GB1416531A - Hydrofoil craft - Google Patents

Abstract

1416531 Hydrofoil craft A WHITTLE 12 Jan 1973 [14 Jan 1972 7 Aug 1972] 1791/72 and 36832/72 Headings B7A and B7V Columns extend below the body of a hydrofoil craft at its bow and stem and carry hydrofoil vanes and propulsion units. The vanes make no substantial contribution to the buoyancy of the craft, and the columns are rotatable about vertical axes for steering purposes. As illustrated, the craft comprises a platform 12 carrying, on four columns 14, hydrofoil vanes 16 and 16<SP>1</SP> and propulsion units 18. The propulsion units may be conventional screw units as shown in Fig. 1, may be jet units having combustion chambers to which fuel and air are fed, Figs. 5a and 5b (not shown), or may be water jet units in each of which two decreasing diameter screws act in series to pass water through the unit, Fig. 4 (not shown). The inclination of the vanes 16 and 16<SP>1</SP> is adjustable and the columns 14 may each be rotated through 360 degrees about their axes so that the craft may be steered without turning the platform 12. When the craft is stationary or is moving slowly, it is supported by hulls 20 assisted by air cushions which are confined by walls 22. The platform 12 may be an open framework, a solid piece of buoyant material, or a hollow structure with empty or foam-filled cavities. In an alternative arrangement, Fig. 6 (not shown), the platform is supported on only two columns.