Patent ID: 7866271
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: B63H

Abstract:
1. A deployment system for docking and deploying a freely flying kite element on which wind acts for propulsion of a watercraft in which the element on which wind acts and which has a wing profile is connected by a hawser to the watercraft, and the element on which wind acts can be moved from a rest position on-board the watercraft to a raised launch position from which the element is deployed, said system comprising: a holder that can be raised and lowered; and a docking receptacle on said holder that can be pivoted in azimuth for moving the element on which wind acts to a position in which it is subject to sufficient wind effect to cause propulsion of the watercraft, said docking receptacle having a configuration to receive a portion of said element on which wind acts when said element is docked and into which a portion of the element on which the wind acts is drawn, wherein said hawser has a point where it spreads out into a number of holding cables, and further including a connecting cable between the hawser and the element on which wind acts and which spans the point at which the hawser spreads and a life line which originates from the docking receptacle and whose free end is operatively connected to said connecting cable when the element on which wind acts is being docked and is moveable along the connecting cable onto said hawser as said element on which wind acts is being deployed.