US3968684A — Apparatus and method for determining optimum dire…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 249 words

A method for use in determining a figure of merit regarding the course of a vessel in sailing from one point to a second point, comprising setting a wind vane, having a mean position between two limiting positions, relatively to the vessel with said mean position at a required angle of apparent wind with respect to the vessel, integrating of deviations of the wind vane from said mean position while steering the vessel to maintain said integration substantially at a zero value, measuring the angle of leeway between the direction of heading of the vessel and the course of the vessel, obtaining the sum of said required angle of apparent wind and said angle of leeway, using means providing a digital display to measure the distance covered by the vessel relative to the water in a given space of time, simultaneously measuring the distance covered by the vessel relative to air in said space of time, obtaining the quotient of said firstmentioned distance divided by said second-mentioned distance, selecting an appropriate one of three charts allocated respectively to beating, reaching and running modes of sailing, each said chart presenting a series of curves allocated to different figures of merit and having co-ordinates representing (a) the sum of the required angle of apparent wind and the angle of leeway and (b) the quotient of the first-mentioned distance divided by the second-mentioned distance and deriving a figure of merit from said chart based on the obtained sum and the obtained quotient.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 249 words

A method for use in determining a figure of merit regarding the course of a vessel in sailing from one point to a second point, comprising setting a wind vane, having a mean position between two limiting positions, relatively to the vessel with said mean position at a required angle of apparent wind with respect to the vessel, integrating of deviations of the wind vane from said mean position while steering the vessel to maintain said integration substantially at a zero value, measuring the angle of leeway between the direction of heading of the vessel and the course of the vessel, obtaining the sum of said required angle of apparent wind and said angle of leeway, using means providing a digital display to measure the distance covered by the vessel relative to the water in a given space of time, simultaneously measuring the distance covered by the vessel relative to air in said space of time, obtaining the quotient of said firstmentioned distance divided by said second-mentioned distance, selecting an appropriate one of three charts allocated respectively to beating, reaching and running modes of sailing, each said chart presenting a series of curves allocated to different figures of merit and having co-ordinates representing (a) the sum of the required angle of apparent wind and the angle of leeway and (b) the quotient of the first-mentioned distance divided by the second-mentioned distance and deriving a figure of merit from said chart based on the obtained sum and the obtained quotient.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 306 words

Apparatus for use, in conjunction with a chart, in determining a figure of merit with regard to the course of a vessel, propelled at least to a substantial extent by the action of wind on the vessel, from one point to a second point, said chart means enabling such a figure of merit for said course to be obtained and comprising one co-ordinate representing the sum of (a) the angle of leeway between the direction of heading of the vessel and the course of the vessel and (b) the required apparent wind direction with respect to the vessel and a second co-ordinate representing the quotient of the distance covered by the vessel relative to the water within a predetermined period of time and the distance covered by the vessel relative to the air within the same period of time, said apparatus comprising means for measuring the angle of leeway between the direction of heading of the vessel and the course of the vessel, wind sensing means, adapted to be set to a mean position relatively to the vessel corresponding to a required apparent wind direction with respect to the vessel, indicating means controlled by said wind sensing means for indicating deviations of the apparent wind direction from said required direction so as to permit the vessel to be steered so that said mean position substantially represents the mean value of the apparent wind direction, means for measuring the distance covered by the vessel relative to the water in a given period of time, means for simultaneously measuring the distance covered by the vessel relative to the air in said period of time, and control means for said water and air distance measuring means for determining said given space of time and for providing the quotient of the measured water distance divided by the measured air distance.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 306 words

Apparatus for use, in conjunction with a chart, in determining a figure of merit with regard to the course of a vessel, propelled at least to a substantial extent by the action of wind on the vessel, from one point to a second point, said chart means enabling such a figure of merit for said course to be obtained and comprising one co-ordinate representing the sum of (a) the angle of leeway between the direction of heading of the vessel and the course of the vessel and (b) the required apparent wind direction with respect to the vessel and a second co-ordinate representing the quotient of the distance covered by the vessel relative to the water within a predetermined period of time and the distance covered by the vessel relative to the air within the same period of time, said apparatus comprising means for measuring the angle of leeway between the direction of heading of the vessel and the course of the vessel, wind sensing means, adapted to be set to a mean position relatively to the vessel corresponding to a required apparent wind direction with respect to the vessel, indicating means controlled by said wind sensing means for indicating deviations of the apparent wind direction from said required direction so as to permit the vessel to be steered so that said mean position substantially represents the mean value of the apparent wind direction, means for measuring the distance covered by the vessel relative to the water in a given period of time, means for simultaneously measuring the distance covered by the vessel relative to the air in said period of time, and control means for said water and air distance measuring means for determining said given space of time and for providing the quotient of the measured water distance divided by the measured air distance.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 119 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said wind sensing means comprises a wind vane arranged to be set by a helmsman at an angle relative to a vessel which is the desired apparent wind direction, said vane being mounted to oscillate through a limited angle on each side of said set angle, and said indicating means comprises means for integrating the oscillations of said vane within said limited angle and for producing output signals representing the integrated value of the oscillations of said vane, and an indicator responsive to said output signals enabling the helmsman to steer the vessel to a course in which said indicator shows equal fluctuations of said vane on opposite sides of said set angle.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 73 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, in which said integrating means comprises a reversible electric motor, electric contact means at the limits of said limited angle and electric contact means on said vane connected in an electrical circuit, whereby said motor rotates in one direction when said vane reaches one of said limits and in the opposite direction when said vane reaches the other of said limits, said indicator being geared to said motor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 101 words

Apparatus according to claim 3, comprising a photo-cell and a light emitting diode mounted for relative movement corresponding to the movement of said vane within said limited angle, obturating means interposed between said cell and said diode adapted to pass light from said diode to said cell when said vane reaches one side of its limited angle of movement and to cut off light to said cell when said vane reaches the other side of said limited angle, circuit means comprising said cell and an electronic integrating circuit, and a volt meter controlled by said integrating circuit, and constituting said indicator.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 100 words

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said wind sensing means comprises a vane mounted to oscillate between limits from a mean position set by a helmsman representing a required apparent wind direction, and said indicating means comprises a low drag potentiometer connected to move with said vane when oscillating between said limits, and a Wheatstone bridge circuit, including said potentiometer and having a moving coil indicating instrument in the bridge connection thereof for enabling said helmsman to steer the vessel to a course in which said instrument shows equal fluctuations of said vane on opposite sides of said set position.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 126 words

Apparatus according to claim 2, a counting instrument comprising means for measuring and delivering signal impulses representing the speed of a vessel relative to water on which it is travelling, means for measuring and delivering signal impulses representing the speed of the apparent wind relative to said vessel, two counters respectively for counting said water speed signal impulses and said wind speed signal impulses, two digital display devices respectively for displaying counts by said two counters, a switch for starting the operation of said counters simultaneously, and a timer for automatically stopping said counters when said wind speed counter reaches a multiple of 10, whereby said water speed counter represents the quotient of said water speed divided by wind speed over a predetermined period of time.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 156 words

Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said water speed measuring means comprises a trailing log having a rotor adapted to be drawn through the water by the vessel so that said rotor rotates at a speed corresponding to the water speed, a housing adapted to be mounted on the vessel to swivel about an axis set to enable said housing to take up a position relative to the vessel corresponding to the leeway angle of the vessel, a rotary shutter device in said housing, a line connecting said rotor and said shutter whereby said shutter is rotated by said rotor, a light emitting diode and a photo-cell mounted in said casing respectively on opposite sides of said shutter whereby said shutter periodically obturates light-passing from said diode to said cell at a rate corresponding to the water speed, and means for delivering electric pulses from said cell at a rate corresponding to said water speed.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 92 words

Apparatus according to claim 7, in which said wind speed measuring means comprises a rotor mounted on a wind vane arranged to set the rotor to face the apparent wind, a shutter mounted to rotate with said rotor, a light emitting diode and a photo-cell mounted respectively on opposite sides of said shutter, whereby said shutter periodically obturates light passing from said diode to said cell at a rate corresponding to the apparent wind speed, and means for delivering pulses from said cell at a rate corresponding to said apparent wind speed.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 119 words

For use in apparatus for establishing the mean direction of an unsteady air stream, a direction discriminator comprising a support, a wind vane mounted on said support to oscillate through a limited angle having a mean position on said support, mounting means for said support for setting said mean position of said wind vane in line with the air stream, means for integrating the oscillations of said wind vane within said limited angle and for producing signals representing the time-integrated value of the oscillations of said wind vane, and an indicator responsive to said signals enabling the setting of said mean position to be altered to a value in which said integrated value of the oscillations is substantially zero.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 119 words

For use in apparatus for establishing the mean direction of an unsteady air stream, a direction discriminator comprising a support, a wind vane mounted on said support to oscillate through a limited angle having a mean position on said support, mounting means for said support for setting said mean position of said wind vane in line with the air stream, means for integrating the oscillations of said wind vane within said limited angle and for producing signals representing the time-integrated value of the oscillations of said wind vane, and an indicator responsive to said signals enabling the setting of said mean position to be altered to a value in which said integrated value of the oscillations is substantially zero.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 73 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said integrating means comprises a reversible electric motor, electric contact means at the limits of said limited angle and electric contact means on said vane connected in electric circuit, whereby said motor rotates in one direction when said vane reaches one of said limits and in the opposite direction when said vane reaches the other of said limits, said indicator being geared to said motor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 103 words

An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 further comprising a photo-cell and a light emitting diode mounted for relative movement corresponding to the movement of said vane within said limited angle, obturating means interposed between said cell and said diode for passing light from said diode to said cell when said vane reaches one side of its limited angle of movement and for cutting off light from said cell when said vane reaches the other side of said limited angle, and circuit means comprising said cell and said integrating means and a volt meter controlled by said integrating means and constituting said indicator.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 76 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said indicator comprises a low drag potentiometer connected to move with said vane when said vane oscillates through said limited angle, and a Wheatstonebridge circuit, including said potentiometer and having a moving coil indicating instrument in the bridge connection thereof for enabling a helmsman to steer the vessel to a course in which said indicating instrument shows equal fluctuations of said vane on opposite sides of said mean position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1979-07-13	1980-01-12	1980-07-13	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1983-07-13	1984-01-12	1984-07-13	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1987-07-13	1988-01-12	1988-07-13	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for determining optimum direction of process of sailing vessels

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