US3742893A

US3742893A - Water-jet propulsion and steering system for a multi-section prime-mover ship

Info

Publication number: US3742893A
Application number: US00244079A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Stelling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-04-14
Filing date: 1972-04-14
Publication date: 1973-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-03

Abstract

A multi-section, prime-mover ship comprising at least one nonpropelled, cargo-carrying body section, hydraulically coupled to a pair of prime-mover end sections which are propelled by a water-jet propulsion and steering system. Rotatable water jets, turnable through an angle of 360*, are coupled to a high-pressure water pumping system, which produces a high velocity stream of water which is ejected from the rotatable water jets to steer and propell the ship.

Description

United States Patent [191 Stelling WATER-JET PROPULSION AND STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MULTl-SECTION PRIME-MOVER SHIP [76] Inventor: William Stelling, 175 W. 72nd St.,

New York, N.Y. 10023 [22] Filed: Apr. 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 244,079.

[52] US. Cl 115/12 R, 115/14, 114/77 R [51] Int. Cl B63h "/04 [58] Field of Search 115/14, 12 R, 18 R,

115/11; 114/151, 150, 236,144, 67 R, 72, 73, 16 R, 16 G, 77 R, 66.5 P, 235 A; 60/221, 222, 232', 239/265.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,628,487 12/1971 Bennett .114/66.5P

[ July 3,1973

3,687,374 8/1972 Nash 60/232 X Primary Examiner-Milton Buchler Assistant Examiner-Douglas Butter Att0rneyAllison C. Collard [5 7 ABSTRACT A multi-section, prime-mover ship comprising at least one nonpropelled, cargo-carrying body section, bydraulically coupled to a pair of prime-mover end sections which are propelled by a water-jet propulsion and steering system. Rotatable water jets, turnable through an angle of 360, are coupled to a high-pressure water pumping system, which produces a high velocity stream of water which is ejected from the rotatable water jets to steer and propell the ship.

13 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 3 I975 SHEET 2 BF 5 IMENIHJJUU I975 SHEET 3 [If 5 PAIENTEDJULB mi SHEEI R [If 5 WATER-JET PROPULSION AND STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MULTI-SECTION PRIME-MOVER SHIP The present invention relates to ships, and in particular, to a multi-section, prime-mover ship comprising one or more main, cargo-carrying body sections and a pair of water-jet propelled end sections hydraulically coupled to the body section.

Conventional ships and barges are extremely difficult to maneuver, especially in harbors, where they must be moved by tugboats and other suitable similar type ships. This is so because conventional steering systems, which consist of power-driven propeller screws and rudders, at the stern of the ship, do not provide sufficient manuverability to enable a large ship to turn quickly and sharply.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a multisection, prime-mover ship comprising at least one main, nonpropelled, cargo-carrying body section, having a plurality of hydraulic locking receptacles provided therein. A pair of self-propelled, prime-mover end sections, each having a bow at one end, and having a shape at the other end corresponding to the shape of the ends of the main body section, are coupled to the main body section by hydraulic coupling means disposed in the prime-mover sections. The hydraulic coupling means, and the receptacles are aligned when the prime-mover sections abut the main body section, and comprise resilient cylindrical members inserted in the hydraulic locking receptacles to securely couple the ship sections together. Stabilizing means are disposed on the outside surface of the hull of the prime-mover sections below the water line thereof, to raise or lower the attitude of the prime-mover sections. Water-jet propulsion means, disposed in the prime-mover sections, propel and steer the ship formed by the primemover sections and the main body section. The waterjet propulsion means provided in each of the primemover sections includes a rotatable water jet, disposed through and mounted in the bottom surface of the hull of the prime-mover sections, which is turnable through 360. Means, coupled to the water jet, for ejecting water from the water jet under high pressure, is also provided.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-section, prime-mover ship in which one or more nonpropelled, cargo-carrying sections are coupled to and propelled by at least one power-driven, primemover section.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a water-jet propulsion system for both propelling and steering a multi-section ship formed by the primemover sections and the cargo-carrying sections.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a water-jet steering and propulsion system for a multi-section ship in which the water jets thereof may be interchanged without removing the ship from the water.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a multi-section, prime-mover ship, and a waterjet propulsion and steering system for such a ship, which are simple in design, easy to manufacture, and efficient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side-view of a multi-section, prime-mover ship, constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic mechanical illustration of the water-jet propulsion system of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the water jet and meqns for mounting the water jet in the ship;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the water jet, taken along section 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional top view of the water jet, taken along section 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic mechanical illustration of another embodiment of the water-jet propulsion system;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the prime-mover sections of the ship, illustrating the mounting of the water jet in the ship;

FIG. 8 is a partial, side view of the inside of the ship in the direction of arrows 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic mechanical illustration of a water-tight compartment constructed over the water jets of the prime-mover ship;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the exterior of the water-tight compartment illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the fluid flow system for the water-jet propulsion system of the ship;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional enlarged view of the hydraulic coupler in its extended position;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional enlarged view of the hydraulic coupler of FIG. 12 shown in its retracted position;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a water jet propulsion system constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the water jet pro pulsion system taken along Section 15-15 of FIG. 14.

Referring to the drawings, specifically to FIG. 1, there is shown a multi-section, prime-mover ship comprising a main, cargo-carrying body section 10 and a pair of power-driven, prime-mover sections 11. Main body section 10 has a plurality of hydraulic locking receptacles provided therein including vertically disposed locking receptacles 12, disposed in the top of the main body section, and horizontally disposed locking receptacles 13 disposed near the bottom surface of the hull of the main body section. Each prime-mover section 11 is provided with a hydraulic coupler, consisting of a movable, hydraulically extendable resilient cylindrical member which is disposed in a corresponding locking receptacle when the prime-mover sections and main body section are coupled together. Cylindrical members 14 are vertically extendable hydraulic couplers, and cylindrical members 15 are horizontally extendable hydraulic couplers. One end of the prime mover sections is provided with a bow, while the other end has a shape corresponding to the shape of the ends of the main section 10.

At least one high pressure water jet 16 is mounted in each of the prime-mover sections to steer and propel the multi-section ship. Water jets 16 are rotatably mounted in the hulls of prime-mover sections 11, and are rotatable through an angle of 360. Stabilizing hydrodynamic ailerons 17 are provided on both sides of each of the prime-mover sections. The ailerons are pivotably mounted on the outside surface of the hull of each prime-mover below the water lines thereof, and raise or lower the attitude of the prime-mover sections, and the ship in the water.

The extendable cylindrical members of the hydraulic couplers are preferably provided with a resilient, expandable outer surface, or are constructed of resilient material and have dimensions substantially the same as, or slightly larger than, those of the locking receptacles, so that when the cylindrical members are inserted in the locking receptacles, they expand to provide a secure coupling between the sections of the ship. A coupling member constructed of a steel rod, having a thick, resilient, hard rubber outer covering, may, for example, be used. The main body section, and prime-mover sections 11, are constructed of materials, and in a manner, similar to the methods and materials used to construct conventional ships.

The hull of the ship is preferably a double bulkhead construction, similar to that of a submarine, containing an air compartment, and a water compartment whose water level is controlled by compressed air, so that any of the sections of the ship may be raised or lowered in the water so that the sections may be coupled together. The double bulkhead hull construction, and the airwater system used to submerge and raise the ship in the water, are of conventional type.

The water-jet propulsion system of the ship provides extremely good maneuverability. Conventional methods of docking and turning ships, by using tugboats and the like, are thus not necessary. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the water-jet propulsion system. A water inlet pipe 18, opening into the outside of the ship below its water line, is provided in the prime-mover hull, and is coupled to a pump 19. Pump 19 pumps water under pressure into a storage tank 20. A second pump 21 is coupled to storage tank 20 by pipe 22, in which a spring-loaded valve 23 is disposed. Pump 21 pumps water under pressure from pressure tank 24 through a junction pipe 25 into a high-pressure tank 26. Valve 23 opens and admits water into the tank 24 when sufficient water in tank 24 has been pumped into tank 26 so that the pressure in tank 24 is lower than that in the storage tank and overcomes the force of the spring of valve 23. Valve 27 controls the flow of water from junction pipe 25 into high-pressure tank 26, and admits water to tank 26 when the pressure in pipe 25 is greater than that in tank 26. For illustration purposes, only one storage tank 20, pressure tank 24, and pair of

pumps

19 and 21 have been shown. However, one or more additional pumping and pressure tank systems may be coupled to junction pipe 25 through coupling pipe 28. It also should be noted that pumps 19 and 21 have been represented schematically, and may be any suitable conventional type. A piston-type fluid pump, for example, is one type which may be utilized. High pressure tank 26 is coupled to water jet 29 by a cylindrical pipe 30. The water jet is constructed of a cylindrical section 31 and a water jet nozzle section 32 which contains a plurality of horizontally disposed, water outlet apertures 33. Three circular discs 34, mounted in the hull of the prime-mover sections, rotatably support the water jet so that it is turnable through an angle of 360. When water is pumped into tank 20 by pump 19, pressure builds until valve 23 opens and admits water to pressure tank 24. Pump 21 then pumps the water from tank 24 through junction pipe 25 until the pressure is sufficient to open spring-loaded valve 27 and admit the water to tank 26. As water flows into tank 26, under pressure, pressure builds therein until a high velocity jet stream of water, produced by the water under pressure flowing through conduit pipe 30, which has a diameter smaller than tank 26, is ejected from tank 26 down through pipe 30, and out apertures 33 of the water jet.

FIGS. 3-6 illustrate the waterjet in detail. Cylindrical section 31 of the water jet has a water passage 35 disposed in the central portion thereof into which pipe is slidably disposed. A water-tight coupling is disposed between the pipe and passage to prevent leakage. Passage 35 has an L-shaped configuration, so that water from tank 26 is ejected substantially horizontally from apertures 33. The uppermost one of discs 34, on which the water jet is mounted, has a plurality of

gears

36 and 37 mounted thereon which engage gear teeth 38 provided on the periphery of the cylindrical section of the water jet for rotating the water jet in the hull of the prime-mover sections. The entire gear system is not shown, but gears 37 are coupled by any type of suitable conventional gear system to a mechanical power source which is remotely controlled by steering controls of the ship. When the gears 37 are rotated, gears 36 rotate in response and drive the water jet in a circle in either of the directions shown by arrow 39. The water jet may thus be rotated through 360 of rotation. Each of the discs 34 is preferably constructed in four quarter sections, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The discs are inserted in horizontal mounting slots provided in the hulls of the prime-mover sections, and are slidable outwardly away from cylindrical section 31 of water jet 29 so that the water jet may be removed. Corresponding slots, for receiving the center and lower discs, are provided in the water jet cylindrical section.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the cross-sectional configuration of the water jet, and discs 34.

Gears

36 and 37 are mounted on the uppermost one of the three discs, which do not support the water jet in the hull, but rotate the water jet. The center one of the discs has a plurality of ball bearings 38 disposed in shafts 39 provided within the center of the disc, for rotatably supporting the water jet in the prime-mover section hull. The lower disc of the three is provided with an upwardly extending end flange 40 for guiding the movement of the water jet in the prime-mover section hull during operation, and absorbing downwardly directed forces exerted on the water jet by the high velocity flow of the pressurized water.

In FIG. 6, another embodiment of the water jet system, similar to that shown in FIG. 2, is illustrated. An impeller 41 is disposed in pipe 30 at the bottom of high pressure tank 26 in order to increase the back pressure in tank 26 and increase the velocity of the water flowing through conduit pipe 30 and out of the water jet.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the apparatus of the invention by which the water jet is replaced without drydocking the ship. A hydraulic arm 42 is pivotably coupled by a hinge or other suitable fastening means to a spare water jet 29. The inside surface 43 of the hull of the prime-mover section is curved so as to conform to the approximate curvature of the bottom surface of the water jet. Hydraulic arm 42 is rotatably disposed on roller bearings 44 on guide tracks 45 above the bottom of the ship. A movable pully 46 is also rotatably disposed on the tracks to assist in the removal and installation of the water jet. The hydraulic arm is actuated by a fluid power source (not shown), controlled remotely by any suitable means. The hydraulic arm, in conjunction with the pulley, moves the water jet down to its waterline position in the hull of the prime-mover section 1 1 so that discs 34 may be inserted and the water jet secured in the hull of the prime-mover sections of the ship. As shown in FIG. 8, bolts 47 threadably engage threaded apertures extending through the entire length of portion 31 of water jet 29', and corresponding threaded apertures provided in discs 34 to secure the discs in the slots provided in the water jet. When the bolts are removed, the discs may be removed from the slots provided in the hull and water jet so that the water jet may be pulled from its mounting in the hull. The bolts also serve to secure the spare water jet to the hydraulic arm by securing a hinge coupled to the arm to the top of the water jet. The hydraulic arm may be controlled by an electro-mechanical control means, to move the water jet upwardly or downwardly, and a drive motor may be coupled to the ball bearings or wheels on the guide tracks to move the hydraulic arm back and forth on the tracks. However, there are many wellknown means which may be used, and the drawings are intended only to schematically illustrate the construction of the components of the system.

To enable the water jet to be changed while the ship is in the water, water-tight dome 48 is disposed over the water jet, as schematically illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The dome is constructed of any suitable metallic or other type material, and contains a central aperture 49 through which conduit pipe 30 is disposed. An air-tight coupling is provided between pipe 30 and the dome to prevent leakage. Air hose 50 is coupled to the dome in order to increase the air pressure in the compartment to prevent water from entering the ship. The dome is preferably constructed of a plurality of air-tight sections 51 which are coupled together by clips 52. When the clips are secured, a water-tight compartment over the water jet unit is provided so that it may be removed and replaced.

FIG. is a schematic illustration of the fluid intake system of the prime-mover sections of the ship. Intake orifices 53 are provided on each side of the primemover sections. Each intake orifice is coupled to a pair of

valves

54 and 55, 56 and 57. Valve 54 controls the intake of water through conduit pipe 58 to the water jet flow pipe 59. Valve 56 controls the flow of water through conduit pipe 60 to water jet flow pipe 59'.

Valves

55 and 57 regulate the flow of water into pipes 59' and 59 respectively to water jets 29. Storage tank 20,

pressure tanks

24 and 26, and conduit pipe 25 are not illustrated in this drawing. The fluid system illustrated enables either of the water jets to be activated independently of the other, from either of intake orifices 53.

The materials used to construct the multi-section ship of the present invention may be of any suitable type used to construct conventional ships. It should be noted that some of the components of the sections of the ship have been illustrated schematically, and may be constructed in any suitable manner according to conventional marine design standards. The ship hull may be constructed of steel or ferrocement.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate in detail

hydraulic coupling members

14 and 15. The coupling members comprise a pair of

semi-cylindrical sections

61 and 62 having

annular lips

63 and 64 formed on the upper and lower ends of

sections

61 and 62. The semi-cylindrical sections are mounted by pivotable brackets 65 on a piston rod 66 of hydraulic cylinder 67 mounted in primemover section 11.

Hydraulic receptacles

12 and 13 are provided with

annular recesses

68 and 69 in positions corresponding to the upper and lower ends of

sections

61 and 62 for receiving

annular lips

63 and 64. When the hydraulic piston 67 secures

semi-cylindrical sections

61 and 62 in their retracted position in prime-mover section 11 as shown in FIG. 13,

semi-cylindrical sections

61 and 62 abut each other along their linear edges 70. The receptacle provided in the prim-mover ship section 11 for the semi-cylndrical sections comprises an upper portion 71 having a diameter which is smaller than lower section 72 disposed below section 71. This ensures that when

sections

61 and 62 are extended from the receptacle, annular lip 64 will engage recess 69 to limit further upward movement of the hydraulic piston arm 66. When piston 67 is activated, piston arm 66 is extended outwardly, and carries

sections

61 and 62 upwardly into

hydraulic locking receptacles

12 and 13 in cargo carrying section 10. When annular lips 64 engage recess 69, the upper movement of

sections

61 and 62 is stopped and the hydraulic piston arm 66 pivots mounting bracket 65 to expand

sections

62 and 63 outwardly and engage lips 63 in recesses 68. When the sections are fully expanded, bracket 65 are horizontally disposed, and gap 73 is formed between

sections

61 and 62 in the hydraulic locking receptacle. When the sections are fully expanded,

lips

63 and 64 prevent vertical upward and downward movement of the cargo moving section 10 and prime mover section 11 with respect to each other, and

sections

61 and 62 prevent horizontal movement of the cargo carry and prime-mover sections.

Sections

61 and 62 are preferably constructed of steel.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate another embodiment of a water jet propulsion system for a prime-mover ship. In this embodiment of the invention, pump 74 pumps water directly from intake oriflce 53 through water pipe 75 to hydraulic water jet 29 for ejection under pressure from water outlets 33. Pump 74 is powered by a diesel or turbine engine 76 whose fly wheel 77 is coupled by gear teeth 78 disposed on its periphery to gear wheel 79 of pump 74. Engine 76 activates pump 74 so that water is drawn inwardly through oriflce 53 and ejected from pump 74 under high pressure through pipe 75 and out water jet 29. The water jet is of the same type as previously described, and may be steered by a gear system 80 similar to that described with respect to the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4. Any type of suitable motor or power source may be used to run pump 74.

While only, several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A multi-section prime-mover ship, comprising:

at least one nonpropelled body section;

a pair of power-driven, prime-mover sections, each having a bow at one end and a shape at the other end corresponding to the shape of the ends of said body section of the ship, coupled to said body section for forming a multi-section ship with said body section;

hydraulic coupling means, for coupling said primemover sections to said body section;

stabilizing means, disposed on the outside surface of said prime-mover sections below the surface of the water in which the ship is disposed, for raising or lowering the attitude of the multi-section ship formed by said prime-mover sections and said body section; and

water jet propulsion and steering means, disposed in said prime-mover sections for propelling and steering the multi-section ship formed by said body section and said prime-mover sections.

2. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 1, wherein said water jet propulsion and steering system comprises rotatable water jets, rotatably mounted in said prime-mover sections, turnable through an angle of 360, and means, for ejecting water from said water jets in a high velocity stream, for propelling and steering the multi-section ship formed by said body section and said prime-mover sections.

3. The multi-section as recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one water storage means, including a first pump for pumping water into said water storage means from outside said prime-mover sections, for storing water in said prime-mover sections, a high pressure tank, coupled to said water storage means and to said water jet, a second pump coupled to said water storage means and said high pressure tank for pumping water from said water storage means into said high pressure tank, and valve means, for regulating the flow of water from said water storage means into said high pressure tank.

4. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 3, wherein said water jets are substantially cylindrical in shape, and are provided with a curved water passageway extending through the central portion thereof and a plurality of horizontally-disposed water outlet apertures, for directing the high velocity stream of water from said high pressure tank substantially horizontally below said prime-mover sections.

5. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 4, wherein said water jets further comprise gear teeth, disposed about the periphery of said water jets, and a plurality of power-driven, rotatably-mounted gears, for rotating said water jet with respect to said prime-mover sections, and thereby steering said prime-mover sections and the multi-section ship.

6. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 5, wherein said water jets are rotatably mounted in said prime-mover sections on a plurality of circular discs, having a central aperture disposed therein for receiving said water jets, and divided into four quarter sections, said drive gears for turning said water jet being mounted on one of said circular discs, said water jet and said prime -mover sections further comprising a plurality of slots for receiving said discs and mounting said water jets in said prime-mover sections.

7. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 6, wherein said hydraulic coupling means comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, disposed in said primemover sections, having extendable cylindrical coupling members, and a plurality of locking recesses, disposed in said body section, for receiving said cylindrical coupling members and thereby coupling said prime-mover sections to said body section of the ship.

8. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 7, further comprising an extendable hydraulic arm, rotatably mounted on and guided by a plurality of guide rails, in each of said prime-mover sections, and detachably mountable on said water jets for lifting and lowering said water jets from their mounting in said prime-mover sections.

9. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 8, further comprising cover means, disposed over said water jet in said prime-mover sections, for forming a water-tight compartment over said water jets, and thereby permitting removal of said water jets from said prime-mover sections without water being admitted to said primemover sections.

10. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 9, wherein said cover means comprises a multi-section dome, fastening means for coupling the sections of said dome together, and an air pressure hose, coupled to an air pressure source, for maintaining sufficient air pressure in said water-tight compartment to prevent water from being admitted thereto.

11. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said extendable coupling members cmprise a pair of semicylindrical shaped, vertically disposed plates, having an annular-shaped ridge disposed at each end thereof, pivotably mounted on the piston rod of each of said hydraulic cylinders, and wherein said plurality of locking recesses disposed in said body section comprise elongated, cylindrically shaped recesses disposed in said body section and extending into said body section, and having annular recesses provided at each end thereof for receiving said annular ridges, thereby preventing vertical and horizontal movement of said prime-mover section and said body section with respect to each other.

12. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising an intake orifice disposed in said prime-mover, a water conduit, coupled to said intake orifice and to said water jets, for directing water from said intake orifice to said water jets, and a water pump, coupled to said water conduit, for pumping water under pressure from said intake orifice to said water jets.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said pump is powered by an engine coupled to a gear system to said pump.

III I I! I. I

Claims

1. A multi-section prime-mover ship, comprising: at least one nonpropelled body section; a pair of power-driven, prime-mover sections, each having a bow at one end and a shape at the other end corresponding to the shape of the ends of said body section of the ship, coupled to said body section for forming a multi-section ship with said body section; hydraulic coupling means, for coupling said prime-mover sections to said body section; stabilizing means, disposed on the outside surface of said prime-mover sections below the surface of the water in which the ship is disposed, for raising or lowering the attitude of the multi-section ship formed by said prime-mover sections and said body section; and water jet propulsion and steering means, disposed in said primemover sections for propelling and steering the multi-section ship formed by said body section and said prime-mover sections.

2. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 1, wherein said water jet propulsion and steering system comprises rotatable water jets, rotatably mounted in said prime-mover sections, turnable through an angle of 360*, and means, for ejecting water from said water jets in a high velocity stream, for propelling and steering the multi-section ship formed by said body section and said prime-mover sections.

6. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 5, wherein said water jets are rotatably mounted in said prime-mover sections on a plurality of circular discs, having a central aperture disposed therein for receiving said water jets, and divided into four quarter sections, said drive gears for turning said water jet being mounted on one of said circular discs, said water jet and said prime-mover sections further comprising a plurality of slots for receiving said discs and mounting said water jets in said prime-mover sections.

7. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 6, wherein said hydraulic coupling means comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders, disposed in said prime-mover sections, having extendable cylindrical coupling members, and a plurality of locking recesses, disposed in said body section, for receiving said cylindrical coupling members and thereby coupling said prime-mover sections to said body section of the ship.

9. The multi-section ship as recited in claim 8, further comprising cover means, disposed over said water jet in said prime-mover sections, for forming a water-tight compartment over said water jets, and thereby permitting removal of said water jets from said prime-mover sections without water being admitted to said prime-mover sections.

11. The system as recited in claim 7, wherein said extendable coupling members comprise a pair of semi-cylindrical shaped, vertically disposed plates, having an annular-shaped ridge disposed at each end thereof, pivotably mounted on the piston rod of each of said hydraulic cylinders, and wherein said plurality of locking recesses disposed in said body section comprise elongated, cylindrically shaped recesses disposed in said body section and extending into said body section, and having annular recesses provided at each end thereof for receiving said annular ridges, thereby preventing vertical and horizontal movement of said prime-mover section and said body section with respect to each other.