Patent · US Expired

Marine craft

US4713030A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
5References
5Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 22, 1987
Grant dateDec 15, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB63C2009/035
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A marine craft comprises an outer hull of completely spherical shape, an inner hull of hemispherical shape, universal bearings between the inner hull and outer hull supporting the inner structure in the outer hull and permitting universal movement, and a mass in the inner hull biassing it into a reference position. A plurality of spaced apart groups of four fins are provided on the exterior of the outer hull to procure propulsion of the craft along the surface of the water on rotation of the outer hull about any diametric axis. The four fins of each group are joined to each other in a generally cruciform configuration. The fins of any one such group are coplanar with a first pair of mutually perpendicular diametric axes of the outer hull while the fins of another one of such groups are coplanar with a different pair of mutually perpendicular diametric axes.

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