EP0412040A1

EP0412040A1 - Sail propulsion device for ships

Info

Publication number: EP0412040A1
Application number: EP90500060A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Manuel Munoz Saiz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-04
Filing date: 1990-06-27
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Also published as: JPH03114993A; KR910002671A; ES2014168A6

Abstract

Device for propelling ships consisting of one or more isoceles triangle shaped-sails (5), reinforced by mesh, The sails are formed by the upper end of large masts (2) and the ends of long yards (3) at the lower part. These yards are in line with the longitudinal axis of the ship, or folded up vertically next to the mast when not in use.

Description

This invention refers to a propelling device for ships, which is simple and offers great advantages.
At present, the use of sails in large ships is not possible for the following reasons: It is necessary to have a large number of people available due to the many sails and the great heights involved, the procedure is slow both with regard to manoeuvring depending on changes in the speed and course of the wind, and hoisting and lowering the sails as well as the difficulty of loading and unloading
The purpose of this invention is to develop a simple sails system, which is economic and gives a good performance
This consists of one or more large rods, each with a long yard in the lower part, the sail is formed by the isoceles triangle formed by the two ends of the yard and the upper end of the mast The yard is revolving and the large cables or ropes necessary for hoisting and lowering the sails are operated automatically by means of electric, hydraulic or pneumatic engines and the corresponding control servomechanisms, although if desired, they can be manually operated. The surface area can also be altered, depending on the force and direction of the wind The sail is made of reinforced canvas or acrylic fibre, with a mesh or tough parallel strips on the side contrary to the wind, and a thick strip for reinforcing its edges.
The most important advantages of this system are: It is simple, gives an excellent performance, is economic, resistant, the eolic energy is free, the force of the wind greater at sea, it can be put into operation rapidly by one single person, no difficulties are involved in loading and unloading, it is useful for combined usage with engines and sail and it is possible to sail with the most favourable winds, in view of the advanced techniques used in meteorology
In order to better understand the constitution and operation of the invention, below is a more detailed description with reference to the attached drawings, in which a possible method of operation is shown, given as a non-restrictive example.

Figure 1 shows a view of the ship with different positions of the yard.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a ship with two sails fitted out with the invention,
Figure 3 shows a sail reinforced with mesh.
Figure 4 shows a method of lowering the sail.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a variant with the yard forwards of the mast.
Figure 6 shows another method of withdrawing the yard.
Figure 7 shows a perspective view of a ship with a method of regulating and folding the sail,
Figures 8 and 9 show two views of a ship with the yard at a forwards angle.

The view in Figure 1 shows the hull of the ship (1), mast (2), long yard (3) and folded yard (4).
Figure 2 shows yards (3) and sails (5)
Figure 3 shows a view of a sail (5), mesh (6), thick strip for the sail edge (7) and ropes for folding (8,9 and 10).
Figure 4 shows the sail being folded (5), ends of the yard (3), thick strip for the sail edge (7), ropes for folding and rolling up (8,9), lateral tensing ropes (11), hoisting ropes (12), pulleys (13) and pulley-winch for rolling up (14).
Figure 5 shows a ship with the yard forwards of the mast,
Figure 6 shows a view with the yard (3) divided into two and folded upwards.
Figure 7 shows a system for folding and regulating the sail automatically, depending on the force and direction of the wind, rolled up on the mast (2) and the simultaneous unrolling of rope (11) from the double pulley (15). This is obtained rotating the mast or the yard.
Figure 8 shows a view of a variant with the yard divided into two halves forming an angle of less than 180 degrees.
Figure 9 shows the variant of figure 8 with a wind from the side,

The equal numbers on the different figures refer to identical items,
It should be said that the device described above and shown in the attached drawings may be changed with regard to detail, as long as its fundamental principle remains unaltered,

Claims

1. Propelling device for ships, characterized essentially by the fact that it consists of one or more sails in the shape of a large isoceles triangle, equipped with three tacks, the upper part is attached to the upper end of the mast and the bottom to the lower ends of a large revolving yard in the lower part, with the centre of the sail located at a point approximately one third of the height of the sail, and when the yard is not in use, it is folded along the longitudinal axis of the ship.

2, Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the yard is divided into two halves and these can be folded upwards.

3. Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the yard is placed forwards of the mast or at its upper end.

4 Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the sail is reinforced with a mesh or strips on the side not facing the wind and edge

5 Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the sail is assembled on a frame that serves as support for the canvas or sail

6. Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the surface of the sail can be changed, reduced or increased, depending on the force of the wind, and this can be done manually or automatically.

7. Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the sail can be rolled around the mast in order to reduce its surface area and be folded up.

8. Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the mast is revolving.

9. Propelling device for ships according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that the yard has two ribs that form an angle of between 90 and 180 degrees.
This record consists of six typewritten sheets on one side.