Triple hybrid watercraft
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorJohn R. Meyer, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A watercraft combining the physical and hydrodynamic features of a catama, a hydrofoil, and a rigid sidewall air cushion vehicle that might be considered a triple hybrid (TRIBRID). The TRIBRID is intended to operate as a multi-modal vehicle in the approximate speed range of 0-100 knots. The vehicle from at rest to operational speed, obtains its lift at first from 100% buoyancy of catamaran hulls, then from dynamic lift of hydrofoils, and finally from powered aerostatic lift from a captured air cushion. A combination of two or all lift modes may be used through speed changes and at intermediate speeds.
Claims5
A multi-modal watercraft having a wide speed range with favorable lift-to-drag ratio resulting in good performance under various sea conditions comprising:
- a hull structure;
- a superstructure mounted on said hull;
- said hull structure includes a pair of buoyant sidewall structures attached to said hull structure;
- a hydrofoil and strut system attached to said hull structure;
- a forward seal and an after seal attached to said hull and sidewall structure for forming an air cushion with said sidewall structure;
- a propulsion engine for providing a rotational shaft output mounted in said hull and sidewall structure;
- a dividing gearbox attached to said shaft output of said propulsion engine;
- a set of clutches coupled to said dividing gearbox;
- a subcavitating propeller selectively engagable to said gearbox with one of said clutches clutches;
- a waterjet propulsion pump selectively engagable to said gearbox with the other of said clutches;
- and
- at least one set of outlet jets and inlets for said propulsion pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.