Human-Powered Hydrofoil Vehicle With Launch-Phase Pitch Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrofoil vehicles, particularly hydrofoil bikes, are difficult to launch and operate due to instability and control issues when submerged, especially for inexperienced users, and lack inherent buoyancy, making them challenging to orientate correctly for foiling.
Innovation Solution
A hydrofoil vehicle with a moveable control surface and locking mechanism that restricts movement when submerged, featuring a buoyant element to automatically or manually lock the control surface in place, and a self-adjusting pitch control mechanism to stabilize the vehicle during launch and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the hydrofoil vehicle is designed without a genuine hull to reduce weight and increase speed, then the vehicle becomes marginally buoyant and easier to accelerate, but the vehicle becomes difficult to launch and orientate correctly when submerged
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is activated before the vehicle is launched to pre-position the control surface at the correct angle. This preliminary action ensures that when the vehicle becomes submerged during launch, the control surface is already in the optimal position for foiling, eliminating the need for difficult in-water adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanism acts as an intermediary device between the control surface and the vehicle frame. It temporarily constrains the control surface at a predetermined angle during launch, serving as a mediator that bridges the gap between the marginal buoyancy design and the need for stable orientation during water entry.
2Ease of operation
If the control surface is made moveable to enable pitch control during foiling, then the vehicle can be controlled effectively at speed, but the control surface cannot be reliably positioned or held at the correct angle when the vehicle is submerged
Solution Approach 1:
The control surface design incorporates dynamic characteristics by being moveable during foiling operation to allow pitch control adjustments. The locking mechanism complements this by providing temporary static positioning during launch, creating a system that transitions from static (locked) to dynamic (moveable) state based on operational phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the positional parameter of the control surface from a fixed predetermined angle during launch to a variable adjustable angle during foiling. The locking mechanism ensures the parameter is set correctly before the transition to the foiling phase where the parameter can be dynamically adjusted.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control surface angle is adjusted manually by user body weight movement to compensate for incorrect front foil orientation, then pitch control is possible, but the launching process becomes significantly more difficult particularly for inexperienced users
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism provides self-service by automatically maintaining the control surface at the correct angle during launch without requiring user intervention through body weight adjustments. The mechanism serves itself by using the vehicle's motion and buoyancy forces to engage and hold the locking position, freeing the user from complex manual control tasks during the critical launch phase.
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
Enhances the ease of launching and operation by maintaining the control surface in the correct position, providing stability and reducing the difficulty for users, especially novices, by ensuring proper orientation and control.
Implementation Method 1
the locking mechanism comprises a buoyant element, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to restrict movement of the control surface when the buoyant element is immersed in water
Implementation Method 2
Hydrofoil vehicles are those which are provided with hydrodynamic foils (which, for ease of reference, will now be referred to as 'foils') in a manner similar to aerofoils, such as those found on fixed-wing aircraft.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrofoil vehicle comprises a frame and at least one foil. The vehicle comprises a moveable control surface configured to control a pitch of the vehicle, in use. A locking mechanism is provided for restricting movement of the control surface when the vehicle is not foiling, for example during launching. In examples, the locking mechanism activates automatically when the hydrofoil vehicle is not foiling. In examples, the vehicle is human powered.