Abstract:
The ferry boat has a rectangular main deck with superstructure above and hull structure below. The superstructure is essentially rectangular in all views and has one or more decks with a plurality of traffic lanes on each deck in addition to those on the main decks with optional passenger carrying compartments. The lanes are straight and parallel and there are no deck-to deck ramps. The hull structure has two sidewalls, one along each of the long sides of the main deck and two skirts, one at each end of the main deck. The skirts extend between the sidewalls and have vertical aft surfaces and front surfaces which slope downward and aft. The lower extremities of the sidewalls are further from the main deck than the apexes of the skirts. The volume enclosed by the sidewalls, skirts, main deck and water surface is filled with entrapped air which will compress to provide a major part of the support of the boat. There are two hydrofoils, one forward, one aft and extending between the sidewalls. Each foil is supported from the deck structure by several struts. The struts and foils have blunt trailing edges ventilated by air ducted down the struts. The foils are submerged about one chord length below the lower edges of the sidewall and the lower edges extend below the apexes of the dams.
Abstract:
A wind-propelled hydrofoil comprising a forward assembly with at least partially submerged forward foils and a fully submerged aft foil. The forward foils (43, 44) are such that the resultant of the vertical forces drops when said assembly is translated vertically upwards, with a heave characteristic (F), and increases when said forward assembly is subject to upward pitching, with an incidence characteristic (A). The aft foil (46) has an incidence characteristic (R) such that R(d-g)-Ag+F(g.sup.2 +r.sup.2)>0, wherein d is the distance between the aft foil (46) and the center of heave, g is the distance between the center of gravity and the center of heave, and r is the gyration radius of the hydrofoil.
Abstract:
The ferry boat has a rectangular main deck with superstructure above and hull structure below. The superstructure is essentially rectangular in all views and has one or more decks with a plurality of traffic lanes on each deck in addition to those on the main deck. The lanes are straight and parallel and there are no deck-to-deck ramps. The hull structure has two sidewalls, one along each of the long sides of the main deck and two dams, one at each end of the main deck. The dams extend between the sidewalls and have vertical aft surfaces and front surfaces which slope downward and aft. The lower extremities of the sidewalls are further from the main deck than the apexes of the dams. The volume enclosed by the sidewalls, dams, main deck and water surface is filled with entrapped air which will compress to provide a major part of the support of the boat. There are two hydrofoils, one forward, one aft and extending between the sidewalls. Each foil is supported from the deck structure by several struts. The struts and foils have blunt trailing edges ventilated by air ducted down the struts. The foils are submerged about one chord length below the lower edges of the sidewall and the lower edges extend below the apexes of the dams.
Abstract:
A twin-hull boat equipped with a pair of transverse hydrofoils 4 and 5 which are respectively secured to the bottom surface of twin-hull structures 3A and 3B adjacent the stem and stern. A pair of auxiliary wings 6A and 6B are installed opposite to each other at predetermined positions on the internal wall surfaces of the twin-hull structures 3A and 3B mutually facing the hull center line and at a predetermined height between the upper water line formed in the course of low-speed cruising and the lower water line formed in the course of high-speed cruising. The twin-hull boat incorporates a postural angle regulating device 15 to properly regulate the postural angle of the auxiliary wings 6A and 6B by causing them to pivot about a horizontal axis.
Abstract:
A passively controlled hydrofoil supported planning watercraft having a conventional hull with an integrally formed step. The watercraft includes a centrally located, fully submerged main lifting foil. The main lifting foil is fixed and non-movable, and is attached to the hull along the centerline keel such that its line of action acts substantially through the longitudinal center of gravity of the watercraft. The watercraft further includes a rearwardly located stabilizing foil fixed to a stabilizer strut which is pivotally attached to the stern of the watercraft. A stabilizer strut so attached pivots fore and aft to control watercraft trim angle. Additionally, the stabilizer strut is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for steering and roll control, and includes a trailing edge upper rudder for yaw control.
Abstract:
An improved hydrofoil system is provided for boats with planing-type hulls Two hydrofoils, one mounted adjacent to each chine, are provided in a submerged position. The attack angle of each hydrofoil is controlled independently by a hydraulic cylinder or the equivalent thereof. Because both positive and negative attack angles of each hydrofoil may be presented, the hydrofoil system disclosed has the ability to raise and lower the bow, raise and lower the stern, provide lateral stability and also act as an auxiliary rudder by rotating the boat about its longitudinal axis. The submerged hydrofoil system is intended for use with boats with planing-type hulls.
Abstract:
A hydrofoil craft which possesses at least one hull, at least one support arm which extends from said hull into the water and which is connected to the hull, at least one foil attached to each support arm, and preferably at least one shock strut per support arm which pivotally connects said hull to the support arm, so that said shock struts allow the support arm and the foil to move in concert with the upgusts and downgusts of water velocity located near the foil so as to enable said hydrofoil craft to maintain approximately constant lift. The principles involved are also applicable to aircraft of the "wing in ground effect" type which is designed to fly close to the water's surface so as to take advantage of the favorable aerodynamic effects of the water's proximity.
Abstract:
A high-speed planing catamaran is comprised of hulls, each of which has a canard planing surface well forward of the catamaran's center of gravity and a main planing surface aft of and closer to the center of gravity. At planing speeds, the canard surface leaves a trough in the water which substantially encloses the hull portion aft of the canard surface. The main planing surface rides on water between the hulls, but outside the trough. The angle of incidence of all surfaces may be adjustable, as may the vertical and lateral positions of each hull's propeller.
Abstract:
A hydrofoil apparatus for attachment to a marine vessel having a first pivot means for positioning the rotational axis of a gooseneck shaft parallel to the yaw axis of the hull and a trailing load support arm having a forward end coupled to the gooseneck. A planing surface sensor or planing foil rides on the water surface. The planing surface provides a hydrodynamic force to hold the planing surface sensor on surface as the vessel moves with forward velocity. An elongated body member is pivotally coupled to rotate on a first pitch axis with respect to said planing surface sensor. The elongated body member is pivotally coupled to the trailing load support at its aft end. A vertical fin is coupled to support the elongated body member. The fin maintains the planing surface sensor forward of said second pitch axis. A lifting foil raises the bow of said marine vessel by provide a lifting force via the fin.
Abstract:
A propulsion system for crafts and ships, notably sailing ships, includes at least one flexible or rigid sail, to which are attached one or several foils, eventually provided with small floats, whereby the foils can be eventually articulated relative to the sail, so that the pair constituted by the sail and the foils forms a unitary block which allows cancelling a capsizing torque acting on the craft.