96results about "Wind propelled vessels" patented technology

A turbine integrated within a hydrofoil extracts energy from a free-flowing motive fluid. In the preferred embodiment, the turbine is of the crossflow variety with runner blades coaxial to the width of the hydrofoil. The foremost edge of the hydrofoil comprises a slot covered by a continuously adjustable gate for controlling the overall drag imposed by the turbine. The hydrofoil mounts to a sailing vessel by means of a gimbal on a structure affixed to the hull, enabling the turbine to optimally respond to changes in direction of the free-flowing motive fluid and facilitating guidance and stability of the vessel. Both axes of the gimbal have a combination of auxiliary generator and motor with a locking mechanism. Engaging the motor and locking mechanism controls the guidance and stability of the overall vessel, and the pitch of the hydrofoil. Disengaging the locking mechanism and motor permits any change in direction of the motive fluid to affect the gimbal thereby extracting energy via the auxiliary generators. To further control drag and output power over a range of flow velocities, the preferred turbine comprises a DC generator with voltage feedback controlling field excitation, coupled to a voltage and current regulating circuit that performs electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen fuel. The hydrogen fuel tank also functions as the vessel's ballast having adjustable draft depending upon its fullness. Integrated remote control simultaneously optimizes vessel guidance, velocity, drag, stability, ballast depth, and electrolysis processes.

Disclosed is a placement system for a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element (101) in a watercraft in which the kite-type wind-attacked element (101) comprising a profiled wing is connected to the vessel body via a traction rope (1.1). Said wind-attacked element (101) can be guided from a neutral position on board the watercraft into a raised position that is free from obstacles located at the same or a higher level. An azimuthally pivotable fixture (181) is provided by means of which the wind-attacked element (101) can be brought into a position in which the same is exposed to an sufficient wind effect. Furthermore, a docking receiving device (181) is provided which is to be removably connected to the docking adapter of the wind-attacked element (101) on the side facing away from the wind while also allowing the wind-attacked element to be furled with the aid of automatically engaging holding means.

The invention relates to a mechanised device (1) for rigging a sail of a ship. Said device is characterised in that it includes: a mast (2), a boom (3) and a gaff (4) secured to said mast by the respective front ends (31, 41) thereof, a guiding element (5) linking the two rear ends (32, 42) of said boom (3) and said gaff (4), and delimiting a frame together with the mast, a rectangular sail (6), secured to the boom (3) by the edge (61) thereof, and equipped on the hoist (62) and leech (63) thereof with a means for guiding respectively along the mast (2) and along said guiding element (5), a mechanised means (7, 8) for hoisting and lowering said sail in the frame, while keeping the hoist and the leech thereof respectively guided along the mast (2) and along said guiding element (5).

A monohull sailing vessel (102, 202, 402, and / or 502) having a lifting hydrofoil (104 and / or 204) having a stowed position and a deployed position in which the hydrofoil extends outward of a leeward side of the hull (138). The hydrofoil may have an aspect ratio greater than 2.5:1, may be oriented at an angle of attack between 2 and 6 degrees, and may be oriented at a mean angle (124) of between 5 and 20 degrees to horizontal. The hydrofoil may have a projected area adapted provide a righting moment and a lifting force for partially but not fully lifting the vessel out of the water. The hydrofoil may have an exposed span (112) that is greater than about 7% of a height of the tallest mast (134). The vessel may include an actuation assembly (128, 228, 308, and / or 316) for moving the hydrofoil between the stowed and deployed positions.

A method is disclosed that resolves a long-standing seafaring problem of how close to the wind to sail. Sailboats need a convenient way to determine the optimal heading to minimize the Tacking Time to Destination (TTD). Unlike Velocity Made Good (VMG), the method disclosed here allows route planning before the trip, predicts travel time on different points of sail, allows comparison of the optimal tacking routes, and also plots the different routes so that it is inherently obvious that a particular tacking angle is longer and more off-course but will arrive sooner because of the speed on that heading. These principles can be implemented with manual dials that define the distance and speed, to calculate the relative or actual travel time on a leg without using electronics. Software is also described that visually illustrates the current and optimal headings by calculating Tacking Time to Destination before departure.

A hydrofoil section comprises first and second faces that create, in operation at speeds above a ventilation speed, a ventilated cavity defined by a first cavity face which departs from the first hydrofoil face and a second cavity face which departs from the second hydrofoil face. Each cavity face represents a free surface and each face separating from the said free surface at a discontinuity on that surface, the separated faces forming a continuation of the faces of arbitrary shape and enclosed by the free surfaces without contacting the said free surfaces. Below the speed at which full ventilation occurs the arbitrarily shaped portion of each face is configured to provide a modified flow configuration resulting in changed lift and or drag and or pitching moment under partial, or unventilated operation.