Key information

Title
A hydrofoil vessel
Application number
20231124
Case type
National
Status
17.03.2025 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
24.10.2023
Effective date
24.10.2023
Publicly available
17.03.2025
Next annual fee due
31.10.2027
Applicant
SCALESIA AS (NO)
Owner
SCALESIA AS (NO)
Inventor
Lars Arne Bleie (NO)
Agent
ACAPO ONSAGERS AS (NO)
Granted
17.03.2025
Patent number
348590
Expiry date
24.10.2043

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
A hydrofoil vessel (10) comprising several hydrofoils (20), each hydrofoil (20) having a horizontal wing (22) arranged to be submerged in water (16), such that the vessel (10) is lifted above water when cruising, said horizontal wings (22) being connected to a hull (12) of the vessel (10) by upright struts (14). Each horizontal wing (22) comprises an upright winglet (24) connected to an outer end (22c) of the wing (22), said upright winglet (24) having an air intake (28) connected with air outlet apertures (26) on the horizontal wing (22).

Publications

Latest published versionB1A1

Documents

 Expand Download files (15)
Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 21.03.2025 07-01 Saksbehandling 20231124(348590) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20231124)
05.02.2025 06-01 Saksbehandling 20231124 UT PT Meddelelse om patent ACAPO AS
 22.10.2024 05-04 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 tekst for meddelelse ACAPO AS
 22.10.2024 05-03 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 norske krav ACAPO AS
 22.10.2024 05-02 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 Besvarelse ACAPO AS
 22.10.2024 05-01 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ACAPO AS
 02.05.2024 04-02 Saksbehandling 20231124 UT PT report 08:03:56
02.05.2024 04-01 Saksbehandling 20231124 UT 20231124_1844634_PT 08 ACAPO AS
 02.11.2023 03-03 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 Overdragelse ACAPO AS
 02.11.2023 03-02 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 Generell Fullmakt ACAPO AS
 02.11.2023 03-01 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ACAPO AS
 24.10.2023 02-01 Saksbehandling 20231124 UT Formalia 1 ACAPO AS
 24.10.2023 01-03 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 patentsøknad ACAPO AS
 24.10.2023 01-02 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN P20275NO00 figurer ACAPO AS
 24.10.2023 01-01 Saksbehandling 20231124 INN Søknadsskjema Patent ACAPO AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
A hydrofoil vesselField of the inventionThe present invention relates to a hydrofoil vessel comprising several hydrofoils, each hydrofoil having a horizontal wing arranged to be submerged in water, such that the vessel is raised above water when cruising, said horizontal wings being connected to a hull of the vessel by upright struts.Background of the inventionThrough their foils, hydrofoil boats can significantly reduce friction in water compared to conventional hulls. This is knowledge known since the beginning of the last century. However, the potential and possibilities of this have only now been realized through sailboats that go over 60 knots.It is especially the submerged foils that have proved interesting as comfort and performance are better than hydrofoils that cut the surface. Submerged foils are nevertheless technically complicated as they require active control and management systems which make them expensive to both produce and maintain.Hydrofoils are horizontal wings that such vessels rest on above water when cruising. The vertical uprights are called struts. Such vessels are subject to physical effects from waves, wind, or other changes in the center of gravity which means that the steering system must respond to maintain balance. This is done with flaps on vessels with active steering systems.Disclosure of the state of artUS 3117546 A discloses a watercraft of the type comprising one or more cavitating or non-cavitating, preferably fully submerged hydrofoils which extend transversely and carry the weight of the hull, and an automatic control system which regulates the extent to which the foil or foils are submerged in water when the watercraft is in motion, and which also improves the seaworthiness of the watercraft. The hydrofoils are horizontally arranged foils equipped with apertures, and the foils are connected to the watercraft by vertically struts extending up to an outrigger or wing on the watercraft. Said struts can also be equipped with orifices arranged on the side wall of the struts. US 3146751 A discloses an automatic control device serving to maintain the immersion depth of fully submerged hydrofoils or hydrofoils of which only small parts are emerging, both being attached to a watercraft and serving furthermore to reduce rolling and pitching motions as well as vertical accelerations of such craft in a seaway.US 3885513 A discloses an automatic mechanism for preventing cavitation at hydrofoils and flow bodies fed with air at the surface thereof from air exit openings. Rows of such air exit openings are arranged at locations of greatest excess speed at the foil profile or flow body, and that such rows are coupled with an air admission valve opened by negative pressure in opposition to an adjustable closing force. The closing force is calculated such that the valve opens and admits air from the atmosphere when a predetermined pressure has been attained.Objects of the present inventionThe present invention aims to provide a combined passive stabilization and control system with energy saving design in one design. It involves a great simplification as the system does not require supplied energy or need moving parts.The invention combines stabilization, draft control together with drag reduction in one design.Instead of using flaps to account for physical effects from waves, wind, or other changes, to maintain balance, the present invention uses air preferably released on an upper part of the horizontal wings of the hydrofoils.A basic idea of the invention is to provide a fixed structure/design placed at the end of the horizontal wings of the hydrofoil vessel. Such a vessel could possibly need at least two, one on each side of the vessel. It thus comprises a system of independent devices with a drag-reducing design.Summary of the inventionAccording to the invention, a hydrofoil vessel comprising several hydrofoils is provided, each hydrofoil having a horizontal wing arranged to be submerged in water, such that the vessel is lifted above water when cruising, said horizontal wings being connected to a hull of the vessel by upright struts. Each horizontal wing comprises an upright winglet connected to an outer end of the wing, said upright winglet having an air intake connected with air outlet apertures on the horizontal wing.In one embodiment, the air intake is provided in a tip of the winglet.The air outlet apertures can be provided on an upper part of the horizontal wing.The air outlet apertures can be provided closer to a leading edge than a trailing edge of the horizontal wing.Further, the upright winglet can be curved backwards, with a leading edge of the winglet having a convex shape and a trailing edge of the winglet having a concave shape.The horizontal wing and the winglet can each be hollow, allowing air flow from the air intake in the winglet and to the air outlet apertures in the horizontal wing.The horizontal wing and the winglet may also comprise an air flow channel connecting the air intake and the air outlet apertures, allowing air flow from the air intake in the winglet and to the air outlet apertures in the horizontal wing.The air outlet apertures can be a series of holes or slits in the horizontal wing.The upright winglet is arranged to penetrate a water surface of the water, allowing air to be sucked in through the air intake of the winglet.The vessel can comprise at least a pair of front horizontal wings and winglets and at least a pair of rear horizontal wings and winglets.The horizontal wings of each pair are interconnected with each other.The upright winglet can comprise a nearly planar, straight section joined to the outer end of the horizontal wing through a curved transition section having prescribed curvature limits.The horizontal wing may comprise drainage holes for drainage of water. Description of the figuresEmbodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following figures, wherein:Figure 1 shows illustrative an overview of a hydrofoil vessel according to the invention.Figure 2 shows illustrative a horizontal wing with a winglet supported on a hull of the vessel.Figure 3 shows illustrative the horizontal wing with the winglet in the water. Figure 4 shows a partial cutaway section of the horizontal wing and winglet.Description of preferred embodiments of the inventionFig, 1 shows illustrative a hydrofoil vessel 10 having several hydrofoils 20 for raising the vessel 10 above the water 16 when cruising at optimal speed. The hydrofoils 20 are connected to an underside of a hull 12 of the vessel by upright struts 14, and the hydrofoils 20 are submerged in the water 16 during use.The hydrofoils 20 comprises horizontal wings 22, wherein the struts 14 connects the hull 12 and the horizontal wings 22. The hydrofoils 20 further comprises an upright winglet 24 connected to an outer end 22c of each horizontal wing 22.The upright winglet 24 can be almost right-angled, as illustrated in the figures, or the winglet 24 can be connected to the outer end 22 of the horizontal wing 22 at a desired angle. Hence, the term “upright” covers angles also other than right-angled.The winglet 24 can for instance in one embodiment be of blended winglet type, which provides minimum induced drag for a given surface size. The winglet 24 consists of a nearly planar, straight section joined to the outer end 22c of the horizontal wing 22 through a curved transition section 32. The winglet transition section 32 having prescribed curvature limits providing surface aerodynamic loadings required for minimum drag. Radius of the curvature can for instance be 50-1000mm and/or the angle between the horizontal wing 22 and the winglet 24 can for instance be 90-120 degrees.The hydrofoil vessel 10 comprises hydrofoils 20 with at least a pair of front horizontal wings 22 and winglets 24 and at least a pair of rear horizontal wings 22 and winglets 24, wherein the horizontal wings 22 of each pair can be interconnected with each other. The upright winglet 24 is equipped with one or more air intake(s) 28 and which is/are arranged to penetrate the water surface of the water 16. The air intake(s) 28 is/are connected with or communicates with air outlet apertures 26 on the horizontal wing 22.When the vessel 10 is at rest the entire system will be filled with water. When the vessel 10 starts to move, the horizontal wing 22 acts like a conventional wing and will lift the vessel 10 out of the water 16. Water has an inertia in contrast to air which means that the lift is not significantly weakened by the flow through. At some point, the air intake 28 will come above the water level.During speed, the water and waves will open up and close the air intake 28 to the extent needed to maintain altitude. When the vessel 10 goes too deep, the air intake 28 will be closed by the water flow and create an ordinary wing underwater, which in turn creates lift. The vessel 10 will lift until the air intakes 28 come over the water surface of the water 16 and sucks air in and down to the air outlet apertures 26 on the horizontal wings 22 and "punctures" the lift. This is repeated until the vessel 10 is stabilized.As there is negative pressure on the upper side of the horizontal wing 22 at speed, the water will always be sucked out of the system. When air escapes the air outlet apertures 26 on the upper side of the wing 22, the lift will be weakened.To achieve said effect, the air intake 28 is preferably provided in or adjacent a tip 24c of the winglet 24, which then penetrates the water surface as mentioned. However, the air intake 28 could possibly also be provided on the backside, frontside, or on the sides, of the winglets 24, as long as the desired effect is achieved.Since there are several such hydrofoils 20 on the vessel 10, the average height above water of the entire vessel 10 will be determined by the air intakes 28.Further, when several such wings 22 "work" independently of each other, it is the sum of all that determines the vessel's 10 height above the water.The air outlet apertures 26 can be a series of holes or slits in the horizontal wing 22, and which preferably are provided on an overside of the horizontal wing 22. However, the air outlet apertures 26 can possibly also be provided on the underside of the wing 22.As seen in fig.2 and 3, the air outlet apertures 26 can be provided closer to a leading edge 22a than a trailing edge 22b of the horizontal wing 22. The air flow out of the air outlet apertures 26 in the horizontal wing 22 is illustrated by the arrows pointing backwards.The horizontal wing 22 and the winglet 24 can in one embodiment each be hollow, thus allowing air flow from the air intake 28 in the winglet 24 and to the air outlet apertures 26 in the horizontal wing 22. However, it is also possible that the horizontal wing 22 and the winglet 24 comprises an air flow channel 30 connecting the air intake 28 and the air outlet apertures 26, allowing air flow from the air intake 28 in the winglet 24 and to the air outlet apertures 26 in the horizontal wing 22. In the latter case, a manifold can be used to distribute the air flow from the channel to the air outlet apertures 28 in the horizontal wing 22.Fig. 4 shows an example of a hollow horizontal wing 22. In case it is needed, the hollow section of the horizontal wing 22 can comprise drainage holes for drainage of water. The drainage holes could suitably be placed at the lower most point or place in the hollow part.Fig. 4 also shows the air flow channel 30 connecting the air intake 28 in the winglet 24 and the air outlet apertures 26 embedded in the horizontal wing 22.The design of the upright winglets 24 can be backwards curved so that floating objects do not get stuck or cover the air intakes 28. As seen particularly in fig.3, the upright winglet 24 is curved backwards, with a leading edge 24a of the winglet 24 having a convex shape and a trailing edge 24b of the winglet 24 having a concave shape.The design of hydrofoils 20 according to the invention will also have a positive effect on drag through reduced wingtip vortex. The “pigtail” in the drawings illustrates wingtip vortex. The figures show upright backwards leaning winglet 24, but which can have several variations and different designs. This also applies to the winglet ends (the tip 24c) themselves. Such winglets have significant gains in the form of reduced drag. The leading edge 24a and the trailing edge 24b can have a varying streamwise spacing and varying monotonically within prescribed limits whereby the formation of vortices and areas of flow separation are prevented.The wing configuration and wingtip vortex from the front wings can be utilized by rear wings in that they also create lift for the rear wings, as illustrated in fig.3.The invention is preferably used with high-speed passenger vessels that operate in varying wave heights and lengths, and it may happen that waves are longer than the vessel. For safety reasons, it should therefore be possible for the captain or a computer to override the self-regulation to avoid uncontrolled collisions with water.
Claims
Claims1. A hydrofoil vessel (10) comprising several hydrofoils (20), each hydrofoil (20) having a horizontal wing (22) arranged to be submerged in water (16), such that the vessel (10) is lifted above water when cruising, said horizontal wings (22) being connected to a hull (12) of the vessel (10) by upright struts (14),wherein each horizontal wing (22) comprises an upright winglet (24) connected to an outer end (22c) of the wing (22), said upright winglet (24) having an air intake (28) connected with air outlet apertures (26) on the horizontal wing (22).2. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the air intake (28) is provided in a tip (24c) of the winglet (24).3. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet apertures (26) are provided on an upper part of the horizontal wing (22).4. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet apertures (26) are provided closer to a leading edge (22a) than a trailing edge (22b) of the horizontal wing (22).5. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upright winglet (24) is curved backwards, with a leading edge (24a) of the winglet (24) having a convex shape and a trailing edge (24b) of the winglet (24) having a concave shape.6. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal wing (22) and the winglet (24) each are hollow, allowing air flow from the air intake (28) in the winglet (24) and to the air outlet apertures (26) in the horizontal wing (22).7. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal wing (22) and the winglet (24) comprises an air flow channel (30) connecting the air intake (28) and the air outlet apertures (26), allowing air flow from the air intake (28) in the winglet (24) and to the air outlet apertures (26) in the horizontal wing (22).8. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet apertures (26) are a series of holes or slits in the horizontal wing (22).9. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upright winglet (24) is arranged to penetrate a water surface of the water (16), allowing air to be sucked in through the air intake (28) of the winglet (24).10. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein said vessel (10) comprises at least a pair of front horizontal wings (22) and winglets (24) and at least a pair of rear horizontal wings (22) and winglets (24).11. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 10, wherein the horizontal wings (22) of each pair are interconnected with each other.12. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the upright winglet (24) comprises a nearly planar, straight section joined to the outer end (22c) of the horizontal wing (22) through a curved transition section (32) having prescribed curvature limits.13. The hydrofoil vessel (10) according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal wing (22) comprises drainage holes for drainage of water.Krav1. Et hydrofoilfartøy (10) omfattende flere hydrofoiler (20), der hver hydrofoil (20) har en horisontal vinge (22) innrettet til å senkes ned i vann (16), slik at fartøyet (10) løftes over vann under marsjfart, og de horisontale vingene (22) er forbundet med et skrog (12) på fartøyet (10) ved hjelp av oppadragende stag (14),hvori hver horisontal vinge (22) omfatter en oppadragende winglet (24) koblet til en ytre ende (22c) av vingen (22), der den oppadragende wingleten (24) har et luftinntak (28) forbundet med luftutløpsåpninger (26) på den horisontale vingen (22).2. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, karakterisert ved at luftinntaket (28) er anordnet i en tupp (24c) av nevnte winglet (24).3. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, karakterisert ved at luftutløpsåpningene (26) er anordnet på en øvre del av den horisontale vingen (22).4. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori luftutløpsåpningene (26) er anordnet nærmere en forkant (22a) enn en bakkant (22b) av den horisontale vingen (22).5. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori den oppadragende wingleten (24) er buet bakover, med en forkant (24a) av wingleten (24) som har en konveks form og en bakkant (24b) av wingleten (24) som har en konkav form.6. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori den horisontale vingen (22) og wingleten (24) hver er hule, og tillater luftstrøm fra luftinntaket (28) i winglet (24) og til luftutløpsåpningene (26) i den horisontale vingen (22).7. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori den horisontale vingen (22) og wingleten (24) omfatter en luftstrømkanal (30) som forbinder luftinntaket (28) og luftutløpsåpningene (26), og som tillate luftstrøm fra luftinntaket (28) i wingleten (24) og til luftutløpsåpningene (26) i den horisontale vingen (22).8. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori luftutløpsåpningene (26) er en serie av hull eller slisser i den horisontale vingen (22).9. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori den oppadragende wingleten (24) er anordnet for å penetrere en vannoverflate av vannet (16), slik at luft kan suges inn gjennom luftinntaket (28) til wingleten (24).10. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, karakterisert ved at fartøyet (10) omfatter minst et par fremre horisontale vinger (22) og winglets (24) og minst et par bakre horisontale vinger (22) og winglets (24).11. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 10, hvori de horisontale vingene (22) til hvert par er forbundet med hverandre.12. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori den oppadragende wingleten (24) omfatter en nesten plan, rett seksjon forbundet med den ytre enden (22c) av den horisontale vingen (22) gjennom en buet overgangsseksjon (32) som har forhåndsangitte krumningsgrenser.13. Hydrofoilfartøyet (10) ifølge krav 1, hvori den horisontale vingen (22) omfatter dreneringshull for drenering av vann.
Drawings

Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classesB63B 1/28CPC classesB63B 1/288Y02T 70/10

Citations

US 3117546 A (A)WO 2021/092652 A1 (A1)DE 102018005324 A (A)US 2010/044501 A1 (A1)US 2011/206531 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
SCALESIA AS
Fjordavegen 1844 5776 NÅ NO (ULLENSVANG Municipality, Vestland county)Org. number: 972412570Inventors
Lars Arne Bleie
Fjordavegen 1844 5776 NÅ NO (ULLENSVANG Municipality, Vestland county)

Agent

ACAPO ONSAGERS AS
ACAPO ONSAGERS AS

Org. number: 932214636

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Open in The Brønnøysund Register Centre
Edvard Griegs vei 1 5059 BERGEN NO (BERGEN Municipality, Vestland county)
Org. number: 932214636
Reference: P20275NO00

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