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US 7,246,565 B2Granted
Boat hull dispersion tunnel engagement device and method
AssigneeCorrect Craft, Inc.
InventorsWilliam N. Snook, William F. Waits, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boat hull includes a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water. A gate is inserted into and out of the channel for affecting pressure on the hull bottom with movement between open and closed positions, wherein the gate is out of the channel and fully extended into the channel. By altering the depth of the gate into the channel, hull performance and wake shape are modified as desired.
Claims21
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft and extending along at least one of coincident with the keel and parallel and spaced from the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof, and wherein the entrance portion is positioned aft a center of gravity of the boat and the exit portion extends aft to at least one of through a transom and proximate the transom;
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel with movement between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel.
1 more element
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft and extending along at least one of coincident with the keel and parallel and spaced from the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof , wherein the dispersion tunnel comprises at least one of the channel having the entrance portion and the exit portion forward a center of gravity of the boat, and the entrance portion and the exit portion aft the center of gravity;
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel with movement between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel.
1 more element
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft and extending along at least one of coincident with the keel and parallel and spaced from the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof, wherein the dispersion tunnel comprises a plurality of dispersion tunnels, and wherein at least one dispersion tunnel includes the channel having the entrance portion and the exit portion forward a center of gravity of the boat, and a second dispersion tunnel includes the channel having the entrance portion and the exit portion aft the center of gravity;
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel with movement between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel.
1 more element
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft and extending along at least one of coincident with the keel and parallel and spaced from the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof;
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel with movement between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel, wherein the gate includes:
- a base mounted to the hull;
- a lever arm pivotally connected to the base at an axis of rotation, the lever arm having a first end rotatably connected to the gate;
- and
- a drive arm mounted to a second end of the lever arm opposing the first end for movement of the first end about the axis, and thus movement of the gate.
5 more elements
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft generally parallel to the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof, and wherein the channel comprises a length dimension extending longitudinally fore and aft, a transverse width dimension generally perpendicular to the keel, and a depth dimension inwardly extending, the length dimension substantially greater than the width dimension and the width dimension substantially greater than the depth dimension;
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel, the gate having a transverse dimension for transversely extending fully across the channel during partially and fully inserted positions of the gate therein, the gate operable for movement generally perpendicular to a bottom surface of the channel between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel for allowing a smooth flow of water therein in, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel for affecting a pressure change on the hull, wherein the gate comprises a plurality of gates operable with a plurality of channels.
1 more element
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft generally parallel to the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof, and wherein the channel comprises a length dimension extending longitudinally fore and aft, a transverse width dimension generally perpendicular to the keel, and a depth dimension inwardly extending, the length dimension substantially greater than the width dimension and the width dimension substantially greater than the depth dimension, wherein the dispersion tunnel comprises a plurality of dispersion tunnels, and wherein at least one dispersion tunnel includes the channel having the entrance portion and the exit portion forward a center of gravity of the boat, and a second dispersion tunnel includes the channel having the entrance portion and the exit portion aft the center of gravity:
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel, the gate having a transverse dimension for transversely extending fully across the channel during partially and fully inserted positions of the gate therein, the gate operable for movement generally perpendicular to a bottom surface of the channel between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel for allowing a smooth flow of water therein in, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel for affecting a pressure change on the hull.
1 more element
A boat comprising:
- a hull having a keel extending fore and aft;
- a dispersion tunnel extending fore and aft generally parallel to the keel, the dispersion tunnel forming a channel within a hull bottom surface for receiving a flow of water therealong as the boat hull is operated within a body of the water, the channel having an entrance portion being forward an exit portion thereof, and wherein the channel comprises a length dimension extending longitudinally fore and aft, a transverse width dimension generally perpendicular to the keel, and a depth dimension inwardly extending, the length dimension substantially greater than the width dimension and the width dimension substantially greater than the depth dimension, wherein the dispersion tunnel comprises a first dispersion tunnel positioned on a starboard portion of the hull, and wherein a second dispersion tunnel is positioned on a port side of the hull opposing the first dispersion tunnel, and wherein each of the first and second dispersion tunnels includes at least one gate operable therewith;
- and
- a gate operable with the hull and positioned for operation with the dispersion tunnel, the gate having a transverse dimension for transversely extending fully across the channel during partially and fully inserted positions of the gate therein, the gate operable for movement generally perpendicular to a bottom surface of the channel between an open position, wherein the gate is out of the channel for allowing a smooth flow of water therein in, to a closed position, wherein the gate is fully extended into the channel for affecting a pressure change on the hull.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.