SUBMERGED PLANING SURFACE THAT PROVIDES HYDRODYNAMIC LIFT IN A LIQUID AT HIGH SPEED

Abstract

One embodiment of submerged blades (101) that provide hydrodynamic force to a vessel or aircraft (117) that can lift it above the surface of the water (106) at high speed by creating thrust with a single wetted high pressure surface (111), the low pressure surface (112) being covered with a gas filled void in the liquid, thus preventing sudden loss of lift as speed increases due to cavitation or surface venting. Other embodiments are described and shown.

Claims

1. An apparatus providing thrust to an object in a liquid comprising: (a) least one blade that can move through said liquid with a leading edge and a trailing edge, a base and a tip, and with material in between that form a surface or surfaces on each side of said blade, (b) means for attaching said blade or blades to said object, (c) means for moving said object relative to said liquid, (d) means for providing a gas to at least one side of said blade or blades, such that said blade or blades can be moved by said object through and separate said liquid with enough speed and angle of attack to generate a high pressure in said liquid on one side of said blade or blades and a low pressure in said liquid on said other side of said blade or blades, whereby said blade or blades can displace or accelerate enough liquid with said high pressure side to create required hydrodynamic thrust on said blade or blades in generally a perpendicular angle to the direction of said movement of said blade or blades, and, furthermore, said low pressure can draw in said gas to form a void in said liquid contiguous to said low pressure side, said void being able to extend behind said trailing edge in said liquid, whereby said liquid has substantially reduced contact with said low pressure side, and said blade can travel through said liquid with substantially reduced parasitic drag from wetted surface area, and whereby said blade is not subjected to sudden loss of hydrodynamic thrust due to cavitation as speed through said liquid is increased, and whereby said blade is not subjected to sudden loss of lift due to rapid surface venting as speed through said liquid is increased.

2. A blade as in claim 1 comprising added thickness in said material to provide addition strength to said blade.

3. A blade as in claim 1 with the addition of a flange at said leading edge on said low pressure side, said flange inducing said low pressure to draw in said gas and create said void at lower angles of attack and at lower speeds.

4. A blade as in claim 1 that is tapered toward said tip.

5. A blade or blades as in claim 1 where said object is an airplane or a vessel and said thrust of said blade or blades lifts part or all of said object above the surface of said liquid.

6. Blades as in claim 5 where said blades are set up as one or more laterally opposing pairs where said blades are angled toward one another at said tips in such a way that their combined thrust can lift said object and provide roll axis stability through dihedral.

7. A blade as in claim 1 where said liquid has a surface and above said liquid surface is air, said movement being more or less on the same plane as said liquid surface, and furthermore, part of said blade is below said liquid surface and part of said blade is above said liquid surface, whereby said air is drawn directly from above said liquid surface by said low pressure to form said void in said liquid contiguous to said low pressure side of said blade, thus venting said blade gradually as speed increases, and whereby said blade is not subjected to sudden loss of lift due to rapid surface venting or to cavitation as speed through said liquid is increased.

8. Blades as in claim 6 where said blades are joined at said tips to form a v shape.

9. Blades as in claim 6 where said blades are joined at said tips to form an arc.

10. A blade as in claim 1 that is partially shaped as a hydrofoil.

11. A blade as in claim 1 where said object is a hub of a propeller or a turbine.

12. A blade or blades as in claim 5 where said blade is retractable into said object.

13. A blade or blades as in claim 5 where said blade is not retractable into said object and provides aerodynamic lift to said object during flight.

14. A blade as in claim 1 where said gas is introduced to said low pressure side under pressure or by being pumped.

15. A blade as in claim 1 where said tip is bent in any direction to provide additional lateral stability.

16. A blade as in claim 1 where said angle of attack of said blade is adjustable.

17. A method providing thrust to an object in a liquid comprising: (a) providing least one blade that can move through said liquid with a leading edge and a trailing edge, a base and a tip, and with material in between that form a surface or surfaces on each side of said blade, (b) providing means for attaching said blade or blades to said object, (c) providing means for moving said object relative to said liquid, (d) providing means for providing a gas to at least one side of said blade or blades, such that said blade or blades can be moved by said object through and separate said liquid with enough speed and angle of attack to generate a high pressure in said liquid on one side of said blade or blades and a low pressure in said liquid on said other side of said blade or blades, whereby said high pressure provides thrust on said blade or blades in generally a perpendicular angle to the direction of said movement of said blade or blades, and furthermore, said low pressure can draw in said gas to form a void in said liquid contiguous to said low pressure side, said void being able to extend behind said trailing edge in said liquid, whereby said blade can displace enough liquid with said high pressure side alone to create required hydrodynamic thrust, and whereby said liquid has substantially reduced contact with said low pressure side, and said blade can travel through said liquid with substantially reduced parasitic drag from wetted surface area, and whereby said blade is not subjected to sudden loss of hydrodynamic thrust due to inertial cavitation as speed through said liquid is increased.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0019] FIGS. 01-04 show planar view illustrations of various embodiments of blades in accordance with the invention.

[0020] FIGS. 05-07 show a typical cross section illustrations at A of the typical embodiments shown in FIGS. 01 through 04.

[0021] FIGS. 08-14 show possible front end elevation illustrations of possible embodiments of this invention where the blades lift an aircraft or vessel out of the water.

[0022] FIGS. 15-17 show possible planar, front end elevations and cross section view illustrations of an embodiment which is a combination of this invention and a conventional hydrofoil.

[0023] FIGS. 18-19 show possible perspective view illustrations of embodiments which are boat propellers.

[0024] FIGS. 20-22 show possible cross section illustrations of embodiments that can operate as a hydrofoil at low speeds and as a high speed blade in accordance with the invention.

[0025] FIGS. 23-24 show possible side view illustrations of the embodiment in FIGS. 20-22 that is inverted and attached to a pylon or boat rudder.

[0026] FIGS. 25-26 show possible top view illustrations of an embodiment as a pylon or boat rudder, traveling at both low speed and high speed respectively.

[0027] FIGS. 27-28 show possible top view illustrations of an embodiment as a pylon or boat rudder, traveling at both low speed and high speed respectively with deflection of liquid to one side.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0028] 101 blade [0029] 102 leading edge [0030] 103 trailing edge [0031] 104 base [0032] 105 tip [0033] 106 liquid [0034] 107 general direction of blade movement through liquid [0035] 108 general direction of liquid acceleration due to blade movement [0036] 109 general direction of thrust [0037] 110 angle of attack [0038] 111 high pressure or planing surface of blade [0039] 112 low pressure or dry surface of blade [0040] 113 gas [0041] 114 void in liquid surrounding gas and blade [0042] 115 flange [0043] 116 increased thickness [0044] 117 object such as aircraft, boat or propeller hub [0045] 118 chine [0046] 119 gas passage [0047] 120 bend

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. Specific structural and functional details, and shapes disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

DescriptionFIGS. 01 through 04

[0049] Some examples of the many such possible embodiments are shown in FIGS. 01 through 04 where planar views of the embodiments show blade 101 with leading edge 102 and trailing edge 103, and base 104 and tip 105, moving in direction 107.

OperationFIGS. 01 through 04

[0050] To operate such embodiments, blade 101 is moved through liquid 106 (not shown) as depicted by movement 107.

DescriptionFIG. 05

[0051] FIG. 05 shows a typical cross section at A of the typical embodiments shown in FIGS. 01 through 04, where blade 101 is submerged, or partially submerged, in liquid 106, showing typical directional movement 107 of blade 101 at angle of attack 110 relative to the high pressure or planing surface 111. Leading edge 102 may be xyresic or rounded. Not shown, void 114 may extend behind trailing edge 103 multiple times the width of blade 101.

OperationFIG. 05

[0052] To operate this embodiment, blade 101 is moved through liquid 106 in general direction 107 with enough speed and angle of attack 110 such that sufficient liquid 106 is accelerated with planing surface 111 alone, in general direction 108, to generate required hydrodynamic thrust on blade 101 in generally the opposite direction 109.

[0053] Such movement 107 of blade 101 at angle of attack 110 also causes relatively low pressure in liquid 106 adjacent to low pressure side 112 and which draws in gas 113 to create void 114 in liquid 106 that surrounds gas 113 and blade 101. The pressure in gas 113 being high enough that cavitation cannot occur on low pressure side 112.

[0054] Since blade 101 becomes fully vented at relatively low speed, and required hydrodynamic thrust or lift is generated by planing surface 111 alone, such embodiments are not prone to sudden loss of required hydrodynamic thrust or lift due to surface venting.

DescriptionFIG. 06

[0055] FIG. 06 shows a similar embodiment as FIG. 05, with the addition of flange 115 at leading edge 102 on low pressure side 112.

OperationFIG. 06

[0056] Operating this embodiment is similar to FIG. 05 with the added ability of flange 115 to induce low pressure on side 112 to draw in gas 113 at a lower angle of attack 110 and at lower speeds than the embodiment of FIG. 05.

DescriptionFIG. 07

[0057] FIG. 07 shows an embodiment with the addition of increased thickness 116 of blade 101.

OperationFIG. 07

[0058] Operating this embodiment is similar to previous embodiments with the addition of structural strength provided by increased thickness 116, which also allows blade 101 to produce required hydrodynamic lift or thrust, at a speed below that which draws in gas 113 to create void 114, similar to the known ability of a conventional hydrofoil.

DescriptionFIGS. 08 through 11

[0059] FIGS. 08 through 11 show possible front end elevations of embodiments of this invention with object 117 attached to blade 101A and blade 101B which are piercing the surface of liquid 106, and with void 114 in liquid 106 surrounding gas 113 and blades 101. FIG. 08A shows possible embodiments with blade 101 angled at bend 120 to provide additional lateral stability. FIG. 9 shows blades 101 attached at tips 105 to form a v and FIG. 10 shows blades 101 attached at tips 105 to form a continuous arc.

OperationFIGS. 08 through 11

[0060] To operate these embodiments, blades 101A and 101B are moved through liquid 106 creating a high pressure and a low pressure in liquid 106 such that gas 113 is drawn onto low pressure side 112 to create void 114 in liquid 106, with enough speed to plane on the high pressure or planing surface 111, whereby deflecting liquid 106 with enough force to provide hydrodynamic thrust on blade 101 to lift object 117 above liquid 106. As shown in FIG. 11, the dihedral in blades 101A and 101B provide stability about the roll axis as thrust 109A is greatly diminished and thrust 109B greatly increased when object 117 is tilted to one side.

DescriptionFIGS. 12 through 14

[0061] FIG. 12 shows a possible front-end elevation of embodiments of this invention with blade 101 being curved or flexible.

[0062] FIG. 13 shows a possible front-end elevation of embodiments of this invention with blades 101 being retracted into object 117.

[0063] FIG. 14 shows a possible front-end elevation of embodiments of this invention with blade 101 having chines.

OperationFIGS. 12 through 14

[0064] Operation of embodiments shown from FIGS. 12 through 14 is similar to previous embodiments with FIG. 13 showing the retraction of blades 101 in the case of object 117 being a high speed aircraft such as a jet.

DescriptionFIGS. 15 through 17

[0065] FIGS. 15 through 17 shows a type of embodiment which is a combination of this invention and a conventional hydrofoil, where part of blade 101 has a cross section similar to a conventional hydrofoil at B, and sections C through F show a progression of the transition to a single high speed wetted surface as shown in this invention.

OperationFIGS. 15 through 17

[0066] Because a conventional hydrofoil known in the art has better lifting properties at low speed, a combination is presented whereby the upper portion of blade 101 can give more lift at low speeds and the lower portion of blade 101 will become fully vented and operate in accordance with the operation of FIGS. 05 through 07 at high speeds.

DescriptionFIGS. 18 through 19

[0067] FIGS. 18 through 19 show an embodiment of this invention where blade 101 is the blade of a propeller, and gas 113 can be exhaust gas or surface air that passes through gas passage 119 to create void 114 (not shown) in liquid 106 (not shown). FIG. 18 has the addition of flange 115.

OperationFIGS. 18 through 19

[0068] Operation of these embodiments is similar to previous embodiments, where blade 101 is moved through liquid 106 (not shown) creating a high pressure and a low pressure in liquid 106 (not shown) such that gas 113 and is drawn through gas passage 119 onto low pressure side 112, to create void 114 (not shown) in liquid 106 (not shown), whereby allowing blade 101 to exceed the speed where cavitation is typical and also operate near or at the liquid surface without creating sudden loss of thrust due to surface venting.

DescriptionFIGS. 20 through 22

[0069] FIGS. 20 and 21 show an embodiment which is another combination of this invention and a conventional hydrofoil, where blade 101 has increased thickness 116 such that the after part of blade 101 has a cross section typical of a conventional hydrofoil.

[0070] FIG. 22 shows blade 101 with surface 111 as concave. Not shown, surface 111 may be convex or a combination of both concave and convex,

OperationFIGS. 20 through 22

[0071] Because a conventional hydrofoil known in the art may have better lifting properties at low speed, a combination is presented to provide hydrodynamic lift when blade 101 is traveling in direction 107 at low speed as in FIG. 20. A small amount of gas 113 may be drawn in behind flange 115 to complete the hydrofoil shape. This space may also be filled with an eddy of liquid 106.

[0072] FIG. 21 shows the same embodiment as FIG. 20 with blade 101 traveling in direction 107 at high speed and providing required hydrodynamic lift in accordance with this invention.

DescriptionFIGS. 23 through 24

[0073] FIGS. 23 and 24 show an embodiment of this invention where blade 101 is attached perpendicularly to another blade 101A, such that it may be inverted to provide a downward thrust. Blade 101A may have gas passage 119 to supply gas 113 to low pressure side 112.

OperationFIGS. 23 through 24

[0074] This embodiment is operated much the same as in FIGS. 20 and 21, but providing down thrust at both low speed and high speed, gas 113 being drawn in through gas passage 119.

DescriptionFIGS. 25 and 26

[0075] FIGS. 25 and 26 show an embodiment of this invention where blade 101 is symmetrical about the forward and aft axis, both sides being similar to low pressure surface 112 with flange 115. When used vertically as a ruder or pylon as with blade 101A in FIGS. 23 and 24, gas 113 may be drawn in through gas passage 119.

OperationFIGS. 25 through 26

[0076] This embodiment may be operated at both high speed and low speed, with neutral thrust in either direction, with gas 113 being draw in to prevent cavitation on either side.

DescriptionFIGS. 27 and 28

[0077] FIGS. 27 and 28 show the same embodiment as FIGS. 25 and 26 where blade 101 can be angled to provide thrust to one side or the other as in the case of a rudder or center board.

OperationFIGS. 27 through 28

[0078] This embodiment may be operated to provide thrust to one side or the other at both high speed and low speed, with gas 113 being draw in to prevent cavitation on either side.