Shock protecting fender for a ship hull

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fender comprising a textile envelop surrounding an inflatable chamber, a valve for inflating/deflating said chamber. According to the invention, said textile envelop comprises a central part for receiving said valve and two longitudinal side parts, said side parts being linked together on at least one portion of their length by a junction zone.

1 . Fender comprising a textile envelop surrounding an inflatable chamber, a valve for inflating/deflating said inflatable chamber wherein said textile envelop comprises a central part for receiving said valve and two longitudinal side parts, said side parts being linked together on at least one portion of their length by a junction zone. 
     
     
         2 . Fender according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side parts is folded and wherein said two side parts are linked together by an additional junction zone. 
     
     
         3 . Fender according to  claim 1 , wherein said junction zone is a knitted textile and wherein said junction zone is sewed to said textile envelop. 
     
     
         4 . Fender according to  claim 1 , wherein said junction zone is a flat textile strip extending essentially along the length of the side parts. 
     
     
         5 . Fender according to  claim 1  wherein said junction zone has an increasing width between the two end portions of said two side parts. 
     
     
         6 . Fender according to  claim 1 , wherein said junction zone comprises two faces and a strap attached on said two faces, said strap enabling to increase the stiffness of said junction zone. 
     
     
         7 . Fender according to  claim 1 , wherein it further comprises a fixation member attached on said junction zone, said fixation member being able to cooperate with a groove provided in a ship's hull. 
     
     
         8 . Fender according to  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable chamber is welded and wherein it comprises a rounded weld on the rounded portions of said chamber, said rounded weld facilitating positioning said inflatable chamber inside said textile envelop and limiting efforts on said weld. 
     
     
         9 . Fender according to  claim 8  wherein said weld is a weld bead forming a circular arc. 
     
     
         10 . Fender according to  claim 1  wherein said inflatable chamber is made of a polyurethane type polymer having a coefficient of elasticity of more than 300%. 
     
     
         11 . Fender according to  claim 1  wherein said textile chamber is made of a textile having a coefficient of elasticity comprised between 5 and 15%, thus enabling said inflatable chamber to further inflate when heated.