초록 ▼

An improved multi-operational mode marine vessel is proposed that has blower pressurized air cushions that are utilized during high speed operations disposed in one or more secondary supporting hulls wherein said secondary supporting hulls are connected to a main hull by struts in the preferred embo

An improved multi-operational mode marine vessel is proposed that has blower pressurized air cushions that are utilized during high speed operations disposed in one or more secondary supporting hulls wherein said secondary supporting hulls are connected to a main hull by struts in the preferred embodiment of the invention and where, when the air cushions are not utilized, the secondary hulls are at least partially submerged thereby providing an exceptionally stable marine vehicle while stationary or at low speeds. This submergence of the secondary hulls can be enhanced by use of one or more water buoyancy tanks that would generally be disposed in the secondary supporting hulls. In the optional version of the invention, blower pressurized air is ducted from blowers in the main hull through the struts to the air cushion recesses in the secondary supporting hulls plus a duct connects separate air cushion recesses in separate secondary supporting hulls by way of the struts. The gas cushion recesses are defined as being generally boat shaped with more narrow bows than sterns and as having aft seals.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What I claim is:] [1.] In an improved marine vehicle that is, in at least one of its modes of operation, partially supported by artificially pressurized gas cushions, the improvement comprising:secondary supporting hulls in mechanical communication with a main hull by means of strut-like members w

[ What I claim is:] [1.] In an improved marine vehicle that is, in at least one of its modes of operation, partially supported by artificially pressurized gas cushions, the improvement comprising:secondary supporting hulls in mechanical communication with a main hull by means of strut-like members wherein said strut-like members include gas passageways that connect a gas pressurization means with the pressurized gas cushions, said gas pressurization means including a powered blower, the pressurized gas cushions disposed, at least in their majority, in gas cushion recesses built into undersides of the secondary supporting hulls, wherein when the gas cushion recesses are pressurized with gas and the improved marine vehicle is moving forward, the secondary supporting hulls are at a high speed operational waterline and when the gas cushion recesses are not pressurized with gas and the improved marine vehicle is at rest, said secondary supporting hulls are, at least in their majority, submerged and the strut-like members that include gas passageways that connect the gas pressurization means with the pressurized gas cushions are partially submerged so that they intersect a calm sea surface waterline, sidekeels either side of said gas cushion recesses wherein said sidekeels diverge going aft from a forward portion of their respective secondary supporting hulls and said sidekeels then become more parallel over their aft portions, and water buoyancy tanks disposed, at least in their majority, in the secondary supporting hulls whereby adding water to said water buoyancy tanks aids in submerging the secondary supporting hulls.