Boat hull anti-fouling shroud

• US 4,282,822 A
• Filed: 06/06/1980
• Issued: 08/11/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Jackson
• Original Assignee: Robert Jackson
• Inventors: Jackson, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Basinger, Sherman D.
• Application Number:
  US06/157,230
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 114/44, 114/45, 114/54, 114/222, 114/230, 405/63, 405/64, 405/65, 405/66, 405/68
• US Class Current: 114/222
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 59/045 by wrapping the submerged hull or part of the hull with an impermeable sheet stopping temporarily leaks in hulls with impermeable sheets B63B43/16

Abstract

A selectively floatable protective shroud is disclosed for protecting a boat hull from fouling by marine organisms. The assembly consists of an inflatable, elongated toroidal bladder with an inner opening larger than the circumference of the hull of the boat at its water line. The bladder has an inflation nozzle which is connected to a gas pump, for controllably inflating the bladder. A continuous, flexible, water impervious shroud has a circumferential edge mounted about the circumference of the toroidal bladder for protecting the boat hull, when deployed about the boat. By controllably inflating the bladder, the shroud is selectively brought from a submerged position beneath the boat to a deployed position enveloping the hull of the boat so as to protect the hull from fouling by marine organisms. A water pump is disclosed being connected to a water drain nozzle mounted on the flexible shroud, for controllably pumping out sea water from the region between the flexible shroud and the boat hull. Various embodiments for guide members are disclosed which are mounted to the sea bed floor and are connected to the bladder for guiding the shroud from the submerged position to the deployed position enveloping the hull of the boat. Various control and interlock mechanisms are disclosed for conveniently operating the system from onboard the boat.

Claims

1. A selectively floatable protective shroud for a boat hull floating in a body of water, comprising:

an inflatable, elongated toroidal bladder with an inner opening larger than the circumference of the hull of said boat at its waterline, having an inflation nozzle, located in said body of water;

a continuous, flexible, water impervious shroud having a circumferential edge mounted about the circumference of said toroidal bladder, for protecting said hull when deployed about said boat;

a gas pump connected to said inflation nozzle of said bladder, for controllably inflating said bladder to selectively float said shroud from a submerged position beneath said boat to a deployed position enveloping the hull of said boat;

a water drain nozzle mounted on said flexible shroud for evacuating sea water from the region between said flexible shroud and said boat hull;

a water pump connected to said water nozzle for controllably pumping out said sea water from said region;

a guide member mounted to the sea bed floor and connected to said bladder, for guiding said shroud from said submerged position beneath said boat into said deployed position enveloping the hull of said boat;

said guide member further comprising;

a pair of anchors mounted to the sea bed floor on opposite sides of said boat;

a pair of elastic members, respectively mounted to each of said anchors and connected to said bladder;

said bladder having its motion constrained by said anchors and elastic members to remain in substantially the vertical direction in transferring said shroud between said floating and submerged positions;

said boat having a keel portion;

a second inflatable, elongated toroidal bladder having an inner opening larger than the horizontal cross section of said keel portion of said boat, and an outer size smaller than said circumference of said hull of said boat at said water line, mounted in a central portion of said flexible shroud;

said second bladder being inflated to envelop said keel portion of said boat prior to positioning said shroud in said deployed floating position enveloping said hull.