Claims
- 1. In combination with a marine vessel having a power generator therein, a system for propulsion of the marine vessel through a body of water under maneuvering control in a selected direction and travel speed, including: at least one towing pod separated from the hull having a propeller motor, a rudder and maneuvering control vanes; and flexible attachment means connecting said towing pod in spaced relation to an underside of the marine vessel submerged in the body of water for electrical transmission of power and control signals from the generator in the marine vessel to the towing pod and mechanical transfer therefrom of towing force under said maneuvering control to the marine vessel to exclusively impart said propulsion through the body of water.
- 2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible attachment means includes: an elongated cable having electrical current conductors therein through which said electrical transmission is effected and a tubular tension section through which said mechanical transfer is effected.
- 3. The combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said flexible attachment means further includes: fairing means enclosing the elongated cable between the marine vessel and the towing pod for reducing drag of the water during said propulsion of the marine vessel.
- 4. The combination as defined in claim 3, wherein the propulsion system further includes a plurality of said towing pods respectively provided with a plurality of said flexible attachment means.
- 5. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the propulsion system further includes a plurality of said towing pods respectively provided with a plurality of said flexible attachment means.
- 6. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said flexible attachment means includes: an elongated cable having electrical current conductors therein through which said electrical transmission is effected and a tubular tension section through which said mechanical transfer is effected.
- 7. The combination as defined in claim 5, wherein each of said flexible attachment means includes: fairing means between the marine vessel and the towing pod for reducing drag of the water during said propulsion of the marine vessel.
- 8. A method for propulsion of a marine vessel having a hull and an electrical power source therein through a body of water by means of at least one electrically powered propulsion module separated from the hull by an elongated cable, including the steps of: submerging said module within the body of water beneath the hull of the marine vessel; transferring towing force through the cable from said submerged module to the hull of the marine vessel for exclusively effecting said propulsion of the marine vessel; and transmitting electrical energy between the power source in the hull and the submerged module for generating therein said towing force under directional control.
- 9. The method as defined in claim 8, wherein both said transmitting of the electrical energy and said transferring of the towing force are conducted through said elongated cable interconnecting the submerged module in spaced relation to the hull.
Parent Case Info
The present invention relates in general to propulsion of marine vessels through a body of water, exclusively by submerged towing facilities attached thereto as disclosed in a prior copending application, Ser. No. 09/599,580, filed Jun. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,260,500, issued Jul. 17, 2001, with respect to which the present application is a continuation-in-part.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09/599580 |
Jun 2000 |
US |
Child |
09/919990 |
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US |