Variable foil machine

• US 20140097621A1
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edouard P. Kassianoff
• Original Assignee: Edouard P. Kassianoff
• Inventors: Kassianoff, Edouard P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,157,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 1/36 swinging sideways, e.g. fishtail type
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 13/00 Marine propulsion by wind motors driving water-engaging propulsive elements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 5/06 the wind-engaging parts swinging to-and-fro and not rotating
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2210/16 Air or water being indistinctly used as working fluid, i.e. the machine can work equally with air or water without any modification
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/25 as advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/931 which is a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/94 on a movable wheeled structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/70 Wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

The Variable Foil Machine harnesses fluid flow energy and propels fluids. A variable foil (120) with reversible camber is secured to a leading draft member (150) movable on a leading support (122) and to a trailing draft member (130) movable on a trailing support (136). The trailing draft member (130) is secured to a trailing guide (132) via a crank arm (148). Apparatus can be installed on the ground or on a pivoting base (138). In one embodiment, the leading draft member (150) is fixed while the trailing draft member (130) oscillates. In another embodiment, an oscillation amplitude offset between leading draft member (150) and trailing draft member (130) promotes cyclic translation of the variable foil (120). An energy converter (142) may be cooperatively coupled to produce energy or perform work. Selective combination of moving parts provides a versatile choice of modes of operation for power generation, work and communication.

Claims

1. A variable foil machine for harnessing energy from fluid flow and propelling fluids, comprising:

a variable foil, having a leading edge and a trailing edge, for energy capture;

a leading support, for grounding;

a trailing draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said variable foil;

a trailing support, for grounding, moveably connected to said trailing draft member; and

a leading draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said leading support, and securely connected to said variable foil.

2. The variable foil machine as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a pivoting base, for alignment with fluid flow, securely connected to said leading support and securely connected to said trailing support.

7. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the variable foil is orientated substantially parallel to the reference ground, thereby providing a horizontal sail.

8. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 6 further including a tail, for directing flow, cooperatively secured to the variable foil

9. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 6 further including an energy converter, for work or power generation, cooperatively connected to the leading draft member or linkage thereto.

10. The machine of claim 9 further including an energy converter, for work or power generation, cooperatively connected to the trailing draft member or linkage thereto.

11. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 6 further including an energy converter, for work or power generation, cooperatively coupled to the trailing draft member or linkage thereto.

12. The machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein the length of the variable foil equals or exceed the sum of the length of a crank arm and the distance from the leading draft member to the center of said crank arm, whereby integration of oscillations into rotational movement is effected.

14. The machine of any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein symbols, signage, advertisements are displayed thereby enabling communication.

3. A variable foil machine for harnessing energy from fluid flow and propelling fluids, comprising:

a variable foil, having a leading edge and a trailing edge, for energy capture;

a leading support, for grounding;

a trailing draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said variable foil;

a trailing support, for grounding, moveably connected to said trailing draft member;

a leading draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said leading support, and securely connected to said variable foil;

a pivoting base, for alignment with fluid flow, securely connected to said leading support and securely connected to said trailing support.

4. A variable foil machine for harnessing energy from fluid flow and propelling fluids, comprising:

a variable foil, having a leading edge and a trailing edge, for energy capture;

a leading support, for grounding;

a trailing draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said variable foil;

a pivoting base, for alignment with fluid flow, securely connected to said trailing draft member; and

a leading draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said pivoting base, moveably connected to said leading support, and securely connected to said variable foil.

5. A variable foil machine for harnessing energy from fluid flow and propelling fluids, comprising:

a variable foil, having a leading edge and a trailing edge, for energy capture;

a leading support, for grounding;

a trailing draft member, for motion transfer, securely connected to said variable foil;

a trailing support, for grounding, moveably connected to said trailing draft member; and

a leading draft member, for motion transfer, moveably connected to said leading support, and securely connected to said variable foil.

a displacement amplitude offset between said leading draft member and said trailing draft member whereby cyclic translation of the variable foil is effected.

6. The variable foil machine as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a pivoting base, having steering control, for alignment with fluid flow, securely connected to said leading support, and securely connected to said trailing support.

13. The machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein the length of the variable foil equals or exceed the sum of the length of a crank arm and the distance from the leading draft member to the center of said crank arm, whereby integration of oscillations into rotational movement is effected.