Must have been too much Turkey, but...I have a 37' sailboat with a 43' mast from the deck..from the water line add 6', for a total of 49 or so. I was looking into wind chargers and such and wondered why ssailboats need sails at all. WHat if you kept the mast up, the sails on, but not raised, and installed a wind generator on the top of the mast, ran the power from it to a set of batteries, and ran an electric (read quiet) motor and "sailed" with that alone. In other words, the boat would still be quiet, or as quiet as a wind generator could be, and as qquiet as an electric motor could be. You could still "sail" as usual but the boat wouldn't heal at all, or very little from the mast. You could "sail" directly into the wind,a nd use the motor to "sail"downwind. You only go out in a sailboat in the wind anyway, so the opportunity is there to harness it. And, you wouldn't have to ever replace the sails (just the other stuff), you wouldn't have to know anything about sailing, in the true sense. And, you could, in theory, always go hull speed!! At least for a few hours. What do you think? Why put the generator on top of the mast? Because, after sailing (actually we motored most of the way) down the East Coast to Florida from Ohio, I noticed there was wind most,if not all of the time, but, sailing would have been impossible most of the time. If we harnessed the wind and electric motored, we would have basically a free trip.
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It's been done...
Could sail straight into the wind, however not very good at sailing downwind. And who's to say there's infinte power anyway? You need a lot of power spinning the turbine to move a prop to move the boat. In fact, a simple air prop geared to a prop in the water, with opposing pitches, will move the boat upwind. But you also have an airplane prop spinning right above your head (a very large one at that), lots of noise, and in order to get any efficiency you'd need to be varying your pitch and gear ratio constantly.
Could sail straight into the wind, however not very good at sailing downwind. And who's to say there's infinte power anyway? You need a lot of power spinning the turbine to move a prop to move the boat. In fact, a simple air prop geared to a prop in the water, with opposing pitches, will move the boat upwind. But you also have an airplane prop spinning right above your head (a very large one at that), lots of noise, and in order to get any efficiency you'd need to be varying your pitch and gear ratio constantly.
Actually an Old Sailboat Idea. More Than Just the Turkey ......
Popular Science (February 1924) "Claims Air Motor Bucks The Wind" An air motor, which its inventor claims will move a boar or vehicle directly against the wind and will virtually manufacture its own wind when no air is stirring, has been developed by Charles R. Ford of Lema, WA. The contrivance consists of a series of fans, or windmills, mounted on the same shaft and enclosed in a cylinder. Between the fans are stationary pieces of metal, which the inventor calls "air straighteners" and which he says so distribute the currents passing through the housing that each fan generates the same amount of power. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Patent # 1,491,688 Power Generating Apparatus Charles R. Ford (April 22, 1924) This invention relates to a power generating apparatus, designed primarily for use in propelling marine vessels, but it is to be understood that a power generating apparatus in accordance with this invention can be employed for any purpose wherein it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide in the manner as hereinafter set forth, a power generating apparatus including and operated by a plurality of rotors driven by directed air currents for generating power which can be utilized for driving purposes, more particularly the propeller mechanism for a marine vessel. Further objects of the invention are to provide a power generating apparatus for the purpose set forth which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, inexpensive to operate, readily set up, efficient and convenient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to install. With the foregoing and other object in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to, which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: --- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a marine vessel showing the adaptation therewith of a power generating apparatus in accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, of a portion of the apparatus. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 denotes the hull of a marine vessel, 2 the propeller which is carried by a propeller shaft formed of a section 3 and a section 4, which are operatively connected together through the medium of a clutching mechanism 5. The section 4 of the propeller shaft is provided with a beveled gear 7, carried by a vertically disposed transmission shaft 8. Bearings 9 are provided for the shaft sections 3 and 4, and bearings 10 and 11 for the vertically disposed shaft 8. Mounted on the flooring 12, or other support, is a vertically extending hollow tubular element 13, which is of a length as to project up through a vertical frame 14 secured on the upper deck of the vessel. The top of the frame 14, is indicated at 15, and is formed with a vertically disposed opening 16, for the passage of member 13. Carried by the top 15 and arranged to align with the opening 16, is a flange collar 17, formed with groove 18, for the reception of bearing balls 19. The tubular member 13, is mounted in a bearing 20, carried by the flooring or support 12, and is also rotatably supported on the collar 17, through the medium of the balls 19, extending into a flanged collar 21, which is fixedly secured to the member 13., near the upper end thereof. The collar 21 overlaps the bearing balls 19, and also the collar 17. Connected to the upper end of the member 13, and bodily movable with said member 13, is a conduit 22, which is disposed lengthwise with respect to the length of the marine vessel, and the conduit 22, at its forward end, is funnel-shaped or flaring as at 23, and has projecting from the rear portion thereof, a plurality of vanes 24. The conduit 22, has depending therefrom, a plug 25, which is fixedly secured to the conduit 22, through the medium of hold fast devices 26. The plug 25 is provided with a centrally arranged opening 27, which registers with an opening 28, formed in the bottom of the conduit 22. The transmission shaft 8 extends up through the member 13, plug 29, the opening 28, into the conduit 22, and has its upper end provided with a beveled gear 29. Extending longitudinally of the conduit 22, and terminating at a point removed from the flaring end 23 of said conduit 22, is a shaft 30, which is mounted in bearings 31, carried by transverse supports 32, secured within the conduit 22. The shaft 30 is provided with a series of rotors 33, in the form of wind wheels and each of which consists of a hub 34, an a series of closely arranged radially extending blades 35, which are disposed obliquely with respect to the hub 34. The blades 35 extend in close proximity to the inner face of the conduit 22. The rotors are arranged in two sets spaced from each other. Carried by the shaft 30, and arranged between the rotors 33, are stationary guide elements 36, and each of which consists of a hub 37, and a series of radially extending arms 37, having angle-shaped terminals 38, which are secured to the inner face of the conduit 22. The number of arms 38 of a guide is less than the number of blades 35 of a rotor. Secured to the shaft 30, intermediate the ends thereof, is a beveled gear 10, which meshes with the beveled gear 29. The conduit 22, and guides 36, provide means for directing an air current against the rotors 33, whereby the shaft 30 will be operated, and owing to eh meshing of the gear 40, with the gear 29, the transmission shaft 8 will be driven, causing thereby the operation of the propeller shaft, as the shaft 8 is operatively connected with the propeller shaft through the medium of the gears 6 and 7. The clutching mechanism 5 is so set up, that the shaft 3 can be driven in either direction. Owing to the manner in which the conduit 22 is set up, that is to say with respect to the member 15, it can swing in the desired direction, so that air currents from any direction can be utilized in driving the rotors 33. The currents passing through the conduit 22, will be held in a straight course, through the medium of the guides 36, so that the blades 35 will be uniformly impacted by the currents causing thereby the driving of the shaft 30. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, a power generating device is set up, which can be employed for propelling marine vessels or driving machine parts, and although the referred embodiment of the invention is as shown, yet changes in the details of construction can be had without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. What is claimed is: --- [Claims not included here]
Popular Science (February 1924) "Claims Air Motor Bucks The Wind" An air motor, which its inventor claims will move a boar or vehicle directly against the wind and will virtually manufacture its own wind when no air is stirring, has been developed by Charles R. Ford of Lema, WA. The contrivance consists of a series of fans, or windmills, mounted on the same shaft and enclosed in a cylinder. Between the fans are stationary pieces of metal, which the inventor calls "air straighteners" and which he says so distribute the currents passing through the housing that each fan generates the same amount of power. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- US Patent # 1,491,688 Power Generating Apparatus Charles R. Ford (April 22, 1924) This invention relates to a power generating apparatus, designed primarily for use in propelling marine vessels, but it is to be understood that a power generating apparatus in accordance with this invention can be employed for any purpose wherein it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide in the manner as hereinafter set forth, a power generating apparatus including and operated by a plurality of rotors driven by directed air currents for generating power which can be utilized for driving purposes, more particularly the propeller mechanism for a marine vessel. Further objects of the invention are to provide a power generating apparatus for the purpose set forth which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, inexpensive to operate, readily set up, efficient and convenient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to install. With the foregoing and other object in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to, which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended. In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: --- Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a marine vessel showing the adaptation therewith of a power generating apparatus in accordance with this invention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary view, in vertical section, of a portion of the apparatus. Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 1. Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 denotes the hull of a marine vessel, 2 the propeller which is carried by a propeller shaft formed of a section 3 and a section 4, which are operatively connected together through the medium of a clutching mechanism 5. The section 4 of the propeller shaft is provided with a beveled gear 7, carried by a vertically disposed transmission shaft 8. Bearings 9 are provided for the shaft sections 3 and 4, and bearings 10 and 11 for the vertically disposed shaft 8. Mounted on the flooring 12, or other support, is a vertically extending hollow tubular element 13, which is of a length as to project up through a vertical frame 14 secured on the upper deck of the vessel. The top of the frame 14, is indicated at 15, and is formed with a vertically disposed opening 16, for the passage of member 13. Carried by the top 15 and arranged to align with the opening 16, is a flange collar 17, formed with groove 18, for the reception of bearing balls 19. The tubular member 13, is mounted in a bearing 20, carried by the flooring or support 12, and is also rotatably supported on the collar 17, through the medium of the balls 19, extending into a flanged collar 21, which is fixedly secured to the member 13., near the upper end thereof. The collar 21 overlaps the bearing balls 19, and also the collar 17. Connected to the upper end of the member 13, and bodily movable with said member 13, is a conduit 22, which is disposed lengthwise with respect to the length of the marine vessel, and the conduit 22, at its forward end, is funnel-shaped or flaring as at 23, and has projecting from the rear portion thereof, a plurality of vanes 24. The conduit 22, has depending therefrom, a plug 25, which is fixedly secured to the conduit 22, through the medium of hold fast devices 26. The plug 25 is provided with a centrally arranged opening 27, which registers with an opening 28, formed in the bottom of the conduit 22. The transmission shaft 8 extends up through the member 13, plug 29, the opening 28, into the conduit 22, and has its upper end provided with a beveled gear 29. Extending longitudinally of the conduit 22, and terminating at a point removed from the flaring end 23 of said conduit 22, is a shaft 30, which is mounted in bearings 31, carried by transverse supports 32, secured within the conduit 22. The shaft 30 is provided with a series of rotors 33, in the form of wind wheels and each of which consists of a hub 34, an a series of closely arranged radially extending blades 35, which are disposed obliquely with respect to the hub 34. The blades 35 extend in close proximity to the inner face of the conduit 22. The rotors are arranged in two sets spaced from each other. Carried by the shaft 30, and arranged between the rotors 33, are stationary guide elements 36, and each of which consists of a hub 37, and a series of radially extending arms 37, having angle-shaped terminals 38, which are secured to the inner face of the conduit 22. The number of arms 38 of a guide is less than the number of blades 35 of a rotor. Secured to the shaft 30, intermediate the ends thereof, is a beveled gear 10, which meshes with the beveled gear 29. The conduit 22, and guides 36, provide means for directing an air current against the rotors 33, whereby the shaft 30 will be operated, and owing to eh meshing of the gear 40, with the gear 29, the transmission shaft 8 will be driven, causing thereby the operation of the propeller shaft, as the shaft 8 is operatively connected with the propeller shaft through the medium of the gears 6 and 7. The clutching mechanism 5 is so set up, that the shaft 3 can be driven in either direction. Owing to the manner in which the conduit 22 is set up, that is to say with respect to the member 15, it can swing in the desired direction, so that air currents from any direction can be utilized in driving the rotors 33. The currents passing through the conduit 22, will be held in a straight course, through the medium of the guides 36, so that the blades 35 will be uniformly impacted by the currents causing thereby the driving of the shaft 30. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, a power generating device is set up, which can be employed for propelling marine vessels or driving machine parts, and although the referred embodiment of the invention is as shown, yet changes in the details of construction can be had without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed. What is claimed is: --- [Claims not included here]
Don't blame the turkey, Tom
Maybe the cognac that topped off a good meal, or the Chardonnay that helped the turkey go down
Anyway, it's understandable that after the big meal the idea of a nice, quiet, unstressful passage along some idylic waterway popped into your mind. Under similar circumstances (post-dinner, post-refreshments) it would appeal to me too. Permit me to add two comments........1.) what you propose is essentially to re-invent the wheel. The whole electric boat & wind generator thing has been kicked around for ages and some fascinating ideas have been proposed. Most of them have been impractical and never developed, but electric boats do have their place and their supporters. 2.) Once the novelty (or the after-dinner glow) wore off, wouldn't it be blody boring ? No challenge, no exhilaration etc .....sortof like being pushed along in a wheelchair by your grandchildren, no? Try an espresso or two after dinner & you'll be whistling for more wind
Maybe the cognac that topped off a good meal, or the Chardonnay that helped the turkey go down
Anyway, it's understandable that after the big meal the idea of a nice, quiet, unstressful passage along some idylic waterway popped into your mind. Under similar circumstances (post-dinner, post-refreshments) it would appeal to me too. Permit me to add two comments........1.) what you propose is essentially to re-invent the wheel. The whole electric boat & wind generator thing has been kicked around for ages and some fascinating ideas have been proposed. Most of them have been impractical and never developed, but electric boats do have their place and their supporters. 2.) Once the novelty (or the after-dinner glow) wore off, wouldn't it be blody boring ? No challenge, no exhilaration etc .....sortof like being pushed along in a wheelchair by your grandchildren, no? Try an espresso or two after dinner & you'll be whistling for more wind Electric Boat isn't a Sailboat
An electric boat is a great idea but it isn't a sailboat. I doubt that there is any way to sail directly into the wind using electricity. The resistence of the generators to the wind is probably greater than the energy captured. But if you anchored and charged your batteries then you could electric motor into the wind and repeat this process idefinately. Throw in some solar panels. With wind generators and solar panels and a large battery bank it should be possible to go anywhere. Just sit at anchor until fully charged then motor to another anchorage. You should be able to generate going downwind but you would lose some apparent wind that way. But since boat speeds would be low say 5 knots the effect shouldn't be that great with stronger winds. BUT it isn't sailing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe later in life when I am too old to sail.
An electric boat is a great idea but it isn't a sailboat. I doubt that there is any way to sail directly into the wind using electricity. The resistence of the generators to the wind is probably greater than the energy captured. But if you anchored and charged your batteries then you could electric motor into the wind and repeat this process idefinately. Throw in some solar panels. With wind generators and solar panels and a large battery bank it should be possible to go anywhere. Just sit at anchor until fully charged then motor to another anchorage. You should be able to generate going downwind but you would lose some apparent wind that way. But since boat speeds would be low say 5 knots the effect shouldn't be that great with stronger winds. BUT it isn't sailing!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe later in life when I am too old to sail.
It's not possable
Your wind generator is going to be putting out 45 amps at max wind. My engineering says (with no battery storage or conversion losses) that 45 amps X 13 volts = 585 watts or just shy of 1 horse power. Now it is a little known fact that a wind generator produces a force on the mast when it is in operation. Amazingly this force is almost exactly equivalent to the HP that the wind generator produces and in the wrong direction. So you get 1 HP of energy out of it but you have to supply a force to the hull to keep you going forward that uses up the 1 HP. Nothing is free! Anyway even if this idea was not a perpetual motion machine I don't think I would want 3o wind generators on my mast nor could I afford the cost of them and the 30 HP electric motor. oh yea a 30 HP electric motor is going to operate at something significantly greater than 12 volts so you need a transformer and...........It is also economically unsound.
Your wind generator is going to be putting out 45 amps at max wind. My engineering says (with no battery storage or conversion losses) that 45 amps X 13 volts = 585 watts or just shy of 1 horse power. Now it is a little known fact that a wind generator produces a force on the mast when it is in operation. Amazingly this force is almost exactly equivalent to the HP that the wind generator produces and in the wrong direction. So you get 1 HP of energy out of it but you have to supply a force to the hull to keep you going forward that uses up the 1 HP. Nothing is free! Anyway even if this idea was not a perpetual motion machine I don't think I would want 3o wind generators on my mast nor could I afford the cost of them and the 30 HP electric motor. oh yea a 30 HP electric motor is going to operate at something significantly greater than 12 volts so you need a transformer and...........It is also economically unsound.
More power
Brian has the right idea. It's already been done by directly linking a very large air prop mechanically to a prop under the hull. So if the power is there (in the relative motion of air and boat) and you assume no loss in conversion, then it's theoretically possible to go electric. Perhaps the power production is not as small as you estimated?
Brian has the right idea. It's already been done by directly linking a very large air prop mechanically to a prop under the hull. So if the power is there (in the relative motion of air and boat) and you assume no loss in conversion, then it's theoretically possible to go electric. Perhaps the power production is not as small as you estimated?
Not Possible
It goes back to physics. You can't use the force of the wind to go directly into the wind. It's kind of like using the force of gravity to go up a hill. You also have the problem of the extra windage on a boat that is producing no energy. IMHO the only way a wind powered boat can go DIRECTLY into the wind by using wind generated electric energy is the anchor and charge approach. Like a sailboat going across the wind is possible using a keel to stop you from blowing downwind but I doubt that it would be any more efficent than a sailboat. An all elecetric boat is a great idea. Have an engine that generates elcetricity. That way you could anchor where there is a current and recharge your batteries that way even if it is dark and there is no wind. A low flat deck covered with solar panels and the wind generators mounted so that they can be folded flat when not in use (to reduce windage). With three sources of power to generate electricity and a large battery bank it should work. I suspect that using currents would provide the most energy. Simply because energy is mass times velocity squared. Water has soooo much more mass than air that even a weak current has a lot of energy. I have seen plans where you connect an alternator to your prop shaft to generate electricity while sailing. I know that I have to put my transmission in reverse while sailing to stop the prop.
It goes back to physics. You can't use the force of the wind to go directly into the wind. It's kind of like using the force of gravity to go up a hill. You also have the problem of the extra windage on a boat that is producing no energy. IMHO the only way a wind powered boat can go DIRECTLY into the wind by using wind generated electric energy is the anchor and charge approach. Like a sailboat going across the wind is possible using a keel to stop you from blowing downwind but I doubt that it would be any more efficent than a sailboat. An all elecetric boat is a great idea. Have an engine that generates elcetricity. That way you could anchor where there is a current and recharge your batteries that way even if it is dark and there is no wind. A low flat deck covered with solar panels and the wind generators mounted so that they can be folded flat when not in use (to reduce windage). With three sources of power to generate electricity and a large battery bank it should work. I suspect that using currents would provide the most energy. Simply because energy is mass times velocity squared. Water has soooo much more mass than air that even a weak current has a lot of energy. I have seen plans where you connect an alternator to your prop shaft to generate electricity while sailing. I know that I have to put my transmission in reverse while sailing to stop the prop.
Wind Generator
Just saw a picture, I think in the Boat US magazine of a boat built in South Africa I think that uses photoelectric panels to power but they cover the whole boat.
Just saw a picture, I think in the Boat US magazine of a boat built in South Africa I think that uses photoelectric panels to power but they cover the whole boat.
Motor sailing or sailing motor
Isn't sail boat a single (or multi) blade turbine sitting sideway on the water? My opinion is that it may not be practical. Let's say you are going down wind, and you have enough power from the wind generator to drive the motor. Assuming perfectly shaped boat with no air or water resistence. Once you got forward motion, the boat speed is going to reduce the wind speed. Thats's call apparant wind. Let's say you got some serious generator and kick butt motor able to get very close to wind speed, but by then, the generator will stop generating because there will be no wind. To achieve the same propulsion ratio, the blade area on the generator must be at least as big as the sail. But then there is really no point adding complexity. Dreaming of new stuff is mother of invention.
Isn't sail boat a single (or multi) blade turbine sitting sideway on the water? My opinion is that it may not be practical. Let's say you are going down wind, and you have enough power from the wind generator to drive the motor. Assuming perfectly shaped boat with no air or water resistence. Once you got forward motion, the boat speed is going to reduce the wind speed. Thats's call apparant wind. Let's say you got some serious generator and kick butt motor able to get very close to wind speed, but by then, the generator will stop generating because there will be no wind. To achieve the same propulsion ratio, the blade area on the generator must be at least as big as the sail. But then there is really no point adding complexity. Dreaming of new stuff is mother of invention.
Since air weighs about .076 pounds per cubic foot
and 1 horse power equals 550 foot pounds per second. To capture one horse power from the wind you must extract all of the energy from 7,236 cubic feet of air moving at one foot per second or from 361 cubic feet of air moving at 20 feet per second or 15 miles per hour. An 11 foot diameter parachute will do this. I am not sure how big a propeller would be needed for the job but I expect that moving any boat large enough to carry such a rig would generate enough drag to cause the net gain to be negative. Just think if you could make it work you could get the boat started with a little push and the faster you went the more power you would have and the faster you could go. You could cross an ocean with no wind and no fuel.
and 1 horse power equals 550 foot pounds per second. To capture one horse power from the wind you must extract all of the energy from 7,236 cubic feet of air moving at one foot per second or from 361 cubic feet of air moving at 20 feet per second or 15 miles per hour. An 11 foot diameter parachute will do this. I am not sure how big a propeller would be needed for the job but I expect that moving any boat large enough to carry such a rig would generate enough drag to cause the net gain to be negative. Just think if you could make it work you could get the boat started with a little push and the faster you went the more power you would have and the faster you could go. You could cross an ocean with no wind and no fuel.
Interesting thought
More on the topic of pitch etc..what is the difference when comparing two propellers. One has a pitch of 5 revs per foot and spinning at 1500 rpm, the other, 10 revs per foot and 3000 rpm? I suspect that one would be more efficient in a thicker medium, and one more efficient in a thinner medium. also, whats the efficiency of a sailboat-shape pushing the boat BACKWARDS versus the efficiency of the highly engineered turbine providing energy pushing the boat forwards? I'd hate think they engineered our boats to transmit wind force on the hull and push us downwind as efficiently as the fan blade people have... horsepower is a measure of torque over time..not cubic feet of air.
More on the topic of pitch etc..what is the difference when comparing two propellers. One has a pitch of 5 revs per foot and spinning at 1500 rpm, the other, 10 revs per foot and 3000 rpm? I suspect that one would be more efficient in a thicker medium, and one more efficient in a thinner medium. also, whats the efficiency of a sailboat-shape pushing the boat BACKWARDS versus the efficiency of the highly engineered turbine providing energy pushing the boat forwards? I'd hate think they engineered our boats to transmit wind force on the hull and push us downwind as efficiently as the fan blade people have... horsepower is a measure of torque over time..not cubic feet of air.
Road runner and coyote
I saw the pefect propulsion on a roadrunner cartoon. He was in his bath tub and water was coming in through the drain. He just stuck a pipe in the drain and directed it backwards. The water shot out the back of the tub fast enough to "almost" catch the roadrunner...maybe it was Tom and Jerry??? It was one of those reality shows. All things are possible when you ignore reality and believe in the supernatural. Maybe a tub of water in the front of my car. As it goes to the rear as I acclerate or go up a hill it turns a turbine that drives the wheel and turns a small pump to pump the water back to the front to start all over again. It's beautiful the faster you accelerate or the steeper the hill the faster the water goes to the back of the car and the faster you can go!!!!!
I saw the pefect propulsion on a roadrunner cartoon. He was in his bath tub and water was coming in through the drain. He just stuck a pipe in the drain and directed it backwards. The water shot out the back of the tub fast enough to "almost" catch the roadrunner...maybe it was Tom and Jerry??? It was one of those reality shows. All things are possible when you ignore reality and believe in the supernatural. Maybe a tub of water in the front of my car. As it goes to the rear as I acclerate or go up a hill it turns a turbine that drives the wheel and turns a small pump to pump the water back to the front to start all over again. It's beautiful the faster you accelerate or the steeper the hill the faster the water goes to the back of the car and the faster you can go!!!!!
Brian M , Horse power is a measure of work
done. It can also be represented as kilowatts. One horse power is the power required to lift 550 pounds of mass one foot in one second. Or it may be 33000 foot pounds of work in one minute. Ten men pulling on a rope can deliver one horse power without creating any torque. Your diffinitions are too narrow.
done. It can also be represented as kilowatts. One horse power is the power required to lift 550 pounds of mass one foot in one second. Or it may be 33000 foot pounds of work in one minute. Ten men pulling on a rope can deliver one horse power without creating any torque. Your diffinitions are too narrow.
Te Waka (last try)
Jim Bates of Whangarei, New Zealand built a wind turbine 'sailboat' with an 8m diameter airscrew on the mast and a .9m waterscrew attached to a 9.4m hull. In one test it sailed all points (including directly into the wind) at 7kts in a true wind of 14.5kts. Therefore, we can deduce that it is possible for at least one boat to sail directly into the wind. If conversion losses were not substantial, this boat could have powered a generator that powered an electric motor that powered the prop, voila, electric sailboat. Brian had it from the start. The airscrew works by the same principles as a wing or sail. The flow over the blades generates force normal to the surface due to pressure differences. The blades are never flat to the apparent wind like a sail on a run (pure drag force). The total resultant force can be broken down into lift and drag (never mind the geometry subtleties). So long as the useful, rotational component is greater than the airscrew drag while the boat is not moving, then the thrust will equilibrate with all sources of drag (airscrew, hull, etc...) at some nonzero boat speed. Relative motion is the key. It doesn't work on a conventional sailboat because the component of lift in the desired direction of travel is just too small when pointing too high. An airscrew doesn't have that problem.
Jim Bates of Whangarei, New Zealand built a wind turbine 'sailboat' with an 8m diameter airscrew on the mast and a .9m waterscrew attached to a 9.4m hull. In one test it sailed all points (including directly into the wind) at 7kts in a true wind of 14.5kts. Therefore, we can deduce that it is possible for at least one boat to sail directly into the wind. If conversion losses were not substantial, this boat could have powered a generator that powered an electric motor that powered the prop, voila, electric sailboat. Brian had it from the start. The airscrew works by the same principles as a wing or sail. The flow over the blades generates force normal to the surface due to pressure differences. The blades are never flat to the apparent wind like a sail on a run (pure drag force). The total resultant force can be broken down into lift and drag (never mind the geometry subtleties). So long as the useful, rotational component is greater than the airscrew drag while the boat is not moving, then the thrust will equilibrate with all sources of drag (airscrew, hull, etc...) at some nonzero boat speed. Relative motion is the key. It doesn't work on a conventional sailboat because the component of lift in the desired direction of travel is just too small when pointing too high. An airscrew doesn't have that problem.
Phil, That would be a sight to see. A 9.4 meter
boat with an 8 meter diameter vertical disk on deck. I wonder how the crew was able to move from bow to stern. On a beam reach the disk would be aligned with the center line of the boat. The helmsman must feel like he is facing a very large saw blade.
boat with an 8 meter diameter vertical disk on deck. I wonder how the crew was able to move from bow to stern.
On a beam reach the disk would be aligned with the center line of the boat. The helmsman must feel like he is facing a very large saw blade. Indeed,
it gives a new significance to jibe ho! I'll see if I can scan the picture I have of her.
it gives a new significance to jibe ho! I'll see if I can scan the picture I have of her.
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