US 7,464,657 B2
Catamaran air cushion ship with folding, retractable seals
Kenneth J. Maloney, Covington, La. (US); W. Keith Dubose, Pensacola, Fla. (US); E. Douglass Whittaker, Slidell, La. (US); Robert G. Moore, Lacombe, La. (US); and Jared M. Acosta, Slidell, La. (US)
Assigned to Textron Inc., Wilmington, Mass. (US)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/561,691.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/755938, filed on Dec. 30, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2007/0151495 A1, Jul. 05, 2007
Int. Cl. B63B 1/38 (2006.01); B63B 1/00 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 114—67A  [114/61.1] 52 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A catamaran surface effect ship, comprising:
a) catamaran hull having spaced apart hulls connected with a platform, and an integral propulsion system for propelling the catamaran hull;
b) forward and aft seals on the catamaran hull that enable pressurized air to be trapped in an air space that is positioned generally in between the spaced apart hulls and in between the seals;
c) the catamaran hull containing a powered lift fan system for transmitting pressurized air to the air space; and
d) a side seal system for each spaced apart hull including a movable door that is movably attached to the side of each spaced apart hull and an inflatable seal that extends below the door and in between the door and the spaced apart hull.