Underwater Vessel with Above-Water Propulsion

Abstract

A vessel for transporting a payload through water having a body which travels below the surface of the water and carries the payload, fins extending laterally from the body below the surface of the water a telescoping tower which extends above the surface of the water from the body, a wing extending laterally above the water from an upper portion of the tower, engines mounted on the wing for propelling the body through the water, and propellers mounted on the under sides of the fins for lifting the vessel and holding the vessel in a raised position with the body at the surface of the water while loading and unloading the payload.

1 . A vessel for transporting people, cargo, and other payload through water, comprising: a body which travels below the surface of the water and carries therein all of the people, cargo, and other payload transported by the vessel, a tower which is attached to the body and extends above the surface of the water, and an engine mounted on the tower above the surface of the water for propelling the body through the water. 
     
     
         2 . The vessel of  claim 1  including fins which extend laterally from the body for stabilizing the body in the water. 
     
     
         3 . The vessel of  claim 2  wherein the fins include adjustable elevators for controlling pitch and depth of the body in the water. 
     
     
         4 . The vessel of  claim 1  including a wing which extends laterally from the tower and serves as a horizontal stabilizer for the vessel while traveling through the air above the water. 
     
     
         5 . The vessel of  claim 4  wherein the engine is attached to the wing. 
     
     
         6 . The vessel of  claim 5  wherein the tower is a telescoping tower which can be extended and retracted to position the engine at a desired height above the water. 
     
     
         7 . The vessel of  claim 1  including a propeller and a rudder at the rear of the body for propelling the vessel at slower speeds and steering the vessel in the water. 
     
     
         8 . The vessel of  claim 1  including means for lifting the vessel and holding the vessel in a raised position with the body at the surface of the water while loading and unloading the payload. 
     
     
         9 . The vessel of  claim 1  including a propeller driven by the engine above the surface of the water. 
     
     
         10 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein the engine is a jet engine. 
     
     
         11 . The vessel of  claim 1  wherein operation of the vessel is remotely controlled. 
     
     
         12 . A vessel for transporting a payload through water, comprising: a body which travels below the surface of the water and carries the payload therein, fins extending laterally from the body below the surface of the water, a telescoping tower which is attached to the body and extends above the surface of the water, a wing extending laterally from an upper portion of the tower above the surface of the water, at least one engine mounted on the wing for propelling the body through the water, and means for lifting the vessel and holding the vessel in a raised position with the body at the surface of the water while loading and unloading the payload. 
     
     
         13 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein the fins extend from both forward and aft portions of the body. 
     
     
         14 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein the fins include adjustable elevators for controlling pitch and depth of the body in the water. 
     
     
         15 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein the propellers are reversible and can be used for driving the body of the vessel down into the water. 
     
     
         16 . The vessel of  claim 12  including a propeller and a rudder at the rear of the body for propelling the vessel at slower speeds and steering the vessel in the water. 
     
     
         17 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein the engines are jet engines. 
     
     
         18 . The vessel of  claim 12  including propellers driven above the surface of the water by the engines. 
     
     
         19 . The vessel of  claim 12  wherein operation of the vessel is controlled remotely.