Aerodynamic wind propulsion device having active and passive steering lines and method for controlling of such a device

US8607722B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SkySails GmbH & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Stephan Wrage · Hamburg, DE
• Bernd Specht · Hanstedt, DE
• Stefan Wortmann · Plettenberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 19, 2007
• Grant date: Dec 17, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 31, 2028

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B63H9/072
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An aerodynamic wind propulsion device is provided, particularly for watercraft, in form of an aerodynamic wing connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, at least one pair of two active steering lines being connected to the aerodynamic wing at two points in distance and being coupled to a drive unit at the steering unit, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected at the steering unit to at least two of the tractive lines and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force, and two passive steering lines are connected to each other to form a continuous passive steering line section passing through the steering unit in order to passively follow a deformation of the aerodynamic wing.