Resiliently Flexible Fin with Titanium Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surfboards experience lost speed during turns due to the drag and turbulence caused by traditional fin designs, limiting maneuverability and speed, especially in high-speed and aerial maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A resiliently flexible fin with a titanium or titanium alloy core and a lateral cut at the trailing edge, allowing the fin to flex during turns and return to its original position with force, generating additional thrust and maintaining speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional rigid fin designs are used, then structural strength is maintained, but drag and turbulence increase causing loss of speed during turns
Solution Approach 1:
The fin is designed with a resiliently flexible core that allows dynamic movement during turns. The core can flex under water pressure during sharp turns and then spring back to its original position, creating a dynamic response that reduces drag and turbulence while maintaining structural integrity. This dynamic flexibility resolves the contradiction between rigid strength and speed maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of fin flexibility by using a resiliently flexible core material. This allows the fin to adapt its rigidity based on operating conditions - remaining rigid during normal operation for strength, but flexing during turns to reduce drag and turbulence, thereby maintaining board speed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If larger surface area fins are used, then stability and control are improved, but drag increases slowing the board down
Solution Approach 1:
The resiliently flexible core allows the fin to dynamically adjust its position and shape during operation. During turns, the fin can flex to reduce drag while maintaining sufficient surface area for stability. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between having large surface area for stability and minimizing drag for speed.
3Ease of operation
If flexible fin tips are used, then turn smoothness is improved, but fin base stability decreases causing turbulence and loss of control
Solution Approach 1:
The fin is segmented into different functional zones: a resiliently flexible core that allows tip movement for smooth turns, and a stable base portion that maintains position and control. This segmentation allows different parts of the fin to have different flexibility characteristics, resolving the contradiction between turn smoothness and base stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the fin have different mechanical properties - the core is resiliently flexible to allow smooth turns, while the base maintains stability for control. This local differentiation of material properties resolves the contradiction between flexibility for smooth operation and rigidity for stability.
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 flexible fin design enhances speed and maneuverability by reducing drag and turbulence, allowing surfers to maintain speed through turns and perform aerial maneuvers with increased ease and control.
Implementation Method 1
a core comprising metal or metal alloy... that enables a portion of the rear of the fin to resiliently flex against the force of water as the surfboard is turned, which generates forward thrust for the surfboard as the surfboard exits the turn and the fin returns to its unflexed state
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a resiliently flexible fin for a surfboard or another surface watercraft, the resiliently flexible fin comprising a titanium or titanium alloy core and an opening in the trailing edge that enables a portion of the rear of the fin to resiliently flex against the force of water as the surfboard is turned, which can generate additional forward thrust for the surfboard as the surfboard exits the turn and the fin returns to its unflexed state displacing water in its path with force.