Barge double hull sections wherein at least part of the double hull is comprised of first and second layers and an intermediate layer of elastomer material bonded to the first and second layers. By manufacturing double hull walls of such three layered structures, the stiffness of the hull as compared to hulls of the prior art can be significantly increased, thereby decreasing the amount of separate stiffeners required in the hull structure.

The present invention relates to the fabrication of boat hulls and other three-dimensional objects of thermoplastic sheet material. The process comprises heating a sheet of the material along a predetermined pattern of lines to a temperature at which the material is softened, placing the sheet in a jig with the material of the sheet still soft along the heated lines and folding it along the softened lines, and retaining the sheet in its folded state in the jig until the material along the said l...

A progressive hull sequence is provided that approximates the outer surface geometry of a three dimensional object to be rendered. The progressive hull sequence is an adaptation of the earlier progressive mesh representation developed for level-of-detail control and progressive transmission of geometry. The progressive hull representation of an object is a sequence of lower and lower resolution mesh geometries with the property that the volume within each successive lower resolution mesh contain...

The present invention relates to the fabrication of boat hulls and other three-dimensional objects of thermoplastic sheet material. The process comprises heating a sheet of the material along a predetermined pattern of lines to a temperature at which the material is softened, placing the sheet in a jig with the material of the sheet still soft along the heated lines and folding it along the softened lines, and retaining the sheet in its folded state in the jig until the material along the said l...

A boat hull, part of which (preferably the forward section) is shaped as a twin keel, and part of which (preferably the rearward section) is shaped as a single keel.

A hull for high speed marine vessels having a keel which is higher at the bow than at the stern and a center of gravity in the aft half of the hull is disclosed. Hulls in accordance with the present invention define an upper inclined trapezoidal reference plane and side surfaces which interconnected the edges of the keel with the reference plane to provide a hull having the aerodynamic characteristics of an inclined plane in motion.

A boat hull having an underside, a transom and a recess adjacent the transom extending at least partially a transverse dimension or width of the underside. There is also provided a transverse step defining a transverse boundary of the recess as well an internal hollow venting body or reservoir having at least a pair of access ports of restricted cross-sectional size compared with an enlarged cross-sectional area of the venting body. The venting body is in fluid communication with the recess and ...

A boat hull constructed with a bottom configuration of generally V cross-sectional shape except with an additional appendage as an integral part of the bottom described herein as a "widened keel form" with a modified W cross-sectional shape. Said "widened keel form" extends along both sides of the longitudinal centerline of the boat hull from the forward section of the hull to the stern. One half of the bottom portion of the said "widened keel form" is located approximately in the same inclined ...

Boat hulls or assemblies have sequences of groups of downward-facing sections such as planing sections. A sequence includes a lowermost group and supplemental groups above it. Each group could, for example, be a pair, and the pairs could be port-starboard symmetrical. The lower surface is shaped so that the boat hull, in a series of speed ranges, planes on successively lower groups, planing on the lowermost group in the highest range. The trim angle can be between 3.0.degree. and 6.0.degree. in ...

A remotely-operated unmanned vehicle attached to the hull of a marine vessel by electromagnets surveys the hull for damage. The vehicle attached to the hull is electronically controlled from a remote location. An imaging system on the vehicle provides an operator with images of the vessel's hull and the surrounding environment. Once damage has been found and assessed, the vehicle applies a patch over the damaged opening in the hull to prevent cargo outflow and water inflow. The patch, which resi...