US3736608A - Water vessel having double hull - Google Patents

Abstract

A water vessel having a double hull, including a main bottom with side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the main bottom and provided with a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending partitions on which an auxiliary bottom is attached to form a plurality of water retaining pockets opening to the sides of the vessel. One of the pockets formed between the main bottom and the auxiliary bottom of the vessel is so partitioned as to form a water pocket opening to the stern of the vessel.

Description

United States Patent 1 Whitehead [54] WATER VESSEL HAVING DOUBLE HULL [76] Inventor: Stanley Whitehead, 629 West Bal ,timore, Detroit, Mich. 48202 [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 128,914

[52] U.S.Cl. ..9/6,9/3, 114/125 [51] Int. Cl. ..B63b 3/00, B63b 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..9/3, 6, l R" [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 7/1954 Harkins 12/1926 Paterson et a1 ..9/3

[ 1 June 5, 1973 Primary Examiner-Milt0n Buchler Assistant ExaminerE. R. Kazenske Attorney-Hauke, Gifford & Patalidis [57] ABSTRACT A water vessel having a double hull, including a main bottom with side walls extending upwardly from the edges of the main bottom and provided with a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending partitions on which an auxiliary bottom is attached to form a plurality of water retaining pockets opening to the sides of the vessel. One of the pockets formed between the main bottom and the auxiliary bottom of the vessel is so partitioned as to form a water pocket opening to the stern of the vessel.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1 WATER VESSEL HAVING DOUBLE HULL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION .1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to water vessels and, more particularly, to small boats, such as rowboats and boats to be powered by small engines.

2. Description of the Prior Art Small vessels, such as rowboats and boats to be powered by small outboard motors, are normally subjected to a tipping and rocking action due to waves caused by rough weather and from the waves generated by larger motor-powered boats, and in some instances these small vessels may be upset by such tipping and rocking action.

It has been suggested in the past to provide a means for stabilizing comparatively small vessels in order to eliminate or substantially minimize the tipping and rocking of these water vessels. One technique for solving this problem of tipping and rocking of small vessels in rough weather and the like has been disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,683,269. This patent discloses a means for stabilizing comparatively small vessels by providing retaining pockets along each side in the bottom of the vessel to hold water and thereby act as a balancing agent. In this way the tendency of the vessel to roll or tip is offset by the weight of the water within the pockets and thus the vessel has a tendency to remain upright.

To accomplish this result, the aforementioned patent disclosed a boat having an auxiliary bottom which was connected to the main bottom of the boat by means of a plurality of partitions extending from a centrally, longitudinally disposed dividing wall on the keel; the partitions being regularly spaced and angularly disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boat. Although the vessel of the patent functioned in an acceptable manner to limit the rocking or tipping in rough weather and the like, the addition of an auxiliary bottom has resulted in a number of disadvantages. One of the problems with the vessel described in the aforementioned patent is that when the vessel is being powered by an outboard motor or the like, it has been found that the vessel will not plane, which action is quite important in order to minimize water friction and attain maximum speed. In addition, vessels constructed in accordance with the teaching of the aforementioned patent have what is known as an oil can" effect; that is, a snapping-in and out of the metal from which such vessels are constructed. This snapping action results in loud noises that are very annoying and distracting to the user of the vessel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, comprises a vessel having a double bottom hull including an auxiliary bottom connected to a main bottom by a plurality of longitudinally and laterally disposed partitions which form water retaining pockets along the bottom and on the opposite sides of the vessel. The rear of the vessel is provided with a pocket which communicates through an opening with the stern of the vessel.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved vessel having a double bottom hull which will prevent tipping and rocking of a boat when the same is subjected to waves and the like, and which has all the advantages of previously constructed vessels without any of the disadvantages.

Other objects, advantages, and applications of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art of such vessel construction when the accompanying description of an example of the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3 showing the vessel tilted toward the starboard side;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view also similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the vessel tilted toward the port side; and 1 FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the vessel taken on line 6-6 of FIG. I, looking upwardly toward the underside of a main bottom of the vessel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 6, wherein there is illustrated a vessel 10 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and comprising a double-bottom hull 11 having a conventional or main bottom 12 with upwardly extending side walls 14 and 16. The forward portions of the side walls 14 and I6 and the bottom 12 terminate at the bow 15 of the vessel in a conventional \l shaped configuration, while the rear or stern 17 of the vessel 10 is enclosed by a stern panel 20. As can best be seen in FIGS. 1- 5, the hull 11 of the vessel 10 further comprises a second or auxiliary bottom 22 extending from the stern panel 20 forwardly to the bow 15 and terminating Where the V-shaped portion of the bow 15 commences. The auxiliary bottom 22 is attached to the main bottom 12 by a plurality of partitions which divide the space between the main and auxiliary bottoms into a plurality of pockets, all of which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 3-6, a pair of partitions 24 and 26, attached to the bottom surface of the main bottom 12, are disposed along the longitudinal axis of the vessel 10. The forward and rear ends of the longitudinally disposed partitions 24 and 26 are connected respectively to a transverse forward partition 28 and the stern panel 20. The outer sides of the longitudinally disposed partitions 24 and 26 have laterally disposed . partitions 34 and 36, respectively, extending therefrom to the outer edges of the main and auxiliary bottoms l2 and 22.

The laterally disposed partitions 34 and 36 are preferably disposed along axes which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vessel 10 and ex tend from their associated longitudinal partitions in a rearwardly direction toward the edges of the bottoms. The laterally disposed partitions 34 and 36, in conjunction with the upper lower bottoms define a plurality of water retaining pockets 38 and 39 on the opposite sides of the partitions 24 and 26, the pockets 38 and 39 being in communication with the water and normally filled with water for a purpose which will be described hereinafter.

That portion of the vessel 10 above the main bottom 12 and within the side walls l4, l6 and stem panel 20 provides a closed section of conventional construction in which the pilot and/or passengers of the vessel 10 are normally seated and includes a closed forward section 40 at the bow 15. The closed forward section 40 is also shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the manner in which the transverse forward partition 28 forms the rearward wall of the section 40. Seats 42, 44 and 46 are mounted to the sides of the vessel 10 and, in addition to providing a seating means for passengers, serve as bulkheads which reinforce the sides and bottom of the vessel 10, making the entire hull l1 tight and rigid.

Referring to FIG. 6, the main and auxiliary bottoms l2 and 22, in conjunction with the rearwardly most disposed partitions 34 and 36, define rear pockets 47 and 49 which communicate with the water through openings 48 (FIG. 2) defined by the rear edges of the bottom 12 and the auxiliary bottom 22 and the lower edge of the stem panel 20. The pockets 47 and 49 are fluidly separated from the pockets 38 and 39.

As can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6, the main and auxiliary bottoms l2 and 22 are further connected by a plurality of ribs 50 which extend parallel to and between each of the lateral partitions 34 and 36 from the outer edges of the bottoms inwardly a predetermined distance. The ribs 50, fixedly attached to the bottom surface of the main bottom 12 and the upper surface of the auxiliary bottom 22, aid in substantially minimizing the oil-can effect hereinbefore described, in addition to serving to reinforce the entire hull 11 by providing additional strength and rigidity. In the preferred embodiment, the ribs 50 and lateral partitions are spaced approximately every six inches along the edge of the side walls 14 and 16. The ribs 50 extend inwardly from the bottom edges a distance of six inches along axes which generally parallel the axes of the partitions 34 and 36.

In the preferred embodiment, the vessel 10 is constructed of a metal, such as aluminum, with the sides, stern panel, ribs and partitions being secured to each other by any suitable means, and preferably being of a riveted construction. The inner space of the stern panel may be provided with a hard wood panel extending the full width thereof, forming a transom which provides additional strength for the mounting of an outboard motor for propelling the vessel 10. The spacing between the main and auxiliary bottoms l2 and 22 is approximately one inch which, and as will be described hereinafter, should be sufficient to retain a sufficient quantity of water to supply ballast to maintain the vessel l upright, while eliminating loud noises to a substantial extent.

The underside of the auxiliary bottom 22 is further provided with a centrally disposed, conventional keel 52 extending substantially the full longitudinal length of the vessel 10.

By reason of the pockets 38 and 39 the vessel 10 is provided with the ability to right itself after being swung to its inclined positions, such as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5, by any external force, such as wind, waves and the like. When the vessel 10 is inclined or heeling, that is, it is leaning over toward starboard or port side, stability is especially important due to the dangers of capsizing, in addition to the inconvenience of the passengers who might, due to the rocking or tip; ping, become seasick or the like.

FIG. 3 illustrates the vessel 10 in a normal position wherein the weight of the vessel 10 may be visualized as a downward force acting at its center of gravity, which would be at some point along the longitudinal centerline of the vessel 10. The vessel 10 remains afloat due to a counterbalance or upward force acting at the center of buoyancy, which is the center of gravity of the displaced volume of water, as is well known. Normally the centers of gravity of the displaced water and of the vessel are located in the same vertical plane as when the boat is in the unheeling position, as shown in FIG. 3. When the vessel heels over to starboard as shown in FIG. 4, the center of buoyancy shifts to a different position, which would be at a point to the right of the longitudinal centerline of the vessel 10 and the upward force acting thereon strives to rotate the vessel in a counter clockwise direction around the center of gravity. At the same time, as the vessel 10 tilts in the manner shown in FIG. 4, the water entrapped in the pockets 38 on the left or port side of the vessel 10, provides a ballast which tends to oppose the clockwise tipping or heeling of the vessel 10, thereby acting to maintain the vessel 10 in an upright position. When thevessel 10 does heel, the weight of the water in the pockets 38 tends to bring the vessel 10 to an upright position in a quick manner. In the same manner, when the vessel 10 tips to the left or port side, that is when the vessel rotates in a counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 5, the water in the pockets 39 on the right or starboard side of the vessel 10 tends to counteract the heeling of the vessel and to maintain it in a horizontal position, or brings the vessel back to a horizontal position in a quicker manner than heretofore possible. 7 A substantial improvement is provided by the present invention over the double bottom boat described in the aforementioned patent, in that the present embodiment provides the rear pockets 47 and 49 at the stern of the vessel 10, that is the space between the main and auxiliary bottoms 12 and 22 and the rearwardly facing sides of the partitions 34 and 36, which rear pockets 47 and 49 communicate rearwardly with the water through the openings 48 defined by the rear edge of the auxiliary bottom 22 and the lower edge of the stern panel 20. As the vessel 10 is being propelled forwardly at a high speed by a suitable engine means, such as an outboard motor, water in the rear pockets 47 and 49 is drawn outwardly; and it has been found from actual testing that the vessel 10 will plane; that is it will rise partially out of the water while in motion at a high speed in the same manner as a hydroplane does.

It can thus be seen that the present invention has provided a new and improved vessel which has all the advantages of water vessels heretofore available, while providing other features lacking in such heretofore described water vessels.

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been described, it is to be understood that other modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A vessel comprising a closed section at the bow;

a main bottom with sidewalls extending therefrom;

a stern panel extending upwardly from said main bottom;

a longitudinally disposed partition carried by the lower surface of said main bottom;

a plurality of spaced laterally disposed partitions carried by said main bottom and extending from the outer opposite side surfaces of said longitudinally disposed partition to the edge of said main bottom;

an auxiliary bottom spaced below said main bottom and attached to said longitudinally and laterally disposed partitions for providing pockets between said laterally disposed partitions, said pockets opening at the sides of said vessel, said auxiliary bottom extending to said stern panel and spaced therefrom defining rear pockets between said main and auxiliary bottoms; and

means enclosing the rear of said space at a position forwardly spaced from said stern panel for providing said rear pockets opening to the stern of said vessel, said rear pockets opening to said stern through the space between the lower edge of said stern panel and the rear end of said auxiliary bottom.

2. The vessel defined in claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of laterally disposed partitions successively spaced between said first mentioned laterally disposed partitions and extending to the edge of said main bottom, the inner ends of said second partitions being spaced from said longitudinally disposed partition.

3. The vessel defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second laterally disposed partitions are disposed along parallel axes which are inclined with respect to the lon gitudinal axis of said vessel.

Claims (3)

1. A vessel comprising a closed section at the bow; a main bottom with sidewalls extending therefrom; a stern panel extending upwardly from said main bottom; a longitudinally disposed partition carried by the lower surface of said main bottom; a plurality of spaced laterally disposed partitions carried by said main bottom and extending from the outer opposite side surfaces of said longitudinally disposed partition to the edge of said main bottom; an auxiliary bottom spaced below said main bottom and attached to said longitudinally and laterally disposed partitions for providing pockets between said laterally disposed partitions, said pockets opening at the sides of said vessel, said auxiliary bottom extending to said stern panel and spaced therefrom defining rear pockets between said main and auxiliary bottoms; and means enclosing the rear of said space at a position forwardly spaced from said stern panel for providing said rear pockets opening to the stern of said vessel, said rear pockets opening to said stern through the space between the lower edge of said stern panel and the rear end of said auxiliary bottom.

2. The vessel defined in claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of laterally disposed partitions successively spaced between said first mentioned laterally disposed partitions and extending to the edge of said main bottom, the inner ends of said second partitions being spaced from said longitudinally dIsposed partition.

3. The vessel defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second laterally disposed partitions are disposed along parallel axes which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of said vessel.

Images