# US 9,751,602 B2 · Floating structure fluid dynamic force use system and wind-propelled vessel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,602 B2 - Document ID: US9751602B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/356,086 - Filed: 2012-11-02 - Published: 2014-10-30 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-11-04 - Applicants: Takuju Nakamura; Hiromichi Akimoto - Inventors: Takuju Nakamura; Hiromichi Akimoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751602B2 ## CPC - B63H 1/04: with rotation axis substantially at right angles to propulsive direction - B63B 35/44: Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices {(construction methods for floating offshore platforms B63B75/00)} - B63H 5/07: of propellers (forming part of outboard units {or Z-drives} B63H20/00) - B63H 9/04: using sails or like wind-catching surfaces (sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing B63H8/00) - B63H 13/00: Marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements - F03B 3/00: Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto - F03B 13/16: using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, {i.e. a "wom"} and another member, {i.e. a reaction member or "rem"} - F03B 13/182: {with a to-and-fro movement} - F03D 5/00: Other wind motors (controlling thereof F03D7/00) - F03D 13/22: {Foundations specially adapted for wind motors} - B63B 2035/446: {for converting wind energy into electric energy} - B63B 2035/4466: {for converting water energy into electric energy, e.g. from tidal flows, waves or currents} - F05B 2240/913: on a mast - F05B 2240/93: on a structure floating on a liquid surface - F05B 2240/95: offshore - F05B 2250/42: with two degrees of freedom - Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient - Y02E 10/70: Wind energy - Y02E 10/727: Offshore wind turbines - Y02E 10/728: Onshore wind turbines - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - B63H: MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING (propulsion of air-cushion vehicles B60V1/14; specially adapted for submarines, other than nuclear propulsion, B63G; specially adapted for torpedoes F42B19/00) - B63B: SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING (arrangements of vessel ventilation, heating, cooling, or air-conditioning B63J2/00; floating substructures as supports of dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F9/06) - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract Provided are a floating structure fluid dynamic force use system and a wind-propelled vessel which uses the system whereby it is possible to compensate for overturning moment due to fluid dynamic force and to alleviate both tilting and size increases of a floating structure. A floating structure fluid dynamic force use system (1) comprises an assembly (12) which extracts energy from wind or water, and a floating structure (13) which supports the assembly (12). The assembly (12) comprises a wind receiving part (10) which receives fluid dynamic force, and a support column (11) which supports the wind receiving part (10). The assembly (12) is positioned with the center of gravity (15) thereof below the water line and is supported to be capable of tilting in an arbitrary direction upon the floating structure (13). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A floating structure fluid dynamic force use system comprising: an assembly for extracting energy from wind or water; and a floating structure supporting the assembly, wherein the assembly includes a force-receiving part for receiving fluid dynamic force and a support column supporting the force-receiving part, the support column having a center axis, wherein the force-receiving part includes a wind-receiving part for receiving a wind force in air, the assembly has a center of gravity set below water and the support column supports the assembly rotatably around the center axis thereof with respect to the floating structure, wherein the support column includes an upper support column supporting the wind-receiving part and a lower support column supporting a ballast set below water, and a gear system provided between the upper support column and the lower support column, wherein at least wind force is used as the fluid dynamic force, and the upper support column and the lower support column are connected to each other with the gear system provided therebetween so as to coaxially rotate while keeping a predetermined relative rotational relationship, and are supported rotatably and swingably relative to the floating structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, further comprising: a bearing provided between the upper support column and the lower support column, and wherein the upper support column and the lower support column are connected to each other coaxially rotatably relative to each other in a rigid state with respect to the center axis of the support column. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the force-receiving part includes a horizontal-axis wind turbine or a vertical-axis wind turbine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the force-receiving part includes a horizontal-axis water turbine or a vertical-axis water turbine, and the horizontal-axis water turbine or the vertical-axis water turbine is set below water and functions as a ballast or part of a ballast. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the upper support column and the lower support column have a ratchet mechanism by which rotation of one of the upper support column and the lower support column is transmitted to the other under a predetermined condition, while rotation of one of the upper support column and the lower support column is not transmitted to the other under another condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a rotation energy extraction part for extracting rotation energy from rotation of the force-receiving part, the upper support column and the lower support column are configured to rotate coaxially with each other in directions opposite from each other, and the rotation energy extraction part is set so as to enable torques generated upon extraction of rotation energies from the upper support column and the lower support column to cancel each other. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 6, wherein the rotation energy extraction part is a power generator including a rotor and a stator, the rotor is connected to any one of the upper support column and the lower support column, while the stator is connected to the other, and the power generator generates electric power based on differential motion between the rotor and the stator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the force-receiving part includes a vertical-axis wind turbine driven by a lift force and a vertical-axis water turbine driven by a drag force, and the vertical-axis wind turbine is activated by rotation of the vertical-axis water turbine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 8, wherein the force-receiving part includes the vertical-axis wind turbine driven by a lift force and the vertical-axis water turbine driven by a drag force, the vertical-axis water turbine is connected to the vertical-axis wind turbine with a step-up device provided therebetween, and the step-up device transmits rotation of the vertical-axis water turbine to the vertical-axis wind turbine when a rotation speed of the vertical-axis wind turbine is not higher than a rotation speed of the vertical-axis water turbine after stepping up, but does not transmit the rotation of the vertical-axis water turbine to the vertical-axis wind turbine when the rotation speed of the vertical-axis wind turbine is higher than the rotation speed of the vertical-axis water turbine after stepping up. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the assembly has a buoyancy about equal to own weight of the assembly and is supported vertically movably with respect to the floating structure, and a vertical-movement energy extraction part is provided for extracting energy from relative vertical movement between the assembly and the floating structure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 10, wherein the vertical-movement energy extraction part includes a rotation force conversion mechanism. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 11, wherein the force-receiving part includes at least any one of a vertical-axis wind turbine driven by a lift force and a vertical-axis water turbine driven by a lift force, and is activated by rotation force obtained by the rotation force conversion mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 11, wherein the rotation force conversion mechanism comprises a ball screw. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A wind-propelled vessel comprising: the floating structure fluid dynamic force use system according to claim 1, wherein the floating structure is a hull, and the wind-propelled vessel includes a propeller which is set below water and which is rotated by the wind force received by the wind-receiving part substantially around a horizontal axis, and the wind force is used as at least part of energy for rotating the propeller. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The wind-propelled vessel according to claim 14, wherein the propeller is disposed in the ballast. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The wind-propelled vessel according to claim 14, wherein the ballast or the lower support column functions as a keel that generates lift. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The wind-propelled vessel according to claim 16, wherein the wind-propelled vessel includes a first and a second of the assembly for extracting energy from wind or water, wherein the first assembly is set in a front of the hull and the second assembly is set in a rear of the hull, and the keel of the first assembly and the keel of the second assembly rotate to have angles of attack in the same direction during sailing straight ahead in a crosswind, and have angles of attack in directions opposite from each other during turning.