초록 ▼

A shock mitigation system for a hydrofoil marine craft is provided, the shock mitigation system includes a pair of stacked lifting bodies, where an upper lifting body is used to provide initial lift for the craft. To mitigate the wave effects on the craft when operating at cruise speed, the distance

A shock mitigation system for a hydrofoil marine craft is provided, the shock mitigation system includes a pair of stacked lifting bodies, where an upper lifting body is used to provide initial lift for the craft. To mitigate the wave effects on the craft when operating at cruise speed, the distance between the upper lifting bodies and the waterline is proportionally related to the operational wave height. When operated within the selected operational parameters, the distance between the upper lifting bodies and waterline prevents the upper lifting bodies from becoming wetted and producing sudden increases in lift from wave impact.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A hydrofoil craft configured to operate in a selected maximum wave height environment at a cruise height above a waterline, the hydrofoil craft comprising:at least one upper lifting surface; at least one lower lifting surface, wherein a vertical distance between the upper lifting surface and the

1. A hydrofoil craft configured to operate in a selected maximum wave height environment at a cruise height above a waterline, the hydrofoil craft comprising:at least one upper lifting surface; at least one lower lifting surface, wherein a vertical distance between the upper lifting surface and the waterline is at least one-half the selected maximum wave height when the hydrofoil craft is operating at the cruising height, with the selected maximum wave height being greater than zero; and at least one fore lower lifting surface and at least one aft lower lifting surface, wherein the fore lower lifting surface and aft lower lifting surface are dihedral hydrofoils, each having a submerged portion below the waterline and an exposed portion above the waterline. 2. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 1, wherein when the hydrofoil craft operates at the selected cruise height the submerged portion of the fore lower lifting surface and aft lower lifting surface are substantially equal to the exposed portions of the fore lower lifting surface and aft lower lifting surface.3. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fore lower lifting surface and the at least one aft lifting surface each include a topmost edge and a bottommost edge, the at least one fore lower lifting surface topmost edge and the at least one aft lower lifting surface topmost edge are positioned at substantially equal distances above the waterline and the at least one fore lower lifting surface bottommost edge and the at least one aft lower lifting surface bottommost edge are positioned at substantially equal distances below the waterline.4. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vertical stabilizer extending downward below the at least one aft lower lifting surface.5. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 1, wherein the at least one upper lifting surface includes at least one fore upper lifting surface and at least one aft upper lifting surface.6. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 5, wherein the fore upper lifting surface and aft upper lifting surface are dihedral hydrofoils.7. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 1, wherein the hydrofoil craft includes a planing hull, the planing hull being the at least one upper lifting surface.8. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fully submerged lifting surface positioned below the at least one lower lifting surface.9. A hydrofoil craft configured to operate at a selected operational wave height comprising:a hull defining a longitudinal centerline extending through the length of the hull and a center of gravity positioned along the centerline; at least one fore foil set affixed to the hull forward of the hydrofoil craft's center of gravity; and at least one aft foil set affixed to the hull rearward of the hydrofoil craft's center of gravity, the at least one fore foil set and the at least one aft foil set each including substantially vertical pylon affixed to the hull, an upper foil and a lower foil attached to the vertical pylon, the upper foil being above the lower foil, wherein the vertical distance between the upper foils and the waterline is at least one-half the selected operational wave height when the hydrofoil craft is operating at a selected cruise height, the selected operational wave height being greater than zero, wherein the lower foils are dihedral foils each defining a foil span length, such that at the selected cruise height the waterline is at about 33% to 80% of the lower foil span length. 10. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 9, wherein the waterline is at about 50% of the lower foil span length.11. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fore foil set is affixed to the hull along the hull longitudinal centerline.12. The hydrofoil according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fore foil set comprises a pair of forward foil sets symmetrically affixed to the hull orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline of the hull.13. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 9, wherein the at least one aft foil set is affixed to the hull along the hull's longitudinal centerline.14. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 13, further comprising at least one vertical stabilizer extending downward from the vertical pylon below the at least one aft lower lifting surface.15. The hydrofoil according to claim 9, wherein the at least one aft foil set comprises a pair of aft foil sets symmetrically affixed to the hull orthogonal to the longitudinal centerline of the hull.16. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 9, further comprising at least one fully submerged foil positioned below the fore lower foil.17. The hydrofoil craft according to claim 9, further comprising at least one fully submerged foil positioned below the aft lower foil.