Wave Powered Water-Borne Vessel

Abstract

A water-borne vessel for propulsion by incident waves comprises a hull having elongate bow and stern portions having a length greater than its width at its widest point; and a central portion wider than the bow and stern portions. The central portion has a first flared region at the junction with the bow portion and wider than the width of the adjacent region of the bow portion, and a second flared region at the junction with the stern portion and wider than the adjacent region of the stern portion. The central portion being between and wider than the first and second flared regions. The central portion acts to induce the hull to pitch and roll under the action of an incident wave. The vessel further comprises a foil assembly for generating movement of the vessel through the water under the action of an incident wave.

1 - 48 . (canceled) 
     
     
         49 . A water-borne vessel for propulsion by incident waves, the vessel comprising a hull, the hull of the vessel comprising:
 an elongate bow portion having a length greater than its width at its widest point;   an elongate stern portion having a length greater than its width at its widest point; and   a central portion between the bow portion and a stern portion, the central portion having a width greater than the widths of the bow and stern portions, the central portion comprising a first flared region at the junction with the bow portion, the first flared portion having a width greater than the width of the adjacent region of the bow portion, and a second flared region at the junction with the stern portion, the second flared region having a width greater than the width of the adjacent region of the stern portion, the central portion having its widest point between the first and second flared regions and greater than the widths of the first and second flared regions;   wherein the bow and stern portions act to cut through an incident wave; and   wherein the central portion acts to induce the hull to pitch and roll under the action of an incident wave;   the vessel further comprising a foil assembly for generating movement of the vessel through the water under the action of an incident wave.   
     
     
         50 . The vessel according to  claim 49 , wherein the bow portion and the stern portion are of the same form. 
     
     
         51 . The vessel according to either of  claim 49 , wherein the bow portion and the stern portion are substantially of the same length. 
     
     
         52 . The vessel according to  claim 49 , wherein the bow portion and/or the stern portion has substantially flat, planar sides extending from the upper edge to the lower edge of the hull. 
     
     
         53 . The vessel according to  claim 49 , wherein the ratio X of the length of the bow portion to the width of the bow portion at its widest point and/or the ratio Y of the length of the stern portion to the width of the stern portion at its widest point is at least 2.5. 
     
     
         54 . The vessel according to  claim 49 , wherein one or both of the first and second flared regions has an upper portion and a lower portion, the width of the upper portion being lower than the width of the lower portion, wherein the upper portion is above the normal waterline of the hull when in use. 
     
     
         55 . The vessel according to  claim 54 , wherein the ratio of the width of the upper portion to the width of the lower portion is at least 1.2. 
     
     
         56 . The vessel according to  claim 49 , wherein the central portion has a ratio Z or its length to its width that is no greater than 8.0. 
     
     
         57 . The vessel according to  claim 49 , wherein the width of the central portion at its widest point to the maximum width of the bow or stern portion is at least 2.0. 
     
     
         58 . A foil assembly for a wave-powered, water-borne craft, the foil assembly comprising:
 a substantially rigid leading edge assembly having a first end and a second end;   a flexible foil extending from the leading edge assembly, the flexible foil having an inner edge and a trailing edge; and   a tensioning assembly for tensioning the flexible foil, the tensioning assembly applying a tension to the flexible foil in the direction away from the leading edge assembly and towards the trailing edge of the flexible foil, the tension be provided to the flexible foil at an angle between the inner edge and the trailing edge of the flexible foil.   
     
     
         59 . The assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the leading edge assembly has the form of a NACA 0012 to 0015 foil. 
     
     
         60 . The assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the foil assembly is mounted such that the leading edge assembly is rotatable about its longitudinal axis with respect to the hull of the vessel. 
     
     
         61 . The assembly according to  claim 60 , wherein the foil assembly comprises an axle extending into a first end of the leading edge assembly, the leading edge assembly being rotatable about the axle. 
     
     
         62 . The assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the leading edge assembly extends in an arc outwards and rearwards of the hull of the vessel. 
     
     
         63 . The assembly according to  claim 62 , wherein the arc is variable. 
     
     
         64 . The assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the tensioning force is at an angle of from 5 to 80° to the forward direction of the longitudinal axis of the hull. 
     
     
         65 . The assembly according to  claim 58 , wherein the tensioning force is applied to the flexible foil at an angle to bisect the angle between the inner edge and trailing edge. 
     
     
         66 . A water-borne vessel for propulsion by incident waves, the vessel comprising a hull, the hull of the vessel comprising:
 an elongate bow portion having a length greater than its width at its widest point;   an elongate stern portion having a length greater than its width at its widest point; and   a central portion between the bow portion and a stern portion, the central portion having a width greater than the widths of the bow and stern portions, the central portion comprising a first flared region at the junction with the bow portion, the first flared portion having a width greater than the width of the adjacent region of the bow portion, and a second flared region at the junction with the stern portion, the second flared region having a width greater than the width of the adjacent region of the stern portion, the central portion having its widest point between the first and second flared regions and greater than the widths of the first and second flared regions;   wherein the bow and stern portions act to cut through an incident wave; and   wherein the central portion acts to induce the hull to pitch and roll under the action of an incident wave;   the vessel further comprising a foil assembly for generating movement of the vessel through the water under the action of an incident wave;   the foil assembly comprising:   a substantially rigid leading edge assembly having a first end and a second end;   a flexible foil extending from the leading edge assembly, the flexible foil having an inner edge and a trailing edge; and   a tensioning assembly for tensioning the flexible foil, the tensioning assembly applying a tension to the flexible foil in the direction away from the leading edge assembly and towards the trailing edge of the flexible foil, the tension be provided to the flexible foil at an angle between the inner edge and the trailing edge of the flexible foil.   
     
     
         67 . The vessel according to  claim 66 , wherein the vessel comprises a plurality of foil assemblies, the foil assemblies being arranged such that the surface area of the foil assemblies is symmetrical about the mid-point of the vessel hull. 
     
     
         68 . The vessel according to  claim 66 , wherein the vessel further comprises a drive assembly to move each foil assembly vertically through the water.