Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
10498S6
This invention relates to a semi-submerged
cargo vessel and more particularly a sail-assisted semi
submerged cargo vessel.
Submerged and semi-submerged sea going vessels
which are capable of carrying cargo are relatively well
known in the art. Many submarines have been developed over
the ages using various forms of motive power including diesel
and gasoline engines and more recently electric and nuclear
engines. Because these vessels are designed to withstand
considerable water pressures, special technique~ and equip-
ment for operation are required. Semi-submerged vessels, and
-in particular flexible bulk gas and oil carriers, have also
been designed generally for towing astern of conventional
surface vessels.
; Rigid wing sails are also known to the art for
;propulsion of relatively light sport-sail boats (see, for
example, U. S. Patent 2,487,687) but, as far as is known,
it has not been suggested that a semi-submerged cargo carrying
vessel ~hould be provided with wing sails to aid the
propulsion thereof.
Solar cells for the production of electrical
energy are also known to the art, see, for example, U. S.
Patent 3,410,0B6, particularly in space craft where they are
generally deployed on rigid wing-like structures to achieve
maximum solar exposure. It has not, however, been suggested
that solar cells may be incorporated into wing sails for
ship propulsion.
It is an object, therefore, of the present
invention to provide a novel semi-submersible cargo carrying
vessel which is provided with wing sails to assist propulsion
and wherein the rigid wing sails incorporate solar cell
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arrays to generate power which is used for additional propulsion
needs either directly to an electric tor or via storage batteries.
Thus, by one aspect of this invention there is provided a
cargo carrying vessel comprising (a) a hull adapted to float with a
ma~or proportion thereof beneath the surface of an aqueous medium; (b) at
least one substantially rigld wing sail member plvotally mounted on
said hull; (c) solar cell means disposed on said sail member for
generating electrical energy; (d) motor means, powered by said electrical
energy; and (e) drive means operatively connected to said motor means
for propelling said vessel through said aqueous medium.
The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter
with reference to the drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the ssil
ship of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the shlp of Fi8. 1;
Pig. 3 i8 a front vlew of the ship of Fig. l; and
Fig. 4 is a sectional vlew of an alternative embodiment of
the present lnvention, showing an internal ballasting arrangement,
resulting in a slightly modified hull shape.
In Fig. 1, there is shown an elongated, bulbous semi-
submersible hull 1 designed to float in a substantially submerged
position in an aqueous medium, such as sea water, using external (Fig. 3),
internal (Fig. 4) ballasting and trim tanks to maintain the centre of
gravity at the desired level. The hull is substantially completely
enclosed and is designed to withstand considerable pressure, in the
manner of a conventional submarine. The superstructure 2 is relatively
small compared to the hull, in the manner of a conventional conning-
tower of a submarine, and is relatively narrow and high. The sides 3, 4
of the superstructure are inwardly curved in order to tisperse the force
of crashing waves. The deck 5 is narrow and relatively high above the
water line, thereby avoiding breaking seas in all but the heaviest weather.
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1049856
In the embodiments shown, the ship i6 provided with four
rigid steel telescopic masts 6, 7, 8 and g, each carrying three
substantially rigid wing sails 10, 11, 12, known per se, the upper
- sections being de~igned to telescopically retract into the lower section.
The number of masts and sails is not, of course, critical but merely
a matter of convenience.
It will be appreciated that sail 12 retracts into ~ail 11
and said 11 retracts into sail 10. In very heavy seas with the sail
area reduced by retraction of the upper sections and by moving the wing -
sails into a neutral position relative to the ambient wind, the vegsel
is practically enabled to lie ahull. The lateral thrust of the masts
6, 7, 8 and 9 and sails 10, 11 and 12 is balanced by a relatively deep
ballasted keel 13 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) or by internal ballasting and a
modlfied internal keel form 14 (Fig. 4). Bilge keels lS and a skeg 16
may also be provided, depending upon the particular design characteris-
tics required.
The masts, which are preferred but not essential to the
invention as the rigid wing 6ails may be mounted in alternative ways,
and sails are pivotally unted through the superstructure 2 80 that the
sails 10, 11, 12 may be trimmed in conventional manner to provide forward
propulsion of the vessel. The 6ails 10, 11 and 12 are also provided with
arrays of solar panels 25 which generate electrical power, in a manner
known per se, at least during daylight hours when the sun i8 shining.
Power generated thereby is used by an electric motor 26 which drives a
- variable-pitch double propeller 17. Any excess power generated may be ;~
stored in storage batteries 18, which form part of the solid internal
ballast of the ve~sel, for 6ubsequent use for propulsion or general
utility aboard the vessel. It will be appreciated that, for safety
considerations, a conventional diesel or similar engine may be installed
for emergency propulsion.
As will be seen most clearly in Pig. 4, the bulbous nature of
the hull 1 makes docking at a conventional dock relatively difficult and
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recourse i8 best made to the use of a retractable ~etty 19 for access
to the top deck 5, or to hydraulic self-docking devices and gangways.
Retractable port holes 20, 21 may be provided in sloping walls 3 and 4
of the superstructure to facilitate cargo handling to the lower decks
and holds of the vessel. An elevator 22 may algo be provided for cargo
and personnel carrylng as required.
The vessel i8 designed for movement through ~he water ln the
semi-submerged position as shown in Fig. 1 and clearly when in ballast
will tend to ride high in the water. This tendency may be eliminated
by flooding the flood tanks 23, which are located around the hold 24 and
form part of the internal ballasting of the vessel.
The vessel of the present lnventlon may, of course, be modlfled
in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention, the
purpose of which is to provide a structurally safe and smooth mode of
transportation and to provide an environmentally acceptable solution to
the problem of heavy cargo handling, substantially without the use of
expensive fossll fuels.
The present vessel may best be descrlbed as a sail assisted
electro-ship which utilizes both wind and solar energy to provide its
tive power. It is to be stressed, however, that the vessel of the
present invention iB not designed to be operated in the fully submerged
mode of a submarine as the centre of gravity 18 always considerably
below the centre of buoyancy of the vessel. It will be appreciated
that in a conventionally buoyant de, tbe vessel is pressing against
the water surface from above, which exposes the vessel to every sort of ~`-
hydrodynamic hardship; whereas in the semi-submerged buoyant de, the
vessel is pressing against the water surface from below, which reduces
the hydrodynamic problems by a factor which may be as high as 50%.
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