# US 2016/0355240 A1 · Biomimic design stabilizing fin or keel for surface planing or submerged watercraft

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- Number: US 2016/0355240 A1
- Document ID: US20160355240A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/150,136
- Filed: 2016-05-09
- Published: 2016-12-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-02
- Inventors: Randal Richenberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355240A1

## CPC

- B63B 32/62: characterised by the material, e.g. laminated materials; characterised by their manufacturing process
- 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)

## Abstract

A stabilizing fin or keel utilizing biomimic design features for use on surface planing or submerged watercraft to provide increased dimensional stability, control and efficiency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A stabilizing fin or keel utilizing biomimic design for surface planing or submerged watercraft comprising:
a. A vertical rigid convex foil leading edge element comprising of a leading edge curving from frontal leading edge end point of fin or keel base to fin tip, and a trailing edge of rigid convex foil element curving from fin tip to rear end point of fin or keel base comprising 50-60% of total fin area.
b. A vertical trailing edge element comprising of a thin flexible material extending from trailing edge of rigid convex foil element to fin or keel trailing edge and curving from fin or keel tip to rear end point of fin or keel base comprising 40-50% of total fin or keel area.
c. A leading edge curving from frontal end point of fin base to fin tip.
d. A trailing edge curving from rear end point of fin base to fin tip with both leading edge and trailing edge intersecting at fin tip.
e. A flat base extending from leading edge end point to trailing edge end point providing an area for attachment to watercraft surface by either mechanical means or permanently bonded.
Wherein during use flexible trailing edge element reacts to increasing water pressure or hydrodynamic pressure on the fin or keels inner radius surface during a directional change (turn, tack) by flexing laterally reducing disproportionate water pressure or hydrodynamic pressure on fin or keel surfaces decreasing the development of a low pressure core and subsequent cavitational flow in the laminar flow boundary of outer radius side of a fin or keel improving dimensional stability and control of watercraft.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The stabilizing fin or keel of claim 1 whereas the leading edge rigid convex foil element and the thin flexible trailing edge element are integrally connected.

### Claim 3

A stabilizing fin or keel utilizing biomimic design for surface planing or submerged watercraft comprising:
a rigid convex foil leading edge element curving from frontal end point of fin or keel base to fin or keel tip and trailing edge of rigid convex leading edge element curving from fin or keel tip terminating at trailing edge end point of fin or keel base.
a thin flexible trailing edge element 2 millimeters in thickness comprised of one layer of a high shear strength composite fabric (i.e. Kevlar or similar material) sandwiched between two layers of woven fiberglass cloth or similar material laminated using a flexible epoxy or similar resin extending from trailing edge of rigid convex foil leading edge element to trailing edge of fin or keel curving from fin or keel tip to trailing edge end point of fin or keel base.
whereas rigid convex leading edge element and thin flexible trailing edge element are integrally connected.
a flat base extending from leading edge end point to trailing edge end point providing an area for attachment to a watercraft surface contacting water by mechanical means or permanently bonded.
wherein during use the thin flexible element reduces turbulence in laminar flow exiting fin or keel by decreasing water displacement of fin or keel.

### Claim 4

A stabilizing fin or keel utilizing biomimic design for surface planing or submerged watercraft comprising:
a rigid convex foil leading edge element curving from frontal end point of fin or keel base to fin or keel tip and trailing edge of rigid convex leading edge curving from fin or keel tip to trailing edge end point of fin or keel.
whereas rigid convex foil leading edge element and thin flexible trailing edge element are integrally connected.
a flat base extending from leading edge end point to trailing edge end point providing an area for attachment to a watercraft surface contacting water by mechanical means or permanently bonded.
wherein the reduction of fin or keel volume provides a reduction in fin or keel weight enhancing performance of surface planing or submerged watercraft.