CN114650946A

CN114650946A - Kite and wing rigging

Info

Publication number: CN114650946A
Application number: CN202080076765.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 拉尔夫·格罗塞尔
Original assignee: Portsmore Ltd
Current assignee: Portsmore Ltd
Priority date: 2019-10-31
Filing date: 2020-07-13
Publication date: 2022-06-21
Also published as: EP3917828A1; US20220363358A1; DE202020005581U1; DE202020005474U1; DE102019129493A1; WO2021083562A1

Abstract

The present invention discloses a support structure for kite or airfoil rigging, wherein at least one strut is made in sections of a different material than the head pipe/leading edge or other struts.

Description

Kite and wing rigging

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a kite and an airfoil rigging with an inflatable support structure according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Conventional kites for kite surfing or land kites are embodied as tubular kites or mats with chambers that can be filled by inflow. The great advantage of tubular kites in kite surfing is that they float to the surface when dropped and can be restarted without major problems (restart). With the above-described "mattress", the pressure chamber may be filled with water and only an experienced user can restart it.

A common configuration of tubular kites consists in that the supporting structure thereof is constituted by a head tube (hereinafter referred to as the leading edge) and struts arranged transversely to this head tubeThe pillars being made of strong and durable material

A skin surrounding an airbag made of a thin, airtight material, which is protected from damage by a relatively strong outer skin.

Such kites are disclosed, for example, in US 2006/0192055 a1 or DE 20201924U 1. DE 102016113858B 4 of the applicant proposes to integrate the strut in the supporting structure in an exchangeable manner, so that in the event of damage to the strut, for example in the event of a fall or over-inflation, a simple repair can be achieved by exchanging the strut.

Tubular kites have a different number of struts depending on the particular field of application. The breeze kite is implemented with relatively few struts to minimize weight, while the racing or free-gliding kite, which should maintain a stable profile even at higher driving speeds, is implemented with a plurality of struts. Breeze kite sold by applicant

Free-sliding kites, with only one central strut

There are five struts implemented, namely one central strut, two quarter struts and two tip struts.

Kites of different sizes are provided to be able to adapt to different wind speeds. In this case, the aim is to make the kite as light as possible, but with a sufficiently rigid supporting structure, in order to be able to efficiently convert the respective wind into propulsion or lift.

The basic structure of a profile cable of the same type is described in DE 102019101656.8.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, the object of the present invention is to propose a light kite and a light profile rigging with adequate stability.

The solution of the invention to achieve the above object consists in a kite or wing rigging having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

The kite according to the invention is designed as a tubular kite with an inflatable support structure which has a front edge (head tube) and at least one (transverse) strut fixed to the front edge and which unfolds a canopy. The wing rigging is configured in a corresponding manner. According to the invention, at least one section of the outer skin of the strut is made of a different material, preferably a lighter material, which has a lower mass per unit area than the material of the outer skin of the leading edge or of the other strut. This makes it possible to realize at least one strut with a reduced weight, thus making it possible, in particular in the case of kites with a plurality of struts, to reduce considerably the overall weight of the kite compared to conventional solutions in which the struts and the leading edge are made of the same relatively heavy material.

In this case, the term "material" preferably refers to the material used for producing the outer skin surrounding the airbag, wherein the reinforcements provided in the transition region to the leading edge or on the trailing-edge-side end of the strut and on the front region of the leading edge which is exposed to danger in the event of an undesired fall of the kite preferably do not fall under the concept of "material".

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the support structure has a plurality of struts, in which case the struts are made of materials having different masses per unit area in order to optimize the rigidity of the support structure. To improve the stability of the support structure, the central pillar may for example be made of a material having a greater mass per unit area than the outer pillars.

In a kite implemented with five struts, the central strut and the two adjacent quarter struts can be made, for example, of a relatively heavy material, while the tip strut is made of a particularly light material.

In one embodiment of the invention, the center post is made of the same material as the leading edge.

According to the invention, it is particularly preferred that the mass per unit area of the heavier material, which is used for example in the region of the leading edge and for the central strut, is greater than 120g/m2, preferably greater than 130g/m2, and the mass per unit area of the lighter material is less than 100g/m2, preferably less than 90g/m 2.

This heavier material may be commonly used

This lighter material may be the material normally used for canopies or for large trivets in sailboat sports (large trivet material).

Polyester-based fabrics or particularly light

Cloth has proven to be a particularly suitable material.

The stiffness/elasticity of the strut can be further optimized if the strut is made in sections of a heavier material, so that the strut facing the rear edge is made of a lighter material, for example, and accordingly the strut is constructed in a relatively stable/rigid manner in the connection region with the front edge, while the rear edge-side end section is embodied in a flexible manner, so that a better steering and more dynamic operation can be achieved.

In other words, the relatively hard material having a large mass per unit area forms the leading edge side portion of the strut, while the trailing edge side portion is made of a softer, flexible material.

The applicant reserves the right to direct the independent claims to a support structure in which the struts or leading edges are selected of materials with different stiffness/flexibility to form the outer skin, wherein in this case the mass per unit area can be thrown behind the brain. Of course, in this case, when choosing a suitable material, care may be taken accordingly to ensure that a lighter material also has correspondingly greater flexibility and elasticity than a material with a greater mass per unit area.

Correspondingly, the leading edge can also consist of a material mixture consisting of a lighter material and a heavier material. Thus, for example, it is conceivable for the leading edge to be made of a material having a lower mass per unit area towards the tip, while the central region of the leading edge is made of a relatively heavy, relatively hard material.

According to the invention, the strut/leading edge is made of a lighter material, so that this support structure can be designed in a more flexible manner than conventional solutions, thereby positively influencing the flight characteristics. Thus, for example, the rotation behavior of the kite is improved by a greater degree of curvature and the acceleration in high winds/maneuvers is increased on the basis of a smaller weight.

Drawings

The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The only figure is a three-dimensional front view of a kite optimized for freewheeling.

Detailed Description

The kite 1 has a support structure 2 which is formed by a front tube or edge 4 and five struts (hereinafter struts 6) transverse thereto, which struts jointly open a canopy 8. The leading edge 4 is filled by means of a valve, not shown, which is built on the leading edge 4 and also enables the filling of the strut 6 by means of a single pump system. This figure shows the use of five struts 6

And (4) modeling. In the middle region of the front edge 4 (head tube) there is a central strut 10, adjacent to which two

quarter struts

12a, 12b are arranged, and in the region of the points 15, 16 there are point struts 14a, 14b for the reinforcement of these points. As shown, the diameter of the leading edge 4 tapers towards the two tips 15, 16. The struts 6 therefore also taper from the leading edge 4 to the trailing edge 18 located behind in the direction of flow.

As mentioned above, the leading edge 4 and the outer skin of the strut 6 are made of a relatively wear-resistant material and enclose an airbag, not shown, which can be inflated by means of the valves mentioned at the outset. This airbag contributes only to the gas tightness of the support structure 2 and is accordingly designed with regard to the compressive strength. In the case of a conventional kite,both the strut 6 and the leading edge 4 are, except for the necessary reinforcements

And (4) preparing. This material is also used, for example, for the manufacture of sails. Such as

The mass per unit area of the material is generally greater than 120g/m 2.

According to the invention, the outer skin of at least one strut 6 is embodied at least partially from a material having a low mass per unit area. In this case, this "lighter" material is for example embodied in a mass per unit area of less than 100g/m2, preferably less than 90g/m 2. Recently, 2 with a mass per unit area of about 70g/m and strength/rigidity and abrasion resistance have also appeared on the market

A comparable material.

For example, providing the model number as

Such a material of (1). It is particularly preferred that the mass per unit area of the material used for the above-mentioned struts 6 is between 90g/m2 and 70g/m2, while the mass per unit area of the material of the leading edge 4 and/or of the outer skin of the other struts 6 is between 130g/m2 and 160g/m 2.

In a kite 1 with five struts 6, the central strut 10, the leading edge 4 and, optionally, the two

quarter struts

12a, 12b can be formed, for example, from a kite with a relatively large mass per unit area

Made of a lighter material, e.g. of

And (4) preparing.

In principle, the

quarter struts

12a, 12b can also be made of a material with a mass per unit area between the central strut 10 and the tip struts 14a, 14b, so that the tip region is optimized with regard to flexibility. In other words, the kite 1 uses a relatively hard, heavy material in the middle area, while the tip area is made of a light, soft, flexible material.

As shown, the leading edge side region a of the strut 6 (e.g., center strut 10) may be made of the same material as the leading edge 18. From relatively heavy, relatively hard materials

The manufactured area a may extend over 10cm to 20cm, for example. In this case, in the region marked B, a material having a smaller mass per unit area is used, so that the trailing edge side section of each strut 6 can be flexibly formed from a softer material. This makes it possible, for example, to implement the trailing edge-side part of the strut 6 with a slightly larger diameter than in conventional solutions, in order to optimize the rigidity, with a low weight.

The corresponding concepts may also be applied to the leading edge 4. Thus, the middle region M of the leading edge 4 can be made of a heavier material, for example, while the tip-side region R is made of a lighter material.

Of course, the regions shown in the figures may also be designed in a different manner. In principle, it is also possible to embody more than two regions of a strut 6 or a plurality of struts 6 with different materials. Of course, this also applies correspondingly to the leading edge 4.

The area provided with the reinforcement is indicated in the figure with reference number 22. This reinforcement 22 may, for example, also be made of a heavier material

Is made of the material. However, it is also possible in principle to form the reinforcement at least on the tip end side by folding a lighter material in half, so that sufficient protection is ensured with a lower weight.

The following additional tables list some of the materials used to form the leading edge 4 and the struts 6. The nomenclature used herein is known to those skilled in the art.

Table form

For example, with a single central pillar 10 (see, for example, the model)

) In the case of a breeze kite, this central strut can accordingly be made of a lighter material than at least part of the area of the leading edge 4. Such a light wind kite has a large area and accordingly the central strut 10 is relatively long, so that advantageously this central strut is at least partially made of a very light material (for example

Material) in which a harder, heavier material can be used in the region of connection with the leading edge 4, for example according to the table attached above

One of the materials. In this case, in the case of such a breeze kite, the trailing edge 20 may be formed entirely of

Or a mixture of the above materials.

However, the present invention is by no means limited to the use of conventional

Large triangular sail material and cloth. In principle, however, laminates, films or the like suitable for use as the outer skin of a kite may also be used.

In principle, the profile rigging can also be implemented in the manner described above.

A support structure for kite or airfoil rigging is disclosed in which at least one strut is made of a different material than the head tube/leading edge or other struts in sections.

List of reference numerals

1 Kite

2 support structure

4 leading edge

6 support

8 roof board

10 center pillar

12 quartering strut

14 tip pillar

15 tip

16 tip

18 trailing edge

22 reinforcing part

Claims

1. Kite or airfoil rigging with an inflatable support structure (2), the support structure (2) having a leading edge (4) and at least one strut (6) fixed to the leading edge (4) and the support structure (2) distracting a canopy (8), characterized in that at least one section of the outer skin of one strut (6) is made of a material different from the material of the leading edge (4) or other struts (6), preferably a lighter material with a smaller mass per unit area.

2. Kite according to claim 1, wherein the support structure (2) has a plurality of struts (6), the struts (6) being made of materials having different mass per unit area.

3. Kite according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the central strut (10) is made of a material with a greater mass per unit area than the outer struts (6).

4. Kite according to claim 3, wherein the kite is implemented with five struts (6), wherein the central strut (10) and the quarter struts (12a, 12b) are made of a heavier material than the tip struts (14a, 14 b).

5. Kite according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the central strut (10) or the quarter struts (12a, 12b) are made at least in sections of the same material as the leading edge (4).

6. Kite according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the heavier material of the outer skin has a mass per unit area of more than 120g/m2, preferably more than 130g/m2, and the lighter material has a mass per unit area of less than 100g/m2, preferably less than 90g/m 2.

7. A kite according to claim 5, wherein the heavier material is

The lighter material is a cloth/laminate material commonly used for canopies (8) or large sails.

8. Kite according to claim 7, wherein both materials are made on the basis of polyester.

9. Kite according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the struts (6) in the connection region with the leading edge (4) consist of a heavier material than the material used for the struts (6) in the region of the trailing edge (18).

10. Kite according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the leading edge (4) is made of a lighter material towards the tip (14, 16) compared to the middle area.