Roll motion damping device for a floating body

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to techniques for reducing roll motion experienced by a floating vessel. The disclosure reveals several different techniques for damping roll motion, which may be used alone or in conjunction to stabilize a floating vessel. A typical disclosed embodiment of a roll motion damping device would employ a sponson on each side of the vessel. Each sponson would typically encompass one or more baffles. And a wing keel could be located on the outside of each sponson. When all of these features are used in conjunction, they work synergistically to maximize the resistance to roll experienced by the floating vessel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made to the following drawings of the disclosed embodiments:

FIG. 1 is a cross section profile view, illustrating half of a floating vessel with a sponson affixed to the side of the vessel, having baffles and a wing keel;

FIG. 2 is a cross section profile view, illustrating half of a floating vessel with an integrated sponson, having baffles and a hinged wing keel capable of closing off the bottom of the sponson;

FIGS. 3A-3B illustrate exemplary baffle designs; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a vessel with outboard sponson.

Claims

1. A roll motion damping device for a vessel floating in a body of water comprising: a sponson disposed alongside the floating vessel; anda wing keel connected to the sponson.

2. A roll motion damping device as in claim 1, wherein the sponson further comprises an exterior surface positioned away from the floating vessel, and an opening at the bottom of the sponson allowing water flow in and out of the sponson.

3. A roll motion damping device as in claim 2, wherein the wing keel is mounted on the exterior surface of the sponson and is disposed at the lower portion of the sponson.

4. A roll motion damping device as in claim 3, wherein the wing keel flares out away from the exterior surface of the sponson and the hull of the floating vessel.

5. A roll motion damping device as in claim 4 further comprising a baffle disposed within the sponson, the baffle capable of inducing a viscous drag force.

6. A roll motion damping device as in claim 5, wherein the baffle is operable to resist in-plane loads, trap water mass, and create drag.

7. A roll motion damping device as in claim 5, wherein the baffle is operable to maximize drag.

8. A roll motion damping device as in claim 5, wherein: the baffle comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of apertures;each of the plurality of apertures are substantially circular in shape; andthe plurality of apertures are arranged in one or more rows.

9. A roll motion damping device as in claim 5, wherein: the baffle comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of apertures;each of the plurality of apertures are substantially triangular in shape;the plurality of apertures surround a central point; andeach aperture is oriented so that it substantially forms a mirror image of its neighboring apertures.

10. A roll motion damping device as in claim 5, wherein the baffle is located within the sponson below the waterline, and wherein the baffle is disposed at a lower portion of the sponson.

11. A roll motion damping device as in claim 4 further comprising a plurality of baffles disposed within the sponson below the waterline, each baffle capable of inducing a viscous drag force.

12. A roll motion damping device as in claim 11, wherein the wing keel is pivotally connected to the sponson, permitting movement of the wing keel between at least two positions such that the bottom opening of the sponson may be opened or closed.

13. A roll motion damping device as in claim 11, wherein: the first baffle comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of substantially triangular apertures, with the plurality of substantially triangular apertures surrounding a central point, and each substantially triangular aperture oriented so that it substantially forms a mirror image of its neighboring apertures; andthe second baffle comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of circular apertures arranged in one or more rows.

14. A roll motion damping device as in claim 13, wherein the first baffle is disposed within the sponson in substantial proximity to the bottom opening of the sponson, and the second baffle is disposed within the sponson in a plane vertically above the first baffle.

15. A roll motion damping device as in claim 11, wherein the baffles are each vertically spaced apart a distance at least as great as the width of the sponson.

16. A roll motion damping device as in claim 15, wherein the sponson is open to the atmosphere.

17. A roll motion damping device as in claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of baffles is capable of being opened and closed in order to alter water flow within the sponson.

18. A roll motion damping device as in claim 15 further comprising a second sponson, wherein one sponson is disposed on either side of the floating vessel.

19. A roll motion damping device comprising: a sponson located alongside a floating vessel and rigidly attached to the hull of the floating vessel; anda plurality of baffles disposed within the sponson, each baffle capable of inducing a viscous drag force.

20. A roll motion damping device as in claim 19, wherein one or more of the plurality of baffles is operable to resist in-plane loads, trap water mass, and create drag.

21. A roll motion damping device as in claim 19, wherein: one of the baffles comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of apertures;each of the plurality of apertures are substantially circular in shape; andthe plurality of apertures are arranged in one or more rows.

22. A roll motion damping device as in claim 19, wherein: one of the baffles comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of apertures;each of the plurality of apertures are substantially triangular in shape;the plurality of apertures surround a central point; andeach aperture is oriented so that it substantially forms a mirror image of its neighboring apertures.

23. A roll motion damping device as in claim 19, wherein: the first baffle comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of substantially triangular apertures, with the plurality of substantially triangular apertures surrounding a central point, and each substantially triangular aperture oriented so that it substantially forms a mirror image of its neighboring apertures; andthe second baffle comprises a planar sheet with a plurality of circular apertures, with the plurality of circular apertures arranged in one or more rows.

24. A roll motion damping device as in claim 23, wherein the first baffle is disposed within the sponson in substantial proximity to the bottom opening of the sponson, and the second baffle is disposed within the sponson in a plane vertically above the first baffle.

25. A roll motion damping device as in claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of baffles is capable of being opened and closed in order to alter water flow within the sponson.

26. A roll motion damping device as in claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of baffles is spaced sufficiently apart to overcome a shielding effect.

27. A roll motion damping device as in claim 26, wherein the plurality of baffles are each vertically spaced apart a distance approximately the width of the sponson.

28. A floating vessel comprising a roll motion damping device, the roll motion damping device comprising: a pair of sponsons, one located on each side of a floating vessel, and each rigidly attached to the hull of the floating vessel; anda plurality of baffles disposed within each sponson for providing a damping effect.

29. A floating vessel as in claim 28, wherein each of the sponsons further comprises: an exterior surface;a bottom opening, allowing fluid communication between water in which the vessel floats and the sponson; anda wing keel located on the exterior surface of the sponson in proximity to the bottom opening.

30. A floating vessel as in claim 29, wherein each wing keel flares out and away from the exterior surface of the sponson on which it is located, creating an enlarged inlet for the bottom opening of the sponson.