Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/10—Motor-propelled water sports boards
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
  • B63B1/16—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces
  • B63B1/24—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces of hydrofoil type
  • B63B1/246—Arrangements of propulsion elements
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B1/00—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils
  • B63B1/16—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces
  • B63B1/24—Hydrodynamic or hydrostatic features of hulls or of hydrofoils deriving additional lift from hydrodynamic forces of hydrofoil type
  • B63B1/248—Shape, hydrodynamic features, construction of the foil
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/40—Twintip boards; Wakeboards; Surfboards; Windsurfing boards; Paddle boards, e.g. SUP boards; Accessories specially adapted therefor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/50—Boards characterised by their constructional features
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B32/00—Water sports boards; Accessories therefor
  • B63B32/60—Board appendages, e.g. fins, hydrofoils or centre boards
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B34/00—Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure; Body-supporting devices specially adapted for water sports or leisure
  • B63B34/40—Body-supporting structures dynamically supported by foils under water
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B39/00—Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movements; Apparatus for indicating vessel attitude
  • B63B39/06—Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movements; Apparatus for indicating vessel attitude to decrease vessel movements by using foils acting on ambient water
  • B63B39/062—Equipment to decrease pitch, roll, or like unwanted vessel movements; Apparatus for indicating vessel attitude to decrease vessel movements by using foils acting on ambient water the foils being mounted on outriggers or the like, e.g. antidrift hydrofoils for sail boats
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B79/00—Monitoring properties or operating parameters of vessels in operation
  • B63B79/10—Monitoring properties or operating parameters of vessels in operation using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
  • B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
  • B63H21/12—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being motor-driven
  • B63H21/17—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the vessels being motor-driven by electric motor
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
  • B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
  • B63H21/21—Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
  • B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
  • B63H21/22—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels the propulsion power units being controlled from exterior of engine room, e.g. from navigation bridge; Arrangements of order telegraphs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
  • B63B45/00—Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices
  • B63B45/08—Arrangements or adaptations of signalling or lighting devices the devices being acoustic
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
  • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
  • B63H21/00—Use of propulsion power plant or units on vessels
  • B63H21/21—Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels
  • B63H2021/216—Control means for engine or transmission, specially adapted for use on marine vessels using electric control means

Definitions

• the electric hydrofoil is a complex mechanical product that combines several products in one. At its core, it is a surfboard, which is an above-water platform with a hydrofoil mounted under it, and the hydrofoil is connected to a power source and an electric motor connected to a controller.
• the power source is most often a rechargeable lithium-ion battery containing a battery control system, which takes care of the operation of the battery in safe conditions.
• the electric motor is most often brushless.
• the controller usually consists of a main system control unit connected to an electronic motor speed controller, a sensor unit, and a control module through which the surfer commands the motor power and adjusts its speed.
• the electric hydrofoil is powered by electric motor mounted in the fuselage of the hydrofoil or attached to the mast.
• the power source is a battery that can be housed in or attached to the above-water platform or mast.
• the control of the power of the electric motor and respectively the speed of movement is usually achieved by a wired or wireless remote control through which the surfer issues commands.
• the mechanical system of an electric hydrofoil is static.
• the only element of the movement that is electronically controlled by the surfer is the speed of the surf, by means of regulating the revolutions of the electric motor.
• the construction of the electric hydrofoil is designed in such a way that the device is highly sensitive and changes its direction of movement when the surfer's weight shifts. This allows the skilled surfer to make sharp turns as well as to quickly change the angle of attack of the above-water platform in order to maintain the height of the above-water platform above the water.
• This maneuverability allows the good surfer to ride the electric hydrofoil in a very sporty manner, but on the other hand, it makes learning the technique of riding an electric hydrofoil relatively difficult for a beginner.
• the lift of hydrofoil's wings is proportional to the wing area and the angle of attack (directly proportional over most of the operating angular range of a wing) at which it meets the water flow, as well as proportional to the square of the speed.
• the surfer's main task is to extract the correct amount of lift produced by the front wing. At constant speed, this means placing the system and respectively the front wing at a precisely defined angle of attack, where the lift is equalized by the weight of the surfer and the above-water platform above the water. In parallel with this, with his correct positioning on the above-water platform, the surfer also balances the torques created by his own weight above the above-water platform, the lifting and stabilizing force of the two wings and the driving force of the electric motor. In other words, for stable flight, the surfer must bring the system to a net zero sum of all forces and a net zero sum of all torques acting on the electric hydrofoil.
• the technique of controlling the electric hydrofoil implies a significantly well-developed motor culture and coordination of the surfer.
• the precise balance required to control the angle of attack of the wings and the height of the flight in a straight line, as well as in turns, is a major obstacle for many entrants to the sport.
• electric hydrofoil has no close analogue among commonly practiced sports, the learning process is relatively complex and dangerous.
• the first steps in learning the control are often associated with many falls on the part of the learner. This difficulty is a major factor blocking the mass spread of this ecologically clean and environmentally friendly sport. In addition, the difficulty also poses dangers to the health of the users.
• the electric hydrofoil also comprises a main control unit connected to a rotatable rudder with the ability to transmit commands, which is configured to control the angle of deviation of said hydrofoil, sensors for determining 3D orientation, a lifting means (movable elevator flaps on the front wing) for controlling the incline angle of the hydrofoil, and a calculation means which, through the sensors for determining the 3D orientation, detects a deviation from the incline angle of the hydrofoil and, if necessary, activates, through actuators, the rotation of the lifting means, which compensates for the deviation.
• a main control unit connected to a rotatable rudder with the ability to transmit commands, which is configured to control the angle of deviation of said hydrofoil, sensors for determining 3D orientation, a lifting means (movable elevator flaps on the front wing) for controlling the incline angle of the hydrofoil, and a calculation means which, through the sensors for determining the 3D orientation, detects a deviation from the incline
• the described system is very complex to implement, contains many mechanical components, does not provide a sufficiently optimal solution for assistance when using an electric hydrofoil by users with different skill levels, and accordingly does not provide a sufficient degree of assistance for quick and easy learning of the control of the electric hydrofoil by the user.
• a task of the invention is to create electric hydrofoil that provides opportunity for easy and safe learning of its riding by beginner surfers, and for maximally safe sport riding by advanced surfers.
• the task is achieved by creating an electric hydrofoil with an assistance system for improved control and stability, comprising:
• the sensor unit additionally comprises at least one of:
• the warning means for deviation from said preset parameters for the spatial position of the electric hydrofoil is at least one of: a speaker in the electronics of the above-water platform, in the electronic control element or external audio device; vibration means mounted in the electronic control element, in the above-water platform or external vibration device; a display for visualizing a signal located on the electronic control element, on the above-water platform or on an external device; light indication on the above-water platform or on a display of a device external to the hydrofoil; or a combination thereof.
• the logic unit 9 of the assistance system processes the information received from the sensors of the sensor unit for determining the speed of the device and compares it with said preset parameters for the spatial position of the electric hydrofoil. For example, the logic unit 9 of the assistance system performs an accurate calculation of the real angle at which the above-water platform 1 is inclined in space, calculating through algorithm the data obtained from the three axes of the gyro sensor 12 and the accelerometer 10.
• the logic unit 9 of the assistance system of the hydrofoil can also comprise a calculation means by which it monitors current parameters for the spatial position of the electric hydrofoil and its speed, and calculates an expected change in parameters for the spatial position of the electric hydrofoil. If the calculation means detects an expected deviation from the preset parameters for the spatial position of the electric hydrofoil, when issuing a given command to change the revolutions of the electric motor 16, the logic unit 9 of the assistance system of the hydrofoil prevents the execution of the command to change the revolutions of the electric motor 16, issued by the user via the electronic control element 15.
• Another example is the angle of attack at which the wing stalls and stops producing lift - for example 30 degrees. When this angle is reached, the lifting force disappears and the above-water platform 1 falls on the water.
• Another example is defining the maximum height for flying. During flight when approaching this parameter (strictly determined by the length of the mast 2), the electric motor 16 can reduce the revolutions to prevent the wings 7 and the electric motor 16 from piercing the water, which could result in sudden loss of lift force and falling of the surfer.
• the warning means for deviation from said preset parameters for the spatial position of the electric hydrofoil can be selected from: a speaker in the electronics of the above-water platform 1, in the electronic control element 15 or an external audio device; vibration means installed in the electronic control element 15, in the above-water platform 1 or an external vibration device; display for visualizing a signal located on the electronic control element 15, on the above-water platform 1 or on external device; light indication on the above-water platform 1 or on a display of a device external to the hydrofoil; or their combination.
• the electric hydrofoil provides an opportunity to deal with most of the mistakes that beginning surfers make in this sport, thanks to the assistance system of the hydrofoil.
• the invention provides a system to prevent them by signaling a necessary correction of the revolutions of the electric motor 16, and/or a necessary correction of the angle of attack of the above-water platform 1 and/or, respectively, the position of the surfer on the above-water platform 1; or by direct adjustment of the revolutions of the electric motor 16, which leads to a change in the speed, acceleration, angle of attack, and height of the hydrofoil.
• the proposed assistance system works at several levels of user intervention. It allows full assistance to the user, suitable in his first hours of training on the electric hydrofoil, as well as a gradual reduction of the intervention in the process of training, until the intervention is stopped and only warning messages in dangerous situations are issued, which is suitable for advanced surfers.
• This type of assistance system allows the safest possible introduction of beginners to the sport of electric hydrofoils, preventing a large number of dangerous situations related to loss of balance, control and falling into the water.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• Control Of Electric Motors In General (AREA)

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Citations (5)

• 2024
  • 2024-10-09 EP EP24205535.8A patent/EP4667344A1/de active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

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