Abstract: The present invention generally relates to the computer-assisted design of omplex systems and, more particularly, to the design and analysis of waterborne vessels, especially with respect to specific fuel consumption performance of the vessel engines. The invention is a power plant (e.g., propulsion engines and ship-service engines) simulation method incorporated within the machinery module of a computer-assisted design methodology for designing and analyzing ships. The invention projects the impact of engine choice on overall ship design in the design methodology by characterizing performance characteristics of an engine as a generic equation, a small plurality of equation coefficients, and a small plurality of parameters which may be stored and retrieved for purposes of computation of elements of the ship design. The generic equation is developed as an expression of a curve which best fits dimensionless engine performance data as a function of engine operating values.

Abstract: A towable tank for holding a liquid is collapsible, submergible, and steele. A bladder for holding a liquid is disposed in a housing having openings formed therein. Horizontally mounted diving planes on the housing cause the tank to submerge when under tow. Hydrostatic pressure exerted on the bladder by water entering the openings in the housing causes the liquid in the bladder to be pumped to a liquid user. A tow line from the towing vehicle is connected to a tow bar. The tow bar is connected through a connecting rod to a vertically mounted crankshaft. The crankshaft is connected to a steering plane mounted on the exterior of the housing. While the tank is under tow, the steering plane aligns with the longitudinal axis of the tank. A spring attached between the crankshaft and housing causes the steering plane to steer the tank away from a direction being towed when the towing force is removed.

Abstract: An epicyclic gear mechanism having two forward speeds and one reverse speed, characterized by simplicity and symmetry in design along with a radial output, compact and adaptable to applications requiring close coupling with driving or driven equipment or as an internal drive, versatile as providing alternative or secondary inputs or outputs at either end of the drive shaft in addition to output at the ring gear. The sun gear is rotated by the drive shaft or is fixed, depending on actuation and deactuation of a first clutch and first brake, and the planet carrier is rotated by the drive shaft or is fixed, depending on actuation and deactuation of a second clutch and second brake. Rotation of the ring gear varies in accordance with actuation and deactuation of the pair of clutches and the pair of brakes, providing a neutral mode along with two forward modes and one reverse mode having varying output/input speed ratios which are especially suitable for certain marine and other applications.

Abstract: A reversing system for gas turbine engines having, in addition to a conventional gas generator and power turbine, a reversing turbine coupled to the exhaust end of the power turbine output shaft, a gas flow proportioning inlet mechanism, and a movable blocking exhaust valve. Intermediate and full-stop power settings are achieved by proportioning the gas flow between the forward and the reverse turbines, and windage losses are minimized by selectively blocking the gas flow through the turbines.