BE1024508B1 - Solar powered vessel - Google Patents

Abstract

A vessel (100) with an engine (120) for propelling the vessel, the vessel (100) being adapted such that the engine (120) is driven solely by solar energy generated on the vessel.

Description

(30) Priority data:

22/08/2016 BE 2016/0138 (73) Holder (s):

VLOTGENT 9000, GHENT Belgium (72) Inventor (s):

COATING MACHINE Geert

9000 GHENT

Belgium (54) Solar powered vessel (57) A vessel (100) with an engine (120) for propelling the vessel, the vessel (100) being adapted so that the engine (120) is powered only by solar -Energy generated on the vessel.

120 140

FIG. 1

BELGIAN INVENTION PATENT

FPS Economy, K.M.O., Self-employed & Energy

Publication number: 1024508 Filing number: BE2016 / 5814

Intellectual Property Office

International classification: B63B 35/34 B63B 35/613 B63H 21/17 Date of issue: 27/03/2018

The Minister of Economy,

Having regard to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property;

Having regard to the Law of March 28, 1984 on inventive patents, Article 22, for patent applications filed before September 22, 2014;

Having regard to Title 1 Invention Patents of Book XI of the Economic Law Code, Article XI.24, for patent applications filed from September 22, 2014;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 2 December 1986 on the filing, granting and maintenance of inventive patents, Article 28;

Having regard to the application for an invention patent received by the Intellectual Property Office on 29/10/2016.

Whereas for patent applications that fall within the scope of Title 1, Book XI, of the Code of Economic Law (hereinafter WER), in accordance with Article XI.19, § 4, second paragraph, of the WER, the granted patent will be limited. to the patent claims for which the novelty search report was filed, when the patent application is the subject of a novelty search report indicating a lack of unity of invention as referred to in paragraph 1, and when the applicant does not limit his filing and does not file a divisional filing in accordance with the search report.

Decision:

Article 1

FLOAT GHENT, Ottergemsesteenweg 137, 9000 GHENT Belgium;

represented by

HERTOGHE Kris, Hundeigemsesteenweg 1116, 9820, MERELBEKE;

a Belgian invention patent with a term of 20 years, subject to payment of the annual fees as referred to in Article XI.48, § 1 of the Code of Economic Law, for: Solar-powered vessel.

INVENTOR (S):

COVERING Geert, Ottergemsesteenweg 137, 9000, GHENT;

PRIORITY:

08/22/2016 BE 2016/0138;

BREAKDOWN:

Split from basic application: Filing date of the basic application:

Article 2. - This patent is granted without prior investigation into the patentability of the invention, without warranty of the Merit of the invention, nor of the accuracy of its description and at the risk of the applicant (s).

Brussels, 27/03/2018,

With special authorization:

BE2016 / 5814

Solar powered vessel

Scope of the invention

This invention generally relates to vessels. More specifically, it concerns vessels powered by an engine.

Background of the invention

Today, vessels are regularly equipped with solar panels. These solar panels can, for example, be used to supply electrical energy to navigation equipment and / or refrigerators and / or lighting on board.

Sailboats often have the option to sail both under sail and on motor. When they run on motor, the motor often also drives a generator with which the batteries are charged and with which electricity is supplied to the navigation equipment, lighting, and refrigerators. When sailing under sail, the solar panels serve to provide the required amount of electrical energy.

FR2796036A1 describes a catamaran with parallel hulls where electric batteries are placed in the hull and solar panels are placed on the front of the catamaran on a sail between the hulls. The boat is propelled by an electric motor.

In other words, many innovations are currently being made to the configuration of the energy supplies on board a boat. There is still room for more efficient systems and methods for energy supplies on board.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide a vessel in which the on-board power supplies are properly performed.

BE2016 / 5814

The above object is accomplished by an apparatus, device and / or method according to the present invention.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides a vessel with a motor for propelling the vessel, the vessel being adapted so that the motor is powered only by solar energy generated on the vessel.

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that only solar energy generated on the vessel is sufficient to power the vessel's engine. This makes it possible to realize vessels with greater autonomy or even full autonomy.

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel includes solar panels to power the engine.

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel includes at least two hulls connected by a platform.

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that a multi-hull vessel connected by a platform has only a limited draft compared to a single hull (keel) vessel for the same passable area. As a result, the water resistance of a vessel with at least two hulls is less than that of a vessel, with a comparable passable surface area, but with only one hull. This makes it possible to use a motor with a smaller power to propel the vessel. Because a larger surface area is possible for the same water resistance, it is possible on boats with multiple hulls to apply a larger surface area to solar panels. In addition, in embodiments of the present invention, the necessary movement space can also be provided on the platform. In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel is a catamaran. By varying the length of the vessel and by varying the number of hulls, vessels can be designed with better or worse maneuverability (eg shorter or longer turning radius).

BE2016 / 5814

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel includes solar panels directly or indirectly attached to at least one of the hulls.

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that both the platform and the hulls can be used to connect solar panels. A multi-hull vessel also has the advantage of being more stable than a boat with only one hull. This also makes it possible to let solar panels protrude outside the hulls. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the vessel is adapted to be propelled only by a silent and odorless electric motor in a configuration that causes little swell on the water surface. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the fauna and flora on the water surface at the banks are maximally respected.

In embodiments of the present invention, the solar panels are mounted so that they can also serve as a cover.

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the solar panels can perform a double function. On the one hand, they can serve as a cover. On the other hand, they can provide electrical energy for the engine. The solar panels can cover cargo (in the case of cargo boats), as well as people.

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel contains at least one battery to store energy from the solar panels.

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that excess electrical energy from the solar panels can be buffered in the batteries. This energy can then be released when there is a demand for it. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the thrust generated by the solar panels and by the batteries is sufficient to permanently propel the vessel on the water.

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel is adapted to be propelled only by the engine.

BE2016 / 5814

It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that the vessel can sail without any energy source other than solar energy generated (and optionally stored) on the vessel. It is an advantage of embodiments of the present invention that greater autonomy can be achieved.

Specific and preferred aspects of the invention are included in the attached independent and dependent conclusions. Characteristics of the dependent councils may be combined with characteristics of the independent councils and with characteristics of other dependent councils as appropriate and not merely as expressly stated in the councils.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and clarified with reference to the embodiment (s) described below.

Brief description of the figures

FIG. 1 shows a 3-D sketch of a vessel in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a top view of a vessel in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic drawing of a side view of the same vessel as that in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic drawing of the rear view of the same vessel as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

The figures are only schematic and not limitative. In the figures, the dimensions of some parts may be exaggerated and not shown to scale for illustrative purposes.

Reference numbers in the conclusions should not be interpreted to limit the scope of protection. In the different figures, like reference numbers refer to like or like elements.

BE2016 / 5814

Detailed description of illustrative embodiments

The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings, however the invention is not limited thereto but is limited only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and not limitative. In the drawings, the dimensions of some elements may be increased and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions sometimes do not correspond to the current practical implementation of the invention.

In addition, the terms top, bottom, top, front and the like in the description and claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessary to describe relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so employed under given circumstances are interchangeable and that the embodiments of the invention described herein are also capable of operating in other orientations than described or shown herein.

It is to be noted that the term, as used in the claims, is not to be construed as limited to the means described thereafter; this term does not exclude other elements or steps. It can therefore be interpreted as specifying the presence of the referenced features, values, steps or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, values, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the term a device containing means A and B should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, A and B are the only relevant components of the device.

Reference throughout this specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a specific feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one

BE2016 / 5814 embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the occurrence of the terms in one embodiment or in an embodiment at various locations throughout this specification may not necessarily refer to the same embodiment each time, but may do so. Furthermore, the specific features, structures or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner, such as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art based on this disclosure, in one or more embodiments.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in describing exemplary embodiments of the invention, various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining disclosure and aiding in understanding one or several of the various inventive aspects. In any event, this disclosure method should not be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the invention requires more features than stated explicitly in any claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single prior disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby explicitly incorporated into this detailed description, with each standalone claim as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein contain some, but not other, features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention, and constitute various embodiments, as would be understood by those skilled in the art . For example, in the following claims, any of the described embodiments can be used in any combination.

Numerous specific details are presented in the description provided here. In any event, it is understood that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without these specific details. In other cases

BE2016 / 5814 well known methods, structures and techniques are not shown in detail to keep this description clear.

Where in embodiments of the present invention reference is made to a catamaran, it is meant a vessel containing two hulls which are interconnected by means of a platform. When the catamaran is in the normal position in the water, this platform is located above the waterline. This platform can be a fixed platform, for example, made of glass-fiber reinforced polyester, but other materials are also possible. The platform can also consist entirely or partly of stretched nets. In that case, the hulls can for instance be connected by means of tubes.

Vessels, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, include a motor to propel the vessel and are adapted so that the motor is powered only by solar energy generated on the vessel. This can be done, for example, by means of solar panels.

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel includes at least two hulls connected by a platform. Such a vessel can for instance be a catamaran.

Catamarans, according to embodiments of the present invention, have a length (indicated by dimension A in FIG. 2) between 40 m and 1 m, preferably between 5 m and 2 m, and a width between 5 m and 1 m , preferably between 4 m and 2 m. (indicated by dimension line B in FIG. 2) The upper limits in these examples have the advantage that the vessel does not become too heavy, so that the water resistance becomes too great to propel the vessel only with a engine powered by solar energy generated on board. The lower limits have the advantage that the surface of the vessel is large enough to accommodate sufficient solar panels so that the solar panels are sufficient to power the engine and propel the vessel.

Depending on the shape of the hulls of the vessel, the trade-off between the water resistance and the platform surface can be optimized within these dimensions. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it has

BE2016 / 5814 vessel has a length of, for example, 3.6 m, a width of, for example, 2.4 m, and solar panels with a power of, for example, 400 Wp. For example, the total area of the solar panels can be 2.4 x 1.1 m. For example, four solar panels can be present on a vessel.

In embodiments of the present invention, the volume of the hulls is chosen to provide sufficient buoyancy for the solar panels and for the cargo the vessel is to carry. In embodiments of the present invention, the hulls are constructed of closed tubes with a narrowed top and a cavity at the bottom. As a result, the narrowed top can be arranged in the hollowed-out bottom. By sliding tubes together in the longitudinal direction, hulls of different lengths and volumes can be obtained. For example, the volume of a single tube can be between 200 and 600 liters, for example 330 liters. The length of a pipe can be, for example, between 1 m and 3 m, for example 1.4 m. When 1.4 m tubes are placed together, the length from tube to tube may be, for example, 1.3 m.

The hulls (eg composed of tubes) can for instance be made of polyethylene. This has the advantage that they are durable, that there are no problems with frost, and that they are easy to maintain and repair. The invention is not limited to this and other materials such as polyester are also possible.

Vessels according to the present invention can, for example, be used for transporting persons and / or for transporting goods.

FIG. 1 shows a 3-D sketch of a vessel 100 in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. In this example, the vessel is a catamaran. One of the two hulls 110 is visible in this figure. These hulls are connected by means of a platform 150. Furthermore, this vessel contains a motor 120 for propelling the vessel. This engine is powered only by solar energy generated on the vessel. In this example, a solar panel 130 is used for this. This solar panel is attached to the hulls 110 and / or to the platform 150. In this case, the solar panel 130 protrudes outside the hulls on the

BE2016 / 5814 front of the vessel and the platform 150 remains free for passengers and / or for goods. However, the solar panel 130 can be mounted in several other places. For example, in certain embodiments, it may also protrude from the sides of the vessel or from the rear of the vessel. Due to the stability of the catamaran, it is possible to let the solar panels protrude on the side of the vessel. In other embodiments, the solar panel may also be on the platform or above the platform. In the latter case, the goods and / or passengers may be under the solar panels. In this example, the vessel also contains a battery 140. Electric energy from the solar panels can be stored in this battery. This can then be used, for example, by the motor 120 when there is not sufficient electrical energy coming from the solar panels 130. This vessel also offers space to a number of persons on the platform, which in this example is surrounded by a handrail 160.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic drawing of a top view of a vessel 100 (the vessel also illustrated in FIG. 1) in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. The vessel includes a solar panel 130. The motor 120, also shown in this figure, is powered by energy coming from the solar panel. The battery 140 is also shown in this figure.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic drawing of a side view of the same vessel as that in FIG. 2. This figure shows one of the two hulls 110. The platform 150 is mounted on top of these hulls 110. At the rear of the vessel, a motor 120 is attached to the platform in such a way that, when the vessel is left in the water, the propeller can be placed underwater. At the front of the vessel 100, a solar panel 130 is attached to the hulls 110. This solar panel extends beyond the hulls. A battery 140 can also be placed on the platform, which can serve as an energy buffer. For example, in embodiments of the present invention, the height (indicated by dimension c in FIG. 3) of the raft may be between 80 cm and 2 m, for example 1 m. However, the invention is not limited to this. The height depends on the height of the hulls 110 and the platform 150.

BE2016 / 5814

FIG. 4 shows a schematic drawing of the rear view of the same vessel as in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. This figure shows the two hulls 110 on which a platform 150 is placed. The motor 120 is attached to the platform and a battery 140 is placed on the platform. The solar panel is not visible in this figure.

In these examples, the motor is attached to the platform in the center of the platform. However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, it may also be possible for the engine to be attached to a hull. Embodiments of the present invention may also include multiple engines. For example, a motor can be attached to each hull.

In embodiments of the present invention, the vessel is adapted so that it can sail autonomously. For example, the necessary navigation equipment can be installed for this. It is an advantage that the vessel only needs solar energy generated on the vessel to drive the motor. This increases the autonomy of the vessel. For example, it is not necessary to refuel gasoline.

The different aspects can be easily combined with each other, and the combinations thus also correspond to embodiments of the present invention.

BE2016 / 5814

Claims (6)

Conclusions 1. - A vessel (100) with a motor (120) for propelling the vessel, the vessel (100) being adapted so that the engine (120) is driven only by solar energy generated on the vessel with the vessel (100) solar panels 5 (130) for driving the motor (120) and the solar panels (130) protruding from the hulls at the front, and / or at the sides, and / or at the rear of the vessel. The vessel (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the vessel includes at least two hulls (110) connected by means of a 10 platform (150). The vessel (100) according to claim 2, wherein the vessel includes solar panels (130) directly or indirectly attached to at least one of the hulls (110). The vessel (100) according to claim 3, wherein the solar panels (130) are so 15 that they can also serve as a cover. The vessel (100) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising at least one battery (140) for storing energy from the solar panels. The vessel (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the 20 vessel is adapted to be propelled only by the engine (120). BE2016 / 5814