Dynamically Operative Keel Systems and Methods

Abstract

The present invention comprises dynamically operative keel systems and methods of enhancing a marine vessel's directional control, linear tracking, and turn holding, among other benefits. Hull undersurface facets, laterally symmetrically configured and disposed in laterally symmetrical pairs, extend longitudinally for varying extents establish longitudinally extending recesses and/or voids of varying cross-sections and/or depths that channel water flow and/or pressure. The facets generally include longitudinally extending laterally outermost, laterally innermost, and optional (in some embodiments), intermediate faces that demarcate the voids and/or recesses. The faces provide keel-simulating effects when the vessel is running on plane and travelling linearly or turning, and variously encounters uneven water surfaces, uneven and/or laterally/diagonally directed water surface pressures and/or currents, and/or laterally/diagonally directed winds.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface, comprising:
 one or more symmetrically disposed pairs of hull facets, said facet pairs including laterally symmetrical, hull undersurface recesses formed with a longitudinally extending laterally outermost first face and a longitudinally extending laterally innermost second face having lowermost portions that are laterally inclined at first and second angles, respectively, relative to a horizontal vessel deck, said first and second angles having a differing inclination to the horizontal than the respective immediately adjacent non-recess portions of the hull undersurface,
 wherein a more forward portion of a major longitudinal recess fraction does not indent the vessel hull inwardly farther than does a more rearward portion of said major longitudinal recess fraction, and lowermost portions of each of the pairs' outermost first faces and innermost second faces are laterally separated, respectively, by more than a first greater fraction and more than a second lesser fraction of the marine vessel's beam. 
   
     
     
         2 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein a substantial longitudinal fraction of at least one of said recesses indents the vessel hull by a generally unvarying depth. 
     
     
         3 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more relatively rearward portions of at least one of said recesses indents the vessel hull farther inwardly than does a more foreward portion of that recess. 
     
     
         4 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein said first greater fraction is more than a quarter of the vessel's beam. 
     
     
         5 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein said first greater fraction is selected from a group consisting of,
 a) more than 26% of the vessel's beam,   b) more than 30% of the vessel's beam,   c) more than ⅓ of the vessel's beam,   d) more than 40% of the vessel's beam,   e) more than 50% of the vessel's beam,   f) more than ⅔ of the vessel's beam,   g) more than ¾ of the vessel's beam, and   h) more than 90% of the vessel's beam.   
     
     
         6 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lesser fraction is more than 4% of the vessel's beam. 
     
     
         7 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein said second lesser fraction is selected from a group consisting of,
 a) more than 5% of the vessel's beam,   b) more than 10% of the vessel's beam,   c) more than 20% of the vessel's beam,   d) more than ¼ of the vessel's beam,   e) more than ⅓ of the vessel's beam,   f) more than ½ of the vessel's beam,   g) more than ¾ of the vessel's beam, and   h) more than 80% of the vessel's beam.   
     
     
         8 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein the outermost first faces of at least one of said facet pairs are laterally inclined upward at greater angles relative to the horizontal vessel deck than are that facet pairs' innermost second faces. 
     
     
         9 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the outermost first face or the second laterally innermost face of at least one of said facet pairs are laterally inclined upward at an angle greater than 75 degrees relative to the horizontal vessel deck. 
     
     
         10 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein the outermost first faces of at least one of said facet pairs are laterally inclined upward at an angle within 5 degrees of being perpendicular to the horizontal vessel deck. 
     
     
         11 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein, when measured in a lateral planar section, the outermost first faces of at least one of the facet pairs' spans a lesser absolute distance than does that facet pairs' innermost second faces. 
     
     
         12 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein said recesses' indent the vessel hull inwardly by no more than a first maximum recess depth, said first maximum recess depth chosen from a group consisting of:
 1) 2% of the vessel's beam;   2) 4% of the vessel's beam;   3) 8% of the vessel's beam;   4) 12% of the vessel's beam;   5) 15% of the vessel's beam;   6) 5% of the vessel's resting draft;   7) 10% of the vessel's resting draft;   8) 20% of the vessel's resting draft;   9) 30% of the vessel's resting draft;   10) 40% of the vessel's resting draft;   11) 50% of the vessel's resting draft.   
     
     
         13 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said recesses further include one or more intermediate faces laterally disposed between said outermost first and innermost second faces. 
     
     
         15 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said intermediate faces is laterally inclined generally parallel to said horizontal vessel deck. 
     
     
         16 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said one or more recesses includes a single bridging intermediate face, said bridging intermediate face being laterally inclined at third and fourth angles relative to said first outermost and second innermost faces, respectively, of that recess, and said third angle is greater than said fourth angle. 
     
     
         17 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said one or more recesses includes a single bridging intermediate face, said bridging intermediate face being laterally inclined at third and fourth angles relative to said first outermost and second innermost faces, respectively, of that facet pair, and said fourth angle is greater than or equal to said third angle. 
     
     
         18 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more portions of at least one of the outermost first, the innermost second, and an optional one or more intermediate faces laterally disposed between the outermost first and the innermost second faces, of at least one of said pairs of recesses has a laterally arcuate surface topography. 
     
     
         19 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said one or more facet pairs includes a single bridging intermediate face, said bridging intermediate face being laterally inclined at third and fourth angles relative to said first outermost and second innermost faces, respectively, of that facet pair, and said third angle is greater than said fourth angle. 
     
     
         20 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said facet pairs has a longitudinal extent of less than 90% of said vessel's waterline length. 
     
     
         21 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said facet pairs has a longitudinal extent is selected from a group consisting of,
 a) less than 80% of the vessel's waterline length,   b) less than ¾ of the vessel's waterline length,   c) less than 60% of the vessel's waterline length,   d) less than 50% of the vessel's waterline length,   e) less than ⅓ of the vessel's waterline length,   f) less than ¼ of the vessel's waterline length, and   g) less than 10% of the vessel's waterline length.   
     
     
         22 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said facet pairs' longitudinal extent has a rearmost reach that ends forward of the vessel's transom, and said forward of transom ending facet pair can rearwardly terminate at a longitudinal hull position that does or does not coincide with a hull step. 
     
     
         23 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , comprising at least first and second of said facet pairs, wherein said first and second facet pairs have dissimilar longitudinal extents, said dissimilar longitudinal extents varying by one or more of having differing forwardmost reaches, differing rearwardmost reaches, and said first facet pair's rearwardmost reach being forward of said second facet pair's forwardmost reach. 
     
     
         24 . Dynamically operative keel-simulating facets of a marine vessel hull undersurface according to  claim 1 , further comprising a planing suitable marine vessel hull adapted for configuring with one or more of said facet pairs. 
     
     
         25 . A method of managing a marine vessel hull undersurface's directional tracking hydrodynamics with offset keel-simulating facets, comprising the steps of:
 counteracting sideways water surface flow, when turning said vessel while on plane, by interrupting said flow with longitudinally extending, inwardly facing, outermost first faces of one or more laterally symmetrical facet pairs that upwardly indent the marine vessel's undersurface with recesses that are at least partially demarcated by a longitudinally extending innermost second face and said outermost first face, wherein lowermost portions of the first and second faces are laterally inclined upward at first and second angles, respectively, relative to a horizontal vessel deck;   inducing longitudinally directed water surface flow by channeling said flow along said recesses' longitudinally extending void, wherein the upward indentation of a more forward portion of a major longitudinal fraction of the void does not indent the vessel hull inwardly farther than does a more rearward portion of said major longitudinal fraction of the void;   influencing, with said second face, any sideways water surface flow to enter the recess for interrupting by the first face and longitudinal channeling along the void, wherein said first and second faces are separated by more than a first greater fraction and more than a second lesser fraction of the vessel's beam, respectively; and   arranging at least one of said facet pairs' dispositions so that when the vessel turns while on plane and rolls its inner-turn side downward, the proportion of the vessel's weight born by the first and second faces and the recess of the inner-turn side facet of the at least one of said facet pairs is increased.   
     
     
         26 . A method of managing a marine vessel hull undersurface's turning hydrodynamics with offset keel-simulating facets according to  claim 25 , wherein the first greater fraction is more than a quarter of the vessel's beam. 
     
     
         27 . A method of managing a marine vessel hull undersurface's turning hydrodynamics with offset keel-simulating facets according to  claim 25 , wherein the second lesser fraction is more than 4% of the vessel's beam. 
     
     
         28 . A method of managing a marine vessel hull undersurface's turning hydrodynamics with offset keel-simulating facets according to  claim 25 , wherein the first greater fraction is more than a quarter of the vessel's beam. 
     
     
         29 . A method of managing a marine vessel hull undersurface's turning hydrodynamics with offset keel-simulating facets according to  claim 25 , wherein each facet of at least one of said facet pairs are symmetrically arranged on separate sponsons of a multi-hull vessel, with each of the sponson facet recesses' laterally outermost first faces being disposed laterally outwards of each of their respective sponsons' lowermost longitudinally extended portion. 
     
     
         30 . A method of configuring a marine vessel hull undersurface with dynamically operative keel-replicating facets, comprising the steps of:
 disposing, with lateral symmetry, one or more pairs of hull facets that include hull undersurface recesses,   demarcating, at least partially, said recesses with a longitudinally extending laterally outermost first face and a longitudinally extending laterally innermost second face having lowermost portions that are laterally inclined at first and second angles, respectively, relative to a horizontal vessel deck, said first and second angles having a differing inclination to the horizontal than the respective immediately adjacent non-recess portions of the hull undersurface, such that a more forward portion of a major longitudinal recess fraction does not indent the vessel hull inwardly farther than does a more rearward portion of that said major longitudinal recess fraction, and   laterally separating each of the symmetrically paired recesses' outermost first faces and innermost second faces, respectively, by more than a first greater fraction and more than a second lesser fraction of the marine vessel's beam.   
     
     
         31 . A multi-hull marine vessel undersurface having one or more pairs of laterally symmetrical dynamically effective turn-holding facets, comprising:
 one or more symmetrically disposed pairs of hull facets, said facet pairs including laterally symmetrical, hull undersurface recesses formed with a longitudinally extending laterally outermost first face and a longitudinally extending laterally innermost second face having lowermost portions that are laterally inclined at first and second angles, respectively, relative to a horizontal vessel deck, said first and second angles having a differing inclination to the horizontal than the respective immediately adjacent non-recess portions of the hull undersurface, and a more forward portion of a major longitudinal recess fraction does not indent the vessel hull inwardly farther than does a more rearward portion of that said major longitudinal recess fraction;   wherein said facet pair's recesses are each arranged on differing laterally separated sponsons of said multihull, with each of the recesses' laterally outermost first faces disposed laterally outwards of each of their respective sponsons' lowermost longitudinally extended portion.   
     
     
         32 . A multi-hull marine vessel undersurface having one or more pairs of laterally symmetrical dynamically effective turn-holding facets according to  claim 31 , wherein the lowermost reach of each of the outermost first faces of at least one of the facet pairs extends no farther downward than a lateral line inclined upward at 5 degrees to horizontal from inward to outward, said lateral line passing through the sponson's lowermost reach. 
     
     
         33 . A multi-hull marine vessel undersurface having one or more pairs of laterally symmetrical dynamically effective turn-holding facets according to  claim 31 , wherein at least one of said one or more facet pair recesses further include one or more intermediate faces disposed between the outermost first and innermost second faces. 
     
     
         34 . A multi-hull marine vessel undersurface having one or more pairs of laterally symmetrical dynamically effective turn-holding facets according to  claim 31 , wherein, for at least one of said pairs of recesses, one or more portions of at least one of the outermost first, the innermost second, and an optional one or more intermediate faces laterally disposed between the outermost first and the innermost second faces has a laterally arcuate surface topography. 
     
     
         35 . A method of managing a marine vessel hull undersurface's directional tracking hydrodynamics with offset keel-simulating facets, comprising the steps of:
 maintaining at least one of said vessel's longitudinal orientation and longitudinal direction of travel when the vessel, while running on plane, experiences one or more of laterally asymmetrical water flow, laterally asymmetrical water distribution, and laterally asymmetrical atmospheric effects,
 said maintaining involving configuring the hull undersurface with longitudinally extending, inwardly facing, outermost first faces of one or more laterally symmetrical facet pairs that upwardly indent the marine vessel's undersurface with recesses that are also at least partially demarcated by a longitudinally extending innermost second face and said outermost first face, wherein lowermost portions of at least one of the first and second faces are laterally inclined upward at first and second angles, respectively, relative to a horizontal vessel deck, wherein the upward indentation of a more forward portion of a major longitudinal fraction of the void is not more than the upward indentation of a more rearward portion of the major longitudinal fraction of the void; 
   inducing one or more of longitudinal vessel orientation, relative to the intended direction of vessel travel, and longitudinally directed water surface flow, relative to the vessel's longitudinal axis, by constraining the water flow into channeling along said recesses' longitudinally extending voids; and   influencing diagonally directed, relative to the vessel's longitudinal axis, water surface pressure with one or more of said first and second faces, to be redirected by one or more of the first and second recess faces into longitudinal channeling along the void, wherein said first and second faces are separated by more than a first greater fraction and more than a second lesser fraction of the vessel's beam, respectively.