Segmented Kite Tether Connection for Fast Winch Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
The response of large winches used in tethered systems is reduced due to the increased size required to accommodate longer tethers for higher flight altitudes of kites, leading to technical disadvantages.
Innovation Solution
A method of separably connecting additional tethers to existing tethers anchored to a kite, allowing for increased tether length without enlarging the winch, using connecting devices that can attach and detach tethers as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the tether length is increased to achieve higher flight altitude of the kite, then the target flight altitude is improved, but the drum and winch size become larger leading to reduced response
Solution Approach 1:
The tether system is divided into multiple segments: a first tether wound on the drum and a second tether connected to the kite, with a connecting device joining them. This segmentation allows the drum to only handle the first tether, maintaining small size and fast response, while the overall tether length is extended through the second tether to achieve higher flight altitudes.
Solution Approach 2:
A connecting device acts as an intermediary between the first tether (handled by the winch) and the second tether (anchoring the kite). This intermediary allows the winch to control the system response through the first tether while the second tether extends the total length, resolving the contradiction between response speed and tether length.
2Length of moving object
If the tether length is increased to achieve higher flight altitude of the kite, then the target flight altitude is improved, but the drum size becomes larger
Solution Approach 1:
The tether is segmented into a first tether (wound on the drum) and a second tether (connected to the kite), allowing the drum to only accommodate the first tether. This maintains a compact drum size while achieving extended total tether length through the connecting device, enabling higher flight altitudes without enlarging the drum.
3Length of moving object
If the tether length is increased to achieve higher flight altitude of the kite, then the target flight altitude is improved, but transportability becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tether system into a first tether (managed by the winch) and a second tether (extended portion), the drum and winch remain compact and easily transportable. The second tether can be separately managed or stored, maintaining system portability while achieving the required total tether length for high-altitude operations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method for connecting a tether for anchoring a kite. The method for connecting a tether includes, while the kite is flying, separably connecting another tether different from one tether to the other end of the one tether whose one end is connected to the kite.