US 2004/0163580 A1 · Surface effect ship improvements

Abstract

Presented is an improved Surface Effect Ship (SES) that offers the high efficiencies of the pressurized air cushion supported generic flexible bow and stern seal SES but without the generic SES's shortcomings that are due largely to its 80 percent total hull width flexible bow and stern seals. This is accomplished in the instant invention by use of forward extending rigid bow members positioned both sides of a pressurized hull supporting gas cushion where the width of the sidehulls make up a majority of the width of the instant invention improved surface effect ship with the remainder, less than 35 percent of vessel width normally, made up by a gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the bow members. Gas cushions may extend forward into undersides of the sidehull bow members to further reduce wetted area resistance. Longitudinally oriented fluid fences may be incorporated to at least partially separate portions of the gas cushion and thereby dampen pressure perturbations in the gas cushion(s). A third bow member may be utilized between port and starboard sidehulls.

Claims79

Dependent claims

In an improved surface effect ship wherein said improved surface effect ship includes port and starboard sidehulls and is supported upon a water surface in part by at least one artificially pressurized gas cushion, the improvement comprising:

a port and a starboard bow member wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of a gas cushion forward seal member by at least five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship and wherein said gas cushion forward seal member is, at least primarily, of a non-moveable, in relation to the improved surface effect ship, structure and disposed, at least in part, between the port and starboard bow members and wherein inboard sidewalls of said port and starboard sidehulls are at least partially truncated going aft of the port and starboard bow members to thereby reduce wetted area of the improved surface effect ship.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Surface effect ship improvements

Life of this patent

Surface effect ship improvements

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims79