PATENT APPLICATION

Attorney Docket No. A05477WO (98238.10WO) TITLE OF THE INVENTION

CATAMARAN AIR CUSHION SHIP WITH FOLDING, RETRACTABLE SEALS

INVENTORS :

MALONEY, Kenneth, J., a US citizen, of 105 Joyce

Street, Covington, LA 70433, US; DUBOSE, W., Keith, a

US citizen, of 14146 River Road, Pensacola, FL 32507, US; WHITTAKER, E., Douglass, a US citizen, 227 Blue

Crane No. 1 Drive, Slidell, LA 70461, US; MOORE,

Robert, G., a US citizen, of 276 Rue Piper, Slidell,

LA 70461, US; and ACOSTA, Jared, M., a US citizen, of

1007 Ninth Street, Slidell, LA 70458, US. ASSIGNEE: TEXTRON INC. (a Delaware, US, corporation), of

New Orleans, LA, US CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60/755,938, filed 30 December 2005, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed.

Priority of US Patent Application Serial No.

11/561,691 filed 20 Nov. 2006, incorporated herein by reference, is hereby claimed. In the US, this is a continuation of US Patent Application Serial No. 11/561,691.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX Not applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to catamaran air cushion ships. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved surface effect ship or air cushion ship with a catamaran hull having a folding side seal arrangement that features lockable hinged doors and an inflatable seal portion .

2. General Background of the Invention In general air cushion vessels or ships, also known as surface effect ships, are known. Examples of air cushion vessels or ships disclosed in US Patents are listed in the following table. The following table also lists US Patent 6,619,220 that discloses a surface effect ship or hovercraft with a retractable skirt system.

TABLE 1 US Pub. No, Title Date

MM/DD/YYYY

1, 976,046 Waterfoil 10/9/1934 2,405,115 Floating Structure 08/6/1946 3,065,723 Supercavitating Hydrofoils 11/27/1962 3,077,173 Base Ventilated Hydrofoil 02/12/1963 3, 1-41,436 Hydrofoil Assisted Air 07/21/1964

Cushion Boat

3,458,007 Captured Air Bubble (CAB) 07/29/1969

Ground Effect Machine

3, 621, 932 Gas-Cushion Vehicles 11/23/1971 3, 917, 022 Twin Cushion Surface Effect 11/4/1975

Vehicle

3, 987, 865 Gas-Cushion Vehicle Skirt 10/26/1976 4,469,334 Sealing System For The Air 09/4/1984

Cushion Of An Air-Cushion

Vessel

4,489, 667 Surface Effect Ship Seals 12/25/1984 4,506, 618 Propeller And Keel 03/26/1985

Arrangement For Surface

Effect Ships

4,535,712 Variable Air Cushion Mode 08/20/1985

Vehicle 4,543,901 Surface Effect Ship Air 10/1/1985

Cushion Seal System

4, 646, 866 Surface Effect Type, Side 03/3/1987

Keel Vessel Fitted With An

Improved Forward Buoyancy

Cushion Seal Apparatus

4,660,492 Catamaran Air Cushion Water 04/28/1987

Vehicle 4,708, 077 Hull Shapes For Surface 11/24/1987

Effect Ship With Side Walls

And Two Modes Of

Operation

4,714, 041 Structure of surface effect 12/22/1987 ship with side walls 4,739,719 Movable bow seal air ride 04/26/1988 boat hull 4,767,367 Integrated Combination 8/30/1988

Propeller Drive Shaft

Fairing and Water Intake

Sea Chest Arrangement, For

High Speed Operating Marine

Craft

5, 651,327 Displacement, Submerged 07/29/1997

Displacement, Air Cushion

Hydrofoil Ferry Boat 5,711,494 Aero-Hydroglider 01/27/1998 5, 934,215 Stabilized Air Cushioned 08/10/1999

Marine Vehicle

6,293,216 Surface Effect Ship (SES) 09/25/2001

Hull Configuration Having

Improved High Speed

Performance and Handling

Characteristics 6,439,148 Low-Drag, High-Speed Ship 08/27/2002

2003/0000440 Air Assisted Landing Craft 01/02/2003 6,526, 903 High speed M-shaped boat hull 03/04/2003 6, 609,472 Stable efficient air 08/26/2003 lubricated ship 6,619,220 Hybrid SES/hovercraft with 09/16/2003

Retractable Skirt System

2005/0211150 Variable Hybrid Catamaran 09/29/2005

Air Cushion Ship

2005/0236200 Wrapped-cone fingers for 10/27/2005 skirt systems

7, 013,826 Hybrid Catamaran Air Cushion 03/21/2006

Ship

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a catamaran surface effect ship that has a catamaran hull having spaced apart hulls connected with a platform and an integral propulsion system for propelling the hull.

The hull has forward and aft flexible seals and flexible side seals that enable pressurized air to be trapped in an air space that is positioned generally in between the hulls and in between the forward and aft flexible seals.

The hull has a powered lift fan system for transmitting pressurized air to the air space.

The side seal system for each hull includes a movable door that is movably (e.g. pivotally) attached to the side

of each hull. An inflatable seal expands below the door and in between the door and the hull.

Locking dogs (e.g. motorized) positively lock the doors shut when the side cushion is deflated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the attached drawings which are identified as follows:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of figure 2;

Figure 5 is a schematic sectional, elevation view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

Figure 8 is a partial perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view from the stern of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The marine vessel 10 of the present invention is designed to operate as both a catamaran and air cushion vessel. The catamaran air cushion vessel of the present invention is designated generally by the numeral 10 in Figures 1-9. Marine vessel 10 has several advantages over previous air cushion and surface effect ship designs. Marine vessel 10 has a robust structure having sufficient strength to withstand sea, cargo and beach operation loads. Marine vessel 10 also is lightweight for speed, endurance and cargo capacity performance .

Catamaran air cushion ship 10 is shown generally in figures 1-9 and includes port hull 11, starboard hull 12, bow 13 and stern 14. Ship 10 may be constructed, for example, of high strength steel, aluminum, titanium, or composite materials such as fiberglass or carbon epoxy laminate .

Platform 15 spans between and connects the port hull 11 and starboard hull 12. The hull 12 is generally of the same configuration as the hull 11 of figures 3-5. Platform

15 has a deck area 26. Deck area 26 is capable of withstanding local pressures greater than 500 psf (0.244 kg/cm ² ) from the carriage of wheeled or tracked vehicles.

A forward seal 16 is provided at bow 13 and an aft or stern seal 17 is provided at stern 14. At bow 13, forward seal 16 can be in the form of a plurality of individual finger seals. Such seals 16, 17 can be seen for example in prior US Patents 3,621,932; 3,987,865; and 4,646,866 each hereby incorporated herein by reference. Forward seal 17 and stern seal 17 are capable of surviving high speed flow without significant impact on SES or Catamaran mode resistance .

Each hull 11, 12 provides a curved bottom 18, an outer side wall 19, and an inner side wall 21. The catamaran air cushion vessel 10 of the present invention can be scaled to a wide range of ship sizes, with overall length typically in the range of 100 feet to 1000 feet (30.5 m to 305 m) , and beam in the range of 30 feet to 300 feet (9.1 m to 91 m) . Cargo capacity will typically be 20% to 50% of full load displacement, which can range from 100 tons to 100,000 tons (90.7 metric tons to 90,700 metric tons). The air cushion ship 10 has multiple water propellers 20, preferably a single water propeller 20 positioned at the stern of each hull 11, 12. The air cushion ship 10 also provides air propellers 22 that extend upwardly from the port hull 11 and starboard hull 12 as shown in figures 1-2.

Inner side wall 21 is provided for each hull 11, 12 for enabling a cushion pressure (Pc) to be generated in between hulls 11, 12, platform 15 and waterline 39 as shown in figures 3, 4 and 5. Rudders can be provided at 23, 24 including port rudder 23 and starboard rudder 24 as shown.

Platform 15 provides deck area 26 that communicates with bow ramp 27 and stern ramp 28. Vehicles and/or cargo can thus be driven or towed to deck area 26 using either bow ramp 27 or stern ramp 28. Likewise, vehicles, cargo and the like can be unloaded from the deck area 27 using either bow ramp 27 or stern ramp 28. Superstructure 29 supports air propeller 22 and a pilot house 25, crew quarters or the like.

A folding side seal 30 is provided for each hull 11, 12. The folding side seal 30 includes a door 32 that is movably attached to a hull 11 or 12 using for example hinge 31. The cushion pressure air (Pc) can be transmitted to inflate folding side seal 30 by routing the pressurized air

via channel 33 to the interior of the folding side seal 30. Channel 33 can be valved using a valve 34.

Side seal 30 is capable of sustaining high speed flow without significant impact on SES or Catamaran mode resistance. The ability of side seal 30 to deploy and retract accommodates both SES and Catamaran modes of operation of marine vessel 10.

The folding side seal 30 includes a tension membrane 35 that extends between the bottom of each hull 11 or 12 and the lower end portion of door 32 as shown in figures 3- 5 and 8. The tension membrane 35 limits pivotal movement of door 32 to its maximum opening position of figures 2 and 4. Arrow 55 shows door 32 opening in the outboard direction. Arrow 56 shows door 32 closing in the inboard direction.

A fender 36 can be positioned above hinge 31 as shown in figure 1-5 and 8. Inflatable fingers 38 extend below tension membrane 35 as shown in figures 3-5 and 8. Fingers 38 can be generally u-shaped in transverse cross section. Such fingers 38 can be of the type shown for example in the patents that were incorporated herein by reference. Air cushion pressure (Pc) communicates with fingers 38 below hull 11 or 12, extending them outwardly (see figures 3-5, 8) . End webs 37 can be provided on each hull 11, 12 fore and aft the fingers 38.

An inflated position of folding side seal 30 is shown in figures 2, 4 and 8. In figure 4, inflation is indicated by arrows 49 with air being transmitted from the space 48 that is under platform 15, in between hulls 11, 12 and above waterline 39. Arrows 49 illustrate the flow path of air as it travels to inflate the folding side seal 30. During inflation of side seal 30, locking dogs 43 are

released, door 32 swings in the outboard direction 55 and fingers 38 are deployed/inflated.

A closed, folded position is shown in figures 1 and 3. During retraction/deflation of side seal 30, air is removed from fingers 38, repositioning locking dogs 43, allowing door 32 to swings in the inboard direction 56.

In order to assist deflation of folding side seal 30, a vacuum can be provided. The vacuum can be a venturi arrangement 54 that includes flow line 40, valve 41 and a source of vacuum as indicated schematically by arrow 42 in figure 5. The vacuum 42 can be used to remove air from inflatable side seal 30, though hydrostatic pressure will also help collapse and deflate the fingers 38.

Once deflated, the side seal 30 can be locked in a closed position using motor operated locking dogs 43, each being powered with motor 44. A locked position 45 is shown in figure 3. An unlocked, operating position 46 is shown in figure 4.

Figures 3-5 illustrate inflation of seal 30, partial inflation being shown in figure 5 and complete inflation (operating ACV mode) being shown in figure 4. The full inflation position is indicated schematically by the numeral 47.

A drain arrangement is shown in figures 6-7 for preventing accumulation of water above tension membrane 35. Opening 50 in tension membrane 35 allows water to drain from the upper surface of membrane 35 downwardly. A valving member 51 is mounted to the under surface of membrane 35 below opening 50. Valving member 51 is attached to the underside of membrane 35 at attached edge 52. Free edge 53 separates from membrane 35 when draining water from the upper surface of membrane 35 via opening 50.

The following is a list of suitable for the various elements of the preferred embodiment of the present invention .

PARTS LIST

Parts Number Description 10 catamaran air cushion vessel 11 port hull 12 starboard hull 13 bow 1144 stern 15 platform 16 forward seal 17 stern seal 18 curved bottom 19 outer side wall 20 water propeller 21 inner side wall 22 air propeller 23 port rudder 24 starboard rudder 25 pilot house 26 deck area 27 bow ramp 28 stern ramp 2299 superstructure 30 folding side seal 31 hinge 32 door 33 channel 3344 valve 35 tension membrane 36 fender 37 end web

38 finger

39 water level or waterline

40 flow line

41 valve 42 vacuum source - venturi arrow

43 motor operated locking dog

44 motor

45 locked position

46 unlocked, operating position 47 full inflation height

48 space

49 arrow

50 opening

51 valving member 52 attached edge

53 free edge

54 venturi

55 arrow

56 arrow All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise.

The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.