Single sail structure

Abstract

The invention discloses a single sail structure which comprises two half sails, each half sail is provided with a butt joint side edge and a deviating side edge, each half sail is supported by a supporting body, a power part capable of driving the supporting body to rotate is arranged corresponding to each supporting body, and the single sail structure has an unfolded state and a folded state; the butt-joint side edges of the two half-body sails are in butt joint, and the deviating side edges of the two half-body sails are arranged at the maximum distance interval in the horizontal direction. And in the folding state, the deviating side edges of the two half-body sails are at the minimum distance interval in the horizontal direction. By means of the arrangement, the single-sail structure is more flexible to use, the space in the horizontal direction can be compressed by folding the two half sails, folding is completed in the mode that the two half sails rotate respectively, and it can be understood that in the mode, each half sail rotates at the original position, and therefore the single-sail structure is more flexible to use. Therefore, other space on the ship body cannot be occupied in the folding process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of sails for ships, and particularly to a single sail structure. Background Art

[0002] With the increasingly strict requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for ship carbon emissions and the promotion of China's government's green policies, the ship shipping industry is accelerating its transformation towards greening. Traditional fuel-powered ships are facing the dual pressures of high energy consumption and high pollution, and wind energy-assisted propulsion technology has once again become the focus due to its clean and renewable characteristics. Currently, through actual ship tests, the application of sail engineering has shown significant effects in sail boosting.

[0003] In the actual application process, single sails or multi-section sails are commonly used. Multi-section sails have high aerodynamic performance and can be folded, but their structures are complex, the failure rate is high, and the cost is also high. While single sails have a strong load-bearing capacity, their structures are simple, which is convenient for processing and operation, and thus are favored by shipowners and operators. However, they occupy a large space, which has an impact on navigation safety and cargo loading and unloading, and it is not convenient to maintain, so their applicable range of ship types is limited and does not meet the application requirements of the ship industry for sail boosting systems.

[0004] Therefore, how to improve the convenience, light weight, and applicability of ship types of single sail devices has become an urgent technical problem for those skilled in the art to solve. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a single sail structure. The specific technical solution is as follows:

[0006] A single sail structure includes two semi-sails. Each semi-sail respectively has a pair of docking sides and a departing side opposite to the docking side. Each semi-sail is supported by a support body, and a power unit capable of driving the support body to rotate is provided corresponding to each support body. The single sail structure has an unfolded state and a folded state:

[0007] In the unfolded state, the docking sides of the two semi-sails are docked so that the sail surfaces of the two semi-sails are docked to form a single sail surface of the single sail, and the departing sides of the two semi-sails are at the maximum distance interval in the horizontal direction;

[0008] In the folded state, the departing sides of the two semi-sails are at the minimum distance interval in the horizontal direction.

[0009] Preferably, the arrangement position of each support body on the corresponding semi-sail is close to the docking side of the semi-sail.

[0010] Preferably, each support body includes a support section with a circular cross-section. Stranded tooth groups arranged in the circumferential direction are provided on the opposite outer circumferential surfaces of the two support sections. The two stranded tooth groups are located in the same horizontal plane. Each of the stranded tooth groups has a length of at least 180-degree arc length. It also includes a rotating shaft with a horizontal axial direction. Two helical lines with opposite directions are arranged along the axial direction of the rotating shaft. Each helical line engages with a stranded tooth group. The stranded tooth group on each support body and the corresponding helical line of the rotating shaft form a worm and worm gear structure to constitute the power unit for driving the support body to rotate self. The distance between the teeth of the two stranded tooth groups is set so that the two stranded tooth groups can mesh with each other when synchronously driving the two support bodies to rotate self.

[0011] Preferably, each of the stranded tooth groups is formed on the outer circumferential surface of a first arc-shaped plate. Second arc-shaped plates arranged at upper and lower intervals are provided corresponding to each first arc-shaped plate. The inner circumferential surfaces of the two second arc-shaped plates are fixedly connected to the support section. The vertical distance between the two second arc-shaped plates matches the thickness of the first arc-shaped plate so that the first arc-shaped plate is located between the two second arc-shaped plates. A number of perforations that are aligned and arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction are opened on the two second arc-shaped plates and the middle first arc-shaped plate, for bolts to pass through to fix the first arc-shaped plate between the two second arc-shaped plates.

[0012] Preferably, the two second arc-shaped plates have the same length and are both longer than the length of the first arc-shaped plate. The first arc-shaped plate is located in the middle of the space between the two second arc-shaped plates in the circumferential direction. The two ends of the two second arc-shaped plates both extend beyond the relative ends of the corresponding first arc-shaped plate by a length of 20-degree arc length.

[0013] Preferably, the support body is a frustum-shaped pillar that is thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom. The lower section of the frustum-shaped pillar forms the support section.

[0014] Preferably, it further includes a number of connecting blocks with a fillet-rectangular cross-section. The number of connecting blocks is arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. Each of the connecting blocks is arranged at a position close to the docking side edge of the two semi-body sails. A notch for accommodating the corresponding connecting block is provided at the position of each semi-body sail corresponding to the connecting block. Two through holes penetrating its upper and lower surfaces are opened on the connecting block along the long side direction of its fillet rectangle. A rotating rod extending in the vertical direction is provided at a position close to the docking side edge of each semi-body sail. The two rotating rods are respectively connected to the two through holes on the connecting block and can both rotate in the corresponding through holes.

[0015] Preferably, for each semi-body sail, the axis of the frustum-shaped pillar and the center of the through hole of the connecting block are on the same vertical line.

[0016] Preferably, the structures of the two semi-body sails are the same.

[0017] Preferably, it further includes a motor connected to the rotating shaft and driving its rotation.

[0018] The provided single-sail structure has the following technical effects:

[0019] The single-sail structure proposed by the present invention includes two semi-sail bodies. Each semi-sail body respectively has a pair of butt sides and a back side opposite to the butt side. Each semi-sail body is supported by a support body, and a power unit capable of driving the support body to rotate self is provided corresponding to each support body. The single-sail structure has a deployed state and a folded state. This setting makes the use of the single-sail structure more flexible. The space in the horizontal direction can be compressed by folding the two semi-sail bodies, and this folding is completed in the way that each of the two semi-sail bodies rotates self. It can be understood that in this way, each semi-sail body rotates self in its original position, so that it will not occupy other spaces on the hull during the folding process.

[0020] Preferably, the arrangement positions of the support bodies corresponding to the semi-sail bodies are all at positions close to the butt sides of the semi-sail bodies. The support bodies rotate self to complete the folding. Therefore, the support bodies themselves serve as the rotation centers, and their arrangement close to the butt sides can obviously make the butt sides of the two semi-sail bodies after folding closer, so as to compress the space occupied by the single-sail after folding to the maximum extent.

[0021] Preferably, a worm and worm gear structure is formed by the corresponding helical lines of the stranded tooth groups and the rotating shaft to constitute the power unit for driving the support body to rotate self. It can enable the rotation of the rotating shaft to realize the synchronous self-rotation of the two support bodies. At the same time, the distance between the teeth of the two stranded tooth groups is set so that the two stranded tooth groups can be meshed with each other when synchronously driving the support bodies to rotate self, which can make the whole rotation process more stable; and the worm and worm gear structure can achieve the self-locking effect after deployment or folding, making the whole single-sail structure more stable. The synchronous self-rotation of the two semi-sail bodies enables the single-sail structure to switch between the deployed state and the folded state. Each of the stranded tooth groups has a length of not less than 180 degrees of arc length, that is, there is a tooth contact range of 90 degrees between the helical line of the rotating shaft and the stranded tooth group, and another 90 degrees is reserved for rotation, so that each semi-sail body can rotate about 90 degrees.

[0022] Preferably, the first arc-shaped plate is provided with a stranded tooth group, and a second arc-shaped plate for fixing the stranded tooth group is provided, which can make these components replaceable, that is, the appropriate components can be selected according to the actual working conditions.

[0023] Preferably, both ends of the two second arc-shaped plates exceed the opposite ends of the corresponding first arc-shaped plate by a length of 20 degrees of arc length, which can improve the safety design of the structure.

[0024] Preferably, a plurality of connecting blocks and corresponding rotating rods are provided, which can better realize the connection of the two semi-body sails without occupying too much space. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a specific embodiment of the single-sail structure provided by the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 is Figure 1 an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 6;

[0027] Figure 3 FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of the first arc-shaped plate;

[0028] Figure 4 FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of the second arc-shaped plate;

[0029] Figure 5 FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of the connecting block.

[0030] Figures 1-5 The reference numerals in the drawings are as follows:

[0031] 1 semi-body sail, 2 docking side, 3 back side, 4 stranding tooth group, 5 rotating shaft, 6 spiral line, 7 first arc-shaped plate, 8 second arc-shaped plate, 9 perforation, 10 frustum-shaped support column, 11 connecting block, 12 through hole. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0032] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, the single-sail structure proposed by the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. According to the following description, the advantages and features of the present invention will be clearer. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are in a very simplified form and use non-precise scales, only for the purpose of facilitating and clearly assisting in explaining the embodiments of the present invention. In order to make the objectives, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, please refer to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the structures, scales, sizes, etc. shown in the drawings of this specification are only used to cooperate with the content disclosed in the specification for those skilled in the art to understand and read, and are not used to limit the limiting conditions of the implementation of the present invention. Therefore, they do not have a technical essence. Any modification of the structure, change of the proportional relationship or adjustment of the size, without affecting the effects that the present invention can produce and the objectives that can be achieved, should still fall within the scope covered by the technical content disclosed by the present invention.

[0033] Combined with the attached Figures 1-5 drawings, the present invention provides a single-sail structure, including two semi-body sails 1, each semi-body sail 1 respectively has a pair of docking sides 2 and a back side 3 opposite to the docking side 2, each semi-body sail 1 is supported by a support body, and a power unit capable of driving the support body to rotate is provided corresponding to each support body. The single-sail structure has a deployed state and a folded state:

[0034] In the deployed state, the docking sides 2 of the two semi-sail bodies 1 are docked so that the sail surfaces of the two semi-sail bodies 1 are docked to form the single sail surface of the single sail, and the opposite sides 3 of the two semi-sail bodies 1 are at the maximum distance interval in the horizontal direction;

[0035] In the folded state, the opposite sides 3 of the two semi-sail bodies 1 are at the minimum distance interval in the horizontal direction.

[0036] This setting makes the use of the single sail structure more flexible. The space in the horizontal direction can be compressed by folding the two semi-sail bodies 1, and the folding is completed by the respective rotation of the two semi-sail bodies 1. It can be understood that in this way, each semi-sail body 1 rotates in its original position, so that other spaces on the hull will not be occupied during the folding process.

[0037] In a specific embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, the arrangement position of each support body on the corresponding semi-sail body 1 is at a position close to the docking side 2 of the semi-sail body 1.

[0038] The arrangement positions of the support bodies on the corresponding semi-sail body 1 are all at positions close to the docking side 2 of the semi-sail body 1. The support bodies rotate to complete the folding. Therefore, the support bodies themselves serve as the rotation centers, so that their arrangement close to the docking side 2 can obviously make the docking sides 2 of the two semi-sail bodies 1 after folding be in a closer position, so as to compress the space occupied by the single sail after folding to the maximum extent.

[0039] In a specific embodiment, in combination with Figures 1-5 , each support body includes a support section with a circular cross-section. On the opposite outer circumferential surfaces of the two support sections, there are both stranded tooth groups 4 arranged along the circumferential direction. The two stranded tooth groups 4 are located in the same horizontal plane. Each of the stranded tooth groups 4 has a length of not less than 180 degrees of arc length. It also includes a rotating shaft 5 with an axial direction arranged horizontally. Along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 5, there are two helical lines 6 with opposite directions. Each helical line 6 meshes with a stranded tooth group 4. The stranded tooth group 4 on each support body and the corresponding helical line 6 of the rotating shaft 5 form a worm and worm gear structure to constitute the power part for driving the rotation of the support body. The tooth distances of the two stranded tooth groups 4 are set so that the two stranded tooth groups 4 can be meshed with each other when driving the rotation of the two support bodies synchronously.

[0040] The stranded tooth group 4 and the corresponding spiral line 6 of the rotating shaft 5 form a worm and worm gear structure to constitute the power part for driving the self-rotation of the support body, enabling the rotation of the rotating shaft 5 to achieve the synchronous self-rotation of the two support bodies. At the same time, the distance between the teeth of the two stranded tooth groups 4 is set so that the two stranded tooth groups 4 can mesh with each other when synchronously driving the self-rotation of the two support bodies, making the entire rotation process more stable; and the worm and worm gear structure can achieve the self-locking effect after unfolding or folding, making the entire single-sail structure more stable. The synchronous self-rotation of the two semi-body sails 1 enables the single-sail structure to switch between the unfolded state and the folded state. Each stranded tooth group 4 has a length of no less than 180-degree arc length and needs to be able to rotate at least about 90 degrees respectively.

[0041] In a specific embodiment, in combination with Figures 1-5 , each stranded tooth group 4 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of a first arc-shaped plate 7. Corresponding to each first arc-shaped plate 7, second arc-shaped plates 8 arranged at upper and lower intervals are provided. The inner circumferential surfaces of the two second arc-shaped plates 8 are fixedly connected to the support section. The vertical distance between the two second arc-shaped plates 8 matches the thickness of the first arc-shaped plate 7 so that the first arc-shaped plate 7 is located between the two second arc-shaped plates 8. A plurality of through holes 9 are opened and arranged at intervals along the circumferential direction on the two second arc-shaped plates 8 and the first arc-shaped plate 7 located in the middle for bolts to pass through to fix the first arc-shaped plate 7 between the two second arc-shaped plates 8.

[0042] The first arc-shaped plate 7 is provided with the stranded tooth group 4, and the second arc-shaped plates 8 for fixing the stranded tooth group 4 are provided, enabling these components to be replaceable, that is, suitable components can be selected according to the actual working conditions.

[0043] In this specific embodiment, as Figures 1-5 shown, the two second arc-shaped plates 8 have the same length and are both longer than the length of the first arc-shaped plate 7. The first arc-shaped plate 7 is located in the middle of the space between the two second arc-shaped plates 8 in the circumferential direction. The two ends of the two second arc-shaped plates 8 both exceed the corresponding opposite ends of the first arc-shaped plate 7 by a length of 20-degree arc length.

[0044] The two ends of the two second arc-shaped plates 8 both exceed the corresponding opposite ends of the first arc-shaped plate 7 by a length of 20-degree arc length, which can improve the safety design of the structure.

[0045] In a specific embodiment, the support body is a frustum-shaped pillar 10 that is thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom, and a lower section of the frustum-shaped pillar 10 forms the support section.

[0046] In a specific embodiment, as Figures 1-5As shown, it further includes a plurality of connecting blocks 11 with a cross-section presenting as a rounded rectangle. The plurality of connecting blocks 11 are arranged at intervals in the up and down direction. Each connecting block 11 is arranged at a position of the two semi-body sails 1 close to their docking side edges 2. At the position of each semi-body sail 1 corresponding to the connecting block 11, a notch is provided for accommodating the corresponding connecting block 11. Two through holes 12 penetrating its upper and lower surfaces are opened in the connecting block 11 along the long side direction of its rounded rectangle. At the position of each semi-body sail 1 close to its docking side edge 2, a rotating rod extending in the vertical direction is provided. The two rotating rods respectively correspond to the two through holes 12 on the connecting block 11 and can both rotate in the corresponding through holes 12.

[0047] Setting a plurality of connecting blocks 11 and the corresponding rotating rods can better realize the connection of the two semi-body sails 1 without occupying too much space.

[0048] Among them, for the axis of the frustum-shaped strut 10 of each semi-body sail 1, the centers of the through holes 12 of the connecting block 11 are on the same vertical line.

[0049] In a specific embodiment, as Figure 1 shown, the structures of the two semi-body sails 1 are the same, and the cross-sections of the docking side edges 2 both present as extending in the vertical direction.

[0050] In a specific embodiment, it further includes a motor connecting to and driving the rotation of the rotating shaft 5.

[0051] Among them, for the way of installing the frustum-shaped strut 10 onto the hull, for example, bearings can be used for fixation so that it can rotate stably relative to the hull.

[0052] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of concise description, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as the combinations of these technical features do not conflict, they should all be considered as the scope recorded in this specification.

[0053] The above-described embodiments only represent several implementation manners of the present invention. Their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, but they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present invention, several deformations and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention patent should be subject to the appended claims.

Claims

1. A single-sail structure, characterized in that, It includes two semi-body sails. Each semi-body sail has a pair of docking sides and a departing side opposite to the docking side. Each semi-body sail is supported by a support body, and a power unit capable of driving the support body to rotate is provided corresponding to each support body. This single-sail structure has a deployed state and a folded state: In the deployed state, the docking sides of the two semi-body sails are docked so that the sail surfaces of the two semi-body sails are docked to form a single sail surface of the single sail, and the departing sides of the two semi-body sails have the maximum distance interval in the horizontal direction; In the folded state, the departing sides of the two semi-body sails have the minimum distance interval in the horizontal direction.

2. The single-sail structure according to claim 1, wherein, The arrangement position of each support body on the corresponding semi-body sail is close to the docking side of the semi-body sail.

3. The single-sail structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each support body includes a support section with a circular cross-section. Stranded tooth groups arranged along the circumferential direction are provided on the opposite outer circumferential surfaces of the two support sections. The two stranded tooth groups are located on the same horizontal plane. Each of the stranded tooth groups has a length of no less than 180-degree arc length. It also includes a rotating shaft with a horizontal axial direction. Two helical lines with opposite directions are provided along the axial direction of the rotating shaft. Each helical line meshes with a stranded tooth group. The stranded tooth group on each support body and the corresponding helical line of the rotating shaft form a worm and worm gear structure to constitute the power unit for driving the support body to rotate. The tooth distance of the two stranded tooth groups is set so that the two stranded tooth groups can mesh with each other when synchronously driving the two support bodies to rotate.

4. The single-sail structure according to claim 3, wherein Each group of the stranded tooth groups is formed on the outer circumferential surface of a first arc-shaped plate. Second arc-shaped plates arranged at upper and lower intervals are provided corresponding to each first arc-shaped plate. The inner circumferential surfaces of the two second arc-shaped plates are fixedly connected to the support section. The vertical distance between the two second arc-shaped plates matches the thickness of the first arc-shaped plate so that the first arc-shaped plate is located between the two second arc-shaped plates. A plurality of perforations that are aligned and circumferentially spaced are provided on the two second arc-shaped plates and the middle first arc-shaped plate for bolts to pass through to fix the first arc-shaped plate between the two second arc-shaped plates.

5. The single sail structure according to claim 4, wherein The two second arc-shaped plates have the same length and are both longer than the length of the first arc-shaped plate. The first arc-shaped plate is located in the middle of the space between the two second arc-shaped plates in the circumferential direction. The two ends of the two second arc-shaped plates both extend beyond the opposite ends of the corresponding first arc-shaped plate by a length of 20-degree arc length.

6. The single-sail structure according to claim 5, characterized in that, The support body is a frustum-shaped pillar that is thinner at the top and thicker at the bottom. The lower section of the frustum-shaped pillar forms the support section.

7. The single-sail structure according to claim 6, characterized in that, It also includes a plurality of connecting blocks with a fillet-rectangular cross-section. The plurality of connecting blocks are arranged at intervals in the vertical direction. Each connecting block is arranged at a position close to the docking side of the two semi-body sails. A notch is provided at the position of each semi-body sail corresponding to the connecting block for accommodating the corresponding connecting block. Two through holes penetrating the upper and lower surfaces are provided on the connecting block along the long side direction of its fillet rectangle. A rotating rod extending in the vertical direction is provided at a position close to the docking side of each semi-body sail. The two rotating rods are respectively connected to the two through holes on the connecting block and can both rotate in the corresponding through holes.

8. The single-sail structure according to claim 7, wherein For each frustum-shaped strut of the semi-body sail, the axis of the strut and the center of the through-hole of the connecting block are on the same vertical line.

9. The single-sail structure according to claim 7, characterized in that, The structures of the two semi-body sails are the same.

10. The single-sail structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, It further includes a motor that connects to the rotating shaft and drives it to rotate.

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