Aerodynamic rowing oars
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAllan J. Cameron, Robert D. Gregg, III, James Long-Lerno
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A rowing oar is described. The rowing oar can have a plurality of flow disrupters arranged on a shaft of the oar. In one embodiment, the flow disrupters can be circular bumps arranged in lines along the shaft of the oar. The flow disrupters can cause the air flow over the oar to be more turbulent so that the flow separation on a backside of the oar is reduced. The reduction in flow separation can reduce aerodynamic drag on the oar when it travels through the air. Thus, a rower can expend less energy during rowing using the oar.
Claims24
An oar comprising:
- a blade;
- a shaft including a plurality of flow disrupters arranged around a perimeter of the shaft configured to reduce aerodynamic drag on the oar at least during a recovery phase of a rowing stroke, wherein an airflow impingement line faces a direction of movement of the oar during the recovery phase, the plurality of flow disrupters arranged such that air flow around the shaft enters a more turbulent state after coming in contact with the plurality of flow disruptors, wherein the flow disrupters are positioned about the shaft at an angle from the airflow impingement line, the angle being between about seventy-five degrees and about one hundred and fifteen degrees.
A rowing system comprising:
- a boat;
- a plurality of oars, each oar including:
- a blade;
- and
- a shaft including a plurality of flow disrupters arranged around a perimeter of the shaft configured to reduce aerodynamic drag on the oar at least during a recovery phase of a rowing stroke, wherein an airflow impingement line faces a direction of movement of the oar during the recovery phase, the plurality of flow disrupters arranged such that air flow around the shaft enters a more turbulent state after coming in contact with the plurality of flow disruptors, wherein the flow disrupters are positioned about the shaft at an angle from the airflow impingement line, the angle being between about seventy-five degrees and about one hundred and fifteen degrees;
- and
- a mechanism for coupling each of the plurality of oars to the boat.
A method of manufacture comprising:
- forming a blade of an oar;
- forming a shaft and a handle of the oar wherein the shaft is formed with a plurality of flow disrupters arranged around a perimeter of the shaft configured to reduce aerodynamic drag on the oar at least during a recovery phase of a rowing stroke, wherein an airflow impingement line faces a direction of movement of the oar during the recovery phase, the plurality of flow disrupters arranged such that air flow around the shaft enters a more turbulent state after coming in contact with the plurality of flow disruptors, wherein the flow disrupters are positioned about the shaft at an angle from the airflow impingement line, the angle being between about seventy-five degrees and about one hundred and fifteen degrees;
- and
- coupling the blade to the shaft and the handle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.