A flush-mount valve and vent assemblies including the same are described. A flush-mount valve may include a valve mount and a valve barrier which are coupled to the underside of a structure forming part of a liquid-impermeable container. The flush-mount valve is arranged to control the flow of fluid(s) across a fluid passage in the structure and is mounted to the structure so as to remain fully within the interior of the container.
F16K 24/00 - Devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating enclosures
F16K 1/04 - Lift valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with screw-spindle with a cut-off member rigid with the spindle, e.g. main valves
A transmission system for a hybrid power plant, such as a hybrid propulsion system of a marine vessel, is described. The transmission is configured to selectively couple a primary mover and/or a secondary mover to an output of the transmission for providing a power output, and optionally selectively couple the primary mover to the secondary mover, decoupling the output, for electrical energy generation in a compact and light-weight design.
B63H 23/10 - Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements with mechanical gearing for transmitting drive from more than one propulsion power unit
B60K 6/36 - Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs characterised by the transmission gearings
B60W 10/06 - Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function including control of propulsion units including control of combustion engines
B60W 10/08 - Conjoint control of vehicle sub-units of different type or different function including control of propulsion units including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
A transmission system for a hybrid power plant, such as a hybrid propulsion system of a marine vessel, is described. The transmission is configured to selectively couple a primary mover and/or a secondary mover to an output of the transmission for providing a power output, and optionally selectively couple the primary mover to the secondary mover, decoupling the output, for electrical energy generation in a compact and light-weight design.
B63H 23/10 - Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements with mechanical gearing for transmitting drive from more than one propulsion power unit
F16D 21/06 - Systems comprising a plurality of mechanically-actuated clutches for interconnecting three or more shafts or other transmission members in different ways at least two driving shafts or two driven shafts being concentric
F16D 15/00 - Clutches with wedging balls or rollers or with other wedgeable separate clutching members
B63H 21/17 - Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being motor-driven by electric motor
B63H 23/30 - Transmitting power from propulsion power plant to propulsive elements characterised by use of clutches
F16D 23/12 - Mechanical clutch-actuating mechanisms arranged outside the clutch as such
F16D 41/06 - Freewheels or freewheel clutches with intermediate wedging coupling members between an inner and an outer surface
B60K 6/26 - Arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion, e.g. hybrid propulsion systems comprising electric motors and internal combustion engines the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs characterised by apparatus, components or means specially adapted for HEVs characterised by the motors or the generators
Described herein are examples of a watercraft with a hull defining a hull cavity. A canopy may be removably coupled to the hull via a canopy interface. The canopy interface includes a first portion fixed to the hull and a second portion fixed to the canopy. The first portion defines an opening through the hull into the hull cavity. The second portion is configured to be removably coupled to the first portion to enclose and seal the opening whereby the canopy interface is configured to interchangeably couple any one of a plurality of different canopies including the canopy to the hull. Each canopy of the plurality of different canopies may include a different configuration that provides a different access opening into the hull cavity or reconfigures the hull with a different outer profile.
A watercraft according to the present disclosure may include an outer hull that defines an interior or hull cavity, and a ballast system located within the hull cavity. The ballast system may include at least three ballast tanks longitudinally distributed along the hull cavity, and each of the tanks being configured to be independently operated enabling selective entrapment of ballast at three or more different longitudinal locations to enable an intentional shifting of the longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) of the watercraft relative to the design location of the LCG of the watercraft. The watercraft may include at least a forward, a center, and an aft ballast tank, and in some embodiments, additional tanks, in some cases in sponsons, may be included and/or one or more of the forward, center and aft tanks, may be further subdivided for additional active LCG control.
B63B 39/03 - Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movementsApparatus for indicating vessel attitude to decrease vessel movements by displacement of masses by transferring liquids
A modular system, which may include a modular ramp for a landing craft, is described. For example, a ramp module according to some embodiments includes an enclosure defining a cavity, wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received in a watertight recess formed in the hull of the landing craft. The ramp module also includes an extendible ramp operatively coupled to the enclosure and configured to be extended from the enclosure such that the ramp extends from the deck of the landing craft toward a shore to provide a support surface for unloading cargo onto or in close proximity to the shore. The extendible ramp is configured to be substantially fully retracted within the cavity, in some cases the enclosure forming an water tight seal with the recess in the hull and/or sealing the ramp, when retracted, in a water tight manner within its cavity.
A modular system, which may include a modular ramp for a landing craft, is described. For example, a ramp module according to some embodiments includes an enclosure defining a cavity, wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received in a watertight recess formed in the hull of the landing craft. The ramp module also includes an extendible ramp operatively coupled to the enclosure and configured to be extended from the enclosure such that the ramp extends from the deck of the landing craft toward a shore to provide a support surface for unloading cargo onto or in close proximity to the shore. The extendible ramp is configured to be substantially fully retracted within the cavity, in some cases the enclosure forming an water tight seal with the recess in the hull and/or sealing the ramp, when retracted, in a water tight manner within its cavity.
A watercraft according to the present disclosure may include an outer hull that defines an interior or hull cavity, and a ballast system located within the hull cavity. The ballast system may include at least three ballast tanks longitudinally distributed along the hull cavity, and each of the tanks being configured to be independently operated enabling selective entrapment of ballast at three or more different longitudinal locations to enable an intentional shifting of the longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) of the watercraft relative to the design location of the LCG of the watercraft. The watercraft may include at least a forward, a center, and an aft ballast tank, and in some embodiments, additional tanks, in some cases in sponsons, may be included and/or one or more of the forward, center and aft tanks, may be further subdivided for additional active LCG control.
B63B 35/00 - Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
B63B 1/10 - Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls
B63B 3/00 - Hulls characterised by their structure or component parts
B63B 1/14 - Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving lift mainly from water displacement with multiple hulls the hulls being interconnected resiliently
A marine vessel or watercraft may be provided with an aft extension that, in one configuration of the watercraft, alters the wake of the watercraft, for example by reducing the height of the wake, and which may include a sealable opening to provide crew or payload access into or out of the watercraft at a location (e.g., aft of the transom) that may be difficult for an observer to perceive. The aft extension may be positioned above the watercraft's waterline when the watercraft is in another configuration such that it does not contact with the water to reduce adverse impact on performance characteristics, such as drag, of the hull when the watercraft is in that configuration. The watercraft may transition between the two configuration by selectively varying the displacement of the watercraft or by articulating of the aft extension.
B63B 7/00 - Collapsible, foldable, inflatable or like vessels
B63B 1/22 - Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces of hydroplane type with adjustable planing surfaces
Described herein are examples of a watercraft with a hull defining a hull cavity. A canopy may be removably coupled to the hull via a canopy interface. The canopy interface includes a first portion fixed to the hull and a second portion fixed to the canopy. The first portion defines an opening through the hull into the hull cavity. The second portion is configured to be removably coupled to the first portion to enclose and seal the opening whereby the canopy interface is configured to interchangeably couple any one of a plurality of different canopies including the canopy to the hull. Each canopy of the plurality of different canopies may include a different configuration that provides a different access opening into the hull cavity or reconfigures the hull with a different outer profile.
A marine vessel or watercraft may be provided with an aft extension that, in one configuration of the watercraft, alters the wake of the watercraft, for example by reducing the height of the wake, and which may include a sealable opening to provide crew or payload access into or out of the watercraft at a location (e.g., aft of the transom) that may be difficult for an observer to perceive. The aft extension may be positioned above the watercraft's waterline when the watercraft is in another configuration such that it does not contact with the water to reduce adverse impact on performance characteristics, such as drag, of the hull when the watercraft is in that configuration. The watercraft may transition between the two configuration by selectively varying the displacement of the watercraft or by articulating of the aft extension.
A vent assembly in accordance with some examples herein may include a vent conduit coupling a dry compartment of a boat to an opening in a hull of the boat for selectively fluidly connecting the dry compartment to an exterior of the hull. The vent assembly may include a fluid-tight ventilation closure which selectively prevents fluid flow through the vent conduit when the fluid-tight ventilation closure is in a closed position. The fluid-tight ventilation closure may be positioned below an exterior surface of the hull. A damper may be configured to selectively modulate air flow through the vent conduit. The damper may be positioned downstream of the fluid-tight ventilation closure from the opening.
B63B 79/15 - Monitoring properties or operating parameters of vessels in operation using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers for monitoring environmental variables, e.g. wave height or weather data
F24F 13/10 - Air-flow control members, e.g. louvres, grilles, flaps or guide plates movable, e.g. dampers
F24F 7/06 - Ventilation with ducting systems with forced air circulation, e.g. by fan
A vent assembly in accordance with some examples herein may include a vent conduit coupling a dry compartment of a boat to an opening in a hull of the boat for selectively fluidly connecting the dry compartment to an exterior of the hull. The vent assembly may include a fluid-tight ventilation closure which selectively prevents fluid flow through the vent conduit when the fluid-tight ventilation closure is in a closed position. The fluid-tight ventilation closure may be positioned below an exterior surface of the hull. A damper may be configured to selectively modulate air flow through the vent conduit. The damper may be positioned downstream of the fluid-tight ventilation closure from the opening.
A flush-mount valve and vent assemblies including the same are described. A flush-mount valve may include a valve mount and a valve barrier which are coupled to the underside of a structure forming part of a liquid-impermeable container. The flush-mount valve is arranged to control the flow of fluid(s) across a fluid passage in the structure and is mounted to the structure so as to remain fully within the interior of the container.
F16K 24/00 - Devices, e.g. valves, for venting or aerating enclosures
F16K 1/04 - Lift valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closure members having at least a component of their opening and closing motion perpendicular to the closing faces with screw-spindle with a cut-off member rigid with the spindle, e.g. main valves
B63B 13/00 - Conduits for emptying or ballastingSelf-bailing equipmentScuppers
F16K 31/18 - Operating meansReleasing devices actuated by fluid actuated by a float
A flush-mount valve and vent assemblies including the same are described. A flush-mount valve may include a valve mount and a valve barrier which are coupled to the underside of a structure forming part of a liquid-impermeable container. The flush-mount valve is arranged to control the flow of fluid(s) across a fluid passage in the structure and is mounted to the structure so as to remain fully within the interior of the container.
An integrated thruster and ballast system in accordance with some examples herein may include a conduit disposed within a hull of the boat. The conduit includes a first opening in fluid communication with a body of water, a second opening in selective fluid communication with the body of water, and an outlet disposed within the boat. The integrated thruster and ballast system includes a ballast tank in selective fluid communication with the conduit via the outlet, a thruster disposed within the conduit and configured to move water through the conduit, a first valve disposed in the conduit and configured to selectively divide or establish the fluid communication between the conduit and the ballast tank; and a second valve disposed in the conduit and configured to selectively divide or establish the fluid communication between the second opening and the body of water.
B63B 13/02 - Ports for passing water through vessels' sides
B63H 11/08 - Marine propulsion by water jets the propulsive medium being ambient water by means of pumps of rotary type
B63H 11/10 - Marine propulsion by water jets the propulsive medium being ambient water having means for deflecting jet or influencing cross-section thereof
B63H 11/107 - Direction control of propulsive fluid
A system for controlling a thermal signature of a boat is disclosed. The system includes a fluid compartment adjacent to an external wall of the boat. The fluid compartment is disposed between a heat source in a hull cavity of the boat and the external wall of the boat such that heat energy released from the heat source is transferred to a fluid in the fluid compartment. A fluid mover moves a first volume of the fluid out of the fluid compartment and replaces at least a portion of the first volume with a second volume of fluid, wherein the second volume of fluid has a different temperature than the first volume of fluid before entering the fluid compartment.
An integrated thruster and ballast system in accordance with some examples herein may include a conduit disposed within a hull of the boat. The conduit includes a first opening in fluid communication with a body of water, a second opening in selective fluid communication with the body of water, and an outlet disposed within the boat. The integrated thruster and ballast system includes a ballast tank in selective fluid communication with the conduit via the outlet, a thruster disposed within the conduit and configured to move water through the conduit, a first valve disposed in the conduit and configured to selectively divide or establish the fluid communication between the conduit and the ballast tank; and a second valve disposed in the conduit and configured to selectively divide or establish the fluid communication between the second opening and the body of water.
A system for controlling a thermal signature of a boat is disclosed. The system includes a fluid compartment adjacent to an external wall of the boat. The fluid compartment is disposed between a heat source in a hull cavity of the boat and the external wall of the boat such that heat energy released from the heat source is transferred to a fluid in the fluid compartment. A fluid mover moves a first volume of the fluid out of the fluid compartment and replaces at least a portion of the first volume with a second volume of fluid, wherein the second volume of fluid has a different temperature than the first volume of fluid before entering the fluid compartment.
Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for packaging and distributing a marine energy storage system. Battery packs including one or more battery cells and a compliant layer enclosed in a sealed housing are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs structurally integrated are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs mounted to an inner surface of an outer hull are disclosed. Vessel hulls including compartments for inserting battery packs are disclosed. Vessel hulls including battery packs mounted in a ballast of the hull are disclosed.
B63H 21/20 - Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being powered by combinations of different types of propulsion units
H01M 10/48 - Accumulators combined with arrangements for measuring, testing or indicating the condition of cells, e.g. the level or density of the electrolyte
H01M 10/42 - Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells
H01M 50/20 - MountingsSecondary casings or framesRacks, modules or packsSuspension devicesShock absorbersTransport or carrying devicesHolders
H01M 50/24 - MountingsSecondary casings or framesRacks, modules or packsSuspension devicesShock absorbersTransport or carrying devicesHolders characterised by physical properties of casings or racks, e.g. dimensions adapted for protecting batteries from their environment, e.g. from corrosion
21.
MARINE VESSEL WITH HULL-INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL ENERGY STORAGE FOR VESSEL PROPULSION
Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for packaging and distributing a marine energy storage system. Battery packs including one or more battery cells and a compliant layer enclosed in a sealed housing are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs structurally integrated are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs mounted to an inner surface of an outer hull are disclosed. Vessel hulls including compartments for inserting battery packs are disclosed. Vessel hulls including battery' packs mounted in a ballast of the hull are disclosed.
B63H 21/17 - Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being motor-driven by electric motor
B63H 21/22 - Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridgeArrangements of order telegraphs
patents
