Abstract: A wind-propelled vehicle, includes: a vertical mast assembly having a lower end rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the vehicle; and a wing sail carried by the vertical mast assembly for propelling the vehicle, including a fore sail panel defining the leading edge of the wing-sail, and a pair of aft sail panels attached to a pair of booms defining the sides and trailing edge of the wing-sail. The vertical mast assembly includes a pair of vertically-extending posts connected together at their upper ends, diverging apart at their lower ends, and connected together at the diverging lower ends to define an “A” configuration frame. The diverging lower ends of the pair of posts are rotatably mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A wind-propelled vehicle, includes: a vertical mast assembly having a lower end rotatably mounted about a vertical axis on the vehicle; and a wing sail carried by the vertical mast assembly for propelling the vehicle, including a fore sail panel defining the leading edge of the wing-sail, and a pair of aft sail panels attached to a pair of booms defining the sides and trailing edge of the wing-sail. The vertical mast assembly includes a pair of vertically-extending posts connected together at their upper ends, diverging apart at their lower ends, and connected together at the diverging lower ends to define an “A” configuration frame. The diverging lower ends of the pair of posts are rotatably mounted on the vehicle.

Abstract: A light-weight soft wing-sail for a wind-propelled vehicle includes a free standing rotating mast to be mounted in a vertical position on the vehicle and, three fully battened sail panels that together define the skin of the wing sail. Spreaders extend transversely of the mast and impart to them a selected airfoil shape having a leading edge fore of the mast and a trailing edge aft of the mast. Two vertical tracks secured to both sides of the mast top and to the outer ends of each spreader. Sliders are secured to the sail panels and are slidable in the tracks, such as to permit hoisting and reefing each of the sail panels independently along the tracks. A boom is pivotally coupled to the mast and a ram is secured on one side to the lower spreader and on the other side to the boom such that the leading edge and the trailing edge define one wing-sail unit and trims the airfoil shape.

Abstract: A light-weight soft wing-sail for a wind-propelled vehicle includes a free standing rotating mast to be mounted in a vertical position on the vehicle and, three fully battened sail panels that together define the skin of the wing sail. Spreaders extend transversely of the mast and impart to them a selected airfoil shape having a leading edge fore of the mast and a trailing edge aft of the mast. Two vertical tracks secured to both sides of the mast top and to the outer ends of each spreader. Sliders are secured to the sail panels and are slidable in the tracks, such as to permit hoisting and reefing each of the sail panels independently along the tracks. A boom is pivotally coupled to the mast and a ram is secured on one side to the lower spreader and on the other side to the boom such that the leading edge and the trailing edge define one wing-sail unit and trims the airfoil shape.

Abstract: A flexible wing-sail for wind-propelled vehicles includes a mast to be rotatably mounted in a vertical position on the vehicle, a plurality of flexible sail panels carried by the mast, and a spreader assembly secured to battens in the sail panels for securing them to the mast and for imparting to them an airfoil shape having a leading edge fore of the mast, and a trailing edge aft of the mast. The spreader assembly includes a fixed spreader unit secured to the sail panels at the bottom of the wing-sail and fixing it to the bottom of the mast, and a plurality of slidable spreader units secured to the sail panels at longitudinally spaced locations and slidable along the mast to permit hoisting and reefing the wing-sail.

Abstract: A flexible wing-sail for wind-propelled vehicles includes a mast to be rotatably mounted in a vertical position on the vehicle, a plurality of flexible sail panels carried by the mast, and a spreader assembly secured to battens in the sail panels for securing them to the mast and for imparting to them an airfoil shape having a leading edge fore of the mast, and a trailing edge aft of the mast. The spreader assembly includes a fixed spreader unit secured to the sail panels at the bottom of the wing-sail and fixing it to the bottom of the mast, and a plurality of slidable spreader units secured to the sail panels at longitudinally spaced locations and slidable along the mast to permit hoisting and reefing the wing-sail.

Abstract: An on-board system for safety control in a vehicle, the vehicle including a plurality of axles and a plurality of load bearing units and wheels arranged on both sides of each of the axles and therefore on both sides of the vehicle, the system comprising (a) load sensors, each of the load sensors being associated with one of the plurality of load bearing units, each of the load sensors being for generating an input signal proportional to an actual load being imposed on its respective load bearing unit, thereby serving for measuring the actual load; and (b) a control unit, the control unit being in data communication with each of the sensors, such that the control unit collects the input signals, the control unit including (i) a first summing unit for summing the input signals and for generating a total load output signal being proportional to a sum of the actual loads imposed on all of the load bearing units; and (ii) a first comparator for comparing the total load output signal with a threshold total load val