초록 ▼

A powered transportation vehicle uses hydro and aero pressure lift on flat bottom surfaces for providing increased efficiency of operation. An elongate hull has a bottom surface having a large length to width aspect ratio operates in water, with a smaller aspect ratio for a second lifting body opera

A powered transportation vehicle uses hydro and aero pressure lift on flat bottom surfaces for providing increased efficiency of operation. An elongate hull has a bottom surface having a large length to width aspect ratio operates in water, with a smaller aspect ratio for a second lifting body operating substantially in air. Trailing edges of the bottom surfaces form a seal with water for creating stagnation areas for the water and air for providing lift to the vehicle having a center of lift of the hull forward the center of gravity of the vehicle. A forward portion of the hull bottom surface is upwardly angled from an aft portion as measured from the center of gravity.

대표청구항 ▼

That which is claimed is: 1. A transportation apparatus comprising: a first lifting body having an elongate hull operable for being propelled through a first medium, the elongate hull having a substantially flat first bottom surface, the first lifting body extending downwardly sufficient for increa

That which is claimed is: 1. A transportation apparatus comprising: a first lifting body having an elongate hull operable for being propelled through a first medium, the elongate hull having a substantially flat first bottom surface, the first lifting body extending downwardly sufficient for increasing dynamic pressure thereon for reducing wetted area and frontal area drag, wherein the first bottom surface is defined as having an angle of attack with respect to the first medium, and wherein a first trailing edge of the elongate hull is operable for forming a seal with the first medium as the elongate hull moves therethrough causing a stagnation of the first medium on the first bottom surface, and wherein a center of lift of the first lifting body is forward the center of gravity of the apparatus when being propelled; and a second lifting body operable with the first lifting body for being propelled therewith in a second medium, the second lifting body extending outwardly from the first lifting body, wherein a second bottom surface of the second lifting body is substantially out of contact with the first medium during operation of the apparatus in the first and second media, and, wherein a second trailing edge of the second bottom surface is operable for forming a seal with the first medium as the second lifting body is propelled causing a stagnation of the second medium on the second bottom surface, and wherein an aspect ratio of the first bottom surface is greater than the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of an effective longitudinal length dimension to an effective transverse width dimension for forming a stagnation surface area. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a forward portion of the first bottom surface is upwardly angled from an aft portion thereof as measured from a location on the first bottom surface proximate a center of gravity of the apparatus. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the aft portion smoothly transitions to the forward portion through a non-stepped contiguous change in the angle of attack of the elongate hull as it moves through the first medium. 4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the angle of attack of the bottom surface aft of a center of gravity is one of positive and negative. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongate hull comprises a tiered transverse cross section including a horizontal tread portion and a vertical riser portion. 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the horizontal tread portion has a greater horizontal dimension than a vertical dimension of the vertical riser portion. 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the substantially flat bottom surface includes an aft portion smoothly transitioning to a forward portion through a non-stepped contiguous change in the angle of attack. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a forward portion of the second bottom surface is upwardly angled from an aft portion thereof as measured from a location on the second bottom surface proximate the center of gravity of the apparatus. 9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first lifting body comprises a draft dimension of at least a width dimension uniformly along a longitudinally length thereof. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first medium is water. 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio of the first bottom surface is significantly greater than the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface. 12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio of the first bottom surface has a value at least twice the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface. 13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface is approximately three to one. 14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elongate hull includes a draft sufficient for allowing penetration of the second medium onto the second bottom surface in a range of two feet to three feet. 15. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of flaps deployable for providing lift to the second lifting body. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising propelling means including at least one of a propulsion device operable with the first medium and a propulsion device operable with the second medium. 17. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the propulsion device comprises a propeller. 18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising starboard and port lateral fences extending outwardly from opposing side portion of the second bottom surface for forming a plenum cavity including the second bottom surface, thus enhancing performance of the stagnation surface area. 19. A transportation apparatus operable over water, the apparatus comprising: a first lifting body having an elongate hull, the elongate hull having a substantially flat first bottom surface, the first lifting body extending downwardly sufficient for increasing dynamic pressure thereon for reducing wetted area and frontal area drag, wherein the first bottom surface is defined as having an angle of attack with respect to water over which the apparatus travels, and wherein a first trailing edge of the elongate hull is operable for forming a seal with the water causing a stagnation of the water on the first bottom surface, and wherein a center of lift of the first lifting body is forward the center of gravity of the apparatus when being propelled; and a second lifting body operable with the first lifting body and extending outwardly therefrom, the second lifting body having a second bottom surface substantially out of contact with the water during operation of the apparatus, and wherein a second trailing edge of the second bottom surface is operable for forming a seal with the water as the second lifting body is propelled causing a stagnation of air on the second bottom surface, and wherein an aspect ratio of the first bottom surface is greater than the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of an effective length dimension to an effective width dimension for forming a stagnation surface area. 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a forward portion of the first bottom surface is upwardly angled from an aft portion thereof as measured from proximate a center of gravity of the apparatus. 21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the aft portion smoothly transitions to the forward portion through a non-stepped contiguous change in the angle of attack of the elongate hull. 22. The apparatus according to claim 20, further comprising a plurality of flaps deployable for providing lift to the second lifting body. 23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the elongate hull comprises a tiered transverse cross section including a horizontal tread portion and a vertical riser portion. 24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein a forward portion of the second bottom surface is upwardly angled from an aft portion thereof as measured from a location proximate the center of gravity of the apparatus. 25. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the elongate hull comprises a length to width ratio dimension in a range of at least seven to one to at least two to one. 26. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the aspect ratio of the first bottom surface is significantly greater than the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface. 27. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the elongate hull includes a draft sufficient for allowing penetration of the air onto the second bottom surface in a range of approximately one feet to three feet. 28. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising means for propelling the apparatus. 29. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising starboard and port lateral fences extending outwardly from opposing side portion of the second bottom surface for forming a plenum cavity including the second bottom surface. 30. A transportation method comprising: providing a first lifting body having an elongate hull, the elongate hull having a substantially flat first bottom surface, wherein the first bottom surface is defined as having an angle of attack with respect to the water within which the apparatus operates, and wherein a center of lift of the first lifting body is forward the center of gravity of the apparatus when being propelled; providing a second lifting body operable with the first lifting body, wherein a second bottom surface of the second lifting body is substantially out of contact with the water during operation of the apparatus, and wherein an aspect ratio of the first bottom surface is greater than the aspect ratio of the second bottom surface, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of an effective length dimension to an effective width dimension for forming a stagnation surface area; propelling the apparatus at an initial speed on the water; increasing the speed of the apparatus while a first trailing edge of the elongate hull forms a seal with the water as the elongate hull moves therethrough causing a stagnation of the water on the first bottom surface; continuing to increase the speed of the apparatus while a second trailing edge of the second bottom surface forms a seal with the water as the second lifting body is propelled causing a stagnation of air on the second bottom surface; and further increasing the speed of the apparatus until the second lifting body is entirely out of contact with the water, the first lifting body remaining in contact therewith.