SE1100260A1 - sailboat steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

A control device for influencing a rudder of a sailboat comprises a central hub (2) connected via a shaft in a cockpit pedestal (9) to a rudder mechanism, a steering wheel (1) containing a manually graspable peripheral ring and a plurality of spokes (5) which connects the stripe to the hub. The peripheral ring comprises a steering part (3) arranged to allow comfortable steering of the sailboat from a first steering wheel position and a passage part (4) arranged to limit the side extension of the steering wheel in a second steering wheel position.

Description

15 20 25 30 2 sitting on the rail and steer the boat because he can not reach the rim of the steering wheel from the rail position.

From US 5048444 (Moore) an adjustable wheel for a yacht is previously known the object of which is to provide clearance to move back and forth in the cockpit.

Accordingly a steering pedestal for a yacht is fitted with a steering shaft which has a swivel between the pedestal and the wheel. The swivel has spring loaded plungers that permit the stub shaft upon which the wheel is mounted to be located in at least three positions. The shaft is intended to be a replacement for a standard shaft furnished on a steering pedestal and may be readily placed into an existing pedestal by merely Ioosing a set of screws on the retaining collars on the existing shaft, holding the chain sprocket in position, withdrawing the shaft and replacing it with a shaft of the known adjustable wheel. In certain pedestal constructions, only a swivel and a stub wheel shaft are provided. ln use, the wheel is adjusted so that the swivel is horizontal and in this position, the plunger may be withdrawn and the wheel rocked to the left or to the right as desired so that the same will lie somewhat alongside of the pedestal leaving full clearance to move about at least on one side of the cockpit now left free of obstructions.

From US 6920838 (Johns) a steering wheel for a vessel is previously known. The object of the steering wheel is to provide a mechanism for reducing the width of the steering wheel as and when desired. Thus there is provided a steerage wheel for a vessel comprising a peripheral rim member for manual gripping, a central hub member and a plurality of spokes extending radially between the hub member and the rim member. A plurality of pivot mechanisms is included in the rim member for permitting two sector portions of the rim member to fold over to reduce an effective width of the steerage wheel. A spoke comprising a releasable securing means is connected to each sector portion. The releasable means is selectively releasable from a configuration in which the spoke is fixed between the rim and the hub, and a configuration in which the fixing of the spoke between the rim and hub is open. 10 15 20 25 30 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is to seek ways to improve a steering wheel for a sailing yacht that provides both a steering position on the windward rail and a free passageway at mooring.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a control apparatus characterized by the features in the independent claim 1 or by a method characterized by the steps in the independent claim 9. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

According to the invention a steering wheel comprises a peripheral rim having a steering rim part for steering the vessel in a first wheel position and a passage rim part Iimiting the side extension of the steering wheel in a second wheel position.

Thus turning the steering wheel to the second wheel position a free passageway back and fort in the cockpit will be made possible. ln an embodiment of the invention the steering rim part comprises an arc of a circle and the passage rim part comprises a chord of the circle. The chord is dividing the circle into a first and second segment whereof the first segment is greater than the second segment and which circumference is forming the steering wheel rim according to the invention. The second segment is omitted to provide a free passage. Thus the peripheral rim of the steering wheel according to the invention comprises a circular part for steering and a preferably straight part for providing a free passage. ln the first wheel position the rudder assumes an amidships position and in the second wheel position the chord is aligned normal to the floor of the cockpit. ln an embodiment of the invention the passage part comprises a straight part. By the expression straight part should be understood any rim part having a radius much greater than the circular part and being contained in the first circle segment.

When completely straight the radius is approaching infinity. The straight part may be composed of a plurality of portions of different shapes but as a whole assuming a chord of a circle and contained in the first segment. Still the rim is fi xed to a central hub by a plurality of spokes. When mooring where the speed of 10 15 20 25 30 4 the boat is close to zero the steering wheel is turned to the second wheel position where the second part is aligned normal to the floor of the cockpit. ln this position the steering wheel provide a free passageway around the steering pedestal from the aft part of the cockpit to the front part.

The steering wheel according to the invention makes use of the fact that a steering wheel of a sailing boat normally reaches full steering capacity within approximately one revolution of the wheel. From the first position of the wheel, where the rudder is aligned amidships, the wheel may be turned half a revolution in each direction for full steering control of the sailing vessel. Normal steering capacity however is reached by turning the wheel from the first wheel position about 90 degrees in either direction. Thus by arranging the wheel according to the invention with the circular rim part facing upwards symmetrically oriented with the pedestal and the straight part facing downwards normal steering effect may be reached by gripping the circular rim part only. In tough situations, such as maneuvering in a harbor, the wheel may have to be turned fully whereby the straight rim part will be facing upwards. In these situations however the helmsman may bow down in order to reach the rim and to steer the boat. In a first aspect of the invention the object is achieved by a steering device for operating a rudder of a sailing vessel comprising a central hub connected via a shaft in a cockpit pedestal to the rudder mechanism, a steering wheel containing a peripheral rim for manual gripping and a plurality of spokes connecting the rim to the hub, wherein the peripheral rim comprises a steering rim part adapted for manual gripping during steering the vessel outgoing from a first steering wheel position and a passage rim part adapted for limiting the side extension of the steering wheel in a second steering wheel position. The steering rim part comprises an arc of a circle having a first diameter. The passage rim part assumes a chord of the circle. The first steering wheel position comprises the rudder being amidships. The second steering wheel position comprises the passage rim part being aligned normal to the floor of the cockpit. ln a second aspect of the invention the objects are achieved by a method for providing a steering wheel of a marine sailing vessel having a steering device 10 15 20 25 5 comprising a central hub connected via a shaft in a cockpit pedestal to a rudder mechanism, the steering wheel containing a peripheral rim for manual gripping and a plurality of spokes connecting the rim to the hub, wherein the steering wheel is provided by bending a metal tube into a circular arc to provide a steering rim part adapted to provide convenient steering of the sailing vessel outgoing from a first steering wheel position, bending the metal tube at each end of the arc into two parallel tube parts, and cutting and joining the two parallel tube parts to form a passage rim part adapted to provide a free passageway around the pedestal in a second steering wheel position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: fig 1. is an embodiment of a steering wheel according to the invention where the steering wheel is turned to a position in which a free passageway is provided, fig 2. is the steering wheel of fig 1 in a normal steering position, fig 3. is a principal sketch of a steering wheel according to the invention in which the straight rim part is a chord of a circle surrounding the rim of the steering wheel, fig 4. is an embodiment of the steering wheel with a straight part having a radius less than infinity, and fig 5. is an embodiment of the steering wheel with a straight part comprising part of a spoke. 10 15 20 25 30 6 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A steering wheel 1 according to the invention is shown l fig 1. The steering wheel comprises a central hub 2 and a peripheral rim comprising a steering rim part 3 and a passage rim part 4. ln the embodiment shown the steering rim part is circular and the passage rim part is straight. The rim is fixed to the hub by a plurality of spokes 5. ln the embodiment shown there are five spokes. Any number of spokes however may be used. ln the embodiment shown the rim comprise a first knee part 6 and a second knee part 7 connecting the steering rim part and the passage rim part. These knee parts have a rounded shape to make the rim smooth to grip and prevent obstacles such for instance clothes and ropes from fastening. For ease of understanding there is in the figure shown a cockpit silhouette 8 comprising a central positioned pedestal 9 in which the steering wheel is journalled, a floor part 10, a seat part 11, a border part 12 and a rail part 13. Also for ease of understanding there is shown a circle 14 surrounding the rim. In the embodiment shown the steering wheel has been turned to a second wheel position in which the straight passage rim part is aligned normally with the floor of the cockpit. ln this position it can clearly be seen that a free passageway from aft to front in the cockpit is accomplished by the segment that is omitted from the circle 14. ln fig 2 the steering wheel is shown in a first wheel position which is the normal steering position in which the passage rim part is parallel to the floor and positioned below the hub. From the embodiment shown it is understood that the steering part of the rim is easily gripable by a helmsman 15 sitting on the windward rail of the cockpit. In normal steering of a sailing boat the necessary steering angle cp is less than plus or minus 40 degrees. ln his position on the rail of the cockpit the helmsman may grip the steering wheel in a comfortable position 16 on the rim of the wheel as shown in the figure. ln this position he may easily turn the wheel in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction sufficient to steer the boat without having to loosen his grip. ln an increasing wind situation the boat starts to lean towards the leeward side and there is a tendency for the boat of heading up against the wind. In such weather conditions the helmsman needs to steer against this heading up force to make the boat following a predetermined course. 10 15 20 25 30 7 Thus he needs to turn the wheel clockwise in the figure. In an extreme situation he may then be gripping the knee part of the rim but nevertheless being able to steer the boat nice end easy from his rail position.

The steering wheel shown in fig 3, 4 and 5 are different embodiments of the steering wheel according to the invention. ln fig 3 the steering wheel 1 has seven spokes 5 by which is indicated the steering wheel being of considerable size. The diameter 20 may be in the order of 1 to 2 meters. For reasons of stability there must be a sufficient number of spokes to make the steering wheel stable. In harsh weather conditions the helmsman has a tendency to hold on to the steering wheel in order not to fall. According to fig 3 the passage rim part 4 comprises the chord of the circle 14. The chord is dividing the circle into a first segment 18 and a second segment 19. The first segment comprises the surface of the steering wheel according to the invention and the second segment is omitted to provide a free passageway.

The ease of free passage around the steering wheel is dependent on the position of the passage rim part. Therefore the side extension b between the passage rim part and the hub is defining the ease of passage. The higher ease of passage the smaller the side extension b. However there is no need to make the side extension smaller than half the width of the pedestal arrangement. Such pedestal arrangement may include a foldable table, motor control or an instrument table attached to the pedestal. For a normal pedestal arrangement the side extension b should be about 20-30 cm. For a large steering wheel the side extension d may be in the order of one eight of a diameter 20 of the steering wheel. For a smaller steering wheel the straight part width b may be in the order of one forth of a diameter 20.

The ease of steering the vessel is dependent on the extension of the circular part of the steering wheel. The bigger the extension of the circular rim part the better ease of steering is provided. Therefore the first and second knee parts 6 and 7 should be sufficiently sharp to make the circular rim part extending up close to the straight part. In any case the circular rim part must extend at least half a circle. 10 15 20 25 30 8 Preferably the circular rim part may extend between 200 degrees and 230 degrees.

In fig 4 the passage rim part is formed as an arc with a very large radius. As discussed above the arc will be straight when the radius is close to infinity. Still the straight passage rim part shaped in this way must include a side extension b in the same order as half the width of the pedestal arrangement in order to provide a free passage. ln fig 5 the passage rim part is formed by assembling a first rim portion 4a and a second rim portion 4b. According to the embodiment shown the first rim portion is a continuation of the circular rim part 3 and ends into the hub. Likewise the second rim portion is a continuation of the circular rim part and ends into the hub.

Each of the first and second rim portions could be seen as an extension of a spoke integrated with the rim. Still the passage rim part comprising the first and second rim portions must include a side extension b in the same order as half the width of the pedestal arrangement in order to provide a free passage. In an embodiment of the invention the steering wheel is made of metal tubes. The metal may be stainless steel, aluminum and the like. A tube of this material is bent into a circular arc portion which at each end is further bent into a knee portion as a transition to a straight portion. When both straight portions are aligned and parallel they are cut and welded together to form the passage part of the rim. A plurality of tubular spokes is welded between the rim and the hub.

Although favorable the scope of the invention must not be limited by the embodiments presented but also contain embodiments obvious to a person skilled in the art. For instance the rim could be manufactured from wood or solid metal. For ease of comfort and non-slip gripping the rim may be leather-covered or covered with gripping friendly cover means.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS Steering device for operating a rudder of a sailing vessel comprising a central hub (2) connected via a shaft in a cockpit pedestal (9) to the rudder mechanism, a steering wheel (1) containing a peripheral rim for manual gripping and a plurality of spokes (5) connecting the rim to the hub, characterizedin that the peripheral rim comprises a steering rim part (3) adapted to provide convenient steering of the sailing vessel outgoing from a first steering wheel position and a passage rim part (4) adapted to provide a free passageway around the pedestal in a second steering wheel position. Steering device according to claim 1, wherein the steering rim part (3) comprises an arc of a circle (14) and-that the passage rim part (4) comprises a chord of the circle. Steering device according to claim 2, wherein the steering rim part (3) comprises a circular extension of at least half a circle (14). Steering device according to claim 2, wherein the steering rim part (3) extends between 180 and 230 degrees. 5. Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a side extension (b) between the passage rim part (4) and the hub (2) is between one eight and one forth of the diameter (20) of the circle ( 14). Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the interconnection between the steering rim part (3) and the passage rim part (4) comprises a knee portion (6, 7) for smooth transition of the rim. 10. 10 Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first steering wheel position comprises the steering rim part (3) facing upwards when the rudder is amidships, and that the second steering wheel position comprises the passage rim part (4) being aligned normal to the floor (10) of the cockpit. Steering device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rim (3, 4) and the spokes (5) are made of metal tubes such as stainless steel or aluminum. Method for providing a steering wheel (1) of a marine sailing vessel having a steering device (1) comprising a central hub (2) connected via a shaft in a cockpit pedestal (9) to a rudder mechanism, the steering wheel (1) containing a peripheral rim for manual gripping and a plurality of spokes (5) connecting the rim to the hub, characterizedby bending a metal tube into a circular arc to form a steering rim part (3) adapted to provide convenient steering of the sailing vessel outgoing from a first steering wheel position, bending the metal tube at each end of the arc into two parallel tube parts, and cutting and joining the two parallel tube parts to form a passage rim part (4) adapted to provide a free passageway around the pedestal in a second steering wheel position. Use of a steering device according to any of claims 1 to 8, or a method according to claim 9 in a sailing yacht for steering the yacht from a windward side rail position.