HULL WITH VARIABLE GEOMETRY

Abstract

Hull with variable geometry for a vessel (11), comprising a completely immersed part (12), configured to provide part of the buoyancy thrust and integral with an emerged part (13) of the hull by means of one or more uprights (14), and one or more immersed wing surfaces (15) which, in a situation in which the vessel travels at a sufficiently high speed, are configured to provide the remaining part of the vertical thrust required to keep the vessel (11) above the surface of the water at a predetermined height; the hull comprises one or more supports (16a, 16b, 16c) connected to the wing surfaces (15) and associated with floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) which are mobile with respect to the completely immersed part (12); the floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are fixed to the supports (16a, 16b, 16c) or mobile with respect to the supports (16a, 16b, 16c), therefore the floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are substantially cooperating with the completely immersed part (12) and with the wing surfaces (15); the wing surfaces (15) are configured to move with respect to the completely immersed part (12) or to remain fixed with respect thereto and the floating elements (17a, 17b, 17c) are configured to increase their immersion as the speed of the vessel decreases, and therefore provide the vertical thrust to maintain or adjust the distance of the vessel from the water in a manner that is optimal and functional for the use of the vessel, even at reduced speeds or when the vessel is stationary.

Claims

1. A hull with variable geometry for a vessel, comprising one or more completely immersed parts, which are configured to provide part of the buoyancy thrust and are integral with an emerged part of the hull by means of one or more uprights, and one or more immersed wing surfaces, which, in a situation in which the vessel travels at a sufficiently high speed, are configured to provide the remaining part of the vertical thrust required to keep the vessel above the surface of water at a predetermined height, the hull further comprising: one or more supports connected to the wing surfaces and associated with floating elements which are mobile with respect to said completely immersed part, said floating elements being fixed to said supports or mobile with respect to said supports, said floating elements thus being substantially cooperating with said completely immersed part and with said wing surfaces, said wing surfaces being configured to move with respect to said completely immersed part or to remain fixed with respect thereto and said floating elements being configured to increase their immersion as the speed of the vessel decreases, and therefore provide the vertical thrust to maintain or adjust a distance of the vessel from the water in a manner that is optimal and functional for the use of vessel even at reduced speeds or when the vessel is stationary.

2. The hull as in claim 1, further comprising other wing surfaces, fixed or mobile, independent of said wing surfaces and which contribute to controlling a trim of the hull of the vessel in flight.

3. The hull as in claim 1, characterized in that said wing surfaces are connected to said completely immersed part by means of hinges and rotation means configured to allow said wing surfaces to rotate around said hinges with a movement that takes them away from or toward said hull.

4. The hull as in claim 1, characterized in that said floating elements are associated with one or more supports which have the form of one or more cables positioned inside and outside said one or more uprights, said one or more cables, said one or more uprights and said hull substantially constituting a tensile structure which reduces the structural stresses on said one or more uprights.

5. The hull as in claim 1, characterized in that said floating elements are mobile along rigid supports positioned outside said one or more uprights.

6. The hull as in claim 1, further comprising a propulsion system which is frontal with respect to a direction of travel of the vessel.

7. The hull as in claim 1, further comprising a system for delivering compressed air onto an external surface of the completely immersed part.

8. The hull as in claim 1, further comprising wheels positioned inside said floating elements and removable, if necessary, in order to make the hull movable on land.

9. The hull as in claim 1, characterized in that the completely immersed part is a torpedo-shaped volume having the function of a tank for fuel of the vessel and/or for batteries and/or fuel cells.

10. The hull as in any claim 1, further comprising a control system equipped with inertial sensors and height detectors configured to manage movement of the wing surfaces and for active control of motions of the vessel in two main conditions of use, namely when maneuvering by exploiting an increase or reduction of immersed volume of said floating elements, and in flight at cruising speed by varying the lift of said wing surfaces.

11. The hull as in claim 1, characterized in that said one or more uprights are telescopic.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some embodiments, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral view of one embodiment of the present hull with variable geometry, in particular with the wing surfaces or wings in the position in which the watertight bodies or volumes disposed at their ends are completely emersed, a position in which the hydrodynamic support of the wings allows the flight of the vessel on which it is applied;

[0044] FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the hull of FIG. 1;

[0045] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section view of the hull in the configuration of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

[0046] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section view of the hull of the previous drawings, in which the watertight volumes at the ends of the wing surfaces are partly immersed, a position in which the hydrostatic support of these volumes compensates for the hydrodynamic thrust of the wings and keeps the vessel at flight altitude despite it being stationary or maneuvering at low speed;

[0047] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-section view of a hull with variable geometry according to another embodiment of the invention and with the watertight volumes, or floating elements, in a first raised position;

[0048] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-section view of the hull of FIG. 5 with the watertight volumes in a second lowered position;

[0049] FIG. 7 is a schematic three-dimensional view of another embodiment of the present hull with variable geometry with the watertight volumes in a first raised position;

[0050] FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the hull of FIG. 7;

[0051] FIG. 9 is a rear schematic view of the hull of FIG. 7 and FIG. 8;

[0052] FIG. 10 is a schematic three-dimensional view of the embodiment of the present hull of FIG. 7 with the watertight volumes in a second lowered position;

[0053] FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of the hull of FIG. 10;

[0054] FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of the hull of FIG. 10 and FIG. 11;

[0055] FIG. 13 is a schematic lateral view of a variant of the embodiment of the hull of FIG. 7;

[0056] FIG. 14 is a schematic section view on a larger scale of a zone of the hull of FIG. 13;

[0057] FIG. 15 is a front view of the hull of FIG. 13;

[0058] FIG. 16 is a schematic lateral view of another variant of the embodiment of the hull of FIG. 7;

[0059] FIG. 17 is a rear view of the hull of FIG. 16.

[0060] To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other embodiments without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0061] We will now refer in detail to the possible embodiments of the invention, of which one or more non-limiting examples are shown in the attached drawings. The phraseology and terminology used here is also for the purposes of providing non-limiting examples.

[0062] With reference to the attached drawings, FIGS. from 1 to 4 show a vessel 11 comprising a hull 10a with variable geometry according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0063] The hull 10a comprises a completely immersed part 12, configured to provide part of the buoyancy thrust and integral with an emerged part 13 of the hull 10a by means of one or more uprights 14, and one or more immersed wing surfaces 15, which, in a situation in which the vessel 11 travels at a sufficiently high speed, are configured to provide the remaining part of the vertical thrust required to keep the vessel 11 above the surface of the water at a predetermined height.

[0064] The completely immersed part 12 can be a torpedo-shaped element, or a wing profile or a set of wing profiles, a support structure or other.

[0065] The hull 10a comprises one or more supports 16a connected to the wing surfaces 15 and associated with floating elements 17a mobile with respect to the completely immersed part 12. The floating elements 17a are fixed to the supports 16a or mobile with respect to the supports 16a. The floating elements 16a are therefore substantially cooperating with the completely immersed part 12 and with the wing surfaces 15. The wing surfaces 15 are configured to move with respect to the completely immersed part 12 or remain fixed with respect thereto, and the mobile floating elements 16a are configured to increase their immersion as the speed of the vessel 11 decreases and therefore provide the vertical thrust to maintain or adjust the distance of the vessel 11 from the water in a manner that is optimal and functional for the use of the vessel 11, even at reduced speeds or when the vessel 11 is stationary.

[0066] The completely immersed part 12 generates only a part of the total hydrostatic thrust required to maintain the weight of the vessel 11. This part 12 is connected to the vessel by means of the one or more uprights 14 having a very thin section that pass through the surface of the sea. There is also at least one pair of the wing surfaces 15 each connected by means of a hinge 30 to the immersed part 12.

[0067] It is also possible to provide that the wing surfaces 15 are joined to the part 12 by means of two hinges, a longitudinal one, that is, the hinge 30, to vary the height, and a horizontal or transverse one, to vary the angle of incidence of the wing surfaces 15 or the longitudinal trim of the floating elements 17a in the vertical plane in order to modify the trim angle of the vessel.

[0068] The junction between the wing surfaces 15 and the immersed part 12 can also consist of two hinges, a longitudinal one, that is, the hinge 30, to vary the height, and a vertical one, to vary the angle of incidence of the wing surfaces 15 or the longitudinal trim of the floating elements 17a in the horizontal plane in order to modify the direction of the vessel.

[0069] In other embodiments, the junction between the wing surfaces 15 and the completely immersed part 12 can consist of a sliding block which by sliding varies the height of the floating elements 17a at the end of the load-bearing surfaces.

[0070] The uprights 14 could also be of the telescopic and adjustable type, in order to increase or decrease the distance of the assembly consisting of immersed part 12, wing surfaces 15 and floating elements 17a, from the emerged part 13, as a function of what is convenient for navigation.

[0071] The wing surfaces 15 are preferably located in pairs in a symmetrical position at the sides of the torpedo-shaped hull. The wing surfaces 15 are characterized by a load-bearing wing profile, that is, provided with a curvature with respect to a joining straight line X2 that passes through the entry edge and the exit edge of the wing surfaces. This profile is also positioned so that the straight line X2 as above has an angle α1 with respect to the incident flow, and is equipped with a flap that moves, varying the angle β1 between the straight line as above and the line joining the entry edge and the exit edge of a flap 29 which the wing surface 15 can be equipped with, see also FIG. 2.

[0072] The curved profile and the fixed angle of incidence α1 generate a constant lift, while by varying the angle of the flap β1 it is possible to vary the lift in order to modify the trim of the vessel in flight. Once the take-off speed has been reached and exceeded, the wing surfaces 15 generate a hydrodynamic thrust, which together with the hydrostatic thrust of the part 12 are able to maintain the weight of the vessel 11. The pair of floating elements 17a located at the ends of the wing surfaces 15, due to the relative movement of the latter with respect to the immersed part 12, can be partly immersed or completely out of the water. With the vessel stationary, when the wing surfaces 15 do not generate lift, the portion of floating element 17a that is immersed generates a hydrostatic thrust capable of supporting, together with the hydrostatic thrust of the immersed part 12, the weight of the vessel.

[0073] The wing surfaces 15 and the floating elements 17a can be moved with respect to the completely immersed part 12 by means of the hinges 30, see also FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. These hinges 30 allow the transition movement of the floating elements 17a from partly immersed to totally above the sea surface.

[0074] In order to pass from the position of FIG. 3 to the position of FIG. 4 and vice versa, the present hull 10a is equipped with rotation means 31 configured to allow the wing surfaces 15 to rotate around the hinges 30 away from or toward the hull 10a. Such rotation means 31 comprise for example a hydraulic actuator 32 and a lever mechanism 33 which allows the correct movement of the wing surfaces 15 and therefore the correct opening or closing of the floating elements 17a.

[0075] The hull 10a will also be equipped with a propulsion system 34, for example provided with a pair of propellers 35 mounted on wing surfaces 36, which can be equipped with flaps 37, see again FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. In addition, the completely immersed part 12 can be equipped with a direction control system, in this case a rudder 38.

[0076] When the vessel is stationary or maneuvering at low speed, it is the two propellers 35 located at a certain distance from the centerline axis X3 of the vessel which, by rotating in an opposite sense, allow the vessel to turn on itself. In order to improve the maneuverability of the vessel, a transverse maneuvering propeller could be installed in the bow of the immersed part 12, or the propellers, including the bow one, could be located in special thrusters capable of rotating around a vertical axis.

[0077] The wing surfaces 36 help to control the trim of the vessel in flight. In this regard, α2 indicates the angle of incidence of the wing surface 36, while β2 indicates the angle of incidence of the flap 37 of the independent wing.

[0078] The wing surfaces 15, in the position of FIG. 3, can take the floating elements 17a into contact with the vessel 11, transmitting to it part of the vertical and horizontal thrusts caused by the actions of the sea and therefore reducing the structural stresses on the uprights 14. In particular, the floating elements 17a could be housed in seatings 28 made on the bottom of the vessel 11.

[0079] The wing surfaces 15, as a function of their relative position with respect to the part 12, in addition to the possible variation of immersion of the floating elements 17a, vary their surface or the angle of incidence, or by means of the flap 29 they vary their profile, consequently they vary the lift in order to control and reduce vessel motions in all operating conditions of the vessel 11: stationary vessel, take-off and flight, what stated above is in combination with the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic thrust of the part 12 and possibly of the wing surfaces 36, fixed or mobile, but independent from the wing surfaces 15 associated with the floating elements 17a.

[0080] FIG. 2 therefore shows a top view of the immersed part 12, for example torpedo-shaped, and of the wing surfaces 15 and 36. In particular, it can be seen that a portion of the wing surface is dedicated to the flaps 29 and 37, which increase or reduce the lift in order to adjust the trim and reduce vessel motions in conditions of flight by modifying the angles of incidence β1 and β2, see also FIG. 1.

[0081] FIG. 1 also ideally shows the waterline line L1 of the vessel during deployment operations, that is, with the floating elements 17a immersed and the line L2 representing the surface of the water when the vessel 11 is in flight. L3 indicates the baseline of the vessel 11.

[0082] With the vessel stationary or maneuvering, see FIG. 1, the floating elements 17a are partly immersed and keep the vessel at a predetermined height H, equal to that of flight, without modifying the immersion D. Without immersed floating elements 17a, the immersion of the vessel would increase up to the height D1 making it impossible to dock in many unequipped landings. In addition, the movement of the floating elements 17a when the vessel is stationary counteracts the vessel motions, keeping the vessel stable despite a rough sea state.

[0083] In the transition phase, the part portion of vertical thrust not provided by the immersed part 12 is compensated partly by the hydrostatic thrust of the partly immersed floating elements 17a and partly by the hydrodynamic lift of the wing surfaces 15, and the floating elements 17a behave like real hulls and for this reason their shape has to be optimized in order to reduce wave resistance and wave formation. The floating elements 17a can for example be torpedo-shaped, as shown.

[0084] FIGS. from 5 to 6 show another embodiment of the present hull 10b in which the wing surfaces 15 are fixed and the floating elements 17b are moved by means of supports 16b in the form of cables, which pass inside and outside the one or more uprights 14. These cables are associated with a movement system 40 thereof, which allows to raise and lower the floating elements 17b, therefore their passage from the emerged position to the immersed position, or vice versa, in addition to stiffening the structure of the hull 10b.

[0085] In FIG. 5 the floating elements 17b are in the raised position while in FIG. 6 they are shown in a lowered position.

[0086] These cables are inside and outside the upright 14 and substantially connect the completely immersed part 12 to the vessel 11. The upright 14, cables and vessel 11 assembly substantially constitutes a closed-loop tensile structure which reduces the structural stresses on the upright 14, or on the uprights if there is more than one.

[0087] The floating elements 17b can each slide on two cables, at the stern and at the bow thereof, giving the floating elements 17b the possibility of being disposed with an adjustable trim during their phase of descent into the water.

[0088] In the configuration of FIG. 7, the hull 10c comprises rigid supports 16c along which the floating elements 17c can slide. The supports 16c can be cables under tension that form a tensile structure, together with the one or more compressed uprights 14, or wing profiles as shown in the drawing, or other.

[0089] It is possible to provide on each side of the hull 10c at least one pair of supports 16c along which the floating elements 17c are positioned.

[0090] The supports 16c are connected on one side to the wing surfaces 15 and on the other side to a lower part of the hull 10c.

[0091] The supports 16c are also directed substantially in a vertical or slightly inclined direction, see FIG. 9, in particular inclined toward the inside of the hull 10c. This allows greater opening in the lowered position of FIG. 10 and a smaller overall size in the raised position of FIG. 7. In particular, see FIG. 8, in the raised position the floating elements 17c are substantially retracted under the hull 10c.

[0092] The wing surfaces 15 are connected to the completely immersed part 12 of the hull 10c.

[0093] The supports 16c can be for example thin rigid rods, or profiles with another shape, for example rounded, elliptical or other. It is possible to provide drive systems able to raise or lower the floating elements 17c with respect to the supports 16c, for example actuators associated on one side with the floating element 17c and on the other side with the hull 10c, or other.

[0094] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the floating elements 17c can be substantially V-shaped, as shown by way of example.

[0095] The hull 10c, see FIGS. 13 and 15, can be equipped with a propulsion system 18 located at the front end of the completely immersed part 12, for example a torpedo-shaped body. The direction of travel X1 of the hull is indicated in FIG. 13.

[0096] This completely immersed part 12 of the hull can also be used as a tank for the fuel required for the front propulsion system 18 or other propulsion system.

[0097] The propulsion system 18 can be provided, for example, with a propeller 39 rotating around an axis X4 and protected by means of a shell 20.

[0098] The hull 10c can also be equipped with a delivery system 19 configured to deliver compressed air A onto the surface of the completely immersed part 12, in order to further decrease the resistance to the forward motion of the vessel 11, that is, in the direction X1, see also FIG. 14.

[0099] The system 19 can be equipped with a tank 21 for storing compressed air associated with a compressor 23 which, by means of a distributor valve 22, delivers compressed air A onto the surface of the part 12 through one or more channels 24 made in the part 12.

[0100] The system 19 can be housed in any convenient position whatsoever of the vessel 11, of the hull 10 or even inside the completely immersed part 12.

[0101] The present hull 10c, see FIGS. 16 and 17, can also be equipped with wheels 25 that can be extracted, when necessary, from the floating elements 17c in order to make the hull 10c and therefore the vessel 11 self-propelled, for example for their transport along docks or other.

[0102] It is possible to provide at least one pair of wheels 25 for each floating element 17c. These wheels 25, which preferably will be idle, can be pivoted inside the floating element 17c by means of suitable supports 26 which, by means of manual rotation or a rotation automatically commanded by the vessel 11, can pass from a substantially horizontal configuration in which they are housed inside the floating element 17c, to a substantially vertical configuration for moving the vessel 11 on land.

[0103] The present hull, see for example the hull 10a FIG. 2, can comprise a control system 27 equipped with inertial sensors and height detectors, which is configured to manage the movement of the wing surfaces for the active control of vessel motions in the two main conditions of use, that is, when maneuvering by exploiting the increase or reduction of immersed volume of the floating elements, and in flight at cruising speed by varying the lift of the wing surfaces.

[0104] We wish to clarify that the characteristics described and shown with reference to a determinate embodiment of the hull can also be conveniently incorporated in the other embodiments of the hull described and shown.

[0105] It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the hull with variable geometry as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

[0106] In the following claims, the sole purpose of the references in brackets is to facilitate reading: they must not be considered as restrictive factors with regard to the field of protection claimed in the specific claims.