Kite System and Method for Operating a Kite System

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.

Claims

1. A kite system having a kite (14) and a hauling rope (15), wherein the hauling rope (15) extends between the kite (14) and a tow point (16), and having a marking holder (25) which is disposed between the tow point (16) and the kite (14), wherein the marking holder (25) is configured to change between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and having a fitting installation (31) that initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of the marking holder (25).

2. The kite system of claim 1, wherein the marking holder (25) has a visual marking (10).

3. The kite system of claim 1, wherein the kite system comprises a blocking mechanism (28, 29) that acts between the hauling rope (15) and the marking holder (25).

4. The kite system of claim 2, wherein when the marking holder (25) is in the entrained state, the blocking mechanism (28, 29) is held in a state that is engaged with the hauling rope (15) by a spring force.

5. The kite system of claim 3, comprising first and second marking holders (25) wherein the blocking mechanism (28, 29) of the first marking holder (25) is held in a non-engaged state by engaging with the second marking holder (25).

6. The kite system of claim 5, wherein the blocking mechanism (28, 29) of the first marking holder in the non-engaged state interacts with a mandrel (30) of the second marking holder (25), wherein the mandrel (30) is disposed concentric with the hauling rope (15).

7. The kite system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of marking holders (25) are disposed between the kite (14) and the tow point (16), wherein the spacing of two neighboring marking holders (25) in the entrained state is larger than 20 m.

8. The kite system of claim 1, comprising a monitoring installation (10) for monitoring a length of a currently dispensed portion of the hauling rope (15).

9. The kite system of claim 8, wherein the fitting installation (31) upon receiving a control command from the monitoring installation (10) initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of a marking holder (25).

10. The kite system of claim 1, wherein the fitting installation (31) is configured to displace the marking holder (25) to initiate a changeover between a free-running state and an entrained state.

11. The kite system of claim 1, comprising a magazine (26) for receiving a plurality of marking holders (25) in the free-running state.

12. The kite system of claim 11, wherein a radial spacing between a tow point axis (24) and the magazine (26) is smaller than a radial spacing between the tow point axis (24) and a hauling rope exit (22).

13. The kite system of claim 1, wherein a hauling rope speed during changeover of a marking holder (25) between an entrained state and a free-running state is lower than a basic speed of the hauling rope (15).

14. The kite system of claim 1, wherein the marking holder (25) has an external terminal (37, 38) by way of which a battery (42) of the marking holder (25) can be charged.

15. A method for operating a kite system, in which a hauling rope (15) extends between a kite (14) and a tow point (16), said kite system including at least one marking holder (25) configured to change between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15), said method comprising the steps of: dispensing said hauling rope (15) through said at least one marking holder (25) while said at least one marking holder (25) is in the free-running state; monitoring a length of said hauling rope (15) dispensed through said at least one marking holder (25); and changing the at least one marking holder (25) from a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15) to an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15) once a predefined length of the hauling rope (15) has been dispensed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention will be described in an exemplary manner hereunder with reference to the appended drawings and by means of advantageous embodiments. In the drawings:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a kite system according to the invention;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a tow point of a kite system according to the invention in a side view;

[0040] FIG. 2B shows an alternative embodiment of a tow point of a kite system in side view according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the tow point according to FIG. 2 in a perspective illustration;

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a marking holder of a kite system according to the invention in a sectional illustration;

[0043] FIG. 5 shows a plurality of marking holders in a sectional illustration;

[0044] FIGS. 6 and 7 show details of a kite system according to the invention in an enlarged illustration; and

[0045] FIGS. 8 to 11 show a schematic illustration of a method sequence according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] In the case of a kite system shown in FIG. 1 a kite 14 is connected to a tow point 16 by way of a hauling rope 15. The hauling rope 15 is guided to a hauling rope winch 19 by way of a tow point disk 17 of the tow point 16 and by way of two deflection rollers 18. The upper end of the hauling rope 15 is connected to a control gondola 20. A plurality of control lines 21 extend between the control gondola 20 and the kite 14. The control gondola 20 is conceived for varying the length of individual or a plurality of control lines 21. On account thereof, the aerodynamic properties of the kite 14 are modified, and the kite 14 can be controlled along predefined flight paths. The kite system includes a monitoring installation 10 which monitors a length of hauling rope 15 dispensed or retrieved from the tow point 16, with the length of the hauling rope 15 dispensed or retrieved being used to coordinate functions of the kite system as discussed below.

[0047] The kite 14 in the flight movements thereof exerts a tensile fore on the hauling rope 15, said tensile force being transmitted to the hauling rope winch 19. The tensile force can be utilized for setting the hauling rope winch 19 in rotation, and for driving a generator for generating electric energy by way of the hauling rope winch 19. The hauling rope 15 is dispensed herein; the spacing between the kite 14 and the tow point 16 is thus enlarged.

[0048] When the hauling rope 15 has been dispensed to the full length thereof, the hauling rope 15 has first to be recovered by a specific length prior to any new generation of energy being possible. The kite 14 in this phase is moved to a position in which said kite 14 exerts a minor tensile force. This can be a position that is approximately vertically above the tow point 16, for example.

[0049] The tow point 16 comprises a hauling rope exit 22 which directs the hauling rope coming from the tow point disk 17 in the direction of the control gondola 20. The hauling rope exit 22 is pivotably mounted in order to be able to follow the flight path of the kite 14. As can be best seen in FIGS. 2, 3, a first pivot bearing 23 is disposed so as to be coaxial with the central axis of the tow point disk 17. A second pivot bearing has the pivot axis thereof in the tow point axis 24. The tow point disk 17 and the hauling rope exit 22 are conjointly pivoted by way of the second pivot bearing. FIG. 2B shows an alternative embodiment of a tow point where the radial spacing of the magazine 26 from the tow point axis 24 is smaller than the radial spacing between the tow point axis 24 and the hauling rope exit 22.

[0050] A marking holder 25 which comprises a light 12 is attached approximately halfway between the control gondola 20 and the hauling rope exit 22 to the hauling rope 15. The light signals of the light 12 can be seen from afar. The air traffic is alerted to the hauling rope 15 in a timely fashion and can choose the flight path such that a collision with the hauling rope 15 is avoided. The marking holder 25 is entrained relative to the hauling rope 15. The marking holder 25 thus moves upward when the hauling rope 15 is dispensed, and moves downward when the hauling rope 15 is recovered.

[0051] Three further marking holders 25 are received in a magazine 26 that is disposed so as to be adjacent to the hauling rope exit 22. The marking holders 25 in the magazine 26 are in a free-running state relative to the hauling rope 15. Said marking holders 25 thus maintain the positions thereof in the magazine 26 when the hauling rope 15 is dispensed or recovered.

[0052] The marking holders 25 according to FIG. 4 have a central bore 27 which extends through the marking holder 25. The hauling rope 15 in the operation of the kite system according to the invention is routed through the bore 27. The marking holder comprises a blocking mechanism in the form of a Curry clamp (bulldog jam cleat). The Curry clamp (bulldog jam cleat) comprises two clamping jaws 28 which are mounted so as to be pivotable about axes 29, and which are held so as to be spring-loaded in the engagement state shown in FIG. 4. When the hauling rope 15 is routed through the bore 27, the clamping jaws 28 bear on the external side of the hauling rope 15 and thus block the marking holder 25 relative to the hauling rope 15. The marking holder 25 is in the entrained state.

[0053] In order for the marking holder 25 to be moved to the free-running state, the clamping jaws 28 in FIG. 4 are pivoted upward counter to the spring load, such that the clamping jaws 28 no longer contact the hauling rope 15. Three marking holders 25 are in each case shown in the free-running state in FIG. 5. The clamping jaws 28 are in each case held in the upwardly pivoted position by a mandrel 30 of a marking holder 25 that is disposed therebelow. The hauling rope 15 in the free-running state according to FIG. 5 can be dispensed or recovered, respectively, through the marking holders 25, without the marking holders 25 changing the positions thereof.

[0054] In order for the marking holder 25 to be able to change between the free-running state and the entrained state, according to FIG. 6 the kite system according to the invention comprises a fitting installation 31. A guide rail 32 in the fitting installation 31 extends in a manner parallel with the hauling rope 15. A latching lever 35 is guided in the guide rail 32, said latching lever 33 comprising a first leg 34 and a second leg 35. The latching lever 33 is pivoted downward in FIG. 6, such that the first leg 34 of the lever 33 bears on a flange 36 of the marking holder 25. The marking holder 25 is held in the free-running state by the latching lever 33.

[0055] When the hauling rope, proceeding from the state shown in FIG. 6, is recovered, a second marking holder 25 is moved toward the fitting installation 31. In order to be able to receive the second marking holder 25, the latching lever 33 is moved somewhat upward in the guide rail 31, and the latching lever 33 is pivoted upward such that the second leg 35 protrudes into the path of the second marking holder 25. When the flange 36 of the second marking holder 25 impacts the second leg 35 of the latching lever 33, the latching lever 33 is thrown and converts to the position according to FIG. 9.

[0056] The throwing of the latching lever 33 is performed under the influence of a spring force. The latching lever 33 in FIG. 8 is thus in a tensioned state. The force exerted by the first leg 34 on the flange 36 is rated such that the second marking holder 25 is reliably pushed onto the mandrel 30 of the first marking holder 25. The mandrel 30 of the first marking holder 25 presses the clamping jaws 28 of the second marking holder 25 apart such that the clamping jaws 28 no longer contact the hauling rope 15. The second marking holder 25 is then in the free-running state. The corresponding state after receiving a third marking holder 25 is shown in FIG. 10.

[0057] For the reversed changeover from the free-running state to the entrained state, the latching lever 33, proceeding from the position shown in FIG. 9, is driven downward in the guide rail 32. The latching lever 33 is thrown herein such that the second leg 35 exerts a force from below on the flange 36 of the second marking holder 25. The second marking holder 25 is lifted from the mandrel 30 of the first marking holder 25. The blocking of the clamping jaws 28 is cancelled such that the second marking holder 25 converts to the entrained state. The second marking holder 25 is guided upward conjointly with the hauling rope 15 in the further dispensing of the hauling rope 15.

[0058] A switch 13 which sets in operation a light 12 that is integrated in the marking holder 25 is activated simultaneously with the conversion from the free-running state to the entrained state shown in FIG. 11. Conversely, the switch 13 is activated in order to put the light 12 out of operation in the conversion from the entrained state to the free-running state.

[0059] The marking holder 25 in the case of the embodiment according to FIG. 7 is provided with two external terminals 37, 38 which extend in an annular manner about the circumference of the marking holder 25. Two conductors 39, 40 are disposed in the magazine 26, said two conductors 39, 40 contacting the external terminals 37, 38. A battery 42 that is integrated in the marking holder 25 is charged by way of the conductors 39, 40 and the external terminals 37, 38.

[0060] The light and optionally further electric components that are integrated in the marking holder 25 are operated by way of the battery 42. An example of a further electronic component is a wireless repeater 44 which is conceived for relaying wireless signals between the ground station of the kite system and the control gondola 20.