US3670684A

US3670684A - Power driven vehicle for surface travel on a body of water

Info

Publication number: US3670684A
Application number: US77556A
Authority: US
Inventors: George J Helker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-02
Filing date: 1970-10-02
Publication date: 1972-06-20
Anticipated expiration: 1989-06-20

Abstract

A power driven vehicle for travel on a body of water which maintains static flotation by means of a hull and is provided with articulated skis or pontoons for surface travel when power driven, including independent shock absorbing suspension connections between each ski or pontoon and the hull for negotiating rough water with minimum shock transmission to the hull.

Description

United States Patent Helker 1 1 June 20, 1972 54 POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE FOR 3,401,663 9/1968 Yost ...1 14/665 P SURFACE TRAVEL ON A BODY OF 1,075,726 10/1913 Prosser ..114/665 WATER FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor George 1261 NE 112th 5L, 309,915 7 1933 Italy ..114/665 P Miami, Fla. 33161 Prima ExaminerAndrew H. Farrell 22 F1 d: Oct. 2, 1970 t 1 l e Attorney-Lloyd J. Andres [211 Appl. No.: 77,556

[57] ABSTRACT [52] U.S.C1 ...114/66.5 P A power i n eh cle for tr vel on a body of water which 51 I C c 3631-, 1 22 maintains static flotation by means of a hull and is provided 58 Field of Search ..1 14/665, 66.5 P with articulated Skis or Pontoons for Surface lrave! when power driven, including independent shock absorbing suspen- [56] References Cited sion connections between each ski or pontoon and the hull for negotiating rough water with minimum shock transmission to UNITED STATES PATENTS the hull- 2,344,619 3/1944 Lake ..114/66.5 P 3 Claim, 21 Drawing Figures SHEET 10F 5 FIG. 2

INVENTOR. GEORGE J. HELKER PATENTl-inmzo m2 SHEET 2 OF 5 INVENTOR. GEORGE J. HELKER PATENTEDJUNZO I372 3,670,684

SHEET 30$ 5 iii 16 INVENTOR. F16 12 GEORGE J. HELKER P'A'TENTEDJUH 2 0 1872 SHEET t UF 5 INVENTOR. GEORGE J. HELKER PATEmfflJuxzo I972 3, 570,684

sum

5 or 5 FIG. 21

' INVENTOR. GEORGE J HELKER POWER DRIVEN VEHICLE FOR SURFACE TRAVEL ON A BODY OF WATER This invention relates in general to power driven water vehicles for travel and more particularly to an air or water propeller-driven craft with articulation skis secured to the hull of the craft.

Prior ski, pontoon, or sponson equipped power craft have been relatively limited in performance for two main reasons: first, they were generally limited to use on smooth water, and secondly, when encountering even small wave motion the resulting travel was exceedingly vibratory, rough, and in some cases dangerous, as a result of lateral oscillation.

The present invention overcomes the above objections and disadvantages of prior ski, pontoon, or sponson type boats by the provision of the application of a resilient suspension system connecting the skis or pontoons to the hull, which takes several forms suitable for use with different types of craft, which construction is a principal object of the invention.

Another object of the invention is the relatively high speed and shockless performance, as compared with the V, sponson, and stepped hulls when rough water is encountered, by the use of radius rod and shock absorbers for stabilizing and damping the oscillation of the skis.

A further object of the invention is the provision of attaining relatively high speeds with several forms of craft with less power and hence fuel saving compared to a variety of conventional crafts.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a power driven craft having one or more pairs of skis resiliently secured to a hull which may be driven by water or air propeller and inherently prevent shock and vibration from rough water being transmitted to the hull even when traveling at high speed.

These and other objects and advantages in one embodiment of the invention are described and shown in the following specification and drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an inboard motor racing craft in reduced scale.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the craft shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the craft shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the craft shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through section line 5-5, FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation taken through section line 6-6, FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional rear elevation taken through line 7-7, FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a rear cross-sectional illustration of the craft shown in FIG. I with added elements.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary crosssectional view of an alternate suspension system using a pontoon instead of a ski and a pneumatic spring instead of a steel spring.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view in reduced scale of a relatively large air propellendriven craft supported by three skis.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the craft shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the craft shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a front elevation of the craft shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a rear elevation of the crafi shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken through section line 15-15, FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view taken through section line 16-16, FIG. 12.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view taken through section line 17-17, FIG. 12.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken through section line 18-18, FIG. 11.

FIG. 19 is a side elevation of a three ski crafi in reduced scale adapted to be driven by an outboard motor.

FIG. 20 is a rear elevation of the crafl shown in FIG. 19.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation taken through section line 21-21, FIG. 20.

FIGS. l-4, illustrate a racing craft having an enclosed displacement planing type hull 1 with a vertical air stabilizer 2 and a cockpit 3. The craft is driven by an engine rotated racing propeller 4 and steered by a rudder 5. When at rest or operating at relatively slow speeds the hull will exhibit lateral stability and normal boat displacement.

The hull is provided with starboard and port ski members 6: and 6p. The forward upturned ends of the skis are supported for movement about a shaft assembly 7 transversely positioned through the forward end portion of the hull and retained for movement about the axis of the shaft assembly by well known suitable fasteners 8.

Each ski is arcuate in shape and the trailing portion thereof includes a central stabilizing fin 9. A short load bearing outrigger 10, including brace 11, projects from each side of the hull I, as shown.

A coil compression spring 12 is positioned between the lower surface of each outrigger 10 and the upper surface of each ski member 6s and 6p. Each spring is retained at opposite ends by well known means and a hydraulic shock absorber 13 is positioned centrally and coaxial with the spring with opposite ends secured to each outrigger 10 and each of the skis 6s and 6p respectively.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the suspension members of the hull l are shown in greater detail wherein the shaft assembly 7 comprises a steel tube 14 secured transversely in the forward end of the hull and molded therein when the hull is molded from fiber glass material. A steel shaft 15, with appropriate shoulder and retaining nut 16 thereon is pinned in each end of the tube 14 by pins 17-17, as shown. The forward end of each ski has secured therein an anti-friction bushing 18, pivoted on each shaft 15, as shown. Although the skis may be constructed in several well known manners, a preferred construction of each ski 6, producing a minimum of flexure, is made by a reinforced hollow laminated material, such as plywood, fiber glass or metal.

Each suspension spring 12 is secured in suitable pockets in the lower end of the ski and in the upper side of the outrigger 10 and maintained in a lower position within the limit of movement of shock absorber 13.

FIG. 7 illustrates a particular fonn of outrigger which is secured to the hull 1 by integral dual flanges and brace 11 in order to provide ski mounting of great strength.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross sectional view, taken through section line 8-8, FIG. 1, showing tubes or rods 19 for stabilizing the skis in relation to the hull 1. The rod 19s has one end connected to the under port side of the hull I by clevis 20 and pin 21 with the opposite end thereof secured to the ski 6s by a like clevis 20 and pin 21. A stabilizing rod 19p has one end thereof pivotally secured to the under starboard side of the hull l and the opposite end of the rod pivotally connected to ski 6p and clevis 20 and pin 21.

FIG. 9 illustrates an alternate corrosion resistant suspension system in which an outrigger 22 supports the upper side of a corrosion resistant multiple superposed toroidal chambers fonning a pneumatic elastomer spring 23, having the upper end thereof connected to a pontoon 24 with a shock absorber I3 coaxial with the pneumatic spring 23 and connected by suitable clevises to the outrigger and pontoon. It is apparent that the coil and pneumatic spring suspension previously described is suitable for use with both skis and pontoons. It is well known that the pontoons are preferred where the hull is desired to make minimum, if any, contact with the water when at rest.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate an air driven transport craft having an enclosed hull particularly for rapid passenger service having a cabin enclosure 26 which is driven by an air propeller 27 with the engine thereof in cowling 28. The air-driven craft is steered by conventional twin rudder assembly R secured by conventional means to the stern portion of the craft.

The bow portion of the craft is supported by a central ski 29 with the front end thereof pivoted for motion about a transverse shaft assembly 30 in the forward end of the bow of the craft, to be hereinafter described. The hull is further supported by a starboard rear ski 31s and a port rear ski 31p, which skis have their forward end independently pivotally secured about a transverse axis substantially midway of the length of the craft. The forward ski 29 is provided with a multiple flat left spring 32 secured by its forward end to the hull 25 by bolt means 33 and pivotally secured to the rear portion of the ski 29 by a shackle 34 pivoted to a clevis 35 secured to the upper rear portion of the ski 29.

Each rear ski 31s and 31p has independent multiple leaf springs 36 with their forward ends secured to the hull by bolt means 33 and the rear end of each spring secured by shackle 34 and a clevis 35 secured to the rear upper end portion of the ski. A hydraulic shock absorber 37 is connected between the hull 25 and the rear portion of ski 29, and hydraulic shock absorber 38 is connected between the hull and the rear portion of each ski 31s and 31p, to be hereinafter described. The bottom view, shown in FIG. 12, shows the lower ski surfaces in relation to the hull and the bearing supports 39, 40, and 41, for retaining a pivot shaft, to be hereinafter described. This view also illustrates the rear suspension spring 36 secured between the hull and the ski 31p, which is the same as that positioned between the hull and ski 31s.

FIGS. 13 and I4 are front and rear elevations, respectively, of the craft shown in FIG. 10.

Referring to FIG. 14, a hydraulic shock absorber 38 has one end thereof secured to a clevis bracket 42 secured to the starboard side of the transom with the opposite end thereof secured to a clevis 43 on ski 31p. A second shock absorber 38 has one end thereof secured to a clevis bracket 42 secured to the port side of the transom. The opposite end of the shock absorber is connected to a clevis 43 on ski 31s.

Referring to FIG. 15, the front end of the ski 29 is provided with a transverse tube 44 through which shaft 45 is secured and extends a predetermined distance from each outer edge of the ski. v

The hull 25 has an opening therein to receive the front end of the ski 29 and joumaled for movement by the engagement of shaft 45 with an anti-friction bearing means 46 secured in a counter bore in each side of the hull opening.

The cross-sectional FIG. 18 shows a means for mounting the forward end of the spring 32 by means of a clamp 49 secured by bolts 48 through a clamp plate 57 on the bottom of a reinforced portion of the hull.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view taken through FIG. 12 showing a bearing support 39. Each ski 31s and 31p is provided with a pair of

transverse metal tubes

50 and 51 and a common shaft 52 extends through

tubes

50 and 51 in both skis and journaled in bearings 53 in supports retained by bolts 54 and also in an anti-friction bearing 54 in support 39. The support 39 is secured to the hull 25 by bolts 56 extending through a reinforced portion of the hull 25.

FIG. 12 illustrates in detail frontal ski 29 joumaled for movement about shaft 45. The rear end of the leaf spring assembly 32 terminates in a bolt 60 through a shackle 61 which is pivoted to a clevis 62 on the rear portion of the ski for movement about clevis pin 63.

A hydraulic shock absorber 37 is pivotally secured to a clevis 64 anchored to the bottom of the hull 25 by bolts 65 and plate 66. The lower end of the shock absorber 37 is pivotally secured to a clevis 67 which in turn is secured to the upper side of the rear portion of the rear portion of ski 29.

The bearing support 39, in FIG. 17, between skis 31s and 31p retains an anti-friction bearing 68 through which the shaft 52 is joumaled. The support is secured to the bottom of the hull 25 by bolts 69 and a plate 70.

FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 illustrate the application of skis to a conventional hull for outboard propulsion.

FIG. I9 shows a hull 71 with a frontal central ski 72 pivoted for movement about a shaft 73 in the bow of the craft with the rear portion of the ski supported by a coil spring 74 suitably retained between the bottom of the hull 71 and the upper rear portion of the ski 72 and includes a hydraulic shock absorber 75 mounted between the hull and the ski coaxial within the spring 74.

A pair of rear skis 76p and 76s are independently joumaled at the front end thereof by a shaft 77 retained by bracket 78 to the bottom of the hull. Each ski 76s and 76p is supported by like springs 79 and secured to the opposite sides of the transom of the hull by brackets 80-80 which are secured by bolts 81 and plate 82, as shown in FIG. 21. The spring 79 is retained in a cavity in bracket 80 and a cavity in the rear portion of each ski by clamps 83, secured by suitable bolts. The shock absorber 38 has the upper end thereof pivotally secured to a clevis 84 integral with bracket 80. The lower end of the shock absorber is pivotally secured to a clevis 85 secured to the upper side of the rear portion of each ski 76s and 76;). An outboard motor 86 is secured to the transom of the hull in the usual way with a propeller 87 positioned below the normal level of the skis when the craft is driven.

In operation and referring to each of the three forms of craft described, each hull supports each craft by the well known displacement principal when the craft is at rest. When the craft is motivated forward by water or air propellers the impingement of the water on the underside of each of the skis and against the planing bottom of the hull will rapidly raise the hull from the water and permit efficient forward transport of the craft without the usual high friction drag of the hull. Since each ski is pivotally secured to the hull by the forward end thereof, independent movement against the action of the spring suspension at the rear of each ski permits movement of particular value when encountering rough water for stabilizing the hull. The addition of hydraulic shock absorbers between the rear portion of each ski and the hull provides a damping effect to each spring and thus extends the damping to the hull for improved stability and limiting vertical oscillation of the hull.

Certain modifications in the above specification are intended to come within the teachings and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

I. A power driven vehicle for travel on a body of water providing means forming a planing type hull and provided with an engine driven propeller means for motivating said hull including manually controlled rudder means projecting downward from the rear portion of said hull for steering same,

shaft means extending in coaxial horizontal relation a predetennined distance from each opposite side of the front end portion of said hull normal to the central longitudinal axis thereof,

an outrigger member of predetennined size secured to and extending from a predetermined vertical and longitudinal position respectively from each side of said hull,

a pair of upturned skis of predetermined length and width with the upturned front end of each independently journaled for vertical oscillation about each opposite said shaft means and extending rearward with respect to each side of said hull,

a pair of compression spring means of predetermined resilience with each one thereof secured to the under side of each said outrigger means and the lower side of each secured to the rear portion of each corresponding one of said skis for permitting independent limited vertical oscillation of each of said skis with respect to said hull when each of said skis encounters independent variable forces,

a transverse stabilizing rod pivotally connected at one end to the starboard lower margin of the bottom of said hull and the opposite end pivotally connected to the upper surface of the port of said skis and a like stabilizing rod pivotally connected at one end to the port side lower margin of said hull and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected on the upper surface of the rear portion of the starboard side of said skis for retaining each of said skis to oscillate in a predetermined path whereby said skis will raise said hull from its displaced position in the water to move above the surface thereof when said craft is operated at a predetermined speed.

2. The construction recited in claim 1 including a hydraulic shock absorber pivotally connected to the under side of each of said outrigger members and reciprocating the lower end thereof pivotally connected to the upper surface of the rear portion of each of said skis for damping the oscillatory action of said spring means.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said spring 5 means comprises a cylindrical elastomer hermetically sealed air spring formed from a plurality of superposed toroidal shaped compressible members.

Claims

1. A power driven vehicle for travel on a body of water providing means forming a planing type hull and provided with an engine driven propeller means for motivating said hull including manually controlled rudder means projecting downward from the rear portion of said hull for steering same, shaft means extending in coaxial horizontal relation a predetermined distance from each opposite side of the front end portion of said hull normal to the central longitudinal axis thereof, an outrigger member of predetermined size secured to and extending from a predetermined vertical and longitudinal position respectively from each side of said hull, a pair of upturned skis of predetermined length and wIdth with the upturned front end of each independently journaled for vertical oscillation about each opposite said shaft means and extending rearward with respect to each side of said hull, a pair of compression spring means of predetermined resilience with each one thereof secured to the under side of each said outrigger means and the lower side of each secured to the rear portion of each corresponding one of said skis for permitting independent limited vertical oscillation of each of said skis with respect to said hull when each of said skis encounters independent variable forces, a transverse stabilizing rod pivotally connected at one end to the starboard lower margin of the bottom of said hull and the opposite end pivotally connected to the upper surface of the port of said skis and a like stabilizing rod pivotally connected at one end to the port side lower margin of said hull and the opposite end thereof pivotally connected on the upper surface of the rear portion of the starboard side of said skis for retaining each of said skis to oscillate in a predetermined path whereby said skis will raise said hull from its displaced position in the water to move above the surface thereof when said craft is operated at a predetermined speed.

3. The construction recited in claim 1 wherein said spring means comprises a cylindrical elastomer hermetically sealed air spring formed from a plurality of superposed toroidal shaped compressible members.