AUTOMATIC LIQUID DRAIN FOR BOAT STERNS

Description

/ 2 “AUTOMATIC LIQUID DRAIN FOR BOAT STERNS”

[001] The present invention relates to an automatic liquid drain with application in the area of ​​water navigation aiming to provide greater safety and efficiency in the drainage of liquids in vessels.

[002] Currently, boat stern drains are 100% manual, requiring a person to close them before launching the boat and then open them once the boat is out of the water. There are also electric drains, which consist of an electric liquid pump, called a bilge pump, with or without an automatic, also electric, drive device, called a bilge pump switch.

[003] It is known that both current drainage systems have opportunities for improvement, since the first has the disadvantage of being a 100% manual task, in addition to not draining liquids with the vessel in motion, that is, it only operates in two conditions, either open or closed. The second option depends on electrical power and is located in the vessel's hold, which has a high level of humidity, leaving both the bilge pump and the automatic bilge pump vulnerable to electrical failures, not to mention the vessel's energy consumption. In order to solve these problems, the present invention was developed, which performs automatic drainage of the vessel, whether in or out of the water and in motion or not, by an automatic mechanical process, without expending electrical energy, thus providing a greater degree of safety and efficiency in terms of liquid drainage.This process is achieved because the proposed system has a check valve with a ball, which opens or closes the passage of liquids by pressure. In other words, when the external pressure (water level) is higher, the valve closes, preventing water from entering the vessel; when the internal pressure (water level) is higher, the valve opens, draining all the liquid from the vessel.

[004] The invention can be better understood through the drawings, which are: Figure 1 illustrates the movable / threaded invention with all its parts separated, being the drain body, the polyacetal sphere, the elastic pin and the sealing ring. Figure 2 illustrates the mobile / threaded drain already properly assembled and ready to be installed on the vessel. Figure 3 illustrates the internal part of the mobile / threaded drain. Figure 4 illustrates the front view of the mobile / threaded drain. Figure 5 illustrates the fixed invention with all its parts separated, namely the drain body, the polyacetal sphere, the elastic pin, and the sealing ring. Figure 6 illustrates the fixed drain already properly assembled and ready to be installed on the vessel. Figure 7 illustrates the internal part of the fixed drain. Figure 8 illustrates the front view of the fixed drain. Figure 9 illustrates the operation of the drain with the vessel in the water. Figure 10 illustrates the operation of the drain with the vessel out of the water or while navigating. Petition 870250015357, dated 25 / 02 / 2025, page 4 / 12 / 2

[005] The automatic liquid drain for the stern of vessels is, as the description itself states, a mechanical automatic drain, meaning that once installed it no longer depends on human intervention or electricity; thus, it works solely with water pressure, whether internal or external to the vessel. As we can see in Figure 9, whenever the vessel is in the water, the external pressure will be higher, causing the check valve to close, pressing the ball against the angled internal cavity of the drain, thus preventing external water from entering the vessel. The reverse is also true, because, if we observe Figure 10, we notice that the internal water level is higher than the external level; in this case, the internal water pressure itself will force the valve open, leaving a free space for the passage of water, causing the automatic drainage of the vessel's bilge.

[006] Detailing the invention a little further, its body is machined from a hexagonal aluminum profile (figures 1 and 2) and with an internal angle for seating the polyacetal sphere (Figure 3), thus forming a one-way valve, also known as a check valve. The aforementioned drain body, here machined from aluminum, can also be made by plastic injection molding, making the invention even cheaper.

[007] The outer part of the drain body is also machined to ensure that the male thread of the invention fits perfectly into the female thread of the vessel, which, in turn, has a wide variation in size and thread pitch. It can also be machined for fixed use on vessels (Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8) without detracting from the invention, as it is sufficient to replace the male thread with a flat profile with lateral cavities for fixing by screws or rivets.

[008] This also features a locking spring pin, which serves to prevent the loss of the polyacetal sphere (Figure 10), maintaining proper water flow. This spring pin can also be easily replaced with a spring washer.

[009] In order to improve the operation of the one-way valve, a recess with small holes was made in the back of the drain (figures 1, 2, 5 and 6), thus ensuring that no dirt enters that could jam the polyacetal ball and, consequently, lose the drainage effect.

[010] The drain also has a sealing ring (Figures 1 and 5), which in addition to sealing any passage of water through the thread, also helps to apply pressure when tightening the drain.

[011] The hexagonal body of the drain was designed so that installation and / or replacement can be done without any tools, meaning it can be done manually by anyone without needing any extra skills. Petition 870250015357, dated 25 / 02 / 2025, p. 5 / 12

Claims

CLAIMS 1. “AUTOMATIC LIQUID DRAIN FOR THE STERN OF VESSELS” consisting of a machined aluminum body, a polyacetal sphere, an elastic pin and a sealing ring, characterized by the polyacetal sphere together with the angled body forming a one-way valve, also known as a check valve.

2. “AUTOMATIC DRAIN” according to claim 1, characterized by its rear part being recessed and having small holes.

3. “AUTOMATIC DRAIN” according to claim 1, characterized by its hexagonal body. Petition 870250015357, dated 25 / 02 / 2025, page 6 / 12

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