초록 ▼

A system for transforming a vessel hull to adjust to changing water conditions, changing the hull configuration to adapt to rough water, shallow water, a different draft or speed. The system transforms the vessel hull from a first configuration to another configuration by selectively pneumatically r

A system for transforming a vessel hull to adjust to changing water conditions, changing the hull configuration to adapt to rough water, shallow water, a different draft or speed. The system transforms the vessel hull from a first configuration to another configuration by selectively pneumatically raising and lowering a plurality of integral sponsons that form the hull within seconds without removing the vessel from the water, even with the vessel underway. The system accommodates a multiplicity of engine designs, such as an outboard motor, a motor in a recessed position, a airboat motor or twin engines. A plurality of pneumatic cylinders that raise and lower the integral sponsons are controlled by a controller such as a PLC (Programmable Logic Control) located at a helm of the vessel.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vessel hull with a controller, an aft portion, and a fore portion, the vessel hull transforming from a first configuration to a second figuration, comprising: a transom at the aft portion, defining a first plane;a plurality of integral sponsons forming the hull aft portion, the sponson having a

1. A vessel hull with a controller, an aft portion, and a fore portion, the vessel hull transforming from a first configuration to a second figuration, comprising: a transom at the aft portion, defining a first plane;a plurality of integral sponsons forming the hull aft portion, the sponson having a fore end, an aft end, a top and a bottom, the aft end of the sponsons forming a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to the plane defined by the transom, the fore end of the sponsons hingedly connected to a fore hull;a plurality of pneumatic cylinders, a cylinder attaching to the top of each sponson towards the aft end of the sponson, the pneumatic cylinders signaled by a controller to extend and retract to a selected position, the pneumatic cylinders raising and lowering the sponsons within the plane defined by the transom, substantially instantly transforming a boat hull from a first configuration to a second configuration; andwherein the hull transforms to the second configuration selected from any of a group consisting of flat bottom hull, a V-hull, a tunnel hull and a V-tunnel hull. 2. The vessel hull as described in claim 1, wherein the hull transforms from the first configuration to the second configuration while the vessel remains in the water. 3. The vessel hull as described in claim 2, wherein the hull transforms from a first configuration to a second configuration when the vessel is in motion. 4. The vessel hull as described in claim 3, wherein the transom has at least one tunnel opening to accommodate an engine propeller. 5. The vessel hull as described in claim 4, wherein the sponson inside the tunnel opening is a center sponson and the pneumatic cylinder attached to the center sponson fully retracts the sponson, raising the center sponson above the tunnel opening in the transom, forming the tunnel hull configuration. 6. The vessel hull as described in claim 5, wherein the vessel is a twin-engine having a pair of engines, the transom having two tunnel openings to accommodate the engine propeller for each engine, inside each tunnel opening is a center sponson and the pneumatic cylinder attached to the center sponson fully retracting the sponson, raising the center sponson above the tunnel opening in the transom, forming the twin tunnel hull configuration. 7. The vessel hull as described in claim 5, wherein the vessel has a port side and a starboard side, a pair of end sponsons, an end sponson on the port side and an end sponson on the starboard side, and at least one intermediate sponson between each end sponson and the center sponson, a number of sponsons between the port side end sponson and the center sponson equally the number of sponsons between the starboard side end sponson and the center sponson. 8. The vessel hull as described in claim 7, wherein the transom has a bottom edge further defining a second plane, and the pneumatic cylinders fully retract the end sponsons and the intermediate sponsons, and the pneumatic cylinder attached to the center sponson partially retracts the center sponson such that the bottom of the sponsons are in the same plane as the bottom edge of the transom, forming the flat bottom hull configuration. 9. The vessel hull as described in claim 8, wherein the pneumatic cylinders partially extending the end sponsons and the intermediate sponsons in a staggered manner, such that the end sponsons slightly extend below the bottom edge of the transom, the intermediate sponsons adjacent to the end sponsons extend below the transom bottom edge 120B slightly below the end sponsons, the closer the intermediate sponson is to the center sponson, the greater the intermediate sponson extends below the transom bottom edge, forming a pair of sloped sides of the V-hull below the transom bottom edge and the pneumatic cylinder attached to the center sponson fully extending the center sponson such that the center sponson is completely below the bottom edge of the transom, forming the V-hull configuration. 10. The vessel hull as described in claim 7, wherein the vessel is an airboat having a chine in the flat hull configuration and the end sponsons extend below the plane of the transom bottom edge, created a tapered edge slightly inboard of the chine for stabilizing the vessel and preventing sliding during a hard turn. 11. A system for transforming a vessel hull, the hull having a fore and an aft, from a first configuration to a second figuration, comprising: a transom at an aft of a hull, defining a plane;a plurality of integral sponsons forming a vessel aft hull, the sponson having a fore end, an aft end, a top and a bottom, the aft end of the sponsons forming a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to the plane defined by the transom, the fore end of the sponsons hingedly connected to a fore hull;a plurality of pneumatic cylinders, at least one cylinder attaching to the top of each sponson towards the aft end of the sponson;a controller that signals the pneumatic cylinders to extend and retract to a selected position, the pneumatic cylinders raising and lowering the sponsons within the plane defined by the transom, substantially instantly transforming a boat hull from a first configuration to a second configuration; andwherein the hull transforms to the second configuration selected from any of a group consisting of flat bottom hull, a V-hull, a tunnel hull and a V-tunnel hull. 12. The system for transforming a vessel hull as described in claim 11, wherein the transom has at least one tunnel opening and having a bottom edge further defining a second plane, the sponsons extending and retracting above the tunnel opening and the bottom edge of the transom, thereby transforming the boat hull from the first configuration to the second configuration. 13. The system for transforming a vessel hull as described in claim 12, wherein the hull transforms from the first configuration to the second configuration while the vessel remains in the water. 14. The system for transforming a vessel hull as described in claim 13, wherein the hull transforms from a first configuration to a second configuration when the vessel is in motion. 15. The system for transforming a vessel hull as described in claim 14, wherein the vessel is a planing vessel. 16. The system for transforming a vessel hull as described in claim 15, wherein the controller is on the deck of the vessel. 17. The system for transforming a vessel hull as described in claim 16, wherein the vessel is selected from the group consisting of a single engine vessel, a twin-engine vessel and an airboat. 18. A method for transforming a vessel hull from a first configuration to a second figuration, the hull having a fore portion, an aft portion, a transom at the aft of the hull, a plurality of integral sponsons hingedly connected to a fore hull forming the aft hull, a plurality of pneumatic cylinders, at least one cylinder attaching to the top of each sponson and a controller signaling the pneumatic cylinders, comprising: selecting a plurality of pneumatic cylinders to extend or retract through a signal from the controller;lowering selected sponsons within a plane defined by the transom by extending selected pneumatic cylinders;raising selected sponsons within the plane defined by the transom by retracting selected pneumatic cylinders, the raised sponsons and lowered sponsons substantially instantly transforming a boat hull from a first configuration to a second configuration; andwherein the hull transforms to the second configuration selected from any of a group consisting of flat bottom hull, a V-hull, a tunnel hull and a V-tunnel hull.