US3648635A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Marine transport
Assignee: University Engineers Inc
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Filing: 1970-08-03
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Granted: 1972-03-14
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Expires: 1990-08-03
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates generally to apparatus for marine transportation and more particularly relates to apparatus for moving bulk quantities of goods in a submarine hull with ancillary surface accommodations for the crew. A preferred embodiment of the invention may include an elongated submarine hull having a plurality of cargo holds situated therein and an engine room located in the aft portion thereof. Power means, such as a diesel-electric unit, are located in the engine room and serve to provide motive force for the submarine hull and the related equipment. Projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the aft portion of the hull may be provided a relatively tall vertical fin, the front portion of which is restricted to form a relatively short ''''blade'''' which may be used to cut through surface ice formations. A crewboat, the rear portion of which is bifurcated and shaped to receive therein a portion of the vertical fin, is in operative engagement with a portion of the fin and receives its primary motive force therefrom. Means may be included for providing a relatively low-friction contact between the bifurcated portion of the crewboat and the vertical fin to allow restricted pitch, roll and yaw of the boat and of the submarine hull. In addition, access means are included in the fin whereby crew members may move freely from the boat to the interior of the submarine hull. There is also included means connected between the vertical fin and the crewboat for providing energy, such as heat and electrical power, from the engine room in the submarine hull to the crewboat. Air intake and stack gas exhaust conduits also extend through the vertical fin to the atmosphere, so that the submarine hull may be propelled by propulsion systems of the type conventionally used in surface vessels, such as oil fueled steam turbines, diesel engines, gas turbines and the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Hadi T Hashemi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:23
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B25/00; B63B35/00; B63B35/08; B63B35/12; B63G; B63G8/00; B63G8/001; B63B2211/00; B63B2211/06; B63G8/42; B63G2008/425; F; F02; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
Marine transport apparatus comprising: a. a submarine hull; b. propulsion means mounted in the hull for moving the hull through the water; c. a vertical fin mounted on the upper portion of said hull; d. a surface vessel, the stern of said vessel being bifurcated to receive therein a portion of said fin whereby said surface vessel is propelled across the water by said submarine hull; and e. means for connecting said surface vessel to said submarine hull for providing energy to said surface vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
85 words
Marine transport apparatus comprising: a. a submarine hull; b. propulsion means mounted in the hull for moving the hull through the water; c. a vertical fin mounted on the upper portion of said hull; d. a surface vessel, the stern of said vessel being bifurcated to receive therein a portion of said fin whereby said surface vessel is propelled across the water by said submarine hull; and e. means for connecting said surface vessel to said submarine hull for providing energy to said surface vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the forward portion of said fin is of reduced cross-sectional area whereby a cutting edge is formed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said fin has formed therein an access way to allow communication between the surface vessel and the submarine hull.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus defined in claim 2 wherein the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the bifurcated portion of the surface vessel conforms to the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the forward side portions of the fin and wherein a recess is formed in the forward portion of the bifurcation whereby the cutting edge at the forward portion of the fin is restricted from engaging said surface vessel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting comprises a flexible conduit in which is disposed an electric cable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 further characterized by friction reducing means mounted on the surface vessel for reducing frictional engagement between the surface vessel and the fin.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus defined in claim 6 wherein said friction reducing means comprises a plurality of horizontally extending rollers mounted on the inward facing, vertical sides of the bifurcation formed in the stern of the surface vessel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein said access way comprises: a. a watertight hatch formed on the side of said fin, and b. a substantially vertical ladder mounted within said fin between the submarine hull and said watertight hatch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein means are provided for bracing the bifurcated portions of the surface vessel against horizontal motion relative to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus defined in claim 9 further characterized by friction reducing means mounted on the surface vessel for reducing frictional engagement between the surface vessel and the fin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 10 wherein said friction reducing means comprises a plurality of horizontally extending rollers mounted on the inward facing, vertical sides of the bifurcation formed in the aft portion of the surface vessel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein said rollers are resiliently mounted in the hull of said surface vessel to allow limited horizontal movement of said rollers relative to said hull.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein the forward portion of said fin is of reduced cross-sectional area whereby a cutting edge is formed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the bifurcated portion of the surface vessel conforms to the horizoNtal cross-sectional shape of the forward side portions of the fin and wherein a recess is formed in the forward portion of the bifurcation whereby the cutting edge at the forward portion of the fin is restricted from engaging said surface vessel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus defined in claim 14 wherein said fin has formed therein an access way to allow communication between the surface vessel and the submarine hull.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein said access way comprises: a. a watertight hatch formed on the side of said fin, and b. a substantially vertical ladder mounted within said fin between the submarine hull and said watertight hatch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein said means for connecting comprises a flexible conduit in which is disposed an electric cable.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
Marine transport apparatus as defined in claim 1 and further characterized as including conduit means extending through said vertical fin and placing said propulsion means in communication with the atmosphere.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
Marine transport apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said conduit means includes: an air intake conduit; and an exhaust gas stack conduit.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
Marine transport apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said friction reducing means comprises: a pair of opposed semicylindrical fender elements movably mounted on the hull of said surface vessel on opposite sides of the bifurcation in the hull of the surface vessel; and horizontally extending rollers mounted on the inward facing, substantially planar sides of said semicylindrical fender elements and contacting said vertically extending fin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A marine transport apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said surface vessel is further characterized in having a flat bottomed bow portion, a raked stem and sharp, downwardly breaking keel rib amidships.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for bulk marine transportation which comprises: a. a submarine hull having an engine room in the stern thereof and a plurality of holds therein; b. diesel-electric propulsion means carried within said engine room; c. an upwardly extending fin projecting from the upper surface at the stern of the submarine hull, said fin being designed to protrude above the surface of the water when the submarine hull is submerged, the forward portion of said fin being of reduced horizontal cross-sectional area whereby a cutting edge is formed thereby; d. a surface vessel, the stern of said vessel being bifurcated to receive therein a portion of the said fin whereby said surface vessel is propelled across the surface of the water by said submarine hull; e. friction reducing means mounted on the surface vessel for reducing frictional engagement between said vessel and the fin; and f. a flexible conduit connected between the top of said fin and the surface vessel for providing electric energy from the diesel-electric propulsion means to the surface vessel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
172 words
Apparatus for bulk marine transportation which comprises: a. a submarine hull having an engine room in the stern thereof and a plurality of holds therein; b. diesel-electric propulsion means carried within said engine room; c. an upwardly extending fin projecting from the upper surface at the stern of the submarine hull, said fin being designed to protrude above the surface of the water when the submarine hull is submerged, the forward portion of said fin being of reduced horizontal cross-sectional area whereby a cutting edge is formed thereby; d. a surface vessel, the stern of said vessel being bifurcated to receive therein a portion of the said fin whereby said surface vessel is propelled across the surface of the water by said submarine hull; e. friction reducing means mounted on the surface vessel for reducing frictional engagement between said vessel and the fin; and f. a flexible conduit connected between the top of said fin and the surface vessel for providing electric energy from the diesel-electric propulsion means to the surface vessel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the bifurcated portion of the surface vessel conforms to the horizontal cross-sectional shape of the forward side portions of the fin and wherein a recess is formed in the forward portion of the bifurcation whereby the cutting edge at the forward portion of the fin is restricted from engaging said surface vessel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 23 wherein said friction reducing means comprises a plurality of horizontally extending rollers mounted on the inward facing, vertical sides of the bifurcation formed in the aft portion of the surface vessel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus defined in claim 24 wherein said rollers are resiliently mounted in the hull of said surface vessel to allow limited horizontal movement of said rollers relative to said hull.
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) | 1975-03-14 | 1975-09-13 | 1976-03-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-14 | 1979-09-13 | 1980-03-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-14 | 1983-09-13 | 1984-03-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |