NZ760753B2 - Single particulate metering system with variable rate controls - Google Patents

Abstract

apparatus for storing and dispensing fragments of ice comprises a thermally insulated tank to hold a solution of salt-water comprising a first salt concentration, a refrigeration unit to chill the salt water to a storage temperature, and a dispensing mechanism. Ice fragments are added to the salt-water solution held in the tank, the ice made from salt-water comprising a second salt concentration lower than the first salt concentration or from fresh water with a zero salt content. The refrigeration unit is configured to maintain the storage temperature at a temperature above a freezing point of the salt-water and below the melting point of the ice to maintain the ice in solid form within the liquid salt water. The dispensing mechanism is configured to separate the ice from the salt-water and dispense the ice from the apparatus. By storing the ice in salt-water this prevents the ice from clumping or forming a solid mass in the storage silo. t-water solution held in the tank, the ice made from salt-water comprising a second salt concentration lower than the first salt concentration or from fresh water with a zero salt content. The refrigeration unit is configured to maintain the storage temperature at a temperature above a freezing point of the salt-water and below the melting point of the ice to maintain the ice in solid form within the liquid salt water. The dispensing mechanism is configured to separate the ice from the salt-water and dispense the ice from the apparatus. By storing the ice in salt-water this prevents the ice from clumping or forming a solid mass in the storage silo.

Description

description Sail construction BACKGROUND The invention concerns a sail construction without a mast replacing the role of the mast and at the same time allows setting up of all technically known sails for vessels or other means of transport.

The subject of the invention covers the entire system with elements that take over the function of the mast through its airfoils, and produce additional lift force in the direction of navigation of the vessel or other means of transport.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND RELATED ART The technical problem which is resolved by the invention is to provide such sail support construction that takes over the basic mast function and does not require auxiliary roping systems. In addition, it allows setting up of all known sail solutions.

The other technical problem which is resolved by the invention is that cross-sections of sail structure elements are designed as airfoils, which can, in parallel with the sail, also turn and reduce the air resistance and at the same time additionally increase lift force of the vessel in the direction of sailing due to the airfoil and rotation angle towards the wind incidence.

The fourth technical problem solved by the invention is that the sail structure can be simply folded down to a lower height, thereby facilitating the sailing of the vessel under bridges, or in storm or for maintenance, etc.

Until now we have failed to observe any similar known solutions.

Below are listed the following patents from the SIPO patent database which outline and protect technical inventions in connection with the vessel sail and which are published under the following patent application numbers, namely: Patent application No.: 22619 5305description This patent shows a kayak with a retractable mast and sail. According to this patent, the mast can be quickly retracted, while the kayak can be used without the sail and vice versa.

This invention does not address the invention of the sail without a mast and therefore is not in any way related to our proposed invention, while the method of stacking the mast is completely different from that suggested by the proposed invention.

Patent application No.: 0989939 This patent deals with a sail with three light masts serving primarily for determining aerodynamic sail profile.

This patent does not address the sail without a mast and is entirely different from our invention.

Patent application No.: 9500182 This patent deals with a profiled sail. The proposed technical invention deals with the layout of aerodynamic ribs in the sail at the point of entry of the wind, which is located at the mast. It proposes wrapping the sail ribs around the mast.

This invention also does not address the invention of the sail without a mast and therefore is not in any way related to our proposed invention. In addition, the profiled sail is also designed in a completely differently way to that suggested by the proposed invention.

Patent application No.: 22790 This invention deals with similar technical inventions to the previous one, the only difference being that it proposes similar solutions for a trimaran sailing kayak.

This invention also does not address the invention of the sail without a mast and therefore is not in any way related to our proposed invention. The profiled sail of this invention is designed completely differently to that suggested by the proposed invention. 5305description All of the above-mentioned patents represent known state of the art and do not offer technical solutions similar to our technical invention, which in essence does not use the mast for setting up the sail construction, which, composed of two supports, a connecting coupler and stays, may be folded to a lower height and that the cross-sections of the supports are made in the form of airfoils which are freely movable around the longitudinal axis or are controlled around the longitudinal axis in line with the sail in order to achieve lift forces in the direction of navigation of the vessel or any other vehicle due to wind flow.

In one broad form the invention provides a sail construction for a vessel, the sail construction comprising: two foldable sail supports mountable on a deck on each side of the vessel and having an airfoil arranged freely rotatable around a longitudinal axis of each of said two foldable sail supports, a connecting coupler for connecting said two foldable sail supports on their top, a sail that is configured to be supported by said two foldable sail supports, a holder for holding and tensioning said sail upwards, a bottom holder pivotally mountable on the deck of the vessel in a middle between said two foldable sail supports, wherein the bottom holder is arranged to tension and to roll said sail and is arranged as a storage compartment of said sail, a system of ropes, a block and tackle system, and forestays, and backstays, for fastening and pre-tensioning elastically said two foldable sail supports on the vessel, wherein a rope of said system of ropes is arranged to run through a first pulley mounted on said connecting coupler to said holder for lifting and lowering said sail, and 5305description wherein the two foldable sail supports each has a first built-in sectional joint at or near a middle of their length, so that each sail support can be folded back or forth in relation to an axis of the vessel in order to be able to reduce a height of the respective sail support at least by half.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS According to the invention, the solution to the problem of eliminating the main mast or all masts is to set up two sail supports on each side of the mast with an airfoil designed through their respective cross-section, which can rotate around the longitudinal axis of sail supports, while it can also be controlled via a system used to rotate airfoils of sail supports in a certain correlation with the sail. In the middle or near the middle both sail supports are designed so that they can be folded back or forth in relation to the axis of the vessel or vehicle in order to be able to reduce the height at least by half. For this purpose, the flexible section of the two sail supports is fitted with a special joint, around which they rotate. On the upper side, the sail supports are connected with a connecting coupler with a function of connecting the supports and the function of tensioning the sail upwards.

The supports are fastened to the vessel or vehicle by means of stays. Stacking of supports can also be carried out by releasing the stays.

According to the invention, any sail of optional shape and profiles can be mounted to this construction.

For this purpose, we can also use an inflatable sail with pockets or pre-inflatable sail which can be inflated using a manual pump or a compressor in order to form an airfoil at low wind speed and thereby generate lift force for the sail.

The sail can be clamped in the axes of the incidence angle or the axes of the aerodynamic lift force or optionally.

The present invention is outlined in the embodiment and the figures that display: Figure 1 – shows the perspective view of the entire vessel with the complete system and 5305description standard sail, which is clamped through the axis of the aerodynamic point of application of the forces of the sail.

Figure 2 – shows the top view of the entire vessel with the complete system and standard sail, which is clamped through the axis of the aerodynamic point of application of the forces of the sail.

Figure 3 – shows the vessel with multiple mounted systems for fastening the sail, as outlined by the invention.

Figure 4 – shows the stacking of the sail support via a rotary swivel joint in the middle of the sail support.

Figures 5A and 5 B – show the stacking of sail supports via a rotary swivel joint at the base or start of the sail support where only the forestays 5.1 and backstays 6.1 are installed. In this case, we do not necessarily need the forestays 5 and backstays 6.

Figures 6A and 6B – show detail A from the figure 4 which shows a sectional joint of the sail support which can also be mounted on the vessel’s deck on the bottom base part of the sail support.

Figures 7A and 7B – shows the cross-section of the sail support where the airfoil and the manner of rotation around the longitudinal axis of the sail support are visible.

Figure 8 – shows the cross-section of a partially inflatable sail clamped into the sail construction without a mast.

Figure 9 – shows the cross-section of a fully inflatable sail clamped into the sail construction without a mast, where the wind flow is schematically shown.

Figure 10 – shows the cross-section of the self-inflatable sail and illustration of clamping of the sail to the bottom holder 4.

Figure 11 – shows the cross-section of the bottom holder 4 with a shaft 4.1 in connection with the sail 1 and rope 4.3 for lifting and lowering of the sail 1, and the bottom holder 4 control system. 5305description The sail construction without a central mast is set on a vessel P or another vehicle as a single system or several systems that can be optionally installed. One of those variants is shown in Figure 3.

A uniform system outlined by the invention consists of the following basic elements or components: sail 1 which can in certain cases also be a self-inflatable sail 1 SN or a partially or fully inflatable sail 1 TN, two holders 1.1, two supports of the sail 2 which are installed on each side of the vessel P or sail 1, transversely to the direction of navigation SP or vessel P voyage direction, connecting coupler 3 on which the pulley 3.1 is mounted which is also the top fulcrum of the sail 1 that transfers the pre-tensioning force of the sail 1.

In addition, the technical assembly also consists of the bottom holder 4 which tensions the sail 1 downwards and also serves as a folding or storage compartment of the sail 1 and the fulcrum OK of the sail 1.

The sail 1 is tensioned over the rope 4.3, which can also be a braid or similar, that is in such a way that the holder 1.1, which is integrated in the upper section of the sail 1 is connected with a rope 4.3. The rope 4.3 runs through the pulley 3.1 or some other device installed on the connecting coupler 3 and on the deck of the vessel P, where it is fastened by any optional means. The second method is by allowing the rope 4.3 to run through the pulley 4.3.1, which is stopped on the deck of the vessel P, and which continues to run to the shaft 4.1 where the rope 4.3 is firmly fastened.

The shaft 4.1 is pivotally mounted in the middle of the cross-section of the bottom holder 4 and can be driven by a lever 4.2.1 or by an electric motor 4.2.

This method is described in more detail below.

In the lower section, the sail 1 is clamped to the bottom holder 4 with which it can be rolled onto the shaft 4.1 of the bottom holder 4 or it is fastened optionally. If the bottom holder 4 is fitted with a built-in shaft 4.1 for rolling the sail 1, the latter can optionally be shortened continuously during sailing by winding it onto the shaft 4.1 of the bottom holder 4 and vice versa. 5305description The sail 1 is supported by two elastically pretensioned sail supports 2 that are sectionally installed on each side of the vesselP at points PP by means of special sectional joint 7 or via known state of the art technical solutions, which is presented in Figures No. 1, 2, 4A, 5A and 5A and as detail A which is enlarged in Figures 6A and 6B.

The sail supports 2 accumulate the energy oscillations by transforming kinetic wind energy from wind force SV working onto the sail 1 into the internal pretension or elasticity energy of sail supports 2 and vice versa which is shown in Drawings No. 1,2 ,3 and 9.

The sail supports 2 can also be fitted with a built-in sectional joint 7 in the middle section of the length of the supports of the sail 2 or approximately in the middle section of the supports of the sail 2.

If the supports of the sail 2 have built-in sectional joints 7 also or only in the middle section of the length, the prerequisite is that the fastening of the forestays 5 and backstays 6 is installed under the sectional joint 7. This is necessary because the upper part of the sail support 2 can be folded back towards the direction of navigation SP only by releasing the forestay 5.1.

It is desirable that the upper fastening of the forestays 5 and backstays 6 onto the supports of the sail 2 is as close as possible to the bottom part of the sectional joint 7 in order to achieve the highest possible static strength of the connecting part of the forestays 5 and backstays 6 and the support of the sail 2.

The bottom as well as the top fastenings of the forestays 5, 5.1 and backstays 6 and 6.1 can be designed using any known technical methods.

If the sectional joint 7 is installed only on the lower part of the support of the sail 2, it is possible to stack the entire support system of the sail 2 and the connecting coupler 3 back towards the direction of navigation SP by releasing both bottom fastenings 5.2 for both of the forestays 5 and 5.1.

The supports of the sail 2 rotate around the sectional joint 7 at an angle that is required for the upper parts of the support of the sail 2, or the connecting coupler 3 to be seated firmly on the deck of the vessel P where special cam washers are installed that can carry the mass of the folded sail structure.

When stacking the supports of the sail 2 on a smaller vessel P they may also be in contact the 5305description surface of the water on which the vessel P is sailing. For this purpose, the connecting coupler 3 may be designed in such a way that it has an additional built-in float 3.2 with a sufficiently large volume ranging from 20 to 200 litters to retain the connecting coupler 3 or the folded sail construction above the water surface using the mass of displaced water. Such a folded structure is illustrated on Figures 5A and 5B.

In the case that the sectional joint 7 is fitted only at the approximate centre of the length of the sail supports 2, we can stack the upper part of the sail supports 2 with the connecting coupler 3 back towards the direction of navigation of the vessel P by releasing both bottom fastenings 5.2 of both forestays 5.1.

The upper parts of the sail supports 2 rotate around the axis 7.1of the sectional joint 7 by an angle that is required to fit the upper part of the sail support 2, or the connecting coupler 3, to the bottom holder 4 or to the special movable support for the float 3.2 to contact the water surface on the rear side of the vessel P. This type of folding is shown in Figures 4A and 4B.

The sectional joint 7 may at the same time also be installed at both positions of the sail supports 2, as mentioned above. In this case, we can stack the sail supports 2 or the entire system by first releasing the lower fastenings 5.2 of the forestays 5.1. Due to their own mass, the sail supports 2 rotate around the fulcrum of the sectional joint 7 back towards the stern K or in the opposite direction of the direction of navigation SP of the vessel P to the angle where the connecting coupler 3 seats on the bottom holder 4 or onto special movable supports or similar.

We then also release the bottom fastenings 6.2 of the backstays 6 and 6.1. Due to their own mass, the sail supports 2 that have previously already been stacked once also rotate around the fulcrums of the sectional joints 7 that are installed at the bottom in a forward direction towards the direction of navigation SP of the vessel P to such an angle that the edge of the sail support 2 sits on the deck of the vessel P or on the pre-installed movable holders that, while the connecting coupler 3 at the same time slides along the bottom holder 4 or along the special movable holders in a forward direction towards the direction of the navigation SP of the vessel P. Such a method of stacking is shown in Figures 4A, 4B and 4C. With certain construction measurements, i.e. mainly with small vessels P, it is possible that the float 3.2 contacts the water surface before the vessel P does and holds the entire structure above the surface.

The sectional joint 7 is designed in such a way that the sail supports 2 can be rotated in one 5305description direction only by an angle of up to a maximum of 180 degrees. The sectional joint 7 is self- locking in the other direction of rotation.

The self-locking is performed in such a way that the axis 7.1 of the sectional joint 7 is fitted on the side outside the cross-section of the sail support 2. However, the surfaces 7.2 and 7.3 of the sail support 2 are designed at such a position that the outstretched or open sail support 2 seats on the surfaces 7.2 and 7.3 in firm contact.

The surfaces 7.2 and 7.3 are joined and do not allow the rotation of the sectional joint 7 in the opposite direction as foreseen for stacking the sail support 2. This rotation around the sectional joint 7 in direction SZ is shown in Figures 6A and 6B.

Before stacking the sail supports 2, it is necessary to remove the sail 1 or store it into the bottom holder 4. If you fail to do this before stacking the sail supports 2, this may result in a breakage of the entire system or cause damage to the sail 1.

The sectional joints 7 are always installed in such a way that the axis 7.1 of the sectional joint 7 is perpendicular to the direction of stacking of sail supports 2, or perpendicular to the vessel’s P symmetrical axis.

If a sectional joint 7 is only installed on the bottom part of the sail support 2, or at the deck of the vessel P, it must be oriented so that the axis 7.1 of the sectional joint 7 is closer to the stern K of the vessel P.

This way, when the sail support 2 is stacked, the upper part of the sail support 2 is rotated backwards around the axis 7.1 of the sectional joint 7 towards the stern K of the vessel P in direction SZ, then the surfaces 7.2 and 7.3 separate.

In the case two sectional joints 7 are also installed or are installed only in the approximate centre of the middle section of the support of the sail 2, they must be installed in such a way that the axis 7.1of the upper sectional joint 7 is closer to the stern K of the vessel P, while the axis 7.1of the lower sectional joint 7 is at a distance from the stern K of the vessel P closer to the bow of the vessel P.

The axes 7.1 of the sectional joints 7 must be installed in such a way that they are parallel to each other. If the axes are not parallel, relatively large forces can act on the axis 7.1 due to 5305description stacking which are transferred to the sail supports 2 as torsional forces and can damage the sail supports 2 or fulcrums PP of the sail supports 2 on the deck of the vessel P and the fastening between connecting coupler 3 and sail supports 2.

In order to eliminate the tolerance of design and installation of the sectional joints 7 on the sail supports 2, the axis 7.1 is designed in such a way that the fit of the axis 7.1in the sectional joint 7 is very loose, and laxity of the fit of the axis 7.1 in the hole of the sectional joint 7 ranges from 0.5 to 5mm allowing torsional rotation in the range from 3 to 30 angular degrees.

Before starting the stacking of the sail supports 2 you must verify that the surfaces 7.2 and 7.3 of the sectional joint 7 are clean or that no foreign body is on these surfaces which would prevent a repeated rotation of the upper part of the sail support 2 or the entire sail support 2 to the basic position, where all parts of the sail support 2 which are installed under and above the sectional joint 7 are parallel, or positioned along the same symmetrical axis running along the length of the sail support 2.

In the middle between the sail supports 2 or below the connecting coupler 3, the bottom holder 4 is pivotally mounted on the deck of the vessel P which is used to tension the sail 1 and at the same time also as a rolling or storage compartment of the sail 1.

The bottom holder 4 has a mounted shaft 4.1 in the middle, to which the sail 1 is rolled up during folding or shortening or during the unrolling procedure when unfolding the sail 1.

The rolling of the sail 1 can be carried out using an electric motor 4.2 with a gearbox. When the bolt and tackle system with an endless rope 4.3 that is described below is not used, the gearbox must employ a self-locking mechanism so that the shaft 4.1 cannot unfold so that the sail 1 remains taut. The rolling or unrolling of the sail 1 can also be carried out manually using the lever 4.2.1 which drives the built-in self-locking gearbox which can be a worm gear or similar.

The sail 1 is fitted with a holder 1.1 that is integrated in the upper section of the sail 1, to which the rope of the system 4.3 is fixed which tensions the sail 1 through the pulley 3.1 that is mounted on the connecting coupler 3.

The sail 1 is tensioned using a considerable force which also determines the sail 1 profile in the longitudinal direction.

Due to the aerodynamic lift forces of the sail 1, relatively large pretension forces of the sail 1 5305description are generated, therefore all components for pretensioning of the sail 1 must be designed taking into account a considerable safety factor.

The sail 1 pull-out and folding system with the so-called endless rope 4.3 is designed in such a way that the rope 4.3 is fastened to the holder 1.1 of the sail 1 on one side which then runs downwards through the pulley 3.1 onto the pulley 4.3.1 directing the rope 4.3 towards the bottom holder 4. On the bottom holder 4, the rope runs through the pulley 4.3.2 onto the pulley 4.3.3 which directs it to the pulley 4.3.4. This pulley directs the rope 4.3 perpendicularly to the shaft 4.1 where the rope 4.3 is firmly fixed. The tensioning system 4.4 is shown on the figure 11 it is used to set the pretensioning of the rope 4.3.

When folding the sail 1, turn the shaft 4.1 which is mounted into the bottom holder 4. This way, the rope 4.3 of the sail 1 lowering and lifting system starts winding onto the shaft 4.1. At the same time, the sail 1 starts winding onto the shaft 4.1. Due to the same winding track of the rope and sail 1 onto the shaft 4.1, the rope 4.3 is always taut and keeps the sail 1 always taut via the holder 1.1 that is integrated in the upper section of the sail 1.

When the sail 1 is completely folded onto the shaft 4.1, it is stored in the bottom holder 4. In this case, the rope 4.3 is also wound onto the shaft 4.1 in the bottom holder 4.

When pulling out the sail 1, we follow the procedure in the opposite direction. By rotating the shaft 4.1 in the opposite direction, the rope 4.3 of the system pulling the sail 1 from the bottom holder 4 via the pulley 3.1, begins to unroll. The sail 1 unfolds from the shaft 4.1 symmetrically to the rope of the system 4.3.

In this way, you can pull out the sail 1 to the desired height in a continuous manner. The trimming and pulling out of the sail 1 is carried out without ropes that would be an interfering element on the deck of the vessel P.

The pulling out or shortening or folding of the sail 1 can be motor driven by an electric motor 4.2 or manually using the lever 4.2.1. In both situations a regular or self-locking gearbox with an integrated brake is used.

The use of the gearbox or the brake integrated with the gearbox is desirable to additionally lock the rotation of the shaft 4.1, thereby enabling the force of pretensioning the sail 1, although the rope 4.3 is endless and pretensioned in order to prevent unrolling of the shaft 4.1.

When you do not use the continuous rolling/unrolling using the rope 4.3 as described above, 5305description but tension/lowering the sail 1 using the pulley 3.1 by means of an ordinary rope fixed on the deck of the vessel P, we must use self-locking a gearbox or gearbox with an integrated brake.

In the event that the electric motor 4.2 is used, the sail 1 can be completely automated and the trimming of the sail and the position of the helm KP of the vessel P can be connected via computer with the autopilot AP of the vessel P.

The bottom holder 4 is fixed to the deck of the vessel P so that it can rotate around the fulcrum OK which is located at an approximate third of the length of the bottom airfoil sail 1 depth and can be at any chosen length of the holder 4. The fastening of the bottom holder 4 to the deck of the vessel P can be carried out in a variety of ways, namely using all known technical methods, whereby it must be designed in such a way that it can easily transfer all the forces of pretensioning of the sail 1 and the forces generated by the aerodynamic forces and the wind resistance forces of the sail 1.

The bottom holder 4 is fixed to the fulcrum OK so that it can freely, or with a torque of up to 50Nm, tilt transversely to the longitudinal axis in the direction SVOK within the limits of -25 to +25 angular degrees, at the same time the bottom holder 4 can freely rotate around the fulcrum OK in direction VOK.

The movable fastening of the bottom holder 4 to the fulcrum OK can be carried out using all known technical solutions with the condition that they can easily transfer all loads that occur due to the sail 1 tension and the aerodynamic forces of the sail 1 acting on the vessel P.

The tilting of the bottom holder 4 in the direction of SVOK can be necessary in order to tension the sail 1 evenly over the entire surface of the sail 1 due to tensioning, particularly on the rear edge, since the bottom holder 4 and with it the bottom clamping of the sail 1 adapts to the actual shape or dimensions of the selected sail.

To control the bottom holder 4 around the fulcrum OK in direction VOK, which indirectly controls the sail 1, various systems can be used which represent known state of the art. The most basic system is shown in Figure 11 and represents the rope assembly AS which is wrapped around the so called Archimedes pulley system, with which it is fastened to the deck of the vessel (P).

The control can also be carried out in more simple ways such as by using a control rod which 5305description can be sectionally clamped at the rear end of the bottom holder 4 or in a more sophisticated manner where the fulcrum OK of the bottom holder 4 is clamped to the control gearbox with an electric motor or any other engine mechanism. The gearbox must either have an integrated brake or have a self-locking mechanism so that the positioned bottom holder 4 stays in the desired location.

The control mechanism drive of the bottom holder 4 can also be connected with the autopilot AP of the vessel P, or it can be controlled in any other way.

The airfoils 2.1 which are installed along the length of the two sail supports 2 can be designed as indicated in the Figure 7A or Figure 7B.

In the example shown in the Figure 7A a built-in tube 2.2 is located on the exit edge of the profile which increases the airfoil stability and prevents injuries to the crew when colliding with the exit edge of the airfoil 2.1 of the sail support 2.

The Figure 7B shows an airfoil without an integrated tube on the exit edge. However, both airfoil surfaces 2.1 are assembled to form a sharp edge.

The airfoil is mounted on the sail supports 2 and can freely rotate around them.

Free play between the airfoil 2.1 and sail support 2 ranges from 0.5mm to 15mm which is enough for the airfoil 2.1 not to get stuck to the sail support 2 profile even with small wind forces, but rotates freely in the direction of the slightest wind resistance, from wind force SV.

The airfoils 2.1 can have free rotation owing to wind force SV. This reduces wind resistance on the sail supports 2 and enables more efficient use of the vessel P.

Rotation of airfoils 2.1 of the sail supports 2 can also be executed through mechanical controls using any known method. In this case, it is desirable to rotate the airfoil 2.1 of the sail support 2 by exactly the same angle VP in order to obtain a higher lift force of the airfoils 2.1 in the direction of navigation SP of the vessel P, and at the same time the minimum resistance force of the wind flowing around the airfoil.

The airfoils 2.1 control can be carried out in correlation with the rotation control VOK of the bottom holder 4 or the sail 1 around the fulcrum OK or an integrated stand-alone system can be used that turns the airfoils 2.1 for angles VP that offer optimum lift force in the direction of the vessel P and minimum air resistance in the direction of navigation SP of the vessel P. 5305description In this case, the control must be connected with the helm angle gauge, VOK angle of the bottom holder 4 around the fulcrum OK, speed gauge and angle of the wind force SV, via a computer displaying information about the speed and course of the vessel P, the inclination of the vessel P from the autopilot AP.

The sail 1 can be single-layered, as is well known in most cases. By folding the sail 1 longitudinally by rolling it onto the shaft 4.1, the sail 1 can have built-in slats 1.2 that form airfoil cross-sections of the sail 1.

By using such a sail 1, the aerodynamic lift force of the sail 1 is greatly improved. There can be pieces of slats 1.2 per linear metre of the sail 1.

Another feature of the sail which can be used with the present invention is the so-called self- inflatable sail 1 SN that can be clamped between the holder (1.1) that is integrated in the top sail (1) part and the bottom holder (4) and which has integrated pockets formed by the layer connections PJ of both layers of the self-inflatable sail 1 SN which are designed in a similar way as with paragliders.

This roughly means that the proposed invention allows the installation of segments of paragliders.

The construction of paragliders with integrated open, due to air flow, self-inflatable pockets which shape an airfoil, is technically known and is not outlined separately.

This airfoil shape of the self-inflatable sail 1 SN provides the so-called thick airfoils which generate large lift forces at low wind force SV. Therefore, the use of such a self-inflatable sail 1 SN is a far better choice than the use of a classical single-layer sail 1.

However, the use of such a self-inflatable sail 1 SN which has integrated self-inflatable pockets, is disabled or unfeasible in technical terms with vessels P which are equipped with a central mast since the self-inflatable sail 1 SN in this case cannot be freely hung in the construction, but is clamped to the mast with the front edge which in this case disrupts the aerodynamic potential of the self-inflatable sail 1 SN.

The Figure 10 shows a cross-section of the self-inflatable sail 1 SN with visible layer connections PJ on both layers of the sail.

The third sail feature that can be used in the proposed invention is the so-called inflatable sail 1 5305description TN which can be inflated by overpressure using a manual pump or compressor. In this case, the inflatable sail 1 TN consists of chambers or has along the airfoil length built-in layer connections PJ between both layers which determine the shape of airfoils of the inflatable sail 1 TN along the entire length of the inflatable sail 1 TN.

The layer connections PJ can be carried out in a similar way as for layer connections PJ on the self-inflatable sail 1 SN, whereby in this case the inflatable sail 1 TN is completely closed off also at the entry and exit edges.

This type of sail 1 TN is shown in the Figure 9 which also illustrates wind force SV.

The inflatable sail 1 TN can also be inflated only at the entry edge VR. This type is shown in the Figure 8. Such a sail 1 TN is called a partly-inflatable sail 1 TN. However, if the sail can be inflated throughout the cross-section, it is called a fully-inflatable sail 1 TN.

In the case of shortening, folding or rolling on the shaft 4.1 of inflatable sails 1 TN, the pressure in the inflatable sail 1 TN must be relieved. Having relieved the pressure, you can roll the inflatable sail 1 TN onto the shaft 4.1. When the inflatable sail 1 TN has been once again fixed with the rope 4.3, you can inflate it by using overpressure to achieve the desired airfoil.

Inflatable sails 1 TN are not specifically outlined since this represents the already known state of the art. However, it has not yet been used for this purpose, i.e. as a sail on vessels, because the central mast prevented this. The proposed invention also outlines and proposes the use of all described sail systems which range from classical single-layer with or without slats 1.2, self-inflatable, as well as partially-or fully-inflatable ones. 5305claims

Claims (29)

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A sail construction for a vessel, the sail construction comprising: two foldable sail supports mountable on a deck on each side of the vessel and having an airfoil arranged freely rotatable around a longitudinal axis of each 5 of said two foldable sail supports, a connecting coupler for connecting said two foldable sail supports on their top, a sail that is configured to be supported by said two foldable sail supports, 10 a holder for holding and tensioning said sail upwards, a bottom holder pivotally mountable on the deck of the vessel in a middle between said two foldable sail supports, wherein the bottom holder is arranged to tension and to roll said sail and is arranged as a storage compartment of said sail, 15 a system of ropes, a block and tackle system, and forestays, and backstays, for fastening and pre-tensioning elastically said two foldable sail supports on the vessel, wherein a rope of said system of ropes is arranged to run through a first 20 pulley mounted on said connecting coupler to said holder for lifting and lowering said sail, and wherein the two foldable sail supports each has a first built-in sectional joint at or near a middle of their length, so that each sail support can be folded 5305claims back or forth in relation to an axis of the vessel in order to be able to reduce a height of the respective sail support at least by half.

2. The sail construction according to claim 1, wherein an inflatable float with a volume ranging from 20 to 200 litres is arranged to be installed on the 5 connecting coupler.

3. The sail construction according to claim 1, wherein the rope can be drawn from the holder, where it is fixedly clamped through the first pulley to a second pulley leading it to a third pulley which leads it to a fourth pulley and the bottom holder, where this fourth pulley turns its route and directs it to a fifth 10 pulley and the bottom holder which once more turns the rope perpendicularly to a shaft at the bottom holder where the rope is fixedly clamped to the shaft.

4. The sail construction according to claim 1, wherein a section of the sail is fixedly clamped into the bottom holder using any known method.

5. The sail construction according to claim 4, wherein a bottom section of 15 the sail is configured to be fixedly clamped to a shaft which is mounted in a centre of the bottom holder.

6. The sail construction according to claim 5, wherein the sail is arranged to be continuously rolled up and unrolled using the shaft, while the shaft transfers pretension forces of the sail and aerodynamic components of wind forces acting 20 on the sail.

7. The sail construction according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein in case a classical manner of rolling/unrolling the sail is used, the shaft is equipped with a built-in self-locking gearbox in extension which can be activated with a lever. 5305claims

8. The sail construction according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein instead of or besides a hand-operated drive, the shaft is configured to accommodate a built-in gearbox in extension which includes a self-locking mechanism or have an integrated brake, and be driven by an electric motor in case use of a classical 5 manner of lifting/lowering the sail is desired.

9. The sail construction according to claim 3, wherein the sail is configured to be lifted/lowered using an endless rope, wherein the sail is on one side fastened to the holder, while on another side the sail is fastened to a shaft, wherein a gearbox is configured to operate the shaft which is not self-locking 10 and is without an integrated brake, while at least one of a self-locking gearbox and a gearbox with an integrated brake can also be used.

10. The sail construction according to claim 1, wherein each of the two foldable sail supports are clamped to the vessel via a respective second built-in sectional joint. 15

11. The sail construction according to claim 1, wherein upper fastening elements of the forestays and backstays are mounted on the two foldable sail supports just below the respective first built-in sectional joint.

12. The sail construction according to claim 1 or claim 10, wherein each first built-in sectional joint in an extended or a closed position has a self-locking 20 mechanism on one side so that surfaces of the first built-in joint fit onto each other, while during opening of the first built-in sectional joint an upper part of respective foldable sail support rotates around the axes of the first built-in 5305claims sectional joint to an angle that ranges from 0 to a maximum of 180 angular degrees.

13. The sail construction according to claim 12, wherein the axes of the first built-in sectional joints are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the 5 direction of stacking of said two foldable sail supports.

14. The sail construction according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the axes of at least the first or the second built-in sectional joints fit loosely ranging from 0.5 to 5 mm thereby allowing torsional rotation in the axis of the sail supports in the range from 3 to 30 angular degrees. 10 15. The sail construction according to claim 9, wherein if only a single second built-in sectional joints is installed on a bottom part of each of the two foldable sail supports on the deck of the vessel, the axis of each of the second built-in sectional joints is oriented to be closer to a stern of the vessel, while at the same time perpendicular to a symmetrical axis of the vessel.

15

16. The sail construction according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the axes of the second built-in sectional joints are closer to a bow of the vessel than the axes of the first built-in sectional joints and all of the axes of the first and second built-in sectional joints are parallel to each other and oriented perpendicularly to a symmetrical axis of the vessel. 20

17. The sail construction according to claim 4, wherein the bottom holder is pivotally mounted on the deck of the vessel through a fulcrum which is located at an approximate third of a length of a bottom airfoil depth. 5305claims

18. The sail construction according to claim 17, wherein the fulcrum transfers forces of pretensioning the sail and aerodynamic wind force components acting on the sail via the bottom holder to the vessel.

19. The sail construction according to claim 18, wherein the bottom holder 5 can be controlled around the fulcrum in a direction with a rope assembly which is wrapped around a so-called block and tackle system with which the bottom holder is fastened to the deck of the vessel.

20. The sail construction according to claim 18, wherein the bottom holder can also be controlled around the fulcrum in a direction using a self-locking 10 gearbox which can be hand- or electrically-operated or using some other servo drive.

21. The sail construction according to claim 20, wherein the bottom holder can be controlled around the fulcrum in the direction using a gearbox with an integrated motor that is connected to an autopilot of the vessel. 15

22. The sail construction according to claim 20, wherein the bottom holder is fixed to a control axis so that the bottom holder can freely, or with a torque of up to 50 Nm, tilt transversely to the longitudinal axis of one of said two foldable sail supports in the direction within the limits of -25 to +25 angular degrees.

23. The sail construction according to claim 1, wherein the free play between 20 the two foldable sail supports and the airfoils is arranged to range from 0.5 to 15

24. The sail construction according to claim 23, wherein airfoil rotations around the longitudinal axis of each of the two foldable sail supports can be 5305claims controlled using known systems that are connected with an autopilot of the vessel.

25. The sail construction according to claim 1 or claim 6, wherein the sail is configured to be clamped between the holder and the bottom holder, wherein 5 said sail has up to 10 built-in bars per linear metre of a height of the sail, while the bars are designed lengthwise as sail airfoils so that together with the sail they form an ideal airfoil of the sail, and the sail can be rolled up together with the built-in bars using the bottom holder.

26. The sail construction according to claim 25, wherein the sail comprises a 10 self-inflatable sail that is clamped between the holder and the bottom holder with sewn-in connections which form open pockets that because of wind flow create an airfoil of the self-inflatable sail.

27. The sail construction according to claim 25, wherein the sail comprises a so-called inflatable sail that is clamped between the holder and the bottom 15 holder and that comprises of chambers or in other words includes between both layers, viewed longitudinally of airfoils of inflatable sail built-in connections of both layers which determine a shape of airfoils of the inflatable sail along an entire length of the inflatable sail while an overpressure in the inflatable sail is achieved using a manual or an electrically-operated pump or a pump operated in 20 any other way.

28. The sail construction according to claim 27, wherein an only inflatable part of the inflatable sail is a front edge of the inflatable sail. 5305claims

29. A method for installing the sail construction according to any one of the previous claims on a vessel wherein the stacking of said two foldable sail supports is carried out by releasing at least one of the forestays and the backstays.