Patents by Inventor Charles S. Whipple, Jr.

Charles S. Whipple, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7207285
    Abstract: A vessel (10) designed to operate efficiently as both a catamaran and air cushion vessel can travel at low speed (e.g. Froude number (Fn)=0–0.3) in a catamaran or displacement mode and at high speed (e.g. Froude numbers (Fn)=0.3 or more) in an air cushion or dynamically supported mode. The vessel (10) includes molded catamaran hulls (11, 12) with parabolic waterlines, a flexible, air cushion seal system (16, 17), surface piercing propellers (20) and a propulsion system (e.g. combined diesel and gas turbine). There are preferably auxiliary gas turbines for generating lift air pressure. Forward mounted independently stabilizing foils (30), can optionally facilitate ride stabilization and load compensation at high and low speeds. The foils also generate transverse roll forces to improve high speed maneuvering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Maloney, Charles S. Whipple, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7013826
    Abstract: A vessel (10) designed to operate efficiently as both a catamaran and air cushion vessel can travel at low speed (e.g. Froude number (Fn)=0-0.3) in a catamaran or displacement mode and at high speed (e.g. Froude numbers (Fn)=0.3 or more) in an air cushion or dynamically supported mode. The vessel (10) includes molded catamaran hulls (11, 12) with parabolic waterlines, a flexible, air cushion seal system (16, 17), surface piercing propellers (20) and a propulsion system (e.g. combined diesel and gas turbine). There are preferably auxiliary gas turbines for generating lift air pressure. Forward mounted independently stabilizing foils (30), can optionally facilitate ride stabilization and load compensation at high and low speeds. The foils also generate transverse roll forces to improve high speed maneuvering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Maloney, Charles S. Whipple, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6792886
    Abstract: An improved landing craft includes a hull that supports bow and stern ramps for enabling vehicles to drive through during loading and unloading. The drive-through arrangement also enables the crew to load and unload the craft much faster and more easily than existing vessels. A ballasting arrangement can be used to trim the hull when it is to be beached or to be extracted and/or during loading/unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignees: Biophan Technologies, Inc., Textron Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Maloney, John Richards, Robert A. Stringer, Charles S. Whipple, Jr.