| Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using sameRelated Patent Categories: Ships, Hull Or Hull Adjunct Employing Fluid Dynamic Forces To Derive A Lift Or Alter Trim, (e.g., Planing Hulls, Etc.), Movably Mounted Hull Portion Or Hull Adjunct, Trim Tab Or Hull PlateMarine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070028827, Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims priority to and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/354,353, filed Jan. 30, 2003, by Joseph A. Smith, entitled SMITH MOSES HYDRO LIFT FLAPS, which status is allowed and is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention related to vessels, more specifically to an improved vessel construction with hydro lift flaps and method of using same to improve the performance of vessels. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0003] Through this specification, the background of the invention and the invention itself is described and claimed using terms that are well known in the filed of vessel design industry. Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the following definitions should be understood: [0004] "Vessel"--a craft, especially one larger than a rowboat, designed to navigate on or under water. [0005] "Boat"--a vessel of any size including, but not limited to, vessels having considerable size for deep-water navigation such as an ocean ship or submarine. [0006] "Prow"--the forward part of a ship's hull, or the bow. [0007] "Stem"--the curved upright beam at the fore of a vessel into which the hull timbers are scarfed to form the prow. [0008] "Stern"--the after or rear end of a ship or other vessel, or of a boat; the part opposite to the stem, or prow. [0009] Boat or vessel construction is not new. But people skilled in the art know that it has been always a challenge to have a vessel construction that can reduce vessel drag, allow a vessel to attain high speed at reduced fuel usage, and give local control of the vessel. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The above-noted challenge is taken by the present invention, which in one aspect is an improved boat construction. In a first embodiment of the invention, there is a hull having a bottom, a bow and a stern. Additionally, the improved boat construction of the invention includes a plurality of flaps, wherein each flap has a forward edge, a rear edge, and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge and the rear edge. The body portion has an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface. [0011] Moreover, each flap is movably mounted to the bottom of the hull at the forward edge such that each flap can be moved between a first position and a second position that is apart from the first position. When a flap is in the first position, the angle, .alpha., which is defined by the exterior surface of the bottom of the hull and the interior surface of the body portion of the flap, has a value substantially around zero such that the exterior surface of the body portion of the flap is substantially flat with the exterior surface of the bottom of the hull. [0012] When a flap is in the second position, the body portion of the flap is apart from the bottom of the hull at an angle, .alpha., with a non zero value, such that the flap is at least partially extended into the water flow to cause an upward force to be applied towards to the bottom of the hull. It is believed that when a flap is extended into the water flow at an acute angle, an upward force may be generated to partially lift the hull and thereby decrease the vessel drag. [0013] In another aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for improving performance of a vessel, wherein the vessel has a hull having a bottom, a bow and a stem. In one embodiment, the apparatus has at least one flap, wherein the flap has a forward edge, a rear edge, and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge and the rear edge, the body portion having an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface, and is movably mounted to the bottom of the hull at the forward edge such that a flap can be moved between a first position and a second position apart from the first position. The apparatus also has means for moving the flap between the first position and the second position. [0014] In yet another aspect, the present invention relates to a method for improving performance of a vessel, wherein the vessel has a hull having a bottom, a bow and a stem. In one embodiment, the method has the steps of providing at least one flap, wherein the flap has a forward edge, a rear edge, and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge and the rear edge, the body portion having an exterior surface and an opposite, interior surface, and is movably mounted to the bottom of the hull at the forward edge such that a flap can be moved between a first position and a second position apart from the first position, and moving the flap between the first position and the second position, such that the flap is at least partially extended into the water flow to cause an upward force to be applied towards to the bottom of the hull to affect the performance of the vessel. [0015] Other advantages and uses for the present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the remainder of this document. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, where several flaps with extensions are shown mounted on a bottom of a vessel. [0017] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a flap according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 3 shows the indicated section 3/3 identified in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] The present invention is more particularly described in the following examples that are intended as illustrative only since numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. As used in the specification and in the claims, "a" can mean one or more, depending upon the context in which it is used. Several embodiments are now described with reference to the FIGS. 1-3, in which like numbers indicate like parts throughout the FIGS. 1-3. Continue reading about Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same... Full patent description for Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Structural flotation device Next Patent Application: Potential separation for fill level radar Industry Class: Ships ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.17692 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
