Human powered hydrofoil vehicle

Abstract

A hydrofoil vehicle comprises a frame and at least one foil. The vehicle comprises a moveable control surface configured to control a pitch of the vehicle, in use. A locking mechanism is provided for restricting movement of the control surface when the vehicle is not foiling, for example during launching. In examples, the locking mechanism activates automatically when the hydrofoil vehicle is not foiling. In examples, the vehicle is human powered.

1 . A hydrofoil vehicle comprising a frame and at least one foil, the vehicle comprising a moveable control surface configured to control a pitch of the vehicle, in use, the vehicle further comprising a locking mechanism for restricting movement of the control surface when the vehicle is not foiling. 
     
     
         2 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism activates automatically when the hydrofoil vehicle is not foiling. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a buoyant element, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to restrict movement of the control surface when the buoyant element is immersed in water and to allow greater movement when the buoyant element is not immersed. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 3 , wherein the moveable control surface comprises one of the at least one foils. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 4 , wherein the moveable control surface comprises an elevator foil. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 5 , wherein the elevator foil forms part of a self-adjusting pitch control mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the self-adjusting pitch control mechanism comprises a control foil which is connected to the elevator foil by a control arm. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism is provided within the control arm. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the frame comprises a front strut, and the control arm is rotatably connected to the front strut. 
     
     
         10 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 7 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a bell crank which is rotatably engaged with the control arm, wherein the buoyant element is connected to one side of the bell crank and a latch projection is provided to the opposite side. 
     
     
         11 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the front strut comprises a formation which defines an opening, wherein the latch projection is configured to enter the opening when the buoyant element is immersed in water, to thereby limit rotation of the control arm relative to the front strut. 
     
     
         12 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the locking mechanism can be manually activated by a user. 
     
     
         13 . A hydrofoil vehicle comprising a frame, a front foil connected to the frame and a rear foil connected to the frame, wherein one of the foils is pivotable relative to the frame about a transverse axis, wherein the angle of the pivotable foil is controllable by a hydrodynamic self-adjusting pitch control mechanism,
 the vehicle further comprising a locking mechanism configured to limit angular movement of the pivotable foil relative to the frame when the vehicle is being launched.   
     
     
         14 . The hydrofoil vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the locking mechanism comprises a buoyant member configured to actuate the locking mechanism when the buoyant member is immersed in water. 
     
     
         15 .- 23 . (canceled)