Marine hydro lift flaps and methods of using same

Abstract

An apparatus for improving performance of a vessel, wherein the vessel has a hull ( 100 ) having a bottom ( 103 ), a bow ( 100 a ) and a stem ( 100 b ). In one embodiment, the apparatus has at least one flap ( 101 ), wherein the flap ( 101 ) has a forward edge ( 100 a ), a rear edge ( 101 b ), and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge ( 101 b ) a and the rear edge ( 1 ), the body portion having an exterior surface ( 101 c ) and an opposite, interior surface ( 101 d ), and is movably mounted to the bottom ( 103 ) of the hull ( 100 ) at the forward edge ( 100 a ) such that each flap ( 101 ) can be moved between a first position and a second position apart from the first position. The apparatus also has means for moving the flap ( 101 ) between the first position and the second position.

1 . An improved boat construction, comprising: 
 a. a hull  100  having a bottom  103 , a bow  100   a  and a stem  101   b;      b. a plurality of flaps  101 , wherein each flap  101  has a forward edge  101   a , a rear edge  101   b , and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge  101   a  and the rear edge  101   b , the body portion having an exterior surface  101   c  and an opposite, interior surface  101   d , and is movably mounted to the bottom  103  of the hull  100  at the forward edge  100   a  such that each flap  101  can be moved between a first position and a second position apart from the first position; and    c. for each flap  101 , means for moving a corresponding flap  101  between the first position and the second position, wherein when a flap  101  is in the second position, the body portion of the flap  101  is apart from the bottom  103  of the hull  100  at an angle, α, such that the flap  101  is at least partially extended into the water flow to cause an upward force to be applied towards to the bottom  103  of the hull  100 .    
   
   
       2 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , wherein when a flap  101  is in the first position, the angle, α, has a value substantially around zero such that the exterior surface  101   c  of the body portion of the flap  101  is substantially flat with the exterior surface  103   a  of the bottom  103  of the hull  100 .  
   
   
       3 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , wherein when a flap  101  is in the first position the forward edge  101   a  of the flap  101  is located between the bow  100   a  and the stern  101   b , and the rear edge  101   b  of the flap  101  is located between the forward edge  100   a  and the stem  101   b.    
   
   
       4 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , wherein the moving means comprises at least one actuating mechanism mounted on the hull  100  and adapted for engaging the flap  101  at the rear edge of the flap  101  and moving the flap  101  between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       5 . The boat construction of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating mechanism comprises: 
 a. An actuating piston  106 ;    b. An actuating cylinder  107  having an engagement portion  107   a  and adapted for receiving the actuating piston  106  therein and allowing the actuating piston  106  to move axially between a first position and a second position;    c. An actuating cylinder boss  109  mounted on the interior surface  101   d  of the flap,  101 ;    d. A first pin  110  for engaging the actuating cylinder boss  109  and the engagement portion  107   a  of the actuating cylinder  107 ; and    e. A second pin  108  for engaging the actuating piston  106  through an arm end  105  to a cylinder mounting  118 .    
   
   
       6 . The boat construction of  claim 5 , wherein when the actuating piston  106  moves axially between the first position and the second position, the corresponding flap  101  moves accordingly, and the angle α changes in the range of 0 to 90 degrees.  
   
   
       7 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , further comprising, for each flap  101 , means for movably mounting the corresponding flap  101  to the bottom  103  of the hull  100 .  
   
   
       8 . The boat construction of  claim 7 , wherein the movably mounting means comprises a hinge  122 .  
   
   
       9 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a. An extension portion  102  with a forward edge  102   a  and a rear edge  102   b , and    b. An extension guide  112  formed on the interior surface  101   d  of the body portion of the flap  1012  and adapted for receiving the extension portion  102  therein and allowing the extension portion  102  to be moved along the interior surface  101   d.      
   
   
       10 . The boat construction of  claim 9 , further comprising means for moving the extension portion  102  along the interior surface  101   d.    
   
   
       11 . The boat construction of  claim 10 , wherein the means for moving the extension portion  102  along the interior surface  101   d  moves the extension portion  102  along the interior surface  101   d  telescopically.  
   
   
       12 . The boat construction of  claim 11 , wherein the means for moving the extension portion  102  along the interior surface  101   d  comprises: 
 a. An extension piston  113  engaging with the extension portion  102  and adapted for moving the extension portion  102 ;    b. An extension cylinder  115  adapted for receiving the extension piston  113  therein and allowing the extension piston  113  to move axially between a first position and a second position so that the extension portion  102  is moved by the extension piston  113  along the interior surface  101   d  accordingly; and    c. An extension cylinder mounting portion  117  mounted to the interior surface  103   b  of the bottom  103  of the hull  100  and adapted for supporting extension cylinder  115 .    
   
   
       13 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , wherein for each flap  101 , the body portion defines a plurality of openings  104  along the forward edge  101   a.    
   
   
       14 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , further comprising means for individually controlling each of the plurality of flaps  101 .  
   
   
       15 . The boat construction of  claim 1 , further comprising, for each flap  101 , a housing  120  adapted for receiving a corresponding flap therein.  
   
   
       16 . An apparatus for improving performance of a vessel, wherein the vessel has a hull  100  having a bottom  103 , a bow  100   a  and a stem  101   b , comprising: 
 a. at least one flap  101 , wherein the flap  101  has a forward edge  100   a , a rear edge  101   b , and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge  101   a  and the rear edge  101   b , the body portion having an exterior surface  101   c  and an opposite, interior surface  101   d , and is movably mounted to the bottom  103  of the hull  100  at the forward edge  100   a  such that each flap  101  can be moved between a first position and a second position apart from the first position; and    b. means for moving the flap  101  between the first position and the second position,    wherein when the flap  101  is in the second position, the body portion of the flap  101  is apart from the bottom  103  of the hull  100  at an angle, α.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein when the flap  101  is in the first position, the acute angle, α, has a value substantially around zero such that the exterior surface  101   c  of the body portion of the flap  101  is substantially flat with the exterior surface  103   a  of the bottom  103  of the hull  100 .  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the moving means comprises at least one actuating mechanism mounted on the hull  100  and adapted for engaging the flap  101  at the rear edge of the flap  101  and moving the flap  101  between the first position and the second position.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising means for movably mounting the flap  101  to the bottom  103  of the hull  100 .  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising an extension portion  102  with a forward edge  102   a  and a rear edge  102   b , wherein the extension portion  102  is movable along the interior surface  101   d.    
   
   
       21 . A method for improving performance of a vessel, wherein the vessel has a hull  100  having a bottom  103 , a bow  100   a  and a stem  100   b , comprising the steps of: 
 a. providing at least one flap  101 , wherein the flap  101  has a forward, edge  101   a , a rear edge  101   b , and a body portion defined therebetween the forward edge  101   a  and the rear edge  101   b , the body portion having an exterior surface  101   c  and an opposite, interior surface  101   d , and is movably mounted to the bottom  103  of the hull  100  at the forward edge  101   a  such that each flap  101  can be moved between a first position and a second position apart from the first position; and    a. moving the flap  101  between the first position and the second position, such that the flap  101  is at least partially extended into the water flow to cause an upward force to be applied towards to the bottom  103  of the hull  100  to affect the performance of the vessel,    wherein when the flap  101  is in the first position, the acute angle, α, has a value substantially around zero such that the exterior surface  101   c  of the body portion of the flap  101  is substantially flat with the exterior surface  103   a  of the bottom  103  of the hull  100 , and when the flap  101  is in the second position, the body portion of the flap  101  is apart from the bottom  103  of the hull  100  at an angle, α.