A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine includes at least two hulls and a wing-like deck structure spanning the two hulls (a floating wing). Port and starboard skirts combine with the deck structure to form port and starboard planing channels. The deck structure includes an upwardly
A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine includes at least two hulls and a wing-like deck structure spanning the two hulls (a floating wing). Port and starboard skirts combine with the deck structure to form port and starboard planing channels. The deck structure includes an upwardly facing surface that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to provide aerodynamic lift. Preferably, a speed-responsive exhaust proportioning system vents exhaust at vertical steps in planing surfaces on the hulls to reduce drag, increase lift, and reduce thermal signature. One embodiment includes hinged laterally extending deck extensions that an operator can raise to reduce vessel breadth during docking, upwardly extending barriers on the deck extensions that reduce the escape of wind laterally, and hinged flap structures disposed rearwardly that enable an operator to adjust vessel trim.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: at least two hulls in spaced-apart parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull and a starboard hull; a deck structure spanning the port and starboard hulls, said deck structure extending late
What is claimed is: 1. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: at least two hulls in spaced-apart parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull and a starboard hull; a deck structure spanning the port and starboard hulls, said deck structure extending laterally beyond the port hull to a port side of the deck structure and laterally beyond the starboard hull to a starboard side of the deck structure; a port skirt extending vertically downward from the port side of the deck structure that combines with the port hull and the deck structure to form a forwardly opening and rearwardly extending port planing channel; a starboard skirt extending vertically downward from the starboard side of the deck structure that combines with the starboard hull and the deck structure to form a forwardly opening and rearwardly extending starboard planing channel; and means for providing aerodynamic lift from air passing over the deck structure, including an upwardly facing surface of the deck structure that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to produce aerodynamic lift; wherein at least one of the hulls includes a planing surface and at least one vertical step in the planing surface in order to reduce friction drag. 2. A watercraft as recited in claim 1, further comprising a central hull intermediate the port and starboard hulls that combines with the deck structure and the port and starboard hulls to form two additional planing channels. 3. A watercraft as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for venting exhaust from the onboard propulsion engine at the vertical step while under way in order to introduce gas along the planing surface. 4. A watercraft as recited in claim 3, wherein: said means for venting exhaust including means for venting a first proportion of the exhaust at the vertical step in the planing surface, including a first exhaust conduit that defines a first exhaust flow path leading to the vertical step in the planing surface; and said means for venting exhaust including means for venting a second proportion of the exhaust to atmosphere, including a second exhaust conduit that defines a second exhaust flow path leading to atmosphere. 5. A watercraft as recited in claim 4, wherein: the propulsion engine is an engine having high volume, high velocity, and high temperature exhaust similar to that produced by gas turbines and jet engines; and said means for venting exhaust includes a speed-responsive exhaust proportioning system that allows vacuum generated at the vertical step in the planing surface to draw in exhaust increasingly with increasing vessel speed in order to generate lift, reduce drag, and reduce thermal signature from exhaust entering the atmosphere. 6. A watercraft as recited in claim 1, wherein the deck structure includes means for reducing the escape of wind laterally over the deck structure, including upwardly extending barriers on the port and starboard sides of the deck structure. 7. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: at least two hulls in spaced-apart parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull and a starboard hull; a deck structure spanning the port and starboard hulls, said deck structure extending laterally beyond the port hull to a port side of the deck structure and laterally beyond the starboard hull to a starboard side of the deck structure; a port skirt extending vertically downward from the port side of the deck structure that combines with the port hull and the deck structure to form a forwardly opening and rearwardly extending port planing channel; a starboard skirt extending vertically downward from the starboard side of the deck structure that combines with the starboard hull and the deck structure to form a forwardly opening and rearwardly extending starboard planing channel; and means for providing aerodynamic lift from air passing over the deck structure, including an upwardly facing surface of the deck structure that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to produce aerodynamic lift; wherein the deck structure includes means for reducing vessel breadth during docking, including hinged port and starboard deck extensions that an operator can selectively raise and lower. 8. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: at least two hulls in spaced-apart parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull and a starboard hull; a deck structure spanning the port and starboard hulls, said deck structure extending laterally beyond the port hull to a port side of the deck structure and laterally beyond the starboard hull to a starboard side of the deck structure; a port skirt extending vertically downward from the port side of the deck structure that combines with the port hull and the deck structure to form a forwardly opening and rearwardly extending port planing channel; a starboard skirt extending vertically downward from the starboard side of the deck structure that combines with the starboard hull and the deck structure to form a forwardly opening and rearwardly extending starboard planing channel; and means for providing aerodynamic lift from air passing over the deck structure, including an upwardly facing surface of the deck structure that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to produce aerodynamic lift; wherein the deck structure includes means for enabling an operator to adjust vessel trim, including hinged flap structures disposed rearwardly on the deck structure. 9. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: three hulls in spaced-apart, parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull, a starboard hull, and a central hull intermediate the port and starboard hulls; a deck structure spanning the three hulls, said deck structure extending laterally beyond the port hull to a port side of the deck structure and laterally beyond the starboard hull to a starboard side of the deck structure; a port skirt extending vertically downward from the port side of the deck structure; and a starboard skirt extending vertically downward from the starboard side of the deck structure; wherein the three hulls, the port skirt, the starboard skirt, and the deck structure form four forwardly opening and rearwardly extending planing channels; and wherein the deck structure includes an upwardly facing surface that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to produce aerodynamic lift; said watercraft further comprising at least one planing surface on each of the three hulls and at least one vertical step in each of the planing surfaces; and said watercraft further comprising means for venting exhaust from the onboard propulsion engine at the vertical steps, including a speed-responsive exhaust proportioning system that allows vacuum generated at the vertical step in the planing surface to draw in exhaust increasingly with increasing vessel speed. 10. A watercraft as recited in claim 9, wherein the deck structure includes means for reducing the escape of wind laterally over the deck structure, including upwardly extending barriers on the port and starboard sides of the deck structure. 11. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: three hulls in spaced-apart, parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull, a starboard hull, and a central hull intermediate the port and starboard hulls; a deck structure spanning the three hulls, said deck structure extending laterally beyond the port hull to a port side of the deck structure and laterally beyond the starboard hull to a starboard side of the deck structure; a port skirt extending vertically downward from the port side of the deck structure; and a starboard skirt extending vertically downward from the starboard side of the deck structure; wherein the three hulls, the port skirt, the starboard skirt, and the deck structure form four forwardly opening and rearwardly extending planing channels; wherein the deck structure includes an upwardly facing surface that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to produce aerodynamic lift; and wherein the deck structure includes means for reducing vessel breadth during docking, including hinged port and starboard deck extensions that an operator can selectively raise and lower. 12. A watercraft with at least one onboard propulsion engine, comprising: three hulls in spaced-apart, parallel relationship to each other, including a port hull, a starboard hull, and a central hull intermediate the port and starboard hulls; a deck structure spanning the three hulls, said deck structure extending laterally beyond the port hull to a port side of the deck structure and laterally beyond the starboard hull to a starboard side of the deck structure; a port skirt extending vertically downward from the port side of the deck structure; and a starboard skirt extending vertically downward from the starboard side of the deck structure; wherein the three hulls, the port skirt, the starboard skirt, and the deck structure forming four forwardly opening and rearwardly extending planing channels; wherein the deck structure includes an upwardly facing surface that slopes downwardly toward an aft end of the deck structure in order to produce aerodynamic lift; and wherein the deck structure includes means for enabling an operator to adjust vessel trim, including hinged flap structures disposed rearwardly on the deck structure.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (12)
Field Leonard E. (Steiglitz Wharf Road Woongoolba Qld 4207 AUX), Boat hull having stepped underside.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.