Surface effect hull configuration utilizing rebound hump seal

Abstract

A boat hull configuration for a boat includes a hull body having an air cavity created on an underside thereof that receives pressurized air from a blower through a blower inlet or plenum. The plenum is positioned in the cavity such that it divides the air cavity into a bow portion and an aft portion. The upper surface of the bow portion of the air cavity is configured to form a seal with a rebound hump produced by the hull body moving across a water surface when the ship is operating in a given speed range. This seal prevents air from venting from the forward portion of the air cavity when the bow of the hull rises during start up. The upper surface of the aft portion of the air cavity is positioned such that it does not come into contact with the rebound hump as the hump moves toward the aft of the hull as the boat accelerates. At high speeds, the rebound hump is behind the boat and the entire air cavity is pressurized and providing the maximum amount of lift and drag reduction.

1 . A boat hull configuration for a boat, said boat hull configuration comprising:
 a hull body having an air cavity created on an underside thereof for receiving pressurized air or gas from a blower through a plenum wherein said plenum is positioned in said cavity such that a portion of said air cavity is in a bow location with respect to said plenum and a portion of said air cavity is in an aft location with respect to said plenum and wherein an upper surface of said air cavity is configured to form a seal with a rebound hump produced by said hull body moving across a water surface.   
   
   
       2 . The boat hull configuration of  claim 1  wherein said hull body further comprises a multi-hull configuration with at least two hulls wherein each hull has a supporting air cavity. 
   
   
       3 . The boat hull configuration of  claim 1  wherein said plenum is positioned in a central location of said air cavity. 
   
   
       4 . The boat hull configuration of  claim 1  wherein said upper surface of said air cavity in said bow portion is closer to the water surface than an upper surface of said aft portion of said air cavity when said hull is substantially still with respect to said water's surface. 
   
   
       5 . The boat hull configuration of  claim 1  wherein said plenum introduces said pressurized air into said air cavity with an aftward flow direction. 
   
   
       6 . The boat hull configuration of  claim 1  wherein an upper surface of said aft portion of said air cavity is positioned such that it does not come into substantial contact with said rebound hump when said hull body is moving with respect to said water's surface. 
   
   
       7 . The boat hull configuration of  claim 1  wherein said air cavity is constructed such that said aft portion of said air cavity contains air and said bow portion of said cavity contains water when said boat hull is moving below a determinable speed. 
   
   
       8 . A surface effect ship comprising:
 a pressurized air cavity wherein said air cavity is dimensioned to utilize a rebound hump created by a hull of said surface effect ship moving over a water's surface to prevent venting of air from said air cavity when said surface effect ship is traveling in a speed range.   
   
   
       9 . The surface effect ship of  claim 8  wherein said air cavity is shaped such that a first portion of said air cavity contains air and a second portion of said cavity contains water when said surface, effect ship is moving below a certain speed with respect to said water's surface. 
   
   
       10 . The surface effect ship of  claim 8  wherein an upper surface of a portion of said air cavity does not come into contact with said rebound hump when said surface effect ship, is moving with respect to said water's surface. 
   
   
       11 . The surface effect ship of  claim 8  further comprising a plenum that introduces said pressurized air into said air cavity with an aftward flow direction. 
   
   
       12 . The surface effect ship of  claim 8  wherein an upper surface of said air cavity in a bow portion of said air cavity is closer to the water surface than an upper surface of an aft portion of said air cavity when said hull is substantially still with respect to said water's surface, 
   
   
       13 . The surface effect ship of  claim 8  wherein said hull further comprises a multi-hull configuration with at least two hulls wherein each hull has an air cavity. 
   
   
       14 . A method of designing a supportive air cavity for a surface effect ship, said method comprising the steps of:
 using a rebound hump created by a portion of a hull of said surface effect ship to prevent air from venting from said air cavity when said surface effect ship is traveling below an approximate speed.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of introducing pressurized air into said air cavity with an aftward flow direction. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said surface effect ship further comprises multiple hulls. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a front portion of said air cavity is in at least some contact with water when a back portion of said air cavity is supported by said pressurized air when said surface effect ship is moving in a speed range. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein a hull surface of a front portion of said air cavity is lowered with respect to a hull surface of a back portion of said air cavity. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of introducing exhaust gas into said air cavity. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of introducing said exhaust into said air cavity with an aft ward flow direction.