FR2602737A1 - Device for propelling small- and medium-tonnage ships using the wind without sails - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for propelling small- and medium-tonnage yachts and commercial ships using the wind without sails. The device is characterised in that it includes an assembly which is electro-wind-driven by a propellor shaft. This assembly is composed of four main parts which are: a. The wind engine; b. The alternators; c. The current rectifier; d. The electric motor. The wind engine, which has vertical blades, drives the alternators which supply the electric power to a rectifier. The latter transforms the alternating current into direct current, and supplies a propellor shaft electric motor.

Description

The present invention relates to a PROPULSION device
PLEASURE AND TRADE VESSELS USING WIND
WITHOUT SAILS.

 The propulsion of pleasure craft by wind force, transformed into propulsive electricity & BR <using a wind turbine, offers many advantages compared to a traditional sailboat. This form of propulsion can also be extended to Commercial buildings of small and medium tonnagc, for the sake of profitability. This is a topical problem nowadays, faced with foreign competition.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART t
No device of this kind has been the subject of a patent filing to date.

 It would seem that the propulsion of a ship, with the help of the force of the wind, not equipped with sails, has at the present time made the subject of no thorough industrial research. Presumably because of the difficulty fundamental to transform wind energy into propellable energy.

 The problem is traced rigidly. The wind being the statement, the propulsive electric energy is the solution. Between these two ends, determining a reliable apparatus, is not a thing.

 A single inventor approaches it, alluding to "battery charges" using the wind that can propel a ship in calm weather. Patent No. 2,343,355 dated March 2, 19? 6.

ADVANTAGES COMPARED TO TRADITIONAL VOLLER: 1) Maneuvering of the boat by one man.

2) Steering from the inside in heavy weather.

3) Absence of lodging and crew "on recall" 4) Headwind navigation without problems.

5) Weight gain of several tonnes. (Elimination of ballast.) 6) Space saving on board. (No masts, rigging, ect ...) 7) Electricity production, greater than the on-board demand.

 This form of navigation is of interest to many boaters.

 Indeed, the operation of the sails, sheets, crew winches "as a reminder" ect ... does not allow a "cool" navigation except for the "sheet eaters" who find there material for physical expenditure.

 In addition, the majority of boaters prefer motor piling, but this specialty is expensive. The navigation by electro-ventilated propulsion, presents these advantages for free, but without however reflecting the powers of the internal combustion engines. It goes without saying, that the electric propulsive energy, can never compete with the "big cubes" thermal, but quite simply replace the sail when sailing.

PRESENTATION OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INVENTION:
This olectropowered nautical propulsion system, called DELAVENT FRANCE (Trademark and Patent registered), consists of four main parts.

1) the wind turbine
2) Alternators (two in number)
3) the current rectifier
4) the universal type electric motor.

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION OF EACH OF THESE PARTS:
The wind turbine, as its name suggests, is the only part of the device that is not inside the ship.Subject & the force of the wind, which always makes it turn in the same direction, whatever the direction of this, it is a vertical drum 2 meters 10 high from the bridge, and 1 i 20 in diameter.

 It is made up of 20 blades, joined vertically around the drum area.

 This axis crosses the bridge and drives in the hold using a gearbox, two alternators.

 Those are connected to a rectifier which supplies direct current to a universal electric motor, which drives the propeller shaft, via a transfer box.

Note that the propeller is of the "variable pitch" type
A switching power supply makes it possible to "dose" the amperage for idling. The non-consumed current is then directed to buffer batteries.

Reverse gear is obtained, i.e. t
a) by reversing the polarity in the production of
ongoing.

b) by reversing the inclination of the propeller blades
in alternating current production (produc
direct operation in the event of deactivation
of the AC rectifier.)
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: 1) THE WIND TURBINE:
the Wind turbine is a vertical drum, made in
kelvar (registered trademark) molded in one piece, of
2 m 10 high from the bridge, and a diameter of 1 m 20.

It consists of 20 vertical blades, inclined at their
base outwards and downwards, to allow
the rapid evacuation of sea packages.

For safety, this drum is surrounded
a cage of fine and rigid mesh of O m 003 of
diameter, with O m 10 mesh, atti treated
marine corrosion.

 In addition, in anticipation of a more or less long srrst of the boat (repairs, wintering) a cover in waterproof plastic fabric 2m 20 high and 1m 30 in diameter, open over the entire height to the center of the circle, above, resealable with a cord, cap the wind turbine cage on any height.

 In addition, a mechanical blockage can be achieved on the wind turbine, by crossing the axis of the latter under the bridge, by fitting a manual lever.

 This case, in addition to ensuring the protection of the wind turbine prevents it from forcing on eon axis blocked by the lever by its role of windbreaker.

2) THE BLADES:
The drum is made up of 20 vertical blades, each of the following dimensions: external height 1m 93, internal height 1.80 width Om 58, thickness Om005, space between the bridge and the bottom of the blades 0. 02. They are integral with the tube forming axis (the soul of the drum) and have an opening to the wind of 18 degrees. Each blade undergoes in its orientation, a delay of 75 degrees from its point of attachment on the axis.

3) THE AXIS:
This, with a total length of 3m10, protrudes down under the bridge of Om80X considering that it has a thickness of 0m20. The setting "out of water" of this axis, is ensured by a cable gland located at 0m40 above the bridge.

 This axis, placed on bearings Q needles, arranged horizontally at its base, is maintained at the top, by a circular cage of Om 10 of hsutor, provided on its inner periphery with bearings with vertically arranged sockets, arranged in the removable upper upright the frame of the wind turbine drum (s).

4) THE BATI / t
This cage is held by a frame of U-shaped aluminum beams, Om10 wide and Om01 thick, fixed in the hold and crossing the bridge. This biti goes around the drum. In the case of twin electric motors , the upper, movable upright extends to frame the second wind turbine, each placed on either side of the ship's borders, aft.

NOTE: The material used for the construction of the drum must obey two technical imperatives: 1) Lightness (to move at the slightest breath) 2) Resistance (to waves and wind gusts)
II - THE ALTERNATORS:
Two alternators of the "marine" type with a nominal power of 500 amperes at 48 volts, fixed in the hold, driven by a gearbox driven by the wind turbine, provide 550 A / h & 3.80O revolutions per minute.

 For their cooling, these alternators have a carcass siletted in their length and are fitted with an axis start fan.

III - THE RECTIFIER:
The marine type AC rectifier is designed to permanently rectify 1200 A / h at 48 volts AC. It dissipates 10% of energy in heat. It restores approximately 1.000 A / h rented 48 volts Elii CONTINUOUS.

This device is fitted with the following accessories W a) An electronic device allowing either to charge
the batteries during production of electrical energy not completely consumed by the engine, that is to take from them, an additional production to also supply the electric motor of propeller shaft in case of weak wind.

b) An automatic circuit breaker which, in the event of a fault or overheating of the rectifier, isolates it and directs the production of the alternators directly on the engine driving the propeller shaft.

c) Forced ventilation, the start and stop of which is controlled by an electronic thermostat with two heat circuits, both fixed on the top of the rectifier.

IV = THE ELECTRIC MOTOR:
the universal type electric motor,
construction of "marine" with a power of 50 Kw / h
at 48 volts, turns at around 6,000 rpm
wind xoyen.Il drives through a box of
transfer equipped with a "neutral" propeller shaft.

This motor is fin in the direction of its
length on its carcass, and is provided with a fan in
start of axis.

The propeller is of type "& not variable
for optimum traction profitability, and for the
reverse operation in power supply
production of alternating electric current.

This propulsion system for ships
small and medium tonnage, using the wind, without sails
by propulsive electricity production through-
of an electro-winded group, described above, is
more particularly intended for pleasure boating.

Claims (10)

1) Propulsion device for pleasure craft and  small and medium tonnage trade using the wind without  sails, characterized in that it comprises, by tree  propeller, an electro-ventilated propulsion unit. 2) Device according to the preceding claim, this group  electro-windy is characterized by its composition in  four main parts, which are s  a) the wind turbine  b) alternators  c) a current rectifier  d) a universal electric motor. 3) Device according to the preceding claim cited in 8)  characterized by a wind turbine made in Kelvar (brand  molded in one piece, from 2 to 10 high to  from the bridge and 1 m 20 in diameter.  composed of 20 vertical blades, inclined at their base  outwards, surrounded by a protective grid  and can be covered at the stop by a tarpaulin  cylindrical plastic, open on the side. 4) Device according to claims 2 & 3 characterized  by the fasteners of the axis of the wind turbine 3  At the top, it is locked in a circular cage  of the diameter of the axis, of O X 10 in height, provided on  its internal circumference, needle bearings, dipo-  born vertically, arranged in the upper upright  removable from the frame surrounding the wind turbine.  seated horizontally.  rests anally on needle bearings available  of the axis (1 i 40 su total) crosses the bridge and  Below, characterized in that the internal part  based on this, a reduction box.  This axis is characterized in that it entails 5) Device according to claims 2 & 3 * characterized  by the orientation of the blades of the wind turbine at 75 degrees  behind, relative to their point of attachment to the  axis of the wind turbine.  O i 02.  height of space between deck and bottom of blades S  lower: 1.80m, width Om 58, thickness; O m 005,  following g exterior height 1 1 m 93, interior height  Also characterized by their dimensions 6) Device according to claims 1-2-5, characterized  by two "marine" type alternators fixed in the  bilge, with a nominal power of 500 amperes under 48  volts each, siletted in their length, provided with a  fan at the start of the shaft and driven by the axis  wind turbine using a gearbox  tion. 7) Device according to claims 2 @ 6, characterized  by an alternating current rectifier, with a capacity  rated at 1,200 A / h at 48 volts, equipped and characteristic  dried by an electronic device, allow either  charge the batteries, or take from them  additional electrical production for power  ter the electric motor of propeller shaft  weak wind. 8) Device according to claim 7, characterized by  the installation of forced ventilation on the redre  ssor whose start and stop thereof  are controlled by an electronic thermostat & two  heat sensors both fixed in the part  high rectifier. 9) Device according to claims 7 & 8 character-  dried by the equipment of an automatic circuit breaker  on the rectifier, which in the event of a pin or overheating  ffe of it, isolates it and directs the production of  alternators directly on the electric motor  driving the propeller shaft. 10) Device according to claims 2 - 6 - 7 - 9  characterized by a universal electric motor of  "marine" type with a nominal power of 50 Kw / h  under 48 volts, finned parallel to its axis, fitted  a fan at the beginning of the tree, powered by the  rectifier for direct current production, and  directly by the alternators in production of  alternating current, characterized in that it drives  via a transfer box, equipped  of a "neutral" propeller shaft. Characterized in  what this one is of type "not variable" for  ability to backtrack when  AC power supply to the motor.