US3789789A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydrofoil sailing craft
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-23
•
Granted: 1974-02-05
•
Expires: 1992-03-23
Abstract
Abstract A hydrofoil sailing craft having a hydrofoil assembly comprising an outrig pivotally mounted on the hull of the craft and a pair of swept-back hydrofoils mounted on each end of the outrig, an elastic restraint attached to the outrig and to a control shaft mounted on the hull of the craft whereby the foils are permitted to pivot through an angle which is controlled by the combined effects of the elastic restraint and the rearward shift of the lift center on the hydrofoils as they rise from the water. Means are also provided for adjusting the tension on the elastic restraint and for pivoting the hydrofoils inwardly to adjust the angle of the hydrofoils with respect to the outrig and ultimately to fold the hydrofoils against the outrig for transport.
Inventors
- 👤 J Cleary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:06
CPC Classifications
B; B63; B63B; B63B1/00; B63B1/16; B63B1/24; B63H; B63H9/00; B63H9/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A hydrofoil sailing craft, comprising; a hull and a hydrofoil assembly coupled to said hull, said hydrofoil assembly including; an outrig means pivotally coupled to said hull; a pair of sweptback hydrofoils mounted on the two ends of said outrig means, respectively; and elastic restraint means attached to said outrig means and to said hull whereby said hydrofoil assembly pivots in a controlled manner about an axis parallel to and below the axis of said outrig means in response to the combined effects of said elastic restraint and the changing lift and drag forces acting on said hydrofoils as the speed and elevation of said craft change.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A hydrofoil sailing craft, comprising; a hull and a hydrofoil assembly coupled to said hull, said hydrofoil assembly including; an outrig means pivotally coupled to said hull; a pair of sweptback hydrofoils mounted on the two ends of said outrig means, respectively; and elastic restraint means attached to said outrig means and to said hull whereby said hydrofoil assembly pivots in a controlled manner about an axis parallel to and below the axis of said outrig means in response to the combined effects of said elastic restraint and the changing lift and drag forces acting on said hydrofoils as the speed and elevation of said craft change.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the elastic restraint is adjustable to provide a manual override of the control system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pivot axis of the hydrofoil assembly lies below the low-speed water line of said craft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pivot axis of the outrig means lies aft of the low speed lift center and forward of the high speed lift center on the main foil elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pivot axis of the hydrofoil assembly is located a distance forward from the center of gravity of the hull equal to between 6 and 24 percent of the distance from said center of gravity to the aft end of said hull.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hydrofoils are swept back at an angle between about 8 and 25 degrees.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hydrofoil assembly is coupled to the hull through pivot means, including, a pivot arm attached to the outrig means and a bearing attached to the hull of said craft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A craft in accordance with claim 7 wherein the pivot arm carries a convex journal segment and a concave bearing surface is attached to the hull of said craft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hydrofiol assembly is coupled to the hull through a pivot beam assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A craft in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pivot beam assembly includes two thin flexible beams projecting from each side of the hull of said craft and bracket means joining the outrig means to said beams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A craft in accordance with claim 10 wherein the pivot beams are disposed at an angle with respect to one another so that their midplanes intersect on a line below said pivot beams and this line of intersection coincides approximately with the pivot axis of the hydrofoil assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A craft in accordance with claim 10 wherein the angle between the flat sides of the beams is between about 20 and 60 degrees.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
A craft in accordance with claim 9 wherein the pivot beam assembly performs a major portion of the function of the elastic restraint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A craft in accordance with claim 10 wherein the beams have a thickness less than about one-fifth of their width.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hydrofoils are disposed at a dihedral with respect to the outrig means whereby the free ends of said hydrofoils project downwardly and inwardly toward the hull of said craft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A craft in accordance with claim 13 wherein the dihedral angle of the hydrofoils is between about 30 and 50 degrees.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the hydrofoils are pivotally mounted on the outrig means and have a pivot axis substantially parallel to the long axis of the hull of said craft.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 wherein the angle between the hydrofoils and the ourtrig means may be varied during operation of the craft.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A craft in accordance with claim 1 which also carries a rudder assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A craft in accordance with claIm 19 wherein the rudder assembly includes a rudder which carries a rigidly mounted lifting hydrofoil generally normal to said rudder.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A craft in accordance with claim 20 wherein the lifting hydrofoil is mounted on the rudder a short distance below the planing surface of the stern of said craft.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
A craft in accordance with claim 20 wherein the rudder assembly is controlled through an elastic cable system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A craft in accordance with claim 22 wherein the top of the rudder assembly is slidably mounted to slide longitudinally with respect to the hull of said craft and said rudder assembly is held in operable position by the elastic cable system.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A craft in accordance with claim 19 wherein the rudder assembly is mounted through a double pivot assembly means to pivot on a vertical axis and an axis normal to the rudder of said rudder assembly.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A craft in accordance with claim 19 wherein the rudder assembly is adjustable to change the angle of attack of the rudder of said rudder assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US3057316A
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US3150626A
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US3179078A
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US3520267A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |