U.S. patent application number 10/889638 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-10 for powerboat with disappearing tunnel.
Invention is credited to Brown, Ralph.
Application Number | 20050247252 10/889638 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35238293 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050247252 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown, Ralph |
November 10, 2005 |
Powerboat with disappearing tunnel
Abstract
A shallow draft boat has a hull that protects a propulsion
propeller within a tunnel that passes only partially through the
hull from stem to bow. The hull has a mechanism, such as a flap for
selectively permitting or blocking water flow access to the tunnel
from under the boat. The boat also has a lift mechanism for
selectively positioning a propeller of a propulsion unit
substantially directly behind the tunnel or below the tunnel. The
boat can operate in two modes. In one, water access to the tunnel
is permitted and the propeller is positioned above the bottom of
the hull and behind the tunnel. In the other, water access to the
tunnel is blocked and the propelles is positioned below the bottom
of the hull. This construction permits selective operation in a
shallow draft mode, in a normal draft mode or in between. In the
shallow draft mode, the boat prevents propulsion unit malfunction
by keeping obstacles, such as debris, crab pots and mammals such as
manatees from contact with the propeller.
Inventors: |
Brown, Ralph; (Spring Hill,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ALLEN, DYER, DOPPELT, MILBRATH & GILCHRIST P.A.
1401 CITRUS CENTER 255 SOUTH ORANGE AVENUE
P.O. BOX 3791
ORLANDO
FL
32802-3791
US
|
Family ID: |
35238293 |
Appl. No.: |
10/889638 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60567966 |
May 4, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/288 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63B 1/286 20130101;
B63B 1/16 20130101; B63B 1/125 20130101; B63H 5/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/288 |
International
Class: |
B63H 005/16 |
Claims
1. A boat, comprising: a. a hull having two channels allowing water
flow through the two channels substantially from bow to stern, and
an intermediate tunnel passing through only a portion of the length
from bow to stern; and b. a mechanism for selectively permitting or
blocking water flow access to the intermediate tunnel from under
the boat.
2. The boat of claim 1 further comprising: c. a propulsion unit and
d. a lift mechanism to position a propeller of the propulsion unit
so that it selectively operates substantially directly behind the
tunnel or below the tunnel.
3. The boat of claim 2 in which the hull and the tunnel protect the
propeller from obstacles when water flow access to the tunnel is
permitted and the propulsion unit is positioned behind the
tunnel.
4. The boat of claim 1 in which the mechanism for selectively
permitting or blocking water flow access to the tunnel from under
the boat comprises a moveable flap.
5. The boat of claim 4 in which the flap is hinged to permit or
block water flow access to the tunnel.
6. The boat of claim 4 in which the position of the flap can be
controlled by an electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic device.
7. The boat of claim 2 in which the lift mechanism is electrically
controlled.
8. The boat of claim 2 in which the lift mechanism is pneumatically
or hydraulically controlled.
9. The boat of claim 2 in which the a mechanism for selectively
permitting or blocking water flow access to the tunnel from under
the boat and the lift mechanism are commonly controlled so as to
position the propulsion unit substantially directly behind the
tunnel when water access to the tunnel is permitted to position the
propulsion unit below the hull when water access to the tunnel is
blocked.
10. A method of designing a boat, comprising the steps of: a.
providing a hull having two channels allowing water flow through
the two channels substantially from bow to stern, and an
intermediate tunnel passing through only a portion of the length
from bow to stern; and b. providing a mechanism for selectively
permitting or blocking water flow access to the tunnel from under
the boat.
11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: c. providing a lift
mechanism to position a propeller of a propulsion unit so that it
can selectively operate substantially directly behind the tunnel or
below the tunnel.
12. A method of reducing a boats draft, comprising: a. providing
two channels allowing water flow through the two channels
substantially from bow to stern, and an intermediate tunnel in the
hull extending only part way from stern to bow; b. providing a
mechanism for selectively permitting or blocking water flow access
to the tunnel from under the boat; and c. providing a lift
mechanism for selectively positioning a propeller of a propulsion
unit substantially directly behind the tunnel or below the
tunnel.
13. The method of claim 12 further comprising: d. a control
mechanism to simultaneously control the mechanism for selectively
permitting or blocking water flow access to the tunnel from under
the boat and the lift mechanism.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application incorporates by reference in its entirety
and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/567,966,
filed May 3, 2004, entitled Disappearing Tunnel by inventor Ralph
Brown.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field Of The Invention
[0003] The invention is directed to a powerboat configuration, and,
more particularly, to a powerboat hull with a disappearing
tunnel.
[0004] 2. Description Of Related Art
[0005] A wide variety of boat constructions are well known in the
art. For example, catamaran and trimaran sailboats are well known.
Similarly, a significant number of powerboat constructions are well
known in the art.
[0006] A number of problems exist with respect to powerboats of the
prior art. First, they often experience difficulty when running in
very shallow water. For example, the propeller, which drives the
boat, may encounter the bottom of the waterway and bend the
propeller or sheer a pin connecting the propeller to the drive
shaft.
[0007] Another problem comes from obstacles such as crab pots. The
cable that connects the floater with the crab pot can become
entangled in the propeller causing the engine to stop and causing
the boat operator great difficulty freeing the propeller from the
cable.
[0008] A similar problem comes from encountering floating debris on
the surface of the water. Often, debris floats in such a way that
it is not easily visible from the boat. When a powerboat passes
over such debris, such as a floating log, the debris may impact the
propeller and bend it, or sheer the drive pin, or damage the gear
mechanisms.
[0009] Serious problems exist in certain waters caused by the
presence of large, slow moving mammals such as manatees. The
survival of the manatees is and has been threatened by increased
boating traffic. The manatees are often found near the surface and
cannot move quickly enough to avoid powerboats, resulting in
propeller cuts and other injuries to the mammals.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The invention is directed to a powerboat configuration,
which overcomes the problems of the prior art. More particularly,
the techniques of the invention provide for a tunnel portion, which
can be utilized, in one position, to allow a propeller and drive
shaft of a boat propulsion system to be protected from obstacles,
debris and large mammals, which is particularly suitable for use in
shallow water. In the other position, the flap closes the tunnel so
that the tunnel is not active and concurrently, the positioning of
the propulsion mechanism is changed to allow the propulsion unit to
drop below the bottom of the hull. In this configuration, the
propulsion unit is not as protected, but considerably less drag is
encountered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] The invention is explained more in detail in conjunction
with the following drawings, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect on the invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a front view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4A is a section view of the disappearing tunnel taken
from view A-A of FIG. 3, with the propulsion system in a protected
position.
[0016] FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the disappearing tunnel taken
from view A-A of FIG. 3, with the tunnel obscured and the
propulsion system in a running position suitable for deeper
water.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of a hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention. In this view, one can see a
moveable flap 125 that can be rotated about the axis of a hinge 130
to move from a position that is substantially flat with the bottom
of the boat (i.e. one in which the tunnel underneath the flap is
substantially not visible and is not functionally usable) to a
second position, as described more in conjunction with FIGS. 4A and
4B.
[0019] The preferred hull configuration for use with the
disappearing tunnel in accordance with the invention is the hull
configuration described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,
to inventor Ralph Brown (attorney docket number 83061) filed
concurrently herewith. The contents of that application are hereby
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Alternative
preferred hulls are a V-bottom hull and a flat bottom hull.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a bottom view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention. Items 100-port, 100-starboard and
100-center function analogously to three pontoons that might be
found on a trimaran sailboat. Two channels are formed, 110-port and
110-starboard between hull sections 100-port and 100-center and
100-starboard and 100-center. Item 120 is a tunnel that extends
only partially through hull section 100 center. Item 125 is an
opening through which a drive shaft can pass to turn a propeller
that operates within tunnel 120.
[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the center
portion of the hull 100-center is slightly deeper than the outside
portions of the hull, 100-port and 100-starboard. The tunnels
formed between the portions of the hull, 110-port and 110-starboard
and 100-center are small enough that they fill with water, as more
described hereinafter, when the boat is underway.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention. In this view, tunnel 120 is
visible as well as the flap 125. As will be seen in conjunction
with FIGS. 4A and 4B, the flap 125 moves from a hidden position
(shown) to an open position in which the tunnel provides a certain
level of protection for the propulsion system.
[0023] FIG. 4A is a sectional view of the tunnel 120 shown along
section A-A of FIG. 3. The hinged flap 125 is shown in a hidden
position whereby the tunnel 120 is effectively hidden, so that it
has substantially no effect on the operation of a boat in this
mode. As shown in this figure, the flap can be moved to position
125', shown in dashed lines, to open the tunnel. The propulsion
system, such as a traditional outboard engine 400 is mounted to and
engine mount 410, which allows the propulsion system to be raised
and lowered as desired. The engine mount can comprise a rack and
pinion mechanism with the rack mounted on a component holding the
propulsion system so that the pinion can drive the propulsion
system up and down by virtue of its rotation. This can be
hydraulically driven or electrically driven as desired.
[0024] The flap 125 can be raised and lowered utilizing one or more
by a suitable mechanism such as hydraulic jacks 420 connected to
the hull and to the flap so that extension of the hydraulic jack
will place the flap in the hidden tunnel position whereas
retraction of the jack will place the flap in position 125', by
which the tunnel becomes operational.
[0025] FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the hidden tunnel taken from
view A-A of FIG. 3, showing the flap in the open and operational
position with the propulsion system raised so that it is fed by
flow from the open tunnel, rather that extending below the hull of
the boat as shown in FIG. 4A.
[0026] FIG. 5 is a top view of the hull of a boat in accordance
with one aspect of the invention.
[0027] Traditionally a boat will come with or without a tunnel. The
tunnel makes running in shallow water more possible. However, the
tunnel increases the drag and reduces the efficiency of the
outboard motor.
[0028] The disappearing tunnel gives the best of both worlds. When
needed the tunnel flap is moved up activating the tunnel. At this
time the operator can also raise the motor using a lift plate,
allowing the boat to run in extremely shallow water.
[0029] When the boat goes into deep water the operator can lower
the tunnel flap making the tunnel disappear and allowing the
operator to lower to outboard motor with the lift mechanism. This
makes the boat operate much more efficiently.
[0030] These techniques can be used on a flat bottom boat, a "V"
bottom boat, a catamaran, a trimaran, or any other type hull. The
tunnel flap can be raised by securing the end closest to the bow
with a hinge, and using a hydraulic or electric cylinder to raise
it or to lower it. The lift plate for the motor can also use either
a hydraulic or electric cylinder.
[0031] The techniques described herein can be applied to a variety
of different hull shapes in addition to the specific embodiment
described herein within the scope of the invention.
[0032] The invention described herein is not limited to the
specific examples shown, but rather has a broad applicability to
boat construction generally.
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