Three stage watercraft
OwnerWalter Schulzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three stage watercraft for operation in the water as a traditional boat at low speeds in stage one, for operation on the water's surface at mid-range speeds at stage two, and for traveling in ground effect at higher range speeds is disclosed. The three stage craft includes a hydro-wing 12, at least a single hydrofoil 13 to aid with lift from stage one to stage two, and a pair of outboard floats or hydro-floats 16a, 16b supported by the hydro-wing 12, which are also designed to aid with lift from stage one to stage two. A gyration rotor 14 to aid with lift from stage one to stage two may also be provided as may a pair of pivotally mounted air propellers which aid in lift and propulsion by varying their operational angle relative to the plane of travel of the craft.
Claims20
A watercraft for three-stage operation, in a first stage the watercraft riding in the water as a boat, in a second stage the watercraft riding on the surface of the water, and in a third stage the watercraft being in contact with the water while traveling in ground effect, the watercraft comprising:
- a hydro-wing including a combined hull and wings, the hull constructed and arranged to support a cabin, and the wings constructed and arranged to provide lift, a bottom surface of the combined hull and wings forming a substantially continuous ground effect surface of the hydro-wing;
- at least a single hydrofoil supported by the hydro-wing;
- a pair of outboard hydro-floats supported on the bottom surface of the hydro-wing on a port and a starboard side thereof;
- and
- at least one pivotally mounted air propeller, pivotal between a first position substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of travel of the watercraft and second position substantially vertical to a horizontal plane of travel of the watercraft.
A watercraft for three-stage operation, in a first stage the watercraft riding in the water as a boat, in a second stage the watercraft riding on the surface of the water, and in a third stage the watercraft being in contact with the water while traveling in ground effect, the watercraft comprising:
- a hydro-wing including a combined hull and wings, the hull constructed and arranged to support a cabin, and the wings constructed and arranged to provide lift, a bottom surface of the combined hull and wings forming a substantially continuous ground effect surface of the hydro-wing;
- at least a single hydrofoil supported by the hydro-wing and constructed and arranged to contact the water in stage two;
- a pair of outboard hydro-floats supported on the bottom surface of the hydro-wing on a port and a starboard side thereof;
- a pair of air rudders supported by the hydro-wing constructed and arranged to effectuate turning during the second stage of operation and the third stage of operation;
- at least one water rudder supported by the hull constructed and arranged to effectuate turning when the rudder is in the water;
- and
- at least one pivotally mounted air propeller, pivotal between a first position substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of travel of the watercraft and second position substantially vertical to a horizontal plane of travel of the watercraft.
A watercraft for three-stage operation, in a first stage the watercraft riding in the water as a boat, in a second stage the watercraft riding on the surface of the water, and in a third stage the watercraft being in contact with the water while traveling in ground effect, the watercraft comprising:
- a hydro-wing including a combined hull and wings, the hull constructed and arranged to support a cabin, and the wings constructed and arranged to provide lift;
- at least a single hydrofoil supported by the hydro-wing;
- a pair of outboard hydro-floats supported on the bottom surface of the hydro-wing on a port and a starboard side thereof;
- at least one pivotally mounted air propeller, pivotal between a first position substantially parallel to a horizontal plane of travel of the watercraft and second position substantially vertical to a horizontal plane of travel of the watercraft;
- and
- wherein in the first stage of operation of the watercraft riding in the water, the at least one pivotally mounted air propeller is in the first position to provide lift, in the third stage of operation of the watercraft travelling in ground effect, the at least one pivotally mounted air propeller is in the second position to provide forward thrust, and in the second stage of operation of the watercraft riding on the surface of the water, the at least one pivotally mounted air propeller is in a mid-way position between the first position and the second position to provide a combination of both lift and forward thrust as may be desired.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.