US3371638A - Hydrofoils - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1968 A. A.-' BERINGER 3,371,638

IH-YDROIFOILS Filed Nov. 7, 1966 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ANTON A. BE RINGER BYM, flown ATTOR NEYS I D I: Egg I LLLI r 1 I2 i m LB 6 a Q I J K I as |a l fl 19a l9 l9 v 9 20 2O: 9a 20; 2 J y K L M 'N o P o March 5, 1968 A. A. IBERINGE'R 3,371,638

HYDROFOILS 'F'il'ed Nov. 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A B c D E F c H F 26 ias 2s 23g 28 24 A B c I D E 24; F 6 Q I 27 FIE? v if

INVENTOR 1 ANTON A. BERINGER BYM. 5 M

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,371,638 HYDROFOILS Anton A. Beringer, S. 7238 Lochcrest Blvd., Muskego, Wis. 53150 Filed Nov. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 592,377 4 Claims. (Cl. 114- -66.5)

My invention relates to hydrofoils, and more particularly to a pontoon type of foil for watercraft.

The prime object of my invention is to provide an improved hydrofoil for watercraft.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described that is light in weight, and provided with curvilinear channels to assist lifting the bow of the craft while it is traversing the surface of the water.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a pontoon type of hydrofoil that may be easily attached to, and made a part of, varied types of watercraft.

A still further object is to provide a device that may be made in varied lengths to fit the craft, and may be made to support a rudder forming a part thereof.

The device described, illustrated, and claimed herein, is designed to be a part of the craft, which craft may be equipped with wheels that are retractable for conveying the craft on land.

It is simple in construction and highly efiicient for the purpose for which it is intended.

Other and further objects of my invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of a conventional watercraft equipped with the hydrofoils constituting my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front view of the craft shown in FIGURES 1 and2, equipped with the hydrofoils;

FIGURE 4 is a side view of a modified type of hydrofoil;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the modified type of hydrofoil shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the device shown in FIGURES 4 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is a composite view of the hydrofoil shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, showing cross-sectional views taken at the lines A to I indicated in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a composite view of the hydrofoil shown in the assembly in FIGURES 1 and 2, and showing crosssectional views taken at the lines I to Q inclusive in FIG- URE 2.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and referring specifically now to the same, the character 10 generally designates a pair of spaced hydrofoils attached to the watercraft (see FIGURES 1, 2 and 3), 11, in any eflicient manner. The hydrofoils may be constructed of any light weight relatively rigid material such as fibre glass or the like. The watercraft 11 is shown with a bow 12, and is shown equiped with a paddle wheel 13 of any conventional design, and actuated by a motor generally shown as 14. The watercraft 11 should be taken as representative of many varied types of boats to which hydrofoils of the present invention may be applied.

The watercraft 11 is shown equipped with a windshield 15 and seats 16 for the operator and passengers.

The hydrofoils shown in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, are shown in various cross-sections indicated by the characters I to Q inclusive in the composite FIGURE 8 and also indicated in FIGURE 2, while the hydrofoils shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, are shown in various cross-sections indicated by the characters A to I inclusive in the composite FIG- URE 7.

By referring to FIGURE 2, and the various cross-sections shown in FIGURE 8, it will 'be noted that the hydrofoil 10 is formed with a generally conical end 17, and an upwardly convex upper surface 18 which acts as an attaching surface (see FIGURE 3) to the hull of the craft 11. The lower portions of the sides are fluted at 19 (see K to N), which flutes extend longitudinally and terminate into a lower radial surface 20 (see 0 to Q).'The stern end of the foil has a rudder portion 21.

The flutes 19 of FIGURES 1-3 and 8 are formed to extend on opposite sides of the keel-like lower medial portion 19a. The upper surface of these flutes is inclined downwardly from the bow to a rearward portion to a point where they are totally downwardly directed as is indicated in the cross sections'O, P, and Q. These upper surfaces of the flutes face downwardly and outwardly in the forward portions of the foils as indicated at K, L, M, and N.

The effect of the disposition of the flutes is to provide lift as the craft passes over the water. The particular shape of the flutes creates the greatest lifting force at the rear portions thereof which tends to counteract the tendency of the bow of the craft to lift at high speeds.

The modified type of hydrofoil 10, shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, and in cross section in FIGURE 7, has a bow end 22, which is generally conical in contour. A top rib 23 may extend for a substantial portion of the length of the foil to aid in attaching the foil.

The bottom of the hydrofoil of the modified type, terminates in a keel shown as 24, and shown in various contours by the characters A to I inclusive. The top surface is formed in upwardly convex shape at 25 on both sides of the top rib 23.

The sides of the hydrofoils shown in FIGURES 4 to 7, inclusive, are provided with a recessed flute 26 extending longitudinally the entire length of the unit. The flute 26 terminates in openings 27 as shown as I in FIGURE 7, in a fin 28 at the rear of the foil.

The flutes 26 of FIGURES 4 to 7, inclusive, are formed to extend downwardly from a point near the center of the sides of the foil to a point near the bottoms of the sides as is indicated by the position of the recesses 27 in the fin 28. The keel-like central bottom portion of the foils in these figures is relatively sharp and well defined at the forward portions of the foils while the angular surfaces which define the keel 24 spread out progressively from the bow rearwardly so that these surfaces become a simple, relatively flat, downwardly convex surface at the rear portions of the foil.

The effect of this shape of foil also provides a lifting action for the watercraft while it also provides greater lift at the rear of the craft to thus stabilize the craft and counteract the tendency of the bow to rise.

From the above description it will become manifest that the hydrofoils are attached to the bottom of the watercraft.

Whereas I have shown and described an operative form of the invention, it should be understood that this showing and description thereof should be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There are many modifications in and to the invention which will fall within the scope and spirit thereof and which will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the inventon should be limited only by the scope of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hydrofoil for boats and the like including an elongated buoyant body having a tapered nose portion and shaped to provide a lifting action when traversing water, said body having recesses on each side thereof extending from a point near the nose portion of the body to a point at the end of said body, said recesses being inclined to the longitudinal axis of the body and extending in a downward direction from the forward portion of the body to the rearward portion thereof.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said body has a downwardly facing keel-like portion in at least the forward portion thereof.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said recesses have upper surfaces which are inclined downwardly and outwardly at the forward portion of the body and are formed into downwardly concave shapes at the rearward portion of the body, the contour of the-upper surfaces progressively changing from the forward portion of the body to the rearward portion thereof.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said recesses terminate in rearwardly directed openings formed through a member at the rear of the body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,342,023 2/1944 Vidal et a1. 114-66.5 XR

ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A HYDROFOIL FOR BOATS AND THE LIKE INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BUOYANT BODY HAVING A TAPERED NOSE PORTION AND SHAPED TO PROVIDE A LIFTING ACTION WHEN TRAVERSING WATER, SAID BODY HAVING RECESSES ON EACH SIDE THEREOF EXTENDING FROM A POINT NEAR THE NOSE PORTION OF THE BODY TO A POINT AT THE END OF SAID BODY, SAID RECESSES BEING INCLINED TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE BODY AND EXTENDING IN A DOWN-

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