Ockerman Automation Consulting, Inc.

Jennifer Michaeli

Alden Nelson

Robert Walling

Richard Thompson

Mark Hoover

John Ockerman

Patrick Weismann

A flush-mount valve and vent assemblies including the same are described. A flush-mount valve may include a valve mount and a valve barrier which are coupled to the underside of a structure forming part of a liquid-impermeable container. The flush-mount valve is arranged to control the flow of fluid(s) across a fluid passage in the structure and is mounted to the structure so as to remain fully within the interior of the container.

Flush-mount valve

A system for controlling a thermal signature of a boat is disclosed. The system includes a fluid compartment adjacent to an external wall of the boat. The fluid compartment is disposed between a heat source in a hull cavity of the boat and the external wall of the boat such that heat energy released from the heat source is transferred to a fluid in the fluid compartment. A fluid mover moves a first volume of the fluid out of the fluid compartment and replaces at least a portion of the first volume with a second volume of fluid, wherein the second volume of fluid has a different temperature than the first volume of fluid before entering the fluid compartment.

Hull thermal management system

A transmission system for a hybrid power plant, such as a hybrid propulsion system of a marine vessel, is described. The transmission is configured to selectively couple a primary mover and/or a secondary mover to an output of the transmission for providing a power output, and optionally selectively couple the primary mover to the secondary mover, decoupling the output, for electrical energy generation in a compact and light-weight design.

Transmission for hybrid propulsion system

A marine vessel or watercraft may be provided with an aft extension that, in one configuration of the watercraft, alters the wake of the watercraft, for example by reducing the height of the wake, and which may include a sealable opening to provide crew or payload access into or out of the watercraft at a location (e.g., aft of the transom) that may be difficult for an observer to perceive. The aft extension may be positioned above the watercraft's waterline when the watercraft is in another configuration such that it does not contact with the water to reduce adverse impact on performance characteristics, such as drag, of the hull when the watercraft is in that configuration. The watercraft may transition between the two configuration by selectively varying the displacement of the watercraft or by articulating of the aft extension.

Marine vessel with aft extension

A watercraft according to the present disclosure may include an outer hull that defines an interior or hull cavity, and a ballast system located within the hull cavity. The ballast system may include at least three ballast tanks longitudinally distributed along the hull cavity, and each of the tanks being configured to be independently operated enabling selective entrapment of ballast at three or more different longitudinal locations to enable an intentional shifting of the longitudinal center of gravity (LCG) of the watercraft relative to the design location of the LCG of the watercraft. The watercraft may include at least a forward, a center, and an aft ballast tank, and in some embodiments, additional tanks, in some cases in sponsons, may be included and/or one or more of the forward, center and aft tanks, may be further subdivided for additional active LCG control.

Variable displacement landing craft

Embodiments of the disclosure are drawn to apparatuses and methods for packaging and distributing a marine energy storage system. Battery packs including one or more battery cells and a compliant layer enclosed in a sealed housing are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs structurally integrated are disclosed. Vessel hulls with battery packs mounted to an inner surface of an outer hull are disclosed. Vessel hulls including compartments for inserting battery packs are disclosed. Vessel hulls including battery packs mounted in a ballast of the hull are disclosed.

Marine vessel with hull-integrated electrical energy storage for vessel propulsion

A modular system, which may include a modular ramp for a landing craft, is described. For example, a ramp module according to some embodiments includes an enclosure defining a cavity, wherein the enclosure is configured to be removably received in a watertight recess formed in the hull of the landing craft. The ramp module also includes an extendible ramp operatively coupled to the enclosure and configured to be extended from the enclosure such that the ramp extends from the deck of the landing craft toward a shore to provide a support surface for unloading cargo onto or in close proximity to the shore. The extendible ramp is configured to be substantially fully retracted within the cavity, in some cases the enclosure forming an water tight seal with the recess in the hull and/or sealing the ramp, when retracted, in a water tight manner within its cavity.

Modular ramp system for a landing craft

A vent assembly in accordance with some examples herein may include a vent conduit coupling a dry compartment of a boat to an opening in a hull of the boat for selectively fluidly connecting the dry compartment to an exterior of the hull. The vent assembly may include a fluid-tight ventilation closure which selectively prevents fluid flow through the vent conduit when the fluid-tight ventilation closure is in a closed position. The fluid-tight ventilation closure may be positioned below an exterior surface of the hull. A damper may be configured to selectively modulate air flow through the vent conduit. The damper may be positioned downstream of the fluid-tight ventilation closure from the opening.

Low profile vent assembly for a boat

Described herein are examples of a watercraft with a hull defining a hull cavity. A canopy may be removably coupled to the hull via a canopy interface. The canopy interface includes a first portion fixed to the hull and a second portion fixed to the canopy. The first portion defines an opening through the hull into the hull cavity. The second portion is configured to be removably coupled to the first portion to enclose and seal the opening whereby the canopy interface is configured to interchangeably couple any one of a plurality of different canopies including the canopy to the hull. Each canopy of the plurality of different canopies may include a different configuration that provides a different access opening into the hull cavity or reconfigures the hull with a different outer profile.

Modular cargo bay canopy

An integrated thruster and ballast system in accordance with some examples herein may include a conduit disposed within a hull of the boat. The conduit includes a first opening in fluid communication with a body of water, a second opening in selective fluid communication with the body of water, and an outlet disposed within the boat. The integrated thruster and ballast system includes a ballast tank in selective fluid communication with the conduit via the outlet, a thruster disposed within the conduit and configured to move water through the conduit, a first valve disposed in the conduit and configured to selectively divide or establish the fluid communication between the conduit and the ballast tank; and a second valve disposed in the conduit and configured to selectively divide or establish the fluid communication between the second opening and the body of water.

Growing community of inventors

Smithfield, VA, United States of America

Jennifer Michaeli