Apparatus and method for aerodynamic wing
OwnerDavid A. Culpinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Aerodynamic wing to propel a broad range of transport means, principally sail craft. The wing provides a single layer kite structure capable of flying without surface discontinuity, bridles, or rigid or semi-rigid structure. All stresses within the wing are converted into pure tension and transferred through the wing surface outward to attachment lines. The wing shape defines a large diameter self-supporting rolled over leading edge of an airfoil and the wing profile approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity. The wing is useful to propel, or supplement propulsion to, transportation means.
Claims25
Wind powered apparatus for transportation modes selected from the group consisting of watercraft, marine structures, skis, sail boards, land vehicles, dirigibles, aircraft, satellites, space craft, and nano-scale vehicles, the apparatus comprising:
- a single layer aerodynamic wing capable of flying with variable wind direction and angle of attack, without surface discontinuity, without stabilizing lines, without bridles, and without rigid structure, and comprising a centerline, wingtips, and a tail corner;
- and further comprising a light weight, three dimensional wing consisting of a plurality of gores of predetermined geometries, defining a large diameter self-supporting rolled-over leading edge of an airfoil, a trailing edge, a nose, an inside windward surface, and an outside leeward surface, whereby all stresses within the wing resulting from aerodynamic forces, gravity, and transient forces due to inertia are converted into tensile stress within the wing and into pure tension transferred to the attachment means, and whereby the wing profile of the wing approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity;
- and
- attachment means linking at least one aerodynamic wing to a transportation mode whereby wing function and transportation mode motion are controlled.
A three-dimensional, aerodynamic wing capable of flying with variable wind direction and angle of attack, without surface discontinuity, without stabilizing lines, without bridles, and without rigid structure, comprising:
- a centerline;
- wingtips;
- a tail corner;
- and
- plurality of gores of predetermined geometries, defining a large diameter self-supporting rolled-over leading edge of an airfoil, a trailing edge, a nose, an inside windward surface, and an outside leeward surface, whereby all stresses within the wing resulting from aerodynamic forces, gravity, and transient forces due to inertia are converted into tensile stress within the wing, and whereby the wing profile of the wing approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity.
A three-dimensional, aerodynamic wing capable of flying with variable wind direction and angle of attack, without surface discontinuity, without stabilizing lines, without bridles, and without rigid structure, comprising:
- a centerline;
- wingtips;
- a tail corner;
- and
- a molded single continuous sheet of material, defining a large diameter self-supporting rolled-over leading edge of an airfoil, a trailing edge, a nose, an inside windward surface, and an outside leeward surface, whereby all stresses within the wing resulting from aerodynamic forces, gravity, and transient forces due to inertia are converted into tensile stress within the wing, and whereby the wing profile of the wing approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity.
An aerodynamic, three dimensional kite capable of flying with variable wind direction and angle of attack, without surface discontinuity, without stabilizing lines, without bridles, and without rigid structure, to replace downwind and cross wind sails on a sailing craft having at least one mast, comprising:
- a centerline;
- a plurality of tips;
- a tail corner;
- a plurality of gores of predetermined geometries, defining a large diameter self-supporting rolled-over leading edge of an airfoil, a trailing edge, a nose, an inside windward surface, and an outside leeward surface, whereby all stresses within the kite resulting from aerodynamic forces, gravity, and transient forces due to inertia are converted into tensile stress within the kite, and whereby the profile of the kite approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity;
- and
- attachment means linking kite tips to points on the sailing craft other than a mast whereby kite function and sailing craft motion are controlled.
An aerodynamic, three dimensional kite capable of flying with variable wind direction and angle of attack, without surface discontinuity, without stabilizing lines, without bridles, and without rigid structure to replace downwind and cross wind sails on a sailing craft, comprising:
- a centerline;
- a plurality of tips;
- a tail corner;
- a molded single continuous sheet of material, defining a large diameter self-supporting rolled-over leading edge of an airfoil, a trailing edge, a nose, an inside windward surface, and an outside leeward surface, whereby all stresses within the kite resulting from aerodynamic forces, gravity, and transient forces due to inertia are converted into tensile stress within the kite, and whereby the kite profile approaching the trailing edge exhibits increasing convexity;
- and
- attachment means linking kite tips to points on the sailing craft other than a mast whereby kite function and sailing craft motion are controlled.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.