Movable platform device for watercraft

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile platform device (1) for a boat, comprising at least one support arm (2) provided, at a first end (3), with articulated fastening means (4) designed to pivotally attach said support arm (2) to a boat about an axis X. This support arm (2) further comprises a second end (5), opposite the first (3), on which a platform (6) is articulated about an axis Y, parallel to X. The mobile platform device (1) further comprises hydraulic or motor-driven actuation means (7) for jointly controlling the pivoting of the support arm (2) about the axis X and the rotation of the platform (6) about the axis Y. Advantageously, this platform (6) is also mounted in translation on the end (5) of the support arm (2) along a direction Z, perpendicular to the axis Y.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile platform device for a boat, in particular intended to be fixed in an articulated manner on the transom of such a boat.

[0002] We already know of many platform devices that are attached to the stern of larger boats, such as yachts, and on which a smaller boat or tender often rests, though not always. Such a platform device is designed to be mobile, most often using hydraulic cylinders or motors to raise or lower the platform as needed, for example, to bring it level with the waterline, or even below it, to facilitate launching or retrieving the tender.

[0003] Obviously, such a platform device can have other uses than transporting an annex.

[0004] Typically, these platform devices include at least one support arm, usually a pair of support arms, one end of which is equipped with articulated attachment points, allowing the platform device to be fixed to the vessel in a hinged manner around a horizontal axis. These support arms are generally attached to the transom of a boat.

[0005] On the opposite free end of these support arms, a platform is mounted in an articulated fashion, again around a horizontal axis parallel to the pivot axis of the support arms. Thanks to appropriate means, the platform is maintained in a substantially horizontal plane, whether the support arms are raised, lowered, or during their raising and lowering phases.

[0006] A platform device is described in particular in document EP 3 279 077. This device comprises a cylinder associated with each support arm, the rod of which is extended by a connecting rod, also called a cam, acting on the end of a lever arm extending beneath the platform. Thus, when the cylinders are actuated to raise or lower the support arms, the interaction between these cylinders and the platform results in the platform pivoting with a synchronized rotation of the support arms, keeping the platform constantly in a substantially horizontal plane. This is achieved, in particular, through a specific ratio between the stroke of the cylinder rod and the length of the lever arm beneath the platform.

[0007] The raising and lowering of the support arms results from the action of these hydraulic cylinders on slings, in the form of rope, strip, or cable. More specifically, one end of a sling attached to a support arm is fixed to a point on the vessel. This sling, passing around one or more pulleys, is fixed at its opposite end to the support arm. One of the pulleys is fixed to the end of the hydraulic cylinder rod, so that the advance of this rod causes the support arm to descend by rotation around a horizontal axis under the weight of the arm and the platform it carries, while the retraction of this rod exerts a pull on the sling, causing the support arm to rise.

[0008] It is understood that by acting on the jacks of the support arms, these are caused to pivot around the articulation axis that connects them to the vessel, causing, at the same time, the pivoting of the platform at the end of these support arms.

[0009] Despite the recognized advantages of such mobile platform systems, they do have some drawbacks. In particular, the raising and lowering of the support arms by rotation around a horizontal axis generates a horizontal displacement of the platform, a displacement which, in most configurations, tends to bring the platform closer to the transom of the boat in one position or another, most often in the lowered position.

[0010] In this regard, boats with a transom that, for aesthetic or other reasons, slopes upwards from the waterline, giving the boat a streamlined stern, are becoming increasingly common on the market. Such a configuration necessitates lengthening the support arms, not to mention that, when raised, the platform is positioned far away and cantilevered from the boat's transom.

[0011] It was within the framework of an inventive approach that it was imagined that the platform, in addition to being mounted pivoting on the end of these support arms, would also be mobile in translation under the action of drive means in movement synchronized with the pivoting of the support arms.

[0012] According to a second inventive approach, it was imagined that these drive means, for moving the platform in translation, cooperate with the actuation means contributing to jointly controlling the raising or lowering of the support arm(s) and the rotation, on the end of the latter, of the platform to maintain it in a substantially horizontal plane.

[0013] To this end, the invention relates to a mobile platform device for a boat, comprising at least one support arm provided, at a first end, with articulated fastening means designed to pivotally attach said support arm to a boat about an axis X. This support arm further comprises a second end, opposite the first, on which a platform is articulated around an axis Y, parallel to X. The platform device further comprises hydraulic or motor-driven actuation means for jointly controlling the pivoting of the support arm about the axis X and the rotation of the platform about the axis Y. More particularly, the platform is also mounted in translation on the end of the support arm along a direction Z perpendicular to the axis Y.

[0014] According to another feature of the invention, the mobile platform device includes means for synchronizing the translational control of the platform along the Z direction with the rotation of the platform around the Y axis and / or of the support arm(s) around the X axis.

[0015] Advantageously, the means for synchronizing the translational control of the platform along the Z direction are designed, substantially, by drive means cooperating with said actuation means jointly controlling the pivoting of the support arm around the X axis and the rotation of the platform around the Y axis.

[0016] According to the invention, the actuation means are defined by at least one cylinder acting directly on the platform for the rotation control of the latter around the Y axis and indirectly, through first transmission means, on the support arm for the rotation control of the latter around the X axis, said cylinder cooperating, furthermore, with second transmission means defining the means of synchronizing control in translation of the platform along the Z direction.

[0017] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in that, during the raising and lowering commands of the platform, which is otherwise preferably maintained in a horizontal position once the mobile platform device has been brought back onto a boat, said platform can also move horizontally, in this case approaching or moving away from the boat according to the direction of movement of this or these support arms and the configuration of the transom of the boat.

[0018] In summary, a mobile platform device according to the invention is adaptable to a boat, whether the transom is vertical or whether it defines an outward or inward inclined plane.

[0019] Another advantage is that this translational movement of the platform occurs in a synchronized manner, in particular with the raising and lowering command of the support arm(s).

[0020] According to another advantage, this translational movement of the platform is obtained through the same actuation means ensuring the raising and lowering of a support arm and the rotation of the platform around the Y axis to maintain it systematically in the same plane.

[0021] Other purposes and advantages of the present invention will become apparent during the following description relating to an example of an embodiment given by way of illustration.

[0022] Understanding this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings in which: [ Fig.1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic and perspective representation of the platform device in a lowered position; Fig.2 ] there figure 2 is a schematic, elevational, side-view representation of this platform device in the raised position, showing the actuation means and the various drive means, with the structure of this platform device itself represented by dashed lines; Fig.3 ] there figure 3 is a schematic representation similar to the figure 2 , the platform device being in a lowered position.

[0023] With reference to these drawings, the mobile platform device 1 includes at least one support arm 2. In this regard, it should be taken into account that such mobile platform devices 1 generally include two support arms arranged parallel and at a distance from each other.

[0024] Therefore, this description will relate more particularly to an example of an embodiment with two support arms, knowing that the present invention cannot be limited to such a configuration.

[0025] A support arm 2 has a first end 3, equipped with articulated fixing means 4 through which this support arm 2 can be brought in an articulated manner around an axis X, preferably horizontal, onto the transom of a boat, not shown in the figures.

[0026] This support arm 2 also has a second end 5 on which a platform 6 is pivotally mounted around an axis Y, parallel to the axis X. This platform can perform various functions. In this case, a load, such as a small boat or tender, can be positioned on this platform 6, and its mobile platform device 1 facilitates launching and retrieval.

[0027] This mobile platform device 1 also includes actuation means 7, of hydraulic, electric motor or manual type, to control: the pivoting of the support arm(s) 2 around the X axis; the pivoting of the support arm(s) 2 around the X axis; and the rotation of the platform 6 around the Y axis.

[0028] These actuation means 7 act, as the case may be, directly or indirectly on this or these support arms 2 and on the platform 6 for a synchronized rotational movement of both, respectively around the X axis and the Y axis.

[0029] In the preferred example illustrated in the drawings, these actuation means 7 take the form of a cylinder 8 integrated into or associated with a support arm 2. This cylinder 8 comprises a cylinder body 9 from which emerges, at one end 10, a cylinder rod 11. The opposite end 12 of this cylinder body 9 is made fixed to the support arm 2, preferably near the first end 3 of the latter.

[0030] The cylinder rod 11 is fixed, at one end inside the cylinder body 9, to a piston (not visible) which moves within this cylinder body 9 under the impulse of the pressure of a hydraulic fluid exerted on one side or the other on this piston, driving the cylinder rod 11 in an axial direction. The latter is connected at its opposite end 13, preferably via a connecting rod 11a, to a lever arm 14 extending under the platform 6. Thus, depending on the direction of movement of the cylinder rod 11 under the impulse of the piston, this results in a rotation of the platform 6 in one direction or the other around the Y axis, under the impulse exerted by the connecting rod 11a on the lever arm 14 extending under this platform 6.

[0031] As previously stated, these actuation means 7, here in the form of a cylinder 8, act jointly on the support arm 2 to control its rotation around the X axis. More specifically, these actuation means 7 act indirectly on the support arm 2 via first drive means 15.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, these drive means 15 are substantially defined by at least one sling 16, which may be in the form of a band or cable made of any material, preferably synthetic or composite, and / or metallic. This sling 16 has a first end 17 designed to be fixed to a fixed support S on the vessel and a second end 18 attached to the support arm 2. Furthermore, this sling 16 is partially wound around a return pulley 19 carried by the hydraulic cylinder rod 11, such that, depending on the direction of movement of the latter, the rod exerts a pull on the sling 16 which tends to bring its two ends 17 and 18 closer together, leading, for example, to raising the support arm 2 by rotation around the axis X.In this case, by commanding the movement in the opposite direction of the cylinder rod 11, there is a release of the sling 16, allowing the support arm 2 to lower under the effect of its weight and the platform 6 which carries it, this ensuring the separation of the ends 17 and 18 of the sling 16.

[0033] As illustrated in the figures, this sling 16 can be wound around a guide pulley 20 attached to the support arm 2, causing the sling 16 to describe a loop 21 between this guide pulley 20 and its end 18, passing through the guide pulley 19 associated with the cylinder rod 11. Thus, when the cylinder rod 11 is retracted within the cylinder body 9, a tension is exerted, via the guide pulley 19, on this loop 21 described by the sling 16. This results in a progressive increase in the size of this loop 21, leading to a shortening of the distance between the two ends 17 and 18 of this sling 16.

[0034] According to the invention, the platform 6 is also mounted mobile in translation on the second end 5 of the support arm(s) 2, along a direction Z perpendicular to the pivot axes X and Y.

[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, this platform 6 comprises a support chassis 22 mounted to slide along the Z direction on the lever arm 14 which is mounted, articulated, around the Y axis, on the second end 5 of the support arm(s) 2. In particular, this support chassis 22 can be attached by means of at least one slide 24 on the lever arm 14.

[0036] According to a particular feature of the invention, the mobile platform device 1 includes means 25 for synchronizing control in translation of the platform 6 along the Z direction with the rotation of this platform 6 around the Y axis and / or of the support arm(s) 2 around the X axis.

[0037] According to an advantageous design, these means 25 for synchronizing the translational control of the platform 6 are substantially designed by means of drive 26 cooperating with said actuation means 7 jointly controlling the pivoting of the support arm 2 around the X axis and the rotation of the platform 6 around the Y axis.

[0038] In the embodiment more particularly illustrated in the figures, the actuation means 7 being defined by a cylinder 8 associated and / or integrated with the support arm 2 under the conditions set out above, the said drive means 26 are, again, advantageously defined by at least one sling 27 in the form of a band or a cable in any material, preferably synthetic or composite, and / or metallic.

[0039] This sling 27 has a first end 28 made fixed to the support frame 22 of the platform 6 and a second end 29 made fixed to the support arm 2. Between these two ends 28, 29, this sling 27 winds, at least partially, around a return pulley 30 associated directly or indirectly with the cylinder rod 11, such that, according to the direction of movement of the latter, a traction is exerted on the sling 27 which is transmitted to the support frame 22 in a translational control in a direction 31 determined along the direction Z.

[0040] In the example illustrated in the figures 2 And 3, the first end 28 of the sling 27 is made fixed to a first side 32 of the support frame 22. This sling 27 then follows a path by passing around one or more return pulleys 33, 33' until it comes to wrap partially around the return pulley 30 and to connect, by describing a loop 34, its second end 29 made fixed to the support arm 2.

[0041] Thus, under the impulse of the cylinder rod 11 during the command to lower the support arm 2, the pulley 30, fixed to the connecting rod 11a extending said cylinder rod 11, exerts a traction on the loop 34 by increasing the length of the latter and passing this traction on the support frame 22 through the end 28 of the sling 27 made fixed to the first side 32 of this support frame 22.

[0042] In this case, the traction exerted by the sling 27 results, when the support arm 2 is lowered, in pushing the support frame 22 back in the direction 31 along the Z direction, that is to say, pushing this support frame 22 away from the first end 3 of the support arm 2, and therefore from the transom of the boat on which the platform device 1 is fixed. The present invention is not, however, limited to such a direction of movement of the support frame 22 under the action of this traction exerted on the sling 27.

[0043] Advantageously, the drive means 26 further include a second sling 27a in the form of a band or rope of any material, preferably synthetic or composite, and / or metallic.

[0044] This sling 27a has a first end 28a made fixed to the support frame 22 of the platform 6 and a second end 29a fixed to the support arm 2. Between these two ends 28a, 29b, this sling 27a winds, at least partially, around a return pulley 30a associated directly or indirectly with the cylinder rod 11, such that, according to the direction of movement of the latter, a traction is exerted on the sling 27a which is transmitted to the support frame 22 in a translational control in a direction 31a determined along the direction Z.

[0045] In the example illustrated in the figures 2 And 3, the first end 28a of the sling 27a is made fixed to a second side 32a of the support frame 22. This sling 27a then follows a path by passing around one or more return pulleys 33 until it comes to wrap partially around the return pulley 30a, before connecting, by describing a loop 34a, its second end 29a made fixed to the support arm 2.

[0046] Thus, under the impulse of the cylinder rod 11, when the support arm 2 is raised, the pulley 30a, here fixed to the end of the connecting rod 11a connected to said cylinder rod 11, exerts a pull on the loop 34a by increasing the length of the latter and passing this pull on the support frame 22 through the end 28a of the sling 27a made fixed to the side 32a of this support frame 22.

[0047] In this case, the traction exerted by the sling 27a results, when the support arm 2 is raised, in the direction 31a along the Z direction, i.e., by pushing back this support chassis 22 so as to bring it back towards the first end 3 of the support arm 2, therefore towards the rear transom of the boat on which the platform device 1 is fixed. The present invention is not, however, limited to such a direction of movement of the support chassis 22 under the action of this traction exerted on the sling 27a.

[0048] According to another feature of the invention, at least one of the slings 27; 27a is connected, at at least one of its ends 28, 28a; 29, 29a, as the case may be, to the support frame 22 or to the support arm 2, by means of an elastic element 35, 35a.

[0049] According to one embodiment, at least one of the slings 27; 27a incorporates, along its length, at least one such elastic element 35; 35a.

[0050] This can take different forms of embodiment. Thus, this elastic element 35; 35a can be defined as a simple spiral spring, a damping spring or equivalent.

[0051] Furthermore, at least one of the slings 27; 27a, preferably each of them, is connected, at at least one of its ends 28, 28a; 29, 29a, as the case may be, to the support frame 22 or to the support arm 2, by means of sling tension adjustment means 36, 36a.

[0052] According to one embodiment, at least one of the slings 27; 27a, preferably each of them, incorporates, along its length, such sling tension adjustment means 36; 36a.

[0053] Such means of adjusting sling tension, for example in the form of a turnbuckle, have the advantage of finely adjusting the length of the slings 27, 27a when mounting the mobile platform device 1.

[0054] As for the elastic element 35, 35a, as the case may be, integrated into a sling 27; 27a or connecting, one of its ends 28, 28a; 29, 29a, as the case may be, support frame 22 or to the support arm 2, it has the advantage of compensating for differential trajectory lengths communicated to the slings 27; 27a under the impulse of the actuation means 7, in this case in the embodiment described, directly by the cylinder rod 11 or indirectly by the connecting rod 11a extending the latter.

[0055] According to another embodiment not illustrated in the figures, the drive means 26 are defined by a single sling, each end of which is fixed to the support frame 22, this sling being further secured, along its length, directly or indirectly to the cylinder rod 11 so that the movement of the latter backward in the cylinder body 9 or vice versa generates a translation of the support frame 22 along the Z direction in a direction 31a or in the opposite direction 31.

[0056] The actuation means 7 take the form of a cylinder 8 integrated into or associated with the support arm 2, this cylinder 8 comprising a cylinder rod 11 and the drive means 26 are defined by a single sling, each end of which is fixed to one of the sides 32, 32a of the support frame 22, this sling being further secured, along its length, directly or indirectly to the cylinder rod 11 so that the movement of the latter in one direction or the other generates a translation of the support frame 22 along the Z direction in a direction 31a or in the opposite direction 31.

[0057] Here again, such a single sling may include along its length or at least at one of its ends an elastic element and means for adjusting sling tension.

Claims

1. Mobile platform device (1) for a boat, comprising at least one support arm (2) provided, at a first end (3), with articulated fastening means (4) designed to secure said support arm (2) to a boat in a pivotal manner about an axis X, said support arm (2) further comprising a second end (5), opposite to the first (3), on which is mounted, articulated, about an axis Y, parallel to X, a platform (6), said mobile platform device (1) further comprising actuation means (7), of the hydraulic or motor type, for jointly controlling the pivoting of the support arm (2) about the axis X and the rotation of the platform (6) about the axis Y, characterized in that the platform (6) is still mounted in translation on the end (5) of the support arm (2) along a Z direction, perpendicular to the Y axis.

2. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in thatthe platform (6) includes a support chassis (22) mounted to slide along the Z direction on a lever arm (14) which is mounted articulated, around the Y axis, on the second end (5) of the support arm (2).

3. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it includes means (25) for synchronizing control in translation of the platform (6) along the Z direction with the rotation of this platform (6) around the Y axis.

4. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the means (25) for synchronizing the translational control of the platform (6) are substantially designed by means of drive (26) cooperating with said actuation means (7) jointly controlling the pivoting of the support arm (2) around the X axis and the rotation of the platform (6) around the Y axis.

5. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 4, the actuation means (7) of which are in the form of a cylinder (8) integrated into or associated with the support arm (2), this cylinder (8) comprising a cylinder rod (11), characterized in that said drive means (26) are defined by at least one sling (27) in the form of a band or a cable having a first end (28) made fixed to the support frame (22) of the platform (6) and a second end (29) made fixed to the support arm (2), between these two ends (28, 29) this sling (27) winds, at least partially, around a return pulley (30) associated directly or indirectly with the cylinder rod (11) in order to, according to the direction of movement of the latter, exert a traction on the sling (27) which is transmitted to the support frame (22) in a translational control in a direction (31) determined along the direction Z.

6. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 5 characterized in that the drive means 26 further include a second sling (27a) in the form of a band or a cable having a first end (28a) made integral with the support frame (22) of the platform (6) and a second end (29a) fixed to the support arm (2), between these two ends (28a, 29b), this sling (27a) winds, at least partially, around a return pulley (30a) associated directly or indirectly with the cylinder rod (11), in order, according to the direction of movement of the latter, to exert a traction on the sling (27a) which is transmitted to the support frame (22) in a translational control in a direction (31a) determined along the direction Z.

7. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that a sling (27; 27a) is made of a band or rope of a synthetic or composite and / or metallic material.

8. Mobile platform device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at least one of the slings (27; 27a) is connected, at at least one of its ends (28, 28a; 29, 29a), as the case may be, to the support frame (22) or to the support arm (2), by means of an elastic element (35; 35a).

9. Mobile platform device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that at least one of the slings (27; 27a) incorporates, along its length, at least one elastic element (35, 35a).

10. Mobile platform device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at least one of the slings (27; 27a), preferably each of them, is connected, at at least one of its ends (28, 28a; 29, 29a), as the case may be, to the support frame (22) or to the support arm (2), by means of sling tension adjustment (36; 36a).

11. Mobile platform device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 10, characterized in thatat least one of the slings (27; 27a), preferably each of them, incorporates, along its length, sling tension adjustment means (36; 36a).

12. Mobile platform device (1) according to claim 4, the actuation means (7) of which are in the form of a cylinder (8) integrated into or associated with the support arm (2), this cylinder (8) comprising a cylinder rod (11), characterized in that the drive means (26) are defined by a single sling, each end of which is fixed to one of the sides (32, 32a) of the support frame (22), this sling being further secured, along its length, directly or indirectly to the cylinder rod (11) so that the movement of the latter in one direction or the other generates a translation of the support frame (22) along the Z direction in a direction (31a) or in the opposite direction (31).

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