Hull with opening in the floor for a boat drive

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9567036-B2
Application number	US-201314438922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2013
Priority date	Nov 8, 2012
Publication date	Feb 14, 2017
Grant date	Feb 14, 2017

Abstract

A boat hull ( 1 ) for a boat, with a boat drive ( 2 ) which extends through a hull opening ( 3 ) in the bottom of the boat hull ( 1 ). The boat drive ( 2 ) is connected to the boat hull ( 1 ) by at least one fastening member ( 4 ). To do this, at least one positioning element ( 5 ) is provided, on the outside ( 6 ) of the boat hull ( 1 ), for positioning the fastening member ( 4 ) relative to the boat hull ( 1 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A boat comprising:
a boat hull ( 1 ) having a hull opening that extends through the boat hull,
a boat drive ( 2 ) extending through the hull opening ( 3 ) in a bottom of the boat hull ( 1 ), and the boat drive ( 2 ) being connected to the boat hull ( 1 ) by at least one fastening means ( 4 ),
at least one annular recess being located in an exterior side of the boat hull and bordering the hull opening, either the recess ( 7 ) or parts thereof forming a positioning element and being designed so as to be suitable for positioning the fastening means ( 4 ) relative to the boat hull ( 1 ),
a sealing device ( 12 ), for sealing an inside space ( 13 ) of the boat against entry of water, is arranged in an area of the hull opening ( 3 ),
the recess ( 7 ) being covered on the exterior side of the boat hull by a cover ( 14 ), and
the sealing device ( 12 ) and the cover ( 14 ) are positioned relative to the boat hull ( 1 ) by means of the recess.

2. The boat according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is defined by a contact surface ( 9 ), and the contact surface ( 9 ) is radially delimited by a reference edge ( 10 ) which forms a stop for positioning the fastening means ( 4 ).

3. The boat according to claim 2 , wherein the reference edge ( 10 ) delimits a radially outer side of the contact surface ( 9 ) in a plane of the contact surface.

4. The boat according to claim 1 , wherein the boat hull comprises a fixing frame ( 8 ) which connects the boat drive ( 2 ) to the boat hull, and the fastening means ( 4 ) are arranged on the fixing frame ( 8 ).

5. The boat according to claim 4 , wherein the fixing frame ( 8 ) is made integrally with the boat hull ( 1 ).

6. The boat according to claim 4 , wherein an interior side of the boat hull has a reference surface ( 15 ) for positioning the fixing frame ( 8 ).

7. The boat according to claim 1 , wherein the fastening means ( 4 ) include at least one of at least one threaded bore ( 16 ) and at least one threaded bolt.

8. A method of producing a boat with a boat drive, the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a boat hull ( 1 ) with a hull opening ( 3 ) for a boat drive ( 2 ) and with at least one annular recess, the hull opening extending through the boat hull and recess being prepared in an exterior side of the boat hull ( 1 ) and bordering the hull opening,
preparing a sealing device ( 12 ),
establishing a fitting position of the sealing device ( 12 ) relative to the boat hull ( 1 ) with the recess,
fastening the sealing device ( 12 ) to the boat hull ( 1 ) such that the sealing device is partially located within the recess and partially located within the hull opening,
preparing fastening means ( 4 ) for the boat drive ( 2 ),
determining a fitting position of the fastening means ( 4 ) relative to the boat hull ( 1 ) with the recess,
fixing the fastening means ( 4 ) to the boat hull ( 1 ),
introducing the boat drive ( 2 ) through the hull opening ( 3 ),
fixing the boat drive ( 2 ) to the boat hull ( 1 ) by the fastening means ( 4 ),
preparing a cover ( 14 ) for closing the recess ( 7 ) on the exterior side the boat hull ( 1 ),
determining a fitting position of the cover ( 14 ) with the recess, and
fixing the cover ( 14 ) onto the boat hull ( 1 ).

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising the step of using a template to at least one of establish the fitting position of the sealing device ( 12 ) and determine the fitting position of the fastening means ( 4 ).

10. A boat comprising:
a boat hull ( 1 ) having a hull opening that extends through the boat hull,
a boat drive ( 2 ) extending through the hull opening ( 3 ) from an interior side of the boat to an exterior side of the boat, and the boat drive ( 2 ) being connected to the boat hull ( 1 ) by at least a pair of fasteners ( 4 ),
at least one annular recess being provided in the boat hull on an outer side thereof, the at least one recess encircles and borders the hull opening, and the at least one recess facilitates positioning of the fasteners ( 4 ) relative to the boat hull ( 1 ),
a sealing device ( 12 ), for sealing the interior side of the boat against entry of water, is arranged in the hull opening ( 3 ), and a portion of the sealing device extends radially into the recess from the hull opening,
a cover ( 14 ) being at least partially received within the recess, and
the sealing device ( 12 ) and the cover ( 14 ) are positioned relative to the boat hull ( 1 ) by means of the recess such that the sealing device is sandwiched between the boat hull and the sealing device.

11. The boat according to claim 10 , wherein the boat hull has an interior surface and an exterior surface, and the recess in the boat hull defines a first surface, that extends radially from the hull opening, and a second surface that extends normal from the first surface to the exterior surface of the boat hull.

12. The boat according to claim 11 , wherein an inner face of the sealing element contacts the first surface of the boat hull and an outer face of the sealing element contacts a surface of the cover.

13. The boat according to claim 11 , wherein the boat hull has a thickness, and the thickness of the boat hull, between the interior surface and the first surface, is less than the thickness of the boat hull between the interior surface and the exterior surface.

14. The boat according to claim 11 , wherein a portion of the sealing device extends within the hull opening between the boat hull and the boat drive.

15. The boat according to claim 14 , wherein the sealing device abuts the boat hull.

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Gallato Fernando
• Tognon Andrea
• Targa Stefano

Classifications

• B63H2005/1254

  Podded azimuthing thrusters, i.e. podded thruster units arranged inboard for rotation about vertical axis · CPC title

• B63H5/125

  movably mounted with respect to hull, e.g. adjustable in direction {, e.g. podded azimuthing thrusters}({outboard units or Z-drives B63H20/00; } movably mounted for steering purposes only, {rudders carrying propellers} B63H25/42) · CPC title

• B63H21/30

  Mounting of propulsion plant or unit, e.g. for anti-vibration purposes (hull reinforcements therefor B63B3/70) · CPC title

• B63H5/10

  of coaxial type, e.g. of counter-rotative type · CPC title

• B63H2020/025

  Sealings specially adapted for mountings of outboard drive units; Arrangements thereof, e.g. for transom penetrations · CPC title