US 12,420,924 B2
Hydrofoil takeoff and landing with multiple hydrofoils
Michael Klinker, East Greenwich, RI (US); Daniel Cottrell, Centreville, VA (US); William Bryan Baker, Cohasset, MA (US); Andrew Gregg, Roslindale, MA (US); and Andrew Levin, Cambridge, MA (US)
Assigned to Regent Craft, Inc., North Kingstown, RI (US)
Filed by Regent Craft Inc., North Kingstown, RI (US)
Filed on Aug. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/448,016.
Application 18/448,016 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/885,463, filed on Aug. 10, 2022, granted, now 12,116,139.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/374,596, filed on Sep. 5, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0208648 A1, Jun. 27, 2024
Int. Cl. B64C 35/00 (2006.01); B63B 1/26 (2006.01); B63B 1/28 (2006.01); B63B 1/30 (2006.01); G05D 1/652 (2024.01)
CPC B64C 35/006 (2013.01) [B63B 1/26 (2013.01); B63B 1/286 (2013.01); B63B 1/30 (2013.01); B64C 35/007 (2013.01); G05D 1/652 (2024.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A craft comprising:
at least one hull;
at least one wing configured to generate upwards aero lift as air flows past the at least one wing to facilitate wing-borne flight of the craft;
a front hydrofoil connected to the at least one hull via a front hydrofoil strut and configured to generate upward hydrofoil lift as water flows past the front hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water;
a rear hydrofoil connected to the at least one hull via a rear hydrofoil strut and configured to generate upward hydrofoil lift as water flows past the rear hydrofoil to facilitate hydrofoil-borne movement of the craft through the water; and
a control system, wherein while the craft is hydrofoil-borne, the control system is configured to facilitate transition of the craft from hydrofoil-borne operation to wing-borne operation via a process comprising:
while the upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing is below a threshold lift, controlling one or both of the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to generate a downward hydrofoil lift that causes the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to remain at least partially submerged in the water; and
after the upwards aero lift generated by the at least one wing has increased above the threshold lift, transitioning the craft from hydrofoil-borne operation to wing-borne operation at least in part by controlling one or both of the front hydrofoil and the rear hydrofoil to switch from (a) generating the downward hydrofoil lift to (b) generating an upward hydrofoil lift that pushes the craft up and out of the water.