A shape shifting foil alters the shape of a fluid foil contour by rotating a leading edge structure. A skin that forms the fluid foil contour is at least partially attached to the leading edge structure, and is wrapped around the leading edge structure so two edges of the skin form the trailing edge
A shape shifting foil alters the shape of a fluid foil contour by rotating a leading edge structure. A skin that forms the fluid foil contour is at least partially attached to the leading edge structure, and is wrapped around the leading edge structure so two edges of the skin form the trailing edge of the fluid foil. The two edges forming the trailing edge slide with respect to one another, thereby permitting the skin to shift when the leading edge structure is rotated.
대표청구항▼
1. A fluid foil comprising: a spar having a root section secured to a body and a tip end located distal from the body;an axle having a root section secured to the body and a tip end locatcd distal from the body;a leading edge structure defining a leading edge contour, the leading edge structure havi
1. A fluid foil comprising: a spar having a root section secured to a body and a tip end located distal from the body;an axle having a root section secured to the body and a tip end locatcd distal from the body;a leading edge structure defining a leading edge contour, the leading edge structure having a root section proximate the body and tip end distal from the body, and the leading edge structure attached to the axle for rotating the leading edge structure therewith with respect to the spar; anda skin having a root edge proximate the body, a tip edge distal from the body, a first longitudinal trailing edge extending between the root edge and the tip edge, a second longitudinal trailing edge extending between the root edge and the tip edge, opposite interior and exterior faces, the skin wrapped around the leading edge structure and over the spar with the exterior face facing away from the leading edge structure and the interior face facing the leading edge structure, a portion of the skin connected to the leading edge structure, and the first and second longitudinal trailing edges slidably engaging one another to form a trailing edge of the fluid foil, wherein rotation of the axle rotates the leading edge structure therewith and the leading edge structure transmits force from the axle to slidably rotate the skin around the spar, thereby shaping a contour of the fluid foil. 2. A fluid foil according to claim 1, further comprising an actuator for applying rotational force to the axle. 3. A fluid foil according to claim 2, wherein the actuator is configured to apply rotational force to the axle to form at least one differential fluid feature along a length of the fluid foil. 4. A fluid foil according to claim 1, further comprising: a tip cover attached to the fluid foil for substantially inhibiting fluid from flowing from the exterior face of the skin over the tip edge of the skin to the interior face of the skin. 5. A fluid foil according to claim 2, wherein: the skin includes a continuous sheet without seams extending between the first and second longitudinal trailing edges;the axle is rotatably secured to the body; andthe axle is rotably secured to the tip cover. 6. A fluid foil according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the sheet proximate the first longitudinal trailing edge and a portion of the sheet proximate the second longitudinal trailing edge are bent and coupled to form a slidable interlocking structure to hold the first and second longitudinal trailing edges proximate each other. 7. A fluid foil according to claim 4, wherein the fluid foil is a sailboat keel, and the tier cover further includes a ballast attached to the tip end of the spar. 8. A fluid foil according to claim 1, further comprising a fence attached to the first side of the skin and extending above the first side of the skin, the fence located proximate the tip edge of the skin to substantially inhibit water from flowing from the first side of the skin over the tip edge of the skin. 9. A fluid foil according to claim 1, further comprising: a spacing device connected to the spar for holding the skin in a spatial relationship with respect to the spar. 10. A fluid foil according to claim 9, wherein the spacing device includes a plurality of arms, each arm having a first end connected to the spar and a second end connected to the interior face of the skin. 11. A fluid foil according to claim 10, wherein: the spar includes a longitudinal length extending from the root section to the tip end;the spacing device includes a first plurality of arms aligned substantially in a row along the longitudinal length of the spar on a first side of the spar; andthe spacing device includes a second plurality of arms aligned substantially in a row along the longitudinal length of the spar on an opposing second side of the spar. 12. A fluid foil according to claim 10, wherein the spar has a leading section, a mid section, and a trailing section, and wherein: a first arm includes a hinge located on the spar leading section;a second arm includes a hinge located on the spar mid section;a third arm includes a hinge located on the spar trailing section; andthe second arm is longer than either the first or third rigid arms. 13. A fluid foil according to claim 11, wherein the spacing device includes a rigid structure the skin slides over. 14. A fluid foil according to claim 12, wherein the spacing device includes a deformable structure attached between the spar and the skin. 15. A fluid foil according to claim 13, wherein the spacing device further includes a carrier device. 16. A fluid foil according to claim 1, further comprising a link connected to the interior face of the skin between the spar and the first longitudinal trailing edge of the skin, the link also connected to the interior face of the skin between the spar and the second longitudinal trailing edge of the skin, the link retaining the first and second longitudinal trailing edges proximate each other and further permitting the first and second longitudinal ling edges to slide with respect to each other when the leading edge structure is rotated. 17. A fluid foil according to claim 16, further comprising an actuator, the actuator connected between the spar and the link for moving at least a portion of the link away from the spar to thereby move the trailing edge away from the spar and thereby move the skin closer to a first side of the spar and closer to an opposing second side of the spar. 18. A fluid foil according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the skin proximate the second longitudinal trailing edge includes a magnetic material, and further comprising: a magnet attached to the second side of the skin proximate the first longitudinal trailing edge, the magnet located to engage the magnetic material and to permit the first longitudinal trailing edge to slide with respect to the second longitudinal trailing edge. 19. A fluid foil according to claim 1, further comprising: a fairing attached to the body and overlying the first side of the skin proximate the body to substantially inhibit fluid from flowing between the body and the root edge of the skin; anda tip cover boot connected to the tip cover and overlying the first side of the skin proximate the tip edge to substantially inhibit fluid from flowing from the first side of the skin and over the tip edge of the skin into interior of the fluid foil. 20. A fluid foil according to claim 1, wherein the first and second longitudinal trailing edges slide relative to one another in a chordwise direction to accommodate rotation of the skin.
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