GB2403461A

GB2403461A - A waterborne craft

Info

Publication number: GB2403461A
Application number: GB0315570A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ferid Hickmet
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-07-03
Filing date: 2003-07-03
Publication date: 2005-01-05
Also published as: GB0315570D0

Abstract

A waterborne craft, primarily for sporting or leisure usage, has a modular wind-powered screw propulsion system, the body or hull of the craft being adapted such that the propulsion wind powered module may be releasibly retained with respect to the craft body or hull. The craft further includes a manually operable drive comprising a free wheel cycle drive. The wind-turbines comprising vanes.

Description

240346 1

WATERBORNE CRAFT

This invention relates to waterborne craft and is particularly concerned with propulsion systems for such craft.

According to the invention, a waterborne craft has the features specified in the claims clauses accompanying this Application and, accordingly, the content of said clauses and the inter-relationships therebetween are to be regarded, notionally, as being here set out, also.

Five embodiments of waterborne craft, four being close variants one of another, and each in accordance with the invention, are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a pictorial representation of a first embodiment of a waterborne craft equipped with a wind-driven modular propulsion system; Fig.2 is a pictorial representation of a second embodiment of a waterborne craft so equipped; Fig.3 is a pictorial representation of the exterior of the modular propulsion system for the craft illustrated in Fig.2; Fig.4 is a pictorial representation of the transmission of the modular propulsion system of either of the craft shown in Figs.1 and 2; Fig.5 shows, pictorially, an exploded view of the craft of Fig.2; Fig.6 shows the craft of Fig.1 or Fig.2 in broken side elevation; Fig.7 is a pictorial representation of the exterior of a third embodiment of a craft in accordance with the invention; Fig.8 is a pictorial representation of two transmission paths present in the propulsion module of the craft of Fig.7; Fig.9 is a pictorial representation of a fourth variant propulsion system: Fig.10 is a pictorial representation showing the exterior, primarily of the propulsion module, of a fifth embodiment of a craft in accordance with the invention; and, Fig.11 is a pictorial representation of the longitudinal section primarily through the propulsion module of Fig.10.

Waterborne craft in accordance with the invention each have a craft frame part 11, in the examples the body, or hull, of the craft; and a modular wind-driven screw propulsion system 13, being a module readily releasibly coupled to said craft frame part 11.

More particularly, the modular wind-driven propulsion system 13 comprises: a propulsion system module frame part 15; first and second wind-driven rotors 17a, 17b, respectively, supported upstanding in bearing means (not illustrated) from said module frame part 15; an output rotary drive shaft 19 supported in bearing means (not shown) from said module frame part 15 with the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft 19 perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the wind-driven rotors 17a, 17b; craft screw-propulsion means 21 rotatable by rotation of the output shaft 19; and, a transmission 23 (Fig.4) which serves to couple the two wind- driven rotors 17a, 17b, to the output rotary drive shaft 19.

It is central to the invention, in all embodiments that the craft frame part 11 and the module frame part 15 be mutually arranged, constructed, and adapted such as to enable the modular wind-driven propulsion system 13 to be coupled readily to and to be decoupled readily from the craft frame part 11.

Each of the wind-driven rotors 17a, 17b, comprises an individual shaft 25 and, secured to said shaft 25 and projecting outwardly therefrom at substantially equi-spaeed intervals therearound, respective ones of a set, three in the example, of elongate vanes 27.

The craft frame part 11 has an external closed three- dimensional surface 29, part of the closed surface 29 being in form complementary to that of the boundary surface 31 of a passage 33 which communicates between upper and lower surface portions 41a, 41b, respectively, of the closed surface 29; and the passage boundary surface 31 and the modular wind- driven propulsion system 13 are mutually configured such that the propulsion module 13 is accommodated, at least in part, within said passage 33 with the module frame part 15 in stable contact with said passage boundary surface 31.

The craft frame 11 and the module frame part 15 are secured together by readily releasible coupling means (not shown). Suitably the aforesaid coupling means may comprise nut and bolt fixings, but releasibly secure latch mechanisms might be preferred.

The craft frame part 11 is a hollow water-tight moulded plastic article, and, in addition to the through passage 33, is formed with a well portion 35, to accommodate the user of the craft.

Other features (not illustrated) include steering gear for the craft.

In the craft of Figs. 1, 2, and 7, the propulsion module 13 more particularly comprises: outrigger means 37 having, dependent therefrom, bilateral pontoons, 39a, 39b, respectively; and the outrigger means 37 carries the first and second wind-driven rotors 17a, 17b, upstanding from the upper surface 41a thereof.

In the arrangement of Fig.1, the outrigger means 37 comprises a unitary spar 43 connected to the craft frame part 11, the spar 43 extending symmetrically to either side of the craft frame part 11, and the individual wind-driven rotors 17a, 17b, are releasibly retained by latch means (not shown) at the locations of the pontoons 39a, 39b, respectively.

In the crafts of Figs.2 and 7, the outrigger means 37 comprises two individual spar parts 47a, 47b, respectively, hingedly connected to the craft frame part 11 at a hinge axis X---X extending in the fore and aft direction of the craft.

Latch means (not shown) serve to lock the spar parts 47a, 47b, against pivotal motion about the hinge axis X---X.

Following unlatching of the wind driven rotors 17a, 17b, release of the last mentioned latch means enables the spar parts 47a, 47b, to be folded together for the purpose of easier stowage in transport of the craft.

In the arrangements of Figs.1 and 2, the propulsion system for the craft is wind driven, solely, and the transmission (Fig.4) for the craft comprises: a two-stack toothed pulley 49 coupled to the output rotary drive shaft 19 by gearing such, for example, as meshing bevel gears 51a, 51b, respectively; and drive is conveyed to the pulley 49 from the wind-driven rotors 17a, 17b, by means of toothed belts 53a, 53b, respectively, In the arrangement of Fig.7, however, the craft incorporates, also, a manually operable drive means 55, and a transmission 57 (Fig.8) serving to couple the martial drive means 55 to the rotary drive shaft 19. In the example, and as may be preferred, the manually operable drive means 55 comprises a free-wheel pedal cycle drive 59. Whilst the transmission from the pedal cycle drive 59 may be contrived as an independent propulsion transmission, the cycle drive transmission 57 and the transmission from the wind driven rotor means to the rotary drive shaft 19, preferably, and as shown, share certain transmission elements. The transmission of Fig.8 comprises, further, a brake/clutch device 61 remotely manually operable, typically, by means of a cable (not shown), this in order to engage and disengage the wind- driven rotors, at will, should the need arise.

In the propulsion system of Fig.9, the module comprises in addition to the transmission path from the wind-driven rotors 25, a transmission path from an electric generator/drive motor unit 63, the latter unit being connected to a battery 65. With the brake/clutch device 61 operable to couple the wind-driven rotors 25 to the rotary output shaft 19, rotation of the shaft 67 drives not only the shaft 19 but also drives the unit 63, and the unit 63 serving in this mode to generate a battery charging current. In the event of loss of wind to drive their rotors 25, the brake/clutch device 61 may be disabled, and unit being now in a mode such as to serve as a motor serving to drive the output shaft 19.

The modular propulsion systems depicted in Figs.4, 8, and 9 may be described as inboard propulsion systems. The propulsion system shown in Fig 10 and 11, however, constitutes an outboard unit comprising a wind-driven module 13 having a single wind driven rotor 17, the frame part 15 of the module being coupled to the frame part 11 of the craft at its stern, being, typically, releasibly secured to the transom 69 of the craft. In the example, a channel member 71, which, in use, is received by the transom 69, is pivotal about a vertical axis Y---Y fixed in the craft frame part; and clamping bolts 73 serve to secure the channel member 71 and, hence, the wind-driven module 13 to the craft frame part 11.

In the example, the housing of the module has a tiller part 75 integral therewith. Means for imparting control movements remotely to the outboard unit might be provided, however.

The transmission (Fig.10) from the wind driven rotor 17 to the output rotary drive shaft 19 comprises a vertical shaft 77, journalled at its ends in the frame part 15, the housing, of the module 13, and carrying at one end a first toothed pulley 79 and at the other, one 81 of the elements of a pair of meshing bevel gears, the other meshing gear element 83 being carried by the output rotary drive shaft 19; a second toothed pulley 85 carried at the lower end of the wind driven rotor 17; and drive is conveyed between the second and the first toothed pulleys 79, 85, by means of a toothed belt drive 87.

Claims

1. A waterborne craft having a craft frame part and a modular wind-driven screw propulsion system, being a module readily releasibly coupled to said craft frame part.

2. A waterborne craft as claimed in claim 1 in which said modular winddriven propulsion system comprises: a module frame part: at least one wind-driven rotor supported upstanding in bearing means from said module frame part; an output rotary drive shaft supported in bearing means from said module frame part with the longitudinal axis of said drive shaft at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of said at least one winddriven rotor; craft screw-propulsion means rotatable by rotation of said output shaft; and, a transmission which serves to couple said at least one wind-driven rotor to said output rotary drive shaft; and in which; said craft frame part and said module frame part mutually arranged, constructed, and adapted such as to enable said module readily to be coupled to and decoupled from said craft frame part.

3. A craft as claimed in claim 2 in which said wind-driven rotor, or each of them, as the case may be, comprises an individual shaft and, secured to said shaft and projecting outwardly therefrom at substantially equispaeed intervals therearound, respective ones of a set of elongate vanes.

4. A craft as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which: said module frame part is secured to said craft frame part the craft by releasible coupling means such as to overhang said craft at the stern thereof.

5. A craft as claimed in claim 4 in which a tiller part projects forwardly from said frame part.

6. A craft as claimed in claim 2 or 3 in which: said craft frame part has an external closed three- dimensional surface, part of said closed surface constituting the boundary surface of a passage communicating between upper and lower surface portions of closed surface; and, said passage and said drive module are mutually configured such that the drive module is accommodated, at least in part, within said passage, in contact with said passage boundary surface.

7. A craft as claimed in claim 6 in which said craft frame part comprises a watertight hollow part composed of at least one plastic moulding.

8. A craft as claimed in claim 6 or 7 in which said module eomprlses: outrigger means extending from said craft frame means; pontoon means dependent from said outrigger means; and in which: said outrigger means carries at least one wind-driven rotor.

9. A craft as claimed in claim 8 in which: said outrigger means connected to said frame part means at a position intermediate the ends thereof; and, outrigger parts extending to either side of the craft each carry at least one wind-driven rotor.

10. A craft as claimed in claim 9 in which said outwardly extensive outrigger parts are each pivotal about a hinge axis extending in the fore and aft direction of the craft.

11. A craft as claimed in any preceding claim and which comprises: secondary rotary drive means reliant for its operation upon a craft-borne source of energy; and, a transmission which serves to couple said secondary drive means to said rotary drive shaft.

11. A craft as claimed in claim 10 in which said secondary rotary drive means comprises manually operable drive means.

12. A craft as claimed in claim 11 in which: said manually operable drive means comprises a free wheel cycle drive.

13. A craft as claimed in any of claims 10 in which: said secondary rotary drive means comprises: an electrodynamic apparatus, being an apparatus capable of serving, at choice, either as an electric motor or as an electric d.c generator.

14. A craft as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which: said transmission from said secondary drive means to said rotary drive shaft and the transmission from said wind- driven rotor means to said rotary drive shaft have transmission elements in common.

15. A craft as claimed in any preceding claim in which said frame part comprises the body of the craft.

16. A craft as claimed in claim 13 in which said craft body comprises the hull of the craft.

17. A craft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A craft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.2, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A craft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 7 together with Figs.4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A craft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the Fig.9 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A craft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs.10 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.