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US 6,725,797 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for propelling a surface ship through water
OwnerTerry B. Hillemaninventor
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OwnerTerry B. Hillemaninventor
Estimating the term…
A method and apparatus for propelling a surface vehicle through the water comprised of a submerged portion, including both a stern propulsion unit and a bow propulsion unit. Either unit may be a pumpjet, the bow unit may include a counter-rotating nose hub having attached spirally wound, twin centrifugal propeller blades. The foremost bow propeller is dedicated to stealth and the next-in-line bow propeller is dedicated to supercavitation. Specially-designed vortex loops that connect the pressure side to the intake side of a propulsion unit may be included in the blades, shroud or hub areas. Further, slightly diverged jet exhaust and variable special surface texturing reduce surface friction drag on the vehicle body. The submarine propulsion system is used to power a surface vessel, supported by two or more hydrofoils which combine a submerged midcraft foil with a wave-piercing variety. The surface craft has the capability of submerging and maneuvering.
A propulsion system for a water vehicle, the water vehicle including an above surface portion and a submerged portion, the submerged portion including a body having bow and stem ends, the propulsion system comprising:
A method for propelling a water vehicle including a non-submerged portion and a submerged portion, the submerged portion including a body with bow and stern ends, the method comprising:
A method of reducing the drag for propeller driven water craft, the method comprising:
A propulsion system for a water vehicle, the water vehicle including an above surface portion and a submerged portion, the submerged portion including a body having bow and stern ends, the propulsion system comprising:
A propulsion system for a water vehicle, the water vehicle including an above surface portion and a submerged portion, the submerged portion including a body having bow and stern ends, the propulsion system comprising:
A propulsion system for a water vehicle, the water vehicle including an above surface portion and a submerged portion, the submerged portion including a body having bow and stern ends, the propulsion system comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.