685results about "Vessel movement reduction by foils" patented technology

A floating wind turbine platform includes a floatation frame (105) that includes three columns (102, 103) that are coupled to each other with horizontal main beams (115). A wind turbine tower (111) is mounted above a tower support column (102) to simplify the system construction and improve the structural strength. The turbine blades (101) are coupled to a nacelle (125) that rotates on top of the tower (111). The turbine's gearbox generator and other electrical gear can be mounted either traditionally in the nacelle, or lower in the tower (111) or in the top of the tower-supporting column (102). The floatation frame (105) includes a water ballasting system that pumps water between the columns (102, 103) to keep the tower (111) in a 10 vertical alignment regardless of the wind speed. Water-entrapment plates (107) are mounted to the bottoms of the columns (102, 103) to minimize the rotational movement of the floatation frame (105) due to waves.

An offshore floating production, storage, and off-loading vessel has a monolithic non ship-shaped hull of polygonal configuration surrounding a central double tapered conical moon pool and contains water ballast and oil storage compartments. The exterior side walls of the hull have flat surfaces and sharp corners to cut ice sheets, resist and break ice, and move ice pressure ridges away from the structure. An adjustable water ballast system induces heave, roll, pitch and surge motions of the vessel to dynamically position and maneuver the vessel to accomplish ice cutting, breaking and moving operations. The moon pool shape and other devices on the vessel provide added virtual mass capable of increasing the natural period of the roll and heave modes, reducing dynamic amplification and resonance due to waves and vessel motion, and facilitate maneuvering the vessel. The vessel may be moored by a disconnectable turret buoy received in a support frame at the bottom of the moon pool and to which flexible well risers and mooring lines are connected.

A load carrying structure having a selectively rigid or flexible characteristic includes a thermoplastic material (7) having a softening temperature above the operating temperature range of the load carrying structure, and a heating arrangement (8) provided to selectively heat the thermoplastic material to above its softening temperature. During normal operation, the thermoplastic material is in a rigid state and the overall load carrying structure is rigid to the prevailing loads. By activating the heating arrangement to heat the thermoplastic material to at least its softening temperature, the thermoplastic material and therewith the load carrying structure becomes flexible so that it may be deformed to a different configuration by applying a deforming load. Once the desired deformed configuration is achieved, the heating arrangement is deactivated, and the thermoplastic material is allowed to cool below its softening temperature so that it once again becomes rigid and rigidly fixes the new deformed configuration. The deforming force may be applied by any actuating mechanism, or for example by arranging shape memory alloys in connection with the thermoplastic material.

The invention relates to an arrangement and a method for dynamic control of the movements and course of a high-speed vessel hull (100). The arrangement (101) comprises propulsion members (102, 102') and at least one flap member (104, 104', 104'', 104'''). In this connection, the flap member is arranged so as to be capable of being brought adjustably at an angle (105) in relation to a water flow (106) relative to an aft side surface (107) of the vessel hull (100) in order in this connection to generate force components (108, 109) which act on said vessel hull (100) and on a front side (110) of the flap member (104), the flap member (104) being arranged so that the force components (108, 109) generated are directed on the one hand towards the aft side surface (107) of the vessel hull and on the other hand towards the front side (110) of the flap member (104) in the water flow (106) relative to the aft side surface (107) so as in this way to be capable of bringing about a change in the movements and/or course of the vessel hull (100). The invention is particular intended for manoeuvring vessel hulls of high-speed vessels of the type which are provided with water-jet drive, that is to say vessels with a water-free stem while in motion, but can also be applied to other types of high-speed vessels.

The invention relates to a fin stabilization system adapted to minimize roll about the longitudinal axis of the boat during sharp cornering at very high speeds. In one form, equipment such as a machine gun is mounted to the bow of the boat and targets are adapted to be engaged in high-speed maneuvers when cornering and the deck of the boat is not excessively rolled whereby blocking visibility in a turn.

A trim tab monitoring circuit is provided which receives a signal that is representative of a voltage potential across a stator winding of a motor which is attached to the trim tab. This signal is passed through a high pass filter to remove the DC component of the signal, amplified, and passed through a low pass filter to remove certain high frequencies components of the signal. A zero crossing detector is used to discern individual pulses which are then received by a counter that provides a single output pulse for a predetermined number of input pulses. The series of output pulses from the counter are conditioned and, in conjunction with a direction sensor, provided to an up/down counter controller that provides digital signals to a signal output circuit. The signal output circuit provides a DC voltage output to a display and the DC output voltage is representative of the position of the trim tab.

Variation in the contours of first and second compliant surfaces is produced by a compliant frame having a first resiliently variable frame element (120) having a corresponding first outer surface (122) and a first inner surface (124), and a second resiliently variable frame element (130) having a corresponding second outer surface (132) and a second inner surface (134). The first and second outer surfaces (122, 132) communicate with respective ones of the first and second compliant surfaces. A linkage element (141-144) having a predetermined resilience characteristic is coupled at a first end thereof to the first inner surface (124) and at a second end thereof to the second inner surface (134). A frame coupler (151) couples the first resiliently variable frame element (120) to a support element (150). An actuator (106) applies a force to the second resiliently variable frame element (130) with respect to the support element (150), resulting in a corresponding variation in the contour of the first and second compliant surfaces.

A rudder and dynamic trim adjusting apparatus for a boat includes a rudder, a rudder shaft extending from the rudder and being rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof to rotate the rudder, trim fins extending from the rudder, along at least one transverse axis transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a mechanism connected to the trim fins, and being operable, independently of rotation of the rudder shaft to rotate the trim fins about the at least one transverse axis. Methods of controlling an attitude of a boat hull are provided.

Internal electrode layers are superimposed in a dielectric substrate 1 at intervals. Step absorption layers are respectively provided on lateral sides of the internal electrode layers. A side portion of the internal electrode layer forms an inclined surface, and the step absorption layer is superimposed so as to partially overlap the inclined surface of the internal electrode layer. This is also applied to the other internal electrode layers and step absorption layers.

An apparatus for use in offshore oil or gas production in which a plurality of vertical stabilizing columns are supported on a submerged horizontal water entrapment plate is provided to support minimum offshore oil and gas production facilities above a subsea wellhead, or subsea processing facilities, or a submarine pipeline, and whose main function is to provide power or chemicals or to perform other operations such as compression, injection, or separation of water, oil and gas. The apparatus is maintained in the desired location by a plurality of mooring lines anchored to the sea-bed. The respective size and shape of the columns and water entrapment plate are designed to provide sufficient buoyancy to carry the weight of all equipment on the minimum floating platform and mooring lines, umbilical and risers attached to it, and to minimize the platform motion during normal operations.

As Aileron (fin) is to airplanes and aqualeron is to ships, a device with fins position on both sides of the keel in a horizontal position where a set of gears controls the fin on one side in a downward arc and the other side in an upward arc providing a controlled below water force to maintain any arc of travel on a sail boat, or as a hydrofoil. A set of fins positioned on the bottom of a sailboat eliminating the keel. A set of fins positioned at the bow of a motor boat providing a downward force of the bow. A set of fins on either side of the stem of a power boat, when activated, swing out directing water to the rear of the boat filling the cavity created by the boat to eliminate the wake. A set of fins on both sides when opened to a tube allowing a force of water to enter and empty at the rear of the boat filling the cavity with instant water thereby controlling a wake free operation.

The invention provides a ship, naval vessel or submarine with sharp deceleration and sharp turn damping dual-purpose plate devices. The ship, naval vessel or submarine comprises a ship body and is characterized in that single or multiple deceleration and turn damping dual-purpose plate devices are arranged at the left and right sides of the outer bottom of the ship body, in the middle part of the bottom of the ship body, below the waterlines at the left and right sides of outer shipboards of the ship body or on and below the outer waterline at the tail of the ship body and in an independent cabin at the inner side of the end face of the stern. The ship, naval vessel or submarine has the following beneficial effects: the ship, naval vessel or submarine can assist the vertical tail rudder and front and rear horizontal rudders of the ship body in initiatively, flexibly and safely controlling the ships to decelerate and turn normally and sharply in sudden emergency situation; and devices, 1/3 of which by volume can stretch out leftwards and rightwards simultaneously, are installed and can randomly cooperate with the rudders during control to stretch out only leftwards or rightwards according to the requirements to compensate for various defects during control of the original vertical rudder and front and rear horizontal rudders of the submarine to ensure the front and rear horizontal rudders to longitudinally stand, thus realizing normal deceleration or safe sharp deceleration.

A wake modifying system for modifying a wake produced by a watercraft traveling through water may include a rudder pivotally mounted to the watercraft for steering the watercraft, a fin pivotally mounted to the watercraft substantially along a centerline of the watercraft and forward the rudder, wherein the fin pivots about an upright axis to modify the wake produced by the watercraft traveling through the water, an actuator mounted within the watercraft and operably coupled to the fin for pivoting the fin relative to the centerline, and a controller mounted on the watercraft allowing an operator to control the actuator and selectively pivot the fin to a desired angle θd relative to the centerline.

The invention is a safe steamship, comprising a hull, where the two sides of the hull are symmetrically equipped with side-supporting, floatable device which is connected through supporting arm with the hull and equipped with a swinging mechanism for it to spread or fold along the hull, and a lifting mechanism. And the invention can reduce shaking degree of the steamship, avoiding turnover accidents and offer persons on steamship a safe and comfortable environment. And the invention can be used in freighters and passenger liners, especially having a great significance in improving stability and safety for ocean shipping and tourist ships in shipping.