Watercraft comprising a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element as a wind-powered drive unit

US7672761B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SkySails GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Stephan Wrage · Hamburg, DE
• Stefan Müller · Wetzlar, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 19, 2005
• Grant date: Mar 2, 2010
• Expiry date: Dec 4, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T70/5236
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Disclosed is a wind-powered watercraft in which a free-flying kite-type wind-attacked element that is provided with a profiled wing and is used as the exclusive, an auxiliary, or an emergency drive unit is connected to the vessel only via one traction rope, said traction rope optionally fanning out into a number of holding ropes. The wind-attacked element can be modified via at least one active drive element that is disposed thereupon and is effectively connected thereto by modifying the aerodynamic effect thereof in order to be guided into a given position relative to the watercraft or to dynamically maneuver.