Boundary layer control means

Claim 1

A vehicle adapted to be supported upon the surface of a body of water and propelled therethrough comprising, a hull including a bow and an exterior lateral surface disposed substantially parallel to the direction of movement of said vehicle when in forward motion, said surface having a plurality of parallel laterally spaced-apart fluid discharge slots therethrough the longitudinal axes of which are substantially normal to the forward direction of movement of the vehicle, said slots encircling that portion of said hull from the waterline on one side of the vehicle to the waterline on the other side of the vehicle, said slots in cross section having exit portions directed rearwardly of the forward direction of motion of said vehicle, said bow provided with a forwardly facing inlet below the waterline of said hull, said hull including an interior chamber communicating with said inlet and said slots, bladed means adjacent said inlet, motor means connected to said bladed means for driving same to generate a high velocity flow of water through said inlet and into said chamber prior to issuance from said slots in a rearward direction juxtaposed the adjacent portions of said hull surface, and said exit portions of said slots are progressively stepped with respect to that portion of said hull surface between each pair of adjacent slots.