FIELD OF INVENTION:

The present invention relates generally to the watercrafts and more particularly to an apparatus for improving the acceleration, stability, safety, maneuverability and deceleration of the watercrafts.

BACKGROUND:

Watercrafts especially the larger vessels or ships have various disadvantages like lower speed due to water wall effect, chances of capsizing or drowning, poor maneuverability, poor fuel efficiency and inablity to rapidly deccelerate and stop the vessel etc.

Existing prior art discloses a watercraft or marine vessels with improved stability, fuel efficiency and safety. For example,

United states Patent Number 6702629 to Rick Adamczyk entitled “Watercraft with improved stability” discloses a watercraft equipped with a jet drive power source, with improved stability. The watercraft includes a hull with a keel and a jet drive power source. The jet drive power source includes an engine, an engine output shaft, and a jet propulsion unit. The jet propulsion unit includes a water passage, a drive shaft, an impeller, and a jet port. The engine output shaft is operationally connected to the drive shaft. The jet drive power source is configured to produce power along a predetermined direction and form a drive line based upon the predetermined direction.

l 30 United States Patent Number 5325804 to Richard T. Schneider entitled "Fuel- efficient watercraft with improved speed, stability, and safety characteristics” relates to a watercraft mounted on submarine hulls capable of moving faster than a displacement vessel of the same length, while consuming equal or less fuel than would such a displacement vessel. The ^‘ watercraft also has improved safety and 35 stability characteristics, including the capability of operation in a raft configuration as well as the capability of beaching or parking in shallow water such that wave action does not affect the cabin occupants.

Still, there exists a need for combined improvements in acceleration, stability, safety, 40 maneuverability and deceleration of watercrafts through ease of operation.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:

Thus, the present invention is directed to an apparatus that satisfies the above 45 needs.

The primary objective of the present invention is to improve speed, stability, safety, maneuverability and rapid deceleration in watercrafts. This objective is achieved by a watercraft apparatus which is fitted onto ship’s hull and thereby helping the ship to: 50 (i) decelerate or even stop the vessel suddenly without reversing the engine, (ii) increase its speed substantially without losing the engine power caused by water wall effect, (iii) have high fuel efficiency, (iv) swiftly change direction, (v) turn 360 degrees from a stand still position, and (vi) prevent the ship from being drowned or capsized even during worst storm conditions at voyage and dock.

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Thus, the· present invention makes the water transportation very safe and comfortable. SUMMARY:

According to the above objective, the present invention discloses a watercraft apparatus that provides improved acceleration, stability, safety, maneuverability and deceleration.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises: plurality of cylinders, plurality of flood gates, plurality of drain gates, pneumatic valves and air compressors.

According to the present invention, the plurality of longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders or tubes are fitted on either side of the hull of the watercraft extending from bow to stern and inclined towards the watercrafts propeller(s) at the aft end, the flood gates are provided within the cylinders on two ends, the drain gates provided at the bottom of the cylinders, the pneumatic valves and the air compressors provided within the cylinders.

In accordance with the present invention, the longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders are fitted with the flood gates at the front and rear of the cylinders. At the time of cruising for channelizing, the cylinders are in open position, so, the wave energy enters through the cylinders to the aft side and also onto the propeller(s) cancels the eddy current and thereby tremendously reduces the engine’s ^' strain. This apparatus increases the ship’s speed substantially without compromising on the engine power caused by water wall effect and thus, reducing the overall fuel consumption.

During the time of storm and other panic conditions, the cylinders are induced with compressed air through pneumatic valves from an air compressor. These cylinders act like air bags. Even if the ship is suffering from hull breach, it will not sink as the cylinders together have the same level of buoyancy of the ship and hold the ship afloat. The hollow cylinder like structures and its various parts is made of any suitable material including anti-corrosive metal, Bucky paper, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPT10N OF THE DRAWINGS:

This invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein:

FIG. 1 a & 1b shows the longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders attached onto the watercrafts hull;

FIG. 2a & 2b shows the sectional views of the longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders with flood gates in open position at the time of cruising;

FIG. 3a & 3b shows the sectional _, views of the longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders with front flood gate opened and aft flood gates closed for deceleration;

FIG. 4a & 4b shows the sectional views of the longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders with one side aft flood gate closed for turning the vessel;

FIG. 5a & 5b shows the sectional views of the longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders with flood gates closed and drains closed for anchoring; and

FIG. 6 shows the floating hollow cylinders that is deployed when compressed air is induced through a pneumatic valve and water inside the cylinders is drained out through drain gates. DETAILED WORKING OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO

ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS:

The present invention discloses a watercraft apparatus that provides improved acceleration, stability, safety, maneuverability and deceleration.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises: plurality of cylinders, plurality of flood gates, plurality of drain gates, pneumatic valves and air compressors.

The apparatus of the present invention comprises plurality of longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders or tube on either side of the hull of the watercraft extending from bow to stern and inclined towards the watercrafts propeller(s) at the aft end, flood gates provided within the cylinders on two ends, drain gates on the bottom of the cylinders, pneumatic valves and air compressors provided within the cylinders.

In accordance with the present invention, the stability of the watercraft is improved when the longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders with flood gates in front and flood gates at the rear of the cylinders are in open position. The flood gates are in open position at the time of cruising in order to channelize the wave energy through the cylinders to the aft side and onto the propeller(s) to cancel the eddy current and thereby to tremendously reduce the engine’s strain. The ship achieves quick deceleration by opening the front flood gates and closing the aft flood gates to create tremendous resistance to the forward movement of the ship and to generate highly effective braking without reversing the engine. The ship is able to turn 360 degrees from a stand still position by closing only one side of the aft flood gate. For anchoring and docking, all the flood gates and drain gates is in closed position. During the storm and panic conditions, the cylinders act like airbags because of the compressed air from the pneumatic valves of the air compressor. The working / operating mechanism of the watercraft apparatus is explained in detail with reference to following drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1 a & 1 b, the longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders attached onto the watercrafts hull is seen.

Referring to FIG. 1 b, the apparatus (1) comprising of two longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders (10,1 1 ) from bow to stern are operably attached to the hull (5) of the vessel on either sides just below the drought line using mechanical hinges (4) and also two smaller longitudinal hollow balloon shaped cylinders (12, 13) from bow to stern are fixed to the hull (5) just below the aforementioned cylinders (10, 11). The cylinders (10,1 1 ) are also latched onto the hull via closed latches (28,29).

FIG. 1a shows the mouth of the cylinders (10, 11 ) at the bow are tapered towards the outer side to draw in the water displaced by the bow (3) of the ship's hull (5). Each cylinder (10, 11 ) are having half of the total water displacement volume of the ship, hence comprising the 'total displacement volume of the ship when combined. But cylinders (12, 13) measurements are based on the allied propeller’s (7, 8) dimensions namely double the diameter of the allied propeller (7,8) in case of a multiple propeller ship and main propeller (9) in case of single propeller ship. Grills are provided at the mouth (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) of the cylinders (10,1 1 ,12, 13) to avoid trapping in any net or debris floating in the sea.

FIG. 2a & 2b shows sectional views of the longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders (10, 1 1 ,12, 13) with flood gates in front (15,16,19,20) and flood gates at the rear of the cylinders (17, 18,21 ,22). The flood gates are in open position at the time of cruising in order to channelize the wave energy through the cylinders to the aft side and onto the propeller(s) (7,8,9) for cancelling the eddy current and thereby tremendously reducing the engine’s strain. Thus, the apparatus increases the ship's speed substantially without compromising on the engine power caused by water wall effect, also reducing the overall fuel consumption. The increase in propeller RPM helps to gain inertia and provide continuous increase in speed. At the time of voyage, all the cylinders (10, 11 ,12,13) are submerged below the drought line and when propellers are in operation this creates a rope-car/cable car type effect by sucking out the high- pressure vvater which is rampaging through the cylinders arid giving the ship a grip on the ocean. This effect provides the ship with maximum stability at voyage.

FIG. 3a & 3b shows sectional views of the longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders (10, 11 , 12,13) with front flood gates (15,16,19,20) opened and aft flood gates (17,18,21 ,22) closed. By closing the aft/rear flood gates (17,18,21 ,22), the ship achieves quick deceleration as closed aft flood gates create tremendous resistance to the forward movement of the ship, and thus generating highly effective braking without reversing the engine.

FIG. 4a & 4b shows sectional views of the longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders (10,11 ,12,13) with only one side aft flood gate (17,21 ) closed for turning the vessel. Due to this condition, the ship swiftly changes its direction arrd also turns 360 degrees from a stand still position by closing any one side, star board or port side aft flood gates. By closing the cylinders on one side, the water inside it gets arrested and it generates tremendous resistence to movement at the closed side. Flence, the ship is turned by the opened side by keeping the closed side as center. This operation is carried out at the time of voyage or docking.

FIG. 5a & 5b shows sectional views of the longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders with flood gates (15,16,17,18,19,20,21 ,22) closed and drain gates (23,24,25,26) closed for anchoring and docking. Due to this condition, the ship gains its maximum stability as the cylinders cannot be lifted up or thrown off as there is no atmospheric pressure available to drain the water which is trapped inside the cylinders (10,11 ,12,13) through the drain gates (23,24,25,26). FIG. 6 shows the floating longitudinal balloon shaped cylinders (10,11) above water line. At the time of storm and other panic conditions, cylinders (10,11) are induced with compressed air through pneumatic valves (30,31 ) from an air compressor (32) provided in the engine room. The water in cylinders (10,11 ) is pushed out through th6 drain gates (23,24) by the compressed air and cylinders (10,11 ) emerges out of water swiftly and float as it is now filled with air and the drain gates (23, 24) are shut close after water has flowed out. These cylinders (10,11) act like air bags. Even if the ship is suffering from hull breach, it will not sink as cylinders (10,11) together have the same level of buoyancy of the ship and hold the ship afloat. Hence, the lives can be saved and wreckage can be salvaged safely.

While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.