EP0541430A1 - Jib sail roller-furling system with a swivel joint, lockable to the stay - Google Patents

Abstract

The jib sail roller-furling system according to the invention makes use of a tubular element (1) which is mounted rotatably about a cable (2) of the rigging of a boat and on which a sail (4) is wound which can be hoisted and trimmed by virtue of a swivel joint (16) which slides on the tubular element (1) and on which is fixed a halyard (20) which passes through a pulley (21) mounted at the head of the mast (14). It comprises hooking means which can be disconnected and allow the swivel joint (16) to come to be suspended, in trimmed position, on an anchoring piece (22) which is integral with the cable (2) and situated above the upper end of the tubular element (1). The invention makes it possible in particular to reduce the stresses exerted on the mast and on the tube of the roller. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement to the winder-reducing canopies used in sailboats.

In general, it is known that the winder-reducing canopies comprise a tubular element mounted to rotate around a cable of the rigging of a boat, for example around a jib stay, and on which can come s' roll up a sail.

Depending on the length of the cable, this tubular element can be made in one piece or be formed from coaxial tubular sections arranged end to end.

It comprises at least one longitudinal groove in which engages and slides the headline of a sail. This can be sent and stretched by means of a swivel mounted sliding on the tubular element, and on which is fixed a halyard passing through a pulley (sheave) mounted at the top of the mast.

Furthermore, the tubular element can be rotated by means of drive means such as, for example, a drum or a gear motor, mounted in its lower part.

On such a retractor-reducer, once sent, the sail, the headline of which is axially retained in the groove, is drawn between its tack point usually fixed to a part integral with the lower part of the tube and its headrest which is attached to the swivel, itself held under tension by the halyard.

It turns out that in this type of furlers, the effort exerted on the mast by the sheave (which plays the role of a hoist) is equal to twice the effort exerted on the halyard by the headrest of the sail. . This solution therefore has the drawback of requiring masts which are much more resistant and therefore much heavier than those which are used in the absence of winder-unwinders.

Another disadvantage of this solution consists in that, in the case where the tubular element has a great length and is produced in sections, when the sail is rolled up and that the wind strengthens, the forestay lengthens by bending, while the halyard, drawn by the mast, tends the sail. On the other hand, the sections of the tubular element cannot lengthen and tend to dislodge.
In an attempt to overcome these drawbacks, it has already been proposed to fix the sail (by means of the swivel) at the upper end of the tubular element, so that it is subjected to a force of compression in the direction of nesting of the sections. Such a solution is described in particular in patents EP 0 008 560 (Ingouf), US 3,938,460 (Wales et al), DE 2,635,717.

However, in this case, under the effect of an intense wind, the compression force exerted by the sail becomes too great and risks causing the element to buckle. tubular and a deterioration of its bearings which are then subjected to excessive stresses.

Furthermore, this solution has the drawback of making it more difficult to put the sail in place.

The invention therefore more particularly aims to eliminate these drawbacks.

To this end, it provides, in a reel of the aforementioned type, detachable hooking means allowing the swivel to come and hang, in a stretched position, on an anchor piece secured to the forestay and located above from the upper end of the tubular member.

It is clear that, thanks to this solution, the mast is subjected to a stress reduced by half relative to the stress which it would undergo if the swivel was simply retained under tension by the halyard. In addition, the fact that the end of the tubular element no longer undergoes any noticeable radial stress and that it is centered around the forestay by the anchoring part, the problems of dislocation, buckling and wear of the bearings previously mentioned, are resolved.

Advantageously, the aforementioned attachment means are mounted on the swivel and involve latching means controllable by the halyard which is used for drawing the sail, these latching means cooperating with appropriate conformations of the part d anchor.

Conversely, the latching means can be mounted on the anchoring piece and designed so as to be able to cooperate with an appropriate conformation of the swivel. The opening of these latching means can then be obtained by means independent of the halyard.

Usually, the ends of the forestay around which the reel tube is rotatably mounted are fixed by crimping to coaxial cylindrical nuts possibly rotatably mounted in rigid connection pieces respectively fixed, or even articulated, at the head of the mast and to the padlock of the boat.

It is found, in use, that in the stretched position of the sail, the assembly between the swivel, the anchoring piece which is rigidly secured to the upper nut and the connecting piece which is associated with it, forms a rigid assembly of elongated shape which is subjected to stresses which can reach very high levels (in particular torsional torques: These stresses can lead to deformations, or even to ruptures of the rigid assembly as well as damage to the device hanging.

The invention therefore also aims to eliminate these drawbacks.

It proposes, for this purpose, a reel-reducer of the type of that previously described but in which the nut where is crimped the upper end of the forestay, is articulated to the connection piece held at the head of the mast, thanks to a transverse articulation axis, and in which said locking device is at least partially housed.

For this purpose, this articulation axis can comprise a coaxial bore inside which is slidably mounted a locking piece urged by spring which acts as a bolt which cooperates with a conformation of the swivel acting as a keeper, in which the locking piece can snap in and lock under the effect of the spring. The unlocking is then obtained by performing on the latch a pull antagonistic to the force exerted by the springs.

It clearly appears that, thanks to the articulation provided between the above-mentioned nut and the connection piece retained by the mast, the drawbacks resulting from the torsional stresses mentioned above are overcome. In addition, by respecting the usual rules concerning the articulations, it is possible to ensure a transmission of the forces with a good distribution of the stresses.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique d'un enrouleur-réducteur de foc de type classique ;
• La figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un enrouleur-dérouleur de grand-voile de type classique ;
• La figure 3 est une coupe schématique illustrant le principe d'un enrouleur-réducteur de voilure selon l'invention ;
• Les figures 4 et 5 sont deux coupes axiales schématiques de deux variantes d'exécution respectives du mécanisme d'accrochage de l'émerillon sur une pièce d'ancrage de l'étai ;
• La figure 6 est une coupe schématique d'une troisième variante du mécanisme d'accrochage de l'émerillon ;
• La figure 7 est une vue en perspective schématique de la pièce de l'émerillon faisant office de gâche et de maintien en orientation dudit émerillon.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic view of a conventional type jib furler-reducer;
• Figure 2 is a schematic view of a mainsail reel-unwinder of conventional type;
• Figure 3 is a schematic section illustrating the principle of a winder-reducing canopy according to the invention;
• Figures 4 and 5 are two schematic axial sections of two respective alternative embodiments of the attachment mechanism of the swivel on a stay anchor;
• Figure 6 is a schematic sectional view of a third variant of the attachment mechanism of the swivel;
• Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the part of the swivel acting as a keeper and maintaining the orientation of said swivel.

As shown in these figures, the canopy winder-reducer consists of a tubular element 1 extending around a forestay 2 of the boat and comprising at least one longitudinal groove 3 (visible in FIG. 3) designed so as to receive, by sliding, the headline of the sail 4.

In these examples, the tubular element 1 carries, at its lower end, a drum 5 allowing it to be driven in rotation. Of course, this drum 5 could just as easily be replaced by a geared motor.

The rotary mounting of the tubular element 1 on the forestay 2 is ensured by means of bearings 6 arranged from place to place along the tubular element 1 and, preferably, at its two ends.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the forestay is fixed at the head of the mast by a crimping 9 and a pin 11 and to the chainplate of the boat by means of a connection piece 10 and a crimping 12.

In the example shown in FIG. 2 (mainsail winder-reducer), the tubular element is mounted rotating around a cable 2 ′ stretched between a bracket 13 located at the head of the mast 14 and a support piece 15 (live mullet) fixed to the lower part of said mast 14.

In one case as in the other, on the tube 1 is slidably mounted a swivel 16 comprising an inner sleeve 17, integral in rotation with the tubular element 1, to which the headrest of the sail 4 is attached, and a outer sleeve 18 which pivots freely on the inner sleeve 17, and which is connected to a halyard 20 passing through a sheave 21 provided at the head of the mast, this swivel assembly 16 / halyard 20 used to send the sail 4.

According to the conventional arrangements illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sail, once stretched, is suspended from the halyard 20 by means of the swivel 16.

Therefore, as previously mentioned, the sheave 21 acts as a hoist and exerts on the mast 14 a compressive force F _T substantially equal to twice the traction force F _V exerted on the halyard 20 by the sail 4. Furthermore , the transverse component of this force F _V which is applied to the upper end of the tubular element has repercussions on the bearings 6 which, in the long run, end up deteriorating.

With the aim of eliminating these drawbacks, the invention proposes to carry out, at the end of stretching, an attachment of the swivel 16 on an anchoring part 22 secured to the forestay 2.

Thus, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the sleeving 9 fixed to the end of the forestay 2 is extended downwards by a rod 23 followed by a conical part 24 with a top oriented downwards and whose base 25 has a diameter substantially equal to the inside diameter of the outer sleeve 18 of the swivel 16. The latter is dimensioned so as to extend axially upwards, beyond the inner sleeve 17, and to delimit above the latter, a cylindrical volume into which the conical part 24 of the anchoring part 22 can engage.

The part of the outer sleeve 18 which projects beyond the inner sleeve 17 is provided with at least one slot 26 serving as a yoke in which a hook 27 is articulated, possibly returned to the closed position by a spring (not shown) and extended, one side, by an operating lever 28 on which the halyard 20 is fixed.

In this example, the hook / lever assembly in the form of an angle is articulated at its angular region. One of the two wings of this angle iron, which extends radially outward, constitutes the operating lever 28, while the other wing, which extends axially, carries a notch 29 in the form of an oriented triangle-rectangle. towards the inside of the sleeve 18 which constitutes the hook proper. The notch 29 more particularly comprises, going from bottom to top, an oblique face constituting a ramp and a radial retaining face.

The operation of the airfoil retractor is then as follows:

During stretching, the operator pulls the halyard 20 until the swivel 16 reaches the top of the tubular element 1.

At the end of the race, the oblique face of the hook 27 comes to bear on the conical wall of the anchoring piece 22 and gradually disappears (thanks to a tilting of the hook) until the edge of the notch 29 exceeds the radial face of the anchor piece 22. In this position, the hook 27 rocks in the opposite direction until its radial face comes into abutment on that of the anchor piece, thus ensuring axial locking of the swivel 16 against any downward movement.

The axial locking of the swivel 16 remains ensured as long as a tensile force is exerted by the halyard 20 on the operating lever 28.

The release can then be simply obtained by releasing the halyard 20. In this case, under the effect of its own weight and the force exerted by the sail, the swivel 16 begins its descent by tilting the lever 27 which is no longer retained by the halyard 20. Once the unlocking has been obtained, the operator can again stiffen the halyard 20 to control the descent of the swivel 16.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the hook-lever assembly forms a latch which extends axially, the lever 30 being articulated to the outer sleeve 18, by its end 31 opposite the notch 32. The lever 30 is stressed, on the outside, by an elastic tongue 33 fixed on the sleeve 18 and, on the other side, by a cam 34 rotatably mounted on the sleeve 18 and secured to a radial handle 35 to which the halyard is attached 20.

In the absence of tensile force exerted by the halyard 20 on the handle 35, the whole of the hook 30 to 32 held by the tongue 33 extends axially in the position indicated in FIG. 4, position in which the notching 32 engages with the radial face (base 25) of the anchoring piece 22, while the internal face 36 of the lever 30 comes to bear on the flattened face of the cam 34 while maintaining the lever 35 in the radial position.

From this position, any tensile force exerted on the halyard 20 will cause the lever 35 to tilt and the cam 34 to rotate, causing the hook 30 to 32 to be erased against the action of the tongue 33 (which flexes so elastic).

The notch 32 of the hook can therefore escape the anchoring part 22 and the swivel 16 thus released, can therefore slide freely along the tubular element 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the attachment mechanism is associated with the anchoring part 22 and no longer with the swivel 16.

In this case, the outer sleeve 18 of the swivel 16 ends upwards with a narrowing of the bore which forms a step 37 whose outer edge 38 is chamfered.

The anchoring part comprises, for its part, coaxially with the forestay 2, a cylindrical body 39 having, in its lower part, a collar 40 of diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the step 37, this collar 40 being provided with two diametrically opposed slots 41 which serve as articulation yokes with two respective hooks 42, 42 ′.

In this example, each of the hooks is formed by an elongated slightly bent piece, one end of which, limited by an oblique face 43 converging downwards, forms a notch 43 ′ projecting outwards. This part which is articulated on the collar in a central region close to the notch 43 ′ forms, upwards, a lever 44, 44 ′ whose upper end is articulated at the end of a link 45, 45 ′ whose l the other end is articulated on a nut 46 slidingly mounted on the cylindrical part 39 of the anchoring part 22.

The two hooks are pushed outwards by a spring 47, to a locking position in which the notches 43 ′ can come into engagement with the step 37 of the swivel 16 to ensure axial locking of the latter.

Furthermore, the nut 46 can be axially displaced, for example by means of a cable 48 so as to cause the ends of the levers 44, 44 ′ to spread apart and the notches 43 ′ to be brought together until the latter escape from the step 37 , thereby releasing the swivel.

Of course, thanks to such an arrangement, the locking is obtained automatically at the end of the stretching stroke thanks to the fact that the chamfered edge 38 of the swivel 16, bearing on the oblique faces 43 of the hooks, causes the latter to be erased until the notches 43 ′ engage with the step 37, in the position indicated in FIG. 5.

In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the anchoring part 22 comprises, on one side, a substantially frustoconical part 50 in which the end of the forestay 2 is crimped and, on the other side, a portion 51 of substantially U-shaped axial section which constitutes a hinge yoke.

In this articulation yoke is articulated, around a first transverse axis 52, the lower end 53 of a connecting piece 54 whose upper end 55 comprises a transverse bore axially perpendicular to the first axis.

This upper end 55 itself is articulated at the head of the mast 13, thanks to a second articulation yoke 56 provided for this purpose.

It is clear that thanks to this double articulation device, the connection between the forestay 2 and the mast 13 (which includes the anchoring part 22) is not rigid, so that the problems relating to the transverse stresses and to the torque are resolved.

As in the examples described above, in the stretched position of the sail, the frustoconical part 50 of the anchoring piece 22 engages in a coaxial annular piece 57 secured to the outer sleeve 18 of the swivel 16, which ensures a self-centering of the swivel 16 and, consequently, of the tube 1 of the reel relative to the forestay 2.

Thanks to such an arrangement, transverse stresses and therefore wear phenomena which otherwise would be avoided would affect the bearings of the swivel 16 and those placed at the head of the tube 1.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the annular part 57 has, on one side, a notch 58 and, on the other side, a semi-cylindrical portion 59 whose inner wall is shaped so as to have a circular groove 59 ′ acting as a keeper.

In this example, the first articulation axis 52 (between the anchoring piece 22 and the connecting piece 54) has a two-level coaxial bore, in which is slidably mounted a locking piece 60 formed of two cylindrical sections respectively to the diameters of the two bore levels.

A compression spring 61 is housed between the bore of the axis 52 and the bearing formed by the locking piece 60. The stroke of the locking piece 60 under the effect of the spring 61 is limited by a stop of so that one end 62 of the locking piece 60 which serves as a bolt protrudes from the bore of the axis 52 and can cooperate with the conformation 59 ′ acting as a strike for the annular piece 57.

The second end of the locking piece 60 which emerges, on the other side of the bore of the axis 52, is provided with an eyelet 63 in which the actuating element of a device provided for unlocking.

On the side of this end, the axis 52 comprises an extension 64 intended to cooperate with the notch 58 of the annular part 57 to ensure that the outer sleeve 68 of the swivel 16 is prevented from rotating.

The operation of the device described above is then as follows:

At the end of drawing the sail by means of the halyard 20, the annular part 57 engages around the anchoring part 22 while undergoing self-centering. In parallel, the end 62 serving as a bolt of the locking piece 60 disappears against the action of the spring 61 under the effect of a chamfered face 65 provided in the annular piece 57, then comes to engage in the groove ring 59 ′ serving as a keeper. The outer sleeve 18 of the swivel 16 is then locked in rotation, in the desired direction thanks to the cooperation of the extension 64 of the axis 52 and the notch 58.

The swivel 16 is therefore secured to the anchoring piece 22, which can oscillate freely thanks to the two articulations.

Unlocking can then be obtained by exerting axial traction on the locking piece 60 in a direction opposite to the action of the spring 61, so as to cause the end 62 forming the bolt to be erased. This action, which can be ensured by means of a second halyard 66 passing around a second sheave 67, can be accompanied by traction on the first halyard 20 to relieve the locking piece 60 which is subjected to significant stress and for facilitate its sliding.

These two actions can possibly be ensured, at the same time, by the halyard 20 which is then passed through a ring 69 secured to the locking piece 60, forcing it to follow an angular path indicated in broken lines in the figure. 6.

It is clear that in this case, if one pulls on the halyard 20, it causes a slight lifting up of the swivel 16. At the same time, the action of the halyard 20 on the ring 66 is reflected by a pull on the locking piece 60 which, no longer subjected to transverse stresses, slides without any resistance other than that of the spring 61.

This more ergonomic solution avoids the use of a second halyard.

Claims (16)

Wing retractor-reducer of the type comprising a tubular element (1) rotatably mounted around a cable (2) of the rigging of a boat and on which comes to wind a sail (4) which can be sent and towed thanks to a swivel (16) sliding on the tubular element (1) and on which is fixed a halyard (20) passing through a pulley (21) mounted at the head of the mast (14),
characterized in that it comprises detachable hooking means allowing the swivel (16) to come and hang, in a stretched position, on an anchoring piece (22) integral with the cable (2) and located above from the upper end of the tubular element (1). Wing retractor according to claim 1,
characterized in that the above hooking means are mounted on the swivel (16) and involve snap-on means (27) controllable cooperating with appropriate conformations of the anchor (22). Wing retractor according to claim 1,
characterized in that the above attachment means are mounted on the anchoring piece (22) and involve controllable latching means (42, 43) cooperating with appropriate conformations (37) of the swivel (16) . Wing retractor-reducer according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized in that the aforesaid latching means (27) are controlled by the halyard (20) which serves to draw the sail (4). Wing retractor-reducer according to one of claims 1 or 3,
characterized in that the aforesaid latching means (42, 43) are controlled by a cable (48) separate from the halyard (20) which serves to draw the sail (4). Wing retractor-reducer according to one of claims 1, 2 and 4,
characterized in that the said anchoring part comprises a conical part (24) oriented downwards, and in that the outer sleeve (18) of the swivel (16) comprises, beyond the inner sleeve, a part protruding upward into which can engage said conical portion (24) and on which is pivotally mounted a hook (27) integral with a lever (28) on which is fixed the above halyard (20), this hook (27 ) being designed so as to engage on the radial face which constitutes the base (25) of the conical part (24). Wing retractor-reducer according to one of claims 1, 2 and 4,
characterized in that the above anchoring piece comprises a hook (30) in the form of a latch intended to come into engagement with a radial face constituting the base (25) of a conical part (24) of the anchoring piece ( 22), this hook being biased, on one side, by elastic means (33) and, on the other side, by a cam (34) secured to a lever (35) on which the above halyard is fixed. (20) or, optionally, a cable used to control the unlocking of the swivel. Wing retractor-reducer according to one of claims 1, 3 and 5,
characterized in that the anchor comprises at least one articulated hook (42, 42 ′) extended by an operating lever (44, 44 ′) and designed so as to come into engagement with an appropriate conformation (37) of the sleeve outside (18) of the swivel (16). Wing retractor-reducer according to claim 8,
characterized in that the end of the abovementioned lever (44, 44 ′) is articulated on the end of a connecting rod (45, 45 ′) the other end of which is itself articulated to an axially sliding part (46) around the forestay (2) and on which a control cable (48) is fixed. Wing retractor according to claim 1,
characterized in that the above cable (2) is secured to an anchoring piece (22) articulated to a connecting piece (54) held at the head of the mast, by means of a transverse hinge pin (52). Wing retractor-reducer according to claim 10,
characterized in that the above disconnectable hooking means comprise a locking device (60, 61) at least partially housed inside said axis (52). Wing retractor-reducer according to one of claims 10 and 11,
characterized in that said axis (52) comprises a coaxial bore inside which is slidably mounted a locking piece (60) biased by a spring (61) which acts as a bolt and which cooperates with a conformation of the swivel (16) acting as a keeper. Wing retractor-reducer according to claim 12,
characterized in that the above swivel (16) comprises an outer sleeve (18) integral with a coaxial annular piece (57) which has, on one side, a notch (58) and, on the other side, a portion semi-cylindrical (59) whose inner wall is shaped so as to present a circular groove (59 ′) constituting the above keeper, and in that the said axis (52) comprises, on the side opposite to the bolt portion (62) of the locking piece (60), an extension (64) intended to cooperate with said notch (58) in order to block the outer sleeve (18) of the swivel (16) from rotating. Wing retractor-reducer according to claim 12,
characterized in that the aforesaid locking piece (60) is actuated by a halyard (66) distinct from the halyard (20) which serves to draw the sail. Wing retractor-reducer according to claim 12,
characterized in that the aforesaid locking piece (60) is actuated by the halyard (20) which serves to draw the sail. Wing retractor-reducer according to claim 15,
characterized in that the locking piece (60) is provided with a ring (69) through which the halyard (20) passes serving for the drawing of the sail.

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