Wind-propelled watercraft

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind-propelled watercraft by means of which in contrast to the conventional solutions the wind forces can be better utilized for the propulsion, and the turning moments about the longitudinal axis acting on the body of the watercraft and the hull, respectively can be reduced. With this, a sheet element is held with at least one stay rope in close proximity to the body of the watercraft, and the one or else a plurality of stay ropes are attached to at least three points of the sheet element spaced to one another. In addition, the point of application of force of the one or else a plurality of stay ropes on the body of the watercraft can be varied depending on the wind direction and direction of motion.

1 . A wind-propelled watercraft having a sheet element which is held with at least one stay rope in close proximity to the body of the watercraft, and said stay rope(s) is (are) attached to at least three points spaced apart from each other on said sheet element ( 1 ), 
 characterized in that the point ( 4 ) of application of force of the stay rope(s) on the body ( 3 ) of the watercraft is variable depending on the wind direction and motion.    
     
     
         2 . A watercraft according to  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that said sheet element ( 1 ) is made of a flexible material.    
     
     
         3 . A watercraft according to claims  1  or  2 , 
 characterized in that on said sheet element at least one compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) is formed and/or attached thereto.  
 
     
     
         4 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , 
 characterized in that said compressed gas containing chamber(s) ( 7 ) is/are charged with compressed gas having a density which is lower than air.  
 
     
     
         5 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , 
 characterized in that on the compressed gas containing chamber(s) ( 7 ) there are apertures for charging using the dynamic pressure of wind.  
 
     
     
         6 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , 
 characterized in that said stay rope(s) ( 2 ) is/are held with an element ( 5 ) for varying the length of said stay rope(s) ( 2 ) between said sheet element ( 1 ) and said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft on said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.  
 
     
     
         7 . A watercraft according to  claim 6 , 
 characterized in that said each stay rope ( 2 ) is individually held on said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft with said element ( 5 ) for varying its length.    
     
     
         8 . A watercraft according to  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that said point ( 4 ) of application of force is variable along a guide ( 8 ,  9 ) attached to said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.    
     
     
         9 . A watercraft according to  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that said point ( 4 ) of application of force is excentrically disposed on a rotary table ( 11 ) attached to said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.    
     
     
         10 . A watercraft according to  claim 1 , 
 characterized in that said point ( 4 ) of application of force is disposed on a pivotable jib boom ( 10 ) attached to said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.    
     
     
         11 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  10 , 
 characterized in that said point ( 4 ) of application of force is variable with respect to the lateral straining point of said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.  
 
     
     
         12 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , 
 characterized in that said point ( 4 ) of application of force is variable in parallel and/or orthogonally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the watercraft.  
 
     
     
         13 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  12 , 
 characterized in that the length of each said stay rope ( 2 ) is individually variable.  
 
     
     
         14 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  13 , 
 characterized in that each said stay rope ( 2 ) is wound up on a separate pulley ( 5 ).  
 
     
     
         15 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  14 , 
 characterized in that said stay ropes ( 2 ) are guided over at least one deflection pulley ( 6 ).  
 
     
     
         16 . A watercraft according to  claim 15 , characterized in that said deflection pulley(s) ( 6 ) is (are) movable.  
     
     
         17 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  16 , 
 characterized in that said three stay ropes ( 2 ) are held on the body ( 3 ) of the watercraft and attached to said sheet element ( 1 ) at three points spanning a triangle.  
 
     
     
         18 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  16 , 
 characterized in that said four stay ropes ( 2 ) are held on said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft and attached to said sheet element ( 1 ) at four points spanning a rectangle.  
 
     
     
         19 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  18 , 
 characterized in that said compressed gas containing chamber(s)( 7 ) is (are) formed at the edge of said sheet element ( 1 ).  
 
     
     
         20 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  19 , 
 characterized in that the lifting force of said compressed gas containing chamber(s) ( 7 ) is greater than or equal to the weight of the sheet element ( 1 ).  
 
     
     
         21 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  20 , 
 characterized in that at least one hydrodynamically effective element ( 31 ) is arranged on said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.  
 
     
     
         22 . A watercraft according to  claim 21 , 
 characterized in that said element(s) ( 3 ) is (are) pivotable about an axis.    
     
     
         23 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  22 , 
 characterized in that the pivoting angle of said element(s) ( 31 ) is adjustable depending on the velocity of the watercraft and/or the tensile force of said sheet element ( 1 ).  
 
     
     
         24 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  23 , 
 characterized in that on said sheet element ( 1 ) at least one aerodynamically effectively pivotable element ( 32 ) is present.  
 
     
     
         25 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  24 , 
 characterized in that a leeboard attached to said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft is rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis.  
 
     
     
         26 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  25 , 
 characterized in that at least one sensor string guided toward said body ( 3 ) of watercraft is attached to said sheet element ( 1 ).  
 
     
     
         27 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  26 , 
 characterized in that elements protecting from overload are present on said stay rope(s) ( 2 ).  
 
     
     
         28 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  27 , 
 characterized in that wind stall elements are present at the outer edges of said sheet element ( 1 ).  
 
     
     
         29 . A watercraft according to any one of  claims 1  to  28 , 
 characterized in that stay rope sling elements ( 35 ) are present on said body ( 3 ) of the watercraft.  
 
     
     
         30 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 1  to  29 , characterized in that at least said one compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) can be connected to at least one compressed gas accumulator ( 104 ) by means of one first conduit ( 111 ) and one valve ( 102 ), and said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) can be charged from said gas accumulator ( 104 ).  
     
     
         31 . A wind propulsion according to  claim 30 , 
 characterized in that a second conduit ( 103 ) which can be connected to said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) or which is connected to said first conduit ( 111 ) is present for the recirculation of gas from said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) into at least said one or a second compressed gas accumulator ( 104 ,  114 ).    
     
     
         32 . A wind propulsion according to claims  30  or  31 , 
 characterized in that at least said first conduit ( 111 ) is regionally formed in a flexible manner.  
 
     
     
         33 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 30  to  32 , 
 characterized in that a compressor ( 107 ) is provided in an in-line arrangement with said second conduit ( 103 ).  
 
     
     
         34 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 20  to  33 , 
 characterized in that in said first compressed gas accumulator ( 104 ) a pressure of said compressed gas, which is greater than or equal to the internal pressure in said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ), is met.  
 
     
     
         35 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 30  to  34 , 
 characterized in that the induction side of said compressor ( 107 ) is mounted to said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ), and the delivery side thereof is mounted to said compressed gas accumulator ( 104 ,  114 ) in said second conduit ( 103 ).  
 
     
     
         36 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 30  to  35 , 
 characterized in that said second conduit ( 103 ) with said compressor ( 107 ) is connected to said first conduit ( 111 ) in the form of a by-pass around said valve ( 102 ).  
 
     
     
         37 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 30  to  35 , 
 characterized in that said first conduit ( 111 ) is guided around said compressor ( 107 ) as a by-pass, and a two-way valve is arranged in said first conduit ( 111 ).  
 
     
     
         38 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 30  to  37 , 
 characterized in that said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) and said compressed gas accumulator ( 104 ) are charged with a gas which has a density lower than gas.  
 
     
     
         39 . A wind propulsion according to any one of  claims 30  to  38 , 
 characterized in that at least said one compressed gas accumulator ( 104 ,  114 ) can be attached to the watercraft.  
 
     
     
         40 . A water craft according to any one of  claims 30  to  38 , 
 characterized in that on said compressed gas containing chamber ( 7 ) at least one lockable connecting branch ( 108 ) is present for said first conduit ( 111 ).