Home
Richard Miller decades ago noted that one day reefable or coilable spars may be involved in hang glider structures.
We add now reefable or coilable battens. In sailing the tech is being expressed as "flattens." Notes, specifications, reports, illustrations, etc. are invited to this topic thread concerning reefable spars and reefable battens. Note that one may explore embedded-integrated reefable battens or ribs or extractable separable reefable battens or ribs. Note also that various technologies may be employed for the reefable battens or reefable ribs: solid, inflatable, rigidizable, smartly dirigible, smartly morphable, controllable-by-pilot, robotic, bi-part-sail-sandwiching, ... All are welcome to be studied and explored hereon.
== In pack phase, the items may be in handy-radiused coils.
== Compare coilable ribs, coilable spars, coilable battens with other competing spar, rib, and batten systems.
What is that "bi-part-sail-sandwiching" just mentioned? Pending prior art, it is a Faust two-part system; e.g., for a rib, have two parts; one part at station is above the sail; the other part is below the sail at the same station; the sail is the middle part of the sandwich; the two rib parts clasp each other from opposite sides of the sail; clasping may be from various technologies by those skilled in the arts; once clasped sandwiching the sail at station, the the rib functions ordinarily; if the two parts of the rib are coilable, then we have a coilable situation, perhaps more car-friendly or bus-friendly.
All are welcome.
