US20150007761A1 - Wing profile sail - Google Patents

Wing profile sail Download PDF

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Publication number
US20150007761A1
US20150007761A1 US14/377,321 US201314377321A US2015007761A1 US 20150007761 A1 US20150007761 A1 US 20150007761A1 US 201314377321 A US201314377321 A US 201314377321A US 2015007761 A1 US2015007761 A1 US 2015007761A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sail
sail according
pockets
leading edge
sheet
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/377,321
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English (en)
Inventor
Filippo Buzzi
Edoardo Lombardi
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.)
AIR WING SAIL Srl
Original Assignee
AIR WING SAIL Srl
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 AIR WING SAIL Srl filed Critical AIR WING SAIL Srl
Assigned to AIR WING SAIL S.R.L. reassignment AIR WING SAIL S.R.L. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BUZZI, Filippo, LOMBARDI, Edoardo
Publication of US20150007761A1 publication Critical patent/US20150007761A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • B63H9/0614—
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H9/00—Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power
    • B63H9/04—Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power using sails or like wind-catching surfaces
    • B63H9/06—Types of sail; Constructional features of sails; Arrangements thereof on vessels
    • B63H9/061—Rigid sails; Aerofoil sails
    • B63H9/0615—Inflatable aerofoil sails
    • B63H9/0657—
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H9/00—Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power
    • B63H9/04—Marine propulsion provided directly by wind power using sails or like wind-catching surfaces
    • B63H9/06—Types of sail; Constructional features of sails; Arrangements thereof on vessels
    • B63H9/067—Sails characterised by their construction or manufacturing process

Definitions

  • the present invention is related to a sail for sailboats and sailboards, formed by a flexible sheet having a leading edge configured to be coupled to a mast, and provided with inflatable bladder means extending along the direction of the leading edge, rearwardly thereto, in order to provide a wing profile to the sail.
  • the inflatable bladders are housed within hollow spaces formed between an inner flexible sheet and two flexible outer sheets extending rearwardly along the entire width of the inner sheet, and also forming an outer shell surrounding forwardly the mast.
  • This arrangement involves a number of drawbacks: firstly it cannot be directly applied to a conventional sail consisting of a single flexible sheet, but requires instead a complex sail construction formed by an inner flexible sheet, necessarily provided with transverse battens, and by an outer shell.
  • the inflatable profile is obtained by means of complex structure composed by two parts: a leading edge portion fixed around the mast and consisting of two inflatable cells enclosed within a partially semi-non-elastic and partially rigid outer cover, and a main body portion in turn containing two inflatable cells enclosed within an outer cover made of elastic material and extending for the entire width of the sail as far as its trailing edge.
  • a leading edge portion fixed around the mast and consisting of two inflatable cells enclosed within a partially semi-non-elastic and partially rigid outer cover
  • a main body portion in turn containing two inflatable cells enclosed within an outer cover made of elastic material and extending for the entire width of the sail as far as its trailing edge.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks, and more particularly to provide a wing profile sail enabling to maintain unchanged the general construction of the traditional sails, thus implementing the wing profile with a simple and relatively economical arrangement.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a wing sail whose profile thickness can be easily adjusted so as to achieve an enhanced efficiency in terms of greater lift, even at low angles of incidence of the wind, i.e. even at close-hauled sailing of the boat equipped with the sail according to the invention.
  • a further object of the invention is to enable achieving those advantageous effects even by means of a simple and relatively unexpensive modification of already existing sails even already in use.
  • the inflatable bladder means conveniently include two groups of multiple side-by-side, flexible and substantially inextensible pockets localized immediately behind the leading edge of the sail so as to conveniently occupy about 1 ⁇ 2 of its width.
  • the multiple pockets can be inflatable directly, or inflatable resilient tubular bladders can be housed within the pockets.
  • the pockets have advantageously a differentiated width, smaller in correspondence of the proximal and distal ends of each group and greater in correspondence of the intermediate areas.
  • the pockets have preferably a progressively increasing width towards the area of the maximum chord of the wing surface, i.e. towards the foot of the sail.
  • each group of multiple pockets is formed by a prefabricated mat, designed to be firmly applied to a respective surface of the sheet either permanently or in a detachable fashion.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic and partially broken perspective view of a wing sail according to the invention, coupled to the mast of a boat,
  • FIG. 2 is a lateral elevational view of FIG. 1 ,
  • FIG. 3 shows a variant of FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 4 is a horizontally sectioned view in a larger scale along line IV-IV of FIG. 1 ,
  • FIG. 5 is a partial enlargement of FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 6 is a horizontally sectioned view along line IV-IV of FIG. 3 .
  • FIG. 7 shows a variant of FIG. 6 in an enlarged scale
  • FIG. 8 is an elevational diagrammatic view of a pre-fabricated construction of one of the inflatable pockets of a sail according to the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a perspective view from below of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 10 is a perspective view from above of FIG. 8 .
  • FIG. 11 is a top plan view showing diagrammatically the application of each pre-fabricated group of inflatable pockets according to FIGS. 8-10 to the sail,
  • FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11 which shows diagrammatically the application of each pre-fabricated group of inflatable pockets according to FIGS. 4 and 5 to the sail,
  • FIGS. 13 and 14 show two variants of FIG. 5 .
  • the wing profile sail according to the invention consists of a usual and conventional mainsail formed by traditional techniques as a single flexible sheet typically made by cloth, mylar® , dacron® or similar materials, whose leading edge or luff is provided in a way also known per se with slides 3 or similar conventional systems for coupling thereof for instance to the hoist of the vertical mast 4 of a sailboat.
  • the mast 4 whose cross section is for instance the one depicted in FIGS. 4 , 6 and 7 , is also of a conventional type and is normally stationary, i.e. non rotatable.
  • the invention consists of applying an inflatable bladder system conveniently localized immediately behind its leading edge 2 , along at least 1 ⁇ 2 of the width of the sheet 1 , without requiring any modifications of the usual conformation of the sail beside such an addition.
  • the inflatable system occupies for instance 1 ⁇ 2 of the width of the sail 1 and comprises two groups 6 , 7 of multiple pockets (four in the shown example) 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d and 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 7 d , which are flexible and generally inextensible.
  • Each group 6 , 7 which as it will be pointed out in the following is conveniently pre-fabricated, is directly and firmly fixed on a respective surface of the sheet 1 , in a permanent or, preferably, in a detachable fashion.
  • the multiple pockets 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d and 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 7 d are to say so built on the sheet 1 : they are delimited by the opposite faces 1 a , 1 b , of the sheet 1 , by respective flexible transverse baffles 8 projecting outwardly from the faces 1 a , 1 b , and by respective outer flexible walls 9 , 10 generally parallel to the faces 1 a , 1 b and possibly in part of totally elastic.
  • the transverse baffles 8 are fixedly secured to the faces 1 a , 1 b of the sheet 1 for instance by sewing. According to a variant, shown in FIG. 6 , the transverse baffles 8 can be mutually joined by, or formed in one piece with, respective inner flexible walls 8 a, fixed to the faces 1 a , 1 b of the sheet 1 .
  • the pockets 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, 6 d and 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 7 d present, along with the outer flexible walls 9 , 10 , a tubular configuration.
  • each group of multiple pockets 6 a, 6 b, 6 c , 6 d and 7 a, 7 b, 7 c, 7 d is pre-fabricated and then applied to the respective surfaces 1 a , 1 b of sheet 2 , even in a releasable way.
  • the pockets 6 a, 7 a arranged in correspondence of the proximal end (i.e. the one adjacent to the leading edge 2 )of each group 6 , 7 , as well as the pockets 6 d, 7 d located in correspondence of the distal end (i.e. the one which is far away from the leading edge 2 ) of those groups 6 , 7 have a lesser width (as measured transversally of the sail) than the width of the intermediate pockets 6 b, 6 c and 7 b, 7 c.
  • the pockets having the maximum width are the pockets 6 b, 7 b located at about 1 ⁇ 3 or less of the total width of the groups 6 , 7 , towards the side of the leading edge 2 : this configures the inflatable system 5 essentially as a NACA profile.
  • the two groups 6 , 7 may start superiorly from a certain distance from the top or head 1 c of the sail and are extending inferiorly down to a certain distance from its foot 1 d which is usually designed (in the case of a sailboat) to be coupled to a boom.
  • the width of the pockets 6 a - 6 d and 7 a - 7 d is progressively increasing towards the clew 1 d , which in this case normally corresponds to the area of maximum chord of the sail surface.
  • a respective inflatable bladder is housed which is consisting of an elastic tubular element 11 , typically having a thin wall for instance of the type employed in inflatable traction kytes.
  • the bladders 11 are connected, for instance inferiorly and through respective valves not shown since within the skill of the practitioner, to an inflating device in turn controlled so as to supply air under pressure to the bladders 11 jointly or independently from one other, in a selective and differentiated fashion or even in a combined way, according to logics intended to adjust the aerodynamic conformation of the wing profile of the inflatable system 5 in the transition area between the mast 4 and the leading edge 2 , and immediately behind the latter.
  • This enables to achieve an increased global efficiency of the sail 1 as a function of the different angles of incidence of the wind and thus for the different sailing points of the sailboat fitted out with the sail itself.
  • the configuration now considered as the preferred one is that shown in FIG. 4 in which under equilibrium conditions, i.e. without any wind pressure on either surface 1 a , 1 b of the sail 1 , the inflatable system 5 has a maximum width at the area of the pockets 6 b, 7 b which, as stated, are arranged at about 1 ⁇ 3 of the total width of the inflatable system 5 , towards its proximal end. This maximum width is greater than the width, i.e. of the cross section, of the mast 4 .
  • This area of maximum width can be advantageously shifted forwardly or rearwardly, evidently acting on the pressure of the air supplied to the bladders 11 , in the way which is deemed most proper to further increase the efficiency of the sail for each sailing point.
  • the related flexible walls 9 , 10 can be partially or totally covered and enclosed by respective flexible joining panels 14 , 15 extending, starting from the leading edge 2 , as far as the surfaces 1 a , 1 b of the sail 1 , for instance beyond half or more of its extension, or which may simply connect the surfaces of maximum width of the pockets 6 and 7 to one another.
  • each flexible panel 14 , 15 , or each rear pocket 6 d and 7 d can be connected to the surfaces 1 a , 1 b of the sail 1 by means of a respective elastic portion 14 a, 15 a, for instance made of Lycra® .
  • the flexible panels 14 and 15 when provided, can be entirely elastic.
  • FIGS. 3 and 6 A first variant of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 (in which parts which are identical or similar to those already previously disclosed are designated by the same numeral references) and enables to further improve the aerodynamic flow in the transition area between the mast 4 and the leading edge 2 of the sail 1 , making it as undisturbed as possible.
  • This variant consists of the provision of two flexible baffles designated as 16 , 17 in FIG. 6 , which connect the front surface of the mast 4 with the inflatable system 5 on the side 1 a and on the side 1 b of the sail 1 , respectively.
  • the variant of the invention depicted in FIG. 7 differs from the embodiment of FIG. 6 in that the two flexible baffles 16 , 17 are fixed on one side to the surfaces 1 a , 1 b of the sheet 1 and on the opposite side to the mast 4 through a rope or cable system 18 , 19 designed to provide the tension which is necessary to warrant adherence between the surface of the mast 4 and the baffles 16 , 17 during operation, and suitable to allow fitting out of the sail.
  • the ropes 18 , 19 are wound around respective sheeves (not shown in the drawings) provided on the masthead, one at each side.
  • each pocket group 6 , 7 is conveniently formed in one piece as a prefabricated mat, such as shown as 21 in FIGS. 8-10 with reference to the group 6 , which in this case is including six pockets 6 a - 6 f.
  • each pocket 6 a - 6 f which are flexible and substantially inextensible, can be inflated directly, i.e. without employing the elastic bladders 11 of the embodiments previously disclosed.
  • each pocket 6 a - 6 f is provided with one or more inflating valves, diagrammatically indicated as 22 .
  • Each pocket 6 a - 6 f can also be divided longitudinally in separate compartments, each one provided with a respective inflating valve.
  • Each mat 21 is configured to be easily applied onto a respective surface 1 a , 1 b of the sheet 1 of any traditional sail, even already existing, in a permanent fashion for instance by gluing or heat welding, or more conveniently in a releasable fashion with the aid of micro-hook strips (Velcro®) or similar systems for quick attachment-detachment, in the way shown in FIG. 11 .
  • the mats 21 are not necessarily provided with the walls 9 , 10 , or with the flexible panels 14 , 15 , or with the baffles 16 , 17 disclosed in the above.
  • FIG. 12 shows the permanent or releasable application of the pocket groups 6 , 7 according to FIGS. 4 and 5 to the sheet 1 of the sail.
  • FIGS. 13 and 14 are showing two simplified variants of FIG. 5 , deprived of the elastic tubular bladders 11 : in either case the pockets 6 a - 6 d and 7 a - 7 b, mare of airtight material, are designated to be directly inflated and thus do constitute themselves the inflatable bladder means fixedly secured to the opposite faces 1 a , 1 b of the sheet 1 forming the sail.
  • the flexible panels 14 , 15 with the related rear elastic portions 14 , 15 a are provided at the outside of the pockets 6 a - 6 d and 7 a - 7 d
  • the flexible panels 14 , 15 are suppressed and only the elastic portions 14 a, 15 a are provided, connecting the rear pockets 6 d and 7 d with the respective surfaces 1 a , 1 b of the sail 1 .
  • the pockets 6 , 7 are connected, for instance inferiorly and through respective valves not shown in the drawings, to an inflating device in term controlled so as to supply air under pressure to the pockets 6 , 7 jointly, or independently in a selective and differentiated fashion, even variously combined, according to control logics adapted to adjust the aerodynamic conformation of the wing profile of the inflatable system 5 .
  • the position of the area of maximum width can be advanced or retracted with respect to the mast 4 , by differentiating the pressure of the air supplied to the pockets 6 , 7 according to any mode which shall be considered proper to optimize the efficiency of the sail at any different sailing points.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Sustainable Energy (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Aerodynamic Tests, Hydrodynamic Tests, Wind Tunnels, And Water Tanks (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)
  • Braking Arrangements (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
US14/377,321 2012-02-15 2013-02-12 Wing profile sail Abandoned US20150007761A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000131A ITTO20120131A1 (it) 2012-02-15 2012-02-15 Vela a profilo alare per imbarcazioni e tavole a vela
ITT02012A000131 2012-02-15
PCT/IB2013/051129 WO2013121345A1 (en) 2012-02-15 2013-02-12 Wing profile sail

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20150007761A1 true US20150007761A1 (en) 2015-01-08

Family

ID=46001463

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US14/377,321 Abandoned US20150007761A1 (en) 2012-02-15 2013-02-12 Wing profile sail

Country Status (4)

Country Link
US (1) US20150007761A1 (it)
EP (1) EP2814724A1 (it)
IT (1) ITTO20120131A1 (it)
WO (1) WO2013121345A1 (it)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107428405A (zh) * 2015-03-10 2017-12-01 飞向海洋有限责任公司 具有可变轮廓的帆
US20180148356A1 (en) * 2015-03-10 2018-05-31 Bound4Blue, Sl System for the production of hydrogen from sea water
US10029773B1 (en) * 2017-05-02 2018-07-24 Subseasail LLC Submerged sailing vessel

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5347946A (en) * 1993-11-26 1994-09-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Structure for aerodynamic transition between mast and sail in a sailcraft
US5775249A (en) * 1996-04-08 1998-07-07 Samuel; David B. Adjustable camber inflatable sail
US20020100406A1 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-08-01 Costa Ronald D. Chambered structure for wing sail

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1153056A (en) 1966-10-17 1969-05-21 Leonard Jack Cook Improvements in Sails for Sailing Craft
US3391668A (en) 1967-01-13 1968-07-09 Birchill Joseph Sail
DE8624010U1 (de) * 1986-09-06 1987-01-02 Schmidt, Stefan D., Dr.jur., 84489 Burghausen Segel eines Wasserfahrzeuges
ITVI960109A1 (it) * 1996-07-01 1998-01-01 Francesco Miotto Natante pneumatico per lo sport ed il tempo libero.
FR2862278B1 (fr) * 2003-11-18 2006-12-01 Francois Riche Ensemble rotatif flottant mat et voile a profil aile gonfle
FR2892997B1 (fr) * 2005-11-09 2007-12-21 Fr Sailing Sarl Voilure epaisse a profil aile reversible

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5347946A (en) * 1993-11-26 1994-09-20 The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army Structure for aerodynamic transition between mast and sail in a sailcraft
US5775249A (en) * 1996-04-08 1998-07-07 Samuel; David B. Adjustable camber inflatable sail
US20020100406A1 (en) * 2000-12-12 2002-08-01 Costa Ronald D. Chambered structure for wing sail

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN107428405A (zh) * 2015-03-10 2017-12-01 飞向海洋有限责任公司 具有可变轮廓的帆
US20180072394A1 (en) * 2015-03-10 2018-03-15 Jose Miguel Bermudez Miquel Sail having variable profile
JP2018507819A (ja) * 2015-03-10 2018-03-22 バウンド４ブルー、ソシエダ リミタダ 可変プロファイルを有する帆
US20180148356A1 (en) * 2015-03-10 2018-05-31 Bound4Blue, Sl System for the production of hydrogen from sea water
EP3269631A4 (en) * 2015-03-10 2018-10-24 Bound4Blue, SL Sail having variable profile
US10633068B2 (en) * 2015-03-10 2020-04-28 Bound4Blue, Sl Sail having variable profile
US10029773B1 (en) * 2017-05-02 2018-07-24 Subseasail LLC Submerged sailing vessel
US11180232B2 (en) 2017-05-02 2021-11-23 Subseasail LLC Submerged sailing vessel

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Publication number Publication date
ITTO20120131A1 (it) 2013-08-16
WO2013121345A1 (en) 2013-08-22
EP2814724A1 (en) 2014-12-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: AIR WING SAIL S.R.L., ITALY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BUZZI, FILIPPO;LOMBARDI, EDOARDO;REEL/FRAME:033494/0454

Effective date: 20140731

STCB Information on status: application discontinuation

Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION