Sail propulsion device for cargo and tanker vessels

摘要

The sailing space frame of the present invention is supported by three hulls, a rudder hull a dagger board hull and an outrigger hull. The space frame also includes two mast assemblies, a fore spar, and a crew's quarters. The space frame can couple with a vessel propelled by a fossil fueled engine, and convert the combined space frame/vessel into an efficient sailing vessel that does not require fossil fuel for the trans-ocean portion of its voyage between ports. The outrigger provides sufficient stability to the sail propelled vessel so that it can carry a large enough sail area to supplant the use of the fossil fueled engine on the open ocean between ports. When entering or leaving a port the vessel uses its own engines for propulsion.

主权项

1. A sailing space frame adapted to sailing on water in a sailing direction and configured to be coupled to a vessel to be propelled, comprising:
a triangular base, a rudder board assembly, a dagger board assembly, a rudder board support structure, a dagger board support structure, an outrigger, at least two mast assemblies, a fore beam, an aft beam, central twin beams, a crew's quarters, a solar dome, and a vessel coupling system for coupling the sailing space frame to the vessel to be propelled; wherein said triangular base comprises said fore beam, said aft beam, and said central twin beams, each of which connect the vessel to be propelled to said outrigger, said at least two mast assemblies, said fore spar, said solar dome, and said crew's quarters; wherein each of said at least two mast assemblies comprises a mast core attached to a boom base, a boom, a counterweight, and a trolley translation mechanism, wherein said mast core having a cylindrical axis; wherein said fore soar is attached to said trolley translation mechanism; wherein each of said at least two mast assemblies comprises a mast core attached to a boom base, a boom, and a counterweight, said mast core having a cylindrical axis, wherein each of said counterweights is pivotable about said cylindrical axis to orient each mast core about the cylindrical axis; wherein said rudder board assembly and said dagger board assembly each comprise a rudder hull, a semi ring wing foil, and a central vertical shaft; wherein said rudder board assembly is connected to said central twin beams by the rudder board structure, and said dagger board assembly is connected to said central twin beams through said dagger board support structure, wherein both said rudder board support structure and said dagger board support structure are connected to said central twin beams; wherein said outrigger is attached to said triangular base by an outrigger connection shaft located at an outrigger vertex of said triangular base, said outrigger connection shaft in communication with a motor for elevating said triangular base above said outrigger, said outrigger further comprising a regenerative braking system to generate electricity; whereby said outrigger vertex is connected to said crew's quarters, and said solar dome is positioned on a roof of said crew's quarters; wherein each of said at least two mast assemblies further comprises an aero foil, said aero foil connected to two sail arms for a sail set, said sail arms holding cables attached to roller furling devices for unfurling and furling said sail set, said aero foil further connected to a strut connected to a canard winglet; wherein each counterweight of said at least two mast core assemblies further comprises a counterweight servo to balance each mast assembly relative to said cylindrical axis and to orient said aero foil relative to said cylindrical axis; whereby said sailing space frame may propel said vessel to be propelled without use of fossil fuels, reduces listing due to wind and wave loads, increases vessel leeward resistance, and improves directional control for the vessel to be propelled.