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US 5,653,189 AGranted
Hydrofoil craft
AssigneeDynafoils, Inc.
InventorPeter R. Payne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high-speed hydrofoil craft has a hull supported by a foil. When the foil is submerged, the upper surface of the foil may be ventilated by atmospheric air to form an air-filled cavity, in which case the foil performs similarly to a planing foil.
Claims28
A hydrofoil craft comprising:
- a hull;
- a foil for supporting the hull above a water surface;
- a support arm connected between the hull and the foil, an angle of the support arm with respect to a horizontal plane being at most approximately 60 degrees;
- and
- gas supplying means for supplying gas to a submerged upper surface of the foil to form a gas-filled cavity on the upper surface having a pressure between approximately 80% and approximately 100% of atmospheric pressure.
2 more elements
A hydrofoil craft comprising:
- a hull;
- a foil for supporting the hull above a water surface;
- a support arm connected between the hull and the foil;
- and
- gas supplying means for supplying gas to a submerged upper surface of the foil to form a gas-filled cavity on the upper surface having a pressure between approximately 80% and approximately 100% of atmospheric pressure, the gas supplying means comprising a passage within the support arm communicating between the atmosphere and the upper surface of the foil and means for adjusting flow of air through the passage in accordance with speed of the hydrofoil craft.
2 more elements
A hydrofoil craft comprising:
- a hull;
- a foil for supporting the hull above a water surface;
- a support arm connected between the hull and the foil and having a streamlined leading edge;
- gas supplying means for supplying gas to a submerged upper surface of the foil to form a gas-filled cavity on the upper surface having a pressure between approximately 80% and approximately 100% of atmospheric pressure, the gas supplying means comprising a blunt trailing edge of the support arm providing an unimpeded flow path for air between the atmosphere and the upper surface of the foil;
- and
- blocking means for selectively blocking flow of air down the flow path.
3 more elements
A hydrofoil craft comprising:
- a hull;
- a foil for supporting the hull above a water surface;
- a support arm connected between the hull and the foil and having a trailing edge;
- and
- a flow preventing member mounted on the support arm below the water surface and selectively permitting and preventing air flow down the trailing edge of the support arm from the water surface to the foil.
2 more elements
A method of operating a hydrofoil craft comprising:
- supporting a hull of a hydrofoil craft above a water surface by means of a foil;
- introducing atmospheric air down a support arm extending between the hull and the foil to a submerged upper surface of the foil to form an air-filled cavity on the upper surface having a pressure between approximately 80% and approximately 100% of atmospheric pressure;
- and
- disposing the support arm at an angle of at most approximately 60 degrees with respect to a horizontal plane while introducing atmospheric air down the support arm.
1 more element
A method of operating a hydrofoil craft comprising:
- supporting a hull of a hydrofoil craft above a water surface by means of a foil;
- introducing atmospheric air down a support arm extending between the hull and the foil to a submerged upper surface of the foil to form an air-filled cavity on the upper surface having a pressure between approximately 80% and approximately 100% of atmospheric pressure;
- and
- preventing flow of air down the support arm when the speed of the hydrofoil craft is below a predetermined value and permitting flow of air down the support arm when the speed is above the predetermined value.
1 more element
A hydrofoil craft comprising:
- a hull;
- a foil for supporting the hull above a water surface;
- a support arm connected between the hull and the foil, an upper end of the support arm being pivotally connected to the hull in a manner permitting the foil to move with respect to the hull in concert with upward and downward water forces acting on the foil, an angle of the support arm with respect to a horizontal plane being at most approximately 60 degrees, the support arm having a streamlined leading edge and a trailing edge shaped to guide atmospheric air along the trailing edge to an upper surface of the foil to form a gas-filled cavity on the upper surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.