Catamaran air cushion ship with folding, retractable seals
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B63B-001/38
B63B-001/00
출원번호
US-0561691
(2006-11-20)
등록번호
US-7464657
(2008-12-16)
발명자
/ 주소
Maloney,Kenneth J.
Dubose,W. Keith
Whittaker,E. Douglass
Moore,Robert G.
Acosta,Jared M.
출원인 / 주소
Textron Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Garvey, Smith, Nehrbass & North, L.L.C.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
2인용 특허 :
24
초록▼
A vessel designed to operate efficiently as both a catamaran and air cushion vessel can travel at low speed in a catamaran or displacement mode, high speed in an air cushion mode, and amphibiously with the aid of deployable side seals. The vessel includes catamaran hulls and flexible air cushion bow
A vessel designed to operate efficiently as both a catamaran and air cushion vessel can travel at low speed in a catamaran or displacement mode, high speed in an air cushion mode, and amphibiously with the aid of deployable side seals. The vessel includes catamaran hulls and flexible air cushion bow and stern seal systems together with retractable side seals having hinged doors containing inflatable, retractable flexible components. The doors form part of the side seal system in the deployed position, and protect the flexible components of the seal in the retracted position. The arrangement reduces the drag associated with the side seals while the vessel operates in its catamaran or surface effect ship modes, and prevents damage to the seals during operation in the high speeds SES mode.
대표청구항▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A catamaran surface effect ship, comprising: a) catamaran hull having spaced apart hulls connected with a platform, and an integral propulsion system for propelling the catamaran hull; b) forward and aft seals on the catamaran hull that enable pressurized air to be trap
The invention claimed is: 1. A catamaran surface effect ship, comprising: a) catamaran hull having spaced apart hulls connected with a platform, and an integral propulsion system for propelling the catamaran hull; b) forward and aft seals on the catamaran hull that enable pressurized air to be trapped in an air space that is positioned generally in between the spaced apart hulls and in between the seals; c) the catamaran hull containing a powered lift fan system for transmitting pressurized air to the air space; and d) a side seal system for each spaced apart hull including a movable door that is movably attached to the side of each spaced apart hull and an inflatable seal that extends below the door and in between the door and the spaced apart hull. 2. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein each door is pivotally attached to a spaced apart hull. 3. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein each door attaches to a spaced apart hull with a hinge. 4. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein the inflatable seal includes a tensile membrane that extends between the spaced apart hull and the door. 5. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 4, wherein each membrane attaches to the lower end portion of a door. 6. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 4, wherein the membrane carries one or more drains for emptying water from the seals. 7. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein a channel extends through the catamaran hull to inflate the inflatable seal. 8. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 7, wherein the channel is positioned above a maximum water line during use. 9. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 8, wherein the channel is valved. 10. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 9, wherein the channel is connected to a source of vacuum for deflating at least in part the inflatable seal. 11. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 10, wherein the vacuum source is a venturi that is valved to selectively pull a vacuum on the inflatable seal. 12. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism that positively locks each door to the spaced apart hull in a closed position. 13. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 12, wherein the locking mechanism includes motor operated locking dogs that enable the doors to be secured in a closed position. 14. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein the seals can be deflated using hydrostatic pressure at least in part. 15. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein the upper end of each of the doors attaches to the spaced apart hulls at a position next to the top of the spaced apart hull. 16. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein one or more of the seals is flexible. 17. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein the propulsion system includes propellers. 18. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 17, wherein the propellers are operable independently such as when the catamaran hull is to be beached. 19. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1 wherein the seals further comprise at least one flexible finger. 20. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein each of the spaced apart hulls is a float that extends below the platform, each float having an inner surface that defines a side of the air space between the spaced apart hulls. 21. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 20, wherein the inner surface extends downwardly from the platform. 22. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 21, wherein the inner surface is generally vertically extended. 23. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein the spaced apart hulls are floats, each float having inner and outer surfaces and a keel below the inner and outer surfaces. 24. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 23, wherein each movable door attaches to a float at the outer surface of the float. 25. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 23, wherein the door moves between open and closed positions, the door closely abutting the float outer surface in the closed position. 26. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 23, wherein the forward seal extends from one float to the other float. 27. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 23, wherein the aft seal extends from one float to the other float. 28. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein each spaced apart hull has an inner hull surface, an outer hull surface and a keel, the inner hull surface extending downwardly from the platform, the air space extending below the platform, above a water surface and in between inner surfaces of the spaced apart hulls. 29. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 28, wherein each movable door attaches to a float at an outer surface of the float. 30. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 28, wherein the forward seal extends from one float to the other float. 31. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 28, wherein the aft seal extends from one float to the other float. 32. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 28, wherein the side seal system inflatable seal extends below the keel when inflated. 33. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 1, wherein the inflatable seal extends below the bottom of each spaced apart hull when inflated. 34. A catamaran surface effect ship, comprising: a) a catamaran hull having spaced apart hulls connected with a platform, and an integral propulsion system for propelling the hull; b) forward and aft seals on the catamaran hull that enable pressurized air to be trapped in an air space that is positioned generally in between the spaced apart hulls and in between the seals; c) the catamaran hull containing a powered lift fan system for transmitting pressurized air to the air space; d) a door pivotally attached to the outer surface of each spaced apart hull, each door having a top and a bottom end portion; and e) an inflatable portion that rotates the bottom of the door away from the outer side of the spaced apart hull. 35. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 34, the inflatable portion further comprising a flexible membrane extending from the spaced apart hull to the door. 36. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 35, further comprising a valving member. 37. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 34, further comprising an internal locking mechanism that positively locks the door to the spaced apart hull. 38. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 34, further comprising a channel extending from the air space through to the inflatable portion. 39. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 34, wherein each spaced apart hull has an inner hull surface, an outer hull surface and a keel, the inner hull surface extending downwardly from the platform, the air space extending below the platform, above a water surface and in between inner surfaces of the spaced apart hulls. 40. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 39, wherein each door attaches to a float at the outer surface of the float. 41. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 39, wherein the forward seal extends from one float to the other float. 42. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 39, wherein the aft seal extends from one float to the other float. 43. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 39, further comprising a side seal system inflatable seal which extends below the keel when inflated. 44. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 34, wherein each of the spaced apart hulls is a float that extends below the platform, each float having an inner surface that defines a side of the air space between the spaced apart hulls. 45. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 44, wherein the inner surface extends downwardly from the platform. 46. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 45, wherein the inner surface is generally vertically extended. 47. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 34, wherein the spaced apart hulls are floats, each float having inner and outer surfaces and a keel below the inner and outer surfaces. 48. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 47, wherein each door attaches to a float at the outer surface of the float. 49. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 48, wherein the door moves between open and closed positions, the door closely abutting the float outer surface in the closed position. 50. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 47, wherein the forward seal extends from one float to the other float. 51. The catamaran surface effect ship of claim 47, wherein the aft seal extends from one float to the other float. 52. A catamaran surface effect ship, comprising: a) a catamaran hull having spaced apart spaced apart hulls connected by and extending downwardly from a platform, a tunnel being formed in between the spaced apart hulls, below the platform and above the water surface, each spaced apart hull having an inner surface and an outer surface; b) forward and aft seals that each extend laterally from one of the floats to the other float, the forward and aft seals and floats enabling a pressurized air cushion to be trapped in an air space that includes the tunnel, said air space surrounded by the floats and the seals; c) the catamaran hull containing a powered lift fan system for transmitting pressurized air to the air space; and d) a side seal system for each float including a movable door that is movably attached to the outer surface of each float and an inflatable seal that extends below the door and in between the door and the float.
Balquet Robert (Paris FRX) Baubeau Robert (Vitry sur Seine FRX) Bertrand Jean-Paul (Paris FRX) Guezou Jean-Pierre (Athis Mons FRX) Carron Philippe (Creteil FRX), Hull shapes for surface effect ship with side walls and two modes of operation.
Stringer Robert A. (Slidell LA), Integrated combination propeller drive shaft fairing and water intake sea chest arrangement, for high speed operating ma.
Bertrand Jean-Paul A. (Paris FRX) Guezou Jean-Pierre R. (Athis-Mons FRX) Balquet Robert J. (Paris FRX) Marcouyoux Sylvain J. A. (Le Pradet FRX) Jodelet Francois C. L. (Saint Etienne de Crossey FRX), Surface effect type, side keel vessel fitted with an improved forward buoyancy cushion seal apparatus.
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