Vented airfoil assemblies

Abstract

An electrical energy generation system includes an electricity generator assembly from which a tensile line extends. The electricity generator assembly is configured to retract the tensile line and generate electricity upon extension of the tensile line. A vented airfoil assembly is attached to the tensile line. The vented airfoil assembly includes an airfoil through which at least one or more vent holes are defined. Each vent hole is entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the airfoil. A vent assembly is positioned in each vent hole. Each vent assembly has an open configuration in which the vent assembly permits airflow through the airfoil and a closed configuration in which the vent assembly restricts airflow through the airfoil. Each vent assembly is controllable such that the vented airfoil assembly constitutes a maneuverable kite.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vented airfoil assembly comprising:
 an airfoil through which at least one vent hole is defined, the vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the airfoil; and   a vent assembly positioned in the vent hole, the vent assembly having an open configuration in which the vent assembly permits airflow through the airfoil and a closed configuration in which the vent assembly restricts airflow through the airfoil.   
     
     
         2 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one cable attaching the airfoil to an electricity generator. 
     
     
         3 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to the vent assembly to configure the vent assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vented airfoil assembly comprises a maneuverable kite. 
     
     
         5 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the airfoil comprises:
 a top foil through which the at least one vent hole is defined, wherein the vent assembly is positioned in the vent hole defined in the top foil; and   a skirt foil sloping down from the top foil, wherein at least one vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the skirt foil is defined through the skirt foil, and   wherein the vented airfoil assembly further comprises a second vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined through the skirt foil, the second vent assembly having an open configuration in which airflow through the skirt foil is permitted and a closed configuration in which airflow through the skirt foil is restricted.   
     
     
         6 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the airfoil comprises:
 a top foil through which the at least one vent hole is defined, wherein the vent assembly is a top foil vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined in the top foil;   a front skirt foil sloping down from a front side of the top foil, wherein at least one vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the front skirt foil is defined through the skirt foil; and   a back skirt foil sloping down from a back side of the top foil opposite the front side, wherein at least one vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the back skirt foil is defined through the back skirt foil, and   wherein the vented airfoil assembly further comprises:   a front skirt foil vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined through the front skirt foil, the front skirt foil vent assembly having an open configuration in which airflow through the front skirt foil is permitted and a closed configuration in which airflow through the front skirt foil is restricted; and   a back skirt foil vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined through the back skirt foil, the back skirt foil vent assembly having an open configuration in which airflow through the back skirt foil is permitted and a closed configuration in which airflow through the back skirt foil is restricted.   
     
     
         7 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a first powered actuator operatively coupled to the top foil vent assembly to configure the top foil vent assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration;   a second powered actuator operatively coupled to the front skirt foil vent assembly to configure the front skirt foil assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration; and   a third powered actuator operatively coupled to the back skirt foil vent assembly to configure the back skirt foil assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration.   
     
     
         8 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 the top foil is shaped as an arched ridge; and   the airfoil is shaped as a downward opening concave form.   
     
     
         9 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly comprises:
 a sectored circular base plate having multiple circle sector blades between which circle sector openings are defined through the base plate;   a sectored rotational plate having multiple circle sector blades between which circle sector openings are defined through the rotational plate,   wherein the rotational plate is concentric with and rotatable relative to the base plate at least between two angular positions corresponding to open and close conditions of the vent assembly.   
     
     
         10 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly comprises parallel linear slats that rotate between:
 closed positions at which edges of the slats contact or overlap such that together the slats maximally obstruct the vent hole; and   opened positions at which openings are defined between the slats to permit airflow through the vent assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A vented airfoil assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the vent assembly comprises sliding panels that slide between:
 the closed configuration at which the sliding panels together obstruct the opening; and   the opened configuration at which the sliding panels assume at least partially overlapped positions.   
     
     
         13 . An electrical energy generation system comprising:
 an electricity generator assembly from which a tensile line extends, the electricity generator assembly configured to retract the tensile line and generate electricity upon extension of the tensile line; and   a vented airfoil assembly attached to the tensile line, the vented airfoil assembly comprising:
 an airfoil through which at least one vent hole is defined, the vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the airfoil; and 
 a vent assembly positioned in the vent hole, the vent assembly having an open configuration in which the vent assembly permits airflow through the airfoil and a closed configuration in which the vent assembly restricts airflow through the airfoil. 
   
     
     
         14 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the airfoil comprises:
 a top foil through which the at least one vent hole is defined, wherein the vent assembly is a top foil vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined in the top foil;   a front skirt foil sloping down from a front side of the top foil, wherein at least one vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the front skirt foil is defined through the front skirt foil; and   a back skirt foil sloping down from a back side of the top foil opposite the front side, wherein at least one vent hole entirely surrounded in surface perspective by the back skirt foil is defined through the back skirt foil, and   wherein the vented airfoil assembly further comprises:   a front skirt foil vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined through the front skirt foil, the front skirt foil vent assembly having an open configuration in which airflow through the front skirt foil is permitted and a closed configuration in which airflow through the front skirt foil is restricted; and   a back skirt foil vent assembly positioned in the vent hole defined through the back skirt foil, the back skirt foil vent assembly having an open configuration in which airflow through the back skirt foil is permitted and a closed configuration in which airflow through the back skirt foil is restricted.   
     
     
         15 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first powered actuator operatively coupled to the top foil vent assembly to configure the top foil vent assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration;   a second powered actuator operatively coupled to the front skirt foil vent assembly to configure the front skirt foil assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration; and   a third powered actuator operatively coupled to the back skirt foil vent assembly to configure the back skirt foil assembly selectively in the open configuration and the closed configuration.   
     
     
         16 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 14 , wherein:
 the top foil is shaped as an arched ridge; and   the airfoil is shaped as a downward opening concave form.   
     
     
         17 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the vented airfoil assembly comprises a maneuverable kite. 
     
     
         18 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the vent assembly comprises:
 a sectored circular base plate having multiple circle sector blades between which circle sector openings are defined through the base plate;   a sectored rotational plate having multiple circle sector blades between which circle sector openings are defined through the rotational plate,   wherein the rotational plate is concentric with and rotatable relative to the base plate at least between two angular positions corresponding to open and close conditions of the vent assembly.   
     
     
         19 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the vent assembly comprises parallel linear slats that rotate between:
 closed positions at which edges of the slats contact or overlap such that together the slats obstruct the vent hole; and   opened positions at which openings are defined between the slats to permit airflow through the vent assembly.   
     
     
         20 . An electrical energy generation system according to  claim 13 , wherein the vent assembly comprises sliding panels that slide between:
 the closed configuration at which the sliding panels together obstruct the opening; and   the opened configuration at which the sliding panels assume at least partially overlapped positions.