Patent Publication Number: US-11046044-B2

Title: Recon marine vessel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a marine vessel, and more particularly, aspects of the invention relate to a recon insertion craft. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Conventional marine vessels are well known in the art, including one of the most common types of monohull construction, a vessel that includes a single hull design, a catamaran hull, or a pickle fork type hull. The v-shaped monohull is especially suited for cutting through high seas, while the catamaran hull is traditionally used for platform stability and the pickle fork design is amenable to high speeds. In some vessel hull designs, a low draft is desirable so that a boat can run in shallow waters, whereas monohull semi-displacement designs are better for deeper waters. 
     However, practitioners of those inventions have become aware of certain problems which are presented by those prior art inventions. One particular problem that has plagued users has been that the boat is either designed for deep waters or shallow waters, but not both at the same time. There are complexities which give rise to stability problems and speed issues. 
     It would be desirable to the marine industry if there was provided a fast yet stable vessel. In addition, some applications for marine vessels are desirable for military applications that are stealthy and provide low signature so as not to draw attention from the enemy when the boat is in operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the above-noted desires of the industry, the present invention provides various aspects, including a monohedral forward hull blending to a catamaran hull at approximately from about 20% to 60% of the full length from the bow to aft. This includes essentially a v-shaped monohull emanating from the bow aft midships terminating in a catamaran type hull with two sponsons. This overcomes many of the aforementioned problems with the prior art because it provides the benefits of a monohull in heavy seas with the platform stability of a catamaran hull. 
     A first aspect of the present invention includes certain features including the outboard side plates of the catamaran shape blending smoothly to the monohull shape in an integral fashion, while the inboard plates of the catamaran shapes travel inwardly from the monohull plates. The space between the catamaran hulls is connected with a closed tunnel allowing air to travel therebetween. 
     Another aspect of the invention has other features including lack of any dimensional limitation on this hull form. The ratios of monohull formation to catamaran hull formation are most advantageously between approximately 20% to 40% of the full vessel length from bow to aft. 
     The invention is particularly useful for applications of military vehicles such as recon insertion craft as it can be used at high speeds to travel to a desired location, and utilizing platform stability and shallow draft of the catamaran shaped aft portion. 
     For applications of recon insertion craft, it is also desirable for a low signature vessel so as not to attract attention. In that regard, an additional feature includes a deflection plate essentially running the length of the vessel extending downwardly from the integral side hull. This deflection plate forces the water downwardly during operation so that the side spray created by the v-hull shape is minimized. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention includes a retractable pilothouse so that one of these recon insertion crafts can be stacked on top of the other and transported on a C-130 or a C-17 cargo plane to a location where both of the boats are unloaded. Then one of the boats is reloaded onto the cargo plane, whether it be a C-130 or a C-17, and that boat is then transported to its desired end location and dropped off. If the drop off point is over water, the boat that has been reloaded onto the C-130 or C-17 may have been fitted with parachutes for transporting the single-loaded vessel craft to a desired location and dropped out of the back of the cargo plane. The parachutes allow the craft to drift down to the water unharmed. Presumably, the boat pilot and crew would also parachute down to the boat. The advantage that this design allows, is that two boats can be transported from the United States to a faraway land instead of just one craft, saving time, fuel and money for operating expenses. An objective of the United States military is to procure such a stackable boat such that once the cargo plane containing the stacked boats arrives at a friendly location nearby the ultimately desired location, both marine craft can be unloaded. One of the craft can be re-loaded and then flown to the ultimate desired location and that single craft can then be dropped down onto the water. This will save a tremendous amount of time and money by providing transport of two boats instead of just one. 
     The above described insertion craft, after it has been dropped into the water, can be piloted into shallow waters in a stealthy manner to avoid detection by an enemy. The stealthy design of the boat has several advantages for being stealthy because it does not produce any appreciable signature. In addition to the fact that the present boat has an angled hull exterior which exhibits little to no radar signature, certain aspects include an optional water deflector plate for reducing or preventing side spray, and an extendable diffuser gate off the transom for diffusing propeller spray when the vessel is underway, thereby limiting or eliminating a signature that can be detected by the enemy. Such a low signature vessel is highly desirable. 
     Although the invention will be described by way of examples hereinbelow for specific aspects having certain features, it must also be realized that minor modifications that do not require undo experimentation on the part of the practitioner are covered within the scope and breadth of this invention. Additional advantages and other novel features of the present invention will be set forth in the description that follows and in particular will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination or may be learned within the practice of the invention. Therefore, the invention is capable of many other different aspects and its details are capable of modifications of various aspects which will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art all without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the rest of the description will be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a further understanding of the nature and advantages of the expected scope and various aspects of the present invention, reference shall be made to the following detailed description, and when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given the same reference numerals, and wherein; 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a marine vessel made in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of a removable tunnel surface drive; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear elevational perspective view with relative rudder placement; 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up of the removable tunnel surface drive without propeller; 
         FIG. 6  is a real elevational view of the tunnel surface drive pocket; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational perspective view of a diffuser gate made in accordance with the present invention in the retracted position; 
         FIG. 8  is a side elevational perspective view of the diffuser gate made in accordance with the present invention in the down position; 
         FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of the diffuser gate in the down position; 
         FIG. 10  is a side perspective view of the present marine vessel showing a cockpit/pilot house in the extended position; 
         FIG. 11  is a side perspective view of the present marine vessel showing a cockpit/pilot house in the partially retracted position; 
         FIG. 12  is a side perspective view of the present marine vessel showing a cockpit/pilot house in the fully retracted position; 
         FIG. 13  is a top perspective view of the cockpit/pilot house in a fully extended view; 
         FIG. 14A  is a side elevational view of the cockpit/pilot house in a fully extended view; 
         FIG. 14B  is a front elevational view of the cockpit/pilot house in a fully extended view; 
         FIG. 14C  shows a side elevational view of the cockpit/pilot house in a fully extended view from the other side showing a pilothouse door; 
         FIG. 14D  is a top perspective cut-away view of the cockpit/pilot house in a fully extended view; and 
         FIG. 14E  illustrates sliding guides when view of the cockpit/pilot house in a fully extended view. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of a marine vessel generally indicated by the numeral  110 , which also includes at least one portion of a v-hull  112 . The distal end plate  114  of the v-hull  112  is aft of the bow of the vessel and incorporates a flat terminal end. A hull tunnel  116  begins immediately aft of the terminal end  114  and defines a port and starboard sponson  115  and  117 , respectively. Formed into the distal portion of port and starboard sponsons  115  and  117  are port hull tunnel  120  and starboard hull tunnel  122 . A water spray deflector plate  119  is removably attachable to side hull  118  and is utilized for deflecting water spray downwardly back into the water to reduce the signature. As the water spray deflector plate is an optional feature, it can be removed for non-stealthy applications. 
     Looking next to  FIG. 2 , again the marine vessel is generally denoted by numeral  110  and includes a bow portion v-hull  112  terminating in v-hull end plate  114 . Starboard and port sponsons,  117  and  115  individually terminate at starboard and port end plates  121  and  123 , respectively. Aft of end plates  121  and  123  are starboard and port hull tunnels  122  and  120 , respectively. Within these hull tunnels  122  and  120  are housed drive shafts  130  and  124 , respectively as starboard shaft and port shaft for attaching starboard propeller  132  and port propeller  126 . starboard hull tunnel  122  and port hull tunnel  120  also house port rudder  128  and starboard rudder  134 . 
     A retractable diffuser gate  140  is an optional piece for further reducing the signature of the vessel underway. When extended in the “down” position, water spray from the wake of a vessel is dispersed downwardly back into the water. A wake normally accompanies a vessel when underway, and it becomes highly visible for long distances. In order to minimize the wake of a vessel, the present diffuser gate has been found to be very helpful. However, when the diffuser gate is in the “up” position, the vessel can achieve higher speeds, on the order of from about three to five knots greater than when the diffuser gate  140  is in its lowered position. In combination, this monohedral multi-hull design vessel along with the optional removable deflector plate  119  and a lowered diffuser gate  140  yields a vessel with a very low signature. 
     ELEMENT LIST 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 110 
                 Monocat hull 
               
               
                   
                 112 
                 V-Hull 
               
               
                   
                 114 
                 V-Hull end plate 
               
               
                   
                 115 
                 Port sponson 
               
               
                   
                 116 
                 Center tunnel 
               
               
                   
                 117 
                 Starboard sponson 
               
               
                   
                 118 
                 Hull side 
               
               
                   
                 119 
                 Water spray deflector plate 
               
               
                   
                 120 
                 Port hull tunnel 
               
               
                   
                 121 
                 Starboard tunnel end plate 
               
               
                   
                 122 
                 Starboard hull tunnel 
               
               
                   
                 123 
                 Port tunnel end plate 
               
               
                   
                 124 
                 Port shaft 
               
               
                   
                 126 
                 Port propeller 
               
               
                   
                 128 
                 Port rudder 
               
               
                   
                 130 
                 Starboard shaft 
               
               
                   
                 132 
                 Starboard propeller 
               
               
                   
                 134 
                 Starboard rudder 
               
               
                   
                 140 
                 Diffuser gate 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a new and novel tunnel surface drive generally denoted by numeral  210 , including a 3-sided pocket  212  recessed into a transom  214  within the hull. Said 3-sided pocket  212  is closed within the sponson, with the drive shaft  216  protruding from the transmission for the motor. A front plate  218  of the pocket is sealed with a watertight bearing (shown as a PSS type). Diagonal metal plates  220  support rudder shaft  224  within metal cage  222 . Rudder shaft  224  terminates in rudder  226  for controlling the navigational direction of the vessel. Drive shaft  216  terminates in an aft end that is supported by the diagonal metal plates  220 , which are attached between a drive shaft  216  and a barrel surrounding the propeller drive shaft  216  and the fabricated metal cage  222 , which lines the interior surface of the 3-sided pocket  212 . In this view, a diffuser gate is shown in its retracted position extending upwardly from the transom  214  of the vessel. 
       FIG. 4  is another perspective view of the transom  214  of the marine vessel. Again, removable tunnel surface drive  210  is shown having a removable 3-sided fabricated pocket  212 , which can be easily removed in the event of damage. Within 20 minutes or so, pocket  212  can be removed and replaced so that this marine vessel can once again be on its way quickly. For military operations, the ability to escape a situation quickly is paramount. Extending downwardly from 3-sided pocket  212  is rudder shaft  224  terminating in rudder  226 , which also protects the propeller (not shown). Center tunnel  228  preferably includes a lapstrake configuration. Diffuser gate  230  is hingeably mounted to transom  214  and is shown in its upwardly extending position, ready to be lowered into place to reduce its signature when underway. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , there is shown an optional deflector plate  234  for directing water spray downwardly to reduce the signature of the marine vessel underway. Deflector plate  234  is optionally removably attached to the lower side hull panel and is not necessary when a signature for this vessel is unimportant. When installed in this position as shown in  FIG. 4 , side spray that is commonly generated when a vessel is underway is deflected downward, rather than outward, thereby reducing the signature of the vessel overall, making detection less likely from an enemy. 
     Once again referring to  FIG. 4 , metal cage  222  holds a watertight bearing at the top aft center location of the removable tunnel surface drive 3-sided pocket  212 . Said watertight bearing (not visible in this view) contains the rudder shaft  224  holding rudder  226 . The propeller (not shown in this view) mounts directly aft of the propeller drive shaft  216  of  FIG. 3 . Drive shaft  216  is mounted to the 3-sides pocket metal cage  212 , and the rudder  226  directly aft. When installed, the propeller will be located at an altitude within the 3-sided pocket  212  such that when at top speed the top of the propeller is clear of water, which will accomplish surface piercing. Surface piercing is known to increase speed and has been used in racing circuits for a long time. However, it is new and novel in the manner in which the propeller will be attached in order to provide maximum surface piercing. 
     One of the advantages of the present invention is that this entire drive assembly may be easily removed by merely removing rudder  226 , removing the propeller and then sliding out the propeller drive shaft  216  in order to effect a quick and easy repair within about 20 minutes. 3-sided pocket  212  may be quickly unbolted for maintenance or it may be replaced if damaged. The present removable tunnel surface drive  210  is intended to eliminate thrust and noise signature typically created by a vessel, thereby rendering this vessel more stealthy than other like vessels. In the event of a failure, an operator of the vessel can effect a full repair, allowing the vessel to become underway in a very short amount of time. 
       FIG. 5  is a close-up view of the rudder configuration of  FIG. 4 , and more clearly shows the bolt on configuration of 3-sided pocket  212 . Propeller drive shaft  216  is shown without the propeller but does show the diagonal metal plates  220  for supporting rudder shaft  224  terminating in rudder  226 . A semi-rigid tube  232  is shown for aiding the vessel to provide an air outlet for cavitation of the propeller at low speeds. Once the vessel has achieved a higher RPM, the air tube is located above the water line and is no longer in service. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear elevational view more clearly illustrating the 3-sided pocket  212  and its bolt on configuration included within the entire removable tunnel surface drive  210 . As can be seen, under transom  214  is attached the 3-sided pocket  212  with supporting diagonal metal plates  220  holding the propeller drive shaft  216  in place. Aft of propeller drive shaft  216  is rudder shaft  224  terminating in rudder  226 . Semi-rigid tube  232  is located above propeller drive shaft  216  in a relative placement for providing air for cavitation of the propeller at low speeds. We see that front plate of the pocket  218  is further toward the midships, thereby defining the tunnel into which this tunnel surface drive  210  is inserted. 
     ELEMENT LIST 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 210 
                 Removable tunnel surface drive 
               
               
                   
                 212 
                 3-sided pocket 
               
               
                   
                 214 
                 Transom 
               
               
                   
                 216 
                 Drive shaft 
               
               
                   
                 218 
                 Front plate of the pocket 
               
               
                   
                 220 
                 Diagonal metal plates 
               
               
                   
                 222 
                 Metal cage 
               
               
                   
                 224 
                 Rudder shaft 
               
               
                   
                 226 
                 Rudder 
               
               
                   
                 228 
                 Center tunnel 
               
               
                   
                 230 
                 Diffuser gate 
               
               
                   
                 232 
                 Semi-rigid tube 
               
               
                   
                 234 
                 Water spray deflector 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 7  is a rear elevational perspective view of a diffuser gate made in accordance with the present invention, generally denoted by numeral  310 , including an elevating transom platform  312 , inverted gutters  314 , and a hydraulic strut  316  for extending and retracting diffuser gate  310 . Inverted gutters  314 , when lowered into position, reduce the water spray put out by the propellers when the vessel is underway to significantly reduce the signature of the vessel so as not to attract attention of an enemy. Hydraulic strut  316  extends and retracts platform  312  and is preferably hingeably mounted by hinge pins  320  onto the transom of the vessel  318 . In this view, diffuser gates are shown in their fully retracted, upwardly extending position. 
     Now, looking at  FIG. 8 , diffuser gate  310  is shown in its lower, extended position, ready to diffuse propeller spray when the vessel is underway. Transom platform  312  can also act as a swim platform in the down position shown in this figure. Hydraulic strut  316  is shown attached at its distal end by strut attachment  324  and emanating from linear actuator housing  322 . Extending downwardly from platform  312  and two inverted gutters  314  to direct the propeller spray from each of the port and starboard tunnels (not shown in this figure). Diffuser gate  310  is hingeably mounted to transom of vessel  318  by hinges  320 . 
       FIG. 9  is a rear elevational view of diffuser gate  310  with platform  312  in its lowered position. Inverted gutters  314  are also shown extending downwardly from platform  312 . Hydraulic strut  316  attached to strut attachment  324  act in cooperation with hinge pins (not shown here) by extending from linear actuator housing  322 . Vessel  318  is thereby extended and ready for open waters. Diffuser gate  310  includes the elevating transom platform  312 , that when in its elevated position, would be in stowaway mode, yet when lowered would utilize the half-cone shaped inverted gutters  314  to direct any propeller wash or rooster tail downward into the water, thus virtually eliminating visible propeller spray and reducing radar signature. Preferably, platform  312  is attached to vessel  318  with hinge pins  320  and utilizing an electric servo hydraulic linear actuator  322  to elevate and/or lower platform  312 . 
     ELEMENT LIST 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 310 
                 Signature diffuser gate 
               
               
                   
                 312 
                 Elevating transom platform 
               
               
                   
                 314 
                 Inverted gutters 
               
               
                   
                 316 
                 Hydraulic strut 
               
               
                   
                 318 
                 Vessel 
               
               
                   
                 320 
                 Hinge pins 
               
               
                   
                 322 
                 Linear actuator housing 
               
               
                   
                 324 
                 Strut attachment 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
       FIG. 10  shows a retractable hideaway cockpit, generally denoted by numeral  410 , including a retractable cockpit/pilot house  412  with at least one door  420  and a windshield  414  hingeably mounted to pilot house base  416  by hinges  418 . The entire hideaway cockpit  410  is mounted inside the hull of vessel  422  and  FIG. 10  illustrates hideaway cockpit  410  in its fully extended position. 
       FIG. 11  shows the same retractable hideaway cockpit  410  but in a partially retracted position, as the pilot house base is no longer seen because it has been retracted partially. Again, pilot house  412  is the structural support for doors  420  and windshield  414  attached to pilot house base  416  by hinges  418 . 
     Looking next to  FIG. 12 , retractable hideaway cockpit  410  is shown in its fully retracted position. As can be seen in  FIG. 12 , pilot house  412  has been retracted so that it is beneath the gunnels of vessel  422 . Windshield  414 , doors  420  and pilot house structure  412  have been swung down on hinges  418  so that there is not structure above the gunnels. 
     Such a hideaway cockpit  410  can elevate and lower up or down into the deck of the hull of vessel  422  at various levels to either protect the operators from heavy seas, reduce hull profile and radar signature or to be fully lowered to allow another boat hull to be mounted thereon. In some applications, such as military applications, an advantageous feature would be to allow a second vessel hull mounted on top of another one for efficient transport in either a C-130 and a C-17 when the vessel is mounted on an on-road trailer with a type-V platform. When the second vessel is mounted on top of another vessel, the bottom vessel has the bow toward the front of the trailer, while the second mounted vessel is faced in the reverse. If the pilot house did not fully retract into the hull of the vessel, mounting the second vessel would not be possible. 
     Still looking at  FIGS. 10 through 12 , the pilot house  412  is shown as being comprised of four sides along with a bottom. The pilot house  412  may or may not include a hard top or a soft top or a hinged fold-down windshield. A linear actuator mounted to the hull keel with the other end mounted to the bottom of the pilot house provides an elevator means for elevating and lowering pilot house  412 . In order to guide and stabilize the pilot house travel between an elevated and a lowered position, there are preferably mounting tracks attached to pilot house  412  and to the hull between the deck and the hull bottom in order to stabilize the up and down movement of pilot house  412 . 
     Looking now to  FIG. 13  where similar element numbers are assigned to elements already shown in  FIGS. 10-12 , and wherein the retractable cockpit/pilothouse is generally denoted as numeral  410 , a pilot house  412  is included with a windshield  414  hingeably mounted to the pilothouse body  412 . A pilothouse base  416  includes a door  420  hingeably mounted to pilothouse  412 . Hinges  418  allow side curtains  421  to be flipped down for full retraction of the pilothouse  412  into the hull of the vessel. 
       FIGS. 14A through 14E  illustrate varying views of the retractable cockpit/pilothouse  410  as it is in motion during retraction. First,  FIG. 14A  illustrates pilot house  410  in a fully extended view as being supported by a vertical lifting system  430  having a linear actuator stabilizer  432 .  FIG. 14  B shows a front elevational view of the pilothouse in a semi-retracted position, including a partial extension of the vertical lifting system tracks  430  and the linear actuator stabilizer  432 .  FIG. 14C  is an illustration taken along lines of Section A-A as shown in  FIG. 14A .  FIG. 14C  shows a side elevational view with windshield  414  and door  420  in place on pilothouse body  412 , again in a partially extended position by vertical lifting system  430 .  FIGS. 14D and 14E  show a top perspective cutaway of the pilothouse  416  in the fully up extended view, distinguishable by sliding guides  430  and actuator  432  in a fully extended position. Relative position of linear actuator  432  can be seen best in  FIG. 14E  in the center of the pilothouse. 
     ELEMENT LIST 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
                 410 
                 Hideaway cockpit 
               
               
                   
                 412 
                 Pilot house 
               
               
                   
                 414 
                 Windshield 
               
               
                   
                 416 
                 Pilot house base 
               
               
                   
                 418 
                 Hinge 
               
               
                   
                 420 
                 Door 
               
               
                   
                 422 
                 Vessel 
               
               
                   
                 430 
                 Vertical Lifting System Tracks 
               
               
                   
                 432 
                 Linear Actuator 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result from employing any or all of the concepts and the features of the various specific aspects of the present invention, or those that are within the scope of the invention. The present marine vessel acts as a high-speed, stable vessel giving off a very low signature. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention finds utility in the marine vessel arts and especially for military applications where a low signature vessel is required that is capable of high speeds and shallow draft requirements are present to reduce enemy detection.