75results about "Marine propulsion" patented technology

A wing for a traction kite, etc comprises a plurality of cells formed by chordwise-extending ribs (3), valved openings (6) to the cells allowing ram air to inflate the wing. By changing the initial cut-out of the material forming the cells near wing tips (7, 8), compared with that of the cells central to the wing, it is possible to alter the aerodynamic forces at wing tips (7, 8). This allows attachment of flying lines (9, 10) to wing tips (7, 8) only, despite the wing having no framing to maintain its spanwise shape under the loading of flying lines (9, 10). The increased aerodynamic forces at wing tips (7, 8) are achieved by making the aerofoil profiles of the cells progressively more reflexive towards wing tips (7, 8), by giving wing tips (7, 8) a residual twist increasing their angle of incidence, by placing the centres of pressure of the cells near wing tips (7, 8) somewhat forward of the pivot line of the wing, etc.

A kite safety device for a kite having an airfoil with leading and trailing edges, at least two control lines attached to the airfoil and a control flying bar attached to at least two of the control lines. The device features a trim line having a hollow central passageway, sized and shaped to fit slidably through a central opening in the control flying bar. A safety flying line is attached at its first end to a first point adjacent a midpoint along a centerline extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge and attached through said passageway at its second end to a fixture providing a point for attachment of the flying line to a harness. When the control flying bar is released a user may rotate beneath the kite and when the safety flying line is tensioned, the kite will begin to stall and the kite will descend.

A control device for use with an aerodynamic wing including a bar having a fixed trim adjustment located between the bar and the user. The invention also includes a stopper that permits the user to quickly adjust the range of available dynamic trim. Preferably, the stopper does not lock until it engages the control bar, allowing the user to slide it quickly and easily to the desired location. The control systems of the invention provide a safety depower function when the end of the fixed trim is secured to a safety line.

A kite safety, control, and depowering device for a kite having an airfoil with leading and trailing edges, at least two control lines attached to the airfoil and a control flying bar attached to at least two of the control lines. The device features a continuous trim and safety flying line disposed at their lower ends over a rapid depowering apparatus. The depowering apparatus includes means for capturing and rapidly releasing an expansion disposed on the trim line, such that when rapid depowering is required, a simply release mechanism may be actuated to change the angle of attack of the airfoil rapidly.

A bladderless inflatable kite usable to propel humans, wherein the kite foregoes some or all conventional bladder structures. A bladderless or partially bladderless inflatable kite reduces the weight, and reduces problems associated with rubbing between the bladders and the outside layer, or the like. A bladderless kite structure is formed of a material that comprises a laminated mix of carbon and polymer filaments into a laminant structure wherein unidirectional prepreg tapes of in-line plasma treated fibers are spread to mono-filament level films and bonded with a UV absorbing titanium resin.

An apparatus for controlling movement of a flying device, such as a kite. In controlling such movement, the apparatus comprises a series of force transmitting members associated with a control bar to be grasped by an operator. Such association minimizes interference of the force transmitting members with the control bar surface so as to heighten the level of control that the operator may exert over the kite. Such association also permits the operator to achieve, through movement of the control bar, selective adjustments in both the velocity and acceleration at which the kite and the operator are able to move in a single direction.

A control and safety device of a kite wing comprises a stiffening member 11 arranged at each tip of the wing 1 between sliding means 9A, 9B to allow a sliding pre-line 8A to pass through and to maintain a predetermined distance between the front and rear attachments 5A, 5B regardless of the tension applied to the ends of said pre-line.

An aerodynamic wing formed by a flexible canopy with an internally routed canopy line for controlling the canopy profile. Preferably, the canopy line is routed through a gatherable tube secured to the trailing edge of the canopy. Tensioning the canopy line alters the canopy profile to facilitate launching the kite.

A control device for use with an aerodynamic wing including a bar having a fixed trim adjustment located between the bar and the user. The invention also includes a stopper that permits the user to quickly adjust the range of available dynamic trim. Preferably, the stopper does not lock until it engages the control bar, allowing the user to slide it quickly and easily to the desired location. The control systems of the invention provide a safety depower function when the end of the fixed trim is secured to a safety line.

An apparatus for controlling movement of a flying device, such as a kite. In controlling such movement, the apparatus comprises a series of force transmitting members associated with a control bar to be grasped by an operator. Such association minimizes interference of the force transmitting members with the control bar surface so as to heighten the level of control that the operator may exert over the kite. Such association also permits the operator to achieve, through movement of the control bar, selective adjustments in both the velocity and acceleration at which the kite and the operator are able to move in a single direction.

A kite control system including an aerodynamic wing with a leading edge and first and second opposing wingtips, a control device, a first steering line secured to the first wingtip and the control device, a second steering line secured to the second wingtip and the control device, and a trim line secured to the leading edge substantially between the opposing wingtips, wherein the trim line has a user adjustable length device that allows the user to adjust and mechanically fix the length of the trim line while the aerodynamic wing is in flight.

A device is provided for the management of multiple lines attached to a bar, of the type used in power kites for kiteboarding. The device is formed of an elongate body having a shaft region, a spool region adjacent the shaft region and distal thereto, and a line retaining region distal to the spool region. The shaft region has a hollow body having a longitudinal groove running from a proximal opening to a distal end point, and a bar retaining means for retaining a bar against rotational or axial movement. The spool region has a spool shaft defined by proximal and distal containment means for retaining spooled lines wound about the spool shaft. A line retaining region has a means for separately retaining one or more lines of a plurality of lines.

A device for managing lines of a kite has a means for securing the device to a control bar of a kite and a line attachment portion of the device, the line attachment portion having a plurality of means for detachably retaining lines of a kite. The means for securing is formed to have an internally cylindrical sleeve having a longitudinal opening. Opposing portions of the sleeve adjacent the longitudinal opening are biased towards each other, and are elastically flexible to allow insertion of the control bar while frictionally retaining the control bar once inserted. The means for detachably retaining lines is formed as a slit in a circumferential direction with respect to the sleeve, which slit is formed to frictionally and removably retain a line inserted therein. In one embodiment, a stem portion extends radially from the means for securing, the line attachment portion residing at the distal end of said stem, the line attachment portion being formed as a longitudinal member perpendicular to the stem. In an alternate embodiment, the means for retaining the lines is formed adjacent an outer surface of the sleeve.

A kite control system having a control bar adapted with an internal sheeting system that provides trim / sheeting control by adjustment of outer steering lines which are attached at or near the rear corners of the kite. A tubular control bar is adapted such that the outer steering lines are routed through the interior of the control bar through openings at each opposing end. The outer steering lines are each joined to a sheeting control line which extends back out one of the opposing ends in either a left hand actuated or right hand actuated embodiment. A fixed pin located approximately mid-length within the control bar provides a fixed structure about which one of the outer lines and / or sheeting control line is routed in U-turn fashion. By pulling the sheeting control line from the end of the control bar, the rider can shorten the effective length of the outer steering lines thereby increasing the angle of attack so as to power up the kite. By releasing the sheeting control line such that it is drawn into the control bar, the ride can allow the outer steering lines to fully deploy thereby reducing the angle of attack so as to depower the kite. The control bar is equipped with means for selectively fixing the sheeting control line so as to achieve a desired angle of attack.

A control device for use with an aerodynamic wing including a bar having a safety system that restrains one of the flying lines by routing an attachment through an aperture on the bar. Preferably, the system includes a stopper housing that engages an increased diameter element of the flying line. During normal operation, the increased diameter element is secured by the stopper housing, preventing the flying line from being pulled beyond the stopper housing. When the safety system is deployed, the increased diameter element is pulled from the stopper housing and slack is developed along the remaining flying lines to depower the kite.