Description

Field of the invention

The invention relates to an innovative mechanism for projecting and adjusting a flap adapted for reducing the frictional resistance of a generic hull, advantageously reducing the overall dimensions which generally hinder boats provided with foils in the mooring steps.

Prior art

In recent years, the world of pleasure boating has been conditioned by the appearance of the first foiling appendages, i.e. immersed flaps which, once connected to the hulls, are adapted to raise the hull as the boat's speed increases.

Foiling navigation allows the speed to be increased by reducing drag and, in the case of motor boats, fuel consumption.

Not to be underestimated is the increase in speed, useful for covering greater distances during cruising periods, but also more dangerous with adverse weather and sea conditions.

However, the main defect of foiling, in the yachting sector, is the bulk caused by the presence of said foils, which include an external appendage which generally projects by a few meters with respect to the external silhouette of the hull and sacrifices space interior, especially when retracted.

Said projections are limiting, as they prevent the owner of the boat from using a berth on which the owner of a boat of identical dimensions but without foils can count.

Considering further the hauling and launching steps, the problems linked to the presence of external flaps (foils) are evident, as they require long preparations and the use of highly specialized personnel because, given their projection, they can easily be damaged, such as in shallow water navigation. In the past, patents such as GB2468839 have been proposed, which proposes a system for projecting a flap from the drift, in order to optimize performance, without in any way giving the boat the possibility to lift, obtaining minimal advantages compared to the enormous disadvantages derived from the volume.

The object of the patent is therefore to propose a mechanism for projecting and adjusting a flap adapted for lifting any boat, further providing for a groove which favors the total disappearance of said flap when retracted, therefore in the steps of displacement navigation or mooring in the port.

Description of the invention

According to the present invention, a mechanism for projecting and adjusting a flat integrated to the hull of a boat is provided, which effectively solves the above drawbacks.

The projection and adjustment mechanism object of the invention facilitates the use of the flaps commonly defined as foils, simplifying the management of the appendages and limiting both internal and external overall dimensions.

The use of this flaps integrated into the hull, managed by the projection and adjustment mechanism, allows any boat to reach higher speeds, limiting fuel consumption, in the case of motor boats, without renouncing the convenience associated with mooring in ports and shallow draft. Being said flap retractable and concealable in fact, the owner of the boat provided with said flap can advantageously anchor near the coast or enter small ports to shelter and to enjoy the holiday to the fullest.

Said flap, commonly referred to as a foil, is adapted to support the boat weight by providing a raising force identified as lift; said flap is shaped like the outer silhouette of the boat hull in order to minimize the overall dimensions when it is retracted and for mooring in the port; said flap is bound to the hull, on its inner end, by means of a two-axis joint having offset and perpendicular axes, around which said flap is rotatable to project from the silhouette of the hull. A groove is obtained externally to the plating or planking of the boat hull and is adapted to receive said flap in the retracted condition, thereby minimizing the overall dimensions during displacement navigation and in the periods of mooring in the port; said groove is sealed with respect to the interior of the boat in question.

Said two-axis joint with offset axes is adapted for forming a constraint for an inner end of said flap on the boat hull; said joint is therefore mounted on a lower part of the hull and allows to make the flap protrude from the groove, besides allowing its longitudinal rotation, so as to modify the flap incidence with respect to the water flow, and adjusting the resulting lift.

In one embodiment thereof, said inner end of the flap is connected to the hull of the boat in question by means of a ball and socket joint, in order to facilitate any type of rotation of the flap while maintaining a solid connection with the hull.

A rod is instead bound to said flap 13 at one of its ends and placed in compression, it allows projecting the flap by rotating it about the two-axis joint; said rod is further adapted for supporting the boat weight once lifted by said flap in foiling navigation by keeping constant the flap’s aperture.

By way of non-limiting example, said rod is adapted to friction the opening of the flap, decreasing its extraction from said groove, in order to modify the flight height according to the weather and sea conditions, which may require a more conservative foiling navigation, therefore with a lower height from the water.

To adjust both the projection angle and the incidence angle of the flap with respect to the flow, a second hinged joint is used between said rod and said flap, in order to further unite and constrain the two components.

A compression mechanism is necessary to move said rod, in order to allow the projection of said flap; said mechanism proves to be further capable of keeping the flap under pressure during foiling navigation, supporting the weight of the entire boat and cushioning any jolts due to wave motion. Said compression mechanism, in one embodiment thereof, is actuated by a hydraulic, mechanical system or, alternatively, by way of non-limiting example, it is actuated by an electric motor, powered by a plurality of accumulators.

Said accumulators, in one of their embodiments, are charged by any generator present on board the boat in question.

In the case of boats of larger dimensions it is necessary, in a variant of the present projection and adjustment mechanism, to provide for the installation of a pair of pistons, adapted to push to extract said flap; said pistons, controlled separately, allow the control of the incidence angle and, suitably inclined, guarantee the stability of the flap; a plurality of ball terminals are installed to favor the inclination of the flap, constructively simplifying the attachments on the hull and on the flap.

Installed below the bow of the boat in question, there may be a sensor, for example an ultrasound sensor, adapted to detect the height from the water at which the boat is navigating. The height from the water proves to be an essential piece of information in foiling navigation as it determines the trim and the resistance to progress with respect to the water flow. In fact, sailing at a greater height means reducing friction, given the decrease in the wet surface. Navigating at a lower height, on the other hand, advantageously reduces the cavitation component of the immersed flap, improving performance.

The information relating to the height from the water, coming from said ultrasound sensor, is sent to the CPU of a control unit, in order to automatically and suddenly adjust the incidence of the flap with respect to the water flow, constantly correcting the trim and making foiling navigation more comfortable and effective.

Said CPU, by way of non-limiting example, is adapted to be calibrated by the boat's driver, who can set a maximum height and a minimum navigation height, determining a height range in which said CPU keeps the boat during foiling navigation. In one embodiment of said projection and adjustment mechanism of a flap integrated to the hull of a boat, several flaps can be installed and used at the same time, in order to stabilize foiling navigation, also compensating for any imbalances due to wave motion.

The advantages offered by the present invention are clear in the light of the above description and will be even more apparent from the accompanying figures and the detailed description.

The invention will hereinafter be described in at least a preferred embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying figures, in which:

- FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a boat provided with the projection and adjustment mechanism of a flap 13 object of the invention.

In fact, the hull 10 shown comprises a groove 11 adapted for containing said flap 13 when the boat is sailing in displacement conditions or when it is maneuvering inside the port.

The flap 13 is projecting from said groove by the use of a rod 12, which is connected with said flap 13 by means of a hinge 14.

- FIGURE 2 shows a cross section of the boat provided with the projection and adjustment mechanism of a flap 13 object of the invention.

In this case, the boat shown is a biprop motor boat, which has two symmetrical and specular flaps 13 adapted for lifting the hull 10 during foiling navigation.

Said flaps 13 are projecting and adjusted by means of said rod 12. To facilitate both transversal and longitudinal rotation of said flaps 13, a joint with two offset axes 15 is adapted to constrain the inner end of said flaps 13 to the hull 10.

- FIGURE 3 shows, specifically, the shape and design of the offset two-axis joint 15, adapted to simultaneously allow the projection of the flap 13 from the groove 11 and its adjustment of the incidence angle with respect to the water flow, changing the lift.

Detailed description of the invention The present invention will now be described purely by way of non-limiting or binding example with the aid of the figures, which illustrate some embodiments relative to the present inventive concept.

With reference to FIG. 1, the perspective view of the stern of a boat provided with flaps 13 for foiling navigation is illustrated.

Said flap 13 is adapted to generate an upward thrust, called lift, by means of a suitable incidence angle with respect to the water flow. This force allows the boat to lift when the minimum lift speed is reached.

The projection mechanism allows the boat to navigate at a well-determined height with respect to the water level, said height is adjusted by opening said flap 13, through a rod 12.

Said rod 12 is adapted to push the flap 13 downwards, favoring the opening and closing of the flap 13 inside a groove 11.

Said groove 11 has the purpose of housing the flap 13 when the latter is not used, i.e. during displacement navigation or during maneuvers in the port.

A hinge 14 is adapted to connect said rod 12 with said flap 13, also allowing the inclination of the flap, in order to modify its incidence angle with respect to the water flow.

When the present projection and adjustment mechanism is used on larger boats, a pair of pistons is installed to push said flap 13 to be projected; said pistons, if controlled separately, also allow control of the incidence angle and, suitably inclined, ensure the stability of the flap 13.

With reference to FIG. 2, a cross section of the hull 10 belonging to a generic boat provided with the present mechanism for projecting and adjusting a flap 13 is illustrated.

The boat shown is an example built with two propellers as the main thrusters. As can be seen from the image, said propellers can be installed below said flaps 13, in order to optimize thrust during foiling navigation, limiting the overall dimensions and reducing the possibility of incurring ventilation of the flaps 13.

Said flaps 13 are extracted from the groove 11 and are kept in the open position, by means of the use of special rods 12, which are further able to friction the opening of said flaps 13, determining the height from the water during foiling navigation.

The inner end of said flaps 13 is bound to the hull 10 of the boat through the use of a two-axis joint 15. With reference to FIG. 3, the joint with two offset axes 15 is specifically illustrated, adapted to constrain said flaps 13 to the hull 10 of the boat.

Said joint 15 proves to be indispensable in the opening of the flaps 13 and in its adjustment, when it proves necessary to modify the incidence angle, i.e. the incidence of the flap 13 with respect to the water flow. Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variants may be made to the invention described thus far which are apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection that is provided by the appended claims.