Water vessel with propulsion arrangements having bi-directional flanking rudders with a profile for improved effectiveness
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJin Keun Choi, Christopher Paul Kent, Thad J. Michael, David J. Sawyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
One or more propulsion arrangements for water vessels, and in particular propulsion arrangements that include flanking rudders with bidirectional high-lift sections to improve performance, particularly in the reverse direction. The flanking rudders are positioned adjacent a propulsor for directing a slipstream flow when the vessel is travelling in the reverse direction. Each flanking rudder has an elongated profile extending from a first edge to a second edge, and in which each elongated profile has a first bulb portion, a convex middle portion, and a second bulb portion.
Claims8
A water vessel comprising:
- a hull with an underside having a bow end and a stern end;
- at least one propulsion arrangement, wherein each propulsion arrangement comprises:
- a propulsor attached to the underside of the hull at the stern end of the hull;
- a pair of flanking rudders adjacent to the propulsor positioned between the bow end of the hull and the propulsor, each of the pair of flanking rudders having;
- a first edge,
- a second edge,
- a first minimum thickness area,
- a maximum thickness area, and
- a second minimum thickness area,
- an elongated profile extending from the fore/first edge to the aft/second edge, wherein the elongated profile comprise, a first bulb portion, a convex middle portion, and a second bulb portion, wherein the first bulb portion meets the convex middle portion at the first minimum thickness area, and wherein the second bulb portion meets the convex middle portion at the second minimum thickness area, and wherein the maximum thickness area is in the convex middle portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.