Watercraft Having a Kite-Like Element

Abstract

The invention relates to a water craft comprising a kite-type element, which is connected to the water craft by means of a traction cable. Said water craft is characterized in that the kite-type element is equipped with adjusting devices and an energy generation unit, which delivers energy when the tractive force that is exerted on the traction cable is modified.

1 . A watercraft having a kite-like element, which is connected to the watercraft by a hawser, characterized in that the kite-like element is provided with adjusting devices and with a power generating device, which emits power when there is a change in the tensile force exerted on the hawser.  
     
     
         2 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the power generating device has a piston/cylinder unit with a spring-loaded piston, with the cylinder being connected to the hawser and with the piston being connected to the kite-like element, or with the cylinder being connected to the kite-like element and the piston being connected to the hawser, and with the cylinder being connected to a pressurized-fluid reservoir via a non-return valve.  
     
     
         3 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the two cylinder volumes which are separated by the piston are connected, in each case via a non-return valve to the pressurized-fluid reservoir.  
     
     
         4 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the power generating device has a structure like a sack with an airtight envelope, which is connected at one end to the hawser and at the other end to the kite-like element, is widened by elastic spreading elements drawn apart from one another when a tensile force occurs, reducing the volume, and is connected via a non-return valve to the pressurized-fluid reservoir.  
     
     
         5 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the power generating device has a linear generator with a spring-loaded moving part, with the stator being connected to the hawser and the moving part being connected to the kite-like element, or with the stator being connected to the kite-like element and the moving part being connected to the hawser.  
     
     
         6 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the power generating device has a spring-loaded toothed rod which is arranged such that it can move in a component and drives a generator via a pinion which is mounted on the component, and the component is connected to the hawser and the toothed rod is connected to the kite-like element, or the component is connected to the kite-like element and the toothed rod is connected to the hawser.  
     
     
         7 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the power generating device has a piezo-element.  
     
     
         8 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the pressurized-fluid reservoir is connected to a generator in order to generate electrical power.  
     
     
         9 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that air is used as the fluid.  
     
     
         10 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a plurality of power generating devices are provided, and are arranged in parallel or in series.  
     
     
         11 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that a plurality of spring elements are provided for spring loading.  
     
     
         12 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the spring force is variable.  
     
     
         13 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the spring is a compressed-air spring.  
     
     
         14 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that, instead of the spring or in addition to the spring, a portion of the fluid in the pressurized-fluid reservoir is used to reset the power generating device.  
     
     
         15 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the fluid is hydraulic fluid.  
     
     
         16 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that the pressurized-fluid reservoir has an air cushion for the hydraulic fluid.  
     
     
         17 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 16 , characterized in that the hydraulic fluid is taken from the pressurized-fluid reservoir with the aid of a flexible hose, whose end is made heavier by a weight.  
     
     
         18 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 16 , characterized in that the hydraulic fluid and the air cushion are separated from one another by a membrane.  
     
     
         19 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that a winch is provided on the watercraft and can be used to vary the tensile force on the hawser by hauling in or paying out the hawser.  
     
     
         20 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the tension on the hawser can be varied by a hydraulic stamp.  
     
     
         21 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the winch can be moved backwards and forwards, and in particular is arranged on a carriage.  
     
     
         22 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the kite-like element has a rechargeable battery for storage of electrical energy.  
     
     
         23 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the power generating device has a spring which is designed to store energy.  
     
     
         24 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 23 , characterized in that the spring is a helical spring which stores energy by compression or stretching.  
     
     
         25 . The watercraft as claimed in  claim 23 , characterized in that the spring is a spiral spring, one of whose ends interacts with an essentially cylindrical housing wall and whose other end is connected to a center shaft of the housing.