Wind turbine boats, watercraft drives, and wind turbine enhancements
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B63H-009/00
출원번호
UP-0443954
(2003-05-23)
등록번호
US-7775843
(2010-09-06)
발명자
/ 주소
Vanderhye, Robert A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
4인용 특허 :
17
초록▼
A wind powered watercraft, and improved individual components utilizable with the watercraft or elsewhere, does not require the user to have sailing skills, and can go directly into the wind. A vertical axis wind turbine (such as a Savonius or modified Savonius) is mounted to a multihull boat (such
A wind powered watercraft, and improved individual components utilizable with the watercraft or elsewhere, does not require the user to have sailing skills, and can go directly into the wind. A vertical axis wind turbine (such as a Savonius or modified Savonius) is mounted to a multihull boat (such as a catamaran). The turbine has a shaft operatively connected to a propulsion system, such as by a clutch. The propulsion system may be a large diameter and pitch horizontal propeller, a vertical axis propeller, or a novel fishtail or sculling oar simulating mechanism, including an oscillating element with a flexible material (e.g. durometer between 40-100) free end. A mechanism which prevents useless spinning of the vertical axis wind turbine when the watercraft is docked may also be provided. For when the wind velocity is insufficient, a manual assist may be provided. The manual assist may have primarily human arm powered and human leg powered drive assemblies, each including a substantially inextensible cord, a cord drum operatively connected by a one-way clutch to the wind turbine shaft, and a take-up. The wind turbine boat may be produced from a conventional sailboat by replacing a sailboat mast with the wind turbine and propulsion system, and converted back to the sailboat when desired.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A watercraft comprising a catamaran or trimaran and further comprising: a vertical axis wind turbine including a shaft; a propulsion mechanism operatively connected to the shaft; and a manual assist operatively connected to the shaft and wherein the manual assist comprises a
What is claimed is: 1. A watercraft comprising a catamaran or trimaran and further comprising: a vertical axis wind turbine including a shaft; a propulsion mechanism operatively connected to the shaft; and a manual assist operatively connected to the shaft and wherein the manual assist comprises a leg powered mechanism. 2. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises a first gear connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and linear movement therealong, a second gear operatively mounted to a propeller shaft of a substantially horizontal propeller; and a lifting mechanism which moves the first gear along the shaft between positions engaging, and disengaged from, the second gear, the lifting mechanism and first gear having cooperating surfaces of low friction material, whereby the lifting mechanism functions as a clutch, or high friction material, whereby the lifting mechanism functions as a clutch and brake. 3. A watercraft as recited in claim 2 further comprising a third gear operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith, and positioned with respect to the first and second gears so that the third gear can be moved into operative engagement with the second gear simultaneously with moving the first gear out of engagement with the second gear, so that the propeller can be rotated to selectively move the watercraft forward or in reverse. 4. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the manual assist comprises primarily human arm powered and human leg powered drive assemblies each comprising a substantially inextensible cord, a cord drum operatively connected by a one-way clutch to the wind turbine shaft, and a takeup device operatively connected to the cord drum; the one-way clutches providing powered rotation of the wind turbine shaft only in the same direction that the wind turbine rotates the shaft. 5. A watercraft as recited in claim 4 comprising a multihull; and wherein the manual assist further comprises a reciprocal seat mounted at an aft portion of one of the hulls, the leg powered drive assembly cord operatively mounted to the seat, and a handle mounted to the arm powered drive assembly cord. 6. A watercraft as recited in claim 5 further comprising a device which readily releasably locks the seat in place on the hull so that the seat does not move. 7. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the manual assist comprises both arm and leg powered mechanisms. 8. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the vertical axis wind turbine comprises a Savonius wind turbine. 9. A watercraft as recited in claim 8 wherein the Savonius wind turbine comprises a modified Savonius wind turbine having vanes operatively connected to a perforated central shaft allowing spillover from one vane to another. 10. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 further comprising a clutch operatively connected between the propulsion mechanism and the shaft. 11. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 further comprising a manually actuated brake for significantly slowing or stopping rotation of the shaft. 12. A watercraft as recited in claim 1 wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises an oscillating fishtail simulating mechanism. 13. A watercraft as recited in claim 12 wherein the fishtail simulating mechanism comprises a drive element connected to the wind turbine shaft, and an oscillating element with a flexible material free end operatively connected to the drive element. 14. A multihull watercraft comprising: a plurality of hulls; a propulsion mechanism mounted between two of the hulls; a vertical axis wind turbine operatively mounted to at least one hull, the wind turbine having a shaft; and an operative connection between the wind turbine shaft and the propulsion mechanism, the operative connection including: a first gear operatively connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and linear movement therealong: a second gear operatively mounted to the propulsion mechanism: and a clutch comprising a lifting mechanism which moves the first gear along the shaft between positions engaging, and disengaged from, the second gear; and further comprising a seat mounted on an aft portion of one of the hulls, a device which selectively maintains the seat in a stationary position, or allows reciprocation thereof fore and aft along the hull, a substantially inextensible cord operatively connected to the seat for movement therewith, a cord drum mounted by a oneway clutch to the wind turbine shaft, and a take-up mechanism operatively mounted to the cord drum, so that an operator powering movement of the seat fore and aft assists in powering the propulsion mechanism. 15. A multihull watercraft having a vertical axis wind turbine and connected propulsion mechanism removably mounted thereto, and a device which can mount a sailboat mast; so that the watercraft may be used as a wind turbine powered craft or a sail boat. 16. A multi hull watercraft as recited in claim 15 wherein the watercraft comprises a catamaran having a pre-existing fore crossbar, and a dolphin striker post and dolphin striker rod operatively associated with the fore crossbar; and further comprising a rotating shaft of the wind turbine removably mounted in a tube to the crossbar. 17. A method of using the multihull watercraft of claim 15 by: insuring a mast is not mounted by the device which can mount a sailboat mast; mounting the wind turbine and propulsion mechanism to the multihull craft; and using the craft as a wind turbine powered craft. 18. A multihull watercraft comprising: a plurality of hulls; a propulsion mechanism operatively mounted to at least one hull and comprising a substantially horizontal axis propeller at least twelve inches in diameter; a Savonius vertical axis wind turbine operatively mounted to at least one hull, and having a shaft; and an operative connection between said wind turbine shaft and said propeller, said operative connection including a clutch; and wherein the wind turbine and propulsion mechanism are operatively connected by a first gear connected to the shaft for rotation therewith; and wherein the propulsion mechanism comprises a substantially horizontal axis propeller, having a propeller shaft with a second gear thereon for cooperating with the first gear; and wherein the clutch comprises a lifting mechanism which moves the first gear between positions engaging or disengaging the second gear. 19. A multihull watercraft as recited in claim 18 wherein a single vertical axis wind turbine and single clutch are provided. 20. A multi hull watercraft as recited in claim 18 wherein the wind turbine is operatively mounted between two hulls, and the propulsion mechanism includes a substantially horizontal axis propeller between said two hulls to which the wind turbine is operatively mounted. 21. A multihull watercraft comprising: a plurality of hulls; a propulsion mechanism operatively mounted to at least one hull; a vertical axis wind turbine operatively mounted to at least one hull, and having a shaft; an operative connection between the wind turbine shaft and propulsion mechanism; and a connection of the wind turbine to a pump or generator at a dock so that when the watercraft is docked the pump or generator is operated by the wind turbine. 22. A multihull watercraft comprising: a plurality of hulls; a propulsion mechanism operatively mounted to at least one hull; a Savonius vertical axis wind turbine operatively mounted to at least one hull, and having a shaft and vanes; an operative connection between the wind turbine shaft and propulsion mechanism; and readily removable connectors operatively connecting the vanes to the shaft so that upon detachment of the vanes from the shaft the shaft will substantially not be rotated by wind engaging the vanes. 23. A catamaran or trimaran having at least two spaced hulls; a vertical axis wind turbine including a shaft operatively mounted to at least one of the hulls; a substantially horizontal axis propeller operatively connected to the shaft and driven by the shaft; and a human powered device for powering the catamaran or trimaran and operatively connected thereto. 24. A catamaran or trimaran as recited in claim 23 wherein the vertical axis wind turbine comprises a Savonius wind turbine. 25. A catamaran or trimaran as recited in claim 23 further comprising a second vertical axis wind turbine and a second propeller operatively connected thereto; and wherein said wind turbine and said second wind turbine are both operatively connected to at least one hull of said catamaran or trimaran.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (17)
Peterson Stephen S. (Maple Grove MN) Blawd Harold C. (Burnsville MN) Heutmaker Michael E. (Long Lake MN) Engel Timothy S. (Bloomington MN) Iverson Robert A. (Eden Prairie MN), Dual resistance exercise rowing machine.
Vidal Jean-Pierre (2 ; place des Eglantines 91540 Mennecy FRX), System for propulsion of boats by means of winds and streams and for recovery of energy.
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