US2748400A - Hydrofoil aquatic device - Google Patents

Description

C. J- KREGALL HYDROFOIL AQUATIC DEVICE June 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Shem 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 INVENTOR. ii fiegall WVM Chad/n4)" zfizmes C. J. KREGALL HYDROFOIL AQUATIC DEVICE June 5, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 INVENTOR mas KWSQQ/Z I Casmiw zi June 5, 1956 c. J. KREGALL HYDROFOIL. AQUATIC DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 14, 1955 INVENTOR. Jfirgya ll Casi/zi James BY MMWYM June 5, 1956 c. J. KREGALL HYDROFOIL AQUATIC DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 14, 1955' INVENTOR. dizmes 159 5942! 1 Cas'mzir m rm.

United States Patent HYDROFOIL AQUATIC DEVICE Casimir James Kregall, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 14, 1955, Serial No. 481,809 8 Claims. (Cl. 9-18) This. invention relates to water vehicles, and has to do with a hydrofoil aquatic device intended for use in water sports. I

My invention is directed to a device of the character stated having hydrofoils elf'ective for raising the body of the device out of the water and supporting it during travel at higher speeds and pontoons effective for supporting the device when travelling at lower speeds or at a standstill. The pontoons are moved. automatically from a raised or supporting position to a lowered or retracted position and vice versa responsive to raising and lowering of the body out of and into the water in accordance with increase and decrease in speed of travel. The pontoons provide, in either position thereof, Windshields and, when in retracted or lowered position, cooperate with certain elements of the body to reduce'wind resistance to a minimum when travelling at high speed and the body is so constructed as to present but little wind, resistance. The pontoons may be locked in either position, to prevent interference when banking or turning, particularly at high speed, and have fiat inner sides which, when the pontoons are raised or extended, function as hydroplanies. to facilitate travel of the device at the lower speeds with the body submerged. The propelling unit preferably is an outboard motor of known type having a support tube mounted for turning movement in a tubular housing which also provides a support for the forward hydrofoils, mean-s being provided for turning the motor and its support tube for steering, purposes. Further objects and advantages of my inventionwill appear from the detail. description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view, with certain parts broken away, of a hydrofoil aquatic device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1;. I

Figure 3. is a sectional view taken. substantially on. line 3-3 of Figure 1, with the motor head and the forward pontoons in raised position indicated inbroken lines;

Figure 4 is an underneath view of the forward. portion of the device with the forward pontoons in retracted or lowered position, the raised position of the pontoons being indicated in dot and dash lines and the motor tube housing and the motor support tube therein shown in cross section;

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the pivot rods and the floats thereon, certain parts being shown .fragmentarily and in section; and

Figure 6 is. .a fragmentary plan view, partly. broken away and in section, of the device .of Figure 1, showing the pontoon latch means engaged with the forward ponteens and holding them in lowered position, the rearward pontoons being omitted.

The water vehicle of my invention comprises an elongatedrectangular frame 10 having top and bottom members 11 and 12, respectively, secured at their ends to forward and rearward cross members or bulkheads 13 and 14, respectively, which project a substantial distance beyond the sides of members 11 and 12, as shown in 2,748,400 Patented June 5, 1956 Figure l. The frame 10 preferably is constructed of wood,v is of generally elongated rectangular shape and is of oblong shape in plan and of slight width relative to its length, for ready passage through the water. A nose member 15 of generally segmo-spherical shape is secured to the forward bulkhead 13 and a tail member 16, also of generally segmo-spherical shape but tapering somewhat rearward and downward, is .secured' to the rearward bulkhead 14. The frame and the nose member 15 and'the tail member 16 together constitute the body of the vehicle,'the rounded nose member 15 and tail member 16 reducing water and air resistance of the vehicle during travel thereof.

Two pivot rods 18 are disposed at opposite sides of frame 10, a short distance below and parallel with, top member 11 (Figure 3'), and are mounted at their ends for turning movement in bearing sleeves 19 secured in the bulkheads 13 and 14. A forward pontoon 2t) and a rearward pontoon 21, each closed and of generally segmocylindrical shape, are secured on each of the pivot rods 18. Each of the forward pontoons 26 is provided, at its upper portion, with an inward extension 22 substantially concentric with rod 18 and its inner side wall 23 below such extension is fiat for the major portion of its extent. The forward ends of the forward pontoons 20 are in close proximity to the forward bulkhead 13 and the outer sides thereof are curved conformably to the side portions of nose member 15 so as to merge smoothly therewith when pontoons 20 are in their lowered or re tracted position shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. Fairing strips 24, of rubber or other suitable material and arcuate in cross section, are secured to the sides of top frame member 11 with their lower portions resting upon the forward pontoons 20 in the lowered position thereof, as shown in Figure 3. The fairing strips 24 provide continuations of the rounded outer sides of pontoons 20, when the latter are lowered, and contribute to reduction of airor wind resistance in the travel of the vehicle. The rearward pontoons 21 may be somewhat longer than the forward pontoons 20, as shown, and are. similar thereto except that they do not have extensions corresponding to the extensions 22 of pontoons 20. The rearward ends of the rearward pontoons 21 are disposed in close proximity to the rearward bulkhead 14 and the outer sides thereof are curved conformably to the side portions of tail member16 so as to merge smoothly therewith when pontoons 21 are in their lowered or retracted position. Fairing strips 25, similar to strips 24, are secured to the sides of the top frame member 11 and overlie the pontoons 21in the same manner and for the same purpose as the fairing strips 24 overlie the forward pontoons 20.

' When the pontoons are raised the fairing strips swing updegrees one to the other.

ward, as indicated in broken lines in Figure 3. The pon toons 20 and 21, preferably are formed of light metal, such as aluminum, as are the nose member 15 and the tail member 16.

Referring to Figures 1, 3 and 6, the rearward wall of each of the forward pontoons 20 is provided with two slot like pockets or recesses 28 and 29 disposedradially of pivot rod 18 and at an angle of approximately ninety The recess 28 extends vertically from the top of. pontoon 20 and the recess 29 extends horizontally from the inner side of extension 22 of pontoon 2.0, when the pontoons are in their lowered or retracted position shown. A blade-like latch bolt 30, approximately U-shaped in plan, is slidably mounted on pivotrods 18 by means of sleeves 31 secured to bolt 30. The bolt 30 straddles a tubular housing 32, to be .referred to more fully presently, and is urged rearward by a compression spring 33 confined between the housing 32 and a bridging plate 34 secured, conveniently by welding, to the rearward ends of the arms of bolt 30,

3 plate 34 having a forwardly extending hollow boss 35 in which spring 33 seats. When the forward pontoons are lowered the recesses 29 thereof are disposed in horizontal alignment in the same horizontal plane as the latch bolt 30. If bolt 30 is then moved to its forward or projected position, it engages in the recesses 29, effective for positively locking the forward pontoons in lowered or retracted position, as shown. In like manner, when the forward pontoons 20 are in their fully extended or raised positions, indicated in broken lines in Figure 3, the recesses 28 are aligned in the horizontal plane of the latch bolt 30 which, if projected, engages in recesses 28 positively locking pontoons 20 raised. The rearward pontoons 21 are fixed on pivot rods 18, as previously noted, in the same angular relation thereto as the forward pontoons 20. Accordingly, locking the forward pontoons 20 in either raised or lowered position also serves to lock the rearward pontoons 21 in the same position, as will be understood from what has been said.

Plate 34 is provided with a central rearwardly extending finger 38 to which are pivoted the forward ends of two rearwardly diverging toggle links 39. The rearward ends of links 39 seat on the outer faces of the forward ends of two links 40 pivoted at their rearward ends on the lower end of a bracket 41 secured to the under face of top frame member 11. The overlapping ends of the links 39 and 40 are pivoted together by studs 42 extending from opposite sides of the lower end of a rod 43 slidable through top frame member 11. A knob 44 is secured on the upper end of rod 43 and in the lowered position thereof seats on a raised boss 45 on the upper face of top frame member 11, so as to be readily grasped. When rod 43 is in its lowered position, the toggle comprising the links 39 and 40 is extended and the latch bolt 30 is projected into the recesses 28 or 29, as the case may be, for locking the pontoons in position in the manner above described. Raising rod 43 breaks the toggle and latch bolt 30 is then moved rearward by compression spring 33 releasing the pontoons for movement thereof from raised to lowered position or vice versa. Normally, the rod 43 is in lowered position with the pontoons locked in position and it is raised to release the pontoons to permit change in position, as will be explained more fully later, preferably being returned to lowered position only when the pontoons are in either fully raised position or fully lowered position.

The rod 43 and knob 44 preferably are disposed adjacent the front of a suitable seat 48, which may be similar to a motor-cycle seat, appropriately secured to the top frame member 11. The tubular housing 32 extends through the top and bottom members 11 and 12 of frame 10 to which it is bolted, being provided for that purpose with upper and lower bolting flanges 49 and 50. A collar 51, provided with a rearward extension 52 substantially rectangular in plan, is secured-on housing 32 at about the midheight of frame 10. Two upwardly and forwardly inclined foot rests or pedals 53 are pivoted at their forward ends, by means of laterally projecting studs 54, on extension 52 of collar 51 at opposite sides thereof and are spaced outward from the sides of frame 10. The pedals 53 are pivoted adjacent their rearward ends to side plates 55, secured to the sides of'frame 10 and extending a material distance upward from the bottom thereof, by studs 56 projecting therefrom and receiving pins 57 selectively insertible through a series of openings 58 in the respective plates 55-concentric with the pivot axis of stud 54. That providesmeans whereby the inclination of pedals may be adjusted as desired,

within limits, as will be understood from what has been said.

The tubular housing 32 extends downward a substantial distance below frame 10. A motorunit 61 of known type, conveniently an outboard motor, is rotatably mounted on and extends downwardly through the housing 32. The unit 61 comprises the engine head 62, rotatably mounted on the upper end of housing 32, and a motor support tube 63 extending downward through housing 32 and freely turnable therein. Support tube 63 extends below housing 32 and is provided at its lower end with a gear housing 64 carrying a propeller 65 and a steering rudder 66. The propeller 65 is driven in a known manner and steering is effected by turning motor unit 61 in appropriate directions about the axis of support tube 63. To that end, handle bars 67 are secured to the sides of head 62 and extend rearwardly therefrom so as to be readily grasped by a rider occupying seat 48. Conveniently suitable motor control means (not shown), for controlling the speed of travel of the vehicle, may be mounted on one of the handle bars 67 for ready accessibility.

The housing 32 extends downward a substantial distance below frame 10 and has mounted thereon a plurality of upwardly and forwardly inclined forward hydrofoils 70, 71 and 72. The lowermost hydrofoil 72 preferably is provided with depending side flanges 73 of appreciable height functioning as keel means provid ing a stabilizing effect for steering. A tubular rearward support 74 similar to housing 32 is bolted to and extends downward from bottom frame member 12. Preferably support 74 extends upwardly into frame 10 and is suitably secured at its upper end, conveniently by welding, to a tubular cross brace member 75 extending between and welded to the side plates 55. An inclined brace 76 is bolted at its forward end to the bottom frame member 12 and is suitably secured at its rearward end, conveniently by welding, to the cross brace member 75. A plurality of rearward hydrofoils 77, 78 and 79, inclined upwardly and forwardly, are mounted on support 74. The lowermost hydrofoil 79 is provided with depending side flanges 80 of appreciable height functioning as keel means to assist in steering.

When the device or vehicle attains comparatively high speeds of travel the hydrofoils become effective for raising the body clear of the water, the vehicle then being supported by and travelling upon the hydrofoils. At comparatively low speeds of travel, or when the vehicle is at a standstill, the body is submerged in the water and is then supported by and travels upon the pontoons. At low speeds the pontoons 20 and 21 extend outward from the body at right angles thereto, as in Figure 2 and as indicated in broken lines in Figure 3, and are locked in that position in the manner above described. That guards against swinging down of the pontoons when banking on turns and objectionable interference with turning. As the speed of travel increases, the body of the vehicle is raised out of the water. When that occurs, the pontoons 20 and .21 are released by pulling rod 43 upward. The pontoons then drop by gravity to their lower or retracted positions shown in Figures 1 and 3, in which they merge smoothly with the nose member 15 and the tail member 16, so reducing wind resistance to a minimum as above explained, and are locked in that position by the latch means. The locking of the pontoons 20 and 21 in retracted position is particularly important as guarding against outward swinging and dipping into the water of the pontoons when banking in making sharp turns at high speed. The pontoons, in either of the two positions thereof shield the operator, to considerable extent, from spray and wind, particularly at the higher speeds of travel with the pontoons retracted.

' In view of the fact that the forward pontoons 20 when retracted are disposed in back of the nose member 15 and shielded thereby, it is desirable that means he provided for initiating outward movement of the pontoons as the body of the vehicle is lowered into the water incident to reduction in speed of travel thereof. Each of the forward pontoons 20 has the forward lower area or portion 23a of its inner wall 23 inclined forwardly and outwardly lengthwise and upwardly and inwardly transversely, considering the pontoons 20 in their lowered or retracted position.

When pontoons 20 are fully lowered or retracted, portions 23a of walls 23 thereof define with the side plates 55 rear-wardly and upwardly tapering passages '83 opening at: the front of pontoons 20, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The side portions of nose member 15 are offset upwardly to provide spaces 84, shown more clearly in Figures l. and 4, into which the forward ends of passages 8-3 open at opposite sides of a central bottom portion 85 of nose member 15 constituting a continuation of the bottom frame member 12. When the vehicle sinks into the water at the termination of a high speed run, incident to a reduction in speed, the latch bolt 30 is retracted releasing the pontoons 20. As the body of the vehicle enters the water, still travelling at moderately high speed, the water flows through spaces 84 and into the passages 83, as indicated by the full line arrows in Figure 3. The water entering passages 83 at substantial velocity exerts considerable upward and outward pressure against portions or areas 23a of pontoons 20 effective for swinging the latter upward and outward beyond the sides of nose member 15. Thereafter, in the continued travel of the vehicle at reduced speed, the water pressure on portions or areas 23a of pontoons 20 swings the latter a further distance outward and upward until the body of the vehicle is submerged, at which time the pontoons 20 and 21 are in full raised or extended position, in which they are then locked by pressing rod 43 downward and thereby projecting latch bolt 30 into the aligned recesses 29 in the forward pontoons 20. Preferably two cross bafiles 86, shown more clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4 are secured, conveniently by welding, between side plates 55 adjacent and at opposite sides of the tubular housing 32.. The baflles 86 impart desirable rigidity to plates 55 to better resist the water pressure to which they are subjected.

It will be understood that changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of my invention, and I intend to include all such variations: as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1i. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular flat sided frame generally oblong in plan and of slight width relative to its length, a substantially segmo-spherical nose member secured to the front of said frame and extending beyond the sides thereof, motor means mounted on said frame for propelling said body, supports secured to and extending downward beyond said frame, hydrofoils mounted on said supports effective for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speed, and pontoons at opposite sides of said frame adjacent said nose member and pivotally mounted at their upper portions for swinging movements about axes substantially parallel with said frame, said pontoons being of a generally segmo-cylindrical cross section corresponding approximately to the respective portions of said nose member extending beyond the sides of said frame, said pontoons having flat inner side faces substantially conforming to the sides of said frame and being movable downward and inward toward said frame into close proximity thereto when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body frame is submerged, said pontoons when in fully lowered position at the sides of said frame providing therewith and with said nose member a structure of substantially circular cross section having a rounded nose.

2. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame generally oblong in plan and of slight width relative to its length, a substantially segmo-spherical nose member secured to the front of said frame and extending beyond the sides thereof, a substantially segmo-spherical tail member secured to the rear of said frame and extending beyond the sides thereof, motormean's attached to said frame for propelling said body, supports secured to and extending downward beyond said frame, hydrofoils. mounted on said supports efi'ective'for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speed, forward pontoons at opposite sides of the forward portion of said frame adjacent said nose member and pivotally mounted at their upper portions for swinging movements about axes substantially parallel with said frame, and rearward pontoons at opposite sides of the rearward portion of said frame adjacent said: tail member and pivotally mounted at their upper portion for swinging movements about axes substantially parallel with said frame, said forward pontoons being of a generally segmocylindrical cross section corresponding approximately to the respective portions of said nose member extending beyond the sides of said frame and said rearward pontoons being of a generally segmo-cylindrical cross sectioncorresponding approximately to the respective portions of said tail member extending beyond the sides of 'said frames, said forward and rearward pontoons being movable downward toward said frame to positions exterior thereof and in close proximity thereto when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicula-r thereto when said body is submerged, said rearward pontoons being spaced rearwardly from said forward pontoons providing therebetween leg space for a person seated on the top of said frame.

3. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame generally oblong in, plan and of slight width relative to its length, a substantially segmo-spherical nose member secured to the front of said frame and extending beyond the sides thereof, motor means attached to the frame for propelling said body, supports secured to and extending downward beyond said frame, hydrofoils mounted on said supports effective for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speed, and pontoons at opposite sides of said frame adjacent said nose member and pivotally mounted at their upper portions for swinging movements about axes substantially parallel with said frame, said pontoons being of a generally segmo-cylindrical cross section corresponding approximately to the respective portions of said nose member extending beyond the sides of said frame, said pontoons having flat inner side faces and being movable downward and inward of said frame into close proximity thereto when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body is submerged, the forward portions of the inner side walls of said pontoonsbeing inclined outwardly and forwardly lengthwise thereof and inwardly transversely thereof providing rearwardly and upwardly converging passages open at their forward ends at opposite sides of said frame when said pontoons are lowered, the side portions of said nose member being offset upwardly providing spaces aligned with said passages for admission of water thereto to assist in raising said pontoons.

4. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substanitally rectangular frame generally oblong in plan and of slight width relative to its length, side walls secured to said frame extending upward a material distance from the bottom thereof, a substantially segmo-spherical nose member secured to the front of said frame and extending beyond the sides thereof, motor means attached to the frame for propelling said body, supports secured to and extending downward beyond said frame, hydrofoils mounted on said supports effective for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speed, and pontoons at opposite sides of said frame adjacent said nose member and pivotally mounted at their upper portions for swinging movements about axes substantially parallel with said frame, said pontoons being of a generally segmo-cylindrical cross section corresponding approximately to the respective portions of said nose member extending beyond the sides of said frame, said pontoons being movable downward and inward of said frame into close proximity thereto when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body is submerged, the forward portions of the inner side walls of said pontoons being inclined outwardly and forwardly lengthwise thereof and inwardly transversely thereof defining with said side walls rearwardly and upwardly converging passages open at their forward ends at opposite sides of said frame when said pontoons are lowered, the side portions of said nose member being offset upwardly providing spaces aligned with said passages for admission of water thereto to assist in raising said pontoons.

5. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame of slight width relative to its length and adapted to be straddled by the operator, two forward and two rearward pontoons at opposite sides of said frame pivoted thereon and movable downward and inward toward said frame to positions exterior thereof and in close proximity to the sides of said frame when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body is submerged, said forward pontoons being spaced from said rearward pontoons providing therebetween leg space for an operator seated on said frame, motor means attached to said frame adjacent said forward pontoons, and means for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speeds, said forward pontoons when lowered shielding the operators legs.

6. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame of slight width relative to its length and adapted to be straddled by the operator, two forward and two rearward pontoons of generally segmo-cylindrical cross section at opposite sides of said frame pivoted thereon and movable downward and inward toward said frame to positions exterior thereof and in close proximity to the sides of said frame when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body is submerged, said forward pontoons being spaced from said rearward pontoons providing therebetween leg space for an operator seated on said frame, motor means attached to said frame adjacent said forward pontoons, and means for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speeds, said forward pontoons when lowered shielding the operators legs.

7. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame of slight width relative to its length and adapted to be straddled by the operator, two forward and two rearward pontoons at opposite sides of said frame pivoted thereon and movable downward and inward toward said frame to positions exterior thereof and in close proximity to the sides of said frame when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body is submerged, said forward pontoons being spaced from said rearward pontoons providing therebetween leg space for an operator seated on said frame, a motor mounted on top of said frame for turning movement adjacent said forward pontoons and having a propeller and a steering rudder for propelling and steering said body, an operators seat mounted on said frame adjacent said rearward pontoons, handle bars attached to said motor and extending rearwardly toward seat for steering said body, and means for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speeds, said forward pontoons when lowered shielding the operators legs.

8. In an aquatic device of the character described, a body comprising an elongated substantially rectangular frame of slight width relative to its length and adapted to be straddled by the operator, two forward and two rearward pontoons at opposite sides of said frame pivoted thereon and movable downward and inward toward said frame to positions exterior thereof and in close proximity to the sides of said frame when said body is raised out of the water and movable upward and outward away from said frame to positions substantially perpendicular thereto when said body is submerged, said'forward pontoons being spaced from said rearward pontoons providing therebetween leg space for an operator seated on said frame, a motor mounted on top of said frame for turning movement adjacent said forward pontoons and having a propeller and a steering rudder for propelling and steering said body, an operators seat mounted on said frame adjacent said rearward pontoons, foot rests mounted on said frame at the sides thereof in the space between said forward and rearward pontoons, handle bars attached to said motor and extending rearwardly toward said seat for steering said body, and means for raising said body out of the water when travelling at comparatively high speeds, said forward pontoons when lowered shielding the operators legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,084,578 Hewitt Jan. 13, 1914 1,100,044 Alexovic June 16, 1914 1,237,175 Cook Aug. 14, 1917 1,371,139 Banaszak Mar. 8, 1921 1,835,618 Waller Dec. 8, 1931 2,451,781 Steele Oct. 19, 1948 2,550,220 Bussei Apr. 24, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 46,851 France Aug. 4, 1936 (Addition to No. 795,223) 476,479 Italy Dec. 12, 1952

Images