FR2511647A1 - CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING A GUI ON A MAT - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO A CLAMPING MECHANISM FOR LOCKING A GUI ON A MAST. THE MECHANISM INCLUDES IN PARTICULAR A KNEELED LINKAGE 36 WHICH CONTROLS A SKATE 37 IN ORDER TO APPLY IT STRONGLY AGAINST A MAST 17 TO ESTABLISH A CLOSE LINK BETWEEN THE LATTER AND A GUI ON AN ELEMENT 20A TO WHICH THE LINKAGE 36 IS ATTACHED. FIELD OF APPLICATION: SAILBOARDS.

Description

An outdoor sport, known as

  windsurfing, has developed relatively recently, a sport in which wind propulsive forces are used to move a vehicle such as a board, while the pilot controls the direction of movement while balancing. on the board and by maneuvering a sail supported by a rotating mast A sailing vessel of this type is described in the

U.S.A. 3,487,800.

  The pilot, while standing on the board, controls the orientation of the sail with respect to the wind by holding a mistletoe which is attached to the mast and rotating the mast to modify the angular disposition of the sail carried by the sail. It is evident that the response of the mast to mistletoe maneuvers largely depends on the connection between the mat and the mistletoe, and the present invention relates to an improved and efficient means for connecting

  thus a mistletoe or a boom to a mast.

  In the sailing vessel described in the aforementioned patent, the mistletoe is connected to the mat by a certain length of ribbon straps 2.5 cm wide, the two ends are attached to the mistletoe and which form a coil surrounding the mat A Another method for connecting the mistletoe to the mast is to use a rope or a conventional cable which must be wound around the mast on several turns, then anchored by each of its ends to the mistletoe.

  an improved flange carried by mistletoe and

  bearing a clamping soleplate which can be applied against the mat to lock the mistletoe on the mast The flange of the preferred embodiment is of the toggle type in which, after the flange has been placed in the locking position, the thrusts exerted on this flange tend

  to lock it more tightly.

  Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that, when the shoe of the clamping device is moved towards the mast to bear against the latter, it also applies and locks against the mast any part of the sail arranged around this mat to this moment Therefore, in strong winds, a certain part of the sail can be wrapped around the mast, then locked against the mast so that only part of the initial surface

sail is exposed to the wind.

  The subject of the invention is therefore an effective means

  to connect a mistletoe to a mast, and it concerns more specifically

  a device designed to attach a sail that has been

  returned by winding around a mast.

  According to the invention, a mistletoe of a sailing vessel is secured across a mast by a flange carried by the mistletoe. The flange is attached to the mistletoe at a position close to the mast and carries an elongated and curved skate which is brought into contact with the mast or with certain parts of the sail wound on the mast by actuation of a toggle joint which is arranged to rotate the

  pad to the mast and lock it in position.

  The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of non-limiting examples and in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a

  sailing vessel of the general type to which the breaking mechanism

  according to the invention can be applied;

  FIG. 2 is a schematic elevation, analogous

  to that of Fig. 1, but showing the ship whose sail is retracted; Figure 3 is a partial horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, pointing downwards and showing the front end of the mistletoe of the vessel of Figure 2;

  FIG. 4 is a partial plan view, on a scale

  enlarged along line 4-4 of Figure 2; Figure 5 is a partial view in perspective on an enlarged scale, showing the part of the vessel in which the mistletoe is connected to the mast; Figure 6 is a partial section, on an enlarged scale, along the line 6-6 of Figure 5, showing in particular the clamping linkage according to the invention in the open position; Figure 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the mechanism connecting a clamping pad to the clamping linkage;

  FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG.

  Figure 3, but showing a second embodiment of the mechanism according to the invention; Figure 9 is a section along the line 9-9 of Figure 8; Figure 10 is partial perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 is a partial section on an enlarged scale along line 1 I-11 of Figure 10;

  FIG. 12 is a plan view on an enlarged scale

  die and partially cut away, the mechanism shown in Figure 10; and

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view, with

  partly of the mechanism of Figure 12

arranged around the mat.

  FIG. 1 represents in 10 a sailing vessel used in the practice of sport called windsurfing.

  o "windsurfing" and comprising a hull 12 having the

  generally gating a surfboard, a fin 14 designed to protrude down the hull, and a sail assembly 15 The assembly 15 includes a sail 16

  which comprises a tubular sleeve 16 placed telescopic-

  on a mast 17 mounted in the hull by means of a universal joint 18 This allows the mast to rotate about an axis approximately perpendicular to the hull 12 and to move away from this axis in all directions. the directions around the latter Thus, we can turn the sail with the mat on a circle of 3600 around the axis, and we can rotate it downwards, from the erect position of Figure 1 to at a position in which it dives into the water, on one side or the other of the hull, behind or in front of the latter The sail assembly also comprises a mistletoe 20 which consists of a

  an elongated ring-shaped element having lateral elements

  20 a and 20 b joined at their front end by a portion c (Figure 3) with which they are made in one piece and in which an opening 20 d hand grip is formed This portion 20 c also includes a wall

  curved inner extremity 20 which delimits a recess-

  in which the mat 17 and the sleeve 16 has sail are normally arranged at their rear ends (Figure 4), the lateral elements 20a and 20b of the mistletoe are connected and have openings 22 and 23 which receive a halyard passing through a carnation located at the listening point of the

  sail and hung on cleats 26 and 27.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sleeve 16 has a sail and the front part of the sail has a

  opening 30 at which the mistletoe partially surrounds

  the mat, the sail being disposed inside the loop formed by the mistletoe Conventionally, the front end of the mistletoe is held on the mast by a cable making several turns around the mat against which it rubs and whose extreme sections are attached to cleats

attached to mistletoe.

  The invention relates to an improved mechanism

  intended to lock the mistletoe on the mat Generally speaking,

  In addition, this mechanism includes a lock linkage 36

  toggle leg (Figure 4) which carries an elongated plastic pad having a curved shape which substantially corresponds to the contour of the mast 17 and which is intended to be brought closer to the mat and applied against the parts of the sail surrounding the mast to compress them against the latter and lock the mistletoe on the moat If the sail is fully deployed as shown in Figure 1, the flange pad passes through the opening 30 and bears against the mast If the sail was partially wound on the mast, as shown in FIG. 2, the shoe bears against

  winding turns of the sail on the mast.

  The toggle linkage 36 includes a base or support member 39 (Fig. 6), a lever 40 which pivots on this base member, and a pressing member 41 which carries the shoe 37. The base 39 is an elongated metal member, similar to to a band, which is curved transversely to correspond to the contour of the element 20a mistletoe on which

251 11647

  it is fixed by two clamping clamps 43 which surround the base 39 and the element 20a of the mistletoe. Two spaced plates 44 and 45 (FIG. 7), made in one piece with the base, project outwards from the latter to form a guide corridor for receiving the pressing element 41 when the latter has tilted in the clamping position The lever 40 is articulated by means of an axis 46 on the fixed base 39 and, by means of an axis 47, on the pressing element 41 The latter consists of two parts, namely a yoke 48 whose side arms are articulated on the lever 40, and a rigid element which comprises a tubular portion before 49 and a threaded rod 50 which is adjustably screwed into a tapped hole in the tube 49 and having a smooth end 51 This end 51

  passes freely through a clevis hole 48 and

  An enlarged head 52 which prevents the rod 45 from separating from the clevis A knurled portion 53 of the rod makes it possible to easily adjust the latter by rotating it and a locking nut 54 is intended to lock the rod in any desired manner.

  adjustment position with respect to the tube 49.

  At its outer end, the tube 49 comprises

  a curved part that surrounds two loops of a metal wire-

lique 55 worn by the skate 37.

  As shown in Figures 5 and 6, three rods

  parallel 60 small diameter are fixed longitudinally

  17 stems at equal angular distances from each other around this mat. The stems break the rounded, continuous matte surface so that the clamping shoe 37 can lock the turns more effectively.

formed by the sail on the mast.

  Windsurfers typically include

  sails with an area of approximately 4.5 m.

  poorly used in wind with an average force of 3 Si, on any day, the winds have a greater stuffing, for example winds of force 4 and force 5, or if windsurfing is used by a child smaller or by a beginner, it is prudent to use a sail with a lower useful surface or to enter the normal sail until the surface exposed to the wind has, for example, a value of 3.5 m or In addition, if a board with a high mast and a very large sail, designed to be used in low winds, can be used in medium or heavy winds, it is desirable to reduce the sail area. by winding this sail.

  If the entire sail is used as

  tré in FIG. 1, the linkage 36 is moved towards the

  overtaking position of the central equilibrium point

  ble, shown in Figure 3 and in which the pivot axis

  47 consists of a position on a first side of a line extending between the pivot axis 46 and the point of the reaction thrust of the mistletoe against the tubular element 49. from the flange to a position on the opposite side of the line to establish a condition of exceeding the center point of equilibrium

  unstable When the flange is closed, the shoe 37 of

  The tread directly and strongly rubs against the mast 17, as shown in FIG. 5, in order to lock the mistletoe on the mat. To control the sail, the pilot grasps the mistletoe and pivots the mast about its axis pointing upwards, and it also rotates the mat down, in any

  direction, to obtain the desired orientation of the sail.

  It should be noted that, although the flange anchors the mistletoe to the mast, the mistletoe is not rigidly attached to the mat. A slight pivoting movement may occur between the mat and the mistletoe, primarily as a result of the connection between the

  clamping shoe and the clamping mechanism itself.

  When it is desired to maneuver with a coiled sail, as shown in FIG. 2, the linkage 36

  is brought into a position of openings as

  shown in Figure 6, and the sail is wound on the

  in a number of turns, the halyard 25 being momentarily

  while detachable from the tabs 26 and 27 to allow the shortening of the sail When the desired sail area is exposed, the flange is actuated to bring the pad into contact with the turns formed by the sail

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  in the area of the three rods 60 facing upwards When the linkage is brought into the overtaking position of the unstable central equilibrium point, the mistletoe is locked on the mat and the sail is clamped against the mat The halyard can then to be tightened.

  When the sail must be restrained in the hoisted condition

  As mentioned above, it is possible for the wind to partially loosen the turns formed by the sail near the upper end of the mast. To prevent this, a sail sleeve 65 (FIG. 2) is disposed on

  the upper end of the mast The sleeve may be

  killed from a semi-rigid plastic tube of approximately cm in length and suitable wall thickness The inner cavity of the sleeve may be cylindrical or

  oval and it can be tapered in order to adjust relative-

  closely on the upper end of the mat

  can be oval and is also tapered.

  When it is desired to wind less sail, the sail can be unwound as desired, the tension of the halyard being released first, then the flange of the sail being released momentarily to allow the mast to be turned as desired before the flange is again

  tight and the halyard again tight.

  Figure 7 shows a second form of

  realization of the mechanism for connecting a brake shoe

  at the clamping linkage In this form of embodiment,

  tion, a ball joint 68 is attached to a brake shoe 69.

  The seal comprises a rod 70 which can be fastened, for example by welding, to the tubular portion 49 of the pressing element 41 of the flange of FIG. 6. It is obvious that such a joint ball joint allows the clamping pad

  to self-regulate by significant movements when

  that it is applied in close contact with the mast or with the turns formed by the sail wound on the mast, and that it allows a certain relative movement between the mistletoe

and the mast.

  A second embodiment of the flange is

-2511647

  schematically represented in FIGS. 8 and 9

  flange is also a centrally balanced flange

  unstable, or knee brace and it includes a

  lever 72 consisting of a strip-like element,

  One end of the lever comprises a section 73 bent downwards and on which is bolted a plastic clamping shoe 75, identical to the shoe 37 of FIG. 5. Two washers 77, made of rubber or other elastic material, are arranged around the bolt and between the shoe 75 and the lever 72 so that the shoe, although being held tightly by the lever 72, can still move and rotate to follow the position and contour of the mast and any turns formed by sailing

  rolled onto the mast at the moment when the pad is brought in

  clamping against them The opposite end of the

  it is made in one piece with an arm 79 projecting downwardly from a lateral edge of the lever Le

  arm 79 is a locking arm that is slightly curved

  and, as indicated below, the locking arm is held against the inner surface of the element 20a when the

  flange is in locked closed position.

  The lever 72 is articulated on an axis 82 which is fixed to a cylindrical element 83 of support base and which projects upwardly from this element, the latter being

  itself fixed by a screw 84 head to a sensitive plate-

  Triangular mounting 85 The mounting plate is

  itself fixed, for example by bolts (not shown

  tees), to perforated tabs 86 carried by two clamps 87 which are fixedly attached to the element 20a of the mistletoe The mounting plate 85 is slightly inclined and, therefore, the hinge pin 82 is disposed in a plane P (FIG. 8) and substantially parallel to the adjacent portion of the element 20a of the mistletoe and is placed in a plane P 'which is inclined towards the front end of the mistletoe so that when it is rotated the lever counterclockwise (Figure 8) from the open position of the flange, shown in phantom, to the locking position of Figure 8, the end of the lever 72 carrying the However, the arm 79 remains in contact with the side of the mistletoe and the lever must be bent upwards to allow the arm to disengage from the mistletoe when the lever passes over the latter. arm 79 has passed the mistletoe, the lever is released and he bends downwards to position the arm along the mistletoe The reaction of the mast via the clamping shoe 75 is transmitted to the lever, the connection bolted to the pad and this reaction tends to rotate the lever in the direction of clockwise, on the axis 82 of articulation, and she applies the arm

  79 against mistletoe in a classic lock action.

knee length.

  To release the flange, one must first remove

  its cleats the halyard 25, then we can bend the le-

  slide 72 upward to bring the locking arm 79 to a level higher than that of the mistletoe element 20a.

  can then rotate the lever in the direction of the

  a clock to move the skate

clamping the mat.

  Figures 10 to 13 show another embodiment of the sail winding flange or reefing according to the invention This flange comprises a clamping lever 90 which is articulated on the side member b of the mistletoe 20 by means of of a pivot axis 91 The lever

  has a curved rear wall 90a and side walls

  90 b and 90 c spacers which receive the pivot pin 91

  The outer ends of the side walls 90b and 90c are constructed as arm-like curved elements 90b (FIG. 10) which are connected by a front wall 90 extending around the ends of the arms to which they are connected. is fixed Four pairs of 92-95 aligned holes are made in the side walls, each pair of holes being arranged to receive a conical pin 97 to be selectively inserted into one

  any of the pairs of aligned holes.

  As shown in FIG. 11, each of the arms d of side walls 90b and 90c has a slot 98 arranged to allow the passage of a strap 99 which thus passes through the slots 98 and into similar slots formed in a shoe or lug. The sail protection element 101 (FIG. 10) The element 101 is a substantially rectangular piece of strong plastic material which, as shown in FIG. 12, is arranged to surround the turns formed by a coiled sail 16 to protect the sail from damage by contact

  with the top 20c of the mistletoe, including the surfaces presented

  formed by a recess 103 formed in the apex.

  A rod 105 (FIG. 13), which comprises a circular section 105a partially surrounding the mast 17 and a straight section 105b extending longitudinally to the mast,

  is fixed in position on this mast by means of a ribbon.

  At the beginning of a reefing, the conical pin 97 is not placed in any of the aligned holes 92-95. After the sail has been wound on a desired number of turns on the mast 17, the lever 90 is pivoted by clockwise clamping (FIG. 12) on the articulation axis 91 to bring the top of the mistletoe closer together

  and the mast of each other so that they block the sail

  and when the lever has been moved to the desired clamping position, the taper pin is inserted into one of the aligned pairs of holes 92, 93, 94 and 95, the chosen pair being

  adjacent to the inner side of the arm 20b of the mistletoe

  12, the holes 94 are those which are suitable for the number of turns formed by the sail in the case shown. It is obvious that the contact of the pin 97 with the inner face of the arm 20b of the mistletoe prevents any tendency of the

  mast to move away from the top of the mistletoe.

  It can be seen in FIG. 12 that the straight section a of the rod 105 is oriented on the mast 17 so

  when the mistletoe and the mast are tightened against each other

  The stem penetrates the recess 103 formed in the top of the mistletoe. Thus, any tendency of the mast to rotate relative to the mistletoe causes the rod to come into contact with the rod.

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  with one of the side surfaces of the notch or

  If desired, these side surfaces can be made to have a slight

  convexity around a horizontal axis so that the mast can

rotate slightly.

  It follows from the previous description that the

  toggle clamp device according to the invention is an improved means for clamping a mistletoe on a mat and an effective mechanism to allow a grip of

  reef and effective by winding a sail on a mast.

  It goes without saying that many modifications can be made to the assembly described and represented

  without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

  1 assembly characterized in that it comprises a mast (17), a mistletoe (20) oriented across the mast, a sail (16) wound on one or more turns around the mast and from this mast in a direction oriented to approximately longitudinally to the mistletoe, and a clamping device anchored to the mistletoe and including a stop member (37) which can   come in contact with the outer turn of the hoisting sail   on the mast to exert against the turns of the sail and against the mast a pressure preventing the mast from turning   and therefore the turns of the sail to unfold from the mast.   2 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device comprises a linkage (36) kneepads and a slider (37) carried by this linkage.   3 assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the toggle linkage extends between the mast and the mistletoe, one end of the linkage being connected to one of the parts constituted by the mast and the mistletoe and the   pad that can be applied against the other of these parts.   4 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the linkage comprises a base member (39) attached to the mistletoe, the clamping shoe can be moved relative to this base element to be applied against the mast.   Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the linkage comprises a base element (39)   attached to the mistletoe, a lever (40) of control articulated on the ele-   base, and a pressing element (41) hinged to the lever and carrying the pad.   6 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means (68) for mounting the shoe   allowing the latter to rotate and turn on the pressure.   7 assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means (49, 50) for   adjust the length of the pressure element.   8 assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the mat carries means (60) breaking the symmetry   of the surface of said mat, and having an irregular surface   against which the clamping element carries.   9. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device comprises an element (83)   bracket attached to the mistletoe, means (82) located on this   support member and determining a pivot axis, and a lever (72) mounted on the support member so as to   able to pivot about said axis, this lever carrying the ele- apply against the mast.   Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the clamping device comprises an element (83)   bracket attached to the mistletoe and having a pivot pin (82)   which is protruding upwards and on which   a lever (72) carrying the element applying against the mat.   Assembly according to claim 10, characterized in that the pivot axis is mounted to form a certain angle with the mistletoe, this angle being chosen to impart an upward movement to the lever   when the latter moves to the clamping position.   12 assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (77) arranged   between the lever and the element applying against the mast.   13 An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the mistletoe comprises a fork-shaped end section (20c), the mat being disposed between the end walls of this fork-shaped section of the mistletoe and the clamping shoe can be applied against the outer turn of a portion of a sail wound on the mat, in order to maintain said sail portion and the mat tight against said fork-shaped extreme portion of the mistletoe for the   lock the mast and prevent the sail from unfolding.   Assembly according to Claim 1, characterized in that the stop element comprises a curved plate (101)   can be applied against the outside turn of the   of the sail wound on the mast, this plate having a slightly spaced edge of the mistletoe to define an opening in which the sail extends, a surface of said sail   being adjacent to the edge of the plate, at least one rod -   the elongated member (105) being attached to the mat, below the turns formed by the sail, so as to form an irregular surface on the mat, a rotation of the mat in the direction of the course of the sail having the effect of bringing this surface irregular in contact with the edge of the plate, which prevents the mast from turning.   Assembly characterized in that it comprises a mat (17), a mistletoe (20) placed across the mast, and a   clamping device carried by the mistletoe and comprising a   (37) which can be applied against the mat for maintenance purposes   set the mistletoe in a relatively fixed position with respect to the mat when the clamping device is tight against the mat.   Assembly according to claim 15, characterized   in that the clamping device comprises a pressure element (37) which can be applied against at least one   side of the mast and against the turns formed by the sail   rolled on this mat to keep the coils against the   matte to prevent the sail from rolling out of the mast.