GB2429435A

GB2429435A - Ship or boat hull air lubrication system

Info

Publication number: GB2429435A
Application number: GB0517242A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Walter Swales
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-23
Filing date: 2005-08-23
Publication date: 2007-02-28
Also published as: GB0517242D0

Abstract

A vessel hull has an air lubrication apparatus which comprises an air pump 1 for supplying pressurised air to a porous membrane 2 attached to the exterior of the hull and keel, or a system of air ducts attached to the keel and hull of the vessel (4, Fig 3), or mounted within the hull of the vessel (3, Fig 2). The air pump may be solar, wind or diesel powered and may be mounted in the bows of the vessel beneath the deck. An air inlet tube to the pump may draw the air supply through a filter below deck. The membrane may be a woven material or a metallic or plastic sheath which is suitably perforated. The ducts may be formed from plastic, stainless steel, copper or other suitable similar materials.

Description

Page 1 Application for grant of patent.

Air Lubrication System-Ship/Boat Hulls. (01)

This invention relates to an air lubrication system to reduce water friction on the hulls of ships and boats. (02)

The effect of water friction or drag on the hull of a vessel is to slow the vessel and therefore to require more power and hence, in the case of engine powered vessels, a greater fuel consumption to maintain speed. In the case of sail, speed is lost. (03)

The invention described here provides a means of lubricating the hull of river or sea borne vessels by means of a solar, wind or Diesel powered air pump supplying pressurised air via a porous membrane positioned along the keel and hull or appropriately sized ducts of plastic, stainless steel, copper or other suitable material to the keel and hull of the vessel. (04)

The principles of the invention are embodied in the accompanying drawing in which: Figures 1, 2&3 show side elevations of a boat hull in partial section.

Referring to Figure 1: There is an air pump, shown as a box (1) in the bows beneath the deck, whose outlet pipe is linked to a membrane (2) running along the keel and hull. The membrane is porous and allows air to exhaust to its outer side and thus provide a film of lubricating air interposed between the membrane and the water.

The membrane may be a woven material or a metallic or plastic sheath which is suitably perforated.

The air inlet tube to the pump draws its supply, via a filter, from below deck. The air pump is driven by solar or wind power or an electric motor driven from the main diesel engine, or a combination of these. A standby auxiliary engine may be used if the energy balance warrants it.

Referring to Figure 2: An alternative arrangement to that described in Fig. 1, is similar in that there is an air pump, shown as a box (1) in the bows beneath the deck, whose outlet pipe is linked to tubes or ducts running along the inside of the keel and sides of the hull. The tubes or ducts are open along their length where they meet the keel and sides of the hull and are sealed. The keel and hull are perforated along their lengths so as to provide a film of air over the surface of the hull in a similar manner to the arrangement described in Fig.!.

As in Fig.1, the air inlet tube to the pump draws its supply, via a filter, from below deck. The air pump is driven in a manner similar to that described for Fig.1.

Referring to Figure 3: An alternative arrangement to that described in Fig. 1&2, is similar in that there is an air pump, shown as a box (1) in the bows beneath the deck, whose outlet pipe is linked to tubes or ducts running along the outside of the keel and sides of the hull. The tubes or ducts are perforated along their lengths so as to provide a film of air over the surface of the hull in a similar manner to the arrangement described in Fig.! & 2.

As in Fig.1&2, the air inlet tube to the pump draws its supply, via a filter, from below deck. The air pump is driven in a manner similar to that described for Fig.l&2.

Claims

Page 2 Application for grant of patent.

Air Lubrication System-Ship/Boat Hulls.

Claims Claim 1 The invention described here provides a means of lubricating the hull of river or sea borne vessels by means of a solar, wind or Diesel powered air pump supplying pressurised air via a porous membrane positioned along the keel and hull or appropriately sized ducts of plastic, stainless steel, copper or other suitable material to the keel and hull of the vessel.
Claim 2. A means of lubricating the hull of river or sea borne vessels as claimed in claim 1, by means of an air pump, in the bows beneath the deck, whose outlet pipe is linked to a porous membrane positioned along the keel and hull. The membrane being porous allows air to exhaust to its outer side and thus provide a film of lubricating air interposed between the membrane and the water.

The membrane may be a woven material or a metallic or plastic sheath which is suitably perforated.

The air inlet tube to the pump draws its supply, via a filter, from below deck.

The air pump is driven by solar or wind power or an electric motor driven from the main diesel engine, or a combination of these. A standby auxiliary engine may be used if the energy balance warrants it.
Claim 3. A means of lubricating the hull of river or sea borne vessels as claimed in claim 1& 2, which is an alternative arrangement to that described in Claim 1&2. It is similar in that there is an air pump in the bows beneath the deck, whose outlet pipe is linked to ducts which are sealed to and running along the inside of the keel and insides of the hull. The keel and hull covered by the ducts are perforated along their lengths so as to allow air exhaust to the outside of the hull and provide a film of lubricating air over the surface of the hull.

As in Claims.1&2, the air inlet tube to the pump draws its supply, via a filter, from below deck. The air pump is driven in a manner similar to that described for Claim 1.
Claim 4. A means of lubricating the hull of river or sea borne vessels as claimed in claim 1,2&3 which is an alternative arrangement to that described in Claim 1,2&3.

It is similar in that there is an air pump in the bows beneath the deck, whose outlet pipe is linked to ducts running along the outside of the keel and sides of the hull. The tubes are perforated along their lengths so as to provide a film of air over the surface of the hull in a similar manner to the arrangement described in Claims 1,2&3.

As in Claims.1,2&3, the air inlet tube to the pump draws its supply, via a filter, from below deck. The air pump is driven in a manner similar to that described for claims 1,2&3.