Retractable Hydrofoil Layout for Low-Draft Multi-Hull Vessels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydrofoils on marine vessels face issues such as increased draft, vulnerability to damage, and reduced maneuverability when not in use, while retractable designs often compromise aesthetics or usable space.
Innovation Solution
A retractable hydrofoil system for multi-hull vessels with foils pivotably mounted to the hulls, retracting into recesses on the inner side of the hulls, maintaining hull aesthetics and reducing draft, using pivot drives for deployment and retraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hydrofoils are made retractable to reduce draft and damage vulnerability, then draft and vulnerability are reduced, but aesthetics are compromised with visible folding structures external to the hull
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrofoil is nested within a recess formed in the hull structure. When retracted, the foil fits inside the recess rather than folding externally, maintaining a clean aesthetic appearance. The recess is positioned to receive the foil in its retracted state, concealing it from external view while preserving hull integrity and appearance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If retractable hydrofoils are designed to fold into positions external to the hull, then retraction is achieved, but aesthetics are sacrificed with visible folding structures
Solution Approach 1:
The foil is extracted from the external folding mechanism and instead is taken inside the hull structure through a recess. This extraction of the retraction path from external to internal space eliminates visible folding structures while maintaining full retraction functionality. The recess provides an internal pathway for the foil to be stowed without external visual impact.
3Speed
If hydrofoils are used to lift the hull out of water, then drag is reduced and speed is improved, but draft is greatly increased when supported by hull
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrofoil system is made dynamic and adjustable, allowing the foil to be deployed when speed is needed and retracted when hull support is sufficient. This dynamic retraction capability allows the system to adapt between foil-borne and hull-borne operation, managing draft variations while maintaining speed performance when required.
4Reliability
If retractable hydrofoils are implemented, then draft reduction is achieved, but usable hull space is reduced by the retraction mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The retraction mechanism utilizes the vertical dimension by positioning the recess in the hull structure rather than consuming horizontal hull space. The foil retracts upward into the recess formed in the hull's inner surface, converting a potential horizontal space requirement into a vertical arrangement that minimizes impact on usable hull volume.
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 system maintains vessel aesthetics and reduces draft without increasing drag, while providing efficient deployment and retraction of foils, enhancing maneuverability and reducing fuel consumption.
Implementation Method 1
each of the foils being pivotably mounted to the bottom a respective one of the hulls aft of the step
Implementation Method 2
Hydrofoils have been used on marine vessels for over a century. By lifting all or a portion of a vessel's hull out of the water, hydrofoils decrease drag
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-hull marine vessel includes a retractable hydrofoil system having a pair of retractable foils mounted to deploy from opposite sides of a tunnel defined between adjacent hulls. The foils are pivotably mounted to respective bottoms of the hulls and retract behind respective steps formed therein.