RECTANGULAR BATTENED ROLLING SAIL

Abstract

The invention relates to a rectangular, battened and furling variable geometry sail placed inside an openwork structure. A sail is never rectangular, and always presents harmful effects of sail ends. It is not furling with its battens and the profile is not always regular depending on the wind force. The sail, according to the invention, is rectangular with a profile determined by the structure. It is battened and furthermore partially or totally furling. The solid ribs at each end of the structure eliminate the effects of sail ends and the absence of a mast eliminates disturbances at the leading edge. Such a sail can be used on sailing boats or large cargo ships. Such a sail will be placed on each side of the mast and several sails can be added on the height. Such a sail can be used vertically or more often horizontally for a wind turbine.Such a sail can also be used vertically for a hydro turbine placed in the current of a river.

Description

Title of the invention: ROLLING RECTANGULAR BATTENED SAIL TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a rectangular, battened, furling sail which can be used for a sailboat, a wind turbine or a hydro turbine. TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] On a sailboat, the sail takes on an aerodynamic profile thanks to seams, clips, battens or innovative fabrics.

[0003] To reduce the sail area, there are two solutions: • Reefing, for a sail with battens. • Rolling it up, partially or totally, if there are no battens

[0004] To avoid the effects of the ends of the sail, there is a wide balsam, only at the bottom. Often, the sail surface is reduced at the top, which does not allow the power to be used to the maximum.

[0005] On wind turbines using sails, there are no battens. Just fabric that swells, pushed by the wind.

[0006] On a hydro turbine, fabric is generally not used for the blades as a means of lift.

[0007] Patent No. US 9175702 relates to a thin sheet placed in a structure with ribs and uprights, which forms a foil. This assembly can only be used in water but in the air there is no possibility of rolling up to reduce the lift and eliminate it completely. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It proposes a peripheral structure whose bearing surface is a flexible sail arranged in the center of this structure.

[0009] The structure is composed of ribs, giving the desired profile to the fabric; NACA profile or other, aerodynamic or hydrodynamic.

[0010] These ribs are held and spaced apart by side members, arranged in an efficient manner for the rigidity of the assembly and to avoid as much as possible disturbances to the air or water flows.

[0011] This structure is closed, at both ends, by solid ribs for: • Limit the end of sail effect • Support the winding system • Support the structure's attachment system to an assembly that will give it the angle for the best load-bearing, either on one side, or the other, or zero.

[0012] This structure resembles the frame of an airplane wing from which the internal reinforcements have been removed to make way for a sail which can fit both sides of the NACA profile.

[0013] The rectangular battened sail is arranged inside the structure; it is held on its leading edge by a cable or a batten which allows it to be rolled up partially or completely to limit its surface area to the wind or even eliminate it.

[0014] Removing the mast avoids unwanted effects at the leading edge of the sail.

[0015] Battens are arranged on the sail, parallel to the leading edge, at points determined paces, to keep it taut between the ribs and give it the possibility of rolling up without problem with very little excess thickness.

[0016] This structure gives this sail the possibility of: • to take a perfect profile, aerodynamic or hydrodynamic, on each side and over its entire height, • to be reduced, partially or totally, very easily, by rolling. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig.l] represents the structure with its ribs and side members.

[0018] [Fig.2] represents the rectangular battened sail, taken out of [Fig.l] (structure).

[0019] DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0020] [Fig.l] represents the supporting structure of the sail (A). We see, at both ends, solid ribs (2) where the support and rotation system (1) is fixed, which will serve to give it the best lift angle.

[0021] If passage of the structure parallel to the flow • stopping the lift • faseyement • possibility of reducing the sail area by partial or total rolling up using the furler (5).

[0022] We can also see the intermediate ribs (3) with, on the leading edge, a cutout to receive the rolled-up sail and on the extension, the NACA profile (or other) which will give the shape to the sail, on both sides.

[0023] Finally, we can notice, on this structure, spars (4) which keep the flanges and the ribs integral with the whole assembly, with positions which must be as relevant as possible so as to avoid disturbances of air (or water) flow around the sail, while maintaining sufficient rigidity for the assembly.

[0024] [Fig.2] represents the bearing surface (B) in the form of a sail (6) coming out of the structure with its slats (8) and its slat or cable on the leading edge (7).

[0025] This slat on the leading edge (7) will be passed and held in the outer flanges of the structure to receive a winding system (5).

[0026] The slats (8) arranged parallel to the leading edge in the spanwise direction are free in the structure and come to rest against the ribs (3) to match the profile of the latter.

[0027] They are distributed as best as possible to keep the sail taut and allow offset rolling to limit the diameter once rolled up.

[0028] Once the sail is installed in the structure, said structure is positioned in the flow • Either the structure is parallel to the flow, the sail flutters and does not create lift. This is the right time to reduce its surface area by partial or total rolling. • Either the structure is positioned at an incidence of a few degrees of the flow (3 to 20°) thus giving it the best lift in relation to the profile. The sail is placed on the ribs (3) over a more or less large surface area depending on the furling. The lift is created and the thrust restored by the fixings (1) of the structure to the machine. List of reference signs

[0029] With openwork structure

[0030] B bearing surface

[0031] 1 Structure fixing

[0032] 2 Solid ribs

[0033] 3 Ribs

[0034] 4 Side members

[0035] 5 Winding system

[0036] 6 Sail

[0037] 7 Winding axis

[0038] 8 Slats

Claims

Claims

1. Sail with variable geometry integrated into an openwork peripheral structure, characterized in that it comprises a bearing surface (B) placed inside an openwork structure (A)

2. Variable geometry sail according to claim 1 characterized in that the bearing surface is flexible (6) and rollable in order to modify the lift

3. Variable geometry sail according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the bearing surface (B) is battened (8) in order to stiffen it

4. Variable geometry sail according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the peripheral structure (A) is composed of solid ribs (2) at each end.

5. Variable geometry sail according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the solid ribs are provided with a furler (5) for furling said sail

6. Variable geometry sail according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the solid ribs (2) are connected to each other by at least one spar (4).

7. Variable geometry sail according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the peripheral structure has at least one intermediate rib (3) between the solid ribs of the ends

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