Personal Hydrofoil with reflexed camber line wing

Abstract

The invention is a personal hydrofoil surfboard that has a wing with a reflexed mean camber line. The invention has greatly improved handling characteristics compared to hydrofoils using conventional wing designs.

Claims

1. A hydrofoil surfboard that supports a human rider, comprising: a. a rigid elongated platform having a longitudinal central axis and a front end and a back end and a top surface and a bottom surface; b. at least one wing having a center axis, and a front end and back end; c. at least one of the said wings having a reflexed mean camber line; d. a connecting means; Said wing or wings being situated below said elongated platform, approximately parallel to the bottom surface of said platform. Said wing's or wings'center axis roughly aligned with the long axis of said elongated platform. Said wing's or wings' front end and back end aligned with said elongated platform's front end and back end. Said connecting means rigidly connecting the bottom surface of said platform to said wings.

2. A hydrofoil surfboard in accordance with claim 1, comprised of: a. a rigid elongated platform having a longitudinal central axis and a front end and a back end and a top surface and a bottom surface; b. a wing with a center axis, a front end and back end, and a reflexed mean camber line; c. a stabilizer wing having a center axis, and a front end and back end; d. a fuselage having a front end and rear end and with a long axis which is aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform; e. a streamlined strut having an upper end and a lower end, roughly vertically oriented and aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform; The upper end of said streamlined strut being rigidly attached to the bottom surface of said elongated platform, approximately 70% back from the front end of said elongated platform and approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface of said elongated platform. Said fuselage being rigidly attached to the bottom end of said streamlined strut with its front end and rear end aligned with the front end and rear end of said elongated platform. Said wing being situated below said elongated platform, approximately parallel to the bottom surface of said platform. Said wing's center axis roughly aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform. Said wing's front end and back end aligned with said elongated platform's front end and back end. Said wing being rigidly attached to the front end of said fuselage. Said wing providing an upward force. Said stabilizer wing being situated below said elongated platform, approximately parallel to the bottom surface of said platform. Said stabilizer wing's center axis roughly aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform. Said stabilizer wing's front end and back end aligned with said elongated platform's front end and back end. Said stabilizer wing being rigidly attached to the rear end of said fuselage. Said stabilizer wing providing a downward force.

3. A hydrofoil surfboard in accordance with claim 1, comprising: a. a rigid elongated platform having a longitudinal central axis and a front end and a back end and a top surface and a bottom surface; b. a wing having a center axis, a front end and back end, and a reflexed mean camber line; c. a fuselage having a front end and rear end and with a long axis which is aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform; d. a streamlined strut having an upper end and a lower end, roughly vertically oriented and aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform; The upper end of said streamlined strut being rigidly attached to the bottom surface of said elongated platform, approximately 70% back from the front end of said elongated platform and approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface of said elongated platform. Said fuselage being rigidly attached to the bottom end of said streamlined strut with said fuselage front end and rear end aligned with the front end and rear end of said elongated platform. Said wing being situated below said elongated platform, approximately parallel to the bottom surface of said platform. Said wing's center axis roughly aligned with the long axis of said platform. Said wing's front end and back end aligned with said elongated platform's front end and back end. Said wing being rigidly attached to the front end of said fuselage. Said wing providing an upward force.

4. A hydrofoil surfboard in accordance with claim 1, comprised of: a. a rigid elongated platform having a longitudinal central axis and a front end and a back end and a top surface and a bottom surface; b. a wing having a center axis, a front end and back end, and a reflexed mean camber; c. a stabilizer wing having a center axis, and a front end and back end; d. a fuselage having a front end and rear end and with a long axis which is aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform; e. a streamlined strut having an upper end and a lower end, roughly vertically oriented and aligned with the longitudinal central axis of said elongated platform; The upper end of said streamlined strut being rigidly attached to the bottom surface of said elongated platform, approximately 70% back from the front end of said elongated platform and approximately perpendicular to the bottom surface of said elongated platform. Said fuselage being rigidly attached to the bottom end of said streamlined strut with its front end and rear end aligned with the front end and rear end of said elongated platform. Said wing being situated below said elongated platform, approximately parallel to the bottom surface of said platform. Said wing's center axis roughly aligned with the long axis of said platform. Said wing's front end and back end aligned with said platform's front end and back end. Said wing being rigidly attached to the back end of said fuselage. Said wing providing an upward force. Said stabilizer wing being situated below said elongated platform, approximately parallel to the bottom surface of said platform. Said stabilizer's center axis roughly aligned with the long axis of said platform. Said stabilizer wing's front end and back end aligned with said elongated platform's front end and back end. Said stabilizer being rigidly attached to the front end of said fuselage. Said stabilizer providing an upward force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The invention and its assembly and operation may be further understood from the following description of the preferred practices thereof, which are shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a side view of the present invention;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a view of a reflexed airfoil section and a comparison conventional airfoil section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Turning now in greater detail to the appended drawings, FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a side view of the present invention. The upper surface of support platform (1) provides a place for the rider (2) to stand, sit, or lay on. The strut (3) is detachably and rigidly affixed to the bottom of the support platform (1). The strut (3) is approximately perpendicular to the bottom of the support platform (1). The fuselage (4) is rigidly attached to the bottom of the strut (3). The strut (3) to fuselage (4) connection may be detachable for ease of transportation or may be permanent. The wing (5) has a reflexed mean camber line and is rigidly affixed to the front of the fuselage (4). This attachment may be permanent or detachable. The angle of attack of the wing (5) is approximately parallel to the long axis of the fuselage (4). The stabilizer (6) is rigidly attached to the rear of the fuselage (4). The attachment may be permanent or detachable. The angle of attack of the stabilizer (6) is negative with respect to that of the wing (5). The water surface is indicated as (7).

[0015] The current invention may also be practiced without stabilizer (6) by simply omitting it. In this case the fuselage (4) may be truncated behind the strut (3) attachment area.

[0016] The present invention is a personal hydrofoil surfboard comprised of a rigid elongated platform to support a human rider, at least one wing, at least one wing having a reflex camber line, and a connecting means between said elongated platform and said wings. Said wings are situated beneath and rigidly connected to said elongated platform via a connecting means.

[0017] In a canard configuration, a wing having a reflexed mean camber line will be rigidly attached to rear of the fuselage and will provide an upward force, and a stabilizer wing will be rigidly attached to the front of the fuselage and will provide an upward force.

[0018] Accordingly, while the preferred embodiments have been shown and described in detail by way of example, further modifications and embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.