Wake Surf Boat Propulsion Alignment for Turning and Wave Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional boats used for wake surfing struggle with maintaining turning ability and forming waves that facilitate easy surfing due to fixed toe-in attitudes of propulsion devices, which do not adapt to changes in direction.
Innovation Solution
A boat system with displaceable propulsion devices and wake generators that adjust their axial attitudes based on the operator's direction, transitioning between toe-in and parallel configurations to maintain wave formation and enhance maneuverability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the first propulsion device and the second propulsion device maintain a fixed toe-in attitude, then the wave formation for wake surfing is optimized, but the turning ability of the boat deteriorates when steering angles exceed a reference range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Dynamics principle by making the axial attitudes of the first and second propulsion devices adjustable rather than fixed. The controller dynamically changes the axial attitudes based on the steering angle: maintaining a toe-in attitude (where axes intersect rearward of the boat body) when the steering angle is within the reference angle range for optimal wave formation, and transitioning to a parallel attitude (where axes are parallel) when the steering angle exceeds the reference angle range for improved turning ability. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between wave formation quality and turning ability.
2Reliability
If the first propulsion device and the second propulsion device maintain a fixed toe-in attitude, then the wave formation for wake surfing is optimized, but the adaptability to direction changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements Dynamics by enabling the propulsion devices to dynamically adjust their axial attitudes in response to direction changes. The controller monitors the steering angle and automatically transitions the propulsion devices between toe-in and parallel attitudes, allowing the system to adapt to various operating conditions while maintaining reliable wave formation when needed and improving maneuverability when direction changes occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the Feedback principle through the controller that continuously monitors the steering angle and uses this information to adjust the axial attitudes of the propulsion devices. The feedback loop ensures that the system responds appropriately to direction changes, switching from toe-in to parallel attitude when the steering angle exceeds the reference angle range, thereby improving adaptability to direction changes while maintaining wave formation quality when the boat is traveling straight.
3Ease of operation
If the axial attitudes of propulsion devices are made displaceable to improve turning ability, then the turning ability and adaptability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the Universality principle by designing a control system that manages multiple functions through a single integrated controller. The controller handles both wave formation optimization and turning ability enhancement by automatically adjusting the axial attitudes of the propulsion devices based on steering angle, eliminating the need for separate control mechanisms and reducing overall system complexity despite the multi-functional requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A boat includes a first propulsion device attached to a rear portion of a boat body to generate a propulsion force along a displaceable first axis, a second propulsion device attached to the rear portion of the boat body to generate a propulsion force along a displaceable second axis, a manual operator to indicate a movement direction of the boat body, and a controller configured or programmed to set the first and second propulsion devices to a first axial attitude in which the first and second axes intersect each other rearward of the boat body when an indicated direction is within a reference angle range including a straight-ahead direction of the boat body, and set the first and second propulsion devices to a second axial attitude in which parallelism between the first and second axes is higher than the first axial attitude when the indicated direction exceeds the reference angle range.