Methods and apparatus for facilitating watercraft planing
AssigneeMalibu Boats, LLC
InventorsDaniel Lee Gasper, Timothy Michael Lopes, Bryan Walter Munday
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A watercraft can include a foil configured for movement between an undeployed position and a first deployed position in which the foil raises the relative position of the watercraft relative to the water line as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby facilitating planing of the watercraft. The foil can be configured for movement to a second deployed position in which the foil lowers the relative position of the stern end of the watercraft as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby modifying the wake produced by the watercraft.
Claims36
An inboard water-sport boat comprising:
- a hull having a transom;
- and
- a foil coupled to the hull and movable between an undeployed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position, wherein the foil is configured to produce a lifting force when in the first deployed position as the hull moves through water, wherein the foil is configured to produce a downward force when in the second deployed position as the hull moves through water, and wherein at least a portion of the foil is disposed above a bottom edge of the transom when in the undeployed position;
- one or more actuators configured to move the foil between the undeployed position, the first deployed position, and the second deployed position;
- a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of whether the boat is planing;
- wherein the one or more actuators position the foil at the first deployed position when the signal of the sensor indicates that the boat is not planing, to produce a lifting force that helps the boat to plane;
- wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the undeployed position or the second deployed position when the signal of the sensor indicates that the boat is planing.
A system for facilitating planing of a watercraft traveling through water, the system comprising:
- a foil movable between an undeployed position and a first deployed position, wherein the foil is positioned substantially vertically when in the undeployed position, and wherein the first deployed position of the foil is configured to divert water generally downward as the watercraft travels forward through water to produce a lifting force, and wherein the foil is movable to a second deployed position that is configured to divert water generally upward as the watercraft travels forward through water to produce a downward force;
- a user interface configured to receive user input;
- and
- one or more actuators configured to move the foil in response to input received by the user interface;
- a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of whether the watercraft is planning;
- wherein the one or more actuators position the foil at the first deployed position when the signal of the sensor indicates that the watercraft is not planing, to produce a lifting force that helps the watercraft to plane;
- wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the undeployed position or to the second deployed position after the signal of the sensor indicates that the watercraft is planing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.