Marine Vessel Chassis Module for Movable Hull Motion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Boat builders lack expertise in designing hull locating linkages and resilient supports for marine vessels with movable hulls, complicating the integration of such structures.

Innovation Solution

A chassis module with a frame, left and right linkage arrangements, and support mounts that allow movable coupling of hulls, enabling heave motions while constraining lateral, longitudinal, roll, and yaw directions, with joints that resolve most static loads within the frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hull locating linkages and resilient supports are added to enable movable hulls, then vessel functionality and motion control are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevessel motion control capabilityVSAvoidlinkage and support structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The vessel structure is divided into independent modular components: a central body, separate hulls, locating linkages connecting body to hulls, and resilient supports providing cushioning. This segmentation allows each component to be designed, manufactured, and assembled independently, reducing overall system complexity while enabling movable hull functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Locating linkages act as intermediary mechanisms between the body and hulls, providing controlled connection points that allow hull movement while maintaining structural integrity. These linkages mediate the interaction between fixed body and movable hulls, enabling complex motion control without requiring direct rigid connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If resilient supports are added to cushion loads between hulls and body, then vibration and shock are reduced, but device complexity and assembly difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration and shock transmissionVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Resilient supports are pre-installed between the locating linkages and the hulls to provide cushioning before loads are applied. This beforehand cushioning absorbs vibrations and shocks that would otherwise be transmitted directly to the body, protecting the structure while simplifying assembly since the cushioning elements are already in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient supports likely utilize composite material structures combining rigid and flexible properties, allowing them to provide both structural support and vibration damping functionality. This composite approach reduces the need for separate cushioning components, simplifying assembly while maintaining load-carrying capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If multiple locating linkage arrangements are provided for left and right hulls, then hull position control and stability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehull position stabilityVSAvoidassembly speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The locating linkage arrangements for left and right hulls are designed as universal, interchangeable components with identical or mirrored specifications. This universality allows the same linkage design to be used on both sides of the vessel, enabling standardized manufacturing processes and faster assembly through component repetition rather than custom design for each location.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

While maintaining universal component design, the linkage arrangements are configured with asymmetric positioning and orientation specific to each hull location (left vs. right). This asymmetric configuration provides optimal stability and position control for each side while still using the same fundamental component type, balancing customized performance with standardized manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentUS12371130B2Structure for marine vessel

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 NAUTI CRAFT PTY LTD

AI summary

A chassis module for a vessel, the chassis module having: a frame; a left linkage arrangement including at least one left hull connection and configured to movably couple the frame to at least one left hull when the left hull connection is connected to the left hull; a right linkage arrangement including at least one right hull connection and configured to movably couple the frame to at least one right hull when the right hull connection is connected to the right hull; at least one left support mount and at least one right support mount for respectively connecting to a respective support providing support for the frame relative to the respective left or right hull when hulls are connected to the hull connections; the frame having a plurality of body attachments to facilitate attachment of the chassis module to a body of a vessel.