Fin Stabilizer with Passive Tail Fin Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fin stabilizers for watercraft face challenges in achieving high stabilizing effect with reduced technical effort, as they require active control devices and have high weight, power consumption, and space requirements due to conflicting requirements between driving and 'anchor' modes.
Innovation Solution
A fin stabilizer with a passive, automatically adjusting tail fin design, using an elastic deformation body with a defined spring constant, which extends the effective area during 'pre-anchor' operation and reduces it during driving, eliminating the need for active control devices and reducing complexity and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the stabilizer fin is designed with a large span and short chord length for cruising operation, then the lift force efficiency is improved, but the stabilization effect in pre-anchor mode deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the fin stabilizer adaptable through a movable tail fin that can change its position relative to the main fin. The tail fin is pivotably mounted and can be automatically adjusted between a retracted position (for cruising mode with high lift efficiency) and an extended position (for pre-anchor mode with enhanced stabilization effect), allowing the stabilizer to optimize its performance characteristics based on operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the effective surface area of the stabilizer fin through the automatic adjustment mechanism. The tail fin's position changes the overall chord length and surface area of the stabilizer fin, thereby changing the hydrodynamic parameters to suit different operating modes - smaller effective area for cruising, larger effective area for pre-anchor stabilization.
2Reliability
If the stabilizer fin is designed with a long chord length and pivot axis near the nose for pre-anchor stabilization, then the stabilization effect is improved, but the drive torque requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing an automatic adjustment mechanism that changes the fin geometry based on operating mode. In pre-anchor mode, the tail fin extends to increase stabilization effect, and the mechanism automatically positions the pivot axis optimally, reducing the drive torque that would otherwise be required to operate a fixed-geometry fin with long chord length.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the stabilizer fin dynamically. The tail fin's automatic adjustment modifies the effective chord length and pivot axis position, allowing the system to achieve high stabilization effect when needed while minimizing the drive torque requirement by optimizing the fin geometry for the current operating conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If active control devices are used to adjust the tail fin position, then the adaptability between cruising and pre-anchor modes is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by designing an automatic adjustment mechanism that uses the natural forces present in the water (water pressure, flow dynamics) to position the tail fin appropriately for the current operating mode. The mechanism self-regulates based on the hydrodynamic conditions without requiring external active control systems, sensors, or power input, thereby achieving high mode adaptability while keeping the device complexity low.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex active mechanical control systems with a passive automatic adjustment mechanism. Instead of using motors, sensors, and control electronics to adjust the tail fin position, the invention uses a mechanically simple pivotable mounting with automatic positioning based on hydrodynamic forces, substituting complex active control with a simpler passive system that achieves the same adaptability.
4Reliability
If a locking device with mechanical or hydraulic components is used to control the tail fin, then the stabilization effect is improved, but the manufacturing cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for complex locking devices with mechanical or hydraulic components by implementing a self-service automatic adjustment mechanism. The tail fin is pivotably mounted and automatically positions itself based on hydrodynamic forces during operation, requiring no active locking mechanisms, sensors, or control systems. This significantly reduces manufacturing cost and maintenance requirements while maintaining high stabilization effect through passive automatic adaptation to operating conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The fin stabilizer provides high roll stabilization in both driving and 'anchor' modes with reduced technical effort, minimizing drive torque and maintaining a lightweight, low-complexity design.
Implementation Method 1
a device (6) for automatically adjusting a tail fin angle between the tail fin (4) and the main fin (2) as a function of a water pressure acting on an effective surface of the tail fin (4), wherein the device (6) has an elastic deformation body (10) with a defined spring constant
Implementation Method 2
the device (6) has an elastic deformation body (10) with a defined spring constant
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed is a fin stabilizer for stabilizing a watercraft, comprising a main fin which is pivotable by a fin drive on the watercraft, and a tail fin which is movably mounted on the main fin, comprising a device for automatically adjusting a tail fin angle between the tail fin and the main fin as a function of a water pressure acting on an effective surface of the tail fin, and a watercraft which is stabilized by at least one such fin stabilizer.