ITTO20010910A1 - SWINGING REGULATOR FOR SAILBOATS. - Google Patents

Description

Description of the industrial invention entitled "HEELING REGULATOR FOR SAILING BOATS" in the name of

DESCRIPTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

Sailboat with one or more hulls, with at least one mast of the sails, in which the mast of the sails has the possibility of moving transversely with respect to the hull on which said mast insists, depending on the action of the wind on the sails and / or for the intervention of the crew.

The single-hulled boat is equipped with specific floats suitably shaped, arranged on its two sides, which act as means of contrasting the heel; these floats can slide from top to bottom on special guides.

The leeward float can be progressively immersed in water by connecting it to the windward shroud by means of a mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic device, so that the immersion of said float is dependent on the tension acting on the windward shroud. The immersion of the leeward float thus counteracts the inclination of the boat due to the thrust of the wind on the sails. Said float, alternatively, can be immersed in water by the intervention of the crew, who can act on special mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices. The leeward float is then disconnected from the windward shroud.

Similarly, the side hulls of a multi-hulled boat can slide from top to bottom on special guides. By submerging the leeward hull in the same ways that the leeward float of the monohull is submerged, effects similar to those described above are obtained.

With regard to both monohulls and multihulls, the crew can vary the length of the devices that connect the mast shrouds to the heeling contrast means (floats or side hulls), thus adjusting the inclination of the mast.

PRE-EXISTING TECHNIQUE

The action of the wind on the sails of sailing boats generally causes a heeling depending on the intensity of the wind. The heeling of a boat with a given exposed sail depends not only on the intensity of the wind, but also on the width, the shape of the hull, the weight and the distribution of weights in the boat itself.

The previous PATENT FOR INDUSTRIAL INVENTION No. 01285406 entitled "ANTI-SKID AND ANTI-REVERSE DEVICE FOR SAILING BOATS", in the name of the same inventor of this patent, describes a device that counteracts the heeling and drift of the boat due to the action of the wind on the sails in a totally independent way from the intervention of the crew; this device can be applied to both monohull and multi-hull boats.

With reference to a monohull, the device referred to in the aforementioned previous patent consists of at least one mast of the sails that moves transversely with respect to the hull and of two floats, placed windward and leeward of the boat, floats that can be immersed in water by sliding from top to bottom along vertical or inclined guides.

The tension acting on the windward shroud due to the thrust of the wind on the sails is used to make the float subwind downwind, by means of mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices, without any intervention by the crew. The immersion of the leeward float thus counteracts the heeling of the boat due to the action of the wind on the sails.

Referring to multihulls, the device provides that the function performed by the floats in the monohull is fulfilled by the two lateral hulls, which are movable with respect to the central hull from top to bottom.

The application of the previous patent to a given sailing vessel determines a position of the mast of the sails exclusively dependent, with a given exposed sail, on the intensity of the wind. The immersion of the float or of the leeward hull, and therefore the heeling of the boat, depends, in turn, exclusively on the position of the sail mast.

The device object of the present patent expands the field of application of the previous patent, allowing a quick and easy intervention of the crew, aimed at optimizing the performance of the boat relating to comfort, safety and speed in all navigation conditions. To obtain this result, the crew changes the immersion of the float or the leeward hull and / or the inclination of the mast, by activating special mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices inserted in the connection between the shrouds of the mast and the floats or the hulls. lateral; the crew can, in addition, block the possibility of movement of the mast and / or the leeward float or lateral hull, to obtain the trim of the boat that it deems most appropriate at all times and conditions.

EXPOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a sailing boat with one or more hulls, with at least one sail mast moving transversely with respect to the hull on which said mast rests. With reference to a monohull, this boat is equipped with two floats, placed windward and leeward of the boat itself, which can be immersed in water, moving from top to bottom along vertical or inclined guides.

The tension acting on the windward shroud due to the thrust of the wind on the sails can be used, without the crew's intervention, to make the float subwind downwind, by means of mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic devices.

Referring to multihulls, the device provides that the function performed by the floats in the monohull is fulfilled by the two lateral hulls, which are movable with respect to the central hull from top to bottom.

The device object of the present patent is inserted in the connections between the shrouds and the floats or the lateral hulls and is maneuvered by the crew to obtain different results:

1. Exclude the same device, so as to make the boat work as described in the aforementioned patent No. 01235406.

2. Change the distance of the connection between the shrouds and the floats or side hulls; with this intervention the crew achieves a desired inclination of the mast in any wind condition. For example, the mast can be kept vertical or tilted to windward, to maximize the speed performance of the boat, or it can be further tilted to leeward, to make the sails take less wind and make navigation safer. In any mast condition, with this intervention of the crew, the float or the hull to leeward

they will have a dive dependent solely on the force exerted by the wind on the sails.

3. Lock the sail mast movement and manually adjust the draft of the float or leeward hull. The boat behaves in this case exactly as if it had a fixed mast, with shrouds fixed to the

their tack points, and the crew will adjust the inclination of the boat by lowering the float or the leeward hull more or less; in this case the heeling of the boat will vary in the event of changes in the force exerted by the wind on the sails, unless a new intervention by the crew on the immersion of the float or

of the leeward hull.

4. Lock the movement of the float or leeward hull and manually adjust the tilt of the mast

of the sails. In this condition the boat tilts downwind, depending on the action of the wind on the sails,

and the tree, for example, can be kept vertical;

this condition could prove to be favorable for speed performance in the case of boats whose width at the dive line is significantly reduced with

The inclination. ? 5. Lock the shaft and float movements together

te or leeward hull. In this case, evidently, the boat will behave like a traditional sailing boat and the hull will incline integrally to the mast; this will allow the crew to steer the boat in a traditional way.

The following descriptions and drawings refer to a boat with a single mast, equipped with a single pair of shrouds, but the invention is applicable, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art, also to boats with more than one mast or with masts with more than a pair of shrouds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained below with reference to drawings from 1 to 47 in two distinct embodiments, referring both to a monohull boat and to a multihull boat (trimaran).

For the sake of clarity, all the components connected to the windward shroud have been indicated in the drawings with a capital letter followed by an odd number; the corresponding components linked to the leeward shroud are indicated with the same letter followed by the following even number. For example, in figure 2 the float Gl, connected to the windward shroud SI, corresponds to the float G2, connected to the leeward shroud S2.

In all the figures that represent the boat in navigation it has been assumed that the wind comes from starboard with respect to the one who looks at the figure itself.

The first embodiment provides for the application of a mechanical device and is illustrated, with reference to a monohull boat, in drawings from 1 to 7 and with reference to a multihull boat, in drawings from 8 to 14; in detail:

• Figure 1 is the cross section of a boat with a single hull, in which the device has been designed, for clarity of presentation, with reference to a single shroud. • Figure 8 is the front view of a multi-hulled boat (trimaran), with the device drawn, for clarity, with reference to a single shroud and with a partial section corresponding to the attachment of the leeward hull LI.

• Figures 2 and 9 are the front views respectively of the same boats of Figures 1 and 8, in a rest situation and with the device drawn with reference to both shrouds.

Figures 3 to 7 for the monohull and 10 to 14 for the multihull are the front views of the same boat respectively of figures 2 and 9, sailing upwind and with the device applied to both shrouds, and precisely: • The Figures 3 and 10 show the boats in which the device has been blocked by the crew, so as to cancel its effects. In this condition it is as if the device were not applied to the boat and the sinking of the float or of the leeward hull depends exclusively on the force acting on the windward shroud, a force deriving from the action of the wind on the sails.

• Figures 4 and 11 show the boats in which the crew operated the device in such a way as to reduce the distance between the shroud and the float. In this condition the sinking of the float or of the leeward hull always depends on the tension acting on the windward shroud, but the inclination of the sail mast will be determined by the action of the crew, who will shorten the distance between the shroud and the float until obtaining the desired inclination (in Figures 4 and 11 the shaft has been brought into a vertical position).

• Figures 5 and 12 represent the boats in which the crew has fixed the windward shroud in order to keep the mast in the rest position, regardless of the force of the wind on the sails. The crew also operates the device to determine the submersion of the float or of the hull to leeward and to obtain a desired heeling of the boat (in figures 5 and 12 the boats have been brought in a horizontal position).

• Figures 6 and 13 show the boats where the crew has blocked the possibility of movement of the float or hull to leeward. the boat will behave like a classic boat as regards the heel, assuming a position dependent on the shape of the hull and the position of the load and crew under the pressure of the wind on the sails, while the position of the mast will be determined by the crew, shortening the length of the windward shroud (in figures 6 and 13 the mast was brought to a vertical position).

• Figures 7 and 14 show boats where the crew has locked the windward shroud and leeward float in their rest positions. In this situation the boat will behave in all respects like a classic boat, with a mast integral to the hull and a heel, under the pressure of the wind on the sails, depending on the shape of the hull and the position of the load and crew.

Figures 15 to 20 are details which illustrate the scheme of the device object of the present patent under the same navigation conditions as represented in the aforementioned drawings of the boats; these details refer to the windward shroud. In particular:

• Figure 15 refers to Figures 1, 2, 8 and 9.

• Figure 16 refers to Figures 3 and 10.

• Figure 17 refers to Figures 4 and 11.

• Figure 18 refers to Figures 5 and 12.

• Figure 19 refers to Figures 6 and 13.

• Figure 20 refers to Figures 7 and 14.

The second embodiment provides for the application of a hydraulic or pneumatic device and is illustrated with reference to a monohull boat in drawings from 21 to 27, with reference to a multihull boat in drawings from 28 to 34; in detail:

• Figures 21 and 28 are the front views respectively of a single-hulled boat and a multihull, partially sectioned respectively in correspondence with the lateral float Gl and the lateral hull LI, in conditions of sailing upwind, and with the device designed, for the sake of clarity, with reference to a single shroud.

• Figures 22 to 27 correspond, in the same order, to Figures 2 to 7; Figures 29 to 34 correspond, in the same order, to Figures 9 to 14. The same description applies to a given figure of the second embodiment as the corresponding figure of the first embodiment.

Figures 35 to 40 are details which illustrate the scheme of the device object of the present patent, under the same navigation conditions represented in the aforementioned drawings of the boats. These details refer to the windward shroud; in particular:

• Figure 35 refers to Figures 22 and 29.

• Figure 36 refers to Figures 21, 23, 28 and 30. • Figure 37 refers to Figures 24 and 31.

• Figure 38 refers to Figures 25 and 32.

• Figure 39 refers to Figures 26 and 33.

• Figure 40 refers to Figures 27 and 34.

Figure 41 is a detail illustrating a variant embodiment of the device in its second embodiment, with reference to both shrouds; this variant makes the device itself simpler and cheaper. Figures 42 to 47 are partial views of boats to which the device object of the present patent is applicable, with different solutions in some elements; in detail :

• Figure 42 is a partial front view of a monohull which, with reference only to the windward shroud SI, shows the sails mast moving transversely on guides applied to the hull, instead of rotating around an axis placed near the his foot.

• Figure 43 is a partial section of a monohull, referred to the first embodiment, showing the lateral float guide straight instead of inclined.

• Figure 44 is a partial section of a monohull, referred to the second embodiment, showing the guide of the lateral float straight instead of inclined.

Figure 45 is a partial front view of a multihull which, with reference only to the windward shroud SI, shows the sail mast moving transversely on guides applied to the hull, instead of rotating around an axis placed near its feet.

• Figure 46 is a partial section of a multihull showing the straight instead of inclined lateral hull guidance, referred to the first embodiment.

• Figure 47 is a partial section of a multihull showing the straight instead of inclined lateral hull guidance, referred to the second embodiment.

The sails of the boats have not been drawn in any of the figures of this patent, because they are irrelevant for the purposes of the exhibition. For the same reason, the tensioner of the leeward shroud has not been designed, to keep it stretched when it is shortened, nor, in figures 6 and 7, the device that prevents the windward hull from sliding downwards, when the whole boat is 'tilts.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

1 - FIRST FORM OF IMPLEMENTATION

la - APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION TO A BOAT WITH A SINGLE HULL

Figures 1 to 7 graphically describe the application of the invention to a single-hulled boat.

In figure 1 the device adopted has been designed, in order to facilitate understanding, only with reference to the windward shroud SI; in figures 2 to 7 the device is instead drawn with reference to both shrouds.

Figures 15 to 20 show in detail the scheme of the device, referred to the windward shroud, in various operating conditions.

With reference to figure 1 and to the detail of figure 15, the device object of the present patent is essentially constituted by a hoist P3 connected to the winch VI, equipped with a non-return device, by means of the cable F5; the device includes the holes B1 and B3 at the ends of the hoist P3 and the corresponding holes B5 and B7 on the deck of the boat, which holes can be used by the crew to fix one, the other or both ends of the hoist to the deck of the boat, using special pins. The aforesaid device is inserted between the rope FI, connected to the shroud SI, and the rope F3, connected to the rod A1 of the float Gl; the crew can maneuver the device to obtain different boat behaviors:

• In the rest conditions of the boat (fig. 2) the winch VI is used to string the shroud YES through the rope F5 and the hoist P3 (fig. 15) and then locked; exerting a similar action on the device relative to the other shroud S2, the shaft T is fixed in a vertical position.

• The device (fig. 3) can be excluded, so that inclination of the mast of the sails T and immersion of the leeward float Gl depend exclusively on the force exerted by the wind on the sails; for this purpose the crew inserts (fig. 16) the pins II and 13 rigidly connected to the rod E1 in the holes B1 and B3 and releases the rope F5, so that the hoist P3 can move while maintaining its length unchanged and thus behaving like a section of rope.

• The crew (fig. 4) can modify the position with respect to the vertical of the mast of the sails T, to maximize the efficiency of the sail plan, while the immersion of the leeward float Gl depends exclusively on the force exerted by the wind on the sails; for this purpose the crew maneuvers the winch VI (fig. 17) in such a way as to reduce the length of the hoist P3 and correspondingly that of the shroud SI.

• Shaft T (fig. 5) can be locked in its vertical position; with his intervention the crew establishes the sinking of the float Gl and therefore the inclination of the entire boat. This result is obtained (fig.

18) inserting the pin DI between the two holes B1 and B5 and operating the winch VI until the desired immersion of the float Gl is obtained.

Figures 4 and 5 show an equal position of the boat, the sail mast T and the leeward float Gl. In reality they correspond to a completely different behavior of the boat: in the conditions of figures 4 and 17 the crew could establish, by operating the winch VI, a different inclination of the mast with respect to the hull, while in the conditions of figures 5 and 18 with the same maneuver would obtain a different inclination of the hull. And again, in the conditions of figures 4 and 17 a change in wind intensity causes a change in the inclination of the shaft T and a different sinking of the float Gl; in the conditions of figures 5 and 18 a change in wind intensity causes a change in the inclination of the entire boat.

• The crew (fig. 6) can interrupt the transmission of force from the windward shroud SI to the float Gl, causing the entire boat to tilt under the action of the wind and act manually in order to vary the inclination of the 'tree. This result is obtained (fig. 19) by inserting the pin D3 between the two holes B3 and B7 and operating the winch V1 until the desired inclination of the shaft T is obtained; at the same time the crew allows the extension of the downwind shroud S2, acting on the winch V2.

• Finally, the device (fig.7) allows to obtain a boat behavior equal to that of a classic sailing boat, by inserting the pin DI in the holes B1 and B5 and the pin D3 in the holes B3 and B7; the mast of the sails T and the float Gl are thus blocked with respect to the hull in their rest position and the boat tilts all together under the action of the wind,

1b - APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION TO A MULTI-HULL BOAT

Figures 8 to 14 graphically describe the application of the invention in its first embodiment to a multi-hulled boat (trimaran).

In figure 8 the device adopted was designed, in order to facilitate its understanding, only with reference to the windward shroud SI; in figures 9 to 14 the device is instead drawn with reference to both shrouds.

As can be clearly seen from said figures, the device applied to multihulls is exactly the same as that applied to monohulls and has the same operating characteristics; therefore the details of the device remain those indicated in the diagrams of figures 15 to 20 and the same considerations made for monohulls also apply to multihulls, figures 8 to 14 corresponding, in order, to figures 1 to 7.

2 - SECOND FORM OF IMPLEMENTATION

2a - APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION TO A MONOSHULL BOAT

Figures 21 to 27 graphically describe the application of the invention to a single-hulled boat, in the second embodiment.

In figure 21 the device adopted has been designed, in order to facilitate its understanding, only with reference to the windward shroud SI; in figures 22 to 27 the device is instead drawn with reference to both shrouds.

Figures 35 to 40 show in detail the scheme of the device referred to the windward shroud, in various operating conditions.

With reference to figure 21 and to the detail of figure 36, the device object of the present patent is essentially constituted by a pump W1 equipped with a non-return valve J1, connected through pipes U equipped with valves J to the cylinder ZI and to the cylinder Z3. The pump W1 and the valves J3, J5 and J7 can be operated by the crew according to the navigation attitude to be achieved. Figure 36 also shows the section of pipe U3, the compensation tank CI and the valves J9 and J11; the graphic display of the latter devices has been omitted in figure 21 for clarity. Valve J9 is normally closed during navigation and is opened by the crew when the boat is at rest or when there is a need to fill the CI tank by means of the W1 pump (in the latter case all the other valves are closed ). The valve J11 is also normally closed and is used by the crew only to regulate the pressure in the expansion tank Cl, by discharging or blowing air.

The cylinders ZI and Z3 were present in the second embodiment of the aforementioned PATENT FOR INDUSTRIAL INVENTION No. 01285406, but, for the realization of the device object of this patent, the piston of the cylinder ZI, whose rod A1 is connected to the shroud YES, it has a stroke greater than that necessary to make the piston connected to rod A3 of cylinder Z3 perform the entire stroke.

The crew can operate the pump W1 or position the valves J3, J5 and J7 in order to obtain different behaviors from the boat:

• When the boat is at rest (figures 22 and 35) valve J5 is closed, valves J3, J7 and J9 are open. In these conditions, the pressurized fluid contained in the compensation tank Cl pushes the rod A3 of the cylinder Z3 upwards, lifting the leeward float Gl, and the rod A1 of the cylinder ZI to the left, pulling the shroud SI; acting similarly on the device related to the other shroud S2, the cylinder Z4 raises the float G2 and the cylinder Z2 pulls the seamstress S2, fixing the shaft T in a vertical position.

• The device (fig. 23) can be excluded, so that the inclination of the mast of the sails T and the immersion of the leeward float Gl depend exclusively on the force exerted by the wind on the sails. To this end the crew (fig. 36) closes valves J7 and J9 and opens valves J3 and J5; the tension acting on the shroud SI pulls the rod of the cylinder ZI to the right and consequently the rod A3 is lowered and the leeward float Gl dips only as a function of the tension on the shroud SI. The pressure acting in the expansion vessel CI is almost irrelevant with respect to the immersion of the float Gl, since this pressure must be correctly set in advance by the crew at a value sufficient only to counteract the force of gravity, due to the weight of the float itself. .

• The crew (fig. 24) can modify the transverse position of the mast of the sails T, for example to maximize the efficiency of the sail plan, while the immersion of the leeward float Gl depends exclusively on the force exerted by the wind on the sails; for this purpose the crew (figure 37) closes the valve J7 and J9 and opens the valves J3 and J5, exactly as in the previous case, but in addition it activates the pump W1 in such a way as to move the piston of the cylinder ZI to the left, shortening the shroud SI and thereby straightening the mast of the sails.

• The mast T (fig. 25) can be locked in its vertical position and the crew, with their own intervention, establishes the sinking of the float Gl and therefore the inclination of the entire boat; this result is obtained (fig. 38) by closing the valves J3, J7 and J9, leaving the valve J5 open and activating the pump W1 in such a way as to move the piston of the cylinder Z3 downwards until the desired immersion of the float Gl is obtained. Figures 24 and 25, as already Figures 4 and 5, show an equal position of the boat, the mast of the sails T and of the leeward float Gl; in reality they correspond to a completely different behavior of the boat: in the conditions of figures 24 and 37 the crew could establish a different position of the shaft, by activating the pump Wl, while in the conditions of figures 25 and 38, with the same maneuver, would establish a different inclination of the hull; again, in the conditions of figures 24 and 37 a change in wind intensity causes a change in the inclination of the shaft T and a different sinking of the float Gl, while in the conditions of figures 25 and 38 a change in wind intensity causes a change of inclination of the whole boat.

• The crew (fig. 26) can block the transmission of force from the windward shroud SI to the float Gl, causing the entire boat to tilt under the action of the wind, and act manually to vary the inclination of the tree. This result is obtained (fig. 39) by closing the valve J5 and J9, leaving the valves J3 and J7 open and acting on the pump W1 to move the piston of the cylinder ZI to the left until the desired inclination of the shaft T is obtained; the piston of the Z2 cylinder, in this case, is left free to slide to the left to allow the S2 shroud to lengthen.

• Finally, the device (fig.27) allows to obtain a boat behavior equal to that of a classic sailing boat; by closing valves J3, J5 and J9 and leaving valve J7 open (fig. 40) the shaft T and the float Gl are blocked with respect to the hull in their rest position and the boat tilts all together under the action of the wind.

The device connected to the downwind shroud can be used to string the shroud to which it is connected, where there is no automatic tensioner of the shroud itself.

In the above considerations, the device connected to the windward shroud SI was essentially described as totally separate from that relative to the leeward shroud; it is however important to note (figure 41) that a single pump W can serve both the circuit relating to the windward shroud and the one relating to the leeward shroud, possibly using the two valves J13 and J14 to intercept one, the other or both circuits.

In figure 41, the compensation tank C is also common to the two circuits and this can facilitate the balance of the tensions on the two shrouds in rest condition, as well as constitute a simplification of the device.

The maneuvers described above are very simple and rapid, consisting at most in operating three valves and a pump (which can also be motorized); these devices can be placed in the most suitable place for the convenience and safety of maneuvers (for example, next to the steering position, even below deck).

1b - APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION TO A MULTI-HULL BOAT

Figures 28 to 34 graphically describe the application of the invention to a multi-hulled boat (trimaran). In figure 28 the device adopted has been designed, in order to facilitate its understanding, only with reference to the windward shroud SI; in figures 29 to 34 the device is instead drawn with reference to both shrouds.

From the above figures it is clear that the device applied to multihulls is exactly the same as that applied to monohulls and has the same operating characteristics; therefore the details of the device remain those indicated in the diagrams of figures 35 to 40 and the same considerations made for monohulls are also valid for multihulls in figures 28 to 34 corresponding, in order, to figures 21 to 27.

FURTHER FORMS OF IMPLEMENTATION

In the aforementioned previous patent No. 01285406 different embodiments of the movement of the shaft and of the inclination were provided according to which the means of contrasting the heel can be immersed, embodiments which remain valid also within the scope of this patent and which are listed below:

• Figures 42 and 45, respectively referring to a monohull and a multihull, show the mast of the sails that moves integrally with the guides K in a transverse direction with respect to the boat, instead of rotating around a pin placed near its feet.

• Figures 43 (monohull) and 46 (multihull), referring to the first form of implementation of the device, show the guides of the dive, respectively of the lateral floats and of the lateral hulls, vertical rather than inclined with respect to the vertical.

• Figures 44 and 47 show the same guides as in the previous point, referred to the second embodiment.

In practice, the details of execution of the device may in any case vary without departing from the scope of the invention and therefore from the domain of the invention patent.

RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The already mentioned patent no. 01285406 entitled "ANTI-SKID AND ANTI-REVERSE DEVICE FOR SAILING BOATS" had as main objectives the improvement of the safety of the boat, the comfort of the crew and passengers, the efficiency of the sail and the hydrodynamic performance of the boat according to parameters established in the design and / or preventive adjustment, without the possibility for the crew to vary the parameters relating to the aforementioned objectives during navigation.

The present patent achieves the result of allowing the crew to optimize the performances, depending on the contingent navigation needs, in a simple and fast way.

The sailing boat can, in fact, be used for different purposes (for example, to race with other boats or for a quiet family cruise), have crews on board different in number and / or capacity, meet extremely variable sailing conditions or be under different load conditions.

The crew, using the device object of the present patent, chooses the trim of the boat that it deems most convenient at a given time and in a given circumstance. In other words, the device object of the present patent makes the boat suitable for several uses, with the same results that could be obtained by changing boat, as detailed in the following examples:

• During a family cruise, or in the case of an inexperienced crew, the device can be neutralized (figures 3 and 23 for the monohull, figures 10 and 30 for the multihull), in order to allow safe and comfortable navigation; in the absence of maneuvers by the crew, an increase in the intensity of the wind causes a greater inclination of the mast, thus reducing the exposed sail surface, without in practice varying the heeling of the boat. Navigation with this setting favors the parameters relating to safety and comfort.

• If you want to increase the speed performance of the boat while maintaining good safety conditions even in the absence of rapid intervention by the crew, you can navigate with the trim shown in figures 4 and 24 (monohull) and in figures 11 and 31 (multihull ); in this set-up the sails make maximum use of the wind thrust if this remains constant, but in the event of wind shifts, without the need for the crew to intervene, the T mast tilts, reducing the exposed sail surface and then the float Gl, or the leeward hull LI, submerges to a greater extent, opposing the heeling of the boat.

• An experienced crew in sufficient numbers can navigate with the trim shown in figures 5 and 25 (monohull) and figures 12 and 32 (multihull), fixing the mast T in a vertical position and adjusting the immersion of the float Gl or the leeward hull LI depending on the momentary intensity of the wind, so as to obtain the desired heeling of the boat at all times, in order to optimize speed.

• At certain speeds the crew may consider it convenient to allow the boat to slip depending on the intensity of the wind, by manually adjusting the inclination of the mast (figures 6 and 26 for the monohull and figures 13 and 33 for the multihull); this can be useful, for example, to reduce the wet surface of the boat.

• Finally, the crew (figures 7 and 27 for the monohull, 14 and 34 for the multihull) can choose to sail with an attitude equal to that of a traditional boat, blocking in their resting conditions the mast T and leeward float Gl or leeward hull LI; this set-up evidently serves to allow trouble-free navigation for crews used only for traditional sailing boats. The device object of the present patent, as highlighted above, enormously expands the possibilities of use of a single sailing boat; this result is achieved by means of components of normal production, widely tested in the field of sailing (winches and hoists for the first form of actuation, pumps and hydraulic cylinders for the second actuation), making the device totally reliable.

The maneuvers to be made to operate the device are extremely simple and rapid; in the first form of implementation the crew must only operate a winch and / or insert / disconnect two plugs in their housings, in the second form of implementation the crew must operate a pump and at most three / four valves, pump and valves which can be placed anywhere on the boat.

The resulting boat is a light boat (because it has no ballast), reliable in all conditions of navigation, and, depending on the trim, fast and / or safe and / or easy to drive and / or comfortable.

In conclusion, it can be stated that the present patent totally changes the concept of sailing boats, which are nowadays mainly used for sporting performances, making it possible to use even the same boat for multiple uses and enormously widening the audience of users.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. Sailing boat with a single hull, equipped with at least two floats placed one to windward and one to leeward of the boat, said floats having the possibility of moving with respect to the hull from top to bottom vertically or with a predetermined inclination with respect to the vertical, said boat having at least one sail mast that can move transversely with respect to the hull, said sail mast comprising at least two side shrouds, one to windward and one downwind of the boat, said shrouds each connected to a device that transmits the force acting on the shrouds to the float placed on the opposite side of the boat, in such a way that said leeward float plunges into the water depending on the tension exerted on said windward shroud, without the need for intervention by the crew, characterized by the fact that in the devices that transmit the force from said shrouds to said lateral floats are ins erected devices which allow the crew to vary the lengths of said force-transmitting devices, so as to achieve a desired position of said mast of the sails. 2. Multihull sailing boat equipped with lateral hulls that have the possibility of moving with respect to the central hull from top to bottom vertically or with a predetermined inclination with respect to the vertical, said boat having at least one mast of sails that can move transversely with respect to the hull , said sails mast comprising at least two side shrouds, one to windward and one to leeward of the boat, said shrouds each connected to a device that transmits the force acting on the shrouds to the side hull placed on the opposite side of the boat, in such a way that said leeward hull plunges into the water depending on the tension exerted on said windward shroud, without the need for the crew to intervene, characterized by the fact that devices that allow the crew to vary the lengths of said devices ch and transmit the force, so as to achieve a desired position of said mast of the sails. 3. Sailing boats according to claim 1 characterized in that said devices, which allow the crew to vary the length of said devices that transmit the force from said shrouds to said lateral floats, can be blocked by the crew in such a way that the lengths of said devices which transmit the force from said shrouds to said lateral floats remain constant in navigation. 4. Sailing boats according to claim 2 characterized in that said devices, which allow the crew to vary the length of said devices which transmit the force from said shrouds to said lateral hulls, can be blocked by the crew in such a way that the lengths of said devices which transmit the force from said shrouds to said lateral hulls remain constant in navigation. 5. Sailboat with a single hull with applied heeling adjustment means, consisting of at least two floats of suitable shape and size, each of said floats placed respectively downwind and windward of the hull, having said floats the possibility of moving with respect to the hull from top to bottom, vertically or with a predetermined inclination with respect to the vertical, characterized by the fact that the adjustment of the heel of the boat is carried out by means of devices controlled by the crew which allow the immersion of said leeward float to a certain depth. 6. Multihull sailing vessel in which the lateral hulls have the possibility of moving with respect to the central hull from top to bottom, vertically or with a predetermined inclination with respect to the vertical, characterized by the fact that the heeling of the boat is adjusted by means of crew-controlled devices that allow diving to a certain depth of the leeward hull. 7. Sailing boats according to claim 1, characterized in that in said devices for transmitting the forces from said shrouds to said lateral floats, devices are inserted which allow to block the movement of said mast of the sails and / or said lateral floats. 8. Sailboats according to claim 2, characterized in that in said devices for transmitting the forces from said shrouds to said lateral hulls, devices are inserted which allow to block the movement of said mast of the sails and / or of said lateral hulls. 9. Sailboats with a single hull or multiple hulls with at least one sail mast free to move transversely with respect to the boat comprising at least two side shrouds of said mast placed one to windward and one to leeward of the boat characterized by the fact that said shrouds are each connected to a device which allows to vary their length so as to achieve a desired position of said mast of the sails. Turin, September 25, 2001