Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
561~6
The invention relates to a marine craft,
and in particular to an emergency all-weather life-
saving craft such as a lifeboat.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
The design of marine craft, conventionally
employs a hull which is designed to ride in the water
in only one orientation, that is to say with its keel
or center portion of the hull lowermost, and with the
sides of the hull projecting above the water. The crew,
passengers, cargo, etc. are intended to be contained
within the hull.
In smaller craft the hull is simply open,
and in larger craft a deck conventionally covers in the
open upper portion of the hull.
Structure within the interior of the hull is
normally fixed to the hull. When the hull rolls, any
structure attached within the hull will, of oourse, roll
with it. The design of ships lifeboats and other rescue
craft has followed these lines. As a result, passengers
and crew attempting to leave a vessel in distress are
required to climb into what is essentially an open boat,
which is then lowered by ropes into rough water im-
mediately alongside the rolling vessel, after which
the ropes are cast off, and an attempt is made to propel
the lifeboat either with oars or under power away from
the side of the sinking vessel.
It is well known that this is a most hazardous
undertaking, and that it is almost never practiced in
rough weather, and that in all probability more lives
are lost attempting to leave a vessel than would
be lost if they r ~;ned on board. Other forms of life-
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12~561~6
saving craft involve life rafts, and inflatable craft.
Life rafts are generally speaking unsuitable since
persons on them are totally exposed to the elements.
In addition, in rough weathPr a life raft may
tumble over and over, and it is almost impossible for
a person to maintain his grasp in those circumstances.
Inflatable rafts are provided having complex designs
incorporating inflatable canopies or hoods. These
inflatable craft do not appear to be entirely satisfactory.
Experience of persons attempting to use them in rough
weather indicates that they too are easily overturned.
In addition, the rough h~n~l ing likely to be experienced
during an escape from a sinking vessel in rough weather
is likely to puncture the craft or damage the fabric
of such inflatable craft rendering them useless.
Lifeboats may be constructed with decks to
enclose the hull but this is generally impractical. Such
craft must be small enough to be carried on a larger
vessel, and launched from it.
Hull design conventionally requires an outer
skin, and an inner frame work of ribs, which support
the outer skin. Where the hull is to be totally enclosed
with a decX, the construction of the deck will have
to follo~ the same general principle, that is to say,
it will have to incorporate an outer skin, and ribs
extending across its interior.
This will severely restrict the space avail-
able in the interior of the hull, and the seating
accommodation will be limited.
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Even when fully decked-in, such a lifeboat
could be capsized in rough weaiher, and while it
might continue to float, it would be ~lnm~n~geable
and endanger the occupants.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE lN~N'l'ION
With a view to overcoming these disadvantages,
and providing a marine craft suitable both for life-
saving purposes and many other uses, the invention
comprises an outer hull of completely spherical shape,
and an inner load carrying structure o~ hemispherical
shape, and universal bearing means between such inner
structure and such outer hull, supporting such inner
structure within such outer hull, and permitting uni~
versal movement of such inner structure relative to
such outer hull, and mass means in said inner structure,
biasing the same into a predetermined reference position
regardless oE movement of such outer hull.
More particularly, ~he invention seeks to
provide a craft having the foregoing advantages, in-
cluding motor means on said inner structure, engageable
with and disengageable from such outer hull, whereby
such outer hull may be rotated relative to such inner
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~561~3 Ei
hull along a predetermined axis~of such inner structure,
and means for operating such motor means.
More particularly, the invention seeks to
provide a craft having oregoing advantages incorpQrating
fins on the exterior of such o~ter hul~, wherèb~ rotation
of such outer hull may cause propulsion of such craft along
the surface of the water.
More particularly, the invention seeks to
provide such a craft having hatchway means for entrance
through said outer hull into such inner structure, and
cover means for sealing such hatchway against the
entrance of water.
More particularly, the invention seeks to
provide such a craft having air valve means,and closure
means therefor, in such outer hull, whereby air may
be admitted, and water excluded.
More particularly, the invention seeks to
provide such a craft having the foregoing advantages
including gas storage means in such inner structure,
for carrying a quantity of a breathable gas.
The various features of novelty which
characterize the invention are pointed out with parti-
cularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of
this disclosure. For a better understanding of the
invention, its operating advantages and speciEic objects
attained by its use, reference should be had to the
accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there
are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of
the invention.
IN THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective illustration partially
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cut away, showing the marine craft according to the
invention, and,
Figure 2 is a section through the lower half
of the marine craft Figure 1, along the line 2-2.
As best shown in Figure 1, the maxine cxA~t
accGrding to the invention comprises an outer hull 10
which is completely spherical in shape. The hull 10
has in this embodiment two access ports or hatches 12
and 14, located diametrically opposite to one another.
Each of such ports 12 and 14 is provided with a hatch
cover 16, 18, which is preferably swingably mounted on
the hull, and may be fastened by any suitable locking
or fastening means or planting means of a type well
known in the art (not shown).
Such hatches will, of course, incorporate
suitable sealing means to prevent entry of water.
The hull 10 is also provided with a plurality
of air valves 20, located at spaced apart points.
The air valves 20 incorporate suitable closure means
(not shown) which are effective to prevent the entry
of water, while permitting entry of air, for occupants
within the hull.
The hull 10 is also provided with a plurality
of fins or vanes 22, the purpose of which will be
described below.
The hull 10 will also be provided with a
plurality of lifting eyes 24 fastened to the eXterior of
the hull, by means of which the entire structure may
be lifted out of the water, or lowered into it, as
desired.
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Within the outer hull 10, is located an
inner hull or structure indicated generally as 30.
The inner hull 30 is of hemispherical shape, and
has an upper peripheral rim or flange 32, in this
embodiment, and defines a predetermined spacing
between itself and the interior of the out hull 10.
Within this spacing there is provided any suitable
form of universal bearing means, by means of which
the inner hull 30 may rest upon the interior of the
outer hull 10.
In the embodiment shown, such universal
means comprise a plurality of ballbearings 34, which
are preferably suitably located by means of a
bearing cage 36. Typically, this cage will be of
generally hemispherical shape, and lie between the
inner hull 30 and the outer hull 10, its purpose
being simply to locate the ballbearings.
By this means, the inner hull 30, and
the outer hull 10, are rendered rotatable to one
another in any axis, without any restriction.
The inner hull 30 is provided with, in
this embodiment, seats consisting essentially of
a continuous circular bench 38, and a ~loor 40.
Beneath the floor 40, there will be located in a
typical example, electrical storage battery 42,
and gas storage means 44.
A central console 46 may also be provided
for storage of food, radio equipment, flares and
the like depending upon the design and usage of the
particular craft. Preferably, the bench 38 may also
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be proviaed with suitable personal harnesses 48,
which may be usea to strap in occupants as shown
in Figure 2.
In order to provide a certain ~in;~llm
degree of mobility, a drive transmission means is
preferably provided on the inner hull 30, and engage-
able and disengageable with the outer hull 10.
In this embodiment such a drive transmission
means is shown generally as a pair of electrical motors
50, mounted between the inner hull 30 and the outer
hull 10. These motors will incorporate any suitable
releasable drive transmission means (not shown) by
means of which the interior of the outer hull may be
engaged, typically frictionally engaged, and rotated
relative to the inner hull by means of the motors.
In order to provide for some degree of
directional control, a third directional control
motor and transmission means are preferably provided
in the form of the motor 52.
By this means the craft may be propelled
to a certain degree in a predetermined direction,
thereby giving it some mobility.
Typically, such motors 50 and 52 will be
operated by electrical power supplied by batteries 42.
It will, of course, be appreciated, however,
that it is equally possible to provide a manual form
of drive transmission, operable by the occupants within
the interior of the craft, and the invention is not
therefore limited to motors, batteries and the like
or indeed to any particular power source.
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It will, of course, be appreciated that
the interior of the outer hull 10 must be substantially
completely smooth and regular and free of obstructions.
In this way, the ballbearings 34 will be free to roll
around the interior of the hull 10, while being
retained in position by means of the cage 36 and the
inner hull 30. Thus, the design of the hatch covers
and ports and air valves will all be such that they
do not intrude into the interior of the outer hull 10,
but present an essentially smooth regular surface all
over such interior to provide a smooth rolling surface
for engagement of such ballbearings.
It is particularly useful if the outer hull
10 is formed of transparent plastic material, or is
provided with a plurality of windows all over its surface,
so that the occupants within the hull may easily see
out, no matter what position the inner hull is relative
to the outer hull.
The outer hull will also incorporate some
form of radio antenna (not shown) and radar reflector
(not shown) such ac are well known in the art, and
these may be incorporated for example in the fins 22,
or any other portion of the structure, or may be provided
separately, and may be of such a type that they are
telescopic or retractable, the details of which are
limited -Eor the sake oE clarity.
Suitable trap doors 54 may be provided in
the floor, and under the bench 38 if desired, for
access to storage areas of the inner hull.
By use of the invention it will be noted,
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~.2~561~
therefore, that the inner hull 30 is provided with
a biasing mass constituted in this embodiment by
for example the space beneath the floor which is
occupied by the gas storage, and batteries. This
being the lowermost point of the inner hull 30, it
will be apparent that this mass will bias the innex
hull so that it always adopts a reference position
due to gravity regardless of rotational movement of
the outer hull relative to the inner hull.
Clearly, there will be some slight time lag,
and the inner hull 30 will pitch and roll to some
degree. Experiments, however, have shown that an
unusual degree of stability can be achieved by the
use of the invention, giving the occupants of the
inner hull 30 a surprising degree of comfort and
safety under conditions which would be impossible
for any other craft.
It will be appreciated also that other
forms of bearing means may be used other than the
ballbearing shown. A liquid bearing medium such
as water or oil will function in essentially the
same way as the ballbearings. In this case, such
liquid will obviously have to be sealed around the
flange 32 of the inner hull.
It will also be appreciated that a marine
craft of the type described is not limited exclusively
to life saving or emergency situations. The principles
of the invention are equally applicable to for example
recreational craft, such as for example speed boats,
observation boats and the like.
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5~
Having described what is believed to be the
best mode by which the invention may be performed, it
will be seen that the invention may be particularly
defined as follows:
A marine craft comprising an outer hull of
comple-tely spherical shape, an inner load carrying
structure of hemispherical shape, universal bearing
means between such inner structure and such outer
hull supporting such inner structure within such
outer hull and permitting universal movement of such
inner structure relative to such outer hull, and,
mass means in said inner structure, biasing the same
in,o a predetermined reference position regardless
of movement of such outer hull.
SUPPLEMENTARY DIS~LOSURE
A modified form of marine craft in accordance
with the invention is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Figure 3 is a perspective of a modified form
of marine craft partially cut away, and,
Figure ~ is a perspective of the drive mechanism
of the marine craft of Figure 3.
The same outer hull 10~, and inner hull 30 are
provided, as befo-e, supported on suitable universal
bearing means tnot shown).
In this embodiment of the invention, multi-
directional drive fins 50 are provided at spaced poin~s
on the exterior of the outer hull 10. The drive fins
50 are formed of two intersecting plates 52, which are of
equal length, and intersect one another at right-angles to
form a generally cruciform shape.
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Each of the plates 52 is formed with tapering
ends 54.
In this wa~, the intersection point of each
of the two plates 52 is the highest point of such plates,
and they reduce in height progressively towards their ends
so as to merge smoothly with the contour of the outer
hull 10, at their ends.
In this way, each of the plates 52 is mutually
supporting the other plate at its centre point, at its
point of maximum stress.
The fins 50 are thus able to engage the water,
no matter what axis or direction the outer hull 52 is
rotating.
At the same time, the fins 50 offer minimum
obstruction to the rotation of the outer hull 10 during
launching for example, and by their mutually supporting
structure, are thus highly resistant to bending, crushing
or other damage.
In addition, in this form of the invention,
the inner hull 30 is provided with a modified form of
central console 56, having a control module 58 extending
horizon-tally to one side.
The control module 58 is provided with various
switches and dials, for operation of the various support
systems in the marine craft. In addition, however, it
is also provided with a manually operable steering wheel
60, which is located at the free end of the module 58,
adjacent a suitable seating location in the inner hull 30.
The horizontal steering shaft 62 extends from
the wheel 60 and terminates typically in a bevel gear 64.
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A vertical central steering shaft 66 extends
down the cen-tre of the console 56. It has a further
bevel gear at its upper end meshing with bevel gear 64.
In this way, rotation of wheel 60 will procure rotation of
steering shaft 66.
As bes-t shown in Figure 4, the lower end of
shaft 66 extends ~ownwardly below inner hull 30 into the
space between inner hull 30 and the outer hull 10.
It has a generally L-shaped crank portion 70,
which extends parallel to shaft 66. On crank portion
70, there is mounted a reversible drive motor 72, a
reduction gear box 74, and a drive chain and sprocket 76.
A drive wheel 78 is mounted below the motor and
gear box 72 and 74 and is driven by the drive chain 76.
By operation of suitable controls the motor may
be operated either in forward or reverse directions,
thereby driving the wheel 78 either forwardly or backwardly.
By operation of the steering wheel, the
steering column 66 can be rotated through 360.
In this way, the craft can be driven by rotating
the outer hull 10 in any desired direction or axis relative
to the inner hull 30.
The foregoing is a descrip-tion of a preferred
embodiment of the invention which is given here by way of
example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited
to any of the specific features as described, but compre-
hends all such variations thereof as come within the scope
of the appended claims.
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