초록 ▼

A watercraft can include a foil configured for movement between an undeployed position and a first deployed position in which the foil raises the relative position of the watercraft relative to the water line as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby facilitating planing of the wate

A watercraft can include a foil configured for movement between an undeployed position and a first deployed position in which the foil raises the relative position of the watercraft relative to the water line as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby facilitating planing of the watercraft. The foil can be configured for movement to a second deployed position in which the foil lowers the relative position of the stern end of the watercraft as the watercraft moves forward through the water, thereby modifying the wake produced by the watercraft.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An inboard water-sport boat comprising: a hull having a transom; anda foil coupled to the hull and movable between an undeployed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position, wherein the foil is configured to produce a lifting force when in the first deployed position as th

1. An inboard water-sport boat comprising: a hull having a transom; anda foil coupled to the hull and movable between an undeployed position, a first deployed position, and a second deployed position, wherein the foil is configured to produce a lifting force when in the first deployed position as the hull moves through water, wherein the foil is configured to produce a downward force when in the second deployed position as the hull moves through water, and wherein at least a portion of the foil is disposed above a bottom edge of the transom when in the undeployed position;one or more actuators configured to move the foil between the undeployed position, the first deployed position, and the second deployed position;a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of whether the boat is planing;wherein the one or more actuators position the foil at the first deployed position when the signal of the sensor indicates that the boat is not planing, to produce a lifting force that helps the boat to plane;wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the undeployed position or the second deployed position when the signal of the sensor indicates that the boat is planing. 2. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the foil is oriented substantially vertically when in the undeployed position. 3. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to receive user input, and wherein the one or more actuators are configured to move the foil in response to the user input received by the user interface. 4. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, configured such that the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the second deployed position when the boat is planing. 5. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, configured such that the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the undeployed position or the second deployed position when the boat is moving above a pre-determined speed. 6. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, configured such that the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the second deployed position when the boat is moving above a pre-determined speed. 7. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to output a notification to a user when the foil is in the first deployed position. 8. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the foil rotates across an angle greater than 90 degrees between the undeployed position and the first deployed position. 9. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the foil rotates across an angle of less than 90 degrees between the undeployed position and the second deployed position. 10. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, further comprising one or more arms coupled to the foil, wherein the one or more arms are movable for positioning the foil at the undeployed position, the first deployed position, and the second deployed position, and wherein the foil is coupled to the one or more arms at an angle that offset from perpendicular by between about 5 degrees and about 40 degrees. 11. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 10, wherein the foil is coupled to the one or more arms at an angle that is offset from perpendicular by between about 10 degrees and about 30 degrees. 12. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to determine an orientation of the boat. 13. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a speed of the boat. 14. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the foil is positioned entirely below the hull of the boat when in the first deployed position and when in the second deployed position. 15. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 1, wherein the foil is configured to be entirely submerged in water when in the first deployed position and when in the second deployed position. 16. The inboard water-sport boat of claim 5, wherein the pre-determined speed is faster than a hull speed of the boat. 17. A system for facilitating planing of a watercraft traveling through water, the system comprising: a foil movable between an undeployed position and a first deployed position, wherein the foil is positioned substantially vertically when in the undeployed position, and wherein the first deployed position of the foil is configured to divert water generally downward as the watercraft travels forward through water to produce a lifting force, and wherein the foil is movable to a second deployed position that is configured to divert water generally upward as the watercraft travels forward through water to produce a downward force;a user interface configured to receive user input; andone or more actuators configured to move the foil in response to input received by the user interface;a sensor configured to provide a signal indicative of whether the watercraft is planning;wherein the one or more actuators position the foil at the first deployed position when the signal of the sensor indicates that the watercraft is not planing, to produce a lifting force that helps the watercraft to plane;wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil from the first deployed position to the undeployed position or to the second deployed position after the signal of the sensor indicates that the watercraft is planing. 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising one or more arms having first ends and second ends, wherein the first ends of the one or more arms are coupled to the foil and wherein the second ends are coupled to the one or more actuators, and wherein the one or more arms are configured to pivot about a pivot coupling that is between the first and second ends of the one or more arms. 19. The system of claim 17, further comprising one or more arms coupled to the foil, wherein the one or more arms are movable for positioning the foil at the undeployed position and the first deployed position, and wherein the foil is coupled to the one or more arms at an angle that is offset from perpendicular by between about 10 degrees and about 30 degrees. 20. The system of claim 17, further comprising a mounting member configured to couple the foil to the transom of the watercraft. 21. The system of claim 17, further comprising a controller configured to operate the one or more actuators in response to input received by the user interface. 22. The system of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the foil is configured to be positioned out of the water when in the undeployed position. 23. The system of claim 17, where substantially the entire foil is configured to be positioned out of the water when in the undeployed position. 24. The system of claim 17, wherein the foil is movable to a plurality of interim positions configured to provide differing amounts of lifting force. 25. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil to the second deployed position after the watercraft is planing. 26. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil to the second deployed position when the watercraft is moving faster than a predetermined speed. 27. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil to the undeployed position after the watercraft is planing. 28. The system of claim 17, wherein the one or more actuators automatically move the foil to the undeployed position when the watercraft is moving faster than a predetermined speed. 29. The system of claim 17 in combination with a watercraft, wherein the foil is positioned at the stern of the watercraft at a central location that is about equidistant between the sides of the watercraft. 30. The system of claim 17 in combination with a watercraft, wherein a longitudinal axis of the watercraft intersects the foil. 31. The system of claim 17 in combination with a watercraft having a transom, wherein at least a portion of the foil is disposed above a bottom edge of the transom when in the undeployed position. 32. The system of claim 17, wherein the user interface is configured to output a notification when the foil is at the first deployed position. 33. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer configured to determine an orientation of the watercraft. 34. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor is configured to determine a speed of the watercraft. 35. The system of claim 26, wherein the predetermined speed is faster than a hull speed of the watercraft. 36. The system of claim 17, wherein the foil is movable to a plurality of interim positions configured to provide differing amounts of downward force.