Abstract:
A square rig for ships comprises at least one mast (2), supporting several yardarms (18, 20), arranged one above the other for the sails (8), whereby the lowest yardarm is fixed to the mast and at least one device for setting and taking in the sails (8). Each sail (8) is arranged with the lateral ends of the lower leech (19) thereof attached to the yardarm (20) fixed to the mast as a passive yardarm and with the upper leech (17) thereof fixed to an active yardarm (18) which may be displace vertically on the mast (2). The gear embodied as lifting and lowering gear acts separately on each of the active yardarms (18) in the vertical direction.
Abstract:
A method of an extruded membrane (105) of solidified flowable material having a desired curvature comprising extruding flowable material through a die in a curved section; measuring a characteristic of said extruded material at a plurality of positions along said die slot and generating a plurality of measurements against a desired plurality of measurements respectively at each said position along said die slot and generating a plurality of signals respectively in response thereto; effecting a change in said measured characteristics of said extruded material at said positions along said die slot in response to said signals so at to produce said extruded material having a desired curvature.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a device for propelling a water craft, comprising means for capturing wind energy, the water craft being provided with support means in the water. The wind energy capturing means comprises a canopy (9) capable of pivoting at least along an axis horizontal relative to the craft and linking means (8) provided with at least a rigid spar (28) between the canopy and the engine.
Abstract:
The device according to invention serves to the lurch-free wind drive, particularly in the sports, recreational and touristic yachts, in the water craft for the transportation of passengers and goods, and in the cradles with special skids equipped in the lateral resistance plane. The device includes the extension arm (2) rotationally connected with the main hull and resting by means of a transverse spar (4) on auxiliary hulls (5 and 5') as well as on the driving surface (1) placed in it. This surface is inclined to such degree that the force of wind passed at the height of the lateral resistance of the main hull without provoking a heeling moment. The device can be safely used even for very large driving surfaces. The attainment of high speeds is additionally facilitated by the action of the driving force unloading the main hull. A very efficient steering of the main hull is designed by changes of the auxiliary hulls' situation as well as of the bow rudders' situation placed on them.
Abstract:
A wind powered air/water interface craft disposed in a mechanically simple configuration(s) with means for trimming and/or adjusting the area of the various air and water foil elements either independently or together or both. All of its structural elements are useful as lifting or-driving surfaces or buoyant elements thereby minimizing parasitic drag and conflicting forces. In some configurations, free flight is also possible for brief periods of time or for longer periods in conditions where dynamic soaring is possible. The rig is able to develop vertical lift before necessarily having forward motion. Although similar in some configurations to a windsurfer, its operation is not dependent on the strength of the human operator, so that it has the capacity for power and payload greater than the strength and weight of the operator. The triangle rig configuration of the invention may develop vertical lift, but may in some instances use vertical lift only to enhance dynamic stability of a displacement craft. A wide beam single hull ship uses triangle rig sails to augment the ship's engines.
Abstract:
An apparatus for fabricating a unique non-woven fabric which has the appearance of a woven fabric includes a supply station for adhesive coated parallel warp yarns, a support structure for orienting the parallel warp yarns into a cylindrical orientation with the adhesive coating on the outside, a weft yarn applicator for wrapping weft yarns around the cylindrically oriented warp yarns, a heating station for activating the adhesive and a cooling station for setting the adhesive, and a cutter for severing the cylindrically formed fabric composite so that it can be flattened and wrapped onto a take-up roller. The weft yarn applicator includes a rotating drum wherein a plurality of spools of weft yarn material are mounted in circumferentially spaced relationship. Tension on the weft yarns is provided by the rotation of the drum (centrifugal force) and a stationary conical aligner is used to guide the weft yarn material onto the warp yarns in substantially perpendicular alignment.
Abstract:
A sail body (3), which can be finished along its edges and corners to create a finished sail (2), includes a number of sail sections (46) joined along their edges. Each sail section includes a reinforced material laminated between first and second films. The reinforced material includes sectors of reinforced material, each sector having a set of generally parallel reinforcement elements, such as fibers. The sectors of reinforced material are preferably elongate sectors in which at least the majority of the sectors have lengths at least five times as long their widths. The sectors are arranged in an overlapping pattern and so that the set of reinforcement elements are generally aligned with the expected load lines (28) for that section of the sail body. Sections can be made of different shapes but are typically triangular or quadrilateral. The reinforce material is typically a mesh or scrim containing sets of parallel, transversely oriented fibers. The mesh or scrim can either be woven or unwoven.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a sailing vessel comprising a hull (1), two outriggers (2), one on either side of the hull, a rudder (5), and rigging (4) supporting at least one sail (40). It is characteristic of the invention that it further comprises wings (3) secured to the outriggers (2) and arranged to be located below the surface of the water during sailing, the leeward wing arranged, as the vessel moves through water, to exert an upwards directed force and the windward wing arranged to exert a downwards directed force to counteract the rotational force from the sails.
Abstract:
A sailing craft includes a single hydrofoil assembly (3), an aerofoil assembly (7), and a hull (5) with a rigid beam (8) interconntecting the hydrofoil assembly (3), the aerofoil assembly (7) and the hull (5) wherein the hull (5) is separate and displaced from the hydrofoil assembly (3) and is, in use, supported above the water by the rigid beam (8). Preferably, the hydrofoil assembly (3), the aerofoil assembly (7) and the hull (5) are interconnected such that the hydrofoil assembly (3) and aerofoil assembly (7) are disposed at opposite ends of the rigid beam (8) and the hull (5) is connected to the beam (8) at a position therebetween.
Abstract:
The invention provides various improved sailboats and methods for their use. In one embodiment, a sailboat (44) comprises a hull and a deck (12) that is operably attached to the hull. A mast (26) is generally aligned with the longitudinal axis (18), and a luff cable (52) is coupled to the mast (26) and the deck (12). The luff cable (52) is movable relative to the longitudinal axis (18). Further, a foresail (110) is coupled to the luff cable (52) such that at least a portion of the foresail (110) is movable relative to the longitudinal axis (18) upon movement of the luff cable (52).