Hull and steering mechanism for a marine vessel
AssigneeAJ Marine, Inc.
InventorDennis Schreiber
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combined hull and steering mechanism for a marine vessel has a substantially rectangularly-shaped upper hull joined to a lower hull that is dual-tapered from its sidewalls to both its forward and aft portions. A directional thrust steering mechanism having a pair of vertical rudder blades positioned on either side of a conventional propeller extending from the centerline of the lower hull directs the water from the propeller, thus enabling the vessel to move more efficiently and with greater maneuverability in both forward and reverse directions. The dual-tapered hull permits a significantly better flow of water to and from the propeller and steering mechanism of the vessel, particularly when operating in reverse, thereby allowing the vessel to turn 360° in its own length.
Claims20
A hull and steering mechanism for a marine vessel comprising:
- an upper hull portion having a bow, a stern, two sidewall portions, a deck portion and a first bottom portion;
- a lower dual-tapered hull portion disposed beneath the upper hull portion and having a bow portion, an aft portion, two sidewall portions and a second bottom;
- a propeller extending from the dual-tapered lower hull portion;
- and
- a directional thrust steering mechanism surrounding the propeller at, or proximate the stern of the upper hull portion for steering the vessel.
A hull and steering mechanism for a marine vessel comprising:
- a generally rectangularly-shaped upper hull portion having a bow, a stern, two upper sidewall portions, a deck and a bottom portion positioned below the waterline;
- an elongated dual-tapered lower hull portion having a bow portion, an aft portion, two lower sidewall portions and a bottom portion, the lower hull portion being attached to the bottom of the upper hull portion, the bow portion of the lower hull portion being displaced aft of the bow of the upper hull portion, wherein the lower sidewall portions are joined along vertical lines at the bow and aft portions;
- a propeller extending from the lower hull portion;
- and
- a steering mechanism mounted at, or proximate to the stern of the upper hull portion for steering the vessel in conjunction with a thrust of the propeller.
A hull for a marine vessel comprising:
- a generally rectangular-shaped upper hull having a bow, a stern, two upper sidewall portions, a deck and a first bottom portion;
- and
- a dual-tapered lower hull having a bow portion, an aft portion, two lower sidewall portions and a second bottom portion, the lower hull being joined to the bottom portion of the upper hull, the bow portion of the bottom of the lower hull defining a triangular shaped section, the forward apex of which is displaced aft of the bow of the upper hull, wherein forward movement of the vessel produces a lifting force on the bow portion of the lower hull.
A directional thrust steering assembly for use with a marine vessel having a propeller extending from the aft section of a submerged hull, the assembly comprising:
- a. a pair of vertically disposed rudder blades displaced on either side of the propeller;
- b. a plurality of linking members joined to, and extending between upper and lower edges of the rudder blades that form an open framework, to thereby maintain the rudder blades in a parallel configuration;
- and
- c. a vertically disposed steering shaft extending from the hull above the propeller and engaging at least one of the linking members for rotation about the axis of the steering shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.