A HYDROFOIL VESSEL

Abstract

The invention involves a hydrofoil vessel (1) comprising a hydrofoil assembly (4), and a hull assembly (2) presenting, when the vessel is floating at rest, a vertical symmetry plane (SP), wherein the hydrofoil assembly (4) comprises two struts (401) extending from the hull assembly (2) on opposite transverse sides of the symmetry plane (SP), mainly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, or mainly partly away from the symmetry plane and partly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, wherein the hydrofoil assembly (4) comprises two main foil portions (411) each extending from a respective one of the struts (401), at least partly towards the symmetry plane (SP), wherein each strut (401) comprises a strut foil (402) with a non-symmetrical cross-section, and with a pressure side (402P) facing at least partly towards the symmetry plane, and a suction side (402S) facing at least partly away from the symmetry plane (SP).

Description

Claims

1. A hydrofoil vessel comprising a hydrofoil assembly,and a hull assembly presenting, when the vessel is floating at rest, a vertical symmetry plane,wherein the hydrofoil assembly comprises two struts extending from the hull assembly on opposite transverse sides of the symmetry plane (SP), mainly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, mainly partly away from the symmetry plane and partly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, or mainly partly towards the symmetry plane and partly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest,wherein the hydrofoil assembly comprises two main foil portions each extending from a respective one of the struts, at least partly towards the symmetry plane (SP),wherein each strut comprises a strut foil with a non-symmetrical cross-section, and with a pressure side facing at least partly towards the symmetry plane, and a suction side facing at least partly away from the symmetry plane (SP).

2. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein each strut comprises a major portion and a transition portion, the transition portion forming a transition from the major portion to the respective main foil portion, wherein the length of the transition portion is no more than 30% of the length of the respective strut.

3. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein each main foil portion extends to the other of the main foil portions.

4. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the hull assembly presents, when the vessel is floating at rest, a horizontal plane (HP) coinciding with a waterline of the hull assembly, wherein the main foil portions extend substantially in parallel with the horizontal plane (HP).

5. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the hull assembly presents, when the vessel is floating at rest, a horizontal plane (HP) coinciding with a waterline of the hull assembly, wherein the main foil portions each extend partly towards the symmetry plane and partly towards the horizontal plane (HP).

6. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the hull assembly presents, when the vessel is floating at rest, a horizontal plane (HP) coinciding with a waterline of the hull assembly, wherein each main foil portion has a non-symmetrical cross-section, and a pressure side facing at least partly away from the horizontal plane (HP), and a suction side-facing at least partly towards the horizontal plane (HP).

7. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the strut foils each extend substantially within a respective plane which is parallel to the symmetry plane (SP).

8. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the strut foils and the main foil portions are fixed in relation to the hull assembly.

9. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the strut foils and the main foil portions are surface piercing.

10. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel comprises, in addition to the hydrofoil assembly-, an adjustable hydrofoil having an adjustable pitch orientation so as to change the angle of attack of the adjustable hydrofoil.

11. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 10, wherein the hull assembly presents, when the vessel is floating at rest, a horizontal plane (HP) coinciding with a waterline of the hull assembly, wherein the adjustable hydrofoil-is, compared to the hydrofoil assembly, further away from the horizontal plane (HP).

12. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 10, wherein the adjustable hydrofoil is connected to the hull assembly independently of the hydrofoil assembly, by means of one or more foil holding members.

13. A hydrofoil vessel according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is not adapted to be driven by wind power.

14. A hydrofoil set for a hydrofoil vessel-comprising a hull assembly presenting, when the vessel is floating at rest, a vertical symmetry plane (SP), the hydrofoil set comprising a hydrofoil assembly comprising two struts adapted to extend from the hull assembly on opposite transverse sides of the symmetry plane (SP), mainly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, mainly partly away from the symmetry plane and partly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, or mainly partly towards the symmetry plane and partly downwards when the vessel is floating at rest, wherein the hydrofoil assembly comprises two main foil portions each adapted to extend from a respective one of the struts, at least partly towards the symmetry plane (SP), wherein each strut comprises a strut foil with a non-symmetrical cross-section, and with a pressure side adapted to face at least partly towards the symmetry plane, and a suction side-adapted to face at least partly away from the symmetry plane (SP).