Lifting force regulated hydrofoil

Abstract

The vessels weight is wholly or partially supported by one or more fully or partially submerged hydrofoil(s). The amount of lift provided by said hydrofoil(s) is regulated as a function of that lift itself. External variables such as trim angle and vessel velocity affect total lift, and this system compensates for those variables to provide a regulated lift without the need to directly sense any of the external variables. A typical control system comprises one or more sensory inputs, a method to translate the input into a control output, and an actuator that turns the outputs into actual movements. The only sensory input for this system is the same lifting force that is being regulated. The mechanical arrangement translates that lifting force into movements that produce negative feedback by varying the angle of attack of the hydrofoil, which in turn regulates the lift produced.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . These claims describe a hydrofoil control system comprising elements of input sensing, functional mapping between input and output, and output actuation that control the lifting performance of one or more hydrofoils. 
     
     
         2 . These claims are applied to any waterborne vessel with or without occupant(s) and powered by any means. These claims may be applied equally well to an unmanned drone vessel. 
     
     
         3 . Some or all the weight of said vessel and said possible occupant(s) being supported by one or more fully or partially submerged foils. In the case where there is acceleration in any direction, the force generated may exceed the weight of said vessel. 
     
     
         4 . Said vessel may remain predominantly in contact with the water surface or may fly above the water surface. 
     
     
         5 . A method by which the lifting force produced by the hydrofoil(s) is coupled to a mechanically resistive element that both opposes said force applied to it and produces a precise movement in response to that force. 
     
     
         6 . A mechanical coupling that transforms said movement within the mechanically resistive element into a control output that varies the angle of attack of said hydrofoil. 
     
     
         7 . Said change in angle of attack of said hydrofoil regulates the lift produced by said hydrofoil as stable negative feedback. 
     
     
         8 . The precise magnitude of said negative feedback being defined both by the specification and characteristics of said resistive element and by the design of said mechanical coupling, and which together form said functional mapping between input sensing and output actuation. 
     
     
         9 . The properties of said mechanical resistive element may be adjusted to alter the overall performance of said control system.