Patent · US Expired

Variable draft hull

US5237947A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 3, 1992
Grant dateAug 24, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 3, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB63B1/14
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A hull for a water-borne vessel includes submersible variable displacement ods attached to a main hull of the vessel through pivotable arms which allow positioning of the submersible pods at locations within a range of horizontal and vertical locations. The variable displacement pods also include hydrofoils and other controllable surfaces to provide dynamic lift and attitude control of the vessel. A gearing arrangement is provided to maintain or selectively change the orientation of the pods or portions thereof at different angular positions of the pivotable arms. Support for the vessel can thus be controllably proportioned among both static displacement and dynamic lift of the main hull and the variable displacement pods as well as through dynamic lift of foils or planes.

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