GB2255541A - A rig for a wind propelled vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

A rigid wing or airfoil for a sail board is pivotable through 180 DEG about horizontal pivot 5 at the top of mast R, while pivot T allows the angle of incidence of the wing to be set. The mast may be pivoted about X, and the wing ends may have floats W. The wing incidence may be controlled by vanes or spars extending from the wing ends. Alternatively, the wing may rotate about a horizontal axis, and about a vertical axis with the mast (Fig. 6). The rig may be used on dinghies, or on commercial vessels with wind sensors operating hydraulics. <IMAGE>

Description

A RIG FOR A 'IIIWD PROPELLED VESSEL This invention relates to a rig for a wind propelled vessel.

In the past sails were used as an economical method of moving large vessels through water at reasonable speeds great distances but was labour intensive and somewhat unsafe in modern terms. With the coming of the large marine engine sails have become obsolete for commercial voyages in the more affluent countries but fortunately pleasure sail craft have continued to explore and improve sailing techniques with the fore and aSt rig.

This invention is a pollution free method of moving large or small vessels using the power of a natural element, that is the wind. Large commercial vessels could save fuel by using it as an auxiliary to their engine/s while small pleasure craft could enjoy the water with no environmental damage. It is capable of being tailored to the needs of large commercial vessels through pleasure craft down to light planing hulls, sailboards and land yachts.

According to the invention, there is provided a rig for a wind propelled vessel, the rig comprising a wing sail having a rigid asymetric section, and a half height mast, wherein the sail is connected to the half height mast at a point midway between 180 degrees about a horizontal axis, and a second pivot in a through section which allows the sail to adjust to the angle of wind direction at all points of sail. On small craft the design incorporates a wind operated control on bcth angles of incident to the wind and to drive the sail on to the other tack when going about. This can be overridden by the person on board but left to its own devices will self tack and do. all but steer the boat.

On larger craft it would be more practical to use a wind sensor and hydraulics to operate these same controls. This arrangement has a natural tendency to work since the increased air flow round the sail on the leeward side at the moment of the vessel turning and the slight decrease of air flow on the wind : ward side causes the sail to level in the head to wind situation and gravity helps. On small craft floats can be employed at each end of tbP sail. We are convinced that a foil sail can now unite with commercial craft and pleasure craft to provide a small sail area with maximum efficiency We have devised four methods of working the invention but there may be other methods.

Method 1. A fixed mast L which seeks the angle of incident to the wind by a through section pivot N and is held at this angle of incident by two vanes I supported by twin spars J. The drawings 1/10, 2/10, 3/10, 4/10, and 10/10 relate to this method.

Method 2. A rotating mast with a fixed incident to the wind but with wind seeking vanes I held on spars J and trim tabs H which vary the angle of attack by increasing or decreasing the angle. Drawing 6/l0relates to this method.

3cth methods 1 and 2 are designed for a rig for a small dinghy drawn to no particular scale with a sail of seven feet approximately.

Method 3. A rig suitable for a sailboard having a half height pivot S with a joint on its leading edge with pivot T which is controlled on all aspects of sail by the sailboard user. To aid stability, small floats W can be inccrp crated on the outer tips of the sail. Drawings 7/10 and 9/10 relate to this method.

Method 4. A rig suitable for large commercial vessels, being auxillary power to their main engines. Drawing 8/10 shows one method cf safely stowing the sail when not being utilized by folding and lowering it onto a nesting cradle, but there are other methods not illustrated.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. No dimensions are to sny psSticular scale nor aerofoils to any particular formula.

DRA5WING t/10 - Starboard tack close hauled - shows running rigging and control lines.

A being wire control for the setting of angle of incident of the sail to the wind.

3 being guys port and starboard allowing maximum invert angle of the sail.

They can be used in jibe since toppling control works in all aspscts of sail except when the wind crosses the stern.

C being vane toppling control (shown in detail on Drawing 10/10) D being kicking strap to prevent the vane achieving more than vertical angle in running condition.

E being counterweight. It is important that the centre of effort and centre of gravity are adjusted to come near the centre of the through section pivot N as this rig depends on its balance of gravity and wind force to reduce stress.

DRAWING 2/10 - Starboard tack close hauled - shows standing rigging and a Cross Section illustration (1) of A frames.

F being diamond support wire on windward surface of sail.

G being shroud wires.

DSST7ING 3/10 - f7ind dead ahead - relating to running rigging as on Drawing 1/1G, but showing only the diamond support wire F as shown on Drawing 2/10.

DRAWING 4/10 - represents the angles of sail with all aspects of the wind.

1. being close hauled port 2. being wind dead ahead 3. being close hauled starboard 4. being broad reach port 5 beir.g wind dead astern 6. being braod reach starboard.

DRAWING 5/10 - being an asymetric drawing illustrating Method 1 'shown on Drawings 1/10, 2/10, 3/10, and 4/10 with the wind direction indicated with a broad arrow. All rigging and control wires are omitted and pivots simplified fo the sake of clarity.

DRAWING 6/10 - being an asymetric drawing illustrating Method 2 shown on Drawings 1/10, 2/10 and 3/10. It differs slightly in some aspects of application but this is~not shown. All rigging and control wires are omitted and pivots simplified for the sake of clarity.

DRAWING 7/10 - being an asymetric drawing relating to a sailboard. Details of all working gear are shown on Drawing 9/10.

DRAWING 8/10 - relates to a rig that can be used on a much larger commercial craft not with wind vane controls but with wind sensors operating hydraulics and a capacity to lower itself to deck level and fold its sail in something like the aircraft used on aircraft carriers, presenting a neutral safe stowed situation when not employed in their fuel saving capacity.

DRZfiING 9/10 - An asymetric drawing showing working gear of the sailboard.

R Fixed mast 3 180 degree pivot T Pivot allowing angle of attack to the wind U Sail V Hand control frame W light floats round and free to rotate which may be used by the sailboarder to aid stability on getting underway and will remain on the sail to no disadvantage once the sail is drawing and clear of the water.

X A pivot is also prcovided at the base of the mast to move centre of effort fore and aft to facilitate steering.

DRAINING 10/10 Details of Cross Section 1 ( A Frame) and of toppling vane 0 being control vane P being pivot Q being leverage on control line C

Claims (5)

1. CLAIMS 1. A rig for a wind propelled vessel, the rig comprising a wing sail having a rigid asymetric section, and a half height mast, wherein the sail is connected to the half height mast at a point midway between the ends of the sail by means of a pivot which allows the sail to turn through 180 degrees about a horizontal axis, and a second pivot in a through section which allows the sail to adjust to the angle of wind direction at all points of sail. This is achieved by a support carrying a vane set at 15 degrees and a further contrcllable trim tab which will increase or decrease the angels of attack to the wind direction.
2. 2. A ri as claimed in Claim 1 save that it does not have a second pivot in a through section but has a rotating mast which allows the sail to adjust to the angle of wind direction at all points of sail.
3. 3. An invert able foil sail which is a sail that can present the flat side of its section to the windward side and the curved side of its section to the leeward side by means of inverting itself on a half height ppivot. It achieves the angle of attack to the wind direction by rotating itself on a through section pivot.
4. 4. An invertable foil sail which is a sail that can present the flat side of its section to the windward side and the curved side of its section to the leeward side by means of inverting itself on a half height pivot but which has a fixed angle of attack to the wind direction and seeks the wind by rotating the mast.
5. 5. An invertable foil sail being suitable for a sailboard having a pivot at its mastbead connecting the sail at half span at its leading edge with a further pivot at 90 degrees to control the angle of attack to the wind direction which is controlled on all aspects of sail by the sailboard user standing on the board in the usual way. To aid stability small floats can be incorporated on the outer tips of the foil.