Abstract:
A powered water vessel includes a unitary section of the bow that is pivotably rotatable about a horizontal axis thereby permitting a closed-bow configuration and an opened-bow configuration. The closed-bow configuration is generally amenable to regular boat operations, while the opened-bow configuration is generally amenable to loading and unloading passengers, vehicles and/or cargo. A folding ramp assembly is extendable through the open-bowed configuration for loading and unloading, with track extensions providing additional extension distance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/391,540 entitled VESSEL WITH SINGLE PIECE BOW DOOR AND MULTI-FOLD RAMP, filed on May 3, 2016. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
       [0002]    The following embodiments relate to a powered water vessel, and more particularly, to water vessels having a unitary bow door and multi-fold ramp. 
       Related Art 
       [0003]    Water vessels come in a variety of sizes, shapes and configurations, depending on the type of vessel. By convention, some water vessels include a forward ramp as the bow section. This configuration can often be found in vessels used in private or charter yacht support and supply; surveying; search and rescue operations; firefighting operations; patrol; island supply and/or light cargo operations often. This configuration, however, unfortunately limits the size of the ramp due to visibility concerns and/or poor handling due to the interaction between the flat bow section and the water. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for a forward ramp system that doesn&#39;t impede visibility, and doesn&#39;t negatively affect handling. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention generally pertains to vessels with a conventionally shaped bow but including a bow section that may be pivoted about a horizontal axis, or supported by suitable linkages, to provide an opening at the forward end of the vessel. The opening is of adequate size so that various vehicles and/or cargo may be transported through the opening. The vessel also includes a ramp with multiple folding sections, and optionally extension tracks, for improved vehicular movement. 
         [0006]    Changing the vessel configuration from “closed” for normal running to “open” for loading or unloading requires the movable bow section to be driven to the “open” position before the ramp can be unfolded and/or extended. Conversely, returning the vessel to normal operation requires the ramp to be returned to the “closed” position before the movable bow section can also be returned to the “closed” position. 
         [0007]    In various embodiments, the movable bow section may be opened or closed using manual drive means, or by, but not limited to, hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders or rotary actuators, or by, but not limited to, electric rotary actuators or linear actuators. The ramp may be unfolded and extended manually, or may be wholly or partially unfolded and extended through the use of electric linear actuators, hydraulic cylinders, rotary actuators or other powered actuation means at or coupled about the hinge line of the folding action. In some embodiments the ramp may have two or more hinged sections and may include track extensions which may be extended or unfolded from the outermost ramp section in the open or extended configuration. 
         [0008]    In a first aspect, a water vessel is provided that includes a hull, a planar deck which is positioned in the hull substantially lower than the top of the hull sides and a ramp. The hull has a curved front end (the bow), a port side, a starboard side, a bottom and a stern at the aft end. A portion of the bow is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The planar deck is fixed aft of the movable part of the bow section. When the movable part of the bow section is in the open configuration the ramp is movable to an extended position in which the top surface of the first section of the ramp is nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck and the first section of the ramp extends beyond the fixed part of the bow section and the second section is unfolded from its closed position above the first section. Conversely, to return to the closed configuration, the second section of the ramp is folded back to its position above the first section, the first section of the ramp is returned to its closed position then the movable part of the bow section is moved to its closed position. 
         [0009]    In a second aspect, a water vessel is provided that includes a hull, a planar deck which is positioned in the hull substantially lower than the top of the hull sides, a ramp and a motor or motors. The hull has a curved front end (the bow), a port side, a starboard side, a bottom and a stern at the aft end. A portion of the bow is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The planar deck is fixed aft of the movable part of the bow section. The motor or motors is/are coupled to the movable section of the bow that is supported by hinge means with a hinge line close to the top of the hull sides or by linkages attached by pivoting means to the hull sides and the movable section of the bow. The motors are configured to drive the movable bow section to its fully open configuration or its fully closed configuration. 
         [0010]    In a third aspect, a water vessel is provided that includes a hull, a planar deck which is positioned in the hull substantially lower than the top of the hull sides, a ramp and a motor or motors. The hull has a curved front end (the bow), a port side, a starboard side, a bottom and a stern at the aft end. A portion of the bow is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The planar deck is fixed aft of the movable part of the bow section. One or more motors are coupled to the ramp that is supported by hinge means or a suitable linkage means so that the ramp in the open position has the top surface of the first section of the ramp nominally aligned with the upper surface of the fixed planar deck and in the closed position is aligned at an angle to the upper surface of the fixed planar deck, the actual closed position being governed by the geometry of the movable bow section. The motors are configured to drive the first section of the ramp to its fully open configuration or its fully closed configuration and the second and any further ramp sections to fully open, fully closed or any intermediate configuration. 
         [0011]    In a fourth aspect, a water vessel is provided that includes a hull, a planar deck which is positioned in the hull substantially lower than the top of the hull sides, a ramp and a motor or motors. The hull has a curved front end (the bow), a port side, a starboard side, a bottom and a stern at the aft end. A portion of the bow is movable between a closed configuration and an open configuration. The planar deck is fixed aft of the movable part of the bow section. One or more motors are coupled to the ramp that is supported by hinge means or a suitable linkage means so that the ramp in the open position has the top surface of the first section of the ramp nominally aligned with the upper surface of the fixed planar deck and in the closed position is aligned at an angle to the upper surface of the fixed planar deck, the actual closed position being governed by the geometry of the movable bow section. The motor or motors is/are configured to drive the first section of the ramp to its fully open configuration or its fully closed configuration and the second and any further sections to fully open, fully closed or any intermediate configuration. Another motor or motors is/are configured to drive the movable bow section to its fully open configuration or its fully closed configuration. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vessel, according to one embodiment with a bow door in a fully closed configuration; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and showing a ramp assembly folded into its closed configuration; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp moved from its closed position shown in  FIG. 2  to a first intermediate configuration; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section folding ramp moved from its intermediate position shown in  FIG. 3  to a final open configuration; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a triple section ramp assembly folded into its closed configuration; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a triple section ramp moved from its closed position shown in  FIG. 5  to a first intermediate configuration; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a triple section ramp moved from its first intermediate position shown in  FIG. 6  to a second intermediate configuration; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a triple section folding ramp moved from its second intermediate position shown in  FIG. 7  to a final open configuration; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp assembly with dual track extensions folded into its closed configuration; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp with dual track extensions moved from its closed position shown in  FIG. 9  to a first intermediate configuration; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp with dual track extensions moved from its intermediate position shown in  FIG. 10  to a second intermediate configuration; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp with dual track extensions moved from its intermediate position shown in  FIG. 11  to a final extended configuration; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp assembly with a single piece track extension folded into its closed configuration; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp with a single piece track extension moved from its closed position shown in  FIG. 13  to a first intermediate configuration; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp with a single piece track extension moved from its intermediate position shown in  FIG. 14  to a second intermediate configuration; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration and a dual section ramp with a single piece track extension moved from its intermediate position shown in  FIG. 15  to a final extended configuration; 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the bow area of the vessel of  FIG. 1  but with a bow door moved to an open configuration showing the use of electric linear actuators for opening and closing the bow door. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0029]    The following detailed description discusses the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. 
         [0030]    The following structure numbers apply among the various FIGS.:
         100 —vessel;     101 —hull;     104 —hull bottom;     105 —transom;     150 —planar deck;     151 —forward deck piece;     152 —deck piece;     153 —plate;     160 —control station;     170 —opening;     200 —bow;     201 —first corner;     202 —second corner;     203 —shared edge;     204 —bow surface;     210 —pivot point;     212 —axis;     216 —actuators;     300 —folding ramp assembly;     301 —first ramp section;     302 —second embodiment folding ramp assembly;     303 —third embodiment folding ramp assembly;     304 —fourth embodiment folding ramp assembly;     305 —second ramp section;     306 —third ramp section;     307 —third embodiment second ramp section;     308 —dual track extensions;     309 —fourth embodiment second ramp section;     310 —single piece track extension; and     315 —folding interface.       
 
         [0061]    As used herein, the terms “water vessel”, “vessel”, “craft”, “boat” and the like shall be used interchangeably. 
         [0062]    As used herein, the term “unitary”, as in a “unitary bow door” shall refer to one functional piece, although the one functional piece may be formed of multiple parts that are substantially permanently connected. 
         [0063]    As used herein, “substantially continuous” shall mean that one section is similar to an adjacent section with respect to curvature, alignment and overall flow. By way of example, the hull of the vessel is substantially continuous with the unitary bow in the closed position insofar as they, together, create a smooth and consistent profile. 
         [0064]    As used herein, “cargo” may include vehicles and passengers brought onto and off of a vessel. 
         [0065]    As used herein, “planar”, as in “planar deck” shall refer to generally planar notwithstanding various contours and features, and not necessarily smooth. 
         [0066]    The terms forward, rearward, front, aft, side, top, bottom, underside and the like are used herein merely for reference and are not intended to limit in any way the specific or particular orientation of any components of the vessel  100 . Nautical terms such as port and starboard, aft, transom and gunwale are also used herein in accordance with their ordinary meaning. 
         [0067]    The present embodiments generally relate to water vessels that may be used for the purposes of, but not limited to, supply and light cargo operations, supply and support of larger vessels and marine structures, search and rescue operations and/or firefighting, with all envisioned purposes having the option of including the transportation of vehicles. Previously, boats used for such operations have typically been built with displacement hulls operating at low speeds or had blunt bows that made the boats difficult to operate in heavy or rough water conditions. The disclosed embodiments present a vessel or craft with a vee shaped bottom, a rounded bottom or a combination of both types of bottom configured to handle water which may be shallow or deep, calm or rough. Further, the strength and water tight integrity in the bow area is maximized since the vessel has conventional hull lines, including a sharp inclined bow and the movable part of the bow that can be opened and closed to facilitate loading and unloading of vehicles and cargo is a single unit. 
         [0068]    All operations (including, but not limited to, supply and light cargo operations, support purposes for larger vessels or marine structures, offshore and remote onshore surveying, search and rescue, firefighting and/or offshore and remote onshore surveying operations) are facilitated by the unitary bow door and multi-folding ramp and by the ability to operate at high speed in many water conditions due to the efficiency of the hull and bow form. 
         [0069]    The invention will be particularly described in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein  FIG. 1  is an overall view of a vessel  100  configured for use in any type of water such as at sea, in a bay, on a lake, on a river or on an ocean. 
         [0070]    The vessel  100  generally includes a hull  101 , a deck  150 , a control station  160 , a movable bow section  200 , a transom  105 , and a folding ramp assembly which may take several forms but with a common first section  301 . The vessel  100  is propelled by a motor or motors (not shown), and may be electrically powered from battery sources, hybrid powered, (with electric propulsion motor or motors supplied from batteries which are, in turn, charged by a generator or generators driven by an internal combustion engine or engines), or by a conventional internal combustion engine or engines which may be mounted inboard or outboard on the hull  101 . The bottom  104  of the hull  101 , may be vee shaped or generally vee shaped. In other embodiments the hull  101  may have a flat bottom, pontoon, round bilge or other shapes. 
         [0071]    In the present embodiments, the movable part of the bow section  200  takes the form of a continuation of the main hull  101  but with the ability to pivot or rotate about pivot points  210 , aft or close to, the aft end of the upper bow plate or surface  204 .  FIGS. 2 to 17  show various embodiments with the movable bow section  200  pivoted at pivot points  210  at substantially horizontal axis  212  into a fully open configuration. 
         [0072]    The movable section of the bow  200  may be supported by other means than the pivot described in the present embodiment. For example, rather than a single pivot point  210 , the movable section may be supported by a linkage with multiple pivot axes, which may still have its movement controlled manually or electrically, pneumatically or hydraulically. 
         [0073]    The vessel  100  includes a planar deck  150  which is a part of the hull  101 . The deck or deck area terminates transversely at the forward end at a position longitudinally close to, but not necessarily aligned with, first corner  201  and second corner  202  when the bow section is in the fully closed configuration. As shown in  FIG. 4 , first and second corners  201 ,  202  terminate at shared edge  203 . 
         [0074]    The deck may extend aft to the stern or transom  105  of the hull  101  as shown in  FIGS. 1 to 16 . In other embodiments the aft or rear end of the deck  150  may terminate transversely in the general area of the control station  160  with other deck pieces  152  located at different, offset, vertical positions, extending from the aft termination of deck  150  to the stern or transom  105  of the hull  101 . A smaller forward deck piece  151  extends forward at a position offset from and lower than the deck  150  from a position close to, but not necessarily coincident with, the forward transverse termination of deck  150  to the bow, with the outer edges generally following the curved lines of hull  101  in this area. A plate or surface  153  joins the aft or rear termination of the forward deck  151  and the forward termination of the planar deck  150  to effectively close or seal the open bow area from the interior of the hull  101 . 
         [0075]    The deck  150  in the present embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1 to 17  has planar or flat form, but may, in other embodiments, be formed of multiple pieces which may take the form of, but not limited to, steps or other raised or lowered sections. 
         [0076]    The vessel  100  includes a folding ramp assembly  300 ,  302 ,  303  or  304  which may take forms shown in  FIGS. 2 to 17  but are not limited to these forms. In a first embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the folding ramp assembly  300  is formed of two sections, a first section  301  and a second section  305 . Adjacent ramp sections are connected one to another at folding interface  315 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . Folding interface may be a hinge or a plurality of hinges. In the fully closed configuration of the ramp assembly  300 , shown in  FIG. 2 , the second section  305  is folded adjacent to the first section  301 . The first section  301  is folded with its upper aft edge in a position close to the upper forward edge of deck  150  and with its upper surface at a suitable angle to the upper surface of the deck  150  so that the folded ramp assembly  300  does not extend beyond the upper plate or surface  204  of the movable bow section  200  when the movable bow section  200  is in a closed configuration. In an intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  300 , shown in  FIG. 3 , the second section  305  is folded adjacent to the first section  301  and the first section  301  is moved to a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 . In the fully open configuration of the ramp assembly  300 , shown in  FIG. 4 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150  and the second section  305  is unfolded to its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301 . 
         [0077]    In a second embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 5 to 8 , the folding ramp assembly  302  is formed of three sections, a first section  301 , a second section  305  and a third section  306 . In the fully closed configuration of the ramp assembly  302 , shown in  FIG. 5 , the second section  305  is folded adjacent to the first section  301  and the third section  306  is folded adjacent to the second section  305 . The first section  301  is folded with its upper aft edge in a position close to the upper forward edge of deck  150  and with its upper surface at a suitable angle to the upper surface of the deck  150  so that the folded ramp assembly  300  does not extend beyond the upper plate or surface  204  of the movable bow section  200  when the movable bow section  200  is in a closed configuration. In a first intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  302 , shown in  FIG. 6 , the second section  305  is folded adjacent to the first section  301 , the third section  306  is folded adjacent to the second section  305  and the first section  301  is moved to a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 . In a second intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  302 , shown in  FIG. 7 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 , the second section  305  is unfolded to its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301 , and the third section  306  remains folded adjacent to the second section  305 . In the fully open configuration of the ramp assembly  302 , shown in  FIG. 8 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 , the second section  305  remains in its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301  and the third section  306  is unfolded to its final position which may or may not have its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the second section  305 . 
         [0078]    In a third embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 9 to 12 , the folding ramp assembly  303  is formed of four sections, a first section  301 , a second section  307  and dual track extensions  308 . In the fully closed configuration of the ramp assembly  303 , shown in  FIG. 9 , the second section  307  is folded adjacent to the first section  301  and the dual track extensions  308  are retracted into the second section  307 . The first section  301  is folded with its upper aft edge in a position close to the upper forward edge of the deck  150  and with its upper surface at a suitable angle to the upper surface of the deck  150  so that the folded ramp assembly  303  does not extend beyond the upper plate or surface  204  of the movable bow section  200  when the movable bow section  200  is in a closed configuration. In a first intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  303 , shown in  FIG. 10 , the second section  307  is folded adjacent to the first section  301 , the dual track extensions  308  are retracted into the second section  307  and the first section  301  is moved to a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 . In a second intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  303 , shown in  FIG. 11 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 , the second section  307  is unfolded to its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301 , and the dual track extensions  308  remain retracted into the second section  307 . In the fully open configuration of the ramp assembly  303 , shown in  FIG. 12 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 , the second section  307  remains in its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301  and the dual track extensions  308  are extended to a suitable position from the second section  307 . 
         [0079]    In a fourth embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 13 to 16 , the folding ramp assembly  304  is formed of three sections, a first section  301 , a second section  309  and a single piece track extension  310 . In the fully closed configuration of the ramp assembly  304 , shown in  FIG. 13 , the second section  309  is folded adjacent to the first section  301  and the single piece track extension  310  is retracted into the second section  309 . The first section  301  is folded with its upper aft edge in a position close to the upper forward edge of the deck  150  and with its upper surface at a suitable angle to the upper surface of the deck  150  so that the folded ramp assembly  304  does not extend beyond the upper plate or surface  204  of the movable bow section  200  when the movable bow section  200  is in a closed configuration. In a first intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  304 , shown in  FIG. 14 , the second section  309  is folded adjacent to the first section  301 , the single piece track extension  310  is retracted into the second section  309  and the first section  301  is moved to a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 . In a second intermediate configuration of the ramp assembly  304 , shown in  FIG. 15 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 , the second section  309  is unfolded to its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301 , and the single piece track extension  310  remains retracted into the second section  309 . In the fully open configuration of the ramp assembly  304 , shown in  FIG. 16 , the first section  301  remains in a position with its upper surface nominally aligned with the upper surface of the deck  150 , the second section  309  remains in its final position with its upper surface at an angle which may or may not be aligned with the upper surface of the first section  301  and the single piece track extension  310  is extended from the second section  309 . 
         [0080]    Any of the various ramp assemblies ( 300 ,  302 ,  303  or  304 ) may be moved to the configurations shown in  FIGS. 2 to 16  or, in other embodiments, to other configurations which may involve increased movement or lesser movement of the individual ramp sections. The movements or motions described may be achieved manually, by electric, hydraulic or pneumatic power, or any combination thereof. 
         [0081]      FIG. 17  shows the movable bow section in the open position with power rotation provided by electric linear actuators  216 , although it should be understood that the power rotation may be provided by other electrically powered means or by, but not limited to, hydraulic, pneumatic or manual means. 
         [0082]    Specifications of certain structures and components of the present invention have been established in the process of developing and perfecting prototypes and working models. These specifications are set forth for purposes of describing an embodiment, and setting forth the best mode, but should not be construed as teaching the only possible embodiment. Rather, modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. It should be understood that all specifications, unless otherwise stated or contrary to common sense, are +/−10%, and that ranges of values set forth inherently include those values, as well as all increments between.