US3604385A - High speed water craft - Google Patents

High speed water craft Download PDF

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Publication number
US3604385A
US3604385A US826813A US3604385DA US3604385A US 3604385 A US3604385 A US 3604385A US 826813 A US826813 A US 826813A US 3604385D A US3604385D A US 3604385DA US 3604385 A US3604385 A US 3604385A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
propeller
craft
planing
tunnel
hull
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US826813A
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English (en)
Inventor
Alan Reider
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
DYNAMIC DEV Ltd
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DYNAMIC DEV Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
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Publication of US3604385A publication Critical patent/US3604385A/en
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
    • B63B1/32—Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls
    • B63B1/34—Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls by reducing surface friction
    • B63B1/38—Other means for varying the inherent hydrodynamic characteristics of hulls by reducing surface friction using air bubbles or air layers gas filled volumes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
    • Y02T70/00—Maritime or waterways transport
    • Y02T70/10—Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls

Definitions

  • the tunnel having a vent opening adapted to admit air, in ad- [52] US. Cl ll4/66.5 Vance of the propeller above the water level when the ft i 1 1 Cl in operation, and preferably having also an abrupt step forma- [50] new 114/665 tion towards the front end.
  • the hull can be moulded as a 63; ls/61,70 lightweight unitary structure in glass fiber reinforced plastics and may completely shield the propeller in the tunnel.
  • the [56] References cled craft also preferably has a rudder system comprising a pair of UNITED STATES PATENTS interconnected angularly moveable parallel rudder plates 128,407 6/1872 MacPherson 1 14/62 which form a rear extension of the tunnel.
  • the invention consists in a power-driven high speed planing water craft having a screw propeller disposed in a longitudinally extending channel opening downwardly along the underside of the hull, said channel being adapted to permit air to be admitted therein, during operation of the craft, in advance of the propeller and above the water level.
  • the channel may be in the form of a tunnel of any convenient and suitable cross section such as for example, square, rectangular, semicircular, or inverted U-shape enabling the propeller to be accommodated in full shielded relationship, within the contour of the hull.
  • the forward end of the main part of the channel or tunnel containing the propeller is also closed or partially closed by a front crosswall which is substantially vertical when the craft is level so as to provide an abrupt well-defined stepped entrance.
  • the channel or tunnel may be designed to extend sufficiently forwardly along the hull so that its front end comes clear above the water line when the craft is in an inclined position during planing operation.
  • the main propeller-containing part of the channel or tunnel is preferably substantially shorter than the length of the hull and is disposed towards the rear end of the latter, and a vent opening in addition, or as an alternative, to that provided by a front portion designed to rise clear of the water, may be provided above the water line in the top of the channel or tunnel in front of the propeller.
  • the propeller may be carried by a propeller shaft which is supported at the rear end by a bracket carrying a bearing, such as a water lubricated bearing or nylon or other plastics material for example. Power to the front end of the propeller shaft may be transmitted through a front bulkhead partition wall of the channel or tunnel from an engine power unit, either directly or through suitable gearing.
  • a bearing such as a water lubricated bearing or nylon or other plastics material for example.
  • the channel or tunnel may be integrally formed with the hull of the craft and can readily be molded into the hull in the case of a glass fiber reinforced plastic (G.R.P.) construction for example.
  • the channel or tunnel may be part of a separate unit which includes the engine power unit and which is adapted to be attached to the underside of a suitable hull, as by bolts or welding for example.
  • the rudder system comprises a pair of spaced-apart pivoted or hinged vertical rudder plates at opposite sides of a flared rear end portion of the tunnel which are linked together so as to remain parallel and move in unison, these rudder plates effectively fonning a continuation of the tunnel.
  • Such rudder arrangements provide a high efficiency and enhance maneuverability, especially at slot speeds.
  • FIG. I is a side elevational view
  • FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view
  • FIG. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view, on a larger scale, of a flexible coupling unit which connects the propeller shaft to the power unit output.
  • the craft illustrated therein has a lightweight hull structure which is composed of glass fiber reinforced plastics material and which is provided with an integral deck superstructure l1 and, on the underside, a tunnel formation 12 of inverted U-shape cross section extending forwardly from the stem.
  • the deck superstructure 11 in turn carries a seat fitting l3 and a fuel tank fitting towards the rear.
  • the end of the tunnel 12 is open and the walls flare outwardly, but the rear end portion 12a leading to the stem is of substantiallyuniform depth and cross section. Following forwards, there is then a short intermediate portion 12b of the tunnel which has an increased depth and which terminates at a nearly vertical front wall formed by a bulkhead partition 14 of the hull structure slightly to the rear of the midpoint of the craft.
  • the power unit of the craft is provided by a rotary-pistontype internal combustion engine 16 which is located in a cockpit compartment 17 forwardly of the bulkhead partition 14 and which is adapted to drive a propeller 18 positioned within the rear end portion 12a of the tunnel.
  • the engine power unit 16 is fitted with a cast aluminum mounting plate 19 and is bolted in located position to the bulkhead partition 14 through an intermediate mounting plate 20 and a retaining plate 21 at the rear.
  • the propeller 18 is driven through a propeller shaft 23 which is connected at the forward end through a flexible coupling unit 24, which projects through the plates 19, 20 and 21, to the output shaft of the engine power unit 16, suitable seals such as lip seals being fitted as necessary to prevent entry of water into the cockpit compartment 17.
  • the flexible coupling unit 24 comprises an outer housing 27 in the form of a flanged sleeve which is adapted to be fixed, as by bolts, and its forward end to a flywheel (not shown) on the engine output drive shaft.
  • a flexible coupling member 29 comprising a pair of concentric cylindrical sleeves 30, 31 with rubber or other elastometric material 34 bonded between them, the outer sleeve 30 having a flange 32 at the rear end which is bolted to the housing by three retaining bolts 33 so as to rotate concentrically therewith.
  • the inner sleeve 31 provides a socket connection to the front end of the propeller shaft 23 which is a heavy press fit therein.
  • the propeller shaft 23 is rotatably supported in a sleeve bearing 35 conveniently formed integrally in a moulded nylon bearing bracket 36 which comprises a central web 37 depending from a baseplate portion 38 fitted to the top of the tunnel immediately adjacent the stern.
  • a sleeve bearing 35 conveniently formed integrally in a moulded nylon bearing bracket 36 which comprises a central web 37 depending from a baseplate portion 38 fitted to the top of the tunnel immediately adjacent the stern.
  • the propeller 18 is fitted to the propeller shaft 23, being shrunk in place thereon, immediately in front of the bearing bracket 36, and it is fully accommodated within the interior of the tunnel portion 12a.
  • the bearing bracket 36 also forms a mounting or anchorage for a pair of control cables 40, 40, for operating the rudder assembly.
  • the later comprises a pair of spaced-apart parallel rudder plates 42, 42, each composed of polypropylene or like moulded plastics material and fixed to the sidewalls of the tunnel section 12a along their front edge portions in advance of a hinge formation 43 which permits the main body of each rudder plate to be moved angularly in a horizontal direction.
  • the hinge formations 43 may comprise vertical grooves or neck portions of reduced thickness towards the front edge of the plates, sufficient flexibility and resiliency being inherent in the polypropylene plastics material of which they are composed then to allow the required angular movement.
  • the rudder plates 42, 42 in effect provide an extension of the tunnel sidewalls, and they are further linked together by a bar 44 fitted The upstanding spigot formations 45 at their upper rear comers.
  • the latter also provide a means of connection of the control cables 40, 40, which, as shown in FIG. 3, cross one over the other.
  • These control cables 40, 40 lead forwardly through the hull structure 10 to a steering column assembly 48, mounted on a facia panel 49 at the front of the cockpit 17, by means of which the craft is steered.
  • the hull in operation, during the normal high speed operation under planing conditions for which the craft is designed, the hull will generally assume an attitude of about to the surface of the water so that the tunnel 12 also becomes inclined and the forward portion 12c is clear of the water and forms a front open ing into the main part of the tunnel. Air is therefore admitted, in advance of the propeller, at the front as well as from the exhaust vent 50. Although this admittance of air tends to reduce the normal suction effect produced by the craft in motion, the pressure under the hull generated by the motion of the craft is great enough to force water into the rear portion [2a of the tunnel to keep the propeller sufficiently immersed and it is found, somewhat surprisingly, that an effect of the admittance of air in advance of the propeller is to give a notable increase in performance. it is further believed that the abrupt step and change in depth provided by the partition wall 14 at the front end of the main part of the tunnel is advantageous and may contribute to the improved performance as well as providing a convenient mounting for the engine power unit.
  • the blade area of the propeller is important and must be within certain limits for a given size of craft. Also, the positioning of the propeller is important and in general, the distance of the propeller from the rear open end of the tunnel must be at least equal to its pitch. Also, if the propeller is too close to the forward end wall or bulkhead partition 14, efficiency will diminish.
  • the propeller need not protrude beneath the effective contour of the hull of the craft of which the tunnel is regarded as forming part, so that the craft can have a very shallow draught, and the shielding of the propeller removes the danger to swimmers and water-skiers and reduces the possibility of fouling due to foreign debris such as weed and rope which can easily be caught up by an exposed propeller.
  • the shielded propeller is safeguarded to some extent from direct damage if the craft is grounded or strikes debris, and it permits the craft to be handled more easily when out of the water.
  • a small portable type of craft embodying a shielded propeller in accordance with this invention may, for example be more readily fitted to a car roof rack and can be transported more conveniently than similar craft with exposed propellers.
  • the thrust line is maintained close to the horizontal, low down, and at approximately the same level as the line of resistance to the craft, thereby reducing couples which tend to exaggerate the planing angle of the craft.
  • a propeller of optimum dimensions and speed of rotation for maximum propulsion efficiency can readily be selected without producing many of the undesirable reactions obtained with conventional propeller arrangements.
  • the construction is basically simple and can be relatively cheap to produce, and furthermore the tunnel formation has a shape which tends to stiffen and strengthen the hull which is particularly advantageous when the latter is moulded integrally into a glass fiber reinforced plastics body structure.
  • a power-driven high speed planing water craft having a hull, reentrant channel extending longitudinally which is open at the rear and which opens downwardly along the underside of the hull, a propeller disposed within a main tunnel section of said channel, a crosswall disposed forwardly which provides an abrupt step defining and at least partially closing the front end of said tunnel section, said crosswall constituting a bulkhead partition, an opening into said tunnel section adapted to admit gaseous medium therein above the water level and in advance of the propeller during planing operation of the craft, a cockpit compartment disposed forwardly of the bulkhead partition, an engine power unit located within said cockpit compartment, and drive transmission means which transmits drive from said engine power unit to the propeller.
  • a power-driven high speed water craft having a hull, a reentrant channel extending longitudinally which is open at the rear and which opens downwardly along the underside of the hull, a propeller disposed within a main tunnel section of said channel, a crosswall disposed forwardly which provides an abrupt step defining and at least partially closing the front end of said tunnel section, said crosswall constituting a bulkhead partition, and in advance of said erosswall, a shallow front tunnel portion which extends along the hull sufficiently for its front end to rise clear above the water when the craft is in an inclined position during planing operation, thereby to admit air under the hull and into said main tunnel section in advance of the propeller.
  • a power driven high speed planing water craft having a hull structure comprising a body shell, planing surfaces formed by the bottom of said body shell, a recess, reentrant with respect to the contour of the planing surfaces of said body shell, providing a channel disposed within the hull structure and extending forwardly from the stern, said channel being open at the rear adjacent the stern and downwards along the underside of the hull structure, a propeller operatively disposed within and towards the rear of said channel, a crosswall, disposed forwardly of the stern, which provides an abrupt step closing at least partially the front end of said channel, and an opening into said channel in advance of the propeller adapted to admit gaseous medium above the water level during planing operation of the craft.
  • a power-driven high speed planing water craft as defined in claim 3 wherein the channel rearwards of said crosswall comprises a main tunnel section and longitudinal side walls which define the sides of said tunnel section and flank the propeller, said propeller being housed within said tunnel section substantially completely above the level of the lowermost planing surfaces of the body shell which are effective during high speed planing operation.
  • a power driven high speed planing water craft as defined in claim 4 wherein the channel forwards of said crosswall comprises a shallow front tunnel section which has an open front end and which extends forwardly along the underside of the hull structure, within the contour of the body shell of said hull structure, sufficiently said open front end to rise clear above the water level when the draft is in an inclined position during planing operation, thereby to admit air under the hull structure and into said tunnel sections in advance of the propeller.
  • a power-driven high speed planing water craft as defined in claim 4 having a rudder system comprising a pair of angularly movable spaced-apart rudder plates secured to the hull structure, adjacent the stern, in contiguous relationship with the sidewalls of said main tunnel section thereby to provide an angularly variable rearwards extension of the latter, means linking together said rudder plates so that they remain parallel and move in unison, and control means for remotely adjusting the angular positioning of said rudder plates.
  • a power-driven high speed planing water craft as defined in claim 4 wherein a vent opening into the main tunnel section is provided by a shallow recess extending forwardly of said crosswall along a portion of the underside of the hull structure which rises clear above the water level when the craft is in an inclined position during planing operation, and wherein said hull structure has an uninterrupted surface extending continuously along each side of said main tunnel portion and along each side of said vent forwardly beyond the abrupt step leading into said main tunnel section.
  • a hull structure In a power-driven high speed planing water craft, a hull structure, a tunnel portion of inverted U-shape reentrant within said hull structure and extending longitudinally from the stern, said tunnel portion being open rearwardly adjacent the stern and downwardly along the underside of the bottom of the hull structure, a crosswall closing at least partially the forward end of said tunnel portion and providing an abrupt step in the undersurface of said hull structure leading into said tunnel portion, a propeller housed within said tunnel portion towards the stern, planing surface portions, provided by the bottom of said hull structure, which are disposed laterally adjacent the downwardly presented open mouth of said tunnel portion and which extend below the level of said propeller, at opposite sides thereof, and inlet means adapted to introduce gaseous medium into said tunnel portion, in advance of the propeller, during planing operation of the craft.
  • a power-driven high speed planing water craft as defined in claim 14 having a cockpit compartment which is disposed forwardly of the bulkhead partition and which accommodates the engine power unit, flexible coupling means to connect said engine power unit to the forward end of the propeller shaft, and bearing means rotatably supporting the rear end of said propeller shaft, said bearing means and the propeller carried by the propeller shaft being housed in full shielded relationship completely within the tunnel portion within the contour of the bottom of the hull structure.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Vibration Prevention Devices (AREA)
  • Vehicle Interior And Exterior Ornaments, Soundproofing, And Insulation (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
US826813A 1968-05-25 1969-05-22 High speed water craft Expired - Lifetime US3604385A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2513268 1968-05-25

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US3604385A true US3604385A (en) 1971-09-14

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US (1) US3604385A (fr)
CA (1) CA926220A (fr)
ES (1) ES367638A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1231815A (fr)
ZA (1) ZA693692B (fr)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1987001350A1 (fr) * 1985-08-26 1987-03-12 Small Mark S Deflecteur de tunnel d'helice et procede
US4941423A (en) * 1986-06-16 1990-07-17 Ocean Tech Marine, Inc. Marine propulsion system
WO2002070340A1 (fr) 2000-02-11 2002-09-12 Power Vent Technologies, Inc. Procede permettant de reduire le tirant d'eau d'un bateau
US20070034705A1 (en) * 2005-04-05 2007-02-15 Metroshield, Llc Insulated rail for electric transit systems and method of making same
US7677192B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2010-03-16 Randy Scism Slot-V hull system
US20160244127A1 (en) * 2014-11-07 2016-08-25 John Joseph GAZZA Marine vessel hull with a longitudinally vented transverse step
US11319025B2 (en) 2019-04-18 2022-05-03 Cross Step Llc Marine vessel hull with a longitudinally-vented, partial-beam transverse step

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4661075A (en) * 1983-07-20 1987-04-28 Czerniak Marian K E Self-propelled waterborne vessel
NZ225031A (en) * 1987-06-16 1990-04-26 Haines John S Planing boat hull, stepped recess vented to atmosphere
AU610599B2 (en) * 1987-06-16 1991-05-23 John Sydney Haines Planing motor boat hull

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US128407A (en) * 1872-06-25 Improvement in construction of vessels
US961750A (en) * 1909-03-11 1910-06-21 John H Branth High-speed boat.
US1157423A (en) * 1912-06-17 1915-10-19 Smith Ryan Boat And Engine Co Boat.
US2139831A (en) * 1936-01-30 1938-12-13 Langstaff John Elliot Boat hull
US2772649A (en) * 1954-06-01 1956-12-04 Lord Mfg Co Motor mounting system
US3371642A (en) * 1965-10-15 1968-03-05 William M. Joy Trim control device for boats
US3437069A (en) * 1966-10-05 1969-04-08 Charles H Bennett Boat construction
US3469549A (en) * 1968-01-11 1969-09-30 Randolph S Rae Planing boat

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US128407A (en) * 1872-06-25 Improvement in construction of vessels
US961750A (en) * 1909-03-11 1910-06-21 John H Branth High-speed boat.
US1157423A (en) * 1912-06-17 1915-10-19 Smith Ryan Boat And Engine Co Boat.
US2139831A (en) * 1936-01-30 1938-12-13 Langstaff John Elliot Boat hull
US2772649A (en) * 1954-06-01 1956-12-04 Lord Mfg Co Motor mounting system
US3371642A (en) * 1965-10-15 1968-03-05 William M. Joy Trim control device for boats
US3437069A (en) * 1966-10-05 1969-04-08 Charles H Bennett Boat construction
US3469549A (en) * 1968-01-11 1969-09-30 Randolph S Rae Planing boat

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1987001350A1 (fr) * 1985-08-26 1987-03-12 Small Mark S Deflecteur de tunnel d'helice et procede
US4689026A (en) * 1985-08-26 1987-08-25 Small Mark S Propeller tunnel baffle and method
JPS63501007A (ja) * 1985-08-26 1988-04-14 スモ−ル，　マ−ク　エス プロペラトンネルバッフル及び方法
AU587084B2 (en) * 1985-08-26 1989-08-03 Mark S. Small Propeller tunnel baffle and method
US4941423A (en) * 1986-06-16 1990-07-17 Ocean Tech Marine, Inc. Marine propulsion system
US5957078A (en) * 1986-06-16 1999-09-28 Ocean Tech Marine, Inc. Marine propulsion system
WO2002070340A1 (fr) 2000-02-11 2002-09-12 Power Vent Technologies, Inc. Procede permettant de reduire le tirant d'eau d'un bateau
US20070034705A1 (en) * 2005-04-05 2007-02-15 Metroshield, Llc Insulated rail for electric transit systems and method of making same
US7677192B2 (en) 2006-04-20 2010-03-16 Randy Scism Slot-V hull system
US20160244127A1 (en) * 2014-11-07 2016-08-25 John Joseph GAZZA Marine vessel hull with a longitudinally vented transverse step
US10246162B2 (en) * 2014-11-07 2019-04-02 Cross Step Llc Marine vessel hull with a longitudinally vented transverse step
US10858069B2 (en) 2014-11-07 2020-12-08 Cross Step Llc Marine vessel hull with a longitudinally vented transverse step
US11319025B2 (en) 2019-04-18 2022-05-03 Cross Step Llc Marine vessel hull with a longitudinally-vented, partial-beam transverse step

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES367638A1 (es) 1971-04-16
CA926220A (en) 1973-05-15
ZA693692B (en) 1971-01-27
GB1231815A (fr) 1971-05-12

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