# US 11,999,444 B2 · Propulsion device and hydrofoil craft provided with same

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- Number: US 11,999,444 B2
- Document ID: US11999444B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/584,846
- Filed: 2022-01-26
- Published: 2022-08-04
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2021-02-01
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Keiichi Ohiso
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11999444B2

## CPC

- B63B 1/246: {Arrangements of propulsion elements}
- B63B 1/26: having more than one hydrofoil (B63B1/28 takes precedence)
- B63H 11/08: of rotary type
- B63H 2011/081: {with axial flow, i.e. the axis of rotation being parallel to the flow direction}
- B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06)
- B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00)

## Abstract

A propulsion device for a hydrofoil craft includes: a hydrofoil configured to be disposed in water; and a water jet thruster that is disposed in front of the hydrofoil and ejects a water flow rearward from an ejection port, wherein an upper surface of a rear portion of the hydrofoil is slanted downward toward rear, and the hydrofoil and the water jet thruster are configured such that at least part of the water flow passes above the rear portion of the hydrofoil.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A propulsion device for a hydrofoil craft, comprising:
a hydrofoil configured to be disposed in water; and
a water jet thruster that is disposed in front of the hydrofoil and ejects a water flow rearward from an ejection port,
wherein an upper surface of a rear portion of the hydrofoil is slanted downward towards a rear, and
the hydrofoil and the water jet thruster are configured such that at least part of the water flow passes above the rear portion of the hydrofoil.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The propulsion device according to claim 1, wherein a leading edge of the hydrofoil is positioned lower than a center of the ejection port.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The propulsion device according to claim 2, wherein the leading edge of the hydrofoil is positioned lower than a lower edge of the ejection port.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The propulsion device according to claim 1, wherein a leading edge of the hydrofoil is positioned higher than a center of the ejection port, and
an intermediate portion of the hydrofoil in a fore and aft direction is provided with a slot that permits passage of the water flow from under the hydrofoil to above the hydrofoil.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The propulsion device according to claim 1, wherein the ejection port is laterally elongated in shape.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A hydrofoil craft comprising:
at least three propulsion devices including those disposed on a hull at mutually different positions in a fore and aft direction and those disposed at mutually different positions in a lateral direction, each propulsion device consisting of the propulsion device according to claim 1;
a pitch sensor that detects pitching of the hull;
a roll sensor that detects rolling of the hull; and
a control device that controls attitude of the hull based on detection results of the pitch sensor and the roll sensor,
wherein the control device controls the pitching of the hull by making thrusts produced by the water jet thrusters disposed at mutually different positions in the fore and aft direction different from each other, and controls the rolling of the hull by making thrusts produced by the water jet thrusters disposed at mutually different positions in the lateral direction different from each other.