United States Patent
US Patent 8215588: Steering unit for free flying, confined wing…
US 8215588 · granted 2012-07-10
Abstract
The invention relates to a steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising a first fixed attachment means for securing a first end of a tractive cable the second end of which is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred, a second attachment means for attaching a number of tractive lines, the second end of which being secured to an aerodynamic wing element, a mechanical support frame connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means for transferring a tractive force. The invention aims at providing such a steering unit with improved design for better maneuverability and stability. According to the invention the second attachment means of the improved steering unit comprise at least one upper fixed attachment point, a left moveable attachment point, a right moveable attachment point, and steering actuator means for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point.
| Patent Number | 8215588 |
|---|---|
| Title | Steering unit for free flying, confined wing element |
| Filed | 2006-09-14 |
| Granted | 2012-07-10 |
| Inventor(s) | Wrage; Stephan, Brabeck; Stephan |
| Assignee | SkySails GmbH & Co. KG |
| CPC Classification | B64C 31/06 |
| Number of Claims | 34 |
Abstract
The invention relates to a steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising a first fixed attachment means for securing a first end of a tractive cable the second end of which is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred, a second attachment means for attaching a number of tractive lines, the second end of which being secured to an aerodynamic wing element, a mechanical support frame connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means for transferring a tractive force. The invention aims at providing such a steering unit with improved design for better maneuverability and stability. According to the invention the second attachment means of the improved steering unit comprise at least one upper fixed attachment point, a left moveable attachment point, a right moveable attachment point, and steering actuator means for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point.
Claim 1
Steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising: a first fixed attachment means (35) configured to secure a first end of a tractive cable(43), wherein a second end of the tractive cable is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred; a second attachment means (31a, b, 36a, b, 33, 34) configured to attach a number of tractive lines (40a, b, 41a, b), asecond end of each of the tractive lines being secured to an aerodynamic wing element (11a, 12a, 21); and a mechanical support frame (100, 110) connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means for transferring a tractive force,characterized in that the second attachment means comprise at least one upper fixed attachment point (31a, b), a left moveable attachment point (36a), a right moveable attachment point (36b), and steering actuator means (33, 34, 120, 130, 140a-c)configured to vary the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point.
Claims
34 totalSteering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising: a first fixed attachment means (35) configured to secure a first end of a tractive cable(43), wherein a second end of the tractive cable is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred; a second attachment means (31a, b, 36a, b, 33, 34) configured to attach a number of tractive lines (40a, b, 41a, b), asecond end of each of the tractive lines being secured to an aerodynamic wing element (11a, 12a, 21); and a mechanical support frame (100, 110) connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means for transferring a tractive force,characterized in that the second attachment means comprise at least one upper fixed attachment point (31a, b), a left moveable attachment point (36a), a right moveable attachment point (36b), and steering actuator means (33, 34, 120, 130, 140a-c)configured to vary the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point.