Sailing craft comprising a tilting rigid sail system

Abstract

A sailing craft propelled by a tilting sail system comprising an aerofoil sail capable of omni-directional attitude for wind propulsion. The sail is fixed to the craft in such a manner as to permit omni-directional attitude. Sail control means allows the sail placement in a forward propulsion attitude relative to wind direction. The sail is rigid and has an asymmetric shape.

1 . A sailing craft comprising a tilting sail system, said sailing craft having a hull having a bow and a stern, a port side and a starboard side, said sail tilting sail system comprising:
 a. a sail comprising an aerofoil member capable of omni-directional attitude for wind propulsion;   b. aerofoil member support means for fixing said aerofoil member to the sailing craft and permitting omni-directional attitude; and,   c. Aerofoil member control means for placing the aerofoil member in a forward propulsion attitude relative to wind direction.   
   
   
       2 . The sailing craft of  claim 1 , wherein said aerofoil member is rigid and has an asymmetric shape. 
   
   
       3 . The sailing craft of  claim 2 , wherein the aerofoil member is self weather cocking. 
   
   
       4 . The sailing craft of  claim 3 , wherein the aerofoil member comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper camber, a chord, a span, a centre line, a port side, a starboard side and a chord line. 
   
   
       5 . The sailing craft of  claim 4 , wherein said span is greater than said chord. 
   
   
       6 . The sailing craft of  claim 4  wherein the aerofoil member has a first chord at said leading edge and a second chord at said trailing edge, and wherein said second chord is larger than said first chord. 
   
   
       7 . The sailing craft of  claim 3  wherein the aerofoil member further includes framing means adapted to maintain said asymmetric shape. 
   
   
       8 . The sailing craft of  claim 1 , wherein said aerofoil member support means comprises a vertical mast having a bottom end fixed to said hull and top end for mounting the aerofoil member. 
   
   
       9 . The sailing craft of  claim 8  wherein the aerofoil support means further comprises at least one stay member fixed between said vertical mast and the hull to provide stability to the vertical mast. 
   
   
       10 . The sailing craft of  claim 1 , wherein aerofoil member control means for placing the aerofoil member in a forward propulsion attitude relative to wind direction comprises means for controlling the attitude of the aerofoil member for optimizing aerofoil inclination and surface area to wind direction. 
   
   
       11 . The sailing craft of  claim 10 , wherein means for controlling the attitude of the aerofoil member comprises;
 a. Swivel and pivot means connecting said second end of the vertical mast to the aerofoil member permitting the aerofoil member to adopt a plurality of desired inclination angles; and,   b. Control means for placing and maintaining the aerofoil member to adopt one of said plurality of desired inclination angles.   
   
   
       12 . The sailing craft of  claim 11 , wherein said swivel and pivot means comprises:
 a. A mounting member fixed to said framing means for mounting the swivel and pivot mean to the aerofoil member;   b. Damping means fixed to the swivel and pivot means and disposed within the second end of the vertical mast for damping forces induced into the swivel and pivot means by wind;   c. Swivel means for permitting the aerofoil member to swivel around the vertical mast; and,   d. Pivot means for permitting rotation of the aerofoil member about said chord line.   
   
   
       13 . The sailing craft of  claim 12 , wherein said damping means comprises:
 a. a first member disposed within the vertical mast proximate to the second end;   b. a damping spring disposed within the vertical mast, said damping spring member having a first end and a second end, wherein said first end rests upon said base member;   c. a second member disposed within a third member, wherein said second member rests upon said second end of the damping spring member and is adapted to transfer said forces from the swivel and pivot means to the damping spring; and,   d. said third member having a first end adapted to receive the second end of the damping spring and a second end fixed to an axle, wherein the third member is further adapted for telescopic placement within the second end of the vertical mast thereby permitting reciprocating movement of the third member relative to the vertical mast in reaction to the forces.   
   
   
       14 . The sailing craft of  claim 13 , wherein said swivel means comprises said axle attached by said pivot means to the aerofoil member, wherein the axle is fixed at its midpoint to the third member second end, and further wherein the third member is disposed telescopically within the vertical mast second end so that it is permitted free rotation about the vertical mast. 
   
   
       15 . The sailing craft of  claim 14 , wherein the pivot means comprises the axle mounted in a rotational relationship with a first and second yoke, said first and second yoke mounted to the mounting member; the pivot means permitting rotation of the aerofoil member about the chord line. 
   
   
       16 . The sailing craft of  claim 15 , wherein the control means comprises a first control line having a first end fixed to said leading edge and a second end anchored to the vertical mast at a point proximate to the first end thereof, wherein said first control line is tensioned to control pitch of the aerofoil member. 
   
   
       17 . The sailing craft of  claim 16 , wherein the control means further comprises aerofoil member tilt control comprising a second control line having a first end fixed to the aerofoil member between said port side and the vertical mast and a second end fixed to the aerofoil member between said starboard side and the vertical mast, thereby creating said second control line port length and starboard length, and wherein the second control line travels down-mast to a set of pulleys mounted on the mast and to a two-way winch adapted to tension alternately said port length and said starboard length of the second control line, thereby tilting the aerofoil member port and starboard as desired. 
   
   
       18 . The sailing craft as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the control means further comprises a third control line having a first end fixed to the aerofoil member between said trailing edge and the vertical mast, and a second end fixed to port-starboard traveling means fixed across the stern of the water craft, said traveling means adapted to move from port to starboard so that the aerofoil member can be rotated about the vertical mast and secured in a desired position. 
   
   
       19 . A sailing craft comprising a tilting sail system, said sailing craft having a hull having a bow and a stern, a port side and a starboard side, said sail tilting sail system comprising:
 a. a self weather cocking sail comprising a rigid and asymmetric aerofoil member capable of omni-directional attitude for wind propulsion;   b. aerofoil member support means for fixing said aerofoil member to the sailing craft and permitting omni-directional attitude;   c. aerofoil member control means for placing the aerofoil member in a forward propulsion attitude relative to wind direction, wherein aerofoil member control means comprises means for controlling the attitude of the aerofoil member for optimizing aerofoil inclination and surface area to wind direction; and, wherein means for controlling the attitude,   d. the aerofoil member comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, an upper camber, a chord, a span, a centre line, a port side, a starboard side and a chord line, and wherein said span is greater than said chord.   
   
   
       20 . The sailing craft of  claim 19 , wherein said aerofoil member support means comprises:
 a. a vertical mast having a bottom end fixed to said hull and a top end for mounting the aerofoil member, at least one stay member fixed between said vertical mast and the hull to provide stability to the vertical mast, and swivel and pivot means connecting said second end of the vertical mast to the aerofoil member permitting the aerofoil member to adopt a plurality of desired inclination angles;   b. Control means for placing and maintaining the aerofoil member to adopt one of said plurality of desired inclination angles; and wherein,   c. said swivel and pivot means comprises:
 i. A mounting member fixed to said framing means for mounting the swivel and pivot mean to the aerofoil member; 
 ii. Damping means fixed to the swivel and pivot means and disposed within the second end of the vertical mast for damping forces induced into the swivel and pivot means by wind; 
 iii. Swivel means for permitting the aerofoil member to swivel around the vertical mast; and, 
 iv. Pivot means for permitting rotation of the aerofoil member about said chord line.