초록 ▼

A submersible vessel comprising: an elongated hull;at least one propeller mounted on a forward end of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water;said at least one propeller being of a size and configuration such that when it is rotated at an appropriate speed, it generates supercavitated

A submersible vessel comprising: an elongated hull;at least one propeller mounted on a forward end of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water;said at least one propeller being of a size and configuration such that when it is rotated at an appropriate speed, it generates supercavitated water flowing from said at least one propeller and then along an outer surface of said hull so as to diminish friction on the outer surface of said hull and facilitate high underwater speeds.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vessel comprising: an elongated hull;at least one unshrouded propeller mounted on the forwardmost portion of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water;said at least one unshrouded propeller being exposed on all sides to water and being of a size and configuration such that when said

1. A vessel comprising: an elongated hull;at least one unshrouded propeller mounted on the forwardmost portion of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water;said at least one unshrouded propeller being exposed on all sides to water and being of a size and configuration such that when said at least one unshrouded propeller is rotated at an appropriate speed, said at least one unshrouded propeller generates supercavitated water flowing from said at least one unshrouded propeller and thence along an outer surface of said hull so as to diminish friction on the outer surface of said hull and facilitate high speeds. 2. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the at least one unshrouded propeller creates an air skirt of supercavitated water around said hull. 3. A vessel according to claim 1 comprising an unshrouded leading propeller and an unshrouded trailing propeller, and further wherein the leading propeller and the trailing propeller rotate in opposing directions. 4. A vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a pair of power sources for driving the at least one unshrouded propeller, wherein the pair of power sources comprises an atmosphere-consuming engine and a non-atmosphere consuming engine. 5. A vessel according to claim 4 wherein the atmosphere-consuming engine is aspirated via a snorkel. 6. A vessel according to claim 4 wherein the atmosphere-consuming engine comprises a gas turbine engine. 7. A vessel according to claim 4 wherein the non-atmosphere consuming engine comprises an electric motor, and further wherein the vessel comprises at least one battery for driving the electric motor. 8. A vessel according to claim 4 wherein the non-atmosphere consuming engine comprises an electric motor, and further wherein the vessel comprises a fuel cell for driving the electric motor. 9. A vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of spoilers mounted on the hull for steering the vessel as it moves through the water. 10. A vessel according to claim 9 wherein each of the spoilers comprises a plate movable between (i) an inboard position wherein the plate is substantially aligned with the surface of the hull, and (ii) an outboard position wherein the plate projects into, and deflects, the water flowing by the surface of the hull. 11. A vessel according to claim 10 wherein each of the spoilers is pivotally attached to the hull at the leading end of the spoiler. 12. A vessel according to claim 9 wherein some of the spoilers are disposed on the leading end of the hull and some of the spoilers are disposed on the trailing end of the hull. 13. A vessel according to claim 9 wherein at least some of the plurality of spoilers are disposed on the hull so as to control side-to-side steering of the vessel. 14. A vessel according to claim 9 wherein at least some of the plurality of spoilers are disposed on the hull so as to control up-and-down attitude of the vessel. 15. A submersible vessel according to claim 1 further comprising a friction-reducing fluid disposed in said hull, said friction-reducing fluid being deployable immediately aft of said at least one unshrouded propeller to encapsulate at least a portion of said hull with the friction-reducing fluid so as to reduce drag on the surface of said hull. 16. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises a submarine. 17. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the hull includes a conning tower. 18. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the hull comprises an air lock. 19. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the vehicle comprises an unmanned submersible craft. 20. A submersible vessel comprising: an elongated hull;at least one propeller mounted on a forward end of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water;said at least one propeller being of a size and configuration such that when it is rotated at an appropriate speed, it generates supercavitated water flowing from said at least one propeller and thence along an outer surface of said hull so as to diminish friction on the outer surface of said hull and facilitate high underwater speeds;wherein the submersible vehicle comprises an unmanned submersible craft; andwherein the hull comprises a tail cone having sensors therein, and further wherein the submersible vessel is configured to reposition itself from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation so that said tail cone projects above the surface of the water. 21. A method for moving through water, the method comprising: providing a vessel comprising: an elongated hull;at least one unshrouded propeller mounted on the forwardmost portion of said hull and adapted to move said hull through water;said at least one unshrouded propeller being exposed on all sides to water and being of a size and configuration such that when said at least one unshrouded propeller is rotated at an appropriate speed, said at least one unshrouded propeller generates supercavitated water flowing from said at least one unshrouded propeller and thence along an outer surface of said hull so as to diminish friction on the outer surface of said hull and facilitate high speeds;submerging at least a portion of the elongated hull; androtating the at least one unshrouded propeller so as to move the vessel through water. 22. A vessel according to claim 19 wherein the hull comprises a tail cone having sensors therein, and further wherein the vessel is configured to reposition itself from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation so that said tail cone projects above the surface of the water. 23. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises a surface craft. 24. A vessel according to claim 1 wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of hulls. 25. A method according to claim 21 wherein the at least one unshrouded propeller creates an air skirt of supercavitated water around said hull. 26. A method according to claim 21 comprising an unshrouded leading propeller and an unshrouded trailing propeller, and further wherein the leading propeller and the trailing propeller rotate in opposing directions. 27. A method according to claim 21 further comprising a plurality of spoilers mounted on the hull for steering the vessel as it moves through the water. 28. A method according to claim 27 wherein each of the spoilers comprises a plate movable between (i) an inboard position wherein the plate is substantially aligned with the surface of the hull, and (ii) an outboard position wherein the plate projects into, and deflects, the water flowing by the surface of the hull. 29. A method according to claim 28 wherein each of the spoilers is pivotally attached to the hull at the leading end of the spoiler. 30. A vessel according to claim 27 wherein some of the spoilers are disposed on the leading end of the hull and some of the spoilers are disposed on the trailing end of the hull. 31. A method according to claim 27 wherein at least some of the plurality of spoilers are disposed on the hull so as to control side-to-side steering of the vessel. 32. A method according to claim 27 wherein at least some of the plurality of spoilers are disposed on the hull so as to control up-and-down attitude of the vessel. 33. A method according to claim 21 further comprising a friction-reducing fluid disposed in said hull, said friction-reducing fluid being deployable immediately aft of said at least one unshrouded propeller to encapsulate at least a portion of said hull with the friction-reducing fluid so as to reduce drag on the surface of said hull. 34. A method according to claim 21 wherein the vessel comprises a surface craft. 35. A method according to claim 21 wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of hulls.