Air induction system for tunnel mounted surface piercing propellers
OwnerMark S. Smallinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The instant invention is directed toward a marine craft having a semi-enclosed surfacing type propeller in a tunnel that draws air through specific areas located and shaped to enhance performance and compensate for prime mover torque and horsepower characteristics. The invention further relates to the field of marine water craft, particularly to high speed power boats utilizing a surface piercing propeller drive system mounted within a propeller tunnel formed integral to the hull of the boat, and most particularly to inclusion, within a wall of said tunnel, of a means for providing air thereto; said means being judiciously placed for linearization of the relationship between vessel velocity and engine speed.
Claims9
In an engine driven marine vessel having a hull and at least one engine driven surface piercing propeller positioned within a tunnel formed integral with said hull of said vessel, said tunnel having at least one surface which runs generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vessel and is contiguous with a bottom side of said hull and a top side of said tunnel comprising:
- an air ingress opening positioned within said surface of said tunnel for providing ventilation air to said tunnel.
A method of optimizing an air ingress opening in an engine driven marine vessel having a hull and at least one engine driven surface piercing propeller positioned within a tunnel formed integral with said hull of said vessel, said tunnel having at least one surface which runs generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said vessel and is contiguous with a bottom side of said hull and a top side of said tunnel comprising the steps of:
- calculating an optimum position for placement of an air ingress opening;
- locating a air ingress opening in said tunnel, and providing a chamber for carrying air to said air ingress opening.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.