FR2763911A1 - Mast-fixing mechanism for sail boats with improved safety and survival chances - Google Patents

Abstract

The fixing mechanism uses a hinged system. This allows the mast to be inclined through a regulated angle with limits in the shape of a cone with an angle of 45 deg. at its summit. This replaces the normal rigid fixing system which tends to provoke cracking of the mast. The hinge uses a universal joint that can move in two axes and it fixed to the top of a rolling semi-sphere. This allows the ball at the base of the mast to remain in contact during angular displacements of the mast. A cover is included that is made up of three joined sections. Each section includes an inspection hatch and the whole mechanism is sealed using flexible bellows on the moving parts.

Description

DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a new mast fixing device for sailing.

n has systems to prevent mast breakage and overturning due to shocks caused by gusts of wind and downpours leaning on the sails.

Therefore it increases the chances of survival of sailors in heavy weather and moreover the presence of balloons increases the buoyancy of the boat in the event of overturning or loss of sealing of the hull (s).

 I1 is characterized by the following description.

n consists of a hemispherical receptacle (p2 fig2: 13) comprising at the top a ball joint by cardan two axes (p3 fig3: 1-1 to 1-3) which receives the mast base: the bowl (p3 fig3: 13 ).

This bowl in light composite materials has external ribs (not drawn) to increase its rigidity and it is perfectly smooth on its internal surface.

The bowl cover (p2 fig2: 14-1 to 14-4) supports the carding system and keeps the balloons trapped (p2 fig2: 11 and 12), dampers of the angular movements of the mat.

This is articulated thanks to the gimbal and it is finished by a ball system (p6 fig7: 7-1 to 7-3), mounted on shock absorber (p6 fig7: 6), and rolling at the bottom of the bowl.

The internal radius of the bowl is approximately 1.5 m. The bowl is fixed thanks to a metal frame (pl freeze: 15) adapted to the structure of the boat.

The cylindrical mast, the lower part of which is telescopic thanks to a screw system (p6 fig7: 5-1 / 5-2), passes through the gimbal in its center.

The mast is jacketed at this level by two articulated half shells (p4 fig4: 2) whose travel on the mast is canceled thanks to two clamps mounted on either side. Each half-shirt has on its internal face helical grooves in the opposite direction of on the other half-shirt to prevent slipping on the mast and grooves on the outside to allow it on the gimbal.

This shifting reported between the shirt and the cardan is guided by multiple longitudinal grooves in full on the 1/2 shirts and hollow on the carding.

This gimbal is placed on the same plane as the bowl lid. It is removable and designed in such a way that it can withstand four-directional mast movements (front / rear / right / left and combined) forming a cone of angle at the top of 45 "relative to the perpendicular to the plane of the boat deck.

 I1 is fixed at the high point of a metal frame (tripod or more) which also holds the whole system.

The relative freedom of the left-right tilt of the mast is controlled by the modular inflation of a high-resistance circular balloon (p2 fig2: 12) which surrounds the mobile system mounted on the bat of the mast and which fills the remaining empty space in the bowl and inclination limitation of the 4 "forward / backstroke mast adjustable by 2 balloons (p2 fig2: 15) in the form of orange wedges absorbing shocks. Two rollers (1 front, 1 rear) for translation p2 fig2: 16) are mounted at the bottom of the mast to avoid friction on the front / rear stroke limitation balloons. A second circular balloon (p2 fig2: 11) placed just under the bowl cover, remains permanently inflated to ensure safety during tilting
of the mat which can go up to 45 "compared to the plan of fixing of the cardan.

This keeps the mast away from the frame and absorbs shock. The inflation is carried out as a function of the vélic forces to better absorb the shocks and to bring the sail against the wind what avoids: - maneuvers of adjustment of the area of sails with each variation of the véliques forces; - the lateral drifts and therefore the steering maneuvers to catch the wind.

This system causes a pumping phenomenon which increases the recovery efficiency of the wind forces by the wing. We keep the heading line, we decrease the charging (sinking of the bow) and we avoid the planing of the trimarans.

The bottom of the mast includes two systems for adjusting the tension exerted on the pressure damper (p6 fig6: 6) which carries the rolling ball (p6 fig6: 7-1) placed at the bottom of the bowl.

- A first screw system (p6 fig6: 5-1 / 5-2) with an adjustment sleeve (like a worksite jack) to adjust the length of the mast base according to the first anchoring point of the rigging.

- A second system in two parts, each of which is located above and below the gimbal.

 I1 is for each part of a spring (p3 fig3: 3-1 / 3-2) winding around the mast and taking support on one side on the movable bearing of the gimbal (1-1) and l on the other side on a system of two rings (p3 fig3: 4-1-1 4-1-2 and 4-2-1 4-2-2) tightening on the mast thanks to the pressure of the screws pushing the internal ring comprising a male conical part towards the external one comprising the female part which is equivalent to a mandrel system.

This system is used to adjust the point of transfer of the load of the rigging between the mast and the gimbal (therefore the bowl and the support structure) in a flexible way in order to cancel the vertical micro-shocks on the structures of the bridge and d '' absorb significant vertical shocks.

Each bet is covered by a flange (p2 fig2: 9) achieving complete sealing of the system at the moving parts.

The ball (p6 fig6: 7-l) is held captive against a ball bearing with oblique bearings (p6 fig6: 7-2) at the bottom of the hydraulic shock absorber at the bottom of the mast thanks to a screwed ring (p6 fig6: 7 -3).

The hydraulic damper (p6 fig6: 6) (grid oil and spring) is used to keep the ball in contact with the internal face of the bowl regardless of the pressure exerted by the rigging.

When fitting or removing the mat, the shock absorber can be kept in the retracted position using three pins (positioned on the reinforcement plate p6 fig6: 7-5) after being brought to this position by a system exterior fixing on rings on the mast (p6 fig6: 7-6) and on the movable part of the shock absorber (p6 fig6: 7-4).

This external system also makes it possible to return the shock absorber to the gently extended position.

The ball rolls at the bottom of the bowl. It can be immobilized in a tubular recess of the same diameter as the ring and located vertical to the gimbal to keep the mast in a fixed vertical position in the event of intervention following damage or during the positioning of the mast or during visits maintenance.

This recess is hidden in normal operation, to allow the rolling of the ball at the bottom of the bowl, by a cylindrical wedge (p7 fig8: 8-1), flat on the top and bevelled at an angle of 60 relative to the axis on the lower part.

The lower end has rolling cylinders which facilitate the horizontal displacement of the wedge (p7 fig8: 8-2) of corresponding inclination used to adjust the vertical position of the cylindrical block for closing the recess.

This corner moves on a raceway and it is moved by a double action cylinder (p7 fig8: 8-3 / 8-4), mechanical (screw) or hydraulic; to define. It is limited in its travel by 2 stops. The cylinder produces sufficient thrust to raise the block subjected to the weight of the rigging and release the ball which then finds all freedom of movement at the bottom of the bowl.

The bowl is closed in a leaktight manner thanks to seals by a cover (p2 fig2: 14-1) slightly conical (less than 10) consisting of three sectors each comprising a inspection hatch (p2 fig2: 14-2 a 4). It is bolted to the bowl.

To avoid damage to the balloons by the internal mechanism of the bowl, a protective skirt (p2 fig2: 10) is inserted between the mechanism and the balloons.

It is finished in the lower part by a "scraper" bib to avoid pinching the balloons by the ball.

By the slightest depression in amplitude and number, a boat equipped with this system will pass all the energy provided by the sails, in a rectilinear trajectory by increasing its speed and no longer to remove large bodies of water which slow it down.

Claims (8)

l-Device for fixing boat masts, characterized by an articulated system allowing an adjustment of the inclination of the mast according to an angle cone at the top which can go up to 45 "aiming to replace the current fixing of the mast of boats, currently rigid and fixed causing breakages. 2-System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a ball joint based on a two-axis gimbal (fig 5 6) fixed to the top of a half sphere (the bowl fig2: 13) of rolling allowing the support of the ball (fig 7:71) at the bottom of the mast during angular movements of the mat (fig 7). 3-System according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a cover (fig 2:14) composed of three adjoining sectors each comprising a inspection hatch, the whole sealingly closing by means of seals on the fixed parts and flanges (fig 2: 9) on the moving parts. 4-System according to claim 2, characterized in that the mat achieves a sliding connection with the inner ring of the gimbal by means of a liner (fig 3 and 4) internally grooved and grooved externally fixed to the mast by clamping (principle crushing by screw) and whose stroke in the carding joint is limited and damped thanks to two springs (fig3: 31 to 32) wrapped around the mast and taking support on one side on the internal ring of the gimbal and on the other on rings fixed to the clamping mat (conical tightening fig3: 411 to 422). 5-System according to claim 2, characterized in that the "mat door" integrated into the 1/2 sphere includes a length adjustment by screw (fig 6: 51/52 -candel of site) lockable; a hydraulic spring shock absorber (fig6: 6) which is disarmed by blocking it in the retracted position for all interventions  important; and a rolling system consisting of a ball trapped in a screwed ring and a ball bearing with oblique bearing (fig 6: 7). 6-System according to claim 2, characterized in that the bowl contains two circular balloons (fig 2: 11 & 12) of high resistance arranged in a layer which allow by modular inflation of the bottom to adjust the right left angular displacement of the bottom mast and therefore the tilt cone thereof and 2 balloons in the form of orange wedges (fig2: 15) limiting the inclination of the mast to 4 "front / rear stroke in a modular and absorbent way Two translation rollers (1 front, 1 rear) (fig2: 19 mounted at the bottom of the mast prevent friction on the front / rear stroke limitation balloons. 7-System according to claim 2, characterized in that the bottom of the bowl has a retractable shim controlled by a wedge system and a cylinder (fig 7: 8) for locking the mat in the axial position of the adjustment cone, thus interrupting displacement of the ball (usable during interventions not requiring the removal of the mat). 8-System according to claim 6, characterized in that balloons are used to control the amplitude of movement of the mat by a modular inflation and are protected from mechanical systems by a rubber skirt.