Watercraft comprising a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element as a wind-powered drive unit
AssigneeSkysails GmbH & Co. KG
InventorsStephan Wrage, Stefan Müller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a wind-powered watercraft in which a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element that is provided with a profiled wing and is used as the exclusive, an auxiliary, or an emergency drive unit is connected to the vessel only via one traction rope, said traction rope optionally fanning out into a number of holding ropes. The wind-attacked element can be modified via at least one active drive element that is disposed thereupon and is effectively connected thereto by modifying the aerodynamic effect thereof in order to be guided into a given position relative to the watercraft or to dynamically maneuver.
Claims25
A watercraft with wind propulsion, in which a freely flying kite-like element on which wind acts and with a wing profile as an exclusive, auxiliary or emergency propulsion system, is connected to the vessel only via a hawser which may spread out into a number of holding cables, in which the element on which wind acts can be varied via at least one active drive element, which is provided close to or in the element on which wind acts and is operatively connected to it, by variation of its aerodynamic effect for guidance to and holding in a predetermined position with respect to the watercraft and/or for dynamic maneuvering on predetermined flight paths, characterized in that a plurality of control lines are connected to said kite-like element at different locations and form a matrix-like arrangement, with one set of different control lines being driven in a combined form by a driven operating element, and at least another set of different control lines being driven in combined form differently by said driven operating element.
A watercraft with wind propulsion, in which a freely flying kite-like element on which wind acts and with a wing profile as an exclusive, auxiliary or emergency propulsion system, is connected to the vessel only via a hawser which may spread out into a number of holding cables, in which the element on which wind acts can be varied via at least one active drive element, which is provided close to or in the element on which wind acts and is operatively connected to it, by variation of its aerodynamic effect for guidance to and holding in a predetermined position with respect to the watercraft and/or for dynamic maneuvering on predetermined flight paths, characterized in that a plurality of control lines are connected to said kite-like element at different locations and form a matrix-like arrangement, said lines being driven being by drive elements, said drive elements comprising linear actuators, with each linear actuator being formed by a pneumatic element whose length is reduced when subject to increased pressure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.