Rotating Disc Buoyancy for Watercraft Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional watercraft designs rely heavily on hull immersion for buoyancy, which can lead to inefficiencies in speed and stability, particularly at varying speeds and in wave conditions, as they do not effectively utilize alternative buoyancy systems to maintain the hull above water.
Innovation Solution
A watercraft design featuring a hull with multiple discs mounted below the longitudinal axis, each with a circular skimming surface that adjusts orientation from presenting maximum surface area at low speeds to presenting an edge at high speeds, utilizing a suspension system and strakes to optimize buoyancy and minimize drag, with the discs being the primary source of buoyancy and supported by a wave-piercing hull shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the hull is designed for traditional buoyancy support, then the watercraft maintains stability at low speeds, but the hull immersion increases drag and reduces speed efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The discs are designed to dynamically adjust their orientation relative to the water surface based on the watercraft's speed. At low speeds, the discs present a larger surface area to the water for maximum buoyancy. At high speeds, the discs rotate to present a smaller edge surface area, reducing drag while maintaining sufficient lift and buoyancy support.
2Productivity
If alternative buoyancy systems are introduced, then drag is reduced and speed efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The buoyancy and propulsion functions are merged into a single integrated system of discs that perform both functions. The discs provide buoyancy support while their rotation and orientation control contribute to propulsion efficiency, eliminating the need for separate complex buoyancy mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The discs serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide buoyancy support, generate hydrodynamic lift, reduce drag through orientation adjustment, and contribute to the overall propulsion efficiency of the watercraft, making the system highly versatile and efficient.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the discs present maximum surface area to water, then buoyancy is maximized for low speed stability, but drag increases and speed efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The discs dynamically change their orientation angle relative to the water surface based on operating conditions. At low speeds, they present a larger surface area for maximum buoyancy and stability. At high speeds, they rotate to present a smaller edge surface area, reducing drag while maintaining sufficient lift through hydrodynamic effects.
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
This design allows the watercraft to maintain a high speed while minimizing immersion and maximizing stability by dynamically adjusting disc orientation and hull shape, reducing drag and enhancing hydrodynamic lift, thus improving overall performance and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of discs mounted at respective opposed sides of the main longitudinal axis to and below the hull and in combination having sufficient buoyancy to support the hull above the water
Implementation Method 2
watercraft that have alternative support or buoyancy systems which rely on mechanisms other than the hull of the watercraft... shaped foils to create lift to remove the bulk of the watercraft hull from the water during travel
Implementation Method 3
each disc comprising an essentially circular skimming surface adapted to skim upon the water as the craft moves at speed
Data Source
AI summary
A water craft including a hull having a main longitudinal axis defining a direction of travel of the craft, a plurality of discs mounted at respective opposed sides of the main longitudinal axis to and below the hull and in combination having sufficient buoyancy to support the hull above the water, each disc comprising an essentially circular convex skimming surface adapted to skim upon the water as the craft moves at low speed, wherein the discs are mounted to the hull such that the skimming surface of each disc faces downwardly with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the hull, and adapted for movement between a low speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the circular convex skimming surface to the water surface and a high speed orientation in which the discs present a portion of the edge of the disc to the water.