Unlock instant, AI-driven research and patent intelligence for your innovation.

Sail-powered vehicle

a technology of sailboats and propellers, applied in the field of sailboats, can solve the problems of insufficient devices to achieve the desired effect, ineffective sailboats, and insufficient sailboat lists, etc., and achieve the effect of reducing the torque momen

Inactive Publication Date: 2012-04-12
GRUET WILLIAM
View PDF8 Cites 0 Cited by
  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]The device according to the invention uses this method, while improving the existing devices. A complementary device also makes it possible to decrease the moment of the torque due to the pressure of the water on the drift (when the vehicle is a sailboat). This involves a sail-powered vehicle comprising a mobile base including at least one mast to which at least one rigid sail support is connected comprising, on one hand, an upper end fastened towards the top of the mast, and on the other hand, a lower end fastened near the mobile base and spaced away from the median axis of the sailboat, on the side under the wind, such that this lower end of the sail support can be lowered in relation to the deck of the sailboat, this lowering being adjustable.
[0013]By spacing the lower end of the sail support away from the longitudinal median axis and lowering it in relation to the hull of the sailboat, one contributes, with suitable adjustment of the sail sheet or the boom, to offsetting the lower portion of the sail, towards the outside of the sailboat, on the side opposite the source of the wind, and downwards.

Problems solved by technology

the tilted sail has less hold for the wind, and the movement of air from the bottom towards the top due to the incline makes the sails fairly ineffective,
The pressure of the water on the drift or keel also contributes to causing the sailboat to list.
However, the devices existing to date to implement this method are insufficient to obtain the desired result.
They complicate the construction of the sailboat, and the advantages provided do not justify the means.

Method used

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View more

Image

Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Viewing Examples
Smart Image
  • Sail-powered vehicle
  • Sail-powered vehicle
  • Sail-powered vehicle

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0067]In the different figures:

[0068]The sailboat has a hull 20 supporting a mast 10 situated on a longitudinal median axis of said sailboat. The mast 10 supports a sail 6. The sail picks up the wind. The indication (W) shows the direction of the wind.

[0069]F is the result of the force of the wind on the sail 6 (with intensity |F|), applied to the center of gravity 3 of the sail (FIGS. 3, 6, and 7).

[0070]d is the (algebraic) distance between the straight line f supporting the force F, at the heel axis 4. The rotational moment m due to the force of the wind on the sail 6 is: m=d×|F|. Moreover, the force F exerted by the wind on the sail 6 also has a vertical component v.

[0071]More specifically, FIGS. 1 and 2 show a trimaran that has a tack point fastened on a wagon 30 moving on a guideway 31. FIG. 2 is the top view.

[0072]In FIGS. 1 and 2, the trimaran is in counterheel, and its arms are hinged.

[0073]FIG. 3 shows the same trimaran, with a tiltable mast. This may or may not be associat...

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

PUM

No PUM Login to View More

Abstract

A sail-powered vehicle having a mobile base including at least one mast to which at least one sail support is connected including an upper end fastened at a top point of the mast and a lower end fastened near the mobile base, where the lower end of the sail support is towards the outside of the longitudinal median axis of the vehicle, and towards the bottom.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention concerns a sail-powered vehicle whereof one wishes to improve the performance, in particular for closed haul sailing. All sail-powered vehicles, whether on water or land, will hereinafter generically be referred to using the term sailboat.BACKGROUND[0002]We are interested in sails, for example jibs or mainsails, whereof the particularity is to be stretched between, on one hand in the front, a sail support, and on the other hand a boom or, in the rear, one or several sheets. On traditional sailboats, the sail support can also be the sail furler. For a mainsail, the sail support is a mast.[0003]It is necessary to specify the notion of deck level of the sailboat. On a sailboat, the deck level is not the same everywhere and not all sailboats have a deck. Reference plane P1 is the horizontal plane (parallel to the surface of the water, or ground, depending on the case) when the sailboat is in the rest position (without heel and traditional posit...

Claims

the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More

Application Information

Patent Timeline
no application Login to View More
IPC IPC(8): B63H9/10B63H9/04
CPCB63H9/08B63H9/06
Inventor GRUET, WILLIAM
Owner GRUET WILLIAM