IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0377848
(2006-09-14)
|
등록번호 |
US-8215588
(2012-07-10)
|
국제출원번호 |
PCT/EP2006/008959
(2006-09-14)
|
§371/§102 date |
20090217
(20090217)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO2008/031446
(2008-03-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wrage, Stephan
- Brabeck, Stephan
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
8 인용 특허 :
4 |
초록
▼
The invention relates to a steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising a first fixed attachment means for securing a first end of a tractive cable the second end of which is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred, a second attachm
The invention relates to a steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising a first fixed attachment means for securing a first end of a tractive cable the second end of which is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred, a second attachment means for attaching a number of tractive lines, the second end of which being secured to an aerodynamic wing element, a mechanical support frame connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means for transferring a tractive force. The invention aims at providing such a steering unit with improved design for better maneuverability and stability. According to the invention the second attachment means of the improved steering unit comprise at least one upper fixed attachment point, a left moveable attachment point, a right moveable attachment point, and steering actuator means for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point.
대표청구항
▼
1. Steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising: a first fixed attachment means (35) configured to secure a first end of a tractive cable (43), wherein a second end of the tractive cable is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred;a
1. Steering unit for a wind propulsion system, the steering unit comprising: a first fixed attachment means (35) configured to secure a first end of a tractive cable (43), wherein a second end of the tractive cable is secured to a device or a vehicle to which a tractive force shall be transferred;a second attachment means (31a, b, 36a, b, 33, 34) configured to attach a number of tractive lines (40a, b, 41a, b), a second end of each of the tractive lines being secured to an aerodynamic wing element (11a, 12a, 21); anda mechanical support frame (100, 110) connecting the first attachment means to the second attachment means for transferring a tractive force,characterized in that the second attachment means compriseat least one upper fixed attachment point (31a, b),a left moveable attachment point (36a),a right moveable attachment point (36b), andsteering actuator means (33, 34, 120, 130, 140a-c) configured to vary the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point. 2. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering actuator means comprise an actuator (120, 34) for selectively driving a belt (33) in alternative directions, the first end of the belt providing the left moveable attachment point and the second end of the belt providing the right moveable attachment point. 3. Steering unit according to claim 2, wherein the steering actuator means comprise a driven wheel (34) rotatably fixed to the mechanical support frame and the belt (33), which is at least partially wound around the wheel, a first end of the belt providing the left moveable attachment point and a second end of the belt providing the right moveable attachment point. 4. Steering unit according to claim 3, wherein the driven wheel is a toothed wheel and the belt is toothed to be matingly received by the wheel. 5. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering actuator means comprise a first actuator attached to the support frame and adapted for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the left moveable attachment point and a second actuator attached to the support frame and adapted for varying the distance between the upper fixed attachment point and the right moveable attachment point. 6. Steering unit according to claim 5, wherein the first and second actuator each comprise a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, which first end is attached to the support frame and which second end provides the left and the right moveable attachment point, respectively. 7. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises two or more support plates (100, 110). 8. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises at least two support plates (100, 110) arranged at a distance from each other and sandwiching the at least one upper fixed attachment point and the first attachment means. 9. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein points of load incidence of the first fixed attachment means and the second attachment means are connected by tensional fiber rovings for transferring the tractive forces. 10. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein the support frame comprises at least two support plates arranged at a distance from each other and the first fixed attachment means and the at least one upper fixed attachment point of the second attachment means comprise rigid rods extending from one of the support plates to the other support plate and being connected by tensional fiber rovings for transferring the tractive forces. 11. Steering unit according to claim 10, wherein the tensional rovings comprise a first set of fiber rovings adjacent to a first one of the support plates and a second set of rovings adjacent to the other one of the support plates. 12. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein a left (31a) and a right (31b) upper fixed attachment point is provided and these upper fixed attachment points and the first fixed attachment means are rods extending from a first support plate to a second support plate arranged parallel to the first support plate and wherein the rods are connected by tensional rovings which are at least partially wound around the rods and which comprisea first fiber roving extending from the rod for the left second fixed attachment point to the rod of the first fixed attachment means,a second fiber roving extending from the rod for the right second fixed attachment point to the rod of the first fixed attachment means,a third fiber roving extending from a point of load incidence for the moveable attachment points to the rod of the first fixed attachment means for transferring the tractive forces. 13. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the moveable attachment points or the first fixed attachment means is coupled to the support frame via a load measurement cell. 14. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein additional moveable attachment means configured to control a lifting force of the aerodynamic wing element are provided which are to be coupled to at least one tractive line attached to the aerodynamic wing element in a region between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the aerodynamic wing element. 15. Steering unit according to claim 1, wherein the the left moveable attachment point and the right moveable attachment point are coupled to at least one tractive line attached to a left region and a right region of the aerodynamic wing element, respectively, in a region between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the aerodynamic wing element. 16. Steering unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the steering unit comprises an energy storage, a sensor for detecting the orientation or rate of turn of the steering unit, a position of the steering unit or at least one flight parameter of the steering unit, and a controller for controlling the flight direction of an aerodynamic wing element attached to the steering unit, the controller being connected to the sensor(s) and the energy storage and being capable of controlling an actuator for changing a flight direction of the aerodynamic wing element based on the sensor signals. 17. Steering unit according to claim 16, characterized in that the controller is capable of controlling the actuator for changing the flight direction of the aerodynamic wing element without input from outside the steering unit. 18. Steering unit according to claim 17, wherein the controller comprises a logic unit programmed for controlling the actuator in such a way, that the aerodynamic wing element is always kept above a minimum altitude. 19. Steering unit according to claim 16 or 18, wherein the energy storage comprises an electric rechargeable battery, a capacitor or an air accumulator. 20. Steering unit according to claim 16, wherein the controller comprises a logic unit that is programmedfor keeping the aerodynamic wing element at a fixed altitude or within a fixed altitude range,for directing the aerodynamic wing element along a predetermined closed loop flight path, orfor keeping the aerodynamic wing element along a straight flight path extending horizontally. 21. Steering unit according to claim 16, wherein the controller is connected to at least one sensor detecting an angular position of the steering unit in relation to the direction of gravity and is programmed to maintaina fixed angular orientation,an angular orientation range, ora programmed sequence of angular orientations in at least one plane, preferably more planes and in particular three planes oriented orthogonal to each other in relation to the direction of gravity. 22. Steering unit according to claim 16, wherein the controller is connected to three gyroscope sensors arranged in three directions orthogonal to each other and three linear acceleration sensors arranged in three directions orthogonal to each other and is programmed to calculate an estimation of the direction of gravity from the signals of these sensors. 23. Steering unit according to claim 16, further characterized in that the controller is connected toa load cell coupled between the support frame and the first attachment means for measuring a tractive force of the aerodynamic wing element,a load cell coupled between the support frame and the left moveable attachment points for measuring a left steering force,a load cell coupled between the support frame and the right moveable attachment points for measuring a right steering force,a GPS position finder, oran anemometer.
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