Claims
- 1. A bulbous bow for use with a surface ship having a bow mounted sonar dome located at a ship stem bow, below a ship baseline and extending forward of a ship forward perpendicular, said bulbous bow and sonar dome located in a vertical alignment and having a common centerline, to improve efficiency thereof, comprising:
- a body of revolution consisting of a rounded nose smoothly tapered to an aft point,
- wherein said body of revolution is symmetrically attached to said ship stem bow between a ship waterline and said ship baseline, and said body of revolution extends in the longitudinal direction from an aft point aft of said ship forward perpendicular to a forward point at or forward of said ship forward perpendicular.
- 2. A bulbous bow according to claim 1, wherein said forward point of said body of revolution is about 12.7 ft forward of said forward perpendicular of the ship.
- 3. A bulbous bow according to claim 1, wherein said body of revolution is attached to said ship stem bow such that an uppermost point of said body of revolution is located about 1 ft below said ship waterline.
- 4. A bulbous bow according to claim 2, wherein said body of revolution is attached to said ship stem bow such that an uppermost point of said body of revolution is located about 1 ft below said vessel waterline.
- 5. A bulbous bow according to claim 4 wherein said body of revolution is a smooth, tapered body of revolution consisting of a semi-circular nose of 5.4 ft radius, smoothly tapered to an aft point, the total length of said bulbous bow being 26 ft.
- 6. In a surface ship having a sonar dome located substantially at a forward section of the ship and extending forward of a ship forward perpendicular and below a ship baseline, an improvement comprising:
- a bulbous bow consisting of a rounded nose smoothly tapered to an aft point and attached to a ship stem bow at between a ship waterline and said ship baseline, and having a forward end located at or forward of said ship forward perpendicular,
- said bulbous bow and sonar dome located in a vertical alignment and having a common centerline,
- wherein said bulbous bow reduces resistance through water.
- 7. An improved ship according to claim 6, wherein said forward end of said bulbous bow is about 12.7 ft forward of said forward perpendicular of said ship.
- 8. An improved ship according to claim 6, wherein said bulbous bow is attached such that an uppermost point of said bulbous bow is about 1 ft below said ship waterline.
- 9. An improved ship according to claim 7, wherein said bulbous bow is attached such that an uppermost point of said bulbous bow is about 1 ft below said ship waterline.
- 10. An improved ship according to claim 9, wherein said bulbous bow is a smooth, tapered body of revolution consisting of a semi-circular nose of 5.4 ft radius, smoothly tapered to an aft point, the total length of said bulbous bow being 26 ft.
- 11. A surface vessel of improved performance capability comprising:
- a sonar dome located forward of a vessel forward perpendicular and below a vessel baseline; and
- a discrete bulbous bow consisting of a rounded nose smoothly tapered to an aft point, said bulbous bow being symmetrically attached to a vessel stem bow between a vessel waterline and said vessel baseline, and said rounded nose being located at or forward of said vessel forward perpendicular,
- said bulbous bow and sonar dome located in a vertical alignment and having a common centerline, and wherein said bulbous bow is separate and spaced apart from said sonar dome.
- 12. A vessel according to claim 11, wherein said rounded nose of said bulbous bow extends forward to a point about 12.7 ft forward of said forward perpendicular.
- 13. A vessel according to claim 11, wherein said bulbous bow is attached such that an uppermost point of said bulbous bow is about 1 ft below said vessel waterline.
- 14. A vessel according to claim 12, wherein said bulbous bow is attached such that an uppermost point of said bulbous bow is about 1 ft below said vessel waterline.
- 15. A vessel according to claim 11, wherein said bulbous bow is a smooth, tapered body of revolution consisting of a semi-circular nose of 5.4 ft radius, smoothly tapered to an aft point, the total length of said bulbous bow being 26 ft.
- 16. A method of reducing hydrodynamic resistance and thus improving propeller efficiency and cavitation performance of a vessel having an appendage located below a vessel baseline and extending forward of a vessel forward perpendicular, comprising the step of:
- symmetrically attaching a bulbous bow to a forward section of said vessel between a vessel waterline and said vessel baseline in a spaced relationship with said appendage, said bulbous bow comprising a smooth, tapered body of revolution having a rounded forward end located at or forward of said vessel forward perpendicular and a tapered aft end located aft of said forward perpendicular, said bulbous bow and appendage located in a vertical alignment and having a common centerline.
- 17. A method according to claim 16, wherein said appendage is a sonar dome which houses a sonar equipment.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefore.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Kracht, Alfred M. "Design of Bulbous Bows," The Society of Naval Architectsnd Marine Engineers Transactions, vol. 86 (1978), pp. 197-217. |