GB2399057A

GB2399057A - Drop keels for high speed flat bottomed vessels

Info

Publication number: GB2399057A
Application number: GB0409054A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hewie Edward Dalrymple; Edward Alexander Scott
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-23
Filing date: 2004-04-23
Publication date: 2004-09-08
Anticipated expiration: 2024-04-23
Also published as: GB0409054D0; GB2399057B

Abstract

A drop keel for a flat bottomed vessel comprises an upper section 2 and a lower flat bottomed base section 3, which is wider than the upper section. The upper section, which forms the main part of the keel, has generally vertical side walls, with the base section having angled side walls which taper out from the upper section to meet the relatively wide flat bottom of the base section. When fitted to a flat-bottomed vessel the keel may be retracted completely within the hull 1 of the vessel by manual, hydraulic or mechanical means. The keel may be provided in a four keel arrangement on the flat bottomed vessel (Fig 5), which is intended to provide stability in heavy running seas.

Description

DROP KEELS FOR HIGH SPEED FLAT BOTTOMED VESSELS. 1.

Apart from hovercraft there are no high-speed flat-bottomed vessels, as all vessels have varying degrees of a 'V' hull for stability purposes when deep sea ocean going.

V' shaped vessels hulls use more power to move any vessel in the water than do flat bottomed vessels because of the displacement of the actual V in the water.

The reason for this new invention was because of necessity when moving large numbers of people and cargoes long distances over the calm expanses of the Pacific Ocean, from south America to the Marquesas Islands via square and oblong flat bottomed craft.

2 keels side by side on either side of the vessel allow more stability than a single keel, whereas if the keels were split into 4 on the flat sections of the bottom of the hull tremendous stability was attained.

If the 4 keels are then streamlined and have a permanently fixed suppressor plate fitted on the bottom of the drop keel this helps tremendously in rough seas giving a reasonable comfortable ride.

According to the state of the sea, from a light breeze to severe weather the drop keels can be lowered down or taken up to suit most sea state conditions.

The keels can be manufactured out of any alloy or GRP. (Glass reinforced plastic.) The displacement water reduction suppressor foot on the bottom of the keel appears to work best if it is constructed from an alloy. (We used Steel) The drop keel can be either a solid mass or hollow depending on what the owner of the vessel requires.

INTRODUCTION TO THE NUMBERS.

No 1 is the hull of the vessel.

No 2 is the body of the drop keel.

No 3 is the suppressor keel foot that prevents any flat-bottomed vessel from being thrown around in bad weather.

INTRODUCTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Figure 1 No 2 shows the area where the uplifted drop keel fits inside the main body of the vessels hull (No 1) from the Stern (Back) of the vessel. In this drawing the vessel has strengthened feet either side of the drop keel allowing the drop keel to be safely housed when raised fully up inside the drop keel housing and to be clear of the ground, or any suitable hard standing for any vessel when she sits down when the tide is out.

Figure 2 shows the drop keel fully extended from the hull on the Port (Left) or Starboard (Right) hand side-facing left (Forward).

Figure 3 shows the shape of the streamlined drop keel as a cut in half section from above.

Figure 4 shows the shape of the water displacement reduction suppressor plate foot from above.

Figure 5 shows the positioning and the bottom of the 4-drop water displacement reduction suppressor keel feet in the base of the hull, from a view below the vessels hull.

Figure 2 is the fully extended drop keel for a vessel with hydraulics that can move the drop keel up and down via a hydraulic ram. This will be controlled by electromc sensors reporting back to gages in the wheel house stating the depth of each keel.

Claims

CLAIM 3 A drop keel fin for any flat bottomed fast ocean going craft that

has a displacement water suppressor foot on its base, this prevents any vessel from being violently thrown around by the heavy seas and allows any vessel to be stable at speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: 1 A mechanically, manual or a hydraulic operated system of separately paired drop keels spaced apart for a vessel comprising an upper section and a lower angled and flat-bottomed base section, wherein the base section of the drop keel is wider than the upper part of the drop keel creating a downward thrust as a 'water suppressor foot'.

2 As in claim 1 the front and back of the upper section of the mechanically, manual or hydraulically operated drop keel section is narrow and slip streamed.

3 As in claim 1 the base section of the lower section of the mechanically, manual or hydraulically operated drop keel has an upper and lower section to the 'water suppressor foot', the upper section of the suppressor foot is angled down on the front, sides and back of the upper part of the upper section of the drop keel foot and widens out to a flat and levelled bottom on the base of the lowest part at the bottom of the 'water suppressor foot'.