Foil deployment mechanism

A foil deployment mechanism, comprising:

• a first drum rotatable about a first longitudinal axis, and a second drum rotatable about a second longitudinal axis,
• a cable which can be moved by rotating the first drum in a first rotation direction and by rotating the second drum in a second rotation direction opposed to the first rotation direction, the cable comprising a first section which extends from a lower part of the second drum to an upper part of the first drum, a second section which is wound around a part of the first drum facing away from the second drum, a third section which extends from a lower part of the first drum to an upper part of the second drum, and a fourth section which is wound around a part of the second drum facing away from the first drum, wherein the first section and the third section intersect each other between the first drum and the second drum when being viewed along the first longitudinal axis,
• a longitudinal rigid element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the cable, and wherein the second end is connected to a foil,
• wherein, by moving the cable, the longitudinal rigid element can be moved between a first state in which the first end of the longitudinal rigid element is connected to the first section of the cable, and in which the second end of the longitudinal rigid element protrudes from the first drum in a direction pointing away from the second drum, and a second state in which the second end of the longitudinal rigid element protrudes in a direction pointing away from the second drum, wherein a distance between the second end and the first drum is smaller in the first state than in the second state.

A foil deployment system,

• comprising a first and a second foil deployment mechanism unit, each of them comprising:
• a cable which can be moved by rotating the first drum in a first rotation direction and by rotating the second drum in a second rotation direction opposed to the first rotation direction, the cable comprising a first section which extends from a lower part of the second drum to an upper part of the first drum, a second section which is wound around a part of the first drum facing away from the second drum, a third section which extends from a lower part of the first drum to an upper part of the second drum, and a fourth section which is wound around a part of the second drum facing away from the first drum, wherein the first section and the third section intersect each other between the first drum and the second drum when being viewed along the first longitudinal axis,
• a longitudinal rigid element having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is connected to the cable, and wherein the second end is connected to a foil, wherein the foil to which the longitudinal rigid element of the first foil deployment mechanism unit is connected is the same foil to which the longitudinal rigid element of the second foil deployment mechanism unit is connected,
• wherein, by moving the cable of the first foil deployment mechanism unit, the longitudinal rigid element of the first foil deployment mechanism unit can be moved between a first state in which the first end of the longitudinal rigid element is connected to the first section of the cable, and in which the second end of the longitudinal rigid element protrudes from the first drum in a direction pointing away from the second drum, and a second state in which the second end of the longitudinal rigid element protrudes in a direction pointing away from the second drum, wherein a distance between the second end and the first drum in the first state is smaller than in the second state, and
• wherein, by moving the cable of the second foil deployment mechanism unit, the longitudinal rigid element of the second foil deployment mechanism unit can be moved between a first state in which the first end of the longitudinal rigid element is connected to the first section of the cable, and in which the second end of the longitudinal rigid element protrudes from the first drum in a direction pointing away from the second drum, and a second state in which the second end of the longitudinal rigid element protrudes in a direction pointing away from the second drum, wherein a distance between the second end and the first drum in the first state is smaller than in the second state.