Platform lift on a watercraft and appropriately equipped watercraft

Abstract

Platform lift (1), in particular on a stern region of a hull of a watercraft, comprising a plurality of segments (2a, 2b, 2c), wherein the platform lift (1) has a lifting device with a power drive for raising and lowering (A) the segments (2a, 2b, 2c), characterized in that the platform lift (1) additionally comprises a telescopic mechanism (8) with a power drive for telescoping (T) the segments (2a, 2b, 2c).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a platform lift on a watercraft having a hull with a walkable deck and to a watercraft equipped with a platform lift, in particular on a stern area of ​​the hull, wherein the platform lift has a lifting device with a power drive for raising and lowering a platform.

[0002] Watercraft such as sailing or motor yachts are often equipped with a platform lift, particularly in their stern area. A dinghy such as an inflatable boat with an outboard motor or a jet ski can be carried on the platform lift. The platform lift can also be designed to lower a platform from a position flush with the deck to allow convenient access for swimming in an anchorage, or to raise the platform to the level of a harbor quay, for example, to enable easy boarding and disembarking. Such a platform lift can also be designed as a staircase with essentially equal-sized steps that can be raised or lowered.

[0003] A segmented platform is known from DE 10 2018 133 044 A1. Using a lifting device in the form of a parallelogram mechanism and a power drive, several segments can be raised or lowered. A first segment is fixed, for example, at the stern of the vessel; a second and a third segment can each be raised or lowered like steps; and a fourth, enlarged segment serves either as a bathing platform or as an exit platform in a harbor.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 20 2009 007 141 U1 discloses a platform that can be lowered, for example, with a dinghy from a transport position above the waterline to a set-down position below the waterline in order to launch or retrieve the dinghy. The platform can be raised and lowered, preferably to any desired height, using a power-driven lifting device, and a displacement device can be used to move the platform longitudinally along the hull of the watercraft, for example, to prevent damage to an outboard motor of the actual watercraft or its propeller during lowering. In the raised state, the platform preferably sits substantially flush with a walkable deck surface of the hull.

[0005] However, it is considered a disadvantage that a user of a dinghy, for example, can hardly reach a longitudinally displaced platform, especially if it is lowered.

[0006] Based on this prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to provide a platform lift with improved functionality or a watercraft equipped therewith.

[0007] According to the invention, these objects are achieved with the features of the independent claims.

[0008] For this purpose, a watercraft is equipped with a platform lift, preferably at the stern of the hull of the watercraft. A platform can be raised and lowered essentially vertically, in particular to any desired height, by means of a lifting device that is driven hydraulically and / or electrically, for example. The platform lift has several segments in a conventional manner. The segments are designed, for example, as steps of a staircase. Preferably, a first segment or a base can be arranged essentially flush with a surrounding deck surface, for example at the stern of a watercraft such as a motor yacht. In principle, the platform lift can be arranged at any desired location on the watercraft, i.e. on the side, at the stern or on a rear bathing platform.A parallelogram mechanism then either raises or lowers additional segments of a staircase, for example, to lower a platform segment to the water's surface or to raise the platform segment to the level of a harbor quay for convenient boarding and disembarkation. For example, the uppermost or lowermost segment or step can also be enlarged to resemble a platform to serve as a bathing platform and / or to accommodate a dinghy. The parallelogram mechanism ensures that the individual segments always remain horizontally aligned, allowing safe use like a staircase.

[0009] According to the invention, a telescopic mechanism is also integrated. The telescopic mechanism displaces the individual segments of the platform lift relative to one another, preferably in a longitudinal direction of the ship's hull. Thus, for example, when the telescopic mechanism is extended, a larger horizontal distance between the ship's hull and the quay wall in the harbor can be bridged. For this purpose, the individual segments are preferably pulled apart or pushed back together together using a common telescopic mechanism. The telescopic mechanism is preferably integrated into the lifting mechanism.

[0010] It goes without saying that, for example, the raising or lowering of the individual segments, as well as the telescoping or retracting, can be carried out independently of each other or simultaneously. The platform lift can also assume any intermediate position.

[0011] It is also clear that fall protection can be provided on the side of the platform lift, for example in the form of railing supports on each segment on the left and / or right, as well as a type of railing between the railing supports, for example in the form of a rope, to compensate for the telescoping. Likewise, fall-through protection, for example in the form of a net, can be arranged between the telescoped segments, between which a gap has formed in the horizontal longitudinal direction of the ship's hull. Likewise, plates made of metal and / or plastic, preferably on the underside, can be assigned to the individual segments, which in turn prevent falling through between the telescoped segments.

[0012] Within the scope of the invention, the lifting mechanism for the individual segments can be designed in a form known per se with a hydraulic and / or electric power drive, in particular as described in the two aforementioned publications as a parallelogram mechanism actuated by at least one hydraulic cylinder. Furthermore, the telescopic mechanism, which is preferably integrated into the lifting mechanism, can be designed in any desired manner, but preferably as described below. A hydraulic and / or electric power drive is also preferred as the power drive for the telescopic mechanism. It is clear that the platform lift can also be raised or lowered and telescoped into any position between the end positions in order to enable adaptation to the respective requirements.

[0013] For example, the lifting mechanism allows the stepped segments to be raised or lowered by up to + / -30° relative to the horizontal. This allows the platform lift to serve as a bathing platform and / or as a platform for a dinghy, jet ski, or similar boat, allowing them to be easily launched or retrieved. Likewise, the outermost platform segment or a step can be raised to the level of a higher harbor quay, allowing boarding and disembarking at the same level.

[0014] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the lifting mechanism and the telescopic mechanism are designed such that both movements can be executed and superimposed. For example, components between the segments can be displaced and / or rotated or pivoted and tilted relative to them to enable raising / lowering / telescoping.

[0015] In principle, the platform lift can have any number of segments or steps, such as three, four, five, six or more segments.

[0016] The advantage of the invention is that the additional telescopic mechanism allows larger distances between the ship's hull and a solid quay wall to be bridged, especially in harbors.

[0017] This is necessary, for example, due to protrusions, rocks, or the like, especially underwater. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain a large distance to avoid damage to the outboard motors, for example, which extend beyond the rear of the ship's hull. For this purpose, the platform lift, as is well known, is additionally telescoped with respect to its segments. This means that, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the ship's hull, the individual segments are not only raised or lowered in a stepped manner at a fixed distance from one another, but the horizontal distance can also be increased to achieve a greater range.

[0018] Metal and / or plastic are preferred materials for all components. For example, the segments and a parallelogram mechanism can be made of metal profiles, particularly corrosion-resistant V4A steel or aluminum, and hard plastics can be used for bearing components, moving parts, or similar components. The segments can be covered with teak or, preferably, with a plastic teak substitute for slip resistance.

[0019] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of subclaims.

[0020] Advantageously, the telescopic mechanism comprises a scissor mechanism or a scissor-like mechanism. For this purpose, for example, a first and a third telescopic segment are connected to one another by two intersecting long scissor arms, wherein the scissor arms are mounted on the segments so as to be displaceable relative to them along a longitudinal extent. In addition, the first segment is connected to a base of the platform lift via two short scissor arms, wherein the short scissor arms are rotatably but stationary mounted on the base and are also displaceably mounted on the first segment along the longitudinal extent of the first segment. A power drive, for example in the form of a hydraulic cylinder, serves as the drive, which acts on the second segment starting from the base of the platform lift. The two long scissor arms are also rotatably but stationary mounted on this second segment.If the hydraulic cylinder is now extended, the second segment telescopes. This movement is transferred to the first and third segments via the long scissor arms, with the short scissor arms acting on it serving to precisely guide the first segment in particular relative to the base. Overall, all segments telescope or retract in the same way by transferring the movement of the power-driven segment to the other segments via the scissor mechanism. This means that the distances in the horizontal direction, for example, between the first and second segments and the second and third segments, are always the same.

[0021] In the scissor mechanism, it is preferred that it includes sliding blocks. For example, rails or grooves are formed on the segments, on or in which a sliding block can be displaced relative to the segment in the longitudinal direction of the segment. This direction is essentially perpendicular to the actual telescoping direction. The long and / or short scissor arms, for example, can be mounted on the sliding blocks so that they can rotate relative to the segments in order to enable telescoping.

[0022] Furthermore, it is proposed that the scissor mechanism comprise telescopic extensions, which are designed, in particular, to be telescopically extendable. For example, these can be essentially C-shaped metal profiles, each with a segment arranged so as to be rotatable relative to the other. It goes without saying that the power drive can be controlled in such a way that the individual profiles are not pulled apart. Even in the extended position, the platform lift still has sufficient stability.

[0023] Finally, the entire platform lift can also be designed so that it is mounted so that it can rotate around a substantially vertically oriented axis. This allows the platform lift to be extended not beyond the stern of the vessel, but also laterally, for example, if the vessel is moored alongside a higher quay.

[0024] In the foregoing, the invention was essentially described in connection with a platform lift already installed on the hull of the vessel at the shipyard. However, it is clear that a platform lift with a corresponding telescopic mechanism integrated into the lifting device can also be retrofitted to a vessel, thus allowing the platform lift to be marketed independently.

[0025] The platform lift can also be used for any other purpose.

[0026] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The figures of the drawing show: Fig. 1: two views of the platform lift with one user, Fig. 2: the platform lift in three positions in side view, Fig. 3: the platform lift from the side from below in raised position, Fig. 4: the platform lift from below in extended and retracted position and Fig. 5: Side view of the platform lift in extended position.

[0027] In the purely schematic Fig. 1 to 5, the same reference numerals denote the same components and are not necessarily explained again for each figure.

[0028] In the Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b shows a perspective view of a platform lift 1 with a user N. The platform lift comprises several segments 2a, 2b, 2c and a base 3. The platform lift 1 is in Fig. 1a in the retracted position and preferably ends substantially flush with a deck 4 of a hull of a watercraft, particularly in its stern area, in order not to form a tripping hazard. The watercraft is, for example, a motor yacht, and the platform lift 1 is preferably arranged at a stern area of ​​the watercraft in order to Fig. 1b to extend rearward beyond the hull of the watercraft. Similarly, the platform lift 1 can also be arranged on a bathing platform at the stern of the watercraft.

[0029] The platform lift 1 has a hydraulic and / or electric power drive to raise and / or lower the segments 2a, 2b, 2c in a staircase-like manner, for example by means of a known parallelogram mechanism 5, as indicated by the double arrow A. The segments 2a, 2b, 2c can also be referred to as steps of a staircase. In a raised position, for example, it is possible to climb from the uppermost segment 2c, also called the platform segment or platform, onto a harbor wall, a jetty, or the like without any difference in level. In the lowered state, the then lowest segment 2c serves, for example, as a bathing platform. Likewise, a dinghy, a jet ski, or the like can be arranged and moored on the segment 2c in order to launch it into the water and retrieve it again by lowering the platform lift 1. In particular, the segment 2c can be designed to be larger than the other segments 2a, 2b.Likewise, four, five, six or more segments 2 can be provided.

[0030] The parallelogram mechanism 5 ensures that the segments 2a, 2b, 2c always remain essentially horizontally aligned, even when the platform lift 1 is raised or lowered A, as can be seen in particular from the side view of the platform lift 1 in Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0031] All components of the platform lift 1 are made of metal, in particular corrosion-resistant V4A steel and / or aluminum, or plastic. Segments 2a, 2b, and 2c can be covered with teak or, preferably, with a plastic teak substitute to provide an aesthetic appearance.

[0032] In Fig. 2, the platform lift is shown in four different positions P. In position P1, the platform lift 1 is aligned horizontally and, for example, fully retracted T when viewed in the direction of travel of the vessel, as indicated by the double arrow T. In the dashed position P3, the platform lift 1 is fully extended T so that it projects aft beyond the hull or deck 4 of the vessel. In the dashed position P2, the platform lift 1 is raised by up to 30° A, for example, and in the dashed position P4, the platform lift 1 is lowered by up to 30° A, for example.

[0033] In position P1, the segments 2a, 2b, 2c are substantially flush with one another and with the base 3 in the horizontal direction T. In position P3, the segments 2a, 2b, 2c are telescoped apart in the horizontal direction T and are preferably substantially evenly spaced from one another and from the base 3.

[0034] It is understood that the entire platform lift 1 may be equipped with additional fall protection devices such as flexible railings, safety nets and the like to ensure operational safety.

[0035] A power drive is used to raise and lower A the platform lift 1, which here is designed in the form of at least one hydraulic cylinder 6 for raising / lowering A, wherein the hydraulic cylinder 6 actuates a parallelogram mechanism 5, which ensures that the segments 2a, 2b, 2c are always aligned horizontally in order to be used like a staircase.

[0036] In addition, a telescopic mechanism 8 with a power drive for telescoping T the segments 2a, 2b, 2c is arranged in the platform lift 1, as can be seen from the view from diagonally below onto the platform lift 1 in Fig. 3. A single hydraulic cylinder 7 serves as the power drive for the telescopic mechanism 8, which, for example, engages segment 2b and can displace it in the direction T. Two long scissor arms 9a are arranged on segment 2b as the telescopic mechanism 8 and can rotate relative thereto, as indicated by the curved double arrow D. Thus, a linear movement of segment 2b is transmitted to the two other segments 2a, 2c by rotating the long scissor arms 9a. For this purpose, the long scissor arms 9a are each arranged at their ends so as to be rotatable on sliding blocks 10 on the segments 2a, 2c. The sliding blocks 10, in turn, are movably mounted on grooves, rails or the like on the segments 2a, 2c in such a way that they can each be displaced relative thereto along their longitudinal direction, as indicated by the double arrow Q, where Q is oriented substantially perpendicular to T.Finally, short scissor arms 9b are connected to the base 3 via sliding blocks 10 on the segment 2a, allowing rotation D but are fixedly connected. This ensures that the segments 2a, 2b, 2c and the base 3 always have the same distance from each other in the direction of movement T relative to the adjacent components during telescoping T. This means that, for example, a gap between the base 3 and the first segment 2a is always the same size as the gap between the second segment 2b and the third segment 2c.

[0037] In Fig. 4 the platform lift 1 is shown from below in Fig. 4a in the extended T state and in Fig. 4b in the retracted T state, for example, corresponding to the positions P3 and P1 from Fig. 2.

[0038] Finally, in Fig. 5 the platform lift 1 once again in horizontal extended position according to position P3 Fig.2 in a side view. It can be seen that the platform lift 1 for telescoping T comprises, for example, three telescopic extensions 11a, 11b, 11c, which are designed, for example, as metallic C-profiles and, in particular, can be pushed into one another. Thus, by telescoping T, the platform lift 1 can be extended, for example, to bridge a greater distance from the stern of the watercraft to a quay wall.

[0039] For raising / lowering A, a hydraulic cylinder 6 is used to actuate the parallelogram mechanism 5. For this purpose, the paired telescopic extensions 11, the segments 2, the base 3, and the hydraulic cylinder 6 are each connected to one another by means of swivel joints 12, which are only partially shown here as examples. The telescopic extensions 11 can also be telescoped via the telescopic mechanism 8 with another hydraulic cylinder 7.

[0040] It is understood that both movements can be performed independently of each other or together, and that all intermediate positions can be assumed. It is also clear that a preferably joint control system can be provided with additional sensors for position detection and / or detecting a load overload and / or for shutdown upon contact with an obstacle or the like. Wireless remote control can also preferably be provided via an app.

[0041] The entire platform lift 1 is arranged, for example, at the stern of a watercraft's hull and extends rearward, as seen in the forward direction of travel of the watercraft. In principle, the platform lift 1 can also be mounted on the watercraft so that it can rotate relative to the watercraft to additionally allow for side exit.

[0042] In principle, the platform lift 1 can also be used in all other areas of technology. List of reference symbols: 1 platform lift 2 segments of 1 3 Base of 1 4 Deck of a hull of a watercraft 5 Parallelogram mechanics 6 hydraulic cylinders for raising / lowering 1 7 hydraulic cylinders for telescoping 1 8 Telescopic mechanism 9 Scissor arm 10 sliding block 11 telescopic extension of 1 12 swivel joint of 1 A Raising and lowering 1 T Telescoping of 1 N users of 1 P Position of 1 D Rotational movement of 9 Q linear movement of 10 QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2018 133 044 A1

[0003] DE 20 2009 007 141 U1

[0004]

Claims

[1] Platform lift (1), in particular on a stern area of ​​a hull of a watercraft, comprising several segments (2a, 2b, 2c), wherein the platform lift (1) has a lifting device with power drive for raising and lowering (A) the segments (2a, 2b, 2c), characterized by that the platform lift (1) additionally comprises a telescopic mechanism (8) with power drive for telescoping (T) the segments (2a, 2b, 2c). [2] Platform lift (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the telescopic mechanism (8) comprises scissor mechanism with scissor arms (9). [3] Platform lift (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the scissor mechanism comprises sliding blocks (10). [4] Platform lift (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by that the telescopic mechanism (8) comprises telescopic extensions (11) which are designed in particular to be pushed into one another. [5] Platform lift (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat the platform lift (1) is rotatable about a substantially vertically aligned axis of rotation. [6] Watercraft with a hull, characterized by that a platform lift (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5 is arranged in particular at a rear region of the fuselage.

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