Field of the invention

The present invention relates to marine markers of the type which can be used on waterways as navigational aids, or for providing information.

Background of the invention

Numerous marine markers are used in water ways as aids to navigation, serving for example to indicate safe channels or to warn of any navigational hazards. Marine markers may be fixed on land or they may be floating aids, and they include lighted and unlighted beacons, leading lights, and buoys, as well as sound signals associated with these aids. Certain marine markers need to be provided with a source of power which may be provided, for example, by solar panels. Marine markers and any warning or information signs are constantly exposed to harsh environmental forces and occasional collisions from watercraft. Therefore, they need to be robust and typically they require regular maintenance. This may involve, among other things, painting work, replacing light globes, or maintenance of solar panels. Servicing marine markers may also include replacing of timber and steel piles that have been affected by marine borers and rust. As marine markers are designed to be robust and durable, they are very heavy and difficult to handle.

Servicing and maintenance of marine markers is generally done on site, requiring maintenance workers to firstly moor a service craft to or near the marine marker, and then climb up the marine marker, or alternatively, attempt to service the marker from the deck of the service craft. Tides and wave or swell motion, as well as wind and flows tend to make servicing work much more difficult and dangerous. When the marine marker has a height of above 2m from the waterline, the maintenance workers may be required to wear safety harnesses, and still conduct the maintenance tasks in somewhat precarious and dangerous conditions. The maintenance intervals for marine markers may vary from "as needed" basis due to constant remote monitoring of a marker to predetermined service intervals (the length of the service interval depending on the type of marker in question and its location). Regardless of the servicing interval, however, it is important that all of the functions of a marine marker are in good working condition at all times.

Work place practices that are in use for servicing marine markers require specialised equipment to make maintenance work safe. Workplace health and safety issues may require all maintenance crews to wear safety harnesses or pole safety belts when working at heights greater than two meters. Even with such equipment, handling heavy markers can be difficult and dangerous, particularly when high winds and seas complicate the maintenance operations. In addition, wearing safety harnesses can be uncomfortable at those heights as the working positions may be difficult, but the work to be done on the navigational marker requires detailed operations, precision, and balance. Wearing a safety harness can thus be restraining and strenuous, and may complicate the work at hand.

It should be noted that reference to any prior art in the specification should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that this prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other jurisdiction or that this prior art could reasonably be expected to be ascertained, understood and regarded as relevant by a person skilled in the art.

Summary of the invention

According to the invention there is provided a marine marker comprising an upper portion that, in use, projects above a water surface, a lower portion that, in use, is mounted in the water to support the upper portion, and a hinge assembly between the upper portion and the lower portion, arranged such that the marker is movable between a mounted configuration in which the upper portion and the lower portion are substantially columnar and a service configuration in which the upper portion is pivoted relative to the lower portion. In one embodiment of the invention, the hinge assembly comprises a hinge and a locking means on opposite sides of the marine marker to releasably secure the upper portion and the lower portion in the mounted configuration.

In another embodiment of the invention, the hinge assembly comprises a plurality of hinges, selectable to pivot the upper portion of the marker in a chosen direction.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the hinge assembly comprises a first hinge and a second hinge, said first hinge being adapted to pivot the upper portion of the marine marker to the service configuration when said second hinge, adapted to function as a locking means in the mounted configuration, is detached to allow the upper portion of the marine marker to pivot.

The marine marker may be manufactured by the Filament Winding Method or Pultrusion Method. In one form of the invention, the marine marker includes a photoluminescent light source which enables the marker to glow in the dark after being exposed to visible light during the day. The marine marker may further include colour coding which enables the markers to conform to existing standards of navigation.

In another embodiment of the invention there is provided a hinge assembly comprising: a first hinge comprising a first hinge plate connected to a second hinge plate, the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate pivotable about a folding axis relative to one another, a detachable hinge pin connecting said first hinge plate and said second hinge plate; and a split pin for locking said hinge pin in place, said hinge pin and said split pin being connected by a connector element that is flexible enough to enable detaching said split pin.

The hinge assembly may further comprise a second hinge comprising: a first hinge plate connected to a second hinge plate, the first and the second hinge plate pivotable about a folding axis relative to one another, a detachable hinge pin connecting said first hinge plate and said second hinge plate, and a split pin for locking said hinge pin in place, said hinge pin and said split pin being connected by a connector element that is flexible enough to enable detaching said split pin, wherein the first hinge is connected to the second hinge by a second connector element that is flexible enough to enable detaching at least one of the hinge pins and releasing the connection between the first hinge plate and the second hinge plate.

In one preferred form of the invention, the marine marker and/or the hinge assembly are made of a composite material.

The marine marker and the hinge assembly according to the present invention allow the upper portion of the marine beacon to be lowered into a service boat, thus providing a safe and easy way for the maintenance work to be completed. This flexibility makes servicing of navigational markers in the marine environment simpler and more cost effective. The upper portion of the marine marker can be lowered into a service boat and the maintenance work can be completed while standing on the floor of the vessel. This is a practical and safe manner to service marine beacons. These and further features and advantages of the present invention will be made more apparent from the description of an embodiment thereof given below by way of example. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, but the specific features shown in the drawings should not be construed as limiting on the invention.

The invention can specifically be adapted for marine beacons but it is to be understood that the invention may have use in many other applications. In the specification, the . term "marine marker" is intended to be interpreted broadly, that is, a marker used in a waterway, and the invention is not to be considered as limiting to any of the specific applications discussed herein.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figures 1 A and 1 B show schematically a side view of a marine marker; Figures 2A and 2B show schematically the hinge structure suitable for the marine marker of Figure 1 ;

Figures 3A and 3B show schematically a front view and a back view of the marine marker of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 shows schematically a top view of the marine beacon and the hinge structure;

Figures 5, 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the hinge assembly;

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show respectively a top view, front view and end view of a hinge plate of the hinge assembly of Figures 5-7; and

Figures 9 and 10 show alternative versions of the locking mechanism for the hinge arrangement of Figure 5.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Turning to Figures 1A and 1B, a marine marker or a navigational aid according to an embodiment of the present invention is described. The marine marker is a pile that consists of a upper portion 2 and a lower portion 3 that are joined together with a hinge assembly 4. The upper portion 2 typically includes light or energy sources that need to be serviced regularly, and maintenance crews thus need access to the upper portion. The hinge assembly 4 consists of a jointed hinge 5 and a rigid locking bracket 6. Hinge 5 is pivotable about a folding axis 7 so as to allow the upper portion 2 of the marine beacon to be rotated from an upright position. The upper portion can thus be lowered into a work vessel and the marine marker can be serviced while supported on the vessel.

The hinge assembly 4 acts as the joining device which, when opened, allows the upper portion 2 of the marine marker 1 to be rotated to a service configuration as illustrated in Figure 1 B. After the marker has been serviced, the upper portion 2 may be rotated about the axis 7 to a mounted configuration in which the upper portion and the lower portion are substantially columnar or co-axial. The marine marker 1 is in the form of a pile or post that is installed in a waterway. The lower portion 3 is driven into the bed of a waterway and supports the upper portion. Generally, the upper portion 2 protrudes above the surface of the water to serve as a guide or marker. Additional equipment such as solar panel, lights, alarms and signs may be mounted on to the marine marker.

The body of the marine marker 1 is preferably constructed from a composite material such as Fibre Reinforced Plastic (FRP). A lightweight composite material is preferably selected as it will be easier to handle when servicing the marine marker. A worker may readily raise and lower the upper portion 2 formed of a composite material. This may be difficult for an unassisted worker to do if the upper portion is formed of a heavier material such as timber or steel. Many composite materials are by nature lighter and have far better long-term performance than materials being currently used in the marine environment. Material selection is at least partially driven by cost and functional needs of the marine markers, and therefore, the strength and cost of composite materials may outweigh metal structures in many applications. Functional needs for the marine markers may include suitable protective coatings, and it may include factors such as environmental conditions, traffic density, and size/visibility requirements.

The composite material is preferably a combination of a matrix and fibre or fibres, where most of the strength and stiffness for the composite material is provided by the reinforcing fibres. The fibres can be carbon, graphite, Kevlar™, fibreglass or other some other suitable fibre that provides the necessary strength and stiffness for the finished product. Surrounding each fibre strand is a matrix, which holds the structure together and allows the product to be formed into various shapes. The matrix is advantageously a polymer such as polyester or the like but it could be any other material with suitable properties. Composites offer the unique ability to mix fibres and matrix materials to develop a material most suitable for the described marine markers.

Production of the marine marker according to the present invention can be done by known manufacturing methods such as the Filament Winding Method, Pultrusion method, molding and bonding, or any other suitable manufacturing method. The filament winding method consists of winding continuous rovings of fibre onto a rotating mandrel in predetermined patterns. This method of manufacturing provides control over fibre placement and uniformity of the structure. By adjusting the relative speed or rotation of the mandrel, glass distribution, and head movement, a helical reinforced pipe is formed.

The pultrusion method is a continuous manufacturing process which creates fibre reinforced polymer profiles of considerable strength and resilience. A reinforcement material is drawn through a liquid thermosetting resin bath. The wet, fibrous laminate is pulled through a heated steel die, where precise temperature control cures the material into the required profile. Necessary strength, colour and other characteristics can be designed into the profile by changes in the resin mixture and reinforcement materials. The fibre reinforcement may consist of Innegra, where carbon and e-glass fibres are in the form of drawn rovings with continuous strand mating and stitched fabric. The resin or matrix may be a two-component polyurethane based thermoset resin, Baydur PUL 2500 which will band the layers of fibreglass reinforcement into a single laminate.

A photoluminescent powder pigment, such as GTB 8500 Ocean pigment can be added to the resin mixture. Adding a colouring pigment to the marine marker material enables colour coding the markers to conform to existing standards. A photoluminescent plastic polyurethane light source will also enable the markers to glow in the dark to further eliminate problems associated with the maintenance procedure and further help with navigation at sea. Exposure of the photoluminiscent material to visible or ultraviolet radiation will result in a lasting luminescence for visibility. The use of the photoluminescent materials may reduce or eliminate the need for powered light source.

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a hinge assembly. The hinge 5, shown in Figure 2A, is mounted fixedly to the marine beacon by fastening elements 8. The fastening elements are, for example, screws or bolts 8 through openings 10. The hinge can pivot around the axis 7 between 0 and 180 degrees to allow the upper portion of the marine beacon to bend downwards. The hinge 5 has an upper plate that is attached to the upper portion 2 of the marine marker and a lower plate that is attached to the lower portion 3 of the marine marker. In one arrangement, the upper and lower plated each have a set of spaced-apart loops. The loops on the upper and lower plates are complementary such that when the upper and lower plates are assembled, the loops interlace to form a generally cylindrical structure along axis 7. A pin is positioned into the cylindrical structure to hold the upper and lower plates together and allow the plates to pivot relative to one another around axis 7. The loops may be integrally formed with the respective plates.

The locking bracket 6, shown in Figure 2B, is mounted to the marine marker with fastening elements 9 such as screws or bolts through openings 11. The locking bracket 6 spans the upper portion and the lower portion, enabling the two to be held in position relative to one another. In servicing, the locking bracket 6 is detached from the upper portion 2 and/or the lower portion 3. Then, as illustrated in Figure 1 B, the upper portion 2 may be pivoted to the service configuration about axis 7.

The hinge 5, the locking bracket 6 and the securing hardware 8 and 9 may all be made from materials that conform with the specifications for a marine environment. They may, for example, be made of a composite material such as a composite FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic) with a carbon fibre pin as folding axis 7 which is tough and highly fatigue-resistant. High performance composites are durable in the marine environment, and the absence of corrosion and rust reduces maintenance intervals and costs significantly.

Figures 3A and 3B show front and back views of the marine marker with the hinge 5 and the locking bracket 6 mounted on the sides of the marine marker pile 1. The upper portion of the marine marker is fitted with the locking bracket so that when the upper portion is in the upright position, it is locked onto the lower portion and the pile becomes a fixed structure. Access to the upper portion of the marine marker is effected by removing retaining screws 12 and pivoting the hinge 5 as shown in Figure 1 B. Alternatively, the locking bracket may be detached from the upper portion 2 to enable rotation of the upper portion. Figure 4 shows a top view of the marine marker 1. The hinge 5 and the locking bracket 6 may be mounted on opposite sides of the marine marker 1 to give the structure maximum strength when in the upright, fixed position.

Figure 5 illustrates another exemplary form of the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly 64 includes two hinges 18 and 20, each hinge including an upper hinge plate 22 and a lower hinge plate 24, and a hinge pin 26 and 28 connecting the upper hinge plate and the lower hinge plate. The upper hinge plate 22 and lower hinge plate each have a series of projecting struts 66, each strut having a hole therein. The struts are arranged such that when the upper and lower hinge plates are positioned adjacent to one another, struts are alternately aligned from the upper and lower hinge plates. When aligned, the holes in each strut line up, enabling the hinge pins 26 and 28 to be inserted through the holes, thus fastening the plates to one another. In one arrangement the struts have a shape approximately like the segment of a circle. The narrow portion of the segment is positioned toward the central portion of the plate and the broader portion is positioned adjacent to the edge of the plate (see, for example the view in Figure 6). The hole is defined in the broader portion of the strut. The struts 66 may be integrally formed with the hinge plates. Figures 8A, 8B and 8C show further views of the hinge plate 20.

When the hinge pins 26 and 28 are in the locking position through the holes in the struts they connect hinge plates 22 and 24 fixedly together, and the hinge structure 64 holds the upper portion and lower portion of the marine marker together in an upright position. The first hinge and the second hinge are connected by a relatively stiff connector element 19 which is flexible enough to allow inserting or removing either one of the hinge pins 26, 28. This arrangement allows either side of the hinge assembly 64 to be unlocked and the marine marker to be rotated towards a more convenient direction. Figure 6 illustrates the marine marker and the hinge assembly when one side of the hinge assembly is unlocked and the upper portion of the marine marker is rotated about the axis of the second hinge.

The locking mechanism for the hinge assembly is shown in more detail in Figure 7. Hinge pins 26 and 28 are secured to stay in the locked position by removable split pins 21 and 23. One half of the split pin 21 , 23 is straight and arranged to go through a hole at the end of the hinge pin, and the second half of the split pin 21 , 23 is curved and arranged to resiliently adjust around the hinge pin to hold the split pin in the hinge pin. The curved portion of the split pin may act to clip the split pin into a groove formed in an end of the hinge pin 26, 28. The hinge pins 26, 28 and the split pins 21 , 23 may be rigid and made of a composite material. All of the pins are preferably connected to each other with a stiff link 19, 25 which can also be made of a composite material. Link 25 joins the split pin 21 and 23 to the hinge pin 26, 28 and link 19 joins the two hinge pins 26, 28. A ring may be formed at the end of the pin 26, 28 to help pull the pins from the respective hinges.

The composite material used for the connector link 19, 25 may include fewer fibres than the material used for the hinge pins and the split pins, thus resulting in a flexible enough link so as to enable pulling out or twisting pins 26 and 23 or 28 and 21 to unlock either side of the hinge assembly when the upper portion of the marine marker is rotated downwards. The link 19, 25 connecting the pins together enables servicing of the marine marker without having to disassemble and reassemble the hinge structure and having loose parts that may get lost or dropped in the water.

Figure 9 shows an alternative locking mechanism 80 for the hinge assembly shown in Figure 5. The locking mechanism 80 has a roughly semi-circular connector 83 joining hinge pins 81 which, in use, hold the respective hinge plates together. A portion 82 of the connector 83 is positioned parallel to each hinge pin 81 , the portion 82 being curved and resilient. In use, the portion 82 presses against the struts 66 of the hinge, thereby holding the hinge pins 81 in position in the hinge assembly. The locking mechanism 80 may be formed from a composite material. Different regions of the mechanism 80 may have different rigidity. For example, the hinge pin portion 81 may be more rigid than the connector 83. The connector 83 is sufficiently flexible that one of the hinge pins 81 may be removed from the hinge assembly while the other hinge pin remains in place.

Figure 10 shows another version 90 of the locking mechanism, having two hinge pins 81 and resilient portions 92 joined by a connector 93. The mechanism 90 also includes a ring 94 adjacent each hinge pin 91. The ring 94 may be of use when removing and inserting the hinge pins 91.

The examples described herein relate to hinged piles for use as marine markers. Similar hinge arrangements may be used, for example, for buoys having upright masts. Where the masts are relatively long, for example more than 2 meters, the arrangements described herein may be advantageous in servicing the mast. The mast may be pivoted downwards to facilitate servicing. It will also be appreciated that other forms of hinge may also be used.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined in this specification extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.

It will also be understood that the term "comprises" (or its grammatical variants) as used in this specification is equivalent to the term "includes" and should not be taken as excluding the presence of other elements or features.