Method and Apparatus for Planing Boat Ballast System

Abstract

A Method and Apparatus for Planing Boat Ballast System have been disclosed. By using ballast forward of a transverse step forward of the stem and by using a ballast opening in or at a riser of the transverse step, enhanced stability is possible with protection from flooding and with efficiency of ballast admission and release, simplicity of practice, and ease and safety of inspection and cleaning

Claims

1. A ballast system for a planing boat, the system comprising: a hull having a bow and a stern in said boat; a transverse step having a riser forward of said stern in said hull; a ballast container forward of said transverse step; a ballast opening on or at said riser and connected to said ballast container; and a ballast vent for said ballast container.

2. A method comprising the steps: mounting a transverse step having a riser on a hull of a boat; mounting a ballast container forward of said transverse step; mounting a ballast opening on or at said riser; connecting said ballast opening to said ballast container; mounting a ballast vent in said boat; and connecting said ballast vent to said ballast container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] The figures of the accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention by way of example and not limitation:

[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a water ballast system.

[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view with a waterline and a flooded ballast container.

[0048] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view with a waterline and a partially flooded ballast container.

[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view with a waterline and an unflooded ballast container.

[0050] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view.

[0051] FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view at a transverse step.

[0052] FIG. 7 illustrates a rear view at a stern.

[0053] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] A boat has a hull with a bow and a stern. In one embodiment of the invention, the boat has one hull. In other embodiments, the boat may have more than one hull, such as in a catamaran or trimaran boat. In one embodiment the port and starboard sides of the hull may be symmetric. In other embodiments the port and starboard sides of the hull may be assymetric, such as found in some catamaran and trimaran boats. The boat is capable of operating on plane.

[0055] A transverse step is located forward of the stern and has a riser. The riser is submerged at least partly below a waterline when the boat is at rest or moving at displacement speed. In one embodiment of the invention, there is one transverse step. In other embodiments, there may be more than one transverse step. In one embodiment of the invention the transverse step extends fully across the bottom of the hull. In other embodiments the transverse step may extend partly across the bottom of the hull. In one embodiment of the invention, the riser constitutes a flat plane. In other embodiments, the riser may not constitute a flat plane.

[0056] A ballast container stores ballast forward of the transverse step. The ballast container is flooded at least partially when the boat is at rest or moving at displacement speed and is unflooded at least partly when the boat is on plane. In one embodiment the upper region of the ballast container is not higher than the riser. In other embodiments the upper region of the ballast container may be higher than the riser. In one embodiment, the ballast container consists of a compartment inside the hull of the boat. In other embodiments, the ballast container may consist of a number and combination of compartments, tanks, bladders, and/or other such containment devices of diverse dimensions and capacities. In one embodiment of the invention, the capacity of the ballast container is fixed. In other embodiments, the capacity of the ballast container is variable.

[0057] A ballast opening admits ballast to and releases ballast from the ballast container and is located on or at the riser of the transverse step. The ballast opening is submerged at least partly below a waterline when the boat is at rest or moving at displacement speed and is raised at least partly above said waterline when the boat is on plane. In one embodiment of the invention, there is one ballast opening. In other embodiments, there may be more than one opening. In one embodiment of the invention, the ballast opening connects directly to the ballast container. In other embodiments, the ballast opening may incorporate tubing, ducting, channels, or other such passageway devices. In one embodiment of the invention, the ballast opening is located on the riser. In other embodiments, the ballast opening may be located at the riser, such as to the side of, aft of, above, or underneath the riser. In one embodiment of the invention, the capacity of the ballast opening is fixed. In other embodiments, the capacity may be variable.

[0058] A ballast vent admits air to and releases air from the ballast container and is above a waterline. In one embodiment of the invention, there is one ballast vent. In other embodiments, there may be more than one ballast vent. In one embodiment of the invention, the ballast vent incorporates a tube or other passageway device to vent the ballast container to atmosphere. In other embodiments, the ballast vent may vent the ballast container directly to atmosphere. In one embodiment of the invention, the ballast vent has a fixed capacity. In other embodiments, the capacity may be variable.

[0059] In one embodiment of the invention, the ballast system admits, stores, and releases ballast without the use of control devices such as pumps, valves, gates, flappers, etc. In other embodiments, such devices may be incorporated in the operation of the ballast system.

[0060] As illustrated in FIG. 1, in one embodiment a boat 1 has a hull 2 with a bow 3 and a stern 4. Forward of the stern 4 is a transverse step 5 with a riser 6. At 7 is a ballast container connected to a ballast opening 8 on the riser 6 of the transverse step 5. At 9 is a ballast vent.

[0061] FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4 illustrate the mechanism of the invention's operation. As illustrated in FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, when the boat 1 is in water, at 10 there is a waterline.

[0062] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view in which the ballast container 7 is flooded. The ballast opening 8 and the riser 6 of the transverse step 5 are submerged at least partly below the waterline 10. The ballast container 7 contains water, the ballast vent 9 is above the waterline, and the boat 1 is ballasted. Ballast effects and benefits as noted earlier are provided when at a stop or moving at displacement speed.

[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view in which the ballast container 7 is partially flooded. The boat 1 is moving forward in the process of accelerating onto plane or decelerating from plane. When accelerating onto plane, the forward motion of the boat 1 generates dynamic lift and thus raises the ballast opening 8 relative to the waterline 10. Water ballast is released from the ballast container 7 through the ballast opening 8 and air is admitted to the ballast container 7 through the ballast vent 9. When decelerating from plane, dynamic lift decreases and thus lowers the ballast opening 8 relative to the waterline 10. Water ballast is admitted to the ballast container 7 through the ballast opening 8 and air is released from the ballast container 7 through the ballast vent 9. Ballast effects and benefits as noted earlier are provided when accelerating onto plane or decelerating from plane.

[0064] FIG. 4 illustrates a side view in which the ballast container 7 is unflooded. The boat 1 is on plane. The ballast container 7, the riser 6, and the ballast opening 8 are above the waterline 10, and the boat 1 is unballasted, thus permitting operation as an unballasted planing boat.

[0065] FIG. 5, FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 illustrate further how the invention enables ballasting and protects from flooding by waves in following seas.

[0066] FIG. 5 illustrates that the ballast container 7 is inside the hull 2 of the boat 1 and is forward of the transverse step 5 and forward of the stern 4.

[0067] FIG. 6 illustrates that the ballast opening 8 is on or at the riser 6 of the transverse step 5. The ballast container 7 is forward of the transverse step 5.

[0068] FIG. 7 illustrates that the transverse step 5 and the riser 6 and the ballast opening 8 are forward of the stern 4.

[0069] FIG. 8 illustrates one embodiment of the invention showing a flow chart. At 802 mount a transverse step having a riser on a hull of a boat. At 804 mount a ballast container forward of said transverse step. At 806 mount a ballast opening on or at said riser. At 808 connect said ballast opening to said ballast container. At 810 mount a ballast vent in said boat. At 812 connect said ballast vent to said ballast container. At 814 when boat is at stop or moving at displacement speed store water ballast in said ballast container. At 816 when boat is accelerating onto plane, release said water ballast from said ballast container from said ballast opening and admit air to said ballast container from said ballast vent. At 818 when boat is decelerating from plane, admit water ballast to said container from said ballast opening and release air from said ballast container from said ballast vent.

[0070] To one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be evident that, in the practice of the invention, it is feasible to adjust such variables as the dimensions, proportions, location, quantity, materials, and structure of the elements of the ballast system to enable satisfactory ballasting. As an example, in one embodiment the location of a transverse step may be configured in accordance with a boat's weight distribution. As another example, in one embodiment the capacity of a ballast container may be configured in accordance with a boat's buoyancy. As another example, in one embodiment a ballast opening may be configured to enhance stability during acceleration and deceleration. As another example, in one embodiment a ballast vent may be configured to accommodate a desired interior layout for a boat. As another example, in one embodiment the ballast system may be configured to release all ballast or to retain some portion of ballast as desired. As another example, in one embodiment the ballast system may be configured to release some portion of ballast rapidly and some portion slowly. As another example, in one embodiment the ballast system may be configured to admit some portion of ballast rapidly and some portion slowly.

[0071] The above and previous examples disclose possible embodiments in the practice of the invention. They are not mutually exclusive, do not form an exhaustive set of embodiments, and do not limit the variety and combination of possible embodiments.

[0072] One embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the drawings, and embodiments have been disclosed in the detailed description. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention.

[0073] Thus, a Method and Apparatus for Planing Boat Ballast System have been disclosed.