WO1998015452A1 - Fixation pour voile de planche a voile - Google Patents

Fixation pour voile de planche a voile Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998015452A1
WO1998015452A1 PCT/GB1997/002717 GB9702717W WO9815452A1 WO 1998015452 A1 WO1998015452 A1 WO 1998015452A1 GB 9702717 W GB9702717 W GB 9702717W WO 9815452 A1 WO9815452 A1 WO 9815452A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
sail
mast
head
luff
sailing apparatus
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1997/002717
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Pat Goodman
Willem Blaauw
David Mead
Original Assignee
Win Lok Sail Makers Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Win Lok Sail Makers Limited filed Critical Win Lok Sail Makers Limited
Priority to AU45648/97A priority Critical patent/AU4564897A/en
Publication of WO1998015452A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998015452A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H8/00—Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing
    • B63H8/20—Rigging arrangements involving masts, e.g. for windsurfing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H8/00—Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing
    • B63H8/20—Rigging arrangements involving masts, e.g. for windsurfing
    • B63H8/25—Arrangements for connecting the sail to a mast foot, e.g. downhaul tensioners or mast foot extensions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H8/00—Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing
    • B63H8/40—Arrangements for improving or maintaining the aerodynamic profile of sails, e.g. cambers, battens or foil profiles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63H—MARINE PROPULSION OR STEERING
    • B63H8/00—Sail or rigging arrangements specially adapted for water sports boards, e.g. for windsurfing or kitesurfing
    • B63H8/50—Accessories, e.g. repair kits or kite launching aids
    • B63H8/52—Handheld cleats, cams or hooks for tensioning the downhaul or outhaul of a windsurfing sail

Definitions

  • This invention relates to sailing apparatus of the type used by windsurfers in which a sail is mounted on a mast and boom assembly and is given shape by means of downhaul and outhaul tension being applied, respectively, at the foot of the mast and the free end of the boom.
  • These kinds of sailing systems typically utilize battens at spaced intervals across the width of the sail to give support and shape to it, particularly if the battens are compressed longitudinally within sleeves or pockets so that the sail assumes a curved shape in cross section.
  • a balance therefore, has to be reached between optimum performance and the size and ability of the windsurfer in order, particularly, to cope with extreme conditions such as sudden gusts of wind or high wind speed. In such conditions it is necessary to spill wind out of the sail in order to retain control.
  • This may be achieved in two ways, the most obvious being by letting the clew end of the sail move away from the body of the windsurfer until control is restored. However, this procedure has the effect of reducing the downward pressure of the mast on the board which then allows the front end of the board to lift. This allows air underneath the board which can upset the trim. Even so, skilled windsurfers are able to select the minimum movement of the clew end of the sail in order to retain control so as to maximize the speed of the craft across the water
  • the second method of achieving control of the windsurfing craft in high wind speed or gusty weather conditions is by adjusting the downhaul tension of the sail when it is initially rigged on the mast and boom Because modern windsurfing sails are not simply triangular but have a significant area of additional sail beyond the line running between the mast tip and the clew end, the tightening of the downhaul by increasing amounts has the effect of decreasing the amount of stretch in the leech around the area of the head of the sail to the extent that it becomes loose and rippled if viewed edge-on This allows air to spill out of the leech in this region of the sail in gusty conditions Some sail manufacturers even provide instructions on the amount of downhaul tension to be applied in order to achieve the required performance characteristics The problem, however, with this method is that adjustment is not possible during windsurfing and, more significantly, because this area of the sail remains untensioned and loose in normal conditions it is not providing any power to the mast and is therefore very inefficient, causing instead drag to the windsurfing craft This affects the overall power
  • sailing apparatus comprising a mast, a boom securable at its forward end to the mast, a sail including a luff sleeve for mounting the sail on the mast and attachment means at the clew for releasably securing it to the trailing end of the boom, CHARACTERIZED IN THAT sail support means cooperable with the mast are provided to support the sail against downhaul tension other than at the head such that, in use, when the sail is mounted on the mast and downhaul tension applied, it is isolated from the head of the sail
  • the head of the sail which typically includes battens to support the leech and to give it shape, remains relatively tight at all times even after the sail is rigged on the mast and downhaul tension has been applied, so that the entire surface area of the sail is continuously providing power when in use at low, medium or high speed and in all wind conditions Gusts of wind automatically force the head of the sail to bend the upper mast section sufficient to allow excess air to escape and in the lull immediately following the gust the flexure of the upper mast section restores it to its original position, thus providing extra acceleration for the watercraft than would otherwise be the case with conventional windsurfing sail apparatus
  • the mast may conveniently be in two separate sections which can be releasably connected together by connector means such as a metal ferrule msertible in or on the upper end of the lower section of mast and including a smaller diameter ferrule connected thereto for receiving the lower end of the upper section of mast to form one continuous mast but each section having distinct performance characte ⁇ stics in terms of rigidity and flexibility
  • the sail attachment means may conveniently be integral with the mast connector means and may comp ⁇ se a lug incorporating a slot disposed in-line with the mast and including a releasable fastener such as a pin disposed transversely to the slot so that the pm may be inserted through an eyelet at the forward edge of the sail just below the head
  • the head section of the sail at the luff may be generally straight or alternatively it may be curved to force the upper mast section to adopt a corresponding fixed curvature while the sail is rigged in order to increase aerodynamic efficiency and/or increase tension in the leech.
  • the mast is integrally formed and may, for example, be a conventional windsurfing or other sail craft mast, and means are provided between the luff and the mast to limit downward movement of the luff and hence the sail at the head such that when downhaul tension is applied the free end of the mast around the head is substantially not under tension whereas the remainder is under downhaul tension.
  • this may be achieved by means of a webbing or similar strap stitched to opposite sides of the luff sleeve at the head and arranged to span each side of the luff sleeve and being provided in a central portion thereof with an eyelet or similar device of internal diameter corresponding to or greater than the external diameter of a mast extension piece or tip inserted into the upper end of the mast, the webbing preventing downward movement of the luff sleeve further than the upper end of the mast such that when downhaul tension is applied the mast extension piece or tip is substantially free of such downhaul tension.
  • a socket may be incorporated into the upper end of the mast for receiving the lower end of the mast extension piece and/or to act as a bearing or stop cooperable with the under side of the webbing and/or eyelet secured thereto.
  • stop members may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention which isolates the downhaul tension from the tip of the mast, or from the mast extension piece as the case may 5 be.
  • a further advantage of sailing apparatus according to the invention over the known prior art occurs when the boom and sail are "pumped" by the windsurfer alternately pulling and pushing the boom and hence sail in order to gather i o sufficient speed from a stationery or stalled condition.
  • the action of pumping the sail is made relatively more difficult and prolonged than with the sailing apparatus according to the invention where the entire surface area of the sail is working at all times.
  • the upper section of the mast as compared to the lower section has been found to increase the effectiveness of pumping the sail so that it is easier and quicker to get up to sailing speed than would otherwise be the case.
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of sailing apparatus according to the invention
  • Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 but showing part sectional 5 and part cut out portions of the upper parts of the sailing apparatus,
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of mast and sail connector means according to an aspect of the invention
  • Figure 4 is a front view of the sailing apparatus of Figure 1 depicting flexure of the upper section of mast and sail in high wind speed conditions
  • Figure 5 is a perspective view of an alternative mast and sail connector means to that shown in Figure 3
  • Figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention in which downhaul tension is isolated from the head of the sail by a different l o method to that shown in Figure 2
  • FIG. 1 there is shown sailing apparatus comprising a windsurfing sail 1 of generally conventional type rigged on a mast 2 and a boom 3
  • a downhaul 4 at the foot of the mast 2 provides downhaul tension to the sail and an outhaul 5 tensions 15 the sail 1 between the clew and the free end of the boom 3
  • Battens 6 received in batten pockets (not shown) support the roach in the sail at the leech 7 and through adjustable turnbuckles 8 at the free ends of the battens 6 they can be compressed varying magnitudes to provide cross sectional curvature to the sail 1
  • the sailing apparatus described is of conventional configuration 0
  • the upper portion of the sail 1 comprises a head 9 with a curved leach which is stitched onto an openable head luff sleeve 10 independent of a conventional mam luff sleeve 1 1 , each of which sleeves surround respective portions of the mast 2 when in use
  • mast connector means 12 and sail attachment means 13 each of which are described more fully below with reference to Figure 3
  • FIG 2 there is shown part in cross section and part in cut out the sailing 0 apparatus of Figure 1 but in which the head luff sleeve 10 is shown in its open position, the opening being facilitated by zip fasteners 14a, 14b.
  • the mast 2 is comprised of two sections, a relatively short upper section 2a around which head luff sleeve 10 is releasably secured when the sailing apparatus is in use, and a relatively long mast section 2b surrounded by the main luff sleeve 1 1.
  • the lower mast section 2b is comprised of a tubular composite fibre generally rigid material of frusta-conical shape tapering gradually inwards from bottom to top.
  • the upper mast section 2a comprises a generally short tapered fibre rod of length corresponding to the length of the head luff sleeve 10 but being significantly less rigid and hence more flexible than the lower mast section 2b.
  • the two mast sections 2a, 2b are joined together by the mast connector means 12 on the upper and lower portions of which extend respective ferrules 15a, 15b of outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the respective end portions of the upper mast section 2a and lower mast section 2b so that when connected together by push fit the mast 2 has a continuously tapering profile but with each section having different rigidity with respect to the other.
  • FIG. 3 there is show an enlarged view of the connector means 12 and sail attachment means 13 which, in this example, are integral with each other and are made of a suitably strong metal such as titanium or stainless steel.
  • the mast connector means 12 comprises a central disc 16 of outer diameter corresponding to the diameter of the lower portion of the upper mast section 2a and the upper portion of the lower mast section 2b.
  • the cylindrical metal ferrules 15a, 15b are welded coaxially to respective sides of the disc 16 such that the mast sections 2a, 2b (not shown) may be joined together by push fit.
  • the sail attachment means 13 comprises a slotted lug 17 welded onto the side of disc 16 to allow insertion of the forward edge of the sail just below the head 9 where an eyelet in the sail can be releasibly secured in place by means of a metal pin 18 which extends through respective bores in the slotted lug 17 and is itself releasibly secured thereon by means of a wire clip (not shown).
  • Figure 4 there is shown a front view of the mast 2 and sail 1 depicting flexure of the upper mast section 2a in high wind speed conditions such as during a wind gust, as opposed to its normal position shown in broken outline.
  • FIG 5 there is shown an enlarged perspective view of a mast connector means 19 different to the connector means 12 shown with reference to Figure 3.
  • the connector means 19 comprises a tubular member 20 having a closed end 21 and open end 22. Adjacent the open end 22 is a welded-on reinforcing collar 23 to which is also welded sail attachment means 24 comprising a pair of spaced apart ears 25, 26 defining a slot. Through respective bores in the ears 25,26 is a metal pin 27 for retaining a sail (not shown) in place between the two ears 25,26, and a locking ring 28.
  • the tube 20 is inserted into the inside of the lower mast section 2b, being of a dimension to fit snugly therewithin, and the upper mast section 2a is inserted through the opening 22 in the tube 20 until it abuts the closed end 21, so that in this embodiment the lower portion of the upper mast section 2a lies within the upper portion of the lower mast section 2b, in contrast to the situation apparent with regard to Figure 3 whereby each mast section is connected end-on-end by being mounted on, respectively, the coaxial metal ferrules 15a, 15b, and being spaced apart by the central disc 16.
  • a similar sail attachment means 24 is provided to allow insertion of the forward edge of the sail just below the head 9 where an eyelet in the sail can be releasably secured in place by means of the metal pin 27 which, in turn, is releasably secured in place by the wire clip 28.
  • FIG. 6 there is shown partly assembled an alternative embodiment of the invention particularly useful for conventional masts where an extension piece or tip may be inserted into the upper end thereof, such extension piece or tip usually being more flexible than the relatively stiff main mast.
  • the main mast 2 is shown within a part cut out section of the luff sleeve 1 1 below the head
  • a mast extension piece or tip 29, of a flexible material ' and having a tapering profile is shown being inserted into the hollow end of the mast 2 within the hole defined by an annular socket 30 secured to the end thereof.
  • Stitched to either side of the luff sleeve 11 is a length of webbing 31 which spans the central portion of the sleeve and includes an eyelet 32 of size sufficient to permit the mast extension or tip 29 to be received therein.
  • the drawing therefore shows the sailing apparatus in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention in a semi-assembled state and it will be readily apparent that when the mast extension piece is fully inserted into socket 30 upon downhaul tension being applied to the luff sleeve 1 1 in the direction arrowed the strap 31 and eyelet 32 will move downwards until it rests upon the socket 30 in which position the free end of the mast tip or extension piece 29 is then directly above and coaxial with the mast 30 but is substantially unaffected by downhaul tension applied to the luff sleeve 1 1.
  • the mast tip or extension piece 29 can be used to support the head of the sail 1 with consequent advantages as outlined earlier.
  • the invention therefore provides a neat and effective way for the sail to automatically de-tune itself in high wind speed conditions whilst maximizing the use of the force expended by the wind in bending the upper mast section when the wind speed decreases. This same effect also permits the maximum amount of power to be extracted from the sail when it is initially being pumped to achieve start-up speed.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Toys (AREA)

Abstract

Un appareil de navigation adapté à la planche à voile comprend un mât (2), un arceau (3) pouvant être fixé au mât à son extrémité avant, une voile (1) comprenant un fourreau (10, 11) qui permet de monter la voile sur le mât et un dispositif de fixation se présentant sous forme d'un hale-dehors (5) au point d'écoute pour le fixer de manière détachable à l'extrémité arrière de l'areau (3). L'appareil se caractérise par le fait que le mât (2) comporte deux parties (2a, 2b), une partie inférieure (2b) relativement rigide et une partie supérieure (2a) relativement flexible ne supportant que le haut (9) de la voile (1), et un dispositif de fixation (13) de la voile situé à l'extrémité supérieure de la partie inférieure (2b) du mât qui supporte l'autre partie de la voile (c'est-à-dire toute la voile hormis le haut (9) de la voile (1)) de telle manière que, en utilisation, lorsque la voile est montée sur le mât et attachée à ce dernier par le dispositif de fixation de la voile à l'extrémité supérieure de la partie inférieure du mât, la tension d'un hale-bas est isolée du haut (9) de la voile. Etant donné que le haut (9) de la voile est isolé de la tension du hale-bas les rafales de vent contraignent automatiquement le haut (9) de la voile à incliner la partie supérieure (2a) du mât suffisamment pour refouler l'air et faciliter ainsi la tâche au véliplanchiste qui, dans ces consitions cherche à garder le contrôle de sa planche à voile.
PCT/GB1997/002717 1996-10-04 1997-10-03 Fixation pour voile de planche a voile WO1998015452A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU45648/97A AU4564897A (en) 1996-10-04 1997-10-03 Attachment for windsurfing sail

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9620714A GB2317868A (en) 1996-10-04 1996-10-04 Sailing apparatus
GB9620714.7 1996-10-04

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998015452A1 true WO1998015452A1 (fr) 1998-04-16

Family

ID=10800946

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1997/002717 WO1998015452A1 (fr) 1996-10-04 1997-10-03 Fixation pour voile de planche a voile

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU4564897A (fr)
GB (1) GB2317868A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998015452A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10202957A1 (de) 2002-01-26 2003-08-07 Porsche Ag Aufbau für Kraftfahrzeuge
FR2909636B1 (fr) * 2006-12-12 2009-02-13 Frederic Jouffroy Dispositif de ferlage et deploiement rapide de voile propulsive et vehicule le comportant
ITUD20090191A1 (it) * 2009-10-27 2011-04-28 I Ma C S R L Albero per una tavola a vela

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3340841A (en) * 1965-12-17 1967-09-12 Sears Roebuck & Co Sail rig
DE3119531A1 (de) * 1981-05-16 1982-12-02 Kurt Andreas 5205 St Augustin Heinrich "rigg fuer ein segelbrett"
DE3241131A1 (de) * 1982-11-08 1984-05-10 Udo 5418 Selters Schütz Rigg fuer ein surfboard
FR2548622A1 (fr) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-11 Carn Rozenn Greement notamment pour planche a voile
WO1990006254A1 (fr) * 1988-12-07 1990-06-14 Richard Dryden Vehicule a propulsion eolienne
US4964353A (en) * 1989-05-08 1990-10-23 Morrelli Vincent A Windsurfer sail
US5535692A (en) * 1995-02-21 1996-07-16 Ezzy; David C. Adjustable sail head tensioning device, and methods of fabricating and utilizing same
US5638763A (en) * 1995-07-12 1997-06-17 Kelsey; Kevin Corner reefing sail

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4016823A (en) * 1976-05-21 1977-04-12 Davis Robert S Retractable sailboat mast
FR2509250A1 (fr) * 1981-07-10 1983-01-14 Morisseau Roger Mat demontable pour voilures legeres
US4706591A (en) * 1983-12-13 1987-11-17 Reynolds Randall H Sail system with adjustable sail area
GB2177667B (en) * 1985-07-17 1990-07-11 Adrenalin Co Ltd Windsurfer sail
ES2067789T3 (es) * 1991-04-29 1995-04-01 Wilhelm Brinkmann Vela perfilada.
US5188050A (en) * 1991-10-21 1993-02-23 Latham Steven B Convertible mast assembly

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3340841A (en) * 1965-12-17 1967-09-12 Sears Roebuck & Co Sail rig
DE3119531A1 (de) * 1981-05-16 1982-12-02 Kurt Andreas 5205 St Augustin Heinrich "rigg fuer ein segelbrett"
DE3241131A1 (de) * 1982-11-08 1984-05-10 Udo 5418 Selters Schütz Rigg fuer ein surfboard
FR2548622A1 (fr) * 1983-07-06 1985-01-11 Carn Rozenn Greement notamment pour planche a voile
WO1990006254A1 (fr) * 1988-12-07 1990-06-14 Richard Dryden Vehicule a propulsion eolienne
US4964353A (en) * 1989-05-08 1990-10-23 Morrelli Vincent A Windsurfer sail
US5535692A (en) * 1995-02-21 1996-07-16 Ezzy; David C. Adjustable sail head tensioning device, and methods of fabricating and utilizing same
US5638763A (en) * 1995-07-12 1997-06-17 Kelsey; Kevin Corner reefing sail

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2317868A (en) 1998-04-08
AU4564897A (en) 1998-05-05
GB9620714D0 (en) 1996-11-20

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