Having Hydrofoil Patents (Class 114/274)
  • Patent number: 11897583
    Abstract: A watercraft including a board having a top surface and a bottom surface and a hydrofoil attached to a strut. The strut attaches at the bottom surface of the board. The watercraft includes a movable portion coupled to the top surface of the board such that the movable portion is configured to move relative to a fixed portion of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Kai Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Joseph Andrew Brock, Tomasz Pawel Bartczak, Matthew Campbell Greaves, Alec Korver, Dmitri Stepanov
  • Patent number: 11878779
    Abstract: A system for a transom-mount trim tab with a fluid hinge, including a trim tab having a planar surface, a forward section located under a hull of a watercraft, a rear portion extending aft of a transom, a pair of guiding tabs coupled to the trim tab, and a forward mounting means including fluid hinge brackets, each with a mounting plate, and a containment protrusion. The system further includes a pair of aft mounting brackets configurable for variable mounting, wherein each mounting bracket includes a vertical leg having an upper portion configurable to be angulated relative to a transom of a watercraft and a bottom portion configured in a vertical orientation. The upper portion of the vertical leg and the mounting bracket have a configurable angle there-between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Inventor: Joseph R. Langlois
  • Patent number: 11753120
    Abstract: A personal watercraft is disclosed including a flotation portion, a strut extending from the flotation portion, and a motor pod is disposed along the strut with an electric motor operably coupled to a driveshaft. A hydrojet unit is removably attached to the motor pod and includes an inlet portion removably attached to the motor pod and a substantially cylindrical housing. The inlet portion includes a substantially conical motor interface with a shaft through-hole for receiving the driveshaft therein, one or more fins extending outwardly from the conical motor interface, and at least one ring encircling the conical motor interface and connecting to each of the one or more fins for inhibiting objects from passing through the inlet region. The housing defines a fluid flow path to an outlet portion. The hydrojet unit includes an impeller coupled to the driveshaft and a stator disposed within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Kai Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Peter Jell, Merten Stroetzel, Joseph Andrew Brock, Matthew Campbell Greaves
  • Patent number: 11679852
    Abstract: One embodiment of submerged superventilated blades (101) that provide hydrodynamic force to a vessel or aircraft (117) that can lift it above the surface of the water (106) at high speed by creating thrust with a wetted high pressure surface (111), the low pressure surface (112) being covered with a gas filled void in the liquid, thus preventing sudden loss of lift as speed increases due to cavitation or surface venting. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Shaun Anthony Pritchard
  • Patent number: 11603176
    Abstract: A buoyancy adjusting device for an underwater device is described the device comprising: a tube having first and second ends; a resilient mechanism located at the first end of the tube and extending towards the second end of the tube; an opening near the second end of the tube; a catch at the second end of the tube; 5 and at least one block insertable into from the first end of the tube to adjust the buoyancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: BOXFISH RESEARCH LIMITED
    Inventor: Benjamin Martin King
  • Patent number: 11505938
    Abstract: A system of cross-shaped units and nodes used to construct strong, lightweight, inexpensive space frames with alternately rigid and flexible components, in which each cross-shaped unit which fits together with five like units to form a spherical node which can be connected to other nodes to form frames for the production of structures including toys, playground structures, lattices, pergolas, statues, roofs, furniture, fixtures, mattresses, kites, lamps, artistic structures and fixtures, floating platforms, flexible joints for machines or robots, buildings, bridges and space stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Inventor: Eric Yates
  • Patent number: 11485457
    Abstract: A personal watercraft is disclosed including a flotation portion, a strut extending from the flotation portion, and a motor pod is disposed along the strut with an electric motor operably coupled to a driveshaft. A hydrojet unit is removably attached to the motor pod and includes an inlet portion removably attached to the motor pod and a substantially cylindrical housing. The inlet portion includes a substantially conical motor interface with a shaft through-hole for receiving the driveshaft therein, one or more fins extending outwardly from the conical motor interface, and at least one ring encircling the conical motor interface and connecting to each of the one or more fins for inhibiting objects from passing through the inlet region. The housing defines a fluid flow path to an outlet portion. The hydrojet unit includes an impeller coupled to the driveshaft and a stator disposed within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Kai Concepts, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Lewis Montague, Peter Jell, Merten Stroetzel, Joseph Andrew Brock, Matthew Campbell Greaves
  • Patent number: 11453465
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a hydrofoil board powered by a motor driven propeller. The motor is controlled by a hand controller configured with user selectable operating pre-sets including a first operating pre-set, wherein the board is accelerated to a first speed which is less than that required for the board to hydrofoil, and a second operating pre-set, wherein the board is accelerated to a second speed sufficient for the board to hydrofoil. Alternatively, the operating pre-sets may limit the motor power. A system for operating a hydrofoil board is also disclosed, which includes a propulsion control unit comprising a propulsion source, and a hand controller configured to receive a first user input and a second user input and to transmit the user inputs to the propulsion control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FLITEBOARD PTY LTD
    Inventor: David Trewern
  • Patent number: 11420716
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a vessel includes an engine propulsion unit that provides a propulsive force to a hull by using an engine as a power source, an electric propulsion unit that provides a propulsive force to the hull by using an electric motor as a power source, a storing mechanism that is displaced from an actuating position to actuate the electric propulsion unit to a storing position to store the electric propulsion unit and performs a storing operation to store the electric propulsion unit, and an interlock controller that interlocks a storing operation of the storing mechanism with generation of a propulsive force by the engine propulsion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Akihiro Onoue, Satoshi Ishikawa, Kohei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11345449
    Abstract: A hydrofoil (1) includes a mast (2), with an incoming flow edge (3), a discharge edge (4), lateral surfaces (5) and an upper mast end (6) with a holder (7) to be fastened to a watersports board. A fuselage (8) has front (10) and rear wings (11) are arranged on opposite sides. The mast and the fuselage are configured as separate components and are connected to one another via a screw connection (12). An adapter (13) is connected to the mast and to the fuselage and is arranged in a recess (14) of the fuselage. A positive locking is established between an adapter outer surface (15) and the recess of the fuselage. An adapter mount (16) receives a lower mast end (9). A positive locking is formed between the mast and the adapter such that the lower mast end is arranged within the fuselage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NORTH KITEBOARDING AUSTRALASIA, LIMITED
    Inventor: Joern-Ulrich Sommerlatt
  • Patent number: 11345442
    Abstract: A hull locating arrangement for a vessel is disclosed that has a body at least partially suspended above at least a first hull by at least one support. The hull locating arrangement includes for the first hull a forward locating linkage and a rearward locating linkage, each of the forward locating linkage and the rearward locating linkage being connected between the first hull and the body to together constrain said hull in the lateral, longitudinal, roll and yaw directions relative to the body. The forward locating linkage includes a forward radius arm and a drop link, the drop link being pivotally connected to the radius arm. The rearward locating linkage includes a rearward radius arm connected between the body and the first hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Nanti-Craft Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Michael James Longman, Richard Monk
  • Patent number: 11332216
    Abstract: An inflatable shuttle boat including a seat tube, a pair of exterior buoyancy tubes, and a pair of foot support tubes. The seat tube has an elongate, cylindrical outer surface that is centrally located and extends from a front end to an aft end, the seat tube sized for single-file, straddled seating of a plurality of riders on top of the cylindrical outer surface. The pair of exterior buoyancy tubes have an elongate shape providing exterior sides of the inflatable shuttle boat, each of the pair of exterior buoyancy tubes having a larger diameter and height than the seat tube and extend in a parallel disposition to the seat tube at right and left sides. The pair of foot support tubes have elongate shapes extending adjacent and parallel to the seat tube in coupled engagement between the pair of exterior buoyancy tubes and the seat tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Indian Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas M. Plante, Michael Christopher Shine
  • Patent number: 10953955
    Abstract: A vessel having a stern and a bow, a deck having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first outer pontoon, a second outer pontoon, a central pontoon, and the motor pod each disposed below the deck and mounted to the bottom surface of the deck. The central pontoon is disposed between the first outer pontoon and the second outer pontoon, wherein the outer pontoons are spaced apart. The motor pod is disposed behind the central pontoon and between the first outer pontoon and the second outer pontoon. The motor pod defines a running surface, wherein the vessel is capable of planing on the running surface. The motor pod supports a motor at the rear. The vessel provides the ride characteristics and stability of a pontoon-style vessel at rest and at lower speeds while also providing the performance, maneuverability, and turning radius characteristics of a V-hull sport boat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: BRUNSWICK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bob Fieldhouse, John O. Wizorek, Don Mason
  • Patent number: 10926837
    Abstract: One embodiment of submerged blades (101) that provide hydrodynamic force to a vessel or aircraft (117) that can lift it above the surface of the water (106) at high speed by creating thrust with a single wetted high pressure surface (111), the low pressure surface (112) being covered with a gas filled void in the liquid, thus preventing sudden loss of lift as speed increases due to cavitation or surface venting. Other embodiments are described and shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Shaun Pritchard
  • Patent number: 10775808
    Abstract: A boat maneuvering control method for a boat provided with a propulsion device includes acquiring a target orientation, acquiring an actual orientation of the boat, setting a target yaw rate value based on orientation information of at least one of the target orientation and the actual orientation, detecting an actual yaw rate value of the boat, and controlling a direction of a thrust force of the propulsion device based on the target yaw rate value and the actual yaw rate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makoto Ito, Sebastian Nilsson, Mathias Lindeborg
  • Patent number: 10676159
    Abstract: A catamaran hull of hybrid structure includes a first lateral float, a second lateral float and a central float connecting the first lateral float to the second lateral float; the hull further including a first beam having a first bulkhead and a second beam having a second bulkhead, each bulkhead lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to the bow-stern line and including: a central part including a lower element intended to collaborate with a lower part of the central float; a first lateral part including a lower element intended to collaborate with a lower part of the first lateral float; a second lateral part including a lower element intended to collaborate with a lower part of the second lateral float; the hull part arranged between the first bulkhead and the second bulkhead defining a monobloc hull portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: KAYFLO DEVELOPPEMENT
    Inventors: Laurent Da Rold, Jean Delaune, Jean-Marc Salpetrier
  • Patent number: 10538299
    Abstract: A motion control system for a ship has one or more sensors generating sea condition data and at least one ship control system. Analyzer software receives the sea condition data and predicts a sea condition event. Calculator software calculates one or more commands in preparation for the sea condition event. Interface software communicates the one or more commands to the at least one ship control system and the at least one ship control system implements a command in advance of the event. The at least one ship control system may comprise a ride control system having one or more motion control devices. The at least one ship control system may also comprise an auto pilot system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Naiad Maritime Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Venables, Christopher M. Pappas, Benton H. Schaub, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10494806
    Abstract: A system of cross-shaped units and nodes used to construct strong, lightweight, inexpensive space frames with alternately rigid and flexible components, in which each cross-shaped unit which fits together with five like units to form a spherical node which can be connected to other nodes to form frames for the production of structures including toys, playground structures, lattices, pergolas, statues, roofs, furniture, fixtures, mattresses, kites, lamps, artistic structures and fixtures, floating platforms, flexible joints for machines or robots, buildings, bridges and space stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Eric Yates
  • Patent number: 10435127
    Abstract: A propulsion system for a vessel includes an engine propulsion unit that provides a propulsive force to a hull by using an engine as a power source, an electric propulsion unit that provides a propulsive force to the hull by using an electric motor as a power source, a storing mechanism that is displaced from an actuating position to actuate the electric propulsion unit to a storing position to store the electric propulsion unit and performs a storing operation to store the electric propulsion unit, and an interlock controller that interlocks a storing operation of the storing mechanism with generation of a propulsive force by the engine propulsion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: YAMAHA HATSUDOKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takayoshi Suzuki, Akihiro Onoue, Satoshi Ishikawa, Kohei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 10407151
    Abstract: An aircraft of flying wing or blended wing body type comprising, for access to a pressurized housing, a non-pressurized door in the trailing edge of the aircraft and a pressurized door on the pressurized housing. The distance between the center of the pressurized door and a plane of symmetry of the aircraft is less than or equal to the distance between the center of the non-pressurized door and the plane of symmetry, and the pressurized door is located on a wall other than a rear wall of the pressurized housing or upstream of a rear extremum point of the housing in the absence of any such rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Olivier Cazals, Jaime Genty De La Sagne
  • Patent number: 10315736
    Abstract: A suspension system for a multi-hulled vessel including: a chassis and at least one left hull and at least one right hull; a front left, a back left, a front right and a back right support arrangements with respective rams; a first adjustment accumulator having a fluid chamber and a gas chamber; and a first actuator to transfer or effectively transfer fluid between the fluid chamber of the first adjustment accumulator and at least one compression chamber of a respective ram of a first support arrangement comprising one or more of the front left, front right, back left or back right support arrangements. A static pressure in the gas chamber of the first adjustment accumulator being within 25% of a static operating pressure in the at least one compression chamber of the at least one ram of the first support arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Nauti-Craft Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Richard Monk
  • Patent number: 10232724
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Proterra Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Morris, Dale Hill, John Horth, Reuben Sarkar, Teresa J. Abbott, William Joseph Lord Reeves, Ryan Thomas Wiens
  • Patent number: 10151296
    Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine defines an airfoil with a leading edge section and a trailing edge section, notably a flat-back trailing edge. A rounded connecting section interconnects a pressure side section of the airfoil and the trailing edge section. The rounded connecting section attaches to the pressure side section at a transition point, in which the pressure side section's tangent does not coincide with the rounded connecting section's tangent, so that the outer surface of the airfoil has a sharp corner at said transition point. The truncated radius, i.e. geometrical discontinuity, thus formed at the transition between the pressure side section and the trailing edge section increases the aerodynamically effective surface of the pressure side and enables forced and hence controlled flow separation without compromising ease of manufacture and structural stability of a fiber-reinforced structure making up a shell of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Dave Dent, Jonas Romblad, Sonia Salcedo Serra
  • Patent number: 10112696
    Abstract: An aircraft assembly is disclosed and includes a fuselage including a turbine engine mounted within the aft fuselage. A burst zone is defined about the turbine engine and a tail is disposed at least partially with the burst zone. The tail includes primary control surfaces and sacrificial control surfaces. The sacrificial control surfaces can break away in a defined manner to maintain integrity of the primary control surfaces outside of the burst zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Jesse M. Chandler, Gabriel L. Suciu
  • Patent number: 10017227
    Abstract: A ship hull comprises a main hull portion having a bottom extending along a centerline from a leading edge, having first and second sides and having a top surface and an inclined leading surface. The ship hull further comprises first and second side skegs extending along the first and second sides of the main hull portion from the leading edge thereof, each of the first and second side skegs having outside and inside surfaces and extending to a bottom surface below the leading surface. A foil located between the first and second side skegs extends between first and second ends at a position below the leading surface. The leading surface of the main hull portion joins with the bottom surface of the first and second side skegs at a transition location forming a single continuous bottom surface aft thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Peter Van Diepen
  • Patent number: 10012235
    Abstract: A rotor blade of an axial compressor includes: a blade root; and a blade leaf. The blade leaf has: a flow inlet edge, a flow outlet edge, a pressure side extending between the flow inlet edge and the flow outlet edge and a suction side extending between the flow inlet edge and the flow outlet edge, which together define a blade profile of the blade leaf in Cartesian coordinate values x, y and z such that first and second profile coordinates, or the coordinates x and y when joining via continuous arcs, each describe a smooth profile section on a radial section height along a third profile coordinate, or the coordinate value z, and the joining of the radial profile sections with a smoothing function describe the blade profile of the blade leaf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: MAN Diesel & Turbo SE
    Inventors: Klaus Hörmeyer, Bernhard Eisenberg, Roland Emmrich, Dirk Anding
  • Patent number: 10001784
    Abstract: In an apparatus for controlling posture of a small boat having a hull and an even number of outboard motors mounted side by side on a stern of the hull, each equipped with a propeller driven by an engine and a throttle actuator adjusting a throttle valve opening of the engine, an inclinometer is installed in one of the outboard motors that produces an output indicating inclination of the hull relative to a vertical axis around a roll axis. It is determined whether the hull inclines to port or starboard from the output of the inclinometer and when it does, operation of the throttle actuators of the outboard motors are controlled on a side determined to incline downward to increase engine speed, while controlling operation of the throttle actuator of the outboard motor on a side determined to incline upward to decrease the engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Hashizume, Ryuichi Kimata
  • Patent number: 9908589
    Abstract: A novel hull form is described consisting of a base hull that incorporates flared sides along a bow, middle, and stern sections with raked bow and stern stem lines. The bow and stern sections have lateral oriented shapes, either as an attachment or integral to the hull, spanning the hull beam. The cross sections of these shapes have a novel and specific geometric relationship in conjunction with the base hull to provide a constant cross sectional area between the forward and aft perpendiculars. The shape improves the powering and seakeeping of the vessel hull in the marine environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Bailey
  • Patent number: 9897067
    Abstract: The aerodynamic element has a cross section in an airflow direction with a trailing edge (10c). The aerodynamic element (10) further includes a non-symmetrical swallow tail shaped cavity body (1, 2) attached to the trailing edge (10c) of the aerodynamic element (10). The aerodynamic element (10) is e.g. applied in a rotor blade for a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: STICHTING ENERGIEONDERZOEK CENTRUM NEDERLAND
    Inventor: Francesco Grasso
  • Patent number: 9862458
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel for operating on a body of water comprising: a non-planing hull having a waterline and a longitudinal direction with a forward portion, an aft portion, and a central portion, the hull being configured to have the aft portion with a smaller water displacement relative to a water displacement at the central portion; and an aft foil affixed to the aft hull portion with one or more connecting members, and below the surface of the water, and spaced from the hull, the aft foil having a span, a chord, and a leading edge and a trailing edge relative to a forward direction, wherein the leading edge of the aft foil is tilted at a downward angle relative to the horizontal, wherein the aft foil has a chord and profile in longitudinal cross section, with a configuration to provide a lifting force, the tilt angle of the chord of the aft foil being measured with respect to the horizontal, and wherein the aft foil is oriented to provide a continuous, upward, forwardly directed component of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Van Oossanen & Associates B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Van Oossanen
  • Patent number: 9855996
    Abstract: A system (16) for providing an air lubricating layer between a substantially flat bottom (6) of the hull (4) of a vessel (1) and water flowing under the bottom as the vessel is moving through the water. The system has a cavity (33) with a deflector. The deflector has an elongate part (29,34,34?) extending in the length direction of the cavity over at least at least 5%, preferably at least 10% of the cavity length L, wherein a projected area of the at least one deflector member (24,24?-26,26?) on the interface plane (30) covers at least 25%, preferably at least 50%, most preferably at least 75% of the surface area of the interface plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SILVERSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Johannnesson, Noah Silberschmidt, Jorgen Clausen
  • Patent number: 9809289
    Abstract: A hull mounted, steerable marine drive system having trim actuation is both steerable through 360 degrees and is trimmable. The marine drive system includes a watertight enclosure assembly for sealing the hull, which is adapted for keeping much of the marine drive system from being exposed to water. The enclosure includes a gasket flange plate, a retention plate and a folded gasket. The gasket flange plate closely follows the contour of the hull and enhances the hydrodynamic and wake performance of the present marine drive system. Further, marine drive system includes a forward-neutral-reverse (FNR) transmission assembly, a drive unit assembly having a trimmable upper unit and a steerable lower unit, a steering actuator assembly, a trim actuator assembly, and, preferably, trim foils for providing enhanced negative and positive trim and for providing enhanced positive and negative lift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Blue Sky Marine, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Nutt, Scott Crutchfield, Robert Scott Beach, Douglas J. Yoder, Douglas G. Bickelhaupt, George Edward Phillips, David J. Gruenwald, Bryan L. Danner
  • Patent number: 9789935
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus, optionally mounted on a stand up paddle board, or surfboard, to lift the board above the water surface and support the board in a stable position above the water surface while a rider standing on the board and maintaining a speed in the water via paddling. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a strut; a fuselage connected to said strut; a back foil portion connected to an aft end of said fuselage wherein the back foil portion includes two back wings extending outwardly from said aft end of said fuselage; and a forward foil portion connected to a fore end of said fuselage wherein the forward foil portion includes two front wings extending outwardly from said fore end of said fuselage and wherein the forward foil portion has a maximum thickness located at first distance from the fore edge of the forward foil portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: GO FOIL, INC.
    Inventor: Alex Leslie Aguera
  • Patent number: 9573656
    Abstract: A hydrofoil having an integrated yoke-bridge to preclude expansion of the channel defined by the yoke when the hydrofoil is secured to the cavitation plate. The single piece hydrofoil is secured to the cavitation by lateral screws passing through the hydrofoil and engaging the side of the cavitation plate. Additionally, one or two holes are optionally drilled through the single piece hydrofoil and through the cavitation plate followed by insertion of bolts passing through the hydrofoil and the cavitation plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: MARINE DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventor: Jon Templeman
  • Patent number: 9394047
    Abstract: An aeroplane includes a fuselage having a pair of hydrofoils providing hydrodynamic lift and stabilization arranged in the form of an inverted V. The junction between each hydrofoil and fuselage is situated forward the center of gravity of the aeroplane. The distance separating the junction between each hydrofoil and the fuselage, with respect to the center of gravity of the aeroplane is comprised between 0 and 170% of the mean aerodynamic chord of the main wing of the aeroplane, preferably between 20% and 135%. Each hydrofoil is inclined downwards, from its leading edge in the direction of its trailing edge. The straight line connecting these two edges form, a nominal pitch angle comprised between 2 and 12°, preferably between 6 and 8°. A part of the hydrofoil is located beneath a horizontal tangential plane of the aeroplane; each hydrofoil has a flexible intermediate section allowing the hydrofoil to flex upwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: LISA AERONAUTICS
    Inventors: Erick Herzberger, Luc Bernole, Benoit Senellart, Jean-Francois Clavreul, Satya Remond, Cedric Petrini
  • Patent number: 9120534
    Abstract: An assembly (300), including a hydrofoil (302), is provided for mounting on the anti-ventilation plate (14) of a sterndrive or outboard motor (16) without the need to modify the plate or motor. The hydrofoil (302) of the assembly (300) has a series of holes (308) spaced along its width to receive a series of mounting disk assemblies (304) having a stepped disk (310). A carriage bolt (314) forming a part of each mounting disk assembly (304) is placed in the hole (308) closest the edge (36, 38) of the plate (14), a stepped disk (310) is placed over the end of the bolt (314) and the hydrofoil (302) is clamped on the plate (14) by tightening nuts (316) to clamp the plate (14) between the hydrofoil (302) and step (362) of the disk (310). Friction material (312) on the mounting disk assemblies provides firm engagement with the plate (14). A catch (206) can be mounted between the hydrofoil (302) and the trim tab or anode recess (76) in the plate (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Sport Marine Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James F. Corn
  • Publication number: 20150144049
    Abstract: A watercraft including a side-hull extending downwardly from each side of a hull of the watercraft. A foil extends downwardly and inwardly from each side-hull.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Aeromarine Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Carl F. Daley, Peter E. Jess, Matthew Edmond Jess
  • Publication number: 20150140878
    Abstract: A watercraft, including; a mid section (2) and two side sections (3,4), whereby the mid section (2) has a seat (5) for a passenger and whereby the watercraft (1) has a steering mechanism. The watercraft (1) includes a front part (2) and a rear part, relative to a direction of travel of the watercraft (7), that are coupled together by means of a hinged coupling (8). The front part (2) of the watercraft (1) includes the mid section (2) of the watercraft (1), and the rear part (7) of the watercraft (1) includes the two side sections (3,4). The hinged coupling (8) forms part of the steering mechanism, such that as a result of a rotation of the front part (2) with respect to the rear part (7) of the watercraft (1) around the hinged coupling (8), the direction of travel of the watercraft (1) is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: KARIBU INVEST BVBA
    Inventor: Pieter MYNY
  • Publication number: 20150128841
    Abstract: A hydrofoil having an integrated yoke-bridge to preclude expansion of the channel defined by the yoke when the hydrofoil is secured to the cavitation plate. The single piece hydrofoil is secured to the cavitation by lateral screws passing through the hydrofoil and engaging the side of the cavitation plate. Additionally, one or two holes are optionally drilled through the single piece hydrofoil and through the cavitation plate followed by insertion of bolts passing through the hydrofoil and the cavitation plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: MARINE DYNAMICS, INC.
    Inventor: Jon Templeman
  • Patent number: 9011191
    Abstract: A board including a contact section, and a first step section which is at a different height from the contact section so that it does not make contact with a substantially level water surface when the board is at rest on the top of the substantially level water surface. The board further including a first hydrofoil fixed to the first step section. The first hydrofoil includes a keel and the first hydrofoil is fixed the first step section so that the keel is substantially perpendicular to the board. The first hydrofoil includes a wing which is fixed to and substantially perpendicular to the keel of the first hydrofoil. The wing is angled relative to the first step section from zero degrees to ninety degrees. The board may include a second step section and a second hydrofoil, which may be fixed to the second step section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Inventor: Derek Connor
  • Patent number: 8979604
    Abstract: An improved elongated board for a flying ski designed to be towed behind a conventional powered watercraft utilizing a standard ski tow rope or similar device. The elongated board comprises a front end and a back end. The front end extending from a front edge to about one-half of the length of the elongated board, the back end extending from a back edge to about one-half of the length of the elongated board, and the back end has a greater mass than the front end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Robert C. Woolley
  • Patent number: 8955451
    Abstract: A foil structure for providing buoyancy and lift to a floating device is provided. The foil structure comprises an elongated left hand side floating device section and an elongated right hand side floating device section. The left hand side floating device section and the right hand side floating device section are placed at a predetermined distance to a longitudinal axis of the floating device and oriented substantially parallel thereto. A left hand side foil and a right hand side foil protrudes from the left hand side floating device section and the right hand side floating device section, respectively, towards a vertical plane through the longitudinal axis and is oriented at an acute angle to a horizontal plane. A leading edge of each foil intersects the respective floating device section in proximity to a bow portion thereof. Each foil extends along the respective floating device section and terminates in proximity to a stern portion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Aeromarine Innovations Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Daley, Peter E. Jess
  • Publication number: 20150013586
    Abstract: A marine vessel comprising: at least one buoyant tubular foil; at least one venturi injection ring positioned adjacent to the perimeter of the at least one buoyant tubular foil so as to create a passageway between the at least one venturi injection ring and the perimeter of the at least one buoyant tubular foil, wherein the passageway is characterized by a fore opening, an aft opening, and an intermediate opening disposed between the fore opening and the aft opening, and wherein the intermediate opening is smaller than the fore opening and the aft opening; at least one fluid opening formed in the perimeter of the at least one buoyant tubular foil adjacent to at least one of the intermediate opening and the aft opening; and at least one passageway connecting the at least one fluid opening to a source of fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory E. Sancoff, Joseph Curcio, David Norman
  • Publication number: 20140366794
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an underwater foil (1) for a marine vessel of the type floating on water disposed completely below the waterline and extending in the port-starboard direction. The underwater foil (1) comprises a plurality of foil members (2, 3) connected to each other in order to form the underwater foil (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Mehmet Nevres Ulgen
  • Patent number: 8893637
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an underwater floating device (1) characterized in that it comprises: an insert (4) comprising a thermoplastic material and a hollow tube (7), a foam (5) of a thermoplastic material, at least partly covering the insert (4), an outer skin (6) comprising a thermoplastic material formed by injection molding over the foam and configured for being in contact with water during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: SERCEL
    Inventors: Thierry Roger, Jean-Jacques Vignaux, Christophe Augor
  • Patent number: 8893639
    Abstract: A drive unit has an engine, an operatively connected driveshaft, a transmission, and a propeller shaft connected to a rotor outside a gear case. A plate, extending above the rotor, is adapted to slidingly receive along a joint axis, an accessory having an accessory joint element which is one of a channel and a protrusion. Extending parallel to the joint axis along a plate joint surface, which is one of a first surface facing away from the rotor and a second surface facing toward the rotor, is a plate joint element, which is the other of the channel and the protrusion, adapted to slidingly interlock with the accessory joint element to thereby prevent displacement thereof in a first direction parallel to the plate joint surface and perpendicular to the joint axis, and in a second direction normal to the plate joint surface. An accessory attachment method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Crate, Paul Westhoff, Jr., Mark Noble, Todd Craft
  • Patent number: 8863681
    Abstract: A hydrofoil section comprises first and second faces that create, in operation at speeds above a ventilation speed, a ventilated cavity defined by a first cavity face which departs from the first hydrofoil face and a second cavity face which departs from the second hydrofoil face. Each cavity face represents a free surface and each face separating from the said free surface at a discontinuity on that surface, the separated faces forming a continuation of the faces of arbitrary shape and enclosed by the free surfaces without contacting the said free surfaces. Below the speed at which full ventilation occurs the arbitrarily shaped portion of each face is configured to provide a modified flow configuration resulting in changed lift and or drag and or pitching moment under partial, or unventilated operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventors: Jonathan Sebastian Howes, Linton Paul Christopher Jenkins
  • Patent number: 8857363
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrofoil arrangement for a hydrofoil craft with at least one fully submerged lifting wing. The hydrofoil arrangement includes at least two struts pivotally arranged on the hydrofoil craft with each strut being connected to a lifting wing. The struts are arranged with their centers of effort of hydrodynamic forces behind the pivot axes of the struts during forward travel of the hydrofoil craft. They are arranged to pivot relative to the hydrofoil craft when the hydrofoil craft experiences a disturbance in roll-angle. This results in a transversal movement of the hydrofoil craft relative to the water surface during forward travel. The hydrofoil arrangement also increases the roll- stability for a hydrofoil craft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Elektrofoil AB
    Inventor: Alexander Sahlin
  • Patent number: 8834216
    Abstract: A stern bracket for mounting a drive unit to a watercraft including a transom. The drive unit is pivotable with respect to the stern bracket about a tilt axis. The stern bracket includes a support member for fixing the drive unit to the transom and a water deflector. The water deflector comprises a mounting bracket attached to the support member and a deflection plate connected to the mounting bracket. The deflection plate, disposed at a vertical position lower than the tilt axis, extends between the transom and the drive unit mounted to the stern bracket mounted to the transom. A left deflection wing, connected to at least one of the deflection plate and the mounting bracket, extends downward and laterally outward therefrom. A right deflection wing, connected to at least one of the deflection plate and the mounting bracket, extends downward and laterally outward therefrom. A watercraft is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: BRP US Inc.
    Inventors: Dave Calamia, Mark Noble, Jeff Turner, Brian Hanover, Jerry Ewens, Guillaume Longpre
  • Publication number: 20140182507
    Abstract: A sidewall planing boat includes: a body; sub-bodies; and a power device; wherein the two sub-bodies are mounted on a front portion of the body and are symmetrically provided at two sides of the body; bottom surfaces of the sub-bodies are lower than a bottom surface of the body; wherein rigid sidewalls are symmetrically mounted on side surfaces of the body, rigid sub-sidewalls are symmetrically mounted on side surfaces of the sub-body; portions of the sidewalls and the sub-sidewalls which extend to a bottom of the sidewall planing boat are inserted into water for forming three lifting areas with front openings with the bottom; wherein the power device is mounted on the body and/or the sub-bodies. With the foregoing structure, water resistance of the sidewall planing boat is decreased and a sailing speed in increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Liang Hou, Fengqin Jia, Yuhan Hou