Ship supported by submerged structure
OwnerDonald E. Burginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high efficiency extremely stable marine vehicle that is connected to and supported by submerged supporting structure(s) is presented. The submerged structure(s) are normally airfoil shaped to insure maximum efficiency and are, in the preferred embodiments, air lubricated on their undersides by pressurized air to reduce wetted area frictional effects. Propulsor(s) take in water from the boundary layer adjacent the upper surfaces of the submerged supporting structure(s) which provides boundary layer control and also enhances the efficiency of the propulsor(s).
Claims50
In an improved marine vehicle that has a hull member that is at least partially supported by a first submerged supporting structure, the improvement comprising:
- one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the first submerged supporting structure, said first submerged supporting structure at least in its majority submerged during high speed forward operation of the improved marine vehicle, and means to supply gas from an artificial gas pressurization means to an underside of said first submerged supporting structure to thereby form a gas layer and wherein the first submerged supporting structure is, at least in part, airfoil shaped.
In an improved marine vehicle that has a hull member that is at least partially supported by a first submerged supporting structure, the improvement comprising:
- one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the first submerged supporting structure, said first submerged supporting structure at least in its majority submerged during high speed forward operation of the improved marine vehicle, and wherein a propulsor takes in water from a location proximal an upper surface of said first submerged supporting structure and wherein the first submerged supporting structure is, at least in part, airfoil shaped.
In an improved marine vehicle that has a hull member that is at least partially supported by first and second submerged supporting structures, the improvement comprising:
- one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the first submerged supporting structure, one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the second submerged supporting structure, said first and second submerged supporting structures at least in their majority submerged during high speed forward operation of the improved marine vehicle, and means to supply gas from an artificial gas pressurization means to an underside of the first submerged supporting structure to thereby form a gas layer and wherein the first and the second submerged supporting structures are, at least in part, airfoil shaped.
In an improved marine vehicle that has a hull member that is at least partially supported by first and second submerged supporting structures, the improvement comprising:
- one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the first submerged supporting structure, one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the second submerged supporting structure, said first and second submerged supporting structures at least in their majority submerged during high speed forward operation of the improved marine vehicle, and wherein a propulsor takes in water from a location proximal an upper surface of said second submerged supporting structure and wherein the first and second submerged supporting structures are, at least in part, airfoil shaped.
In an improved marine vehicle that has a hull member that is at least partially supported by first and second submerged supporting structures, the improvement comprising:
- one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the first submerged supporting structure, one or more connecting strut members in mechanical communication with the hull member and the second submerged supporting structure, said first and second submerged supporting structures at least in their majority submerged during high speed forward operation of the improved marine vehicle, means to supply gas from an artificial gas pressurization means to an underside of one of said submerged supporting structures to thereby form a gas layer, and wherein a propulsor takes in water from a location proximal an upper surface of one of said submerged supporting structures and wherein the first and second submerged supporting structures are, at least in part, airfoil shaped.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.