Patents by Inventor Bernd Specht

Bernd Specht has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11578697
    Abstract: A kite system having a kite (14) and a hauling rope (15) which extends between the kite (14) and a tow point (16). A marking holder (25) is disposed between the tow point (16) and the kite (14). The marking holder (25) is conceived for changing between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15). A fitting installation (31) initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of the marking holder (25). The invention moreover relates to a method for operating a kite system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SkySails Power GmbH
    Inventors: Xaver Paulig, Christoph Heeckt, Bernd Specht, Felix Braun
  • Publication number: 20190176047
    Abstract: A kite system having a kite (14) and a hauling rope (15) which extends between the kite (14) and a tow point (16). A marking holder (25) is disposed between the tow point (16) and the kite (14). The marking holder (25) is conceived for changing between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15). A fitting installation (31) initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of the marking holder (25). The invention moreover relates to a method for operating a kite system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Xaver Paulig, Christoph Heeckt, Bernd Specht, Felix Braun
  • Patent number: 9416770
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind energy conversion device and a method for controlling such a device. The aerodynamic wind energy conversion device comprises an aerodynamic wing; at least a first tractive line and a second tractive line; wherein ends of the tractive lines are connected to line connection points located at the aerodynamic wing; at least a first and a second reefing point located across the aerodynamic wing and is characterized in that the length of the second tractive line is shorter than the length of the first tractive line; and wherein the first reefing point is spaced from the first line connection point in a first reefing distance and the second reefing point is d spaced from the second line connection point in a second reefing distance, such that the second reefing distance is longer than the first reefing distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SKYSAILS GMBH
    Inventors: Xaver Paulig, Bernd Specht
  • Publication number: 20150125294
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind energy conversion device and a method for controlling such a device. The aerodynamic wind energy conversion device comprises an aerodynamic wing; at least a first tractive line and a second tractive line; wherein ends of the tractive lines are connected to line connection points located at the aerodynamic wing; at least a first and a second reefing point located across the aerodynamic wing and is characterized in that the length of the second tractive line is shorter than the length of the first tractive line; and wherein the first reefing point is spaced from the first line connection point in a first reefing distance and the second reefing point is d spaced from the second line connection point in a second reefing distance, such that the second reefing distance is longer than the first reefing distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Xaver Paulig, Bernd Specht
  • Patent number: 8740153
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind propulsion device, particularly for watercrafts, comprising an aerodynamic wing being connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected to the steering unit and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force in the direction of the tractive cable when the airflow direction is about perpendicular to the tractive cable. According to the invention, an aerodynamic wing is provided being coupled to a steering unit located close below the wing via a plurality of tractive lines of different elasticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: SkySails GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Specht, Xaver Paulig, Robert Drechsler, Stephan Brabeck
  • Patent number: 8695924
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wing, including an upper deck extending in operation in a longitudinal direction and in a transversal direction; wherein the upper deck is shaped and arranged to produce a vertical lifting force which is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal and the transversal direction when the aerodynamic wing is exposed to a wind flow in a direction oriented parallel to the longitudinal direction; wherein a plurality of ribs are connected to the upper deck, said ribs lying in a plane parallel to the direction of the vertical lifting force and the direction of the wind flow; the aerodynamic wing being coupled to a base platform arranged below the wing in service via a plurality of fastening lines, whereby the fastening lines are secured to the ribs of the wing, at least two fastening lines are secured to one rib at two line attachment points arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction; wherein the at least two line attachment points are connected to each
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: SkySails GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Specht, Robert Drechsler, Xaver Paulig
  • Patent number: 8607722
    Abstract: An aerodynamic wind propulsion device is provided, particularly for watercraft, in form of an aerodynamic wing connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, at least one pair of two active steering lines being connected to the aerodynamic wing at two points in distance and being coupled to a drive unit at the steering unit, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected at the steering unit to at least two of the tractive lines and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force, and two passive steering lines are connected to each other to form a continuous passive steering line section passing through the steering unit in order to passively follow a deformation of the aerodynamic wing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Skysails GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Wrage, Bernd Specht, Stefan Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20120111251
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind propulsion device, particularly for watercrafts, comprising an aerodynamic wing being connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, at least one pair of two active steering lines being connected to the aerodynamic wing at two points in distance and being coupled to a drive unit at the steering unit, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected at the steering unit to at least two of the tractive lines and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force, and, according to a first aspect of the invention, is characterized by a pair of two passive steering lines, wherein each of the two passive steering lines comprises a lower section and an upper section, wherein a second end of the lower section of each passive steering line is connected to a first end of the upper section of the respect
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Skysails GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Stephan Wrage, Bernd Specht, Stefan Wortmann
  • Publication number: 20120060736
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind propulsion device, particularly for watercrafts, comprising an aerodynamic wing being connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of tractive lines, a tractive cable, a first end of the tractive cable being connected to the steering unit and a second end of the tractive cable being connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates an uplift force in the direction of the tractive cable when the airflow direction is about perpendicular to the tractive cable. According to the invention, an aerodynamic wing is provided being coupled to a steering unit located close below the wing via a plurality of tractive lines of different elasticity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: SkySails GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Specht, Xaver Paulig, Robert Drechsler, Stephan Brabeck
  • Publication number: 20110139053
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wing, comprising an upper deck, wherein a plurality of ribs are connected to the upper deck, said ribs lying in a plane parallel to the direction of the vertical lifting force and the direction of the wind flow; the aerodynamic wing being coupled to a base platform arranged below the wing in service via a plurality of fastening lines, whereby the fastening lines are secured to the ribs of the wing, at least two fastening lines are secured to one rib at two line attachment points arranged at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction; wherein the at least two line attachment points are connected to each other by a reinforcing load transfer line extending from the line attachment point of the first one of the two fastening lines to the line attachment point of the second one of the two fastening lines; whereby the reinforcing load transfer line is attached to the respective rib along substantially the whole length of the load transfer line and follows a curv
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Bernd Specht, Robert Drechsler, Xaver Paulig
  • Publication number: 20110052391
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerodynamic wind propulsion device, particularly for watercraft, comprising an aerodynamic wing being connected to a steering unit located below the aerodynamic wing and coupled to the aerodynamic wing via a plurality of lines, particularly steering lines and/or fixing lines, a tractive cable, wherein a first end of the tractive cable is connected to the steering unit and a second end of the tractive cable is connected to a base platform, the aerodynamic wing having an aerodynamic profile which generates a lifting force in the direction of the traction cable when the air stream direction is about perpendicular to the tractive cable, a plurality of reefing lines located across the aerodynamic wing for increasing and decreasing the lifting force by changing the shape and/or dimension of the aerodynamic wing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SkySails GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Specht, Stefan Wortmann, Hannes Gerdes
  • Publication number: 20100170774
    Abstract: A switching pole for a high-voltage network has a switching unit disposed in a switching pole housing. The switching unit includes a fixed contact and a movable contact. An input connector on a fixed contact side is connected to an output connector on the movable contact side in an electrically conductive manner in the switched-on position of the switching unit. In order to be able to simultaneously connect a current sensor and a voltage sensor to one of the connectors while maintaining breakdown safety, an arrangement of the current and voltage sensors is provided at a circumferential distance from each other on the circumferential wall of the switching pole housing, which prevents partial discharges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Jürgen Einschenk, Jochen Ermisch, Bernd Specht, Ralf-Reiner Volkmar