Hydrofoil-type appendage device for a boat and watercraft comprising such a device

Abstract

Hydrofoil-type appendage device for a boat and watercraft comprising such a device. The invention relates to a hydrofoil-type appendage device essentially comprising a mast (2) to which is connected directly or via a fuselage (17), at least one front wing (8), or possibly even a stabilizing wing (13). Advantageously, at least the mast (2) and / or the front wing (8) and / or the stabilizing wing (13) comprises a protective coating layer (20) made of flexible and elastic material. The invention also relates to a watercraft comprising such an appendage device. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2

Description

Title of the invention: Hydrofoil type appendage device for a boat and nautical boat comprising such a device

[0001] The present invention relates to a hydrofoil type appendage device applicable to different boats which, in this case, can take a shape similar to a board for the practice of different water sports.

[0002] This invention falls within the field of boats equipped with a hydrofoil for practicing water sports, such as Wingfoil, Surfoil, Supfoil, Windfoil, Kitefoil, Wakefoil, towed foil, or even motorized foil boats.

[0003] A hydrofoil type appendage device, also called a foil in the remainder of the description, usually consists of a mast equipped with fixing means at its upper end, allowing it to be secured under a boat. At its lower end, this mast carries, possibly through a fuselage, at least one front wing, or even a stabilizing wing. If necessary, a propulsion motor, most often of the electric type, can be attached to the mast.

[0004] For better penetration into the water, the leading and trailing edges of this mast, the front wing and any stabilizing wing are tapered to the point of being sharp. They are the cause of frequent injuries to users of these hydrofoil boats, particularly when they are in the learning phase. However, even with a lot of practice, the risk of injury persists, not only for users, but also for people near the places where these different water sports are practiced.

[0005] Most frequently, the parts of a foil: mast, front wing, depending on the case, also the stabilizer wing and the fuselage, are designed independently of each other or in the form of sub-assemblies: mast, on the one hand; front wing, stabilizer wing and fuselage on the other hand. This makes manufacturing easier, as is dismantling to make transporting this foil less cumbersome.

[0006] Several technologies are likely to be implemented for the design of these different parts or subsets of parts making up a foil.

[0007] One of these is to cut a shape out of a material such as wood or hard foam and then laminate this shape with fiberglass, carbon or other material and resin, such as polyester or epoxy.

[0008] The solution of molding starting from matrices previously designed according to the desired profile for each of the parts of the foil is also known. In particular, it is possible to laminate the matrices of the mold before closing the latter, possibly actually by completing the core with a mixture of resin and glass mat or an expanded material, such as polyurethane foam.

[0009] As non-limiting examples, all or part of these parts can be designed in: - thermosetting composites (high density foam, fiberglass, carbon, aramid, basalt, hemp or other reinforcements + a thermosetting resin, Polyester, vinylester or Epoxy) by wet lay-up with molding, vacuum molding, lamination of pre-impregnated fiber fabrics, resin transfer molding (RTM Resin Transfer Molding), or even by other processes. - Or in thermoplastic composites and other thermoplastics (Injection, 3D printing, etc.)

[0010] These foils are also very frequently made of metal, in this case aluminum or titanium and more rarely wood.

[0011] Also known from document WO 2022 / 238769 is an underwater wing, of the foil wing type, for a water sports machine, comprising a profiled outer body forming the profile of the wing and made of an elastomer-type material overmolded onto a core defined as being a support structure made of composite material or metal and comprising means for receiving and fixing a mast.

[0012] It is obvious that this type of design leads to making this foil wing considerably heavier, taking into account the density of the material forming the body of the wing to achieve the recommended hardness. In reality, the goal to be achieved through this technical solution described in this prior document consists not only of limiting the risks of injury, but also of designing a wing which is able to withstand impacts in the event of inappropriate use. Moreover, as described in this document, it is a question of designing a foil wing intended for rental equipment.

[0013] In any case, this state of the art corresponding to this document WO2022 / 238769 does not provide a solution to the problem of the risks of injury arising from foil designs according to the technologies described above.

[0014] On this subject, it will be observed that it is also known to provide at the leading and trailing edges of a mast or a wing means for receiving a profile made of flexible and elastic material which substantially forms the tapered profile of this leading edge. This profile made of flexible and elastic material is most often attached by gluing and / or clipping onto the mast or a wing. Regardless of the care taken, the junction zones between the profile and the body of the mast or wing are the cause of disturbances in the flow of water on either side of this mast or on the intrados and extrados of the wing, disturbances which considerably impair the performance of the foil.

[0015] It is within the framework of an inventive approach that a solution was imagined intended to address these drawbacks of the state of the art to make the use of any type of foil safer, regardless of its design method.

[0016] To this end, the invention relates to a hydrofoil type appendage device essentially comprising a mast to which is connected directly or via a fuselage, at least one front wing, or even a stabilizing wing, advantageously at least the mast and / or the front wing and / or the stabilizing wing comprises a protective coating layer made of flexible and elastic material.

[0017] According to another feature of the invention, this coating layer is of greater thickness at the level of the leading edges and / or the trailing edges of this mast and / or of the front wing and / or of the stabilizing wing compared to the remainder of the peripheral profile of this mast and / or of this front wing and / or of this stabilizing wing.

[0018] Advantageously, the front wing, the mast and, depending on the case, the stabilizing wing comprise at least one junction zone designed to cooperate by fixing between them and / or with a fuselage, the coating layer being interrupted at the periphery of the front wing, the stabilizing wing and the mast at the level of such a junction zone.

[0019] Other features of the present invention will appear during the description which follows relating to an exemplary embodiment given for informational and non-limiting purposes.

[0020] Understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached figures in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] represents in perspective a hydrofoil type appendage device without coating layer;

[0022] [Fig.2] shows in perspective a hydrofoil type appendage device with coating layer according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.3] is a schematic representation, in perspective and essentially of above the front wing of the appendage device of [Fig.2];

[0024] [Fig.4] is a schematic representation, in perspective and in section of this wing front of the appendix device of [Fig.3];

[0025] [Fig.5] is a schematic representation, in perspective and in section of the mast of the appendix device of [Fig.2];

[0026] [Fig.6] is a schematic representation in perspective and in section of the stabilizing wing reader of the appendix device of [Fig.2]

[0027] With reference to these drawings, the invention relates to an appendage device 1 of the hydrofoil type, also called foil in the present description.

[0028] This appendage device 1 essentially comprises a mast 2, advantageously of hydrodynamic section 3, comprising a tapered leading edge 4 and trailing edge 5. This mast 2 comprises, at its upper end 6, means 7 for securing to a boat.

[0029] The appendage device 1 also comprises at least one front wing 8 of hydrodynamic section 9, with a tapered leading edge 10 and trailing edge, this wing 8 usually being attached to the lower end 12 of the mast 2.

[0030] The appendage device 1, depending on its configuration, may also include a stabilizing wing 13 of hydrodynamic section 14. This is attached to the mast 2 so as to be positioned at the rear of the front wing 8. Here again this stabilizing wing 13 includes a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11 which are tapered.

[0031] Very frequently, the front wing 8 and the stabilizing wing 13 are made integral, respectively, with the front end 15 and the rear end 16 of a fuselage 17 through which they are fixed under or along the mast 2, it being understood that the present invention is in no way limited to such a configuration.

[0032] Preferably, the front wing 8 and, where appropriate, the stabilizing wing 13 are made retractably integral with the mast 2, individually or jointly through the fuselage 17. The latter comprises, for this purpose, at least one junction zone 18 to which corresponds a suitable junction zone 19 of a wing, as the case may be, front 8 or stabilizing 13 as in the embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

[0033] Similarly, in this particular embodiment corresponding to figures 1 and 2, the fuselage 17 comprises a junction zone 18A to which corresponds a suitable junction zone 19 of the front wing 8 and / or of the stabilizing wing 13, in particular if one and / or the other of them is designed independently of the fuselage 17.

[0034] Each of these components 2, 8, 12, 17 can come from a design according to any of the techniques already set out above.

[0035] According to the invention, at least the mast 2 and / or the front wing 8 and / or a possible stabilizing wing 13 comprises a protective coating layer 20 made of flexible and elastic material.

[0036] Advantageously, this coating layer 20 is interrupted at the periphery, depending on the case, of the front wing 8, the stabilizing wing 13 and the mast 2 at the level of the junction zone(s) 18; 19 that this front wing 8, the stabilizing wing 13 and the mast 2 comprise.

[0037] The appendage device whose front wing 8 and / or mast 2 and / or stabilizer wing 13 comprises at least one junction zone 18; 19 designed to cooperate by fixing between them and / or with a fuselage 17, is characterized in that the coating layer 20 is interrupted at the periphery of the front wing 8 and of the mast 2, or even of the stabilizer wing 13, at the level of said junction zones.

[0038] This coating layer 20 is of reduced thickness e, of the order of a few millimeters, on each of the faces, as the case may be, of the front wing 8, of the stabilizing wing 13 and of the mast 2. This thickness e of the coating layer 20 is greater at the level of the leading edges 10 and trailing edges 11 of the front wing 8 and / or of the stabilizing wing and / or of the leading edges 4 and trailing edges 5 of the mast 4.

[0039] Furthermore, this coating layer 20 is made of an elastomer material of the polyurethane, silicone, rubber, nitrile, fluorinated elastomer or thermoplastic elastomer type. The particularity of these materials consists of a high capacity to undergo significant deformations under the effect of pressure or traction, then to regain their initial shape in the absence of constraints, not to mention excellent absorption of shocks and vibrations.

[0040] In addition, this material will be chosen with a hardness consistent with the objectives sought, namely good shock absorption to make the profiled parts, in this case the leading and trailing edges, non-cutting.

[0041] The application of this coating layer 20 on one and / or the other of the parts 2, 8, 23 of the appendage device 1 can be carried out in different ways, in particular by molding, by overmolding, using vacuum casting techniques, by reaction injection molding, by plastic injection, by machining, etc.

[0042] Preferably, whatever the solution adopted, this application of the coating layer 20 is carried out on one and / or the other of these different parts 2, 8, 23, independently of each other.

[0043] According to another feature of the invention, the external surface 21, opposite the application surface 22 of this coating layer 20, may be smooth or marked in whole or in part with imprints 24 with a hydrodynamic effect, of the alveoli and / or grooves and / or other reliefs type.

[0044] According to yet another feature of the present invention, this coating layer 20 can be designed to be retractable.

[0045] According to a first embodiment, the coating layer 20 is defined by an envelope fitted, as the case may be, to the front wing 8, to the stabilizing wing 13 or to the mast 2 and comprising at least one reversibly closable opening through which this front wing 8 or the stabilizing wing 13 or even the mast 2 can be threaded into said envelope.

[0046] According to a second embodiment, the coating layer 20 defines a second skin around the front wing 8 and / or the stabilizing wing 13 and / or the mast 2, the application surface 22 of which cooperates with the external surface 23 of this front wing 8 and / or the stabilizing wing 13 and / or the mast 2 with a determined adhesion coefficient so that it can be easily detached, preferably without tools, from this external surface 23.

[0047] Thus, the material composing this coating layer 20 can be chosen according to its compatibility or incompatibility with the support material, namely the material composing the external surface 23 of the front wing 8 and / or the stabilizing wing 13 and / or the mast 2.

[0048] According to another embodiment, on the external surface 23 of the front wing 8 and / or of the stabilizing wing 13 and / or the mast 2 is applied a surface treatment of mechanical type and / or by application of a film of a material chosen, for example, because of its low surface tension, to achieve the desired goal, namely low adhesion of the coating layer 20, so as to be able to easily remove it if necessary.

[0049] As a mechanical surface treatment, this external surface 23 of the front wing 8 and / or of the stabilizing wing 13 and / or of the mast 2 can undergo a polishing operation, for example.

[0050] Depending on the type of coating material chosen, a silicone film may be applied to limit the adhesion of the coating layer 20 to the external surface 23 of the front wing 8 and / or the stabilizing wing 13 and / or the mast 2.

[0051] The advantages arising from the present invention consist in that any hydrofoil-type appendage device is capable of being made less accident-prone. By protecting the parts of such a hydrofoil with sharp edges with a layer of flexible and elastic material, the risks of injury to users, but also to third parties, are considerably reduced. Furthermore, such a coating layer can contribute, under certain conditions, to improving the hydrodynamic performance of the appendage device compared to prior art solutions.

Claims

Claims

1. Hydrofoil type appendage device comprising a mast (2) to which is connected directly or via a fuselage (17), at least one front wing (8), said mast and said front wing (8) comprising a leading edge (4; 10) and a trailing edge (5; 11) characterized in that at least the mast (2) and / or the front wing (8) comprises a protective coating layer (20) made of flexible and elastic material.

2. Hydrofoil type appendage device, according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a stabilizing wing (13) connected directly or via a fuselage (17) to the mast (2) and comprising a leading edge (10) and a trailing edge (11), this stabilizing wing comprising a protective coating layer (20) made of flexible and elastic material.

3. Hydrofoil type appendage device, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coating layer (20) is of greater thickness (e) at the leading edges (4; 10) and / or the trailing edges (5; 11) than the thickness (e) of this coating layer (20) on the remainder of the peripheral profile of this mast (2) and / or this front wing (8) and / or this stabilizing wing (13).

4. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to claim 1 or claim 2, the front wing (8) and / or the mast (2) and / or the stabilizer wing (13) of which comprises at least one junction zone (18; 19) designed to cooperate by fixing between them and / or with a fuselage (17), characterized in that the coating layer (20) is interrupted at the periphery of the front wing (8) and the mast (2), or even of the stabilizer wing (13), at the level of said junction zones.

5. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the coating layer (20) comprises an external surface (21), opposite an application surface (22) on the front wing (8) or on the stabilizing wing (13) or on the mast (2), this external surface (21) being smooth.

6. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the coating layer (20) comprises an external surface (21), opposite an application surface (22) on the front wing (8) or on the stabilizing wing (13) or on the mast (2), this external surface (21) being marked in whole or in part with hydrodynamic effect impressions (24), of the cell and / or groove type and / or other reliefs.

7. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that the coating layer (20) is designed to be retractable.

8. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to claim 7, characterized in that the coating layer (20) is defined by an envelope fitted, as the case may be, to the front wing (8), to the stabilizing wing (13) or to the mast (2) and comprising at least one reversibly closable opening through which this front wing (8) or the stabilizing wing (13) or even the mast (2) can be threaded.

9. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to claim 7, characterized in that the coating layer (20) defines a second skin around the front wing (8) and / or the stabilizing wing (13) and / or the mast (2) whose application surface (22) cooperates with the external surface (23) of this front wing 8 and / or the stabilizing wing (13) and / or the mast (2) with a coefficient of adhesion determined to be able to detach it without tools, from this external surface (23).

10. Hydrofoil type appendage device according to claim 9, characterized in that on the external surface (23) of the front wing (8) and / or of the stabilizing wing (13) and / or of the mast (2) is applied a surface treatment of mechanical type or by application of a film.

11. A watercraft comprising an appendage device according to any one of the preceding claims.

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