Watercraft hull modification
US5477797A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1993 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB63B2003/265
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of constructing or, modifying a watercraft (10) comprises the step of fitting to a main hull (14) of the watercraft an outer hull structure (15) which includes or which forms an outer hull skin (22) by attaching the outer hull structure (15) to the external surface of the main hull (14) of the watercraft. The outer hull structure (15) provides fluid containment spaces (155) between the outer hull skin (22) and the main hull (14) and a communication is provided for flooding the spaces (155) with water from the body of water within which the craft moves. The fluid containment spaces (155) extend above the waterline of the watercraft and means are provided for supplying a pressurized inert gas and/or for applying vacuum pressures to preselected sections of the outer hull structure (15) so that the water levels in those sections can be brought above or below the waterline of the watercraft to increase the overall ballast effect or the buoyancy or to alter the trim of the watercraft (10 ).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.