Watercraft system with lifting bodies

Abstract

A system for a watercraft with a lifting body. The watercraft system includes, in one example, a lifting body configured to couple to a hull of a watercraft and generate dynamic lift during watercraft operation. In the watercraft system, the lifting body includes multiple parabolic curves that define a leading edge of the lifting body and the lifting body has a chord that decreases from a center of the lifting body to each lateral edge of the lifting body.

1 . A watercraft system, comprising:
 a lifting body configured to generate dynamic lift during watercraft operation;   wherein the lifting body includes:
 two opposing lateral portions that extend laterally outward and aft from a central section; and 
   wherein the two opposing lateral portions generate a greater amount of dynamic lift than the central section.   
     
     
         2 . The watercraft system of  claim 1 , wherein the central section has a fore-aft cross-section that differs in profile from a fore-aft cross-section of the two opposing lateral portions. 
     
     
         3 . The watercraft system of  claim 2 , wherein joints are formed at mechanical interfaces between the central section and the two opposing lateral portions and function as transition regions. 
     
     
         4 . The watercraft system of  claim 1 , wherein the lifting body is coupled to a bow of a hull. 
     
     
         5 . The watercraft system of  claim 4 , wherein the central section is incorporated into the hull as a bulbous bow. 
     
     
         6 . The watercraft system of  claim 4 , further comprising an aft lifting device positioned aft of the lifting body. 
     
     
         7 . The watercraft system of  claim 1 , further comprising a strut that attaches the lifting body to the hull. 
     
     
         8 . The watercraft system of  claim 2 , wherein the opposing lateral portions are positioned aft of the central section. 
     
     
         9 . The watercraft system of  claim 2 , wherein the central section is laterally narrower than each of the two opposing lateral portions. 
     
     
         10 . The watercraft system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a chord of the lifting body decreases from a center of the lifting body to each of the lateral edges; and   the lifting body twists from the center to each of the lateral edges.   
     
     
         11 . A watercraft system, comprising:
 a lifting body coupled to a watercraft hull and configured to generate dynamic lift during watercraft operation; and   a first hydrofoil coupled to the watercraft hull and positioned behind the lifting body in a fore-aft direction;   wherein the first hydrofoil has a higher vertical location on the watercraft hull in comparison to the lifting body.   
     
     
         12 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , wherein the lifting body and/or the first hydrofoil twists from a center to each lateral edge of the lifting body and/or the first hydrofoil. 
     
     
         13 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , wherein the lifting body and the first hydrofoil include lateral tips that are coupled via fore-aft extensions. 
     
     
         14 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , wherein the lifting body is incorporated into a bulbous bow. 
     
     
         15 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one control surface positioned at a trailing edge of the lifting body and/or the first hydrofoil, wherein the control surface is configured to be adjusted in response to control commands to alter the lift generated by the lifting body and/or the first hydrofoil. 
     
     
         16 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second hydrofoil, wherein the first hydrofoil and the second hydrofoil are positioned on opposing lateral sides of the watercraft hull. 
     
     
         17 . The watercraft system of  claim 16 , wherein the first hydrofoil and the second hydrofoil have anhedral root sections. 
     
     
         18 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , wherein the lifting body includes:
 two opposing lateral portions that extend laterally outward and aft from a central section; and   the two opposing lateral portions generate a greater amount of dynamic lift than the central section.   
     
     
         19 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , further comprising an aft-balancing lift device coupled to a hull of the watercraft and configured to balance lift that is generated by the lifting body and the first hydrofoil. 
     
     
         20 . The watercraft system of  claim 11 , wherein the lifting body is coupled to a bow of a hull.