AU592115B2

AU592115B2 - Aquatic locomotion apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU592115B2
Application number: AU63410/86A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Rudolf Balenovic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-02
Filing date: 1986-09-30
Publication date: 1990-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2006-09-30
Also published as: AU6341086A

Description

21 IFORM 10 SPRUSON FERGUSON COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Class Int. Class Application Number: PH2708 Lodged: 2 October 1985 Accepted: Published: r PA TENT 00O FI 1-CF A.C.T. SOU NFCE 0 ~8 4 7

''C

t tC E t 9 k P r ior ity Related Art: Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor: Address for Service: RUDOLF BALENOVIC 65 Blackman Parade, Unanderra, New South Wales 2526, Australia RUDOLF BALENOVIC &pr-u-sen-&--Fe rgus on,, Pate nt-At-torneysT, Le~ve~l-.33 St. Martins, Tower., 31-14a.r-k-e-t- S-tpreety Sydney- -~New.South Wales, 20OO0,Austra-lia-- IPmrp NYrE Complete Specification for the invention entitled: AQUATIC LOCOMOTION APPARATUS The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us pk/l 131J The present invention relates to aquatic locomotion apparatus and devices and, in particular, to aquatic locomotion apparatus and devices propelled by either the user or water action.

Devices in the nature of canoes and paddleboats which are propelled by the user are well known. However, such devices required considerable physical exertion to propel them during operation. Similarly, devices in the nature of surfboards and sailboards which are propelled by waves and/or wind are also well known. However these devices are always at the mercy of sitr the vagaries of nature in order to be propelled.

rr~tit f zIt is the object of the present invention to provide an left aquatic locomotion device by the use and/or wave power which will substantially overcome, or ameliorate, the abovementioned CCtS disadvantages.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is S disclosed an aquatic locomotion apparatus comprising at least St one platform to receive and bear the weight of the user; said platform being supported, in use, in a substantially horizontal t position above the water surface by at least one float; said at I:~t r least one float having rigidly attached thereto at least one hydrofoil projecting therefrom which facilities forward propulsion of said apparatus when an oscillatory downward force is applied to said hydrofoil.

A preferred form of the present invention provides for two floats to support the platform.

Preferably, the oscillatory downward force is applied as the user "rocks" from side-to-side on the platform.

2 In another preferred form the hydrofoil is pivoted between its ends and an engine and rotary arm are provided to apply the oscillatory downward force to the hydrofoil.

It is preferable, that each of the floats has a tail-fin which, in use, is immersed in water to ensure that the forward propulsion of the apparatus is substantially straight.

It is again preferably that a support means be attached to said platform and/or said float(s) so that the user can easily apply the alternating downward force with his legs to the sides of said platform as required without falling off said apparatus.

Further, it is preferable that a hand or foot operable rudder is incorporated in said apparatus to facilitate turning thereof.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a hydrofoil for use not only with said apparatus, but i also t r t t C I tL t cc C CCCct tC C A 2a 0192k/AMD with surfboards and sailboards, which is adapted to provide forward propulsion through water; said hydrofoil comprising two curved surfaces which define the angle of attack of said hydrofoil.

Some embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention; Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional view in the direction Ill-Ill of the hydrofoil illustrated in Fig. 2; Fig. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the hydrofoil of Fig. 4A; Fig. 4C is cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the hydrofoil of Fig. 4A; Fig. 4D is a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the ;j hydrofoil of Fig. 4A; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of an aquatic locomotion apparatus 1 comprises a float 2 attached at its upper surface to a substantially horizontal platform 3 and a support stand 4; the stand 4 is also fixedly connected to the platform 3 and projecting from the sides of the float 2 are a pair of opposable hydrofoils 5 and I ,at the rear of the float 2 there is located a tailfin 6.

1 'As can be best seen in Figs. 1 and 4A, when the user (not illustrated) is standing upon the platform 3 grasping the support stand 4, downward pressure in the direction of arrow B can be applied wither alternately to each side of the platform 3 by the user rocking from side to side or by user "hopping" up and down on the platform 3 and this produces forward movement of the apparatus 1 in the direction of arrow A. Downward movement in the direction of arrow B causes the downward displacement of both one side of the platform 3 and the corresponding one of the pair of hydrofoils 5 on that side of the apparatus 1 to which the force is applied (Fig. 4A). This downward displacement of the hyrdorfoil 5 causes backward displacement of the water thereunder along the bottom curved surface 7 in the direction of arrow C with simultaneous acceleration of the water particles due to the pk/1992z 3 _II I ifi Ii i i aforesaid curvature. Nhen the downward displacement is completed water rushes back in the direction of arrow D striking portion 7A and causing forward propulsion of the hydrofoil 5 and apparatus 1 in the direction of arrow A. Similarly, on the upward displacement a similar affect is seen to occur along the upper curve surface 8. Turning not to Figs. 48, 4C and 4D, it can be seen that altering the curvature and shape of the hydrofoils 5 will affect the angle of attack thereof and consequently the magnitude of the forces acting in the direction of arrow A.

To ensure that the apparatus 1 progresses in the relatively straightforward manner in the direction of arrow f, the apparatus 1 is fitted with a tailfin 6 (Figs. 1 and 2) which minimizes any tendency of the apparatus 1 to "fishtail" during operation and so minimizes the amount of effort that the user must apply to ensure easy movement in the direction of arrow A.

In Fig. 3 there is illustrated a further preferred embodiment of the present invention in the form of a twin hulled apparatus 10. In this embodiment, the apparatus 10 comprises two floats 11 and 12, connected by way of a platform 13, and a pair of opposable hydrofoils 14. The hydrofoils 14 are of a similar foiled section as described above with reference to Figs. 4A-4D.

In this twin hulled embodiment there is similarly provided a support stand 15, connected to both floats 11 and 12 and to the platform 13. Also, both floats can have tailfins 16 and 17 as shown in Fig. 3, however, this is not essential as will be seen with reference to Fig. The twin hulled apparatus 10 works on the same principle as the above described apparatus 1, by allowing the user to "rock" from side to side to create the necessary propulsion. The twin hulled configuration has the obvious advantages of these constructions, such as increased stability.

In Fig. 5 there is illustrated a similar twin hulled construction as seen in Fig. 3, however, in this embodiment the hydrofoil 51 is pivotted at 52, this being intermediate its ends 53 and 54. A motor and piston 58 arrangement is provided at a connection point of the hydrofoil 51 to the float 56 to impart the oscillatory downwards force to the hydrofoil 51. The hydrofoil 51 and the supporting member 57 will then oscillate when the motor 55 is activated as shown by the arrows F and G respectively.

As can be seen the apparatus of Fig. 5 does not incorporate the tailfins of the previous embodiments. However, these tailfins could C E I C pk/1992z -4r 1* I

I

ii also be used in this configuration.

The foregoing describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the angle of displacement of the hydrofoils relative to both the horizontal and vertical axis of the float 2 (or floats 11 and 12) can be altered to obtain differing levels of performance.

Similarly, the length of the hydrofoils can be altered and more than one pair can be utilized. Additionally, extra stabilizing fins can be attached along the length of the float 2 (or floats 11 and 12) at appropriate positions as required by alterations in the construction of the apparatus 1 (or It is also readily apparent that the pair(s) of opposable hydrofoils 5 can be attached to surfboards, sailboards and the like to provide propulsion by the user when the elements of nature which provide normal propulsive energy are not present.

Furthermore, it is also obvious that the apparatus 1 could be propelled by wave action alone provided the required oscillatory motion of the apparatus 1 was effected by the action of the waves thereon. In this way the present invention can be utilized in the construction of large catamaran-like barges and other cargo vessels. It will also be apparent that a stabilizing float can be disposed to one side of the apparatus 1 and higedly connected to the platform by a spacer arm. It is desirable that the hinging means be lockable during mounting/ dismounting in order that this operation may be facilitated. However, the hinging means will be preferably unlocked, by foot manipulation 1 once use of the apparatus 1 commences to ensure that the apparatus 1 is easier to operate and the float moves substantially independent of the oscillatory motion of the apparatus 1.

As for the embodiment which utilises the motor arrangement to provide the oscillatory force, it should be appreciated that this feature is not limited to the twin-hulled construction, nor must the motor arrangement be connected to a float. The motor etc could just as easily be located adjacent the platform.

pk/1 992z

Claims

1. An aquatic locomotion apparatus comprising at least one platform to receive and bear the weight of the user; said platform being supported, in use, in a substantially horizontal position above the w~ter surface by at least one float; said at least one float having rigidly attached thereto at least one hydrofoil projecting therefrom which facilities forward propulsion of said apparatus when an oscillatory downward force is applied to said hydrofoil.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are at least two floats. -t 3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a motor means to impart the oscillatory downward force to said hydrofoil.

4. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 further comprising a support means attached to said platform '~and/or said float. I r 5. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims '41C, further comprising a tail-fin attached to the rear of each of Sthe at least one floats.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to further comprising a rudder. hand or foot operated.

8. An aquatic locomotion apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 11th day of October, 1989. RUDOLF BALENOVIC By His Patent Attorneys OA/ V ARTHUR S. CAVE CO. -6- U