U.S. patent application number 14/218614 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for underwater vessel with above-water propulsion.
The applicant listed for this patent is Awsabe Shifferaw, Tessema Dosho Shifferaw. Invention is credited to Awsabe Shifferaw, Tessema Dosho Shifferaw.
Application Number | 20140261139 14/218614 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42353110 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140261139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shifferaw; Tessema Dosho ;
et al. |
September 18, 2014 |
Underwater Vessel with Above-Water Propulsion
Abstract
A vessel for transporting a payload through water having a body
which travels below the surface of the water and carries the
payload, fins extending laterally from the body below the surface
of the water a telescoping tower which extends above the surface of
the water from the body, a wing extending laterally above the water
from an upper portion of the tower, engines mounted on the wing for
propelling the body through the water, and propellers mounted on
the under sides of the fins for lifting the vessel and holding the
vessel in a raised position with the body at the surface of the
water while loading and unloading the payload.
Inventors: |
Shifferaw; Tessema Dosho;
(Albany, CA) ; Shifferaw; Awsabe; (Albany,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Shifferaw; Tessema Dosho
Shifferaw; Awsabe |
Albany
Albany |
CA
CA |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
42353110 |
Appl. No.: |
14/218614 |
Filed: |
March 18, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12696266 |
Jan 29, 2010 |
8671868 |
|
|
14218614 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
114/332 ;
114/337 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B63G 8/18 20130101; B63G
8/08 20130101; B63G 8/14 20130101; B63G 8/04 20130101; B63G 8/20
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
114/332 ;
114/337 |
International
Class: |
B63G 8/08 20060101
B63G008/08; B63G 8/18 20060101 B63G008/18; B63G 8/20 20060101
B63G008/20; B63G 8/14 20060101 B63G008/14 |
Claims
1. A vessel for transporting people, cargo, and other payload
through water, comprising: a body which travels below the surface
of the water and carries therein all of the people, cargo, and
other payload transported by the vessel, a tower which is attached
to the body and extends above the surface of the water, and an
engine mounted on the tower above the surface of the water for
propelling the body through the water.
2. The vessel of claim 1 including fins which extend laterally from
the body for stabilizing the body in the water.
3. The vessel of claim 2 wherein the fins include adjustable
elevators for controlling pitch and depth of the body in the
water.
4. The vessel of claim 1 including a wing which extends laterally
from the tower and serves as a horizontal stabilizer for the vessel
while traveling through the air above the water.
5. The vessel of claim 4 wherein the engine is attached to the
wing.
6. The vessel of claim 5 wherein the tower is a telescoping tower
which can be extended and retracted to position the engine at a
desired height above the water.
7. The vessel of claim 1 including a propeller and a rudder at the
rear of the body for propelling the vessel at slower speeds and
steering the vessel in the water.
8. The vessel of claim 1 including means for lifting the vessel and
holding the vessel in a raised position with the body at the
surface of the water while loading and unloading the payload.
9. The vessel of claim 1 including a propeller driven by the engine
above the surface of the water.
10. The vessel of claim 1 wherein the engine is a jet engine.
11. The vessel of claim 1 wherein operation of the vessel is
remotely controlled.
12. A vessel for transporting a payload through water, comprising:
a body which travels below the surface of the water and carries the
payload therein, fins extending laterally from the body below the
surface of the water, a telescoping tower which is attached to the
body and extends above the surface of the water, a wing extending
laterally from an upper portion of the tower above the surface of
the water, at least one engine mounted on the wing for propelling
the body through the water, and means for lifting the vessel and
holding the vessel in a raised position with the body at the
surface of the water while loading and unloading the payload.
13. The vessel of claim 12 wherein the fins extend from both
forward and aft portions of the body.
14. The vessel of claim 12 wherein the fins include adjustable
elevators for controlling pitch and depth of the body in the
water.
15. The vessel of claim 12 wherein the propellers are reversible
and can be used for driving the body of the vessel down into the
water.
16. The vessel of claim 12 including a propeller and a rudder at
the rear of the body for propelling the vessel at slower speeds and
steering the vessel in the water.
17. The vessel of claim 12 wherein the engines are jet engines.
18. The vessel of claim 12 including propellers driven above the
surface of the water by the engines.
19. The vessel of claim 12 wherein operation of the vessel is
controlled remotely.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Division of Application No. 12/696,266, filed Jan. 29, 2010,
claiming the priority of Provisional Application No. 61/148,268,
filed Jan. 29, 2009.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention pertains generally to marine vessels and,
more particularly, to an underwater vessel with above-water
propulsion.
[0004] 2. Related Art
[0005] Transportation of people and cargo by boats or ships is
relatively slow and inefficient because of the limited speeds at
which such vessels can travel on the surface of water and the
amount of fuel or energy they consume. While airplanes can
generally travel much faster than boats, they are required to lift
their payloads, which consumes additional fuel or energy. Moreover,
many above water vessels or boats tend to hydroplane or fly,
thereby losing control and becoming unsafe when speed is
increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention provides a vessel that travels underwater with
above-water propulsion. The vessel includes a body which travels
below the surface of the water and carries people, cargo, or other
payload, a tower which extends above the surface of the water from
the body, and an engine mounted on the tower above the water for
propelling the body through the water.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of one embodiment of an
underwater vessel with above-water propulsion according to the
invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a rear isometric view of the embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front isometric view of another embodiment of an
underwater vessel with above-water propulsion according to the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
6.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIG.
6.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] As illustrated FIGS. 1-5, the vessel 11 has an elongated,
aerodynamically shaped body 12 which travels below the surface of
water and holds the people, cargo, or other payload being
transported. In the embodiment illustrated, the vessel is propelled
by a pair of jet engines 13 which are attached to the under side of
a wing 14 which travels through the air above the water and serves
as a horizontal stabilizer toward the rear of the vessel. The wing
is mounted to the body by a telescoping tower 16 which can be
extended and retracted to position the engines at the desired
height above the water, e.g. to provide the best thrust and to
prevent water from getting into the air intakes of the engines. If
desired, other types of above-water propulsion systems such as
propellers or other types of aircraft engines can be used in place
of, or in addition to, the jet engines.
[0017] Fins 17 extend laterally from opposite sides of the body
approximately one-third of the way back from the front of the body
toward the rear, and additional fins 18 extend laterally from the
rear portion of the body. The fins function as stabilizers for the
body as it travels through the water, and they can also be used as
elevators to control the pitch and depth of the body in the water.
Retractable propellers 19 are mounted on the under sides of fins 17
for lifting the vessel and holding it in a raised position for
loading and unloading. Also, by reversing the direction of the
propellers, the propellers can be used for driving the vessel down
into the water. The buoyancy of can be increased and decreased like
that of a submarine by pumping air into and out of chambers (not
shown) onboard the vessel.
[0018] A propeller 21 and a rudder 22 are provided at the rear of
the body for propelling the vessel at slower speeds and for
steering the vessel in the water.
[0019] Viewing devices such as periscopes and/or cameras (not
shown) can be mounted in or on the tower to provide a view of the
area above the surface to the operator and/or others in the vessel
below the surface.
[0020] The embodiment of FIGS. 6-9 is generally similar to the
embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, and like reference numerals designate
corresponding elements in the two embodiments. The embodiment of
FIGS. 6-9 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, however, in
that the wing 14 and tower 16 are located in a more forward
position relative to the body of the vessel. In the embodiment
illustrated, they are positioned midway between the forward and aft
ends of the vessel, but they can also be positioned even more
forward, if desired. Having the wing and tower in a more forward or
central position can avoid torque problems that might otherwise
arise in some applications.
[0021] The vessel can be utilized in a wide variety of
applications. Smaller vessels having a size of less than about 15
square meters (160 square feet) can, for example be designed and
outfitted for rescue operations, fast transportation of human
beings for both commercial and private use, fast delivery of cargo,
and military use. Medium size vessels (15 to 200 square meters) and
larger vessels (over 200 square meters) can also be utilized in
similar applications with greater load carrying capacities, and the
larger vessels can also be used in applications such as oil tankers
for faster transportation of oil.
[0022] The vessel is also particularly suitable for use as a
remotely controlled, unmanned vehicle or vessel in the water. It
can be controlled from onboard aircraft or ships as well as from
the shore. It can be activated when needed and left alone and
unattended in the water for extended periods of time. It can, for
example, be used advantageously by ships for protection against
pirates and other enemies. One or more of the vessels accompanying
a ship could be activated and deployed immediately to fend off the
pirates or other enemy.
[0023] The vessel can be propelled with jet or rocket engines and
used as a vehicle for surveillance, with cameras and radar and a
loudspeaker for warning purposes. It can also be equipped with
weapons and/or used like a torpedo. Fueling can be done either
onshore or from a ship, and when deactivated, the vessel can easily
be towed by a ship. Using the turbines, the vessel can be kept
afloat with minimal use of fuel or energy, with the jets being
fired only when needed.
[0024] The invention has a number of important features and
advantages. Having the vessel travel underwater with above-water
propulsion dramatically increases the speed at which the vessel can
travel, decreases the amount of fuel or energy consumed, and also
increases the safety of the vessel as compared with those that
travel on the surface. It also makes it possible to transport heavy
equipment, people and other heavy loads faster than by conventional
ship without the added costs and safety concerns of flying.
[0025] It is apparent from the foregoing that a new and improved
vessel for high speed transportation of people and other loads has
been provided. While only certain presently preferred embodiments
have been described in detail, as will be apparent to those
familiar with the art, certain changes and modifications can be
made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined
by the following claims.
* * * * *