Surface effect ship improvements

Abstract

Presented is an improved Surface Effect Ship (SES) that offers the high efficiencies of the pressurized air cushion supported generic flexible bow and stern seal SES but without the generic SES's shortcomings that are due largely to its 80 percent total hull width flexible bow and stern seals. This is accomplished in the instant invention by use of forward extending rigid bow members positioned both sides of a pressurized hull supporting gas cushion where the width of the sidehulls make up a majority of the width of the instant invention improved surface effect ship with the remainder, less than 35 percent of vessel width normally, made up by a gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the bow members. Gas cushions may extend forward into undersides of the sidehull bow members to further reduce wetted area resistance. Longitudinally oriented fluid fences may be incorporated to at least partially separate portions of the gas cushion and thereby dampen pressure perturbations in the gas cushion(s). A third bow member may be utilized between port and starboard sidehulls.

What I claim is:  
     
         1 . In an improved surface effect ship wherein said improved surface effect ship includes port and starboard sidehulls and is supported upon a water surface in part by at least one artificially pressurized gas cushion, the improvement comprising: 
 a port and a starboard bow member wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of a gas cushion forward seal member by at least five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship and wherein said gas cushion forward seal member is disposed, at least in part, between the port and starboard bow members.    
     
     
         2 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein the gas cushion forward seal member is angled over a majority of its width as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship taken proximal an aft lower end of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         3 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein the gas cushion forward seal member is at least in part of an inverted-V shape as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship taken proximal an aft lower end of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         4 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least ten percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         5 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least fifteen percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         6 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least twenty percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         7 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least twenty-five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         8 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein forward water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members further comprise artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in their undersides.  
     
     
         9 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 9  wherein the artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         10 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 9  wherein the artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         11 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 9  wherein the artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the enhanced surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least ten percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         12 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 9  wherein the gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members diverge either side of vertical sidehull longitudinal planes going aft from their forward portions.  
     
     
         13 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 13  wherein said vertical longitudinal planes are vertical longitudinal centerline planes of the port and starboard sidehulls.  
     
     
         14 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the port and starboard sidehulls extends over less than twenty percent of an overall width of the improved surface effect ship proximal an aft portion of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         15 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein the gas cushion forward seal member is less than twenty percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship taken proximal an aft end of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         16 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the port and starboard bow members extends over less than twenty-five percent of an overall width of the improved surface effect ship proximal said gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         17 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the port and starboard bow members extends over less than thirty percent of an overall width of the improved surface effect ship proximal an aft portion of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         18 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the port and starboard bow members extends over less than thirty-five percent of an overall width of the improved surface effect ship proximal an aft portion of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         19 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the port and starboard bow members extends over less than forty percent of an overall width of the improved surface effect ship proximal an aft portion of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         20 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member disposed between the port and starboard bow members extends over less than fifty percent of an overall width of the improved surface effect ship proximal an aft portion of the gas cushion forward seal member.  
     
     
         21 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein inboard portions of the port and starboard sidehulls are at least partially truncated aft of their bow portions.  
     
     
         22 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein longitudinally oriented fluid fences extend downward from upper surfaces of the gas cushion recess to thereby restrict fluid flow in the gas cushion.  
     
     
         23 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 22  wherein, when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a one and one-half degree bow up trim angle, said fluid fences are not in contact with a water surface over a majority of their length.  
     
     
         24 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein the port and starboard bow members diverge either side of vertical sidehull longitudinal planes going aft from forward portions of their bows.  
     
     
         25 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 24  wherein said vertical sidehull longitudinal planes are vertical sidehull centerline planes of the port and starboard sidehulls.  
     
     
         26 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein a gas cushion aft seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship, comprises at least two inverted-V shaped portions.  
     
     
         27 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein a gas cushion aft seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship, is angled to horizontal over a majority of its width.  
     
     
         28 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal.  
     
     
         29 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 28  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 30,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         30 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 28  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 25,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         31 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 28  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 20,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         32 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 28  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 15,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         33 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein there is a third bow member disposed inboard of port and starboard bow members.  
     
     
         34 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 1  wherein there is a third bow member and wherein gas cushion forward seal members are disposed between port and starboard bow members and the third bow member.  
     
     
         35 . In an improved surface effect ship wherein said improved surface effect ship includes port and starboard sidehulls and is supported upon a water surface in part by at least one artificially pressurized gas cushion, the improvement comprising: 
 a port and a starboard bow member with a gas cushion forward seal member disposed between said port and starboard bow members and wherein pressurized gas is discharged rearward into the gas cushion from proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member to thereby create a pressurized gas seal and wherein said gas cushion forward seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship located proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member, is no more than fifty percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship.    
     
     
         36 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship located proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member, is no more than forty percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         37 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship located proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member, is no more than thirty-five percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         38 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship located proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member, is no more than thirty percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         39 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship located proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member, is no more than twenty-five percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         40 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein said gas cushion forward seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship located proximal an aft lower portion of the gas cushion forward seal member, is no more than twenty percent of a width of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         41 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         42 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least ten percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         43 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least fifteen percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         44 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least twenty percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         45 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least twenty-five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         46 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein forward water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members further comprise artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in their undersides.  
     
     
         47 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 46  wherein the artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least five percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         48 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 46  wherein the artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members extend, as seen when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a bow up trim angle of one and one-half degrees, forward of an average of longitudinal positions, as seen in longitudinal vertical planes of the improved surface effect ship, of forward water contacting portions of the gas cushion forward seal member by at least ten percent of a waterline length of the improved surface effect ship.  
     
     
         49 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 46  wherein the gas cushion portions disposed in the undersides of the port and starboard bow members diverge either side of vertical sidehull longitudinal planes going aft from their forward portions.  
     
     
         50 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 48  wherein said vertical longitudinal planes are vertical longitudinal centerline planes of the port and starboard sidehulls.  
     
     
         51 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein inboard portions of the port and starboard sidehulls are at least partially truncated aft of their bow portions.  
     
     
         52 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein longitudinally oriented fluid fences extend downward from upper surfaces of the gas cushion recess to thereby restrict fluid flow in the gas cushion.  
     
     
         53 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 52  wherein, when the improved surface effect ship is moving forward at high speed in a calm sea at a one and one-half degree bow up trim angle, said fluid fences are not in contact with a water surface over a majority of their length.  
     
     
         54 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein a gas cushion aft seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship, comprises at least two inverted-V shaped portions.  
     
     
         55 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein a gas cushion aft seal member, as seen in a vertical transverse plane of the improved surface effect ship, is angled to horizontal over a majority of its width.  
     
     
         56 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 15,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         57 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 20,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         58 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 25,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         59 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion proximal an aft end of a gas cushion forward seal at an average velocity of more than 30,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         60 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein there is a third bow member disposed inboard of port and starboard bow members.  
     
     
         61 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 35  wherein there is a third bow member and wherein gas cushion forward seal members are disposed between port and starboard bow members and the third bow member.  
     
     
         62 . In an improved surface effect ship wherein said improved surface effect ship includes port and starboard sidehulls and is supported upon a water surface in part by at least one artificially pressurized gas cushion, the improvement comprising: 
 a third hull member disposed at least in part between the said port and starboard sidehull bows wherein gas cushion forward seal members are disposed, at least in part, between the port sidehull bow and the third hull member and between the starboard sidehull bow and the third hull member.    
     
     
         63 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 62  wherein pressurized gas is discharged into the gas cushion from proximal aft ends of the gas cushion forward seal members.  
     
     
         64 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 63  wherein the pressurized gas discharged into the gas cushion from proximal aft ends of the gas cushion forward seal members is discharged into the gas cushion at average velocities of more than 15,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         65 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 63  wherein the pressurized gas discharged into the gas cushion from proximal aft ends of the gas cushion forward seal members is discharged into the gas cushion at average velocities of more than 20,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         66 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 63  wherein the pressurized gas discharged into the gas cushion from proximal aft ends of the gas cushion forward seal members is discharged into the gas cushion at average velocities of more than 25,000 feet per minute.  
     
     
         67 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 62  wherein the gas cushion forward seals, as seen in vertical transverse planes of the improved surface effect ship, are angled to horizontal over a majority of their width.  
     
     
         68 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 62  wherein inboard portions of the port and starboard sidehulls are at least partially truncated aft of their bow portions.  
     
     
         69 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 62  wherein longitudinally oriented fluid fences extend downward from upper surfaces of the gas cushion recess to thereby restrict fluid flow in the gas cushion.  
     
     
         70 . The improved surface effect ship of  claim 62  wherein forward water contacting portions of said port and starboard bow members further comprise artificially pressurized gas cushion portions disposed in their undersides.