Wing In Ground Effect Hydrofoil Vessel

Abstract

The present invention concerns a marine vehicle that derives its lift and control forces and moments from a combination of the following mechanisms; aerodynamic effects on a lifting surface in ground effect, hydrodynamic effects on submerged hydrofoils, planing forces on deployed winglets, and hydrostatic effects on submerged elements. The portion of the overall lift and control forces that is contributed by each mechanism varies as a function of vessel speed. The hydrofoils may be subcavitating, supercavitating, transcavitating or superventilated. The three lift and control mechanisms are individually found on existing Wing-In-Ground Effect (WIG) vehicles, hydrofoil vessels, and multi-hull vessels but have not previously been combined in the manner described. The present invention combines these three elements to achieve high lift-to-drag ratios, low fuel consumption, good maneuverability, low noise, low vessel draft, low vessel motions, and operation in higher sea states at all relative headings to the wind and waves. Applications of this craft include both civilian and military uses.

1 . A marine vehicle that has two force-generating elements that work in concert to provide lift and control forces across a broad range of operating conditions, said force generating elements being: an aerodynamic wing operating in ground effect, and one or more hydrofoils operating at or beneath the water surface.  
   
   
       2 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  fitted with subcavitating foils.  
   
   
       3 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  fitted with supercavitating foils.  
   
   
       4 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  fitted with transcavitating foils.  
   
   
       5 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that is propelled with one or more in-water propellers.  
   
   
       6 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that is propelled by one or more waterjets.  
   
   
       7 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that is propelled with an in-air propeller.  
   
   
       8 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that is propelled with an in-air ducted fan.  
   
   
       9 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that progressively transitions from a speed regime where the majority of the lift is generated by the hydrofoils to a regime where the majority of the lift is generated by aerodynamic surfaces.  
   
   
       10 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that is in a speed regime where the primary lift force is generated aerodynamically but the vehicle control forces are generated hydrodynamically by the controllable hydrofoils.  
   
   
       11 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  where the aerodynamic lifting surface is of sufficient thickness to house people and or materials during marine transport.  
   
   
       12 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that has horizontal and vertical aerodynamic control surfaces to generate yaw forces and to bias the port/starboard lift percentages as may be necessary to operate in cross-wind conditions.  
   
   
       13 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that has flaps on the trailing edges of the aerodynamic surfaces that are employed to control the gap between the aerodynamic surface and the sea surface, thereby controlling the lift generated from the aerodynamic surface. Said flaps are mechanically actuated and may have resilient elements to avoid structural damage upon wave impact.  
   
   
       14 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that has aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift and control forces developed in-air and in-water under the control of algorithms that optimize vehicle lift-to-drag ratio and stability as a function of vehicle speed, relative wind, vehicle load, vehicle center of gravity, sea wave spectra.  
   
   
       15 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 1  that may have a surface that reduces its radar cross section.  
   
   
       16 . A marine vehicle that has deployable winglets to provide aerodynamic lift and control forces as well has hydrodynamic planing forces and hydrostatic buoyant forces. When in the horizontal position, the winglets generate aerodynamic lift and control forces. When rotated downward, the winglets form hydrodynamic planing surfaces and hydrostatic buoyancy. When deployed downward, the winglets transform the outward extents of the aerodynamic surfaces into one or more buoyant hulls that provide planing lift and buoyancy to support the craft at low and zero speeds while achieving low vessel motions and while avoiding the need to retract other propulsion, lift or control appendages to achieve shallow draft.  
   
   
       17 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 16  that transitions from low-speed hull-borne operation to high-speed operation by raising the winglets from a downward vertical position to a horizontal position as the speed of the vehicle increases and the combined lift of the aerodynamic and or hydrofoil surfaces is equal to or greater than the vehicle weight.  
   
   
       18 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 16  that has control algorithms provide real-time vehicle control by commanding the coordinated actuation of control surfaces that are located in the air and in the water. The control algorithms vary as a function of vehicle speed to obtain robust control characteristics throughout the speed range.  
   
   
       19 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 16  that is fitted with low-speed propulsion systems in the deployable winglets thereby minimizing the need to operate high-power propulsion systems during low speed and loiter operations.  
   
   
       20 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 16  that uses the control flaps on the aft surfaces of the deployable winglets as both in-air ailerons and in-water rudders depending upon the position of the deployable winglets.  
   
   
       21 . A marine vehicle that has three mechanisms to generate lift and control forces, said mechanisms being: aerodynamic lift from a wing operating in ground effect, hydrodynamic lift generated from one or more hydrofoils, and buoyant and or planing lift generated by downwardly deployable winglets whose position can be infinitely varied from horizontal to vertical. When in the horizontal position, the winglets generate aerodynamic lift and control forces. When rotated downward, the winglets form hydrodynamic planing surfaces and hydrostatic buoyancy. When deployed downward, the winglets transform the outward extents of the aerodynamic surfaces into one or more buoyant hulls that provide planing lift and buoyancy to support the craft at low and zero speeds while achieving low vessel motions and while avoiding the need to retract other propulsion, lift or control appendages to achieve shallow draft.  
   
   
       22 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  fitted with subcavitating foils.  
   
   
       23 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  fitted with supercavitating foils.  
   
   
       24 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  fitted with transcavitating foils.  
   
   
       25 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that is propelled with one or more in-water propellers.  
   
   
       26 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that is propelled by one or more waterjets.  
   
   
       27 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that is propelled with an in-air propeller.  
   
   
       28 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that is propelled with an in-air ducted fan.  
   
   
       29 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that, as speed is increased, undergoes a progressive transition from the majority of the lift being generated by hydrofoils, to the majority of the lift being generated by aerodynamic surfaces.  
   
   
       30 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 29  that is in a speed regime where the primary lift force is generated aerodynamically but the vehicle control forces are generated hydrodynamically by the controllable hydrofoils.  
   
   
       31 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  where the aerodynamic lifting surface is of sufficient thickness to house people and or materials during marine transport.  
   
   
       32 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that has horizontal and vertical aerodynamic control surfaces to generate yaw forces and to bias the port/starboard lift percentages as may be necessary to operate in cross-wind conditions.  
   
   
       33 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that has flaps on the trailing edges of the aerodynamic surfaces that are employed to control the gap between the aerodynamic surface and the sea surface, thereby controlling the lift generated from the aerodynamic surface. Said flaps are mechanically actuated and may have resilient elements to avoid structural damage upon wave impact.  
   
   
       34 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that has aerodynamic and hydrodynamic lift and control forces developed in-air and in-water under the control of algorithms that optimize vehicle lift-to-drag ratio and stability as a function of vehicle speed, relative wind, vehicle load, vehicle center of gravity, sea wave spectra.  
   
   
       35 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that may have a surface that reduces its radar cross section.  
   
   
       36 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that transitions from low-speed hull-borne operation to high-speed operation by raising the winglets from a downward vertical position to a horizontal position as the speed of the vehicle increases and the combined lift of the aerodynamic and or hydrofoil surfaces is equal to or greater than the vehicle weight.  
   
   
       37 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that is fitted with low-speed propulsion systems in the deployable winglets thereby minimizing the need to operate high-power propulsion systems during low speed and loiter operations.  
   
   
       38 . The marine vehicle described in  claim 21  that uses the control flaps on the aft surfaces of the deployable winglets as both in-air ailerons and in-water rudders depending upon the position of the deployable winglets.