초록 ▼

Presented is a water propulsion system for ships that enhances the efficiency of both the water propulsor(s) and the ship itself. This is accomplished by location of water inlet(s) for the water propulsor(s) to take advantage of water flow characteristics around a secondary bow of the ship and also

Presented is a water propulsion system for ships that enhances the efficiency of both the water propulsor(s) and the ship itself. This is accomplished by location of water inlet(s) for the water propulsor(s) to take advantage of water flow characteristics around a secondary bow of the ship and also proximal a stern of the ship. A primary object is to reduce the energy of the bow and/or stern waves of the ship and hence reduce the ship's wave making resistance. A secondary object is to reduce the frictional resistance of the ship. The water propulsors are preferably electrically driven with built in stator field windings and armatured rotors. A bow oriented water propulsor(s) would preferably have its discharge into a gas cavity in the underside of the ship. Both bow oriented and stern oriented water propulsor(s) would optimally have steering and/or reversing mechanisms.

대표청구항 ▼

What I claim is: 1. In an improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship, the improvement comprising: a first bow oriented water propulsor having a first bow oriented water inlet disposed, at least in part, proximal a lower forward portion of a bow of a main center hull of the

What I claim is: 1. In an improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship, the improvement comprising: a first bow oriented water propulsor having a first bow oriented water inlet disposed, at least in part, proximal a lower forward portion of a bow of a main center hull of the ship and wherein, when the ship is moving forward and the first bow oriented water propulsor is operating, water taken into the first bow oriented water inlet generates a hydrodynamic force on a bow wave of said ship thereby reducing energy of said bow wave and wherein said first bow oriented water propulsor expels at least a majority of its discharge propulsive force water aft into a first open bottomed recess inset upward into the main center hull of the ship and wherein said first open bottomed recess is, at least in part, defined either side longitudinally by downwardly extending longitudinal portions of the main center hull and wherein a first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is formed in said first open bottomed recess and wherein said first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is supplied with gas from artificial gas pressurization means. 2. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein said first open bottomed recess is, at least in part, defined forward by a first step inset upward into a lower portion of the main center hull of the ship. 3. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 which further comprises outrigger hulls disposed either side of the main center hull of the ship. 4. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the main center hull of the ship, a lower water contacting portion of the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is horizontal over a least a majority of its width. 5. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein, as seen in a vertical longitudinal plane of the main center hull of the ship, a lower water contacting portion of the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer rises going from forward to aft. 6. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein the first bow oriented water propulsor further comprises a steering means wherein said steering means is, at least in its majority and with the ship moving forward and with the first bow oriented water propulsor producing forward thrust, disposed internal to the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer. 7. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein the first bow oriented water propulsor further comprises a thrust reversing means wherein said thrust reversing means is, when non-actuated and with the ship moving forward and with the first bow oriented water propulsor producing forward thrust, at least in its majority disposed internal to the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer. 8. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein a portion of the bow of the main center hull has, at least in part, a bulbous shape. 9. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein, as seen in a profile view, a majority of the bow of the main center hull slopes aft. 10. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein a portion of the bow of the main center hull has a shape that is wider in cross dimension horizontally than vertically. 11. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 wherein said first bow oriented water propulsor is an electrically powered waterjet and which further comprises a first stern oriented waterjet propulsor wherein said first stern oriented waterjet propulsor is electrically powered. 12. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 1 which further comprises a second recess inset upward into an underside of the main center hull of the ship. 13. In an improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship, the improvement comprising: a first bow oriented water propulsor having a first bow oriented water inlet disposed, at least in its majority, in a secondary bow disposed as a lower portion of a main bow of a main center hull of the ship and wherein, when the ship is moving forward and the first bow oriented water propulsor is operating, water taken into the first bow oriented water inlet generates a hydrodynamic force on a bow wave of said ship thereby reducing energy of said bow wave and wherein said first bow oriented water propulsor expels at least a majority of its discharge propulsive water aft into a first open bottomed recess in the main center hull of the ship and wherein said open bottom recess is pressurized with gas from an artificial gas pressurization means to thereby form a first pressurized gas layer in the underside of the main center hull of the ship and wherein the first bow oriented water propulsor further comprises a steering means wherein said steering means is, with the ship moving forward and with the first bow oriented water propulsor producing forward thrust, at least in its majority disposed internal to the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer in the main center hull of the ship. 14. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein said first open bottomed recess is, at least in part, defined either side longitudinally by downwardly extending longitudinal portions of the main center hull. 15. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein said first open bottomed recess is, at least in part, defined forward by a first step inset upward into a lower portion of the main center hull of the ship. 16. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 which further comprises outrigger hulls disposed either side of the main center hull of the ship. 17. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 14 wherein, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the main center hull of the ship, a lower water contacting portion of the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is horizontal over a least a majority of its width. 18. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein, as seen in a vertical longitudinal plane of the main center hull of the ship, a lower water contacting portion of the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer rises going from forward to aft. 19. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein as seen in a profile view, a majority of the main bow of the main center hull disposed above the secondary bow slopes aft. 20. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein the first bow oriented water propulsor further comprises a thrust reversing means wherein said thrust reversing means is, when non-actuated, with the ship moving forward and with the first bow oriented water propulsor producing forward thrust, at least in its majority disposed internal to the first open bottomed pressurized gas layer. 21. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein a portion of the secondary bow of the main center hull has, at least in part, a bulbous shape. 22. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 wherein a portion of the secondary bow of the main center hull has a shape that has a greater horizontal dimension than vertical dimension. 23. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 13 which further comprises a second recess inset upward into an underside of the main center hull of the ship. 24. In an improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship, the improvement comprising: a first bow oriented water propulsor having a first bow oriented water inlet disposed, at least in its majority, in a secondary bow disposed as a lower portion of a main bow of a main center hull of the ship and wherein, when the ship is moving forward and the first bow oriented water propulsor is operating, water taken into the first bow oriented water inlet generates a hydrodynamic force on a bow wave of said ship thereby reducing energy of said bow wave and wherein, as seen in a profile view, a majority of the main bow of the main center hull disposed above the secondary bow slopes aft. 25. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 24 which further comprises outrigger hulls disposed either side of the main center hull of the ship. 26. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 24 wherein the secondary bow has a greater horizontal dimension than vertical dimension. 27. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 24 wherein said first bow oriented water propulsor expels at least a majority of its discharge propulsive force water aft into a first open bottomed recess in the main center hull of the ship and wherein said first open bottomed recess is, at least in part, defined either side longitudinally by downwardly extending longitudinal portions of the main center hull and wherein a first open bottomed pressurized gas layer is formed in said first open bottomed recess and wherein said pressurized gas layer is supplied with gas from artificial gas pressurization means. 28. The improved means for integrating a water propulsion system into a ship of claim 24 which further comprises a second recess inset upward into an underside of the main center hull of the ship.