US1003364A - Boat construction. - Google Patents

Description

P. B. LANGSTON.

, BQAT CONSTRUCTION.

' APPLICATION FILED AUG. 17. 1907. Y i 1003364, Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

' f 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESS lfb ATTORNE Y F. B. LANGSTON.' BOAT CONSTRUCTION. nrmonlon FILED AUG'. 1'1. 1907.

Patented sept. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ITIVESSES-V FREDRICK LANGSTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOAT CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented Sept. 12, 1911. y

Application led August 17, 1907. Serial No. 388,940.

To all whom it may concern: i' Be it known that I, FRnnERIoK-B. LANG- sToN, a citizen of the Unlted States, and a.

resident of the borough of Brooklyn, county .as canal boats, and fast moving craft, such as motor boats and the like.

More specifically it is thev object of this invention to provide means for confining gas so as to provide a layer of gas of material thickness beneath a supporting surface for a. boat, so that the supporting surface is held up out of contact with the water and,

so that the confined layer of gas, which is in direct contact with the water, will serve efficiently as an intermediate lubricating medium due to its low viscosity.

It is also an object of the invention so to construct the water contacting parts of the `boat that they will cooperate effectively with the confined layer of gas to reduce-the resistance of the water to the progress of the boat and to utilize the reaction from the water against the moving water-contacting vparts automatically to prevent lateral tilting such as rocking. The furtherance of this object is contemplated by eliminating or minimizing all .water-plowing or laterallywater-displacing surfaces and substitut-ing in their place water-skidding surfaces having only downward and forward reaction against the water when sliding or skidding over its surface.

To these ends the provisions of means for forming one or more chambers qeach for holding and confining in all lateral directions a layer of air of material thickness beneat-h the surface ofthe boat is contemplated. In the embodiment of such means a plurality of forward and aft extending parallel keel-like partition plates together with fore and aft-cross closures are contemplated to confine the gas under flat supporting surfaces.

It is also an object of the invention to provide for the maintenance of a body of gas within the chamber iinderthe supporting surface or surfaces.

The means by which the above and further objects of the invention are attained will be apparent from the following description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings which form part of this application, in which like numerals designate corresponding parts in the several tigures, and in which,.-

Figure l is a fore and aft sectional elevation of a boat embodying features of this invention; Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the boat shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation taken through line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and looking'in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. l but showing a modified construction; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation taken through line 6 6 of Fig. 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation showing an aft skidding member; Fig. 8 is an end elvation of the parts shown in Fig. 7 but with the middle portion broken away; Fig. 9 is a detail section showing the fore closure of the means closed position.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. l, 2 and 3,-1 designates a `hull which is vprovided with a portion having an under-supfor confining in porting surface 2. This portion may be a part of the hull or may be suitably secured thereto in any convenient manner. It is preferableI that this surface 2 be horizontal when the boat l is in normal position. Parallel side plates are illustrated extending fore and` aft throughout the length of the hull. These partition plates are depressed below. the supporting surface 2, are indicated by numerals 3 and 4 and are co-cxtensive in length with the length of the supporting surface 2. A' fore-cross-closure 5 cross connects the side plates. An aft-crossclosure 6 also cross-connects the partitionplates. A rectangular caisson-like chamber '7' is completed by the partition-plates and the foreand aft-cross-closures. This chamber is designed to retain ya layer of ysuitable gas such as air, such layer being ofmaterial thickness, between the supporting surface-2 and the underlying water 8. Thus, the side# plates and the cross-closures together .constitute means for confining in all lateral -directions a layer of gas of material thickness beneath the supporting surface.

Means for forcing'a4 supply of such gas into the chamber 7 1s shown in the form of the pump 9and the reservoir for compressed gas l() which is connected with the pump -through the valve 11. The tank' l0 discharges into the chamber 7 by means of the supporting sur ace 2. The lower surface of this water-skidding member is shown curved but it is to be understood that the invention contemplates broadly a fore-water-skidding member, every cross section through the under surface yof which member is a horizontal straight line. This featurein connection with the under-surface of the foreskidding plane 14 may be described otherwise by stating that this under-surface is cylindrical, (the word cylindrical being used in its broad geometric sense) and every element of this cylindrical surface is a hori-4 zontal straight line.

In the drawings the side plates 3 and 4 are shown res ectively having portions 17 and 18 extending below the'lower edge of the fore-cross-closure 5 and continuing into portions 15. and 16 extending forwardly along and depressed below the under surface of the fore-skidding member 14. Thus, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, these foreand aftextending portions 15, 16, 17 and 18 extend downwardly below the lower surface of the layer of air in chamber 7 and below they: water contacting face of the fore-skiddingf. member 14. By this location they serve as* keels to steady the progress of the boat.4

The junction between the .under-sur face 19 of the aft cross-closure 6 andthe supporting surface 2 is suitably sealed as by the flexible flap 21 shown in the drawings as covering the hinge 20 securing the member 6 to. the hull. The under surface 19 of member 6 is shown flat throughout a 'considerable extent and at its eXtreme aft portion, curved. Like the under surface of 'the fore skidding member'14, every cross section through this undersurface 19 of the aft s'kidding member 6 is a horizontal straight line.

n Onepurpose for this formation of the under surface of the water skidding mem- Lbers' is top rovide stability-for the boat construction.- Any rocking of the boat tends to depressl one side or the other of these skidding members more than the other side, causin a greater immersion on the side depresse There is consequently a 'greater upward re-action from the impact of the water due to the progress of t-he boat on the side immersed the greater amount, which tends automatically to lright the boat. i

The aft skidding me'nber 6 is shown provided with keeltplates 23 'and 24 which form substantially continuations of the side plates 3 and 4; The aft skidding member 6 is provided with means for adjusting this angular position about the hinge 20. This means is indicated by the numeral 22 and shown in the form of a screw, the adjustment of which may be read from the scale 25. The steering of the boat may be accomplished in any suitable manner as by means of the rudder 26 and its coperating manipulating mechanism. i

In Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 modications are shown especially adapting the invention to its embodiment in motor boats. The parts hearing similar reference characters in these 'figures are the same as those reviously described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In addition it should be noted that a suitable source of power shown in the' form of a combustion motor'27 is provided for driving the propeller 28 through the medium of the propeller shaft 30, the propeller being protected by means of the guard 35. The propeller shaft 30 is extended forwardly through the clutch 29 to a modification of the pump 9 and specifically to a blower 9', which communicates with the reservoir 10 formed as a bulk head in the fore parts of the boat. The air intake for the blower 9 is indicated by 31 and is directed forwardly. This intakel may be sealed by means of the valve 32, which is 110 serviceable in case of accident or when the motor 27 is not operating, to provide buoyancy for the boat structure." In this embodiment a part of the fore cross closure is :formed by means of a cross partition or 115 valve 5 hinged to the boat structure by the hinge 33 and provided with a spring 34 tending to hold this valve closed, but ylelding against the blast of air delivered by the blower'9 and directed aftwardly into the 120 chamber 7.

During the progress of the boat the layer of air between the supporting surface 2 is of such thickness as to constitute a real layer offma'terial thickness which by reason 125 of its low viscosity allows the supporting surface or surfaces of the boat structure to pass over the under-lying surface of the water 8 entirely without cohesion between the water and the supporting surfaces and 130 in such a manner that the I'elative'movement between these surfaces 1s retarded merelyby the low viscosity of the layer of air.

aftwardly escaping air serves to lubricate the aft skidding member 6 and necessitates continual air 1n chamber 7. This 1s accomplished by means of the blower 9 the".

aftwardly directed blast from which, by reaction against the underlying water 8, aids, in a degree, in forwardly propelling the boat structure.

In connection with slow moving craft such as that illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the renewal of air for the chamber 7 is not of so great necessityl as is the case with high speed craft and in some cases it is necessary to supply renewals merely sufficient to supply the leakage through the parts forming the walls of the chamber 7.

It is to be understood that the illustrations of the embodiment of this invention are diagrammatic in a largedegree and that it is contemplated that approved modern boat construction be employed in the embodiment of the various parts.

What is claimed and what is desired to be secured-"by United States Letters Patent 1s:-

l. In a boat construct-ion, a hull having an under supporting surface; a plurality of parallel, fore-extending side plates projecting beneath said supporting surface; an upwardly inclined fore skidding-member with its rear lower edge depressed below said supporting surface and cross-connecting said side plates; and an aft skiddingev member with its under surface inclined aftwardly and downwardly from said supporting surface andcroIss-connecting said side plates, every cross section through the under surfaces of both said skidding-members being a horizontal straight line.

2. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a substantially rectangular supporting surface; means forming a chamberand for confining in all lateral directions a layer of air of material thickness beneath said surface, said means comprising parallel side plates and foreand aftcross-closures; said aft-cross-elosure being formed by a downwardly and ,rearwardly extending water-vskidding-member a fore watersskiddingmember extending forwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of said fore-crossclosure, every cross section through the under surfaces of both said water-skidding-members being a horizontal straight line; and means for forcing gas into the chamber formed by said means for confining. A

3. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a substantially rectangular supporting surface; means forming a chamber and for confining in all lateral directions a layer of air of material thickness beneath said surface, said means comprising parallel side plates and foreand aft-cross.-closures; -said aft-cross-closurc being formed by' a Vdownwardly and rearwardly extending water -skidding-member; a fore waterskiddng-member extending forwardly and -upwardly from the lower edge of said fore-cross-closure, every cross section through the under surfaces of both Said water-skidding-n'lembers being a horizontal straight line; parallel keel portions projecting downwardly from' both water-skiddingmembers and from the said side plates and below the said layer of air; propelling means for the boat; and means for forcing gas into the chamber formed by said means Afor confining.'

4. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a substantially rectangular supporting surface; means for forming a chamber and for confining in all lateral directions a layer of air o-f material thickness beneath said surface, said means comprising parallel side plates and foreand aft-crossclosures; said aft-cross-closure being formed by a downwardly and rearwardly extending adjustable water-skidding-member; a -fore water-skidding1nember extending forwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of said fore-cross-closure, every cross section through the .under surfaces of both said water-skid ding-members being a horizontal straight line; and means for Aforcing gas into the 'chamber within said means for confining.

5. A boat construction comprising, a porsupporting surface; means for forming a v.Chamber for-conf`ming in all lateral directions a layer of air of material thickness beneath said surface, said means comprising parallel side plates and foreand aft-crossclosures.; said aft-crcss-closure being formed by a downwardly and rearwardly extending adjustable water-skidding-member; a fore water skidding-nember extending forwardly and upwardly from the lower edge of said fore-cross-closure, every cross section through the under surfaces of both said water-skid-v line; parallel keel portions projecting downwardly from both water-skidding-members and from the said side plates and below the said layer of air; propelling means for the chamber within said means for confining.

6. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a supporting surface 2; a4

'tion providing a substantially.rectangular ding-members being a horizontal straight.

boat; and means for forcing gas into the '.fore water-skidding-member 14; means for confining in all lateral directlons a, layer of nir vwithin the chamber 7, said means comprising parallel side plates 3 and 4, aftcross-closure in the form of the adjustable water skidding-member 19, land a fore-crossclosure' 5 forming a valve; means 22 for adjusting the inclination of the water-skid# dingTmember 19; a motor 27; a. propeller 28;

und an air blower 9 for forcing an aftwardly directed stream of air into the chamber 7 Y v l 7. A boat construction comprising, a portion providing a supporting .surface 2; a

fore water-skidding-member 14; means for confining inv all lateral directions a4 layer .of air Within the chamber. 7, said means comprisin parallel side plates 3 and 4, an

fore closure 5 forming a1 valve; keel por' tions 15, 16, 17, 18, 23, and 24; means 22 for vadjusting the inclination of the Water-skidding-member 19; a motor 27; a, propeller 28; and an air blower 9 for forcing an aft- W'ardly `directed `stream of air into the chamber 7.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my 11a-me to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' FREDERICK B. LANGSTON.

Witnesses:

IDA G. GiLMoRE, BEATRICE Mmvis.

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