US 12,330,749 B2
Methods, systems, and apparatuses to facilitate providing and sustaining a laminar flow of a fluid across a vessel
William J. Parker, III, Rhinecliff, NY (US); Harold Thomas Workman, Lorton, VA (US); and Katherine Howell Brinson, Tuscaloosa, AL (US)
Assigned to Parker Maritime Technologies, LLC, Saratoga, CA (US)
Filed by Parker Maritime Technologies, LLC, Rhinecliff, NY (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/572,415.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/136,147, filed on Jan. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0219787 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. B63B 1/38 (2006.01)
CPC B63B 1/38 (2013.01) [B63B 2001/387 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for sustaining laminar flow of a fluid across a vessel, comprising:
a main control unit comprising one or more air compressor units, the one or more air compressor units configured to generate air; and
an integrated longitudinal air distribution assembly secured to a wetted hull of the vessel, the integrated longitudinal air distribution assembly comprising:
a series of air dispersal modules configured to distribute the generated air across the wetted hull of the vessel to create at least one air layer between the wetted hull of the vessel and the fluid to sustain the laminar flow of the fluid across the vessel, and
one or more support cables extending longitudinally along the wetted hull, wherein a proximal end of the one or more support cables is positioned at a bow of the vessel, and wherein a plurality of the air dispersal modules are attached to the one or more support cables.