Vertically-variable ocean sail system

• US 9,346,527 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magnuss Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Magnuss Ltd.
• Inventors: Holohan, Eric, Shergalis, Edward Anthony, Rhodes, James Gibson, Linzee, Jeremy Wyatt
• Primary Examiner(s): Olson, Lars A
• Application Number:
  US14/215,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20140196648A1
• Time in Patent Office: 799 Days
• Field of Search: 114/39.3, 114/102.29, 416/1, 416/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 3/14 Hull parts hull armour B63B3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 9/02 using Magnus effect
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/10 Measures concerning design or construction of watercraft hulls
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 70/5236 Renewable or hybrid-electric solutions

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide mechanical sail systems, methods, apparatus, and code which allow use of the Magnus effect to provide thrust to a ship. In some embodiments, a mechanical sail system is provided which includes a silo, positioned below a deck level of a ship, a lift carriage, mounted within the silo, and supporting a first sail cylinder and a second sail cylinder, and at least a first drive motor coupled to a control system for selectively positioning the lift carriage within the silo, the control system operable to control the at least first drive motor to position the lift carriage at a top position within the silo to deploy the first and second sail cylinders.

Claims

1. A mechanical sail system, comprising:

a silo, positioned below a deck level of a ship;

a lift carriage, mounted within the silo, and supporting a first sail cylinder and a second sail cylinder; and

at least a first drive motor coupled to a control system for selectively positioning the lift carriage within the silo, the control system operable to control said at least first drive motor to position said lift carriage at a top position within the silo to deploy the first and second sail cylinders.

2. The mechanical sail system of claim 1, wherein the sail cylinders are rotatable about a spindle of the lift carriage, and wherein the lift carriage is rotationally fixed within the silo.

3. The mechanical sail system of claim 2, wherein the rotation of the sail cylinders causes the transfer of thrust to the structure of a ship.

4. The mechanical sail system of claim 1, further comprising at least a third sail cylinder, wherein the lift carriage further supports the at least third sail cylinder, and the at least first drive motor is operable to deploy the first, second and at least third sail cylinders.

5. The mechanical sail system of claim 1, wherein the first sail cylinder is a lower sail cylinder, and the second sail cylinder is an upper sail cylinder having a slightly larger diameter than the first sail cylinder.

6. The mechanical sail system of claim 5, wherein the second sail cylinder is lighter than the first sail cylinder.

7. The mechanical sail system of claim 1, wherein the lift carriage, the at least first drive motor, and the first and second sail cylinders are stored within the silo when the system is not deployed.

8. The mechanical sail system of claim 7, further comprising a top plate for protecting the lift carriage, the at least first drive motor, and the first and second sail cylinders when stored within the silo.

9. The mechanical sail system of claim 2, wherein the lift carriage is formed with a set of radial arms extending from the spindle, a portion of the set of radial arms ending with a roller guide mating with a track on the silo.

10. The mechanical sail system of claim 9, wherein there are sixteen radial arms, and eight radial arms ending with a roller guide.

11. The mechanical sail system of claim 9, wherein a second portion of the set of radial arms end with a lifting point, the lifting point coupled via a drive belt to said at least first drive motor.

12. The mechanical sail system of claim 11, wherein there are sixteen radial arms, eight radial arms ending with a roller guide, and eight radial arms ending with a lifting point, the system further comprising a second, third and fourth drive motor.

13. A sail system, comprising:

a silo, positioned on a ship and having at least a first guide rail positioned along an interior surface of said silo, said at least first guide rail extending from a lower portion of said silo to an upper portion of said silo;

a lift carriage supporting at least a first sail cylinder, said lift carriage having at least a first roller guide movably coupled to said first guide rail; and

at least a first drive motor driving a lift chain causing said lift carriage to move from said lower portion of said silo to said upper portion of said silo to deploy said at least first sail cylinder.

14. The sail system of claim 13, wherein said lift carriage further supports at least a second sail cylinder.

15. The sail system of claim 13, wherein said lift carriage includes at least a first arm extending outward from a center of said lift carriage, wherein said at least first roller guide is positioned on an end of said at least first arm.

16. The sail system of claim 15, wherein said lift carriage includes at least a second arm extending outward from a center of said lift carriage, the sail system further comprising:

at least a second guide rail positioned along an interior surface of said silo, said at least second guide rail extending from said lower portion of said silo to an upper portion of said silo; and

at least a second roller guide positioned on an end of said at least second arm, said at least second roller guide movably coupled to said at least second guide rail.

17. The sail system of claim 13, wherein said lift chain is a continuous loop configuration.

18. The sail system of claim 13, wherein said at least first drive motor is positioned at a top of said silo.

19. The sail system of claim 13, wherein said at least first drive motor is positioned at a top of said silo above a weather deck of said ship.

20. The sail system of claim 13, wherein said silo replaces a portion of an existing transverse bulkhead of a ship.

21. A sail system, comprising:

a silo, having a top portion extending through a weather deck of a ship, and a bottom portion replacing a portion of an existing bulkhead of said ship;

a lifting system, mounted within said silo, and supporting at least a first sail cylinder, said lifting system lifting said at least first sail cylinder through said silo to extend above said weather deck; and

a housing positioned on said weather deck of said ship on at least a first deck stiffening plate, said housing having an aperture through which at least a first sail cylinder extends and retracts.