Sailing Wing With Hinged Control Surface For Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sailboats face limitations such as high drag, increased workload in gusty winds, complex sail configurations, and significant effort required for sail adjustments, which affect upwind speed and maneuverability, particularly in emergency situations like a man overboard recovery.
Innovation Solution
A propulsive wing for a surface vehicle, featuring a main sail with an aft control surface hinged to allow angular deflection, enabling self-trimming and reduced drag, allowing the wing to automatically align with the wind and adjust lift and thrust without crew input, facilitating easier operation and improved performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional sails are used to provide thrust, then forward propulsion is achieved, but drag increases and reduces boat speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the aerodynamic parameters of the sail by introducing a controllable flap that modifies the sail's camber and angle of attack. This allows optimization of the lift-to-drag ratio by adjusting the flap position, thereby reducing drag while maintaining thrust generation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a dynamic control mechanism where the flap can be adjusted during sailing to adapt to changing wind conditions. This dynamic adjustment enables the sail to maintain optimal aerodynamic efficiency across varying apparent wind angles and speeds, reducing drag at different operating points.
2Speed
If complex sail configurations are used to improve performance, then thrust and speed increase, but crew workload increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The flap control system is designed to be self-adjusting based on apparent wind angle sensors and control algorithms. The system automatically trims the flap to optimal positions without requiring constant manual intervention from the crew, reducing workload while maintaining performance optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors that monitor apparent wind angle and flap position, feeding this data back to the control system. This feedback loop enables automatic adjustments to maintain optimal aerodynamic conditions, eliminating the need for continuous manual trimming and reducing crew workload.
3Reliability
If manual sail adjustments are made frequently to handle gusty winds, then boat performance is maintained, but time is lost and workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical sail adjustment with an automated control system that uses sensors, processors, and actuators. This substitution eliminates the time delay between detecting wind changes and adjusting the sails, maintaining performance consistency without the time loss associated with manual operations.
4Force
If conventional sails are used in gusty winds, then thrust is generated, but maneuverability and control become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flap control system dynamically adjusts sail trim in response to gusty wind conditions, maintaining optimal apparent wind angle and lift-to-drag ratio. This dynamic adaptation allows the boat to respond more predictably to wind changes, improving maneuverability and control while maintaining thrust generation.
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
The propulsive wing reduces drag, increases boat speed, and decreases crew workload by allowing automatic adjustments to wind conditions, enhancing maneuverability and reducing the need for frequent sail changes, especially in gusty winds and upwind sailing.
Implementation Method 1
The apparent wind acts on the sail or wing to create lift and drag. In FIG. 2A, as illustrated, a lift force can be generated by the sail. This force is perpendicular to the apparent wind angle, by definition.
Implementation Method 2
The wing also generates a drag force. This force is by definition parallel to the apparent wind angle. Lift and drag vectors, being orthogonal, may be summed using the Pythagorean equation to find the magnitude of Net Force.
Implementation Method 3
the propulsive wing includes an aft control surface extending along at least a portion of a vertical axis of the sail and a hinge rotatably connecting the control surface to at least a portion of the sail, the hinge configured to rotate about a hinge axis
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies are described herein for sailing wing for a vehicle such as a sailboat. As described herein, a sailing wing includes a main sail and a control surface. The control surface is rotatable around a hinge. When deflected, the control surface using force imparted on the control surface by the wind causes the main sail to rotate about a pivot axis, creating thrust.