Abstract: The disclosure provides a composite element having a layer structure with 2 mm to 20 mm of metal, 10 mm to 100 mm of compact polyurethane formulation and another 2 mm to 20 mm of metal, a method of using thereof and corresponding production process therefor. The polyurethane formulation is obtainable by reacting (a) a compound having at least two isocyanate groups with (b) polyether polyol and the polyether polyol (b) is a mixture including at least the constituents of polyether polyol (b1) and polyether polyol (b2).

Abstract: A water vessel flotation system is disclosed comprising a plurality of inflatable bladders disposed within a vessel. In the event of capsizing or hull rupture, the bladders can be automatically inflated with compressed gas. Inflation of the bladders can be performed by one or more omni directional float triggered valves coupled between the compressed gas tanks and the bladders. Each valve is operated by a lever having a flexible link (e.g. a chain) attached to its end. The flexible link extends somewhat perpendicularly away from the lever end to pass through an eyelet at distal point. A float is attached to the flexible link after exiting the eyelet allowing the buoyant action of the float in any direction to cause the flexible link to be pulled toward the eyelet and thereby pulling the lever end and opening the valve.

Abstract: With the objective of providing a small fiberglass boat that fulfills the criteria of being self-bailing, self-righting and being unsinkable, the boat may include: a hull including a deck at the waterline dividing the boat into a lower portion below the waterline and an upper portion above the waterline and a centerline defining the separation between the starboard side and port side; an additional weight equivalent to approximately forty percent of the weight of the hull located within the lower portion of the hull approximately along the centerline of the hull; a series of scuppers located in the upper portion of the hull; a buoyant element located above the upper portion of the hull; and buoyant material placed within the lower portion of the hull. The deck may further include a partition dividing the deck into two channels.

Abstract: A combination boat and travel trailer system having a main body portion and a bow portion. The bow portion movable between a raised position relative to the main body portion to facilitate towing of the boat and travel trailer and a lowered position to facilitate in-water use as a boat.

Abstract: An anti-puncture, water-leak-inhibiting, self-sealing, coating structure for application selectively to inside and/or outside portions of a boat hull. The coating structure, in operative condition with respect to such a hull portion, includes a body of continuous-phase, non-water-reactive, high-elastomeric-material, and, embedded within that body, in an initially shrouded and non-exposed condition guarded nominally against any contact with external water, a distribution of water-reactive, water-imbiber beads.

Abstract: An automated water safety apparatus is disclosed including, a spray device, a sensor, a container, a processor capable of sending and receiving signals, and a liquid substance that becomes a buoyant solid when released from the spray device, wherein the water safety device is coupled to a water vessel. Additionally, a method is disclosed for creating buoyant solids in water in response to a water vessel beginning to sink, including determining whether the water vessel is sinking, sending a signal to the processor to indicate that the vessel is sinking, the processor instructing the container to release the liquid substance, and propelling the liquid substance into the water to form buoyant solids.

Abstract: A portable inflatable water displacing body for preventing complete submersion of watercraft in immanent danger of sinking due to a sudden influx of water is comprised generally of at least one bladder, normally mounted within the hull of the vessel in a collapsed and deflated condition, each bladder having: 1) internal volumetric expansion means including an inlet connected to an external gas source for charging the expansion means and a relief valve for controlling the amount of pressure in the expansion means, and 2) a check valve for allowing one-way passage of ambient air into the bladder. The expansion means is comprised of an extremely light-weight, highly flexible tubular framework which when charged with the gas expands into a pre-defined three-dimensional geometric shape causing the volume within the surrounding bladder to increase. The increase in volume reduces the pressure and creates a partial vacuum, which is filled by air pushed in through the check valve by the higher atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: An unsinkable hull structure and a method for manufacturing an unsinkable hull structure, comprising a first bottom hull , a covering for the first bottom hull, a plurality of reinforcing structural elements arranged according to the longitudinal direction of the first bottom hull and the covering and made integral with both the bottom hull and the covering by connection; and filling for filling the volume defined between the first bottom hull and second covering and the plurality of longitudinal structural elements.

Abstract: A tank is provided that reduces sloshing pressures in the corner sections of a tank, such as an LNG membrane tank. The tank includes a sloshing impact reduction system placed in selected corner sections within the tank. The system serves as a slosh attenuation system, and reduces the severity of the corner geometry and improves the flow of fluids into the tank corner. In one embodiment, an impermeable structure is disposed in an internal corner section of the tank. The impermeable structure may be a triangular planar surface, or a non-planar structural surface. The non-planar structural surface may be a concave surface or other curved surface. In another arrangement, a permeable structure is placed in an internal corner section of the tank. Such a permeable structure would enable fluid to pass through the device, but would reduce the fluid velocities and accelerations via friction or eddies. The permeable structure may be either rigid or flexible.

Abstract: A composite structural laminate plate suitable for building maritime vessels or for building civil structures such as double hull oil tankers, bulk carriers, barges decks for roll-on roll-off ferries, orthotropic bridge decks or for building any structural application in which the traditional method of construction uses stiffened steel plates. The laminate has two facing metal layers that are structurally bonded to a polyurethane elastomer core which may have steel or rigid foam void sections embedded within. The laminate provides equivalent in plane and transverse stiffness and strength, reduces fatigue problems, minimizes stress concentrations, improves thermal and acoustical insulation, and provides vibration control. The laminate provides a structural system that acts as a crack arrest layer and that can join two dissimilar metals without welding or without setting up a galvanic cell.

Abstract: An integrated, compartmentalized, water impermeable hull that is constructed of a plurality of lengthwise tubes. The tubes are arranged in a generally parallel relation to one another such that an outer surface of each tube abuts an outer surface of at least one other of the tubes. The tubes are sandwiched between a first inner support layer and a second inner support layer. Each inner support layer undulates along and fixedly adheres to the tubes to thereby hold the tubes in a fixed relation to one another. First and second outer support layers are positioned over the first and second inner support layer, respectively, and are fixed to a plurality of peaks of the first inner support layers to thereby reinforce the first inner support layers.

Abstract: A composite structural laminate plate suitable for building maritime vessels or for building civil structures such as double hull oil tankers, bulk carriers, barges decks for roll-on roll-off ferries, orthotropic bridge decks or for building any structural application in which the traditional method of construction uses stiffened steel plates. The laminate has two facing metal layers that are structurally bonded to a polyurethane elastomer core which may have steel or rigid foam void sections embedded within. The laminate provides equivalent inplane and transverse stiffness and strength, reduces fatigue problems, minimizes stress concentrations, improves thermal and acoustical insulation, and provides vibration control. The laminate provides a structural system that acts as a crack arrest layer and that can join two dissimilar metals without welding or without setting up a galvanic cell.

Abstract: Canoe and kayak mid-point sponsons attach to the canoe or kayak only at the mid-point of the sponsons, to enable the sponsons to rotate around the midpoint in order to reduce drag in waves and simplify attachment and detachment to the canoe or kayak, while also permitting much greater sponson buoyancy volume than any other type of sponson, without interfering with normal paddling to safety. They are attached to any canoe or kayak by material such as only one adjustable strap and two clips, extending to kayak deck fittings adjacent the cockpit or a canoe middle thwart, in such a manner as to facilitate normal paddling of the stabilized craft in life threatening emergencies. They can be directly attached to both sides of the hull near the waterline. The mid-point sponsons can be solid buoyant material, waterproof and airtight stowage bags containing bulky lightweight items such as sleeping bags, orally inflatable sponson floats, and gas cartridge inflatable sponson floats.

Abstract: A composite laminate panel suitable for building containment vessels, and in particular, suitable for building double hull oil tankers. The laminate has two facing metal layers structurally bonded to a polyurethane elastomer core. The laminate is used in various hull components, such as the hull plates, longitudinal girders, transverse frames and bulkheads. The laminate is used to build the inner hull and the outer hull, and may be used to build the structural supports between the inner and outer hulls. The innermost layer of inner hull contains the ship's cargo. The elastomer core of the inner hull laminate isolates the innermost hull skin from cracks, thereby preventing a loss of cargo such as oil into the environment, when the outer hull is pierced, penetrated or ruptured in an accident or grounding.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for allowing securing of a collision guard to a side of a vessel. A vertically oriented post is fixedly attached to and extends upwardly from the collision guard and has an upper part which is received in a gap formed between a pair of vertically spaced-apart horizontally extending retainer plates. An enclosure formed between the retainer plates surrounds the posts on those sides which do not face the hull of the vessel. Adjustable screw jacks extend through the openings formed in the enclosure side walls to selectively adjustably contact the side walls of the post to thereby secure the retainer plates to the post. An attachment bolster mounted on a top deck of the vessel allows fixed attachment of the retainer plates to the vessel.

Abstract: An emergency floatation system for a water craft including an elongated inflatable buoyancy tube positioned within an interior volume defined by a contour molded cover whose perimeter is sealingly mated around a somewhat flat base member against the hull outer surface. One such assembly is connected and extending longitudinally along each side of the boat hull near the water line of the water craft. A source of compressed gas within the water craft inflates each buoyancy tube, triggered either manually or by a separate sensing unit responsive to a preselected sea water pressure or depth above the sensing unit as when the water craft is partially submerged.

Abstract: The invention relates to marine vessels equipped with collision guards made in the form of a fender module secured to the exterior surface of the hull and supported thereby. The module, which can be one or more in number, is filled with lightweight buoyant material and protects the hull proper from collision damage, or it can be made in the form of a hollow shell divided into a plurality of watertight compartments.

Abstract: This invention relates to flexible internal liners for reducing the amount of oil spilled by oil tankers due to groundings, collisions, and other major accidents. The liner comprises a flexible oil-resistant impermeable plastic or rubber, which preferably is reinforced by steel mesh or woven aramid fibers. In one embodiment, a independent segment is provided in each bay between two stiffeners. The horizontal edges of each liner segment are coupled to the stiffeners, near the ends of the stiffeners, to provide enough material for the liner to be pushed inward a substantial distance if a collision or grounding occurs. The edges can be secured by detachable clamps; this will provide watertight seals during normal operation, while allowing the segment to be detached and opened when the hull is inspected.

Abstract: A boat hull includes a stern section known as a transom which comprises an outer transom wall, an inner transom wall spaced apart from the outer transom wall, and a core of syntactic foam comprising a plurality of microspheres encapsulated in a resin inserted between the outer transom wall and the inner transom wall.

Abstract: A method of making a boat comprises moulding a hull (6) with an external longitudinal recess (7), securing a folded inflatable bag (8) within the recess, and fitting a cover (9) into position over the recess such that it can be blown clear thereof when the bag is inflated to provide buoyancy during an emergency.

Abstract: The cylindrical shape tube consists of a pressure valve and a safety valve. Whether the tube's contents be made of metal, expandable or non-stretchable materials, it has the ability to retain low air pressure. For safety purposes, any excess air pressure is released through the safety valve when the belts are made of metal content, the lengthwise belts have flares and grooves, the crosswise belts have oblong holes. When the belts are made of expandable or non-stretchable materials, snap head and grooves are cast within the lengthwise belts, the crosswise belts have round holes. The metal crosswise belts with their oblong holes can be engaged onto both the snap heads of the expandable lengthwise belts and flares of metal lengthwise belts. The expandable crosswise belts with their round holes can be snapped onto the snap heads of the expandable lengthwise belts and flares of the metal lengthwise belts.

Abstract: A safety boat assembly which includes air bags, a breathing device, a tubular pole containing a dense material, safety belts, a gravity on/off light switch, and a view finding window disposed therein for improving buoyancy and stability and for reducing the dangers associated with boating accidents when the boat assembly is turned over.

Abstract: A hollow body which has a flexible envelope and can be pressurized from inside by a pressure medium, the envelope consisting of a foam material, preferably neoprene, with closed cavities whose volume can be altered by changes in the pressure medium to correspondingly alter the thermal insulation capacity of the envelope. A coating may be applied to the foam material on the outside of the hollow body to enhance the stability of its shape when inflated.

Abstract: An inflated flotation collar is formed around at least part of the hull of a boat by positioning a longitudinal inflatable member along at least part of the length of both the port and starboard sides of the hull. The terminal portions of the member are secured so that the linear length of the gunwale over which the member extends is substantially fixed and so that the member is held substantially at gunwale level on the hull by securing devices passing around and optionally over but not under the hull. The inflatable member is inflated, whereby the expansion of the member causes the member to bear against the hull against the restraining effect of the securing of the terminal portions.

Abstract: A water-going vessel propelled via a plurality of parallel sets of two underwater turbines disposed along the underside of said vessel, with each turbine mounted on respective retractable struts. A plurality of sets of turbines extend from respective turrets disposed along the longitudinal midline of the underside of the vessel, each of said turrets rotatable through 360 degrees and each having extending therefrom one turbine set. Hull construction pieces of the vessel preferably comprise an outer and an inner containment wall within which a plurality of touching hollow spheres are sandwiched and wherein a plurality of individual lengths of high strength sheaths are within respective tubes which are parallel with the containment walls and disposed within intrices formed by the spheres. The individual lengths of sheaths are connectable to each other to form a network of sheaths encircling the hull. Stress can be introduced and adjusted within each length of sheath which is a part of the network.

Abstract: A strippable covering for protecting marine structures from fouling in contact with water which comprises a sheet-like water-insoluble base prepared from a synthetic, thermoplastic polymeric material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride and polyethylene, said base ranging in thickness from 4 to 8 mils and coated on one side thereof with a water insoluble, acrylic adhesive material comprising homopolymers and copolymers of acrylic acid and acid esters, said adhesive material ranging in thickness from about 0.