The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2006
Filed:
Jul. 01, 2004
Terrence W. Schmidt, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Terrence W. Schmidt, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, MD (US);
Abstract
An efficient double-ended watercraft is disclosed that comprises four low-Froude number hulls: two forward, two aft, two on the port side, and two on the starboard. Each hull comprises an independent engine that drives a propeller shaft and propeller that is located amidships. The propeller shafts on the starboard are collinear, as are the propeller shafts on the port. The propellers on the starboard are near each other and counter rotate, as do the propellers on the port. The propellers are variable-pitch propellers. When the ferry is changes from moving forward to moving in reverse and from reverse to forward, the propellers on the starboard exchange pitch. This enables the ferry to move as efficiently in reverse as it does when forward. The propellers on the port also exchange pitch when changing from moving forward to moving in reverse and from reverse to forward.