NL9302119A - Ship-mast lowering device based on a divided mast and provided with at least one pivot point with spring device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a mast-lowering device for sailing boats and motor boats, with or without a spreader or cat's paw structure, and optionally provided with lowering rigging. To allow the mast to be lowered easily, smoothly, without danger and virtually without projecting outside the boat, the mast is divided, at the level of the cross-tree, with a hinge structure in which a mast- tensioning spring mechanism is accommodated which forms a single unit with the hinge structure and the cross-tree and also connects the two parts of the mast.

Description

Ship mast ironing device based on mast division and provided with at least one hinge point with spring device.

The invention relates to a mast ironing device for sailing boats and motor boats with mast, such a device making it possible to cause the mast to be tilted backwards from the vertical position, so that an adjustable reduced vessel height is created, whereby vessels can pass obstacles such as bridges, cables, etc. freely. .

Such devices are well known and have been in use since the last century. In the known devices, the pivot point of the mast is always on or near the ship's deck and the mast is always one.

Disadvantages of the conventional mast ironers are the increase in forces and torque as the ironing progresses, the mast protruding out of the ship in the lowered position, the immersion of rigging and ropes, the laboriousness and the risks of accidents.

The invention literally offers a breakthrough to overcome or at least drastically reduce these drawbacks.

To this end, the invention provides that the mast is divided at the level of the spread, whereby a hinge with prestressed spring construction is arranged on the division. Such a construction allows that, as a first step, the top part of the mast can be easily pushed forward from the vertical position against the spring pressure, while the bottom part retains the vertical position.

As a second step, by coupling to a traditional construction such as a bokkepoot or sprinkle with ironing glove, the resulting triangle of lower part, upper part and bokkepok or sprinkle can be ironed backwards in its entirety.

The first step of the facility allows the height of the vessel to be almost halved in a very simple manner without any hindrance to the navigation and steerability of the vessel. This will be sufficient for a significant part of the waterways used by recreational boating and provided with bridges.

The second step reduces the vessel height to an absolute minimum with yet again greatly reduced effort and minimal inconvenience to the crew and environment.

The invention thus provides a considerable reduction of occurring forces when ironing. Also, during and after ironing, the mast does not protrude outside the ship and the helmsman is not hindered by it.

The small torques in combination with sprung hinge and spring construction reduce the sensitivity to waves during and after ironing, which improves safety. In addition, the setting of the mast is additionally illuminated by the spring construction.

An additional advantage is that the invention offers the possibility of locking the mast in either position in bad weather conditions, thus reducing the danger of turning and mast loss and offering a completely new storm tactic.

The invention is elucidated hereinbelow with reference to two drawings: called boat 1 and boat 2, in which the procedure of ironing and the hinge spring construction are shown, respectively.

In drawing "boat 1" three positions are shown, namely position I being the operating situation, called sailing position, position II being the situation in which only the upper part of the mast has been lowered (buckling position) and position III being the situation in which the ironing procedure is complete rounded (folding position).

To get from position I to position III, backstay 1 must be released by means of slip hook 2. The mast remains vertical because of the pretension on the hinge spring construction ZSV.

By continuing breeding trap 4, the upper part of the mast will come forward against the spring pressure and the kink position can be reached. You can stop here and secure the mast. To proceed to the folding position, the sprinkler or jack-leg tool is required. In the drawing, a sprinkle 7 is assumed, which implies that an ironing mitt is present, as well as a classic hinge point at the bottom of the mast.

As a sprinkler one could use a spinaker boom. The sprinkler is rotatably attached to the ship with one end and to the mast top with the other end.

The lower mast part can now be tilted by unloading lower gloves 5 with siiphas 6.

The weight of boom 8 and, if necessary, lightly pulling on the backstay 1, as well as celebrating the breeding trap 4, possibly via extra foot blocks to further reduce the forces, allows the kinked mast-sprinkler combination to move backwards and onto a support (not shown) on e.g. the cabin roof received and secured. At all stages of the ironing procedure, the main mitt may or may not remain attached to the spread without interruption, as well as forestay 3.

Drawing 2 shows a hinge / spring system which, in combination with the spread, aims to be a robust construction which only permits movement of the mast in the plane of keel and stern.

The construction partly consists of an inner sleeve 3 in which a torsion spring assembly 5 is arranged on both the left and right.

The left and right spring construction are equivalent to each other's mirror image to be built up in the same direction of ironing, in view of the need for equal spring pressure. The inner sleeve can be rotated in an outer sleeve chosen with the correct fit.

For mounting on the mast top part 1, outer sleeve 2 is provided with a flange 6 fitting on the mast circumference.

Similarly, the inner sleeve 1 is provided with a flange 7 for attachment to the lower part of the mast.

In order to enable attachment of the spring construction to the mast parts engaging as levers on the springs, as well as to allow sufficient angular rotation of the mast parts relative to each other (approx. 165 °), recesses 9 and 9 are provided in the inner sleeve and outer sleeve, respectively. 10 fitted.

The four free spring ends 11 are shaped and oriented in such a way that attachment to the inner side of the mast parts is easily achieved by means of brackets or other clamping devices, while the center lines of the torsion spring devices coincide with those of the inner and outer bushes.

The spreaders 4 are constructed in such a way that they fit perfectly in or around the inner sleeve without disturbing the hinging action.

In order to ensure a good alignment of the mast in the sailing position as well as to eliminate any deformation risks at the location of the contact of the top and bottom parts of the mast, a simple anvil with centering is provided there.

The springs, bushings and flanges are considered to be constructed of stainless steel in order to be sufficiently strong and resistant to corrosion. However, other materials are also conceivable. Variations on the drawn version of the torsion springs can also be used.

The invention provides mast ironing capabilities that are significantly lighter, simpler and safer than single-piece masts.

The invention can be easily applied to existing masts.

The invention can also be applied in modified form to masts of the bipod type.

Claims (1)

Mast ironing device for sailing and motor boats, whether or not provided with an iron-on glove with a sprinkle or bokkepoot construction, characterized in that the mast is cut at approximately half-height, at the location of the cut-through the two mast parts are connected by a hinge integrated with the spread. of a mast-extending spring construction.