This patent consists of the use of a fan from seaborne vehicles which being rotated by the wind transmits in a controllable way its rotation to a water propeller and therefore leads to the propulsion of the vehicle. The controllable means of transmitting the rotation consist of the control of the number of rotations as well as the desirable pitch of the radial blades, so as to accomplish the desirable use of the power and direction of the wind. Fans have been used since ancient times as mills for the grinding of cereals, pumping water, and quite recently as wind-power generators.

This patent could be used as an alternative ecological solution for the propulsion of different types of boats, exploiting wind power analogous to the use of sails, with additional advantages compared to the use of sails, such as: a). Avoiding tasks as the reefing (trimming) of the sails when winds are strong, and loosening of the sails when the wind gets low, tasks requiring a certain number of crew and could additionally prove to be hazardous as a means, for example, of the occurrence of certain damages on board or even the overturning of the boat. (By using this patent a simple adjustment of the pitch of the blades is enough to acquire the desirable number of rotations of the blades - and consequently of the propeller- or through the diminishing of the resistance of the wind to avoid undesirable results -such as the overturning of the boat), b). Even in cases of strong winds the rotation of the fan -and consequently of the propeller- can be stopped or reduced by minimizing the number of rotations through the control of the pitch of the radial blades, c). Furthermore, through changing the pitch of the blades so that with the given wind the fan -and consequently the nautic propeller- could turn in reverse, the reverse movement of the boat is possible (without the need of reversing gear), and d). There is also the possibility of the propulsion of the boat even into the wind, even at minimum velocity.

The fan consists of the ring (2) with the radial blades (1) and the mast (4) which is fixed in the centre of the boat (towards the prow of the boat). The mast is a firm construction and has a mechanism of controllable rotation of itself up to 360° so that the fan is always turned towards the direction of the wind. The diameter of the fan has to be of equal or smaller size than the length of the boat, and its height larger than the radius of the fan. The size of the fan depends on the size of the boat. There is a possibility that the mast will be needing counterfort in the case of a very large boat -and consequently a large fan- which counterfort will have to turn with the mast. The mechanism of the rotation of the mast has to be underneath the deck of the boat (5), near the hull, whereas the operator controls of the rotation of the mast (8) as well as the operator controls of the shifting of the pitch of the blades up to 180° (7) will be located in vicinity of the tiller (12). Every radial blade (1) at its central base ends up to a conical gear wheel and is altogether attached to a large gear wheel which by transmitting the controllable -through the change of pitch of the blades- rotation through a mechanism controlled by the operator control of adjusting the pitch of the blades (7). This way a desirable pitch of the blades is achieved as well as a desirable number of rotations. At the circumference of the radial blade there is a spike which penetrates the blade so that it can be turned up to 180°. The spike can be located in the centre of the circumference of the blade or at the tip of it (after

experimentation the best possible location can be determined in order to improve the results).

The axle of rotation of the fan (3), together with the mechanism of shifting of the pitch of the blades and the angle of rotation, ends up to a second axle (13) which transmits the

£ turns to the rotation multiplier (9) which is located underneath the deck of the boat. The shift of the angle of rotation transmits to an axle (14) and finally to the nautic propeller (11).

At the base of the mast a wire mesh (6) is placed so that any possibility of accident or the damage of the equipment because of the rotation of the fan would be avoided.

10 For the propulsion of the boat a large fan is needed with numerable radial blades (1). At the base of every blade there is a gear wheel and towards the circumferential tip of it there is a spike that penetrates in a hole to the ring in equal distances. The gear wheels of the radial blades fit into a large conical gear wheel as well as the axis of rotation and the mechanism of adjusting the angle of rotation in relation of the wind power. The same

'5 occurs with the mechanism of the ideal slope of the blades in relation of the wind power and the desirable number of rotations of the fan.

The transmittance of the controllable rotation of the fan to the nautic propeller, and therefore the propulsion of the boat, is achieved on the top of the mast where the axle of the fan is located with the mechanism of shifting the pitch of the blades and transmitting

£o the rotation (3) up to 90° on an axle system with bearing to the rotation multiplier (9) and shift of the angle on the axle (14) of the propeller (11). The ratio of the turns of the fan and the turns of the exit of the multiplier will be determined by the size and the type of the boat, the size of the fan, the size of the propeller and also the thickness of the radial blades and the resistance of the mast.

^■ "15 Where the steersman stands there will be controls for the adjustment of the whole fan and the pillar (8) —in proportion to the power and direction of the wind- as well as the control of the pitch shifting of the blades (7). Consequently, there is the ability to move on a run (wind behind the boat), luff & on a broad/close reach (at an angle with the wind) and the probable ability to move into the wind. Moreover, with the right operation the boat could

^* & stand still, whereas by choosing the reverse pitch of the radial blades the fan can turn in reverse and consequently the propeller and the backwards movement of the boat without the use of reverse gear.

Boats that will bear this patent will be able to moor and embark from harbours without the use of their engines (without the function of which sail boats are not able to do so).

35 By giving the right slopes to the radial blades through the operator control (7) the boat could move forward, backwards or stand still.

Because the diameter of the fan with ring will be larger than the width of the boat on which the whole system is fixed, in the vicinity of other boats, the fan will have a direction of bow-prow and the blades will be on the stand-still position by using a break 4o on the axle so that it remains still.

This patent can be used on any boat, single-hull or twin-hull. Moreover, it can be used on boats for leisure, trade (bearing engines in case of no wind or even the combined use of it with an engine). Moreover, this patent could inspire the creation of new sports, analogous to sailing.

^S There is also the capability to use this fan for other kind of applications, such as its use as a wind-power generator by which through controlling the pitch of the radial blades, the

amount of electric power needed would be generated.

Additionally, there is the possibility of mass production of fans of different diameters (for instance, 4.00, 5.00, 5.50 m etc), with the right height and thickness mast, and in proportion of these the right choice of materials for these dimensions and also the controls of them. For example, the ring is indicated to be made of a stainless steel tube. In case of small diameter rings the blades could be made by plastic polymers whereas in case of a larger diameter aluminum or other light metals could be used.

The operation of the system could be possible either by a mechanical, electrical of hydraulic system— or a combination of both in different sections of the system. Moreover, the right software could be developed in order to accomplish ideal yields and easy use, through the use of a computer network.

Drawing:

1. radial Wades

2. ring

3. axle of rotation and system of shifting slope of blades up to 180°

4. mast

5. base of mast, capable of turning up to 360°

6. wire mesh

7. operator control of shifting slope of blades

8. operator control of pillar rotation

9. multiplier of rotations and selecting switch of angle

10. steering wheel

11. propeller

12. tiller

13. rotating axle

14. final axle of rotation