Patent · US Expired

Method and means for increasing the maneuverability of a ship in ice-covered waters

US4369725A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
5References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 5, 1980
Grant dateJan 25, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 5, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB63B35/08
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The disclosed method for increasing the maneuverability of a ship in ice-covered waters is comprised of bringing generally vertical ice-crushing surfaces on one side of a ship into contact with an ice covering in order to create an imbalance of forces between that side of the ship and the ice covering in comparison with the forces between the other side of the ship and the ice covering in order to assist in turning the ship. The generally vertical ice-crushing surfaces are positioned on both a starboard and port side of the hull of the ship in such a manner that they remain out of contact with the ice covering normal straight forward travel. A particular positioning mechanism is utilized in order to bring a generally vertically oriented ice-crushing wall portion into contact with the ice covering. Contact between the generally vertically oriented ice-crushing wall portion and the ice creates a crushing force between the two surfaces, while the other side of the ship contacts the ice at a different angle applying a bending force to the ice covering. The different forces applied to the sides of the ship create a horizontal force inbalance which forces the ship away from the side wher…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.