GB2416340A

GB2416340A - Wind driven propulsion unit

Info

Publication number: GB2416340A
Application number: GB0416040A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Warren Paul Bardsley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-07-17
Filing date: 2004-07-17
Publication date: 2006-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-17
Also published as: GB2416340B; GB0416040D0

Abstract

When mounted in a water craft the propulsion unit comprises inlet ducts (12, 14) leading from inlet ports (22, 24) at the rear of the craft to a forward propulsion chamber (16) and outlet ducts (11, 13) leading from that chamber to outlet ports (21, 23) at or near the rear of the craft. The inlet ducts are provided with a plurality of pockets (20) adapted to capture air flow from the inlet ports (22, 24) and the chamber (16) is provided with a rear facing wall (18) against which air flow from the inlet ducts will impact. The inlet ports may be provided in air intake units 32 and 34 which may be swivellably mounted to the end of the inlet ducts.

Description

1 2416340

WIND DRIVEN PROPULSION UNIT

The present invention concerns a wind driven propulsion unit for a watercraft or a land vehicle.

Boats and land yachts or the like which use sails for propulsion by wind power may prove difficult to handle when their sails need adjustment for different wind speeds and directions, or in strong winds.

The present invention proposes an alternative means by which wind power can be used to propel a boat or a land vehicle.

According to the invention, a wind driven propulsion unit for a watercraft or a land craft comprises an inlet duct leading from an inlet port propulsion to a chamber and an outlet duct leading from that chamber to an outlet port, in which respect the inlet duct is provided with a plurality of pockets adapted to capture air flow from the inlet port and the chamber is provided with a wall against which air flow from the inlet duct will impact.

Such a unit may be fitted to a boat or land vehicle instead of or in addition to a sail and/or a motor driven impeller. In the latter case, the unit of the invention may be used as a supplementary or alternative means of propulsion. For example, if the wind conditions make it difficult for the user to employ the sail, or if low speeds are all that is required, or if the user wishes to avoid use of a motor for environmental reasons, the propulsion unit of the invention may be used alone. In other situations it may operate to enhance propulsion by sail, e.g. in relatively low wind conditions.

In preferred embodiments the inlet port is provided in an air intake unit which is swivellably mounted to the end of the inlet duct. Such an air intake unit is advantageously provided with tail fins which are acted upon by wind to turn the inlet port to face into the wind.

The outlet port may be fitted with a directable nozzle, which may be used for steering the boat or vehicle. However, conventional steering by means of a rudder in the case of a boat, or a steering shaft in the case of a wheeled vehicle may also be provided.

There may be more than one inlet duct, and/or more than one outlet duct, and various arrangements for these are envisaged. A common propulsion chamber is preferred.

A wind powered generator may be provided in or associated with the or each outlet duct.

One or more motor driven propellers may also be provided as additional drive means, as already mentioned. These may be powered directly from the generator or by battery means which are charged by the generator, or by separate pre-charged batteries, or by any combination of these.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, by reference to the accompanying diagrammatic plan view sketch of a practical embodiment of the propulsion unit as envisaged for fitting to a watercraft.

As illustrated, this exemplary propulsion unit comprises a large U-shaped conduit 10 having respective substantially parallel legs providing air inlet ducts 12, 14 which lead into a central region providing a mixing and propulsion chamber 16. This conduit 10 may be constructed of any suitable substantially rigid, lightweight, watertight material, such as a plastics material. Open ends of the conduit 10 are fitted with respective air intake units 32, 34 providing inlet ports 22, 24 for intake of wind. The intake units 32, 34 are substantially spherical and are mounted for swivelling in the manner of a ball and socket joint. They are provided with tails fins 36, 38 which serve to catch the wind and swivel the unit so that its inlet port faces into the wind. The inlet ports 22, 24 are provided with mesh covers 26 to keep out fish, animals or debris.

The mixing chamber 16 has its outer wall 18 formed of a flexible fabric, such as sailcloth or strong, tear resistance plastic sheeting to provide a suitable surface for impact of the air flow from the ducts 12, 14 for propulsion in the direction indicated by arrow A. The inlet ducts 12, 14 also have pockets 20 of flexible plastics material projecting from their walls into the interior to capture and harness the propulsion force of the wind flowing into the ducts 12, 14.

Outlet ducts 11, 13 extend from the mixing chamber 16 in between the inlet ducts 12, 14.

They are of narrower diameter than the inlet ducts 12, 14 and terminate in outlet ports 21, 23. These outlet ports 21, 23 may be situated below the level of the inlet ports 22, 26.

They may also be fitted with pivotable or swivellable nozzles (not shown) for steering purposes.

In use, the above described propulsion unit is envisaged as being an integral part of a watercraft. A deck of the craft may be mounted on top of the unit. A boat shaped hull is not necessary. The craft may be flat bottomed and fitted with a rudder for steering in the usual way, notwithstanding the possibility of directable nozzles as mentioned above.

The mixing chamber 16 is disposed at or near or towards the front of the craft, and the inlet ports 22, 24 are at the rear, the outlet ports 11, 13 therebetween. The U-shaped conduit 10 will rest just above or on the surface of the water so that the inlet ports 22, 24 are above the surface. The outlet ports 21, 23, however, are advantageously below the surface of the water.

In operation wind will be chanelled into the inlet ducts 12, 14, via the inlet ports 22, 24.

When the wind impinges on the tail fins 36, 38 the intake units 32, 34 are caused to turn so that the ports 22, 24 are facing into the wind. The force of the wind against the wall 18 and also entering the pockets 20 will propel the craft forwards. After impacting the wall 18 the air is deflected to exit via the outlet ducts 11, 13 and outlet ports 21, 23. As these are narrow and smaller than the inlet ports and ducts, the outflow of air at the ports 21, 23 provides further propulsive force as it pushes against the water.

Steering can be effected by the rudder and/or by having directable nozzles fitted to the outlet ducts 21, 23, as mentioned.

Additional or alternative propulsion e.g. for manoeuvring into ports or quaysides or when becalmed, can be provided by propellers 29 driven by motors 28. These may be battery powered or powered by generators 30 associated with the outlet ducts 11, 13. s

The speeds obtained will obviously depend on the size of the craft and the strength of the wind.

The details may vary in other embodiments. For example, the intake units may include funnel shaped portions or may be configured differently from the illustrated example. s

Claims

1. A wind driven propulsion unit for a water or land craft comprising an inlet duct leading from an inlet port to a propulsion chamber and an outlet duct leading from that chamber to an outlet port, in which respect the inlet duct is provided with a plurality of pockets adapted to capture air flow from the inlet port and the chamber is provided with a wall against which air flow from the inlet duct will impact.

2. A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inlet port is provided in an air intake unit is swivellably mounted to the end of the inlet duct.

3. A unit as claimed in claim 2 wherein the air intake unit is provided with tail fins which are acted upon by wind to turn the inlet port to face into the wind.

4. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the wall within the propulsion chamber is formed from a flexible fabric.

5. A unit as claimed in an preceding claim wherein the outlet port is fitted with a

directable nozzle.

6. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein two inlet ducts are provided leading from respective inlet ports to a common propulsion chamber.

7. A unit as claimed in claim 6 wherein the inlet ducts and the chamber are provided by respective legs and central region of a U-shaped conduit.

8. A unit as claimed in claims 6 or 7 wherein the outlet duct extends from the chamber at a location between the respective inlet ducts.

9. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein two outlet ducts are provided extending from the propulsion chamber.

10. A unit as claimed in claim 9 wherein the outlet ducts extend side by side.

11. A unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims further including a wind powered electricity generator associated with the or each outlet duct.

12. A unit as claimed in claim 11 further including a motor driven propeller operatively connected or connectable to the or each generator.

13. A unit as claimed in any preceding claim wherein a mesh cover is provided for the or each air inlet port

14. A unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the or each of the inlet ducts are formed by substantially rigid plastics material.

15. A unit as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the pockets in the or each of the inlet ducts are formed of flexible plastics material.

16. A wind propelled water craft comprising an inlet duct leading from an inlet port at the rear of the craft to a forward propulsion chamber and an outlet duct leading from that chamber to an outlet port, at or near the rear of the craft, in which respect the inlet duct is provided with a plurality of pockets adapted to capture air flow from the inlet port and the chamber is provided with a rear facing wall against which air flow from the inlet duct will impact.

17. A propulsion unit for a wind propelled water craft substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.