FOIL ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A HOLLOW T-SHAPED CONNECTOR

Abstract

A foil assembly for a hydrofoil, a hollow T-shaped connector for mounting in such a foil assembly, and a hydrofoil that includes such a foil assembly. The foil assembling comprises a mast having a first transverse longitudinal cavity, a foil, and a T-shaped connector having a first part that includes a first mechanism for fixing to the foil and a second part that includes a second mechanism for fixing to the mast. The T-shaped connector also has a second transverse longitudinal cavity that leads into the first cavity, such that the first transverse longitudinal cavity and the second transverse longitudinal cavity together form a chamber that allows for protection of elements which are useful for the operation of the hydrofoil.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A foil assembly for hydrofoil, the foil assembly comprising: a mast having a first cavity; a foil; and a connector having a T-shaped configuration that comprises a first connector part coupled to the foil and a second connector part coupled to the mast, the connector having a second cavity that opens into the first cavity to collectively form a chamber for housing hydrofoil operational elements.

18. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein the mast comprises a hollow body having a plurality of spars separating the hollow body into a plurality of chambers, one chamber in the plurality of chambers forming the first cavity.

19. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein the hydrofoil operational elements comprise a force transfer mechanism, an electrical signal transmission mechanism, and a fluid transport mechanism.

20. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein the hydrofoil operational elements comprise a control device for controlling a tilt of a fin connected to a lever.

21. The foil assembly of claim 20, wherein the lever has a lever arm having a length that is between 50% and 100% of the chord of the fin.

22. The foil assembly of claim 21, wherein the lever is at least partially housed in the chamber.

23. The foil assembly of claim 22, wherein the control device comprises a connecting rod connected at a lower end thereof to the lever and at an upper end thereof to a translational movement mechanism to enable translational movement along a substantially vertical axis.

24. The foil assembly of claim 23, wherein the lever arm is arranged at a front of a pivot axis of the fin to enable a working mode of the connecting rod in traction during deflections of the fin.

25. The foil assembly of claim 24, wherein the translational movement mechanism comprises a carriage movable on a rail and a ball screw to move the carriage.

26. The foil assembly of claim 25, wherein the translational movement mechanism comprises a driven pulley configured to drive the ball screw, connected via a transmission belt to a driving pulley rotated by a motor.

27. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein the first connector part is mounted in a recess on the foil such that a surface of the foil and a visible surface of the first connector part form an assembly.

28. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein the connector is formed of monolithic titanium.

29. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein a surface area of the chamber in any transverse section plane of the mast is greater than 4800 mm.sup.2.

30. The foil assembly of claim 17, wherein a surface area of the chamber is greater than or equal to 45% of a total surface area occupied by the mast on any transverse section plane of the mast.

31. A connector for a hydrofoil foil assembly that includes a foil and a mast, the connector comprising: a first connector part coupled to the foil; a second connector part coupled to the mast; and a connector cavity that opens into a longitudinal cavity of the mast to collectively form a chamber for housing hydrofoil operational elements.

32. A hydrofoil, comprising: a foil assembly that includes: a mast having a first cavity; a foil; and a connector having a T-shaped configuration that comprises a first connector part coupled to the foil and a second connector part coupled to the mast, the connector having a second cavity that opens into the first cavity to collectively form a chamber for housing hydrofoil operational elements.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0042] Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the foil assembly, the T-shaped connector and the hydrofoil which are the subjects of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0043] FIG. 1 schematically represents, in perspective view, a particular embodiment of a T-shaped connector which is the subject of the invention, illustrated alone, before assembly with a foil and with a mast to form a foil assembly.

[0044] FIG. 2 represents, schematically in perspective section, the T-shaped connector of FIG. 1, illustrated mounted in a mast.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows, schematically in top view, the T-shaped connector of FIG. 1, illustrated mounted on a foil.

[0046] FIG. 4 schematically represents, in perspective section, the T-shaped connector of FIG. 1, illustrated mounted on the foil and the mast of a particular embodiment of the foil assembly object of the invention.

[0047] FIG. 5 schematically represents, in top view, the T-shaped connector of FIG. 1.

[0048] FIG. 6 represents, schematically and in side view, a device for controlling the tilt of a fin, which can be housed in particular embodiments of the foil assembly which is the subject of the invention.

[0049] FIG. 7 shows, schematically and in perspective view, a detail of the device for controlling the tilt of an aileron in FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION

[0050] This description is given without limitation, each characteristic of an embodiment being able to be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner.

[0051] We note, from now on, that the figures are each to scale but that the scales between them can vary. FIGS. 1 and 5 show schematic views of a particular embodiment of a T-shaped connector 200. The T-shaped connector is shown alone, before assembly with the foil and mast of a foil assembly.

[0052] The T-shaped connector 200 is a structural element, ensuring the solidity of the connection between a mast and a foil which will be described in more detail with regard to FIGS. 3 and 4. The T-shaped connector 200, the foil and the mast form a foil assembly.

[0053] The foil assembly is intended to be mounted under the hull of a hydrofoil to allow the hydrofoil to rise out of the water and maintain balance out of the water under speed. The hydrofoil (not shown) may have several sets of foils. According to a particular embodiment, the hydrofoil comprises three sets of foils, including one set of foils positioned under the hull, close to the bow of the hydrofoil, and two sets of foils positioned under the hull, close to the stern of the hydrofoil.

[0054] According to a preferred embodiment, the T connector 200 is obtained by assembling titanium plates. In other embodiments, the T-shaped connector 200 is comprised of any suitable metal or alloy to meet the weight and mechanical strength constraints. The T-shaped connector may include steel, polymers, composites, light alloys made from aluminum or light alloys made from magnesium.

[0055] According to a preferred embodiment, the T connector 200 is obtained by assembling plates, preferably made of titanium, welded together. This assembly is then machined to obtain at least one cavity and to draw the contours of the T connector in order to facilitate its assembly with the foil assembly.

[0056] The T-shaped connector 200 comprises a first part 210 configured to provide a solid junction between the T-shaped connector and the foil. The first part 210 of the T-shaped connector 200 is a substantially flat part.

[0057] According to a particular embodiment, the first part 210 is formed of two rigid plates, 211 and 212, joined together. Said plates comprise an upper plate 211 and a lower plate 212. Preferably, at least one of the plates 211 and 212 has a domed shape or includes a cavity on its face intended to be mounted opposite the other plate, 211 or 212, so that an opening 215 is provided between the two plates when they are fixed together. The connection between the T-shaped connector 200 and the foil will be better understood with regard to the description of FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0058] The T-shaped connector 200 comprises a second part 220 configured to provide a solid junction between the T-shaped connector and the mast. The second part 220 is preferably a hollow part, substantially flat and of substantially rectangular or oblong section. The second part 220 is linked solidly and at right angles to the first part 210 of the T-shaped connector 200. A cavity 290 is provided in the second part of the T-shaped connector.

[0059] According to the invention, the T-shaped connector comprises a through cavity 290, called the second cavity, making it possible to house elements useful for the operation of the hydrofoil and to route it through the foil assembly, from the hydrofoil to the foil. The second cavity 290 communicates with a cavity provided in a mast. The connection between the T-shaped connector 200 and the mast and the junction between the cavities of the mast and the T-shaped connector 200 will be better understood with regard to the description of FIGS. 2 and 4.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows the T-shaped connector 200, described above, illustrated mounted in a mast 300 of which only a section is shown. The mast 300 is made of polymer or composite material, selected in particular for its lightness. The mast could, for example, be obtained by implementing the manufacturing process described in French patent application FR 3 075 688. The mast 300 is at least partly hollow and has one or more cavities. In particular, the mast 300 comprises a first cavity 320 configured to communicate with the second cavity 290 of the T connector.

[0061] The 300 mast is a body with a hollow core. Two spars, including a front spar 330 and a rear spar 335, separate the hollow body of the mast 300 into a central chamber and two side chambers. The leading edge chamber is the chamber 340 located forward of the forward-most spar 330 and the trailing edge chamber 345 is the chamber located after the rear-most spar 335, in the direction of flow during normal operation of the hydrofoil. The T-shaped connector 200 is inserted into a central chamber, said central chamber forming the first cavity 320.

[0062] FIG. 3 shows a top view of the T-shaped connector 200, shown mounted on a foil 400. Preferably, a recess whose dimensions are substantially equal to the dimensions of the first part 210 of the T connector 200 is provided on the extrados 401 of the foil 400. The first portion 210 of the T-shaped connector 200 is placed in said recess such that, when secured in place, the surface of the foil and the flush surface of the first portion of the T-shaped connector form a smooth surface. The first part 210 of the T-shaped connector 200 includes means for fixing to the foil. The fixing means may include screw-nut type fasteners or be ensured by means of glue. For example, the T-shaped connector piece is fixed in place on the foil by means of screws, screwed through holes 218 provided for this purpose on the first part 210 of the T-shaped connector 200. This connection can be completed or replaced by gluing the T-shaped connector 200 with the foil 400.

[0063] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section and perspective representation of the T-shaped connector 200, illustrated mounted with a foil 400 and with a mast 300. The first cavity 320 is preferably a cavity present on a central part of the section of the mast 300 and which runs the entire height of the mast. The first cavity 320 is joined to the second cavity 290 of the T-shaped connector. Preferably, this junction is made by fitting the second part 220 of the T connector 200 into the cavity 320 of the mast 300. To do this, the second part 220 of the T-shaped connector 200 is a part whose dimensions are slightly smaller than the dimensions of the cavity 320 of the mast 300, so that the second part 220 can be inserted into the cavity 320 and the opening of the cavity 290 is located opposite the cavity 320. Preferably, the mast 300 and the second part 220 of the T-shaped connector are made integral with each other by gluing the external surfaces of the T-shaped connector and/or the internal face of the walls 310 delimiting the first cavity 320 in the mast 300.

[0064] When assembling the T-shaped connector 200 with the mast 300, care will be taken to ensure perpendicularity between the main axis of the mast 300 and the first part 210 which includes fixing means between the T-shaped connector 200 and the mast. These fixing methods can, for example, include screw-nut systems or be ensured by gluing the foil to the mast.

[0065] As detailed above, the mast 300 comprises a first longitudinal through cavity and the T-shaped connector comprises a second through cavity, mounted communicating with the first cavity, so that the first and second cavities together form a chamber for housing elements useful for the operation of the hydrofoil. For example, these elements are selected from force transfer means, electrical signal transmission means and fluid transport means. In particular embodiments, the force transfer means comprise a device for controlling the tilt of an aileron.

[0066] In embodiments, the foil 400 comprises a fin 410 and a device for controlling the tilt of the fin 410 which notably comprises a connecting rod 165 and a lever 180 which allows the fin to be moved. The aileron tilt control device 410 will be better understood from the description of FIGS. 6 and 7.

[0067] FIG. 6 shows a device 100 for controlling an aileron, for example an aileron 410 of the type described above. The control device 100 comprises a lever 180 securely connected at one of its ends to the fin 410 and connected at its other end to a connecting rod 165 by a joint 162 providing a pivot connection between the lever 180 and the connecting rod 165.

[0068] It is emphasized that the connecting rod 165 and the lever 180 are partly housed in the void formed by the cavities 290 and 320, described previously. This arrangement has the advantage of concealing these mechanisms inside the foil assembly. This has the effect of improving the hydrodynamic characteristics of the foil and preventing the risk of these mechanisms being damaged during navigation. Additionally, positioning the lever in the void formed by cavities 290 and 320 provides space necessary to accommodate a larger lever arm, compared to the lever arm of a lever that would extend from the trailing edge of the foil assembly mast to the fin. Thanks to the space provided in the hollow T-shaped connector, the positioning of the connecting rod is advanced towards the front of the hydrofoil. These arrangements allow the 180 lever to be positioned in front of the wing pivot axis. Thus, the lever arm of the lever 180 is in front of the pivot axis of the aileron, which allows a working mode of the connecting rod connected to the lever arm mainly in traction during the deflections of the aileron 410.

[0069] FIG. 7 shows a detail of FIG. 6, centered on the upper part of the aileron control device 100. The upper end of the connecting rod 165 comprises a ball joint 160 which forms a pivot connection with a means ensuring translational movement along a substantially vertical axis. For example, the means ensuring translational movement along a substantially vertical axis 20 is a carriage 150. The carriage 150 is mounted so that it can move in translation on a rail 170. The rail 170 is in turn fixed to a plate attached to a structural element (not shown) of the hydrofoil.

[0070] The carriage 150 can move vertically upwards M1 or vertically downwards M2 so as to transmit a moment of force to the lever 180 via the connecting rod 165. Thus, a movement M1 of the carriage 150 causes a rotational movement M3 of the lever, the effect of which is to lower the trailing edge 411 of the aileron 410 (movement M5 in FIG. 4). And a movement M2 of the carriage 150 causes a rotational movement M4 of the lever, the effect of which is to raise the trailing edge 411 of the aileron 410 (movement M6 in FIG. 4).

[0071] The translational movement of the carriage 150 may be driven by a pneumatic or hydraulic piston system, by a ball screw or by any other suitable linear actuator. It is also pointed out that, in other embodiments, the upper part of the connecting rod 165 may be connected directly to a linear actuator.

[0072] In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the linear translational movement of the carriage 150 is driven by a ball screw comprising a threaded screw 155 and a nut 153 engaged with the screw 155.

[0073] In some embodiments (not shown), a motor is directly connected to the screw 155 and drives it in rotation.

[0074] More preferably, as illustrated in FIG. 7, a driven pulley 125 mounted at the head of the mast 300 is fixed in rotation to the screw 155. The pulley 125 is driven in rotation by a transmission belt 130 in mesh with a second driving pulley 120 rotated by a motor 110. Preferably, the pulleys 125 and 120 and the transmission belt 130 are notched. A pressure roller 140 may be provided to keep the drive belt under tension. All of the aforementioned components are supported, directly or indirectly, by a support 103 which is in turn integral with a structural element of the hydrofoil.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0075] We observe in the figures, under the reference number: [0076] 100 a device for controlling the tilt of an aileron [0077] 103 a support [0078] 105 a plate [0079] 110 an engine [0080] 120 a driving pulley [0081] 125 a driven pulley [0082] 130 a transmission belt [0083] 140 a pressure roller [0084] 150 a carriage [0085] 153 a nut in cooperation with the ball screw [0086] 155 a screw of the ball screw [0087] 160 a pivot connection [0088] 162 a pivot connection [0089] 165 a connecting rod [0090] 170 a rail [0091] 180 a lever [0092] 200 a T-shaped connector [0093] 210 a first part of the T-shaped connector [0094] 211 a first plate forming the lower part of the first part of the T-shaped connector [0095] 212 a second plate, forming the lower part of the first part of the T-shaped connector [0096] 220 a second part of the T-shaped connector [0097] 290 a second through cavity, in the T-shaped connector [0098] 300 a mast [0099] 301 the leading edge of the mast [0100] 302 the trailing edge of the mast [0101] 310 a wall delimiting the first cavity in the mast [0102] 320 a first cavity [0103] 330 first spar [0104] 335 second spar [0105] 340 leading edge chamber [0106] 345 trailing edge chamber [0107] 400 a foil [0108] 401 the extrados of the foil [0109] 402 the intrados of the foil [0110] 410 a fin