Motor-driven inflatable boat, in particular for ice rescue, comprising mounted steering devices, control units and an air propeller propulsion device

Abstract

An engine-driven device comprising a keel-less boat body consisting of at least two parallel, spaced, inflated tube bodies ( 1, 2 ) and comprising a substantially rigid or firm bottom ( 6 ) which is disposed between said tube bodies. A propeller propulsion ( 25 ) together with the steering means ( 27 ) and with control means ( 31, 32 ) for the propulsion are mounted on the bottom, said propeller propulsion ( 25 ) being mounted in a raised position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An engine-driven device comprising a keel-less boat body of at least two parallel inflated tube bodies ( 1 ,  2 ) disposed in a spaced relationship and a substantially rigid or firm bottom ( 6 ) disposed between said tube bodies, on which a propeller propulsion ( 25 ) is mounted in a raised position together with the steering means ( 27 ) for the boat and with control means ( 31 ,  32 ) for the propulsion.  
     
     
         2 . An engine-driven device comprising a keel-less main body of at least two parallel, inflated tube bodies ( 1 ,  2 ) disposed in a spaced relationship and a substantially rigid bottom ( 6 ) which is mountable on a frame support ( 10 ), on which a propeller propulsion ( 25 ) is mounted in a raised position ( 20 ,  21 ).  
     
     
         3 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the propeller drive ( 25 ) is disposed in the stern area of the boat and is designed as a thrust propulsion.  
     
     
         4 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that two propeller drives ( 25   a ,  25   b ) are provided in tandem arrangement one behind the other, the rear propeller drive ( 25   a ), seen in the direction of motion, being designed as a thrust propulsion and the front propulsion drive ( 25   b ) being designed as a traction propulsion.  
     
     
         5 . A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein at least two controllable lateral rudders ( 27   a ,  27   b ) that are disposed symmetrically to the vertical longitudinal central plane of the vehicle are connected downstream of the thrust propulsion ( 25 ,  25   a ).  
     
     
         6 . A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein only the propeller ( 25 ) is mounted in a raised position and is connected with the drive engine( 41 ) and/or the appertaining gearbox ( 42 ) through flexible drive elements such as belt ( 17 ), chain or toothed belt.  
     
     
         7 . A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the propeller blades are adjustable about their longitudinal axis—preferably up to a thrust reversal position.  
     
     
         8 . A device as claimed in any of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the propeller propulsion ( 25 ) with the engine ( 41 ) is disposed about an axis ( 41   b ) in a rotatable or swivelling fashion, which is approx. vertical to the bottom ( 5 ,  6 ) for steering and/or slowing down.  
     
     
         9 . A device as claimed in any of  claims 2  to  8 , characterized in that the propeller propulsion ( 25 ) is mounted on a base frame portion ( 11 ) by means of braces ( 20   a ,  20   b ) that are partly articulatedly connected and partly longitudinally adjustable in a raised position and adjustably with respect to a plane that is in parallel to the bottom ( 5 ,  6 ).  
     
     
         10 . A device as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one seat ( 30 ) with display means and control means ( 31 ,  32 ) for the drive engine ( 13 ), lateral rudders ( 27 ), adjustment means for the propeller blades is fixedly disposed on an extension ( 12 ) of the base frame portion ( 11 ) in the direction of motion and is preferably detachable from the bottom ( 5 ,  6 ) as a unit with the support frame ( 10 ).  
     
     
         11 . A device as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the seat ( 30 ) is designed like a motorcycle seat in a boxlike fashion for one, two or more persons and contains the electric circuits and the fuel conveying means below the seat in an accessible and protected fashion.  
     
     
         12 . A device as claimed in  claim 10  or  11 , characterized in that a handlebar ( 32 ) such as a motorcycle handlebar is provided for steering the device, whose steering angle movements are transmittable to the lateral rudders ( 27   a ,  27   b ) or to another steering means such as a live ring in an opposition direction for a rotatable or pivotable propeller propulsion in order to steer the boat into a curve in the same direction, said curve corresponding to the steering movement.  
     
     
         13 . A device as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein a rudder that is adjustable between a position in which the boat immerses into the water and a position in which the boat emerges from the water and assists the steering of the vehicle in the water and is pivotable, in particular a steering blade ( 15 ), is disposed at the stern portion (H) of the bottom ( 6 ), said rudder being steerable by the control element ( 32 ) or another steering means, e.g. through sheathed cables ( 53 ), independently of or jointly with and in a direction opposite to that of the lateral rudder ( 27 ).  
     
     
         14 . A device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that a reverse gearbox ( 42 ) for changing the direction of rotation of the propeller and for slowing down is connected downstream of the drive engine ( 41 ).  
     
     
         15 . A device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the steering angle movements of the bicycle handlebar are transmitted to the lateral rudders and/or the other steering means through sheathed cable that cross each other.  
     
     
         16 . An engine-driven transport device comprising a keel-less main body consisting of at least two parallel, spaced, inflated tube bodies ( 1 ,  2 ), in which 
 a. a substantially rigid or firm bottom ( 6 ) is disposed between the tube bodies and connected to these tube bodies;    b. a propeller propulsion ( 25 ) and the steering means ( 27 ) and control means ( 31   32 ) for the propulsion are jointly mounted on the bottom in the stern area of the transport device, said propeller propulsion ( 25 ) being mounted in a raised position and in the form of a shroud propeller ( 26 ).    
     
     
         17 . An engine-driven transport device comprising a keel-less main body consisting of at least two parallel, spaced, inflated tube bodies ( 1 ,  2 ), in which 
 a. a substantially rigid or firm bottom ( 6 ) is disposed between the tube bodies and connected to these tube bodies;    b. a firm frame ( 10 ) is detachably affixed in the rear area of the bottom ( 6 );    c. a propeller propulsion ( 25 ) and steering means ( 27 ) and control means ( 31 ,  32 ) for the propulsion are jointly mounted on the frame, said propeller propulsion ( 25 ) being mounted in a raised position.    
     
     
         18 . A device as claimed in the preceding claim, characterized in that a box-shaped seat ( 30 ) is disposed on an extension ( 12 ) of a base frame portion ( 11 ) in substantially parallel alignment to the direction of motion or to the inflated parallel tube bodies ( 1 ,  2 ).  
     
     
         19 . A device as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein display means and control elements ( 31 ,  32 ) for the drive engine ( 13 ), lateral rudders ( 27 ), adjustment means for the propeller blades are fixed and preferably detachable as a unit with the frame support ( 10  from the bottom ( 5 ,  6 ).  
     
     
         20 . A device as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the seat ( 30 ) is designed for one, two or more persons like a motorcycle seat and that the electric circuits and the fuel conveying means are accessible below the seat and protected by the seat.