U.S. patent application number 11/507404 was filed with the patent office on 2007-02-22 for watercraft with sound suppressed stepped hull.
Invention is credited to Anthony Kalil.
Application Number | 20070039536 11/507404 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37766324 |
Filed Date | 2007-02-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070039536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kalil; Anthony |
February 22, 2007 |
Watercraft with sound suppressed stepped hull
Abstract
A watercraft is disclosed, comprising a deck and a hull. where
the hull is stepped intermediate a length of the hull to form an
upper stepped surface. The upper stepped surface comprises sound
suppressing dimples profiled to cancel an acoustical wave standing
in the area adjacent the upper stepped surface. The watercraft has
a longitudinally extending turning fin positioned adjacent to the
upper stepped surface. The sound suppressing dimples are configured
as inverted concave frusto-conical sections.
Inventors: |
Kalil; Anthony;
(Gainesville, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BAKER & DANIELS LLP
300 NORTH MERIDIAN STREET
SUITE 2700
INDIANAPOLIS
IN
46204
US
|
Family ID: |
37766324 |
Appl. No.: |
11/507404 |
Filed: |
August 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60709877 |
Aug 19, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
114/61.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02T 70/12 20130101;
B63B 17/0081 20130101; B63B 1/16 20130101; Y02T 70/10 20130101;
B63B 1/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/061.33 |
International
Class: |
B63B 1/00 20060101
B63B001/00 |
Claims
1. A watercraft, comprising a deck and a hull, the hull being
stepped intermediate a length of the hull to form an upper stepped
surface, said upper stepped surface comprising sound suppressing
dimples profiled to cancel an acoustical wave standing in the area
adjacent the upper stepped surface.
2. The watercraft of claim 1, further comprising a longitudinally
extending turning fin positioned adjacent to the upper stepped
surface.
3. The watercraft of claim 2, further comprising a rear chine
portion.
4. The watercraft of claim 3, wherein the rear chine portion
extends along the outer edge of the upper stepped portion.
5. The watercraft of claim 4, comprising a forward chine portion
forward of said stepped portion.
6. The watercraft of claim 5, wherein the sound suppressing dimples
are configured as concave dimples.
7. The watercraft of claim 6, wherein the sound suppressing dimples
are configured as inverted concave frusto-conical sections.
8. The watercraft of claim 1, wherein the sound suppressing dimples
are configured as inverted concave frusto-conical sections.
9. A watercraft comprising a deck and a hull, the hull being
stepped intermediate a length of the hull to form an upper stepped
surface, said upper stepped surface comprising sound suppressing
means for canceling an acoustical wave standing in the area
adjacent the upper stepped surface.
10. The watercraft of claim 9, wherein the sound suppressing means
are configured as concave sound suppressing dimples.
11. The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the sound suppressing
dimples are configured as inverted concave frusto-conical
sections.
12. The watercraft of claim 9, further comprising a longitudinally
extending turning fin positioned adjacent to the upper stepped
surface.
13. The watercraft of claim 9, further comprising a rear chine
portion.
14. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the rear chine portion
extends along the outer edge of the upper stepped portion.
15. The watercraft of claim 14, comprising a forward chine portion
forward of said stepped portion.
16. The watercraft of claim 15, wherein the sound suppressing means
are configured as concave dimples.
17. The watercraft of claim 16, wherein the sound suppressing
dimples are configured as inverted concave frusto-conical
sections.
18. A watercraft, comprising a deck and a hull, the hull having a
plurality of surfaces forming an acoustical chamber with the
waterline, the hull comprising sound suppressing dimples profiled
to cancel an acoustical wave standing in the chamber.
19. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the sound suppressing
dimples are configured as inverted concave frusto-conical
sections.
20. The watercraft of claim 18, further comprising a longitudinally
extending turning fin positioned adjacent to said acoustical
chamber.
21. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the hull is stepped
intermediate a length of the hull to form an upper stepped surface,
said upper stepped surface comprising said sound suppressing
dimples.
22. The watercraft of claim 21, further comprising a longitudinally
extending turning fin positioned adjacent to the upper stepped
surface.
23. The watercraft of claim 22, further comprising a rear chine
portion.
24. The watercraft of claim 23, wherein the rear chine portion
extends along the outer edge of the upper stepped portion.
25. The watercraft of claim 24, comprising a forward chine portion
forward of said stepped portion.
26. The watercraft of claim 25, wherein the sound suppressing means
are configured as concave dimples.
27. The watercraft of claim 26, wherein the sound suppressing
dimples are configured as inverted concave frusto-conical sections.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/709,877 filed Aug. 19, 2005, the
complete disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The subject of the invention relates to watercraft,
particularly of the type including molded and or fiberglass
hulls.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Watercraft hull design is a complicated technology as
multiple objectives are trying to be met at the same time. On one
hand, it is desirable for the vessel to be able to cut through
choppy water and other vessels' wakes, and at the same time, it is
desirable for the subject watercraft to not create a significant
wake in the event that it is pulling water-skiers. It is also
desirable to provide an efficiency to the hull design such that the
boat easily planes over the water rather than cuts through it. For
this reason stepped hulls have become popular in the vessel hull
designs which provide an aerodynamic pocket under the hull helping
lift the boat out of the water upon its forward propulsion.
[0004] Chines can also be used as a means of providing an air
pocket along the other edges of the hull which again provide an
aerodynamic lift to the vessel hull. Due to the fact that the
vessel is configured for planing, the hull must also include means
for stabilizing the boat and allowing for the ability to turn the
boat. For this purpose a combination of strakes and turning fins
are provided which can cut into the water allowing for stability
and a tight turning radius. Examples of these various vessel hull
designs are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,452,676; 6,666,160; and
6,923,137, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0005] Given all the various surfaces provided adjacent to the
waterline another phenomena has been created, that is, an
acoustical chamber has been formed which can resonate noise from
beneath the watercraft. That is, an acoustical chamber has been
formed by a combination of the surfaces defined by the waterline,
the stepped portion, the chines, and or the turning fins. While
this acoustical chamber is not detrimental to the performance of
the watercraft in use, it has however, increased to the point of
being an annoyance to the driver and the passengers.
[0006] It is therefore an object of this embodiment to overcome the
shortcomings presented.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present embodiment is defined by a watercraft,
comprising a deck and a hull, the hull being stepped intermediate a
length of the hull to form an upper stepped surface. The upper
stepped surface comprises sound suppressing dimples profiled to
cancel an acoustical wave standing in the area adjacent the upper
stepped surface.
[0008] The watercraft may further comprise a longitudinally
extending turning fin positioned adjacent to the upper stepped
surface. The watercraft may also further comprise a rear chine
portion. The rear chine portion extends along the outer edge of the
upper stepped portion. The watercraft may also comprise a forward
chine portion forward of the stepped portion. The sound suppressing
dimples may be configured as concave dimples. The sound suppressing
dimples may be configured as inverted concave frusto-conical
sections.
[0009] In a further embodiment, a watercraft comprises a deck and a
hull, the hull being stepped intermediate a length of the hull to
form an upper stepped surface. The upper stepped surface comprises
sound suppressing means for canceling an acoustical wave standing
in the area adjacent the upper stepped surface.
[0010] The sound suppressing means may be configured as concave
sound suppressing dimples. The sound suppressing dimples may be
configured as inverted concave frusto-conical sections. The
watercraft further comprises a longitudinally extending turning fin
positioned adjacent to the upper stepped surface. The watercraft
may also further comprising a rear chine portion. The rear chine
portion may extend along the outer edge of the upper stepped
portion. The watercraft may also comprise a forward chine portion
forward of the stepped portion. The sound suppressing means may be
configured as concave dimples. The sound suppressing dimples may be
configured as inverted concave frusto-conical sections.
[0011] In yet another embodiment, a watercraft comprises a deck and
a hull, the hull having a plurality of surfaces forming an
acoustical chamber with the waterline. The hull comprises sound
suppressing dimples profiled to cancel an acoustical wave standing
in the chamber.
[0012] The sound suppressing dimples may be configured as inverted
concave frusto-conical sections. The watercraft may also further
comprise a longitudinally extending turning fin positioned adjacent
to the acoustical chamber. The hull may be stepped intermediate a
length of the hull to form an upper stepped surface, where the
upper stepped surface comprises the sound suppressing dimples. The
watercraft may also further comprise a longitudinally extending
turning fin positioned adjacent to the upper stepped surface. The
watercraft may also further comprise a rear chine portion. The rear
chine portion extends along the outer edge of the upper stepped
portion. The watercraft may also comprise a forward chine portion,
forward of said stepped portion. The sound suppressing means may be
configured as concave dimples. The sound suppressing dimples may be
configured as inverted concave frusto-conical sections.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a typical watercraft shown from the
starboard side;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an underside view of the hull of the present
embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a perspective view from the port side of the
watercraft of FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an end view from the aft end of the boat of the
present embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 5 is an end view from the bow of the watercraft of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is an underside perspective of the watercraft hull of
the present invention taken from the starboard side;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing the hull
inverted;
[0020] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion shown in
FIG. 7;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 taken from a
different perspective;
[0022] FIG. 10 is a view showing the sounds suppression panel of
the present embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view through the sound
suppression panel, at the position 11-11 of FIG. 10, with the
watercraft shown in the water; and
[0024] FIG. 12 shows an enlarged view of the encircled portion
shown in FIG. 11.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OR DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
EMBODIMENT
[0025] With reference first to FIGS. 1 through 5, the general
details of the watercraft will be described herein. With reference
first to FIG. 1, the watercraft is shown generally at 2 and
includes a deck portion 4 attached to a vessel hull 6. It should be
understood that these two units are typically constructed in
separate halves and then joined together along a central seam. It
should also be noted that these decks and hulls are typically
molded, or made from fiberglass about a mold, however the actual
construction is not material to the invention. The watercraft 2
further includes an aft portion 8 and a bow portion 10, and as
shown in FIG. 3 includes a port side 12 and a starboard side
14.
[0026] With reference now to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, the vessel hull 6
further comprises a V shaped bottom portion 16, and port side and
starboard side chines 18 which includes a forward chine surface 20
(FIG. 5) and a rearward chine surface 22 (FIG. 22). Primary strake
portions 24 also flank secondary strake portions 26, as best shown
in FIGS. 2 and 5.
[0027] With reference now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a stepped portion 30
is defined which defines a stepped wall 32 (FIG. 8) thereby
defining surface 34 of hull 6 and an upper stepped surface 36. This
also defines an inner sidewall at 38. The stepped portion 30
extends through chine 18 defining surface 39 which opens up on the
side of the hull 6. A turning fin 40 is also provided and is
positioned on the rear chine surface 22. Turning fin 40 includes a
curved surface at 42 and an inner surface at 44. As best shown in
FIG. 9, an opening 50 is defined between the stepped wall portions
32, 39 and turning fin 40 is shown best in FIGS. 8 and 9.
[0028] With reference now to FIGS. 8-10, the area of surface 36
bounded by stepped wall portion 32, 39; wall 38 and inner surface
44 of turning fin 40 is provided with a sound suppression surface
as shown generally at 60. As shown best in FIG. 10, sound
suppression device 60 is applied to surface 36, with a contoured
surface 62, profiled to reside in close proximity to edge 32, a
portion 64 which resides in opening 50, a curved surface 66 which
tucks behind turning fin 40 and a plurality of openings 68. In this
embodiment, the suppression surface is integrally molded into the
hull, although it could be a separate panel, adhesively fixed onto
the hull. With reference now to FIGS. 10-12, the operation of the
sound suppression device will now be described.
[0029] With reference to FIG. 11, a cross sectional view is shown
at a point when the watercraft 2 is planing. Surface 36 is shown
raised above waterline WL, and the combination of the surfaces 36,
22, 44 and 32 (FIG. 10) forms an acoustical chamber 90 beneath the
watercraft. As shown in FIG. 12, sound suppression apertures 68 are
shaped frusto-conically to include inner conically shaped walls 70
with end walls 72. Rather, as shown, panel 60 is provided along
surface 36, for the majority of the length that surface 36 is
positioned above the water line WL. Thus sound waves that reflect
off of panel 60 are cancelled. Some of the sound waves SW.sub.1
reflect off of one portion of frusto-conical portions 70 defining a
reflected sound wave RW.sub.1 while other sound waves SW.sub.2
reflect off of other side of frusto-conical portions 70 defining a
reflected sound wave RW.sub.2. It should be appreciated that
reflected waves RW.sub.1 and RW.sub.2 cancel each other out,
deadening the sound.
[0030] In the embodiment shown, the sound suppression apertures are
provided with diameters at the surface of approximately 1/8 to 1/4
inch in diameter. It should be apparent that other geometries could
be applied to achieve the same sound suppressing results. It should
also be appreciated that the number (or density) of the apertures
and/or their geometry can be modified depending upon the frequency
of the sound to be suppressed.
* * * * *