outside of the hull 3 of the boat 2. This device cleaning 4 shown enlarged in fig. 2 and 3 is done essentially of a float 5 and a cleaning means 7 fixed of replaceable shape on this float 5 using velcro closures 6.

Float 5 is configured in this case essentially as an elongated body, flat and made of plastic foamed with air pores enclosed, so that the float 5 It has a reduced specific weight and therefore a large buoyancy in the water. Parallel to the two flat sides 8 of the float 5 a recess 9 is configured in the center starting from the free front end, by which it is divided into two tabs 5 'and 5' 'the front part of the float 5. The notch length 9 is approximately ¾ of the length of float 5 in the embodiment shown.

The cleaning means 7, which corresponds to the shape of float 5 set equally elongated, is fixed on the lower flat side 8 of the float 5 by velcro closure 6. The cleaning medium 7 is preferably formed by fibers synthetic bonded together that define a rough surface for the cleaning process.

On the upper flat side 8 of the float 5 a base plate 10 is arranged for fixing a handle 11. The union of the handle 11 with the base plate 10 is carried out through a connecting element 12 which makes possible a pivotal housing of the handle 11 on the base plate 10, so that the float 5 and the middle cleaning 7 are joined in swinging and rotating movement with the handle 11 to be able to adapt exactly to the contour of the exterior of hull 3 of ship 2 during the cleaning process.

In the embodiment represented in the fig. 2, the connecting element 12 is configured as a connection 13 which is made of an essentially rigid rubber material, which on the one hand it is connected with the base plate 10 and on the other hand with the handle 11. This connection 13 preferably made of hard rubber makes possible a pivot of the handle 11 and the base plate 10 one versus another at approximately ± 10 °.

In the embodiment shown in the fig. 3, the connecting element 12 is configured as a union articulated 14 with two articulation axes 15 arranged at an angle straight with respect to each other, around those who can pivot the float 5 and the cleaning means 7 in relation to the handle 11.

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As can be seen in fig. 1, the handle 11 it has a lockable swivel joint 16, by means of which an approximate orientation of the device can be adjusted cleaning 4 with respect to the outside of the hull 3 of the ship 2 in relation with handle 11. To easily transport the cleaning device 4, the handle 11 is configured so which can be folded and deployed telescopically. With this The handle 11 has screwed joints 17 by means of that individual parts can be fixed relative to each other of the handle 11. Next to the simple transport of the device cleaning 4, the telescopic configuration of the handle 11 presents the advantage that the length of the handle 11 can be adjusted according to the need.

The embodiments in fig. 2 and 4 show particularly advantageous configurations of the handle 11. To prevent oscillation and flexion of the upper part of the handle, that is, above the swivel joint 16, this part is not configured as a rigid part in a piece. The multi-part configuration with handle parts that can fold telescopically through bolted joint 17, as well as a handle part 11a, which constitutes approximately one third of the length of the upper part of the handle, allows a balanced relationship of forces and a good force transmission through the handle 11 on the connection of rubber 13 and, consequently, on the float 5. In this way the float 5 can move stably and with stability Directional exact along the contour of the ship's hull.

Also the configuration of the bottom of the handle between the connection 13 and the swivel joint 16 is advantageously configured telescopically, so that without inclined or inclined immersion of the cleaning device 4 boat hull can be cleaned by proper regulation from the length of the handle 11, also to the lower end of the orza. Also this additional adjustability of the part Lower handle allows exact cleaning also of very boats wide

The front end of the float 5 represented in fig. 3 and of the cleaning means 7 are configured so rounded to allow easier immersion of the device 4 cleaning in the water and easier driving of the device Cleaning in the water. Naturally also the front end of the embodiment according to fig. 2 can be configured rounded.

In addition, as can be seen in fig. 3, about the upper flat side 8 of float 5 a flange 18 is configured peripheral made of float material 5. By this flange 18 the mass of the float material 5 is increased and by consequently the clamping pressure of the cleaning device 4 in the outside of the hull 3. In addition, the flange surrounds on three sides the base plate 10 for fixing the handle 11, so that it can exclude a contact between the base plate 10 and the outside of the helmet 3.

The buoyancy of float 5 and by consequently the tightening pressure on the ship's hull can be further increased because in float material 5 it is integrated a body 19 that can be filled with gas. As you can see in fig. 3, this body 19 that can be filled with gas can be arranged in the area of the flange 18. In the exemplary embodiment represented the filling of the body 19 is carried out through a pipe 20 ending in an intake and discharge valve 21 in the handle part 11a of the handle 11. Through this valve of admission and discharge 21 the body 19 can be filled in case of need, for example, in the case of heavily bonded deposits, also during work underwater, for example, by manual inflation with gas, in particular air. The gas can also get out again when a pressure of squeeze so big.

The service person performs a movement of scrubbing for cleaning the exterior of hull 3 of ship 2 by under the surface of the water, to remove algae, shells and similar to the outside of the hull 3. Because of the buoyancy of the float 5 the cleaning means 7 is pressed against the outside of the hull 3. Because of the flexibility of both float 5 and also of the cleaning means 7 as well as of the handle connection 11 and float 5 through articulated joint 12 adapts the means of cleaning 7 exactly to the contour of the exterior of the ship 3. According to the radius of curvature of the outside of the hull 3, they move  in this case additionally the two tabs 5 'and 5' 'of the float 5 facing each other, so that another flexible adaptation is possible to any shape of the helmet. With a cleaning device configured in this way it is therefore possible to clean to easily bottom the exteriors of hulls 3 of ships 2 with Any form of helmet.

To prevent the two tabs 5 ', 5' 'from move both in front of each other so that the tongue 5 'provided with the motherboard 10 cannot apply pressure on the other tongue 5 '', in the embodiment according to fig. 2 on surfaces rotated of the tabs 5 ', 5' 'are arranged the elements of guided 22 that are formed, in the embodiment shown, by two slots 23 on the tongue 5 'and two bulges 24 corresponding, which engage in slots 23, in the tongue 5''. By means of these embodiments 22 they are fixed so limited the tabs 5 'and 5' 'facing each other, without suppressing the flexibility produced by the notch 9.

While ship cleaners represented in the illustrations of fig. 2 and 3 with the media Cleaning 7 planes as a non-woven material are appropriate in particular for cleaning flat hulls of ships, as they use these on sailing yachts, the illustration in fig. 4 shows a cleaning means 7 in which brushes are integrated 25 spaced apart from each other, running transversely, whose Bristles protrude over the surface of the cleaning medium 7. Similar cleaning means 7 serve in particular for cleaning the hulls of motor boat boats, serving the 25 brushes to cover and clean profiling nerves configured in the hull of motor boats that run in the longitudinal direction of the hull.

The brushes 25 can be inserted in this case advantageously replaceable in the cleaning means 7 for being able to replace these, for example, because of wear.

Fig. 5 finally shows helmet 1 of a boat with an orza 26 removable. As can be seen in the illustration, the transition from helmet 1 to orza 26 represents a vivid contour transition to which the cleaning device 4, if necessary, only very hard and without constant cleaning contact. To remedy this disadvantage you can placing a sliding piece 27 on the front end of the Float seen in the cleaning direction. In the example of represented embodiment, the slide 27 is in the form of an asymmetric triangle For adaptation to different angles of transition, the sliding piece 27 can be fixed in an adjustable way at the front end of float 5 so that it is always another angle of the asymmetric triangle available.

Reference List

one

Helmet

2

Ship

3

Hull exterior

4

Cleaning device

5

Float

5'

Tongue

5''

Tongue

6

Velcro closure

7

Cleaning medium

8

Flat side

9

Notch

10

Motherboard

eleven

Mango

11th

Handle part

12

Connecting element

13

Connection

14

Articulated joint

fifteen

Articulation shaft

16

Pivot joint

17

Bolted joint

18

Flange

19

Body

twenty

Pipeline

twenty-one

Inlet and discharge valve

22

Guiding element

2. 3

Groove

24

Domed

25

Brush

26

Orza

27

Sliding piece.

Claims (26)

1. Device for cleaning the outside of the hull (3) of a ship (2) consisting of an elongated float (5), flat as well as flexibly configured with a handle (11) fixed at one end of the float (5) , preferably at least one cleaning means (7) being disposable on the flat side (8) of the float (5), a base plate (10) provided with a connecting element (12) on the flat side being arranged (8) of the float (5) opposite the cleaning means (7) and the float (5) and the handle (11) being pivotally connected to each other through the connecting element, characterized in that the float it is formed by a foamed plastic, because at least one body (19) that can be filled with a gas, in particular air, is integrated in the float material (5) and because the body (19) that can be filled with gas can be fed with the gas through an intake and discharge valve (21) arranged in the handle (11), in particular in the handle part (11a) of the handle (11). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (19) that can be filled with gas is configured as an inflatable hose. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the body (19) that can be filled with gas can be manually inflated through the intake and discharge valve (21). Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the flat side (8) of the float (5) provided with the base plate (10) a peripheral flange (18) made of the float material is configured ( 5). Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the body (19) that can be filled with gas is disposed in the area of the peripheral flange (18). Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting element (12) is configured of a connection (13) made of an essentially rigid rubber material, which is joined on one side with the base plate (10) and on the other hand with the handle (11). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the handle (11) is fixedly angled on the base plate (10) with respect to the float (5) by means of the connection (13). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the bending between the base plate (10) and the handle (11) is from 5 ° to 10 °, preferably 7 °. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the joint element (12) is configured as an articulated joint (14). 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the articulated joint (14) is a spherical joint. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that at the end of the handle (11) on the side of the articulation an articulation sphere is configured which can be inserted into a semi-rider configured on the base plate (10). 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the articulated joint (14) has two articulation axes (15) arranged at right angles to each other. 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the articulated joint (14) is configured as a universal joint. 14. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the handle (11) has at least one lockable swivel joint (16). 15. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the handle (11) can be folded and deployed telescopically. 16. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the handle (11) is made of metal, in particular aluminum. 17. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that at least one notch (9) forming the tabs (5 'and 5'') is configured in the float (5) parallel to the flat sides (8 ) starting from the free front end. 18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that guiding elements (22) are arranged on the surfaces turned towards each other of the tabs (5 'and 5''). 19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that at least one groove (23) is configured in one of the tabs (5 ', 5'') for the configuration of the guiding elements (22) and at least one bulge (24 ) that meshes with the groove (23) is configured in the other tab (5 ', 5''), respectively. 20. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the at least one bulge (24) is formed of the corresponding tongue material (5 ', 5''). 21. Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the at least one bulge (24) is made of a material inserted in the corresponding tongue (5 ', 5''), preferably rubber. 22. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 21, characterized in that the front end of the float (5) and the cleaning means (7) are rounded. 23. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 22, characterized in that several brushes (25) spaced apart from each other are integrated in the cleaning medium (7), which run transversely and protrude over the surface of the cleaning medium. 24. Device according to claim 23, characterized in that the brushes (25) can be replaced in the cleaning medium (7). 25. Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 24, characterized in that a sliding part (27) can be mounted on the front end of the float (5) for adaptation to live contour transitions. 26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that the sliding part (27) has the shape of an asymmetrical triangle and can be fixed in different positions on the float (5).