Energy-saving speed-increasing wind-assisted sailing device for sea vessels

Abstract

This invention provides a wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels, relating to the field of shipbuilding technology. It comprehensively utilizes the thrust generated by wind power from the bow to the top and sides of the ship under various wind conditions (tailwind, crosswind, and tailwind), through the navigation sail surface. The ship's entire width is covered by a streamlined wing structure with double-layered lightweight internal inflatable bags. The bow has a horizontally extending air intake, a wind turbine and its blades, and behind it, an aircraft engine and its air intake. Further aft, on the sides of the hull, are movable, retractable, large-diameter, lightweight, hollow, rotatable cylinders. The ship also has at least one pair of curved cylinders, one on each side, with adjustable windward angles, thereby achieving wind-powered navigation and energy-saving speed-up effects.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of shipbuilding technology, and more specifically to an energy-saving and speed-up wind-powered navigation aid device for ocean-going vessels that utilizes wind power in all aspects. Background Technology

[0002] As the global economy expands, the number of ships carrying cargo on ocean surfaces is increasing, with some ships weighing hundreds of thousands of tons. This has led to a significant increase in carbon emissions and the need for emission reduction. Of the more than 60,000 ocean-going vessels worldwide, 100 have now installed wind-assisted sails, including wing-type, rotatable cylindrical or arc-type, and sky-sail types. These types have emerged one after another, representing the direction of energy conservation and emission reduction for ocean-going vessels using wind-assisted navigation. They can reduce fuel consumption by about 5% or more per voyage. However, because these types only utilize local wind power, the overall performance of the ocean-going vessel and the effect of wind-assisted navigation are not yet significant enough. Better results are needed to promote their application on more ocean-going vessels. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned technical defects and provide an energy-saving and speed-increasing wind-powered navigation aid that utilizes wind power to both save energy and increase ship speed while also reducing emissions.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution: The energy-saving and speed-enhancing navigation aid of the present invention has an aerodynamically streamlined, lightweight airfoil structure covering various sizes of seagoing vessels, extending from the bow to the upper and sides of the mid-rear section. At the bow, within the streamlined, lightweight structure, is a wind turbine generator positioned forward of the bow and supported by the bow load-bearing structure. A horn-shaped forward air intake is located in front of the generator. This air intake can be rotated left or right as needed using a bracket. Airflow entering the horn-shaped air intake passes through the wind turbine blades and continues into the intake duct. The ship has an air intake on both the left and right sides of the bow, which directly serves as the air intake for one aircraft engine located on each side of the bow. The aircraft engines used can be selected according to the size, weight, and speed requirements of the ship, including turbofan engines, turboprop engines, or electric propellers of appropriate power. The ship also features at least one large-diameter rotatable cylinder, movable and mounted on each side of the hull near its widest point. This rotatable cylinder can reach a height of tens of meters, with its upper part exceeding the height of the lightweight, streamlined airfoil structure located above the deck. The structure includes rotatable wing-shaped sails on the midship deck. Each pair comprises at least one vertically positioned wing-shaped arc-shaped tube on each of the left and right sides of the hull. At the largest arc-shaped section and the opposite distal end, there is a fixed, rigid arc-shaped plate extending outwards. Between the left and right arc-shaped tubes, in front and behind, is a lightweight sail surface located in the center. These are connected by mooring cables to multiple points above and below the adjacent forward or aft arc-shaped tubes, forming two large, forward and rearward sail surfaces. The cables are respectively attached to the front and rear roots of the wing-shaped arc-shaped tubes on the left and right sides. The vertical folds at the front and rear roots of these wing-shaped arc-shaped tubes have flexible roll-up and retractable sail fabric for cooperating with the rotation of the rotating tubes. Based on the load-bearing structure of various parts of the hull, including the bases extending outwards to the deck and the hatches on both sides of the hull, multiple sets of mooring cables for the sail are set up via cable winches. The basic structure of the sail adopts the Chinese invention patent application number 20210254266.The "0" is a multi-functional, multi-lift source hybrid airship with a product range ranging from light to heavy-duty. Specifically, it features several sail-like wind-powered navigation aids that can be installed at various points on the ship to generate thrust in the desired direction. It has an upper airbag, which is a double-layered structure filled with buoyancy gas for buoyancy, along with its forward-extending head. This forms the lifting body airbag with a kite-like sloping lower surface, providing buoyancy. The left, right, and lower airbags can be replaced with single-layered, non-inflatable fabric. The rear air outlet of the central cavity is positioned with a fully enclosed fabric facade to prevent airflow. Large-sized valves, controlled by commands transmitted via wires or wireless remote control, are located on both left and right sides of the fabric facade. The airflow direction of each valve, along with the orientation of the air intake and exhaust ports of this airship-type sail, which is controlled by several sets of cables for retraction, extension, and adjustment, is considered and manipulated in conjunction with the aforementioned cylindrical and curved sail components, thereby generating the positive or lateral thrust required to maintain the ship's forward trajectory.

[0005] As can be seen from the above technical solution, compared with the prior art, the present invention discloses an energy-saving and speed-up wind-powered navigation aid device for ships that utilizes wind power in all directions, which has the following beneficial effects: When a ship sails along its course at sea, it often encounters calm conditions. When there is wind, the wind direction includes a tailwind, a tailwind diagonally to the left or right rear, a crosswind directly to the left or right of the ship, and a headwind; a headwind diagonally forward to the left or right of the bow. When the ship is in a tailwind, both bow-mounted aircraft engines can be fully activated to ensure that the airflow speed in front of the bow reaches or exceeds the ship's speed. Because of the operating air intake of the aircraft engines and the airflow in front, the rotating blades of the bow-mounted generator reduce the airflow resistance in front of the bow. The generated electricity is converted into power. When a single-sided aero-engine is used, the exhaust airflow acts on a rotatable cylinder at the rear. Each pair of vertically mounted rotatable arc-shaped cylinders above the cylinder, along with the streamlined, lightweight airfoil structure mounted above the hull, appropriately utilizes the forward wind force. Conventional mechanical and hydraulic mechanisms, or the back-and-forth pulling of cables, allow the wind to flow through the lightweight, rotatable cylinders and airfoil arc-shaped cylinders and their sails, generating thrust on the ship's course regardless of wind direction. This device can be used in various situations. Some ships have flat decks, while others have multiple pieces of equipment or cargo boxes of varying sizes and heights erected at the bow and stern. This device utilizes the entire windward surface of the ship, including the top, bow, and sides, to generate thrust for forward propulsion. It also incorporates aircraft engines on either side of the bow that actively utilize the airflow in the ship's forward direction. The bow's windward resistance surface is designed as the energy-absorbing rotating surface of the wind turbine blades and the air intake of the aircraft engine. Continuously drawing in air from the bow reduces the ship's wind resistance. Simultaneously, the underwater propeller at the stern accelerates forward more quickly under the same thrust conditions. Appropriate air intake volume and speed for the aircraft engine can achieve fuel economy for continuous operation for several days. When using an electric propeller as the aircraft engine, solar cells can be installed on the ship's surface to power the electric propeller, further reducing drag and increasing speed, allowing the ship to reach its destination port more quickly and increasing the economic value of the vessel.

[0006] The support structure for the large-diameter rotatable cylindrical bodies, such as those ranging from 5 to over 10 meters in diameter, located on both sides of the hull, can be supported by horizontal beams, columns, and a rotatable chassis extending outward from the main load-bearing structure on the upper deck and inside the hull near the outer surface of the hull. The cylindrical body should preferably be a hollow, double-layered, lightweight airbag structure to create a large windward surface and withstand wind and thrust through the rigid structure inside and outside the cylinder. When not in use, the air can be released and the retracted cylindrical body can be moved horizontally and stored in the side hatch of the hull or on the upper deck. The rotatable arc-shaped cylinder on the ship can adopt such a hybrid soft and rigid frame structure, or it can adopt the current rigid arc-shaped cylinder or cylindrical structure and its intelligent electromechanical drive device.

[0007] When sailing on the sea, the sea conditions and waves can sometimes become very large. At this time, the large-sized, heavy-mass rotatable cylinders located on both sides of the hull in the longitudinal middle of the ship have closed bottoms and hollow tops, which have the safety effect of maintaining the stability of the ship and preventing it from capsizing. Attached Figure Description

[0008] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the provided drawings without creative effort.

[0009] Figure 1 This is a side view of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0010] The technical solution of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0011] like Figure 1 As shown, an energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for ocean-going vessels that utilizes wind power in all directions includes: A lightweight, aerodynamically streamlined airfoil structure covering the hull of a seagoing vessel from the bow to the upper and sides of the mid-rear section. A wind turbine generator 1 is installed at the front of the bow and is supported by the bow load-bearing structure. The wind turbine generator 1 has a horn-shaped air intake at the front. The air intake can be rotated left and right by a bracket to adjust the air intake position. An air intake duct 4 is provided on the left and right sides of the bow. The air intake duct 4 is connected to the air intake duct 4 of the aero-engine 3 located on the left and right sides of the bow, respectively. The airflow entering the horn-shaped air intake flows through the blades of the wind turbine generator 1 and then enters the aero-engine 3 on the left and right sides through the air intake duct 4, respectively. At least one large-diameter rotatable cylinder 5 is installed on each side of the hull, near the widest point. The height of the rotatable cylinder 5 can reach tens of meters, and its upper part is higher than the lightweight streamlined airfoil structure set above the hull deck. A rotatable wing-shaped sail is set on the deck in the middle section of the hull, which includes at least one pair of vertically placed wing-shaped arc-shaped tubes 6 on each of the left and right sides of the hull, and a central sail surface is formed between the left and right arc-shaped tubes 6 of each pair of wing-shaped arc-shaped tubes 6. The sail is supported by multiple sets of mooring cables that are set up on the load-bearing structures of various parts of the hull and released by cable winches. The sail is used to generate wind-assisted navigation in the direction of the required thrust in all directions.

[0012] Specifically, an aircraft engine 3 is installed on either the left or right side of the bow 2. Each aircraft engine 3 can be independently controlled in rotation, activated, or deactivated according to the ship's current course and speed requirements, and an air intake 4 is correspondingly installed at its front. In terms of operational logic, when the ship is sailing with the wind or completely against the wind, all aircraft engines on both the left and right sides can be activated to provide strong thrust; while when the ship encounters a wind or headwind from the left or right front or rear, only one engine on either the left or right side can be activated, thus achieving energy-saving drive while ensuring propulsion efficiency.

[0013] The vessel is equipped with a flexible sail structure. Specifically, large-diameter rotatable cylinders 5, reaching heights of tens of meters, are located on both sides of the midship section. These cylinders are composed of multiple sections and feature movable, segmented retraction and disassembly capabilities. On the upper deck of the hull, one or more rows of wing-shaped arc-shaped cylinders 6 are arranged along the fore-and-aft direction, with a pair on each side of each row, all of which can rotate. The cross-section of each arc-shaped cylinder 6 is arc-shaped, with a fixed arc-shaped plate-like sail surface at its maximum arc position and at its opposite end. In the vertical position, one side of the sail surface extends into the arc-shaped cylinder and can be rolled up or retracted into the cylinder; the other side of the sail surface is connected and secured to a central flexible sail surface via multiple cable knots 7 running from top to bottom. Since each pair of arc-shaped cylinders has a central sail surface connected to both the front and rear sections, the combined angles of these sections form an optimal windward surface, thereby generating thrust in the direction of the vessel's forward movement.

[0014] In this embodiment, the large-diameter cylinder 5 adopts a highly innovative segmented installation, lifting, and rotation locking structure.

[0015] After the side hatch is opened outward, four horizontal beams extend outward from the opened side hatch. The rotatable chassis of the cylinder 5 is fixedly mounted on the above four horizontal beams, and ball bearings on the surface of the beams are provided at the contact points between the two to ensure smooth rotation.

[0016] During installation, the four columns are first lowered onto the horizontal beam using hoisting equipment on the upper deck. Electronically controlled locking blocks then secure the columns to the beam. Each column is taller than each cylindrical unit (including the upper and lower rings). After the four columns are vertically fixed to the bottom beam, the hoisting equipment lowers each cylindrical unit, pre-installed with curved plates and airbags, along the outer surface of the four centrally located columns until it falls into the groove of the rotatable chassis. There, it is secured by locking blocks, allowing it to rotate with the chassis.

[0017] During rotation, the four support columns contact the hardened ring with their arc-shaped ball bearing contact surfaces, allowing the ring to rotate on the support column surfaces. During installation, after locking the bottom first cylindrical section, the second cylindrical section is lowered in the same manner and placed in the ring groove of the first cylindrical section. The insert block is then inserted and locked according to electronic instructions, so that the rings of the upper and lower cylindrical sections are in contact with each other.

[0018] Simultaneously, as the cylinders are installed, four more columns are hoisted down from top to bottom. These later-hoisted columns serve to securely connect the upper and lower columns. Their lower ends feature hollow expansion joints with transverse insertion holes that perfectly fit over the upper portion of the lower column. Horizontal locking blocks are then inserted into the interlocking expansion joints via electronic commands, completing the locking process. In this manner, all columns and cylinders are installed section by section from top to bottom. The uppermost column is hoisted down group by group using a lifting platform raised from the deck in conjunction with a rotating crane cantilever.

[0019] The entire cylinder 5 rotates around the column. The lower part of the cylinder is fixed to a rotatable base; support beams are provided at the front and rear positions of the rings in the middle and upper parts of the cylinder to support the rings and ensure that the cylinder has excellent wind resistance stability in strong winds.

[0020] Its driving method is as follows: the bottom of the cylinder rotates on a rotatable chassis, while the middle and upper parts of the cylinder are equipped with a fork or intelligent robotic arm, which applies a back-and-forth pulling force to the bearing point of the rigid ring structure of the cylinder, and drives the cylinder to rotate into place, so that the cylinder can accurately adjust the windward angle.

[0021] When the vessel needs to sail against the wind or encounters severe sea conditions requiring the retraction of the device, the reverse operating procedure is adopted: starting from the first cylindrical section at the highest position, electronic commands control the upper and lower locking blocks of the second cylindrical section below it to retract, thus disengaging the connection between the two; the airbag is deflated and retracted, and then the first cylindrical section is lifted with a hook and transferred to the deck working position. Each subsequent cylindrical section and the interlocking columns of each section are then unlocked and moved onto the deck or into the side hatch.

[0022] In addition, to reduce wind resistance, a lightweight, streamlined, double-layered internally inflatable airbag structure 8 covers the upper part of the hull at the fore, aft, left, and right. This structure consists of several independent, retractable components, facilitating the installation and deployment of related equipment on the deck. Simultaneously, this airbag structure 8 allows individual auxiliary equipment or items to protrude above its coverage area, enabling their operation. Especially when the ship is completely upwind, not only can the aforementioned vertically mounted arc-shaped cylinders be lowered, but the tall cylindrical cylinders 5 on both sides of the hull can also be disassembled and retracted into sections and placed on the deck or inside the side hatches, working in conjunction with the airbag structure to reduce overall wind resistance.

[0023] The various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on its differences from other embodiments. Similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to interchangeably. For the apparatus disclosed in the embodiments, since they correspond to the methods disclosed in the embodiments, the description is relatively simple; relevant parts can be referred to the method section.

[0024] The above description of the disclosed embodiments enables those skilled in the art to make or use the invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A wind-powered navigation aid device for ocean-going vessels that utilizes wind power in all directions, characterized in that, include: A lightweight, aerodynamically streamlined airfoil structure covering the hull of a seagoing vessel from the bow to the upper and sides of the mid-rear section. A wind turbine generator is installed at the front of the bow and relies on the bow load-bearing structure. The wind turbine generator has a horn-shaped air intake in front of it. The air intake can be rotated left and right by a bracket to adjust the air intake position. An air intake is provided on the left and right sides of the bow, and the air intake is connected to the air intake of the aero-engines provided on the left and right sides of the bow, respectively. The airflow entering the horn-shaped air intake flows through the blades of the wind turbine and then enters the aero-engines on the left and right sides through the air intake. At least one large-diameter rotatable cylinder is installed on each side of the hull, near the widest point of the middle. The height of the rotatable cylinder can be tens of meters, and its upper part is higher than the lightweight streamlined airfoil structure set above the deck of the hull. A rotatable wing-shaped sail is set on the deck in the middle section of the hull, which includes at least one pair of vertically placed wing-shaped arc tubes set on the left and right sides of the hull, and a central sail surface is formed between the left and right arc tubes of each pair of wing-shaped arc tubes. The sail is supported by multiple sets of mooring cables that are set up on the load-bearing structures of various parts of the hull and released by cable winches. The sail is used to generate wind-assisted navigation in the direction of the required thrust in all directions.

2. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The aircraft engines are selected from turbofan engines, turboprop engines, or electric propellers according to the size, weight, and speed requirements of the ship. When the ship is sailing with or against the wind, all engines on both sides are turned on. When the ship encounters a tailwind or headwind from the left or right front or left or right rear, one engine on the left or right side is turned on.

3. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The horizontal cross-section of the wing-shaped arc tube is arc-shaped. At the maximum arc position of the arc tube and at the opposite end, there is a fixed arc-shaped plate-type sail surface. One side of each vertically placed sail surface extends into the arc tube and can be rolled up or retracted into the arc tube. The other side is connected and tightened to a central flexible sail surface through multiple cable knots 7 from top to bottom. Each pair of arc tubes has a central sail surface connected to the front and rear sections.

4. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotatable cylinder is a multi-section detachable structure, with a rotatable chassis fixed at its bottom to a horizontal beam extending from the side hatch of the ship. The rotatable cylinder is composed of multiple cylindrical units installed from top to bottom. Each cylindrical unit has a rigid upper ring and a lower ring. A vertical column running from bottom to top through multiple rings is provided between the upper and lower rings. The column is fixed to the rotatable chassis and can rotate with the chassis. Each cylindrical unit is covered with an inflatable airbag, which forms a sail surface when inflated.

5. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 4, characterized in that, Four horizontal beams extend outward from the side hatch, and a rotatable chassis is fixedly mounted on the four horizontal beams. A ball bearing is located on the surface of the beam at the contact point between the two beams. Four columns are fixed downward to the four horizontal beams, with each column being taller than each cylindrical unit. Each cylindrical unit is lowered along the outer surface of the central column until it falls into the groove of the rotatable chassis and is fixed by a limiting block. Adjacent cylindrical units are connected by upper and lower rings that abut against each other and are locked together by a locking block. The column contacts the hard ring with its arc-shaped ball bearing contact surface to allow the ring to rotate.

6. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 4, characterized in that, The rotatable cylinder is disassembled as follows: starting from the first cylinder at the highest position, the airbag is deflated and contracted. An electronic command is used to retract the locking blocks between the upper and lower rings of the two adjacent cylinders to the disengaged state. The first cylinder is lifted with a hook and transferred to the working position on the deck. The lower cylinders and the interlocking columns are unlocked one by one and moved out to the deck or the side hatch of the ship.

7. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for ocean-going vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lightweight airfoil structure is a lightweight, streamlined, double-layered, internally inflatable airbag structure that fully covers the front, rear, left, and right sides of the ship from the bow to the top of the stern. The airbag structure is composed of several independent retractable structures.

8. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The blimp includes an upper airbag, which has a double-layered upper layer filled with buoyancy gas for use as a buoyancy body, and a forward-extending head, thus forming a lifting body blimp with a wind-equal slope on the lower surface to exert buoyancy through wind. The left, right, and lower airbags of the upper airbag can be replaced with single-layered airbags that are not inflated. A fully enclosed airbag facade is set at the rear air outlet of the central cavity to prevent airflow. Large-sized valves are set on the left and right airbag facades, which open and close according to commands transmitted by wires or wireless remote control. The airflow out or closed state of each valve is combined with the air intake and exhaust port positions of the airship-type blimp, which is controlled by several sets of cables for retraction and adjustment, to generate the positive or lateral thrust required to maintain the ship's forward course.

9. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for seagoing vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotatable cylinder is equipped with auxiliary supports and hoisting devices at its lower, middle and upper parts. A lever or intelligent robotic arm is provided at the middle and upper parts of the cylinder to apply a back-and-forth pulling force to the outer protruding load-bearing points of the rigid ring structure of the cylinder in order to drive the cylinder to rotate into place.

10. The energy-saving and speed-enhancing wind-powered navigation aid for ocean-going vessels according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotatable cylinder has a hollow outer shell double-layer inflatable lightweight airbag structure. Its bottom is closed and its top is hollow, which has the safety effect of maintaining the stability of the hull and controlling the capsizing. When not in use, the airbag can be deflated and the cylindrical bag can be moved horizontally and stored in the side hatch of the ship or on the upper deck.

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