FR2796038A1 - Sheathing for canopy traction lines includes canopy, control and hanging system, and covers part of length of two lines sliding freely next to each other - Google Patents

Abstract

Sheath (21) integral with canopy (33) and control and hanging system (20) covers over all or part of length of at least two lines sliding freely next to each other under action of user. One end (21 a, b) of sheath is connected to lines' passage piece (29) allowing free passage of line. Sheath takes up all or part of traction forces it is subjected to independently of line which it covers.

Description

The present invention relates to a sheathing system of lines of traction wings of any type, flexible with or without boxes, rigid with reinforcement, semi-rigid with inflatable elements, being intended in particular for the practice of surfing or swimming towed.

It is well known to produce traction wings connected to the user by one or more lines, via a control bar or any other system allowing the user to maneuver his sails and to hang on. to this one.

In general the number of these lines is limited to the maximum because it is a source of wrappings and complexity of use and preparation. In addition, when the pilot falls into the water, it becomes very difficult to redo his sail if the number of lines is too important.

Traction wings are commonly found in two or four lines. Two lines allow the beginner to maneuver his sail with simplicity, four offer the insider to vary significantly the trim of his wing, so as to put more or less in the wind and thus reduce its power when necessary .

The recent development of traction wings requires more and more precision in the behavior of the wings and their control system by lines. The wings of the current paragliders are a very good example. Their lines allow a very good definition of profiles, but it is sophisticated and requires a lot of attention to the pilot before taking off to unravel all of its lines. In addition, these lines measure between 6 and 8 meters.

On a nautical traction assembly of the type described here, the lines can commonly reach a size of several tens of meters, and it is not conceivable for this purpose to adopt systems as complex as for paragliding.

It is known, however, that a minimum number of lines is required to allow more controls and therefore maneuvers to a wing traction than those currently possible.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system of lines for traction wings allowing the user to maneuver his wing more accurately and easily.

The invention will be better understood with reference to the figures - FIG. 1 represents an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, in a situation of normal flight. - Figure 2A shows an embodiment of the present invention, in a position to maneuver to the left.

FIG. 2B represents an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, in a situation of pulling upwards.

FIG. 3 represents an exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, in a situation of attitude modification.

The set of lines according to the present invention is characterized in that at least one sheath integral with the wing and the control and attachment system, covers over all or part of its length at least two freely sliding lines. a vis-à-vis the other under the action of the user.

The exemplary embodiment according to the present invention comprises a traction wing 10 composed of a wing 33 and different groups of lines distributed as follows. Front line cones 32 connect a front line 24 to a control bar and 25. These cones are located on the same plane and maintain the front end of the wing 33 over its entire span.

Cones of main lines 34 connect a main line 26 to the control bar 25. These cones are located on the same plane and maintain the center of the wing 33 on its full span.

35 and right 31 left brake line cones respectively connect two left brake lines 28 and right 22. These cones are located on the same plane and maintain the rear end of the wing 33 over its full span.

The main line 26, the front line 24 and the two brake lines 22 and 28 pass through two similar passage parts of lines 29. The front line 24 is connected at its lower end to a line blocker 23, can under the action of the user, slide along the lower end of the main line 26. The two lines of brakes 22 and 28 pass at their lower end respectively by the right and left ends of a control bar 25, to emerge substantially in the middle of said bar and come hook on the line blocker 23, opposite the fixing of the line before 24.

The right and left sides in the description are given according to the direction of movement of the assembly, that is substantially opposite to the wind in FIG. 1. An attachment end 27 allows the user, not shown, and placing himself back according to the figures, to cling to the assembly via a conventional harness and not shown.

A sheath 21, of real length not shown in the figures, covers the various lines 22, 24, 26, 28, and this, substantially between the two pieces of line passage 29, secured by the ends 21A and 21B of the said sheath. The ends 21A and 21B are spaced apart from the line passage pieces 29 as a function of the sliding amplitude necessary to vary the attitude of the wing 33.

This sheath 21 is secured to the main line 26 or any other line, including a simple reinforcement of said sheath, insofar as this arrangement always allows to vary the trim of the wing 10 by sliding lines appropriate.

This sheath 21 consists of a fabric band folded and sewn on itself, so as to obtain a flexible and strong sheath. According to another embodiment, the seam is positioned before the edge of this strip so that the sheath obtained is extended by a strip of fabric in order to increase the visibility of said sheath.

According to another embodiment, said sheath is made of a substantially tubular plastic material, nonwoven, and allowing the free sliding of the lines it covers.

According to another exemplary embodiment, said sheath consists of a succession of rings interconnected by a line assigned to this purpose and now between the rings a predetermined distance.

A node 30 or any other locking means makes it possible to fix the line-passing part 29 on the main line 26. Other similar means can be arranged on other lines to limit their movement through said part.

The two line passage pieces 29 are formed of a disc made of a light and resistant material such as aluminum for example, and of substantially circular shape, pierced with a certain number of holes allowing the passage of one or several lines. These holes can be dressed with a material that promotes sliding and reduces abrasion. According to another embodiment, the piece 29 is constituted by a single ring separated into different orifices to allow both the passage of the number of lines required and the attachment of said part on at least one line or sheath. The various holes or orifices of the two line-passing parts 29 are arranged so that the sheath 21 along the contour of the lines stretched between the two said parts 29 forms a smallest and most aerodynamic profile possible.

The distinct lines of front 24, main 26 and 22 and 28 brakes therefore allow the user to maneuver his wing according to the various common aeronautical axes, the yaw (left horizontal plane! Right), the roll (plane vertical left <I> l </ I> right), and pitch (vertical plane forward <I> l </ I> back).

An essential maneuver in the practice of the wing of traction is the takeoff on the beach or the relaunching in the water. in the case of a wing whose attitude can not be modified by the pilot, the latter pulls on his control bar and inflates his wing which is then on a plane perpendicular to the wind. The effort is important and the sail momentarily static because it is in the tailwind configuration. The problem is increased when the pilot is in the water and can not withstand the force of the wind as on the ground.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, the user draws the line blocker 23 from him. He then automatically pulls the front line 24 which is fixed on the said blocker and releases all the left brake lines 28 and 22 which are fixed on this blocker 23 and slide inside on both sides of the control bar 25. The plate of the wing 33 and flips on the front along the axis of the span of said wing about the axis of the main line cones 34 (refer to Figure 3).

This maneuver is not only used during take-offs, but also when wind conditions are too high for the user's gauge. Indeed, this inclination has the effect of reducing the projected surface of the wing 33 relative to the wind and a reduction in lift forces that allow the user to move.

It will be noted that in these geometrical arrangements of the exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, the original profile of the wing 33 is not affected, since the reduction in the length of the lines on the front side returns the same length of the rear side where it is needed. In the case where the cone of the main lines is double or multiple of two, the upper end of the main line or lines comprises a ring or pulley in which the cones of anterior lines are slid and balanced with the line cones. posterior, the said line or lines lying in a substantially median geometric plane of the rope (front width) of the wing.

Whatever the position of the blocker 23, the user has the same possibility of maneuvering his brakes via the control bar 25. To orient the wing 10 to the left along the axis of the trajectory, as described in FIG. 2A, the pilot presses on the same side of its bar 25. It thus pulls on the left brake line 28 and the wing tilts in the desired direction along a combined yaw I roll axis. This maneuver can be performed without the pilot having to free himself from his hooking end 27, because said end is fixed on the bar 25 substantially in the middle, or on the lateral inclination axis of the called bar.

Another common maneuver in this practice is to use the wing 10 to jump on the relief of the waves, when the speed reached by the user is sufficient. A modification of the plate as seen previously is not the most adapted because it makes lose the power to the wing. The paragliding pilots know how to take advantage of the ascending currents by pulling simultaneously their two lines of left and right brakes. The speed is altered but their wings momentarily pull them up, an effect sought by the trailing wing practitioners on the water.

A similar effect can be reproduced with the exemplary embodiment according to the present invention, in particular thanks to the control bar 25, which is of substantially elliptical or rounded shape. By simultaneously pulling the two ends of the said bar simultaneously, or by rotating it around the various central attachment points, the two left and right brake lines 22 are drawn in the same way (refer to Figure 2B). Thus the wing 10 pulls the pilot abruptly upwards, giving him the desired effect. Note that this particular form of the control bar 25 allows the pilot to remain hooked through the tip 27, and thus be able to multiply the number of these maneuvers without additional fatigue.

The bar 25 according to the example consists of an aluminum tube, or carbon, bent and is filled with floating materials such as polystyrene foam, for example, to ensure its buoyancy.

Another embodiment according to the present invention uses the same principle but according to two separate sheaths 21, so as to keep two sets of left and right lines. In this configuration, each sheath receives a front line, one or more intermediate lines and a line of brakes. Each duct manages a distinct left or right side of the wing 10 and sets its lines substantially on either side of the middle of a control bar 25, the brake lines being always dissociated at each end of said bar. The latter being manipulated as described above.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the sheath 21 is secured to the front line 24. The two ends of said sheath are spaced from the line passage pieces 29 of at least the displacement amplitude value of the line blocker 23 Thus, when said blocker is actuated to the maximum, the lower end of the sheath 21 is flush with the lower line passage piece 29, and therefore does not disturb this maneuver. This arrangement allows a user to seize directly the sheath 21, at any location, to perform a take-off maneuver of the blade 10 in a small space.

When pulling on said sheath, the wind causes the wing 10. The main lines 26 and brakes 22 and 28 are not retained and slide inside the sheath. The attitude of the said wing is modified in the same way as described in Figure 3, the traction forces are reduced because of the very low lift of the wing 33 in this configuration. This manipulation makes it possible to directly hold the sheath 21 despite the weakness of the grip on a small diameter object, and also avoids the risk of cutting. The user can thus take off said wing in a congested or reduced space by holding it by the sheath 21 as close as possible to the upper passage piece 29, and let the said sheath run progressively until reaching its bar control 25.

In order for the wing 10 to maintain an acceptable flight configuration, it is possible to limit the range of travel of the main line 26 by a knot 30 suitably placed on the front line 24 above the line crossing piece 29. The spacing two nodes 30 of the lines 24 and 26 on either side of said line-passing part thus determines the maximum angle that can be given to the wing 10.

The sheath 21 makes it possible to use multiple lines without the constraints of entanglement during implementation or during re-launching. In addition, it offers a significant advantage in terms of security. Indeed, the lines commonly used in the practice of traction wings are rarely more than two millimeters in diameter. Even many, it is difficult for a spectator or another user to see them when the said wing moves quickly. It can cause cuts or severe burns when in contact with an obstacle or another person. Thus, associated with the passage piece of lines 29, the sheath 21 includes several fine lines in a thicker bead, much more visible and can also be manipulated directly by hand, which is unthinkable with a thin line and cutting when the wind is strong and the wing 10 measures several square meters. In addition the said sheath offers to the lines, a protection with U.V as well as the abrasion of the sand. In addition, these different lines grouped into a single beam, profiled and small diameter offer less resistance to wind.

In another example, the sheath 21 takes up all or part of the tensile forces experienced independently of a line that it covers, and secondly, a line is sewn or fastened along a sheath 21 and connects two pieces of line crossing 29.

Claims (1)

<B> <U> CLAIMS </ U> </ B> A set of lines connecting a traction wing of any type to its user or a load to be moved, by means of a control and hooking system, and comprising at least two separate ropes, characterized in that at least one sheath 21 secured to a wing 33 and to the control and hooking system 20 covers over all or part of its length at least two freely sliding lines. 'a vis-à-vis the other under the action of the user. 2 set of lines according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end 21A, 21B of a sheath 21 is connected to a passage part of lines 29, allowing the free passage of at least one line. 3 set of lines according to claims let 2, characterized in that a passage part of lines 29 solidarise the end of a sheath 21 with the wing 10 or a control and attachment system 20. 4 Set of lines according to claim 1, characterized in that a sheath 21 takes up all or part of the tensile forces experienced independently of a line that it covers. 5 set of lines according to claim 1, characterized in that the pilot can change the attitude of its wing by direct traction on a sheath 21, independently of a control system and hooking 20. 6 Set of lines according to claim 1, characterized in that a line passing through a line passage piece 29 has its sliding amplitude limited by a node 30 or any other retaining system disposed on said line. 7 set of lines according to claim 6, characterized in that a line blocker 23 or any other retaining means brings closer, under the action of the user, a passage part of lines 29 of the bottom of a sheath 21 with a control bar 25, in order to maintain a given attitude to the wing 33. 8 Set of lines according to claims let 4, characterized in that a line is sewn or fixed along a sheath 21 and connects two passage parts 29. 9 Set of lines according to claim 1, characterized in that the control bar 25 consists of a substantially elliptical or rounded tube.