# US 5,700,172 A · Submerged marine exhaust system

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- Number: US 5,700,172 A
- Document ID: US5700172A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/629,212
- Filed: 1996-04-08
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1996-01-18
- Assignees: Ray Industries, Inc.
- Inventors: Frank Benson Ousley, II; Douglas Allen Keehn, Jr.
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700172A

## CPC

- B63H 21/10: relating to condensers or engine-cooling fluid heat-exchangers
- B63H 21/32: Arrangements of propulsion power-unit exhaust uptakes; Funnels peculiar to vessels
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)

## Abstract

An improved marine engine exhaust device for discharging exhaust below the surface of the water in a submerged turbulent region generated by said device which is fixed to a the undersurface of the vessel hull, wherein the gas is maintained for a period of time, until the low pressure area following the vessel has passed. The device incorporates a water intake for providing cooling water to the marine engine's cooling system and/or accommodates a sensing transducer mounted therein.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine mounted in a vessel, said vessel having a hull with an undersurface that is submerged when said vessel is placed within a body of water, said exhaust device comprising:
a submerged hydrodynamic exhaust outlet means fixed to said hull undersurface;
said hydrodynamic exhaust outlet means defining an exhaust chamber and including a downwardly extending streamlined first section having a low coefficient of drag for minimizing turbulent wake, said first section terminating in a second section having a higher coefficient of drag for generating a submerged layer of turbulent wake separated from the bottom of the hull by a region of substantially less turbulence created by said first section, said second section incorporating a submerged exhaust outlet, for discharging exhaust in said submerged turbulent layer such that said exhaust remains submerged until said vessel has cleared the vicinity;
said submerged hydrodynamic exhaust outlet means defining at least one auxiliary internal chamber.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary chamber comprises a water inlet communicating with said marine engine for supplying cooling water thereto.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary chamber houses a transducer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine according to claim 1, wherein said submerged exhaust outlet includes a peripheral lip for generating turbulence proximate said exhaust outlet.

### Claim 5

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine mounted in a vessel, said marine engine having an exhaust system, said vessel having a hull with an undersurface that is submerged when said vessel is placed in a body of water, said exhaust device comprising:
a hydrodynamic fitting communicating with said engine exhaust system, said hydrodynamic fitting fixed to said hull and including a downwardly extending streamlined first section terminating with a turbulent wake generating second section, said second section defining a submerged exhaust outlet for discharging engine exhaust in a submerged turbulent layer whereby discharged exhaust remains submerged until said vessel has cleared the vicinity;
said hydrodynamic fitting including a water inlet communicating with said marine engine for supplying cooling water thereto.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine according to claim 5, further comprising means for mounting a means for sensing.

### Claim 7

A submerged exhaust device for use with a marine engine mounted in a vessel, said vessel having a hull with an undersurface that is submerged when said vessel is placed within a body of water, said exhaust device comprising:
a hydrodynamic fitting fixed to said hull undersurface and including a downwardly extending streamlined section having a low coefficient of drag for minimizing turbulent wake terminating in a second section having a high coefficient of drag for generating a submerged layer of turbulent wake, said second hydrodynamic fitting section incorporating a submerged exhaust outlet, for discharging exhaust in said submerged turbulent layer such that said exhaust remains submerged until said vessel has cleared the vicinity;
said hydrodynamic fitting further including cooling water intake in communication with said marine engine; and a transducer housed within said fitting.