Kiteski
OwnerWilliam G. Roeseler, Cory Roeselerinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wind powered system utilizes a free-flying airfoil tethered to a conveyance device such as a water ski, a skegged hull slab or a wheeled land vehicle which either defines or inherently has tracking means defining a preferred traverse vector across an underlying surface. The tractive force of the airfoil is applied at the center of lateral resistance of the conveyance device such that there is no destabilizing moment caused by the airfoil, thereby removing an artificial limit on the sail area that is imposed upon fixed mast sailing craft. A control bar provides a mount for a tether reel which enables the conveyance device, when same is a kite, to be launched from the water without requiring the assistance of a boat.
Claims18
A high performance, high lift wind powered system operative in wind conditions of wind speed between 15 and at least on the order of 35 to 40 knots whereby tractive force from an airfoil is harnessed to draw a conveyance means over an underlying surface, comprising:
- (a) an airfoil;
- (b) a conveyance means for traversing across said surface and having tracker means for establishing a preferred linear traverse vector;
- (c) tether means operatively connected between said conveyance means and said airfoil to deliver tractive force from said airfoil to said conveyance means and to provide control means for said airfoil from said conveyance means;
- (d) dynamic tether length control means comprising a reel capable of withstanding tensile force on said tether of at least 150 lbs operative with said tether means to adjust the length thereof while said system is in use;
- and,
- (e) said tether means including steering means operable substantially independently of said reel such that said reel can be operated to pay out and reel in said tether means while said conveyance means is in controlled operation traversing a surface.
A wind-propelled apparatus for towing a user across a surface which comprises:
- (a) A high-performance airfoil having a lift-to-drag ratio of on the order of 1 to 4 for generating a towing force;
- (b) a tether having a first and a second end, said first end being attached to said airfoil and said second end being attachable to the user for control of said airfoil by the user as the user is towed across the surface by the towing force generated by said airfoil;
- (c) steering means and a braked reel connected to said tether to respectively steer and reel said tether in and out, and being capable of withstanding tensile forces on said tether exceeding 150 pounds to permit reeling and steering independently of one another while said apparatus is in use;
- and,
- (c) conveyance means attachable to the user to allow the user to slide on the surface as the user is being towed by the towing force generated by said airfoil.
A system for towing a person across a wind swept water surface which comprises:
- (a) gliding means disposed on the water surface, said gliding means including means engageable with the person to support the person on said gliding means;
- (b) means for interacting with the wind to generate an aerodynamic force;
- (c) means attachable to the person and to said wind interacting means for towing the person across the water surface on said gliding means in response to said aerodynamic force;
- and,
- (d) control means operable by said person while engaged on said gliding means to alter the attitude of said means for interacting as well as the effective length of said means attachable to the person.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.