초록 ▼

Presented is a beachable high speed marine vehicle with air cushioned hull(s) capable of transporting heavy loads at very high speeds to beachheads and then departing the beachhead under its own power. The artificially pressurized air cushions allow the bow of the vehicle to be raised to the water s

Presented is a beachable high speed marine vehicle with air cushioned hull(s) capable of transporting heavy loads at very high speeds to beachheads and then departing the beachhead under its own power. The artificially pressurized air cushions allow the bow of the vehicle to be raised to the water surface at all speeds including when stationary. The design of the forward end of the air cushion recesses allows both high speed breaking of water from the hull at that point and backing off of the beachheads in spite of sand, rocks, and the like being inside the air cushion forward end. An optional upward raising secondary bow is also described. Monohull, multi-hulled such as catamaran, and outrigger hull versions of the same conceptual invention are disclosed with all derived from the same basic concepts regarding loading and unloading of cargo, beaching abilities, air cushion performance, and other features.

대표청구항 ▼

What I claim is: 1. In an advanced beachable marine vehicle capable of beaching and then disembarking from a beach and containing a first water contacting hull member, the improvement comprising: said advanced beachable marine vehicle at least partially supported upon a water surface by a first art

What I claim is: 1. In an advanced beachable marine vehicle capable of beaching and then disembarking from a beach and containing a first water contacting hull member, the improvement comprising: said advanced beachable marine vehicle at least partially supported upon a water surface by a first artificially pressurized gas cushion at least partially disposed in an underside of the first water contacting hull member, a first moveable, in relation to the advanced beachable marine vessel, secondary bow member disposed, at least in its majority, forward of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion wherein upward movement of said first moveable secondary bow member raises the first moveable secondary bow member leaving a first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member thereby allowing discharge of cargo from the first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member. 2. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein an aft portion of the first moveable secondary bow member, when in its lowered high speed position, is, on average, disposed lower than a forward portion of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion. 3. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first moveable secondary bow member overlaps lower portions of the first water contacting hull member of the advanced beachable marine vehicle over at least a majority of a width of the first moveable secondary bow member. 4. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein a bow portion of the first water contacting hull member extends forward further than the first moveable secondary bow member. 5. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first moveable secondary bow member is, at least in part, hinged to the first water contacting hull member. 6. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 60 degrees. 7. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 8. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 40 degrees. 9. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein a cargo deck is disposed below a main deck of the advanced beachable marine vehicle and proximal to and, at least in its majority, above a first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess. 10. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 9 wherein sides of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess, at least in their majority, taper inward toward a vertical centerline plane of the first water contacting hull member. 11. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 which further comprises a first forward moveable, in relation to the advanced beachable marine vehicle, ramp wherein said first forward moveable ramp acts as a portion of a bow of the first water contacting hull member when the first moveable secondary bow member is in an upward position. 12. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first forward moveable ramp deploys downward to allow discharge of cargo from the first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member. 13. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 which further comprises a moveable, in relation to the advanced beachable marine vehicle, first stern ramp disposed proximal an aft end of the first water contacting hull member wherein said first stern ramp acts to restrict water from entering a cargo area of the first water contacting hull member when in its upward position and allowing cargo loading when in its downward position. 14. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 wherein an aft end of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion is angled to horizontal over a majority of its width. 15. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 which further comprises a second artificially pressurized gas cushion disposed in an underside of a second water contacting hull member. 16. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 15 which further comprises a second moveable secondary bow member disposed, at least in its majority, forward of said second artificially pressurized gas cushion. 17. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 15 wherein a lower aft end of a connecting hull portion that connects the first and the second water contacting hull members is angled to horizontal over a majority of its width. 18. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 which further comprises a first stabilizing outrigger hull disposed, at least in its majority, outboard of the first water contacting hull member. 19. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 18 which further comprises a second stabilizing outrigger hull disposed, at least in its majority, outboard of the first water contacting hull member. 20. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 which further comprises a locking means to lock the first moveable secondary bow to the first water contacting hull member when the first moveable secondary bow is in its lower position wherein said locking means is disposed proximal a forward end of the first water contacting hull member. 21. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 1 which further comprises a locking means to lock the first moveable secondary bow to the first water contacting hull member when the first moveable secondary bow is in its lower position wherein said locking means is disposed proximal a forward end of the first moveable secondary bow. 22. In an advanced beachable marine vehicle capable of beaching and then disembarking from a beach and containing a first water contacting hull member, the improvement comprising: said advanced beachable marine vehicle at least partially supported upon a water surface by a first artificially pressurized gas cushion at least partially disposed in an underside of the first water contacting hull member, a first moveable, in relation to the advanced beachable marine vessel, secondary bow member disposed, at least in its majority, forward of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion and wherein a bow portion of the first water contacting hull member extends forward further than the first moveable secondary bow member. 23. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein upward movement of said first moveable secondary bow member raises the first moveable secondary bow member leaving a first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member thereby allowing discharge of cargo from the first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member. 24. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 which further comprises a locking means to lock the first moveable secondary bow to the first water contacting hull member when the first moveable secondary bow is in its lower position wherein said locking means is disposed proximal a forward end of the first water contacting hull member. 25. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 which further comprises a locking means to lock the first moveable secondary bow to the first water contacting hull member when the first moveable secondary bow is in its lower position wherein said locking means is disposed proximal a forward end of the first moveable secondary bow. 26. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein an aft portion of the first moveable secondary bow member, when in its lowered position, is, on average, disposed lower than a forward portion of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion. 27. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein the first moveable secondary bow member overlaps lower portions of the first water contacting hull member of the advanced beachable marine vehicle over at least a majority of a width of the first moveable secondary bow member. 28. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein the first moveable secondary bow member is, at least in part, hinged to the first water contacting hull member. 29. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 60 degrees. 30. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein, on average when keels .of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 31. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 40 degrees. 32. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 wherein a cargo deck is disposed below a main deck of the advanced beachable marine vehicle and proximal to and, at least in its majority, above a first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess. 33. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 32 wherein sides of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess, at least in their majority, taper inward toward a vertical centerline plane of the first water contacting hull member. 34. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 which further comprises a first forward moveable, in relation to the advanced beachable marine vehicle, ramp wherein said first forward moveable ramp acts as a portion of a bow of the first water contacting hull member when the first moveable secondary bow member is in an upward position. 35. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 which further comprises a second artificially pressurized gas cushion disposed in an underside of a second water contacting hull member. 36. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 35 which further comprises a second moveable secondary bow member disposed, at least in its majority, forward of said second artificially pressurized gas cushion. 37. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 22 which further comprises a first stabilizing outrigger hull disposed, at least in its majority, outboard of the first water contacting hull member. 38. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 37 which further comprises a second stabilizing outrigger hull disposed, at least in its majority, outboard of the first water contacting hull member. 39. In an advanced beachable marine vehicle capable of beaching and then disembarking from a beach and containing a first water contacting hull member, the improvement comprising: said advanced beachable marine vehicle at least partially supported upon a water surface by a first artificially pressurized gas cushion at least partially disposed in an underside of the first water contacting hull member and wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 60 degrees and wherein a cargo deck is disposed below a main deck of the advanced beachable marine vehicle and proximal to and, at least in its majority, above a first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess. 40. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 50 degrees. 41. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 wherein, on average when keels of the advanced beachable marine vehicle are substantially horizontal and over a vertical distance of at least four inches and over a majority of a width of lower forward portions of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, forward rising surfaces bordering the first artificially pressurized gas cushion, are angled aft at an angle to horizontal of less than 40 degrees. 42. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 which further comprises a first moveable, in relation to the advanced beachable marine vessel, secondary bow member disposed, at least in its majority, forward of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion wherein upward movement of said first moveable secondary bow member raises the first moveable secondary bow member leaving a first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member thereby allowing discharge of cargo from the first forward opening in the first water contacting hull member. 43. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 42 wherein the first moveable secondary bow member, when in its lowered position, overlaps lower portions of the first water contacting hull member of the advanced beachable marine vehicle over at least a majority of a width of the first moveable secondary bow member. 44. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 42 wherein a bow portion of the first water contacting hull member extends forward further than the first moveable secondary bow member. 45. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 wherein sides of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess, at least in their majority, taper inward toward a vertical centerline plane of the first water contacting hull member. 46. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 which further comprises a first fixed bow member disposed forward of the first artificially pressurized gas cushion recess. 47. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 which further comprises a second artificially pressurized gas cushion disposed in an underside of a second water contacting hull member. 48. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 39 which further comprises a first stabilizing outrigger hull disposed, at least in its majority, outboard of the first water contacting hull member. 49. The advanced beachable marine vehicle of claim 48 which further comprises a second stabilizing outrigger hull disposed, at least in its majority, outboard of the first water contacting hull member.