WO2018052339A1 - Universal centerboard console - Google Patents

Abstract

 A centerboard device for a sailing vessel for carrying, binding with the vessel hull, providing a wide range of operating positions, retracting and extending the centerboard plane with minimally possible own dimensions, characterized in that it does not change properties after multiple mounting/dismounting cycles, suitable for installation on hulls of various types and dimensions beneath and above the waterline and capable of carrying centerboard planes of different types and dimensions, to this end implemented in a form of a console with a connection flange to be mounted on a vessel, comprising a center-pin in the cam with mutually perpendicular rotation axes for fixing the centerboard and deflecting the latter within the vessel DP to the position, when its axial rotation to press the plane thereof to the vessel bottom would not cause overturning torque when the vessel moves, to this end the center-pin is fixed against premature axial rotation with a cutout on the end of the head thereof, the latter sliding along the console body groove, till the rare edge of the centerboard reaches the vessel bottom, and the center-pin head rolled with holes on its lateral surface on pins in the console body wall, to provide small ratio between the axial rotation and the total shift of the centerboard and pressing the latter to the vessel hull.

Description

UNIVERSAL CENTERBOARD CONSOLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

Sailing ships, sailing ship equipment.

PRIOR ART

All centerboard devices, known in the art, by their nature, are bound to a specific vessel hull. A centerboard case has to be considered an obligatory attribute of a centerboard device. Centerboard device designs known in the art are of large dimensions. Therefore, creating a universal centerboard device with absolute liquidity as is (similar to spar, propulsive apparatuses etc.), the capability of maintaining good vendibility after multiple mounting/dismounting cycles, and operating equally well on hulls of various types and with different dimensions is quite problematic. One has to accept compromises limiting design opportunities and operating features. Large contact area between centerboard devices known in the art and the vessel hull necessitates substantial modifications of the hull design, when a centerboard device is to be implanted. To the applicant's best knowledge, no UNIFIED POSITION centerboard device is known in the art, which is capable of being carried by vessels of disparate sizes and types, including multihull ships, those installed above or below the waterline, including those installed on twin-hull boat bridge, still capable of carrying centerboard plane of wide dimension amplitude, various profiles and production materials, with absolute liquidity, regardless mounting/dismounting cycles number, with minimal own dimensions. Attempts are known to minimize the space occupied by a stationary centerboard device within the vessel's hull. As for minimizing the dimensions, and the centerboard positions transformation scheme, the closest technical solution to the product claimed would be the centerboard device SU 1763286 Al (hereinafter referred to as the analog) - see the appendix. The analog is a centerboard device consisting of a centerboard case, i.e. a niche in a vessel hull to take the retracted centerboard and the centerboard motion mechanism in form of a conical gear, capable of deflecting the centerboard backwards, with rising synchronized with axial pivoting aimed to arrange the centerboard plane in the niche horizontally. The comparative analysis thereof demonstrates the following:

1. The analog comprises a centerboard case (the niche) being a part of the vessel hull (page 4, paragraph 4), i.e. it is not universal and easily removable "as is".

2. The analog, as claimed, does not achieve the goal formulated by the authors thereof: "simplifying the design and decreasing the dimensions of the centerboard device". It would be hard to accept that the claimed mechanism consisting of a pair of conical gears with crossing axes in rotating body could be associated with measures to improve robustness for taking and transmitting loads from the centerboard to the vessel hull being simpler, than the classical centerboard device with a narrow centerboard case with the only axis on the walls thereof, not mentioning the centerboard device with a knife-like design. As long as centerboard planes with the same width are discussed, reducing the dimensions remains something to be pessimistic about. The pivoting angle of the centerboard device claimed would certainly be larger in volume, than the classical centerboard device axis would be, while the "profiled niche" would be smaller than the classic case, only in the side view. Because its true purpose is to hide the retracted centerboard within, one would understand that it couldn't be smaller than the classical case designed for the same purpose. Besides, the "horizontal" position of the "niche" occupies a spot on the vessel's hull, and the spot area would be equal to the area of the centerboard carried, and that complicates the hull design, unless that would be of no-framing design. All those arguments still do not refer to knifelike centerboard device.

3. The design and the kinematics of centerboard retraction in the analog is principally different, and cannot be approved, as claimed, for using at sailing vessels, for it breaks the p.212 of the Technical Requirements for designing, construction, repairing and operating sport sailing vessels, as well as materials and items to be installed on sport sailing vessels by Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, because of the following systemic fault: The conical gearing claimed, should there be the tiniest deflection (being implemented rigid, see page 4, paragraph 4) of the centerboard within the diametrical plane of the vessel, would simultaneously turn the centerboard around the longitudinal axis thereof, thus changing the centerboard incidence angle in proportion to the backward deflection angle thereof in the vessel's DP. As one knows, the elevating force of the centerboard plane is in proportion to the square of its speed and the incidence angle. Therefore, during the forward movement of a vessel, and within centerboard position range sector (with fully extended taken for 0°) from about 5° to 25-35°, there would be a force on its plane, which would be potentially very powerful, trying to overthrow the vessel. With extracting the centerboard and moving against the flow, that force would correspondingly increase. Therefore, at operation, such centerboard device, being the vessel's element rather than an external factor, FACILITATES OVERTHROWING THE VESSEL. That is something directly breaking the requirements of the p.212 of the Technical Requirements by Russian Maritime Register of Shipping, stating, "a vessel should be designed and constructed in such a manner, which would PREVENT THE OVERTHROWING". In addition to the overthrowing torque, the vessel would be taken off course, and that cannot be either an advantage or a strong side of the said centerboard device.

4. Remaining unclaimed is the solution for safety, when the centerboard meets an obstacle underwater, because the design makes the system more rigid due to the abovementioned its features.

5. Centerboard embedment cannot be modified in the analog for the reasons specified in 3. Any maneuvering on depth comparable to the vessel's draft and below, with the centerboard fully extended would be impossible, and that nixes the purpose for using the centerboard as such.

6. In accordance with the common practice, the main sailing vessel operating mode is the one with the centerboard extended. That means vessel designers prefer the best streamlining of the vessel underwater part for this specific mode. The niche of the analog, being opened, would cause turbulence by its front cut and increase the vessel hull moistened surface. One would accept that the streamlining capacity of such hull, but with no niche, would be better. Any claim in connection with profiling and streamlining of the niche sounds unserious in this context.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the proposed design (figures 1-6), the author tries to implement the following concept:

A simple and cheap centerboard device with retraction mechanism, universal, and easily mountable on any vessel, including the bridge of multihull vessels etc., keeping good vendibility and absolute liquidity after multiple mounting/dismounting cycles; convenient to use, capable of carrying a centerboard of any profile and wide range of dimensions, which would occupy minimum of space possible within the vessel's volume.

To correspond the concept, the centerboard device design must, according to the author, be presented in form of a console, installed isolated on the vessel's hull (figure 6). Centerboard retraction is via pressing the plane to the vessel bottom. Centerboard cases or niches are rejected as harmful and parasitic categories, which make the centerboard size locked, the cost higher, and which make the design more complicated and the usage more overburdened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The basis of the universal centerboard console is a waterproof body box 5 with the connection flange 6, which, via bolts and nuts with spherical washers, and via the kit of rubber, metallic and wooden etc. bushings, distributing the load and aligning the position in accordance with the installation manual, being installed into the prepared hole (a slot with dimensions as the manual recommends) in the vessel's hull, attracted to and fixed upon the latter with a mating plate 7. The connection flange 6, via the corresponding metallic bushing, may rest on the hull enforcing elements (floors, stringers etc.), including those introduced additionally to improve robustness, or on ship plating itself (fig.8). Empirical data on the range of possible maximal hull thicknesses in centerboard console installation location define the distance between the connection flange 6 and the mating plate 7. The cam 4 is placed in the body 5 on the lateral walls thereof, on semi-axes 14, capable of pivoting around the Y-axis thereon, encasing the center-pin 1 capable of rotating the latter around the axis X. Between the center-pin, the cam and the body walls, there is a tight contact, which does not limit the abovementioned freedoms.

The center-pin 1 at its one end is fit to fix the centerboard plane of any profile, with wide amplitude of dimensions and area, for each centerboard console standard size. The center-pin must match the fixation place and the orientation in a manner, which would lock centerboard console kinematics anyhow (in accordance with the manual, or via adjustment when installed, by fact of operating properly). At its second end, the center-pin 1 has a head 2, with holes by circumference 3 thereof, and with the cutout 10 on the end of the head. The cam 4 on semi-axes 14 may deflect around the axis Y when caused to do so by the rod 13 of the piston 12 within the cylinder 20. Screwed into the bottom of the cylinder 20 is the threaded hub 1 1. In turn, screwed into the hub may be the fitting of the hydraulic or pneumatic pipe from the pump, and also the screw to act directly on the piston. In the latter case, the cylinder- piston group acts as the crosshead mechanism. The center-pin head 2, with the lateral face of the cutout 10, touches the corresponding groove 19 of the console, sliding along it and fixing the center-pin 1 from its axial rotation around the axis X. The console groove 19 has dedicated slits, where sedimentation products and other environmental contaminations presented are pushed. The location and the alignment of those slits, the profile of the head 2 and a number of other means aim to minimize the possibility of jamming due to contamination and sedimentation products. When the piston 12 acts upon the cam 4, the latter deflects the center-pin 1 around the axis Y with the centerboard 9 blade thereon until the hole 3 contacts the first pin 15 of the pin group, located on the console body wall by circumference with the center on the axis Y (fig.3). As the center-pin moves further, due to the design limitation of the groove 19, and, correspondingly, the stopping action thereof, the head 2, rolling with holes 3 on pins 15, makes the axial rotation of the center-pin 1 with the centerboard 9 around the axis X, continuing the motion with the cam 4 around the axis Y to the position, when the plane of the centerboard carried by the device would aligned by horizon (fig.4). During this moment, if the eccentric 17 is turned with the handle 18 to the corresponding position, the stopper 16 extends, spring-loaded, from the center-pin head 2, and the stopper engages the end of the guide 19 to fix the system against any motion (fig.4b). The reversed motion of the handle 18 acts via the eccentric 17 onto the stopper 16 to release the centerboard from the fixation in the retracted position (fig.4a). When mounting the centerboard console on the vessel, the following condition should be met: the location of the Y-axis below the vessel bottom at such a distance, that the centerboard 9 plane would be pressed to the bottom with its surface. When the centerboard 9 blade is installed into the center- pin 1 fixation, one has to watch, that the water lateral pressure center should be as proximate to the axis X as real, and the rare edge of the centerboard 9 should not limit kinematic action of the centerboard console. The blade shape may potentially facilitate self-cleaning and improve its robustness (fig.5), or assist with obtaining optimal hydrodynamic parameters within the proposed concept (fig.8). There is a possibility for a centerboard console operator to install the centerboard supports onto the vessel hull to unload the latter and the entire centerboard console, should the operator exceed the centerboard blade dimensions compared to what was recommended with the manual, or should the limits associated with a centerboard console specific standard dimensions set be exceeded. The centerboard is extended by gravity force, and damped by the hydraulic/pneumatic pump valve area, or by the screw drive nature. Other features are listed in the chapter about differences and advantages.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE UNIVERSAL CENTERBOARD

CONSOLE AND THE ANALOG

1. The centerboard console is implemented as a console with connecting flanges for fixing on any vessel's hull.

2. Any centerboard may be attached with proper matching. 3. Neither case, nor niche is needed. It is installed in such a manner, that the cam axis Y goes beneath the vessel bottom to maximize pressing the centerboard plane to the vessel bottom.

4. Used to rotate the centerboard to put its surface adjacent to the bottom is the mechanism comprising a center-pin in the cam with mutually perpendicular rotation axes. The center-pin has a head with holes, rolled over the pins in the console wall.

5. The center-pin head has the cutout, sliding along the guiding groove of the console to fix the centerboard plane in the vessel diametrical plane to the maximum possible, when the centerboard axial rotation still does not harm the vessel. (In the centerboard console model claimed, one hydro-pump stroke corresponds to 1 sec, with the rotation axis almost horizontal).

6. Centerboard motion mechanism is not of the swinging type, but a universal pneumatic/hydraulic cylinder, also capable of working as the crosshead with the screw drive.

ADVANTAGES OF THE UNIVERSAL CENTERBOARD CONSOLE

1. It may be mounted on any hull with minimum labour hours and minimum cost.

2. It may be dismounted without compromising the vendibility.

3. The centerboard to install may be of the type that the operator wishes.

4. Centerboard embedment is adjustable within a wide range.

5. The axial rotation of the centerboard is at the very end of the retraction cycle. The blade follows the trajectory, when the centerboard rotation practically does not harm the vessel condition.

6. If an obstacle is encountered underwater, the centerboard deflects backwards, over to complete retraction.

7. Motion mechanism of the model claimed may be driven by a hydraulic pump, a compressed air source, an electrical engine or manually. There is also a possibility to retract the centerboard with a screw mechanism in emergency situation. 8. It is possible to fix the centerboard in retracted position.

9. The absence of the niche is an advantage, because it is in accordance with the marine practice that a sailing ship has the centerboard extended as the main operating mode. In accordance with the hydrodynamic calculation, centerboard resistance with the centerboard console claimed would be lower than the same of the centerboard device of the analog.

10. The ratio between the centerboard console area and the area of the centerboard blade carried therewith is the minimum possible.

1 1. The ratio between the volume of the centerboard console and the volume of the carrier vessel is the minimum possible.

12. The centerboard console has minimal dimensions possible, which are necessary and sufficient to pass the forces and torques from the centerboard plane to the vessel hull in terms of the loads calculated, and also for enabling the device kinematics.

13. It may be manufactured as a dimension range, standardized.

14. It is installed practically within the plane of the vessel bottom, improving comfort at the vessel.

15. The centerboard console kit includes a longer threaded hub 1 1, installing which one can cut its length to limit the maximal centerboard embedment (fig. la, lb).

16. Producing the centerboard console does not need complicated equipment. No gearing (in particular, conical gearing).

17. Production needs a sheet, a tube, a circle with specified gauge, simple lathe work, milling work and welding work.

18. Bending efforts are transmitted purely to the console walls, and, via the connection flange, to the vessel hull. Connections and joints possess durability as set forth by the "Machine parts" course.

19. It may be installed on multihull vessels, above the waterline, bilge keels, yachts of the "compromise" type, and classical boats (fig.7). 20. An individual with a hand drill with a screw-bore, an arm-saw, a chisel, a piece of plywood, wooden bars and a tube with sealer, may install the centerboard console onto a wooden boat, READY-MADE, WITHIN ONE HOUR.

21. Coming in a centerboard console delivery package also is a hydraulic pump with swinging lever, capable of rotating for 360°, centerboard position indicator, extension lever, a hose with sufficient length, fixable via two clamps just anywhere.

22. The delivery package also includes rubber and plywood bushings to exclude unwished rotation of bolts, when tightening nuts to the "catch". This eliminates the need in a second person during the installation.

23. It works well on various hulls, i.e. it does not depend on specific hull design.

24. It is absolutely sellable, similar to spar, hull fittings, sails, propulsive apparatuses.

25. Connection flange fixation on the vessel hull with screws and nuts with spherical heads and washers provides reliability during wracking/shifting planes, to fully compensate the corresponding eccentricities. This all reduces allowances and accuracy degree needed for installation, with centerboard console features retained.

26. The inner space of the console is fully closed in the retracted position to prevent sand particles, dirt, stones, algae etc. from penetration (fig.4).

27. All moving parts of the centerboard console are capable of self- cleaning and shaped to prevent jamming on sedimentation and contamination.

28. When a vessel moves at full speed, the centerboard is in the "pressed to pin" position (fig.3) to minimize the resistance, i.e. the blade middle is minimal in such position, while the center-pin inclination axis in his case is aligned practically stream-wise. The case resistance is absent in principle. In marine practice, such centerboard position at full speed is more preferable, than the full retraction, because the vessel is stable on sudden winds and persistent shift (Yu.A. Panteleev, admiral, master of sports). 29. All moving parts are lubricated with source water or oil.

30. Low prime cost in combination with superior functionality.

31. Attractive visual appearance, rich potential for tuning.

32. Because common empirical mutual dependencies between the vessel hull volume, weight and the centerboard area suggest that the necessary durability of the latter must be at least the same as the durability of the vessel hull, or better, in accordance with the author, the plane of the retracted centerboard, being the lowest by position, would be the first to meet the sea bed, when the vessel is taken off the water, thus protecting the vessel's bottom. Using steel plain centerboard makes this conclusion obvious.

33. Two centerboard consoles may be used to transform the vessel's bottom into the one suitable for gliding, provided the retracted centerboards are properly aligned and with at least primitive point supports organized.

34. The possibility for small sailing boat owners to upgrade their boats. 35. The possibility to purchase the centerboard console for individual boat construction, similar to ready-made equipment.

36. A single standard size model covers hull length range for up to 50%, and centerboard areas for up to 200%.

37. Any universalism, being a philosophical category, is a set of compromises. Regarding the centerboard console, the set of all its features, including negative ones, in accordance with respected designers of yachts, makes it the most viable of all centerboard devices known in the art.

38. At the moment, the centerboard console is fully ready for serial production.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures la, lb explain the utility model design, by providing the side view, and the front cross-section view. Also the x-ray axonometric view with the same position numbers is presented.

Figure 2 shows the utility model in the configuration with the centerboard fully extended. Figure 3 shows the utility model in the configuration with the centerboard maximally pressed to the vessel hull in its operating position.

Figure 4 shows the utility model in the configuration with the centerboard retracted (a: fixed position, b: non-fixed position).

Figure 5 shows three views of the utility model in collated format with the plain centerboard installed. Root configurations are shown.

Figure 6 shows the utility model installation on the vessel hull in three views.

Figure 7 reflects the options to use the utility model (a: installing a pair of centerboard consoles, symmetrically to the vessel DP below the waterline; b: installing one centerboard console parallel to the developed deadwood vessel DP; c: installing the centerboard console above the waterline, on a double-hull vessel bridge; d, e: installing a couple of centerboard consoles, parallel to the vessel DP, above the waterline.

Figure 8 shows two views of centerboard console that carries a profiled centerboard.

The appendix presents the information about the closest analog SU 1763286

Al .

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

At the moment, the UNIVERSAL CENTERBOARD CONSOLE is manufactured and undergoes tests on sailing ships of different types. The universal centerboard console was sequentially installed on a yacht of a MICRO class, a T20 centerboard boat, a yawl 6, and self-made twin-hull ship with the sail area 12 sq.m.

The following results were achieved after the installation that took 1 -3 man- hours, depending on a particular case:

The yacht of the class MICRO radically improved habitability, making it identical to the same at the keel yacht of similar class. Placing a portable boat toilet beneath the cockpit, made it more convenient to use onboard - something that was impossible before. With the centerboard blade 1.3 m long, motion became steeper even at abrupt close-hauled wind. After tests, the centerboard console was dismounted in half an hour, and the yacht was later reconstructed into a keel one.

A T20 centerboard boat (Thornback type) stopped leaking after the installation of the centerboard console, which earlier took place in a joint between the hull and the centerboard case, and maneuvering characteristics were improved. The yacht habitability became comparable to the same of the keel one.

Yawl 6 had radically improved its maneuvering characteristics.

A twin-hull boat improved controllability after excluding knife-like centerboards and their replacement with profiled centerboard in the centerboard console installed on the bridge.

All cases showed improvement of the vessel vendibility, having been equipped with centerboard console, and also control ergonomics. A uniform centerboard console with two types of centerboards was used. All cases also demonstrated minimal consequences after the centerboard console was dismounted: for the centerboard console model specified, those were fixture holes 10mm and a rectangular hole 90x250 mm in the vessel hull, easy to remove.

All accompanying drawings presented herein are taken from technical documents for centerboard console production, and those reflect the design using steel (the tube, the sheet), and non-metal materials.

Claims

A centerboard device for a sailing vessel for carrying, binding with the vessel hull, providing a wide range of operating positions, retracting and extending the centerboard plane with minimally possible own dimensions, characterized in that it does not change properties after multiple mounting/dismounting cycles, suitable for installation on hulls of various types and dimensions beneath and above the waterline and capable of carrying centerboard planes of different types and dimensions, to this end implemented in a form of a console with a connection flange to be mounted on a vessel, comprising a center-pin in the cam with mutually perpendicular rotation axes for fixing the centerboard and deflecting the latter within the vessel DP to the position, when its axial rotation to press the plane thereof to the vessel bottom would not cause overturning torque when the vessel moves, to this end the center-pin is fixed against premature axial rotation with a cutout on the end of the head thereof, the latter sliding along the console body groove, till the rare edge of the centerboard reaches the vessel bottom, and the center-pin head rolled with holes on its lateral surface on pins in the console body wall, to provide small ratio between the axial rotation and the total shift of the centerboard and pressing the latter to the vessel hull.