FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a flotation device and to a method of mounting same,
as well to the operation of same.
[0002] Said flotation device is designed to be housed in the interior of ships, cargo containers
or floating structures in such a manner that, in emergency situations in water, the
activation of said flotation device reduces the danger of sinking of the ship, cargo
container or floating structure while significantly improving its buoyancy.
[0003] More particularly, the invention is such that it comprises inflatable means housed
in the interior of a receptacle integrated in the body of the ship, cargo container
or floating structure. The inflatable means are expelled to the exterior by means
of thrust means following the breaking of an external cover of said receptacle, with
the inflatable means being inflated subsequently in order to improve the buoyancy
of the ship, cargo container or floating structure to be protected.
[0004] The field of application of the invention lies primarily within the maritime and
fluvial industry, with one or more of the flotation devices being used to protect
vessels such as ships, recreational and/or fishing vessels and the like or floating
structures such as oil platforms, piers and the like.
[0005] The flotation device according to the invention is also designed for the cargo containers
usually carried on the aforementioned ships and floating structures.
[0006] Likewise, said floating device optionally forms part of a more complex global system
designed, to keep a ship, cargo container or floating structure afloat, comprising,
for example, in addition to the flotation device according to the invention, a module
for detecting hazardous situations and/or an activation control module.
[0007] Use of the flotation device of the present invention in non-aquatic means of transport
such as airships is not ruled out.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The sea, lakes and some riverbeds are and have been widely used for such activities
as fishing and the transport of people and goods.
[0009] Nonetheless, being on and moving across waters is not without hazards, with the most
important danger being that of the sinking of the vessel and the cargo as a consequence
of the appearance of a water opening or inlet, collision, leaks, running aground,
capsizing, etc.
[0010] For this reason, various devices have been developed recently which are designed
to reduce these risks, primarily by activating mechanisms which, in certain hazardous
situations, increase the buoyancy of the ship, cargo container or floating structure
to be protected, making it more difficult for it to sink. The majority of these devices
function in a mechanical and/or hydraulic manner.
[0011] In particular, flotation devices which turn out to be of particular interest are
ones that are constituted by mechano-hydraulic elements that are housed in the interior
of a ship, cargo container or floating structure to be protected and that, in the
event of an emergency, improve the buoyancy by inflating some inflatable means, with
said inflatable means being arranged initially in the interior of a receptacle.
[0012] The devices described in the previous paragraph are relatively novel. What is more,
the majority of the studies carried out in this area are more of a theoretical than
practical nature, and there is still the need to develop flotation devices which overcome
the primary disadvantages and difficulties associated with the current technology,
namely:
First of all, in order to achieve the necessary watertightness, the flotation devices
need to be adapted in a precise manner to the specific contours of the ships or cargo
containers in which they are to be housed, with said ships or cargo containers taking
on a great variety of different practical forms.
[0013] Accordingly, it is necessary in many cases that said devices be designed specifically
for each ship, cargo container or floating structure in which they are to be housed.
Moreover, in the case of ships, the design of the flotation device does not only vary
as a function of the ship in question, but rather it also depends on the exact location
in which the flotation device is to be housed within the hull of same. All of this
makes difficult the industrial-scale production of versatile flotation devices applicable
to ships or cargo containers of very different profiles.
[0014] Another significant problem arises upon achieving an effective inflation of the inflatable
means of the flotation device. In order to optimize the inflation, it is important
that said procedure take place only once the process of the expulsion of the inflatable
means has been completed and that said inflatable means are located outside the device.
Otherwise, premature inflation of the inflatable means on the inside of the structural
receptacle may lead to undesired results such as, for example, possible deformations
of the inflatable means.
[0015] On the other hand, there is still the problem of guaranteeing that, once inflated,
the pressure in the inflatable means will be maintained for an adequate period of
time in order to avoid a poor functioning of the system. Accordingly, if the pressure
in the interior is too low, the buoyancy of the device is compromised. By contrast,
if said pressure is too high, the risk of damage to the inflatable means and even
a possible deformation or rupture of same increases.
[0016] A system for maintaining ships afloat which includes, among other components, one
or more buoyancy devices, is described in
ES2163958, in the name of this same applicant. In this document, the question of how to achieve
a versatile device which is applicable to multiple ships and/or cargo containers of
different shapes is not addressed specifically, nor how to achieve the correct pressure
of the pressurized fluid inside the inflatable means. Moreover, the thrust means of
said buoyancy device, which expel the inflatable means to the exterior, are activated
by means of a first feed circuit, whereas the inflation of the inflatable means is
performed using a second feed circuit different from the aforementioned, one.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0017] The present invention addresses the difficulties described in the foregoing by providing
a new flotation device.
[0018] Basically, the flotation device of the present invention comprises an exterior receptacle
which is designed to be supported on the external surface of the ship, cargo container
or floating structure to be protected such that it extends substantially inside the
ship, cargo container or floating structure to be protected, leaving its open end
oriented toward the outside of the ship, cargo container or floating structure to
be protected; and inside of said external receptacle, the flotation device of the
present invention comprises an interior receptacle whose open end corresponds to the
open end of said exterior receptacle and which houses inflatable means and expulsion
means in order to expel said inflatable means from the open end of said interior receptacle
following the activation of the flotation device of the present invention.
[0019] The flotation device of the present invention shall be supplemented with a source
of pressurized fluid which can be connected to said exterior receptacle by means of
one-way valve means in order to provide fluid to said inflatable means following the
activation of the flotation device of the present invention and hence to inflate them
in order to increase the buoyancy of the ship, cargo container or floating structure
to be protected.
[0020] To be precise, in the flotation device of the present invention, said exterior receptacle
comprises fastening means which fix said interior receptacle in position, and said
interior receptacle comprises anchoring means for the anchoring of said fastening
means, closure means which close off the open end of said interior receptacle, expulsion
means capable of sliding toward the exterior of the open end of said interior receptacle
and making said closure means break, inflatable means taken up in the cavity of said
expulsion means and feeding means designed to conduct fluid to the interior of said
inflatable means; with the following special features:
- said exterior receptacle comprises perimetral signaling means that delimit two parts
longitudinally, a first part corresponding with its open end which, during the mounting
of the flotation device, is designed to protrude at least partially from the external
surface of the ship, cargo container or floating structure to be protected when said
exterior receptacle is supported on said external surface and to be subsequently trimmed
to level, and a second part corresponding to its closed end which, during the mounting
of the flotation device, is necessarily designed to be disposed in its entirety on
the interior of said external surface when said external receptacle is supported on
it in such a manner that said signaling means extend toward the interior of said external
surface in tangential relationship therewith,
- said closure means of said interior receptacle comprise a trimmable perimetral projection
designed to be trimmed during the mounting of the flotation device with the purpose
of ending up level with said external surface and of being able to contain hardenable
mass for the streamlining of said external surface,
- said exterior receptacle, said interior receptacle and said inflatable means each
have a single inlet for pressurized fluid, and
- said inflatable means are supplemented with sealing means which, in the deactivated
state, close their inlet for pressurized fluid and are calibrated to open with a predetermined
displacement of said expulsion means within said interior receptacle in such a manner
that, following the activation of the flotation device, said one-way valve means open
and the pressurized fluid enters into said exterior receptacle and subsequently into
said interior receptacle, pushing said expulsion means toward the exterior of the
open end of said interior receptacle until, once sufficient displacement has occurred
in order for said closure means to break, said sealing means open and the pressurized
fluid enters into said inflatable means.
[0021] In this manner, the present invention provides a method which is different from those
currently used in engineering which makes it possible for the inflation of the inflatable
means to occur only when the inflatable means are already on the outside.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be made clear
on the basis of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,
provided solely for the purpose of illustrative and not limiting exemplification,
with respect to the enclosed drawings, in which identical numerical references correspond
to same or like elements:
Figure 1 is a. plan view, an axial sectional view along line A-A of said plan view
and a transverse section along line B-B of a detail of said axial sectional view which
show an exterior receptacle in a first embodiment of the device of the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view and an axial sectional view along line A-A of said plan view
which show an interior receptacle of said first embodiment of the device of the invention,
complementary to the exterior receptacle of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an axial sectional view that shows an interior receptacle of said first
embodiment of the device of the invention which corresponds to that of Figure 2 but
is provided with the rest of the components and is therefore ready for mounting in
a complementary exterior receptacle.
Figure 4 is an axial sectional view that shows said first embodiment of the device
of the invention which includes said exterior receptacle of Figure 1 and said interior
receptacle of Figure 3, installed but in deactivated condition.
Figure 5 shows a partial schematic view of said first embodiment of the device of
the invention, installed and in activated condition.
Figure 6 is a plan view and an axial sectional view along line A'-A' of said plan
view which show an exterior receptacle of a second embodiment of the device of the
invention.
Figure 7 is a plan view and an axial sectional view along line A'-A' of said plan
view which show an interior receptacle of said second embodiment of the device of
the invention, complementary to the exterior receptacle of Figure 6.
Figure 8 is an axial sectional view which shows an interior receptacle of said second
embodiment of the device of the invention which corresponds to that of Figure 7 but
which is provided with the rest of the components and is therefore ready for mounting
in a complementary exterior receptacle.
Figure 9 is an axial sectional view which shows said second embodiment of the device
of the invention which includes said exterior receptacle of Figure 6 and said interior
receptacle of Figure 8, installed but in deactivated condition.
Figure 10 shows a partial schematic sectional view of said second embodiment of the
device of the invention, installed and in activated condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In the following, a detailed description is given of the invention in making reference
to the enclosed drawings (in all of which same or analogous components have been indicated
with the same reference number) in accordance with some particular embodiments of
same which refer to the application to a ship of the flotation device of the invention,
with the understanding that it can also be applied to any other ship, to a cargo container
or a floating structure.
[0024] In these enclosed drawings, when a part is composed of various equal elements, a
reference has been indicated for only one of them for the sake of clarity. Likewise,
in Figures 5 and 10, references that are not essential have been omitted, also for
the sake of clarity.
[0025] Figures 1 and 3 conjointly form a first embodiment of the flotation device of the
invention, which is additionally illustrated by means of Figures 2, 4 and 5.
[0026] More specifically. Figure 1. shows an exterior receptacle 1 which has fastening means
which comprise positioning lugs 5 and a lug crown 3 with fastening grooves 4. In addition,
said exterior receptacle 1 has locking means 17 which comprise a positioning lug 17A
and a locking guide 17B.
[0027] Said exterior receptacle 1 also comprises signaling means which consist of a line
6.
[0028] In this embodiment, said exterior receptacle 1 is provided with one-way valve means
which consist of a non-return valve 2, although these means may be provided at any
point of the fluid supply circuit, whether inside or outside of the flotation device
of the invention.
[0029] Figure 2 shows an interior receptacle 10, formed in this embodiment by a lateral
cylindrical wall 10A and a, bottom 10B, with anchoring means 7 which cooperate with
said fastening grooves 4 of said exterior receptacle 1 in order to fix in position
said interior receptacle in combination with the rest of said fastening means, which
is to say said lug crown 3 and said positioning lugs 5. On the other hand, said interior
receptacle 10 is also provided with a mooring clasp 11 designed to be immobilized
in said locking means 17, particularly within said locking guide 17B.
[0030] said mooring clasp 11 includes a mooring halyard 22 which is not visible in this
figure.
[0031] As shown in Figure 3, said interior receptacle 10 is closed with closure means formed
by a cover 30 which includes a perimetral projection 35, and said interior receptacle
10 houses inflatable means 20 (joined to said mooring halyard 22, not visible in this
figure) and expulsion means formed by a piston 12 and tiles 13.
[0032] Said cover 30 is joined to the walls of said interior receptacle 10 by means of low-resistance
screws 31.
[0033] Figure 3 also shows feeding means which comprise tubing 15 for letting fluid in from
the exterior to the inside of said interior receptacle 10 and a hose 21 emerging from
the inlet of said inflatable means 20 and disposed on the inside thereof in order
to direct the fluid directly to its dome.
[0034] Said tubing 15 is represented as straight rigid tubing, but it is also possible for
said tubing to be flexible tubing of longer length that would remain coiled during
use, for example in a spiral, in the space that is present between said exterior receptacle
1 and said interior receptacle 10.
[0035] In this latter case, the ends of said tubing 15 could be connected to both bends
connected in a detachable, fixed or even integral manner to said exterior receptacle
1 and said interior receptacle 10, respectively.
[0036] Optionally, said hose 21 is provided with reinforcement (not shown), for example
a helicoid metallic reinforcement, which prevents it from being crushed and consequently
being blocked, or at least makes this more difficult.
[0037] The inlet of said inflatable means 20 is closed with sealing means which comprise
a plug 14 and a cord 16 which joins said plug 14 to the bottom of said interior receptacle
10.
[0038] Both the bottom of said interior receptacle 10 and the cover 30 and the piston 12
have reinforcing ribs to which no reference has been assigned, as they are not essential
to the invention.
[0039] Now referring to Figure 4, shown there is the group formed by said exterior receptacle
1 such as is represented in Figure 1 and the subgroup of components that are represented
in Figure 3. Said group is shown here already installed in the hull of a ship.
[0040] It is shown in this figure that the exterior receptacle 1 has been supported on the
hull 8 of the ship in such a manner that said line 6 is inside the ship, at most touching
the plane of the surface of the hull but never passing it; that the protruding part
of said exterior receptacle 1 has been trimmed to be level with the hull 8 of the
ship; that said interior receptacle 10 has been fastened to said exterior receptacle
1 using said fastening means 3, 4, 5; that said perimetral projection 35 has also
been trimmed to be level with the hull 8 of the ship; and that the cover 30 has been
filled with hardenable mass 37 until it is streamlined with the hull 8 of the ship.
[0041] It should also be pointed out that said tubing 15 is inserted in said non-return
valve 2.
[0042] As will readily be understood, the flotation device of the invention shall be provided
in a conventional manner with the relevant joints of which only a sealing ring 9 is
shown in this embodiment as an example.
[0043] Turning to Figure 5, it schematically shows the flotation device of the invention
after its activation, connected by means of said non-return valve 2 to an external
fluid source 40 (which is normally a container of pressurized fluid).
[0044] As can be seen, in this condition, the inflatable means 20, expelled and inflated,
remain moored to said exterior receptacle 1 by means of said mooring halyard 22 and
said mooring clasp 11, which bear the tension. In this manner, the mooring tension
in said inflatable means 20 is eliminated, and the resistance of the connection between
said inflatable means 20 and the rest of the device of the invention is increased,
hence reducing the risk of said inflatable means 20 coming loose.
[0045] Said inflatable means 20 are provided with a safety valve 23 in such a manner that,
if the pressure inside said inflatable means 20 rises above a maximum threshold (due,
for example, to the partial sinking of the vessel), said safety valve 23 opens and
permits the expulsion of fluid until a pressure below said maximum threshold is reached.
[0046] On the other hand, in order to prevent the inflatable means 20 from being at a pressure
lower than a minimum threshold (for example if, after a partial sinking of the vessel
and the subsequent expulsion of fluid from said inflatable means 20, the vessel is
refloated and said inflatable means 20 lose pressure upon approaching the surface),
said non-return valve 2 is calibrated to always supply fluid when the pressure is
below said minimum threshold.
[0047] In this manner, the pressure within the inflatable means 20 is always maintained
within an optimum range.
[0048] With respect to the method of activation, once the non-return valve 2 is open, the
fluid enters under pressure through said tubing 15 and pushes said piston 12. Said
piston 12, in turn, pushes said tiles 13 which, in their course, break the cover 30
with said hardenable mass 37. said cord 16 is calibrated to tension at such a distance
that said piston 12 has still not reached the end of said internal receptacle but
has expelled essentially all of the inflatable means 20 to the outside. In this moment,
the plug 14 pops out, opening the fluid inlet to said inflatable means 20 and permitting
said inflatable means 20 to inflate.
[0049] In this manner, the same fluid circuit used for the expulsion of the inflatable means
20 is also used for the inflation of said inflatable means 20.
[0050] Figures 6 and 8 conjointly form a second embodiment of the flotation device of the
invention, which is additionally illustrated by means of Figures 7, 9 and 10.
[0051] For this second embodiment, only the points of distinction with respect to the already
discussed first embodiment will be indicated in the following, with the purpose of
avoiding unnecessary redundancies.
[0052] Here, in accordance with the possibility pointed out previously, the tubing 15 is
a flexible tubing having a certain length which would remain coiled during use, for
example in a spiral, in the space present between said exterior receptacle 1 and said
interior receptacle 10.
[0053] The ends of said tubing 15 are coiled externally and connected to both bends connected
in a detachable, fixed or even integral manner to said exterior receptacle 1 and said
interior receptacle 10, respectively.
[0054] With this configuration, during the mounting of the device, the operator connects
said tubing 15 to said exterior receptacle 1 and to said interior receptacle 10 separately
by means of the coil of the tubing 15 in the respective bends, and then introduces
said interior receptacle 10 into said exterior receptacle 1.
[0055] This method of mounting eliminates the need for providing the inlets of said exterior
receptacle 1 and said interior receptacle 10 with highly precise tolerances in order
to achieve perfect mutual alignment, even permitting said inlets to be misaligned
among themselves and/or disposed at decentralized points in relation to the bottoms
of said receptacles 1, 10.
[0056] Moreover, the inlet of said inflatable means 20 is closed by means of sealing means
which comprise a group formed by a mechanical shunt device 50 and direct-fill tubing
52 (in place of the plug 14 of the first embodiment) and a cord 16 which joins said
group 50, 52 to the bottom of said interior receptacle 10.
[0057] Said direct-fill tubing 52 is connected at one end to said mechanical shunt device
50 and at the other end to the fluid inlet to said inflatable means 20. In this case,
the mechanical shunt device 50 directs the entry of fluid toward the space present
between said interior receptacle 10 and said piston 12 until the pulling of the cord
16 is achieved, the pulling of which actuates said mechanical shunt device 50 such
that it directs the entering fluid to said direct-fill tubing 52 so that the fluid
enters directly into said inflatable means 20.
[0058] Finally, said locking means 17 comprise a recess 17A arranged in the lateral wall
of said exterior receptacle 1, a groove 17B which covers the exterior of said recess
17A and a shoe 17C with an H-shaped cross-section. Said recess 17A extends from the
free edge of said exterior receptacle 1 initially in the axial direction and finally
in the transverse direction, thus forming two portions which form a 90° angle between
them.
[0059] In this second embodiment, during the mounting of the device, the operator aligns
said mooring clasp 11 with said recess 17A and slides said interior receptacle 10
inside said exterior receptacle 1. Subsequently, said mooring clasp 11 remains immobilized
in said locking means 17A, particularly in the bottom of said recess 17A, by virtue
of the insertion of said shoe 17C into said recess 17A. Specifically, said shoe 17C
is inserted into said recess 17A in such a manner that the central portion of the
H-section slides along said recess 17A and the wing portions of the H-section overlap
with the external and internal face of said exterior receptacle 1, respectively. Once
the device is mounted, said groove 17B can be closed by means of a rigid cover joined
to said groove 17B, for example by means of bolts.
[0060] In all of the foregoing, the present invention has been described and illustrated
in accordance with some embodiments thereof. Naturally, in keeping with the principle
of the invention, the embodiments and the constructional details can be varied over
a broad range with respect to what has been described and illustrated without going
beyond the scope of the present invention.
[0061] Specifically, for the sake of illustration and not of limitation, the valve means
can be disposed at another point upstream or downstream from the location indicated
above, or they can be constituted by a plurality of individual valves which produce
the required effects.
[0062] In the same manner, the inflatable means can also have an asymmetrical geometric
shape, that is, with the joint between the mooring halyard and the inflatable means
shifted with respect to the longitudinal axis of the latter, or have a geometrical
shape with one horizontal section that has a predominant face, or even both of these
things. In this manner, in the activated state, a specific surface of the inflatable
means tends to remain in contact with the external surface of the ship, cargo container
or floating structure to be protected, which prevents the halyard and the hose 21
from getting tangled or at least makes it more difficult, and allows for lighter inflatable
means, since they would only need to be reinforced partially (by said specific surface)
in order to tolerate the friction.
[0063] Moreover, the sealing means described and illustrated here (purely mechanical) may
be substituted by electronic assemblies of the type which used Hall sensors, for example,
calibrated to open the inlet to the inflatable means when a predetermined displacement
of the piston is produced.
[0064] The geometric form of the inflatable means may of course be modified without this
implying an alteration of the invention. In the same manner, the components of the
flotation device represented as single pieces in the specific embodiments described
may be modular or vice-versa: for example, the interior receptacle which is described
in the embodiments as being formed by a cylindrical lateral wall and a bottom could
very well be formed by a single piece.
[0065] Finally, the flotation device of the present invention may include any accessory
devices that improve the efficiency of the device, in addition to a module for detecting
hazardous situations and/or a module for controlling the already-mentioned activation,
which even make possible the remote and independent activation of each one of the
flotation devices of the present invention mounted in the ship, cargo container or
floating structure.
[0066] In this respect, the flotation device of the present invention may comprise: a motor-driven
compressor which feeds fluid to the inflatable means in the event that the pressure
in them needs to be increased and the pressurized fluid container used initially as
an external fluid source is not being used due to depletion, breakdown, etc.; and/or
at least one moisture sensor on the interior of the interior receptacle in deactivated
condition to facilitate the monitoring of the preservation of the inflatable means;
and/or at least one pressure sensor in activated condition which allows for measurement
with sufficient notice in situations such as the depletion of the pressurized fluid
source; and/or at least one device for destroying the inflatable means which can be
actuated in the event that the maintenance of said activated inflatable means represents
a risk or an inconvenience; and/or an inflation group using a motor-driven compressor
to supply pressurized fluid to the inflatable means over an extended period as necessary;
and/or even a top-refillable buoy which permits pressurized fluid to be fed to the
inflatable means from outside the ship, cargo container or floating structure, optionally
through the safety valve provided that its configuration is adequately planned.
[0067] Even additional loose inflatable means which, by virtue of the flotation device of
the invention, can be joined together using plungers should be understood, as accessory
devices. In such situations, the plunger is submerged with additional empty and folded
inflatable means, and they are moored to the mooring halyard and then secured to the
opening for passing the fluid from the piston in substitution of the already unfolded
inflatable means, proceeding them to inflate it. Such additional loose inflatable
means can be connected not only in substitution of those already unfolded but also
as a supplement to them, although the opening for passing the fluid from the piston
must be configured appropriately beforehand, and the structural limitations of the
design of the ship, cargo container or floating structure to be protected must have
been confirmed.
1. Flotation device designed to be housed on the interior of ships, cargo containers
or floating structures in such a manner that, in emergency situations in water, the
activation of said flotation device reduces the danger of sinking of the ship, cargo
container or floating structure while significantly improving its buoyancy, which
comprises inflatable means housed on the interior of a receptacle integrated into
the body of the ship, cargo container or floating structure, to be expelled to the
exterior by means of respective thrust means following the breaking of an external
cover of said receptacle, with the inflatable means being inflated in order to improve
the buoyancy of the ship, cargo container or floating structure to be protected,
characterized in that it comprises:
an exterior receptacle (1) which is designed to be supported on the internal face
of an external surface (8) of a ship, cargo container or floating structure, leaving
its open end oriented toward the outside of said ship, cargo container or floating
structure,
- inside of said exterior receptacle (1), an interior receptacle (10) whose open end
corresponds to the open end of said exterior receptacle (1),
- closure means (30, 35) which close the open end of said interior receptacle (10),
- inside of said interior receptacle (10), inflatable means (20) and expulsion means
(12, 13) which can be slid along said interior receptacle (10) in order to break said
closure means (30, 35) and expel said inflatable means (20) from the open end of said
interior receptacle (10),
- feeding means (15, 21) designed to conduct fluid to the interior of said inflatable
means (20),
- a pressurized fluid source which can be connected to said feeding means (15, 21),
- valve means (2) interposed between said pressurized fluid source and said inflatable
means (20), and
- sealing means (14, 16; 50, 52) disposed at the inlet of said inflatable means (20),
calibrated to allow fluid to pass to said inflatable means (20) only after a. predefined
displacement of said expulsion means (12, 13) which causes the substantially complete
expulsion of said inflatable means (20) from the open end of said interior receptacle
(10) ;
wherein:
- said exterior receptacle (1) comprises fastening means (3, 4, 5) and said interior
receptacle (10) comprises anchoring means (7) for the locking thereof,
- said exterior receptacle (1) comprises locking means (17, 17) and said interior
receptacle (10) comprises mooring means (11) for the interlocking thereof,
- said inflatable means (20) are secured to said mooring means (11) and, consequently,
to said locking means (17, 17),
- said exterior receptacle (1) comprises perimetral signaling means (6) which signal
the degree of minimum embedding of said exterior receptacle (1) in the external surface
(8) of the ship, cargo container or floating structure,
- said closure means (30, 35) of said interior receptacle (10) comprise a trimmable
projection, and
- said exterior receptacle (1), said interior receptacle (10) and said inflatable
means (20) each have a single inlet for pressurized fluid.
2. Flotation device as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that said valve means (2) are disposed in said exterior receptacle (1).
3. Flotation device as set forth in either of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said valve means are one-way valve means (2).
4. Flotation device as set forth in claim 3, characterized in that said one-way valve means comprise a non-return valve (2).
5. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said fastening means comprise positioning lugs (5) and a lug crown (3) with fastening
grooves (4).
6. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said locking means (17) comprise a positioning lug (17A) and a locking guide (17B).
7. Flotation device as set forth in any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said locking means (17) comprise a recess (17A) arranged in the lateral wall of said
exterior receptacle (1), a groove (17B) which covers the exterior of said recess (17A),
and a shoe (17C) having an H-section, with said recess (17A) extending from the free
edge of said exterior receptacle (1) initially in the axial direction and finally
in the transverse direction, thus forming two portions which establish a 90° angle
between them.
8. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said signaling means include a line (6).
9. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said inflatable means (20) are fastened to said mooring means (11) and, consequently,
to said locking means (17) by means of a mooring halyard (22).
10. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said mooring means comprise a mooring clasp (11) with a profile that is complementary
to said locking means (17).
11. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said closure means comprise a cover (30) that includes a perimetral projection (35).
12. Flotation device as set forth in claim 11, characterized in that said cover (30) is joined to said interior receptacle (10) by means of low-resistance
screws (31) .
13. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said expulsion means comprise a piston (12) and tiles (13).
14. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said feeding means comprise tubing (15) for the conduction of fluid from the exterior
of said interior receptacle (10) and a hose (21) emerging from the inlet of said inflatable
means (20) and disposed on the inside thereof.
15. Flotation device as set forth in claim 14,
characterized in that said hose (21) is provided with reinforcement.
16. Flotation device as set forth in claim 15, characterized in that said reinforcement is a metallic helicoid reinforcement.
17. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said sealing means comprise a plug (14) and a calibrated cord (16) which joins said
plug (14) to the bottom of said interior receptacle (10).
18. Flotation device as set forth in any of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said sealing means comprise a group formed by a mechanical shunt device (50) and
direct-fill tubing (52), and a calibrated cord (16) which joins said group (50, 52)
to the bottom of said interior receptacle (10).
19. Flotation device as set forth in any of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said sealing means (14, 7.6; 50, 52) comprise an electronic Hall sensor assembly.
20. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said interior receptacle (10) is provided with water-sealing means (9) applied to
said closure means (30, 35).
21. Flotation device as set forth in claim 20, characterized in that said water-sealing means include a sealing ring (9).
22. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said inflatable means (20) are provided with a safety valve (23).
23. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said inflatable means (20) have an asymmetrical geometric shape, with the point of
union to said mooring means (11) being displaced with respect to the longitudinal
axis of said inflatable means (20).
24. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said inflatable means (20) have a geometric shape with a horizontal section which
has a predominant face.
25. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that it comprises a module for detecting hazardous situations and/or a module for controlling
the activation.
26. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said pressurized fluid source comprises a pressurized fluid container.
27. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said fluid source comprises a motor-driven compressor.
28. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said interior receptacle (10) comprises at least one internal moisture sensor in
deactivated condition.
29. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said flotation device comprises at least one internal pressure sensor in activated
condition.
30. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said flotation device comprises at least one device for the destruction of the inflatable
means (20).
31. Flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that said flotation device comprises a top-refillable buoy for feeding pressurized fluid
to said inflatable means (20).
32. Flotation device as set forth in claim 31, characterized in that the feeding of pressurized fluid to said inflatable means (20) occurs via the safety
valve (23).
33. Method for the mounting of a flotation device as set forth in any of the foregoing
claims,
characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- providing an orifice in an external surface (8) of a ship, cargo container or floating
structure,
- supporting said exterior receptacle (1) to the internal face of said external surface
(8) of said ship, cargo container or floating structure, leaving the open end of said
exterior receptacle (1) oriented toward the outside of said ship, cargo container
or floating structure, protruding beyond said exterior receptacle (1) from said external
surface (8) of said ship, cargo container or floating structure according to the degree
of minimum embedding signaled by said signaling means (6),
- trimming the protruding part of said exterior receptacle (1) to be level with said
external surface (8) of said ship, cargo container or floating structure,
- joining said interior receptacle (10) and said closure means (30, 35) in order to
form a group of interior receptacle (10) and closure means (30, 35),
- inserting said group of interior receptacle (10) and closure means (30, 35) into
said exterior receptacle (1) and fastening said group to said exterior receptacle
(1) using said fastening means (3, 4, 5), said anchoring means (7), said locking means
(17) and said mooring means (11), with said closure means (30, 35) protruding from
said external surface (8) of said ship, cargo container or floating structure, and
- trimming the protruding part of said closure means (30, 35) to be level with said
external surface (8) of said ship, cargo container or floating structure.
34. Method of mounting as set forth in claim 33,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- filling said closure means (30, 35) with hardenable mass (37) until they are streamlined
with said external surface (8) of said ship, cargo container or floating structure.
35. Method of mounting as set forth in claim 33 and 34,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- connecting said pressurized fluid source to said feeding means (15, 21).
36. Method of mounting as set forth in any of claims 33 to 35,
characterized in that, prior to the step of inserting said group of interior receptacle (10) and closure
means (30, 35) into said exterior receptacle (1) and fastening said group to said
exterior receptacle (1), it comprises the following step:
- connecting said tubing (15) to said interior receptacle (10) and to said exterior
receptacle (1) separately.
37. Operation of a flotation device as set forth with any of claims 1 to 32,
characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- said valve means (2) open up and allow pressurized fluid to pass through to said
exterior receptacle (1) and to said interior receptacle (10),
- said expulsion means (12, 13) are pushed by said pressurized fluid, breaking said
closure means (30, 35) and expelling said inflatable means (20),
- said sealing means (14, 16; 50, 52) open up and allow pressurized fluid to pass
through to said inflatable means (20), and
- said inflatable means (20) inflate.
38. Operation as set forth in claim 37,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- untying said inflatable means (20) from said mooring means (11).
39. Operation as set forth in either of claims 37 and 38,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- tying at least some new inflatable means (20) to said mooring means (11).
40. Operation of a flotation device as set forth in any of claims 22 and 23 to 32 when
they are subordinate to claim 22,
characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- said valve means (2) open up and allow pressurized fluid to pass through to said
exterior receptacle (1) and to said interior receptacle (10),
- said expulsion means (12, 13) are pushed by said pressurized fluid, breaking said
closure means (30, 35) and expelling said inflatable means (20),
- said sealing means (14, 16; 50, 52) open up and allow pressurized fluid to pass
through to said inflatable means (20),
- said inflatable means (20) inflate, and
- said safety valve goes off and allows pressurized fluid to exit from said inflatable
means (20).
41. Operation as set forth in claim 40,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- said valve (2) open up again and allow pressurized fluid to pass through to said
inflatable means (20).
42. Operation as set forth in either of claims 40 and 41,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- untying said inflatable means (20) from said mooring means (11).
43. Operation as set forth in any of claims 40 to 42,
characterized in that it comprises the following additional step:
- tying at least some new inflatable means (20) to said mooring means (11).