Rotatable Hull-Mounted Wake Deflector Without Ballast Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional watercrafts are not ideal for wake surfing due to their flat wake design, and specialized surfboats are costly and inflexible, lacking adjustability in wake shaping, which limits their applicability and usability for different skill levels and conditions.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable water flow deflection device that can be attached to the side of a watercraft, featuring a rotatable deflector with a textured surface, allowing for manual or automatic adjustment of the deflector's angle relative to the oncoming water to enhance wake formation, providing a range of wake sizes and characteristics suitable for various surfers and conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a deflector is positioned near the stern of a watercraft to shape the wake, then wake formation is enhanced, but the deflector is limited to fixed positions (parallel or perpendicular to the hull) requiring ballast adjustment for position changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the deflector adjustable between multiple positions (parallel to hull, perpendicular to hull, and intermediate angles) without requiring ballast adjustment. The deflector can be dynamically repositioned to different angular orientations relative to the hull, allowing wake shaping adaptation while eliminating the need for complex ballast systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If specialized surfboats are designed with elaborate ballast systems and deflectors to maximize wake for surfing, then wake formation is optimized, but the boats become cost prohibitive and rarely suitable for other uses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a wake shaping device that can be attached to conventional water ski boats, allowing these multi-purpose vessels to perform both skiing and wake surfing functions. The deflector device with adjustable positions enables conventional boats to create surfable wakes without requiring specialized surfboat design, making the technology accessible and versatile across different watercraft types.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional water ski boats are used for wake surfing, then cost is reduced, but the flat wake design is ill-suited for surfing without specialized equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the segmentation principle by separating the wake shaping function from the hull design. Instead of requiring the entire boat to be specially designed for wake surfing, the invention uses a discrete, attachable deflector device that can be added to conventional boats. This modular approach allows conventional cost-effective boats to gain wake surfing capability through a separate, add-on component.
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 device enhances wake formation by adjusting the deflector's angle and surface area, enabling a wider range of wake sizes and characteristics, making it suitable for different skill levels and conditions, and allowing for quick adjustments to optimize wake surfing performance.
Implementation Method 1
The two or more suction cup assemblies attach to the elongated base, with a first suction cup is attached to the elongated base between the first end and the deflector interface and a second suction cup is attached to the elongated base between the second end and the deflector interface. Together the first and second suction cups are configured to provide removable attachment of the elongated base to the watercraft.
Data Source
AI summary
A water flow deflection device to enhance a watercraft's wake. An elongated base with two ends is aligned along the side of the watercraft. The base has a deflector interface with concentrically arranged teeth. A deflector assembly is operably attached to the base between the two ends, with a face that deflects water. The deflector's leading end is closer to the watercraft than the trailing end. The deflector assembly has a base interface with concentrically arranged teeth. Two or more suction cup assemblies attach to the elongated base to provide removable attachment, with one attached between a first end and the deflector interface and another attached between a second end and the deflector interface. The concentrically arranged teeth of the deflector interface and the base interface operably interlock, allowing rotational adjustment of the deflector relative to the base.