Ships – Hull or hull adjunct employing fluid dynamic forces to...
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-11
2001-05-01
Swinehart, Ed (Department: 3617)
Ships
Hull or hull adjunct employing fluid dynamic forces to...
C114S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223674
ABSTRACT:
ORIGIN OF THE INVENTION
The invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by employees of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used, licensed by or for the Government for any governmental purpose without payment of any royalties thereon.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to adaptive hulls for a boat operating at planing speeds. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system for reconfiguring the shape of a boat hull during operation to mitigate shock loads in rough water and improve performance during planing in smooth or rough water.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The typical planing boat hull for use in rough water makes use of a deep vee shape that tends to cut into the waves instead of violently impacting the water's surface as is the case with a flatter hull bottom. This deep vee hull design reduces some of the shocks, but at high speed in rough seas the shocks can still cause injury to personnel and damage equipment. The typical deep vee hull also requires more propulsion power than a shallower vee hull of equal weight for a given speed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boat hull configuration that will reduce shock loads on the boat and its occupants when operating at planing speeds in rough water.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a boat hull configuration having the ability to plane at greater speed for a given hull weight or be able to carry more weight at the same speed.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a movable means for controlling planing and shock impact of a boat hull moving through waves in various sea states.
Finally, it is another object of the present invention to provide a boat hull configuration that is user adjustable to reduce shock load to the hull and its cargo when operating at planing speeds in rough water.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious hereinafter in the specification and drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, a planing boat's primary hull has an adjunct hull surface rotatably connected thereto near its stem, i.e., the forward-most end of the hull. The adjunct hull surface extends along the hull of the planing boat to aft of amidships. The adjunct hull surface is constructed of a rigid material that conforms to the shape of the hull of the planing boat. A position controller is coupled to the adjunct hull surface to selectively position the adjunct hull surface relative to the hull of the planing boat. When the adjunct hull surface is spaced apart from the hull of the planing boat, the position controller also absorbs shock loads experienced by the adjunct hull surface. The adjunct hull surface is positioned during operation for optimum load isolation and/or planing performance by the position controller.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1746912 (1930-02-01), Smith
patent: 2265206 (1941-12-01), Stampfl
patent: 3559222 (1971-02-01), Walker
patent: 2508205 (1976-09-01), None
Gollwitzer Richard M.
Peterson Ronald S.
Wyman David B.
Gilbert Harvey A.
Peck Donald G.
Swinehart Ed
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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