EP4470902A2 - Wing rig - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a hand-supported wing rig, which is preferably designed with an inflatable leading edge, which is designed to widen upwards (away from the surfer) in the direction of flow in an approximately V-shape.

Description

The invention relates to a hand-supported wing rig for wind-powered sports, for example foil surfing (wing foil), according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Such a wing rig is described on the Internet under the name "Slingwing". It is essentially a kite with a leading edge and a single strut, which are designed to be inflatable. There are holding loops on the central strut and on the leading edge, which the user uses to hold the inflatable wing rig during use, for example when foiling, ice skating or skiing.

This inflatable wing rig, which is adapted to the aerodynamics of kites, is severely deformed during use, especially at the high speeds reached during foiling, thus worsening the aerodynamics.

In the US 4,563,969 a rigid wing rig is shown in which the leading edge and a boom are formed by a complex tube construction that spans a canvas (canopy). The leading edge is curved in an arc shape when viewed from above. The boom is supported by a large number of struts on the leading edge. These struts are designed in such a way that they give the leading edge a concave structure when viewed from the front, i.e. in the direction of flow of the wing rig, according to which the end sections (tips) of the wing rig are flared upwards from a central vertex of the leading edge.

A disadvantage of this solution is that the total weight of the wing rig is very high due to the complex structure of the boom and the leading edge, so that use in water sports is only possible with appropriate buoyancy bodies. Another disadvantage is that the assembly and disassembly of the wing rig is difficult due to the complex tube structure takes a lot of time. This hard tube structure of the front edge and the boom also poses a significant risk of injury to the user in the event of a catastrophic fall.

A similar rigid wing rig is in the WO 95/05973 A1 shown. In this solution, too, the leading edge and the boom are formed by a complex tube structure. The structure shows the same disadvantages as the wing rig according to the above-discussed US 4,563,969 .

In the printed publication DE 31 40 685 A1 A rigid wing rig is described in which the leading edge (leading edge) is formed by two V-shaped masts that are connected to each other via a central boom and support struts. This wing rig is also very heavy due to its tubular structure, which makes handling particularly difficult for water sports.

In the document US 5,448,961 A flat wing rig with a closed frame structure is described - such a solution is also unusable for water sports due to the high weight, the time-consuming assembly/disassembly and the risk of injury.

From the US 4 742 977 A Another rigid wing rig is known with a support frame on which a sailcloth is stretched, the profile of which is angular.

The DE 34 06 040 A1 shows a sail drive for flying with a sailboard in which two kite sails are connected to each other at side corners.

The GB 2 203 113 A shows an inflatable wing structure with a triangular inflatable guide structure within which a sailcloth is stretched.

In contrast, the invention is based on the object of creating a hand-supported wing rig that allows for simple construction and maintains an aerodynamically optimized profile even at high speeds.

This object is achieved by a hand-supported wing rig having the features of patent claim 1.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

The hand-supported wing rig according to the invention is suitable for wind-powered sports, for example for foil surfing and the high speeds associated with it. The wing rig has an inflatable front edge from which a boom extends, with the front edge and the boom stretching a sailcloth. The wing rig is held in particular by the boom during use. The front edge is curved in a plan view from a connection of the boom away to the leech (trailing edge) of the sailcloth in an approximately arched, delta-shaped, U-shaped or C-shaped manner. Furthermore, the front edge is approximately V-shaped in a front view viewed in the direction of flow when not exposed to airflow or unloaded, with this profile converging towards the boom. In other words, the profile opens upwards during use, away from the rider. Surprisingly, it was found that such a pronounced V or U profile and the arched, delta-shaped or U or C-shaped design of the leading edge (seen from above) creates an aerodynamically optimized profile even at high wind and speeds, which opens automatically in gusts and thus reduces the resulting pressure that the user has to support, and also generates low aerodynamic drag even at high speeds. By adjusting the wing rig accordingly, a maximum speed or maximum lift for jumps or the like can be generated depending on the direction of the wind.

The boom is preferably designed as a rigid, non-inflatable component. The term "rigid component" refers to a structure made of a largely dimensionally stable material, but this can easily be dismantled or made telescopic. The boom is designed in such a way that it is easier to hold the wing rig during use.

The tree is preferably designed with a sheath that improves the grip/friction.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the approximately V-shaped profile runs from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the sailcloth. This means that the entire wing rigging profile is profiled so that it opens upwards when viewed from the front (in the direction of flow).

The efficiency of the wing rig is further improved when the V-angle is maximum in the boom connection area and decreases towards the end sections. It is preferred if the angle of inclination to the horizontal (parallel to the connecting line through the end sections) in the apex area is between 10° and 30°, preferably more than 15°, particularly preferably around 20°. The "angle of inclination" is understood to mean the angle that the respective area of the leading edge takes when the wing rig is positioned parallel to the water surface/usable surface, i.e. to the horizontal. The opening angle between the leading edge areas that are set/inclined towards each other then corresponds to the difference between 180° and twice the angle of inclination (supplementary angle to 180°). The trailing edge (leech) is designed with a corresponding profile angle.

The aerodynamics are further improved if the inclination angle in the tip area is between 0° and 20°, preferably more than 1°, preferably about 5°.

In a variant of the invention, the wing rig is designed such that the average angle of inclination, i.e. the angle from the apex of the leading edge to the respective end section, is 5° to 20°, preferably about 10°.

To accommodate multiple wing rig sizes, the boom can be telescopic or made up of several interchangeable sections.

The technical effort required is particularly low if the boom is attached to the leading edge and the trailing edge using a bracket. In this way, a single boom can be used for several wing rigs.

To minimize weight, it is advantageous to make the tree tubular.

The flight stability of the wing rig is further improved if the boom mount is designed in such a way that it prevents rotation of the leading edge around its longitudinal axis.

It is particularly preferred if the holder encompasses the front edge in sections and thus prevents rotation.

In an alternative solution, the bracket can also pass through the front edge. With such a design, appropriate receptacles for the bracket or the boom must be formed on the front edge. Furthermore, a channel should be provided into which the bracket or the boom can be inserted.

In a particularly preferred variant of the wing rig, the boom is designed without braces. This type of solution is weight-optimized and also allows the user to hold the boom and thus the wing rig variably depending on the respective driving maneuver and the environmental conditions.

According to the invention, the centre of gravity (centre of the sailcloth) is at least more than 40 percent of the distance between the apex of the leading edge and the trailing edge (leech) from the leading edge.

To further optimize the flow profile, the leading edge and/or the sailcloth can be stiffened by means of stiffening elements, such as sail battens.

These sail battens can in turn be curved and/or tapered to shape the wing profile.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, a sail batten extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge, said sail batten being positioned such that it lies in a vertical plane with the boom (when the wing rig is aligned horizontally).

To simplify handling, a handle can be provided in the connection area of the tree, preferably at the front edge.

To prevent separation from the user in the event of a fall, the wing rig is designed with a safety leash.

The bracket for connecting the boom to the front edge can, for example, be formed by a profile piece that surrounds the front edge in sections and is attached to the front edge using suitable fastening means. The boom is then inserted into the profile piece or connected to it in some other way.

An alternative solution is to create a holder for the boom on the front edge using profile parts or canvas. These profile parts then enclose the front edge in sections, preventing the front edge from rotating during use.

The boom preferably extends from the leading edge to the trailing edge without being directly or firmly connected to the sailcloth in the areas in between, so that practically the entire length of the boom is available as a grip area. This ensures that the wing rig can be held optimally according to the user's preferences during any maneuver. Furthermore, the profile depth can be adjusted by adjusting the boom length.

The structure of the wing rig is designed in such a way that when exposed to airflow, i.e. when the wing rig is in use, the opening angle in the area of the trailing edge is reduced. This means that the angle of inclination α of the trailing edge areas to the horizontal increases during use. Accordingly, the profile depth can also increase when exposed to airflow. The change in the opening angle can be greater in the trailing edge area than in the leading edge area.

The boom is preferably attached to the area facing away from the canvas at the apex of the leading edge.

The attachment is such that the wing rig can be swivelled/adjusted sideways by turning the boom around its longitudinal axis - this would not be possible with loops (handles) as these are not rigid and therefore no torque can be applied.

• Figur 1 eine Prinzipdarstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels eines Flügelriggs, das zum Antreiben eines Foilboards verwendet wird;
• Figur 2 eine Draufsicht auf ein Flügelrigg gemäß Figur 1 ;
• Figur 3 eine Seitenansicht des Flügelriggs gemäß den Figuren 1 und 2;
• Figur 4 eine Vorderansicht eines Flügelriggs gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 3;
• Figur 5 eine Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels eines Flügelriggs;
• Figur 6 eine Detaildarstellung des Flügelriggs gemäß Figur 5;
• Figur 7 eine Teildarstellung eines dritten Ausführungsbeispiels eines Flügelriggs und
• Figur 8 eine Prinzipdarstellung eines vierten Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Flügelriggs.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. They show:

• Figure 1 a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a wing rig used to drive a foil board;
• Figure 2 a plan view of a wing rig according to Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 a side view of the wing rig according to the Figures 1 and 2 ;
• Figure 4 a front view of a wing rig according to the Figures 1 to 3 ;
• Figure 5 a side view of another embodiment of a wing rig;
• Figure 6 a detailed representation of the wing rig according to Figure 5 ;
• Figure 7 a partial view of a third embodiment of a wing rig and
• Figure 8 a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a wing rig according to the invention.

In Figure 1 The use of a wing rig 1 according to the invention for driving a foil board 2 is shown. A surfer 4 holds the wing rig 1 only with his hands and adjusts it in relation to the wind depending on the desired Direction of travel (upwind, beam reach, downwind) or the lift to be adjusted, for example when jumping or adjusting the altitude.

The wing rig 1 has an inflatable leading edge 6, which in plan view (from above into the Figures 1 and 2 ) is approximately arched, preferably approximately delta-, C- or U-shaped and extends with its tips 8, 10 up to a rear edge 12 of a sailcloth 14 of the wing rig 1. As explained below, this sailcloth 14 is supported on the one hand by the front edge 6 and on the other hand by a boom 16 explained in more detail below (see Figure 3 ) is stretched out. The surfer 4 holds the wing rig 1 only by the boom 16, which is pointing downwards (view from Figure 1 ). The boom 16 is preferably provided with a casing that simplifies/optimizes gripping and holding. As explained below, the front edge 6 is protruding both in plan view ( Figure 2 ) as well as in a front view - seen in the direction of flow - (see Figure 4 ) V-shaped, with the V/U extending upwards in the front view, ie, away from the surfer. How Figure 1 removable, the rear edge 12 and thus the entire canopy surface 14 is V- (or U-) shaped in the front view.

Figure 2 shows a top view of the wing rig 1 according to Figure 1 . In this illustration, one can see the leading edge 6, which is approximately arched or delta-shaped, in the broadest sense approximately U-shaped or C-shaped, and which extends to the trailing edge 12 of the sailcloth 14. In the embodiment shown, the leading edge 6 is formed in the manner of a kite by a front tube in which a bladder is accommodated, which is inflated via a valve, the pressure being selected such that the structure of the wing rig 1 is guaranteed even at high wind strengths and speeds.

In the embodiment shown, the leading edge 6 is formed by a plurality of tube segments 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e (for the sake of simplicity, only one half of the trailing edge 12 is provided with reference numerals), the angle of attack α of which to the horizontal in Figure 2 (ie, for example, to a connecting line between the two end sections 8, 10) from a vertex 20 to the end sections 8, 10. This angle of attack α is shown as an example in the tube segment 18a. The reference number 22 indicates the The centre of gravity of the area (centre of the sailcloth) is marked. This centre of gravity 22 is offset from the apex 20 by at least 40 percent of the distance between the apex 20 and the corresponding apex 24 of the trailing edge 12. The distance between the apex 20, 24 is in Figure 2 marked with the reference symbol a. Accordingly, the distance b between the vertex 20 and the centroid 22 is at least 40 percent of the distance a.

This area centre of gravity 22 is selected such that the surfer 4 can optimally grasp the boom 16, which will be explained in more detail below, and thus support the acting wind forces in order to, for example, sail an optimal upwind course.

To stiffen the wing profile, a central center sail batten 23 and two sail battens 27a, 27b offset towards the end sections 8, 10 are provided, which extend between the front edge 4 and the rear edge 12 and are inserted into corresponding sail batten pockets of the sailcloth 14. This insertion takes place in a manner known per se with a certain pre-tension, which is selected according to the desired profile or can also be changed in order to be able to adapt the profile to different wind strengths. The reference number 29 in Figure 2 Seams of the sailcloth 14 are also shown, which is made up of several panels. It may also be sufficient to design the panels in such a way that they are only sewn in the area of the sail battens or run continuously from tip 8 to tip 10.

In the side view according to Figure 3 you can see the front edge 6 with the Figure 2 left tip 10 and the boom 16 engaging in the area of the apex 20 on the front edge 6. As explained, the tube forming the front edge 10, together with the boom 16 and the sail battens 23, 27, stretches the canvas 14, whereby the boom 16 also engages the apex 24 of the rear edge 12 of the canvas 14 and is preferably not connected to the canvas 14 in between. The center sail batten 23 extends parallel to the longitudinal extension of the boom 16 between the front edge 6 and the rear edge 12. Accordingly, this sail batten 23 also engages on the one hand in the apex 20 of the front edge 6 and on the other hand in the apex 24 of the rear edge 12. The boom 16 and the center batten 23 are thus in the same vertical plane, which in Figure 2 perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and in Figure 3 is in the plane of the drawing. The space between the boom and the sail batten 23 / sailcloth 14 is thus free, so that the surfer can freely choose his grip position depending on the maneuver/course.

How further Figure 3 The front edge 6 is also perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 2 profiled. Specifically, the front edge 6 is V-shaped from the apex 20 to the end sections 8, 10, whereby the V (also called opening angle δ) - as in Figure 1 shown - upwards, ie, away from the boom 16. This V-profile is also formed accordingly in the area of the canvas 14. This is achieved, among other things, by the boom 16 reaching the apex 24 in the illustration according to Figure 3 downwards, ie, away from the end sections 8, 10, thus forming the V-shape which is determined by the opening angle δ. According to the invention, the structure of the wing rig 1 is designed such that this opening angle δ is reduced when exposed to the flow, since the end sections 8, 10 deflect upwards (away from the surfer 4) due to the load. The boom 16 thereby acts on the area of the apex 20 of the leading edge 6 which is spaced apart from the sailcloth 14 (at the bottom).

The V-shape is particularly evident in the front view according to Figure 4 visible. In this illustration, the front edge 6 formed by the tube is arranged facing the viewer. The canvas 14 is accordingly V-shaped. As in Figure 4 As shown, the angle of inclination β of the leading edge 6 in the area of the apex is a maximum of 20°. In the embodiment shown, this angle of inclination β, i.e. the angle between the horizontal (parallel to the connecting line of the end sections 8, 10) and the tube segment 18a, is approximately 20°, for example. The next tube segment 18b is then set somewhat flatter, so that the angle is, for example, 15°. The angle of inclination of the following segments 18c, 18d, 18e is then again flatter, whereby the angle of inclination β in the area of the segment 18c can be, for example, 5°. The "average" angle of inclination γ seen over the entire wing rig 1 is, for example, 10°, so that the "average" opening angle is then approximately 160°.

In all the embodiments described, the boom 16 is designed without braces - this is a significant difference to the complex constructions described at the beginning, in which the boom is designed with a large number of transverse and diagonal braces. In the solution according to the invention, the boom 16 can be detachably attached to the apex 20 of the front edge 6 via a holder 25.

In the embodiment shown, the holder 25 has a support bracket 26 which is designed to correspond to the outer contour of the apex 20 and surrounds it in sections. This surround is carried out in such a way that, in the event of comparatively high wind pressure, rotation of the tube, i.e. of the tube segments 18a forming the apex 20 in the direction of the arrow and thus twisting of the profile is reliably prevented.

The support bracket 26 is then followed in the direction of the boom 16 by a holder 28 into which the boom 16 is inserted. The end sections of the support bracket 26 and the holder 28 are connected via an arched handle 30, which makes it easier for the surfer 4 to handle the wing rig 1 before and after use. For example, the wing rig 1 can be held by the handle 30 when not in use in order to let it blow away in the wind. The holder 25 and the boom 16 are preferably made of a light material, for example aluminum, fiber-reinforced plastic, carbon fiber materials or other high-strength lightweight materials. Due to the simple structure of the boom 16, this has an insignificant influence on the overall weight of the wing rig 1.

Figure 5 shows a side view of a variant of the previously described embodiment of a wing rig 1. The view corresponds approximately to that of Figure 3 . This means that the end section 10 with the V-shaped front edge 6 is visible in this view, which has its lowest point in the area of the apex 20. The apex 24 of the rear edge 12 is pushed downwards by the tree 16 (view from Figure 5 The bracket 25 of the tree 16 has a receptacle 28 into which the tree 16 is inserted or which is connected to the tree 16 in some other way. The apex 20 is supported according to Figure 6 on the top of the holder 28. From A lightweight, approximately U-shaped handle 32 extends away from the holder 28, the end section of which engages the apex 20 formed by the tube segments 18a at a distance from the support of the apex 20 on the holder 28, i.e. offset towards the canvas 14. The spacing of the support of the apex 20 on the holder 28 on the one hand and on the end section 34 of the handle 32 on the other hand also prevents the above-described rotation of the front edge 6 (front tube).

The U-structure of the handle 32 allows the wing rig 1 to be easily held for blowing out. As shown in particular in Figure 6 As shown, the handle 32 is designed as a framework structure. The connection of the receptacle 28 and the end section 34 to the apex can be formed via suitable fixing elements on the tube segments 18a. These fixing elements are preferably designed such that the handle 30 is detachably connected to the front edge 6 (front tube).

Instead of the handle 30, the handle 32, which is more or less integrated into the tree structure, this can also be designed as a loop on the inflow side of the leading edge 6, so that the surfer can let the wing rig 1 blow out while holding it in his hand while surfing, for example.

Figure 7 shows an embodiment in which the holder 25 is designed as a flat body which is designed to encompass the rear edge 6 or the tube segments 18a in sections.

This flat holder can be designed as a molded body, for example. In a particularly simple embodiment, the holder 25 is made of canvas that is connected to the apex 20 of the front edge 6 and is stabilized by suitable stiffening elements if necessary. The boom 16 can then be inserted into this holder 25. In this embodiment, too, the holder 25 is designed in such a way that rotation of the tube (front edge 6) in the direction of the arrow is prevented by the support by the boom 16.

In the above-described embodiments, the front tube is designed with a continuous bladder, as explained. In the example according to Figure 8 , which does not fall under the scope of protection of the patent claims, a separate bladder is used for each half of the wing rig, whereby between these two bladders as shown in Figure 8 a support channel 36 remains, into which the boom 16 is inserted. This forms a two-chamber system which ensures sufficient lift even if a bladder is damaged so that the wing rig 1 does not sink. This support channel 36 can, for example, be formed by a piece of pipe which passes diametrically through the front tube. This support channel 36 is formed between the two bladders of the two wing rig halves (left, right). For further stabilization, a bearing ring 40 is formed on an outer shell 38 of the front tube (front edge 6), which runs as an extension of the support channel 36 and through which the boom 16 passes. This bearing ring 40 absorbs the compression forces and is designed in a similar way to the support rings of the commonly used kite valves.

A similar support ring 42 is provided opposite the bearing ring 40 on the inside of the outer shell 38, on which the Figure 8 left end section of the boom 16 is supported. This means that the boom 16 is connected to the outer shell 38 in a force-fitting and form-fitting manner, so that the apex 20 and thus the front tube are prevented from twisting in the direction of the arrow. As explained, the tubular support channel 36 is connected to the bearing ring 40 on the one hand and the support ring 42 on the other hand, so that the boom 16 is reliably fixed in position.

Such a solution has the advantage that the bearing rings 40 and the support rings 42 can be used for practically any front tube diameter - only the length of the support channel 36 has to be adjusted. With such a solution, the boom 16 is very stably supported, so that the holding forces introduced by the surfer 4 and also the compression forces transmitted by the front tube are reliably absorbed without the boom 16 being excessively deformed. The support channel 36 and the rings 40, 42 are preferably designed as plastic injection molded parts.

In all of the above-described embodiments, the sailcloth 14 can be stabilized using sail battens or the like. These sail battens can be conical or profiled in order to optimize the flow profile of the sailcloth 14. In a corresponding manner, the leading edge 16 can also be stiffened using suitable stiffening elements so that the wing rig 1 maintains the aerodynamically optimized shape shown even under high loads.

These sail battens or stiffening elements can also be designed as carbon fiber tubes or the like.

In one embodiment, the sail battens are profiled in such a way that they are first adapted to the diameter of the front edge 6 (front tube) and then support the sailcloth 14. Of course, additionally or alternatively sail battens can be inserted into the sailcloth 14 from the rear edge 12.

In order to prevent the wing rig 1 from drifting away in the event of a fall, it is connected to the surfer 4, in particular to his arm, via a safety leash 44.

Disclosed is a hand-supported wing rig, which is preferably designed with an inflatable leading edge, which is designed to widen upwards (away from the surfer) in the direction of flow in an approximately V-shape.

List of reference symbols:

1

wing rig

2

foil board

4

surfer

6

leading edge / front tube

8

final section

10

final section

12

trailing edge

14

canvas

16

Tree

18

tube segment

20

apex of the leading edge

22

centroid

23

center batten

24

apex of the trailing edge

25

bracket

26

support bracket

27

sail batten

28

Recording

29

seam

30

handle

32

handle

34

final section

36

support channel

38

outer shell

40

bearing ring

42

support ring

44

safety leash

α

angle of attack

β

angle of inclination

γ

angle of inclination to the end sections

δ

opening angle (180°-2β)

Claims (5)

Hand-supported wing rig for wing foiling, which is designed to be held by a surfer standing on a foil board only with the hands and to be adjusted with respect to the wind depending on the desired direction of travel of the foil board, with an inflatable front edge (6) along which a sailcloth (14) extends to a rear edge (12),
characterized in that - a continuous bladder inflatable via a valve is arranged in the front edge (6), - a centre of gravity (22) of the sailcloth (14) is at least 40 % of a distance (a) between a vertex (20) of the leading edge (6) and a vertex (24) of the trailing edge (12), and - the leading edge (6) in the non-flow/unloaded state is approximately V-shaped when viewed in the direction of flow, converging towards the boom (16) and "opening" upwards, away from the surfer, and the wing rig is designed such that in the flow/loaded state an angle of inclination of the V-shape, which the two sections of the leading edge each enclose with the horizontal (β, γ) from the apex (20) to the end sections (8, 10), increases compared to the non-flow/unloaded state. Hand-supported wing rig according to claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination (β) to the horizontal in the apex region is between 10° and 30°, preferably more than 15°, particularly preferably about 20°. Hand-supported wing rig according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the angle of inclination (β) is maximum in the apex region of the leading edge (6) and decreases towards the two ends (8, 10) of the leading edge (6). Hand-supported wing rig according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an average angle of inclination (γ) from the apex (20) to the end sections (8, 10) is approximately 5° to 20°, preferably approximately 10°. Hand-supported wing rig according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the approximately V-shaped profile extends to the trailing edge (12) of the sailcloth (14).

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