Claims
- 1. A watercraft comprising:
- a hull including a bottom section;
- a compartment formed in the bottom section of the hull;
- a flap operatively mounted in the compartment;
- first means for extending the flap in a continuously adjustable manner from the compartment into positions wherein the flap acts as a hydrofoil, the first means also capable of retracting the flap into the compartment into a retracted position wherein the flap does not act as a hydrofoil, and
- second means for continuously adjusting the angular positioning of the flap relative to the bottom of the hull whereby the angle at which the flap meets the water is adjusted, the flap acting as a brake for the watercraft in its substantially fully lowered position, said first and second means being controllable by the operator of the watercraft.
- 2. The watercraft of claim 1 where the first and second means are hydraulically actuated.
- 3. The watercraft of claim 1 where the first means comprise a hydraulically actuated piston and cylinder, the piston being connected to the flap, and wherein the position of the piston is controlled by the operator of the boat.
- 4. The watercraft of claim 1 where the second means comprise a hydraulically actuated piston and cylinder, the piston being connected to the flap, and wherein the position of the piston is controlled by the operator of the boat.
- 5. The watercraft of claim 1 where the flap incorporates a plurality of openings, and third means operatively incorporated in the openings for preventing water from passing through the opening when the hydrodynamic pressure of the water is below a threshold level, and for allowing water to pass through said openings when the hydrodynamic pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold level.
- 6. The watercraft of claim 5 where the third means comprise two spring loaded plates incorporated into the openings, the plates normally closing the gap in the opening unless the hydrodynamic pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold level.
- 7. The watercraft of claim 1 comprising a first track in which the flap moves under the action of the first means in a substantially fore and aft direction, and a second track in which the second means is carried by the flap.
- 8. The watercraft of claim 7 where the first and second means each comprise a hydraulically actuated cylinder and piston combination.
- 9. A watercraft comprising:
- a hull;
- a first and a second compartment formed in the right and left sides of the hull respectively, substantially at the same level in the fore and aft direction;
- a first flap operatively mounted in the first compartment;
- first means for extending the first flap of the first compartment in a continuously adjustable manner from the first compartment into positions wherein the first flap acts as a hydrofoil, the first means also capable of retracting the first flap into the first compartment into a retracted position wherein the first flap does not act as a hydrofoil;
- second means for continuously adjusting the angular positioning of the first flap relative to the hull whereby the angle at which the first flap meets the water is adjusted, the first flap acting as a brake for the watercraft in its substantially fully lowered position;
- a second flap operatively mounted in the second compartment;
- third means for extending the second flap of the second compartment in a continuously adjustable manner from the second compartment into positions wherein the second flap acts as a hydrofoil, the third means also capable of retracting the second flap into the second compartment into a retracted position wherein the second flap does not act as a hydrofoil;
- fourth means for continuously adjusting the angular positioning of the second flap relative to the bottom of the hull whereby the angle at which the second flap meets the water is adjusted, the second flap acting as a brake for the watercraft in its substantially fully lowered position, said first, second, third and fourth means each being independently controllable by the operator of the watercraft, whereby the extension and angular positioning of the first and second flaps can be utilized for trimming, steering and braking the watercraft.
- 10. The watercraft of claim 9 where the first, second, third and fourth means are hydraulically actuated.
- 11. The watercraft of claim 9 where each of the first, second, third and fourth means comprise a hydraulic servo mechanism, including a cylinder and a piston moving in said cylinder, the piston being connected to the respective flap, and wherein the position of the piston is controlled by the operator.
- 12. The watercraft of claim 11 where the first and second compartments each include a track into which the respective flap is mounted and in which the flap moves in a substantially fore and aft direction under action of the piston of the respective first and third means.
- 13. The watercraft of claim 12 where the first and second compartments each include another track into which the cylinder of the respective second and fourth means are mounted and in which said cylinder is carried by the flap.
- 14. The watercraft of claim 9 wherein each flap can be deflected under the action of the respective second and fourth means to occupy an angular position which is at substantially right angle relative to the forward motion of the watercraft, in said position the flap acting as brakes for the watercraft.
- 15. The watercraft of claim 9 wherein the hull of the watercraft is substantially U-shaped having two converging sides, and wherein each compartment having the flap is mounted on one of said converging sides.
- 16. The watercraft of claim 9 where each flap incorporates a plurality of openings, and fifth means operatively incorporated in the openings for preventing water from passing through the opening when the hydrodynamic pressure of the water is below a threshold level, and for allowing water to pass through said openings when the hydrodynamic pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold level.
- 17. The watercraft of claim 16 where the fifth means comprise two spring loaded plates incorporated into the openings, the plates normally closing the gap in the opening unless the hydrodynamic pressure exceeds the predetermined threshold level.
- 18. The Watercraft of claim 16 where the openings in the flaps are parallel disposed slots.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
The present application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 582,523 filed on Sep. 14, 1990 which will issue as U.S. Pat. No. 5,092,260 on Mar. 3, 1992.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
60-125457 |
Jun 1985 |
JPX |
Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
582523 |
Sep 1990 |
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