Split outer hull hydroplaning vessel with a reactive suspension and integrated braking and steering system

• US 9,302,757 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fred Pereira
• Original Assignee: Fred Pereira
• Inventors: Pereira, Fred
• Primary Examiner(s): Khatib, Rami
• Application Number:
  US14/211,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20140235120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 1/20 having more than one planing surface B63B1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/0081 Vibration isolation or damping elements or arrangements, e.g. elastic support of deck-houses mounting of propulsion plant or unit B63H21/30; vibration dampers, suppression of vibration in systems F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/02 Cabins or other living spaces; Construction or arrangement thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 39/005 Equipment to decrease ship's vibrations produced externally to the ship, e.g. wave-induced vibrations propulsion mountings for anti-vibration purposes B63H21/30; vibration dampers, suppression of vibration in systems F16F
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 39/061 by using trimflaps, i.e. flaps mounted on the rear of a boat, e.g. speed boat
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 20/02 Mounting of propulsion units B63H20/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/00 Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements adaptation of transmission to allow adjustment in direction of propellers B63H5/125; transmission between wind motors and propulsive elements B63H13/00; in outboard propulsion units B63H20/14; adaptation of transmission to allow adjustment of location of propellers B63H20/08
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/44 Steering or slowing-down by extensible flaps or the like

Abstract

A hydroplaning vessel that exceed speeds of 25 miles per hour with several stability and handling design improvements. It has an enhanced reactive suspension and inner hull lift system positioned in the vessel between an inner hull and a set of outer hulls. There are at least three outer hulls; a front outer hull and a mirror image pair of rear outer hulls, none of which can float on its own and all which have open transoms. Steering and braking are accomplished by a set of rear elevon flaps. The drive unit resides in the inner hull and is connected by an annular drive transmission, which is connected to the jet or prop drive, which resides on the outer hull.

Claims

1. A hydroplaning vessel comprising:

a non floatable front outer first hull with an open transom;

at least one non floatable rear outer second hull with an open transom;

a floatable inner hull;

a deflector plate having a front edge and a rear edge wherein said front edge is pivotally affixed to said inner hull and said rear edge is connected to said at least one rear outer second hull; and

a suspension and inner hull lift system;

wherein said inner hull is partially cradled within, and movably affixed to both said front outer first hull and said at least one rear outer second hull by said suspension and inner hull lift system.

2. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 1 wherein the number of said rear outer second hulls is two.

3. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 2 wherein said rear outer second hulls are substantially mirror images of one another and affixed in a parallel spacing about a longitudinal centerline of said vessel.

4. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 1 wherein the number of said rear outer second hulls is greater than two.

5. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 4 wherein some of said rear outer second hulls may be substantially mirror images of one another and affixed in a parallel spacing about a longitudinal centerline of said vessel.

6. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 4 wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system vertically extends said inner hull a vertical distance above said front outer first hull and said at least one rear outer second hull simultaneously.

7. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 1 wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system is vertically extendable so as to be able to raise said inner hull a vertical distance above said front outer first hull and said at least one rear outer second hull.

8. A hydroplaning vessel comprising:

a front outer hull with an open transom;

at least two rear outer hulls with open transoms;

a floatable inner hull;

a suspension and inner hull lift system;

wherein said inner hull is partially cradled within, and movably affixed to said front outer hull and said at least two outer hulls by said suspension and inner hull lift system;

wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system is vertically extendable so as to be able to raise said inner hull a vertical distance above said front outer hull; and

said at least one rear outer hull and

wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system comprises;

at least seven linear series of base plates that lie substantially parallel to each other and along a longitudinal axis of the vessel, three of which are rigidly affixed to said front outer hull and four of which are affixed to said at least one rear outer hull;

at least seven linear rail boxes that lie substantially parallel to each other and along a longitudinal axis of the vessel and are rigidly affixed to said inner hull; and

at least seven struts having a lower end pivotally connected to said base plate and an upper end pivotally connected to said rail box;

wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system is adapted to raise and lower said linear rail boxes vertically with respect to said series of base plates.

9. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 8 wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system further comprises:

at least two reversing rotational drive motors each housed within one of said rail boxes;

a series of parallel spacer plates rigidly affixed within each said rail box, that reside normal to a linear axis of said rail box and have an orifice formed therethrough and a pair of shock absorber guides extending normally from said spacer plates;

at least five linear, threaded drive rods each housed in one of said rail boxes and affixed at a first end to one of said drive motors and rotationally supported in said orifices formed in said spacer plates;

a series of floating nuts each nut threadingly engaged onto one of said drive rods and affixed to a shock absorber cylinder mount;

a series of said shock absorber cylinder mounts each mount affixed to a shock absorber cylinder and having an upper axle thereon with a pair of ends matingly engaged for sliding movement in one of said shock absorber guides;

a series of paired identical gusset plates each pair extending from an upper end of one said strut;

a series of shock absorber rod mounts, each rod mount affixed to a shock absorber rod and having a lower axle thereon that is affixed between said paired, parallel gusset plates;

a series of shock absorbers each having a first end with a rod and a second end with a cylinder that retractably and slidingly houses said rod, wherein each of said shock absorbers is connected between one of said shock absorber guides on said rail boxes and one of said gusset plates on said struts;

wherein said drive motors rotate to advance said floating nuts to push or pull on said shock absorbers to move said struts between said first acute angle and said second acute angle.

10. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 8 wherein some of said rear outer hulls are substantially mirror images of one another and affixed in a parallel spacing about a longitudinal centerline of said vessel.

11. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 8 further comprising a deflector plate for each rear outer hull.

12. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 11 further comprising:

a propulsion system;

a power source for said jet drive; and

a pivotable transmission connected at an upper end to said power source and connected at a lower end to said propulsion system.

13. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 12 wherein said transmission can pivot at its connection to said power source and can pivot at its connection to said jet drive independently.

14. A hydroplaning vessel comprising:

a non floatable front outer first hull with an open transom;

at least two non floatable rear outer second hulls each with an open transom;

a floatable inner hull;

a deflector plate pivotally attached between said inner hull and said at least two rear outer second hulls;

a suspension and inner hull lift system;

wherein said inner hull is partially cradled within, and movably affixed to said outer first and second hulls by said suspension and inner hull lift system;

wherein said suspension and inner hull lift system is vertically extendable so as to be able to raise said inner hull a vertical distance above said front outer first hull and at least said two rear outer second hulls simultaneously.

15. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 14 further comprising:

a propulsion system;

a power source for said jet drive; and

a pivotable transmission connected at an upper end to said power source and connected at a lower end to said propulsion system;

wherein said transmission can pivot at its connection to said power source and can pivot at its connection to said jet drive independently; and

further comprising;

an upper gearbox containing a first set of four grouped, 45 degree cut, beveled ring gears that are held in an enmeshed, square configuration;

a substantially similar lower gearbox containing a second set of four grouped, 45 degree cut, beveled ring gears that are held in an enmeshed, square configuration; and

a splined, telescoping driveshaft connected at a first end to said upper gearbox and connected at a second end to said lower gearbox.

16. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 15 further comprising:

said upper gearbox with

an upper gearbox housing;

a first right beveled ring gear;

a first left beveled ring gear;

a first front beveled ring gear;

a first rear beveled ring gear; and

a first common axle extending through the center of said first right beveled ring gear and said first left beveled ring gear that is supported in said upper gearbox housing so as to rotationally constrain said first right beveled ring gear and said first left beveled ring gear in said upper gearbox housing;

said lower gearbox with a lower gearbox housing;

a second right beveled ring gear;

a second left beveled ring gear;

a second front beveled ring gear;

a second rear beveled ring gear; and

a second common axle extending through the center of said second right beveled ring gear and said second left beveled ring gear that is supported in said lower gearbox housing so as to rotationally constrain said second right beveled ring gear and said second left beveled ring gear in said lower gearbox housing;

wherein said driveshaft extends normally from the second front beveled ring gear and from the first rear beveled ring gear so as to operationally connect the two gearboxes.

17. The hydroplaning vessel of claim 16 further comprising:

an input shaft affixed to said first front beveled ring gear and connected to said power source;

an output shaft affixed to the second rear beveled ring gear and connected to said jet drive.