Hydrofoil Adapter Isolates Mast Fuselage Forces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydrofoils face challenges in reliably transmitting dynamic forces and torques between components, leading to stress on screws and potential corrosion issues, especially when used in saltwater environments, due to the design of the connection area between the mast and fuselage.
Innovation Solution
A hydrofoil design featuring a separate adapter component that forms a positive-locking connection between the mast and fuselage, minimizing peak loads by distributing force transmission over a large area, and using plastic materials to prevent metal corrosion, with a screw connection sealed against saltwater using anti-seize paste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mast and fuselage are connected by a screw connection, then the components can be detachably assembled, but the screws are subjected to considerable forces and torques leading to stretching, bending, and corrosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connection piece as an intermediary component between the mast and fuselage. This connection piece absorbs the mechanical stresses and torques through its own structural design (with reinforcement elements), preventing these forces from being directly transmitted to the screws. The connection piece acts as a mediator that protects the screw connection from excessive loading while maintaining detachable assembly capability.
2Reliability
If different metals are used for mast and fuselage components, then corrosion resistance can be improved, but galvanic corrosion occurs at connection points due to contact with saltwater
Solution Approach 1:
The connection piece serves as a galvanic isolation intermediary between different metal components. By positioning the connection piece (which can be made of a corrosion-resistant material like plastic or coated metal) between the mast and fuselage, direct electrical contact between dissimilar metals is prevented. This mediator role eliminates the galvanic cell formation that would otherwise occur in saltwater environments, protecting the metal components from galvanic corrosion.
3Device complexity
If the connection area between mast and fuselage is minimized, then assembly simplicity is improved, but peak loads concentrate at connection points causing stress on screws
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the connection structure into multiple functional elements: the connection piece itself, reinforcement elements integrated into the connection piece, and the screw fasteners. This segmentation allows the reinforcement elements to be specifically designed to distribute and reduce peak loads over a larger effective area, while the overall connection remains relatively simple. The reinforcement elements create a stepped or distributed contact surface that reduces stress concentration.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrofoil (1) includes a mast (2), with an incoming flow edge (3), a discharge edge (4), lateral surfaces (5) and an upper mast end (6) with a holder (7) to be fastened to a watersports board. A fuselage (8) has front (10) and rear wings (11) are arranged on opposite sides. The mast and the fuselage are configured as separate components and are connected to one another via a screw connection (12). An adapter (13) is connected to the mast and to the fuselage and is arranged in a recess (14) of the fuselage. A positive locking is established between an adapter outer surface (15) and the recess of the fuselage. An adapter mount (16) receives a lower mast end (9). A positive locking is formed between the mast and the adapter such that the lower mast end is arranged within the fuselage.