| 摘要 |
The present invention relates generally to apparatus for marine transportation and more particularly relates to apparatus for moving bulk quantities of goods in a submarine hull with ancillary surface accommodations for the crew. A preferred embodiment of the invention may include an elongated submarine hull having a plurality of cargo holds situated therein and an engine room located in the aft portion thereof. Power means, such as a diesel-electric unit, are located in the engine room and serve to provide motive force for the submarine hull and the related equipment. Projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the aft portion of the hull may be provided a relatively tall vertical fin, the front portion of which is restricted to form a relatively short "blade" which may be used to cut through surface ice formations. A crewboat, the rear portion of which is bifurcated and shaped to receive therein a portion of the vertical fin, is in operative engagement with a portion of the fin and receives its primary motive force therefrom. Means may be included for providing a relatively low-friction contact between the bifurcated portion of the crewboat and the vertical fin to allow restricted pitch, roll and yaw of the boat and of the submarine hull. In addition, access means are included in the fin whereby crew members may move freely from the boat to the interior of the submarine hull. There is also included means connected between the vertical fin and the crewboat for providing energy, such as heat and electrical power, from the engine room in the submarine hull to the crewboat. Air intake and stack gas exhaust conduits also extend through the vertical fin to the atmosphere, so that the submarine hull may be propelled by propulsion systems of the type conventionally used in surface vessels, such as oil fueled steam turbines, diesel engines, gas turbines and the like.
|
