Partial Lower Sail Profile for Kite Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sail profiles for paragliders and kites face a trade-off between achieving good flight characteristics and lateral stability, which require high material and production costs, or sacrificing aerodynamic performance for lower costs and simpler designs without dynamic pressure and stabilization.
Innovation Solution
A sail design featuring an upper and lower sail with profile-forming ribs, where the lower surface only spans a portion of the profile length, incorporating openings for transverse flow and easier venting, and using reinforced materials at critical areas to enhance stability and reduce material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complete lower sail is used to achieve good flight characteristics and lateral stability, then aerodynamic performance and transverse stabilization are improved, but material usage and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lower sail is segmented into a partial lower sail that covers only a portion of the profile length rather than the entire length. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve sufficient transverse stabilization and flight characteristics while using less material, specifically reducing the lower sail fabric requirements and associated stitching and reinforcement materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The profile structure implements local quality by providing full lower sail coverage only in the critical transverse stabilization zones, while leaving other sections with partial or no lower sail coverage. The profile ribs maintain structural integrity in areas where the lower sail is reduced, allowing optimized material distribution based on local aerodynamic and structural requirements.
2Reliability
If a complete lower sail is used to achieve good flight characteristics, then transverse stabilization is improved, but production effort and manufacturing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The manufacturing process is simplified through segmentation of the lower sail into manageable sections. The partial lower sail can be attached to the profile ribs in discrete segments rather than requiring attachment of a large continuous lower sail, reducing stitching complexity and assembly time while maintaining transverse stabilization in the critical zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The unnecessary portions of the lower sail are extracted from the design, removing material and manufacturing steps associated with producing and attaching a complete lower sail. This extraction of excess material simplifies the manufacturing process while retaining sufficient lower sail coverage to achieve the required transverse stabilization and flight characteristics.
3Reliability
If profile ribs are provided with openings for transverse airflow, then transverse stabilization is improved, but structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The profile ribs incorporate openings that create a porous structure, allowing transverse airflow through the ribs. This porous design enables the ribs to maintain structural integrity while facilitating the transverse airflow necessary for stabilization. The openings are integrated into the rib structure itself rather than requiring separate components, maintaining relative simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design achieves higher flight stability and reduced production costs while maintaining aerodynamic performance by optimizing the use of materials and incorporating structural reinforcements.
Implementation Method 1
At the leading edge of the airfoil, also known as the leading edge, one or more inlet openings are located through which air enters the interior of the airfoil during flight and is trapped there. The resulting overpressure in the chamber creates the desired profile.
Implementation Method 2
the profile ribs may have at least one opening, which leads to improved transverse airflow along the length of the profile and thus increased transverse stabilization
Implementation Method 3
Optimal flight characteristics and optimal lift generation are achieved with an airfoil-like profile of the airfoil or canopy.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a profile for a canopy, steered kite, kite or sail, consisting of a top sail and a bottom sail as well as of profile-forming profile ribs, the bottom sail of the profile not extending up to the profile trailing edge but only spanning a section of the entire profile length.