Dynamically Operative Keel Systems and Methods

Abstract

The present invention comprises dynamically operative keel systems and methods of enhancing a marine vessel's directional control, linear tracking, and turn holding, among other benefits. Hull undersurface facets, laterally symmetrically configured and disposed in laterally symmetrical pairs, extend longitudinally for varying extents establish longitudinally extending recesses and / or voids of varying cross-sections and / or depths that channel water flow and / or pressure. The facets generally include longitudinally extending laterally outermost, laterally innermost, and optional (in some embodiments), intermediate faces that demarcate the voids and / or recesses. The faces provide keel-simulating effects when the vessel is running on plane and travelling linearly or turning, and variously encounters uneven water surfaces, uneven and / or laterally / diagonally directed water surface pressures and / or currents, and / or laterally / diagonally directed winds.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation in part of and claims the benefit of the priority date of U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 12 / 660,195, filed Feb. 22, 2010, and the entire disclosure of the parent U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 12 / 660,195, is hereby incorporated herein by reference; in addition, this application is a continuation in part of U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 11 / 408,524, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,192, filed Apr. 4, 2006, which is the parent application of the U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 12 / 660,195, which is a continuation of U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 11 / 408,524, and claims the benefit of its priority date; and the entire disclosure of the grandparent U.S. Non-Provisional Utility patent application Ser. No. 11 / 408,524, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,677,192, is hereby also incorporated herein by reference...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a marine vessel hull design that enhances linear and turn tracking while maintaining performance when not turning. The design includes pairs of hull facets that are symmetrically arranged and have recesses on their undersurface. The recesses have a longitudinally extending void and are designed to interrupt water surface flow and enhance straight tracking. The hull design also includes a counteracting mechanism to manage the hydrodynamics of the hull during turning. The invention allows for improved performance and efficiency when turning and navigating in different water conditions.

Problems solved by technology

However, the reduced contact and penetration depth can also impair the capacity of the hull to maintain directional control, both when traveling straight across uneven water and when effecting sharper turns without risk of spin outs or sideways slippage.

The water surface a vessel travels across is rarely glass smooth, so that one side of the hull will frequently experience a differing drag than the other side, which would tend to turn the vessel even when it is attempting to travel in a straight line.

Among the negative outcomes of this situation, when the vessel hull's resistance to the sideways force is insufficient for the degree of turn being commenced, are a spin-out, in which the vessel hull's directional control substantially fails, or a sideways slipping across the water surface in which the vessel's orientation changes too slowly, so that the vessel continues an excess of movement in the direction of the first bearing, while being pointed more in the second bearing, and hence turns too slowly to maintain the desired trajectory.

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