Hybrid Fin System for Water Board Planing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hydrofoil designs for board sports often result in unstable riding due to tip-induced crashes, stall, and interference from water debris, requiring excessive force and skill to maintain lift, and lack versatility in fin adjustments.
Innovation Solution
The Hybrid Fin System combines hydrofoil and surfboard fin technologies, featuring adjustable hybrid fins with curved surfaces transitioning to hydrofoil shapes, allowing for easier planing and reduced force requirements, while accommodating different angles and conditions through a tool-less fin swapping system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If long struts are used to hold hydrofoil devices perpendicular to the board, then lift capability is improved, but device complexity and vulnerability to water debris increase
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrofoil system is divided into separate components: a foil unit that can be detached and replaced independently from the board. This segmentation allows the foil to be optimized for lift performance while simplifying the overall device structure and reducing vulnerability to debris entanglement.
Solution Approach 2:
The fin angle is made adjustable and dynamic rather than fixed, allowing riders to optimize the foil angle for different conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability improves lift efficiency without requiring complex permanent structures.
2Device complexity
If fixed fin angles are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different riding conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fin angle is made adjustable and dynamic rather than fixed, allowing riders to optimize the foil angle for different conditions. This dynamic adjustment capability improves lift efficiency without requiring complex permanent structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows changing the angular parameter of the fin relative to the board, enabling adaptation to various riding conditions and speeds while keeping the overall device design relatively simple.
3Speed
If hydrofoil devices are positioned to lift the board completely out of the water, then planing speed is improved, but stability deteriorates due to tip-induced crashes and stall
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring complete lift-out of the water, the system provides partial lift through the hybrid fin configuration. This partial action approach maintains stability while still achieving improved planing speed and reduced drag.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydrofoil characteristics are applied locally at the fin section rather than requiring complete board elevation. This localized application of lift technology maintains overall board stability while providing speed benefits in specific zones.
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 ride stability and speed by reducing the force needed to achieve planing, minimizes impact from water debris, and allows for adaptable performance across various conditions through adjustable fin angles and easy fin swapping.
Implementation Method 1
The hybrid fins are fins that have continuous surfaces that start from the board or board attachment and go down relatively perpendicular to the board's bottom planing surface... extend out at that angle for a section with a hydrofoil shape to give the board the lift it needs to get on a plane and then actually Hydrofoil and lift the board above the water surface
Implementation Method 2
The Hybrid-fin then curve as if being bent toward the side or middle of the board. This curve in some embodiments is up to 105 degrees or more... The Hybrid-fin will be built of a rigid and strong material so that it will be able to take the forces needed to hydrofoil
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is used in water board sports but maybe of benefit to other water vessels; the present invention assists in the planing of water sport boards; the present invention was initially designed for windsurfing it can be used in surfing, kite-boarding and with other water crafts; the present invention uses one or more hybrid-fins, referred to as Squid-Fins™, along with a new base and fin-box that allows for more adjustments and easier swapping of fins; this system helps the board get up on a plane earlier and stay on that plane longer along with making it possible to add new characteristics to the performance of the board.