High efficiency high speed ship

Presented is a high efficiency high-speed boat or ship that has multiple hulls. These multiple hulls can include recesses in their undersides that are supplied with pressurized air to form supporting air cushions. There is a support and stability adding hydrofoil disposed between two of the multi-hulls and one trimmable hydrofoil mounted to the transom in the preferred embodiment of the invention. There are water deflecting steps forward of recesses inset in one or more sides of the multi-hulls where such recesses are preferably above the sidehull chines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention presented here combines several inventive technologies to realize a high efficiency high speed boat or ship. It is a multi-hulled craft with artificially pressurized air cushions disposed in recesses in the undersides of at least two of the multi-hulls. An example of this air cushioned catamaran technology is presented in Applicant's earlier U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,384.

There is a support and stability adding hydrofoil disposed between two of the multi-hulls and one trimmable hydrofoil mounted to the transom in the preferred embodiment of the invention. There are water-deflecting steps inset into one or more sides of the multi-hulls where such steps are above the chines on the multi-hulls in the preferred embodiment. This approach differs from the water deflecting steps presented in Applicant's previously mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,839,384 where there are no chines below the steps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the instant invention is to provide an advanced high speed and high efficiency marine vehicle that has a trimmable hydrofoil disposed, at least in its majority, aft of transom portions of and above keels of two sidehulls of the improved multi-hulled marine vehicle.

A directly related object of the invention is that the trimmable hydrofoil span at least a majority of a distance between the sidehulls.

A further related object of the invention is that the trimmable hydrofoil be in mechanical communication with the transom portions and wherein force for movement of said hydrofoil is supplied by a powered actuator.

It is yet another object of the invention that the trimmable hydrofoil be angled rearward from its sides to its center.

A further object of the invention is that it include a second hydrofoil disposed between the sidehulls and forward of midship.

A directly related object of the invention is that said second hydrofoil be angled rearward from its sides to its center.

A further object of the invention is that there be an artificially pressurized gas cushion disposed in a recess under at least one of the multi-hulled marine vehicle's sidehulls.

Yet one more object of the invention is that it include at least one step cavity or recess inset into a side of one of the sidehulls.

A related object of the invention is that it include a water deflecting sidehull step disposed forward of the step recess.

Another object of the invention is that the step recesses be disposed above sidehull chines.

A further related object of the invention is that there be at least two water deflecting sidehull steps and at least two step recesses in the inboard and outboard sides of both sidehulls.

Another object of the invention is that the water deflecting steps be alternatively interspersed with step recesses inset into sides of the sidehulls.

A directly related object of the invention is that a portion of a step recess surface above the sidehull chine be angled inward and upward at an angle to horizontal of at least 35 degrees.

Yet another directly related object of the invention is that a portion of a step recess surface above the sidehull chine be angled inward and upward at an angle to horizontal of at least 50 degrees.

Still another directly related object of the invention is that a portion of a step recess surface above the sidehull chine be angled inward and upward at an angle to horizontal of at least 65 degrees.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Note that the water deflecting steps 49 deflect water away from the step cavities 56 that are inset into the sides of the sidehull 61 above the chines 54 . This is important since, especially in heavy seas and/or when the boat is heavily loaded, water tends to stick to the sides of the hull above the chines 54 which adds a tremendous amount of wetted area drag. The concept here is to have the chines 54 deflect the water away from the hull entirely during calm sea high speed and/or light ship operations. As the vessel becomes heavily loaded and/or the sea states increase, there is little chance of having the chines deflect the water away from the hull entirely and so the reason for the step cavities 56 . It is also important to note that the shape of the hull in way of the step cavities 56 must angle outward and downward to decrease the downward force when heavy and irregular seas are encountered. Their preferred shape can be best visualized upon examination of FIG. 5 . It is also to be noted that in the case of larger vessels the water will override the chines even in calm seas at some point along the vessel's length. In such case, the same basic approach to the water deflecting steps and the step cavities may be used; however, it is possible to apply a rounded chine, not shown, rather than the rather sharp chine shown in the figures given here. The rounded chines are considered within the scope of the instant invention as they are a minor design adaptation only.

FIG. 2 gives a bottom plan view of the instant invention inventive boat 40 . Shown are pressurizing blower air discharges 51 in sidehulls 61 , wetdeck 57 that connects the sidehulls 61 , air cushion recesses 59 , air cushions 52 , air cushion recess aft seals 58 , forward hydrofoil 41 , aft hydrofoil 42 , and aft hydrofoil actuators 43 . The aft hydrofoil 42 is transom mounted in this preferred embodiment of the instant invention. Note that both hydrofoils 41 , 42 are angled backward toward their centers here which, while not necessary, increase the speed at which hydrofoil cavitation occurs.

FIG. 3 is a cross section, as taken through line 3 3 of FIG. 2 that shows a centerline view of a sidehull 61 . This illustrates a preferred shape of an air cushion recess 59 in the sidehull 61 , blower 48 that supplies pressurized air or gas to the air cushion 52 where the bottom of the air cushion 52 is defined by waterline 46 in way of the air cushion recess 59 , and preferred shape of the air cushion recess stern seal 58 .

FIG. 4 presents a half-breadth topside arrangement, taken with the deck covering removed for illustrative purposes, that shows the blower 48 and drive propulsor 47 placements.

FIG. 5 gives a half-breadth cross section, as taken through line 5 5 of FIG. 1 , that shows the preferred embodiment and shapes of the air cushion stem seal 58 , step cavity 56 , sidehull keels 53 , and of the chine 54 at this transverse station of the hull. It is important to realize that the preferred shape of the hull above the chine 54 here is to be angled upward at a low resistance angle. For purposes of this application, the angle ( ) is set as preferably being between 35 and 75 degrees with 55 degrees felt to be optimum.

FIG. 6 presents a half-breath cross section, as taken through line 6 6 of FIG. 1 , that indicates a preferred air cushion recess 59 , keel 53 , and chine 54 shape in way of one of the water deflecting steps forward of the a step cavity. Note the waterline 46 here which is the dynamic waterline inside of the air cushion recess when operating in calm seas with the air cushion 52 pressurized.

FIG. 7 gives a preferred relative size and cross section shape, as taken through line 7 7 of FIG. 2 , of an aft hydrofoil 42 . Water flow arrows 45 are also shown.

FIG. 8 presents a preferred relative size and cross section shape, as taken through line 8 8 of FIG. 2 , of a forward hydrofoil 41 .

FIG. 9 offers a partial perspective view of the transom 62 that shows a preferred embodiment mounting of an aft hydrofoil 42 . The aft hydrofoil 42 is attached on each side to the transom portion of a sidehull 61 and is preferably above sidehull keels. This simple mounting approach keeps the attachment points and the actuators 43 , hydraulic cylinders in this instance, free of contact with water passing between the sidehulls 61 resulting a reduced drag situation.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferred and several alternative embodiments, it will be understood that there is no intention to thereby limit the invention. On the contrary, there is intended to be covered all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, which are the sole definition of the invention.