Multi-propulsion submersible ship

United States Patent Application 20040163581

The present invention is a double-hull submersible tanker with a surround-the-hull multi-propulsion system comprised of the revolving front-drive propulsion unit in the bow, three rudders and three propellers connected over the hull to three vertical ducts integrated in the hull by their lower ends and connected by upper ends to three ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms floating over the hull, with the stern having the rudder, propeller and a jet thruster, propelling the water pumped in by the front-drive unit. The article is a combined floating/submerged system, which travels simultaneously on the water surface and below the water level, i.e. the hull is fully submerged after the loading and remains in said suspended position due to three ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms floating on the water surface and used for oil exploration and to refuel helicopters and VTOL aircrafts.

Budnik, Solomon (Tel Aviv, IL)

10/370246

08/26/2004

02/21/2003

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BUDNIK SOLOMON

114/312

B63G8/08; (IPC1-7): B63G8/00

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VASUDEVA, AJAY

SOLOMON BUDNIK (TEL AVIV, IL, US)

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A multi-propulsion submersible ship. (FIG. 1)

2. A submersible ship according to claim 1, wherein said article has a double-hull structure where space between the frames serves as air/water ballast tank used to submerge, propel and surface the invention.

3. A submersible ship according to claim 1, wherein said article is a combined floating-submerged system, which travels simultaneously on the water surface and below the water level, i.e. the hull is fully submerged after loading and remains in that suspended position due to three ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms floating on the water surface and connected to the hull via three vertical ducts, whereby the weight of the article underwater is reduced due to floating system dynamics.

4. A submersible ship according to claim 3, wherein said floating system is an independent piping/fuel transfer system used for laying pipelines directly through the article for underwater drilling, for underway refueling of the article and refueling of other vessels by the article, and for refueling of helicopters and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircrafts landing on said floating platforms/ballast tanks.

5. A submersible ship according to claim 3, wherein said floating ballast tanks are the part of the air-intake and venting system, pumping air to cabins and cargo rooms and between the frames of the double hull, whereby said air serves as air cushion under the cargo, reducing article's weight and providing additional lift.

6. A submersible ship according to claim 3, wherein the front and rear floating platforms are the part of the navigation system and integrate two radars apart from the radar and sonar in the hull.

7. A submersible ship according to claim 3, wherein said floating ballast tanks/platforms can take-in water and fully submerge along with already submerged hull in case of the rough sea, increased sea traffic, danger of collision or for exploration purposes, whereby the article can reach substantial depths, travel in that position and use submerged platforms for oil exploration and drilling.

8. A submersible ship according to claim 1 and 2, wherein said article with a double-hull has a surround-the-hull multi-propulsion system comprised of the protruding and revolving front-drive propulsion unit integrated in the bow, three propellers and three rudders connected over the hull to three vertical ducts integrated in the hull, and the propeller and rudder in the stern. This multifunctional propulsion system is operational even when some of the propellers or rudders would fail. (FIG. 1)

9. A submersible ship according to claim 2 and 8, wherein said revolving front-drive propulsion unit protruding from the bow is used to emit compressed air to create a vortex in front of the moving invention to decrease water resistance and accelerate the invention. Said front-drive propulsion unit is also used to pump-in water for integrated jet propulsion and ballast system, wherein the water pumped between the frames of the double-hull is used as propellant for the stern thruster and as ballast for deep dive.

10. A submersible ship according to claim 8, wherein said three propellers and three rudders connected to three vertical ducts over the hull, turn around said ducts and propel the article in the opposite direction.

11. A submersible ship according to claim 2, wherein said double-hull has the inner frame made of graphite, which is ten times harder and six times lighter than steel, and can withstand temperatures of over 3000 degrees Celsius, so that external fire won't damage the crew and cargo, and internal fire won't spread outside.

12. A submersible ship according to claim 11, wherein said inner hull frame rests on two amortizing metal plates running cross-like under said frame, which is used as a lifting platform bringing the load to the water surface while the exterior hull frame remains underwater. In case of emergency or disaster, said inner frame/platform surfaces and detaches from the hull, saving the crew and the cargo, and preventing oil spills.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not available

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not available.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

[0003] Not available

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] I claim: The utility invention in ships and submersibles, as shown in the drawing (FIG. 1). Field of the endeavor is the advanced and improved structural and propulsion characteristics, the method and arrangements of underwater transportation and exploration of oil, gas and mineral deposits without the use of common tankers and drilling platforms.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Object of the invention is to provide a new means for safe and effective underwater transportation and exploration, with improved capabilities and arrangements. These new means is the invented multi-propulsion submersible tanker, with new arrangements shown in the drawing (FIG. 1). This article is original in its utility and solves the problems in ecologically safe transportation of oil, gas and cargo. The present invention, a submersible tanker, provides the following innovations, improvements and advantages:

[0006] It has a double-hull structure, wherein the space between the frames serves as ballast tank to submerge, propel and surface the invention.

[0007] It has a bow integrating a protruding, revolving front-drive propulsion unit (depicted as arrow), along with a vertically oriented duct with the upper front rudder and propeller over the hull. Said duct is connected to a horizontally positioned floating ballast tank/drilling and landing platform with a radar. (FIG. 1)

[0008] It has a stern with the rudder and propeller connected to a vertical duct to which the upper rear propeller and a rudder are connected over the hull. Said duct is connected to a floating, horizontally positioned rear ballast tank/drilling and/landing platform with a radar. (FIG. 1)

[0009] It has a horizontally floating middle ballast tank/drilling and landing platform connected to a vertical duct integrated in the middle upper part of the hull, with the upper middle propeller and rudder connected to said duct over the hull. (FIG. 1)

[0010] Said three floating air/water ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms integrate an independent piping/fuel transfer system used for laying pipelines directly through the article for underwater drilling, underway refueling of the article and refueling of other vessels by the article, and for refueling of helicopters and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircrafts landing on said floating landing platforms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is the right side view of the article, showing the hull with the bow integrating a protruding front-drive propulsion unit (indicated by arrow), three vertical ducts stemming from the hull and each having the rudder and propeller over the hull. Said ducts are connected over the hull to three horizontally positioned, floating ballast tanks/drilling and landing platform (indicated by double rings). The stern has the rudder and propeller. These are all solid surfaces, showing my invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Generally, a ship or a tanker is not a multi-propulsion submersible vessel with a front-drive propulsion unit, stern thruster and a triple-propulsion system over the hull, as is the invention. Common vessels have no connected floating ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms, do no possess four propellers and four rudders, do not integrate a jet engine and a thruster between the frames of the double hull to propel the vessel using the ballast (continuous water circulation and ejection), do not create a vortex in front of itself to accelerate, cannot move three times faster than other vessels and load twice the amount of cargo, are not ecologically safe due to brake ups and oil spills, etc.

[0013] The invented multi-propulsion submersible tank ship (FIG. 1) has these capacities and capabilities and is ecologically safe.

[0014] Major improvement is that the article has a double-hull structure with a surround-the-hull multi-propulsion system comprised of the front-drive propulsion unit in the bow, three propellers and three rudders connected to three vertical ducts over the hull, and the stern propeller and rudder. This multifunctional propulsion system provides for a sharply increased speed and enhanced loading capacity, and is operational even when some of the propellers or rudders would fail.

[0015] The advantage is that said three propellers and three rudders connected to three vertical ducts over the hull, turn around said ducts and propel the article in the opposite direction.

[0016] Paramount improvement is that the article is a combined floating-submerged system, which travels simultaneously on the water surface and below the water level, i.e. the hull is fully submersible after the loading and remains in that suspended position due to three ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms floating on the water surface and connected to the hull via three vertical ducts, whereby the weight of the article underwater is reduced/counteracted due to that floating system dynamics

[0017] Another improvement is that said floating system is an independent piping/fuel transfer system used for laying pipelines directly through the article for underwater drilling, underway refueling of the article and refueling of other vessels by the article, and for refueling of helicopters and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircrafts landing on said floating platforms.

[0018] Further advantage is that said floating ballast tanks are the part of the air-intake and venting system, pumping the air to cabins and cargo rooms and between the frames of the double hull, whereby said air serves as air cushion under the cargo, reducing article's weight and providing additional lift.

[0019] Another advantage is that apart from the radar and sonar in the hull, two radars are integrated respectively in the frontal and the rear ballast tanks/drilling and landing platforms floating on the water surface.

[0020] Additional advantage is that said floating ballast tanks/platforms can take-in water and fully submerge along with already submerged hull in case of the rough sea, increased see traffic, the danger of collision, or for exploration purposes, whereby the article can reach substantial depths, travel in that position and use submerged platforms for exploration and drilling.

[0021] Substantial improvement is that the inner frame of the double-hull is made of graphite, which is ten times harder and six times lighter than steel, and can withstand temperatures of over 3000 degrees Celsius, so that external fire won't damage the cargo and the crew, and the internal fire won't spread outside.

[0022] Further improvement is that said inner hull frame rests on two amortizing metal plates running cross-like under said frame, which is used as a lifting platform bringing the load to the water surface while the exterior hull frame remains underwater. In case of emergency or disaster, said inner frame/platform surfaces and detaches from the hull, saving the crew and cargo and preventing oil spills.

[0023] Ultimate improvement is the revolving front-drive propulsion unit protruding from the bow and used to emit compressed air to create a vortex in front of the moving invention to decrease the water resistance and accelerate the invention. Said propulsion unit is also used to pump-in water for integrated jet propulsion and ballast system, wherein the water pumped between the frames is used as propellant for stern thruster and as ballast for deep dive.