US4014279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic positioning system for a vessel containing an ocean thermal energy conversion system
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1976-04-28
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Granted: 1977-03-29
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Expires: 1996-04-28
Abstract
Abstract A dynamic positioning system for a sea-going vessel containing an ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system utilizes the thrust produced by the sea water effluents resulting from the energy conversion process to position the vessel against wind and ocean current forces. In one preferred embodiment applicable to both cylindrical surface and spar buoy types of vessels, both the warm water and cold water discharges are collected in a common annular plenum and then discharged through nozzles spaced angularly around the periphery of the plenum. Each nozzle is rotatable through a 90° arc in a vertical plane to alter the direction of the discharge water jet and thereby to alter the horizontal component of the thrust or the driving force acting upon the vessel. The nozzles may be selected as to location and angular orientation to attain the net resultant force vector necessary to provide station-keeping or propulsion to the vessel under most any combination of wind and ocean current conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Russell O. Pearson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 06:31
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63H; B63H25/00; B63H25/46; B63B; B63B35/00; B63B35/44; F; F03; F03G; F03G7/00; F03G7/04; F03G7/05; B63B2035/442; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In combination with a vessel containing a system for an ocean thermal energy conversion process in which heat is extracted from warm ocean surface waters to vaporize a working fluid liquid and heat is rejected to cold waters collected from the lower depths of the ocean to condense the working fluid vapor, the improvement in a dynamic positioning means utilizing the sea water effluents resulting from said energy conversion process for positioning the vessel, said dynamic positioning means comprising: a. means aboard said vessel for collecting said sea water effluents resulting from said energy conversion process; and b. means aboard said vessel for controllably directing the discharge of said collected effluents in a plurality of different horizontal directions to attain a resultant net propulsive force acting in a preferred direction upon said vessel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In combination with a vessel containing a system for an ocean thermal energy conversion process in which heat is extracted from warm ocean surface waters to vaporize a working fluid liquid and heat is rejected to cold waters collected from the lower depths of the ocean to condense the working fluid vapor, the improvement in a dynamic positioning means utilizing the sea water effluents resulting from said energy conversion process for positioning the vessel, said dynamic positioning means comprising: a. means aboard said vessel for collecting said sea water effluents resulting from said energy conversion process; and b. means aboard said vessel for controllably directing the discharge of said collected effluents in a plurality of different horizontal directions to attain a resultant net propulsive force acting in a preferred direction upon said vessel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The inventory according to claim 1, wherein the means in (b) includes a plurality of discharge orifices, at least some of which are provided with surrounding movable shrouds for directing the effluents discharged therefrom in different angular directions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the means in (b) includes a plurality of discharge orifices, at least some of which are mounted for angular rotation in a vertical plane between horizontal outward position and vertical downward position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said vessel has a fore and aft axis, and wherein the means in (b) includes a plurality of discharge orifices aligned parallel with said fore and aft axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention according to claim 4, wherein at least two of said orifices lie in opposing sides of said axis substantially equidistant therefrom.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The invention according to claim 5, wherein an additional orifice lies along said axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic positioning means includes an annular discharge plenum disposed horizontally for collecting both the warm and cold sea water effluents and for discharging the combined effluents in a plurality of different directions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention according to claim 7, wherein said annular discharge plenum is provided with a plurality of discharge orifices angularly spaced about at least a peripheral portion of said plenum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention according to claim 8, wherein each of said orifices are formed in a nozzle that is rotatable angularly in a vertical plane so as to alter the horizontal component of the thrust vector provided by the discharge of effluents therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein said discharge orifices are omitted from a minor arcuate portion of said plenum facing forward of said vessel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention according to claim 10, wherein said discharge orifices are equally spaced around the annular extent of said plenum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention according to claim 1, wherein the means in (b) includes a plurality of discharge orifices, at least one of which includes throttle valve means for controlling the discharge from that orifice.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-09-27 | 1981-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-28 | 1984-09-27 | 1985-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-28 | 1988-09-27 | 1989-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |