Zipper storage type floating device

Abstract

The utility model discloses a zipper storage type floating device which comprises a vehicle body, buoyancy assemblies and an air inlet and outlet valve, the foldable buoyancy assemblies are symmetrically arranged on the left side and the right side of the vehicle body, each buoyancy assembly comprises a floating bag and a storage sleeve arranged outside the floating bag, and a zipper is arranged on each storage sleeve in the length direction. According to the device, rigid connection and flexible storage are combined, on the premise that an original vehicle body framework is maintained, function expansion is achieved through reversible mechanical connection, the defect that a vehicle body structure needs to be damaged when a traditional amphibious vehicle is refitted is overcome, and the service life of the amphibious vehicle is prolonged. The floating stability is guaranteed, and meanwhile the characteristics of rapid storage, stable unfolding and modular maintenance are achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of buoyancy device technology, and in particular to a zipper-foldable floating device. Background Technology

[0002] Existing amphibious vehicles mostly use fixed floats or rigid extended structures as their buoyancy devices when traveling on water. For example, the patent document "A Floating Support Device for an Amphibious Vehicle" disclosed in Chinese patent literature, publication number "CN109774393A", includes: a frame, a suspension, and a floating mechanism; the suspension is disposed on both sides of the frame; the suspension includes: a suspension support, a drive cylinder, a first cantilever, a second cantilever, a shock-absorbing cylinder, and a floating support; one end of the suspension support is hinged to the frame; one end of the drive cylinder is hinged to the frame, and the other end is hinged to the suspension support; one end of the first cantilever is hinged to the suspension support, and the other end is hinged to the floating support; one end of the second cantilever is hinged to the suspension support, and the other end is hinged to the floating support; one end of the shock-absorbing cylinder is hinged to the cantilever support, and the other end is hinged to the second cantilever; the floating mechanism is fixedly disposed on the floating support; the floating mechanism includes: a floating body; the floating body is fixedly disposed on the floating support; the floating body is capable of floating on water to support the frame through the suspension.

[0003] While such devices can provide some buoyancy, they suffer from the following drawbacks: First, the rigid expansion structure prevents the vehicle's width from being adjusted, affecting its maneuverability on land. Second, the buoyancy unit's storage relies on a complex folding mechanism, resulting in low deployment efficiency and susceptibility to mechanical failure. Third, the connection between the buoyancy unit and the vehicle body is often achieved through welding or riveting, making maintenance and replacement difficult. Furthermore, traditional flotation devices are prone to tilting when the vehicle is fully loaded due to uneven buoyancy distribution, failing to meet the stability requirements of complex waterways. These issues hinder the improvement of amphibious vehicle performance in water, necessitating a structural optimization solution for a flotation device that combines rapid storage, stable deployment, and modular maintenance. Utility Model Content

[0004] To address the problem that common floating devices are prone to tilting due to uneven buoyancy distribution, this invention provides a zipper-foldable floating device that ensures stable floating while also offering features such as quick storage, stable deployment, and modular maintenance.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0006] A zipper-foldable floating device includes a vehicle body, a buoyancy component, and an air intake and exhaust valve. Foldable buoyancy components are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. Each buoyancy component includes a float and a storage sleeve disposed outside the float. A zipper is arranged along the length direction on the storage sleeve. The air intake and exhaust valve is disposed through the surface of the float.

[0007] This device enhances stability during water travel by symmetrically placing buoyancy components on both sides of the vehicle body. The buoyancy components consist of floats and a storage sleeve surrounding them. The floats are made of flexible material, and the storage sleeve has a zipper structure at its edge. When the vehicle is traveling on land, the zipper is engaged, causing the folded edge of the storage sleeve to fold inwards and contract, compressing the floats into a flat shape that fits snugly against the vehicle body. At this point, the overall thickness of the device is flush with the side wall of the vehicle body, ensuring vehicle passability. Upon entering water, the operator slides the zipper to release the constraint on the floats, and inflates them using the air intake and exhaust valves, expanding the storage sleeve. The unfolded floats laterally extend the width of the vehicle body, increasing the waterline area and thus improving anti-rollover capability. Compared to traditional welded or riveted fixed floats, the zipper engagement structure ensures airtightness while enabling rapid shape transformation. The bolted strap fixation method ensures that the expansion force of the floats is evenly distributed to the vehicle body frame, avoiding stress concentration. The storage sleeve forms a protective layer for the floats, reducing external friction damage during folding and storage, and constraining the deformation direction of the floats in the unfolded state, ensuring that the buoyancy distribution meets hydrodynamic requirements. This device combines rigid connection with flexible storage, and while maintaining the original vehicle body structure, it achieves functional expansion through reversible mechanical connection, solving the drawback of traditional amphibious vehicle modification that requires damage to the vehicle body structure.

[0008] Preferably, the storage sleeve includes a folded edge arranged circumferentially, and the zipper includes a first chain and a second chain; the first chain and the second chain are respectively located on both sides of the folded edge of the storage sleeve, and can be engaged or disengaged by sliding the zipper pull.

[0009] Preferably, the outer surface of the buoyancy component is provided with at least three parallel straps, and each strap has a connecting piece at both ends.

[0010] Preferably, the connecting piece is provided with a through hole, and a fixing bolt is inserted through the through hole. The fixing bolt passes through the side wall of the vehicle body and forms a detachable locking structure with the nut.

[0011] Preferably, the inner wall of the storage sleeve is provided with a connecting piece that connects to the float.

[0012] Preferably, the strap is provided with a slidingly adjustable D-ring buckle, which includes a fixed end and a sliding end that can be displaced along the length of the strap.

[0013] Preferably, the intake and exhaust valve includes a valve body embedded in the top of the float and a rotating valve cover hinged to the valve body, the rotating valve cover being able to cover or expose the vent hole of the valve body.

[0014] Preferably, the inner layer of the float is provided with a waterproof coating, which covers the inner surface of the float.

[0015] Therefore, this utility model has the following beneficial effects.

[0016] 1. Through the nested design of the float and the storage sleeve, combined with the circumferential zipper structure, the buoyancy component forms a compact wrapping shape that fits the vehicle body when folded. When unfolded, the zipper engages to quickly form a sealed buoyancy cavity, effectively improving storage efficiency and unfolding reliability.

[0017] 2. The combined fixing structure of straps and connecting pieces forms multi-point constraints on the surface of the buoyancy component. Combined with the detachable connection method of bolts and nuts, it not only ensures the shape stability of the float after inflation, but also realizes the modular assembly of the component and the vehicle body, reducing maintenance and replacement costs.

[0018] 3. The waterproof coating on the inner wall of the float and the rotary sealing structure of the air inlet and outlet valve form a double protection, which prevents water penetration when inflated and unfolded, and avoids residual water from corroding the float when deflated and folded, thus significantly extending the service life of the buoyancy components. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the float in the deflated state of this utility model.

[0020] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the float in the deflated state of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 3 This is a side view of the float in the deflated state of this utility model.

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the working state of the inflatable bladder in this utility model.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the float in the inflated state of this utility model.

[0024] Figure 6 This is a side view of the inflatable bladder in this utility model.

[0025] In the diagram: 100, vehicle body; 1, float; 11, connecting piece; 2, storage sleeve; 3, zipper; 31, first chain belt; 32, second chain belt; 4, intake and exhaust valve; 5, strapping; 6, through hole; 7, fixing bolt; 71, nut; 8, connecting piece. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0027] Example 1

[0028] like Figure 1 , 2As shown in Figure 3, this embodiment proposes a zipper-type floating device, including a vehicle body 1, a buoyancy assembly, and an air intake / exhaust valve 4. Foldable buoyancy assemblies are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. Each buoyancy assembly includes a float 1 and a storage sleeve 2 disposed outside the float 1. A zipper 3 is arranged along the length of the storage sleeve, and the air intake / exhaust valve is disposed through the surface of the float 1. The storage sleeve includes a folded edge arranged circumferentially. The zipper includes a first chain 31 and a second chain 32; the first and second chain straps are respectively disposed on both sides of the folded edge of the storage sleeve, and are engaged or disengaged by a sliding zipper pull. Four parallel straps 5 are provided on the outer surface of the buoyancy assembly, and each strap has a connecting piece 8 at both ends. A through hole 6 is provided on the connecting piece, and a fixing bolt 7 passes through the through hole. The fixing bolt penetrates the side wall of the vehicle body and forms a detachable locking structure with a nut 71. The straps are provided with adjustable D-rings, each D-ring including a fixed end and a sliding end that can move along the length of the strap.

[0029] Specifically, the buoyancy components symmetrically arranged on both sides of the vehicle body consist of floats and a storage sleeve that encloses them. The storage sleeve is made of a flexible, wear-resistant material, with its edges forming circumferentially extending folded edges. A first chain and a second chain are fixed to each side of the folded edge, and these chains engage or disengage via the movement of a sliding zipper. When the sliding zipper moves along the chain track, it gradually engages the chains on both sides of the folded edge, putting the buoyancy component in a retracted state. The folded edge of the storage sleeve folds inward along the side wall of the vehicle body, compressing the floats into a flat shape that fits snugly against the body. When unfolded, the zipper is in a disengaged state, and the storage sleeve forms a sealed cavity enclosing the floats. After inflation, the floats expand and open the storage sleeve, forming a stable buoyancy support structure.

[0030] The straps arranged parallel to each other on the outer surface of the buoyancy assembly are made of high-strength braided tape, evenly distributed along the axial direction of the float. Each strap is connected at both ends by a stamped metal connecting piece. A through-hole is punched in the center of the connecting piece, its axis aligned coaxially with a pre-drilled mounting hole on the vehicle side wall. Fixing bolts pass through the through-hole and the mounting hole in the side wall, then axially lock with a nut. This connection method allows the straps to evenly transfer the expansion force of the float to the vehicle frame through the connecting piece during inflation, avoiding localized stress concentration. Disassembly only requires loosening the nut to separate the buoyancy assembly, facilitating replacement or maintenance. The D-rings on the strap surface are made of stamped metal, and their sliding ends can move along the length of the strap. Adjusting the position of the D-rings changes the effective constraint length of the strap, thus adapting to the deformation requirements of the float under different inflation pressures and ensuring the straps always maintain appropriate tension.

[0031] The folding edge structure of the storage sleeve allows the buoyancy component to form a multi-layered overlapping structure when folded. The thickness of the folding edge decreases layer by layer through the staggered arrangement of the chain engagement surfaces, ensuring that the overall thickness after storage does not exceed the outer edge of the vehicle's side wall. During chain engagement, the limiting protrusion inside the sliding pull head engages with the chain teeth to prevent the chain from accidentally disengaging under inflation pressure. The inner wall of the connecting plate's through hole has an annular groove that mates with the anti-loosening thread of the fixing bolt, maintaining connection stability even under vehicle vibration conditions.

[0032] Alternatively, the rectangular connecting piece can be replaced with a U-shaped clamp structure, and the strap ends can be fixed by covering them with the side flaps of the clamp; or short straps distributed at multiple points can be used instead of continuous long straps to form discrete anchor points on the surface of the float. In addition, the chain engagement direction can be adjusted to be perpendicular to the length of the vehicle body, so that the folding edge of the storage sleeve can be folded laterally to adapt to the side wall space layout requirements of different vehicle models.

[0033] like Figure 4 , 5 As shown in Figure 6, in this embodiment, when the float is inflated and deployed, gas is injected into the sealed storage sleeve cavity through the air inlet and outlet valves. Under the action of air pressure, the float expands outward, forcing the folded edge of the storage sleeve to fully unfold. At this time, the restraining force of the straps and the air pressure inside the float form a dynamic balance, making the surface of the float present a smooth arc surface and reducing the turbulence effect when impacted by water flow. The sliding end of the D-ring buckle automatically displaces under the tension of the straps during inflation until the float reaches the rated volume and locks, forming an adaptive tension adjustment mechanism. The connecting piece set on the inner wall of the storage sleeve is fixed to the outer surface of the float by high-frequency welding, guiding the float to deform along a preset trajectory during folding, avoiding stress damage caused by material wrinkles.

[0034] This solution achieves rapid form transformation of the buoyancy assembly through the synergistic effect of chain engagement and strap restraint. Under land driving conditions, the detached chain allows the folded edges of the storage sleeve to fold freely, ensuring the buoyancy assembly fits snugly against the vehicle's contours and avoiding increased vehicle width. When driving on water, the closed cavity formed by the chain engagement effectively restrains the deformation of the float, and combined with the distributed anchoring of the straps, ensures uniform buoyancy distribution. The axial locking force of the bolted connection structure and the fit tolerance of the through holes in the connecting plates are designed to be matched, allowing for minor dimensional fluctuations caused by temperature changes while withstanding the float expansion force, preventing overload failure of the connectors.

[0035] Example 2

[0036] This embodiment proposes a zipper-foldable floating device, including a vehicle body, a buoyancy assembly, and an air intake / exhaust valve. Foldable buoyancy assemblies are symmetrically arranged on the left and right sides of the vehicle body. Each buoyancy assembly includes a float and a storage sleeve disposed outside the float. A zipper is arranged along the length of the storage sleeve. The air intake / exhaust valve is disposed through the surface of the float. A connecting piece connected to the float is provided on the inner wall of the storage sleeve. The air intake / exhaust valve includes a valve body embedded in the top of the float and a rotating valve cover hinged to the valve body. The rotating valve cover can cover or expose the vent hole of the valve body. The inner layer of the float is provided with a waterproof coating, which covers the inner surface of the float.

[0037] Specifically, the inner wall of the buoyancy component's storage sleeve has multiple strip-shaped connecting pieces evenly distributed. These connecting pieces are made of a flexible composite material identical to the float, and are joined to the outer surface of the float along their long sides using a high-frequency welding process to form a continuous, sealed joint. When the float is deflated, the connecting pieces guide the storage sleeve to fold inward along pre-set creases, causing the float to be compressed into a layered shape. When inflated, the internal air pressure of the float pushes the connecting pieces outward, forcing the folded edges of the storage sleeve to fully unfold. At this point, the connecting pieces are radially distributed, evenly transmitting the expansion force of the float to the inner wall of the storage sleeve, preventing excessive local stress that could lead to material tearing.

[0038] The air intake and exhaust valve, embedded at the top of the float, consists of a valve body and a rotating valve cover. The valve body is injection molded from nylon material, with an annular flange at its bottom, which forms an airtight connection with the float surface through a hot-melt process. A circular vent hole is located in the center of the valve body, with stepped sealing grooves around its edge. The rotating valve cover is connected to the side wall of the valve body via a stainless steel hinge shaft, and an elastic sealing gasket is molded on the inner side of the valve cover corresponding to the sealing groove. When the valve cover is rotated to the closed position, the sealing gasket is pressed into the sealing groove, forming a double airtight seal. When open, the valve cover rotates 90 degrees around the hinge shaft, fully exposing the vent hole for rapid inflation and deflation. The valve body edge has anti-slip textures to facilitate the application of torque during manual operation.

[0039] In this embodiment, the waterproof coating of the inner layer of the float is made of thermoplastic polyurethane film, which is composited with the float substrate through a hot-pressing process. The coating thickness uniformly covers all areas of the inner surface of the float, including the joints with the connecting pieces and the installation locations of the air inlet and outlet valves. During inflation, the coating adheres tightly to the inner wall of the float under the internal air pressure, forming a continuous, non-porous water-blocking layer; during deflation and folding, the elastic memory properties of the coating allow it to stretch with the deformation of the float, preventing cracks caused by repeated folding. The folding edge of the storage sleeve adopts a double-layer reinforced structure, with an outer layer of wear-resistant nylon fabric and an inner layer of elastic silicone composite. During the folding process, the silicone layer absorbs the bending stress of the material through elastic deformation, while the outer fabric adapts to the curvature change through the interlacing and sliding of the warp and weft yarns. The two work together to reduce fatigue damage caused by repeated folding. The width of the connecting piece is optimized so that when the float is fully inflated, the unfixed area between adjacent connecting pieces forms a controllable deformation zone, allowing the float to undergo limited local deformation under the impact of water flow, thereby dispersing the impact energy.

[0040] In addition, in this embodiment, the strip-shaped connecting pieces can be replaced with circular anchor points to form an array of connections on the surface of the float; or connecting pieces with wavy edges can be used to increase the contact area with the inner wall of the storage sleeve. The sealing structure of the air intake and exhaust valve can also be adjusted to a knob type, achieving axial compression sealing of the valve cover through threaded engagement. Furthermore, the composite process of the waterproof coating can use plasma surface treatment instead of hot pressing to form an activation layer on the surface of the float substrate to enhance coating adhesion.

[0041] When the float is inflated, gas is injected through the vent of the inlet and outlet valves. The internal air pressure pushes the connecting piece outward, forcing the folded edge of the storage sleeve to fully unfold. At this time, the connecting piece is in a taut state, and the tensile stress at its welded joints is evenly distributed through a distributed layout, avoiding stress concentration. After the rotary valve cover is closed, the sealing gasket is further pressed into the sealing groove under air pressure, forming a self-reinforcing sealing effect. Under air pressure, the waterproof coating adheres tightly to the inner wall of the float, preventing water molecule penetration while utilizing the high ductility of thermoplastic polyurethane to adapt to the expansion and deformation of the float.

[0042] When unfolded, the silicone layer in the double-layer structure of the storage sleeve generates pre-tension, keeping the outer fabric flat and reducing frictional resistance as water flows through. The radial distribution pattern of the connecting plates matches the spherical deformation characteristics of the float. Under external loads, each connecting plate independently bears the load in its respective zone, and load balance is achieved through the material elasticity of the inner wall of the storage sleeve. The heat-fusion joint surface between the valve body and the float adopts a gradual thickness design, with the thickness decreasing at the edge of the joint area to avoid stress concentration at the joint due to abrupt changes in stiffness.

[0043] This solution optimizes the mechanical properties of the buoyancy component during its transformation by guiding the deformation of the connecting piece and strengthening the interface of the coating. In the stowed state, the flexibility of the connecting piece allows the float to fold in multiple directions, reducing the overall volume by approximately 40% compared to traditional structures. When deployed, the directional extension of the connecting piece ensures that the float forms a shape conforming to hydrodynamic principles.

[0044] like Figure 1 , 2 As shown in Figure 3, when the vehicle is traveling on land, the flotation device is in a folded state: the airbag is compressed into a flat shape and fits tightly against the side wall of the vehicle body, and the zipper is engaged. When the vehicle enters water and the flotation device needs to be deployed, the operator slides the zipper slider along the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body to engage it, and unfolds the folded edge. Then, air is inflated into the airbag through the air intake and exhaust valves. During inflation, the airbag expands, pushing the storage sleeve to unfold. Simultaneously, the operator tightens the fixing bolts to secure the connecting piece to the side wall of the vehicle body, and the straps form a restraint network on the surface of the airbag.

[0045] In this embodiment, the airbag and the storage sleeve are fixed by a connecting piece, which guides the material to bend in a specific direction when the airbag is folded. During production, it must be ensured that the stitching of the connecting piece and the airbag is parallel to the folding axis to avoid repeated folding causing the stitching to break. The connecting piece at the end of the strap has a through hole that matches the mounting hole on the vehicle body. During installation, the bolt must be passed through the through hole of the connecting piece and the mounting hole on the side wall of the vehicle body in sequence before tightening the nut to form a three-point fixing structure.

[0046] During the deflation and retraction process, first loosen the nut to release the strap restraint, then open the air inlet and outlet valves to release the gas. At this time, the zipper should remain partially engaged to prevent the storage sleeve from completely opening. The operator should gradually fold the air bladder inward along the pre-set creases on the folding edge, and finally completely separate the zipper to restore the storage sleeve to its folded shape.

Claims

1. A zip stowable floatation device comprising a body, a buoyancy assembly and a valve, characterised in that: The vehicle body is symmetrically provided with foldable buoyancy components on the left and right sides. The buoyancy components include floats and storage sleeves disposed outside the floats. Zippers are arranged along the length of the storage sleeves. The air intake and exhaust valves are disposed through the surface of the floats.

2. The zipper-type floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The storage sleeve includes a folded edge arranged circumferentially, and the zipper includes a first chain and a second chain; the first chain and the second chain are respectively located on both sides of the folded edge of the storage sleeve, and can be engaged or disengaged by sliding the zipper pull.

3. The zipper-type floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer surface of the buoyancy component is provided with at least three parallel straps, and each strap has a connecting piece at both ends.

4. The zipper-type floating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The connecting piece is provided with a through hole, and a fixing bolt is inserted through the through hole. The fixing bolt passes through the side wall of the vehicle body and forms a detachable locking structure with the nut.

5. The zipper-type floating device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inner wall of the storage sleeve is provided with a connecting piece that connects to the float.

6. The zipper-type floating device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The strap is equipped with a sliding adjustable D-ring buckle, which includes a fixed end and a sliding end that can be displaced along the length of the strap.

7. The zipper-type floating device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The intake and exhaust valve includes a valve body embedded in the top of the float and a rotating valve cover hinged to the valve body, the rotating valve cover being able to cover or expose the vent hole of the valve body.

8. The zipper-type floating device according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that: The inner layer of the float is provided with a waterproof coating, which covers the inner surface of the float.

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