47results about "Wind propelled vessels" patented technology

To provide a vessel capable of improving propulsion performance of each method when a hull is propelled by a wind power propulsion unit and when the hull is propelled by a propeller.SOLUTION: A vessel 1 comprises: a propeller 12 that generates thrust for a hull 11; and a wind power propulsion unit 10 that propels the hull 11 by means of wind power. Thus, the vessel 1 can propel the hull 11 by the wind power propulsion unit 10 when wind is strong, and propel the hull 11 by the propeller 12 when wind is weak. The hull 11 is propelled toward a bow during machine traveling where the hull 11 is propelled by the propeller 12, and the hull 11 is propelled toward a stern during sailing where the hull 11 is propelled by the wind power propulsion unit 10. In this case, the vessel 1 can be structured so as to suit the machine traveling for propulsion of the vessel 1 toward the bow. The vessel 1 can be structured so as to suit the sailing for propulsion of the vessel 1 toward the stern.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

The disclosure concerns a wind propulsion system (4) for a marine vessel (2). The system (4) comprises a wingsail (6) having a leading edge (14) extending along a spanwise extension (S) of the wingsail (6), a base (8), an actuator arrangement (18), a detector arrangement (24), and a control arrangement (26). The actuator arrangement (18) is configured to move at least a portion of the wingsail (6) in relation to the base (8). The detector arrangement (24) is configured for determining at least a first wind direction at a first position (I) around or in front of the leading edge (14) and a second wind direction at a second position (II) around or in front of the leading edge (14). The control arrangement (26) is configured to control the actuator arrangement (18) based on at least the first and second wind directions.

The present invention relates to a wind-assisted propulsion system for a ship, wherein a flap can adjust the air suction direction and discharge direction on the left and right-side surfaces while moving laterally relative to a column-shaped body according to the direction of wind blowing from the front while the ship is sailing, and lift can be increased by reducing turbulence by ejecting air via the flap. The wind-assisted propulsion system for a ship according to the present invention may comprise: a wing body part mounted on the upper surface of a deck of the ship and having inlet ports, through which air flows in, formed on both side surfaces so as to open outward; a flap part which is installed at the rear of the wing body part so as to be able to slide laterally, opens one of the two inlet ports on the wing body part while closing the other inlet port by sliding relative to the wing body part according to the direction of wind blowing while the ship is sailing, and has an outlet port, through which the air that flows in via the inlet ports of the wing body part is discharged, formed so as to open outward; and a blowing module which is installed inside the wing body part and forcibly suctions air through one inlet port opened by the flap part and then discharges the air to the outside through the outlet port of the flap part.

The invention relates to a sail propulsion element comprising: a mast (3); an inflatable sail (1) consisting essentially of two adjacent surfaces (4a, 4b) that are substantially leak-tight and linked to each other about the periphery thereof, thereby forming at least one closed cavity between them about the mast (3), said sail comprising an upper portion, a lower portion, a leading edge (6) and a trailing edge (7); at least one air duct placed between the inside and the outside of the cavity of the sail; at least one means for injecting air into said cavity, the sail, once inflated, having a profile that remains permanently symmetrical, irrespective of the movement of said propulsion element or the direction or intensity of the wind; a headboard located on the upper portion of the sail; and a sail receptacle located between the leading edge and the trailing edge on the lower portion of the sail. The element is characterised in that the sail comprises a plurality of cells (5) arranged spanwise across the sail, each cell (5) extending from the leading edge (6) to the trailing edge (7), said cells (5) being spaced apart by a rib consisting of a first flexible material.

The present invention relates to a wind-powered propulsion device, which is provided to a moving body, receives wind and generates propulsion force, and is provided with an assembly, the assembly is composed of a rotating body capable of rotating around a rotating shaft extending in a predetermined direction, and a plurality of plate-shaped blades fixed to the rotating body, and the plurality of blades are arranged in a manner that virtual straight lines connecting the two ends of each of the plurality of blades are parallel.

A vehicle constructed using tensegrity principles in the design of the structural member of a skin-on- frame assembly, being composed of non-contiguous compressive elements and complementary tensile elements whose opposing forces result in a lightweight, stress dispersing and self-organizing geometry at equilibrium. The modularity of the compressive and tensile elements, the propulsion methods and the directional controls allows for conversion between land- and water-borne modes of conveyance, as well as simple folding and disassembly of the vehicle for storage and transportation.

The present disclosure relates to a rotor sail (100) comprising a rotor (110) having a lengthwise axis, an outer surface surrounding the lengthwise axis, a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the rotor having a first radius. A first end plate (114) is attached concentrically around the outer surface at the first end of the rotor. The first end plate includes a first circular edge having a second radius equal to the first radius of the rotor, a second circular edge having a third radius greater than the first radius, and a first slanted lateral surface extending between the first circular edge and the second circular edge, wherein the slanted lateral surface faces the second end and has an angle between 5 to 45 degrees in respect to a plane defined by the second circular edge.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods for water non-water segmentation of navigational imagery to assist in the autonomous navigation of mobile structures. An imagery based navigation system includes a logic device configured to communicate with an imaging module coupled to a mobile structure and / or configured to capture images of an environment about the mobile structure. The logic device may be configured to receive at least one image from the imaging module; determine a water / non-water segmented image based, at least in part, on the received at least one image, and generate a range chart corresponding to the environment about the mobile structure based, at least in part, on the determined water / non-water segmented image and / or the received at least one image.

A stress detection system in a flexible two-dimensional structure, comprising a flexible two-dimensional structure, at least one electrically conductive textile filament extending over a predetermined length in a portion of the flexible structure and having at least two rigidly points constrained thereto and an apparatus for generating and detecting an electric signal, connected to the ends of said electrically conductive textile filament, wherein the deformability of the electrically conductive textile filament is substantially equal to or greater than that of the portion of the flexible two-dimensional structure to which it is constrained.

The disclosure concerns a wind propulsion system (4) for a marine vessel (2). The system (4) comprises a wingsail (6) having a leading edge (14) extending along a spanwise extension (S) of the wingsail (6), a base (8), an actuator arrangement (18), a detector arrangement (24), and a control arrangement (26). The actuator arrangement (18) is configured to move at least a portion of the wingsail (6) in relation to the base (8). The detector arrangement (24) is configured for determining at least a first wind direction at a first position (I) around or in front of the leading edge (14) and a second wind direction at a second position (II) around or in front of the leading edge (14). The control arrangement (26) is configured to control the actuator arrangement (18) based on at least the first and second wind directions.

A mooring wing towing system includes: a towing wing (5), a base platform (3), a mooring mast (4), multiple folding ropes (10A, 10B, 10C), a winding rope (13), a mooring support (12B), a folding support (12C, 12D, 12E), a winding support (12A), and a control module (64). The control module (64) has at least two operating modes: a folding mode, wherein the mooring support (12B) and the folding support (12C, 12D, 12E) are spaced apart from each other; and a winding mode, wherein the winding support (12A) and the mooring support (12B) are spaced apart from each other.

A telescopic profiled wing system, for propelling a vehicle by the wind, the profiled wing system including a mast, and a set of telescopic segments, cooperating with one another during guidance. The telescopic segments form a profiled wing at least in a deployed position in which the various telescopic segments extend, with respect to one another, in the direction of the mast by forming the profiled wing, the profiled wing having a first wing surface and a second wing surface distributed on either side of the mast, the system switches from the deployed position to a retracted position in which the various segments are telescoped into one another, the profiled wing then in a position that takes up less space with respect to the deployed position.

A rotor sail system includes: a vertical support post extending in a vertical direction from a hull; a blade connected to a shaft, the blade being rotatable about the shaft, the shaft extending in a predetermined direction with reference to the vertical support post; a detection unit detecting a wind direction and a wind speed in a navigation area of a ship; a receiving unit receiving a thrust command to specify a thrust of the ship; and a rotation control unit capable of controlling a rotational speed of the blade about the shaft. The rotation control unit controls the rotational speed of the blade about the shaft based on the received thrust command and a detection result of the wind direction and the wind speed detected when the thrust command is received.

A tethered sail traction system (1) comprising a flight path control device (7) attached to a traction wing (5) by means of a fixed stay (6) and a mobile stay (5), said flight path control device (7) being adapted to control said mobile stay (6); a traction rope (8) connecting said flight path control device (7) to a base platform (3); a guide rope (9) connecting a leading edge (16) of said traction wing (5) to said flight path control device (7); a mooring rope (10), one end of said mooring rope (10) being connected to said base platform (3) and the other end being connected slidingly to said guide rope (9); an angle variation transmission element (13) attached to said mooring mast (4).

Tethered-wing traction system including: a traction wing (5), a base platform (3), a mooring mast (4), a plurality of folding lines (10A,10B,10C), a furling line (13), a mooring carriage (12B), a folding carriage (12C, 12D, 12E), a furling carriage (12A), and a control module (64) having at least the following two operating modes: a folding mode in which the mooring carriage (12B) and the folding carriage (12C, 12D, 12E) are spaced apart from each other; and a furling mode in which the furling carriage (12A) and the mooring carriage (12B) are spaced apart from each other.

The present invention relates to a sail assembly (80) for a watercraft having a deck, the sail assembly comprising: - a mast (81) mounted at an incline relative to the deck of the vessel on a motorized shaft having an axis of rotation inclined relative to the deck of the vessel; -Several spars (85) installed on both sides of the mast at an angle to the mast; - A sail (83) between the ends of two successive spars located on the same side of the mast, together with motorized means for unfurling and folding said sail. Equipped with. An embodiment of the present application discloses at least one sail comprising a rigid upstream half-sail (83) and a rigid downstream half-sail (82) connected together by a hinge (86) installed between two ends of a continuous spar (85).

The invention relates to a structure (3) for accommodating a pod (7) for a traction kite connected by a line (5) to a vessel, this accommodating structure comprising a frame (3a), at least one pulley (3b) for connecting the line, this pulley being mounted on a chassis (3d), and a follower arm (3c) and a pod support (4). This pod support comprises at least two plates (4a, 4b) one above the other, at least one deformable elastic return means for securing the plates and a means for guiding and catching the line, the support being connected to the frame by at least one righting arm (6) that is movable between a stowed position for the pod, a take-off position for the pod (7), a cruise position at a distance from the line, a position for catching the line and a landing position for the pod.

This invention discloses a limiting device and a wind-powered booster system for a wind-powered booster rotor, belonging to the technical field of wind-powered booster rotors. In this invention, the outer circumferential surface of the limiting roller abuts against the outer or inner wall of the outer cylinder. The force between the limiting roller and the outer cylinder can be adjusted by an adjusting component to ensure that the force between each limiting roller and the outer cylinder is essentially consistent. An elastic element allows the limiting roller to have a certain range of displacement, absorbing and buffering the load generated by the outer cylinder during high-speed operation, ensuring the stability of the outer cylinder during high-speed operation, and extending the service life of the roller. Simultaneously, the first end of the mounting bracket is rotatably mounted on the base or inner tower, and the limiting roller is rotatably mounted on the second end of the mounting bracket. Compared to existing technologies, this not only facilitates the installation and disassembly of the limiting roller but also facilitates the adjustment of the clamping force of the limiting roller, improving the contact stability between the limiting roller and the outer cylinder.

To provide a vessel and control device that can improve propulsion efficiency during sailing. [Solution] The vessel 1 is equipped with multiple wind-powered propulsion units 10 that propel the hull by wind power by rotating a rotor sail 31. Therefore, when the wind blows, the vessel 1 can sail using wind power by rotating the rotor sail 31. Here, the vessel 1 suppresses the moment that causes the hull 11 to turn by controlling the multiple wind-powered propulsion units 10. As a result, the vessel 1 can suppress the generation of resistance caused by the operation of the rudder 15 and suppress the turning of the hull 11 while sailing. As a result, the propulsion efficiency while sailing can be improved.

The invention relates to a sail assembly (80) for a watercraft comprising a deck, the sail assembly comprising: - a mast (81) which is mounted at an incline with respect to the deck of the craft on a motorised shaft having an axis of rotation which is inclined with respect to the deck of the craft; - a plurality of spars (85) mounted at an incline with respect to the mast on either side of the mast; - between the ends of two consecutive spars located on the same side of the mast, a sail (83) and motorised means for deploying and folding this sail. Embodiments of the present application disclose at least one sail comprising a rigid upstream half-sail (83) and a rigid downstream half-sail (82) which are connected together by a hinge (86) mounted between the two ends of the consecutive spars (85).

The Magnus rotor, associated assemblies, and mechanisms are provided. [Solution] A Magnus rotor comprising: a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis and having an outer surface defining a rotor diameter, wherein the rotor has an internal running surface defining a running surface diameter of 80% or less of the rotor diameter; a support structure configured to rotatably support the rotor; and a plurality of wheels, each rotatably mounted on the support structure so as to rotate about its own wheel axis extending substantially parallel to the rotor axis, and the wheels are positioned so as to roll against the internal running surface as the rotor rotates about the support structure. The disclosure further relates to wheel assemblies, drive assemblies, biasing assemblies, and gimbal wheel mechanisms for Magnus rotors.

The lift-generating system (101) includes a wing (1) having at least one suction opening (12) designed to establish a connection between the exterior of the wing and the interior (102) of the wing (1); and a suction device, a support (4) on which the wing (1) is mounted so as to be able to pivot about an axis substantially parallel to the axis (A1). The suction device includes a fan (3) located outside the wing (1) and fluidically connected to the interior (102) of the wing (1) so as to draw air through the at least one suction opening (12) of the wing, and discharge the drawn-in air through an outlet of the fan (3). The fan (3) includes an impeller (30) surrounded by a shroud (31) which defines, around the impeller, a duct that serves to guide the air discharged by the impeller, and a motor for rotating the impeller (30) about an axis substantially parallel to the axis (A1) of the wing. The shroud (31) of the fan (3) has an outlet (32) of which the axis (A32) is substantially orthogonal to the axis (A30) of the impeller (30) of the fan. The lift-generating system can be provided for a boat.

[Problem] In a reduction and reversing gear unit in which hydraulic oil is supplied to a generator motor or the like as cooling oil by a hydraulic pump driven by an electric motor, which is separate from the generator motor, a problem of a noise generated by fully driving the hydraulic pump and the electric motor at all time is solved by assuming a high hydraulic oil temperature when a maximum load acts on the generator motor.[Solution] A reduction and reversing gear unit of the present invention includes an oil cooler disposed in a cooling oil passage that supplies hydraulic oil from an oil tank to a generator motor as cooling oil, a refrigerant pump disposed in a refrigerant piping caused to communicate with the oil cooler, an electric motor that drives the refrigerant pump, and a control unit that controls drive of the electric motor such that a discharge amount of the refrigerant pump is changed in accordance with a load detection value It of a load detection unit that detects a load acting on the generator motor.

A method for controlling a wind propulsion device arranged on a vessel includes providing pressure information from a first pressure sensor arranged on a surface of the wind propulsion device, estimating pressure distribution on the surface of the wind propulsion device based on the pressure information from the first pressure sensor, providing angular position information of wind propulsion device, estimating apparent wind angle based on the angular position information of wind propulsion device and the estimated pressure distribution on the surface of the wind propulsion device, using the estimated apparent wind angle for determining initial approximation for control parameters, and using the estimated pressure distribution as a feedback in closed-loop control method to optimise the control parameters of the wind propulsion device.

A propulsion system for a ship, comprising at least one suction sail (3) comprising a suction system (10) and a transmission unit (8) activating the rotation of the suction sail (3), in which the suction sail (3) comprises at least two suction zones (7) arranged symmetrically on either side of the suction sail (3), said suction zones (7) comprising variable suction means. The present application provides a propulsion system for a vessel that allows for reduced fuel consumption and pollutant emissions by using an improved version of a suction sail.

A Magnus rotor 100 comprises a rotor 101 rotatable about a rotor axis 101a and having an external surface 101b defining a rotor diameter (DROTOR, Fig 1(b)). The rotor has an internal running surface 1

The invention relates to a tethered-wing traction system, comprising: - a traction wing (2); - a trajectory control flying device (5); - a base platform (8) on which a structure for deploying and folding the traction wing (2) is mounted; and - a traction line. The traction system comprises a stand (12) which includes a mounting base (13) on a traction support, this stand (12) further comprising an internal storage space (20) for the traction wing (2). The base platform (8) is rotatably mounted on the stand (12) via a pivot connection. The base platform (8) has a storage window opening into the internal storage space (20), this storage window being located at the foot of the deployment and folding structure.

A marine propulsion system is provided, comprising at least one air intake sail (3), said at least one air intake sail (3) comprising an air intake system (10) and a transmission section (8) for driving the rotation of said air intake sail (3), said air intake sail (3) comprising at least two air intake areas (7) symmetrically arranged on either side of said air intake sail (3), said air intake areas (7) comprising variable air intake means. A marine propulsion system is provided, making it possible to reduce fuel consumption and pollutant emissions of a marine vessel by using an improved air intake sail.

To provide a vessel and a control device capable of improving propulsion efficiency during sailing.SOLUTION: A vessel 1 comprises a plurality of wind power propulsion units 10 that rotates a rotor sail 31 to propel a hull by wind power. Thus, the vessel 1 can sail by wind power by rotating the rotor sail 31 when wind blows. The vessel 1 controls the wind power propulsion units 10, thereby suppressing moment for turning the hull 11. Thus, the vessel 1 can suppress turning of the hull 11 during sailing by suppressing resistance generated through operation of a rudder 15. Therefore, propulsion efficiency during sailing can be improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

This application discloses a position regulating device for a wind propulsion auxiliary rotor and a wind propulsion auxiliary system. The position regulating device for a wind propulsion auxiliary rotor of this application comprises a plurality of position regulating units distributed along the outer or inner circumference of an outer cylinder, each of which comprises a roller mechanism having a mounting bracket with a first end rotatably mounted on a base or inner tower and a position regulating roller rotatably mounted on a second end of the mounting bracket, the outer surface of the position regulating roller abutting against the outer or inner wall of the outer cylinder, an adjustment mechanism having an adjustment assembly with one end abutting against the second end of the mounting bracket and capable of adjusting the acting force between the position regulating roller and the outer cylinder, and an elastic member sandwiched between the adjustment assembly and the second end of the mounting bracket.