Self-propelling hydrofoil device
The present disclosure provides generally for a hydrofoil system that may allow a surfboard to glide above the water surface. According to the present disclosure, a rider may be able to manipulate a hydrofoil device attached to a surfboard with limited training and athletic ability. The present disclosure provides for a hydrofoil system that may allow riders to use a light leaning motion to adjust the angle of a front wing to create forward thrust to produce a flow for creating lift. In some aspects, the front wing may tilt to reduce downward drag force in a lifting phase while locking into place during a glide to provide a sustained lift of the surfboard out of the water.
1. A hydrofoil device connected to a vessel comprising:
a front wing comprising:
a convex upper surface,
a concave lower surface, and
a hinge point;
a back wing;
a fuselage comprising:
an elongated body, wherein the front wing is connected by the hinge point to a forward portion of the elongated body, and wherein the back wing is connected to an aft portion of the elongated body, and wherein the front wing pivots within a range; and
a strut connectable to the elongated body and connectable to the vessel.
2. The hydrofoil device of claim 1 , wherein the back wing further comprises a back hinge.
3. The hydrofoil device of claim 2 , wherein the back wing is manually adjustable to control an angle of the back wing.
4. The hydrofoil device of claim 2 , wherein the back hinge allows the back wing to fluctuate within a predefined range.
5. The hydrofoil device of claim 1 , wherein the front wing comprises flexible hydrons.
6. The hydrofoil device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the hydrofoil device comprises a buoyant material.
7. The hydrofoil device of claim 1 , wherein the fuselage is comprised of carbon fiber or other rigid composite materials.
8. The hydrofoil device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of one or both the front wing and the back wing are comprised of a buoyant material.
9. The hydrofoil device of claim 8 , wherein the back wing is comprised of a concave upper surface and a convex lower surface.
10. A hydrofoil device connected to a surfboard comprising:
a front wing comprising:
a convex upper surface,
a concave lower surface,
a hinge point;
a back wing;
a fuselage comprising:
an elongated body, wherein the front wing is connected by the hinge point to a forward portion of the elongated body, and wherein the back wing is connected to an aft portion of the elongated body, and wherein the front wing pivots within a range; and
a strut connected to the elongated body and connectable to the surfboard.
11. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , where the hinge point is located on the front wing.
12. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of one or both the front wing and the back wing includes a semi-flexible material.
13. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein the back wing further comprises a concave upper surface and convex lower surface.
14. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein the front wing further comprises one or more flexible hydrons.
15. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein the fuselage comprises an adjustable buoyancy.
16. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein the strut comprises a base, wherein the base is connectable to the surfboard.
17. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of one or more of the front wing, the back wing, the fuselage, and the strut, comprise a buoyant material.
18. The hydrofoil device of claim 17 , wherein the buoyant material allows the hydrofoil device to float when in water.
19. The hydrofoil device of claim 10 , wherein the surfboard comprises a plurality of channels on an undersurface of the surfboard.
20. The hydrofoil device of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of channels form a grooved surface.