Ships – Sail or control means therefor – Specific sail structure or arrangement
Patent
1986-08-13
1987-11-24
Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
Ships
Sail or control means therefor
Specific sail structure or arrangement
114 392, 244145, 244900, B64C 346, B63H 906
Patent
active
047080787
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention concerns a propulsive wing of thick profile linked by control ropes to the load to be pulled and including a inflatable armature as well as a thin and flexible envelope.
There is a new generation of sails (still at the experimental stage) usable in the form of kites, that is to say linked to the load exclusively by the control ropes, with these generally being limited in number. These sails have numerous theoretical advantages: they relieve the strain on the sail-boat instead of forcing down its edge under the wind (supporting effect), they have an excellent efficiency ratio because they are not subjected to the disturbing influence of the wind, they are able to take advantage of the stronger and more regular winds found at a higher altitude, and above all they have an irreversible profile in that they can pivot so that they always present the same edge. And yet, in practice, it is clear that such sails are confronted with new problems which limit their efficacity: superimposed kite systems, in a chain formation, pose great difficulties of deployment during launching, which has to take place, of necessity, on land. Some, because they are deployed on a rigid armature, are relatively heavy and difficult to manage. Others, whether or not they are inflatable, can only be maintained in position by a complex system of wires, whose use is delicate and constraining. Moreover, these sails for the most part have a mediocre aerodynamic profile because they are subject to secondary requirements which are often highly complex.
The propulsive wing described in this invention, because of its refined shape, provides a solution to these difficulties. In fact, this wing, which is configured like a spherical gore, enables, thanks to the minimum strain it imposes on the structure, the use of an inflatable armature. This armature contains compressed air and is designed and calculated to integrate itself perfectly with the shape of the wing, without interfering with air-flow. It has a leading strut of a clearly semi-circular shape and several struts which are transverse to the former. It is enveloped in a resistant, light-weight material arragned in such a way as to give it an aircraft wing profile of maximum efficiency. This wing is therefore of great lightness and very reduced dimension, once deflated and folded. Each end of the wing takes a long control rope fixed to the load to be pulled, thus enabling the wing to controlled and directed. In order to adapt the wing to the different wind strengths, it is possible to reduce the sail surface by removing the rear part of the material by some appropriate method, such as a zip fastener.
Finally, both by the considerable buoyancy provided by the armature and by the simplicity of the control system, take-off even on water being extremely easy to effect, this wing can be controlled by a user mounted on one or two skates or shoes, using a pulley attached to this harness and through which is passed a single control rope linked to the two ends of the gore.
The propulsive wing is described in detail in the annexed drawings, provided as examples and on which:
FIG. 1 shows, in perspective, the wing according to the invention,
FIG. 2 shows, in section, the wing profile,
FIG. 3 shows, edge on, the wing according to the invention,
FIG. 4 shows, in perspective, the inflatable armature,
FIG. 5 shows, in section, a variation of the profile with a system for reducing the sail,
FIG. 6 shows, in profile, the wing according to the invention,
FIG. 7, 8 and 9 show the three stages of the graphic method of tracing the sail pieces.
FIG. 10 shows the most sporting use in a nautical context.
The wing is always shown inflated by the wind. Its size can vary enormously according to the use, from less than half a sqaure meter in a child's toy to several dozens or even hundreds of square meters for heavy loads. The shape of the profile can also vary.
FIG. 1 gives an overall view of the wing. This is in the form of a spherical gore comprizing a leading edge (1) and a trailing edge (2) and is emb
REFERENCES:
patent: 3412963 (1968-11-01), Struble, Jr.
patent: 3480238 (1969-11-01), Barish
patent: 4612868 (1986-09-01), Reynolds
Legaignoux Bruno T.
Legaignoux Dominique M.
Peters Jr. Joseph F.
Swinehart Edwin L.
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