Patents Examined by Stephen P. Avila
  • Patent number: 12233999
    Abstract: An unidirectional propulsion system, having a base assembly with a motor, a rotary mechanism having at least two solenoids and a shaft, and a steering wheel assembly that mounts onto the shaft. The base assembly has a main base, first and second motor poles, and a motor top. The rotary mechanism has a bell housing and a housing base. The rotary mechanism and the base assembly are joined by a swivel. The rotary mechanism further has first and second solenoid tubes supported onto the housing base, a solenoid frame, and an upper frame. The solenoid tubes has respective solenoids, lower springs, upper springs, and bearings. The solenoid frame has first and second solenoid motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Inventor: Slavcho Slavchev
  • Patent number: 12227272
    Abstract: A fin stabilizer is provided for a vessel and includes a fin which is supported by a shaft that extends below the waterline. The shaft is fixed in rotation along its elongate axis relative to the vessel and the fin includes an actuator mechanism which causes the fin to rotate around the shaft to counteract roll of the vessel. In some cases, the actuator may be hydraulic and the shaft may include passages therethrough to transfer hydraulic fluid/pressure from the vessel's interior hydraulic system through the shaft and into the actuator to cause the fin to rotate. The fin may also be able to pivot into a storage position where, for example, the shaft is folded into a cavity in the vessel hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Inventors: John D. Venables, Steven J. Venables, Ryan W. Knapp
  • Patent number: 12221200
    Abstract: A marine vessel maneuvering system includes a controller configured or programmed to, when an operator is operated to move a marine vessel forward, perform a forward acceleration assist control to perform a control to generate a forward propulsive force in a propulsion generator of a marine propulsion unit that is not used when the operator is operated to move the marine vessel diagonally forward among three or more marine propulsion units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kohei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 12221192
    Abstract: A buoy, and systems and methods for rescuing people isolated on large bodies of water are disclosed. The buoy includes a remotely activatable device that is activatable when a signal is received from a remote source. The activatable device may be a signaling device, or an assistance device that is deployable by the buoy to assist in rescuing a person. A marine communication system formed by a number of spaced apart rescue buoys is also provided. A message or key other information can be transmitted to every buoy in the network via communication with just one buoy. The methods for rescuing people isolated on large bodies of water involve providing the network of communication buoys that can receive communications from the isolated person's personal communication device, and then transmit a signal to remotely activate an activatable device in a buoy to assist in the rescue of the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: William Erwin, Hayk Azatyan, Anthony Ligouri, Travis Rennich, David Shald, Adam Warren
  • Patent number: 12221198
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for a marine vessel is described. The hybrid propulsion system includes a shaft coupled to a propeller, a planetary gear system configured to operate in a first configuration and a second configuration, and a motor-generator. The motor-generator is configured to selectively rotate with and provide torque to the shaft through the planetary gear system in the first configuration and to rotate independently from the shaft in the second configuration. The shaft extends from the propeller through the planetary gear system and the motor-generator to a torque producing device for the marine vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Discovery Energy, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Raats, Isaac S. Frampton
  • Patent number: 12208873
    Abstract: A collapsible transom for an inflatable raft has a front section including two parallel front struts and a rear section including a floor portion and a collapsible support portion. The floor portion includes two parallel rear struts, and the two parallel front struts and two parallel rear struts are slidably connectable to each other by insertion into tubular end portions. The support portion is pivotally connected to the floor portion and movable between an expanded position with the support portion substantially parallel to and spaced away from the floor to a collapsed position with the support portion adjacent the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Inventor: Marcus Weigle
  • Patent number: 12208867
    Abstract: A grounding skeg for a landing craft configured for stem landing onto, and setting off from, a ground surface, the grounding skeg including: an elongate grounding body having a fore end and an aft end; and a removable pulling propeller functionally connected to the fore end of the body; wherein the pulling propeller is able to drive the landing craft ahead and astern; and the grounding body is locatable on the landing craft such that; the grounding body provides contact with the ground surface during stem landing of the landing craft; the fore end of the grounding body faces a bow end of the landing craft; and the aft end of the grounding body faces a stem end of the landing craft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: SEA TRANSPORT DESIGN PTY LTD
    Inventor: Ross Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 12208875
    Abstract: Axial Flux Outboard Propulsion System for an Electric Boat having a first axial flux motor that is positioned adjacent to a second axial flux motor and the ability to selectively turn each motor on or off via the control system based on the request or need for torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: EVOA, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond L. Jesewitz, Michael J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 12208876
    Abstract: An outboard motor has a top cowl and a service lid on the top cowl is movable into and between a closed position enclosing the powerhead compartment and an open position providing manual access to the powerhead compartment from above the outboard motor. An engine is in the powerhead compartment, wherein a peripheral gap is defined between the top cowl and the engine. A serviceable engine oil device is in the peripheral gap and is manually accessible from above the outboard motor when the service lid is in the open position. A serviceable transmission fluid device is in the peripheral gap and is manually accessible from above the outboard motor when the service lid is in the open position. A serviceable gearcase fluid device is in the peripheral gap and is manually accessible from above the outboard motor when the service lid is in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Andrasko, Stephen R. Collins, Mark W. Henker, Matthew W. Jaeger, Wade A. Loberger, John I. S. Park, Brad J. VanRuiswyk, Andrew S. Waisanen, Douglas D. Reichardt, Ameer B. Ambavaram
  • Patent number: 12208877
    Abstract: A power storage system for a marine vehicle is provided. The power storage system includes marine battery systems configured to provide energy to a marine vehicle load. Each marine battery system includes a battery and a three-position contactor configured to operate the marine battery system in one of a connected state, a disconnected state, or a bypass state. The power storage system further includes a controller coupled to each of the marine battery systems. The controller is configured to retrieve a preferred fault action for the marine battery systems, and in response to detection of a fault condition in the marine vehicle, control at least one three-position contactor of the marine battery systems according to the preferred fault action. The preferred fault action includes operating the marine battery system in the disconnected state or operating the marine battery system in the bypass state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
    Inventor: Steven J. Gonring
  • Patent number: 12202575
    Abstract: A standing rigging element, in particular a mast of a vessel, that has a closed profile, and a method of manufacturing the standing rigging element. The halves of the closed profile are made of layers of structural textile saturated with an epoxy resin and have a shape corresponding to the shape of the standing rigging element, after gluing. The mast includes a layer of photovoltaic modules as one of the laminate layers, with a flat set of flexible photovoltaic cells on the outer surface. Cables collecting electricity from photovoltaic modules are routed from each photovoltaic module to common collecting cables, connected to the electric power supply installation of the vessel. The photovoltaic module includes layers of structural textile, wherein one of the layers is a layer of flexible photovoltaic cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: SUNREEF VENTURE S.A.
    Inventor: Loïc Vénec
  • Patent number: 12202586
    Abstract: A steam-powered outboard conformal cooling system includes a steam turbine, a cooler and a conformal heat exchanger. The conformal heat exchanger includes a casing, a lower cap, an upper cap and multiple heat exchange tubes. The casing includes an outer shell plate provided outside a hull plate, the outer shell plate and the hull plate define a seawater heat exchange chamber. A first end of each of the heat exchange tubes is communicated with a cooling water intake chamber, a second end of the each of the heat exchange tubes is communicated with a cooling water discharge chamber, the cooling water intake chamber is communicated with the cooler through a water intake pipe, the cooling water discharge chamber is communicated with the cooler through a water discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: WUHAN 2ND SHIP DESIGN AND RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Wei Wang, Zhiqiang Qiu, Zhiwu Ke, Xingsheng Lao, Yong Li, Bangming Li, Zhiguo Wei, Yong Liu, Chunhui Dai, Shaodan Li
  • Patent number: 12202578
    Abstract: A boat hull having a ventilated boat keel is disclosed. In one embodiment, the ventilated boat keel may be a longitudinal vent tube from bow to stern, which runs down the center of the hull and branches off into multiple vent openings along the stepped hull. In another embodiment, the ventilated boat keel may be a longitudinal vent tube from bow to stern, which runs down the center of the hull and branches off into multiple vent openings along a traditional hull design. The ventilated boat keel creates a layer of micro-bubbles along the bottom of the boat. The micro-bubbles reduce friction and drag and allow for the boat to travel at a higher rate of speed using less fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Inventor: Danny Magloire
  • Patent number: 12195140
    Abstract: A sonar device including a tow cable and a towed body elongate along a longitudinal axis from a first longitudinal end to a second longitudinal end. The towed body includes a plurality of electroacoustic transducers aligned along the longitudinal axis and is connected to the tow cable, so it is able, when it is towed and fully submerged, to be oriented along a vertical axis. At least one towed body is connected to the tow cable by a first hanger and a second hanger. First ends of the first and second hangers are connected to the tow cable and a second end of the first hanger is attached to the towed body at a first fixing point near the first longitudinal end and a second end of the second hanger is attached to the towed body at a second fixing point near the second longitudinal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: THALES
    Inventors: Vito Suppa, Michel Ricard
  • Patent number: 12195150
    Abstract: A buoyancy-adjustable swim training vest for a user has a polymer-neoprene fabric formed garment member designed to substantially circumscribe the user's torso from neck to waist. A lower front of the vest has a front cover coupled to the vest and is vertically liftable. A back portion has a right side and a left side elastic wing members extending from a lower back portion designed to wrap frontward around the user's torso and detachably couple by respective hook and loop assemblies to each other, the vest, and the front cover, all coupled beneath the cover. An at least one polymer strap may be coupled detachably and adjustably by a latch to a buckle disposed on a lower edge of the front of the vest. At least one substantially sealable back pocket is disposed on an outer surface of the lower back portion of the vest designed to hold removable buoyant pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Inventor: Steven Blair Fountain
  • Patent number: 12195158
    Abstract: An embodiment of an exhaust collection system for collecting exhaust from a marine vessel includes an exhaust cleaning assembly including a tank. In addition, the exhaust collection system includes a vent hood in fluid communication with the tank of the exhaust cleaning assembly. The vent hood includes a frame including one or more extendable frame members, and an outer covering that covers the frame to define an enclosure with an opening configured to receive an exhaust stack of the marine vessel therethrough, the one or more extendable frame members to extend and retract to adjust a size of the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: MARATHON PETROLEUM COMPANY LP
    Inventors: Stephen Daniel Ernst, James A. Tomlinson, William Thomas MacKrell, Mark Howard Nielsen, Rounack Singh Bumrah
  • Patent number: 12195152
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a wingless hydraulic extrusion spiral rotation and forward movement type intelligent unmanned underwater vehicle, including a cabin body and a control module. The cabin body includes a power reaction cabin and a power fuel storage cabin, a power reaction cabin water supply device is fixedly arranged on the cabin body. The power reaction cabin and the power fuel storage cabin are separated by a partition plate. Power fuel in the power fuel storage cabin may enter the power reaction cabin. A tail part of the power reaction cabin is provided with a jet forward propeller. The control module is fixed on the cabin body. At least two jet rotation propellers are arranged on the cabin body. The jet rotation propeller includes a main propelling pipe, an auxiliary propelling pipe, and a jet magnification ring. The jet magnification ring includes an outer ring and an inner ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology
    Inventors: Gengyu Cao, Changhao Wang, Qun Wang
  • Patent number: 12195155
    Abstract: An outboard motor includes an upper case located between an engine and a propulsion unit. The upper case includes case parts that are separate from each other and assembled together. The case parts include a first case part and a second case part opposing each other in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to an axis of a drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Mizutani, Tomohiro Hagi, Motosumi Yamanouchi
  • Patent number: 12187398
    Abstract: An outboard propulsion system comprising an engine configured to receive oil; an oil pan configured to receive oil from the engine; and an oil reservoir configured to receive oil from the oil pan and provide oil to the engine, in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Caudwell Marine Limited
    Inventor: Scott Bredda
  • Patent number: 12179888
    Abstract: A water float includes a first part sheet, a middle part sheet, and a second part sheet. The three sheets are three parts of a single original sheet. The first part sheet and the second part sheet are respectively folded and sealingly connected to form a first and second inflatable floating chamber. The first inflatable floating chamber and the second inflatable floating chamber are configured to provide buoyancy in water, while the middle part sheet is configured to support user. When in use, fold and flip the first and second part sheet along centerline, stacking the first and second part sheet on top of each other, and then seal each edge of the first and second part sheet to form the sealed first and second inflatable floating chamber. A method for manufacturing a water float is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Inventor: Penghui Xie