US 7,017,505 B2 · Ship with wave energy engulfing propulsors

Abstract

Presented is a water propulsion system for ships that enhances the efficiency of both the water propulsor(s) and the ship itself. This is accomplished by location of water inlet(s) for the water propulsor(s) to take advantage of water flow characteristics around a secondary bow of the ship and also proximal a stern of the ship. A primary object is to reduce the energy of the bow and/or stern waves of the ship and hence reduce the ship's wave making resistance. A secondary object is to reduce the frictional resistance of the ship. The water propulsors are preferably electrically driven with built in stator field windings and armatured rotors. A bow oriented water propulsor(s) would preferably have its discharge into a gas cavity in the underside of the ship. Both bow oriented and stern oriented water propulsor(s) would optimally have steering and/or reversing mechanisms.

Claims28

Dependent claims

In an improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship, the improvement comprising:

a first bow oriented water propulsor having a first bow oriented water inlet disposed, at least in part, proximal a lower forward portion of a bow of a main center hull of the ship and wherein, when the ship is moving forward and the first bow oriented water propulsor is operating, water taken into the first bow oriented water inlet generates a hydrodynamic force on a bow wave of said ship thereby reducing energy of said bow wave and wherein said first bow oriented water propulsor expels at least a majority of its discharge propulsive force water aft into a first open bottomed recess inset upward into the main center hull of the ship and wherein said first open bottomed recess is, at least in part, defined either side longitudinally by downwardly extending longitudinal portions of the main center hull and wherein a first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is formed in said first open bottomed recess and wherein said first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is supplied with gas from artificial gas pressurization means.

In an improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship, the improvement comprising:

a first bow oriented water propulsor having a first bow oriented water inlet disposed, at least in its majority, in a secondary bow disposed as a lower portion of a main bow of a main center hull of the ship and wherein, when the ship is moving forward and the first bow oriented water propulsor is operating, water taken into the first bow oriented water inlet generates a hydrodynamic force on a bow wave of said ship thereby reducing energy of said bow wave and wherein said first bow oriented water propulsor expels at least a majority of its discharge propulsive water aft into a first open bottomed recess in the main center hull of the ship and wherein said open bottom recess is pressurized with gas from an artificial gas pressurization means to thereby form a first pressurized gas layer in the underside of the main center hull of the ship and wherein the first bow oriented water propulsor further comprises a steering means wherein said steering means is, with the ship moving forward and with the first bow oriented water propulsor producing forward thrust, at least in its majority disposed internal to the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer in the main center hull of the ship.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ship with wave energy engulfing propulsors

Life of this patent

Ship with wave energy engulfing propulsors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28