US 12,240,564 B2
Vessel sea chest
George Grigol Chirakadze, Hickory Creek, TX (US)
Assigned to Euro Marine Group Ltd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL (US)
Filed by Euro Marine Group Ltd, Ft. Lauderdale, FL (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/726,317.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/177,566, filed on Apr. 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0340237 A1, Oct. 27, 2022
Int. Cl. B63B 13/02 (2006.01); B63B 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 13/02 (2013.01) [B63B 2013/005 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sea chest comprising:
a first end wall spaced apart from a second end wall by opposing side walls, each said end wall and said opposing side wall having a bottom edge formed integral with a vessel hull and a top edge of each said end wall and said opposing side wall positioned above a vessel waterline forming an access opening wherein an inner surface of said end walls and said opposing side walls and an inner surface of said vessel hull form a chamber;
a thru-hull opening having an intake formed in bottom of said chamber, said intake having a proximal end fluidly coupled to an open distal end formed on an outer surface of said vessel hull, wherein said thru-hull opening allowing water to fill said chamber up to said vessel waterline;
a supply inlet formed in one of said end walls or said opposing side walls, said supply inlet fluidly coupled to a supply manifold having a plurality of outlets for supply water from said chamber to vessel machinery;
a standpipe releasably secured to said proximal end of said intake, said standpipe having a length extending from said proximal end to a position above said vessel waterline; and
a watertight hatch releasably secured to said access opening;
wherein said chamber provides an inlet for water drawn into said supply manifold, whereby securing said standpipe to said proximal end prohibits flow of water from entering said supply inlet.