초록 ▼

An improved pressurized gas supported marine vehicle that is, in its preferred embodiment long and slender and stabilized by outrigger hulls, is presented. This vehicle, known as SeaLance because of its optimal very fine entry bow and narrow fine main hull, is also capable of full or partial airborn

An improved pressurized gas supported marine vehicle that is, in its preferred embodiment long and slender and stabilized by outrigger hulls, is presented. This vehicle, known as SeaLance because of its optimal very fine entry bow and narrow fine main hull, is also capable of full or partial airborne operation when equipped with sidewings. When waterborne, an artifically pressurized gas cushion is disposed in an open bottomed recess in the main hull. First and second, forward and aft, air cushions can be used to maintain a higher gas cushion pressure aft than forward which reduces water blowout at the bow and aids in trimming of the vehicle. Further, labyrinth seals can be disposed on recess intermediate and aft seals to aid in sealing of gas flow. An optional feature of SeaLance is one or more water stabilizers that can include hydrofoils and/or a small lifting body. The water stabilizer(s) would normally retract into an open bottomed recess in the main hull when not used. The sidewings can be built to be fixed or retractable and, further, can include winglets that can further include wingcaps to improve aerodynamic efficiencies. It is possible to seal the main blower(s) such that a small gas pump can be used to then either maintain cushion pressure for extended periods while dockside or evacuate gas from the cushion to render the vessel into a semi-submerged state.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What I claim is:] [1.] In an improved marine vehicle that is at least partially supported by an artificially pressurized gas cushion, the improvement comprising:a main hull having a recess built into its underside wherein the gas cushion is at least partially disposed between the main hull and a w

[ What I claim is:] [1.] In an improved marine vehicle that is at least partially supported by an artificially pressurized gas cushion, the improvement comprising:a main hull having a recess built into its underside wherein the gas cushion is at least partially disposed between the main hull and a water surface such that said recess acts as part of restraining means for the pressurized gas cushion and said recess is bordered, at least in part, by sidekeels and an aft gas restraining seal and wherein, as seen in a calm sea surface waterline with a sidekeel at a hull's bow lower than a sidekeel at a hull's stern by up to three (3) degrees, an average total divergence of water contacting side surfaces of said bow, as a sum of a divergence angle either side of a vertical centerline plane of said main hull, is less than twenty-six (26) degrees and wherein a forward portion of the recess in the main hull, as seen in a calm sea surface waterline with the recess pressurized with gas, is on average narrower than an aft portion of said recess; and which further comprises outrigger hulls disposed either side of the main hull with mechanical communication of said outrigger hulls with the main hull including outrigger wings.