US3590765A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular hull vessel and method of operation
Assignee: Tecnico Inc
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Filing: 1968-03-13
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1988-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A waterborne vessel having a personnel and/or cargo carrier surface hull module, which normally seats on the surface of the water when at rest, is connected by depending struts to a submerged displacement hull module which contains the vessel engines, and its propulsion and steering means, and which provides a substantial portion of the buoyancy for the entire vessel. The struts are designed for extension and retraction so that the displacement hull module may be raised or lowered. The displacement hull module is constituted as a hydrodynamic lift body which, when in lowered position while the vessel is underway, lifts and maintains the entire personnel hull module out of the water to a height at which its bottom is out of contact with the surface of the water and above the crests of any waves thereon. When the vessel is docked or operating in shoal water the displacement hull module is positioned in substantial mating engagement with the bottom of the personnel hull module.
Inventors
- 👤 Gabriel V De Lizasoain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:18
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/02; B63B1/10; B63B1/107
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
The method of minimizing water and wave resistance against a surface waterborne vessel having a hull assembly including a personnel carrier surface module and an engine carrier subsurface module which together have a combined buoyancy initially supporting the entire mass of the vessel, which method comprises: decreasing the initial buoyancy of the subsurface module and lowering it below its initial depth; causing the lowered module to generate and exert a hydrodynamic lift force which, added to the remaining buoyancy lift of the lowered module, causes the module to rise toward the surface of the water and correspondingly elevate the surface module thereabove; and controlling the magnitude of the lift forces to maintain the subsurface module at a desired depth while the vessel is underway.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
The method of minimizing water and wave resistance against a surface waterborne vessel having a hull assembly including a personnel carrier surface module and an engine carrier subsurface module which together have a combined buoyancy initially supporting the entire mass of the vessel, which method comprises: decreasing the initial buoyancy of the subsurface module and lowering it below its initial depth; causing the lowered module to generate and exert a hydrodynamic lift force which, added to the remaining buoyancy lift of the lowered module, causes the module to rise toward the surface of the water and correspondingly elevate the surface module thereabove; and controlling the magnitude of the lift forces to maintain the subsurface module at a desired depth while the vessel is underway.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of minimizing water and wave resistance against a surface waterborne vessel having an Archimedes principle hull assembly including a subsurface displacement module and a surface module supported thereon, which comprises: decreasing buoyancy of the subsurface module and lowering it below the surface module to an initial lower limit depth substantially greater in extent than its original depth; placing the vessel in forward motion; applying to the lowered subsurface module a motion generated hydrodynamic lift force sufficient when combined with the instant buoyancy lift force of the module to lift the module to the surface of the water while the vessel is in forward motion at cruising speed; and controlling magnitude of the combined hydrodynamic and buoyancy lift force of the subsurface module so that it lifts and maintains its supported surface module at a height above the water surface substantially equal to the distance the subsurface module is raised from its initial limit depth level.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
157 words
The method of minimizing water and wave resistance against a surface waterborne vessel having an Archimedes principle hull assembly including a subsurface displacement module and a surface module supported thereon, which comprises: decreasing buoyancy of the subsurface module and lowering it below the surface module to an initial lower limit depth substantially greater in extent than its original depth; placing the vessel in forward motion; applying to the lowered subsurface module a motion generated hydrodynamic lift force sufficient when combined with the instant buoyancy lift force of the module to lift the module to the surface of the water while the vessel is in forward motion at cruising speed; and controlling magnitude of the combined hydrodynamic and buoyancy lift force of the subsurface module so that it lifts and maintains its supported surface module at a height above the water surface substantially equal to the distance the subsurface module is raised from its initial limit depth level.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of lifting and holding the hull of a normally surface waterborne vessel above and out of contact with the surface of the water while underway, which comprises: lowering beneath the bottom of the hull an attached buoyancy component of the vessel containing the engines, fuel, steering and propulsion means, and other mechanisms for operating the vessel; decreasing buoyancy of the lowered component to maintain the dynamic system of the vessel in stable condition; manipulating the lowered component to create by motion of the vessel a hydrodynamic lift force acting in addition to the remaining buoyancy lift force of the lowered component to raise the component and the attached hull to an extent such that the hull is held above and out of contact with the surface of the water; and selectively adjusting the height at which the hull is held above the water surface by regulating the magnitude of the hydrodynamic and buoyancy lift forces of the lowered component.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of lifting and holding the hull of a normally surface waterborne vessel above and out of contact with the surface of the water while underway, which comprises: lowering beneath the bottom of the hull an attached buoyancy component of the vessel containing the engines, fuel, steering and propulsion means, and other mechanisms for operating the vessel; decreasing buoyancy of the lowered component to maintain the dynamic system of the vessel in stable condition; manipulating the lowered component to create by motion of the vessel a hydrodynamic lift force acting in addition to the remaining buoyancy lift force of the lowered component to raise the component and the attached hull to an extent such that the hull is held above and out of contact with the surface of the water; and selectively adjusting the height at which the hull is held above the water surface by regulating the magnitude of the hydrodynamic and buoyancy lift forces of the lowered component.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a surface waterborne vessel having an Archimedes principle hull constituted by a subsurface module and a separate surface module mounted thereon, in which the subsurface module is a buoyant hydrodynamic lift body providing a substantial portion of the buoyancy for the entire vessel; means for lowering the subsurface module to a Limit depth below the surface module, said lowering means including means for supporting the surface module of the subsurface module in vertically spaced relation thereabove; means for selectively controlling the buoyancy of the subsurface module; and means for selectively controlling hydrodynamic lift action of the subsurface module whereby to apply to that module a vessel-motion generated lift force which, added to the lift force of the buoyancy of the module, acts to raise the entire vessel to a level at which the means supporting the surface module holds the entire surface module out of contact with the water surface and above the top of any waves thereon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a surface waterborne vessel having an Archimedes principle hull constituted by a subsurface module and a separate surface module mounted thereon, in which the subsurface module is a buoyant hydrodynamic lift body providing a substantial portion of the buoyancy for the entire vessel; means for lowering the subsurface module to a Limit depth below the surface module, said lowering means including means for supporting the surface module of the subsurface module in vertically spaced relation thereabove; means for selectively controlling the buoyancy of the subsurface module; and means for selectively controlling hydrodynamic lift action of the subsurface module whereby to apply to that module a vessel-motion generated lift force which, added to the lift force of the buoyancy of the module, acts to raise the entire vessel to a level at which the means supporting the surface module holds the entire surface module out of contact with the water surface and above the top of any waves thereon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a waterborne vessel having an above surface hull module and a submerged buoyant displacement hull module: means operative while the vessel is underway to raise and lower the displacement hull module to selective positions of adjustment relative to the surface hull module; the body alone of said displacement hull module constituting means operative solely in response to forward motion of the vessel to generate and apply to the displacement hull module a vertical lift force in addition to its inherent buoyancy lift force.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a waterborne vessel having an above surface hull module and a submerged buoyant displacement hull module: means operative while the vessel is underway to raise and lower the displacement hull module to selective positions of adjustment relative to the surface hull module; the body alone of said displacement hull module constituting means operative solely in response to forward motion of the vessel to generate and apply to the displacement hull module a vertical lift force in addition to its inherent buoyancy lift force.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |