EP4516663A1 - Boat with an energy recovery apparatus from boat motion - Google Patents

Boat with an energy recovery apparatus from boat motion Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP4516663A1
EP4516663A1 EP24195537.6A EP24195537A EP4516663A1 EP 4516663 A1 EP4516663 A1 EP 4516663A1 EP 24195537 A EP24195537 A EP 24195537A EP 4516663 A1 EP4516663 A1 EP 4516663A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rotor
rotation
slide
axis
boat
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP24195537.6A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Gianluca FENATI
Francesco PRETAGOSTINI
Marco Guglielmo RIBIGINI
Matteo LANZAVECCHIA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ferrari SpA
Original Assignee
Ferrari SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ferrari SpA filed Critical Ferrari SpA
Publication of EP4516663A1 publication Critical patent/EP4516663A1/en
Pending legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63JAUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
    • B63J3/00Driving of auxiliaries
    • B63J3/04Driving of auxiliaries from power plant other than propulsion power plant
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03BMACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/14Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy
    • F03B13/16Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem"
    • F03B13/20Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using wave energy using the relative movement between a wave-operated member, i.e. a "wom" and another member, i.e. a reaction member or "rem" wherein both members, i.e. wom and rem are movable relative to the sea bed or shore
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63BSHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B2035/009Wind propelled vessels comprising arrangements, installations or devices specially adapted therefor, other than wind propulsion arrangements, installations, or devices, such as sails, running rigging, or the like, and other than sailboards or the like or related equipment
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63JAUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
    • B63J3/00Driving of auxiliaries
    • B63J2003/001Driving of auxiliaries characterised by type of power supply, or power transmission, e.g. by using electric power or steam
    • B63J2003/002Driving of auxiliaries characterised by type of power supply, or power transmission, e.g. by using electric power or steam by using electric power

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a boat, in particular a sailing boat, more in particular a racing boat.
  • Some racing boats are provided with a plurality of energy-consuming devices, such as an engine, hydraulic actuators, charging devices for charging batteries and the like.
  • these devices are powered by energy produced by an internal combustion engine on board the boat.
  • the engine in turn, is powered by fossil fuels.
  • This aspect leads to some drawbacks, including the emission of pollutants produced by the combustion of fossil fuel and the sizing of the devices closely related to the amount of fuel on board the boat.
  • An object of the invention is to fulfil at least one of the needs discussed above.
  • reference number 1 is used to indicate, as a whole, a boat.
  • the boat has a hull 2 extending longitudinally along an axis X, which coincides with the normal sailing direction of the boat.
  • the hull extends in width and height according to axes Y, Z, respectively, which are perpendicular to one another and relative to the axis X, with which they form a Cartesian coordinate system of orthogonal axes, in particular a right-handed one.
  • the coordinate system is fixed relative to the hull 2, whereby the axes X, Y, Z define the body axes of the hull 2, also commonly referred to as roll axis, pitch axis and yaw axis, respectively.
  • the boat 1 comprises a mass 3, which is suspended relative to the hull 2, namely movable relative to it with at least one or more degrees of freedom.
  • the mass 3 is located at a longitudinal end (i.e. according to the axis X) of the boat 1, for example at the bow. More specifically, by dividing the length of the boat 1 into three equal parts along the axis X, the mass 3 is located in the area of the last third towards the bow of the boat 1. This is not in any case limiting, so that the mass 3 could still be placed differently along the hull 2.
  • the boat 1 comprises a mechanism 4, which, in turn, comprises a kinematic chain 5, which couples the mass 3 to the hull 2, while enabling a relative movement of the mass 3 relative to the hull 2.
  • the mass 3 is suspended relative to the hull by the kinematic chain 5.
  • the mechanism 4 is coupled to the hull 2 and comprises the mass 3.
  • the kinematic chain 5 comprises at least one slide or carriage 6 having a translatory degree of freedom along a straight axis K.
  • the mass 3 could be fixed relative to the slide 6 (as, for example, in the embodiments of figures 2 and 5 ), although not necessarily; in fact, the mass 3 could also be more generally coupled to the slide 6 (as, for example, in the embodiment of figure 6 ), so that a relative movement of the mass 3 relative to the hull 2 is in any case transmitted to the slide 6.
  • the kinematic chain 5 comprises two link elements, one of them being the slide 6 and the other one being a member having at least a guiding function for guiding or forcing the slide 6 to move along the axis K.
  • the link elements are coupled to one another by means of a coupling conceptually defining a prismatic joint P, i.e. a joint that enables the translatory degree of freedom of one of the link elements relative to the other link element.
  • the other link element could conceptually be a screw 7, whereby the slide 6 comprises or is defined by a nut screw.
  • the screw 7 and the slide 6 define a nut-screw coupling or system.
  • the coupling that defines the prismatic joint P is a nut-screw coupling or system.
  • the screw 7 and the slide 6 are part of a ball screw.
  • the ball screw comprises rolling bodies between the screw 7 and the slide 6, so that the coupling between the screw 7 and the slide 6 takes place indirectly by means of the rolling bodies, which are in contact with both the screw 7 and the slide 6 in respective diametrically opposite points.
  • the nut-screw coupling implies that the translation of the slide 6 along the axis K corresponds to a rotation of the screw 7 around its own axis, in this case coinciding with the axis K.
  • the screw 7 defines, more in general, a member rotatable around its own axis and coupled to the slide 6 so as to rotate around its axis according to opposite directions of rotation (clockwise and counterclockwise) respectively when the slide 6 translates according to opposite directions along the axis K, namely in response to translations of the slide 6 according to opposite directions along the axis K.
  • the boat 1 further comprises at least one electric motor-generator 8.
  • the motor-generator 8 comprises a rotor 9 rotatable around a rotor axis R.
  • the motor-generator 8 is configured to convert a kinetic energy associated with a rotation of the rotor 9 (actually, the kinetic energy of the rotation of the rotor 9) into electrical energy.
  • the electrical energy produced by the motor-generator 8 can be stored in a power storage device of the boat 1, such as a battery, or also be directly used to power the electric utilities of the boat 1.
  • the rotor 9 is coupled to the slide 6 so as to rotate in response to the translation of the slide 6.
  • the boat 1 or the mechanism 4 comprises a further mechanism or sub-mechanism 10, the coupling between the screw 7 (or, more in general, the aforementioned rotatable member) and the slide 6 being part thereof.
  • the mechanism 10 is configured to transform a reciprocating translatory motion of the slide 6 along the axis K into a corresponding rotation, in particular a continuous rotation, of the rotor 9 around the axis R according to one single direction of rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • a first translation of the slide 6, followed by a second translation of the slide 6 in the opposite direction relative to the first translation causes, as a whole, a rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise, of the rotor 9 according to the single direction of rotation, i.e. without the latter changing with the shift from the first translation to the second translation.
  • the term “continuous” refers precisely to the absence of a reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor 9 due to the reversal of the direction of translation of the slide 6 shifting from the first translation to the second translation. Therefore, the term “continuous” should not be understood, in particular, in the restrictive sense that the angular speed of the rotor 9 cannot in any case be zero at one or more moments in time.
  • the rotor 9 is coupled to the slide 6 through the mechanism 10.
  • Figure 3 shows a particular example of a portion of the mechanism 10.
  • the mechanism 10 comprises the screw 7 or, more in general, the rotatable member and two transmissions 11, 12 arranged in parallel and respectively configured to transmit the rotations of the screw 7 to the rotor 9.
  • the transmissions 11, 12 are configured to couple the rotatable member (or the screw 7) to the rotor by respectively transmitting rotations of the rotatable member according to the two possible opposite directions of rotation, thereby causing the rotor 9 to rotate around the rotor axis R according to said single direction of rotation of the rotor 9 in response to both rotations of the rotatable member according to the two opposite directions of rotation thereof.
  • the transmission 11 is configured so that a rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to a first direction of rotation is transmitted to the rotor 9 as a rotation of the latter around the axis R according to the single direction of rotation.
  • the transmission 11 is configured to cause the rotor 9 to rotate according to the single direction of rotation in response to the rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to the first direction of rotation.
  • the transmission 12 is configured so that a rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to a second direction of rotation contrary to the first direction of rotation is transmitted to the rotor 9 as a rotation of the latter around the axis R according to the single direction of rotation.
  • the transmission 12 is configured to cause the rotor 9 to rotate according to the single direction of rotation in response to the rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to the second direction of rotation.
  • the transmissions 11, 12 comprise respective decoupling devices 13, 14 respectively configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 (or, more in general, from the rotatable member) by means of the respective transmissions 11, 12 when the screw 7 rotates according to the second and the first direction of rotation.
  • the decoupling devices 13, 14 are configured to interrupt the respective couplings between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 (or, more in general, the rotatable member) by means of the respective transmissions 11, 12, respectively, when the screw 7 (or, more in general, the rotatable member) rotates according to the second and the first direction of rotation.
  • the decoupling device 13 is configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 through the transmission 11, namely to interrupt the coupling created by the transmission 11 between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 (while the rotor 9 and the screw 7 can remain coupled through the transmission 12), when the screw 7 rotates according to the second direction of rotation.
  • the decoupling device 14 is configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 through the transmission 12, namely to interrupt the coupling created by the transmission 12 between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 (while the rotor 9 and the screw 7 can remain coupled through the transmission 11), when the screw 7 rotates according to the first direction of rotation.
  • Each one of the decoupling devices 13, 14, independently of the other one, could be or comprise a device with an automatic decoupling function, such as a free wheel, or an engagement device, for example a tooth engagement or a clutch engagement, controllable to be selectively engaged or disengaged as a function of the rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member).
  • an automatic decoupling function such as a free wheel
  • an engagement device for example a tooth engagement or a clutch engagement
  • the engagement device could be engaged only when the angular speed of the screw 7 or the corresponding translation speed of the slide 6 exceeds a predetermined threshold, namely the engagement device would thus be disengaged whenever the angular speed of the screw 7 or the corresponding translation speed of the slide 6 is equal to or less than the threshold.
  • the engagement devices of the decoupling devices 13, 14 can respectively be engaged only when the screw 7 rotates according to the first and the second direction, respectively.
  • the boat 1 can comprise a control unit (not shown) for controlling the engagement device as a function of one or more quantities corresponding to or indicative of the angular speed of the screw 7 or the speed of translation of the slide 6.
  • the quantities can be acquired by the control unit through special transducers configured to detect the quantities.
  • the mechanism 10 comprises a rack 15 coupled to the screw 7 so as to translate according to opposite directions in response to the rotations according to opposite directions of the screw 7.
  • the mechanism 10 can comprise a pinion 16 fixed to the screw 7 and configured to couple the screw 7 to the rack 15.
  • the pinion 16 specifically meshes with the rack 15.
  • the transmissions 11, 12 comprise respective gear wheels 17, 18, which mesh with the rack 15 on two opposite sides of the rack 15, so that the gear wheels 17, 18 rotate in opposite directions.
  • the transmissions 11, 12 comprise two further gear wheels 19, 20, which are arranged downstream of the respective decoupling devices 13, 14 and rotate in the same direction as the wheels 17, 18, respectively, when coupled to the latter by means of the decoupling devices 13, 14.
  • the wheels 19, 20 both mesh with a gear wheel 21 of the motor-generator 8 forming two external gears; the gear wheel 21 is fixed relative to the rotor 9.
  • the decoupling devices 13, 14 are both configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 by means of the respective transmissions 11, 12, respectively, when the wheels 17, 18 rotate according to a same specific direction of rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • the decoupling devices 13, 14 decouple the wheels 19, 20 from the wheels 17, 18, respectively.
  • the wheel 21 and, hence, the rotor 9 can only rotate by means of a single one of the transmissions 11, 12 and according to one single direction of rotation, precisely equal to the aforementioned specific direction.
  • the decoupling devices 13, 14 allow only one of the respective wheels 19, 20 to rotate and only in the direction contrary to the aforementioned specific direction.
  • the wheel 17 would be decoupled from the wheel 19 by means of the decoupling device 13, while the wheel 18 could remain coupled to the wheel 20 by means of the decoupling device 14, since the wheel 18 would rotate in the opposite direction relative to the specific direction, i.e. contrary to the wheel 17.
  • the wheel 19 would remain idle while the wheel 20 would rotate in the opposite direction to the specific direction, i.e. in the same direction as the wheel 18.
  • the external meshing between the wheels 20, 21 then causes the wheel 21 to rotate, therefore, in the specific direction.
  • the wheel 18 would be decoupled from the wheel 20 by means of the decoupling device 14, while the wheel 17 could remain coupled to the wheel 19 by means of the decoupling device 13, since the wheel 17 would rotate in the opposite direction relative to the specific direction, i.e. contrary to the wheel 18.
  • the wheel 20 would remain idle while the wheel 19 would rotate in the opposite direction to the specific direction, i.e. in the same direction as the wheel 17.
  • the external meshing between the wheels 20, 21 then causes the wheel 21 to still rotate in the specific direction.
  • the mechanism 10 schematically shown in figure 3 is one of the possible specific mechanisms conceivable for transforming a reciprocating translatory motion of the slide 6 into a rotation of the rotor 9 according to a single rotation direction.
  • the mechanism 10 could for example comprise a typical connecting rod-crank mechanism, whose properties are well known and do not need to be described in detail.
  • the axis K is fixed relative to the hull 2.
  • the screw 7 or, more in general, the rotatable member is supported by the hull 2 in a rotary manner around its own axis, specifically coinciding with the axis K, for example by means of support elements 23, such as bearings.
  • the support elements 23 could include two radial bearings and an axial bearing or two oblique rolling bearings mounted in an X- or O-shaped configuration.
  • the axis K is parallel to one between the axis X and the axis Y, specifically the axis Y.
  • the axis K is parallel to the axis Z.
  • the slide 6 or the mass 3 is suspended against the action of the force of gravity by means of an elastic element 24, in particular a spring. Specifically, the slide 6 is suspended relative to the hull 2 by means of the elastic element 24.
  • the slide 6 or the mass 3 could also be suspended by means of a shock absorber, in addition or alternatively to the elastic element 24.
  • elastic elements and/or shock absorbers can widely be used to couple the slide 6 or the mass 3 to any other component of the boat 1, relative to which the slide 6 or the mass 3 is movable.
  • the other component could be chosen from those described herein or could be any other component that may not be described in detail.
  • the coupling of the slide 6 or the mass 3 to another component by means of an elastic element and/or a shock absorber implies the existence of an elastic and/or damping reaction applied to the slide 6 or the mass 3, which affects the dynamics of the slide 6 or the mass 3 relative to the hull 2.
  • the mechanism 4 comprises a plurality of kinematic chains 5 having respective slides 6, each having a degree of translatory freedom along the corresponding axis K.
  • the slides 6 are coupled to respective rotors 9 of corresponding electric motor-generators 8 of the boat 1, for example in ways already described above and, therefore, not repeated any further for the sake of brevity.
  • figure 6 shows three kinematic chains 5, in which the relative slides 6 are respectively coupled to the mass 3 by means of ball joints 30, for example forming part of the mechanism 4.
  • the kinematic chains 5 in figure 6 are all the same, although arranged differently from one another relative to the mass 3 and the hull 2.
  • the kinematic chain 5 comprises a guiding member, which carries the relative slide 6 and extends parallel to the corresponding axis K (the direction along which the guiding member extends could also coincide with the axis K).
  • the guiding member and the slide 6 are part of the two link elements already mentioned above, which are coupled to one another by means of the prismatic joint P.
  • the guiding member could be or comprise the screw 7 or, more generally, the rotatable member described above.
  • the guiding member is coupled to the hull 2 by means of a ball joint 31, for example forming part of the mechanism 4.
  • the slide 6 as well as the mechanism 10 and even the motor-generator 8 (the latter being coupled to the slide 6 through the mechanism 10) can oscillate or, anyway, move relative to the hull 2.
  • the kinematic chain 5, as shown in the specific non-limiting embodiment of figure 6 includes the ball joints 30, 31 as well as the prismatic joint P defining the coupling between the slide 6 and the guiding member.
  • the kinematic chain 5 has no other joints.
  • the kinematic chain 5 comprises or is defined by an arm extendible along the axis, wherein the extendible arm has a base portion, defined by the guiding member, and a portion actually extendible along the axis K relative to the base portion.
  • the actually extendible portion is defined by the slide 6.
  • the extendible arm has two ends respectively coupled to the mass 3 and to the hull 2 by means of the ball joints 30, 31.
  • the kinematic chain 5 is one of the three serial branches (the other two being defined by the other two kinematic chains 5) of the mechanism 4, which has a parallel kinematic configuration, where the mass 3 constitutes the platform shared by the three branches.
  • branches could also be available in a number other than three and could not necessarily be all the same, as long as the mechanism 4 remains suitable for suspending the mass 3 and comprises the slide 6.
  • the boat 1 is provided with one or more non-shown "foils”, i.e. plates or wings that are fixed or movable relative to the hull 2 and are designed to convert the resistance to advancement offered by water into a bearing load on the hull 2.
  • the bearing load allows the hull 2 to be lifted beyond the free surface of the water, so that the hull 2 can substantially glide above the water surface with the support of the "foils".
  • the hull 2 moves relative to the suspended mass 3, so that there is a relative motion, which, in the ideal case, could be of a periodic oscillatory nature, between the hull 2 and the mass 3.
  • the relative motion corresponds to a translatory motion of the slide 6 along the axis K.
  • the translatory motion corresponds to the component along the axis K of the relative motion.
  • the translatory motion can be of a periodic reciprocating type. In particular, this depends on the orientation of the axis K and on the operating conditions of the boat 1.
  • the slide 6 would have the reciprocating translatory motion, which would thus follow the periodicity of the periodic oscillatory component.
  • the relative motion is not ideally periodic, but can still be represented in a frequency domain as a composition of several harmonic contributions.
  • the movement of the slide 6 relative to the hull 2 is still representable in a frequency domain, as well as in a time domain, and therefore has a spectrum in the frequency domain.
  • the translatory motion of the slide 6 can generally be of a reciprocating type, even if not ideally periodic.
  • the mechanism 10 transfers the reciprocating motion of the slide 6 to the rotor 9, which is caused to rotate around the rotor axis R with a single direction of rotation.
  • the rotation of the rotor 9 could be continuous, despite the reciprocating motion of the slide 6.
  • the motor-generator 8 can generate electrical energy through the rotation of the rotor 9, in particular in a continuous manner.
  • the generation of electrical energy corresponds to a torque that counters the rotation of the rotor 9; said torque is clearly transmitted to the slide 6 and to the mass 3, thereby countering the movement of the slide 6.
  • the torque countering the rotation of the rotor 9 can be limited, in general, to a maximum torque for various reasons, for example due to the size of the motor-generator 8 or on the basis of a control of the motor-generator 8 based on the actual energy needs of the boat 1.
  • the mass 3 is sufficiently large (namely, its value, for example expressed in kg), so that its inertia ensures that the slide 6, in particular for all the operating conditions of the boat 1, translates along the axis K overcoming the resistance of the frictions of the coupling to the guiding member, the frictions and inertias of the mechanism 10, the inertia of the rotor 9 and the maximum torque.
  • the mass 3 is sufficiently large to guarantee the dynamic balance of the rotor 9 under the action of the maximum torque contrary to the rotation of the rotor 9, in particular for all the operating conditions of the boat 1.
  • the angular speed of the rotor 9 is sufficient to ensure the generation of electrical energy by the motor-generator 8.
  • the simple use of the boat 1 can enable the generation of electrical energy through the motor-generator 8.
  • the electrical energy can directly be used to power the electrical utilities of the boat 1 or stored in one or more electrical energy storage devices, such as batteries, capacitors and the like.
  • the coupling with the prismatic joint P is particularly simple and effective, as well as enabling a solid construction of the mechanism 10 and the possibility of safely supporting the motor-generator 8.
  • boat 1 according to the invention can be subject to changes and variants, which, though, do not go beyond the scope of protection set forth in the appended claims.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Transmission Devices (AREA)

Abstract

A boat (1) includes a hull (2), a first mechanism (4) coupled to the hull (2) and comprising a mass (3) suspended relative to the hull (2) by at least one kinematic chain (5) comprising at least one slide (6) with a translatory degree of freedom along a first straight axis (K), an electric motor-generator (8), which comprises a rotor (9) rotating about a rotor axis (R) and is configured to convert a kinetic energy of a rotation of the rotor (9) into electrical energy, and a second mechanism (10) configured to transform a reciprocating translatory motion of the slide (6) along the first straight axis (K) into a corresponding rotation of the rotor (9) around the rotor axis (R) according to a single direction of rotation.

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102023000017685 filed on August 29, 2023 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
  • TECHNICAL FIELD
  • The invention relates to a boat, in particular a sailing boat, more in particular a racing boat.
  • PRIOR ART
  • Some racing boats are provided with a plurality of energy-consuming devices, such as an engine, hydraulic actuators, charging devices for charging batteries and the like.
  • Usually, these devices are powered by energy produced by an internal combustion engine on board the boat.
  • The engine, in turn, is powered by fossil fuels.
  • This aspect leads to some drawbacks, including the emission of pollutants produced by the combustion of fossil fuel and the sizing of the devices closely related to the amount of fuel on board the boat.
  • Therefore, the aforementioned drawbacks need to be eliminated, preferably in a simple and reliable fashion.
  • More specifically, there is a need to identify alternative energy sources, without the emission of combustion products.
  • An object of the invention is to fulfil at least one of the needs discussed above.
  • DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
  • Said object is reached by a boat as defined in claim 1.
  • The dependent claims define special embodiments of the invention.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention will be described, in order to allow the latter to be better understood, by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
    • figure 1 is a side view of a boat according to the invention,
    • figure 2 is a schematic view of an energy recovery assembly of the boat, according to an embodiment,
    • figure 3 is a diagram of a transmission assembly belonging to the energy recovery assembly,
    • figure 4 is a front view of the transmission assembly of figure 3, and
    • figures 5, 6 are diagrams of the energy recovery assembly, according to further embodiments.
    EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
  • In figure 1, reference number 1 is used to indicate, as a whole, a boat.
  • The boat has a hull 2 extending longitudinally along an axis X, which coincides with the normal sailing direction of the boat.
  • In addition, the hull extends in width and height according to axes Y, Z, respectively, which are perpendicular to one another and relative to the axis X, with which they form a Cartesian coordinate system of orthogonal axes, in particular a right-handed one.
  • The coordinate system is fixed relative to the hull 2, whereby the axes X, Y, Z define the body axes of the hull 2, also commonly referred to as roll axis, pitch axis and yaw axis, respectively.
  • The boat 1 comprises a mass 3, which is suspended relative to the hull 2, namely movable relative to it with at least one or more degrees of freedom.
  • Preferably, the mass 3 is located at a longitudinal end (i.e. according to the axis X) of the boat 1, for example at the bow. More specifically, by dividing the length of the boat 1 into three equal parts along the axis X, the mass 3 is located in the area of the last third towards the bow of the boat 1. This is not in any case limiting, so that the mass 3 could still be placed differently along the hull 2.
  • In order to suspend the mass 3, the boat 1 comprises a mechanism 4, which, in turn, comprises a kinematic chain 5, which couples the mass 3 to the hull 2, while enabling a relative movement of the mass 3 relative to the hull 2.
  • Therefore, the mass 3 is suspended relative to the hull by the kinematic chain 5.
  • The mechanism 4 is coupled to the hull 2 and comprises the mass 3.
  • The kinematic chain 5 comprises at least one slide or carriage 6 having a translatory degree of freedom along a straight axis K.
  • The mass 3 could be fixed relative to the slide 6 (as, for example, in the embodiments of figures 2 and 5), although not necessarily; in fact, the mass 3 could also be more generally coupled to the slide 6 (as, for example, in the embodiment of figure 6), so that a relative movement of the mass 3 relative to the hull 2 is in any case transmitted to the slide 6.
  • More in detail, the kinematic chain 5 comprises two link elements, one of them being the slide 6 and the other one being a member having at least a guiding function for guiding or forcing the slide 6 to move along the axis K.
  • The link elements are coupled to one another by means of a coupling conceptually defining a prismatic joint P, i.e. a joint that enables the translatory degree of freedom of one of the link elements relative to the other link element.
  • For example, the other link element could conceptually be a screw 7, whereby the slide 6 comprises or is defined by a nut screw.
  • Therefore, the screw 7 and the slide 6 define a nut-screw coupling or system. In other words, the coupling that defines the prismatic joint P is a nut-screw coupling or system. Conveniently, the screw 7 and the slide 6 are part of a ball screw. The ball screw comprises rolling bodies between the screw 7 and the slide 6, so that the coupling between the screw 7 and the slide 6 takes place indirectly by means of the rolling bodies, which are in contact with both the screw 7 and the slide 6 in respective diametrically opposite points.
  • The nut-screw coupling implies that the translation of the slide 6 along the axis K corresponds to a rotation of the screw 7 around its own axis, in this case coinciding with the axis K.
  • The screw 7 defines, more in general, a member rotatable around its own axis and coupled to the slide 6 so as to rotate around its axis according to opposite directions of rotation (clockwise and counterclockwise) respectively when the slide 6 translates according to opposite directions along the axis K, namely in response to translations of the slide 6 according to opposite directions along the axis K.
  • In fact, many known mechanisms can be considered as an alternative to the coupling between the screw 7 and the slide 6, whereby the translations of the slide 6 in the two possible opposite directions respectively cause the rotation of a generic member rotatable around its own axis according to opposite directions of rotation.
  • The boat 1 further comprises at least one electric motor-generator 8. The motor-generator 8 comprises a rotor 9 rotatable around a rotor axis R. The motor-generator 8 is configured to convert a kinetic energy associated with a rotation of the rotor 9 (actually, the kinetic energy of the rotation of the rotor 9) into electrical energy.
  • The electrical energy produced by the motor-generator 8 can be stored in a power storage device of the boat 1, such as a battery, or also be directly used to power the electric utilities of the boat 1.
  • The rotor 9 is coupled to the slide 6 so as to rotate in response to the translation of the slide 6.
  • More in detail, the boat 1 or the mechanism 4 comprises a further mechanism or sub-mechanism 10, the coupling between the screw 7 (or, more in general, the aforementioned rotatable member) and the slide 6 being part thereof. The mechanism 10 is configured to transform a reciprocating translatory motion of the slide 6 along the axis K into a corresponding rotation, in particular a continuous rotation, of the rotor 9 around the axis R according to one single direction of rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • In other words, thanks to the mechanism 10, a first translation of the slide 6, followed by a second translation of the slide 6 in the opposite direction relative to the first translation, causes, as a whole, a rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise, of the rotor 9 according to the single direction of rotation, i.e. without the latter changing with the shift from the first translation to the second translation.
  • Therefore, using still other words, the mechanism 10 is configured to transform translations of the slide 6 according to opposite directions along the axis K into a corresponding rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise, of the rotor 9 according to the single direction of rotation, i.e. without the latter changing with the shift between the translations.
  • In this sense, the term "continuous" refers precisely to the absence of a reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor 9 due to the reversal of the direction of translation of the slide 6 shifting from the first translation to the second translation. Therefore, the term "continuous" should not be understood, in particular, in the restrictive sense that the angular speed of the rotor 9 cannot in any case be zero at one or more moments in time.
  • Hence, the rotor 9 is coupled to the slide 6 through the mechanism 10.
  • Figure 3 shows a particular example of a portion of the mechanism 10.
  • The mechanism 10 comprises the screw 7 or, more in general, the rotatable member and two transmissions 11, 12 arranged in parallel and respectively configured to transmit the rotations of the screw 7 to the rotor 9.
  • The transmissions 11, 12 are configured to couple the rotatable member (or the screw 7) to the rotor by respectively transmitting rotations of the rotatable member according to the two possible opposite directions of rotation, thereby causing the rotor 9 to rotate around the rotor axis R according to said single direction of rotation of the rotor 9 in response to both rotations of the rotatable member according to the two opposite directions of rotation thereof.
  • In other words, the transmission 11 is configured so that a rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to a first direction of rotation is transmitted to the rotor 9 as a rotation of the latter around the axis R according to the single direction of rotation. Hence, the transmission 11 is configured to cause the rotor 9 to rotate according to the single direction of rotation in response to the rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to the first direction of rotation.
  • Furthermore, the transmission 12 is configured so that a rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to a second direction of rotation contrary to the first direction of rotation is transmitted to the rotor 9 as a rotation of the latter around the axis R according to the single direction of rotation. Hence, the transmission 12 is configured to cause the rotor 9 to rotate according to the single direction of rotation in response to the rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member) according to the second direction of rotation.
  • More in detail, the transmissions 11, 12 comprise respective decoupling devices 13, 14 respectively configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 (or, more in general, from the rotatable member) by means of the respective transmissions 11, 12 when the screw 7 rotates according to the second and the first direction of rotation.
  • Therefore, the decoupling devices 13, 14 are configured to interrupt the respective couplings between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 (or, more in general, the rotatable member) by means of the respective transmissions 11, 12, respectively, when the screw 7 (or, more in general, the rotatable member) rotates according to the second and the first direction of rotation.
  • In other words, the decoupling device 13 is configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 through the transmission 11, namely to interrupt the coupling created by the transmission 11 between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 (while the rotor 9 and the screw 7 can remain coupled through the transmission 12), when the screw 7 rotates according to the second direction of rotation.
  • On the other hand, the decoupling device 14 is configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 through the transmission 12, namely to interrupt the coupling created by the transmission 12 between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 (while the rotor 9 and the screw 7 can remain coupled through the transmission 11), when the screw 7 rotates according to the first direction of rotation.
  • Each one of the decoupling devices 13, 14, independently of the other one, could be or comprise a device with an automatic decoupling function, such as a free wheel, or an engagement device, for example a tooth engagement or a clutch engagement, controllable to be selectively engaged or disengaged as a function of the rotation of the screw 7 (or, more in general, of the rotatable member).
  • For example, the engagement device could be engaged only when the angular speed of the screw 7 or the corresponding translation speed of the slide 6 exceeds a predetermined threshold, namely the engagement device would thus be disengaged whenever the angular speed of the screw 7 or the corresponding translation speed of the slide 6 is equal to or less than the threshold.
  • When the engagement device is disengaged, the coupling between the rotor 9 and the screw 7 through the corresponding one of the transmissions 11, 12 is interrupted. On the other hand, when the engagement device is engaged, the same coupling is restored.
  • This could be advantageous as it would prevent the rotor 9 from being slowed down, for example, by a slowing down of the slide 6, when, instead, the rotor 9 could have had sufficient inertia to rotate faster than it would have rotated if coupled to the slide 6.
  • Clearly, the engagement devices of the decoupling devices 13, 14 can respectively be engaged only when the screw 7 rotates according to the first and the second direction, respectively.
  • The boat 1 can comprise a control unit (not shown) for controlling the engagement device as a function of one or more quantities corresponding to or indicative of the angular speed of the screw 7 or the speed of translation of the slide 6. The quantities can be acquired by the control unit through special transducers configured to detect the quantities.
  • According to the specific non-limiting embodiment of figure 3, the mechanism 10 comprises a rack 15 coupled to the screw 7 so as to translate according to opposite directions in response to the rotations according to opposite directions of the screw 7.
  • For example, the mechanism 10 can comprise a pinion 16 fixed to the screw 7 and configured to couple the screw 7 to the rack 15. The pinion 16 specifically meshes with the rack 15.
  • The transmissions 11, 12 comprise respective gear wheels 17, 18, which mesh with the rack 15 on two opposite sides of the rack 15, so that the gear wheels 17, 18 rotate in opposite directions.
  • The transmissions 11, 12 comprise two further gear wheels 19, 20, which are arranged downstream of the respective decoupling devices 13, 14 and rotate in the same direction as the wheels 17, 18, respectively, when coupled to the latter by means of the decoupling devices 13, 14.
  • The wheels 19, 20 both mesh with a gear wheel 21 of the motor-generator 8 forming two external gears; the gear wheel 21 is fixed relative to the rotor 9.
  • The decoupling devices 13, 14 are both configured to decouple the rotor 9 from the screw 7 by means of the respective transmissions 11, 12, respectively, when the wheels 17, 18 rotate according to a same specific direction of rotation, for example clockwise or counterclockwise.
  • More precisely, in order to perform their function, the decoupling devices 13, 14 decouple the wheels 19, 20 from the wheels 17, 18, respectively.
  • Therefore, thanks to the decoupling devices 13, 14, to the external meshing of the wheels 19, 20 with the wheel 21 and to the fact that the wheels 17, 18 always rotate in opposite directions, the wheel 21 and, hence, the rotor 9 can only rotate by means of a single one of the transmissions 11, 12 and according to one single direction of rotation, precisely equal to the aforementioned specific direction.
  • Indeed, the decoupling devices 13, 14 allow only one of the respective wheels 19, 20 to rotate and only in the direction contrary to the aforementioned specific direction.
  • More precisely, for example, if the wheel 17 were to rotate in the specific direction, it would be decoupled from the wheel 19 by means of the decoupling device 13, while the wheel 18 could remain coupled to the wheel 20 by means of the decoupling device 14, since the wheel 18 would rotate in the opposite direction relative to the specific direction, i.e. contrary to the wheel 17.
  • By so doing, the wheel 19 would remain idle while the wheel 20 would rotate in the opposite direction to the specific direction, i.e. in the same direction as the wheel 18. The external meshing between the wheels 20, 21 then causes the wheel 21 to rotate, therefore, in the specific direction.
  • Similarly, if the wheel 18 were to rotate in the specific direction, it would be decoupled from the wheel 20 by means of the decoupling device 14, while the wheel 17 could remain coupled to the wheel 19 by means of the decoupling device 13, since the wheel 17 would rotate in the opposite direction relative to the specific direction, i.e. contrary to the wheel 18.
  • By so doing, the wheel 20 would remain idle while the wheel 19 would rotate in the opposite direction to the specific direction, i.e. in the same direction as the wheel 17. The external meshing between the wheels 20, 21 then causes the wheel 21 to still rotate in the specific direction.
  • The mechanism 10 schematically shown in figure 3 is one of the possible specific mechanisms conceivable for transforming a reciprocating translatory motion of the slide 6 into a rotation of the rotor 9 according to a single rotation direction. For instance, the mechanism 10 could for example comprise a typical connecting rod-crank mechanism, whose properties are well known and do not need to be described in detail.
  • According to the embodiments of figures 2 and 5, the axis K is fixed relative to the hull 2.
  • In particular, the screw 7 or, more in general, the rotatable member is supported by the hull 2 in a rotary manner around its own axis, specifically coinciding with the axis K, for example by means of support elements 23, such as bearings.
  • For example, the support elements 23 could include two radial bearings and an axial bearing or two oblique rolling bearings mounted in an X- or O-shaped configuration.
  • More in particular, in figure 2, the axis K is parallel to one between the axis X and the axis Y, specifically the axis Y.
  • In the specific example of figure 5, the axis K is parallel to the axis Z.
  • In figure 5, the slide 6 or the mass 3 is suspended against the action of the force of gravity by means of an elastic element 24, in particular a spring. Specifically, the slide 6 is suspended relative to the hull 2 by means of the elastic element 24.
  • Furthermore, the slide 6 or the mass 3 could also be suspended by means of a shock absorber, in addition or alternatively to the elastic element 24.
  • In general, elastic elements and/or shock absorbers can widely be used to couple the slide 6 or the mass 3 to any other component of the boat 1, relative to which the slide 6 or the mass 3 is movable.
  • The other component could be chosen from those described herein or could be any other component that may not be described in detail.
  • Furthermore, the use of the elastic and/or shock-absorbing elements, in the ways just described above, can be considered in all the forms of implementation of this description or even more in general.
  • The coupling of the slide 6 or the mass 3 to another component by means of an elastic element and/or a shock absorber implies the existence of an elastic and/or damping reaction applied to the slide 6 or the mass 3, which affects the dynamics of the slide 6 or the mass 3 relative to the hull 2.
  • According to the embodiment of figure 6, the mechanism 4 comprises a plurality of kinematic chains 5 having respective slides 6, each having a degree of translatory freedom along the corresponding axis K.
  • The slides 6 are coupled to respective rotors 9 of corresponding electric motor-generators 8 of the boat 1, for example in ways already described above and, therefore, not repeated any further for the sake of brevity.
  • Indeed, the coupling of the slides 6 to the corresponding rotors 9 can take place by means of respective mechanisms 10, such as the mechanism 10 already described above.
  • In particular, figure 6 shows three kinematic chains 5, in which the relative slides 6 are respectively coupled to the mass 3 by means of ball joints 30, for example forming part of the mechanism 4.
  • The kinematic chains 5 in figure 6 are all the same, although arranged differently from one another relative to the mass 3 and the hull 2.
  • Therefore, only one of the kinematic chains 5 of figure 6 will be described, since features thereof specifically disclosed below can also apply to the other kinematic chains 5 or, more in general, to any other kinematic chain 5, such as those according to the embodiments of figures 2 and 5.
  • The kinematic chain 5 comprises a guiding member, which carries the relative slide 6 and extends parallel to the corresponding axis K (the direction along which the guiding member extends could also coincide with the axis K).
  • The guiding member and the slide 6 are part of the two link elements already mentioned above, which are coupled to one another by means of the prismatic joint P.
  • Therefore, the guiding member could be or comprise the screw 7 or, more generally, the rotatable member described above.
  • In particular, the guiding member is coupled to the hull 2 by means of a ball joint 31, for example forming part of the mechanism 4.
  • Therefore, the slide 6 as well as the mechanism 10 and even the motor-generator 8 (the latter being coupled to the slide 6 through the mechanism 10) can oscillate or, anyway, move relative to the hull 2.
  • The kinematic chain 5, as shown in the specific non-limiting embodiment of figure 6, includes the ball joints 30, 31 as well as the prismatic joint P defining the coupling between the slide 6 and the guiding member.
  • More specifically, although not necessarily, the kinematic chain 5 has no other joints.
  • In practice, the kinematic chain 5 comprises or is defined by an arm extendible along the axis, wherein the extendible arm has a base portion, defined by the guiding member, and a portion actually extendible along the axis K relative to the base portion. The actually extendible portion is defined by the slide 6. In particular, the extendible arm has two ends respectively coupled to the mass 3 and to the hull 2 by means of the ball joints 30, 31.
  • In the specific example of figure 6, the kinematic chain 5 is one of the three serial branches (the other two being defined by the other two kinematic chains 5) of the mechanism 4, which has a parallel kinematic configuration, where the mass 3 constitutes the platform shared by the three branches.
  • Alternatively, the branches could also be available in a number other than three and could not necessarily be all the same, as long as the mechanism 4 remains suitable for suspending the mass 3 and comprises the slide 6.
  • In general, an example of the operation of the boat 1 is the following.
  • More specifically, the boat 1 is provided with one or more non-shown "foils", i.e. plates or wings that are fixed or movable relative to the hull 2 and are designed to convert the resistance to advancement offered by water into a bearing load on the hull 2. The bearing load allows the hull 2 to be lifted beyond the free surface of the water, so that the hull 2 can substantially glide above the water surface with the support of the "foils".
  • Even when the hull 2 completely or almost emerges, the hull 2 is still subject to a plurality of differently oriented forces (for example, along the axes X, Y, Z).
  • These forces could have, at least in an ideal case, a module with a periodic trend over time with relatively low frequencies.
  • Thanks to these forces, the hull 2 moves relative to the suspended mass 3, so that there is a relative motion, which, in the ideal case, could be of a periodic oscillatory nature, between the hull 2 and the mass 3.
  • In general, the relative motion corresponds to a translatory motion of the slide 6 along the axis K. Precisely, the translatory motion corresponds to the component along the axis K of the relative motion.
  • In the case of a periodic oscillatory nature of the relative motion, the translatory motion can be of a periodic reciprocating type. In particular, this depends on the orientation of the axis K and on the operating conditions of the boat 1.
  • If the axis K were aligned with a periodic oscillatory component of the relative motion, then the slide 6 would have the reciprocating translatory motion, which would thus follow the periodicity of the periodic oscillatory component.
  • More in general, in a real case, the relative motion is not ideally periodic, but can still be represented in a frequency domain as a composition of several harmonic contributions.
  • Therefore, the movement of the slide 6 relative to the hull 2 is still representable in a frequency domain, as well as in a time domain, and therefore has a spectrum in the frequency domain.
  • However, the translatory motion of the slide 6 can generally be of a reciprocating type, even if not ideally periodic.
  • The mechanism 10 transfers the reciprocating motion of the slide 6 to the rotor 9, which is caused to rotate around the rotor axis R with a single direction of rotation. In particular, the rotation of the rotor 9 could be continuous, despite the reciprocating motion of the slide 6.
  • Hence, the motor-generator 8 can generate electrical energy through the rotation of the rotor 9, in particular in a continuous manner.
  • The generation of electrical energy corresponds to a torque that counters the rotation of the rotor 9; said torque is clearly transmitted to the slide 6 and to the mass 3, thereby countering the movement of the slide 6.
  • The torque countering the rotation of the rotor 9 can be limited, in general, to a maximum torque for various reasons, for example due to the size of the motor-generator 8 or on the basis of a control of the motor-generator 8 based on the actual energy needs of the boat 1.
  • Preferably, the mass 3 is sufficiently large (namely, its value, for example expressed in kg), so that its inertia ensures that the slide 6, in particular for all the operating conditions of the boat 1, translates along the axis K overcoming the resistance of the frictions of the coupling to the guiding member, the frictions and inertias of the mechanism 10, the inertia of the rotor 9 and the maximum torque.
  • In other words, preferably, the mass 3 is sufficiently large to guarantee the dynamic balance of the rotor 9 under the action of the maximum torque contrary to the rotation of the rotor 9, in particular for all the operating conditions of the boat 1.
  • In the aforesaid dynamic balance, the angular speed of the rotor 9 is sufficient to ensure the generation of electrical energy by the motor-generator 8.
  • Owing to the above, the advantages of the boat 1 are evident.
  • Indeed, thanks to the suspension of the mass 3 through the mechanism 4 and thanks to the mechanism 10, the simple use of the boat 1 can enable the generation of electrical energy through the motor-generator 8.
  • The electrical energy can directly be used to power the electrical utilities of the boat 1 or stored in one or more electrical energy storage devices, such as batteries, capacitors and the like.
  • The coupling with the prismatic joint P is particularly simple and effective, as well as enabling a solid construction of the mechanism 10 and the possibility of safely supporting the motor-generator 8.
  • Finally, the boat 1 according to the invention can be subject to changes and variants, which, though, do not go beyond the scope of protection set forth in the appended claims.
  • In particular, one or more of the various embodiments described and shown herein can be combined with one another or even be simply used together in the same boat 1.

Claims (7)

  1. Boat (1) comprising
    - a hull (2),
    - a first mechanism (4) coupled to the hull (2) and comprising a mass (3) suspended relative to the hull (2) by at least one kinematic chain (5) comprising at least one slide (6) having a translatory degree of freedom along a first straight axis (K),
    - an electric motor-generator (8), which comprises a rotor (9) rotating about a rotor axis (R) and is configured to convert a kinetic energy of a rotation of the rotor (9) into electrical energy, and
    - a second mechanism (10) configured to transform a reciprocating translatory motion of the slide (6) along the first straight axis (K) into a corresponding rotation of the rotor (9) around the rotor axis (R) according to a single direction of rotation.
  2. The boat according to claim 1, wherein the first straight axis (K) is fixed relative to the hull (2).
  3. The boat according to claim 1, wherein the kinematic chain (5) comprises a guiding member (7) extending parallel to the first straight axis (K), carrying the slide (6) movably along the first straight axis (K), and coupled to the hull (2) via a ball joint (31).
  4. The boat according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second mechanism (10) comprises
    - a member (7) rotatable about a second axis and coupled to the slide (6) so as to rotate about the second axis according to opposite directions of rotation respectively in response to translations of the slide (6) according to opposite directions along the first straight axis (K),
    - two transmissions (11, 12) arranged in parallel and configured to couple the rotatable member (7) to the rotor (9) respectively by transmitting rotations of the rotatable member (7) according to said opposite directions of rotation to the rotor (9), thereby bringing the rotor (9) into rotation about the rotor axis (R) according to said single direction of rotation in response to both rotations of the rotatable member (7) according to said opposite directions of rotation.
  5. The boat according to claim 4, wherein the transmissions (11, 12) comprise respective decoupling devices (13, 14) configured to interrupt the respective couplings between the rotor (9) and the rotatable member (7) via the respective transmissions (11, 12) respectively when the rotatable member (7) rotates according to a second direction and a first direction respectively defined by said opposite directions of rotation.
  6. The boat according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the decoupling devices (13, 14) comprises a free wheel or an engagement means controllable to be selectively disengaged as a function of the rotation of the rotatable member to interrupt the relative coupling between the rotor (9) and the rotatable member (7).
  7. The boat according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the rotatable member (7) and the slide (6) are part of a nut-screw system, such as a ball screw.
EP24195537.6A 2023-08-29 2024-08-21 Boat with an energy recovery apparatus from boat motion Pending EP4516663A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102023000017685A IT202300017685A1 (en) 2023-08-29 2023-08-29 VESSEL WITH A DEVICE FOR RECOVERING ENERGY FROM THE MOTION OF THE VESSEL

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4516663A1 true EP4516663A1 (en) 2025-03-05

Family

ID=88505487

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP24195537.6A Pending EP4516663A1 (en) 2023-08-29 2024-08-21 Boat with an energy recovery apparatus from boat motion

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4516663A1 (en)
AU (1) AU2024331225A1 (en)
IT (1) IT202300017685A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2025046397A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3774048A (en) * 1972-02-22 1973-11-20 D Hardingham Energy generating and storing assembly for marine structure
US4256971A (en) * 1979-11-16 1981-03-17 Rodney Griffith Wave and wind motion energy transducer
DE3340981A1 (en) * 1982-11-12 1984-05-17 John P. 92026 Escondido Calif. Marken DEVICE FOR CONVERTING THE STAMPING AND SLINGING MOVEMENTS OF A FLOATING SHIP BODY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
US20070084394A1 (en) * 2005-10-19 2007-04-19 Peter Gudmundson Power generation in watercraft

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3774048A (en) * 1972-02-22 1973-11-20 D Hardingham Energy generating and storing assembly for marine structure
US4256971A (en) * 1979-11-16 1981-03-17 Rodney Griffith Wave and wind motion energy transducer
DE3340981A1 (en) * 1982-11-12 1984-05-17 John P. 92026 Escondido Calif. Marken DEVICE FOR CONVERTING THE STAMPING AND SLINGING MOVEMENTS OF A FLOATING SHIP BODY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
US20070084394A1 (en) * 2005-10-19 2007-04-19 Peter Gudmundson Power generation in watercraft

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
GUIZZI GIUSEPPE LEO ET AL: "Preliminary study on a kinetic energy recovery system for sailing yachts", RENEWABLE ENERGY, vol. 62, 27 July 2013 (2013-07-27), pages 216 - 225, XP028740406, ISSN: 0960-1481, DOI: 10.1016/J.RENENE.2013.06.051 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT202300017685A1 (en) 2025-03-01
AU2024331225A1 (en) 2026-03-12
WO2025046397A1 (en) 2025-03-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8866314B2 (en) Method for operating a power rotary actuator and a power plant for carrying out said method
KR910000987B1 (en) Harmonic speed changer
CN104755801B (en) Gear mechanism, reducer and robot arm
CN106903712B (en) Two-degree-of-freedom collinear mechanical arm joint based on differential rope transmission
CN104723356B (en) A Soft Contact Joint Based on Dynamic and Static Blocks
US6899308B2 (en) Passive gravity-compensating mechanisms
EP4516663A1 (en) Boat with an energy recovery apparatus from boat motion
CN106678360A (en) Car, gearbox of car and motor gear-shifting system and unit
CN222609666U (en) Output assembly of joint module of robot
Hirose et al. Development of a light weight torque limiting M-Drive actuator for hyper-redundant manipulator Float Arm
Park et al. Safe joint mechanism based on passive compliance for collision safety
CN101482162B (en) Forward sleepless transmission device and method
US2984124A (en) Inertia mass crank transmission
CN102767592A (en) Engagement type gear reducer with small tooth number difference
CN110319169B (en) One-way power conversion device and power system having the same
KR101886387B1 (en) Rotating apparatus capable of rapid accelerating having high torque
CN104791426A (en) Harmonic gear transmission mechanism
CN210770095U (en) Novel stepless speed changer
CN102678428A (en) Movable wave energy absorption and conversion device
CN202646586U (en) Elastic buffer device
CN201407328Y (en) Two torque continuously variable transmission
Kapelevich et al. Self-locking gears: Design and potential applications
CN115447741B (en) Pitching adjusting device driven by crank-link mechanism for underwater robot
US20110186384A1 (en) Motor and method of operation
SU1762046A1 (en) Wave gear

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION HAS BEEN PUBLISHED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20250901