Semi-rigid craft, the buoyancy of which is adjustable
AssigneeZodiac Milpro International
InventorsMarc Cassanas, Erle Dumontier, Lionel Boudeau
Life of this patent
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AssigneeZodiac Milpro International
InventorsMarc Cassanas, Erle Dumontier, Lionel Boudeau
Estimating the term…
A craft includes a rigid hull (1) that consists of a V-shaped bottom (5) and a bridge (4) on which a load can rest. The hull includes plating consisting of compartmentalized pneumatic floats (2), the rear compartments (32) of which are combined with an inflation and deflation system so as to vary the buoyancy of the craft. The craft also includes a submergible hull (1), the central cavity (9) of which is formed between the bottom (5) and the bridge (4) and is open at the rear so as to be automatically filled or emptied, the central cavity (9) containing at least one bag (10) that is combined with an inflation and deflation system enabling the buoyancy to be varied and consequently the level of immersion of the stern (7) to be changed as needed.
A semi-rigid craft having a bow and a stern and comprising a rigid hull consisting of a V-shaped bottom and a deck, on which a load can rest and which is accessible from the rear at a level which corresponds to a level of said deck, said craft comprising upper side walls consisting of pneumatic floats which join together at said bow, said floats being compartmentalized and rear float compartments at said stern being associated with inflation and deflation means in the form of three-way valves for varying the buoyancy of said craft, wherein said hull is a submergible hull, of which a central cavity, formed between said bottom and said deck, is open at the rear in order to be filled and emptied automatically, said central cavity extending from said stern for most of the length of said hull and containing at least one inflatable bag, said at least one inflatable bag being associated with inflation and deflation means enabling the buoyancy to be varied and consequently the level of immersion of said stern to be changed as needed, said central cavity of said hull being completely open at a rear part of said central cavity to allow introducing said at least one inflatable bag as well as introducing or draining water, and a front part of said central cavity being open by means of at least one opening made in said deck to allow the passage of air at least during inflation of said at least one bag.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.