A marine vessel that possesses a capability for greater speed than most static-lift craft and is more stable than most dynamic-lift craft is disclosed. The vessel incorporates elements from both SWATH craft and WIG craft. In the illustrative embodiment, the marine vessel includes an upper hull that
A marine vessel that possesses a capability for greater speed than most static-lift craft and is more stable than most dynamic-lift craft is disclosed. The vessel incorporates elements from both SWATH craft and WIG craft. In the illustrative embodiment, the marine vessel includes an upper hull that is disposed above the water line, a dynamic-lift-providing element that is disposed above the water line, a propulsion system that is disposed above the water line, a static-lift-providing element that is disposed below the water line, a propulsion system that is disposed below the water line; and struts that couple the static-lift-providing element to the upper hull and that raise the upper hull some distance above the water line.
대표청구항▼
I claim: 1. A vessel for use in water, wherein said vessel comprises: an upper hull, wherein said upper hull is supported above the water; a dynamic-lift-providing element, wherein said dynamic-lift-providing element is operatively coupled to said upper hull, wherein said dynamic-lift-providing ele
I claim: 1. A vessel for use in water, wherein said vessel comprises: an upper hull, wherein said upper hull is supported above the water; a dynamic-lift-providing element, wherein said dynamic-lift-providing element is operatively coupled to said upper hull, wherein said dynamic-lift-providing element provides lift when said vessel is in motion; and a static-lift-providing element, wherein said static-lift-providing element is operatively coupled to said upper hull, and wherein: when said vessel is stationary, said static-lift-providing element provides all lift required to maintain said upper hull above the water; and when said vessel is not stationary, said static-lift-providing element remains submerged and provides at least some portion of the lift required to maintain said upper hull above the water. 2. The vessel of claim 1 further comprising a strut, wherein said strut physically couples said static-lift-providing element to said upper hull. 3. The vessel of claim 1 further comprising: a ballast tank for providing a desired amount of buoyancy for said vessel; and electronics for adjusting said buoyancy provided by said ballast tank. 4. The vessel of claim 3 wherein said electronics adjust buoyancy as a function of the amount of lift that is provided by said dynamic-lift-providing element. 5. The vessel of claim 3, further comprising a first propulsion source and a second propulsion source, wherein said first propulsion source is disposed above the water and said second propulsion source is submerged in the water wherein said electronics adjust buoyancy as a function of vessel speed. 6. A vessel for use in water, wherein said vessel comprises: an upper hull; a wing, wherein said wing is coupled to said upper hull and remains above the water; at least one lower hull, wherein said one lower hull is coupled to said upper hull, and wherein said lower hull remains submerged when said vessel is underway; a ballast tank; electronics for adjusting ballast of said ballast tank to apportion lift between static lift and dynamic lift; and a first propulsion system, wherein said first propulsion system is physically coupled to said lower hull. 7. The vessel of claim 6 further comprising a second propulsion system, wherein said second propulsion system is disposed above the water. 8. The vessel of claim 7 wherein said second propulsion system provides a control/steering function in addition to a propulsion function. 9. The vessel of claim 6 wherein said ballast tank is disposed in said lower hull and when said vessel has no relative motion in the water, the buoyancy of said lower hull provides substantially all of the lift required to maintain said upper hull above the water. 10. The vessel of claim 6 wherein, when said vessel has no relative motion in the water, the buoyancy of said lower hull provides some, but not all of the lift required to maintain said upper hull above the water. 11. The vessel of claim 6 wherein, when said vessel has no relative motion in the water, at least a portion of said upper hull is in the water. 12. The vessel of claim 6 wherein, when said vessel is under way, said wing provides some, but not all, of the lift for said vessel. 13. The vessel of claim 6 further comprising at least one strut, wherein said strut couples said at least one lower hull to said upper hull, and said strut has a length that is sufficient to support said upper hull a distance above the water. 14. A vessel for use in water, wherein said vessel comprises: a SWATH hull form having: a first lower hull and a second lower hull; a first strut and a second strut; and an upper hull, wherein: said first strut couples said first lower hull to said upper hull; said second strut couples said second lower hull to said upper hull; said first lower hull and said second lower hull remain at least partially submerged at all times; a wing, wherein said wing is coupled to said upper hull and remains above the water; a ballast tank and electronics for adjusting ballast wherein said electronics are operable to change the depth of said first lower hull and said second lower hull independently of dynamic lift provided by said wing. 15. A method for use in conjunction with a sea-faring vessel, the method comprising: employing a combination of static lift and dynamic lift to maintain said vessel afloat when it is underway; maintaining, in a submerged condition, an element that provides substantially all static lift for said vessel; and adjusting ballast while said vessel is underway to change the depth of said element independently of said dynamic lift.
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