The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2010
Filed:
May. 23, 2003
Robert A. Vanderhye, McLean, VA (US);
Robert A. Vanderhye, McLean, VA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A wind powered watercraft, and improved individual components utilizable with the watercraft or elsewhere, does not require the user to have sailing skills, and can go directly into the wind. A vertical axis wind turbine (such as a Savonius or modified Savonius) is mounted to a multihull boat (such as a catamaran). The turbine has a shaft operatively connected to a propulsion system, such as by a clutch. The propulsion system may be a large diameter and pitch horizontal propeller, a vertical axis propeller, or a novel fishtail or sculling oar simulating mechanism, including an oscillating element with a flexible material (e.g. durometer between 40-100) free end. A mechanism which prevents useless spinning of the vertical axis wind turbine when the watercraft is docked may also be provided. For when the wind velocity is insufficient, a manual assist may be provided. The manual assist may have primarily human arm powered and human leg powered drive assemblies, each including a substantially inextensible cord, a cord drum operatively connected by a one-way clutch to the wind turbine shaft, and a take-up. The wind turbine boat may be produced from a conventional sailboat by replacing a sailboat mast with the wind turbine and propulsion system, and converted back to the sailboat when desired.