US3623445A

US3623445A - Sailboat traveler apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3623445A
Application number: US25939A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tracy S Holmes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-04-06
Filing date: 1970-04-06
Publication date: 1971-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-30

Abstract

Traveler apparatus including an extruded track having a top groove and oppositely opening side grooves, and a traveler of Ushaped cross section overlying the track with two sets of side rollers in the side grooves and a set of top rollers on the top groove. Each side set comprises three rollers, the center roller of each set being offset downwardly to increase the effective width of the set. The track is attached by bolts through the bottom of the top groove, and a short section of the same shape as the traveler is bolted to each end of the track.

Description

United States Patent lnventor Tracy S. Holmes 649 lllghtree Road, Santa Monica, Calif. 90402 Appl. No. 25,939

Filed Apr. 6, 1970 Patented Nov. 30, 197 l SAILBOAT TRAVELER APPARATUS 8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

U.S. CL

Field of Search 1 14/204, lll, 112;l05/154;104/95,l07,247

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,449 1/1953 Williams 105/154 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,189,771 3/1959 France 104/247 Primary Examiner-Andrew H. Farrell Allorney- Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht ABSTRACT: Traveler apparatus including an extruded track having a top groove and oppositely opening side grooves, and a traveler of U-shaped cross section overlying the track with two sets of side rollers in the side grooves and a set of top rollers on the top groove. Each side set comprises three rollers, the center roller of each set being ofl'set downwardly to increase the effective width of the set. The track is attached by bolts through the bottom of the top groove, and a short section of the same shape as the traveler is bolted to each end of the track.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to fittings for sailboats, and has particular reference to a so-called traveler that is mountable on an elongated track on one part of the sailboat, typically along the upper surface of the transom, to move back and forth transversely of the sailboat.

When so mounted, the traveler is connected to the aft end portion of the boom of the mainsail by a suitable rigging including a line, called the mainsheet, and appropriate pulley blocks enabling the sailor to control the length of the mainsheet between the traveler and the boom, thereby controlling the angular position of the boom relative to the mast and to the centerline of the boat. This determines the angle of attack of the sail to the wind.

The mainsheet also holds the boom down against the tendency of the sail to billow outwardly, and thus is used to adjust the tension in the sail and to trim or flatten the body of the sail and the trailing edge or leech thereof. To hold the entire sail at the most advantageous angle relative to the wind, the traveler forms a selectively movable connection between the mainsheet and the hull and is shiftable toward one side or the other of the boat so as to optimize the downward pull on the boom and reduce the lateral component of this pull.-

The forces developed on the sail, and transferred through the boom and the mainsheet to the traveler and the track, can be very large, particularly in sailboats of larger sizes. Since these forces are applied to the traveler at varying angles tending to cant the traveler relative to the trackupward, outward, and to some extent forwardthe traveler often binds on its track and thus fails to slide freely from one desired position to another.

Various designs for travelers have been proposed, including simple slides with flanges along both sides hooked into grooves in the sides of the track, and more complex roller travelers usually having two sets of rollers riding in grooves formed in opposite sides of the track, the rollers and grooves sometimes being set at special angles in an attempt to avoid binding of the rollers in the grooves under the tilting forces encountered in use. Despite these efi'orts, the travelers that are commercially available, including the special designs which are relatively expensive, still are subject to binding.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention resides in a novel traveler apparatus including a traveler which is capable of sustaining all of the angular forces normally developed in sailboats, including sailboats of larger sizes, and remaining free to slide back and forth along its track. Moreover, this is accomplished with a traveler of relatively simple construction capable of being massproduced at competitive cost, and in which special provision is made to avoid fouling of portions of the track normally horizontally disposed so as to collect dirt and the like.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown herein for purposes of illustration, the traveler apparatus includes an elongated track having two oppositely opening grooves in its oppositely facing side surfaces and a third groove in its top surface between the side surfaces, and the traveler is a car movable along the top surface with sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces and carrying three sets of at least two rollers each, the rollers being journaled on the car to ride in the respective grooves in closely spaced relation with the sidewalls of the grooves. The two sets of side edge rollers sustain the majority of the force applied to the traveler, and the third set restricts canting of the traveler to prevent binding of the side edge rollers.

In addition, each set of side edge rollers preferably includes a third roller disposed between the two main rollers and offset therefrom transversely of the track to increase the effective bearing width of the set of rollers while leaving sufficient clearance around each roller to minimize the effects of fouling of the grooves by accumulated dirt and the like. The third groove in the track also facilitates secure attachment of the track to the transom, and a strip of the same cross-sectional shape as the traveler may be used to form end stops on the track.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a traveler apparatus embodying the novel features of the present invention, shown with a representative rigging, a central portion of the truck being removed for compactness of illustration;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the traveler along.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawings, the invention is embodied in a traveler apparatus, indicated generally at 10, comprising an elongated track 11 fastened to a supporting member 12 in a generally horizontal position, and a traveler 13 mounted on the track for movement back and forth thereon, longitudinally of the track between different selected positions along the track. On top of the traveler is an eye-strap fitting 14 for connection to a block 15 around which a mainsheet line 17 is trained, this line being connected to the boom (not shown) of the sailboat. A control line 18 is anchored to an eye 19 on the support 12 behind the track, and passes between a pair of peripherally grooved rollers 20 on top of the traveler to a fitting including a bulls-eye" guide 2l and a cam cleat 22 on the support in front of the track. This rigging adjustably limits movement of the traveler 13 in either direction along the track 11 under the forces exerted through the mainsheet 17.

There is one typical mainsheet rigging for a traveler, and it should be understood that various other riggings and uses are contemplated as being within the spirit and scope of the invention. With the illustrative arrangement, the traveler 13 may be released to move farther toward one end of the track 11 by releasing the grip of the cam cleat 22 on the control line 18 and pennitting an additional length of the control line to feed to the rear through the bullS-eye guide 21, thus allowing the boom to swing farther to the side toward which the traveler moves. Conversely, by hauling in on the control line, the traveler can be drawn closer to center, thus pulling the boom correspondingly closer to center.

As previously mentioned, the forces developed on the controlled said and transmitted to the traveler 13 by the mainsheet 17 can be of a very large magnitude, and these forces almost always are applied to the traveler at an angle inclined laterally upwardly and forwardly so as to tilt the traveler relative to the track. With conventional travelers, whether simple slides or of the roller type, binding of the traveler on the track has been a problem.

In accordance with the primary aspect of the present invention, the track 11 is formed with two oppositely opening

grooves

23 and 24 in its oppositely facing side edges, herein the front and rear edges, and with a third groove 25 in its top surface, and the traveler 13 is in the form of a car having two sets of

rollers

27 and 28 disposed within the side grooves and a third set of rollers 29 disposed within the top groove 25, the side rollers thus being positioned to sustain vertical components of the forces exerted on the traveler and the top rollers being positioned to sustain front-to-rear tilting components. Accordingly, the three sets of rollers cooperate with each other to prevent tilting or twisting of the traveler in any direction to an extent sufficient to cause binding of the traveler on the track.

In the present instance, the track 11 is a metal extrusion having a flat base wall 30 (see FIG. 3) resting on the support 12 and centrally fastened thereto by bolts 31 passed through a series of holes 32 drilled through the base wall along the bottom of the top groove 25, and also having two upstanding longitudinal walls of inverted L-shaped cross section that are spaced inwardly from the side edges 33 of the base wall and integrally joined thereto with the upper leg 34 of each inserted L" parallel to the base wall and extending away from the other L-shaped wall. Thus, the top groove is defined between ways on the two L-shaped walls and the side grooves are defined between ways on the opposite edge portions of the basewall and the overhanging, parallel legs 34 of the L- shaped walls.

The car which constitutes the body of the traveler 13 similar may be a short section of extruded metal, and herein is of inverted U-shaped cross section formed by a substantially rectangular crosspiece 35 which overlies the top surface of the track 11, and two depending side flanges 37 overhanging the side edges of the track and preferably extending downwardly on both sides to approximately the level of the top of the base wall 30. For increased strength in the areas of the car supporting the three sets of rollers, the extrusion is thickened at 38 above the top groove 25 and at 39 along both of the

side grooves

23 and 24.

While the rollers may be mounted on the car in various ways, herein the

side rollers

27 and 28 are rings that are journaled on fixed axles in the form of pins 40 pressed into holes in the flanges 37, the rollers being confined on the pins between the inner sides of the flanges and heads 41 on the inner ends of the pins, and being rotatably supported on antifriction bearings 42 between the rings and the pins. Preferably, these side rollers project into the respective grooves generally in a common longitudinal plane which is horizontal when the track is mounted horizontally with the top surface facing upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1.

The upper rollers 29 may also be mounted on pins pressed into the car, but herein are journaled on the lower end portions of two bolts 43 (see FIG. 3) which hold the eye-strap 14, a top plate 44 for the grooved rollers 20, and the grooved rollers themselves, on the car. The bolts have heads abutting against the tops of the ends of the eye-straps, extend through the top plate 44 and the rollers into aligned holes 45 in the crosspiece of the car, and project downwardly into the top groove 25 of the track 11 with nuts 47 and washers 48 below the rollers 29 in the top groove. As before, the rollers are rings rotatably supported on the bolts by antifriction bearings 49, the bearings being telescoped over sleeves 50 which space the washers 48 an appropriate distance below the car.

As will be seen in FIG. 4, there are two top rollers 29 that are spaced apart longitudinally of the track 11 in a vertical plane perpendicular to the plane of the side rollers, to ride between the parallel sidewalls of the top groove 25 in closely spaced relation with these sidewalls, the clearance being on the order of 0.010 of an inch for a relatively close fit. This restricts tilting of the traveler transversely of the top groove, in a front-to-rear direction when the track is mounted with the top surface facing upwardly as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and thus protects the

side rollers

27 and 28 from tilting relative to the

side grooves

23 and 24 to an extent that could cause binding of these rollers in the manner that has been experienced with prior roller travelers without such top rollers.

While only two rollers might be used on each side of the track 11, a secondary aspect of the invention contemplates the provision of a third roller 27:: and 28a in each set, midway between each end roller of the set and ofiset slightly from the level of the end rollers toward the lower side of the set to increase the effective width of the set of rollers. With this arrangement, the opposite sides of the rollers, as a set, are in closely spaced relation with the sides of the associated groove, but a greater degree of total clearance is allowed around each individual roller.

When an upward force is applied to the traveler 13 through the mainsheet 17, the two

end rollers

27, 28 of each side set are pulled up against the overhanging upper walls 34 of the side groove to slide back and forth freely thereon with the

center rollers

27a, 28a spaced from the lower groove walls and substantially idle in the upper track. As has been mentioned, a pure upward force is not a customarily encountered condition.

When the force is inclined forwardly and upwardly toward either side, as often occurs in use, the front center roller 27a is pressed down toward the lower wall of the front side groove 23 while one of the end rollers of the front set is pressed against the overhanging upper groove wall 34. At the same time, the rollers of the rear side set move correspondingly relative to their groove walls. The top rollers 29 restrict forward tilting by bearing against the front walls of the upper groove 25, thus cooperating with the side rollers to prevent excessive canting of the traveler. Regardless of the angle of the traveler, an increased amount of clearance is provided in the side grooves to minimize the effect of accumulated foreign matter in these grooves and thereby prevent interference with the movements of the traveler if the side grooves become fouled to a reasonable extent in use.

To prevent the traveler 13 from running off the track 11 at either end, stops 5] are securely fastened to the ends of the track to serve as motion-limiting abutments. For economy of manufacture, a short transverse section of the same extrusion from which the traveler is formed is fitted around the end of the track as shown in FIG. 1, and held thereon by a bolt 52 passed through aligned holes in the track and the side flanges 53 of the stop section. Since this section is of the same crosssectional shape as the traveler, it fits closely around the end of the track, its width preferably being approximately the same as the thickness of the track. Thus opposed edge surfaces 54 of the stop section are positioned to abut against the traveler as the latter reaches either end of the track.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a relatively simple and inexpensive traveler apparatus in which excessive tilting and binding are positively prevented, and in which adequate clearance is provided in the side grooves to minimize interference with the traveler by accumulated foreign matter without excessive play of the side rollers in their grooves. Moreover, the special form of the track permits convenient attachment through the bottom wall of the top groove, and the end stops of the track are effectively and inexpensively formed by sections of the same material used for the traveler.

I claim:

1. For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising:

an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface, each of said grooves having spaced sidewalls forming ways in said track;

a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith;

said first and second sets comprising three rollers each, the middle roller of each set being ofiset away from the other two rollers of the set, and the widths of said first and second grooves being greater than the spacing between remote sides of the rollers therein; and

means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.

2. For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a

traveler apparatus comprising:

an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces having horizontal top and bottom sidewalls, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having vertical front and rear sidewalls, the sidewalls of each of said grooves forming a way in said track;

traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces 1 of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said car sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two cylindrical rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; and

means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.

3. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which car is of U-shaped cross section including a crosspiece overlying said top surface, and depending flanges forming said sidewalls of said car, said first and second sets of rollers projecting into said first and second grooves in a longitudinal plane generally parallel to said crosspiece and said third set of rollers projecting into said third groove in a longitudinal plane perpendicular to said crosspiece.

4. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said track has a bottom flat base wall and two longitudinal walls of inverted L-shaped cross section upstanding from said base wall and defining said grooves, said base wall having a series of holes therein between said upstanding longitudinal walls for attachment of the track to a support.

5. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which said car is of U-shaped cross section with depending flanges forming said sidewalls, and further including a stop fastened to each end of said track having the same cross-sectional shape as said car.

6. For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: 7

an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having upright sidewalls;

a traveler movable back and forth along said track and comprising a car of inverted U-shaped cross section with a top wall and depending flanges overhanging the side surfaces of said track, said car having first and second sets of rollers journaled on said flanges and riding in the grooves in said side surfaces, and a third set of generally cylindrical rollers journaled on said top wall and riding in the groove in said top surface;

stops at the ends of said track comprising short pieces having the same U-shaped cross-sectional shape as said car, said stops having a crosspiece extending across the ends of said track, and flanges extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the adjacent end portion of said track; and

fasteners connecting the flanges of said stops to the ends of said tracks, said car and said flanges being constructed of different lengths of the same manufactured part.

7. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said track has a flat base wall and two longitudinal walls of inverted L-shaped cross section upstanding from said base wall and cooperating therewith to define the two grooves in said side surfaces between said base wall and overhanging portions of said L-shaped walls and defining the groove in said top surface between upstanding portions ofsaid L-shaped walls.

8. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said base wall has a series of holes therein between said L-shaped walls and along the bottom of the groove in said top surface, for connection of said tr ack to a support.

Claims

1. For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface, each of said grooves having spaced sidewalls forming ways in said track; a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; said first and second sets comprising three rollers each, the middle roller of each set being offset away from the other two rollers of the set, and the widths of said first and second grooves being greater than the spacing between remote sides of the rollers therein; and means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.

2. For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, and including first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces having horizontal top and bottom sidewalls, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having vertical front and rear sidewalls, the sidewalls of each of said grooves forming a way in said track; a traveler movable back and forth along said track, said traveler comprising a car having a wall overlying the top wall of said track, sidewalls overhanging the side surfaces of said track, first and second sets of rollers journaled on said car sidewalls and disposed, respectively, in said first and second grooves, and a third set of rollers journaled on said overlying wall and disposed in said third groove, each of said sets of rollers including at least two cylindrical rollers spaced apart longitudinally of said track and disposed between the sidewalls of the associated groove in closely spaced relation therewith; and means on said car for connecting the car to a movable portion of a sail.

6. For use on a sailboat to control the position of a sail, a traveler apparatus comprising: an elongated track having a top surface and side surfaces on opposite sides of said top surface, first and second longitudinal grooves in said side surfaces, and a third longitudinal groove in said top surface having upright sidewalls; a traveler movable back and forth along said track and comprising a car of inverted U-shaped cross section with a top wall and depending flanges overhanging the side surfaces of said track, said car having first and second sets of rollers journaled on said flanges and riding in the grooves in said side surfaces, and a third set of generally cylindrical rollers journaled on said top wall and riding in the groove in said top surface; stops at the ends of said track comprising short pieces having the same U-shaped cross-sectional shape as said car, said stops having a crosspiece extending across the ends of said track, and flanges extending longitudinally along the opposite sides of the adjacent end portion of said track; and fasteners connecting the flanges of said stops to the ends of said tracks, said car and said flanges being constructed of different lengths of the same manufactured part.

7. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 6 in which said track has a flat base wall and two longitudinal walls of inverted L-shaped cross section upstanding from said base wall and cooperating therewith to define the two grooves in said side surfaces between said base wall and overhanging portions of said L-shaped walls and defining the groove in said top surface between upstanding portions of said L-shaped walls.

8. Traveler apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which said base wall has a series of holes therein between said L-shaped walls and along the bottom of the groove in said top surface, for connection of said track to a support.