GB2233947A

GB2233947A - Reversible wing sail

Info

Publication number: GB2233947A
Application number: GB9012383A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Trevor Lyn Whatford
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-06-02
Filing date: 1990-06-04
Publication date: 1991-01-23
Also published as: GB9012383D0

Abstract

The gas inflated sail is of a wing design with one or more pockets capable of being inflated with gas, air or a mixture of both, it's weight or weightlessness can be controlled by regulating the mixture of gases or increasing or decreasing the number of gas pockets to the number of air pockets. The inflated pockets will help keep the aerofoil shape. The mast track is formed by a V in the front of the pocket or pockets enclosed by a layer of material around the front of the pocket or pockets, a number of moulded plastic bones fitted inside the mast track and attached to the batten pockets will keep the front shape, side battens and a rear down haul batten will keep the rest of the shape, it's shape can be adapted to suit all sailing craft and forms of sailing.

Description

Gas Inflated Sail.

This invention relates to a Gas Inflated Sail.

It is known that the wing sail can be quite heavy with its two sides and its frame work, this invention will allow a variation in weight to the point of giving lift although it is recommended that the sail is left with some weight when all removable parts have been Zemoved so it will not fly of and endanger aircraft, if the sail is used for lift strict guide lines must be used so it can not endanger aircraft.

This inventionXis of a wing design and has a pocket or pockets capable of being inflated with air, gas or both, by means.of a valve, with a mast track at the front, housing theimast and moulded plastic bones, two give the front of the sail its shape, side battens and a rear down haul batten and for sail boards a mast toboom connector.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with references to the accompanying drawing in which; Pig. 1. shows the side view of a one pocket gas inflated sail rigged for sail board.

Fig.::2. shows the front view of the sail with a section view of the V in the front of the pocket which formpart part of the mast track.

fig. 3. shows the batten arrangements for the sail in fig 1 Fig. 4. shows the pocket in a one pocket sail with a piece set back for a mast to boom connector, for the sailboard application.

Fig. 5. show the front view of the pocket in one pocket sail, for sail board application.

Fig. 6. show the six pockets of the six pocket sailt also for sailboard application.

Referring to the drawing in which: A = a pocket capable of being inflated with gas or air or a mixture of-both.

3 = the mast traCk, formed by t,he V shape in the front of ( A ) and enclosed with material.

C = batten pocKets.

D = a slit in the side of thevlmast track to allow the mast to boom connector to be fitted or removed or adjusted in height, for the sailboard application.

E = a boom alsa for the sailboard application.

P= a valve for inflating and deflating.

G = a mast.

H = the mast to boom connector for the sailboard application.

I = the moulded plastic bones attached to the mast tract and the batten pocket, they have a hole for the mast to slide through and keep the shape of the sails front.

J = side battens K = the rear down haul batten.

The one pocket sail is ideal for where the sail does not have to b deflated for long periods of time but the multipocket sail is ideal for transporting, Dy inflating every other pocket with gas ( if necessary ) and the rest with air, then only deflat the air pockets remove the mast and rear batten and folding the gas pockets along the deflated pockets this means it cansbe transported without deflating the gas pockets, meaning the gases can be used again and again. The sail can have a variation in weight to the point of giving lift by regulating the mixture of gases or increasing and decreasing the number. of the air pockets to the number of gas pockets. The pockets when inflated will help to keep the aerofoil shape.

The sail can be adapted in shape for all sailing oraft and allsailing, for this example the sail board application was choosen. The sail will be light and easy to control.

Claims

Claims

1. The gas inflated sail is of a wing design, with one or more pockets capable of being inflated with gas, air or a mixture of both, when the pocket or pockets are inflated they will help keep the aerofoil shape.

2. The gas inflated sail can have a variation in weight to the point of giving lift, by regulating the mixture -fgases or increasing and decreasing the number of air pockets to the number of gas pockets.

5. The gas in9lat;ed sail, when not in use can be folded or rolled up by deflating and removing the mast, rear down haul batten, boom and mast to boom connector if fitted.

4. The gas inflated- sail can be adapted to suit all sailing craft and forms of sailing, speed slalom, race, fun etc.

5. * The gas inflated sail has a V shape at the front of the pocket or pockets that forms the mast track, this is enclosed by a layer of materail forming the mast track, attached inside the mast track and attached to the Datten pocket are moulded plastic bones to keep the front shape, the mast, side, Dattens and a rear dozen haul batten keep the rest of the shape.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1 A reversible wing sail comprising a cam last which is a mast having the sane shape and size as the desired wing sails leeward camber on both sides port and starboard the said cam mast pivots off a mast foot connection and the boom connection at the cam masts most forward position, the said cam mast work inconjunction with a main spring with in anenvolope of sail cloth, where in the said main spring braces between the rear of the said cam mast and the rear of the said envolope,when the said envelope is tied off an amount of slack envolope is left so when the said main spring is tensioned it pushes the said cam mast leeward to mould the said envoMpe slack into the wing sails leeward camber at the same time the cam mast leaves the windward sheet so creating a flat droop less windward sheet, the sasd main spring and the said cam mast tensionr the wing sails envolopes camber and the envolopes main body simultaneously to alow a spring loaded aerofoil capable of being tensioned to a hard aerofoil.

z A reversible wing sail as claimed in claim 1 wherein a secondary spring is used to tension aera's of the envolope not covered by the main spring.

3 A reversible wing sail as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein a cam mast lodk is used to lock the cam mast leeward.

4 A reversible wing sail as claimed in claims 1,2,3, where in battens and batten pockets are used to stiffen up the wing sails envolope.

5 A reversible wing sail as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4, where in a number of inflatable pockets are used with in the envolope.

6 A reversible wing sail as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5, wherein the wing sail changes sheet lenth at the rear on tack change instead of the frost of the envolope.

7 A reversible wing sail as claimed in claims 1,2,3,4,5,6, wherein the springs are connected to the cam mast by a bar or a slide so thay can be tensioned by hoisting.

8 A spring bar or rod being the main spring.

9 A spring bar as claimed in claims 6,7,8, wherein the spring bar contains a rear pivoting piece.