Abstract: By including a Variable Second Pad Keel, a watercraft experiences a reduction in Slamming forces as well as generally improved Seakeeping and Seakindliness.

Abstract: A traction cell for use in a track drive of an amphibious or all-terrain vehicle includes a rigid section for connection to a track drive and at least one semi-rigid compliant section which is connected to the rigid section. The semi-rigid compliant section has a bottom surface to which a penetration resistant sole is secured on a rear face which is raked relative to the vertical.

Abstract: By including a Concentric Pad Keel, a watercraft experiences a reduction in Slamming forces as well as generally improved Seakeeping and Seakindliness.

Abstract: The disclosed watercraft hull has a flat pad keel whose width tapers towards the bow and its width at the transom is 15% to 25% of the hull's width at its chines. The hull is symmetric about its centerline, has a fine entry bow, a transom, and a pair of hard chines. Between the pad keel and the chines the hull has at least one pair of generally flat panels referred to herein as longitudinal steps having approximately 0 degrees of deadrize forming planing surfaces symmetrically located about the hull centerline. The hull also includes at least one pair of ultra high deadrize panels, outboard of and adjacent to the pad keel, located symmetrically about the hull centerline, and extending therefrom to the flat planing panels above them. The ultra high deadrize panels have a minimum average deadrize of approximately 50 degrees measured along their length.

Abstract: An inflatable watercraft is provided with multiple reinforced panels that are configured to form a center hull having a V-form. The center hull supports a floor that is coupled to a U-form collar. The panels also form a pair of outer side hulls respectively disposed on opposite sides of the center hull and which define a tunnel between the center hull and each of the outer side hulls.

Abstract: An energy storage and transfer system and method includes the use of a containment vessel holding a first solid/liquid phase change heat transfer medium and at least one second containment vessel located at least partially within the first phase change heat transfer medium and holding a second solid/liquid phase change medium. The second phase change heat transfer medium is heated from an external source of energy and gives up its absorbed heat to the first phase change heat transfer medium. A heat exchange loop is partially contained within the first phase change heat transfer medium for removing energy therefrom and transferring it to an external source for use. The second phase change heat transfer material has a higher melting temperature and higher heat of fusion value than the first phase change heat transfer material.

Abstract: A watercraft hull has a flat pad keel whose beam tapers towards the bow and at the transom is 15% to 25% of the beam at its chines. The hull is symmetric about its centerline, has a fine entry bow, and a pair of hard chines. Between the pad keel and the chines the hull has at least one pair of generally flat longitudinal steps having approximately 0 degrees of deadrise forming planing surfaces symmetrically about the hull centerline. The hull also includes at least one pair of ultra high deadrise panels, outboard of and adjacent to the pad keel, symmetrically about the hull centerline, and extending to the flat planing panels above them. The ultra high deadrise panels have a deadrise approximately 50 degrees. Additional flat planing surface structures having approximately 0° deadrise are installed longitudinally on the hull between the pad keel and the hard chine.

Abstract: A traction cell for use in a track drive of an amphibious or all-terrain vehicle includes a rigid section for connection to a track drive and at least one semi-rigid compliant section which is connected to the rigid section. The semi-rigid compliant section has a bottom surface to which a penetration resistant sole is secured on a rear face which is raked relative to the vertical.

Abstract: An engine-powered watercraft includes three parallel hulls, namely a center hull with two or more transverse steps, and two smaller outer hulls or amas on either side of the center hull that are configured to form two vent ducts on either side of the center hull, disposed between the center hull sides and the amas. The amas, steps and vent ducts are disposed along the length of the watercraft and are configured to enable high speed capability and to facilitate pressurization of the vent ducts. The pressurized vent duct maximizes ventilation of the running bottom of the watercraft so as to improve efficiency and to reduce drag thereon. The pressurized vent duct creates an area of lift at the widest, aft-most points of the running bottom, which thereby results in improving the transverse and longitudinal stability of the watercraft and in reducing the trim for better seakeeping.

Abstract: An engine-powered watercraft includes three parallel hulls, namely a center hull with two or more transverse steps, and two smaller outer hulls or amas on either side of the center hull that are configured to form two vent ducts on either side of the center hull, disposed between the center hull sides and the amas. The amas, steps and vent ducts are disposed along the length of the watercraft and are configured to enable high speed capability and to facilitate pressurization of the vent ducts. The pressurized vent duct maximizes ventilation of the running bottom of the watercraft so as to improve efficiency and to reduce drag thereon. The pressurized vent duct creates an area of lift at the widest, aft-most points of the running bottom, which thereby results in improving the transverse and longitudinal stability of the watercraft and in reducing the trim for better seakeeping.

Abstract: An amphibious vehicle for transiting deep or shallow waters and/or the full range of wetland and dry soil environments, consists of a box-like structure with buoyant tracks that are powered to move around the structure. The buoyant tracks encircle the vehicle's length and extend laterally for a substantial portion of the vehicle's width or beam. When operating in water the buoyant tracks provide a majority of the buoyancy keeping the box-like structure above water surface or its tracks can be flooded to submerge the vessel. The amphibious vehicle can transport heavy equipment and personnel from ships located offshore, across undeveloped beaches, to positions ashore.

Abstract: A boat hull has at least one generally transverse ventilation step formed in at least a part of its bottom planing surface open to the water. The step has a forward edge portion and a water flow interrupter is positioned to project downwardly from the hull forward of the forward edge of the step.

Abstract: A boat hull has an aft swept ventilated area in at least a part of its bottom planing surface. An aft swept water flow interrupter is positioned to project downwardly from the hull forward of the ventilated area. The aft swept flow interrupter has two generally angularly related legs or sections defining a 30° to 70° included angle, increase lift on the hull, reduces wetted surface area and improves the turning characteristics of the hull.

Abstract: An energy conversion system includes a first mechanical system for converting reciprocating motion to rotary motion, a second system formed of belts and pulleys connected to said first system and driven by said rotary motion to lift a weight in response to said rotary motion from a first position to a second position and allow the weight to return to said first position under the influence of gravity. A rotary electrical is driven by the second system through a transmission means connected to the second system to create electricity only while the weight is returning from its second to its first position.

Abstract: An energy conversion system includes a first mechanical system for converting reciprocating motion to rotary motion, a second system formed of belts and pulleys connected to said first system and driven by said rotary motion to lift a weight in response to said rotary motion from a first position to a second position and allow the weight to return to said first position under the influence of gravity. A rotary electrical is driven by the second system through a transmission means connected to the second system to create electricity only while the weight is returning from its second to its first position.

Abstract: A foil shaped lifting body is attached by means of a strut to the underwater body of a vessel in such a manner as to cause a standing wave to be developed when the vessel is in operation in order that the standing wave will induct water into machinery intakes. The technology of this invention is particularly applicable to the operation of waterjet marine propulsion systems.

Abstract: An energy conversion system includes a first mechanical system for converting reciprocating motion to rotary motion, a second system formed of belts and pulleys connected to said first system and driven by said rotary motion to lift a weight in response to said rotary motion from a first position to a second position and allow the weight to return to said first position under the influence of gravity. A rotary electrical is driven by the second system through a transmission means connected to the second system to create electricity only while the weight is returning from its second to its first position.

Abstract: A boat hull has an aft swept ventilated area in at least a part of its bottom planing surface. An aft swept water flow interrupter is positioned to project downwardly from the hull forward of the ventilated area. The aft swept flow interrupter has two generally angularly related legs or sections defining a 30° to 70° included angle, increase lift on the hull, reduces wetted surface area and improves the turning characteristics of the hull.

Abstract: An entrapment tunnel watercraft vessel having three hulls consists of a main hull and two amas arranged outboard of the main hull with the keels of the three hulls being parallel. The main hull is a narrow, vee hull with variable, rearwardly decreasing deadrise. The amas have very fine bows and narrow, asymmetric deep-V hulls, with nearly vertical slab outboard sides above their keels and variable reverse deadrise on their inboard sides with the reverse deadrise angles decreasing from bow to stem. The tunnels on each side of the main hull are formed by three distinct surfaces, the sides of the main hull above its chine, the reverse deadrise inboard sides of each ama upward from their keels and a ceiling surface transversely spanning the aforementioned sides and having rearwardly increasing deadrise and rearwardly decreasing width. The tunnel ceilings slopes down from the bow to a section aft of midship where the ceiling height above the keel remains essentially constant.

Abstract: A boat hull has at least one generally transverse ventilation step formed in at least a part of its bottom planing surface open to the water. The step has a forward edge portion and a water flow interrupter is positioned to project downwardly from the hull forward of the forward edge of the step.