Hydrofoil ship
By designing rotatable underwater masts and hydrofoils, the hydrofoil boat can convert configurations between deep and shallow water, solving the problem of poor maneuverability in confined spaces and shallow water conditions, achieving better operational flexibility and performance.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202380058929.7
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-08-17
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-20
- Publication Date
- 2025-03-21
AI Technical Summary
Existing hydrofoil boats are difficult to maneuver effectively in confined spaces or shallow water conditions, and the underwater accessories are easily hooked by aquatic plants or debris, resulting in difficulty in operation.
By designing rotatable underwater masts and hydrofoils, configuration conversion between deep and shallow waters can be reduced in underwater space and risk of obstacles. The hydrofoil can rotate along the vertical axis and align with the longitudinal plane to reduce lateral resistance and hooking risks.
The hydrofoil vessel is achieved better maneuverability and operational flexibility in confined space and shallow water conditions, reducing the risk of underwater accessories being hooked and improving the overall performance of the hull.
Smart Images
Figure CN119677668A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] In an embodiment, the present invention is directed to an improved hydrofoil craft that increases its maneuverability, particularly in confined spaces or water depths.
[0002] Related technologies
[0003] Hydrofoils have been known for decades and have been used for transport, sports and leisure. Essentially, a hydrofoil has a displacement hull that ensures the boat remains afloat when at low speed or not moving, and an underwater appendage that generates vertical lift when the boat is in motion. Above a minimum speed determined by the lift and speed of the submerged structure, the hydrofoil "flies" and the hull rises out of the water.
[0004] At the same speed, the hydrodynamic drag in a flying hydrofoil can be much lower than that in a conventional displacement or planing hull. As a result, hydrofoils can use less energy, produce less wake, and generate less noise than a conventional motorboat. Hydrofoils are therefore particularly well suited for "green" applications that employ electric propulsion, wind power, or other renewable forms of propulsion. Because of their noise and the waves they create, they can move quickly in areas that other powered watercraft cannot tolerate.
[0005] The lift attachment can take a variety of shapes and configurations in the hydrofoil. It is known to use a "T" shaped foil having a symmetrical wing-like lifting wing at the lower end of a vertical underwater mast located in the mid-plane of the vessel.
[0006] Like any other underwater attachment, lift wings are a liability when the boat must maneuver in shallow water, such as at a dock or near a beach. In addition, high-performance wings can be quite large, especially if they are configured to operate at slow or moderate speeds and can exceed the width of the boat's hull. This is a problem when the boat must move in confined spaces, such as when docked. Weeds and loose ropes can also snag on underwater attachments, and this is a common problem at docks.
[0007] Brief disclosure of the invention
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a hydrofoil vessel that overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.
[0009] According to the invention, these objects are achieved by the objects of the appended claims.
[0010] This disclosure will refer to terms such as "up", "down", "longitudinal", "transverse", etc., following the customary meanings of these words in relation to ships. "Up" and "down" refer to vertical directions perpendicular to the direction of calm water. "Longitudinal" is the direction of the centerline of the ship, i.e., the line joining the stern crossbar from the bow, and is also the direction in which the ship should normally travel. "Fore-aft" may be a synonym for "longitudinal". A "longitudinal plane" is a vertical plane containing this line, and is almost always a plane of symmetry of the general shape of the hull. A "transverse" direction is the direction of a line perpendicular to the longitudinal plane, usually parallel to the maximum breadth of the hull. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the description and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] Figure 1a and Figure 1b A vessel according to the invention is schematically shown from the side in a deep water configuration and in a shallow water configuration flying at slow speed, respectively.
[0014] Figure 2a to Figure 2c The transition from the deep water configuration to the shallow water configuration is shown as seen from below and in three steps.
[0015] Figure 3a and Figure 3b The vessel is shown in a deep water configuration and a shallow water configuration, respectively, as viewed from the bow.
[0016] Examples of embodiments of the present invention
[0017] Figure 1a The watercraft 100 is shown in motion, maintained in motion by the vertical lift of its underwater appendages, which in this embodiment are horizontal elongated hydrofoils 47 and rudder mounted horizontal stabilizers 57. The hydrofoils 47 are located at the lower end of the underwater mast 41, while the horizontal stabilizers 57 are located at the lower end of the rudder 51 behind the underwater mast 41. Preferably, these appendages are configured to provide a high lift / drag ratio at moderate speeds, and to this end, these appendages are slender elongated hydrodynamic bodies with a high aspect ratio, such as in Figure 2a , where the watercraft 100 is represented as seen from below.
[0018] return Figure 1a The hydrofoil 47 is located at the lower end of an underwater mast 41 that extends in a substantially vertical direction from the centerline below the hull 10. The mast is interposed a distance between the hull and the hydrofoil so that the boat can fly above the waterline 31 with a desired clearance.
[0019] Either or both of the underwater mast 41 and rudder 51 may have a propulsion pod 43, 53 with an electric motor and propeller 45, 55. However, this is not required for the present invention, and the watercraft 100 may have any suitable propulsion means, including a propeller connected to the hull or other appendages, a sail or dinghy, a bow propeller for maneuvering, a water jet, etc.
[0020] The combined lift of the hydrofoils 47 and stabilizers 57 causes the boat 100 to fly at a desired height above the waterline and remain level. Preferably, this is achieved automatically by a computer controller which receives information about the instantaneous height and attitude of the boat and acts on appropriate control surfaces of the underwater attachments, as will be shown later.
[0021] Preferably the vessel has means for detecting flying altitude above the water, such as an altitude sensor 71, and means for detecting the position of the vessel relative to other vessels and obstacles, such as by lidar 75, and this information is provided as input to the computer controller.
[0022] Figure 1b The boat 100 is shown at low speed, when the lift generated by the attachment is insufficient to overcome the weight and the boat is essentially maintained by its buoyancy. The attachment is lifted closer to the hull to reduce the draft. The underwater mast 41 is raised in the hollow column 49, while the rudder is lifted vertically. In this case, the rear propeller 55 is underwater and provides propulsion and direction at low speed, but other solutions are possible. Preferably, the boat allows a third configuration (not shown) in which the rudder can be raised higher, thereby lifting the pod 53 above the waterline.
[0023] Figure 2a to Figure 2c The three steps are shown in Figure 1a Deepwater configuration to Figure 1b When the hydrofoil 47 is raised close to the hull, the hydrofoil 47 is simultaneously rotated along the vertical axis toward the longitudinal plane L. In the example shown, the rotation is quite complete and Figure 2c In the final configuration, the hydrofoil 47 is aligned with the longitudinal plane L, but this is not an essential requirement.
[0024] Advantageously, rotating the hydrofoil forward and backward reduces its lateral obstruction. In this example, the width "w" or span of the wing exceeds the breadth "b" of the hull, and in the deep water configuration the boat cannot be safely moored against a wall. By rotating the hydrofoil towards the mid-plane L, the hydrofoil is no longer an obstruction. In this configuration, the risk of the wing catching on weeds or loose ropes is also greatly reduced.
[0025] Preferably, the hydrofoil 47 is rigidly connected to the underwater mast 41, which has a flattened section to minimize drag, and in the shallow water configuration, the hydrofoil 47 and mast 41 rotate together as a body. However, this is not the only option.
[0026] The combined movement of the mast 41 and the hydrofoil 47 can be obtained in several ways, all of which are included in the invention. In a preferred solution, the underwater mast is helically guided inside the column 49 along at least a portion of its travel, so that when the underwater mast rises, it must turn the required angle. The total rotation angle α of the wing 47 can be 90°, such as Figure 2c As shown, however, even a smaller rotation will achieve a useful reduction in underwater width.
[0027] Figure 2a to Figure 2c Also shown are control surfaces 48, 58 of the hydrofoil 47 and stabilizer 57, respectively. However, this is only an example and the control surfaces may be configured in other ways without departing from the invention. Possibly, the lift of the hydrofoil and the lift of the stabilizer may be controlled by pitching the entire wing section instead of smaller surfaces. In this case, it can be said that each wing section of the hydrofoil is a control surface.
[0028] The left-right differential control of the surfaces 48, 58 causes a change in the roll angle of the vessel 100, while the differential arrangement of the hydrofoil surface 48 relative to the additional surface 58 affects the pitch of the vessel. These actions are interrelated in a complex way depending on the dynamic state of the vessel, and can be controlled by a skilled skipper, or by an automatic control unit using a dynamic model, as is known in the art.
[0029] Figure 3a and Figure 3b Shown is the view from the bow Figure 1a and Figure 1b Advantageously, when the hydrofoil 47 is raised in the shallow water configuration, the hydrofoil 47 is retracted into the channel 11 of the hull. This minimizes the chance of obstruction, and if the channel is deep enough, the pod 43 can be raised above the waterline to reduce fouling, such as Figure 3b shown.
[0030] Reference symbols in the drawings
[0031] 9 Superstructure
[0032] 10 hull
[0033] 11 channels
[0034] 31 Waterline
[0035] 41 Mast
[0036] 43 Center Pod
[0037] 45 Center propeller
[0038] 47 Hydrofoil
[0039] 48 Control Surfaces
[0040] 49 Hollow Column
[0041] 51 rudder
[0042] 53 rear pod
[0043] 55 Rear propeller
[0044] 57 Horizontal stabilizer
[0045] 58 Additional control surfaces
[0046] 71 Height sensor
[0047] 75 LiDAR
[0048] 100 Ships and water transport vehicles.
Claims
1. A watercraft (100) having an underwater attachment comprising an underwater mast (41) and an elongated hydrofoil (47) centrally connected to the lower end of the mast (41), wherein the hydrofoil is laterally oriented in a first configuration to generate lift, characterized in that The hydrofoil (47) is rotatable about a vertical axis so that the hydrofoil (47) can be turned into a second configuration toward a longitudinal plane (L) of the watercraft (100).
2. The watercraft according to claim 1, wherein: The underwater mast (41) can be slid upward so that in the first configuration, the hydrofoil (47) is separated from the hull (10) of the watercraft, and in the second configuration, the hydrofoil (47) is closer to the hull (10) than in the first configuration.
3. The watercraft according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The width (w) of the hydrofoil (47) exceeds the maximum width (b) of the hull (10).
4. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hydrofoil (47) and the underwater mast (41) are rigidly connected.
5. The watercraft according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The underwater mast (41) is able to slide within the hollow column (49) above the waterline.
6. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hydrofoil (47) has a control surface (48), the inclination of which can be set by a control system.
7. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a rudder (51) behind the underwater attachment, the rudder (51) having an underwater horizontal stabilizer (57), wherein: The rudder is capable of sliding vertically to reduce the draft of the watercraft.
8. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The underwater attachment and / or the rudder has a propulsion pod (43, 53) comprising an electric motor and a propeller (45, 55).
9. A watercraft according to claims 4 and 5, wherein: The horizontal stabilizer (57) has an additional control surface (58), the inclination of which can be set by the control system.
10. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hydrofoil (47) is aligned with the longitudinal plane (L) of the watercraft in the second configuration, and the total rotation angle of the hydrofoil (47) between the first configuration and the second configuration is substantially 90°.
11. A watercraft according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The hull has a longitudinal passage (11), and the hydrofoil (47) enters the passage (11) in the second configuration.