US 9,308,979 B2 · Reversible camber soft wing sail

Abstract

A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle is provided herein that comprises a rotatable mast, a multi-surface sail cover, and a spring-assisted camber inducer. The rotatable mast generally has a longitudinally extending mast axis and the multi-surface sail cover runs along at least a portion of the mast, extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge. The sail cover has a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween. The spring-assisted camber inducer is arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape.

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Drawings

Claims18

Dependent claims

A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising:

a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;
a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the sail cover having a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween, each surface having an inner side exposed to the inside of the cavity and an outer side exposed to the outside air;
and
a spring-assisted camber inducer arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape, wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer comprises a pneumatic spring mechanism and a mechanical spring mechanism arranged in combination,
the pneumatic spring mechanism being formed from an array of air-filled cells that comprises at least two air-filled cells connected in sequence to one another, including a front cell disposed closest to the mast and a back cell disposed furthest away from the mast, the back cell being fixedly attached to the inner sides of the first and second surfaces of the sail cover, wherein the pneumatic spring mechanism is arranged to induce the wing sail into the asymmetric profile, and
the mechanical spring mechanism being formed from two or more rigid members rotatably coupled together by an elastic member, wherein the rigid members comprise a camber plate rotatably coupled to the mast and extending from the mast toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, a trailing surface arm rotatably and slidably coupled to the camber plate and extending from the camber plate toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, and an inner surface arm rotatably coupled to the mast and the trailing surface arm, and wherein the elastic member is a spring configured to drive the camber plate and the trailing surface arm into an extended position relative to the inner surface arm.

3 more elements

A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising:

a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;
a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the sail cover having a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween, each surface having an inner side exposed to the inside of the cavity and an outer side exposed to the outside air;
and
a spring-assisted camber inducer arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape,
wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer comprises a pneumatic spring mechanism formed from an array of air-filled cells that comprises at least two air-filled cells connected in sequence to one another, including a front cell disposed closest to the mast and a back cell disposed furthest away from the mast, the back cell being fixedly attached to the inner sides of the first and second surfaces of the sail cover, wherein the pneumatic spring mechanism is arranged to induce the wing sail into the asymmetric profile.

2 more elements

A reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle, the wing sail comprising:

a rotatable mast having a longitudinally extending mast axis;
a multi-surface sail cover running along at least a portion of the mast and extending transversely in relation to the mast from a leading edge to a trailing edge, the sail cover having a first surface and a second surface that form a cavity therebetween;
and
a spring-assisted camber inducer arranged in the cavity between the first and second surfaces of the sail cover and configured to induce an asymmetric camber profile between the first and second surfaces to form the wing sail into an airfoil shape,
wherein the spring-assisted camber inducer comprises a mechanical spring mechanism formed from two or more rigid members rotatably coupled together by an elastic member, wherein the rigid members comprise a camber plate rotatably coupled to the mast and extending from the mast toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, a trailing surface arm rotatably and slidably coupled to the camber plate and extending from the camber plate toward the trailing edge of the sail cover, and an inner surface arm rotatably coupled to the mast and the trailing surface arm, wherein the elastic member is attached to the camber plate substantially on a longitudinal centerline and proximate the trailing end of the camber plate, and wherein the elastic member is a spring configured to drive the camber plate and the trailing surface arm into an extended position relative to the inner surface arm.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description3,761 words

Summary882 words

#1. Field

#The present disclosure relates generally to airfoils for use with wind-powered vehicles, and more particularly to a reversible camber soft wing sail.

#2. Background

Brief description of the drawings14 figures

#The accompanying drawings are presented to aid in the description of embodiments of the invention and are provided solely for illustration of the embodiments and not limitation thereof.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example reversible wing sail for use with a wind-powered vehicle according to various embodiments.

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view that illustrates an example pneumatic spring mechanism in more detail.

Detailed description2,608 words

#Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. The term “embodiments of the invention” does not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage, process, or mode of operation, and alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of the invention may not be described in detail or may be omitted so as not to obscure other, more relevant details.

#As discussed in the background above, conventional wing sail designs have been heretofore inadequate. To varying degrees, they have been cumbersome, difficult for users to operate, and complicated to manufacture. Accordingly, improved wing sail structures, techniques, and related methods of manufacture are described herein that address the shortcomings of conventional designs by providing a new cambered airfoil design with an asymmetrical reversible aerodynamic profile. Improved sails of this type may be useful in various wind-powered applications, such as windsurfing, sailboats, or generally any vessel suitable for propulsion over ice, land, or water. Additional aspects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the drawings and description below.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example reversible wing sail 100 for use with a wind-powered vehicle according to various embodiments. As shown, the wing sail 100 generally includes a rotatable mast 102 having a longitudinally extending mast axis. Coupled to the mast 102 is a multi-surface sail cover 104 running along at least a portion of the mast 102 and extending transversely in relation to the mast 102 from a leading edge 106 to a trailing edge 108. The sail cover 104 has a first surface 110 on one side and a second surface 112 on the other side, such that the two surfaces form a cavity 114 therebetween.

Facts

Application

13/785,376Filed 5 Mar 2013 · us provisional application

Priority

6 Mar 2012

Published

US 2013/0233229 A112 Sep 2013

Granted

12 Apr 2016

Term ends

30 Jan 2034

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 331 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification5 codes

B63H 9/061
Types of sail; Constructional features of sails; Arrangements thereof on vessels: rigid sails; Aerofoil sails
B63H 8/20
Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing: rigging arrangements involving masts,…
B63H 8/40
Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing: arrangements for improving or…
B63H 9/0615
Rigid sails; Aerofoil sails: inflatable aerofoil sails

Reversible camber soft wing sail

Life of this patent

Reversible camber soft wing sail

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims18

Description3,761 words

Drawings

Classification5 codes

Life of this patent

Description3,761 words