Ship propulsion method and manned motor-driven ship

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a method for propelling a ship comprising: an upper water drive unit (5) placed in a floating body (1); a mast (2) connected by its upper end to the floating body (1) with a lower water drive unit (4) in the lower part of the floating body; and furthermore, the floating body (1) is connected to the underwater wing (3) via the mast (2); a control and communication system; and a control device, in which the vessel is driven only by the permanently submerged lower water drive unit (4) when the floating body (1) is held above the water surface in a flight mode, and in a transition travel mode, in particular during the start, end or tilt of the vessel, the ship is driven only by the permanently submerged lower water drive unit (4). The vessel is simultaneously driven by both drive units (4, 5) when at least a portion of the floating body (1) is in contact with the water surface and while the water at least partially submerges the upper water drive unit (5).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor-driven vessel for the water transportation of at least one person, and more particularly to a hydrofoil surfboard which is connected to an underwater wing by a mast and is adapted for a rider to travel or fly while maintaining balance on a skateboard above the water surface, and also relates to a propulsion method for such a vessel. Background Art

[0002] Hydrodynamic underwater wings (commonly called hydrofoils in Czech, a term borrowed from English meaning an underwater wing or a vessel having an underwater wing) that use the buoyancy generated when a hovercraft moves in the water in the traveling direction to achieve the function of a hovercraft on water were early used in motorboats, and their uses were later extended to water sports such as water motorboats, sailing boats, surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, water skiing, windsurfing, or water skateboards or surfboards driven in various ways (such as by a motorboat, a cableway, or the wind power of a "kite" in the case of so-called kite surfing where the "kite" flies on water).

[0003] The latter is based on a water skateboard connected to an underwater wing by a mast, where the buoyancy is used for propulsion by the forward force of the wind and simultaneously with the aid of the underwater wing, so that after the initial start, during normal travel only a part of the wing and the mast remains submerged underwater, and the remaining part of the mast supporting the water skateboard protrudes above the water surface. The mast is oriented vertically or substantially vertically with respect to the water skateboard and the underwater wing. The rider maintains balance on the skateboard, holds a handle connected to the kite, and the wind blows the sail of the kite, pushing and pulling the skateboard along the traveling direction. The shape of the underwater wing in the case of a wind-driven board has a surface similar to that of an airplane, without any additional drive device, where the mast is connected to the body of the underwater wing. In this case, the biggest problem for the rider is to start and use a paddle to lift the skateboard above the water surface, which is complicated and discourages many riders at first. Compared with a traditional water skateboard that slides directly on the water surface without an underwater wing, the advantage is that the resistance when the underwater wing moves underwater is significantly smaller, because it occupies much less area compared to the large bottom area of the water skateboard and has a more hydrodynamic shape. Floating and traveling in the air can also bring a unique sense of lightness in flight to the rider, which cannot be experienced when floating and traveling on the water surface.

[0004] The underwater wing was later extended to a motor-driven water skateboard. In the case of such a skateboard, the motor drive is usually attached to the lower part of the mast, which has a similar height to the underwater wing and is properly oriented in the correct direction of the underwater wing, for example, as shown in the utility model application DE202017103703U1, that is, in the normal forward travel direction. Then, the surfer manually controls the motor drive via a control unit, for example, by means of a wired or remote controller. However, in the case of a motorized skateboard with an underwater wing, starting is even more difficult and dangerous, and the surfer getting onto the water skateboard during the start above the water surface can cause a roll moment and a sharp increase in the uprightness of the skateboard at certain times. In many cases, even experienced surfers lose their stability and fall. It is dangerous for the surfer to fall on some solid parts of the ship, especially on the wing of the water drive or the parts of the propeller. The described problem is mainly due to the fact that when the skateboard is on the water surface, it has to overcome a huge resistance to the water, but once the skateboard is above the water surface, the resistance drops sharply while the roll moment increases.

[0005] Motor-driven ships known from the prior art (such as water surfboards with an underwater wing) are only operated with a lower drive unit, and the problem is that they generate a large roll moment during startup, which lifts the front part of the ship, and thus the person being transported (i.e., the surfer) has to work with the center of gravity during startup. For example, in the case of a water surfboard, they have to first lie on the surfboard with the center of gravity as far forward as possible until the skateboard gains enough speed. The drive unit located below (i.e., inside or on the lower part of the mast in the permanently submerged part of the ship) has to generate a considerable amount of power to overcome the water resistance and the increasing roll moment. This makes the startup uncomfortable and makes it difficult for beginners to stand up on the water surfboard and experience the light feeling of flying. The startup also has to be very slow, that is, start with a low power, and very carefully, thus requiring strict preparation and experience. In addition, in the case of such a surfboard, reaching the water surface is difficult. The large area of the floating body in contact with the water surface creates a suddenly increased resistance, which usually causes the surfer to flip into the water from the skateboard. In the case of these ships, the electronic equipment is placed in the floating body, and water has to be pumped through the mast to the upper part and guided for cooling. In its standard position, the mast is usually vertical or substantially vertical to the water surface and vertical or substantially vertical to the floating body or slightly inclined. Horizontally and relative to the forward direction of travel, the following are attached to the mast or implemented: the floating body, the underwater wing, and the lower drive unit, where the longitudinal axes of these components are perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mast.

[0006] Modern systems attempt to solve the surfer balance problem by actively maneuvering the tilt of the floating body relative to the mast at different angles, which is an overly complex solution involving a complex measurement system and a complex tilting algorithm, but still results in a delayed response. By tilting the floating body relative to the mast, the sharp increase in the rolling moment of the ship is neither eliminated nor reduced, but only the impact on the surfer's own balance is reduced by generating a reaction force of the rotational moment when the floating body tilts relative to the mast, thus preventing the surfer from falling off the ship. Therefore, this is only a matter of balancing the forces acting on the surfer rather than the ship itself, that is, by adjusting the speed of a properly placed drive motor, smoothly overcoming different large resistances of water according to the varying size of the wetted area of the ship, which is not solved here. The drawback is that the tilting of the ship is a response to the current state of the ship, and its measurement, evaluation, and subsequent actions require a certain response time, and a perfect estimation of the direction, magnitude, and speed of the tilting angle of the floating body is needed. A flawless and timely implementation method is almost impossible or very expensive. A secondary consequence is that after this action, the ship must be realigned to a stable position again for subsequent driving modes, which may cause problems during rapid maneuvers, during turning, etc. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The above disadvantages and deficiencies can be solved by a ship propulsion method, the ship comprising: an upper water drive unit having an upper electric motor placed in a floating body; a mast connected to the floating body through its upper end; wherein the mast has a lower water drive unit having a lower electric motor connected or integrated in the lower part of the mast, and further, wherein the floating body is connected to an underwater wing through the mast, and wherein the two drive units are functionally and communicatively connected to a control and communication system, and the control and communication system is further connected to a control device, wherein

[0008] – In flight mode, when the floating body remains above the water surface, the ship is driven only by the permanently submerged lower water drive unit, and

[0009] – In transitional driving mode, especially during the start, end, or tilting of the ship, such as during a sharp turn, when at least a part of the floating body is in contact with the water surface and at the same time the water at least partially submerges the upper water drive unit, the ship is driven by both drive units simultaneously.

[0010] The mast means a connecting device that carries the water drive unit and / or the underwater wing and connects them to the floating body. It can take various shapes, such as the shape of a vertical skateboard, a bar, a column, the letter V, U, Y, A, H, the letters being inverted, etc. It can also provide a supporting function for other components. The mast with the underwater wing can be a suitably shaped single solid integral part, or they can be separate parts connected to each other. The mast can also be integrally formed with, for example, the housing of the lower water drive unit or some other component for inserting and fixing the remaining components of the lower water drive unit. Electronic devices, cooling channels, etc. can pass through the mast.

[0011] The lower water drive unit and the underwater wing are always submerged under the water surface during startup and travel, while the bottom of the floating body (where water enters and also floods the upper water drive unit) and the mast are at least partially submerged under the water surface before the start or after the end, but during startup, a part of the floating body and the mast rises above the water surface, and thus the upper water drive unit loses its water supply and no longer contributes to driving the ship, causing it to idle, or more preferably, in order to save energy, reduce noise and reduce the environmental burden, it can be temporarily deactivated.

[0012] The flight mode is mainly achieved during fast travel. The transition travel mode is a travel mode in which the upper water drive unit is at least partially submerged, that is, especially during startup, before the end of stopping, sharp turns, slow travel, etc.

[0013] The upper water drive unit is preferably placed on the axis of the rear bottom of the floating body.

[0014] The basic feature of the present invention is that, in the transitional driving mode, two water-driven units operate simultaneously, and each water-driven unit has its own electric motor. It is possible to operate the lower water-driven unit common in the devices of the prior art and additionally operate the added upper water-driven unit according to the present invention, which greatly simplifies the control during the start and stop of the ship or its sharp turns. The significant improvement is that the upper water-driven unit reduces or eliminates the rolling moment of the floating body and the surfer at the same time, making the start of the ship smoother and the speed change smoother during other transitional driving modes, which is beneficial to the control of the ship, provides greater stability for the surfer, and allows for safer driving and a comfortable end of the ride, minimizing the falls of the surfer or multiple people present on the floating body, and thus being attractive to a wider range of users, even those less skilled in technology. The device of the present invention can respond to step changes in the magnitude of the resistance of the wetted area during driving in a simple manner, even without a complex system to evaluate the deflection of the ship relative to its stationary / equilibrium position, height, coordinates, etc., and without a compiled electronic device to tilt the floating body relative to the mast. In this basic and simple embodiment, it achieves the force balance without further active intervention, that is, by the upper water-driven unit simply emerging from the water surface via buoyancy. Since the upper water-driven unit is not submerged in water, the force is balanced, that is, essentially, it stops passively to counteract the reduction in the water resistance that occurs when the floating body rises above the water surface.

[0015] Part of the control and communication system is a control unit, which can exist independently or be embedded in one of the motor regulators and is connected wired or wirelessly to the components controlled by the control unit and / or the components from which data is collected or to which data is sent. For example, the control unit can be placed in the floating body, the mast, or the body of the underwater wing. Preferably, it is placed in the floating body as part of the upper regulator, but it can also be placed in the lower part of the ship as part of the lower regulator. It is best placed in the floating body because, after disconnecting the mast, the floating body can be used independently only for driving on the water surface rather than flying above the water surface.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the vessel includes at least one wetness sensor functionally connected to a control and communication system that deactivates the electric motor of the upper water drive unit when all such wetness sensors are above the water surface, and conversely, activates the upper water drive unit when at least one such wetness sensor is submerged. The upper water drive unit operates in a flight mode and idling is economically inefficient. A wetness sensor connected to the control and communication system is advantageous because it can reliably and automatically deactivate and activate the electric motor of the upper water drive unit at the appropriate time, thereby reducing noise and saving energy and the environment. This appropriate time mainly occurs during fast and straight travel, i.e., in the flight mode of the floating body. The wetness sensors are placed on the vessel such that they are not wetted by water in the flight mode, but at least one of the wetness sensors is wetted in the transition driving mode. Preferably, the wetness sensors are placed on the vessel at a location where the water surface reaches when the floating body rises above the water surface and the surface area of the wetted area changes most sharply, or at a location where the motor of the upper water drive unit is no longer submerged due to the rising of the motor or the entry of water into the upper water drive unit above the water surface. Most commonly, the wetness sensors are placed at the bottom of the floating body or on a horizontal plane 0 to 20 cm below the floating body. For example, they are attached to the upper part of the mast. A single wetness sensor is sufficient to achieve this effect, but for improved maneuverability, multiple wetness sensors can be placed, especially at the same height level, for example, on opposite sides of the mast, which is preferred (e.g., for turning), such that when at least one of these sensors is wetted, the upper water drive unit is activated, and when all wetness sensors are pulled out of the water, the upper water drive unit is deactivated. The means for implementing the on / off of the electric motor connected to the control and communication system is a common component of a vessel having an electric motor. For example, these can be switches. Then, the control unit receives signals not only from the controller but also from the wetness sensors. Based on these or other signals, it sends signals to the regulator, which then controls the motor in terms of speed, power, voltage, etc.

[0017] The bottom of the floating body for placing the wetness sensors means the part of the floating body that is submerged in water when the vessel is in its normal position (e.g., before startup, when the floating body is not carrying a person (i.e., a surfer)).

[0018] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that each electric motor is functionally connected to a separate regulator to increase or decrease the speed of the electric motor. Both the lower regulator functionally connected to the lower electric motor and the upper regulator functionally connected to the upper electric motor are controlled by a control and communication system. Preferably, the control and communication system is implemented such that each regulator with an electric motor is functionally and communicatively connected to a control unit, and most preferably, the control unit is implemented as part of the upper regulator, where both regulators are connected to the control unit by a two-way functional communication, either wired or wireless. Then, preferably, the upper regulator is placed near the upper electric motor, and the lower regulator is placed near the lower electric motor. In a preferred embodiment, in the transition driving mode, the control and communication system adjusts the mutual power ratio of the upper and lower electric motors through at least one of the regulators by a specially implemented algorithm to achieve stable driving, that is, such that after subtracting the offset resistance, the partial thrust acting on the floating body with the surfer is as large as the partial thrust acting on the underwater wing. In other words, such that the upper part of the ship does not exceed the bottom and vice versa, that is, such that the combined force generated by the lower and upper water drive units is approximately the same and the roll moment is minimized, that is, close to zero. By adjusting the speed and power of one or both electric motors to maintain the correct ratio of speed and power, the effect of smoothly changing the ship's moving speed in the transition driving mode is improved, and various operations on the ship can be comfortably performed.

[0019] In the most preferred embodiment, the activation and deactivation and / or speed adjustment of the upper water drive unit are controlled by a control and communication system that is connected, among other things, to the user's control device, in addition to being connected to a water wetting sensor, a device for activating / deactivating the lower and upper electric motors, and the lower and upper regulators. The control and communication system's instruction to activate / deactivate the electric motor of the upper water drive unit based on the wetting state of the wetting sensor takes precedence over the speed adjustment of the electric motor. For example, the user inputs an instruction to increase / decrease the speed or stop via the control device, that is, a request for a power change. In the control unit, it is pre-set and pre-programmed how the power ratio of each electric motor should be set at a given speed. The control unit can be reprogrammed.

[0020] Data transmitted to the control and communication system from the user input into the control device, as well as data from the electric motor and the wetting sensor, allows the control system to evaluate the data and respond to the sharp drop in resistance after the floating body rises above the water surface, and activate or deactivate the upper electric motor, or adjust the power in the transitional driving mode so that no large roll moment occurs. Compared with a surfboard with an underwater wing driven only by an electric motor placed in the lower part of the underwater wing (which is used for comparative testing to represent a ship known in the prior art), under the same conditions and other ship parameters, the side force moment during startup in the transitional driving mode is reduced by approximately 50%.

[0021] Another object of the present invention is a program which is implemented in a data carrier connected and integrated in the control and communication system (for example, in the memory of the control unit or an external storage disk). In addition, the data carrier or the control unit has an integrated data carrier carrying the program, wherein the program is adapted to execute the above propulsion method of the ship controlled by the control and communication system, and the control and communication system can also process instructions input by the user via the control device.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is a passenger motor-driven vessel for performing the above propulsion method, wherein the vessel includes: a mast; a floating body attached to the upper end of the mast; an underwater wing integrated in the lower part of the mast or connected to the mast; a lower water drive unit integrated in the lower part of the mast or attached to the lower part of the mast, having a lower electric motor which is functionally connected to the control and communication system via a lower regulator, and a control device and a device for activating and deactivating the lower water drive unit are functionally and communicatively connected to the control and communication system. The essence of the present invention is that the vessel further includes an upper water drive unit having an upper electric motor placed in the floating body, and the upper electric motor is functionally and communicatively connected to the control and communication system via an upper regulator, and the control and communication system is functionally connected to the device for activating and deactivating the upper water drive unit.

[0023] The mast serves as a fixed connection between the lower water drive unit and the floating body, and also optionally serves as a connection for the support area of the underwater wing. Sufficient stiffness is the primary consideration, especially at the connection between the mast and the floating body. The mast is appropriately shaped hydrodynamically, such as to generate as little resistance as possible and at the same time allow the cables of the lower water drive unit to pass through its interior.

[0024] The underwater wing can be as commonly known in the prior art and includes a support area connected by a truss or body of the underwater wing or a similar structure, usually in the shape of an aircraft, i.e., the front support area is larger than the rear support area, and it is placed in the lower part of the mast, preferably attached to the lower part of the mast or connected to the lower end of the mast, where the mast extends vertically from the truss or body of the underwater wing, and the axis of the truss is parallel to the traveling direction of the ship, or the underwater wing can be an integral part of the lower part of the mast and the extended support area. During startup, the support area of the wing allows the upper part of the ship to rise above the water surface by buoyancy. During forward movement, it generates buoyancy, which, when the speed is fast enough, keeps the surfer above the water surface through the floating body, i.e., in the "flying" mode. The support area usually consists of a front wing and a rear wing, but can be supplemented by additional wings or elements or areas that modify the flow. For achieving the balance of forces and moments, their proper mutual arrangement is necessary, but such an arrangement is known to those skilled in the art from the prior art.

[0025] The lower water drive unit can be attached or integrated into the lower part of the mast, and preferably directly integrated into the underwater wing connected to the floating body through the mast. For example, the lower electric motor and shaft can be placed in the body of the underwater wing, and the engaging device is connected to the shaft and located in the housing attached to the body of the underwater wing, and this housing is located at the rear of the underwater wing. Then, the support area can be connected to the body of the underwater wing and / or the housing of the water engaging device.

[0026] The engaging devices of the upper water drive unit and the lower water drive unit are most preferably propellers, and their blades allow the floating body to move forward with the surfer during forced entry into the water. The lower water drive unit can ensure the forward movement of the ship even when the floating body rises above the water surface.

[0027] The lower water drive unit and, if applicable, the lower regulator placed therein or two regulators are preferably at least partially encapsulated to prevent the entry of accidents and unwanted objects or dirt, the influence of water, and corrosion in the water environment. Therefore, the body of the underwater wing can also be partially used as the housing of the lower electric motor and the shaft connected thereto. Alternatively, the lower water drive unit can be attached to or integrated into the mast above the underwater wing, and this part is permanently submerged below the water surface during startup and during travel. For example, the lower water drive unit is located approximately 60 cm below the lowest point of the floating body.

[0028] Those skilled in the art know from the prior art the orientation and connection of the mast and the floating body and the correct orientation of the underwater wing and the drive unit.

[0029] The floating body can be a surfboard, the hull of a small boat, a ship, a paddleboard, or other smaller watercraft.

[0030] The upper water drive unit is preferably placed in the rear part of the floating body, along the traveling direction of the floating body, and provides forward movement of the floating body when the floating body is on the water surface.

[0031] The upper water drive unit includes an upper electric motor connected to a shaft and a engaging device, such as a propeller. It accelerates the speed of water flowing in the backward direction, and thus forms a forward force acting on the surfboard and the surfer.

[0032] The forward force of the ship is affected by the amount of water in the upper water drive unit and the lower water drive unit. When the lower water drive unit is still in the submerged state, the upper water drive unit gradually emerges from the water surface during startup and loses the water supply connection. Therefore, the upper electric motor is preferably turned off or idles for a certain period of time.

[0033] Preferably, the ship includes at least one wetting sensor placed on the ship such that it is not wetted in the flight mode, but at least one of the wetting sensors is wetted in the transitional driving mode, wherein the wetting sensor is functionally connected to a control and communication system which is adapted to deactivate the upper electric motor when all the wetting sensors emerge from the water surface, and conversely, the control and communication system is adapted to activate the upper electric motor when at least one wetting sensor is submerged in water.

[0034] The upper part of the mast can be branched, and preferably one or more wetting sensors are placed in this part of the connection between the upper end of the mast and the floating body. These can be optoelectronic reflection sensors or electrodes that measure the conductivity / resistance of the environment, etc., or sensors based on another known principle that detect whether these sensors are completely wetted by water or whether they have emerged from the water surface and are in contact with air. These sensors can be placed on each branch of the upper split mast such that they can detect that the floating body is at least partially submerged in water or has completely emerged from the water.

[0035] The control and communication system is preferably adapted to adjust the mutual power ratio of the lower electric motors with the help of the lower regulator and the mutual power ratio of the upper electric motors with the help of the upper regulator by adjusting the speed of each of these electric motors.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the control and communication system includes a control unit with mutually communicatively connected upper and lower regulators, wherein the underwater wing includes a support area connected by the body of the underwater wing, wherein the lower water drive unit having the lower electric motor and the lower regulator are placed in the body, wherein the control unit is placed as part of the upper regulator, and in addition, the upper regulator and the communication module are placed in the floating body.

[0037] The control and communication system is adapted to control the above-described method, is connected to the control device of the user, is connected to the device that allows activation / deactivation of the upper and lower water drive units or the upper and lower electric motors, is further connected to the lower and upper regulators, or, in a preferred embodiment, if the wetting sensor is part of the ship, is also connected to the wetting sensor so as to be able to receive and process data from these components of the device, evaluate whether and in what order to perform sub-actions according to a predetermined priority, and control the drive of the ship. The control and communication system includes a program for controlling the two drive units based on inputs from measuring devices (such as from the thrust wetting device). When all such wetting sensors are present, the control device shuts off the upper electric motor of the upper water drive unit, where the engagement device is already idling in the absence of water and no longer provides any thrust for the forward movement of the floating body. This reduces noise and energy consumption. If at least one wetting sensor is submerged below the water surface level, the upper electric motor is turned on. If both drive units are engaged, i.e., both have water supply, the control and communication system of the lower and upper regulators connected to the speed of the electric motors will modify their mutual ratio by changing the speed of one or both electric motors of the drive units according to pre-entered rules. Both regulators have software-limited maximum power and maximum speed, which can be reached if the surfer increases the power requirement by 100% in manual control, i.e., presses a pedal or button with a similar function to accelerate the ship to the maximum. Then, the value of the partial added power is derived from these maximum values according to the dependencies set in the control and communication system. The control and communication system controls both the speed regulation and the activation and deactivation of the upper water drive unit during the transition between driving modes, and preferably controls the activation and deactivation of both drive units during the start and completion of driving or during an unexpected interruption of driving (such as due to a fall, etc.).

[0038] Most preferably, the upper and / or lower water drive units are waterjets, which include an electric motor and a water engagement device, such as a propeller, connected by a shaft.

[0039] The longitudinal axis of the electric motor of the water drive unit is most preferably parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floating body, i.e., in the normal standard position where the ship is stationary before starting, when the ship is not overturned, for example, due to an accident, the electric motor is thus positioned substantially horizontally.

[0040] The mast and the underwater wing can be removed from the floating body. The mast and the underwater wing attached to or integrated into the mast, or alternatively the wing connected by other connecting means, can be easily disassembled and reattached from the floating body, which can save transportation space and enable the use of a floating body with an upper water drive unit to travel on the water as a traditional motor-driven floating body without the wing and the mast. Therefore, the surfer can use two variants, one is to ride on a motor-driven floating body without an underwater wing (the underwater wing is disassembled together with the mast), and the other is to fly on the floating body using the underwater wing attached to the mast.

[0041] The floating body can be a motor-driven surfboard. For example, its base is composed of a sealed laminated chassis to prevent water from entering the internal space, which houses the upper water drive unit and other components required for the operation of the water surfboard. The floating body is appropriately hydrodynamically shaped, such as to provide a comfortable riding experience in a straight direction and be effective when turning. The surfer controlling the water surfboard can lie, kneel, or stand on the upper area of the floating board. The surfboard turns by transferring the surfer's weight, and the forward force is adjusted by the surfer using a manual controller (e.g., through remote or wired transmission).

[0042] The solution of the present invention significantly reduces or eliminates the problems at the start and end of the travel of a motor-driven ship with an underwater wing that is known in the prior art to operate only with a lower water drive unit. Since the activation of the upper water drive unit in combination with the operating lower water drive unit does not cause a step change in resistance, but a smoother change in resistance occurs more smoothly. The upper water drive unit thus compensates for the roll moment and step resistance during startup, thereby eliminating most cases where surfers fall, especially in the case of beginners, and significantly improving the safety of travel. These are mainly side falls, during which the surfer is at risk of contacting the sharp edges of the support area. The engaging means (most commonly the propeller of the lower water drive unit) is completely covered to avoid contact with the rotating blades of the propeller.

[0043] A ship driven by an electric motor may include other important or implicitly include standard components for the overall operation of the ship, but these components do not contribute to the solution of a given problem, and their enumeration is not necessary for protecting the present invention, and those skilled in the art know that these components are automatically included in such a ship. For example, a component implicitly included in a ship driven by an electric motor is an accumulator, as an energy source for the electric motor and for powering communication devices and electronic equipment. The accumulator is placed in the floating body through a quick-release mechanism, so that it can be quickly and conveniently taken out and connected to a charger without disassembling other components of the floating body. During travel, the accumulator is cooled by the surrounding water, which flows around the battery through a special inlet channel by means of a properly shaped floating body.

[0044] The start and completion of travel are in a so-called transition mode, in which an upper water drive unit is used.

[0045] At start or slow speed, when the floating body is on the water surface and then moves on the water surface, similar to riding a standard water motor-driven skateboard without fins, both water drive units are in the operating mode, and both drive units provide optimal thrust to achieve stable travel. The upper water drive unit eliminates the large roll moment caused by the lower water drive unit. The start is comfortable and the same as starting in a kneeling position on a standard water motor board with the back foot in the binding device. For beginners, after the floating body has a certain speed, it may also be possible to start lying down and putting the feet into the fixing device.

[0046] When the speed of travel exceeds a certain limit, the buoyancy from the support area increases greatly so that the floating body will leave the water surface, and the ship will enter a flight mode in the support area. In this case, it is preferably detected by a wetting sensor that it floats above the water surface, and the control and communication system shuts down the upper water drive unit. Therefore, the ship is only driven by the lower water drive unit, which remains submerged below the water surface, while the floating body is in a flight mode above the water surface.

[0047] When decelerating from these higher speeds to below a certain limit, or in large waves, the wetting sensor gets wet, and when the upper water drive unit is activated and the upper water drive unit is partially or fully flooded with water, the ship enters a landing and water entry mode, that is, a transition travel mode.

[0048] Alternatively, the floating body can be a watercraft or a small boat that can accommodate multiple people. In the case of large ships that do not have such a roll moment and can generally accommodate multiple drive devices at the same height level, these problems of low stability and capsizing do not occur, so the present invention is not so important for them. Description of the Drawings

[0049] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention described with reference to the accompanying drawings further illustrate the subject matter of the present invention, in which:

[0050] Figure 1 A ship of the present invention is schematically shown, which has a floating body, a mast, and a lower water drive unit integrated into the body of the underwater wing.

[0051] Figure 2 The ship of the present invention is shown floating on the water surface 2A and in the flight mode 2B.

[0052] Figure 3 A front view of the ship of the present invention is shown.

[0053] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the functions and communication connections of the components of a control and communication system, which includes a control unit placed as part of an upper regulator in a fourth exemplary embodiment. Detailed Description

[0054] The present invention will be further illustrated using exemplary embodiments with reference to the corresponding drawings.

[0055] An example of an embodiment is Figure 1 The shown manned motor-driven surfboard, which has a mast branched at its upper part 2 , a floating body 1 attached to the upper end of the mast 2 , and the body of the underwater wing 3 attached to the lower part of the mast 10 60 cm below the floating body 2 . Among them, the lower water drive unit 1 is encapsulated together with a lower electric motor 4 connected by a shaft and a propeller (so-called waterjet), and the propeller of the lower water drive unit 14 is located in the extended cylindrical part of the body of the underwater wing 4 . The support area 3 extends from the body of the underwater wing 10 . In the floating body 9 , an upper water drive unit 3 is embedded together with its own upper electric motor 10 , shaft and propeller at the rear of the floating body (so it is also a waterjet), when the opening is at least partially below the water surface 1 . 5 15 7When horizontal, water enters the upper water drive unit through this opening. In addition, the surfboard has a user control device connected by wires, which is used, for example, to start, stop or control the speed of the vessel, and is connected via a control and communication system, including being connected to the lower water drive unit 4 and the upper water drive unit 5 of the control unit 13 , or is connected to a device (i.e., a switch) for activating and deactivating the electric motor 14 . 15 The lower electric motor 14 is functionally and communicatively connected to the control unit via a lower regulator 12 , and the upper electric motor 13 is functionally and communicatively connected to the control unit via an upper regulator 15 . 16 The upper electric motor 13 and the lower electric motor 14 are oriented such that their axes are substantially parallel to the axis of the floating body 15 . 1 The longitudinal axes of the lower electric motor 14 and the upper electric motor 15 are parallel to the longitudinal axis of the floating body 8 , i.e., in the normal standard position where the vessel is stationary before starting, when the vessel does not capsize, for example, due to an accident, the electric motors 14 . 15 Therefore, they are substantially horizontally positioned 2 . The exemplary embodiment also includes the following optional and preferred features: The mast 1 is detachably connected, i.e., here, for example, by screw connection, allowing it to be removed from or attached to the floating body 1 when needed or during transportation

[0056] The surfboard of the first exemplary embodiment is driven in such a way that

[0057] – In flight mode, when the floating body 1 remains above the water surface 7 , the vessel is driven only by the permanently submerged lower water drive unit 4 , and

[0058] – In the transitional driving mode, especially during the start, end or tilting of the vessel, when at least a part of the floating body 1 is in contact with the water surface 7 and at the same time the water at least partially submerges the upper water drive unit 5 , the vessel is driven by the two mentioned drive units 4 . 5Simultaneous drive. The method is also used in the following exemplary embodiments.

[0059] The personnel testing the device of this exemplary embodiment handle starting, stopping, and sharp turns satisfactorily and more easily compared to the same device driven only by the lower water drive unit 4 during transitional driving mode. During travel, they use the control unit to input a request to change the speed of the ship, where the control unit 13 further evaluates and controls the increase or decrease in the power of two electric motors 14 、 15 .

[0060] In an alternative to this exemplary embodiment, the body 4 of the underwater wing where the lower water drive unit is placed 3 is directly non-removably integrated into the mast 10 , or only the housing carrying the lower water drive unit 2 is integrated into the mast 4 , and the underwater wing 2 is connected to the bottom area of the floating body 3 via a separate telescopic bracket 2 .

[0061] In a second exemplary embodiment, the water surfboard differs from the first exemplary embodiment in that it further includes a wetting sensor 6 placed at the interface between the mast 2 and the floating body 1 , see Figure 2 and Figure 3 , and is functionally connected to the control unit 13 , so that when the wetting sensor 6 emerges from the water 7 , the upper electric motor 15 is deactivated or its speed is reduced, and conversely, when the wetting sensor 6 is submerged in water, the upper electric motor 15 is activated.

[0062] Alternatively, two or more wetting sensors 6 can be placed, for example, 5 cm or 20 cm below the lowest point of the floating body 2 on the mast 1 or on the bottom side of the floating body 1 , where when at least one of the wetting sensors is wetted by water, the upper water drive unit 5 is activated, and when all the existing wetting sensors 6 emerge from the water 7 , the upper water drive unit is deactivated.

[0063] Compared with the driving during the entire journey with the upper electric motor 15 running all the time, since the noise in the riding mode is lower when the upper electric motor 15 is turned off, the driving on this device is more pleasant. In addition, when the upper electric motor 15 is turned off, the driving distance increases and the overall energy consumption is lower due to the battery saving.

[0064] In the third exemplary embodiment, the control and communication system includes a control unit 16 placed as part of the upper regulator 13 , and a lower regulator 13 connected to the control unit 12 , wherein the control and communication system is also adapted to adjust the mutual power ratio of these electric motors 15 by setting the speed of each of the upper electric motor 14 and the lower electric motor 14 . 15 Using a wirelessly connected control device 17 , the surfer inputs a request to change the speed of the ship during driving, and the control and communication system further evaluates and controls the power independently increased or decreased on each of the electric motors 14 according to a predetermined algorithm 15 so as to achieve the optimal power ratio of the electric motors 14 , 15 thereby minimizing the roll moment of the ship and ensuring stable driving.

[0065] The advantage of this solution is that if the upper electric motor 15 emerges above the water surface 7 , the upper electric motor 15 will not increase the speed to the maximum value, but will maintain the same speed, that is, its "idle" rotation and only have the minimum energy consumption. When the upper electric motor 15 is submerged below the water surface 7 , the upper electric motor 15 tries to maintain the same rotational speed and thus immediately generates the required thrust. The lower regulator 14 functionally connected to the lower electric motor 12 is placed inside the body of the lower electric motor 14 . Alternatively, it can be placed near the lower electric motor 4 in the housing of the lower water drive unit 14 or anywhere in the lower middle / upper part of the mast 2 which is permanently submerged below the water surface 7 in the flight mode.

[0066] Upper regulator 16 Placed in the floating body 1 .

[0067] Those who tested the device of this exemplary embodiment noticed that this exemplary embodiment is an improvement over the first exemplary embodiment and can even handle startups, completions, and sharp turns more easily.

[0068] Upper regulator 16 Or even two regulators 12 、 16 Can both be placed in the floating body 1 Near the upper water drive unit 5 Of the upper electric motor 15 In this case, it is also desirable to introduce cooling water into the speed regulator 12 、 16 .

[0069] The fourth exemplary embodiment is a combination of the features of the second and third exemplary embodiments and enjoys all of their advantages as well as the steps of the ship propulsion method. See Figure 4 .

[0070] In all exemplary embodiments, the control and communication system is functionally connected to the user's control device by wired or wireless means 17 、the upper water drive unit 4 And the lower water drive unit 5 , or connected to the corresponding electric motor 14 、 15 As a device to activate / deactivate them, connected to the lower regulator 12 And the upper regulator 16 . Additionally, it is functionally connected to:

[0071] - The wetting sensor in the second exemplary embodiment 6 , or

[0072] - The lower speed regulator in the third exemplary embodiment 12 And the upper speed regulator 16 , or

[0073] - All of these mentioned components, such as based on the fourth exemplary embodiment. See Figure 4 .

[0074] Then, the control and communication system uses a program implemented in a data carrier connected to or integrated into the control and communication system to control the activation and deactivation of the upper water drive unit 5 、the electric motor 14 、15 Power regulation and possibly also controlling an electric motor 14 、 15 The mutual power ratio of, where an algorithm for determining the priority or task order is predefined. For example, in the fourth exemplary embodiment: The control and communication system receives a signal from a wetness sensor 6 and also receives a signal from a remotely controlled device with a wireless connection controlled by the surfer 17 The signal from the remotely controlled device 17 is evaluated and the power is accordingly allocated to the lower electric motor and the upper electric motor 15 . If the wetness sensor 6 emerges from the water, the sensor 6 sends a higher priority signal to the control and communication system, and the control unit 13 slows down or shuts off the upper electric motor 15 . During this control phase, the lower electric motor 13 can be set by the control unit 14 to deliver the same power regardless of whether the upper electric motor 15 is off or on.

[0075] The fourth exemplary embodiment utilizes all the advantages of the present invention and thus achieves the best results because the surfer can more easily start and enter the vessel, maintain stability during travel by shifting the balance, and the difficulty of making turns is also greatly reduced. All they have in their hands is the remotely controlled device 17 for increasing or decreasing the speed, starting or stopping the vessel.

[0076] Lower regulator 12 and upper regulator 16 The optimal power ratio is achieved during initial testing by experimentally setting the ratio to different values during different operations, and then, based on the results, setting the ratio to the optimal value at which the best results for improved stability in the transitional travel mode are recorded. These tests were preceded by estimations using simplified simulation calculations. To approximately calculate the roll moment under ideal conditions, during startup, it is assumed that the surfer is lying on the floating body 1 at approximately the middle position, and the center of gravity of the surfer and vessel combination is approximately at the middle position of the floating body 1 both in the horizontal and vertical directions. When only the lower electric motor 14 is used, the approximate value (in Newton meters) of the roll moment M at various speeds can be calculated according to the following formula:

[0077]

[0078] where

[0079] -r is the distance between the center of gravity of the lower electric motor 14 and the center of gravity of the surfer-vehicle combination, in meters,

[0080] -F is the lateral force (unit: Newton),

[0081] -P is the power (unit: Watt),

[0082] -v is the speed (unit: m / s).

[0083] The biggest problem in terms of stability occurs during the start from 0 km / h to 10 km / h. The minimum total power required for starting is approximately 4 kW. For example, when the distance between the center of gravity of the lower electric motor 14 and the center of gravity of the surfer-vehicle combination is r = 0.572 m and the specific speed is 2.78 m / s, the approximate value of the rolling moment is 847.4 Nm. This is only an approximate and simplified calculation.

[0084]

[0085] For each speed, the dependency can be plotted in a graph, and the magnitude of the rolling moment can be estimated - where this simulation assumes the use of only the lower electric motor 14 .

[0086] When using the ship of the present invention and the power is evenly distributed between the upper electric motor 15 and the lower electric motor 14 , with the same total power, the rolling moment is reduced to approximately half of that when the ship is driven only by the lower electric motor 14 , because the force exerted by the upper electric motor 15 is approximately in the plane of the center of gravity of the surfer-vehicle combination. The improved surfer tested experienced a significant improvement in comfort during start-up, a reduction in stability problems, and a significant increase in the frequency of successful start-up without falling. The surfer can even start faster on such a ship with evenly distributed power using, for example, 5 kW of power (i.e., 20% higher than the minimum required power), which is also beneficial for the ship of the present invention to have higher stability during start-up.

[0087] During the further increase in speed above 10 km / h, the rolling moment decreases significantly, and the surfer can stand up, for example, to a kneeling or standing position.

[0088] This fourth exemplary embodiment is also implemented on a small motorboat with underwater wings 3 for two people instead of on a surfboard, where it also significantly reduces the number of times the hull capsizes during handling in the transition driving mode.

[0089] List of reference signs

[0090] 1 – Floating body

[0091] 2 – Mast

[0092] 3 – Underwater wing

[0093] 4 – Lower water drive unit

[0094] 5 – Upper water drive unit

[0095] 6 – Wetness sensor

[0096] 7 – Water surface

[0097] 8 – Longitudinal axis of the floating body

[0098] 9 – Support area

[0099] 10 – Main body of the underwater wing

[0100] 12 – Lower regulator

[0101] 13 – Control unit

[0102] 14 – Lower electric motor

[0103] 15 – Upper electric motor

[0104] 16 – Upper regulator

[0105] 17 – Control device

Claims

1. A ship propulsion method, the ship comprising: Upper water drive unit (5), said upper water drive unit having an upper electric motor (15) placed in a floating body (1); a mast (2), said mast being connected to said floating body (1) by its upper end; wherein said mast (2) has a lower water drive unit (4), said lower water drive unit having a lower electric motor (14) connected to or integrated in the lower part of said mast, and further, wherein said floating body (1) is connected to an underwater wing (3) via said mast (2), wherein the two drive units (4, 5) are functionally and communicatively connected to a control and communication system, said control and communication system being further connected to a control device (17), wherein - in flight mode, when said floating body (1) remains above the water surface (7), the ship is driven only by the permanently submerged lower water drive unit (4), and - in transitional travel mode, especially during start-up, end or tilting of the ship, for example during a sharp turn, when at least a part of said floating body (1) is in contact with said water surface (7) and at the same time the water at least partially submerges said upper water drive unit (5), the ship is driven simultaneously by the two drive units (4, 5).

2. The ship propulsion method according to claim 1, wherein the ship includes at least one wetting sensor (6), said at least one wetting sensor being placed on the ship such that it is not wetted in said flight mode, but at least one of said wetting sensors (6) is wetted in said transitional travel mode, wherein these wetting sensors (6) are functionally connected to said control and communication system, and when all of these wetting sensors (6) emerge from the water surface (7), said control and communication system deactivates the upper electric motor (15) of said upper water drive unit (5), and conversely, when at least one wetting sensor (6) is submerged by water, said control and communication system activates said upper water drive unit (5).

3. The ship propulsion method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in said transitional travel mode, said control and communication system adjusts the mutual power ratio of the electric motors (14, 15) of the two mentioned drive units (4, 5) via a lower regulator (12) connected to said lower electric motor (14) or via an upper regulator (16) connected to said upper electric motor (15) or via the two mentioned regulators (12, 16).

4. A program capable of being implemented in a data carrier for a control and communication system for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A data carrier or a control unit (13) capable of being implemented in a control and communication system and carrying the program according to claim 4.

6. A manned motor-driven ship for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the ship comprising: A mast (2); a floating body (1), said floating body being attached to the upper end of said mast (2); An underwater wing (3), the underwater wing being integrated in or connected to the lower part of the mast (2); a lower water drive unit (4), the lower water drive unit being integrated in the mast (2) and also in or attached to the lower part of the mast (2), the lower electric motor (14) thereof being functionally connected to the control and communication system via a lower regulator (12), a control device (17) and a device for activating and deactivating the lower water drive unit (4) being functionally connected to the control and communication system, characterized in that it further comprises an upper water drive unit (5), the upper electric motor (15) of which is placed in the floating body (1) and is functionally connected to the control and communication system via an upper regulator (16), the control and communication system being functionally connected to a device for activating and deactivating the upper water drive unit (5).

7. The manned motor-driven ship according to claim 6, characterized in that, It further comprises at least one wetness sensor (6), the at least one wetness sensor being placed on the ship such that it is not wetted in the flight mode, but at least one of the wetness sensors (6) is wetted in the transition driving mode, wherein these wetness sensors (6) are functionally connected to the control and communication system, the control and communication system being adapted to deactivate the upper electric motor (15) when all the wetness sensors (6) are above the water surface (7), and conversely, to activate the upper electric motor (15) when at least one of the wetness sensors (6) is submerged in water.

8. The manned motor-driven ship according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that, The control and communication system is adapted to adjust the mutual power ratio of the electric motors (14, 15) by setting the speed of each of the lower electric motor (14) and the upper electric motor (15) by means of the lower regulator (12) and the upper regulator (16).

9. The manned motor-driven ship according to claim 8, characterized in that, The control and communication system comprises a control unit (13), wherein the underwater wing (3) comprises a support area (9) connected by the body (10) of the underwater wing (3), wherein the lower water drive unit (4) having the lower electric motor (14) and the lower controller (12) are placed in this body (10), wherein the control unit (13) is placed as part of the upper regulator (16), which is functionally and communicatively connected to the upper regulator, and is further functionally and communicatively connected to the lower regulator (12), at least one wetness sensor (6) and the control device (17), wherein the upper regulator (16) is placed in the floating body (1).

10. The manned motor-driven ship according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that, The floating body (1) is a surfboard.

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