EP2014547B1 - Pivotable bowsprit - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a sprit comprising two spar members joined together at a first end and two rods spaced apart transversely to their longitudinal orientation, the spar members each having a second joint at a second end, and each one of the rods one of the spars is pivotally connected about a respective one of the second joints about a substantially vertical axis.

State of the art

In order to make optimum use of sails, they must be adaptable to the wind with regard to their attachments. Depending on the type of sail, this can be done, for example, by optional setting of additional sails, such as spinnakers when driving against the wind, or by changing the angle of attack of the sails. In addition, the usable sail area can be maximized by an optimized sail position.

In order to maximize gennaker sails in their efficiency and field of use, their attachment needs to be variable. Since gennaker sails with their luff are preferably attached to a spar, a spar is desired, which allows a variable attachment of the luff of a gennaker sail.

In the prior art, for example in the GB 2 390 349 Various embodiments of bowsprings are described. It is described that bowsprits moving from one side of the ship to the other are known per se. There is also disclosed a watercraft to which two or more fixed or extendable sprues are attached. The Sprieten are connected together by a connecting element, so that attached to the connecting element sail can change its side relative to the boat width. It is further described that the sprats may optionally be fixed or extendable. The connection between the Sprieten can also be made bent.

In the WO 81/03311 considered to be the most relevant prior art is a multi-hulled boat, e.g. As a so-called catamaran, described, the jib boom is braced by means of two spars with respect to the cross member of a boat. The respective first end of each spar is articulated at the free end of the jib boom with a first joint. A second end of each spar is arranged pivotably on a rotor joint of a respective rotor 39. Each runner 39 is displaceable on one or on a rod-like cross member:

The jib boom can also be held with two pods and swiveled horizontally. The jib boom thus absorbs pressure forces and the two hinged rods or the two pods tensile forces.

Task of WO 81/03311 It is because of an accumulation of wind and water forces to avoid uncontrollable levels of tension in the construction of the floats of a multi-hull boat.

In the WO 81/03311 1 form at the second end of each spar arranged joint parts with arranged on each one runner joint parts a second joint. The second joint is thus part of the runner.

Incidentally, solid, pivotable or bendable, retractable and retractable and held over pods Spretten from the prior art are well known. A change in the orientation of the Sprieten is for the sailing characteristics of a sailboat of importance because in particular gennaker sail, in their efficiency for the propulsion of a sailboat, especially when driving off the wind have great potential for optimization.

The Sprats known from the prior art are in need of improvement in their adjustability and at the same time their stability. The performance spectrum of a gennaker is not fully exploited by a fixed or at most its variable length spray. This is especially true when sailing against the wind and especially when changing course before the wind. One reason for this is that the sprit can not be adjusted to the wind direction. On the other hand, other sprues which can be pivoted or bent to a limited extent have a relatively low stability.

Presentation of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a Sprietvorrichtung belonging to the aforementioned technical field, which is on the one hand in their orientation within a wide angular range adjustable and on the other hand distinguished by the highest possible stability.

The solution of the problem is defined by the features of claim 1. According to the invention, the spar comprises two spar members which are interconnected at a first end by a first hinge and two rods spaced transversely to their longitudinal orientation. The spar parts each have a second joint at a second end, wherein in each case one of the rods is pivotably connected to a respective one of the spars via one of the second joints about a substantially vertical axis.

The inventive solution of the problem provides a Spriet, which on the one hand far-reaching and thereby over a wide angular range is pivotable, thus allowing a wide displacement of the outermost part of Spritty and on the other hand has a high stability. Since the sprit includes a double spar, it can also absorb large forces of the wind on a sail on sprit. On the other hand, the double spar is fastened to two laterally spaced joints, so that the double spar can be pivoted by displacing the relative positions of the joints relative to each other about a virtual axis situated essentially between the two joints. By the construction according to the invention, a relative displacement of the joints is possible even with a large force on the double spar of Spritty.

Preferably, the two spar parts are pivotally connected to each other about a vertical axis. The connection can preferably be made by another joint, but it is also a bendable connection between the spar parts conceivable. Such an embodiment is particularly preferred when the rods are parallel to one another are aligned, because with a displacement of the joints, the distance between the joints changes. This change in distance results in a change in the angle between the two spar parts at their first end result, which is made possible by a corresponding pivotal connection without additional load on the spar parts, rods or joints.

It is also conceivable that the spar parts are movable in their length. Thus, with a relative displacement of the joints, they can also compensate for the change in the distance between the joints.

Advantageously, the rods are fixed transversely to their longitudinal orientation. Fixed rods increase the stability of the Spriets and represent a less expensive execution of Spritty, because it dispenses with a mechanism for pivoting or lateral displacement of the rods. The orientation of the bars can be manually and / or automatically adjusted and fixed.

It is also possible to execute the sprit with pivotable or transversely slidable to their longitudinal direction rods. The rods can be aligned and fixed to a certain angle of rotation or rotatable depending on the relative length of the rods or the relative position of the rods in their longitudinal orientation.

According to the invention, the rods are slidably mounted along their longitudinal orientation. Such a design of the rods is characterized by a simpler design of the rods. The rods can be moved by a separate mechanism and thus change the relative position of the joints to each other. The rods can be flexible in their orientation, for example, designed to be rotatable about an axis. According to the invention, however, the rods are fixed in their orientation.

In a preferred embodiment, the rods are made variable in their length. This can be implemented for example by appropriately trained Schotzüge or by a hydraulic system. Such an embodiment of the rods has the advantage that the rods occupy a smaller working range than those which extend in operation also to the rear, ie to the joints opposite side. This is for example the case with slidable in their longitudinal direction rods. The variable in length rods can also be fixed in their orientation or flexible, so be performed, for example, rotatable about an axis.

Advantageously, the sprit comprises at least one adjustment unit, so that at least one of the joints is displaceable by a displacement or a change in the length of at least one of the rods by the adjustment. In a preferred embodiment, the joints which connect the rods to the spars, in their rest position about at the level of the forestay anchoring, possibly also slightly offset to the front. By adjusting the relative change in the position of the joints can be adjusted to each other, with advantage either one of the two rods and thus also the corresponding joint is displaced to the rear. Ie. the movement of the two joints is independent of each other and is not coupled. In this way, the rods are each only shortened and the construction is more stable than if the rods can be moved from their rest position forward or extended. In principle, however, it would be possible to carry out the adjustment unit and the rods in such a way that the joints can also be displaced forward and that the movement of the two joints is coupled to one another. Particularly preferably, each of the two rods can be changed or displaced by a separate adjustment in their length. This allows a more flexible operation of the Spriet, because there is no fixed coupling between the rods.

Preferably, the adjustment is carried out motor driven. This makes it easy to adjust the spray. In addition, the control of a motor-driven adjustment can also be located at a more distant position, so that a Sprit with a motor-driven adjustment, for example, directly from the cab of a sailboat out is operable.

In addition, the Spriet can be performed with a manually operated adjustment or without an adjustment. A manually operated adjustment can be formed for example by a gear design that is movable by a handwheel. Alternatively, a direct adjustment of the bars of the Spriets be provided without adjustment. However, such an embodiment without adjustment unit makes it difficult to adjust under forces acting on the spar.

Advantageously, the joints of the sprit are rotatable about a horizontal axis. In this case, each of the joints preferably comprises a stop for limiting an angular range of rotation about the horizontal axis. Joints, which are additionally designed to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, allow the spritz particularly well to yield to particularly large forces of a sail on the Spriet. The stop counteracts advantageously with a movement of the spars downwards and limits a vertical rotational movement of the spars preferably in the angular position in which the spars and the rods extend approximately in a horizontal plane.

The sprit may also include additional hinges that allow rotational movement of the spars about a horizontal axis. Parts of the Spriets, in particular the spars can also be designed so flexible that they yield to a large force by bending.

A watercraft, in particular a sailboat comprising a sprit according to the invention, preferably has a hold-down sheet which leads from the spar to the nose of the watercraft. By such a hold-down the sprit is supported against the wind force, which acts on him via a sprit mounted sail. Specifically, the hold-down sheet restrains the spars in the horizontal plane with the bars or restricts a force acting upward on the spars. Thus, the spars are elastically mounted and can withstand force peaks without breakage.

If the sprit is designed without hinges which allow a rotational movement of the spars about a horizontal axis, or if the spit is designed with such hinges that do not allow upward movement of the spars, then a hold-down bar may be dispensed with. In addition, other solutions are conceivable to prevent the spars on a motivated with less force upward rotational movement. Instead of the hold-down pile, flexible or solid rods can also run between the spar and the bow, which stabilize the spar in the vertical direction.

A method for pivoting a spritz according to the invention is characterized in that the joints are displaced relative to one another. This can be done in different ways depending on the device used, for example by a shift or a change in length of the rods.

Preferably, the joints are displaced by a displacement of one of the rods to the rear or a shortening of one of the rods relative to each other. This in turn results in a rotation of the spars about a virtual and perpendicular to their own orientation varying vertical axis.

From the following detailed description and the totality of the claims, further advantageous embodiments and feature combinations of the invention result.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

Spriet mit verschiebbaren Stangen in unausgelenkter Position

Fig. 2

Spriet mit verschiebbaren Stangen in ausgelenkter Position

Fig. 3

Spriet mit in ihrer Länge veränderbaren Stangen in unausgelenkter Position

Fig. 4

Spriet mit in ihrer Länge veränderbaren Stangen in ausgelenkter Position

Fig. 5

Spriet mit in ihrer Länge veränderbaren und schräg zueinander ausgerichteten Stangen in unausgelenkter Position

Fig. 6

Spriet mit in ihrer Länge veränderbaren und schräg zueinander ausgerichteten Stangen in ausgelenkter Position

Fig. 7

Spriet mit an einem Wasserfahrzeug befestigter Niederhalte-Schot

The drawings used to explain the embodiment show:

Fig. 1

Springs with sliding rods in undeflected position

Fig. 2

Springs with displaceable rods in deflected position

Fig. 3

Springs with length-adjustable rods in undeflected position

Fig. 4

Springs with adjustable length rods in deflected position

Fig. 5

Springs with their length adjustable and obliquely aligned rods in undeflected position

Fig. 6

Springs with adjustable in length and obliquely aligned rods in a deflected position

Fig. 7

Sprit with hold-down beam attached to a vessel

Basically, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

Ways to carry out the invention

FIG. 1 shows a sailboat 1 in a plan view with an inventive sprit, which comprises two bars 2.1 and 2.2, and two bars 3.1 and 3.2. The spars 2.1 and 2.2 are connected to each other at a first end by a hinge 5. The rods 3.1 and 3.2 are also connected to the bars 2.1 and 2.2 via a respective joint 4.1 and 4.2, wherein the joints 4.1, 4.2 and 5 are each pivotable about a vertical axis. On the bow of the sailboat 1 is also the forestay anchoring 7.1. The rods 3.1 and 3.2 are spaced apart transversely to their longitudinal orientation. The rods 3.1 and 3.2 are each movable by an adjusting 6.1 and 6.2 and are held by guides 13.1 - 13.4 in their orientation.

FIG. 2 shows the same sailboat as FIG. 1 , The rod 3.2 is positioned the same as in FIG. 1 ie it has not been moved. By a movement 9.1 of the rod 3.1 to the rear and by the adjusting 6.1, the relative position of the joints 4.1 and 4.2 to each other is changed. As a result, the spars move 2.1 and 2.2 in the appropriate direction 10th FIG. 2 shows that the distance between the joints 4.1 and 4.2 and thus the angle at the mutual attachment 5 of the two spars 2.1 and 2.2 increases in parallel rods 3.1 and 3.2.

Of course, it would also be possible to form the adjusting devices 6.1 and 6.2 and the rods 3.1, 3.2 such that the rods 3.1, 3.2 and thus also the joints 4.1, 4.2 from the in FIG. 1 shown rest position can be moved forward.

FIG. 3 shows a sailboat 1 in a plan view with a spritzer according to the invention, in contrast to the in Figures 1 and 2 Springs shown the rods 3.1 and 3.2 are not displaced as along their orientation, but are designed as variable in length rods. In FIG. 3 the rods 3.1 and 3.2 are designed as hydraulic legs. A first part 3.1a and 3.2a of the respective hydraulic leg 3.1 and 3.2 remains firmly connected to the sailboat 1, a second part 3.1b and 3.2b of the respective hydraulic leg 3.1 and 3.2 is connected to the corresponding joint 4.1 and 4.2. The second parts 3.1 b and 3.2 b can be in their respective firmly connected to the sailboat 1 part 3.1 a and 3.2 a and drive out again.

FIG. 4 shows the same sailboat 1 as FIG. 3 , By a movement 9.1 of the second part 3.1 b of the rod 3.1 to the rear, the joints 4.1 and 4.2 are moved relative to each other. Part 3.2b also remains unchanged in this example. This causes accordingly FIG. 2 a movement of the spars 2.1 and 2.2 in the appropriate direction 10. With respect to the change in the distance between the joints 4.1 and 4.2 is the same as for in FIG. 2 illustrated embodiment, namely, that this distance and thus the angle of the mutual attachment 5 of the two spars 2.1 and 2.2 increases in parallel rods.

In this example too, the rods 3.1, 3.2 could be designed such that they consist of the in FIG. 1 shown resting position not only shortened, but also can be extended.

FIG. 5 shows the same sailboat 1 as FIGS. 3 and 4 with the difference that the rods 3.1 and 3.2 are not parallel but at an angle to each other. Due to the oblique arrangement of the rods 3.1 and 3.2, the spars 2.1 and 2.2 can be pivoted over a wider angular range, wherein the angular range of the angle between the rods 3.1. and 3.2 is dependent.

In FIG. 6 is that in FIG. 5 illustrated sailboat 1 also shown with pivoted beams 2.1 and 2.2. In contrast to the Figures 2 and 4 Here both joints are moved from their rest position. The rod 3.1 is shortened and the rod 3.2 is extended. By shortening 9.1 of a rod 3.1 and extending 9.2 of the other rod 3.2, the spars 2.1 and 2.2 are pivoted in the appropriate direction 10. However, it is also possible in this embodiment with obliquely arranged rods 3.1, 3.2 that the joints 4.1, 4.2 from their rest position only moved backwards, the rods 3.1, 3.2 so only can be shortened.

The comparison between the FIGS. 5 and 6 shows that even in an arrangement in which the bars 3.1 and 3.2 are not parallel to each other, the angle between the bars 2.1 and 2.2 in extreme angular positions is very different from the angle between the bars 2.1 and 2.2 in the zero degree position.

From the foregoing examples, it can be seen that the sprit can be pivoted in this way up to 90 degrees or even further, if the joint 4.1 is displaced only sufficiently far to the rear.

FIG. 7 shows a sailboat 1 in a side view with a spritz according to the invention. The Spriet comprises two bars 2, which are connected at a first end to each other by a hinge 5 and two rods 3, which in turn are connected via a respective joint 4 with the bars 2. The spars, rods and joints lie in a horizontal plane and can not be differentiated in this side view. The rods 3 consist in this embodiment of a respective part attached to the sailboat 3a and a movable part 3b. On the bow of the sailboat 1 is also a forestay 7. By a movement 9 of the moving parts 3b of the rods 3, the Sprit can be changed. The joints 4 are also movable upwards about a horizontal axis. Down the joints 4 have a stop which limits a rotation of the spars about the joints 4 in the vertical direction. A hold-down sheet 11 supports the spars 2 against a force exerted by a sail 12 attached to the spars 2 and acting on the spars 2 upward.

In addition to the parallel and fixed rods, these can also be mounted rotatably about a vertical axis on the sailboat and keep their mutual distance changeable. In this way, can be dispensed with the joint at the end connecting the spars. By changing the length or the position along the orientation of the rods, the spars can then be rotated about a vertical axis, even without a joint connecting the spars or being exposed to these additional bending loads. The spars can also be designed as a single spar, if this essentially the outer contours and the dimensions of the in the FIGS. 1 to 7 has shown double spar construction. This may be preferred for aesthetic reasons, for example. In such an embodiment, however, it is necessary that the rods are not fixed in parallel. In the zero-degree position, so if the plane of symmetry of the two spar parts on the Symmetrieebene the two rods falls, the Spriet can be reinforced by additional locks, such as a fitting. When sailing on the wind, the greatest forces are exerted on the device, which is then due to the relevant sail configuration preferably in the zero degree position.

In summary, it should be noted that the invention provides a sprit which is widely overhanging, whose orientation can be adjusted over a large angular range, up to 90 degrees or even more, and which is characterized by great stability.

Claims (11)

1. Sprit,
   comprising two spar parts (2.1, 2.2), which are connected together at a first end by a first joint (5),
   and two bars (3.1, 3.2) which are spaced apart from one another transversely to their longitudinal orientation,
   wherein the spar parts (2.1, 2.2) each have a second joint (4.1, 4.2) at a second end,
   and in each case one of the bars (3.1/3.2) is connected in a pivotable manner about a substantially vertical axis to in each case one of the spars (2.1/2.2) via a respective one of the second joints (4.1, 4.2),
   characterized in that
   the bars (3.1, 3.2) are fastened so as to be displaceable along their longitudinal orientation and are fixed in terms of their orientation.
2. Sprit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the spar parts (2.1, 2.2) are connected together in a pivotable manner about a substantially vertical axis.
3. Sprit according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bars (3.1, 3.2) are fixed transversely to their longitudinal orientation.
4. Sprit according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bars (3.1, 3.2) are configured so as to have a variable length.
5. Sprit according to one of Claims 1 to 4, comprising at least one adjusting unit (6.1, 6.2), characterized in that at least one of the second joints (4.1, 4.2) is displaceable by at least one of the bars (3.1, 3.2) being subjected to a displacement (9.1, 9.2) or a change in length by the adjusting unit (6.1, 6.2).
6. Sprit according to Claim 5, characterized in that the adjusting unit (6.1, 6.2) is configured in a motor-driven manner.
7. Sprit according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second joints (4.1, 4.2) are configured in a rotatable manner about a respective horizontal axis, and in that each of the second joints (4.1, 4.2) comprises a stop in order to limit an angular range of a rotation about the horizontal axis.
8. Watercraft (1) comprising a sprit according to one of Claims 1 to 7.
9. Watercraft (1) according to Claim 8, characterized in that it has a holding-down sheet (11) which leads from the sprit to the bow of the watercraft.
10. Method for pivoting a sprit according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second joints (4.1, 4.2) are displaced relative to one another.
11. Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the second joints (4.1, 4.2) are displaced relative to one another by a displacement (9.1) of one bar (3.1, 3.2) towards the rear or by the length of one bar (3.1, 3.2) being shortened.

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