Solar powered electric ship system

Claim 3

A system as in claim 1 wherein: said solar cell sail arrays comprise a multiplicity of thin-film photovoltaic cells which are electrically connected in series-parallel to form modules; said photovoltaic cells fixedly attached to the ships sails, on both sides of sail, back-to-back; said modules being electrically connected in series to form strings generating high DC voltage power, each said module having a bypass diode connected in parallel with it to protect against shadowing or open circuit; said strings each including series blocking diodes to block reverse power flow; said strings being electrically connected in parallel to form solar arrays.

Claim 4

A system as in claim 1 wherein: said beaded rope rigging arrays each comprise three or more lengths of rope; said lengths of rope being covered with beads over a length extending at least the distance between ships masts and yards; said beads each having a multiplicity of thin-film photovoltaic cells covering its outer surface and electrically connected in series parallel to form a module; each said bead having a bypass diode connected in parallel to protect against shadowing or open circuit; each said bead being electrically connected to the next bead for the purpose of generating high voltage DC power.

Claim 5

Attachments to a sailing ship's superstructure for increasing the area available for supporting photovoltaic arrays; said attachments comprising: a wing-boom for extending the length of a sailing ships yards to accommodate solar cell beaded rope arrays; and an upper roller boom for attachment to the ships yards to accommodate solar cell beaded rope arrays; said wing-boom comprising a lightweight I-beam section at least 10 feet in length, a hinge fastened to one end of said I-beam section, a means for fastening and storing reefed rope arrays, and eyebolts attached to the distal end of said I-beam section, away from said hinge; said hinge being sized to bolt on to the end of a sailing ships yard, allowing said wing-boom to be pivoted downwards with respect to said yard; said hinge incorporating a metal portion which fits under the end of said yard, projecting below it and acting as a stop for said wing-boom, preventing downward rotation movement beyond the vertical; said means for fastening and storing reefed rope arrays including a rod which is rotated by a motor and supported by two or more supports fixedly attached to said I-beam section along its length; said rod having provision along its length for tying the ends of said beaded rope arrays to enable rolling up the arrays; said wing-boom also able to be used as a ships stern boom, and connected to the stern of a ship for extending the area of support for solar cell beaded rope arrays; said upper roller comprising a wooden boom of a length equal to the ships yards, each roller being located held above and parallel to a yard by a support which is attached to said yard; said upper roller being able to rotate on its longitudinal axis when driven by a motor or rotary device; said upper roller providing a means for fastening and reefing said solar cell beaded rope arrays.

Claim 6

Attachments to a sailing ship's superstructure for increasing the area available for supporting photovoltaic arrays; said attachments comprising: a wing-boom for extending the length of a sailing ships yards to accommodate solar cell beaded rope arrays; and an upper roller boom for attachment to the ships yards to accommodate solar cell beaded rope arrays; said wing-boom comprising a lightweight I-beam section at least 10 feet in length, a hinge fastened to one end of said I-beam section, a means for fastening and storing reefed rope arrays, and eyebolts attached to the distal end of said I-beam section, away from said hinge; said hinge being sized to bolt on to the end of a sailing ships yard, allowing said wing-boom to be pivoted downwards with respect to said yard; said hinge incorporating a metal portion which fits under the end of said yard, projecting below it and acting as a stop for said wing-boom, preventing downward rotation movement beyond the vertical; said means for fastening and storing reefed rope arrays including a rod which is rotated by a motor and supported by two or more supports fixedly attached to said I-beam section along its length; said rod having provision along its length for tying the ends of said beaded rope arrays to enable rolling up the arrays; said wing-boom also able to be used as a ships stern boom, and connected to the stern of a ship for extending the area of support for solar cell beaded rope arrays; said upper roller comprising a wooden boom of a length equal to the ships yards, each roller being located held above and parallel to a yard by a support which is attached to said yard; said upper roller being able to rotate on its longitudinal axis when driven by a motor or rotary device; said upper roller providing a means for fastening and reefing said solar cell beaded rope arrays.