APPARATUS FOR MOVING AN OUTBOARD MOTOR INSTALLED ON A BOAT AND RELATED BOAT WITH RETRACTABLE OUTBOARD MOTOR

Abstract

 An apparatus (1) for moving an outboard motor (A) installed on a boat (2), of the type comprising a rigid plate (3), which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom (4) of the boat (2) and is adapted to anchor the outboard motor (A). The apparatus (1) comprises a tank for fluids (5) with at least partially deformable walls which is arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane (6) of the boat (2) and the rigid plate (3). The tank (5) is provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping (7), to a pump (8) for at least introducing fluid inside it. The introduction of fluid into the tank (5), by way of the pump (8), produces, when the plate (3) is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane (6), an increase in the volume of the tank (5) with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of the plate (3) from the substantially horizontal lower plane (6), until the plate (3) is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom (4).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat, and a related boat with retractable outboard motor.

[0002] In the boating sector, small rigid boats or inflatable boats are often used as support vessels for watercraft, and are provided with an outboard motor, and are commonly known as tenders.

[0003] Some of these support craft are provided with a support for the motor which, by way of carriages and/or hinges, pivots and the like, can be moved and/or reclined toward the inside of the boat, in order to reduce the space occupation in terms of length and height of the boat and motor together.

[0004] Technical solutions which make it possible to achieve this result, and which thus are provided with a motor support which is movable (it can be shifted and/or reclined), are disclosed in WO2011158263 and in Italian patent 1347241 by the same applicant as the present application.

[0005] The collapsible portion of the transom on which the outboard motor is fixed is constituted by a rigid plate of adequate thickness and dimensions (with consequent rigidity and mechanical strength).

[0006] The plate can be rotated about a substantially horizontal rotation axis arranged proximate to its lower part, the rotation occurs by passing from an almost vertical position of the plate (coinciding with the plane containing the transom of the vessel and thus not far beyond the vertical) to one that is almost horizontal, i.e. parallel to the limber board (bottom or floor or substantially horizontal lower plane of the vessel), directed toward the prow of the vessel.

[0007] Independently of the method for coupling such rigid plate to the vessel (it can be coupled directly or with the interposition of other components for guiding the combined rotation and translation), the effect obtained on the boat will generally be that of rotating the outboard motor, thus reducing the space occupation in terms of height and/or the protrusion beyond the stern of the vessel.

[0008] According to the teachings of the patent documents cited above, the collapsing maneuver of the transom (in particular of the rigid plate on which the outboard motor is coupled) can be carried out following a manual action of a sailor or by way of at least one electrohydraulic or electromechanical piston, the latter possibilities optionally being actuated by way of an adapted remote control.

[0009] The maneuver usually occurs with the tender (support boat) already in the water since the downward protrusion of the lower foot of the motor would make it problematic to carry out the maneuver on board the main vessel that the tender serves.

[0010] The sequence of maneuvers involved in order to use a tender which is stowed on the main vessel and, vice versa, in order to recover a tender which is in use, is usually the following:

• The tender is on board the main vessel in the compact configuration, i.e. with the rigid plate and the motor coupled thereto collapsed;
• Placing of the tender in the water;
• Moving the rigid plate and of the outboard motor coupled thereto to the substantially vertical configuration for sailing (in such configuration the rigid plate is co-planar with the transom of the tender);
• Use of the tender;
• Collapsing of the rigid plate and of the motor coupled thereto, inside the tender;
• Recovery of the tender in the compact configuration.

[0011] The operations to collapse the rigid plate and the motor, and to move the rigid plate and the outboard motor coupled thereto into the substantially vertical configuration for sailing, are operations which are usually carried out manually by a sailor who is on the tender and/or by way of specific, specially-installed electrohydraulic and/or electromechanical actuators (in some cases these can be actuated remotely with a remote control).

[0012] Executing such operations manually suffers several drawbacks or problems: carrying out these operations requires a considerable physical effort from the sailor; such operations can be performed only when at least one person is present on board (whose weight could however contribute to reducing the freeboard, allowing water into the boat when the plate is not co-planar with the transom; the risks of injury for the sailor are anything but negligible and generally are due to a possible unbalancing during the carrying out of the maneuver with the possibility of crushing or injuring the sailor's hands (following the movement of the weight of the motor).

[0013] Executing the operations by way of electromechanical or electrohydraulic actuators suffers the following drawbacks: firstly this type of actuator is very expensive; high space occupation, which will be necessary to be accounted for at the design stage, and furthermore such space occupation can determine a lesser degree of collapse of the motor (i.e. the motor will still protrude a great deal even after the collapsing operation because the actuators will obstruct its further movements); electrohydraulic or electromechanical pistons require systems for preventing accidental operation when the tender is on board the main vessel and when the tender is in use (these contribute to further increasing the overall cost); manual override systems are required in order to allow the maneuvers in the event of an electrical outage or low energy levels (with consequent increase in costs, encumbrances and weight); the electrohydraulic or electromechanical pistons are at great risk of corrosion and oxidation in a saline environment; they require frequent and costly maintenance.

[0014] The aim of the present invention is to solve the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor, in which the operations for collapsing and restoring to the configuration for sailing do not require physical effort and/or subjection to risk of injury of a sailor.

[0015] Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor which does not require the presence of a sailor on board.

[0016] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor which are very low cost.

[0017] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor which has a reduced space occupation and a substantially negligible weight.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor which does not require the presence of auxiliary components for releasing and/or controlling actuators.

[0019] Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor which requires little maintenance and is not subject to corrosion and oxidation even if located in a saline environment.

[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and a related boat with retractable outboard motor which are low cost, easily and practically implemented, and safe in use.

[0021] This aim and these and other objects are achieved by an apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat, of the type comprising a rigid plate, which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom of said boat and is adapted to anchor said outboard motor, characterized in that it comprises a tank for fluids with at least partially deformable walls which is arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane of said boat and said rigid plate, said tank being provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping, to a pump for at least introducing fluid inside it, the introduction of fluid into said tank, by way of said pump, producing, when said plate is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane, an increase in the volume of said tank with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of said plate from said substantially horizontal lower plane, until said plate is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom with an almost vertical orientation thereof.

[0022] Such aim and such objects are also achieved by a boat with retractable outboard motor, characterized in that it comprises a rigid plate, which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom and is adapted to anchor said outboard motor, and comprises a tank for fluids with at least partially deformable walls which is arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane of said boat and said rigid plate, said tank being provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping, to a pump for at least introducing fluid inside it, the introduction of fluid into said tank, by way of said pump, producing, when said plate is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane, an increase in the volume of said tank with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of said plate from said substantially horizontal lower plane, until said plate is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom with an almost vertical orientation thereof.

[0023] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description that follows of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the apparatus for moving an outboard motor installed on a boat and the related boat with retractable outboard motor according to the invention, which is illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of the stern portion of a boat provided with a first embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, arranged in the compact and reclined configuration;

Figure 2 is a schematic side view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of the stern portion of the boat in Figure 1 with the apparatus arranged in the configuration for sailing;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of the stern portion of a boat provided with a second embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, arranged in the configuration for sailing;

Figure 4 is a schematic side view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of the stern portion of the boat in Figure 3 with the apparatus arranged in the compact and reclined configuration.

Figure 5 is a schematic side view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of the stern portion of the boat in Figure 3, with the apparatus according to a further embodiment arranged in a compact and reclined configuration;

Figure 6 is a schematic side view, cross-sectioned along a transverse plane, of the stern portion of the boat in Figure 5, with the apparatus arranged in the configuration for sailing.

[0024] With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an apparatus for moving an outboard motor A installed on a boat 2 and a related boat 2 with a retractable outboard motor A.

[0025] The type of boat 2 for which the apparatus 1 according to the invention is intended comprises a rigid plate 3, which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom 4 of the boat 2 and is adapted to anchor the outboard motor A.

[0026] The boat 2, being usually a support vessel (a tender) for a main vessel, will usually be of the inflatable type, although it is also possible to apply the apparatus 1 to rigid boats 2 made with conventional materials (in particular those normally in use in sailing).

[0027] The apparatus 1 comprises a tank 5 for fluids which is provided with at least partially deformable walls. In particular it can be entirely constituted by deformable material or it can be constituted by a structure of the collapsible type which is capable of varying its space occupation (dimensions) only in some directions which are defined by some deformable walls, which are associated with other, rigid walls.

[0028] The tank 5 will be arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane 6 of the boat 2 and the rigid plate 3.

[0029] The tank must be provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping 7, to a pump 8 for at least introducing fluid inside it.

[0030] In particular it should be noted that the introduction of fluid into the tank 5, by way of the pump 8, will produce, when the plate 3 is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane 6, an increase in the volume of the tank 5 with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of the plate 3 from the substantially horizontal lower plane 6, until the plate 3 is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom 4 with an almost vertical orientation thereof.

[0031] It should be noted that the reverse movement of the motor A and of the corresponding plate 3 to which it is coupled, corresponding to its transition from the configuration for sailing (motor substantially vertical and plate 3 substantially superimposed on the transom 4) to the reclined configuration (motor substantially horizontal and plate 3 facing and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane 6 of the boat 2) can be obtained by taking advantage of the slow outflow of the fluid from the tank 5, owing to the fact that the fluid must pass through the piping 7 and the pump 8. The pump 8, inactive, will contribute to increasing the drag that the fluid will encounter during outflow, and thus the emptying of the tank 5 will occur slowly owing to the combined weight of the plate 3 and of the motor A bearing down on said tank 5.

[0032] The adoption is not ruled out of choke points and other technical contrivances in order to obstruct the outflow of the fluid from the tank 5, thus slowing the transition from the configuration for sailing to the reclined configuration of the motor A with consequent increase in the safety of a person who may be on board the boat 2.

[0033] The piping 7 is connected to a first port of the pump 8, and a duct 9 is connected to a second port of this pump 8 with a first end thereof.

[0034] The duct 9 has a second end thereof immersed in the fluid to be conveyed.

[0035] Differently, for a pump 8 of the submerged type, the second port of the pump 8 will be immersed and thus will not require the duct 9 (since it will already be able to aspirate the liquid into which it is immersed).

[0036] According to a particular embodiment of undoubted practical and applicative interest, the pump 8 can conveniently be constituted by a pump which is entirely similar to a bilge pump typically in use in watercraft (or indeed the actual bilge pump of the boat 2).

[0037] The bilge pump is a pump designed to remove water from the bilge compartment of a ship or a vessel. The bilge pump is usually located in the lowest part of the bilge compartment, which is defined as the lowest area in the hull of a vessel, into which water and fluid spillages drain and are collected.

[0038] Often electric bilge pumps are fitted with float switches which come into operation as soon as the level of the bilge water reaches the activation threshold, so that such pumps can be activated automatically in addition to manually.

[0039] The first port of the pump 8 will thus be the port for delivering the pumped fluid and the second port will be the fluid intake port.

[0040] It should be noted that the adoption is not ruled out of bilge pumps of the non-electric type for use as the pump 8, for example pedal-operated or hand-operated by a user.

[0041] According to an alternative embodiment which is safe in use, the pump 8 is an auxiliary compressor adapted to dispense compressed air into the tank for fluids with at least partially deformable walls, for its inflation.

[0042] In this case the compressor can be of the electric type (in particular those normally used for the inflation of inflatable boats will be suitable for the purpose) or manually actuated (in particular the devices used for the inflation of inflatable boats, in this case also, will be suitable for the purpose).

[0043] According to a particular embodiment aimed at increasing the safety of the apparatus 1, the piping 7 can preferably be flow controlled by a flow control valve (not shown in the accompanying figures); such valve will make it possible to introduce, with low drag, fluid originating from the pump 8 into the tank 5; for the outflow of fluid dispensed from the tank 5 to the pump 8, however, the valve will produce a high drag for the fluid. The greater drag introduced by the valve will ensure a slow outflow of the fluid from the tank 5 with consequent slowness in the transition from the configuration for sailing to the reclined configuration of the motor A and of the plate 3, protecting and increasing the safety of any persons who are on board the boat 2.

[0044] According to a specific embodiment which is particularly simple and efficient, the rigid plate 3 can be hinged to the transom 4 of the boat 2: between the plate 5 and the transom 4 there will therefore be a single degree of freedom of rotation which will allow the motor A to recline with a substantially horizontal arrangement, when it is not being used for sailing.

[0045] According to a further embodiment which is more versatile and adapted to minimize the encumbrances of the boat 2, the rigid plate 3 can conveniently be hinged to a slider that can slide on the substantially horizontal lower plane 6 of the boat 2 in a longitudinal direction; the sliding of the slider, in such case, can occur from stern to prow and vice versa. In such case, between the plate 5 and the transom 4 there will therefore be two separate degrees of freedom: a rotation which will allow the motor A to recline with a substantially horizontal arrangement, and a translation which will allow the advancement of the motor A toward the prow of the boat 2, when it is not being used for sailing.

[0046] It should be noted that the tank 5 for fluids, with at least partially deformable walls, is usually constituted by a watertight bag with a configuration selected preferably from among substantially prism-like, substantially spherical, substantially cylindrical, substantially accordion-like and combinations thereof. The possibility is not ruled out of providing tanks 5 with other shapes, for example complementary to the shape of the area of installation.

[0047] The present invention also relates to a boat 2 with retractable outboard motor A which comprises a rigid plate 3, which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom 4 and is adapted to anchor of the outboard motor A.

[0048] The boat 2 will further comprise a tank 5 for fluids with at least partially deformable walls which is arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane 6 of the boat 2 and the rigid plate 3.

[0049] The tank 5, as has previously been seen, will be provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping 7, to a pump 8 for at least introducing fluid inside it (in fact the possibility is not ruled out that the pump 8 can also handle the outflow of fluid from the tank 5 in order to empty it at a preset speed).

[0050] The introduction of fluid into the tank 5, by way of the pump 8, will produce, when the plate 3 is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane, an increase in the volume of the tank 5 with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of the plate 3 from the substantially horizontal lower plane 6, until the plate 3 is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom 4 with an almost vertical orientation.

[0051] It should further be noted that the boat 2 according to the invention comprises means for detachable coupling for the plate 3 on the transom 4, in a configuration that is substantially superimposed on the transom 4 with an orientation that is close to vertical.

[0052] Such means can be bolts, hooks, screws, clamps and the like.

[0053] In the same way, it is possible to adopt a form of bumper 10 (a helical spring, a needle spring or gas-operated spring or other type) which intervene proximate to the stroke limit of the plate: the function of these is to dampen the movement thereof and also contribute to reducing the thrust required of the pump in the two cases in which the plate is completely horizontal and beyond the vertical, a position in which the weight of the motor pushes the plate against the transom.

[0054] With particular reference to Figures 5 and 6 and to the embodiment shown for the purposes of example therewith, at least one elastic bumper 10 is interposed between the edges of the rigid plate 3 and the perimetric frame of the transom 4 of the boat 2, against which perimetric frame the edges of the plate 3 abut in the configuration for sailing, in order to facilitate the spacing apart of the plate 3 from the transom 4.

[0055] The plate 3 which constitutes a collapsible portion of the transom 4 on which the outboard motor A is fixed (which is usually provided with specific anchoring clamps and/or fixing bolts) must necessarily have sufficient thickness and robustness, and can be rotated about a substantially horizontal rotation axis arranged proximate to its lower part: the rotation occurs by passing from an almost vertical position of the plate 3 to one that is almost horizontal, i.e. parallel to the limber board (bottom or floor or, more generically, substantially horizontal lower plane 6) and in any case directed toward the prow of the boat 2.

[0056] Independently of the fact that such plate 3 is mounted on a carriage or slider, on the transom 4, on the bottom or in the sides of the boat 2, the effect will be to rotate the outboard motor A thus reducing its space occupation in terms of height and the protrusion beyond the stern of the boat 2.

[0057] In essence, when looking at the compass-like movement of the plate 3 with respect to a horizontal plane, such as the bottom or substantially horizontal lower plane 6, it should be noted that this movement is entirely similar to that performed by a bellows.

[0058] Is thus possible to interpose the tank 5 constituted by a watertight bag made of fabric or film (more generically of any laminar sheet that is impermeable to the intended working fluid) between the plate 3 and the substantially horizontal lower plane 6.

[0059] When the plate 3 is reclined, the latter will flatten the tank 5, expelling therefrom the fluid (liquid or gas) contained.

[0060] Adapted passage cross-sections of the output of the fluid will produce a resistance to/damping of the rotation, working against the thrust due to the weight of the outboard motor A. As has previously been seen, the possibility is not ruled out of providing adapted choke points and/or inserting valves in order to increase the drag on the outflow of fluid from the deformable tank 5.

[0061] On the contrary in order to rotate the plate 3 from the substantially horizontal configuration to the substantially vertical configuration (for sailing) it will be sufficient to introduce a fluid (gas or liquid) into the deformable tank 5 at a sufficient pressure. Once positioned in the configuration for sailing it will be necessary to lock the plate 3 in such arrangement by way of interlocks, screws, bolts, clamps, hooks or knobs in order to prevent an accidental backward rotation thereof, and optionally to seal the tip-up plate 3 against the transom 4 using adapted sealing gaskets.

[0062] The interposed tank 5 can be fixed to the plate 3 and/or to the substantially horizontal lower plane 6 (directly and/or with the interposition of other components) according to different conventional methods: the fixing methods are determined by various factors, and in particular the shape of the tank 5 will be an influence, as it can be cylindrical, pillow-shaped or bag-shaped. The possibility is not ruled out that the tank 5 can be constituted by a yielding outer enclosure inside which a fluid-tight chamber is accommodated which can be inflated and deflated: the enclosure will ensure that the tank 5 has the sufficient mechanical strength (even against impacts and abrasions), while the fluid-tight inner chamber will determine its volume as a function of the quantity of fluid inside it and of the pressure at which that fluid is maintained in it.

[0063] According to a particularly efficient embodiment, the tank can be provided substantially as a bellows i.e. it can have a flexible side wall and two rigid faces in the manner of a conventional foot-operated inflation device.

[0064] As previously mentioned, a fluid has to be introduced into the tank.

[0065] If it is gas, and more typically air, which is always available, such operation could be easily carried out using an electric compressor as a pump 8 or a simple inflation apparatus or centrifugal blower, also electric; alternatively it should be noted that the pump 8 could be constituted by a simple pedal or hand-operated inflation apparatus, entirely similar to those used to inflate dinghies (inflatable boats).

[0066] For electrically-powered pumps 8 it will be necessary to have an electricity storage accumulator battery, and on/off switches, either on the boat or remote (for example if there is a remote control) for connecting the battery and the pump 8. In any case it should be pointed out that, usually, a battery is in the boat 2 in order to carry out operations such as starting the motor A and the bilge pump(s).

[0067] If the working fluid used were a liquid, and more typically for example sea water, which is always available, such operation could be easily carried out by way of a common or garden electric bilge pump of the submerged or self-priming type.

[0068] However, the possibility is not ruled out of adopting a hand-operated or pedal-operated pump.

[0069] For electric pumps it will be necessary to have a battery: advantageously if the conventional automatic mechanism, which is present in many bilge pumps which automatically activates them in the presence of water, is used then no switches or remote control elements will be necessary, although they are provided and can be used.

[0070] In essence the sequence of use will be the following.

• The tender on which the apparatus 1 is installed is on board the main vessel in the compact configuration (plate 3 reclined), thus with the motor A collapsed;
• Placing of the tender in the water, the pump 8, in contact with the water, is activated (alternatively it will be activated by the user), producing the inflation of the tank 5 with consequent rotation of the plate 3 supporting the outboard motor A into the configuration for sailing, optionally damped by the previously mentioned bumpers 10 which can intervene proximate to the stroke limit of the plate 3 (the plate 3 will then have to be coupled to the transom 4);
• Use of the tender;
• In order to restore the arrangement of motor A and plate 3 to the reclined configuration, the sailor starts by manually initiating the rotation of the motor A (after having disengaged it from the transom 4), such operation is optionally facilitated by the thrust of bumpers 10 which are active proximate to the stroke limit of the plate 3, and the motor A will then, by way of its weight, flatten the tank 5 thus producing the expulsion of the fluid contained in it (the slow expulsion of fluid from the tank 5, limited by its own drag and/or by the presence of choke points and/or valves), thus braking the downward travel of the motor;
• Stowing of the boat 2 in the compact configuration on board the main vessel.

[0071] The apparatus 1 according to the invention thus offers a space occupation and a weight which are substantially negligible, to the advantage of the usability of the boat 2 in which it is installed.

[0072] If it is decided to use a bilge pump as the pump 8, the apparatus 1 will not require any safeguard against the accidental operation when the tender is on board the main vessel, since a bilge pump, when not in the presence of water, will not operate.

[0073] The apparatus 1 does not require auxiliary components in order to make it possible to release the plate 3 from the actuators (in fact no electromechanical or electrohydraulic actuator is present) in order to allow the movement of the plate 3 and the motor A in the event of an electrical outage or low energy levels, since in this case the sailor can act directly manually without any impediment, possibly assisted by the thrust of bumpers 10 which are active proximate to the stroke limit of the plate 3. In addition the possibility must not be ruled out of using hand-operated or pedal-operated pumps 8 which do not require an electric power supply at all.

[0074] The tank 5 (which constitutes the actuator that can move the motor A and the plate 3) is made of materials that are not subject to oxidation and/or corrosion.

[0075] Maintenance is reduced to the minimum, i.e. the normal maintenance to be carried out for the bilge pumps.

[0076] No particular physical effort is required for the operations for collapse and restoration.

[0077] The operation to put into service can be carried out even without anyone on board.

[0078] The risks of injury are minimized, in that during the maneuver to raise the motor no sailor needs to be present on board, while, during the maneuver to collapse it, the descent of the motor A is slowed by the expulsion of the fluid in a limited flow (limited by way of the diameter of the piping 7 and/or the presence of choke points and/or the presence of valves). Furthermore there are no mechanical elements in motion.

[0079] The cost of the apparatus 1 is extremely low with respect to solutions that adopt electromechanical or electrohydraulic actuators.

[0080] Conveniently the present invention solves the above mentioned problems, by providing an apparatus 1 for moving an outboard motor A installed on a boat 2 in which the operations for collapse and restoration to the configuration for sailing do not require physical effort and/or subjection to risk of injury of a sailor.

[0081] Positively the apparatus 1 does not require the presence of a sailor on board.

[0082] Effectively the apparatus 1 is extremely low cost.

[0083] Profitably the apparatus 1 has a reduced encumbrance and a substantially negligible weight.

[0084] Advantageously the apparatus 1 does not require the presence of auxiliary components for releasing and/or controlling actuators.

[0085] Positively the apparatus 1 requires little maintenance and is not subject to corrosion and oxidation even if it is located in a saline environment.

[0086] Advantageously the apparatus 1 is easily and practically implemented and produced and is safe in use.

[0087] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0088] In the embodiments illustrated, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

[0089] In practice, the materials employed, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

[0090] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2014A000331 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0091] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving an outboard motor (A) installed on a boat (2), of the type comprising a rigid plate (3), which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom (4) of said boat (2) and is adapted to anchor said outboard motor (A), characterized in that it comprises a tank for fluids (5) with at least partially deformable walls which is arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane (6) of said boat (2) and said rigid plate (3), said tank (5) being provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping (7), to a pump (8) for at least introducing fluid inside it, the introduction of fluid into said tank (5), by way of said pump (8), producing, when said plate (3) is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane (6), an increase in the volume of said tank (5) with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of said plate (3) from said substantially horizontal lower plane (6), until said plate (3) is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom (4) with an almost vertical orientation thereof.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said piping (7) is connected to a first port of said pump (8), a second port of said pump (5), optionally with the interposition of a respective duct (9), being immersed in the fluid to be conveyed.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said pump (8) is a bilge pump for boats (2), said first port being the port for delivering the pumped fluid and said second port being the fluid intake port when the bilge pump operates in direct mode and vice versa.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said pump (8) is an auxiliary compressor adapted to dispense compressed air into said tank for fluids (5) with at least partially deformable walls, for its inflation.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said piping (7) is affected by a flow control valve, said valve making it possible to introduce fluid arriving from said pump (8) into said tank (5) with low drag, and to expel fluid from said tank (5) with high drag.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said rigid plate (3) is hinged to the transom (4) of the boat (2).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said rigid plate (3) is hinged to a slider that can slide on the substantially horizontal lower plane (6) of said boat (2) in a longitudinal direction, from stern to prow and vice versa.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said tank for fluids (5) with at least partially deformable walls is constituted by a watertight bag with a configuration selected preferably from among substantially prism-like, substantially spherical, substantially cylindrical, substantially bellows-like and combinations thereof.

9. The apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the edges of said rigid plate (3) and the perimetric frame of the transom (4) of the boat (2), against which said edges of said plate (3) abut in the configuration for sailing, at least one elastic bumper (10) is interposed in order to facilitate the spacing apart of the plate (3) from the transom (4).

10. A boat with retractable outboard motor (A), characterized in that it comprises a rigid plate (3), which is coupled with at least one degree of freedom to the transom (4) and is adapted to anchor said outboard motor (A), and comprises a tank for fluids (5) with at least partially deformable walls which is arranged between the substantially horizontal lower plane (6) of said boat (2) and said rigid plate (3), said tank (5) being provided with at least one opening which is connected, by way of a respective piping (7), to a pump (8) for at least introducing fluid inside it, the introduction of fluid into said tank (5), by way of said pump (8), producing, when said plate (3) is substantially parallel and proximate to the substantially horizontal lower plane (6), an increase in the volume of said tank (5) with consequent mutual spacing apart of at least one portion of said plate (3) from said substantially horizontal lower plane (6), until said plate (3) is arranged substantially superimposed on the transom (4) with an almost vertical orientation thereof.

11. The boat according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises means for detachable coupling for said plate (3) on said transom (4), in a configuration that is substantially superimposed on the transom (4) with an orientation that is close to vertical.

Drawing