WO2000066419A1

WO2000066419A1 - Waterborne craft

Info

Publication number: WO2000066419A1
Application number: PCT/GB2000/001677
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lionel Stanley Cope
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-05-04
Filing date: 2000-05-02
Publication date: 2000-11-09
Anticipated expiration: 2001-11-04
Also published as: GB0010561D0; GB2349612A; GB9910285D0; GB2349612B; AU4422900A

Abstract

A waterborne craft has a framework (1) supporting at least two rotatably mounted buoyancy members, preferably spherical members (40, 50, 60) which each have an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a fore and aft axis (5) of the craft. The spherical members are such that less than a radius of the members is located between the waterline and, preferably, 35 % - 10 % of the sphere volume is located below the waterline. Lateral stability control of the craft is by an annular member located about the spherical member, the annular member (90) having the same axis of rotation as the spherical member.

Description

ATERBOR E CRAFT

This invention relates to a waterborne craft. Waterborne craft apart from so-called 'hovercraft" which are supported on a platform of air, most waterborne craft comprise one or more hulls which are situated in the water and which provide required buoyancy. Because hulled craft present a not insubstantial drag when passing through the water, the design and shape of the hull presents a limitation to the speed performance of the craft. The craft may be powered by, for example, sail, inboard or outboard motors, an air fan or jet engines, or may be manually powered by way of oars or paddles. Such craft may range in size from a single person canoe, for example, up to an ocean-going liner.

The present invention seeks to at least partially mitigate the difficulties associated with frictional drag on hulled waterborne craft.

According to one aspect of this invention there is provided a waterborne craft including support means having a fore and aft axis, said support means rotatably supporting at least two buoyancy members which each have an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to said fore and aft axis, said buoyancy members providing solely buoyancy for said craft, wherein the buoyancy members are spherical and at least one of said buoyancy members includes at least one annular member mounted about a periphery of said buoyancy member, said annular member having an axis of rotation substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said buoyancy member. According to a further aspect of this invention there is provided a waterborne craft including support means, said support means rotatably supporting at least two buoyancy members which each have an axis of rotation, at least one of said buoyancy members having an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to an intended direction of movement of said craft, said buoyancy members providing solely buoyancy for said craft, wherein the buoyancy members are spherical and at least one of said buoyancy members includes at least one annular member mounted about a periphery of said buoyancy member, said annular member having an axis of rotation substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said buoyancy member.

It is to be understood that the rotatable buoyancy members solely provide buoyancy for the craft and are not intended to provide motive power.

Preferably, three spherical members are provided, a first spherical member being mounted so as to traverse said fore and aft axis, and the other two spherical members being located each on a respective side of said fore and aft axis and axially disposed along said axis from said first spherical means .

Conveniently, said support means comprises a framework of members and said spherical members are located within said framework.

Advantageously, said framework includes a platform located thereon for at least one of personnel, vehicles, freight, livestock.

So as to assist lateral stability control of said craft, a centreboard may be movably mounted in said framework to facilitate control of lateral movement of said craft .

Advantageously, said at least one annular member is fixedly secured to said buoyancy member. Conveniently, said at least one annular member is mounted about a diameter of said spherical member.

Advantageously, three or more buoyancy members are provided for said craft, whereby less than 50% and, preferably, less than 35% to about 10% of the volume of each of the buoyancy members is below a waterline in use. Preferably, each said buoyancy member has an axle which is mounted in bearing means secured to said framework.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective, schematic view of a waterborne craft in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 shows one embodiment of a spherical member having a lateral stability control member for the craft, Figure 3 shows a view of the spherical member of Figure 2 in the direction of arrow-headed line III of Figure 2, and

Figures 4 and 5 respectively show longitudinal side views of alternative arrangements of spherical members. In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts .

A schematic representation of a waterborne craft is shown in Figure 1 in which the craft has a framework 1 for moving in the direction of arrow-headed line A so that the craft has a fore end 3 and an aft end 4. The framework has as a fore and aft longitudinal axis 5.

The fore end 3 of the framework is formed by a member 11 traversing the axis 5 and two side members 12, 13, each on a respective side of the axis 5. The members 12, 13 are joined to an aft end of the framework by a transverse member 14 forming a frame with side members 15, 16 extending in the direction of the axis 5 and another transverse member 17 having the same length as the member 14. Further members 18, 19, both extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 5, are provided between the transverse members 14, 17.

The side members 12, 13, extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis 5, each have a journal members 22 in which is located a bearing (not shown) supporting an axle

30 extending orthogonally to the axis 5 and upon which axle is mounted a spherical member 40. Similarly, journal members 25 are provided on each of the side members 15, 18 and journal members 26 are provided on side members 16 and 19. The journal members 25 also have respective bearings within which is rotatably mounted an axle 35 supporting a spherical member 50 and the journal members 26 have respective bearings rotatably carrying an axle 36 which supports a spherical member 60. Thus, the craft 1 has rotatably mounted spherical members 40, 50, 60 which rotate about an axis that is orthogonal to the fore and aft axis 5.

So as to enhance the lateral stability of the craft, a centre board 70, shown in broken lines, may be movably mounted, i.e. to be raised and lowered, within a support member 71 located along the axis 5. For a sail craft, a mast 80, shown in broken lines, may be fixedly or pivotally mounted within a support member 81 extending transversely across the axis 5 and located between side members 12, 13. An outboard motor 83 and/or rudder/tiller may be mounted at the aft end of the framework.

So as to further enhance the lateral stability control of the craft, annular members 90, shown in Figures 2 and 3, may be fixedly or rotatably mounted about the periphery of one or all of the spherical members 40, 50, 60, the annular member 90 having a common axis with the axle of the relevant sphere, e.g. axle 30. In the embodiment shown, a single annular member is provided about the maximum diameter of the spherical member, although it is envisaged that plural annular members may be provided about other portions of the spherical member.

Stability may be further enhanced by adopting configurations, such as those shown in Figures 4 and 5, where larger diameter spherical members 400 are provided at fore and aft ends of a craft with smaller spherical members 500 being interposed between the fore and aft ends.

Although the views are longitudinal side views, for a large craft the views could also be representative of transverse, i.e. end-on (port-starboard views of a craft).

Another embodiment of the invention is envisaged that one or more of the spherical members may be steerable, to steer the direction of the craft wherein the movable spherical member has an axis of rotation which is substantially orthogonal to the intended direction of motion of the craft. Preferably such a steerable spherical member has an annular member located thereabout. The size and number of the spherical members that are provided will depend upon the loading to be carried by the craft, but it is desirable that less than 50% and, preferably, less than 35% to about 10% of the sphere volume measured in a vertical direction, i.e. out of the water, will be located below the waterline in use, the latter being indicated by lines 92, 93.

Clearly, the smaller the volume or sphere that rests below the waterline, the faster the craft will be. It is believed that there is a correlation between the plimsoll line of ships, i.e. the waterline, and the number of spheres that are required to adequately produce the same floatation/buoyancy qualities, namely the distance around the waterline of a conventional hull approximates to the totalised diameter of all the spherical members.

Because a waterborne craft riding on rotatably mounted spherical members which have a much reduced drag within water compared to a conventional hull, so it is believed that the present invention will provide a substantial advance in the speed of movement of waterborne craft. Moreover, because the present invention provides less resistance to motion, it is believed that there will be a considerable reduction of fuel consumption in a motorised craft. Additionally, because journey time will be shortened due to the increased speed, so there will be yet a further reduction in fuel consumption.

Although it is preferred that at least three spherical members are provided for support of the framework, it is envisaged that for light craft only two spherical members located along the fore and aft axis 5 with one or more outrigger hulls may be required. If three spherical members are used, another configuration to that used in Fig. 1 is for two members forward and one aft, and the aft spherical member may be steerable by, for example, a tiller and have an annular member thereabout.

Claims

CLAIMS :

1. A waterborne craft including support means (1) having a fore and aft axis, said support means rotatably supporting at least two buoyancy members (40, 50, 60) which each have an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to said fore and aft axis, said buoyancy members providing solely buoyancy for said craft, wherein the buoyancy members (40, 50, 60) are spherical and at least one of said buoyancy members includes at least one annular member mounted about a periphery of said buoyancy member, said annular member having an axis of rotation substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said buoyancy member.

2. A waterborne craft as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one annular member is fixedly secured to said buoyancy member.

3. A waterborne craft as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein said at least one annular member is mounted about a diameter of said spherical member.

4. A waterborne craft including support means (1), said support means rotatably supporting at least two buoyancy members which each have an axis of rotation, at least one of said buoyancy members (40,50,60) having an axis of rotation substantially orthogonal to an intended direction of movement of said craft, said buoyancy members providing solely buoyancy for said craft, wherein the buoyancy members (40, 50, 60) are spherical and at least one of said buoyancy members includes at least one annular member mounted about a periphery of said buoyancy member, said annular member having an axis of rotation substantially the same as the axis of rotation of said buoyancy member.

5. A waterborne craft as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein three spherical members are provided, a first spherical member being mounted so as to traverse said fore and aft axis, and the other two spherical members being located each on a respective side of said fore and aft axis and axially disposed along said axis from said first spherical means.

6. A waterborne craft as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said support means comprises a framework of members and said spherical members are located within said framework.

7. A waterborne craft as claimed in claim 6, wherein said framework includes a platform located thereon for at least one of personnel, vehicles, freight, livestock.

8. A waterborne craft as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a centreboard is movably mounted in said framework to facilitate control of lateral movement of said craft.

9. A waterborne craft as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein three or more buoyancy members are provided for said craft, less than 50% of the volume of each of the buoyancy members is below a waterline in use.

10. A waterborne craft as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein three or more buoyancy members are provided for said craft, less than 35% to about 10% of the volume of each of the buoyancy members is below a waterline in use.

11. A waterborne craft as claimed in claim 6, wherein each said buoyancy member has an axle which is mounted in bearing means secured to said framework.