U.S. patent application number 12/452657 was filed with the patent office on 2010-07-29 for securing the platform on a watercraft.
Invention is credited to Peter A. Muller.
Application Number | 20100186657 12/452657 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39941916 |
Filed Date | 2010-07-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100186657 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Muller; Peter A. |
July 29, 2010 |
SECURING THE PLATFORM ON A WATERCRAFT
Abstract
The invention relates to securing means for a height-adjustable
platform on a watercraft. The aim of the invention is to secure
said platform from erroneous manipulations, thus protecting humans,
the watercraft and the height-adjustable platform against an
accident.
Inventors: |
Muller; Peter A.; (Gattikon,
CH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
George Pappas
919 S. Harrison Street, Suite 300
Fort Wayne
IN
46802
US
|
Family ID: |
39941916 |
Appl. No.: |
12/452657 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
July 16, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/CH2008/000317 |
371 Date: |
January 13, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/362 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 27/14 20130101;
B63B 27/16 20130101; B63B 27/143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/362 |
International
Class: |
B63B 27/14 20060101
B63B027/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 16, 2007 |
CH |
1141/07 |
Claims
1. Safety mean for a drop down platform on a watercraft comprising
one of the following: wherein a lowering of the platform installed
on a watercraft's transom having a technical mean will be activated
only after the height and the steering wheel of the technical mean
has been adjusted and controlled by means of sensors.
2. Safety mean in accordance with claim 1 wherein the alignment of
the height of the technical mean is set by an operator and the
alignment of the manual steering position is set by the steering
wheel or by means of an add on drive at the steering wheel.
3. Safety mean in accordance with claim 1 wherein the alignment of
the height or and the alignment of the steering position of the
technical mean takes place automatically by means of the controller
by pressing switch.
4. Safety mean in accordance with claim 1 wherein the correct
alignment of the height and or of the steering position is put
across by means of an optical or acoustic control on the
dashboard.
5. Safety mean in accordance with claim 4 wherein the optical
control is a control lamp which is in a blink mode as long as the
triggering of the platform cannot be executed and switches into a
continuous light mode when the platform is ready to be lowered or
lifted.
6. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein the lowering of the
platform depends on the rpm gauge or and gear setting but the
lifting of the platform is not dependent on those.
7. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein before lowering the
platform the locking device is released or and opened by the
cylinder.
8. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein by means of the
keyboard configuration preset lifting positions of the platform can
be reached.
9. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein the remote control
has a control range that complies with the direct view range to the
platform.
10. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein the manual control
has other functions which are not relevant to the platform
operation.
11. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein the valve
controller ensures a lifting of the platform out of the water and a
locking of it by means of the locking device.
12. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein the platform has a
recess to avoid collision of a technical mean, by means of the
cover lid enabling a uniform surface, whereas a shifting bathing
ladder is attached to the cover lid hinged and fixed to the
watercraft's transom and thereby when lowering the platform the
cover lid is opened by force.
13. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein on the cover cover
strips are fixed sideways that close the gap between the cover and
the platform or have electric safety edges or and electric safety
edges fixed onto the platform.
14. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein in the case of
twin drives both cover lids are connected by a synchronisation
mean.
15. Safety mean in accordance to claim 1 wherein these comprise
switch, control lamp, controller, sensor, operator, add on drive,
manual control, rpm gauge, locking device, gear setting,
transmitter, electric safety edges and are connected with each
other by means of the controller.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority of PCT application
PCT/CH2008/000317 having a priority date of Jul. 16, 2007, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The invention involves the safeguarding and handling
simplification for a drop down platform, for picking up tenders and
persons onto a watercraft according to the preamble of the initial
claim
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Drop down platforms, especially for swimmers, divers and
tenders are well-known as described in patents DE 196 02 331, U.S.
Pat. No. 6,327,992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,690,045. These allow persons or
material to be comfortably let down into the water or to be taken
on board.
[0004] Specific safety elements such as the locking device of the
platform and remote control are well-known and among others are
described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,327,992.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The invention involves that, on a watercraft with a drop
down platform enabling a tender or persons to be picked up from the
water or to be lowered into the water enables the very best
possible safety precautions, bearing in mind that certain
procedures can only take place when certain conditions are
fulfilled beforehand. Also not too many indicators should confuse
the user but with the simplest information the offering or a
certain position can be displayed or automatically positioned to.
In the case of lowering the platform should there be a stem drive
on the watercraft's transom, then the stern drive should not be in
the tilted up position and the steering angle has to be as small as
possible, so that the platform can be lowered without collision.
Also for e.g. in case the platform is lowered the watercraft can
only be operated at low rpm or not at all. In addition the platform
should not be lowered further or not less than the set points, e.g.
the platform is lowered automatically to the proper position to
pick up a tender by means of a preset point.
[0006] In addition to the recess in the platform and at the same
time a coverage of the stern drive or jet drive or rudder by a
cover lid with side cover lids or electric safety edges which, when
coming into contact with a foot or a limb with the cover lid, the
platform will stop immediately, which is a security feature of the
whole system as well as a simple and logical operation and comfort
element. A remote control with a range beyond the vision range of
the platform is critical from a safety point of view. An integrated
radio via bluetooth in the remote control is neat and represents a
direct, recurring handling of the control unit, which ensures a
confident and in the subconscious mind a fine motoric memorized
handling.
[0007] Quintessence of the invention is, to provide a dropdown
swimplatform with improved safety components so as simplify the
handling of the system so that certain procedures can only take
place using compelled and previously terminated functions and
thereby increasing the comfort as well, which reduces thereby the
possible handling stress and at the same time creating a clear
safety feature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Various exemplary aspects of the invention will be described
with reference to the drawings wherein:
[0009] It shows
[0010] FIG. 1 A schematic functional view of a simple handling mean
for a drop down platform with a switch and a control light, a
controller, a sensor fixed to a technical mean, a steering wheel
mean and a steering wheel
[0011] FIG. 2 A schematic functional view of the safety elements
for a drop down platform, consisting of a manual controller,
sensors, rpm gauge, locking element, transmitter, which are all
connected to a controller and comprises a manual pressure release
mean of the system
[0012] FIG. 3 A schematic 3D view of a drop down platform on a
watercraft transom with coercion controlled cover lids, electric
safety edges and integrated bathing ladder
[0013] Only essential elements of the invention are schematically
shown to facilitate immediate understanding.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a schematic functional view of a simple
handling of a dropdown platform 17 with a switch 1 and a control
lamp 1a, which allows, by slightly touching the key sensor or
toggle switch, the platform 17 to activate. Thereby all the
necessary systems for getting into operation to lift or to lower
the platform 17 and all safety measures 24, which include means
1,1a,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,23, are set ready. A blinking of the
integrated control lamp 1a in switch 1 indicates that the
activation of the system is not yet ready, at the same time the
appropriate measures take place to eliminate the hindrances:
collision endangered technical means 2 e.g. rudder, jet drive or as
shown here a stern drive, are set by means of operator 5 into an
appropriate height position which has been previously programmed
into the controller 3 by use of a sensor 4. On the steering wheel 6
is attached an additional sensor 4, which gives information of the
set steering angle. The user only has to turn the steering wheel 6
until the control lamp 1a continually lights and shows that the
system is ready to lift or lower the platform 17. Instead of
turning the steering wheel by hand, this can be achieved by adding
on a drive 7. Instead of automatically setting the stern drive into
position this can be activated manually by using a trim switch.
Only when the correct height and correct steering wheel position of
the stern drive are set, the control lamp 1a will change from a
blinking to continuous light mode and thus the drop down platform
17 is ready for use. Additionally, an acoustic mean informs about
the alignment situation.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a schematic functional view of a safety element
for a drop down platform 17. This consists of a water tight manual
control 8, sensors 4, rpm gauge 9, locking device 10, gear setting
11, transmitter 12, which all are connected to a controller 3. The
manual control 8 is the intersection point between human and
machine and requires additional attention in regard to size,
handling, feeling and time to control. The manual control 8 must be
a familiar element for the user; therefore the user should use this
part as often as possible in his spare time, so that the key board
becomes absolute routine. Nevertheless certain set procedures take
place so as to ensure that an incorrect operation is avoided. The
manual control for lowering or lifting the platform 17 must be
effectuated firstly by pressing key 8a, which is responsible for
activating the aplatform 17. Within a time window the key 8b for a
lowering or 8c for a lifting has to be pressed, and for an
appropriate lift H the key has to be pressed continually otherwise
the lifting process will be stopped.
[0016] A gangway can also be controlled by using the same procedure
with key controls 8d,8e,8f. In addition the radio 8g, telephone 8h
can also be handled and also the temperature 8i can also be
measured, although it is of advantage if the temperature sensor 13
is on the manual control 8 where the indicator 13a is, as a
temperature sensor under the keel gets warm when driving and takes
a relatively long time before it can show the surrounding
temperature properly, and as well the temperature under the keel is
not necessarily the one that is of interest to the bathers who only
want to have their feet in the water with the platform 17 only
slightly lowered.
[0017] Before a command, which has been initiated from the manual
control 8, can be executed, e.g. in series 8a then 8b, the rpm
gauge 9 and gear setting 11 are checked whereby, using the gear
setting 11, it will be controlled whether the propeller shaft is
engaged or not to the watercraft's motor. The shipyard may decide
if, whether or at what speed it is allowed to drive with the
platform 17 lowered, as having the platform 17 underwater creates a
resistance, resulting that the fixation of the platform 17 to the
transom of a watercraft may no longer withstand the pressure. Also
the position of the platform 17 controlled by means of sensor 4,
shown here attached to a cylinder 14, in case the platform is
lowered, in such instance the platform can be raised at any speed,
without considering the rpm gauge 9 or the gear setting 11. In
addition, by means of the controller 3, according to the rpm gauge
9, gear setting 11, information from sensor 4, the locking device
10 is opened so as to allow the platform 17 to be lowered whereby
the lifting mechanism through cylinder 14 preferably relieves the
locking device 10 first of all, i.e. helps to open or just opens.
By means of keys 8x it is also possible to enter a programmed
special lifting function for e.g. the quick and easy picking up of
a tender on the platform 17 with a second platform 17 quickly and
simply to attain a precise equal lifting height.
[0018] Is a remote control available, then this one has a control
range which equals the visibility to the platform 17 so that from
the concealed bow area of a watercraft or from the cabins, an
operation of the platform 17 is not possible.
[0019] The hydraulic system 16 which by means of the hydraulic
pressure lifting mechanism has a valve controller 15 so as to make
the system if necessary manually pressureless, so that in case of
an electric or hydraulic system failure, by means of the attached
lifting bodies at the platform 17 or the attached gas springs on
the lifting device, the platform 17 can thus be lifted and
automatically locked by the locking device 10 and thereby ensuring
that the platform 17 stays secured even when the watercraft is not
in use for a time.
[0020] FIG. 3 shows a schematic 3 D view of a drop down platform 17
on a watercraft transom 18 with a coercion controlled cover lid 19
here shown on a twin motor vessel whereby the cover 19 lid is
connected to a guided and thus telescopic bathing ladder 20 placed
under the cover lid 19. The bathing ladder 20 is hinged and
attached to the watercraft's transom 18 and as long as the platform
17 is above and on the watercraft's transom 18, the bathing ladder
20 is not visible from outside. If the platform 17 is pulled out
horizontally or directly lowered as indicated by arrow H, the
bathing ladder is pulled out accordingly and when lowering the
platform 17 forces the cover lid 19 to open itself so avoiding a
collision with any technical means. On the cover lid 19 is also a
synchronisation mean 21, e.g a bar, connected to the second cover
lid 19, so that the second cover lid 19 in the case of a twin drive
of a watercraft is opened at the right time collision free, without
the need to fix a second bathing ladder 20. On both sides of the
cover lid 19 a set of flexible side cover strips 22 are placed with
the function to warn, respectively an electric safety edge 23 is
mounted so as to stop the platform 17 immediately in case of
contact with a foreign body. This function of stopping to prevent
limb trapping can also be placed on the side of the platform 17
toward the transom of the watercraft 18. The side cover strip 22
can also have a triangular shape so that, when the cover lid 19 is
opened, there is no gap to the platform 17.
[0021] Of course the invention is not only applicable on shown and
described examples
DRAWING LIST
[0022] 1 switch
[0023] 1a control lamp
[0024] 2 technical mean
[0025] 3 controller
[0026] 4 sensor
[0027] 5 operator
[0028] 6 steering wheel
[0029] 7 add on drive
[0030] 8 manual control
[0031] 8a-8i keyboard
[0032] 9 rpm gauge
[0033] 10 locking device
[0034] 11 gear setting
[0035] 12 transmitter
[0036] 13 temperature sensor
[0037] 13a indicator
[0038] 14 cylinder
[0039] 15 valve controller
[0040] 16 hydraulic system
[0041] 17 platform
[0042] 18 transom
[0043] 19 cover lid
[0044] 20 bathing ladder
[0045] 21 synchronisation mean
[0046] 22 cover strip
[0047] 23 electric safety edges
[0048] 24 safety mean 1,1a,3,4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,23
[0049] H lift
* * * * *