Patent Publication Number: US-7900570-B2

Title: Roll motion damping device for a floating body

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/466,747 entitled “Roll Motion Damping Device for a Floating Body,” filed on Aug. 23, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/763,293, filed on Jan. 30, 2006. U.S. application Ser. No. 11/466,747 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/763,293 are commonly assigned with the present application and is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The embodiments described below relate generally to techniques for dampening roll motion induced on boats, ships, and other floating bodies/vessels by wave action. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Waves are a fact of life for all floating bodies/vessels. From ocean-going ships, barges, and floating oil platforms to freshwater boats and canoes, all floating vessels are impacted by waves. As a result, one of the main design characteristics for any floating vessel is stability. Stability is important not only because it affects the comfort of passengers and crew (by reducing the sensation of movement that can lead to motion-sickness, for example), but also because it affects safety. After all, in order to safely traverse a body of water, a floating vessel must be sufficiently stable so that it will not capsize when exposed to waves. 
     Waves can induce several different types of motion on a floating vessel. One of the most critical of such motions that should be accounted for when designing a floating vessel is roll. Roll is the tendency of a vessel to rotate back and forth, rocking from side to side about its longitudinal axis. Of all of the motions experienced by a floating vessel, roll has the most significant impact on stability; if waves impart too much rolling motion to a floating vessel, then the vessel may capsize. 
     Given the importance in overcoming wave-induced roll, floating vessel hull design has concentrated on techniques for resisting wave roll motion. Despite such design efforts, however, roll continues to be a critical problem that should be addressed in order to produce more effective floating vessels. Disclosed below are novel techniques and devices that can be used to dampen roll motion in floating vessels. These disclosed embodiments can be integrated into new floating vessel designs, or they may be retrofitted onto pre-existing vessels, added onto vessels in order to improve the way that such vessels handle adverse wave roll situations. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     There are two primary ways in which roll motion may be resisted: inertial resistance and viscous drag resistance. Inertia describes a body&#39;s tendency to resist changes in its motion (or as generally described in science texts, inertia is the tendency of a body at rest to stay at rest and a body in motion to stay in motion in the same direction at the same velocity), and it is proportionate to the mass of the body at issue. So, one way to increase a floating vessel&#39;s resistance to roll is to increase the vessel&#39;s mass moment of inertia. 
     By increasing a floating vessel&#39;s effective mass, the vessel&#39;s mass moment of inertia can be increased. This would dampen the effect of rolling motion introduced by waves by using the vessel&#39;s own inertial tendency to resist a change in its motion. This innate tendency can be amplified by increasing the vessel&#39;s mass. But there can be negative side effects to permanently increasing a floating vessel&#39;s mass. For example, increased mass could require increases in power in order to propel the vessel, as well as additional construction costs. 
     The embodiments disclosed below do not directly increase the material mass of the floating vehicle itself, instead they employ sponsons, located on either side of the vessel, to temporarily increase the vessel&#39;s virtual mass in response to wave roll motion. A sponson is an outboard projection from the side of a floating vessel that traps a portion of the surrounding water, adding this additional water mass to the vessel&#39;s effective mass in order to increase the vessel&#39;s overall mass moment of inertia. So, by enclosing water within a sponson rigidly joined to a floating vessel, the vessel&#39;s inertial resistance to roll can be increased hydrodynamically. The value of the inertial resistance is the product of the added mass moment of inertia and the corresponding angular acceleration in roll. This term acts as an external moment exerted by the water and has a phase lag of 180 degrees in conjunction with the roll angular acceleration itself. In other words, it acts against the roll acceleration. 
     Another useful technique for resisting roll employs viscous drag forces to counteract the wave roll motion forces. Viscous drag is a phenomenon of resistance to motion through a fluid. It basically represents the sum of all hydrodynamic forces in the direction of the fluid flow, such that it acts to oppose object motion. The disclosed embodiments use this viscous drag resistance technique by positioning surfaces (such as baffles) to contact the water of the waves and vessel motion in such a way as to essentially divert some of the force of the flow into an opposing force that counteracts the wave roll motion. There are several methods in which to employ viscous drag to resist roll. A keel, or plate-like underwater fin, rigidly attached to the lower hull along the length of the vessel can add viscous drag that stabilizes the vessel by resisting the roll motion forces. As a wave induced flow moves across the keel, it causes a downward force that opposes the rolling wave motion on the vessel. Or baffles could be placed within each sponson in order to resist the roll motion of the waves, using a viscous drag force caused by the motion of the water within the sponson in response to a wave. 
     Both inertial resistance and viscous drag resistance each can play a role in dampening the rolling motion of waves on a vessel. It should be noted, however, that the viscous drag force tends to have a larger impact when roll resonant is a design issue. This is because the inertial resistance is linearly proportional to the time derivative of wave induced fluid velocity, while the viscous drag resistance increases with the square of the relative velocity between the vessel motion and the waves. Consequently, increasing viscous drag resistance is a primary design objective. 
     The embodiments disclosed below can use either or both of these general techniques to resist roll. Often, inertial resistance and viscous drag resistance can be used in conjunction, maximizing a floating vessel&#39;s overall resistance to roll. When a keel is called for by a particular design, the disclosed embodiments tend to make use of a wing keel, rather than a conventional bilge keel, which is attached to the hull. A wing keel is an underwater fin that has an angled foil that projects out more towards the horizontal plane. A wing keel can be used in conjunction with a sponson, while a conventional bilge keel cannot. In fact, a wing keel can improve the effectiveness of a sponson and baffles in resisting roll motion. And the wing keel itself provides greater resistance to roll motion than does the conventional bilge keel. The disclosed embodiments also demonstrate the effectiveness of using multiple baffles within each sponson. This practice can increase the inertial resistance provided by the sponson, by trapping additional water within the sponson, as well as providing additional surfaces for viscous drag to counteract the roll motion. 
     These techniques each can operate independently to dampen the rolling effect of waves on a floating vessel, but their combined effect may be even more pronounced. The disclosed embodiments illustrate a synergistic approach to roll dampening, in which the wing keel can assist in increasing the effectiveness of both sponsons and baffles. So, the disclosed embodiments operate to resist wave induced roll motion in a floating vessel. These embodiments can be incorporated into newly designed vessels, or they may be added onto existing vessels to improve their stability characteristics. Additional details regarding the described embodiments are provided below, making specific reference to the figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference is made to the following drawings of the disclosed embodiments: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross section profile view, illustrating half of a floating vessel with a sponson affixed to the side of the vessel, having baffles and a wing keel; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross section profile view, illustrating half of a floating vessel with an integrated sponson, having baffles and a hinged wing keel capable of closing off the bottom of the sponson; 
         FIGS. 3A-3B  illustrate exemplary baffle designs; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a vessel with outboard sponson. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The disclosed embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  represents half of a cross-section of a floating vessel  200  with both a sponson  101 , including multiple internal baffles  103  and  105 , and a wing keel  120 . In operation, the other side of the floating vessel  200  would typically be a mirror image of that shown in  FIG. 1 , so that any anti-roll devices would operate in a complementary fashion on both sides of the vessel  200 . In  FIG. 1 , sponson  101  is rigidly attached to the hull of the floating vessel  200 . The sponson  101  is a relatively thin (with respect to the cross-sectional width of the vessel  200 ) projection that extends upward from the bottom of the vessel  200  to above the waterline. The sponson  101  is open on the bottom, allowing water to enter into the cavity formed by the sponson  101  next to the vessel&#39;s hull  200 , and in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the top of the sponson  101  opens to atmosphere. In this particular embodiment, the sponson  101  would typically run approximately the entire length of the vessel  200 , as shown in the illustrative example of  FIG. 4 . 
     When the vessel  200  is floating in a body of water, water enters the sponson  101  through the bottom opening and equalizes within the cavity of the sponson. In this way, the sponson  101  holds a certain mass of water in attachment to the vessel  200 , essentially acting to increase the effective mass of the vessel. This increase in effective mass serves to increase the vessel&#39;s  200  inertial resistance to roll by increasing the vessel&#39;s mass moment of inertia, such that the vessel&#39;s innate resistance acts to dampen wave roll motion. 
     When the wave period coincides with the roll natural period, a resonant phenomenon occurs. In this case, an increase of the effective mass moment of inertia of the vessel due to the presence of the sponson(s) would lead to an increase of the natural period, thereby allowing the roll resonance to be de-tuned. Once de-tuned, the energy absorption from the waves would be significantly reduced. The resulting effect is a net reduction of the roll motion amplitude. 
     The size of the cavity defined by the sponson  101  may vary. In one embodiment, the height of the sponson  101  is such that, at a minimum, it extends from near the bottom of the vessel  200  to above the waterline. The length of the sponson  101 , while variable, typically approximates the length of the vessel  200 . The cross-sectional width of each sponson  101  can vary according to need; the more inertial resistance desired to counteract the roll motion of the waves, the larger mass of water the sponson should encompass. 
     The disclosed embodiment of  FIG. 1  also includes a wing keel  120  located on the exterior surface of the sponson  101  near the bottom opening of the sponson. The wing keel  120  typically runs the length of the sponson  101 , and angles outward as it extends away from the sponson (as may be seen in the illustrative example shown in  FIG. 1 ). Thus, the sponson  101  with the wing keel  120  has a bottom opening that flares outward. In this design, the wing keel  120  serves a channeling function because of its shape, essentially acting as an enlarged inlet that scoops water up into the sponson  101 . In doing so, the wing keel improves the effectiveness of the sponson  101 , as well as that of any baffles located within the sponson  101 . 
     In addition to channeling water into the sponson  101 , the wing keel  120  serves as a resistive surface for roll motion. It adds to the vessel&#39;s  200  mass moment of inertia hydrodynamically, as well as providing a viscous drag effect that resists rolling motion. As a wave moves towards the vessel  200 , it crosses over the wing keel  120 . The force of the wave pushing against the wing keel creates a downward force upon the vessel  200  in resistance to the wave rolling motion. Thus, the hydrodynamic effect of the wing keel  120  is to add to the effective mass moment of inertia of the vessel  200 . Simultaneously, the wing keel  120  serves as a surface that experiences drag. So, the wing keel  120  operates to resist wave roll motion in two separate ways, one based on energy dissipation as a result of viscous damping, and the other based on inertia resistance as a result of the added mass moment of inertia. 
     The embodiment of  FIG. 1  also shows how baffles located within the sponson  101  can provide viscous drag resistance to roll motion. In disclosed embodiments, each baffle is a primarily horizontally oriented plate extending across the cavity within the sponson  101 , with an opening area(s) that allows fluid flow through the baffle and thereby within the sponson. In practice, baffles include a plurality of panels (such as those depicted in  FIGS. 3A and 3B ) disposed adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction. In some embodiments, the baffles run the entire length of the sponson. Baffles according to the present disclosure may take on a variety of shapes and configurations. For example, the baffles may be formed to include pores, small openings, large openings, slits and/or any other configuration that directs the flow of fluid in a desired manner.  FIG. 3  depicts exemplary baffle panel designs.  FIG. 1  illustrates a sponson  101  with a pair of baffles. Baffle  103  is located relatively near the bottom opening of the sponson  101 , and controls initial water flow into and out of the sponson. Baffle  105  restricts water flow within the sponson  101 , thereby increasing viscous drag and helping the sponson trap additional water mass for inertial resistance. Baffles serve to restrict water flow within the sponson  101 , thereby helping to make the sponson more effective in terms of adding inertial resistance, while also providing viscous drag resistance to roll. The baffles within the sponson  101  help trap water mass within the sponson, so that the sponson functions more effectively. The baffles also serve as surfaces that provide viscous drag resistance when the water within the sponson  101  contacts the baffle plates. 
     A single baffle  103 , typically located near the bottom opening of the sponson  101 , both improves sponson performance and provides viscous drag, but multiple baffles may further improve effectiveness on both counts. The embodiment of  FIG. 1  illustrates multiple baffles. Baffle  103  is located near the bottom opening of the sponson  101 . One or more internal baffles  105  are located further up within the sponson  101 , below the waterline. The presence of multiple baffles, such as baffle  103  near the bottom opening and internal baffle  105  below the waterline, can increase the viscous damping effect by providing additional resistive surfaces with which water flow may make contact. As water flows within the sponson  101  in response to the wave action outside the sponson, it comes into contact with the restrictive baffles  103  and  105 . The viscous drag that results can provide a force moment that counteracts the rolling motion introduced by the waves. Furthermore, multiple baffles, such as  103  and  105  in  FIG. 1 , act to trap more water within the sponson  101 . In this way, the baffles  103  and  105  enable the sponson  101  to more effectively add to the vessel&#39;s  200  inertial resistance. 
     While multiple baffles, such as baffles  103  and  105  in  FIG. 1 , can increase the resistance against roll, in order for multiple baffles to be employed most effectively, the baffles tend to be vertically spaced at least a minimum distance apart. Typically, the spacing between baffles should be approximately the width of the sponson  101  that the baffles are located within. In  FIG. 1 , this spacing of baffles  103  and  105  provides the proper hydrodynamic flow within the sponson  101  for effective viscous drag resistance. If the baffles were spaced more closely, there might be a shielding effect as water flowed between baffles, which could reduce the effectiveness of successive baffles. Thus, the number of baffles located within the sponson  101  should typically be set to an integer that is less than the value of the waterline height of the sponson  101  divided by the width of the sponson  101  at the bottom opening. 
     The effectiveness of the baffles can also vary depending upon geometry, with the size and shape of the opening(s) in the baffle plate playing the primary role. By way of example, the baffle design  310  in  FIG. 3A  is configured to effectively resist in-plane loads. In addition, baffle design may trap water mass and create drag force. Generally, baffle design  310  comprises a planar sheet of material with a plurality of apertures  312  through which water may flow. The plurality of apertures  312  are substantially triangular in shape, and surround a central point  314  in the planar sheet of the baffle. Each substantially triangular aperture  312  is oriented so that it is substantially a mirror image of its neighboring apertures  312  (with the strip  316  of the planar sheet between triangular apertures serving as the reflecting line). Thus, the strips  316  of the planar sheet between the plurality of apertures form a substantially asterisk shape, with connecting strips  316  extending outward from the central point  314  to link a border of sheet material surrounding the apertures  312 . Because of its features, baffle design  310  would generally be used as the lower baffle  103 , located in proximity to the bottom opening of the sponson  101 . 
     The baffle plate  340  in  FIG. 3B , on the other hand, is configured to maximize drag (and thereby damping force). Generally baffle  340  of  FIG. 3B  also comprises a planar sheet of material with a plurality of apertures  342  through which water may flow. In baffle design  340 , however, the apertures  342  are substantially circular in shape and are substantially arranged in a series of rows. All of these apertures  342  are approximately the same size in this embodiment. Generally, each aperture  342  in a row would be spaced apart less than the diameter of an aperture, and each row would be spaced apart less than the diameter of an aperture. The drag characteristics of baffle design  340  may be adjusted by changing the size and spacing of the apertures  342 . Because of its features, baffle design  340  would generally be used as an upper, internal baffle  105 . One embodiment would utilize baffle design  310  as the lower baffle  103  (at the bottom opening of the sponson  101 ), while baffle design  340  would be used for internal baffles  105 . Based on specific vessel needs, however, either disclosed baffle design may be used alone or in conjunction with another baffle design, either as an internal baffle or as a baffle at the bottom opening of a sponson  101 . Likewise, such baffle designs are not limited to use within a sponson  101 . The disclosed baffle designs are merely illustrative, and a wide array of baffle designs may be effective within the sponson  101 . A person skilled in the field will appreciate such alternative baffle designs, all of which are intended to be included within the scope of this invention. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the wing keel  120  works in a complementary fashion with the sponson  101  and the baffles  103  and  105 . The channeling function of the wing keel  120  scoops water into the sponson  101 , increasing the water flow rate into the sponson. Essentially, the wing keel  120  provides a larger inlet for the bottom opening of the sponson  101 , increasing the flow volume in proportion to the increase in the size of the bottom opening of the sponson due to the flaring wing keel  120 . This increase in the flow rate makes the sponson  101  more effective, by allowing the trapped mass of water within the sponson  101  to increase more quickly. This makes the changing inertial resistance more responsive to the wave action, providing a more effective counteracting resistance to the roll motion of the waves. In addition, the increase in the water flow rate due to the wing keel  120  allows the baffles  103  and  105  to function more effectively in providing viscous damping. Since the amount of viscous damping provided by baffles  103  and  105  depends on the rate change of the volume of water (which is equal to the flow velocity times the opening area) flowing through the sponson  101 , the wing keel  120  indirectly increases the viscous drag force provided by the baffles  103  and  105  in resistance to the roll motion of the waves. 
     The described embodiment of the wing keel  120  shown in  FIG. 1  provides advantages over a conventional bilge keel. The first advantage is the ability of the wing keel  120  to operate in conjunction with a sponson  101 , due to its shape and configuration. A conventional bilge keel cannot operate with a sponson  101 , since its shape would act to block the bottom opening of the sponson  101 . The flaring shape of the wing keel  120 , by contrast, leaves the bottom opening of the sponson  101  unobstructed, and actually acts to direct water flow into the sponson. Further, the wing keel  120  provides greater hydrodynamic resistance than would a conventional bilge keel, since its flared shape means that the distance between the wing keel  120  and the roll center of the floating vessel  200  is maximized. The wing keel also provides a greater viscous drag force (in comparison to a bilge keel) due to its flared shape. By way of example, a ten percent increase in outboard distance (due to flaring) would lead to a net increase in the viscous drag damping moment of thirty-three percent over a conventional bilge keel. So, the wing keel  120  provides stability advantages of its own, as well as working in conjunction with sponsons  101  and baffles  103  and  105  to stabilize a floating vessel against rolling motion. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure. In particular, the embodiment of  FIG. 2  shows a vessel  120  with an integrated sponson  101 . Located within the sponson are two baffles,  103  and  105 . Located at the bottom opening of the sponson  101  is a hinged wing keel  120 . This hinged wing keel  120  can pivot between an open position, in which the hinged wing keel  120  angles outward as is described above for a fixed wing keel  120 , and a closed position, in which the wing keel  120  seals off the sponson  101  by contacting the bottom of the vessel  200  in order to block water flow into the sponson  101 . The disclosed embodiment of  FIG. 2  also shows a baffle  103  with a flow control device, that can alter the size of the opening within the baffle  103 . By opening or closing the baffle  103 , the flow of water within the sponson may be altered as needed. 
     In practice, the embodiment of  FIG. 2  illustrates several different optional features, all of which could be used alone or in some combination with the more typical features described above for  FIG. 1  (or the other optional features shown in  FIG. 2 ). For the design of certain types of vessels, it may be unnecessary to use a roll damping device in a continuous manner; roll damping might only be useful for a specific combination of the wave period, wave heading, and sea states. In such a circumstance, the design of the wing keel  120  could be modified such that it could be opened or closed mechanically using a hinge device. It is to be contemplated that the hinged wing keel of  FIG. 2  could take on a variety of configurations. 
     The hinged wing keel  120  of  FIG. 2  allows the vessel  200  to operate as if it has sponsons  101  for roll motion reduction, or as if it does not have sponsons  101 . When the wing keel  120  is pivotally opened, the sponson  101  acts to trap water, adding to the vessel&#39;s inertial resistance to wave roll motion. By pivotally closing the hinged wing keel  120 , however, the vessel  200  can operate as if it had no sponson  101 . This allows the roll motion characteristics of the vessel to be altered, based upon the specific conditions of operation. For instance, the hinged wing keel  120  might be closed when the vessel  200  was cruising on open water without significant wave action, in order to reduce the drag experienced by the vessel  200 . Then, if the vessel encountered increased wave action and began to experience roll, the hinged wing keel  120  could be opened, allowing the sponsons  101  to operate to aid in stabilizing the vessel  200 . 
     The roll resistance/damping characteristics of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2  could further be altered by using a flow control device  104  to open or close baffle  103 . By altering the effective opening area(s) in baffle  103 , the viscous drag resistance to wave roll may be dynamically adjusted to suit the situation. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the sponson design creates added moment of inertia and viscous damping not only for roll motion but also for pitch and heave motions as well. When the vessel encounters incoming waves head-on, or with an oblique angle, the sponson provides the additional benefits of dampening the pitch and heave motions based on the same principles (viscous damping and inertial resistance) as described above for the dampening of the roll motion. 
     While various embodiments in accordance with the principles disclosed herein have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. For example, a duct may be used to connect the sponsons disposed on either side of the hull. Thus, the breadth and scope of the invention(s) should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with any claims and their equivalents issuing from this disclosure. Furthermore, the above advantages and features are provided in described embodiments, but shall not limit the application of such issued claims to processes and structures accomplishing any or all of the above advantages. 
     Additionally, the section headings herein are provided for consistency with the suggestions under 37 CFR 1.77 or otherwise to provide organizational cues. These headings shall not limit or characterize the invention(s) set out in any claims that may issue from this disclosure. Specifically and by way of example, although the headings refer to a “Technical Field,” such claims should not be limited by the language chosen under this heading to describe the so-called technical field. Further, a description of a technology in the “Background” is not to be construed as an admission that technology is prior art to any invention(s) in this disclosure. Neither is the “Brief Summary” to be considered as a characterization of the invention(s) set forth in issued claims. Furthermore, any reference in this disclosure to “invention” in the singular should not be used to argue that there is only a single point of novelty in this disclosure. Multiple inventions may be set forth according to the limitations of the multiple claims issuing from this disclosure, and such claims accordingly define the invention(s), and their equivalents, that are protected thereby. Likewise, any mention of “vessel” or “floating vessel” is intended to include any and all floating bodies, and should not be construed in a limiting manner. In all instances, the scope of such claims shall be considered on their own merits in light of this disclosure, but should not be constrained by the headings set forth herein.