Patent Publication Number: US-2016244132-A1

Title: Automated boats washing dock and relative method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to an automated boats washing dock. 
     In particular, the present invention relates to an automated boats washing dock of the type carrying out the complete boats washing directly into the sea. 
     The present invention relates also to a method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As is well known, in the field of crafts, the cleaning of the boat&#39;s submerged part, the so-called “hull”, is of great importance. Indeed, since the boat is put in the sea, a thin layer of vegetation begins to form on the bottom of the boat itself. This layer, consisting of bacteria, microorganisms, protozoa, and macro algae, tends to consolidate more and more, favoring the formation of small deposits that become very difficult to remove. The growth of these organisms leads to an appreciable decrease in the performance of the boat and, consequently, to a higher consumption of energy resources necessary for its thrust, as well as a slow and continuous deterioration of the hull. 
     The known solutions to solve this problem involve the treatment of the hull with poisonous chemicals, the so-called “anti-fouling”, which, however, only slow down, without eliminating, the proliferation of organisms and micro-organisms, flora and fauna that contact the hull. Moreover, the treatment is repeated once a year or every two years and requires a complex series of operations, such as:—haulage, which consists in the extraction of the boat from the water;—potting and pressure washing, through which the boat is dry placed;—The dock, which consists in the cleaning of the hull;—The launch, or the boat laying in the water. Therefore, the time taken to perform the dock is long and tedious and takes about one or two weeks of work. In addition, all of these operations have a relatively high cost, pollute of the marine environment with the anti-fouling paints used and are also risky for operators and for the boat, because the hauling, the potting and pressure washing involve the lifting of the vessel by means of systems comprising pulleys and cables passed under the hull. 
     As an example, the patent DE 19734073 assigned on Nov. 12, 1998 to FRAUNHOFER GES FORSCHUNG describes a method involving projecting a high pressure water jet over the surface of the hull which is raised out of the water. The lift to raise the hull out of the water for cleaning has at least two upwardly open U-shaped profiled supports. These have movable carriages, attached to each facing upper U-shank with winches each having a support strap. The cleaning jet has at least two water jet nozzles movable along and perpendicular to the marine vessel longitudinal axis and each positioned on the opposing sides of the hull. 
     The problem of this solution is that it is necessary that the hull is raised out of the water. 
     A recent solution of marine plant for the automatic washing of boats, in particular for cleaning the hull, is described in the international patent application US 2008282956 published on Nov. 20, 2008 in the name of the present Applicant. The patent application describes a marine plant for the automatic washing of boats comprising a supporting structure partially submerged, means for cleaning the boat, means for transmitting the motion commanded by at least one motor suitable for reciprocally positioning at least part of said cleaning means in relation to the boat, and a command unit for the operator to control the marine plant. 
     However, this solution has the problem of the efficient utilization of the system described. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A purpose of the present invention is to provide an automated boats washing dock and relative method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock, able to perform the automatic cleaning of the boat and in particular of the hull without removing the boat from the water and using the plant for the automatic washing patented by the same Applicant. 
     According to the present invention, an automated boats washing dock is realized, as defined in claim  1 . 
     According to the present invention a method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock is also realized, as defined in claim  6 . 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a better understanding of the present invention a preferred embodiment is now described, purely as a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a marine plant for the automatic washing of boats, according to the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an automated boats washing dock, according to the invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of a flow diagram of a method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock, according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to these figures, and, in particular, to  FIG. 2 , an automated boat washing dock is shown, according to the invention. In details, the automated boat washing dock  100  comprises a translation block  101  for introducing and moving the hull within the dock, a block  102  for lifting the boat, a block  103  for washing the hull and a block  104  for suction and purification of the waste water of the hull washing. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, the positioning of the boat in the dock  100  is performed by micrometric GPS means. 
     More in details, the translation block  101  for introducing and moving the hull within the dock comprises a block  105  for management of the hull entrance, configured for drawing the boats, for positioning them aligned to a predetermined distance axis inside the washing plant  1 , shown in  FIG. 1 , and finally for scanning the bottom of the hull by detecting the geometries and performing a computer reconstruction by means of a dedicated software. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the translation block  101  comprises mechanical arms used for the handling of the hull. The mechanical arms are able to exercise contact with the hull by means of movable wheels and/or drag wheels and/or depreciated tampons, which are maintained into contact with the sides of the boat by means of power accessories (hydraulic type and/or electromechanical type). In particular, the power accessories maintain the contact with the hull and ensure a constant pressure by managing the control system by means of load cells and optical readers. Contact accessories are fixed to the mechanical arms by means of an articulation axle, so that they can oscillate around its articulation axis and adapt to the profile of the side of the hull. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the dock  100  comprises a series of floating docks below the hull, such as to create a working area to perform maintenance of various types of the hull, of the appendages and of the governance and propulsion bodies of the boat. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, the scanning of the hull is made by means of a laser beam per 10 cm of advancement. 
     Moreover, the block  101  comprises a block  106  for management of the hull movements across the dock  100  by means of the mechanical arms. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, the block  106  is controlled hydraulically and/or electromechanically, determines the inversion of the motion and ensures the crossing of the washing area in both input and output directions, depending on the areas to be washed and on the predetermined washing path. 
     Finally, the block  101  comprises a block  107  for managing the hull exit, configured for accompanying the hull out of the automated boats washing dock  100  by means of the mechanical arms. 
     The block  102  for lifting the boat comprises mechanical hinged arms stretching towards predetermined gripping points of the hull, the points being established as a function of the detected hull geometry, and performing the lifting of the hull, in accordance with the current safety mechanics standards. 
     The block  103  for washing the hull comprises horizontal cylindrical rotating brushes having compressed air nozzles and suitable for cleaning the horizontal or inclined surfaces of the hull, up to a specific angle of the bottom of the hull detected by the scanning and reconstructed by means of the dedicated software. The block  103  comprises also rotating cylindrical vertical brushes having compressed air nozzles and suitable for cleaning the side surfaces of the hull and all surfaces that are not treatable with the horizontal cylindrical brushes, for example the axes&#39; lines, the stands, the rudders, the propellers and each generic appendage detected by the scanning and reconstructed by the software. Moreover, these brushes are able to follow the shapes changes of the bottom of any hull by means of a servo mechanical and/or hydraulic system. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the suction block  104  for exhausting and purifying the waste water of the hull washing is connected to suction inlets positioned close to the system  100 . 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the suction and purification block  104  for suction and purification of the waste water of the hull washing is configured for exhausting the waste water within a closed water basin. 
     As explained above, the present application also relates to a method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock above described. The method comprises the steps of: 
     preparing the automated boats washing dock  100  by opening the mechanical arms configured for taking over the boat; 
     supporting the boats entering and positioning within the automated boats washing dock  100 ; 
     classifying the type of hull between: planing/displacing hull, sailing, catamaran/trimaran; 
     closing the mechanical arms to take over the boat; 
     scanning the boats to reconstruct its three-dimensional geometry, by means of a dedicated software; 
     carrying out a boats treatment phase; 
     storing the information on the treatment phase performed and connecting it to the license plate number of the boats; 
     Releasing the hull and expelling the boats by means of the opening of the mechanical arms. 
     In  FIG. 3  a flow diagram of the method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock is shown. 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the step of scanning the boat to reconstruct its three-dimensional geometry, by means of dedicated software, comprises the step of scanning the immersed hull by means of a sonar and of detecting the profile of the hull by means of a laser. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the boat treatment phase comprises performing the lifting of the boat, or performing the boat washing, or performing the boat lifting and then the boat washing. In particular, the boat lifting is performed in a different manner depending on the type of boat defined in the classification stage. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, in the case of first intervention on a boat, the lifting step comprises performing a step of accompanying the boat in the lifting position by means of manual calibration. 
     Furthermore, the lifting step comprises performing the lifting by means of simultaneous action of a plurality of mechanical arms simultaneously operating on the gripping points of the immersed hull such as to ensure the lifting of the boat. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, in the case of first intervention on a boat, the washing step comprises performing the washing action by manual calibration. 
     Furthermore, the washing step comprises washing by means of combined action of rotating brushes simultaneously operating on the immersed hull and on the sides of the boat. 
     Furthermore, the step of scanning the boat is preceded by the step of putting the axis of the hull centered with the axis of the dock system  100 , using geometric redundancies and retroactive control. 
     According to one aspect of the invention, the scanning of the immersed hull is performed by a sonar profiler. 
     Advantageously, the washing process is performed by the combined action of the rotating horizontal and vertical brushes. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, the washing is performed on the bottom, on the sides, on the drifts, on the transom, on the bulbs, on the fins and on the various appendages of the boat. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, the washing is also performed on the propulsion organs and on the governance organs, such as propellers, rudders, shaft lines, stabilizing fins, scuppers. 
     Advantageously, the washing step comprises the steps of operating the rotation of the brushes, of activating the air-water descaling nozzles and of activating the block for exhausting the washing waste water. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, during the crossing of the boat in the washing block, the relative positions of the brushes with respect to the geometry of the hull are handled by means of the dedicated control software that allows to communicate to a central control system the punctual hull position and to manage the geometric variation of the brushes positions, depending on the geometry of the hull relative to the variation timely detected. 
     Advantageously, according to the invention, the dock  100  comprises brushes dedicated to boat appendices, for example keel and rudder, which guarantee the cleaning without contacting the hull. 
     Therefore, the automated boats washing dock and relative method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock according to the invention allow to manage the lifting and the washing of the boat in a precise manner due to the geometry scanning of the boat surfaces. 
     Another advantage of the automated boats washing dock and relative method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock according to the invention consists in the fact that it is not necessary to remove the boat from the water to use the washing plant. 
     Moreover, the automated boats washing dock and relative method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock according to the invention are much more effective and efficient than the known systems and methods. 
     Finally it is clear that the automated boats washing dock and relative method for boats washing in the automated boats washing dock according to the invention described and illustrated here can be modified and varied without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.