Patents Examined by Anthony D Wiest
  • Patent number: 11613328
    Abstract: A hull auxiliary mechanism for reducing a draft of a hull, includes a guide baffle on both sides of the hull. Two ends of the guide baffle extend out of a front end and a rear end of the hull. A Lower end of the guide baffle extends out of a bottom of the hull. The front end and the rear end of the hull are flat inclined plates. The bottom of the hull is a flat plate; the hull auxiliary mechanism also includes a water resistance mechanism, and the water resistance mechanism includes a first diversion pressure plate, a second diversion pressure plate and a third diversion pressure plate. Both sides of the guide baffle are used to direct a flow of water to the hull. At the same time, there are three groups of diversion pressure plates at the bottom of the hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Inventors: Xuming Tang, Qingyun Chang
  • Patent number: 11613336
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an outboard motor main body, a support including a tilt shaft and that supports the outboard motor main body, and a trim cylinder including a first trim cylinder shaft disposed below the tilt shaft along an outer surface of a transom of a hull. A distance between the tilt shaft and the first trim cylinder shaft is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11608143
    Abstract: A movable platform assembly for a boat includes a support structure configured to be connected to the boat, a platform, and a horizontal translation system connecting the platform to the support structure, the horizontal translation system having a pair of main arms rotatable about respective vertical rotation axes, and a pair of main sliders sliding in a transverse direction along a main guide integral with the platform. Each main arm has a proximal end hinged to the support structure and a distal end hinged to a respective main slider. The platform is translatable between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: OPACMARE S.R.L.
    Inventor: Michele Grimaldi
  • Patent number: 11608150
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an outboard motor main body, a support including a tilt shaft and that supports the outboard motor main body, and a trim cylinder including a first trim cylinder shaft disposed below the tilt shaft along an outer surface of a transom of a hull. A distance between the tilt shaft and the first trim cylinder shaft is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makoto Mizutani
  • Patent number: 11597488
    Abstract: A maneuvering system for a ship provided with, in the stern, a port-side propulsion system, and a starboard-side propulsion system. For controlling the system, a forward or backward force of the ship 1 is obtained by the difference between the forward and backward propulsion forces of the propulsion systems and a first turning moment in a turning direction of the ship generated by the propulsion forces is offset by a second turning moment in the turning direction of the ship generated by steering a port-side rudder, whereby the ship moves in a transversal manner toward its starboard side while rotation of the ship is avoided. A high degree of maneuverability is thereby achieved with a relatively simple maneuvering operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsui E&S Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koh Murata
  • Patent number: 11597485
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for providing retractable control fins on an underwater vehicle. The retractable control fins can be extended away from a main hull portion of the underwater vehicle and retracted inwards to a stowage region within the hull portion to protect the fins from damage and reduce an overall outer diameter (e.g., in the case of a cylindrical body) of the underwater vehicle. In some embodiments, the control fins are folded inwards to reduce the vehicle diameter. In other embodiments, the control fins are pulled inwards using a rotating structure designed to slide the control fins through an opening and into an inner portion of the hull to reduce the vehicle diameter. The retraction of the fins through the various retraction mechanisms reduces the envelope diameter of the underwater vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: BAE Systems Information and Electronic, Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher G. Van Valkenburgh, Richard N. Jorgenson, Gary M. Shapiro, Jerrod S. Allen
  • Patent number: 11597484
    Abstract: An underwater vehicle having a hovering system using a tube type launcher. The underwater vehicle includes a streamlined body and a hovering system connected to a rear of the streamlined body to generate a kinetic force of the streamlined body. The hovering system includes an extension shaft extended to be connected to the rear, a connection assembly connected to the rear through the extension shaft, and an auxiliary propeller assembly connected to the connection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Kun Chul Hwang, Dong Hoon Lee, Jun Ho Lee, Jae Moon Yoon
  • Patent number: 11591050
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sonobuoy that houses at least one unmanned vehicle that may be launched from the sonobuoy. The sonobuoy may include a canister, a parachute, an unmanned vehicle, and a launch mechanism. The parachute may be disposed within an interior cavity of the canister proximate to a first end of the canister. The unmanned vehicle may be disposed within the interior cavity of the canister proximate to a second end of the canister. The launch mechanism may be disposed within the interior cavity of the canister and operatively coupled to the unmanned vehicle. The launch mechanism may be configured to launch the unmanned vehicle from the canister. The sonobuoy may further include a launch deployment mechanism that may be configured to orient the canister with respect to a surface after the sonobuoy impacts the surface in order to facilitate the launch of the unmanned vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Eagle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Graham, Robert Eschbach, Robert E. Hammerquist, Brian K. Elliott
  • Patent number: 11584490
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface cover for a body which can be brought into contact with a liquid, comprising: a layer which at least partly contains gas and which is designed and arranged such that at least some sections of a layer face facing the liquid contacts the liquid; a gas-permeable layer which is arranged on the gas-containing layer on a face that faces the body and is opposite the face facing the liquid or which is integrally formed with the gas-containing layer; and a gas-supplying device which is connected to the gas-permeable layer such that gas can flow from the gas-supplying device to the gas-containing layer through the gas-permeable layer. The invention also relates to an arrangement and a use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Baden-Württemberg Stiftung gGmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Schimmel
  • Patent number: 11577807
    Abstract: An underwater device intended to be deployed in the water, the device includes a set of arms articulated to a support body having a reference axis r, the arms being able to be kept in a furled configuration and able to deploy into a deployed configuration wherein the arms extend about the reference axis r, the arms deploying by distal ends of the arms moving away from the axis r, a set of at least one bending spring stressed elastically in bending when the arms are kept in a furled configuration and able to relax when the arms are released from the furled configuration, the set of at least one bending spring being configured and arranged in such a way as to exert, on at least one of the arms, when the arms are released from the furled configuration, a thrust that instigates the deploying of the arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Florian Prevel, Philippe Kerdraon
  • Patent number: 11565781
    Abstract: The present invention is applicable to the technical field of marine equipment and provides a hybrid-driven mooring chain cleaning and structural inspection underwater robot and a working method thereof. The hybrid-driven mooring chain cleaning and structural inspection underwater robot includes at least one frame structure; a buoyancy system disposed on the frame structure and used for adjusting the buoyancy of the robot; a driving system disposed on the frame structure; underwater observation and communication systems disposed on the frame structure and used for underwater observation; a cleaning system disposed on the frame structure and used for cleaning a mooring chain; an active clasping/unclasping system disposed on the frame structure; and a structural inspection system disposed on the frame structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignees: CIMC Offshore Co., Ltd, Shanghai Ocean Univerity
    Inventors: Wei Feng, Zhe Jiang, Gaosheng Luo, Biao Wang, Wenqi Qin, Zhongjun Mao, Naiyao Xue, Wei Bao, Renjie Zheng, Chenchen Yang
  • Patent number: 11560203
    Abstract: Surge damping systems and processes for using same. In some embodiments, a system for mooring a vessel can include a mooring support structure that can include a base structure and a turntable disposed on the base structure. A vessel support structure can be disposed on the vessel. At least one extension arm can be suspended from the vessel support structure. A ballast tank can be connected to the extension arm. A uni-directional passive surge damping system can be disposed on the vessel and can include an elongated tension member connected to the ballast tank that can be configured to dampen a movement of the ballast tank by applying a tension thereto. A yoke can extend from and can be connected at a first end to the ballast tank and can include a yoke head disposed on a second end thereof that can be configured to connect to the turntable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: SOFEC, INC.
    Inventors: Hao Yu, Yonghui Liu, Stephen Lindblade
  • Patent number: 11554841
    Abstract: A fluid medium vehicle is provided which has a main body and at least one engine attached to the main body. The engine is configured to provide thrust parallel to a thrust axis passing through the main body. A plurality of foils is moveably attached to and extends outwardly from the main body. The plurality of foils is arranged in pairs. Each pair of foils extends from the main body along opposite ends of one of a plurality of foil axes. Each foil axis is perpendicular to the thrust axis, and each foil is constructed as an independently positionable control surface and as an independently controllable propulsion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventors: Richard P Berube, Thomas A Merchant
  • Patent number: 11548605
    Abstract: A calibration method for at least one propulsion unit of a marine vessel, the at least one propulsion unit being arranged to provide a propulsive force to the vessel, the at least one propulsion unit being adjustable so as to change a respective steering angle of the at least one propulsion unit in relation to a hull of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO PENTA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tobias Husberg
  • Patent number: 11550339
    Abstract: A tether control system for an inspection vehicle operable in a housing having a liquid medium is disclosed in the present application. The tether system includes a tether connected between the inspection vehicle and an electronic controller. A controllable buoyancy system associated with the tether is operable for moving the tether in a desired location. The controllable buoyancy system includes one or more floating bodies having a propulsion system and one or more buoyant elements having variable buoyancy capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Gregory A. Cole, William J. Eakins, Daniel T. Lasko, Harshang Shah, Thomas A. Fuhlbrigge, Luiz V. Cheim, Poorvi Patel, Biao Zhang, Saumya Sharma, Andrew Salm, Sangeun Choi
  • Patent number: 11541978
    Abstract: A jet propelled boat includes a boat body including a hull and a deck located above the hull, and a pair of frames, one frame provided on each of a right side and a left side of the deck so as to sandwich the deck in a right-left direction of the jet propelled boat. The deck includes an upper deck and a lower deck, and each of the pair of frames includes a connector that spans the upper deck and the lower deck so as to connect the upper deck to the lower deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Teshima, Kaori Inoue
  • Patent number: 11530020
    Abstract: A method and device is provided for increasing the efficiency of jet drives by recuperating effective power from the propulsion flow. A ducted propeller in the propeller housing, driven by a driving engine via a drive shaft, conveys the fluid for the jet drive out of the interior Vi of a radial turbine. The fluid is accelerated axially and ejected backwards against the direction of travel. This creates thrust. Because the pressure in the interior of the turbine decreases, new fluid from the environment flows directly via the blades of the rotating radial turbine from the outside to the inside, thereby driving them. A guide apparatus is missing. The power of the radial turbine is transmitted via a transmission to the drive shaft of the propeller, which relieves the driving engine and increases the efficiency of the jet drive. The invention is particularly suitable for electric drives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Inventor: Martin Ziegler
  • Patent number: 11524750
    Abstract: A hull for a wakesurf boat includes an upper hull which is joined to a lower hull. The lower hull has a length, a maximum depth, a maximum width, a forward end, and an aft end. The lower hull is tapered toward the forward end and is largest at the aft end. In an embodiment, the maximum depth of the lower hull is less than 40% of the maximum width. In another embodiment the taper is a linear taper. The lower hull can include chines or can be rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: James Southwick Galloway
  • Patent number: 11518483
    Abstract: A trim tab for a ship comprises a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is swingably mounted to a rear portion of a ship body. The second portion extends from the first portion and curves in a swing direction away from the ship body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 11518487
    Abstract: A watercraft, associated motor pod, and associated methods are provided. The motor pod is operable to maintain an orientation of the watercraft relative to a reference datum while the watercraft is moving or stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Johnson Outdoors Inc.
    Inventors: Per Pelin, Paul Donald Salmon, Jay Thomas Erwin, Ronald Phillip Hansen