HK1107315B - Water craft comprising a kite-type element - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a watercraft with a dragon-like element connected to the watercraft by a draw rope.

In the case of a known watercraft (WO 01/192102 A1), the dragon element may be provided to be connected to the watercraft by several draw ropes. The dragon element is used for propulsion by wind, which may be provided solely by wind, or the wind drive is used only to support the engine propulsion in order to save fuel or increase speed. The multiple draw ropes allow the dragon element to be controlled. However, several draw ropes have the disadvantage of having to be individually unwound or wrapped in order to catch or set the draw ropes. Several draw ropes may also become entangled.

The disadvantage is that the dragon-shaped element cannot be controlled easily.

The purpose of the invention is to create a watercraft with a kite-like element of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the kite-like element can be controlled specifically.

The document GB2098952, which is considered to be the next state of the art, reveals a kite-sailing system whereby energy is passed along wires. The energy-transmitting wires are free of drawstring and can therefore be damaged by each other and also against the drawstring. This document reveals the features of the preamble to claim 1.

The solution of the invention is to equip the kite-like element with adjustment devices, which are supplied by the watercraft with energy transmitted in or on the draw rope.

The controls are therefore provided for the modification or effect of the shape of the sails of the dragon-like element, the angle of adjustment, the opening flaps, the reef operations and the like. The control can be carried out automatically by the sensors provided for the dragon-like element or, which is particularly advantageous, by radio from the ship. It does not present any problems to send the signals to the dragon-like element.

The draw rope is attached to a watercraft and the energy transmission element's dragon-like connecting element.

The energy transmission element can be an electrical cable. The electrical cable can be a coal fiber cable. The entire cable may be made of coal fibers. In such a cable, the rope lines are parallel to each other and are held together only by a coat. Here, for example, an electrical split of the ropes can be made so that one half of the ropes is insulated against the other half, so that the coal fiber cable can be used to conduct electric current back and forth and no additional conductor is provided.

If the electrical cable is designed to be a drawstring, it may be fitted with appropriate reinforcement ropes or wires to provide sufficient tensile strength.

The electrical cable can also be used to transmit control signals from the watercraft to the dragon element, but this transmission could also be done by radio, for example.

In another advantageous embodiment, the energy transferring element is a tube, through which a fluid can be transferred to the dragon-like element, which then acts on the corresponding actuating element.

The energy transmitting element is a light conductor, in particular a glass fibre, in another advantageous embodiment, through which light can be transmitted and converted into a dragon-like element into electrical energy by suitable converters.

If the power transmission element and the drawbar are combined into a single element, the result is less aerodynamic resistance; the handling on the winch is easier than if several separate longitudinal elements have to be tightened or unwound; and the weight of the drawbar/power transmission element is also reduced.

The disadvantage is that the energy transfer element and the rope must be approximately equal in elongation, over the operating temperature range.

If it is not possible to select the energy transmission element so that it has exactly the same tensile strength as the draw rope, the energy transmission element must be slidingly placed against the draw rope. This can be done by a sliding layer if the energy transmission element is placed in the draw rope. At approximately the same tensile strength, draw rope and energy transmission element can be glued together.

If a hose is used, it is advisable to keep the hose under pressure, since the inner pressure of the hose will prevent it from bending or pinching.

In another embodiment, the energy transfer element and the draw rope are separated but connected to each other, conveniently by brackets. The advantage is that the energy transfer element and the draw rope can have different tensile strengths if the energy transfer element can move relative to the draw rope. If equal tensile strength does not have to be taken into account, better material optimization is possible. Maintenance is also better to perform. The disadvantage is that the aerodynamics deteriorate, handling on the winch becomes more difficult and the weight may become higher.

Alternatively to the aforementioned fixing with clamps, where the clamps are conveniently secured against slipping on the drawbar, it is possible to fix them, for example, by splicing, adhesive tape between the drawbar and the energy transmission element, banderoles, a fixed clip or a cover (abrasion-resistant casing).

If the draw rope and the energy transfer unit are separate elements, it is important that the two elements can move against each other within certain limits.

When using a draw rope and separate energy transfer unit, the drain head shall be fitted so that it has two different radii so that the draw rope and energy transfer unit can be rolled up in parallel on the same drain head.

The entire system must be optimized for maximum fracture/working load, minimum stretch, minimum air resistance, minimum mass and maximum energy transfer performance.

It is understood that the energy transmission element for energy transmission shall be connected to the watercraft and the kite element with appropriate transition elements.

If a hose is used, compressed air, especially dried and/or heated compressed air, is particularly advantageous as an energy transfer fluid, as otherwise moisture could freeze in the hose, which would not only increase the weight of the draw rope but also pose the risk of the hose becoming congested and no more compressed air can be transferred.

Another advantageous embodiment is that it does not use compressed air as the energy transfer fluid, but a combustible gas, especially hydrogen or methane. A fuel is then available in the dragon-like element, which can also be used to drive a propulsion system. Methane could be used in the dragon-like element or a gondola attached to it to power a fuel cell or a combustion engine.

Where appropriate, a winch shall be provided for the drawbar and/or energy transmission element on the watercraft, fitted with a guide plate or guide plate in front of the spill head to align the drawbar and/or energy transmission element.

It is appropriate to provide two, three or more discharge heads with a rope storage device, which ensures that the draw rope or the rope/energy transmission unit assembly does not rub against the discharge head wall.

For safety reasons (e.g. in case of gear breakage, etc.), each spillhead may have its own emergency brake, which may be fitted as a belt brake. For normal braking, an adjustable disc brake may be provided. Behind the spillheads, a rope storage unit may be fitted, which is fitted as a drum. This is also driven and brake.

In the case of a drawbar and energy transmission element placed side by side, a two-way head profile shall be used as appropriate to accommodate the drawbar and energy transmission element in separate grooves adapted to their cross-section.

The above-mentioned appropriate embodiments of a winch with a guide and a guide plate, with two, three or more spillage heads with a rope storage, with the emergency brake for each spillage head and a two-way spillage head profile are particularly advantageous in the above-mentioned case where the draw rope also has or is connected to an energy transmission element. These particular advantages of the winch also exist in cases where only one draw rope is provided without energy transmission. The protection of this application is intended to cover explicitly also cases where the winch is stated as being trained but only a train without energy transmission element is therefore intended.

The energy supply of the kite element can not only be used for adjustment, but can also be used to transmit electrical energy or generate electrical energy from the other energy supply in the kite element to provide operating voltage to the control, sensors, etc. For the storage of electrical energy, a battery is conveniently provided in the kite element or the gondola.

In particular (but not exclusively) where an electrical cable is used as an energy transmission element, there is a risk of lightning strike or overvoltage due to electrostatic effects. Therefore, if appropriate, lightning protection and/or protection against electrostatic charge or discharge shall be provided. Lightning protection and/or protection against electrostatic charge or discharge shall also be provided, but not limited to the provision of an energy transmission element. The protection of the use case shall expressly cover the provision of such lightning protection and/or protection against electrostatic charge or discharge in a case where a power transmission element is used without a train cable.

The invention is described below by means of advantageous embodiments, for example by reference to the accompanying drawings, which show in a schematic representation: Fig. 1-3 Cross-sections of three different draw ropes with integrated energy transfer element;Fig. 4a winch with two spill heads;Fig. 5-6profiles of different spill heads;Fig. 7a ropeway with three spill heads and a rope storage;Fig. 8-10flanch with whirls with which draw rope/energy transfer element is attached to the dragon element;Fig. 11a schematic representation of the watercraft and the dragon element;Fig. 12a detailed representation of the surge protection A in the gondola; andFig. 13a detailed representation of the surge protection B on the watercraft.

Figure 1 shows a drawstring 1 (or its attached fibre structure) in which a power transmission element 2 is centrally arranged, bounded by a layer 3 against the main part 1 of the drawstring. The power transmission element 2 may be a hose, wherein the element 3 is the hose wall.

In the embodiments shown in Figures 2 and 3, the main section 1 of the drawbar and the energy transmission element 2 are surrounded by common covers 4.

Fig. 4 shows a winch with two spill heads 5, 6 connected by a gear 7 The spill head 5 is connected to an engine 8 and the spill head 6 is connected to a brake 9 Both spill heads 5, 6 have also emergency brakes 10, especially in the form of a belt brake 11 is the power supply.

The drainage head 12 of Figure 5 has a retractable profile for the reception of the drawbar rope/energy transmission element, which is integrated.

Figure 7 shows an arrangement with three drain heads 14, 15, 16 and a rope storage 17, which can be used to wrap and unwrap draw rope 1 and power transmission element 2.

In Figures 8 to 10, vortices 18 are shown to indicate various ways of connecting draw rope 1 and power transmission element 2 to the dragon-like element not shown in the figures.

Fig. 11 shows a watercraft 21 with a winch 5 holding a draw rope 1 which is connected to the control gondola 22 of a dragon-like element 23 by means of this control gondola 22 which allows the control gondola 24 of the dragon-like element 23 to be adapted to wind and manoeuvring conditions. In circle 25 an enlarged representation of the control gondola 1 with the two veins of an electrical cable (2) is shown. The control gondola 22 is connected to the rope insulators 26 to provide lightning protection and protection against electrostatic discharge.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 246 (char 245)

The B circuit is located in the watercraft. 31 is the supply line from the ship's generator, 32 is a fuse in the supply circuit of the cable walls, 5. 33 is a fuse for overvoltage protection, 34. 35 is the grounding, i.e. the hull or water, and 36 is the supply line to the winch 5.

Claims (14)

1. Watercraft with the kite-like element which is connected with the watercraft by a hawser (1) and which is provided with adjusting devices, which from the watercraft (21) are supplied with energy which is transmitted in or at the hawser (1), whereby at the hawser (1) an energy transmitting element (2) is fastened which connects the watercraft (21) and the kite-like element (23), characterized in that the energy transmitting element (2) is arranged in a cavity extending along the length of the hawser (1).
2. Watercraft according to claim 1, characterized in that the hawser is formed as a energy transmitting element (2) with tensile strength which connects the watercraft (21) and the kite-like element (23).
3. Watercraft according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy transmitting element (2) is an electrical cable, particularly a carbon fiber cable.
4. Watercraft according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy transmitting element (2) is a hose.
5. Watercraft according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the energy transmitting element (2) is a light guide, particularly a glass fiber.
6. Watercraft according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy transmitting element (2) arranged in sliding and displaceable manner in the cavity.
7. Watercraft according to claim 1, characterized in that the energy transmitting element (2) is glued to the hawser (1).
8. Watercraft according to claim 4, characterized in that compressed air, particularly dried and/or heated compressed air is supplied to the kite-like element (23).
9. Watercraft according to claim 4, characterized in that a combustible gas, particularly hydrogen or methane is supplied to the kite-like element.
10. Watercraft according to claim 3, characterized in that the cable is also used for transmitting signals.
11. Watercraft according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a winch (5, 6, 12-16) for the hawser (1) and/or the energy transmitting element (2), which is provided with a guiding surface or a guiding sheet in front of the capstan head for aligning the hawser (1) and/or the energy transmitting element (2).
12. Watercraft according to claim 11, characterized in that a plurality of capstan heads (14-16) with a rope storage device (17) are provided.
13. Watercraft according to claim 12, characterized in that each capstan head (5, 6) is provided with its own emergency brake (10).
14. Watercraft according to any of claims 1-13, characterized in that it is provided with a lightning protection and/or with a safeguard against electrostatic charging or discharging, respectively.