WATERCRAFT WITH AT LEAST ONE SUPPORTING SURFACE
A watercraft including at least one hydrofoil which is height-adjustable between a position disposed in the region of the hull and a position remote from the hull, with a recess being provided in the hull which accommodates the hydrofoil in the region of the hull.
The present application is a National Stage Application of PCT International Application No. PCT/EP2011/059712 (filed on Jun. 6, 2011), under 35 U.S.C. §371, which claims priority to Austrian Patent Application No. A977/2010 (filed on Jun. 14, 2010), which are each hereby incorporated by reference in their respective entireties.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONEmbodiments of the present invention relates to a watercraft, comprising at least one hydrofoil which is height-adjustable between a position disposed in the region of the hull and a position remote from the hull, with a recess preferably being provided in the hull which accommodates the hydrofoil in the region of the hull.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is known to provide watercraft with hydrofoils which allow lifting the hull from the water from a specific minimum speed. Flow resistance can consequently be reduced considerably and higher speed can be achieved at lower fuel consumption. Furthermore, driving behavior which is substantially uninfluenced by the movement of waves can substantially improve comfort.
The hydrofoils are usually attached to outriggers at sufficient distance beneath the hull in order to thereby reach the required height in hydrofoil operation. In standstill or at low travelling speeds, this leads to high draft with the likelihood of damage to the hydrofoils by obstructions under water.
This also leads to the consequence that hydrofoil craft cannot be operated in shallow water or close to the shore. Furthermore, the sensitive hydrofoils are bulky during transport of the boat and can therefore easily be damaged unless they are dismounted.
In order to avoid these disadvantages, vessels are known which comprise adjustable hydrofoils. As a result, the hydrofoils can be retracted in displacement mode for reducing the draft. Such a solution has been described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,582,011 A, for example.
The disadvantage of this solution is that the likelihood of damage is reduced but not avoided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is the object of the present invention to further develop the known watercraft in such a way that an especially sturdy construction is achieved which is insensitive to any obstructions and additionally allows simple, secure and compact transport.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a watercraft which is extremely easy to steer and shows good maneuvering properties both at high and low speeds.
It is provided in accordance with the invention that the hydrofoil is pivotably attached to an arm about a longitudinal axis and/or is arranged in a telescopically extendable manner in the axial direction.
Pivotable about a longitudinal axis shall mean in this case that the hydrofoil which protrudes laterally from its linkage point can be brought for example from a horizontal position to an externally descending or an externally ascending position. As is the case with an aircraft whose airfoils have a specific angle in relation to the median plane, the position of the hydrofoils is relevant for the behavior in curves. It can be influenced as desired by the adjustment in accordance with the invention.
Telescopic adjustment is additionally or alternatively provided, i.e. the length of the hydrofoils can be changed. This measure similarly contributes to influencing the behavior in the curve as desired.
As a result of the solution in accordance with the invention, disturbances are minimized when the hydrofoil is retracted, i.e. in displacement operation. The watercraft can therefore also be operated in shallow water and can therefore drive up a beach without any likelihood of damage.
It is especially advantageous from a constructional viewpoint when the hydrofoil is arranged on a telescopically extendable arm. A large adjustment range can be achieved thereby, with the hydrofoil also being optimally situated in intermediate positions.
A further development of the invention is especially advantageous in which the adjustment range is increased by a pivoting arm to which the hydrofoil is attached. The pivoting arm can absorb forces and moments caused by the hydrofoils especially well.
It is especially advantageous when a drive element such as a jet-ski drive is arranged on the telescopically extendable arm. As a result, not only is a position of the drive achieved which is optimal in all positions of the hydrofoil, but also the introduction of the drive force occurs directly on the component subjected to the flow resistance, leading to a reduction in the material stress.
It is preferably provided that the recess accommodates the drive element and comprises flow channels for the inflow and outflow. As a result, the drive element can also be used when the hydrofoil has been retracted completely in order to achieve minimal draft.
Agility and maneuverability can be improved in such a way that the hydrofoils are arranged to be horizontally and/or vertically pivotable. It can be provided alternatively or additionally that the hydrofoils comprise pivotable sections. Similar to the tail unit of an aircraft, control measures can be set by adjusting the sections in the manner of rudders or flaps which improve the maneuverability of the watercraft.
Independence from the respective position of the hydrofoil during retraction can be achieved in such a way that the recess accommodates the hydrofoils and optionally the pivotable sections in different positions. Control is simplified thereby because the position of the hydrofoils or the sections need not be taken into account during retraction.
Preferably, a main hull and at least one outrigger arranged in a height-adjustable manner are provided. The hydrofoils can be arranged both on the main hull and also on the outrigger, or on both. The height adjustment can optionally be provided in addition to an adjustment in the width. This allows substantially changing and influencing the driving properties of the watercraft.
It is mechanically especially advantageous when the outrigger is pivotably arranged on the main hull. As a result, an especially large movement range can be realized with simple means. Preferably, the pivoting device is arranged as a parallelogram guide.
An especially preferred embodiment of the invention is arranged in such a way that the outrigger can be moved from a position disposed laterally adjacent to the main hull to a position arranged beneath the main hull.
This embodiment allows providing racing boat characteristics that principally show little stability in addition to the characteristics of an outrigger boat, which racing boat characteristics offer extreme lateral positions and favorable driving behavior in combination with the highest speeds.
It is provided in an especially preferred manner that at least two outriggers are disposed directly adjacent to one another in the position arranged beneath the main hull and preferably form a common compact hull. Especially advantageous hydrodynamic properties can consequently also be achieved in this position of the outriggers.
Embodiments of the present invention will be explained below in closer detail by reference to embodiments shown in the schematic drawings, wherein:
The watercraft of
The front telescopically extendable arm 2 and the rear telescopically extendable arm 3 are respectively arranged on the main hull 1a. A front hydrofoil 4 and a rear hydrofoil 5 can be provided on the extendable arms 2, 3 as in the embodiment as discussed above, which hydrofoils are arranged in the extended position at a distance beneath the two outriggers 10a and 10b, which is shown in
Both in the retracted state and also in the extended state of the hydrofoils 4, 5, the front telescopically extendable arm 2 and the rear telescopically extendable arm 3 extend downwardly between the two outriggers 10a and 10b.
The outriggers 10a and 10b are arranged in
In the embodiment of
In
In the position of
A further displacement of the outriggers 10a, 10b to the outside leads to the position according to
A further possibility for variation is shown in
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A watercraft comprising:
- a hull;
- at least one hydrofoil which is height-adjustable between a position disposed in the region of the hull and a position remote from the hull;
- a recess provided in the hull which accommodates the hydrofoil in the position situated in the region of the hull; and
- an arm provided on the hull,
- wherein the hydrofoil is pivotably attached to the arm about a longitudinal axis and/or is arranged in a telescopically extendable manner in an axial direction of the hydrofoil.
14. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the arm is telescopically extendable.
15. The watercraft of claim 14, further comprising a drive element arranged on the arm.
16. The watercraft of claim 15, wherein the recess accommodates the drive element and comprises flow channels for an inflow and an outflow of the drive.
17. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the arm is a pivotal about a pivot axis.
18. The watercraft of claim 17, further comprising a drive element arranged on the arm.
19. The watercraft of claim 18, wherein the recess accommodates the drive element and comprises flow channels for an inflow and an outflow of the drive.
20. The watercraft of claim 12, wherein the hydrofoil is arranged in a horizontally or vertically pivotable manner to enable a steering movement.
21. The watercraft of claim 12, wherein the hydrofoil comprises a pivotable section.
22. The watercraft of claim 21, wherein the recess accommodates the hydrofoil and the pivotable section in different positions.
23. A watercraft comprising:
- a main hull;
- at least one hydrofoil attached to the main hull and which is height-adjustable between a position disposed in the region of the main hull and a position remote from the main hull;
- a recess provided in the hull which accommodates the hydrofoil in the position situated in the region of the hull;
- at least one adjustably arranged outrigger configured to accommodate the hydrofoil in at least one position in the recess; and
- an arm provided on the main hull,
- wherein the hydrofoil is pivotably attached to the arm about a longitudinal axis and/or is arranged in a telescopically extendable manner in an axial direction of the hydrofoil.
24. The watercraft of claim 23, wherein the hydrofoil is pivotably attached to the least one adjustably arranged outrigger.
25. A watercraft comprising:
- a main hull;
- at least one hydrofoil attached to the main hull and which is height-adjustable between a position disposed in the region of the main hull and a position remote from the main hull;
- a recess provided in the hull which accommodates the hydrofoil in the position situated in the region of the hull;
- at least two adjustably arranged outriggers configured to accommodate the hydrofoil in at least one position in the recess; and
- an arm provided on the main hull, wherein the hydrofoil is pivotably attached to the arm about a longitudinal axis and/or is arranged in a telescopically extendable manner in an axial direction of the hydrofoil,
- wherein the at least two adjustably arranged outriggers are each configured for movement from a first position arranged adjacent to main hull to a second position arranged beneath the main hull.
26. The watercraft of claim 25, wherein the least two adjustably arranged outriggers are disposed directly adjacent to one another in the position arranged beneath the main hull.
27. The watercraft of claim 26, wherein the least two adjustably arranged outriggers form a common compact hull.
28. The watercraft of claim 27, wherein the common compact hull comprises at least one recess for the hydrofoil.
29. The watercraft of claim 25, wherein the hydrofoil is pivotably attached to the least two adjustably arranged outriggers.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 10, 2011
Publication Date: Apr 24, 2014
Inventor: Oliver Kormann (Salzburg)
Application Number: 13/704,315
International Classification: B63B 1/30 (20060101); B63B 1/28 (20060101);