DE102009040316A1 - Foot joint for sail devices, has universal pin with punched round head screw guided by flexible steal braid wire, where wire goes through compression spring with spring disk - Google Patents

Abstract

The foot joint has a universal pin (2) with a punched round head screw (3) guided by a flexible steal braid wire (4). The wire goes through a compression spring (5) with a spring disk (5.1) and is fixed at the lower end by a clamp (4.1).

Description

The invention relates to a Mastfußgelenk for sailing equipment with tilting and swivel rig.

Cardan mastiff joints as a link rig / sail device are known especially in sailing surfboards. The all-round freedom of movement of the mast is required in order to handle and pivot the rig in any position - even if it is flat in the water.

One of the common types is the rubber joint z. B. approximately in the form of a hyperboloid, which is rotatably mounted between the mast base and the deck of the sailboard about vertical axes. Although this fulfills the pivoting function, the rubber tends to dodge with greater vertical and lateral load and thereby stretch considerably. This is by no means desirable because the rigging geometry and control behavior are disturbed. In addition, the durability is reduced because the material tends to be brittle.

Another joint design consists of the usual construction of a universal joint with two mutually perpendicular axes, which intersect in a cube-shaped center piece. The joints for sailors available on the market are made of plastic, with o. G. Strain also result in deformations. In a stiffer design of the joint components in steel, however, the production costs would be much higher.

To simplify the gimbal and constructions are known where to dispense with the cube-shaped center piece. Only two vertical and one horizontal axis of rotation are used. As a result of clamping the vertical axes of rotation, however, it often comes to break here.

Thus, the problem arises for the invention, namely the creation of a resilient, inexpensive and all-round pivoting Mastfußgelenks, especially the vertically and laterally acting forces to be absorbed without deformation. In addition to its use in sail surfers, this task also concerns applications where a sail-rig rig is braced by means of shrouds on other sailing equipment.

To solve the problem it is proposed that the o. G. To replace gimbal structures with rigidly mounted axles by using a flexible braided wire of steel strands or other materials. In this case, the joint according to the invention has first at the upper end of the usual in surf mast universal pin (pin), which is latched into an opening on the mast base. Inside the pin there is a thread for attaching the usual mastiff joints. The invention uses the internal thread of the pin to there the o. G. Braid wire to attach. This is done by means of a pierced round head screw, which is screwed into the pin and through which the braided wire is guided. This continues down into a receiving housing with compression spring, where the wire is fixed. When tilting the mast by 90 ° in any direction results in a shortening of the compression spring and thus a retraction force on the mast base. When setting up the rig in the vertical position, this retraction force causes the mast base to be returned to its original centered position because of the shape of the round head of the screw. Then the head of the screw is located within the receiving housing, so that all-round loads of the rig are absorbed by the housing and the central positioning of the mast base is ensured in the housing.

Due to the simple components of the solution according to the invention no special requirements are made on the production and the manufacturing costs are favorable even with a more expensive steel design.

As mentioned above, the invention is also intended for applications where surfer rigs are braced with shrouds and greater vertical and lateral forces act on the mast base. The invention enables such loads, since the mast base can not escape laterally and all forces are absorbed by the stable housing.

The invention is illustrated with reference to drawings and explained in more detail by description. The figures show:

• a) Gummigelenk
• b) Kardangelenk
• c) Modifiziertes Kardangelenk

1 State of the art

• a) rubber hinges
• b) Cardan joint
• c) Modified universal joint

2 the joint according to the invention

In the 1a In the prior art, the example of a rubber joint is shown. The rubber body here has approximately the shape of a hyperboloid. Other designs with a more cylindrical shape are also known. At the ends of the rubber material, metallic transition pieces are vulcanised to the pin (upwards) and down to the sailplane deck (dot-dashed lines). Due to the axes of rotation shown at the top and bottom by arrows, the rubber joint can be gimballed - but with the mentioned limitations.

1b shows a conventional universal joint with additional vertical rotation options (shown by arrows). Here, two horizontal axes intersect at right angles within a cube-shaped intermediate piece. The design of the plastic joint is inexpensive, but less durable.

In 1c is a hinge version with only one horizontal axis of rotation and two vertical axes shown. As described above, here the cardan function is not always guaranteed because of jamming under load.

The in the 1a - 1c As a result of the rubber or plastic material used, joints presented have the common disadvantage that they react to vertical and lateral forces due to excessive elongation and thus can not be used for certain applications (eg sail-rigging rigged with shrouds).

2 shows the joint according to the invention in an upright and tilted position (tilted in the drawing by dash-dotted lines and numbers designated). In the mast foot ( 1 ) is the universal pin ( 2 ), which by the locking spring ( 1.1 ) in the locking groove ( 2.1 ) is fixed. The screw ( 3 ) is in the pin ( 2 ) and glued, wherein the flexible braided wire ( 4 ) the screw ( 3 ) and through the terminals ( 4.1 ) is fixed at the ends. From the screw ( 3 ) sits the wire ( 4 ) downward by being in the axis of a compression spring ( 5 ) and a spring plate ( 5.1 ) is located. The compression spring is supported at the top by a steel ring insert ( 6.1 ) of the housing ( 6 ), which with the hinge base ( 7 ) is screwed. The latter is engaged in the sailing device. Thus, the connection mast / sail device over the wire ( 4 ) without the need for cardanic shaft elements.

The solution of the mast foot ( 1 ) from the joint or from the deck of the sailing device via actuation of the locking spring ( 1.1 ), which in the locking groove ( 2.1 ) of the pin ( 2 ) intervenes. The mast foot ( 1 ) can now from the pin ( 2 ) while the hinge remains connected to the sailing device.

If a horizontal rig is to be connected to the joint, the pin ( 2 ) tilted by about 90 ° by hand. This will be wire ( 4 ) with spring plate ( 5.1 ) are pulled upwards by way "s" and the compression spring ( 5 ) shortened accordingly. The spring force is dimensioned so that the deflection of the pin ( 2 ) can be done easily by hand. Now the mast foot ( 1 ) with the pin ( 2 ) engaged. When erecting the rig in the vertical position, the spring ( 5 ) on the wire ( 4 ) a force that the mast foot ( 1 ) towards the center of the housing ( 6 ), so that the screw ( 3 ) in the ring insert ( 6.1 ) is centered. This is made possible by the geometry of the screw round head.

Vertical forces from the mast settle over the support plate ( 3.2 ) on the steel ring insert ( 6.1 ). Likewise, lateral forces by means of the head of the screw ( 3 ) on the ring insert ( 6.1 ) transfer.

For low production costs, it is proposed that the housing ( 6 ) in plastic, wherein the upper ring insert ( 6.1 ) of steel acts as a wearing part. It would also be possible to use both parts ( 6 ) and ( 6.1 ) to produce in one piece.

The compression spring ( 5 ) is installed with a certain preload, so as to reach the mast base ( 1 ) always stays centered. The bias voltage is variable when the lower clamp ( 4.1 ) z. B. is designed as a screw. At the screw ( 3 ) may be a standard round head screw, wherein the spacer ring ( 3.1 ) ensures that the geometry allows tilting of the mast. This means that the mast base ( 1 ) with support disc ( 3.2 ) in the tilted position outside the housing ( 6 ) comes to rest. This can be achieved by appropriate thickness of the spacer ring ( 3.1 ) can be achieved. Of course, screw ( 3 ) and spacer ring ( 3.1 ) can also be integrated into a component. For better guidance and avoidance of wear of the wire ( 4 ) in the head of the screw ( 3 ) there is a rounding off ( 3.3 ) available. Likewise, the inner edge of the ring insert ( 6.1 ) rounded off.

Thus, the joint according to the invention consists of only a few simple parts and it is ensured that especially vertical and lateral forces are safely absorbed by the joint.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Mast base ('tilted position)

1.1

locking spring

2

Universal pin (bolt), ( 2 ' tilted position)

2.1

locking

3

Round head screw

3.1

spacer

3.2

bearing plate

3.3

Rounding screw head

4

braids

4.1

Clamping (eg terminal pressing)

5

compression spring

5.1

spring plate

s

spring stroke

6

casing

6.1

ring insert

7

Hinge base

Claims (5)

Mast foot joint for sailing equipment with tiltable and swiveling rigging, characterized that the joint is composed of a universal pin (pin) ( 2 ) with screwed-in perforated round head screw ( 3 ) by a flexible steel braided wire ( 4 ), which is inside the pin ( 2 ) by means of terminals (eg press terminal) ( 4.1 ) from the screw ( 3 ) is held; furthermore, that the wire ( 4 ) a compression spring ( 5 ) with spring plate ( 5.1 ) and there at the bottom by a second terminal ( 4.1 ), and that a housing ( 6 ) the feather ( 5 ) and this up against a ring insert ( 6.1 ) of the housing ( 6 ) is supported. Mastfußgelenk according to claim 1, characterized in that when tilting the rig or the mast base ( 1 ) in the horizontal ( 1' ) the wire ( 4 ) a deflection "s" learns with the stroke as the spring ( 5 ) is compressed and "s" is dimensioned so that when tilting in the horizontal, the bottom of the mast base ( 1' ) at the outer edge of the housing ( 6 ) comes to rest. Mast foot joint according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the bias of the spring ( 5 ) by appropriate positioning of the lower clamp ( 4.1 ) on the wire ( 4 ) is adjustable so that permanently a return force on the mast base ( 1 ) Towards the center of the housing ( 6 ), the lower clamping ( 4.1 ) as a screw with variable adjustment is executable. Mastfußgelenk according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the above-mentioned steel braided wire ( 4 ) is replaceable by another flexible and wear-resistant material. Mast foot joint according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the components housing ( 6 ) and ring insert ( 6.1 ) are integrated into one part.

Images