US3874315A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Surface treatment for water borne vehicles
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-09-07
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A surface treatment that is secured over the bottom hull structure of a water borne vehicle and which draws air through numerous ventilated steps to air lubricate ramp portions of the surface treatment and thus reduce viscous drag, suck down, and undesirable trim angle changes. A step and ramp together with longitudinal air carrying channels on either side of the ramp form a cell. The ramp portion of the cell is angulated from the hull bottom structure normal contour at an angle of approximately 4*. Air is drawn from portions of the surface treatment above the instanteous water line or through ventilation ports which penetrate the hull structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Morris Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:05
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/32; B63B1/34; B63B1/38; B63B32/00; B63B32/30; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T70/00; Y02T70/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles having a hull structure with substantial water wetted surface area and wherein the improvement comprises: a surface treatment applied to said hull structure over substantially all of the water wetted surfaces of said vehicle, said surface treatment comprising a plurality of air lubrication cells, there being a plurality of said cells across the beam wise width of said water wetted surface, and a plurality of said cells along the length wise dimension of said vehicle, said cells having a step portion extending substantially normal to said hull structure contour, a ramp surface extending from the innermost portion of one step, and angling away from said hull structure contour, said ramp surface being connected to the outermost extent of the adjacent step, and longitudinal channels extending lengthwise over substantially the entire water wetted surface of said vehicle along both sides of said cells, said step portion being penetrated by an air hole, said surface treatment being supported at least in part by contact between said hull structure and the innermost portions of said steps, a plurality of said air lubrication cells are above the nominal water line for said water borne vehicle, whereby at least a portion of said air drawn through said air holes in said air lubrication cells below the nominal water line is supplied by cells above the nominal water line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles having a hull structure with substantial water wetted surface area and wherein the improvement comprises: a surface treatment applied to said hull structure over substantially all of the water wetted surfaces of said vehicle, said surface treatment comprising a plurality of air lubrication cells, there being a plurality of said cells across the beam wise width of said water wetted surface, and a plurality of said cells along the length wise dimension of said vehicle, said cells having a step portion extending substantially normal to said hull structure contour, a ramp surface extending from the innermost portion of one step, and angling away from said hull structure contour, said ramp surface being connected to the outermost extent of the adjacent step, and longitudinal channels extending lengthwise over substantially the entire water wetted surface of said vehicle along both sides of said cells, said step portion being penetrated by an air hole, said surface treatment being supported at least in part by contact between said hull structure and the innermost portions of said steps, a plurality of said air lubrication cells are above the nominal water line for said water borne vehicle, whereby at least a portion of said air drawn through said air holes in said air lubrication cells below the nominal water line is supplied by cells above the nominal water line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles according to claim 1 wherein: said longitudinal channels comprise air channels providing pneumatic communication longitudinally of said hull structure between said air lubrication cells and through said holes and the air space between said ramp surface and said hull structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles according to claim 1, wherein, said hull structure is penetrated by at least one ventilation duct for supplying air between said hull structure and said surface treatment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles according to claim 1, wherein, the outermost longitudinal channels constitute rails to increase the turning ability of said vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles according to claim 1, wherein, a plurality of said step portions of said cells are staggered longitudinally from the corresponding step portions of adjacent longitudinal rows of cells.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles according to claim 1, wherein, said ramp portions of said cells are substantially twice as long as they are wide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A surface treatment for water borne vehicles according to claim 1, wherein, said ramp surface angling away from said hull structure contour at an angle not over substantialy 4*.
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) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |