Tethered-wing traction system including folding into a windsock

A process for deployment of a tethered-wing traction system, the tethered-wing traction system comprising:

• a traction wing (5) to generate a traction force under the effect of the wind, and is deployed and refolded relative to a base platform (3) having a stowing mast (4), the traction wing (5) having:
• a trailing edge (17) which comprises two lateral portions (25);
• a leading edge (16) which comprises a median area (15) and two lateral portions (19);
• the process comprising a step of making the traction wing (5) fly relative to the stowing mast (4), the process comprises, before the flight step, a windsock folding step of the traction wing (5), wherein:
• the median area (15) of the leading edge (16) is retained relative to the stowing mast (4) at a first height on the stowing mast (4);
• the lateral portions (19) of the leading edge (16) are retained relative to the stowing mast (4) at a second height at least on the stowing mast (4), which is lower than said first height, the leading edge (16) forming a windsock air inlet with a circular opening;
• the trailing edge (17) is reclosed by bringing the lateral portions (19) of the trailing edge (17) towards one another,
• wherein the closure of the trailing edge (17) is carried out by traction of at least one closure line (13) connected to the trailing edge (17);
• and
• wherein during the windsock folding step, the closure line (13) is grasped by a first carriage (12A) sliding along the stowing mast (4).

A tethered-wing traction system, comprising:

• a traction wing (5) which is designed to generate a traction force under the effect of the wind, and is designed to be deployed and refolded relative to a base platform (3) which is provided with a stowing mast (4), the traction wing (5) having:
• a trailing edge (17) which comprises two lateral portions (25);
• and a leading edge (16) which comprises a median area (15) and two lateral portions (19);
• a plurality of folding lines (10A, 10B, 10C) each having a free end secured to the leading edge (16), while being spaced from each other along the leading edge (16);
• a line which is connected to the median area (15) of the leading edge (16);
• at least one closure line (13) which is connected to the trailing edge (17);
• a control unit (30) designed to control traction on the line which is connected to the median area (15), the folding lines (10A, 10B, 10C), and the closure line (13), the control unit (30) comprising a windsock folding mode wherein:
• the median area (15) of the leading edge (16) is retained relative to the stowing mast (4) at a first height on the stowing mast (4), by traction of the line which is connected to the median area (15);
• the lateral portions (19) of the leading edge (16) are retained relative to the stowing mast (4) at a second height at least on the stowing mast (4), which is lower than said first height, by traction of the folding lines (10A, 10B, 10C);
• the trailing edge (17) is reclosed by bringing the lateral portions (19) of the trailing edge (17) towards one another, under the effect of traction of the closure line (13);
• wherein the line which is connected to the median area (15) is connected to the median area (15) by a clamping device (28), and is connected to the closure line (13), with the control unit (30) being designed to control the clamping device (28) such that, when it is in its windsock folding mode, the control unit (30) is designed to, in succession:
• open the clamping device (28);
• release or pull the line which is connected to the median area (15), while giving rise to release or traction on the closure line (13);
• close the clamping device (28).