Other

Soil Machine Dynamics Limited

John G Walker

Roger Paul White

Simon Vivian Ranulf Bateson

A wheel cutter tractor for inserting a cable into a trench is disclosed. The tractor comprises a wheel cutter for cutting a trench, and tracks for moving the tractor relative to the trench. A cable support tray supports the cable in a first position displaced from the wheel cutter in a direction transverse to a direction of travel of the tractor, and in a second position above the wheel cutter. A cable grab and lifting device transfers the cable into the cable support tray.

Apparatus and method for inserting an elongate object into a trench

A vehicle for deploying a cable into a trench in the sea bed is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a body adapted to move relative to the trench in the sea bed, and a bellmouth for engaging the cable and mounted to the body, wherein the bellmouth is adapted to define an open channel in a direction facing the trench for engaging the cable.

Method and apparatus for inserting an elongate object into a trench in a sea floor

An apparatus for locating an elongate object in the seabed is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and a pair of jetting swords arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object to form a trench in the seabed. Chain cutters arranged on lateral sides of the elongate object cut respective parts of a trench in the seabed and are moveable relative to the body between a stowed position and a deployed position, independently of the jetting swords.

Apparatus for locating elongate object in a trench in a floor of a body of water

An apparatus for forming a trench in a sea floor and/or displacing material on the sea floor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and front skids mounted to the body for engaging the sea floor and supporting the body. The front skids are adjustable between a first mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor, and a second mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor adjacent the trench and at the trench walls.

Method and apparatus for forming a trench in a sea floor

A wingsail assembly in which at least one thrust wing is mounted for free rotation about an upright axis and defining by its free rotation a trimming circle. The assembly includes a first control airfoil freely pivoted on a first boom extended upstream of a thrust wing, the first boom being of a length such that the first auxiliary control airfoil is within the trimming circle and a second control airfoil mounted downstream of the first control airfoil within the trimming circle and settable for controlling the angle of attack of the first control airfoil to the wind which in turn provides a turning moment for controlling the angle of attack of the thrust wing to provide thrust levels required for all normal sailing conditions. The assembly further moves the thrust wing to bring the instantaneous center of pressure of the thrust wing at different angles of attack into closer proximity to the upright axis and reduces the turning moment required of the first control airfoil, and in which the first control airfoil is freely pivoted about an axis ahead of all combined center of pressure locations for the first and second control airfoils.

Compact self-trimming wingsail

A wingsail assembly comprising a thrust wing having a leading aerofoil (1) and a trailing aerofoil (2), the leading and trailing aerofoils being deflectable with respect to one another to adopt a cambered configuration, characterised in that the trailing aerofoil has a cross-sectional shape with a relatively flat leading edge interconnecting relatively strongly curved corners (5,6) on opposite sides of the aerofoil, such that for each direction of relative deflection between the leading and trailing aerofoils the corner more remote from the trailing edge of the leading section provides an aerodynamic leading edge for the trailing section and the corner more proximate the trailing edge of the leading section provides an inner wall for a convergent slot. The assembly is mounted on a vessel via a bearing having an axis passing through the trailing section. A tail aerofoil trims the assembly and is mounted on a boom extending from the trailing section.

Monoplane and low thrust wingsail arrangements

Sail boat

A deflection system for wingsail assemblies in which the deflection is performed by fluid operated cylinders that are inter connected in such a way that the wingsail element is moved by a co-operative push pull action from the annulus side of one cylinder and the full bore side of a second cylinder.

Wingsail flap torque equalization

A method of operating a multi-element self-trimming sailset to assist deflection of the trailing element of the main thrust wing to either side of the leading element. The sailset is first rotated to reduce the moment of wind on the flap opposing deflection, the flap is deflected, and then the sailset rotated to its operating angle of attack. Rotation of the sailset is achieved by a tail vane.

Wingsail flap deflection system

Wingsail configurations for multi element wingsails for maintaining full stall for maximum speed in running downwind in which the trailing edges of at least a pair of flap elements of a multi element structure are maintained in the convergent configuration so that in the deflected position of the flap there is a leeward progression to deeper stalling.

Wingsail stalling

Wingsail systems

A sailset comprising a leading aerofoil and a trailing aerofoil that pivots about an axis passing through the leading aerofoil. A third comparatively small aerofoil is retractable within the leading aerofoil and extendable downwind of the trailing edge of the leading aerofoil to provide a surface overlapping the leading edge of the trailing aerofoil. Guides for the third aerofoil are preferably provided for both its leading and trailing edges, the guides comprising roller and roller tracks and/or sliding pivots.

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St Mellion, Cornwall PL12 8RS, United Kingdom

John G Walker