Ships – Hull or hull adjunct employing fluid dynamic forces to... – Movably mounted hull portion or hull adjunct
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-02-06
Avila, Stephen (Department: 3617)
Ships
Hull or hull adjunct employing fluid dynamic forces to...
Movably mounted hull portion or hull adjunct
C114S279000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182596
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system of dampers, springs and stabilizer linkages in a high speed vessel that control the relative motion of an inner hull to an outer hull, thereby minimizing the effects of shock and vibration in the inner hull.
2. Description of Related Art
Shock cushioning systems for decks and cargo platform are known in the art. However, they generally lack motion control and do not incorporate a double hull system. Nor are these systems designed to be used in a high speed boat or vessel such as a racing boat or what is commonly known by the populace as a cigarette boat.
Known related art includes a stabilized watercraft for minimizing pitching and wave shock of small craft depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,270,701 to Kubas. This invention lacks a double hull safety feature and the forward portion of the bottom is rigidly attached to the bow diminishing the cushioning action where it is most needed in speed boats. Further, there is no positive attachment aft and no motion control utilizing stabilizer linkages as in the present invention. Another related art is a shock cushioned load platform depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,112 to Fox. Again, this system does not have a double hull feature and guides with balls are used to control sliding motion. Further, the coil springs are compression springs, not springs that work in tension and compression. In addition, the steel springs corrode with salt water exposure. The lack of dampers also severely limit motion control. U.S. Pat. No. 1,104,745 to Gunnarson and U.S. Pat. No. 1,136,711 to Paulauski disclose transverse or side-to-side cushioning only. No vertical cushioning is provided and such a system is applicable only to provided bumper means for low speed watercraft, such as protection from docks. Other known related system that provide for minimal cushioning or are limited to preventing rolling and pitching in a single hull vessel include U.S. Pat. No. 1,792,745 to Kasarinoff, U.S. Pat. No. 2,617,377 to Evans, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,351,262 to Matthews.
None of the devices in the above references solve the problem of providing a combination of linkages, dampers and load distribution springs between an inner and an outer hull of a speed boat. Speed boat operators and passengers are notoriously subject to serious rib, arm and leg injuries from the jarring effects of pounding the rough seas during a race or a high speed run. An object of the present invention would provide a system which controls the motion of the inner hull relative to the motion of the outer hull, thereby providing a safer environment for the operator or passengers in a high speed vessel. This novel system will allow higher attainable speeds within the bounds of human tolerance and otherwise will provide for a more comfortable ride.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a system for minimizing the effects of shock and vibration in a high speed vessel and comprises a vessel having an inner hull and an outer hull. The inner hull includes a deck, superstructure, ship propulsion machinery, tankage and related equipment, including vessel controls and navigational equipment.
The inner hull superstructure has a side deck and a downwardly extending outer edge along a perimeter of the superstructure side deck. The side deck and outer edge are in an overlapping relationship with a corresponding deck flange and downwardly extending outer edge along a perimeter of an upper edge of a sidewall of the outer hull.
The outer hull of the vessel is typically designed for high speed maneuverability and is generally watertight or non-flooding. It is also preferable that the inner hull also have watertight integrity.
The invention includes at least one longitudinal pivoted link, one end of which is pivotally attached at a predetermined location on an inner bottom surface of the outer hull and generally aft of the vessel. An opposite end is pivotally attached at a predetermined location on an outer surface of the inner hull and generally forward of the vessel proximate a keel line of the vessel. The longitudinal pivoted link constrains the longitudinal motion of the inner hull relative to the outer hull while allowing relative vertical motion.
An aft transverse pivoted link is also included with one end being pivotally attached generally under the outer bottom surface of the inner hull at a location generally aft of the vessel and proximate a joinder of an inner sidewall surface of the outer hull and an inner bottom surface of the outer hull. The opposite end is pivotally attached at a predetermined location on the outer bottom surface of the inner hull proximate a joinder of an outer sidewall of the inner hull and the bottom surface of the inner hull. The aft transverse pivoted link constrains the lateral motion of the inner hull relative to the outer hull while allowing relative vertical motion.
A forward end lateral motion limiting means is incorporated between a bow end of the inner hull and a bow end of the outer hull for providing a lateral motion constraint while allowing relative vertical motion.
In a practical application of the incorporation of the forward end lateral motion limiting means, a vertically oriented attachment plate is integrally fixed at a predetermined location along a centerline of the bow end of the inner hull. The attachment plate includes a vertically oriented slot extending from a bottom surface of an edge of the attachment plate upwardly a distance corresponding to a predetermined travel limit. A transverse oriented member is symmetrically and integrally fixed at each end thereof to a corresponding location on the inner sidewall surface of the outer hull juxtaposed a centerline of the bow end of the outer hull. The transverse oriented member is aligned to be received within the slot of the attachment plate. In order to limit lateral or transverse motion of the bow end of the inner hull relative to the bow end of the outer hull when the transverse oriented member is engaged within the slot, the transverse oriented member may have oversized portions on either side of the slotted attachment plate. The oversized portions are preferably made of low friction material. It is further recommended that the oversized portions be rolling devices, that is, wheels or ball bearings. Alternatively, the oversized portions may be integral extended portions of the transverse oriented member.
The invention further includes a plurality of spring and damper support means between the inner hull and outer hull for cushioning a vertical motion imparted by the outer hull. Each of the plurality of spring and damper support means are typically located symmetrically at predetermined locations along a port and starboard side of the vessel.
A flexible spray shield is recommended to block a spray of water from entering between the inner hull and the outer hull through a clearance where the inner hull superstructure side deck and outer edge overlap the corresponding deck flange and outer edge of the outer hull. The spray shield is adapted to maintain a water spray shielding effect during the movement corresponding to the relative motion between the inner and outer hulls.
In lieu of having longitudinal pivoted link(s) running in an orientation essentially along the keel line of the vessel between the inner hull and the outer hull, an alternative configuration is two longitudinal pivoted links which are pivotally attached so as to form a generally V-shaped configuration. In this configuration, one end of each longitudinal pivoted link is pivotally attached on the inner bottom surface of the outer hull generally aft of the vessel and proximate the joinder of the inner sidewall surface of the outer hull and the inner bottom surface of the outer hull, and generally symmetric to the keel line with each opposite end of the longitudinal pivoted link being pivotally attached at the predetermined location on the outer surface of the inner hull generally forward of the vessel proximate the keel line of the vessel.
A plurality
Avila Stephen
LaPointe Dennis G.
Mason & Associates, PA
LandOfFree
System for minimizing the effects of shock and vibration in... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for minimizing the effects of shock and vibration in..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for minimizing the effects of shock and vibration in... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2587565