Trimaran having outriggers with propulsors

Abstract

An improved trimaran of a type having a central hull, a starboard outrigger, a port outrigger, a starboard crossbar for attaching the starboard outrigger laterally to the starboard of the central hull, and a port crossbar for attaching the port outrigger laterally to the port of the central hull is provided. The improvement comprises a starboard propulsor attached to the starboard outrigger for propelling the trimaran, a port propulsor attached to the port outrigger for propelling the trimaran; and a motor controller connected to both the starboard and port propulsors for controlling the combined propulsion of the starboard and port propulsors for controlling both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An improved trimaran of a type having a central hull, a starboard outrigger, a port outrigger, a starboard crossbar for attaching the starboard outrigger laterally to the starboard of the central hull, and a port crossbar for attaching the port outrigger laterally to the port of the central hull, wherein the improvement comprises:
 a starboard propulsor attached to the starboard outrigger for propelling the trimaran;   a port propulsor attached to the port outrigger for propelling the trimaran; and   a motor controller connected to both the starboard and port propulsors for controlling the combined propulsion of the starboard and port propulsors for controlling both the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering.   
     
     
         2 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the trimaran lacking a common deck or platform simultaneously overlaying, at least in part, the central hull and both the port and starboard outriggers. 
 
     
     
         3 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the trimaran lacking a rudder. 
 
     
     
         4 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the central hull, port outrigger, and starboard outrigger each having hull conformations and buoyancy, and weight distribution for wave-piercing. 
 
     
     
         5 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 4  wherein:
 the trimaran lacking a common deck or platform simultaneously overlaying, at least in part, the central hull and both the port and starboard outriggers. 
 
     
     
         6 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 5  wherein:
 the hull, port outrigger, and starboard outrigger each having a topside deck submersible during wave-piercing. 
 
     
     
         7 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the starboard cross bar includes a first hinge for rotating the starboard outrigger from an extended position employable for water navigation and a folded position for folding the starboard outrigger below the bottom side of the central hull for transporting the trimaran out of water; and 
 the port cross bar includes a second hinge for rotating the port outrigger from an extended position employable for water navigation and a folded position for folding the port outrigger below the bottom side of the central hull for transporting the trimaran out of water. 
 
     
     
         8 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 said starboard and port propulsors both being inboard. 
 
     
     
         9 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 said starboard and port propulsors both being outboard. 
 
     
     
         10 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein the trimaran further comprising:
 remote control electronics connected to the motor controller for controlling the trimaran remotely in an unmanned fashion. 
 
     
     
         11 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 10  wherein:
 said remote control electronics executing pre-planned path navigation for controlling the speed and direction of the trimaran for survey purposes. 
 
     
     
         12 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein:
 the central hull defining an instrument well for housing hydrological or other instrumentation. 
 
     
     
         13 . An improved trimaran as described in  claim 1  wherein the trimaran further comprising:
 an energy source housed in the central hull and 
 port and starboard power lines connected to and running from said energy source to said port and starboard propulsors for powering said port and starboard propulsors. 
 
     
     
         14 . A method for steering a trimaran having port and starboard propulsors in port and starboard outriggers respectively, the method comprising the step of:
 exerting differential control of the propulsion from the port and starboard propulsors for controlling the speed and direction of the trimaran by tank steering.