Ships – Building – Antifriction surfaces
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-13
2003-11-18
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3617)
Ships
Building
Antifriction surfaces
C405S021000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06647910
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Technical Field
This invention relates to methods for absorbing impacting shock loads from waves by using a diffuser to provide a reduced impact zone forward of the hull and to divide the wave and cause the non-compressible liquid of the wave to mix with air in the diffuser channels to form a compressible fluid to further absorb impacting shock loads. The system was invented to provide for wide bow craft allowing high buoyancy high stability, more usable space and a flat bottomed planing hull consistent with better method of manufacture higher strength and lower cost of manufacture of marine craft.
The invention also applies to absorbing impact loads from semi solids like snow that are undulating and would normally cause impact with the front of the sleds, skis or snowmobiles.
(2) Background Information
For thousands of years the bows of boats have been shaped typically to a point to reduce impact with waves from a concentrated impact to a gradual impact over a time span. The bow has been made in many forms including pointed, chamfered, bulbous, contoured, angled. The shape has limited the forward section of hulls in volume for practical use, causing costly construction.
The new invention decreases concentrated impact with waves providing absorption of the impact over a longer period of time. The invention provides shock absorption by presenting a multitude of surfaces with spaces between them being described as a diffuser to reduce the impact through applying the hull gradually to the force of the wave and by mixing the liquid with the air already between the plates of the diffuser to produce a compressible fluid to further absorb impact.
Two types of hulls dominate the marine industry. The first type is known as a displacement hull. When it floats, it must displace its own weight of water. When it moves, it must continue to displace its own weight of water to be able to travel. Obviously, the inertia of the water being displaced requires energy and to move quickly the inertia becomes impossible to overcome with a practical amount of propulsion energy. The displacement hull normally has a pointed or sharp bow to part the waves to allow progress.
The second type is a planing hull. At rest, it displaces its weight in water as with a displacement hull. However, it is a shallow draft, wider hull, and as it is propelled forward, it tends to rise up on the surface of the water and at the planing stage, it is no longer displacing water. Being a wide hull, it is difficult to operate when waves are present because of intolerable wave impact.
With this invention, the intended practical use of marine craft, that better accommodates people and goods is now possible. In regard to marine use, a further advantage of the diffuser hull version of the wave shock absorber systems is to add air to the diffuser fluid to form a compressible fluid to reduce impact on the hull and as a secondary product, to reduce suction between the water and hull thereby reducing drag. The diffuser can also be used on the stern of a hull to reduce suction during displacement running. Deployed shock absorber systems to disperse shock waves on aircraft surfaces are also possible using this invention.
The wave shock absorber hull, because it provides for wave impact control of a wide hull allows for a hull that is faster, more energy efficient, has high buoyancy (more seaworthy) high stability (less prone to capsize) uncompromised space availability. Manufacture of the wave shock absorber hull will solve many of the cost problems associated with present state of the art craft.
Manufacture of the wave shock absorber hull will solve many of the problems associated with the construction of displacement hulls. Displacement hulls must be built with continuous curving surfaces from stem to stern. These surfaces are all 3 dimensional. To try to compromise these laws reduces the efficiency of the displacement hull. A further problem is that the displacement hull can only be operated efficiently at the speed as designed. Therefore, each type of displacement hull is designed for its intended purpose and a narrow speed range. Each hull is a special purpose shape from a special purpose mold.
The shock absorber hull can be manufactured to any length and to any width, as there is NO FLUID DYNAMIC SHAPE RESTRICTION for OPERATION or EFFICIENCY. THERE IS NO NEED FOR CURVED SURFACES, GREATLY SIMPLIFYING MANUFACTURING COSTS and PRODUCT INTEGRITY.
MANUFACTURING BENEFITS:
(a) Simpler construction because of 2 dimensional shapes.
(b) Lower cost ‘off the shelf’ materials.
(c) Lower process costs for ‘in-plant’ manufacturing.
(d) Lower cost materials & process.
(e) Higher quality product through 2 dimension CONTINUOUS SECTION MATERIALS.
(f) Larger range of materials, particularly composites and metals.
(g) Lower product liability through ‘off the shelf’ or easily inspected wrought or composite mass produced materials.
(h) Much lower cost of production. Boosts marketability and profit margin.
THE INVENTION PROVIDES A VERY BROAD RANGE OF MARINE CRAFT AVAILABLE FROM ONE MANUFACTURING SOURCE, INCLUDING DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ORDERS FOR ASSAULT TROOP AND EQUIPMENT CARRIERS.
Benefits to users are greater safety through higher buoyancy, higher stability, higher structural integrity and higher floatation. The cost is lower because of simpler construction.
The high buoyancy hull provided by the wave shock absorber hull provides a very low draft which allows the craft to be deployed in shallow water, coral reefs, wetlands, etc. with minimal ecological disturbances. Present marine craft have deeper draft because of the limited floatation caused by the geometrical restriction of the bow.
Recap:
Provides for better shape for better efficiency use of rectangular space instead of rounded.
Provides housing for engine and amphibious gear because diffuser construction reinforces the bow to a higher strength level.
Provides more capacity for design appearance.
Provides plates or other shapes for heat exchanging to cool engines, engine coolant, and cool and disperse engine exhaust in the multiplicity of different plates and shapes at very little cost.
Provides the ability to mix gas with liquid to reduce impact and suction on the hull, to increase speed or decrease power necessary to drive hull.
Provides the bases for a flat bottom hull for maximum buoyancy and maximum planing capability, which leads to greater stability at rest.and at speed.
Provides better structural simplicity/flat sides, flat bottom, rectangular structure and parallel longitudinal shape not attainable with pointed bow.
The same system can be applied to the stern of craft to reduce the stern wave effect.
The shock absorber bow can be topped to keep fluids contained and forced down through the plates under the craft to provide further lift.
The present pointed bow wastes energy in forcing liquids sideways, producing a bow wave. This energy is lost to the sea. The shock absorber bow also controls and reduces spray and splashing on the craft.
Also, with this system it is convenient to locate the engine or engines in the bow which is a structural section of the boat, allowing the propulsion system to be forward of the craft in undisturbed water, reducing cavitation on the propulsion system (propellers), thereby providing a more efficient propulsion (tractor) system. In present stern drive systems, propellers are washed in gas dissolved or mixed in the water, decreasing power through cavitation, particularly in tunnel hulls.
By placing the propulsion system in the structural diffuser bow provides better structural integrity in the craft which in turns reduces construction costs and also provides modular construction. By replacing the higher percentage of weight in the bow also provides a better planing center of gravity position reducing considerably the stern wave production. The shock absorber bow is also in an ideal position to mount amphibious undercarriage, particularly for use on ramp retrieval.
The diffuser bow version with forward engine provides for an un
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