System and method for reducing drag on the hull of a vessel
OwnerKhaled M. Karmousinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method of reducing drag on the hull of the vessel by creating a Coanda flow on the hull by jetting a fluid onto the hull or surface continuous with hull. The fluid is jetted onto the hull or surface continuous with the hull at a location above or below the waterline of the vessel. The fluid is jetted from within a habitat positioned at least partially below the waterline, the habitat being vented to atmosphere. The habitat has an open end below the waterline. The Coanda flow extends entrains air below the waterline and adjacent to the hull. An air cavity or sheet is created by the jetted fluid. A system for reducing drag is also disclosed.
Claims19
A method of reducing drag on a hull of a vessel comprising:
- providing at least one habitat on the hull of the vessel at least partially below a waterline of the vessel, the at least one habitat having an open end;
- positioning at least one jet nozzle within the at least one habitat;
- introducing air into the at least one habitat;
- jetting a fluid from the at least one nozzle onto the hull or a surface continuous with the hull to create a Coanda flow on the hull of the vessel, the Coanda flow extending outwardly of the open end of the habitat;
- and
- providing at least one conduit having a first end in fluid communication with an interior of the at least one habitat and a second end in fluid communication with atmosphere.
A method of creating an air sheet between the hull of a vessel and surrounding water in which the vessel is traveling, the method comprising:
- providing at least one jet nozzle positioned below a waterline of the vessel, said at least one jet nozzle adapted to jet a fluid, the at least one jet nozzle positioned in a habitat at least partially below the waterline of the vessel, the habitat being vented to atmosphere to allow for the introduction of air into the habitat;
- introducing air into the habitat;
- and
- jetting the fluid against the hull or a surface continuous with the hull below the waterline of the vessel such that the jetted fluid forms a Coanda flow on the hull of the vessel.
A system for reducing drag on the hull of a vessel, the system comprising:
- a pump in fluid communication with a source of fluid;
- at least one habitat positioned on the hull of the vessel at least partially below a waterline of the vessel, the at least one habitat having an open end below the waterline of the vessel;
- at least one nozzle in fluid communication with the pump, said at least one nozzle positioned within the at least one habitat, the at least one nozzle oriented towards the hull of the vessel and towards the open end of the at least one habitat;
- and
- a conduit having a first end in fluid communication with an interior of the at least one habitat and a second end in fluid communication with atmosphere.
A method of reducing drag on a hull of a vessel comprising:
- providing at least one habitat on the hull of the vessel at least partially below a waterline of the vessel, the at least one habitat having an open end;
- positioning at least one jet nozzle within the at least one habitat;
- and
- jetting a fluid from the at least one nozzle onto a surface continuous with the hull so as to create a Coanda flow on the hull of the vessel, the Coanda flow extending outwardly of the open end of the habitat, wherein the surface continuous with the hull is a wear plate, the wear plate having a target thereon.
A method of reducing drag on a hull of a vessel comprising:
- providing a first habitat positioned in a generally vertically-oriented position on the hull of the vessel at least partially below a waterline of the vessel, the first habitat having an open end;
- providing a second habitat positioned in a generally horizontally-oriented position on or adjacent to a bottom of the hull, the second habitat having an open end;
- positioning at least one jet nozzle within the first habitat;
- positioning at least one jet nozzle within the second habitat;
- and
- jetting a fluid from the at least one jet nozzle of the first habitat and from the at least one jet nozzle of the second habitat onto the hull or a surface continuous with the hull to create Coanda flows on the hull of the vessel, the Coanda flows extending outwardly of the open ends of the first and second habitats.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.