EP1899215A1

EP1899215A1 - Sailboat with tilting mast

Info

Publication number: EP1899215A1
Application number: EP06764827A
Authority: EP
Inventors: François TISSIER; Christophe Grateau
Original assignee: Windkart Sas
Current assignee: Windkart Sas
Priority date: 2005-07-07
Filing date: 2006-06-01
Publication date: 2008-03-19
Also published as: FR2888207B1; FR2888207A1; AU2006268434A1; WO2007006985A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a sailboat (1) which is equipped with a tilting mast (13), comprising a connecting structure (4, 5, 6), at least two hulls (2) which extend parallel to a longitudinal axis and a mast base (16) which is linked to the connecting structure such that it can pivot longitudinally around a transverse pivot axis. The inventive sailboat also comprises two lateral shrouds (18) which are fixed to two sides of the mast base and which are pivot-connected to the connecting structure such that they can pivot with the mast base. The aforementioned lateral shrouds are designed to maintain the mast base in a plane that is perpendicular to the pivot axis. In addition, the sailboat comprises a variable-length tilting mechanism (27) which is fixed to (i) the mast base and (ii) a fixed point on the connecting structure, such that a variation in the variable length causes the mast to pivot longitudinally. The tilting mechanism comprises a locking member which can lock the mechanism in at least one length configuration.

Description

SAILING MACHINE

The present invention relates to a sailboat with tiltable mast.

Sailboats, including catamarans, whose mast tilt is adjustable during navigation, are known.

For example, document FR 2 579 557 describes a catamaran comprising a mast tilted backwards to increase the speed of navigation. The mast is supported by two side stays whose bases can slide on rails attached to the hulls with slides, which allows to tilt the mast. The movement of the slides is controlled using a system of pulleys and plays. It is also possible to tilt the mast by moving its foot.

The sailboat described in this document has several disadvantages. When moving the slides, the angle formed by the stays and the mast and the angle formed by the guys and rails vary. It is therefore necessary to provide appropriate joints to attach the guys to the mast and slides. In addition, the lateral forces are supported by the guys. Thus, when we want to tilt the mast backwards by moving the rails on the rails to the rear, a significant force opposing this sliding is exerted on the stay in the wind because of the lateral force supported . Similarly, when one wants to straighten the mast by sliding the rails on the rails to the front, a significant force opposing this sliding is exerted on the stay located downwind due to the lateral force supported. This slip is therefore difficult to produce and may require a significant effort from the user. The slides must be particularly solid.

The object of the invention is to provide a tilting mast sailboat which does not have at least some of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.

For this, the invention provides a sailboat according to claim 1.

According to a preferred embodiment, said sailboat is a multihull sailboat with tiltable mast, comprising a rigid connecting structure, at least two elongate hulls connected to two sides of the rigid connecting structure so as to extend substantially parallel in one direction. length of the sailboat, and a mast base linked to the linkage structure of said sailboat so as to be pivotable in the longitudinal direction of said sailboat about a pivot axis transverse to said hulls, characterized in that it comprises lateral holding means fixed on the one hand to two lateral sides of the mast base and secondly pivotally connected to said connecting structure, said mast base and said lateral holding means forming a pivotable assembly pivotable in said longitudinal direction about said pivot axis, said lateral holding means being able to maintain the mast base in a plane perpendicular to said pivot axis, said sailboat further comprising a tilting mechanism having a variable length, said tilt mechanism being fixed on the one hand to said pivoting assembly and on the other hand part of said connecting structure so that a variation of said variable length causes a pivot said mast in said longitudinal direction, said multihull sailboat comprising limiting means adapted to limit the variations of the variable length of the tilting mechanism in the direction of a decrease in said variable length and / or in the direction of a increasing said variable length.

The term "variable length" above does not necessarily mean that the tilting mechanism has a rectilinear structure, but at least that the tilting mechanism has at least two distinct points whose distance may vary.

With these features, to tilt the mast, it is sufficient to vary the variable length of the tilt mechanism, which can be done with reduced effort. Indeed, the lateral forces are supported by the lateral holding means and therefore do not oppose the variation in length of the tilting mechanism. No manufacturing constraints on the tilting mechanism is therefore imposed by the lateral forces. Fixing the holding means on the mast base can be very simple, for example by simple welding. Fixing the holding means on the connecting structure can also be very simple because the only movement it must allow is a pivoting along the axis of pivoting. The limiting means make it possible to limit the tilting of the mast in at least one direction, for example towards the front and / or towards the rear. Preferably, the variation of said variable length is limited by at least a minimum length or a maximum length, said minimum length and / or said maximum length being defined by said limiting means.

Preferably, said inclination mechanism includes an elastic member arranged to be able to vary said variable length.

Preferably, the tilt mechanism is arranged such that the variable length of said tilt mechanism extends in said plane perpendicular to the pivot axis.

Advantageously, the fixed point of the connecting structure is located towards the rear of the sailboat relative to said pivoting assembly, so that an increase in the variable length, respectively a decrease, corresponds to a forward inclination, respectively to the back of the mast.

Preferably, the tilting mechanism has an edge tipping state in which the value of the variable length corresponds to an inclination of the mast towards the front of the sailboat.

In this state, the sailing point of the sailboat is shifted forward and the moment of force resulting from the force of the wind and the anti-drifting force tends to turn the sailboat. It is therefore possible to make a tack, while this maneuver is difficult or impossible to achieve with known multihull sailboats, especially with catamarans.

Advantageously, the tilting mechanism has a normal state in which the value of the variable length corresponds to an inclination of the mast towards the rear of the sailboat.

According to a particular embodiment, the tilting mechanism has a sporting state in which the value of the variable length corresponds to a tilt of the mast further backwards with respect to the inclination of the mast in the normal state.

In this state, it was found that the boat could reach high speeds.

Preferably, the tilting mechanism has a mounting state in which the value of the variable length corresponds to an inclination of the mast towards the front of the boat at an angle greater than or equal to 90 °.

In this state, it is easy to perform editing operations. For example, it is easy to fix the sail to the mast because the entire mast, including the top, is located at an accessible height. In the case where the mast base comprises a receiving cylinder for receiving a mast, the introduction of the mast into the receiving cylinder can be substantially horizontally. It is therefore not necessary to carry the mast vertically.

Advantageously, the limiting means include a locking member adapted to lock the tilting mechanism in one or more predetermined states each corresponding to a predetermined value of the variable length.

Thus, the user must not make precise adjustment of the inclination of the mast. On the contrary, it can be content to control the tilt mechanism to move from one predetermined state to another.

According to a particular embodiment, said inclination mechanism comprises at least one cylinder whose end is fixed to said fixed point of said connecting structure and at least one piston, one end of which is connected to said mast base, said piston being guided slidably in said cylinder so as to vary said variable length of said tilt mechanism.

Preferably, said tilting mechanism comprises an elastic biasing means able to urge said piston to slide in said cylinder.

Thanks to these characteristics, the user must not exert effort, or possibly must exert a reduced effort, to vary the length of the tilt mechanism. Indeed, the necessary effort is exerted by the elastic biasing means. For example, the stiffness of the elastic biasing means is chosen so as to substantially compensate the static load of the mast.

Advantageously, said inclination mechanism comprises a locking member adapted to lock the piston in at least one predetermined position relative to the cylinder. Preferably, said piston has at least one notch, said locking member comprising a pawl connected to said cylinder and an elastic member adapted to urge said pawl in a locked state in which said pawl is adapted to cooperate with said notch to maintain said piston in said at least one predetermined position, said pawl being adapted to be actuated by a user against said elastic member in a released state wherein said ratchet does not cooperate with said notch.

Preferably, said limiting means include a piston stopper on said piston and a cylinder stopper on said cylinder, said tilt mechanism having at least one predetermined state in which said piston stop cooperates with said cylinder stopper.

Advantageously, said inclination mechanism comprises a telescopic rod slidably guided in said piston and a second locking member adapted to lock said telescopic rod in a predetermined position with respect to said piston.

Preferably, said lateral holding means comprise at least two rigid side stays.

Advantageously, said sailboat is a catamaran comprising two hulls.

Preferably, said connecting structure comprises a substantially straight front cross member connecting said two shells, said pivot axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said front cross member, said mast base and said lateral holding means being connected to said front cross member by means of bearings so as to be pivotable about said front cross member.

Advantageously, said bearings comprise plastic rings surrounding cylindrical portions of circular section of said front cross member so as to be able to turn around said front cross member.

Preferably, said connecting structure comprises a bracket connected to said front cross member extending rearwardly of said sailboat from said front cross member, and a second cross member connected to said shells behind said front cross member, said bracket being fixed said second crossbar, said fixed point of the connecting structure being a point of said bracket or said second cross.

According to a particular embodiment, said connecting structure comprises an arcuate rear cross member whose concavity is forward facing the sailboat and connecting said two hulls behind said front cross member, said second cross member being pivotally connected to said rear cross member and also having a corresponding arcuate shape, said jib being pivotally connected to said front cross member, said front and rear crosspieces being connected to said shells by removable fasteners, said bracket being fixed to said second cross member by a removable fastener, said inclination mechanism being fixed to said mast base by a removable fastener, so that said front cross member, said mast base, said lateral holding means and said bracket form a first separable assembly of said hulls and adapted to be folded in a substantially plane state, said second cross-member, said rear cross member and said tilt mechanism forming a second separable set of said shells and said first set and fit to be folded into a substantially flat state, wherein the second cross-member is housed in the concavity of the rear crossmember.

Thus, the sailboat can be disassembled, for example to be transported or stored. In the disassembled state, the sailboat is not bulky because of the substantially plane state that can take the first and second sets.

The sailboat according to the invention can be dismountable and in this case the invention provides a mounting structure for catamaran with tiltable mast, characterized in that it comprises said first and second sets above.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given solely for illustrative purposes and not limiting, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On these drawings:

- Figure 1 is a perspective ^3A before a sailboat according to an embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 2 is a rear perspective view ³ A of the sailboat of Figure 1;

FIG. 3A and 3B are respectively a side view of the sailboat of FIG. 1 and a sectional view. axial tilt mechanism of the sailboat of Figure 1, in a normal state;

FIGS. 4A and 4B are views similar to FIGS. 3A and 3B, with the tilt mechanism in a tack state;

- Figures 5A and 5B are views similar to Figures 3A and 3B, with the tilting mechanism in a mounting state;

- Figures 6A and 6B are views similar to Figures 3A and 3B, with the tilt mechanism in a sport state;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tilting mechanism of the sailboat of FIG. 1, in the state of FIGS. 6A and 6B;

- Figure 8 is a perspective view of a variant of the tilting mechanism;

- Figure 9 is a side view of the tilting mechanism of Figure 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view in partial section of the tilting mechanism of FIG.

8;

- Figure 11 is a perspective view in partial section of a detail of the tilting mechanism of Figure 8;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a detail of the tilting mechanism of Figure 8;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view in partial section of a detail of the inclination mechanism of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a part of the inclination mechanism of FIG. 8.

The catamaran 1 comprises two rigid rigid hulls 2 extending parallel in a longitudinal direction of the catamaran 1. The hulls 2 are connected by a connecting structure 3 comprising a front cross member 4 and a rear cross member 6. Each hull 2 has, on its upper surface, a boss before 8 and a boss rear 9 in which are formed receiving housing (not shown) of the ends of the cross members 4 and 6, respectively. The crosspieces 4 and 6 are held in the receiving receptacles by removable fasteners 10, for example semicircular fastening flanges screwed into the shells 2.

The front cross member 4 is made of metal or composite material. The ends of the front cross member 4 are curved so that their orientation corresponds to the orientation of the receiving housing. The central portion of the front cross member 4 is cylindrical with a circular section and extends perpendicular to the shells 2, along a transverse axis A. The curvature of the end portions 99 of the front cross member 4 makes it possible to form a non-pivoting connection with the hulls 2, for example with the aid of two fastening flanges on each portion 99.

The rear crossmember 6 has an arcuate shape consisting of two rectilinear side portions 6a connected by arcuate portions to a rectilinear central portion 6b. The ends of the portions 6a are held in the receiving receptacles whose orientation is inclined upwardly and rearwardly of the shell. Thus, the cross member 6 is arranged so that the central portion 6b extends to a higher level at the level of the crossbar 4, the concavity of the crossbar 6 being turned forward.

A flexible fabric 7 fixed to the crosspieces 4 and 6 and extending therebetween over a major part of the intershell space constitutes both a bottom wall of the cabin of the catamaran 1, on which can sit a user 11, and a folder for the user 11. The fabric 7 has two edges sewn before 7a and a rear sewn edge 7b so as to form tubular fastening envelopes. The cross members 4 and 6 pass through these tubular fastening shells. Thus the fabric 7 is fixed to the cross members 4 and 6. The fabric 7 has cutouts 12 allowing the user to wedge his feet. The fabric 7 may have eyelets (not shown) for fixing a cushion (not shown) on the fabric 7, for example in the middle. The cushion is elongate and extends transversely, allowing the user to sit on the fabric 7 without sliding forward. Preferably, the eyelets allow to fix the cushion in at least two different positions, to adapt to the size of the user. The catamaran 1 comprises a mast 13 and a boom 15 which support a sail 14 generally triangular. The lower side of the sail 14 can be attached to the boom 15 over its entire length or only at the corner of the sail 14. Another side of the sail 14 is fixed to the mast 13. A sail listening 48, shown on FIG. 3A, makes it possible to taper the sail 14. One end of the lug 48 is fixed to the boom 15, near the end of the boom 15, in an adjustable position by means of a slideway 49. which can slide with respect to the boom 15. From the slideway 49, the screen 48 passes successively through a pulley 50 fixed to the crossmember 6, pulleys 51 fixed to the boom 15 and a pulley (not shown) attached to the cross member 4, so as to be brought back to the level of the user 11. The user 11 can hold the listening 48 in hand or fix it with a cleat (not shown) provided for example on an intermediate crossbeam 5.

A mast receiving cylinder 16 is fixed in the center of the front cross member 4 by a central bearing 17, so as to be pivotable in the longitudinal direction of the sailboat, about the axis A. For this purpose, the bearing 17 comprises a plastic ring 17a, which surrounds the cross member 4 and is fixed by screws, and a metal ring 17b which surrounds the ring 17a. The ring 17b can rotate around the ring 17a. The ring 17a has two lateral shoulders which prevent axial displacement of the ring 17b. The receiving cylinder 16 is metallic and is welded to the ring 17b. The pivoting of the cylinder 16 causes a sliding of the ring 17b with respect to the ring 17a, which can be done without risk of seizing because of the plastic / metal contact.

The lower end of the mast 13 is inserted into the cylinder 16. A substantially cylindrical fixing member 20 is fixed to the top of the cylinder 16, for example by screwing, and makes it possible to fix the mast 13 in the cylinder 16 by passing the mast 13 in the member 20 and fixing the mast 13 to the member 20, for example by means of a pin. Thus, the mast 13 is pivotally connected to the front cross member 4. A rigid boom hedge-low 21 or flexible rope, connects a rear bushing (not shown) of the fastener 20 to the boom 15.

Two lateral struts 18 are fixed to the fastener 20, by pins cooperating with lateral sleeves 98 of the organ 20. Alternatively, the stays could be fixed to the top of the cylinder 16 by welding. The shrouds 18 consist of rigid metal tubes that extend laterally from the top of the cylinder 16 to the cross member 4, to which they are pivotally attached by lateral bearings 19 similar to the bearing 17. Thus, the stays 18 can also rotate about the axis A, remaining in the same plane as the cylinder 16. The stays 18 hold the cylinder 16 and thus the mast 13 in a vertical plane perpendicular to the axis A, passing through the center of the cross member 4, supporting the lateral forces exerted on the mast 13, resulting in particular from the action of the wind on the sail 14.

The catamaran 1 comprises a bracket 22 consisting of two metal tubes 23 pivotally connected to the cross member 4 by bearings 24 similar to the bearing 17. The bracket extends inclined towards the rear of the catamaran 1. A handlebar 25 is attached to the end of the bracket 22. A device for displaying the position and speed of the catamaran 1, for example based on the GPS system, can be attached to the handlebar 25. The handlebar 25 can control rudders 26 to direct the catamaran 1. The rudders 26 are removably attached, for example by clipping, to the rear ends of the hulls 2. They can be raised, as shown in Figure 5 A, which allows to put the catamaran 1 on the ground. Each rudder 26 comprises a horizontal arm 54 removably and pivotably connected to a rod 55. The rods 55 are pivotally connected to a slide 57 slidably guided on a bar 56. The bar 56 is welded to the rear cross member 6 so as to extend transversely of a portion 6a of the cross member 6 to the other. Two cables (not shown) connect the handlebar 25 to the slideway 57, passing through pulleys, so that by turning the handlebar 25 in one direction or the other, the user can slide the slide 57 of a side or other. The rods 55 and the arms 54 transform the sliding of the slide into a pivoting of the rudders 26 around the axis B, shown in Figure 3A.

The catamaran 1 also comprises an intermediate crossbar 5. Like the rear crossmember 6, the crossmember 5 comprises two rectilinear lateral portions and a rectilinear central portion arranged so as to form an arc of shape corresponding to the shape 6. The ends of the crossmember 5 are pivotally connected to the ends of the crossmember 6. The crossmember 5 is inclined forwards, its concavity being turned towards the rear of the catamaran 1. intermediate portion between the bearings 24 and the handlebar 25, the bracket 22 is fixed to the central portion of the crossbar 5, by a removable fastener. Thus, although the bracket 22 is pivotally connected to the crossbar 4 and the intermediate crossbar 5 is pivotally connected to the crossbar 6, the bracket 22 and the crossbar 5, and therefore the handlebar 25, are fixed relative to sleepers 4 and 6 and shells 2 in the assembled state shown in the figures.

A jack 27, able to lengthen and to shrink, is fixed by a rear end to the central portion of the intermediate crosspiece 5, between the two tubes 23 of the bracket 22, and a front end to a rear socket 96 of the fixing member 20. Thus, when the cylinder 27 keeps a given length, the cylinder 16 and therefore the mast 13 retain a given inclination. When the cylinder 27 elongates, the cylinder 16, and therefore the stays 18 and the mast 13, pivot about the axis A so as to tilt further forward with respect to the given inclination. When the cylinder 27 is narrowed, the cylinder 16, and therefore the stays 18 and the mast 13, pivot so as to tilt more towards the rear. In the context of the description of the cylinder 27, the term "before" the left of Figure 3B and "back" the right of Figure 3B. The jack 27 is arranged in the catamaran 1 with its "front" end (respectively its "rear" end) towards the front (respectively to the rear) of the catamaran 1. Of course, the cylinder 27 could be arranged differently.

The cylinder 27 comprises a hollow cylinder 28 having a closed rear end and an open front end. The cylinder 28 is fixed to the cross member 5 at its rear end. For this purpose, the cylinder 28 has at least one rear bore 53 for fixing the cylinder 28 to a sleeve (not shown) present on the crossbar 5, using a pin. The cylinder 27 also comprises a piston 29 slidably guided inside the cylinder 28, and protruding outside the cylinder 28 forwards. A front ring 31 and a rear ring 30 are fixed to the piston 29 so as to slide with the piston 29 in the cylinder 28. The rings 30 and 31 have a diameter outside corresponding to the inside diameter of the cylinder 28, the rest of the piston being of smaller diameter. A circular groove 32, open towards the cylinder 28, is formed in the ring 31. Similarly, a circular groove 33 is formed in the ring 30. Alternatively, the two grooves 32 and 33 could be formed in a single ring. The fact of having two rings 30 and 31 allows, during the manufacture of the cylinder 27, to adjust the position of the grooves 32 and 33 independently. The rings 30 and 31 have inclined rear surfaces, respectively 30a and 31a, at their rearward facing sides of the cylinder 28.

A cap 34 is fixed to the cylinder 28, so as to define a protected space adjacent to the cylinder 28. A pawl 35 is fixed to the cap 34 in the protected space so as to be pivotable about an axis 97 between a locked state and a liberated state. In the locked state, shown for example in Figure 3B, a head 36 of the pawl 35 passes inside the cylinder 28 through a suitable opening. The head 36 is able to engage in one of the grooves 32 or 33 to hold the piston 29 fixed relative to the cylinder 28. In the released state, the head 36 is retracted radially outwardly of the cylinder 28 and can not not engage in one of the grooves 32 or 33. A spring 37 urges the pawl 35 in the locked state. A cable 38 is fixed at one end to the pawl 35. The cable 38 leaves the cap 34 by a suitable bore and its other end is connected to a control member (not shown) attached to the handlebar 25, which allows to exert a traction on the cable 38 to temporarily pivot the pawl 35 in the released state, against the spring 37. The control member is for example similar to the gearshift control member of a bicycle.

The jack 27 comprises a helical spring 39, arranged in the cylinder 28 so as to bear on the closed rear end of the cylinder 28 and on the rear ring 30. The spring 39 urges the piston 29 out of the cylinder 28, that is to say to slide it forward with respect to the cylinder 28. The ring 31 comprises O-rings 40, providing a substantially sealed connection between the piston 29 and the cylinder 28. At its front end , the cylinder 28 comprises a closing wall 42 pierced with a passage for the piston, also comprising O-rings 40 ensuring a quasi connection Sealed between the piston 29 and the wall 42. The wall 42 and the ring 31 thus delimit a pneumatic chamber 41. By "quasi-sealed" means that air can enter or leave the chamber 41 at a leak rate limited that brakes the movement of the piston 29 in the cylinder 28.

The piston 29 is hollow and the jack 27 comprises a telescopic rod 43 slidably guided in the piston 29. The piston 29 has, at its front end, a head 44 of larger diameter than the rest of the piston 29. A bore 45 diametrically crosses the piston 29, at the head 44. A bore 46 diametrically crosses the rod 43. The rod 43 can be fixed relative to the piston 29, with the aid of a pin passing through the bores 45 and 46. At its front end, the rod 43 comprises another bore 47 for fixing the rod 43 to the rear sleeve 96 of the fastener 20, using a pin. The rod 43 comprises a rear ring 52 of outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the piston 29, the remainder of the rod 43 being of smaller diameter.

Figure 3A shows the catamaran 1 in a normal navigation state, and Figure 3B shows the cylinder 27 in a corresponding normal state. The mast 13 is slightly inclined towards the rear of the catamaran 1, with respect to a vertical line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the sailboat and to the axis A. The rod 43 is fixed relative to the piston 29, thanks to the pin which The piston 29 is fixed relative to the cylinder 28, thanks to the pawl head 36 which cooperates with the groove 33 of the rear ring 30. Thus, the length of the cylinder 27 is fixed, and the tilt of the mast 13 is fixed.

The user can control the cylinder 27 to move the catamaran 1 in other states.

Fig. 4A shows the catamaran 1 in a tack state, and Fig. 4B shows the jack 27 in a corresponding tack state. The mast 13 is slightly inclined towards the front of the catamaran 1, for example at an angle of about 20 ° relative to the vertical. The ring 31 is in abutment against the wall 42, and the rod 43 remains attached to the piston 29. Thus, the length of the cylinder 27 is fixed, and the inclination of the mast 13 is fixed. To go from the normal state to the tack state, it is sufficient for the user to pull on the cable 38 with the aid of the aforementioned control member. In this case, the pawl 35 pivots in its released state, and the ratchet head 36 disengages from the groove 33. The action of the spring 39, possibly combined with the thrust of the wind on the sail 14, thus causes the piston to slide. 29 to the front, until the ring 31 comes into abutment against the wall 42. To switch from the tack state to the normal state, the user pulls on the listening 48 so as to 14. Once the sail 14 is completely lined, the user continues to pull on the monitor 48, which has the effect of rotating the mast 13 rearward. The piston 29 thus slides backwards in the cylinder 28. When the ring 30 arrives at the pawl head 36, the head 36 slides on the inclined surface 30a to pivot the pawl 35 towards its released state at the Against the spring 37. The piston 29 can therefore continue to slide backwards until the head 36 faces the groove 33. The head 36 then engages in the groove 33 under the action of the spring 37 and the cylinder 27 is again in its normal state.

In the tack state, the sailing point of the catamaran 1 is shifted forward with respect to the normal state. It is therefore possible to easily make a tack. For this, while sailing in the normal state with wind from eg port, the user rotates the catamaran 1 with the handlebar 25 so as to initiate the tacking maneuver. When the catamaran is almost "nose to the wind", the user controls the cylinder 27 to enter the tack state. Thus, under the action of the wind, the catamaran continues to turn until ending up in a position in which the wind comes from starboard. To complete the maneuver, the user borders the sail 14 until the cylinder 27 returns to the normal state.

Figure 5A shows the catamaran 1 in a mounting state, and Figure 5B shows the cylinder 27 in a corresponding mounting state. The mast 13 is inclined forwards at an angle greater than or equal to 90 °. This condition is normally used when the catamaran 1 rests on the ground, for assembly or disassembly. It is easy to fix the sail 14 to the mast 13, and to insert the mast 13 into the receiving cylinder 16. In this state, the piston 29 is in the same position. position relative to the cylinder 28 that in the state of tack, and the rod 43 is free to slide relative to the piston 29, until the rear ring 52 abuts against the head 44 of the piston 29, as shown in Figure 5B.

To go from the normal state to the mounting state, the user first moves the catamaran 1 into the tilt state as explained above. It is possible that during this operation, a person is between the two shells 2, in front of the crossbar 4. As the air chamber 41 is limited in a substantially sealed manner, the forward speed of the piston 29 is limited by the pressure of the air in the chamber 41 which opposes the action of the spring 39. Thus, the risk of a shock between the mast 13 and the person in question are limited. Then, the user removes the pin which passes through the bores 45 and 46, and leaves the mast 13 to tilt forward, possibly by limiting its speed by hand. Of course, the user could first remove the pin that passes into the bores 45 and 46, then by controlling the cylinder 27 to pass the piston 29 in the same position relative to the cylinder 28 as in the transfer state of edge. To move from the mounting state to the normal state, the user raises the mast 13 by hand so as to rotate it backwards. The rod 43 slides in the piston 29 and when the bore 46 arrives opposite the bore 45, the user removes the pin into the bores 45 and 46. The piston 29 slides relative to the cylinder 28 and when the head ratchet 36 arrives opposite the groove 33, it engages in it as explained above.

Figure 6A shows the catamaran 1 in a sporting navigation state or sport state, and Figure 3B shows the cylinder 27 in a corresponding sport state. The mast 13 is more inclined towards the rear of the catamaran 1, with respect to the normal state of FIG. 3A. The rod 43 is fixed with respect to the piston 29, thanks to the pin which passes through the bores 45 and 46 The piston 29 is fixed relative to the cylinder 28, thanks to the pawl head 36 which cooperates with the groove 32 of the front ring 31. Thus, the length of the cylinder 27 is fixed, and the inclination of the mast 13 is fixed. . In the state of sport, the sailing point of the catamaran 1 is shifted towards the rear, which makes it possible to reach more important speeds.

To go from the normal state to the sporting state, the user borders the sail 14 by means of the earpiece 48 and uses the aforementioned control member to disengage the ratchet head 36 from the groove 33. The piston 29 then slides towards the rear of the cylinder 28. During this sliding, in the case where the distance between the rings 30 and 31 is less than the length of the head 36, as represented in FIG. 3B, the ratchet 35 remains in the released state and the ratchet head 36 slides on the ring 30 and then on the ring 31 until it faces the groove 32 in which it engages under the action of the spring 37. In the when the distance between the rings 30 and 31 is greater than the length of the head 36, the pawl head 36 slides first on the ring 30. Then, because of the action of the spring 37, the pawl 35 resumes its locked state and the head 36 is found between the rings 30 and 31. When the head 36 comes into contact with the inclined surface 31a, the head 36 and the surface 31a cooperate to pivot the pawl 35 in the released state, then the head 36 slides on the ring 31 to meet the groove 32 in which it engages .

Catamaran 1 can be disassembled for transport and / or storage, performing the following operations. The indicated order is not imperative. Some operations can be performed simultaneously by multiple people. When the catamaran 1 is in the assembled state shown in the figures, the low hedge 21 and the mast 13 are detached from the fixing member 20. It is then possible to remove the mast 13 from the receiving cylinder 16. rods 55 are separated from the arms 54, and the rudders 26 are removed from the hulls 2. The cylinder 27 is detached from the fastener 20 and the bracket 22 is detached from the intermediate cross member 5. The front and rear cross members 6 and 6 are detached from the hulls 2. The stem 22 and / or the cylinder 16 and the shrouds 18 are pivoted until the bracket 22 is almost parallel to the cylinder 16, in contact with the shrouds 18. A first assembly formed by the cross member 4, the stays 18, the cylinder 16 and the bracket 22 is then in a substantially plane state. The intermediate crosspiece 5 is pivoted so that it fits into the concavity of the crosspiece 6. The cylinder 27 and the The rods 55 are also folded in the plane of the crossbar 6. A second assembly formed by the crosspieces 5 and 6, the cylinder 27 and the rods 55 is then in a substantially plane. The first and second sets can be separated from the shells 2 by detaching the fasteners 10. These two sets are then connected only by the web 7 which is flexible and can therefore be arranged parallel to each other so as to have a small footprint.

Alternatively, the bracket 22 is not detached from the intermediate cross member 5, but it is pivotally connected thereto. During disassembly, the cylinder 16, the shrouds 18, the bracket 22, the intermediate cross-member 5 and the cross-member 6 are rotated relative to one another in a manner similar to that described above, so that the unique set comprising these different elements occupies a small footprint.

The catamaran 1 can be reassembled by following a reverse procedure.

A sailboat according to the invention could have differences with respect to the catamaran 1 which has just been described.

The jack 27 could be fixed to one of the stays 18, near the top of the stay 18 to increase the lever arm, and not to the cylinder 16.

The cylinder 27 described comprises three moving parts relative to each other to allow an extension of the cylinder 27 and can be fixed relative to each other to fix the length of the cylinder 27, namely the cylinder 28, the piston 29 and the rod 43. Alternatively, the cylinder could comprise only two telescopic parts movable relative to each other to allow an elongation of the cylinder and can be fixed to one another to fix the length of the cylinder, for example by a pin as in the case of the piston 29 and the rod 43 or by a mechanism "ratchet-groove" as in the case of the piston 29 and the cylinder 28. The cylinder could also include more than three telescopic parts movable some by in relation to others and which can be fixed in relation to each other.

The catamaran 1 described comprises a mast base comprising the receiving cylinder 16, making it possible to connect the mast 13 to 4. The mast 13 could be pivotally connected directly to the front cross member 4, for example by a hinge fixed to the cross member 4. In this case, the lower end portion of the mast 13 constitutes the mast base. , to which the side stays and the cylinder are connected.

The intermediate crosspiece 5 could be directly attached to the shells 2, for example in recesses formed in bosses similar to the bosses 8 and 9.

The catamaran 1 could include a traction mechanism fixed to the receiving cylinder 16, for example at the fastener 20, for pulling the mast 13 rearwardly. This offers another solution than that of pulling the listening 48 for the transition from the state of tack to the normal state or from the normal state to the state of sport. The traction mechanism may for example be a rope whose one end is fixed to the fastener 20 and the other end can be pulled by the user 11. To provide a multiplication of force, the rope may optionally make a or several back and forth between a pulley fixed to the fixing member 20 and a pulley fixed to the crosspiece 5 or to the bracket 22. A cleat may be provided, for example on the crossbar 5, to lock the rope and thus limit an extension of the cylinder 27. In this case, the pawl 35 and the notches 32 and 33 can be omitted.

The shells 2 are not necessarily straight. Within the meaning of the invention, the longitudinal direction of sailboat is defined by the normal direction of displacement of the sailboat corresponding to a center line of the hulls 2.

The invention is not limited to sailing catamaran type and applies in particular to trimarans and monohull sailboats. In the case of a monohull sailboat, the mast base and the side stays are for example connected to a transverse bar fixed above the deck of the hull.

FIGS. 8 to 14 show a jack 127 that can be used in place of the jack 27. The jack 127 comprises a cylinder 101 whose rear end has a fixing ring 102 making it possible to fix the cylinder 101 to the intermediate crosspiece 5. end piece 103 is attached to the cylinder 101, at its front end, opposite to the fixing ring 102. The end piece 103 has a central orifice arranged in the axis of the cylinder 101, and carries three pulleys outside the cylinder 101. The cylinder 101 has two lateral notches 104 which extend from the end piece 103 towards the fixing ring 102.

The cylinder 127 also comprises a piston 105 adapted to slide longitudinally with respect to the cylinder 101 and to project out of the cylinder through the central orifice of the end piece 103. An end piece 106 is fixed at the end The end piece 106 has two portions projecting outside the cylinder 101 through the notches 104. The end piece 106 carries two pulleys.

A tail piece 116, shown in FIG. 13, is attached to the rear end of the piston 105, and has a projecting portion 119. A locking piece 111 is shown in FIG. 14, and has a circular hole 114 and a notch passage 115, opening into an inner chamber 113. The locking piece 111 is partially arranged in the cylinder 101 and can pivot slightly about a tilting axis 112. A portion of the locking piece 111 is arranged at outside the cylinder 101 and carries a pulley 117.

A helical spring 107 is arranged inside the cylinder 101, around the piston 105. The spring 107 bears on the one hand on the end piece 103 and on the other hand on the end piece 106. The spring 107 urges the piston backwards, that is to say the spring 107 tends to move the piston 105 in its most retracted position inside the cylinder 101, shown in Figures 8 to 10.

In this position, the projecting portion 119 of the tail piece is arranged in the inner chamber 113 of the locking piece 111, and a spring 118 acts on the locking piece 111 so that the latter cooperates with the projecting portion 119 in order to keep the piston 105 in position.

A handle 109 makes it possible to pull on a rope 110, which passes through the pulleys of the end piece 103, the end piece 106 and the pulley 117 so as to move the end piece 106 of the piece end 103, that is to say, to slide the piston 105 forward and tilt the mast forward, with a force multiplication effect.

When the user begins to pull the handle 109, the tension in the rope 110 acts on the pulley 117 and tilts the locking piece 111 against the action of the spring 118, in a position in which the portion protruding 119 can exit the inner chamber 113. When the user releases the handle 109, the spring 107 pushes the piston 105 rearward until the projecting portion 119 cooperates with the locking piece 111 to maintain the piston 105 in place. The protruding portion 119 has an inclined surface for temporarily pivoting the locking member 111 to enter the inner chamber 113.

A pulley 108 for the sail listening is attached to the cylinder 101, diametrically opposite the handle 109.

Thus, the cylinder 127 allows the user to tilt the mast forward simply by pulling on a handle, and to return the mast to the normal position of navigation simply by releasing the handle 109. Of course, others means for pulling the rope 110 could be used in place of the handle 109 while retaining the advantage of simplicity of operation, for example a pedal.

The piston 105 has, near its front end, a zone of reduced diameter 132. The cylinder 127 has a head 137 which comprises a head tube 139, a plug 138 inserted in the head tube 139 and rings 140 fixed to the plug 138 and the tube 139, which allow to fix the front of the cylinder 127 to the fastener 20.

A fastener 134 makes it possible to fix the head 137 to the piston 105. More specifically, the fastener 134 has two parallel locking rods 136, of length approximately equal to twice the diameter of the head tube 139, which pass through orifices formed in the head tube 139 and protrude from both sides of the tube 139. On each side of the tube 139, the rods 136 are connected by spacers 135. The rods 136 have a half-length from the spacer 135 shown at the top in Figure 11, a circular section, and the remainder of their length a section of a semicircle. Thus, when the clip 134 is in the position shown in Fig. 11, the rods 136 cooperate with the reduced diameter area 132 of the piston 105 to secure the head 137 relative to the piston 105. When the clip 134 is in a position in which the spacer 135 shown at the bottom of Figure 11 is against the tube 139, the area of reduced diameter 132 is opposite the half-circle section portion of the rods 136, and the head 137 can move relative to the piston 105. In an embodiment not shown, the piston 105 has several reduced diameter zones 132, which allows an adjustment of the length of the cylinder 127 and thus the inclination of the mast.

The cylinder 127, like the cylinder 27, also has a mounting state. Referring to Figure 11, the cylinder 127 comprises an intermediate tube 130 slidably guided within the piston 105. The reduced diameter zone 132 of the piston 105 and an enlarged portion of the intermediate tube 130, located at the rear of the latter, provide guidance in axial sliding of the intermediate tube 130. The intermediate tube 130 has a reduced diameter area 133.

The cylinder 127 also comprises an inner tube 131 slidably guided inside the intermediate tube 130. The reduced diameter zone 133 of the intermediate tube 130 and an enlarged portion of the inner tube 131 located at the rear thereof, provide guidance in axial sliding of the inner tube 131. The inner tube 131 is fixed to the head 137 by a pin 141.

When the clip 134 is in the position shown in Fig. 11, the head 137 can not move relative to the piston 105 and the length of the jack 127 depends on the movement of the piston 105. When the clip 134 is in its other position previously described, the head 137 can move relative to the piston 105. The tubes 130 and 131 can slide forward, until their rear enlarged portions abut against the stops 142 and 143, respectively, formed by a narrowing of the front end of the piston 105 and the intermediate tube 130, respectively.

It is found that thanks to these characteristics, it is very easy to lengthen the cylinder 127 by sliding the telescopic tubes 130 and 131, for example to allow the mounting of the mast. For this, simply move the clip 134 in its position which allows the movement of the head 137 relative to the piston 105. The fastener 134 remains integral with the head 137, so there is no risk of losing it.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

A sailboat (1) with a tilting mast (13), comprising a floating structure, and a mast base (16) connected to said floating structure so as to be pivotable in a longitudinal direction of said sailboat about a pivot axis ( A), characterized in that it comprises lateral holding means (18) fixed on one side to two lateral sides of the mast base and, on the other hand, pivotally connected to said floating structure, said mast base and said lateral holding means forming a pivotable assembly pivotable in said longitudinal direction about said pivot axis, said lateral holding means being adapted to maintain the mast base in a plane perpendicular to said pivot axis, said sailboat further comprising a tilting mechanism (27, 127) having a variable length, said tilting mechanism being fixed on the one hand to said pivoting assembly and on the other hand to a fixed point (5) of said ladit e floating structure so that a variation of said variable length causes a pivoting of said mast in said longitudinal direction, said sailboat comprising limiting means adapted to limit the variations of the variable length of the tilt mechanism in the direction of a decreasing said variable length and / or in the sense of an increase in said variable length.

2. Sailboat according to claim 1, characterized in that said floating structure comprises a rigid connecting structure (4, 5, 6) and at least two elongated shells (2) connected to two sides of the rigidly connecting structure of the structure. extending substantially parallel in said longitudinal direction of the sailboat, said pivot axis being transverse to said hulls, said lateral holding means (18) being pivotally connected to said connecting structure, said fixed point (5) of said structure floating being a fixed point of said link structure.

3. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said tilting mechanism is arranged such that said variable length of said tilting mechanism extends in said plane perpendicular to said pivot axis.

4. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said fixed point of the floating structure is located towards the rear of said sailboat relative to said pivoting assembly, so that an increase in said variable length, respectively a decrease, corresponds to a forward inclination, respectively to the rear, of said mast.

5. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said tilt mechanism has an edge tipping state in which the value of said variable length corresponds to an inclination of said mast to the front of said sailboat .

6. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said tilting mechanism has a normal state wherein the value of said variable length corresponds to an inclination of said mast towards the rear of said sailboat.

7. Sailboat according to claim 6, characterized in that said tilting mechanism has a state of sport in which the value of said variable length corresponds to an inclination of said mast further back from the inclination of said mast in said normal state.

8. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said tilting mechanism has a mounting state wherein the value of said variable length corresponds to an inclination of said mast forward of said sailboat according to a angle greater than or equal to 90 °.

9. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said limiting means include a locking member adapted to lock said tilt mechanism in one or more predetermined states each corresponding to a predetermined value of said length variable.

10. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said tilting mechanism comprises at least one cylinder (28; 29), one end of which is fixed to said fixed point of said floating structure and at least one piston (29; 43) one end of which is connected to said mast base, said piston being slidably guided in said cylinder so as to vary said variable length of said tilt mechanism.

11. Sailboat according to claim 10, characterized in that said tilting mechanism comprises a means of elastic biasing (39) able to urge said piston (29) to slide in said cylinder (28).

12. Sailboat according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that it comprises a locking member adapted to lock said piston in at least one predetermined position relative to said cylinder, said piston having at least one notch (32, 33). , said locking member comprising a pawl (35) connected to said cylinder and an elastic member (37) adapted to urge said pawl in a locked state in which said pawl is adapted to cooperate with said notch to maintain said piston in said at least one predetermined position, said pawl being adapted to be actuated by a user against said elastic member in a released state wherein said pawl does not cooperate with said notch.

13. Sailboat according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that said limiting means include a piston stop (31) on said piston and a cylinder stop (42) present on said cylinder, said mechanism inclination having at least one predetermined state in which said piston stop cooperates with said cylinder stop.

14. Sailboat according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that said tilting mechanism comprises a telescopic rod (43) slidably guided in said piston (29) and a second locking member (45, 46). ) adapted to lock said telescopic rod in a predetermined position with respect to said piston.

15. Sailboat according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said lateral holding means comprise at least two rigid side stays.

16. Sailboat according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that said sailboat is a catamaran comprising two shells (2).

17. Sailboat according to claim 16, characterized in that said connecting structure comprises a substantially straight front cross member (4) connecting said two shells, said pivot axis corresponding to the longitudinal direction of said front cross member, said mast base and said lateral holding means being linked to said front cross member by bearings (17, 19) so as to be pivotable about said front cross member.

18. Sailboat according to claim 17, characterized in that said bearings comprise plastic rings (17a) surrounding cylindrical portions of circular section of said front cross member so as to be rotatable around said front cross member.

19. Sailboat according to claim 17 or claim 18, characterized in that said connecting structure comprises a bracket (22) connected to said front cross member extending rearward of said sailboat from said front cross member, and a second crossbar (5) connected to said shells behind said front crossbar, said bracket being fixed to said second crossbar, said fixed point of the connecting structure being a point of said bracket or said second cross.

20. Sailboat according to claim 19, characterized in that said connecting structure comprises an arcuate rear cross member (6) whose concavity is turned towards the front of the sailboat and connecting said two hulls behind said sleeper before, said second cross member being pivotally connected to said rear cross member and also having a corresponding arcuate shape, said stem being pivotally connected to said front cross member, said front and rear cross members being connected to said shells by removable fasteners ( 10), said stem being attached to said second cross member by a detachable fastener, said tilt mechanism being secured to said mast base by a detachable fastener, such that said front cross member, said mast base, said lateral holding means and said stem form a first separable assembly of said shells and adapted to be folded into a substantially plane state, the said second cross member, said rear cross member and said tilting mechanism forming a second separable assembly of said shells and said first assembly and adapted to be folded into a substantially plane state, wherein the second cross-member is housed in the concavity of the rear crossmember.

Mounting structure for tiltable catamaran, characterized in that it comprises said first and second sets of claim 20.