FR2765549A1 - STABILIZATION DEVICE FOR SAILING BOAT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a stabilising device for sailing boats with longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P) provided with a keel (3) or a tail fin, characterised in that it comprises stabilising means consisting of at least a mobile stabilising element with a bearing surface (SP), the mobile stabilising element being arranged on the keel (3) movable relative to the latter between an inoperative position, wherein its bearing surface (SP) is parallel to the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow caused by the boat displacement, and an operative position wherein its bearing surface (SP) is arranged in the direction (F) of said hydraulic flow.

Description

STABILIZATION DEVICE FOR SAILING BOAT
The present invention relates to a stabilization device for a sailing boat and to a sailboat equipped with such a device.

 Water sports, and more particularly sailing, have experienced rapid development in recent years, in particular thanks to technological progress linked to the use of composite materials.

Thus, the boats used by both competitors and boaters have undergone changes to make them lighter and lighter and therefore faster.

 Such boats nevertheless have drawbacks due to the list they suffer, such as, for example, in heavy weather. Thus, these boats are often equipped with systems intended to stabilize them in the water such as, for example, ballast located at the lower end of the keel or devices such as those described in French patent application No. 2,727 668. However, most of the known devices are not entirely satisfactory and have drawbacks, particularly in their implementation and in their effectiveness.

 Thus, the present invention proposes to solve the problems mentioned by means of simple, reliable and effective means, intended to allow the stabilization of the boat in the water as well as its position in the hydraulic flow caused by its displacement.

 Thus, according to its main characteristic, the stabilization device for boats fitted with a keel or a fin is characterized in that it comprises stabilization means constituted by at least one movable stabilization member having at least one bearing surface , The mobile stabilization member being disposed on the keel so as to be movable relative to the latter between an inactive position, where its bearing surface is parallel to the direction of the hydraulic flow due to the displacement of the boat, and an active position where its bearing surface is arranged in the direction of said hydraulic flow.

 According to a variant, the mobile stabilization member is constituted by a lower extension of the keel and is articulated around a pivot axis contained in the plane of symmetry of the boat.

 According to this variant, the pivot axis is disposed substantially vertically in the plane of symmetry of the boat.

 According to another embodiment, the mobile stabilization member is constituted by at least one pivoting flap disposed (s) in the central part of the keel and contained (s) in the longitudinal plane when (s) is (are ) in the inactive position, the movable flap (s) being articulated around a pivot axis contained in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the boat.

 According to an additional characteristic, the pivoting flap (s) has (have) a substantially rectangular shape and is (are) articulated (s) around a substantially vertical perpendicular bisector, the flap (s) swivel (s) being disposed inside an orifice located in the central part of the keel, so as to be able, in the active position, to present on either side of the keel, one of its (their) lateral face (s) in the direction of the hydraulic flow.

 According to another characteristic of the stabilization device for sailboats, it comprises several mobile stabilization members such as pivoting flaps arranged when they are in the inactive position in planes parallel to the direction of the hydraulic flow and intersecting with the longitudinal plane.

 According to one embodiment, the pivoting flaps are in the inactive position, arranged in planes orthogonal to the longitudinal plane and are articulated around transverse axes arranged along their leading edge.

 Stabilization device for sailboats according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transition from an active position to an inactive position and vice versa of the mobile stabilization member (s) is obtained by to control means.

 Furthermore, the control means comprise a computerized control unit intended to take into account the physical parameters linked to the environment of the boat and to its movement.

 According to the various embodiments, the invention has significant advantages for the navigation of the boat and its devices are intended to stabilize the boat by reducing the heel and thus improve the navigation characteristics of the boat and in particular its speed. In the case of a movable member constituted by a lower keel extension also called an active keel, this makes it possible to considerably reduce the dimensions of the keel and to eliminate or significantly reduce the ballast in relation to the dimensions and ballast of the keel of current sailboats, so the boat has less draft and allows faster navigation with less heel. According to another embodiment where the movable members are constituted by pivoting flaps arranged in planes orthogonal to the keel and which can be called keel foils for example, these advantageously make it possible to level the boat in its axis even when this one has heel and thus make it possible to increase its speed by presenting a smaller submerged volume. Note also that the sailboat advantageously has floats to balance the boat when it is stopped or at low speed.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows with reference to the appended drawings which are given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

 Figures 1 to 11 illustrate different embodiments of the device for stabilizing a boat according to the invention.

 Figures 1 to 3c illustrate a first embodiment.

 Figure 1 shows in side view a boat equipped with a stabilization device in the inactive position.

 Figure 2 illustrates in a view similar to Figure 1 the stabilization device in the active position.

 Figure 3a shows in cross section along BB the stabilization device in the inactive position.

 Figures 3b and 3c show in views similar to Figure 3a two different active positions of the device.

 Figures 4 to 7b illustrate a second embodiment and an alternative embodiment where the movable stabilization member is constituted by longitudinal pivoting flaps.

 Figure 4 illustrates in side view the boat and its device.

 Figures 5a and 5b show in cross section along BB the second embodiment of the device respectively in the inactive position and in the active position.

 Figure 6 shows in side view an alternative embodiment in the inactive position.

 Figures 7a and 7b show in cross section along BB said alternative embodiment of the device respectively in the inactive position and in the active position.

 Figures 8a to 11 illustrate a third embodiment and its variants.

 FIG. 8a illustrates in cross section along CC an embodiment of the device in the inactive position.

 FIG. 8b illustrates in the inactive position, in a view similar to FIG. 8a, the preferred variant of the third embodiment.

 FIG. 9a schematically illustrates in side view this preferred variant in several positions.

 Figure 9b illustrates in a view similar to Figure 9a a variant of the third embodiment where the pivot axes are offset.

 Figure 10 shows in cross section along CC another variant of the third embodiment.

 FIG. 11 represents in cross section along CC a boat equipped with lateral flotation members and with a combination of the various embodiments of the device.

 The stabilization device bearing the general reference (1) is intended to be placed on sailboats (2) such as pleasure boats or competition sailboats, but it could also be used on smaller sailboats such than dinghies, for example. This device comprises stabilization means constituted by at least one mobile stabilization member (4) disposed on the keel of the sailboat (2). Note that in the case of dinghies, such a device can equip the drift thereof in order to improve their stability.

 The movable stabilization member (s) (OM) are each provided with at least one bearing surface (SP) intended to be positioned in the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow caused by the movement of the boat in the water in order to use this flow to create a support, the result of which makes it possible to prevent or reduce the heeling of the boat.

 According to the invention, the mobile stabilization member (OM) is intended to equip the keel (3) of the boat (2) so as to be movable relative to the latter between an inactive position (A) where its bearing surface (SP) is retracted with respect to the hydraulic flow (F) generated by the movement of the boat thus leaving the boat (2) to tilt under the pressure exerted by the wind in its sails (6a, 6b), and at least one position active (B1, B2) where its bearing surface (SP) is arranged in the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow so as to undergo the support of water.

 According to the invention, the mobile stabilization member (s) (OM) is (are) controlled by control means (MC) intended to allow its passage (s) from an inactive position to an active position and vice versa. According to the different embodiments of the invention, said passage is advantageously effected by pivoting of the bearing surface (s) (SP) around a pivot axis (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) driven by the control means (MC). The pivot axis (s) (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) may advantageously be either located in the longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P) of the boat (2) corresponding to the plane of the keel (3) , or in planes orthogonal to said plane (P) and substantially horizontal so that in their active positions, the bearing surface (s) (SP) is (are) located in a plane parallel to the direction of the hydraulic flow and that after pivoting, said surface (s) is positioned so as to no longer be located in a plane parallel to the direction of said flow and therefore to cut said flux.

 According to a first embodiment of the stabilization device (1) according to the invention, illustrated in Figures 1 to 3c, the stabilization means are constituted by a single movable member (OM). This, when it is in the inactive position (A), forms the lower extension (4) of the keel (3), as illustrated in FIG. 3a, and can pivot around a substantially vertical axis (XX ' ) contained in the longitudinal plane (P) of general symmetry of the boat (2) as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The lower keel extension (4) is thus pivotally movable relative to the longitudinal plane (P) and therefore the keel (3) so as to be able to form a non-zero angle a with said plane (P) when it is in one of its active positions (B1, B2) as shown in FIGS. 3b and 3c. The device (1) furthermore comprises means for locking in position the movable member so as to be able to rigidly maintain said member in the desired active or inactive position.

 According to this first embodiment, the movable member (OM) has in a transverse plane a profile of tapered shape identical to that of the keel (3) so as to be able to form its extension.

Thus, its two side walls (5a, Sb) extend the side walls (3a, 3b) of the keel (3) when it is in the inactive position. Said side walls (5a, 5b) connect the leading edge (7a) to the trailing edge (7b) of the mobile stabilization member (OM). They have a very slightly convex profile which can be considered as parallel to the plane (P) and therefore also parallel to the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow when they are in the inactive position. Thus, the flow of water takes place parallel along said walls in a manner known per se, as along the keel, when the movable member is in the inactive position. During its pivoting, the movable member (OM) has one of its side walls (5a, 5b) in the direction of the hydraulic flow with an incidence allowing support to be obtained on said side face (Sa, 5b) which thus constitutes its bearing surface (SP). The support, due to the flow around the mobile stabilization member (OM) generated by the movement of the boat, causes the appearance of a return movement tending to reduce the effect of the boat heeling (2 ), that is to say to bring the keel (3) or the plane (P) which is linked to it in a vertical plane of the Galilean frame of reference linked to the body of water.

 According to this first embodiment, the control means (MC) can be constituted by a mechanical device of a type known per se, the movable member (OM) being carried by a pivot axis (8) substantially vertical located in the plane (P) and whose pivoting can be obtained and managed by a motorized system with manual control.

However, according to an improvement, the control means (MC) could be constituted by a computerized control unit making it possible to take into account the different physical parameters linked to the environment and to the movement of the boat such as the angle of heel of the boat. , its speed, the agitation of the sea and the force of the wind, for example, in order to be able to determine the angle of orientation a between the bearing surface (SP) of the mobile stabilization member (OM) and the plane (P) of the keel, maximizing the compromise between heeling angle and speed.

 Note also that the mobile stabilization member (OM) may comprise on its lateral faces (5a, 5b) intended to constitute the bearing surface (SP) of the pressure sensors intended to measure the support obtained by means of the fluid. Thus, the control unit can also take this value of the support into account to modify or not the inclination a of the bearing surface of the movable member.

 According to a second embodiment of the stabilization device (1) illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5a and 5b, the stabilization means are constituted by a movable member (OM) such as a pivoting flap (9) disposed in the central part of the keel (3). The pivoting flap (9) is pivotally articulated about an axis (8) disposed substantially along the vertical axis (XX ') of the plane (P). It is advantageously rectangular in its longitudinal section along the plane (P) and is articulated around a perpendicular bisector of said rectangle. The flap (9) is thus disposed in an orifice (11) of identical rectangular shape extending between the side walls (3a, 3b) of the keel (3) and located in the central part thereof.

 According to this second embodiment, the movable flap (9) has, during its pivoting, one of its lateral faces (9a, 9b) in the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow so as to obtain, by modifying the flow, a support intended for create a reminder moment to straighten the boat.

 According to a variant of this second embodiment, the stabilization means comprise several pivoting flaps each constituting a mobile stabilization member (OM). Thus, according to the variant illustrated in Figures 6, 7a and 7b, the device comprises three pivoting flaps (10a, 10b, 10c) articulated along axes (8a, 8b, 8c) parallel to each other and substantially vertical. Said flaps are rectangular and identical and each pivot according to one of their perpendicular bisectors, which is arranged substantially vertical. They are arranged in the extension of each other when they are in the inactive position and completely fill an orifice (11) of the type described in the second embodiment, so as to integrate perfectly into the keel (3) .

 According to this variant, the pivoting of said flaps around their respective axes (8a, 8b, 8c) so as to present one of their lateral faces (21a, 21b) in the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow takes place simultaneously by means of control means such as a mechanical device, for example, intended to manage the pivoting angle of each of the movable flaps (10a, 10b, 10c). It goes without saying that the angle given to each of the flaps in an active position can be identical but it could also be different depending on the position of the flap close to or far from the leading edge of the keel. Furthermore, the pivoting of the flaps could also be managed by the control means in a non-simultaneous manner and thus make it possible to pivot only one of said flaps (10a, 10b, 10c) when this is sufficient to straighten the boat (2 ).

 It should be noted that, according to this second embodiment and its variant embodiments with several pivoting flaps, the control means may also include a computerized unit making it possible to take into account the various navigation parameters linked in particular to the boat, its operation or to its environment, so as to calculate the angle or angles of the mobile stabilization organ (s) (OM) of the optimum active position of the stabilization device. It should also be noted that said control means are in a manner known per se of the type allowing continuous adjustment of the angle of inclination of the bearing surfaces, thus giving them an unlimited number of possible active positions; however, the adjustment could also be of the step-by-step type, so that the mobile stabilization member can only take on a determined number of different positions, without however departing from the protective field of the invention.

 According to a variant not shown of this second embodiment of the stabilization device, the mobile stabilization members can be constituted by side flaps arranged symmetrically around the keel, but which are no longer located in an orifice of said keel. These flaps are thus arranged against the side walls of the latter in the inactive position and then pivot towards their active position by forming a non-zero angle open towards the rear with the side walls of said keel.

 According to a third embodiment and its variants illustrated in FIGS. 8a to 11, the mobile stabilization members (OM) consist of at least two pivoting flaps (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) which can also be more commonly called foils , said flaps (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) being arranged symmetrically on either side of the keel (3) so as to extend from its side walls (3a, 3b) towards the outside of the boat (2 ) in planes (Q1, Q2, H, H1, H2) intersecting with the longitudinal plane of symmetry (P) and parallel to the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow. Said pivoting flaps (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) have in their inactive position their respective leading edges (13) in the hydraulic flow, and the flow takes place along their lower and upper walls (14a, 14b) advantageously situated in planes parallel to the direction of the hydraulic flow (F).

 According to the preferred variant of the third embodiment, the two pivoting flaps (12a, 12b) are of tapered shape and could in their inactive position be arranged in a plane (H) orthogonal to the plane (P) of the keel, as shown Figure 8b. However, they could also, according to an alternative embodiment of this third embodiment, be arranged respectively in two planes (Q1, Q2) slightly inclined, each forming, in a transverse plane as illustrated in FIG. 8a, an angle a with said plane (H) without departing from the protective field of the invention. The pivoting flaps (12a, 12b) are respectively pivotally mounted around transverse axes (16) arranged at the front end of said flaps advantageously along their respective leading edges (13).

 According to this third embodiment, the control means consist of a mechanical device of a type known per se intended to position the pivoting flaps (12a, 12b) in one of their active positions (B1, B2) illustrated diagrammatically. in dotted line in FIG. 9a by pivoting them around their respective axis (16) and by blocking them in a determined position by means of blocking means, said mechanical system being able to be managed by a computerized control unit automatically, for example, or by a manual device. Note that said flaps could be articulated along axes arranged in the central zone of said flaps as shown in a variant illustrated in FIG. 9b, for example, or along their trailing edges (15), without however going outside the protective field of the invention. Similarly, as shown in FIG. 10, the stabilization device could comprise several pivoting flaps (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) on the same side wall (3a, 3b) of the keel (3) and be coupled with another movable stabilization member (OM) such as a lower keel extension (4) of the type described above.

 Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11 where the device has a combination of mobile stabilization member such as those described in the various previous embodiments, the stabilization means comprise lateral flotation members (17a, 17b ) also intended to reduce the heeling of the boat, especially at low speed or when stationary. Said lateral members are advantageously constituted by two floats (17a, 17b) movable between an active position, where they are positioned laterally in contact with water, and an inactive position, where they are no longer in contact with water.

 According to the preferred embodiment, the floats (17a 17b) are mounted on articulated arms (18a, 18b) so as to allow their passage from the active position to the inactive position, and vice versa.

The articulation of said arms takes place longitudinally around two parallel longitudinal axes (19a, 19b) and locking means are provided in order to maintain the arms and the floats in a determined position, active (B) or inactive (A) such as illustrated in FIG. 11. It is also possible to provide an elastic return device, so that in the active position, the arm-float assembly is not rigidly locked in position, but may have a degree of freedom limited in its articulation around its axis with, however, a restoring torque tending to return said assembly to its active position. It goes without saying that the floats could be positioned using equivalent systems, without however departing from the claimed protective field of the invention. In addition, said positioning of the floats can be controlled by additional control means linked to the control means managing the positioning of the movable member.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (9)

 1. Stabilization device (1) for sailboats (2) of longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P) provided with a keel (3) or a fin, characterized in that it comprises stabilization means constituted by at least one mobile stabilization member (OM) having at least one bearing surface (SP), the mobile stabilization member (OM) being disposed on the keel (3) so as to be movable relative to the latter between a position inactive, where its bearing surface (SP) is parallel to the direction (F) of the hydraulic flow due to the displacement of the boat, and an active position where its bearing surface (SP) is arranged in the direction (F) of said hydraulic flow.  2. Stabilization device (1) for sailing boats (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile stabilization member (4) is constituted by a lower extension (4) of the keel (3) and is articulated around a pivot axis (8) contained in the plane of symmetry (P) of the boat (2).  3. Stabilization device (1) for sailing boats (2) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivot axis (8) is disposed substantially vertically in the plane of symmetry (P) of the boat (2).  4. Stabilization device (1) for sailboats (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mobile stabilization member (OM) consists of at least one pivoting flap (9, 10a, 10b, 10c) arranged in the central part of the keel (3) and contained in the longitudinal plane (P) when it (s) is (are) in the inactive position, the flap (s) ( s) movable (s) being articulated (s) about a pivot axis (8, 8a, 8b, 8c) contained in the longitudinal plane (P) of symmetry of the boat (2).  5. Stabilization device (1) for sailboats (2) according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivoting flap (s) (9, 10a, 10b, 10c) has (s) a substantially rectangular in shape and is (are) articulated (s) around a substantially vertical perpendicular bisector, the pivoting flap (s) being disposed inside an orifice (11) located in the central part of the keel (3), so as to be able to present, on either side of the keel (3), one of its (their) lateral face (s) (9a, 9b, 21a, 21b) in the direction of the hydraulic flow (F).  6. Stabilization device (1) for sailboats (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises several mobile stabilization members (OM) such as pivoting flaps (12a, 12b) arranged when in the inactive position in planes (Q1, Q2, H) parallel to the direction of the hydraulic flow (F) and intersecting with the longitudinal plane (P).  7. Stabilization device (1) for sailing boats (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the pivoting flaps (12a, 12b) are in the inactive position, arranged in planes orthogonal to the longitudinal plane (P) and are articulated around transverse axes (ira, 16b) arranged along their leading edge (13).  8. Stabilization device (1) for sailboats (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the passage from an active position to an inactive position and vice versa of the movable member (s) (s) stabilization (OM) is obtained by means of control (MC).  9. Stabilization device (1) for sailing boats (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the control means (MC) comprise a computerized control unit intended to take into account the physical parameters related to the environment of the boat and its displacement.