Patent ID: 6016759
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: B63B,B63H

Abstract:
A wind-powered air-water interface craft, comprising:a fuselage comprising a planing hull form, said fuselage having a longitudinal centerline, and having a datum waterplane which is parallel to and at the waterline of the fuselage when the fuselage is upright, the hull form is afloat and no wind load is incident on said craft;a first pivot axis providing means supported on said fuselage so as to be generally vertical and located in vertical registration with said longitudinal centerline when said fuselage is upright;a first yoke pivotally mounted to said fuselage by said first pivot axis providing means, for rotation about the first pivot axis;two generally opposed second pivot axis providing means supported on said first yoke so as to extend respectively symmetrically in port and starboard directions relative to said longitudinal centerline;a first port wing pivotally mounted to said first yoke by a respective said second pivot axis providing means, for rotation about the second pivot axis which extends in a port direction;a first starboard wing pivotally mounted to said first yoke by a respective said second pivot axis providing means, for rotation about the second pivot axis which extends in a starboard direction;said first port and first starboard wings extending at substantially equal first dihedral angles, considering corresponding locations on each, relative to said longitudinal centerline;said first and second pivot axis providing means being substantially coplanar;a port-side third pivot axis providing means mounted to said first port wing so as to be approximately coplanar with the second pivot axis of said first port wing near a tip end of said first port wing;a port ama pivotally mounted to said port-side third pivot axis providing means so as to project under said first port wing and have a turning radius relative to said first port wing in an imaginary plane which is generally parallel to said first port wing;a starboard-side third pivot axis providing means mounted to said first starboard wing so as to be approximately coplanar with the second pivot axis of said first starboard wing near a tip end of said first starboard wing;a starboard ama pivotally mounted to said starboard side third pivot axis providing means so as to project under said first starboard wing and have a turning radius relative to said first starboard wing in an imaginary plane which is generally parallel to said first starboard wing;a first control means, operatively connected with said first yoke and arranged to be operated from a control station for pivoting said first yoke about said first pivot axis, for thereby skewing said first port and starboard wings relative to said fuselage;a second control means, operatively connected with said first port and starboard wings and arranged to be operated from a control station for pivoting said first port and starboard wings about respective said second pivot axes, for thereby trimming said first port and starboard wings about their respective spanwise axes; andrespective connecting means effectively connecting each of said amas with said fuselage and constraining said amas to remain approximately parallel to one another and to said fuselage.