Movable Stern Hatch Submerging with Platform for Unobstructed Berthing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing boats with stern compartments and platforms face a trade-off between providing a spacious 'small beach' for passengers and ease of berthing in harbors, as wide platforms hinder docking, and current solutions compromise on platform size and protrusions.

Innovation Solution

A boat design featuring a stern hatch that is not rigidly connected to the hull, using actuating means integral with a movable stern platform, allowing the hatch to submerge with the platform and flood the compartment, thus offering a wider 'small beach' without protrusions, facilitating tender or dinghy operation and berthing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If a wide stern platform is provided to create a spacious 'small beach' for passengers, then passenger comfort is improved, but the boat's ability to berth in harbors is hindered due to protrusions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplatform surface areaVSAvoidberthing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stern platform is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be positioned in different configurations. During berthing operations, the platform can be retracted or lowered to eliminate protrusions, while during passenger use, it is extended to provide a spacious beach area. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between platform size and berthing ease.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stern platform is divided into separate movable sections that can be independently controlled. This segmentation allows the platform to be configured in different positions - extended for passenger comfort or retracted for unobstructed berthing - effectively resolving the contradiction between providing a large platform area and maintaining ease of harbor access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If a fixed stern hatch connected to the hull is used, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to flood the stern compartment for tender operation is hindered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehatch structural stabilityVSAvoidcompartment flooding capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The stern hatch is designed with movable connections rather than rigid fixed attachments. The hatch can be positioned in different orientations and can be lowered into the water along with the platform, enabling the stern compartment to be flooded for tender operations while maintaining structural integrity when closed. This dynamic design resolves the contradiction between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stern hatch serves multiple functions: it provides structural closure for the compartment, maintains stability when closed, and can be repositioned to allow flooding when needed for tender operations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the hatch adaptable to different operational requirements while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3313722B1Boat having a movable stern hatch with a submersible stern platform
Publication Date: 2019.05.15 FERRETTI
  • EP3313722B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3313722B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3313722B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A boat (1) comprises a hull (2) provided with a rear stern hatch (3) located in correspondence with an internal stern compartment (4) of said hull (2) and suitable for opening and closing in correspondence with an aperture (5) of said compartment, said hatch (3) having a body (20) with opposed sides (12, 13) located in correspondence with side walls of said compartment and upper edge (14) and lower edge (15), said hull having a stern platform (21A) that is movable and submersible. The hatch (3) is not provided with any direct connections to the hull, but it is connected to the stern platform so as to reach, upon opening, a position submersed in the water where the boat is located in the moment when said platform submerges into said water.